Chatterbox: Inkwell

Heroes/Villains Solo Write!!

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January 16th

New York Times

by Peyton Davenport

It’s nine o’clock in the morning. My name is Peyton Davenport and today I was kicked out of the Uffizi Gallery.

So instead of writing this article from the comfort and heated warmth of the gold-gilded galleries like I had hoped, I am shivering on a park bench in the coldest month of the year. (This isn’t saying much, considering the famously mild Florentine weather, but the sentiment stands nevertheless, especially since my jacket is still in the Uffizi’s coat check.)

I expect you’ve heard of Florence’s legendary art museum, home of brilliant works by masters such as Botticelli and Raphael. If you’ve haven’t, I can assure you with utmost confidence that you will.

Because they have just been robbed.

Yesterday evening, a few minutes before midnight, nearly the entire city of Florence was awakened to the sound of rudely blaring sirens, myself included. A humble food writer, I was dispatched to Florence in order to review and up-and-coming Vietnamese-Italian fusion restaurant, but in light of recent events, my energies are directed towards more…  exciting pursuits. Which is sort of a shame. I was looking forward to sampling fettuccine phó.

The unidentified robber(s?) were not seen by any of the guards on night watch. This is causing some strongly worded questions regarding their capability.

“I’m telling you, there was no sign of anyone,” a harried-looking sentry told me in frustrated Italian. “I ran over as soon as the alarms started going off. They were in a room near the front of the museum, in a case, about yea big—“ She made the shape with her hands, about the size of a breadbox. “— The glass was smashed through and it was empty. I have no idea what happened. I don’t know how the thief got that far without setting anything off.”

When discussed in parallel with other well-known art thefts— like the infamous 1990 burglary from the Isabella Gardner Museum in Boston in which thirteen pieces of art, worth in total a whopping $500 million — this one is comparatively meek.

Six items have been taken from the museum, small metal-worked creations which, according to extensive scientific examination, were likely created around the Italian Renaissance, though their precise maker has yet to be discovered. Some schools of thought believe that they were all made independently from one another, while others think their concept is too similar to have been created separately.

This morning, I snuck into the Uffizi, which is currently closed to all, in order to get the most informed scoop. Admittedly, this was probably illegal, but this is journalism. Sacrifices must be made.

A helpful guard informed me that the missing objects are as follows:

- One pocket watch with Veni, Vidi, Vici engraved on the back of the face

- One pair of topaz crescent moon earrings

- One leather bracelet with a dragon-shaped gold clasp

- One locket with a bird painted on the front and attached to a thin chain

- One silver-plated ring designed to look like a laurel wreath

- One shirt button in the shape of a flower painted gold with blue highlights

The guard pulled out his phone and showed me photos. All of them were startlingly well-preserved, showing little to no signs of their age. When I expressed my amazement at this, he simply shrugged.

“Sì, it is odd,” he said in slightly broken English. “So is most art.”

Then I was forcefully ushered out of the museum by some less kind guards. They didn’t even allow me to retrieve my peacoat, which is a shame. It was my favorite one.

At this point, I did a little digging. It turns out that the stolen gadgets were the subject of a well-known oral legend, passed down through generations. As the story goes, they are enchanted objects created with the sort of old magic of which fairy tales are woven. The best English translation of their name that I have been able to come up with is Trinkets. 

Here is an excerpt from a battered leather volume I discovered at a rare books library:

“These exquisite objects, when examined closely, seem to give off a sort of vibrant blue aura, are warm to the touch, and easily withstand the tests of time, appearing through centuries in the same untouched, new-looking form.

Those in possession of a Trinket are given extraordinary powers. Without the Trinket, the holder is, in all senses, a normal human. If it is removed, they immediately become powerless, which can be extremely dangerous. Trinkets are not bonded to particular people. They will give abilities to whoever happens to put it on.

All Trinkets grant the possessor a moderate amount of inhuman agility, strength, and some other minor things, but otherwise, each Trinket has different powers. These objects have birthed some of the greatest villains and heroes of all time, and have, unbeknownst to most, shaped the course of history.  Of course, the Trinkets themselves do not make a person a hero or a villain, but instead, it is what you choose to do with them.”

I’m Peyton Davenport, and I have no idea what to believe. I think I need a cup of coffee.

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Thank you for reading all that! I applaud you!! If you didn’t, please do if you plan on joining. It’s long, I know, but I wrote it for a reason. All that information is important to this story. (Except maybe the fettuccine phó. That was pure self-indulgence.) Now that we’ve got that fun prologue done with, here are…

Some Things To Know

1. This is a solo write, not a RP. I will be the only one writing. No diary entries, etc. Apologies. Thanks for understanding!!

2. Please note that I’d rather you not base your character off of yourself. I’ve made many a Mary Sue this way. *sigh* In general, it’s hard to recognize a personality effectively from our own standpoints. 

3. Diversity! Please! Since the majority of our CBers identify as female, there are generally a lot of characters that are, too. Let’s get some guys in here, hmm? And of course some LGBTQ+ and PoC charries. Religious diversity is good too.

4. Don’t be vague. It makes it easier for me to write when your charrie sheets are detailed and specific.

5. I’d like to take approximately nine people. There will be, at maximum, three villains and three heroes. The number of civilians is pretty flexible depending on how many people are interested.

6. Remember that villains. Are. Still. People. Cardboard cutouts are no fun.

7. Some original characters, including my lovely gal Peyton, will make appearances, but I’ll try to put the focus on your guys’ creations.

8. If your character is OP, I will let you know that you should make some adjustments. If you don’t, I’ll do it myself. :)

—— And here is the charrie sheet! ——

Name:

Pronouns:

Age:

Ethnicity/Nationality:

Role (hero/villain/civilian):

Age:

Personality:

Fatal Flaw:

Appearance (be detailed):

Hobbies:

Occupation (if applicable):

Backstory:

If your character is a hero or a villain, also fill out this additional sheet segment. Civilians, you’re done!

Alias:

Costume (realistically, your character has put it together themself):

Power:

Trinket (choose one of the six):