App to kannagara_rpg
PLAYER INFO
Name/Nickname: Qu-ko
Age: 20
Journal: aphotic
AIM/MSN/IM: HighinQusitor
Email: kaleidobeam [at] gmail.com
CHARACTER INFO
Character Name: Johan Andersen
Canon: Yu-Gi-Oh GX
Point taken from canon: Post-series
Age: 18
Gender: Male
Appearance: With clear, earnest sea-green eyes, fair pale skin, and spontaneously rumpled (if you take "spontaneous" to mean "uncombed") turquoise hair, Johan's genetics help him stand out pretty easily; he has a distinctly European look about him, as it turns out. He's not a classical vision of manly beauty in all respects -- he may have the body and facial structure at the core, but everything else falls a bit short of the title. A lavender shirt with a low-cut V-neck and frilly cuffs is his choice in shirts, which he somehow manages to make work when offset with his surprisingly built body (though you'd never be able to tell with how baggy the shirt is). On top of the shirt is a blue box vest styled in the same way most Duel Academia uniforms are, and below it are black jeans, followed by brown (possibly suede?) legwarmers and the tops of white boots.
Lineart: http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u248/GX-DVD/GX%20Duel%20Box%20Lineart%20Scans/scan_gx193.jpg
Color: http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u248/GX-DVD/GX%20Duel%20Box%20Colour%20Scans/scan_gx185.jpg
Background: http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Jesse_Andersen -- Yu-Gi-Oh Wiki link. It uses dub terminology, but you can get the idea of both original Johan and dub Jesse from it, at least. (For reference, I'm apping original-version Johan.)
Personality: Open and honest, bright and energetic, and rarely anything less than perfectly cheerful, Johan is basically a nice, well-rounded sort of guy to most people: kind and caring, but assertive and unafraid to take action when it counts. He's been compared to Juudai a couple different times in canon, in that they both radiate the same sort of positive energy and have a lot of things in common. He and Juudai are both equally determined not to lose or give in when it comes to dueling and other things that matter to them, but Johan seems to differ slightly in that he's less brash, reckless, and far more likely to think before doing things. He's as equally intelligent and quick-witted as Juudai, but is more apt to actually employing that critical thinking skill when it counts instead of trusting his first impulse right away... in other words, he's the good sense Juudai never had.
He's very easygoing and laid-back, fun-loving and carefree; he treats everyone with the same pleasant consideration, and yet possesses a rather... odd sense of humor, one that takes really getting to know to understand properly. Sometimes he come across as being kind of an airhead -- not to say he's an idiot, because he can have some pretty surprising flashes of insight, but he often says things that seem a bit out-of-place, even in context. On the other hand, he's also exceedingly generous and compassionate with even the most distant of strangers, and if you really needed it, he'd go so far as to give you the shirt off his back no matter who you might be. One would think this would mean he'd have many other friends, but in truth, while his core personality is quite agreeable and easy to get along with, he can have difficulty relating to those who don't have the same sort of priorities he does -- i.e. spirits. If you don't believe in them, don't like dueling, or even just if you're skeptical because you can't see spirits for yourself, it may be more difficult for him to really connect with you. But at heart, he's the most benign friend anyone could ever ask for: Johan truly just wants to help out as many people as he can whether or not he knows them personally, and protect the handful of real friends he has. Which, incidentally, is probably part of why he and Juudai get along so frighteningly well. Juudai's really the only human friend he can call truly close at this point; everyone else is just a classmate or an acquaintance.
His deck also reflects his personality. Statistically, the Gem Beasts aren't particularly strong when it comes to attack power, with the exception of Rainbow Dragon, but their ability is unique, in that they are difficult to force to leave the field -- once destroyed by battle, they go into a magic/trap zone on his side of the field. To him, this is their way of never leaving him. His strategy is also unusual for a duelist -- he refuses to destroy monsters through any means other than direct confrontation. His reasoning for this? Johan simply wants to see the full potential a duelist can express. To this end, he also makes bluffs and jokes around to rile up and taunt the opponent into giving it their all, which is also an example of his previously-mentioned peculiar sense of humor, since while Johan himself knows his intent in egging the other guy on, his opponent may not always interpret this the way he might want them to.
As mentioned before, Johan is fiercely protective of those people he cares about. Such people do not have to be human to be counted, either -- he considers the Crystal Beasts, the spirits of his deck, as his one and only family, and for all intents and purposes, they really are. They all act as a self-sufficient family unit, and each relies on the others for support. And with eight (possibly nine if you count Rainbow Dragon) members to back the others up, it's an incredibly effective emotional pillar for him. Johan also cares about the spirits of others, as well, even if they have no connection to him at all... to the point where even if it's one of his own Crystal Beasts on the line, he will think long and hard about having to sacrifice one spirit for the safety of the other, even when most wouldn't think twice about letting the unrelated living thing go in favor of the one that is much more dear to them. Perhaps this makes him idealistic or overly-emotional, since he really just wants to save them all without any sacrifices, but so far, this line of thinking has served him well for his purposes. It just pleases him immensely to be able to bridge spirits and humans together using his ability to communicate with the normally-undetectable spirits. He values life highly in all its forms, up to and including the non-human variety, and will do anything to preserve and build upon the bonds that people form with their spirit partners.
If you manage to get on Johan's bad side, though (and usually to do that you have to be trying really hard), you'll stay there more or less forever. Generally, this is accomplished by insulting or otherwise harming his most precious things in some way, up to and including Duel Monsters and the spirits within -- personal insults are one thing, but threatening spirits or people he cares about is something he takes fiercely, furiously personally. He can and will take you down a couple pegs if you do something he considers as despicable and cowardly as threats or hurting others, and won't hesitate to hold a grudge unless you prove you're genuinely remorseful for your misstep.
Much like Juudai, he's ever-so-slightly scatterbrained, a little bit stubborn, and thick-headed in some respects, but always means well with what he does; he's also loyal and trustworthy, friendly and vivacious, and to top it all off, he's never actively unpleasant or abrasive (unless, of course, you're the villain of the moment or something). And if that's the case, he'll do his best to be heroic if the circumstances allow it to correct your judgment if you're a villain, by dueling if necessary, or to be upfront and frank with you if you're just a rather antagonistic person in general. That desire to be a hero as such is part of why he looks up to Juudai so much, along with being a friend of his. And together, the two of them are more like a force of nature than mere humans in personality... and in dueling prowess, since it's been stated (and proven) that when they combine their powers, they can make miracles.
Abilities/Strengths:
Johan has high supernatural senses, up to and including the ability to see and speak with spirits. He can't do much else with it, but it's an advantage for someone who cares so much about them. The Gem Beasts seem to be able to protect him against things like certain forms of mental manipulation, at that, but more powerful attempts may still break through their defense. He also has dueling skill pouring out of his ears, much like Juudai does. The flow of the duel often bleeds into his thought processes naturally; he's capable of thinking on his feet and acting quickly when necessary. It's part of being a good duelist.
Personality-wise, Johan's pretty strong and difficult to break from mere words. He's perpetually good-natured and loyal, and kind to people unless they actively try to cross him. He's proven himself to be a capable leader, acting assertive and taking measures to take control of dangerous situations where it counted. This is seen multiple times in season three when he starts to handle the survival measures and complaints of the students of Duel Academia when it's first sent to the desert world. And if you manage to get on his good side, you've more or less got it made, because he'll always be looking out for his friends.
Weaknesses:
Other than seeing spirits, an extremely unusual ability in his world, Johan has no real supernatural powers to defend himself with to speak of. A rarity in anime characters of the shounen variety, perhaps, but in a world that doesn't utilize dueling so heavily, he won't have a whole lot of means to defend himself against attacks. This in itself is probably a huge weakness in a place with people with powers all over the place. And gods. Can't forget the gods.
The flaws that exist in his personality seem at first to be few and far between at first, because he's a person who's so secure with himself. For starters, though, he can have a tendency to be stubborn, especially when it comes to the existence of spirits. He has the strangest sense of humor most people have ever come into contact with, and it isn't always to everyone's tastes; he's not above pulling harmless pranks, but ones that aren't as funny or cute as he probably thinks they are to other people. On a similar note, he sometimes has difficulty really clicking with people he socializes with. He does give everyone around him the default amount of politeness and respect (which may be more than average, all things considered), but often, the people he meets don't achieve much more than acquaintanceship despite efforts on both ends.
He's able to be taken advantage of for his giving nature if someone who's especially manipulative puts their mind to it. It's difficult, but possible nonetheless. Johan is also a bad grudge-holder, despite the difficulty in earning one from him; while he's not beyond forgiveness, if you don't prove that you've earned that forgiveness, you'll be on his shitlist for a while. Finally, Johan is also incredibly self-sacrificing, and values the lives of others over his own -- which could be a good or a bad thing, granted.
Defining Quote(s):
"In my deck, aside from counter cards, there aren't any cards that destroy my opponent's cards. It's easy to destroy a monster with an effect. But it's the same as sealing your opponent's potential before you're able to see it. I always want to see what my opponent can do! That way, both sides can unleash all their power! That's the kind of duel I aim for!" -- Johan, episode 106
"Johan Andersen... to him, a powerful bond exists between a player and his monsters. [...] It's a bond of reliance on, and understanding of, one another, like that of a family. The Gem Beasts, who don't leave the field when destroyed, give Johan a feeling of relief in that his monsters are always protecting him. To him, they support his heart, always in front of him, getting him through any crisis." -- Edo Phoenix, episode 107, on Johan as a duelist
"Kenzan, you use a dinosaur deck? Let me see, let me see!"
"Well, I don't let anyone else see it..."
"You say it like it's hard to do. If you're Juudai's follower, you're my follower, too!"
"Uhh... that's not it..." -- Johan and Tyranno Kenzan, episode 108
"That's something... I can't do! Those spirits give me a reason to duel! My goal to become the bridge connecting human to spirits... I... as I go through this mission, they remind me of that!" -- Johan, episode 116
"You really are a strong person, Johan!"
"I fight for the ones who believe in me. It's something I'll always feel for the Duel Monsters."
"I envy you... for having that kind fo heart. For me, there's nothing but the fun in a duel."
"That's not it. It's just that you haven't realized it yet, Juudai. There must be some feeling that motivates you." -- Juudai and Johan, episode 117
"I know how you feel, but is it right if something happens to the students at the school because of that?! [...] The dead can't be brought back to life! You'd really believe something like that?!" -- Johan, episode 118, regarding Professor Cobra's desire to revive his son
"We'll survive using our own might! That's something we all learned through dueling, right?!" -- Johan, episode 120
"I won't let you do that! I'll protect Juudai with all my might, even if I have to sacrifice myself!"
"Oh? Why would you bother?"
"Isn't it obvious? Juudai's my friend! And not just that, he's my best friend!" -- Johan and Yubel, episode 130
"Amazing... these are the Three Demons? This is exciting! Between them and Rainbow Dragon... who's stronger?"
"That guy... does he know that our chances of returning to our world are riding on this battle?" -- Johan and Austin O'Brien, episode 130
"Juudai! It's been my dream to use my dueling to save everyone. And now, the time's come to make that wish come true! I leave the rest to you! [...] Rainbow Dragon... fly! Become everyone's bridge!" -- Johan, episode 130
Other: Basic important headcanon is as follows, just to make things a little easier should they ever come up due to the gaping holes in his character: backstory-wise, Johan originates from Norway, since his exact country of origin was never specified. He also lost his entire biological family very young, making him essentially an orphan -- which, to this apper, makes some amount of sense based on all the things he says about his family "never leaving him" and the bit about people being unable to be brought back from death. Norwegian is his first language, but he's also fluent in Japanese and slightly less in English.
He didn't have a whole lot of human friends growing up, since most of them made fun of him for being "weird" and having "imaginary friends", but he never let it bother him too much, because he always had the spirits to support him. To get the Gem Beasts, he also had to give up the spirits of his previous deck in order to switch over, which was a hard decision, but in the end, something he doesn't regret.
And, more importantly, after the series ends, he becomes a pro duelist with the idea of raising awareness of spirits around the world.
Name/Nickname: Qu-ko
Age: 20
Journal: aphotic
AIM/MSN/IM: HighinQusitor
Email: kaleidobeam [at] gmail.com
CHARACTER INFO
Character Name: Johan Andersen
Canon: Yu-Gi-Oh GX
Point taken from canon: Post-series
Age: 18
Gender: Male
Appearance: With clear, earnest sea-green eyes, fair pale skin, and spontaneously rumpled (if you take "spontaneous" to mean "uncombed") turquoise hair, Johan's genetics help him stand out pretty easily; he has a distinctly European look about him, as it turns out. He's not a classical vision of manly beauty in all respects -- he may have the body and facial structure at the core, but everything else falls a bit short of the title. A lavender shirt with a low-cut V-neck and frilly cuffs is his choice in shirts, which he somehow manages to make work when offset with his surprisingly built body (though you'd never be able to tell with how baggy the shirt is). On top of the shirt is a blue box vest styled in the same way most Duel Academia uniforms are, and below it are black jeans, followed by brown (possibly suede?) legwarmers and the tops of white boots.
Lineart: http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u248/GX-DVD/GX%20Duel%20Box%20Lineart%20Scans/scan_gx193.jpg
Color: http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u248/GX-DVD/GX%20Duel%20Box%20Colour%20Scans/scan_gx185.jpg
Background: http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Jesse_Andersen -- Yu-Gi-Oh Wiki link. It uses dub terminology, but you can get the idea of both original Johan and dub Jesse from it, at least. (For reference, I'm apping original-version Johan.)
Personality: Open and honest, bright and energetic, and rarely anything less than perfectly cheerful, Johan is basically a nice, well-rounded sort of guy to most people: kind and caring, but assertive and unafraid to take action when it counts. He's been compared to Juudai a couple different times in canon, in that they both radiate the same sort of positive energy and have a lot of things in common. He and Juudai are both equally determined not to lose or give in when it comes to dueling and other things that matter to them, but Johan seems to differ slightly in that he's less brash, reckless, and far more likely to think before doing things. He's as equally intelligent and quick-witted as Juudai, but is more apt to actually employing that critical thinking skill when it counts instead of trusting his first impulse right away... in other words, he's the good sense Juudai never had.
He's very easygoing and laid-back, fun-loving and carefree; he treats everyone with the same pleasant consideration, and yet possesses a rather... odd sense of humor, one that takes really getting to know to understand properly. Sometimes he come across as being kind of an airhead -- not to say he's an idiot, because he can have some pretty surprising flashes of insight, but he often says things that seem a bit out-of-place, even in context. On the other hand, he's also exceedingly generous and compassionate with even the most distant of strangers, and if you really needed it, he'd go so far as to give you the shirt off his back no matter who you might be. One would think this would mean he'd have many other friends, but in truth, while his core personality is quite agreeable and easy to get along with, he can have difficulty relating to those who don't have the same sort of priorities he does -- i.e. spirits. If you don't believe in them, don't like dueling, or even just if you're skeptical because you can't see spirits for yourself, it may be more difficult for him to really connect with you. But at heart, he's the most benign friend anyone could ever ask for: Johan truly just wants to help out as many people as he can whether or not he knows them personally, and protect the handful of real friends he has. Which, incidentally, is probably part of why he and Juudai get along so frighteningly well. Juudai's really the only human friend he can call truly close at this point; everyone else is just a classmate or an acquaintance.
His deck also reflects his personality. Statistically, the Gem Beasts aren't particularly strong when it comes to attack power, with the exception of Rainbow Dragon, but their ability is unique, in that they are difficult to force to leave the field -- once destroyed by battle, they go into a magic/trap zone on his side of the field. To him, this is their way of never leaving him. His strategy is also unusual for a duelist -- he refuses to destroy monsters through any means other than direct confrontation. His reasoning for this? Johan simply wants to see the full potential a duelist can express. To this end, he also makes bluffs and jokes around to rile up and taunt the opponent into giving it their all, which is also an example of his previously-mentioned peculiar sense of humor, since while Johan himself knows his intent in egging the other guy on, his opponent may not always interpret this the way he might want them to.
As mentioned before, Johan is fiercely protective of those people he cares about. Such people do not have to be human to be counted, either -- he considers the Crystal Beasts, the spirits of his deck, as his one and only family, and for all intents and purposes, they really are. They all act as a self-sufficient family unit, and each relies on the others for support. And with eight (possibly nine if you count Rainbow Dragon) members to back the others up, it's an incredibly effective emotional pillar for him. Johan also cares about the spirits of others, as well, even if they have no connection to him at all... to the point where even if it's one of his own Crystal Beasts on the line, he will think long and hard about having to sacrifice one spirit for the safety of the other, even when most wouldn't think twice about letting the unrelated living thing go in favor of the one that is much more dear to them. Perhaps this makes him idealistic or overly-emotional, since he really just wants to save them all without any sacrifices, but so far, this line of thinking has served him well for his purposes. It just pleases him immensely to be able to bridge spirits and humans together using his ability to communicate with the normally-undetectable spirits. He values life highly in all its forms, up to and including the non-human variety, and will do anything to preserve and build upon the bonds that people form with their spirit partners.
If you manage to get on Johan's bad side, though (and usually to do that you have to be trying really hard), you'll stay there more or less forever. Generally, this is accomplished by insulting or otherwise harming his most precious things in some way, up to and including Duel Monsters and the spirits within -- personal insults are one thing, but threatening spirits or people he cares about is something he takes fiercely, furiously personally. He can and will take you down a couple pegs if you do something he considers as despicable and cowardly as threats or hurting others, and won't hesitate to hold a grudge unless you prove you're genuinely remorseful for your misstep.
Much like Juudai, he's ever-so-slightly scatterbrained, a little bit stubborn, and thick-headed in some respects, but always means well with what he does; he's also loyal and trustworthy, friendly and vivacious, and to top it all off, he's never actively unpleasant or abrasive (unless, of course, you're the villain of the moment or something). And if that's the case, he'll do his best to be heroic if the circumstances allow it to correct your judgment if you're a villain, by dueling if necessary, or to be upfront and frank with you if you're just a rather antagonistic person in general. That desire to be a hero as such is part of why he looks up to Juudai so much, along with being a friend of his. And together, the two of them are more like a force of nature than mere humans in personality... and in dueling prowess, since it's been stated (and proven) that when they combine their powers, they can make miracles.
Abilities/Strengths:
Johan has high supernatural senses, up to and including the ability to see and speak with spirits. He can't do much else with it, but it's an advantage for someone who cares so much about them. The Gem Beasts seem to be able to protect him against things like certain forms of mental manipulation, at that, but more powerful attempts may still break through their defense. He also has dueling skill pouring out of his ears, much like Juudai does. The flow of the duel often bleeds into his thought processes naturally; he's capable of thinking on his feet and acting quickly when necessary. It's part of being a good duelist.
Personality-wise, Johan's pretty strong and difficult to break from mere words. He's perpetually good-natured and loyal, and kind to people unless they actively try to cross him. He's proven himself to be a capable leader, acting assertive and taking measures to take control of dangerous situations where it counted. This is seen multiple times in season three when he starts to handle the survival measures and complaints of the students of Duel Academia when it's first sent to the desert world. And if you manage to get on his good side, you've more or less got it made, because he'll always be looking out for his friends.
Weaknesses:
Other than seeing spirits, an extremely unusual ability in his world, Johan has no real supernatural powers to defend himself with to speak of. A rarity in anime characters of the shounen variety, perhaps, but in a world that doesn't utilize dueling so heavily, he won't have a whole lot of means to defend himself against attacks. This in itself is probably a huge weakness in a place with people with powers all over the place. And gods. Can't forget the gods.
The flaws that exist in his personality seem at first to be few and far between at first, because he's a person who's so secure with himself. For starters, though, he can have a tendency to be stubborn, especially when it comes to the existence of spirits. He has the strangest sense of humor most people have ever come into contact with, and it isn't always to everyone's tastes; he's not above pulling harmless pranks, but ones that aren't as funny or cute as he probably thinks they are to other people. On a similar note, he sometimes has difficulty really clicking with people he socializes with. He does give everyone around him the default amount of politeness and respect (which may be more than average, all things considered), but often, the people he meets don't achieve much more than acquaintanceship despite efforts on both ends.
He's able to be taken advantage of for his giving nature if someone who's especially manipulative puts their mind to it. It's difficult, but possible nonetheless. Johan is also a bad grudge-holder, despite the difficulty in earning one from him; while he's not beyond forgiveness, if you don't prove that you've earned that forgiveness, you'll be on his shitlist for a while. Finally, Johan is also incredibly self-sacrificing, and values the lives of others over his own -- which could be a good or a bad thing, granted.
Defining Quote(s):
"In my deck, aside from counter cards, there aren't any cards that destroy my opponent's cards. It's easy to destroy a monster with an effect. But it's the same as sealing your opponent's potential before you're able to see it. I always want to see what my opponent can do! That way, both sides can unleash all their power! That's the kind of duel I aim for!" -- Johan, episode 106
"Johan Andersen... to him, a powerful bond exists between a player and his monsters. [...] It's a bond of reliance on, and understanding of, one another, like that of a family. The Gem Beasts, who don't leave the field when destroyed, give Johan a feeling of relief in that his monsters are always protecting him. To him, they support his heart, always in front of him, getting him through any crisis." -- Edo Phoenix, episode 107, on Johan as a duelist
"Kenzan, you use a dinosaur deck? Let me see, let me see!"
"Well, I don't let anyone else see it..."
"You say it like it's hard to do. If you're Juudai's follower, you're my follower, too!"
"Uhh... that's not it..." -- Johan and Tyranno Kenzan, episode 108
"That's something... I can't do! Those spirits give me a reason to duel! My goal to become the bridge connecting human to spirits... I... as I go through this mission, they remind me of that!" -- Johan, episode 116
"You really are a strong person, Johan!"
"I fight for the ones who believe in me. It's something I'll always feel for the Duel Monsters."
"I envy you... for having that kind fo heart. For me, there's nothing but the fun in a duel."
"That's not it. It's just that you haven't realized it yet, Juudai. There must be some feeling that motivates you." -- Juudai and Johan, episode 117
"I know how you feel, but is it right if something happens to the students at the school because of that?! [...] The dead can't be brought back to life! You'd really believe something like that?!" -- Johan, episode 118, regarding Professor Cobra's desire to revive his son
"We'll survive using our own might! That's something we all learned through dueling, right?!" -- Johan, episode 120
"I won't let you do that! I'll protect Juudai with all my might, even if I have to sacrifice myself!"
"Oh? Why would you bother?"
"Isn't it obvious? Juudai's my friend! And not just that, he's my best friend!" -- Johan and Yubel, episode 130
"Amazing... these are the Three Demons? This is exciting! Between them and Rainbow Dragon... who's stronger?"
"That guy... does he know that our chances of returning to our world are riding on this battle?" -- Johan and Austin O'Brien, episode 130
"Juudai! It's been my dream to use my dueling to save everyone. And now, the time's come to make that wish come true! I leave the rest to you! [...] Rainbow Dragon... fly! Become everyone's bridge!" -- Johan, episode 130
Other: Basic important headcanon is as follows, just to make things a little easier should they ever come up due to the gaping holes in his character: backstory-wise, Johan originates from Norway, since his exact country of origin was never specified. He also lost his entire biological family very young, making him essentially an orphan -- which, to this apper, makes some amount of sense based on all the things he says about his family "never leaving him" and the bit about people being unable to be brought back from death. Norwegian is his first language, but he's also fluent in Japanese and slightly less in English.
He didn't have a whole lot of human friends growing up, since most of them made fun of him for being "weird" and having "imaginary friends", but he never let it bother him too much, because he always had the spirits to support him. To get the Gem Beasts, he also had to give up the spirits of his previous deck in order to switch over, which was a hard decision, but in the end, something he doesn't regret.
And, more importantly, after the series ends, he becomes a pro duelist with the idea of raising awareness of spirits around the world.