be my mirror, my sword and shield.
PLAYER INFORMATION-
Name/Nickname: Snow
AIM/E-mail/Contact: white dyed/nivosusum[at]gmail.com
LJ: whitehaired
CHARACTER INFORMATION-
Canon Character and Series: His Majesty, Emperor Peony Upala Malkuth IX, Tales of the Abyss
In-Game Name: (Prince) Peony Upala Malkuth IX (His full name in this canon would be Peony Upala Malkuth Mytacur IX, but IT'S LONG ENOUGH AS IT IS. He drops Mytacur.)
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Position & Ship: Passenger, Victoria II
Appearance:
Even with a wonderful height of 6'2", Peony can be seen slouching far more often than any member of a royal family should. It makes him seem a little shorter than he actually is, but certainly not smaller. He is broad-shouldered and fit, tan-skinned and looking a little more like the Reial equivalent of a beach bum than a prince of Erealia. His hair is bright, a golden blond bleached by the sun. It's a bit unruly, though straight, hanging down into his almost sky blue eyes rather easily at its shortest. He does manage to part it above the left eye, most of his bangs sweeping to the right. He has strands that frame his face somewhat, the right side free while the left has been put through a long bead matching his eyes. At longest, it's past his shoulders, often left loose, and he very rarely changes that. To see Peony with his hair back is a rare sight.
His choice in clothing is eccentric at best, though it doesn't look bad on him. He prefers baggy clothes, further adding to the 'beach bum' appearance, though they have a slight, albeit strange, royal flare to them. He seems partial to cooler colors, especially blues, but also enjoys adding some gold to his wardrobe. Most times he wears sandals, but will wear boots when required. Finishing it all off are the bits of jewelry he wears, normally simple rings and some bracelets and bangles.
Peony is often accompanied by pig-like creatures called rappigs. They're the same size as them, and the same pale cream-pink, with brown splotches that vary with the individual. Their ears, however, resemble those of a rabbit's. They're all very docile and lovable, prone to piling on people they like (or fleeing from those they don't). Peony will dress them up on the occasion, besides their expensive collars, and the outfits tend to, ah, resemble Peony's friends. It's not a coincidence that they're named after people he knows, either.
Personality:
Peony is strangely complex, while at the same time, very simple. He is both a perfect example of royalty, and, at face value, not. He has the charismatic persona of royalty, and yet none of the arrogant pride.
In situations not requiring seriousness or when he's away from important matters, Peony is carefree and outgoing, almost always smiling or grinning. He's charming and friendly, speaking with everyone equally, as though a peasant weren't any different from a prince. This can either draw people closer to him, or distance them. He often flirts with women and teases men, enjoying the reactions he gets out of people. It's not him being cruel. He (usually) teases people because he cares about them, a sign that he's accepted them as a trustworthy friend or ally. (There's a few exceptions to this, though not many.) He's also prone to whining about things, whether it be paperwork, teasing in retaliation (this tends to be mostly with Jade, since he usually brushes it off and continues on, though others have accomplished it), or he wants something.
When it matters, Peony's attitude does a startling change. Where he might whine about doing simple paperwork and put it off, if it's urgent and needs to be done immediately, there's no whining at all. When involved with serious business of any kind, Peony himself becomes serious. He conducts everything quickly and effectively, working hard and endlessly if he must. The threat of war is no laughing matter, and when it comes right down to it, he wouldn't carelessly dismiss the subject. He worries about people, both close to him, and strangers on the streets, and doesn't want to let them down. In the face of an enemy, while not merciless, he knows what must be done.
Abilities/Weapons:
Though it is not especially obvious from his carefree and lazy nature, Peony is trained for combat. It's dominantly for hand-to-hand and swordplay, but given a little time to adjust to a different style of fighting, he could probably use other weapons used for cutting and piercing rather quickly. Guns are another story entirely and would require training for proper use, no doubt. He also has some knowledge of fonic artes; he is not a genius like his childhood friends Jade and Saphir, but he can use some basic artes, to a certain extent. He was a student of a great fonist, after all.
Perhaps it's also best to note that he has far too much experience clambering over rooftops and through trees, to the point that he remains agile in most environments. (Though, somehow, he's still somewhat clumsy on normal ground.)
Despite his actions and personality in everyday life, Peony is fit for his role as a prince, a dignitary, and a leader. He is intelligent (though doesn't bother showing it most times), charismatic, responsible, and trustworthy. When the situation calls for it, he takes charge, rarely hesitating to pull rank. It's surprising to people who might not know what it is he does for the whole of Reial, and he tends to use this to his advantage rather than caring about it. Though a member of the Erealia family, he is dedicated and determined to help Ivona (more like a home than his own 'country') and Vohemar, caring a great deal for both countries and their people.
He can also design outfits for most anyone for most any occasion. (However, he does seem partial to bathing suits.)
Weaknesses:
Despite training in combat, Peony is not an expert. While he can defend himself to a certain extent, if someone were persistent enough or had greater experience, he would easily lose a fight. His skills with fonic artes are barely over beginner as well, and it wouldn't take much for a fonist (or just a magic-user in general) to defeat him. He's nothing more than a human otherwise, despite any amount of stubbornness.
His stubbornness is a weakness all of its own. It's difficult to change his mind about anything, and very few actually find even the slightest success with a compromise, let alone getting him to give up on what he's set his eye on. It's worse when it's a serious situation. This is bad in so many ways, because not only is he stubborn, Peony is also selfless. He does what he can for people, and this can put him in bad positions. When it comes to helping people, there's nothing that could stop him, no matter the threat to his own well being. There are also times where he might work himself into exhaustion, staying up and working on letters or trying to find a way to stop a possible war that might break out.
Because of his laid back personality, many royals, other dignitaries, and some people of the military do not take him seriously. Peony himself thinks it shouldn't matter, because he gets the job done and he gets it done well, but many see his view of equality as a foolish thing.
History:
Peony Upala Malkuth Mytacur IX was born in Erealia, a member of the royal family, and for the first few years of his life he was also raised there. It was a prim and proper life, where they expected him to act like a prince, with good manners and clean clothes. They soon discovered, however, that every five minutes would be a moment of chaos with Peony. He came in muddy, he brought home animals, he played with common children, he slouched and belched and used banisters as his own personal slides. Years and years later, the servants and maids that helped raise him will tell you that nothing has changed at all.
After some time causing trouble in his country of birth, Peony's guardians at the time- dignitaries that served under his parents- went to their home in Bellcius to try and encourage peace talks on the continent of Reial. They took Peony with them, getting permission from his parents to do so, as it'd be a great learning experience for someone that they considered to be wild. He was more than willing to go, surprisingly, interested in what might happen.
What happened was a very long, very boring ride from Erealia to Ivona, full of 'are we there yet?' and people threatening to toss the prince overboard. When they did finally arrive, it turned out he would be staying with servants in Tulgim, for his own safety. At first, he wasn't very excited about this, but fate would have it that he'd run into three children, only slightly younger than him: Jade, Nephry, and Saphir. He made fast friends of them, partially against their will, and often attended the lessons that a retired military scientist, Professor Nebilim, taught them.
While his guardians eventually did begin bringing him with them, finding it safer after a time, he continued to return to Tulgim when he wasn't learning about government and politics. It was a welcome escape, and he looked forward to spending time with his friends (especially Nephry, the girl he'd basically fallen head over heels for in such a short time, despite their different classes). However, when he was 15, Nebilim died. Jade had been experimenting with the seventh fonon (the fonon of sound, the only one capable of healing, and the only one that you must be born with and cannot be learned) and it recoiled horribly.
No matter how hard they tried, Nebilim was lost in the fire that was caused. While Jade and Saphir practically disappeared off the face of earth for weeks, Peony tried to support and comfort Nephry. Neither of them had any idea what they were researching, were given no answers when they tried to question them. They only found out when it was too late. Jade made a replica of Nebilim, and without reason, tore through Tulgim. Somehow, he (and Saphir) managed to stop her and seal her away, hopefully to never return again.
Afterward, where Saphir (becoming Dist in the aftermath) continued with the replica research, the other three returned to Bellcius. Jade and Nephry became family, and Peony was shipped back to Erealia because of the disaster in Tulgim. Despite the distance, however, the Curtiss family could not escape him. He continued to keep contact with them through letters, no matter how long it would take, and once his family was assured he would be fine, he went back to Reial.
Though he continued to visit Bellcius and his friends, he began traveling across Ivona and took on the role of a dignitary. Especially when Nephry announced she was to be wed to a noble of Ivona. It was the final nail in that coffin; Peony was of royal blood and wasn't allowed to marry her, and while she was his first love, it was dominantly one-sided. It took some time for him to recover even slightly, but he eventually managed. Even now though, he still does care for her a great deal, and has yet to take on a wife. To those that don't know about all that, it seems like it may be because he's trying hard to bring peace back to Reial. This is partially true.
For a time, he actually considered playing the 'dignitary guest' card on a military vessel, intent on seeing how exactly things were happening in that part of the story. The thing that sold it for him, though, was the Kropmork peace talks. Because of the disaster that it turned out to be (with him actually present for a brief time before he was whisked away), finding out that Jade was a part of the crew, and hearing about von Karma's reputation, Peony's decided that he'll be paying the Victoria II a little visit. It took a little time, but he managed to get his own spot on board the ship, with every intent of driving Jade mad and seeing if there's truth behind rumors.
Name/Nickname: Snow
AIM/E-mail/Contact: white dyed/nivosusum[at]gmail.com
LJ: whitehaired
CHARACTER INFORMATION-
Canon Character and Series: His Majesty, Emperor Peony Upala Malkuth IX, Tales of the Abyss
In-Game Name: (Prince) Peony Upala Malkuth IX (His full name in this canon would be Peony Upala Malkuth Mytacur IX, but IT'S LONG ENOUGH AS IT IS. He drops Mytacur.)
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Position & Ship: Passenger, Victoria II
Appearance:
Even with a wonderful height of 6'2", Peony can be seen slouching far more often than any member of a royal family should. It makes him seem a little shorter than he actually is, but certainly not smaller. He is broad-shouldered and fit, tan-skinned and looking a little more like the Reial equivalent of a beach bum than a prince of Erealia. His hair is bright, a golden blond bleached by the sun. It's a bit unruly, though straight, hanging down into his almost sky blue eyes rather easily at its shortest. He does manage to part it above the left eye, most of his bangs sweeping to the right. He has strands that frame his face somewhat, the right side free while the left has been put through a long bead matching his eyes. At longest, it's past his shoulders, often left loose, and he very rarely changes that. To see Peony with his hair back is a rare sight.
His choice in clothing is eccentric at best, though it doesn't look bad on him. He prefers baggy clothes, further adding to the 'beach bum' appearance, though they have a slight, albeit strange, royal flare to them. He seems partial to cooler colors, especially blues, but also enjoys adding some gold to his wardrobe. Most times he wears sandals, but will wear boots when required. Finishing it all off are the bits of jewelry he wears, normally simple rings and some bracelets and bangles.
Peony is often accompanied by pig-like creatures called rappigs. They're the same size as them, and the same pale cream-pink, with brown splotches that vary with the individual. Their ears, however, resemble those of a rabbit's. They're all very docile and lovable, prone to piling on people they like (or fleeing from those they don't). Peony will dress them up on the occasion, besides their expensive collars, and the outfits tend to, ah, resemble Peony's friends. It's not a coincidence that they're named after people he knows, either.
Personality:
Peony is strangely complex, while at the same time, very simple. He is both a perfect example of royalty, and, at face value, not. He has the charismatic persona of royalty, and yet none of the arrogant pride.
In situations not requiring seriousness or when he's away from important matters, Peony is carefree and outgoing, almost always smiling or grinning. He's charming and friendly, speaking with everyone equally, as though a peasant weren't any different from a prince. This can either draw people closer to him, or distance them. He often flirts with women and teases men, enjoying the reactions he gets out of people. It's not him being cruel. He (usually) teases people because he cares about them, a sign that he's accepted them as a trustworthy friend or ally. (There's a few exceptions to this, though not many.) He's also prone to whining about things, whether it be paperwork, teasing in retaliation (this tends to be mostly with Jade, since he usually brushes it off and continues on, though others have accomplished it), or he wants something.
When it matters, Peony's attitude does a startling change. Where he might whine about doing simple paperwork and put it off, if it's urgent and needs to be done immediately, there's no whining at all. When involved with serious business of any kind, Peony himself becomes serious. He conducts everything quickly and effectively, working hard and endlessly if he must. The threat of war is no laughing matter, and when it comes right down to it, he wouldn't carelessly dismiss the subject. He worries about people, both close to him, and strangers on the streets, and doesn't want to let them down. In the face of an enemy, while not merciless, he knows what must be done.
Abilities/Weapons:
Though it is not especially obvious from his carefree and lazy nature, Peony is trained for combat. It's dominantly for hand-to-hand and swordplay, but given a little time to adjust to a different style of fighting, he could probably use other weapons used for cutting and piercing rather quickly. Guns are another story entirely and would require training for proper use, no doubt. He also has some knowledge of fonic artes; he is not a genius like his childhood friends Jade and Saphir, but he can use some basic artes, to a certain extent. He was a student of a great fonist, after all.
Perhaps it's also best to note that he has far too much experience clambering over rooftops and through trees, to the point that he remains agile in most environments. (Though, somehow, he's still somewhat clumsy on normal ground.)
Despite his actions and personality in everyday life, Peony is fit for his role as a prince, a dignitary, and a leader. He is intelligent (though doesn't bother showing it most times), charismatic, responsible, and trustworthy. When the situation calls for it, he takes charge, rarely hesitating to pull rank. It's surprising to people who might not know what it is he does for the whole of Reial, and he tends to use this to his advantage rather than caring about it. Though a member of the Erealia family, he is dedicated and determined to help Ivona (more like a home than his own 'country') and Vohemar, caring a great deal for both countries and their people.
He can also design outfits for most anyone for most any occasion. (However, he does seem partial to bathing suits.)
Weaknesses:
Despite training in combat, Peony is not an expert. While he can defend himself to a certain extent, if someone were persistent enough or had greater experience, he would easily lose a fight. His skills with fonic artes are barely over beginner as well, and it wouldn't take much for a fonist (or just a magic-user in general) to defeat him. He's nothing more than a human otherwise, despite any amount of stubbornness.
His stubbornness is a weakness all of its own. It's difficult to change his mind about anything, and very few actually find even the slightest success with a compromise, let alone getting him to give up on what he's set his eye on. It's worse when it's a serious situation. This is bad in so many ways, because not only is he stubborn, Peony is also selfless. He does what he can for people, and this can put him in bad positions. When it comes to helping people, there's nothing that could stop him, no matter the threat to his own well being. There are also times where he might work himself into exhaustion, staying up and working on letters or trying to find a way to stop a possible war that might break out.
Because of his laid back personality, many royals, other dignitaries, and some people of the military do not take him seriously. Peony himself thinks it shouldn't matter, because he gets the job done and he gets it done well, but many see his view of equality as a foolish thing.
History:
Peony Upala Malkuth Mytacur IX was born in Erealia, a member of the royal family, and for the first few years of his life he was also raised there. It was a prim and proper life, where they expected him to act like a prince, with good manners and clean clothes. They soon discovered, however, that every five minutes would be a moment of chaos with Peony. He came in muddy, he brought home animals, he played with common children, he slouched and belched and used banisters as his own personal slides. Years and years later, the servants and maids that helped raise him will tell you that nothing has changed at all.
After some time causing trouble in his country of birth, Peony's guardians at the time- dignitaries that served under his parents- went to their home in Bellcius to try and encourage peace talks on the continent of Reial. They took Peony with them, getting permission from his parents to do so, as it'd be a great learning experience for someone that they considered to be wild. He was more than willing to go, surprisingly, interested in what might happen.
What happened was a very long, very boring ride from Erealia to Ivona, full of 'are we there yet?' and people threatening to toss the prince overboard. When they did finally arrive, it turned out he would be staying with servants in Tulgim, for his own safety. At first, he wasn't very excited about this, but fate would have it that he'd run into three children, only slightly younger than him: Jade, Nephry, and Saphir. He made fast friends of them, partially against their will, and often attended the lessons that a retired military scientist, Professor Nebilim, taught them.
While his guardians eventually did begin bringing him with them, finding it safer after a time, he continued to return to Tulgim when he wasn't learning about government and politics. It was a welcome escape, and he looked forward to spending time with his friends (especially Nephry, the girl he'd basically fallen head over heels for in such a short time, despite their different classes). However, when he was 15, Nebilim died. Jade had been experimenting with the seventh fonon (the fonon of sound, the only one capable of healing, and the only one that you must be born with and cannot be learned) and it recoiled horribly.
No matter how hard they tried, Nebilim was lost in the fire that was caused. While Jade and Saphir practically disappeared off the face of earth for weeks, Peony tried to support and comfort Nephry. Neither of them had any idea what they were researching, were given no answers when they tried to question them. They only found out when it was too late. Jade made a replica of Nebilim, and without reason, tore through Tulgim. Somehow, he (and Saphir) managed to stop her and seal her away, hopefully to never return again.
Afterward, where Saphir (becoming Dist in the aftermath) continued with the replica research, the other three returned to Bellcius. Jade and Nephry became family, and Peony was shipped back to Erealia because of the disaster in Tulgim. Despite the distance, however, the Curtiss family could not escape him. He continued to keep contact with them through letters, no matter how long it would take, and once his family was assured he would be fine, he went back to Reial.
Though he continued to visit Bellcius and his friends, he began traveling across Ivona and took on the role of a dignitary. Especially when Nephry announced she was to be wed to a noble of Ivona. It was the final nail in that coffin; Peony was of royal blood and wasn't allowed to marry her, and while she was his first love, it was dominantly one-sided. It took some time for him to recover even slightly, but he eventually managed. Even now though, he still does care for her a great deal, and has yet to take on a wife. To those that don't know about all that, it seems like it may be because he's trying hard to bring peace back to Reial. This is partially true.
For a time, he actually considered playing the 'dignitary guest' card on a military vessel, intent on seeing how exactly things were happening in that part of the story. The thing that sold it for him, though, was the Kropmork peace talks. Because of the disaster that it turned out to be (with him actually present for a brief time before he was whisked away), finding out that Jade was a part of the crew, and hearing about von Karma's reputation, Peony's decided that he'll be paying the Victoria II a little visit. It took a little time, but he managed to get his own spot on board the ship, with every intent of driving Jade mad and seeing if there's truth behind rumors.