Cyberpunk: Vice and evanescence [lit. M for lit. F] Still looking

[Delirium147]

Dear lady/-ies,

I am in the market for a gritty roleplay involving a young woman's disappearance in a future dystopia usually referred to as cyberpunk. You will find out more below. The post is compartmentalised for ease of reading. The first two are most important, while the last two are there for additional information. Should something not be clear, feel free to contact me.

I. The Pitch: Missing Case
Growing up in one of the little boxes of developed suburbia, Diana’s childhood took place squeezed between the towering megastructures and skyscrapers of the city proper and the shoddy, cheap campers on the edge of town. She regarded it as the spectrum of success: find a way to make it and live in the civilised centre, or be chewed up and spat out into the trailer parks or shantytowns built on landfills.

Her father was a mid-ranking factory worker, employed by one of the big corporations who practically ran the city. Persistently passed by for a promotion, the man grew bitter and vented his frustration at home forever shattering the chance of domestic bliss. Her mother was beaten, and Diana ignored. The suburban dream turned into a nightmare, and Diana felt increasingly trapped by the self-contained and largely self-sufficient neighbourhood. In her late teens, she abandoned her cookie-cutter home and made for the concrete jungle.

A heady mix of daddy issues and ambition propelled Diana out of the suburbs and onto the streets of the city. She moved into a townhouse at walking distance of the grand coastal avenues where the rich and influential came to flaunt their wealth and privilege; the place to be seen. One way or other, she would end up in one of those condos or penthouses that had so defined the horizon of her youth. She was there to enter the big leagues.

With little more to her name than next month’s rent, she struck out in search of her fortune… or rather, someone else’s. First, she had to dangle some bait. A pretty face and smoking body got her into most clubs, where she could put herself on display as well as feel out the scene. Her sass and grit got her noticed. Then, she sweetened the deal: a short stint as an adult actress catapulted her into the world of high-end escorting, and it was not long before she became arm-candy to corporate executives and gang leadership alike. Over the next year, she more than enjoyed the criminal danger while savouring the power of the corporate and political players. Diana juggled her life as gang-chick and trophy with glee. At the moment of her disappearance, she had been drunk with her own success.

What events have led to the abrupt end to her tale of rags to riches? Who was the last person to see her? Where has she gone? Or where has she been taken? Why? When? How? Is she even alive? Burning questions that need solving, and the most important one of all: by who?

II. What am I looking for?
I wish to explore a setting rife with (retro)futurism, societal issues and flashy neon-lights. If you need some popular references: Blade Runner, Ghost in the Shell, Cyberpunk (pen & paper as well as the game Cyberpunk 2077), Altered Carbon. Then there are some other, less clean, examples: Mad Max, The Expanse, or even Star Wars.

If futurism is sometimes called a 'science' bent on anticipating what will come, retrofuturism is the remembering of that anticipation. Characterized by a blend of old-fashioned "retro styles" with futuristic technology, retrofuturism explores the themes of tension between past and future, and between the alienating and empowering effects of technology.

Cyberpunk is usually based on a near-future Earth, rather than some far-flung, futuristic alien world. Though that is by no means written off. Technology has become deeply enmeshed in everyday human existence – so much so that an individual might struggle to survive without it. The lines between real life, virtual reality and interconnected networks have blurred. Sometimes it is not clear where a (wo)man ends and a machine begins. Chances are famine, climate or resources are highly challenging in this world, and governments are either powerless, or corrupt, meaning law and order are often arbitrary. Megacorporations are a big deal. Society has become fractured, leaving yawning holes for misfits, pimps and prostitutes, loners and criminal ‘punks’ to slide through. Crime, trafficking and substance abuse are rampant. This shadowy, violent ‘underworld’ is fuelled by console-riding jockeys, hackers and jackers, who operate on the dark side of cyberspace, often within the internet landscape of the future. Gangs tear one another apart in vicious turf-wars as average joes try to scrape together a living.

Continuing with content, I’d like a tale with elements from the “Noir” detective genre. Murder, mystery and violence should feature in this gritty world we both would create. Everything I wrote here is just to get us started. Please send me a personal message for further discussion.

III. Who am I looking for?
An erudite, dedicated female writer wanting to play a female opposite one or several of my characters. Keep in mind that this is merely one story pitch. I am available and looking for talented writing partners who are up for working out an intriguing tale with me. Who are our characters? What is the pairing? Street thugs trying to join the big leagues, cops, or cutthroat employees trying to climb the corporate ladder? While I have a few suggestions at the ready, let's figure out our main characters in tandem.

Who and what am I exactly looking for? A (kinky) female writer of daring disposition, someone who is not scared of describing adult themes. An ambitious female keen on and capable of crawling into the brain of one (or several) character(s). I am looking for story and smut in somewhat equal measure and quality, though for me story usually takes precedence. Without a salacious story there can’t be salacious smut. My writing partner is someone who is preferably available over Discord (PM me) to discuss the plotline, hooks and characters. Who has at the very least glossed over my o/Os and preferences or other Request Threads. And, who is a proficient and prolific writer, unafraid of grey morality, explicit and passionate descriptions, love and pain both, grim tales, ... The RP itself would unfold on the forums, but (and I cannot stress this enough) OOC communication is key.

IV. Practical notes:
Let me cover the practical stuff. Hopefully the next segment won’t come across as too coarse. If it appears blunt, it is for clarity’s sake. Never fear, ladies  As a gentleman, I do have manners.

• Communication:
  Communication is key! To that end I ask for contact details, with a preference for Discord. Initial greetings and introductions over PMs is all well and good, but a collaborative experience like this benefits from a chat service. The past has taught me that OOC chatter and an extra channel of communication hugely improves the RP. I am eager to hear from you! Particularly when hammering out our character pairing and dynamic. It all adds ease, fluidity and spontaneity to brainstorming, discussion, etc. Merely corresponding over PMs is good but not good enough. However, actual RP would take place on the forum.
  

• Post length:
  A writer who can produce quality posts of 400 words and up. Obviously, word count will vary per post, and is subject to character interaction, situation in the story, etc. Nevertheless, I think 400 – 500 indicates a decent average. My own posts usually cap around the 600 to 700 word range, but descriptive or introductory posts can grow to over double that. Check out my posts should you like an example of my writing, style and tastes.
  

• Frequency:
  I try to get a post out at least once a week. Life can be hectic, I’m more than aware. The next bit ties in with communication. I am quite patient as long as you keep me in the loop. I tend to post at least once a week (two at the most), and I expect the same to maintain my interest in the game. This is a rule of thumb and obviously posting times may vary. If you simply aren't able to post to our game, I'd love it if you'd let me know. If you'd like to terminate the RP, there will be no hard feelings. If something isn’t working out or you’d like a change, just let me know.
  

Conclusion:
In any case, my ideal partner should be available for brainstorming plot, pairings and characters. While I can provide barebone concepts or pairings, I would much rather hear suggestions and proposals. Where do you want to play? Who? What sort of character? These questions and more I would love to iron out via IM. Let's talk. The goal is to weave a tale that belongs to both of us, as opposed to me dictating the ensemble. If my current pitch did not appeal to you, then I encourage you to make a suggestion of your own.

Do you think you fit the writer profile? Hit me up and let's work something out!

[Delirium147]

Bumped.