#objectiveresearch

Wanted to share my Day 2 of @liminalcobalt's Promptober (link!), since I think it turned out pretty well! Today's prompt is Stranger.

Meet the main antagonist of my passion project and upcoming audio drama, Objective Research: Thall! I thought that "Stranger" certainly fit perfectly. After all, it's not like anyone's ever met her face-to-face. Simply a stranger's voice. And, really, she'd like to keep it that way.

(I'll include yesterday's prompt under the cut, just for funsies)

Sixteen unsuspecting contestants sign up to join a "competitive show" with a prize of 1 Million Dollars in exchange for participating in a few experiments.

Unfortunately for this group of sixteen, their mysterious host has less than stellar intentions for what lies ahead of them.

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Hello, howdy! Welcome to Objective Research, an upcoming thriller audio drama inspired by Object Shows! I'm not sure when it'll come out, but any support or interest is deeply appreciated!

Contestant Introduction Post If you have any questions relating to the project or each character, my ask box is open!

This blog, and the project that it refers to, may contain topics not suitable for all audiences! Please take care to stay safe, and know your limits.

Honey Bee

Identity: AroAce Demi-Girl (She/Buzz) Object: Honey Jar

Honey Bee is a pretty shy and sensitive person. Buzz's also a real sweetheart once you get talking, buzz just gets a bit flustered trying to work up the courage to talk to others!

Honey is sensitive to noise, so buzz has been considering getting noise muffling headphones. She's friends with Birkett, and likes to gift pressed flowers that remind her of him.

Honey tends to find herself a bit overwhelmed should all the attention be on her. She doesn't want the spotlight, she's just happy to be included.

Birkett

Identity: Unlabeled Agender (Any Pronouns) Object: Birch Log

Birkett is a smart and hardy guy, easily able to weather what life throws at him. He may be here to compete, but wants to prioritize the well being of everybody around him– Be it physical or emotional.

Birkett enjoys spending time with her friends Honey and Soleil. The two aren't actually friends with each other yet, but she thinks they'll get along well.

Birkett took the once-in-a-lifetime chance like the others did, because who could pass up the chance for that kind of money? Although, he is a bit confused on how this show qualifies as an "experiment".

Soleil

Identity: Bi Trans Guy (He/Him) Object: Sunflower

Soleil is an outgoing and social guy. He loves to just hang out and talk with his friends! No matter the topic, he's happy to listen. What matters to him is the fact he and his friends are hanging out.

Soleil has Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder, which causes him chronic pain. He can be pretty creative with how he gets things done, frequently thinking outside the box! He likes to challenge himself for fun.

He's mainly participating to prove to himself how far he can get in the competition! Of course, the money would be great, he's just being realistic.

Burtie

Identity: AroAce Non-Binary (It/Its) Object: Hedgehog Plushie

Burtie is a very curious little thing, sticking its nose into a lot of stuff to learn more– Only to get scared and very nervous as a result. Still, it persists despite its timid nature. It doesn't want to let its nervousness rule it!

Burtie once had a felt nose and a second eye. Due to being well loved, they've both long fallen off. Burtie sometimes hides behind Cocoa when it gets scared.

This competition is one of those kinds of things. Sticking your nose into something you ought not, despite your better judgement. Burtie is pretty sure its going to lose early on, but it's too late to back out now.

South

Identity: Genderqueer Lesbian (They/It) Object: Wire Spool

South is... An enigma. They do what they like when they like, and rarely say much on it. They're an object of few words, seeming to prefer their actions speak for them and to have little desire to try and justify the way they live.

South can use its wires to create a makeshift arm! It also serves as a tail when not in use as a hand. Its preference to stay quiet may be due to being semi-verbal.

What's its secret agenda? Nobody knows... perhaps not even itself. In reality, it's likely joining was simply a passing whim it acted upon.

Oak

Identity: Gay Guy (He/Him) Object: White Oak Acorn

Oak is someone who likes to cause chaos and mischief. He thinks it's funny seeing others scramble about like the sky is falling. He's also pretty smug and quite sure of himself, which means he isn't keen to change his ways.

Others tend not to like Oak, as he can be rather rude and blunt. He seems to think this is their problem, and not a him problem. He likes singing, but gets embarrassed if others are watching.

Oak is here to win, and isn't exactly going to care about being nice about it. He's not here for friends, so why waste his time on it?

Horace

Identity: Timeflux Demiromantic Guy (He/Him + Tick/Tock) Object: Hourglass

Horace is a very detail oriented person, and pays close attention to the little things. He prefers to follow a routine, and is rather beholden to little mundane "rituals" every day. He gets really upset if people dismiss or disrupt them, which he thinks can be unfortunately kind of embarrassing.

Horace has a hard time socializing with people he doesn't know, because he doesn't want to be judged. He also likes Cryptography and Ciphers, solving them is a fun exercise!

Tick is the kind of person to analyze a situation before heading into it, be it social or physical. Tick also tends to be the first to notice the little details hidden between the lines, which is something tick takes a bit of pride in.

Cocoa

Identity: Non-Binary Lesbian (They/Them) Object: Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie

Cocoa is a very cheerful and bubbly person, always eager to make new friends and making an effort to make others feel welcome or included! They're also rather curious, which makes them and Burtie good friends.

Cocoa experiences chronic pain, and is an amputee. Some of their family members are deaf, so they learned ASL at a pretty young age! They like collecting different rocks, gemstones, and shells.

While they are the kind of person you'd expect would tell you they joined to make friends– Money pays the bills, as well as helps fund treatments for chronic pain, so OF COURSE they joined for it! The friends are just a nice bonus.

Squeaky

Identity: Agender Lesbian (She/It) Object: Soap Bar

Squeaky is a rather high strung person. She needs things to be a certain way thanks to her perfectionism, and is a bit of a prude when it comes to naughty language. She'll often tell others to wash their mouths out if she catches them saying something distasteful! She's also very sensitive, emotionally and to stimuli that upsets her, and has an acute fear of getting dirty and heights.

Squeaky tends to rub at its leg anxiously when it thinks its dirty, or just as a self-soothing tactic. It likes to stomp around to stim! The weight feels grounding.

Squeaky cites that it wants to use the prize money to clean all the gross stuff up off the world, like air pollution or trash floating around in the ocean!

Kaede

Identity: GNC Bi Guy (He/Him) Object: Maple Syrup

Kaede is very chipper and extremely people pleasing in nature. Unfortunately for him, he's also the kind to crave any kind of attention or praise he can get. Even if that means aligning himself with a bad crowd.

Kaede is extremely friendly, and can get ahead of himself really easily. He never hesitates to introduce himself first!

While Cocoa defies the friendly stereotype... Kaede did just genuinely join to make new friends, as well as get approval from anyone watching.

Surf

Identity: Finro Bigender (He/She) Object: TV Remote

Surf is a rather clever individual. She's almost always got a plan or two in mind, as well as a backup if things go wrong. Unfortunately for you, she's also a fan of causing mischief.

Surf is Deaf and communicates via ASL! He cannot read lips, and would get a little miffed if asked. Also, his tail can let out a little shock if it touches someone while he's excited!

Surf might usually seem friendly, and she's not mean, but don't get it twisted. She's not afraid to resort to more... duplicitous plans and general trickery. She's here to win!

Pernella

Identity: Intersex Butch Lesbian (She/Her) Object: Rock (River Stone)

Pernella can be real charming if she puts her mind to it. She's good at picking up on what makes others tick, and frequently does so. In essence, she knows what she wants, and she ain't shy on doing what she thinks needs done to get it.

She tends to keep a close company with people who are willing to do her bidding or have the same lack of moral inhibitions. To these few who she's chosen as her inner circle will find a different side, one that's willing to go to bat to make sure they're looked after.

The real question, now, is if she'll keep that same attitude going into the competition. There's only one winner, after all.

Belle

Identity: Pan Trans Woman (She/Her + Ich/Ichor/Ichors/Ichors/Ichorself) Object: Top Hat

Belle is an egotistical and downright mean person. She can be rather catty, and is pretty solidly under the umbrella of being a mean girl– Backhanded compliments, spreading rumors, and most other things you can think of. She can also be something of an intimidating force if she really puts her mind to it, all done with a smile.

Ich cannot handle feeling inadequate at all. Ich has to be the best of the best, or else. Ich often acts impulsively to correct what ich views as this balance being upset.

Ich loves to have people compliment ichor, which ich cares about much more than actually winning the money. Belle joined more for the potential fame and stardom than the prize. Ich still wants to win, obviously, but... Let's be real, ich's not a real contender.

Johann

Identity: Omni Non-Binary (They/Them) Object: Loofah

Johann is generally quiet and very gloomy. They hold a generally pessimistic, and even defeatist at times, view of the world. They're also rather secretive, to the point they'd do anything to keep what they feel ashamed of under wraps.

Recently Johann has been struggling with Depression, which has made it tough for them to really get outside. They want to keep a axolotl some day, but know they aren't in the right mindset to have pets.

They didn't join for any real personal reasons. Their brother, Shifty, asked them to join with him, and they felt like they couldn't say no.

Shifty

Identity: Minro Trans Guy (He/Him) Object: Sponge

Shifty is a pretty unserious guy. He just likes to chill, and things very rarely get under his skin. He just likes to do as he pleases. Despite very rarely being taken seriously, he is extremely thoughtful and often just randomly ponders the nature of things because he wants to.

Shifty is actually just a nickname, and his real name is "Plato". People don't take him too seriously, and he doesn't either, so it felt more fitting. Shifty tries his best to take care of his sibling, Johann, and feels like he has to protect them as the big brother.

He joined because it being described as some kind of experiment piqued his interest. What kind of research data can you possibly get from this? He also wanted to get Johann out of their room, after getting worried for their mental wellbeing.

Spritz

Identity: Aroflux Necrogender (She/Her + Drop/Droplet/Droplets/Dropletself) Object: Spray Bottle

Spritz is a very skittish, paranoid, and distrusting individual. She rarely feels safe, and seems to believe everyone is out to get her. She isn't a bad person, really, but she prioritizes her self-preservation over all.

Spritz has Chionophobia, which developed rather recently. Drop used to keep a garden, which helped droplet with a bout of depression at one point in droplets life. Droplets mother takes care of it and hopes droplet'll come home to care for it again.

A silly drawing of South and Honey Bee for the few of you here! This is how armless objects make friends in the wild, trust.