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Character's full name: Maguri Tsujimiya
Series: Shinshi Doumei Cross (Gentlemen's Alliance Cross)
Gender:Male
Age: Never explicitly stated, but seeing as it takes place through high school I'll say around 16-17.
Personality:
Maguri is one of those idiot-types. Not necessarily when it comes to academics - he's actually fairly smart in that regard and studies well, but in all the other regards? Yeah. He's forthright, a bit silly and over the top and leaps to conclusions constantly. As the son of a Yakuza family, he's a bit rough around the edges and tends to be quick to pick a fight with people he doesn't like. If you happen to be someone he -does- like though, he's got a bit of a softer side than can even border on the romantic side of things or remind one of a puppy seeking affection. For example, with his rather serious love for the "Emperor" of the school, he's constantly competing with Haine for the other boy's attention. Saying things like "I'll be his Romeo!" (or even offering to be Juliet if that was how it had to be). However when he sees how being with Haine seems to make Shizumasa happier and that he considers Maguri as his best friend, Maguri backs down romantically. In the end he sincerely wishes for the Emperor's happiness. He still continues to seek his attention and praise however, even in his new role as best friend. This is exactly how he behaves towards the Postman as well, whom he also develops a crush on - like a puppy seeking affection and praise. The partial exception to this softer side for his friends is the relationship he shares with his childhood friend, Maora. When they were still small children they'd decided to marry (due to a child's mistake about how to "apologize" and "take responsibility" but marry nonetheless) and after being laughingly told it was impossible Maguri seemed to have taken it rather seriously. It is this incident which leads Maora to start cross-dressing and behaving like a girl - waiting for Maguri to notice him again. Ever since that time, their friendship is something like a cat-dog relationship as the author put it. They fight and insult one another, but it's never meant in serious harm. They just pick on one another (usually Maora picking on initially and Maguri retaliating). Generally Maguri is on the losing end of these fights, Maora being the rather more clever and devious of the two with a quick wit to boot.
One would think that Maora's extreme method of reaching out to Maguri would at least catch the boy's attention, however Maguri is without a doubt oblivious, particularly in regards to feelings others have for him (the Emperor considering him as his best friend with Maguri having no idea, Maora's true feelings throughout his challenge to the Emperor and pursuit of Haine, etc.) When Haine finally gets it through his head that Maora has been waiting on him all this time however and he sees it for himself, he's willing to change to make Maora happy and take the risk. The real reason he's left Maora waiting for so long is because he's afraid to risk what he already has with the other boy. He says quite plainly that if he were to "lost Maora, I'll never recover from it!" The idea of finding the person he may always be with so early on scared him because if he messed it up, he'd lose it all. When he corners Maora after this he promises to grow stronger to protect Maora rather than running like a coward.
In a way, Maora's anger at Maguri's cowardice in such matters is well deserved as Maora had been waiting quite a while and put up with Maguri's rather vocal affections for another boy. But in addition to that Maguri tends to not confront those he cares for directly. If you aren't close to him, it's another matter and he'll voice his dislike and objections loud and clear. But when it comes to people he doesn't want to hurt, he tends to hide things or go about things in a roundabout manner. When it came down to it and he was about to confess his feelings to the Emperor he never did actually voice them, seeing that that was not what the other boy wanted or needed from Maguri. Also when they were kids, Maguri injured himself protecting Maora and then went to great lengths to hide the scars afterward, determined to not burden the other boy with reminders that would make him feel guilty (this is why his hair is dyed blonde as to hide the lighter colored bandages to hide any scar). (Just to note, as well intentioned as this was, I'm not sure it was effective since it really only draws attention to his hair XD;;) He also tries to hide how kind he can be to his friends, going out of his way to cheer them up in subtle (in his mind) and indirect ways. You can tell that despite their bickering that Maguri considers Haine a friend by the way later in the manga that he tries to console her and support her in his own way. He still does try hard to make it look like it's no big deal or he's just doing it for someone else, but his intentions are clear. (Not to say that the two don't continue to argue beyond this point in their friendship and remain very competitive - this may just stem from the fact that they are actually fairly similar to one another and hate to admit it.)
He's also quick to anger or grow irritated, but also doesn't seem to hold onto anger very seriously. He's surprised when Maora is truly angry with him after he discovers he's the Postman, despite the fact that he'd just told Maora he'd never liked him. He was just lashing out in the heat of an argument, which is more Maguri's style and when Maora strikes back more seriously telling him he hates him for being a coward, it shocks the other boy. This also proves true with his fights with Haine or just the usual ones with Maora - he doesn't seem to take them to heart seriously. It's more as if Maguri is simply used to a rougher/ruder style of exchange so arguing and hurling insults is somewhat natural for him.
All in all, Maguri is book-smart enough and capable, but his common sense sometimes lacks, he can be a bit silly/over-the-top/dramatic, is a loyal and caring friend (even if he tries to hide it sometimes), and is stubborn, impulsive and competitive, particularly when it comes to cases like Haine, where he sees her as a romantic rival. He's a tad rough and brash, likely due to his upbringing and family, but he's got a romantic side, which while it softens his edges a bit it also halts him from moving forward with his true feelings for his friend. He's also denser than a ton of bricks. That about sums him up.
Fairy tale/myth/legend: Cap 'O Rushes
Role: The merchant's son/master's son/prince depending on the version.
Kingdom territory of origin: Northern Kingdom's Territory
Adaptation:
In a kingdom far far away... okay, not so far away, there lived a prince. Not that unusual you say? Well, no, of course not, but I'll get to the interesting part in a bit. The kingdom itself was somewhat known for a strict ruler with a violent past, but these days if order was kept, so was the peace. Now this ruler had two sons, which sometimes tends to be a problem with siblings fighting over the throne on daddy's death bed etc etc, but in this case the elder was groomed for it and the younger didn't really care, having no real ambition to rule the entire kingdom - he was fine with his lot as a prince - so it worked out for the best. Prince Maguri was what some (rather bold) people could call an idiot. He wasn't stupid by any means, he'd had fine tutors and learned what every well-educated prince should of course, but in the department of common sense he was somewhat lacking. With a flair for the melodramatic and a quickness to leap to conclusions that only an imagination could conjure faster, most of the kingdom was likely thankful that the elder was in line for the throne (not that he was not also known for dramatic bouts, but let's not get too sidetracked). In any case, the prince was competent enough, just a bit flighty one could say. So knowing he had no great pressure to marry, produce an heir and rule the kingdom, Maguri had quite a bit of freedom and a good life before him.
Maguri had a very good friend while growing up, the son of a rich man in their kingdom of about the same age as himself named Yoshitaka. The two were very close and always seen together, playing, laughing and being little boys getting into trouble (in one case, when they were both still rather young, the prince even injured himself to break the other boy's fall and then later hid the bandages which hid the scar by even dying his hair blonde - oh the fit the king threw that day. Suffice to say no one saw young Prince Maguri for days after that incident). One day though, when both were on the cusps of becoming young men, his friend's father asked the fateful question of Yoshitaka: "How much do you love the prince?" When Maguri heard Yoshitaka's rather eccentric answer to this it is where the story truly begins: "As much as meat needs salt." What, he thought, was that supposed to mean?! Maguri, not understanding the sentiment behind the answer grew sulky. His friend didn't really love him at all, did he? The fact that the other boy vanished not long after only affirmed this for Maguri. Too stubborn to go seek his "uncaring" friend out immediately, Maguri decided to find someone else to fall in love with (because it was true, he loved Yoshitaka, but was too scared to do anything about it, not wanting to risk losing both a friend and a person he loved if he ruined it somehow). And so the prince set out from his kingdom on a journey. A journey to find love! (Though he was flighty and a bit dumb, he wasn't uncaring and fully intended to seek Yoshitaka out once he'd found what he sought, of course.)
This is where Maguri will be joining Mukashi from. I've spoken with Maora-mun about it and the story will likely proceed down the fairy tale's path with Maguri throwing three balls in Axis Mundi to find prospective love and this is where he'll meet the mysterious "nobleman," not realizing it is indeed Yoshitaka or Maora (because yes, Maguri can be that much of an idiot). He will fall in love and present a ring to the man and cue the dramatics (it must honestly run in the family somewhere, given the way he and his brother behave). Later, when Maora delivers the ring back, he'll demand to see who delivered the letter and Maora will reveal she's a he and also the mysterious nobleman. Maguri, being simple, will be overjoyed, but Maora will not be and to further the plot will arrange to have a banquet with no salt and hopefully, if the stars are in the right alignment and lightning strikes the same place twice and cats and dogs rain from the skies, Maguri will realize that all along all three were the same person and that Yoshitaka did really love him. Cue the happily ever after.
Current area of residence: Traveling in search of looo~ve, but his HQ for the time being is a small vacation home/lodge/palace in northwestern Axis Mundi.
Sample journal entry:
I can't believe that stupid Yoshitaka. Well, he can just stay missing for all I care. Serves him right for making fun of me. I hope he's okay... I'll find him... eventually... He can just get himself into whatever trouble he may have by now and stew for a while. Che.
I've decided I'm going to go to Axis Mundi for a while and stay at the lodge. It will be nice to get away and have a change of scenery. In fact...! Why not? I'm going to find someone to fall in love with! Some handsome prince~~
He'll be tall and aloof and have sharp eyes with good looks. Hn. That's exactly what I'm going to do. I'm going to forget all of that meat and salt crap and find a new love! Now I just have to think about how to go about meeting prince charming....
Roleplay sample:
Maguri shut his journal and stood, stretching his arms over his head and stifled a yawn. It was indeed late, but he was too excited with his half-formed plan to sleep now. Axis Mundi was the perfect place to start looking at least given that it was a crossroads and neutral area for many different kingdoms across the land. This meant he would have looots to choose from, right? Exactly. But how to meet people? Preferably lots of people. Fast. He didn't want to wait forever... He couldn't afford to wait forever. He had to pursue a new love and now. And despite how childish Maguri could be, he wasn't going to just abandon his friend either. Once he found some place new to direct his attentions, he'd find Yoshitaka.
He couldn't afford to lose him, so he'd wait a little while and then find the stupid boy (and likely beat some sense into him for saying what he had, he was still clearly sore about Yoshitaka's answer.)
The blonde paced his room to and fro, to and fro, unable to stand still while he wracked his brain for how to meet guys. Where were places with tons of people all in one spot?
"A party... Whenever we hold a royal function, there are tons of people in the castle," he mused aloud, a grin on his face. "I'll hold a ball! Or... maybe more than one.... I wouldn't want to miss out on the love of my life because he couldn't make the first one."
With gold eyes glittering, Maguri nodded to himself several times, the details of his plan falling into place. He'd hold three balls (just to be sure) in Axis Mundi. He was sure to find someone that way. A simple plan for a simple mind. Now that he had a plan, he would start the preparations first thing in the morning. It's not like anyone would need him around here. (Not that he'd realize either but they'd be glad to have the irritable and sulky prince out of their hair for a time.)
Maguri turned toward his bed, eyes falling on the massive trunk sitting at the foot of it. He crossed the room to it and knelt before the chest and unlocked it (both he and Yoshitaka possessed a key, but he wasn't thinking about him right now). He rooted through the mess within for a few minutes, smiling a bit fondly at certain things before pushing them aside in his search. Finally he found what he was after and pulled out a small lacquered box. He undid the latch slowly and opened it. His mother had long ago given him the filigree band of gold, shining in the lamp light of his room against the satin it sat upon within the box. She'd allowed him to have it to play "marriage" with. Color flushed the boy's cheeks and he remembered how his brother and father had laughed at him for it. He frowned and shut the box, willing the blush away and refusing to finish the memory. He set the box on his bedside table so as to not forget it when he packed, locked up the chest and then prepared himself for bed.
Come morning, it would all be about a new beginning!
EDIT: This app has been accepted!