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realmenknitplushiesPLAYER INFO
Name: Sleepy
Contact Information: DW and Plurk sleepyphoenix, AIM oneirologue
Time Zone: GMT
Characters Played: N/A
CHARACTER INFO
Character Name: Kanji Tatsumi
Character Canon: Persona 4
History: http://megamitensei.wikia.com/wiki/Kanji_Tatsumi
AU History:
Kanji was born late in life to a Trainer mother and an Enlightened former Ranger father. After fruitful careers, they'd settled down together in late in life to open an art gallery, showcasing imagery and crafts inspired by their work and travels. As such, he'd always been around creativity and craftsmanship, and acquired a love of beauty and making things from them, one both were happy to indulge. While his father was an intimidating-looking man, one clearly physically evolved, he cared deeply for his son - however, this was to prove to become a problem in an unexpected way.
Not even the most powerful Enlightened are immune to sickness and hurt. Kanji would have to face this head on, with his father dying when he was young, and being unable to even say goodbye to him… just about the last words he would hear would be telling him that 'a man needs to become strong'. Words from a seemingly ferocious and powerful individual to a gentle child that would change his outlook on life. What could strength mean, in that context, but physical strength and toughness? It set his course, with him throwing himself into more physical pursuits - and at its worst, into him trying to prove himself strong by fighting. Society's pressure, versus a father's dying wishes, and a culture that told him that his skills weren't needed… it set him up for confusion, stress, and a whole lot of trouble.
While his mother'd suspected that Kanji was Enlightened from early on, he showed very few signs of his gifts until more recently in life. There was one incident that pushed them to the front… a horde of wild Pokémon sneaking out from the Old City, marauding around the gallery. While logic might have dictated that he let his mother and her beloved crew fight them off, his stubbornness and sheer panic drove him to attempt to do the job himself - at least, with his one Mareep by his side. With the number of birds there'd been in that group, at least he'd had type advantage in his favour, reflexively tapping into his Electric abilities… but it was still close.
It proved to him just what potential he had - but also showed him how far he had to go. As such, he decided that he'd have to start training in earnest (not like he'd been the best student for a while)… and as of the present day, he's about to take his first step into the wide world outside the city to do just that.
Canon Personality:
At first glance, it's easy to make assumptions about Kanji. He's a drop-out. A delinquent. The sort of person who just wants to cause trouble, and doesn't care what anyone else thinks. The way he carries himself, his dress, his hair: he could be any gang member on the streets. This image carries through in a casual conversation with him, too: his speech patterns are rough and casual with a fair helping of bad language and he's all too likely to go on the attack at the slightest provocation. He loves to fight, loves the challenge and the adrenalin rush, and he's extremely adept at improvising with weaponry (being known for attacking opponents with a chair!)
However, while it's inaccurate to refer to his rough exterior as entirely a front, it's not the entirety of who and what he is. It's a defense mechanism, developed over many years, that's worked a little too well in protecting his inner self from the scrutinies of others. Inside, Kanji's spent a long time deeply insecure about who he is, and while during the course of the game he's worked to overcome this and become happy with himself it's taken him a long time to do so. If he's in any way accused of being strange or weird - or if he perceives it, something which he has a tendency to do so over the smallest thing - it's very likely that he'll go straight for the throat in his replies. Even worse, he's very likely to fly off in a rage if his berserk buttons are pressed, though he's working on controlling that much.
On a more positive note? He's very generous, when he gets the chance to be, being willing to give both his time and his handiwork very freely to others. He's a very protective individual, too, standing up for those weaker than him against accusation and trouble at the drop of a hat. A lot of his history of conflict comes from him trying to do what's right and look out for others: he's been known to go as far as tearing a whole biker gang apart single-handedly just to save his mother's sleep at night. When he warms up to someone, he softens quite a bit, becoming extremely caring and possibly more than a little awkward - he's not the greatest at admitting to his feelings, to say the least. He blushes, he flails, he can't find the right words, and frequently shoots himself in the foot.
Kanji's problems ultimately largely stem from a conflict between his natural interests and preferences, what society expects of him, and how what he likes and would otherwise act are perceived. He's spent his whole life trying to be a 'real man', thanks to his dying father's urges and influences - but he's grown up with hobbies that are seen as 'unmanly', loving to sew and knit thanks to his upbringing around his family's textile business and being fond of putting his considerable skills to use on creating such things as cute charms and plushies. Putting it bluntly, he loves cute and fluffy things! (Such things as fur coats and his teddy-bear team-mate have all caught his attention at some point…)
Unfortunately, not only have his hobbies been dismissed as 'unmanly', but they've caused plenty of accusations about his sexuality. He's had reason to consider that he might be gay on his own, and acknowledges there's a part of him that's bothered regarding relationships with girls, but overall, he's a rather confused young man as to where his actual attractions lie (particularly given that he fell for a cross-dressing team-mate without knowing her true gender…)
In the end, though, he's been known to state that his problems aren't about the gender of who he's attracted to - but whether he knows that they won't reject him in the same way as he's often felt rejected by society. And for all he's struggled with the idea of what being a 'real man' means, he's come to accept it as meaning putting his all into everything he does... a trait that he's proud to have.
AU Deviation:
While Kanji's backstory here is close to his canon, the differing and more egalitarian culture within Union has affected him positively: he's not so concerned about proving himself to be a real man who has strictly manly interests as he is concerned with proving himself strong and worthy. He's more open about the fact that he loves the cuteness, but still resents the implication that his artistic interests and his family's business aren't good enough to be more than just an amusement. He has less of an active berserk button, though his temper's still there to be triggered.
All the same, he does worry about what being strong means, and what sort of a person he is, especially with his Enlightened powers starting to emerge. Where's he supposed to fit in? Will he be able to fit in? Is he worthy of the abilities he's been given? With the traits he's starting to manifest, he's feeling under pressure to use them, show his strength… after all, being told to be strong by one so physically gifted… he's gotten into less fights, but has still done some foolish things. Less definitely doesn't mean none.
On a minor detail, he's not bothered bleaching his hair, here! It wasn't quite an obvious step to take to rebel, in this world where individuals can vary so dramatically physically.
Canon Abilities:
Kanji's skills lie in two discrete areas.
Firstly, he's a talented craftsman. His passion's for knitting and textile work, which he excels at, but he's also capable of putting together other things with ease.
In combat situations, while he's not trained, he's an experienced hand-to-hand fighter who's adept at improvising with weaponry.
While he can't directly use magic in the classical sense, he does have some paranormal abilities, in the form of his 'Persona'. This is a guardian being summoned from his heart and soul, part of his psyche: it takes the form of a metallic giant bearing a skeletal motif. It allows him to boost his or his allies' strength, use electrical attacks, and it can also attack directly with devastating strength. Thanks to its assistance/presence, he has a degree of immunity to electrical attacks, which can span outright absorbing them at later canon points. (If required, a detailed listing of specific moves is available on his journal at http://realmenknitplushies.dreamwidth.org/3193.html#cutid1.)
Enlightened Abilities:
Unevolved:
Kanji starts as Fighting/Electric type with the Engineer ability. (Resists: Electric, Steel, Dark, Rock; Weak to: Ground, Psychic, Fairy) He carries a sword with an unusual, lightning-bolt styled blade for stronger Electric-type physical attacks.
He's very physically strong and resilient, more than the human norm, and can briefly push his defences up higher than they already are if he focuses. He's particularly skilled when it comes to seeing how to use and improvise weaponry thanks to both his Fighting typing and his ability - he's as likely to use anything he can grab, regardless of if it's a real weapon (in his hands, it is), as he is to actually use his sword. He can weakly generate and manipulate electricity, surrounding himself with it or shooting off weak single target attacks.
First evolution:
At this stage, he'll come into a wider range of his Electric-type abilities, and is now able to hit multiple targets at once. He learns to charge up his attacks of both sorts, and to temporarily neutralise an enemy's strength against electrical attacks. His physical strength takes a boost, and he picks up a few more Fighting-type moves for his arsenal which take advantage of it. Electrical attacks no longer harm him. The first major physical signs will come at this point.
Second evolution:
At this stage, Kanji switches to a Steel/Electric type, something that'll be a very physically obvious change. (Resists: Electric, Bug, Dragon, Fairy, Flying x2, Grass, Ice, Normal, Psychic, Steel x2; Weak to: Fighting, Fire, Ground x2, immune to Poison)
At this point, electricity outright heals him, akin to the Pokémon ability Volt Absorb. He learns a good few new tricks. He gains very strong Electric attacks both of the single target and multiple target varieties, and Steel-type physical attacks, including a move akin to Double-Edge and the likes - extremely powerful, but with recoil. He finishes off with a special attack in his new type with the potential to flinch or faint any or all targets rapidly, though it's rather inaccurate to say the least.
Again, he gains general strength and defence boosts. To put it bluntly, at this stage, he's a hell of a tank.
Starter Pokémon: Mareep (L.8, city), Houndour (L.7, forest common)
Notes/Special Considerations: N/A
SAMPLES
First-Person:
Outside game thread: http://asgardeventide.dreamwidth.org/827096.html : A network post where Kanji's selling toys to the other residents of the city he's in and getting a bit overwhelmed!
Third-Person:
Questionnaire used.
-What do you feel your role in Union is?
To tell ya the truth, I'm still workin' on that. But that ain't a very good answer, huh... I just don't know. I mean, I'd be happy enough as long as I've got the chance to work with my hands, do something like that - but I don't know, is that really 'my role'? It's just a thing I'm good at. I'm still trying to find out where I fit in… but sometimes, doesn't feel like there is anywhere I've got. I want to be worth something, want to pull my weight…
…just sometimes, I think I've already gone and screwed things up there.
-To what lengths would you go to rescue your allies if they were lost in the wilderness?
As long as there was still a chance we'd be able to find 'em, I'd keep going. I mean, there's a point where you've gotta step back, but … until I'd used up every option I had available, I wouldn't stop. These people and Pokémon relied on me, right? They trusted me. That doesn't happen often. I'd want to be able to be someone worthy of that trust.
-What do you think your Pokémon respect most about you?
They know I've always got their back. I ain't gonna let them down, no matter what happens: I'm always gonna be there for them. I hope they know that, anyway…
Doesn't hurt that I kinda spoil 'em silly sometimes, I suppose.
-The gods of old have returned. How would you be judged if you were chosen as a representative of humanity?
Me?! Aw, hell. Well… I hope they'd appreciate that I've tried to do the right thing for everyone. Though… yeah. Not been doing so good at that recently, I've gotta admit. This could be a problem. But if they're gods, they'd be able to tell, right?
I'll just have to hope that they've picked someone else too.
-You plunge into the depths of the Old City. What is it that you seek from the past? Treasure, technology, wisdom?
I'm not worried about the information or the gadgets. There're better people than me to look at that stuff. This is gonna sound trivial, but - If I ever go down there, I'd kinda like to take a good look at what the ancients' art was like. Their architecture, too, might be cool, just to see how they made all this stuff… it's gotta be incredible. I think Ma's got a couple of bits and pieces around the place, actually...
-When encountering a rare and powerful Pokémon, what is most important? Researching it, bonding with it, or defeating it? Why?
Damn. I'm torn. The challenge of going head to head with something like that would be… it'd be a hell of a test. If I could beat something like that… man. That'd prove I'm living up to what Dad wanted.
But to be able to stand side by side with a legend, to be able to say that hey, it's my friend, it respects me… that's got a lot going for it, too, gotta say. And maybe it'd be able to teach me something new. Maybe it'd be able to teach me what I've gotta do to be strong.
-No Enlightened chooses their abilities - and not all are Enlightened. What type abilities would you most desire to manifest and why?
I kinda like what I've got - it's good to know that I'm gonna have that strength there someday. But I'd like something that'll help me to defend myself. Rock, Steel - something that can take whatever gets thrown at me. Huh, maybe Dragon, or Fairy, from that point of view… heh, gotta say, I wouldn't complain about being able to throw around some of that shiny stuff. You seen some of their moves?
…Dad was a Steel-type. So, uh, yeah.
-What area do you seek to explore? The peaceful forest, in search of new, previously overlooked discoveries; the uncharted caves, in search of the unknown; or the wildest of mountain terrain, in search of danger, adventure, and thrills?
Anything where I can say that I was the first person to see something… that would be amazing. So maybe the caves would fit the bill there. The mountains would be awesome, too - I ain't gonna run away from a challenge, ya know? But I don't wanna go getting in trouble just so I can say that, hey, I did it. Because that's what that kinda feels like.
Name: Sleepy
Contact Information: DW and Plurk sleepyphoenix, AIM oneirologue
Time Zone: GMT
Characters Played: N/A
CHARACTER INFO
Character Name: Kanji Tatsumi
Character Canon: Persona 4
History: http://megamitensei.wikia.com/wiki/Kanji_Tatsumi
AU History:
Kanji was born late in life to a Trainer mother and an Enlightened former Ranger father. After fruitful careers, they'd settled down together in late in life to open an art gallery, showcasing imagery and crafts inspired by their work and travels. As such, he'd always been around creativity and craftsmanship, and acquired a love of beauty and making things from them, one both were happy to indulge. While his father was an intimidating-looking man, one clearly physically evolved, he cared deeply for his son - however, this was to prove to become a problem in an unexpected way.
Not even the most powerful Enlightened are immune to sickness and hurt. Kanji would have to face this head on, with his father dying when he was young, and being unable to even say goodbye to him… just about the last words he would hear would be telling him that 'a man needs to become strong'. Words from a seemingly ferocious and powerful individual to a gentle child that would change his outlook on life. What could strength mean, in that context, but physical strength and toughness? It set his course, with him throwing himself into more physical pursuits - and at its worst, into him trying to prove himself strong by fighting. Society's pressure, versus a father's dying wishes, and a culture that told him that his skills weren't needed… it set him up for confusion, stress, and a whole lot of trouble.
While his mother'd suspected that Kanji was Enlightened from early on, he showed very few signs of his gifts until more recently in life. There was one incident that pushed them to the front… a horde of wild Pokémon sneaking out from the Old City, marauding around the gallery. While logic might have dictated that he let his mother and her beloved crew fight them off, his stubbornness and sheer panic drove him to attempt to do the job himself - at least, with his one Mareep by his side. With the number of birds there'd been in that group, at least he'd had type advantage in his favour, reflexively tapping into his Electric abilities… but it was still close.
It proved to him just what potential he had - but also showed him how far he had to go. As such, he decided that he'd have to start training in earnest (not like he'd been the best student for a while)… and as of the present day, he's about to take his first step into the wide world outside the city to do just that.
Canon Personality:
At first glance, it's easy to make assumptions about Kanji. He's a drop-out. A delinquent. The sort of person who just wants to cause trouble, and doesn't care what anyone else thinks. The way he carries himself, his dress, his hair: he could be any gang member on the streets. This image carries through in a casual conversation with him, too: his speech patterns are rough and casual with a fair helping of bad language and he's all too likely to go on the attack at the slightest provocation. He loves to fight, loves the challenge and the adrenalin rush, and he's extremely adept at improvising with weaponry (being known for attacking opponents with a chair!)
However, while it's inaccurate to refer to his rough exterior as entirely a front, it's not the entirety of who and what he is. It's a defense mechanism, developed over many years, that's worked a little too well in protecting his inner self from the scrutinies of others. Inside, Kanji's spent a long time deeply insecure about who he is, and while during the course of the game he's worked to overcome this and become happy with himself it's taken him a long time to do so. If he's in any way accused of being strange or weird - or if he perceives it, something which he has a tendency to do so over the smallest thing - it's very likely that he'll go straight for the throat in his replies. Even worse, he's very likely to fly off in a rage if his berserk buttons are pressed, though he's working on controlling that much.
On a more positive note? He's very generous, when he gets the chance to be, being willing to give both his time and his handiwork very freely to others. He's a very protective individual, too, standing up for those weaker than him against accusation and trouble at the drop of a hat. A lot of his history of conflict comes from him trying to do what's right and look out for others: he's been known to go as far as tearing a whole biker gang apart single-handedly just to save his mother's sleep at night. When he warms up to someone, he softens quite a bit, becoming extremely caring and possibly more than a little awkward - he's not the greatest at admitting to his feelings, to say the least. He blushes, he flails, he can't find the right words, and frequently shoots himself in the foot.
Kanji's problems ultimately largely stem from a conflict between his natural interests and preferences, what society expects of him, and how what he likes and would otherwise act are perceived. He's spent his whole life trying to be a 'real man', thanks to his dying father's urges and influences - but he's grown up with hobbies that are seen as 'unmanly', loving to sew and knit thanks to his upbringing around his family's textile business and being fond of putting his considerable skills to use on creating such things as cute charms and plushies. Putting it bluntly, he loves cute and fluffy things! (Such things as fur coats and his teddy-bear team-mate have all caught his attention at some point…)
Unfortunately, not only have his hobbies been dismissed as 'unmanly', but they've caused plenty of accusations about his sexuality. He's had reason to consider that he might be gay on his own, and acknowledges there's a part of him that's bothered regarding relationships with girls, but overall, he's a rather confused young man as to where his actual attractions lie (particularly given that he fell for a cross-dressing team-mate without knowing her true gender…)
In the end, though, he's been known to state that his problems aren't about the gender of who he's attracted to - but whether he knows that they won't reject him in the same way as he's often felt rejected by society. And for all he's struggled with the idea of what being a 'real man' means, he's come to accept it as meaning putting his all into everything he does... a trait that he's proud to have.
AU Deviation:
While Kanji's backstory here is close to his canon, the differing and more egalitarian culture within Union has affected him positively: he's not so concerned about proving himself to be a real man who has strictly manly interests as he is concerned with proving himself strong and worthy. He's more open about the fact that he loves the cuteness, but still resents the implication that his artistic interests and his family's business aren't good enough to be more than just an amusement. He has less of an active berserk button, though his temper's still there to be triggered.
All the same, he does worry about what being strong means, and what sort of a person he is, especially with his Enlightened powers starting to emerge. Where's he supposed to fit in? Will he be able to fit in? Is he worthy of the abilities he's been given? With the traits he's starting to manifest, he's feeling under pressure to use them, show his strength… after all, being told to be strong by one so physically gifted… he's gotten into less fights, but has still done some foolish things. Less definitely doesn't mean none.
On a minor detail, he's not bothered bleaching his hair, here! It wasn't quite an obvious step to take to rebel, in this world where individuals can vary so dramatically physically.
Canon Abilities:
Kanji's skills lie in two discrete areas.
Firstly, he's a talented craftsman. His passion's for knitting and textile work, which he excels at, but he's also capable of putting together other things with ease.
In combat situations, while he's not trained, he's an experienced hand-to-hand fighter who's adept at improvising with weaponry.
While he can't directly use magic in the classical sense, he does have some paranormal abilities, in the form of his 'Persona'. This is a guardian being summoned from his heart and soul, part of his psyche: it takes the form of a metallic giant bearing a skeletal motif. It allows him to boost his or his allies' strength, use electrical attacks, and it can also attack directly with devastating strength. Thanks to its assistance/presence, he has a degree of immunity to electrical attacks, which can span outright absorbing them at later canon points. (If required, a detailed listing of specific moves is available on his journal at http://realmenknitplushies.dreamwidth.org/3193.html#cutid1.)
Enlightened Abilities:
Unevolved:
Kanji starts as Fighting/Electric type with the Engineer ability. (Resists: Electric, Steel, Dark, Rock; Weak to: Ground, Psychic, Fairy) He carries a sword with an unusual, lightning-bolt styled blade for stronger Electric-type physical attacks.
He's very physically strong and resilient, more than the human norm, and can briefly push his defences up higher than they already are if he focuses. He's particularly skilled when it comes to seeing how to use and improvise weaponry thanks to both his Fighting typing and his ability - he's as likely to use anything he can grab, regardless of if it's a real weapon (in his hands, it is), as he is to actually use his sword. He can weakly generate and manipulate electricity, surrounding himself with it or shooting off weak single target attacks.
First evolution:
At this stage, he'll come into a wider range of his Electric-type abilities, and is now able to hit multiple targets at once. He learns to charge up his attacks of both sorts, and to temporarily neutralise an enemy's strength against electrical attacks. His physical strength takes a boost, and he picks up a few more Fighting-type moves for his arsenal which take advantage of it. Electrical attacks no longer harm him. The first major physical signs will come at this point.
Second evolution:
At this stage, Kanji switches to a Steel/Electric type, something that'll be a very physically obvious change. (Resists: Electric, Bug, Dragon, Fairy, Flying x2, Grass, Ice, Normal, Psychic, Steel x2; Weak to: Fighting, Fire, Ground x2, immune to Poison)
At this point, electricity outright heals him, akin to the Pokémon ability Volt Absorb. He learns a good few new tricks. He gains very strong Electric attacks both of the single target and multiple target varieties, and Steel-type physical attacks, including a move akin to Double-Edge and the likes - extremely powerful, but with recoil. He finishes off with a special attack in his new type with the potential to flinch or faint any or all targets rapidly, though it's rather inaccurate to say the least.
Again, he gains general strength and defence boosts. To put it bluntly, at this stage, he's a hell of a tank.
Starter Pokémon: Mareep (L.8, city), Houndour (L.7, forest common)
Notes/Special Considerations: N/A
SAMPLES
First-Person:
Outside game thread: http://asgardeventide.dreamwidth.org/827096.html : A network post where Kanji's selling toys to the other residents of the city he's in and getting a bit overwhelmed!
Third-Person:
Questionnaire used.
-What do you feel your role in Union is?
To tell ya the truth, I'm still workin' on that. But that ain't a very good answer, huh... I just don't know. I mean, I'd be happy enough as long as I've got the chance to work with my hands, do something like that - but I don't know, is that really 'my role'? It's just a thing I'm good at. I'm still trying to find out where I fit in… but sometimes, doesn't feel like there is anywhere I've got. I want to be worth something, want to pull my weight…
…just sometimes, I think I've already gone and screwed things up there.
-To what lengths would you go to rescue your allies if they were lost in the wilderness?
As long as there was still a chance we'd be able to find 'em, I'd keep going. I mean, there's a point where you've gotta step back, but … until I'd used up every option I had available, I wouldn't stop. These people and Pokémon relied on me, right? They trusted me. That doesn't happen often. I'd want to be able to be someone worthy of that trust.
-What do you think your Pokémon respect most about you?
They know I've always got their back. I ain't gonna let them down, no matter what happens: I'm always gonna be there for them. I hope they know that, anyway…
Doesn't hurt that I kinda spoil 'em silly sometimes, I suppose.
-The gods of old have returned. How would you be judged if you were chosen as a representative of humanity?
Me?! Aw, hell. Well… I hope they'd appreciate that I've tried to do the right thing for everyone. Though… yeah. Not been doing so good at that recently, I've gotta admit. This could be a problem. But if they're gods, they'd be able to tell, right?
I'll just have to hope that they've picked someone else too.
-You plunge into the depths of the Old City. What is it that you seek from the past? Treasure, technology, wisdom?
I'm not worried about the information or the gadgets. There're better people than me to look at that stuff. This is gonna sound trivial, but - If I ever go down there, I'd kinda like to take a good look at what the ancients' art was like. Their architecture, too, might be cool, just to see how they made all this stuff… it's gotta be incredible. I think Ma's got a couple of bits and pieces around the place, actually...
-When encountering a rare and powerful Pokémon, what is most important? Researching it, bonding with it, or defeating it? Why?
Damn. I'm torn. The challenge of going head to head with something like that would be… it'd be a hell of a test. If I could beat something like that… man. That'd prove I'm living up to what Dad wanted.
But to be able to stand side by side with a legend, to be able to say that hey, it's my friend, it respects me… that's got a lot going for it, too, gotta say. And maybe it'd be able to teach me something new. Maybe it'd be able to teach me what I've gotta do to be strong.
-No Enlightened chooses their abilities - and not all are Enlightened. What type abilities would you most desire to manifest and why?
I kinda like what I've got - it's good to know that I'm gonna have that strength there someday. But I'd like something that'll help me to defend myself. Rock, Steel - something that can take whatever gets thrown at me. Huh, maybe Dragon, or Fairy, from that point of view… heh, gotta say, I wouldn't complain about being able to throw around some of that shiny stuff. You seen some of their moves?
…Dad was a Steel-type. So, uh, yeah.
-What area do you seek to explore? The peaceful forest, in search of new, previously overlooked discoveries; the uncharted caves, in search of the unknown; or the wildest of mountain terrain, in search of danger, adventure, and thrills?
Anything where I can say that I was the first person to see something… that would be amazing. So maybe the caves would fit the bill there. The mountains would be awesome, too - I ain't gonna run away from a challenge, ya know? But I don't wanna go getting in trouble just so I can say that, hey, I did it. Because that's what that kinda feels like.