APPLICATION: Bleach - Retsu Unohana

Jul 18, 2010 10:33

This application has been ACCEPTED.

PLAYER INFO
NAME: Cocoa
LOCATION/TIME ZONE: PST
CURRENT CHARACTERS, if any: N/A

CHARACTER INFO
CHARACTER NAME: Retsu Unohana
SERIES: Bleach
RESERVED: Yes
WISHLIST: No
PERSONALITY: Unohana comes off to strangers as the perfect Yamato
Nadeshiko - she is quiet, gentle-natured, and perfectly poised. Despite
her quietness, she is clearly not very shy - her warm nature draws people
to it and welcomes them close, without being pushy or overt in the bonds
she forms. Her emotions show likewise - she doesn't outright hide
them, though she is quite good at doing so when necessary, but the
are subtle - a smile can hold as much amusement as a laugh in
another, and a gentle touch can carry the affection of a hug. She is an
intensely nurturing person - as a captain, it's her job to support her
division and help her subordinates flourish and grow as shinigami, and as
a healer, it is her job to protect and replenish strength. She takes on
both jobs not just as a duty, but with joy and pride as well. Even in the
absence of these clearly defined roles, it is still her first instinct to
reach out and care for people, to protect them.

Underneath the silk outside, however, is a core of steel. Anyone who
thinks that her reserved nature means that she is a push-over will quickly
find themselves proven wrong. She has plenty of confidence in herself, and
is fully aware of all her own strengths and talents, and as such can be
quite assertive - but does so in a subtle way that takes many by surprise
when they cross her. She is also intensely loyal those she takes under her
wing, and is quick to stand between them and trouble. She has a reputation
for being rather protective of her division members, and while she is
never shown to be overtly angry when others push them around, the
suggestion of mere annoyance on her face is enough to make battle-hardened
fighters run screaming.

She is also not all sweetness and light, even when people aren't
threatening her division members or disobeying orders. She is shown to
have something of a rivalry with the captain of 12th Division, which she
generally expresses with pointed, but none the less perfectly polite
comments which imply his various flaws. Even here, though, her actions are
very subtle. She's not the type to express her dislike openly when it
comes to people on her own side, and even for clear enemies (ie, the three
traitor captains), while she's apt to be clear in her hatred for them, she
doesn't raise her voice or use strong language.

TIMELINE: Her last appearance as of the time of application
(chapter 389)
BACKGROUND: Unohana is the oldest of the Gotei captains save the
Captain-Commander himself, and as such has been a shinigami for over two
thousand years, and captain of Fourth Division for what is likely a good
portion of it. Little is known about her past, save that it is likely she
did not actually attend the shinigami academy, as Ukitake and Kyouraku are
stated to be the first graduates of the school to attain the rank of
captain. She appears briefly in the Turn Back the Pendulum flashback arc,
requesting rather forcefully to be able to send medics with the group of
shinigami going out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a squad
from 9th Division, rather than setting up an aid station within Seireitei.
Yamamoto however, turns her down, saying he won't risk healers when they
don't know their enemy.

In the Soul Society arc, her first major role is confirming Sousuke
Aizen's apparent death to two of the other captains. Captain Ukitake also
brings Hanatarou to her for judgement after he is caught helping the
intruders, as Hanatarou is a member of her division. In this case, she
chooses to uphold the rules of Soul Society and give Hanatarou over for
imprisonment, as he had aided the intruders in the damage they were
causing in Soul Society. She later heals those injured in the initial
conflict on Soukyoku Hill, using both her healing spells and her
zanpakuto's abilities. She then takes Isane with her to the central
council rooms of Seireitei, and arrives in time to find Aizen and Gin
standing over the bodies of Momo and Hitsugaya. Retsu and Isane are the
first two people he explains his true powers to, and it is Retsu who gives
the order to Isane to alert all of the captains and vice-captains - along
with Ichigo and his friends, believing it is information they need to know
- as to what has happened, while she saves Momo and Hitsugaya.

Later, she returns to Soukyoku Hill to assist in treating the injured
there, in the aftermath of Aizen, Gin, and Tousen's defection and
subsequent disappearance to Hueco Mundo. She treats Byakuya Kuchiki
herself, and scolds him gently for his recklessness. After the days events
are done, Isane awakes from a nightmare, and upon going outside to get
some air, finds Retsu sitting on the porch outside, quietly contemplating
the moon and drinking tea. She offers Isane some tea as well, and tells
her to get some sleep once she's calmed down. A week after Aizen's
defection, she makes a brief appearance near the end of the arc, at 4th
Division's headquarters to scare some recovering members of 11th division
out of bullying members of her division.

She is one of the contingent of captains sent to Hueco Mundo as backup for
Ichigo and his friends. In contrast to the other captains who go to Hueco
Mundo, she is there with no intention of fighting any of the Arrancar -
she states that her purpose there is merely to heal the injured. She even
prevents Isane from pursuing the withdrawing Arrancar, saying that is not
their job to spill blood. She then proceeds to heal both Chad and the
Arrancar he was fighting, in testament to her words. She is also the one
to accompany Ichigo back through the Gargantua to the fake Karakura Town
construct. Before she leaves, she makes some subtle, pointed remarks in
Mayuri's direction, pointing out that of course the Gargantua is
safe - to fail at successfully creating it would put Mayuri's skill far
below that of the predecessor to his position.

During the travel through the Gargantua, she heals Ichigo, and discusses
battle plans with him, when she confirms that unlike all of the captains,
Ichigo has never seen Aizen's sword release and thus is immune to his
hypnosis effects. She also expresses surprise when, after she tells Ichigo
that he is powerful but that his reiatsu is unsuited for fine-tuned tasks,
he argues that his current power isn't even half its normal level because
of his previous fights. She realizes that he's right, and that she had
vastly underestimated Ichigo's power, meaning that he could in fact be
their trump card. Once they return to the living realm, she immediately
goes to begin healing the fallen combatants, beginning with Hiyori, which
is her last on-screen appearance.

ABILITIES:

Kidou/Magic (learned ability) - As one of the oldest captains, as
well as the captain of the healing division, Unohana is highly proficient
in kidou - magic that draws on the user's spiritual energy, and is
generally channeled through incantations, though those of captain-rank
generally do not find doing so necessary. She knows all three types -
binding, combat, and healing, though healing is what she uses most. Almost
impossible to regain without knowledge from memory crystals or from
someone else who knows the spells fully, though an emergency situation
could trigger a simple form of one of the spells that would be greatly
lacking in both control and power.

Shunpo/Flash Step (learned ability) - A shinigami ability that
allows the user to manipulate their own energy to speed up their
movements, allowing them to do things like cross short distances
instantaneously, leap up onto high tree branches, or stand in mid-air.
Basics are likely to be easy to reacquire, as an emergency situation may
require the urgent need to get somewhere quickly. The more difficult
techniques would be difficult to relearn, however.

Kenjutsu/Swordsmanship (learned ability) - While she has yet to be
seen fighting, the character profiles have listed her special skill as
kendo, and it's likely that like all of the other captains, she is skilled
with a sword in combat, as well. Given a sword and a sudden threat, muscle
memory might take over for a move or two, but training would be required
to regain the nuances and more complex forms.

Zanpakuto (item ability) - Unohana's zanpakuto is named Minazuki -
best translated as 'flesh drinker' - and takes the form of a long,
nodachi-length blade in it's sealed form. It has a red hilt-wrapping, and
instead of having belt-ties, the scabbard has a strap attached to it, so
it can be worn across the back. Minazuki's shikai release command is
unknown - however, upon release, the sword appears to turn into a somewhat
gaseous substance, and reform into a huge creature that looks like a
massive, sea-foam green manta ray with a single large yellow eye. Minazuki
in this form has small, brown bird-like feet, and can fly, carrying people
on it's back when it does so. It also has a large mouth, and upon
swallowing people, stores them in it's stomach, which secretes a fluid
which rapidly heals wounds, until it spits them out again. It's large
enough to heal several people at once this way. This will be one of the
most difficult of her abilities to regain, as it requires having the sword
in her possession again, and learning to speak with it once more.

Mental strengths (innate ability) - Unohana is shown to be a quick,
decisive decision-maker, as well as extraordinarily perceptive - she is
the only one who realizes Aizen's 'body' is not actually it's own. She's
also a combat-medic, capable of keeping calm and working efficiently in
highly chaotic settings - Shinji refers to this when he tells Ichigo it
was better to bring Unohana than Orihime, despite Orihime's superior
healing skills, because they're in a battlefield. She also has two
thousand years' worth of knowledge of anatomy, and healing techniques,
both mundane and magical. This knowledge is fairly deeply ingrained, but
will require prompting, likely in the form of an injury or illness that
needs treating, to remind her that she does know how to treat it.

Reiatsu/Spiritual Power (innate ablity) - As a captain and healer,
Retsu possesses a high level of spiritual power. It is, at this point,
second nature for her to keep her reiatsu - an 'aura', of sorts - pulled
in close, as captain-level power can easily overwhelm those with lesser
or no spiritual power, resulting in a state similar to physical shock.
Even pulled in, though, her strength would be clear to characters with the
ability to read such things. Once she regains the skill of manipulating
her own spiritual power (likely rather quickly, as reiatsu appears to
fluctuate unconsciously in response to strong emotions), there are several
techniques she can do with it. One is the use of reiatsu as armor - if
molded properly, it can act almost like a hardened physical skin, which
can block attacks. It can also be used as an extension of the wielder's
inner power if enough energy is released at once, either to attack, or,
given the apparent nature of Unohana's power, most likely to heal, as
well.

GAME INFO
EDENSPHERE NAME: Bellflower
BIRTHDAY LOG: Yes
DREAM: Wordless singing threaded it's way past her senses - the
music was like being wrapped in soothing warmth, like floating in a warm
ocean. The woman opened her eyes to a sea of purple that stretched as far
as the horizon. She pushed herself up with one hand, and reached out to
carefully pick one of the purple blossoms - bellflowers. She ran a finger
over the delicate points, counting them off - one, two, three, four - she
frowned slightly. There should be five petals, not four. Another count,
and this time there were the expected five. "Those who grieve are loved,"
she murmured, voice surprisingly loud in the now-quiet field. She was not
sure where the statement had come from, but she knew it to be the truth. A
shadow fell over her, and she glanced up, momentarily startled. A huge
creature swooped above her, flying big, lazy loops in the sky. It was like
nothing she had ever seen before, but somehow, she wasn't afraid.

The sky was odd, too - it was clearly sunny out, the field bright with
warm light, but when she looked, there was no sun. Only shifting,
shimmering patterns of light, like looking up from under the surface of
the sea. From this angle, it almost looked like the green and white form
above her was swimming, not flying.

The creature noticed her attention and swooped lower in front of her, pale
belly almost brushing the carpet of flowers. It was clearly showing off,
and she could feel a laugh bubbling up inside of her at the sight. After a
few more turns, the creature settled down for a surprisingly quiet landing
a few feet away. She pulled herself to her feet, and walked over to lay a
hand on its snout. Despite it's decidedly aquatic appearance, it was warm
to the touch, and a huge tongue came out to lick the side of her face
affectionately, prompting another smile.

As she reached out to pet it again, she blinked in surprise as her hand
went through the body. It was dissolving into a heavy mist,
expanding to fill the meadow and surround her. It got thicker, blocking
out the light, and more solid - warm and moist, like something living.
Despite the darkness, and the increasing feeling of solid walls closing in
around here, she felt no fear. It was warm, quiet, like a mother’s embrace
in the dark of the night. She curled up on what had once been the ground
and closed her eyes, listening to the rhythmic pulse of her own heartbeat
in the silence.

JOURNAL SAMPLE:
[The handwriting is neat and elegant - it would almost be like
calligraphy, if it was done with the right pen.]

They have told me that the dream is our only connection to our past
selves... a strange thing to consider, but in truth, I remember little
else. It leads me to wonder, then, what the fragments I do recall signify.
I dreamt of a huge creature, larger than a dozen men, but somehow, when I
saw it - I wasn't afraid. Even after it swallowed me whole, I only felt
peace.

There was a field of purple flowers, as well. Five-petalled bellflowers.
For healing, and for sealing - I know these things, but I don't know why.
Knowledge without memory. A fragment of the past, I suppose.

[A long pause, and then the writing continues]

I suppose - that is who I shall be, now. Bellflower. It is a pleasure to
meet you all.

ASPIRATIONS: This is my first time playing Retsu in an app game,
and my first time in a memory-loss game, so I’m personally mostly
interested in exploring the character and setting. As far as
character-aspirations - Retsu’s main driving instinct is to protect and
help people, though she is the type to start poking into
Edensphere’s mysteries once she realizes things aren’t quite right (the
way death works would be a big tip-off for her - as a healer and
shinigami, she’s very attuned to the life/death cycle of her world)

app: 2008/12/12 revision, applications

Previous post Next post
Up