Application
[ PLAYER INFORMATION ]
Player Name: Andy
Timezone: CST
Personal Journal: nique
Contact Information:
Instant Messenger: DominoAK47 on AIM
Email: 2icsection9@gmail.com
[ CHARACTER INFORMATION ]
Name: Okita Souji (in Eastern order)
Age: 21/21
Gender: Male
Fandom: Shinsengumi Imon Peacemaker/Peacemaker Kurogane (manga)
Timeline: After Vol. 5 of Shinsengumi Imon Peacemaker & before Vol. 1 of Peacemaker Kurogane.
History: Here.
Character Personality:
Souji's personality is one of extremes. The face he chooses to show the world is a happy one, probably best described as somewhat childish, tending to act much younger than his twenty-one years. He enjoys playing with children, has a sweet tooth, and likes to play practical jokes. He's quite polite, but those he gets to know well should beware, as he also delights in teasing those he considers friends.
As a swordsman, Souji is a genius. He is easily one of the best swordsmen amongst the ranks of the Shinsengumi, an ability which earned him captaincy of the first squad. This natural ability is not without its drawbacks, however. For when Souji picks up a sword, the other aspect of his personality emerges. As a fighter, he knows no restraint. He cannot participate in even the most informal of sparing matches without injuring his opponents, and when real weapons are brought into play, someone is likely to end up dead.
Souji is well aware of the dichotomy that exists inside himself. In fact, much of the light-hearted exterior is something of an act he puts on for others, as a way for him to fit in and interact with other people. His playfulness and lightheartedness should not be mistaken for innocence or naiveté, for he is neither. He's an adult, one who is quite intelligent, capable of making serious decisions and leading a group when necessary. Once he has devoted himself to something, he's a very loyal person, but this loyalty must be earned. He would not follow those he doesn't believe in. It makes him a valuable asset, but can come at a cost--in the series, he plays down and hides his weaknesses to keep from being a burden on others.
As a friend, he is excellent at keeping spirits up and is always available to listen and offer thoughtful advice, or bring some much needed levity in tough times. As an enemy, he is a force to be reckoned with.
Character Abilities:
Souji is a prodigy when it comes to the sword. He began training at the age of nine and mastered the Tennen Rishin-ryu by eighteen years of age. He then served as the head coach for the Shieikan dojo under Kondou Isami before the group left Edo for Kyoto and formed what would eventually become the Shinsengumi. Despite his somewhat delicate appearance, Souji is a fierce fighter, quick and agile in battle, as well as totally remorseless. Once he is engaged in a fight, it will not end unless his opponent is dispatched, surrenders, or a third party intervenes. While he treats sparing matches with slightly less seriousness (he is capable of practicing with Tetsunosuke without causing him *permanent* harm) a real fight always earns his singular focus and rarely ends well for his opponent. His signature technique is 'Mumyo-ken,' which can hit the neck and both shoulders with one strike.
Character Weaknesses:
Souji's most obvious weakness is his lack of self-restrain. His fighting ability is superb, but the flip side of the coin is that his ability might be turned against friend as well as foe in a heated situation. This makes it difficult for him to train with others in non-combat settings, as while he is capable of a certain level of restraint, it is still possible for him to injure those he is working with.
Emotionally, Souji is somewhat stunted. His happy exterior is something of an act put on for others, and while it is not a complete ruse, he is not as cheerful or naieve as he seems. While his behavior is not completely pathological, there is a difference between the way that most people perceve the world and the way that Souji relates to it. He has a habit of dealing with things in very simplistic terms, ignoring the shades of grey that may exist in a given situation, sometimes offering advice which may not, from an outside perspective, be completely appropriate to the situation (As an example, he frequently encourages the main protagonist of the series, fifteen-year-old Tetsunosuke, to pursue a path which will make him stronger. While this is what Tetsu wants, all of the other adults around him recognize that it's not the best course of action. Souji, meanwhile, continues to help the boy train so that he may eventually get his revenge.) He will readily listen to the problems of others, but when it comes to his own troubles, he prefers to withdraw and keep them private. This means that he does not always receive the help and support that he might need in times of stress. He is far more focused on helping and serving others than he is in taking care of himself.
Physically, Souji is not particularly strong. His fighting ability relies heavily on his quickness, as he's not particularly tall or very muscular. Should his speed be compromised, or his opponent be significantly stronger than he is, he can end up in trouble, since he lacks the brute force to counter larger opponents. Unfortunately, his singular focus when engaged in a battle also means that even when he is outmatched, he does not back down, but continues to pursue victory even when retreat would be the more reasonable option. His battle with tuberculous has also begun to take a toll on him, reducing his stamina, though eliminating the infection would halt the damage to his lungs and leave him without lasting ill effect, given the relatively recent onset of his disease.
[ MEISTER ONLY SECTION ]
Why your character should be a Meister:
Souji is captain of the first squad of the Shinsengumi, and works directly with the two vice-commanders and the commander himself. As
such, he is used to leading. He has also, since the age of nine, devoted his life to weapon-mastery and served as an instructor for his
particular sword style before he joined the Shinsengumi. As a samurai, his life has revolved around swordsmanship.
Meister Ability: Soul Experience
[ SOUL INFORMATION ]
Soul Description: determined, loyal, stubborn, kind, conflicted, afraid
Soul Appearance: Here.
