I shall wait and see how some of these other folks’ characters come in before I continue thinking through my potential secondary character; more folks have chimed in than I originally realized :)
@HylianRose Upon rereading the 0th post regarding the agenda of the Underground and Esme’s sheet, I have to point out that if this group knows anything at all about the Imperial Japanese House that even Himari has a massive potential target on her forehead for the same reasons. Her dad makes the sun rise, after all. I’m sure nefarious goons would be just as interested in testing her magical spark as ol’ mumsy was.
Name: Himari Aliases: TwilightImpress (Online Gaming Handle), The Most Divine Princess Himari of the House of Yamato (Full Title), Tasogare (Private nickname, meaning ‘Twilight’). Age: 16 Class: First Year Gender: Female Speciality: Technology // Stealth Role, Rank, and Order: Royalty
Physical Attributes
Height: ~5'2" (~1.5m) Weight: ~100 LBS (~49Kg) Build: Waifish Eyes: Dark Brown Hair: Naturally brown, but is often dyed unnatural colors or blonde. Skin Tone: White Skinned
Tattoos/Scars/Piercings: No piercings or tattoos, but possesses a wicked scar across her face and neck which seems to wind around her throat and neck to disappear down her shoulder blade towards her back.
This is in addition to faded scars on her hands, arms, and thighs.
Day To Day Attire: Himari possesses a wide wardrobe consisting of high end designer clothing of the casual designation; that is to mean, she wears hoodies, loungewear, athleisure, sweatpants, tights, etcetera, but simply of a quality and design beyond the average individual's afford or tastes. When formal occasion and tradition dictate she does possess remarkable kimono and yukata of her cultures, but her personal style trends towards the comfortable and casual whilst remaining conservative and tasteful. A hallmark of her style is the bend towards the 'punk', with bright and contrasting colorations and 'popping' imagery and graphics being things that she appreciates. If the school requires it, she will wear some personalized variation of the uniform likely consisting of including a hoodie or personal jacket in the mix.
This makes her 'Training' or 'Stealth' gear all the more subtle and unassuming, when she dons muted colors and dark hues for the purposes of activity. Somewhere within her luggage, should one dig deep enough and put the correct articles together, there is the unmistakable uniform of a modern ninja clan student. Well, unmistakable to those in the know; to most it would seem like quality cosplay.
Strengths:
Cunning: Himari, due to her estranged upbringing and unique early education, has developed a rather vicious and potent cunning. She excels in classes and academics almost effortlessly (though she does put in considerable effort regardless) and possesses a perspicacious quality that is dazzling.
Physically swift and dexterous: Despite a diminutive stature, Himari is impressively fast which is coupled with a keen hand-eye co-ordination and dexterity. Her scrawny frame hides explosive speed very well. This is also invaluable for an amateur in the online professional E-sport industry. This combines with her natural cunning to culminate in an average APM of 180+ in Starcraft 2.
Technologically savvy: Lacking in the magical training of her family, Himari has become uniquely capable at wielding and handling modern computing technology as well as the necessary equipment for her ninja-clan training for self defense and personal espionage. While she knows her way around a firearm, she is uncomfortable with them and prefers to avoid them. This has aided her in not only her E-sports hobby, but also in personal finance investments; she is invested heavily in crypto currencies as well as international stock markets to supplement her Imperial 'allowance'.
Weaknesses:
Glass Jaw In case of emergency, simply strike solidly to put the Himari machine into a reboot state.
Depression Himari's life is, and has been, quite difficult. This makes a hardwired chemical imbalance in the brain an occasionally crippling disorder to handle. This is not a laughing matter, this girl needs help from time to time and she never seems to know that she should ask for it. Her world fades to grey and the rains seem like they'll flatten everything.
Pride Having grown up struggling to shine on her merits where her kin got to shine on their inherited divine magical spark, Himari wields a fierce pride in her personal capabilities that borders on the narcissistic. She's always had to fight for herself.
Competitive Streak A certain competitiveness can be healthy and push people to be their best; what Himari is plagued by is an incessant need to compare herself to others and to try and improve this internal leaderboard in any way she can.
Psychological Attributes
Intelligent * Independent * Irreverent * Fragile
Sexuality: Asexual; open to Romantic Interest, but not Physical. Relationship Status: Available
Personality:
Himari is defined by pressure. Born as the first child to the Divine Emperor of Japan, the expectations began early. As each of her three younger sisters were born in succession, they only grew. As each of her female cousins were born, they reached a peak. When she failed to show possession of the divine magical spark of Amaterasu as all her other kin did, the pressure changed from a softly growing expecation into the hardened fist of demand as it crushed her soul against the unyielding ceiling of capability. Then, everything changed. The Heir was born. In an instant, the insurmountable demands and expectations that had been the foundation of her existence disappeared on the wind. She was left falling. Forever falling, struggling to cling to the heights of expectation she had once dreaded.
Himari is defined by pressure. When it became clear that she could never again walk the path that leads to the peak of the divine mountain of her father's favor, she tread her own path. Guided by the teachings of the shinobi she dared to struggle against her internal darkness and pursue her own passions. Internal pressure to compete, to perform, to excel, brought her great pride in her accomplishments and choices- but external pressure returned. Instead of the great uplifting and dizzying pressure of expectations, it came from above; the deathly and crushing pressure of Shame. Individuality surged against societal and familial demands at last, and a rift was driven between her and those she cared most about; people she still desperately craved the same adoration from, yet was also resigned to never receive it.
Himari is defined by pressure. She balances on a knife's edge, buckling beneath the great weight of shame and divine duty even as she cuts her feet upon the blade to avoid slipping into the shadows of despair once more. Fierceness' sharp edge is dulled by sorrow in her soul, and struggle as she might to fly away there always seems to be yet more chains to bind her to her bloody station at the foot of the Imperial Family.
Himari is a person best described in extremes. She is prideful, situationally severe, competitive, extremely harsh upon herself, and possesses a casual refinement that is difficult for many to attain. And yet she is also possessed of many opposing and conflicting beliefs! She is also fragile and defensive in her pride; her ire stokes at being corraled and accused. Her severity in others mirrors the hollow sensation beneath her pride at her own accomplishments; she lashes out and undermines others, at times, because she feels her own successes are hollow. The extremely high standards she sets for herself exist to compensate and distract her from the feelings of unworthiness, failure, and impurity that she has carried her whole life. Her casual nature and refined demeanor disguise the fragility of her emotional state, and serves as armor against the criticisms of others; she dishes, but cannot take nearly so well.
Habits:
Nail biting: This one is self explanatory
Failure to Acknowledge: There are times where Himari simply doesn't seem to acknowledge what others say or do. It makes her come off as aloof.
Hair of shifting colors She changes her hair colors seemingly as soon as people begin to get used to the current state of affairs.
Late Nights: Himari is seemingly tireless; the truth of the matter is moreso that she's inured herself to exhaustion and long hours, and she frequently stays up until the early AM hours.
Hobbies:
Gaming: Himari follows the latest trends of gaming, and while she prefers competitive online experiences she also makes time for singleplayer and storydriven titles as well.
Gardening: She enjoys tending to and witnessing the growth of plantlife and flowers, though this also does serve her shinobi needs as well.
Late Night Walks: When everyone else is supposed to be asleep, Himari enjoys experiencing the world in darkness.
Swimming and Running: As opposed to her late night walks, she starts her days out with exercise in an almost ritualistic manner. She can be found either swimming or running in the early morning hours.
Cellphone Addiction: She can't seem to go very long without checking one update or another.
Fears:
Intimacy: Physical expressions of intimacy result in physical recoil from her, and though she is open to romantic interest in a broad sense she finds it hard to be vulnerable or express her desires.
Physical Pain: The prospect of suffering physical harm is one that shakes Himari greatly. She is incredibly averse to pain, beyond ordinary, and endeavors to never suffer it at the hands of someone else.
Blood: Witnessing bloodshed makes her uncomfortable; seeing her own blood has the potential to make her sick.
Flying: If airplanes are required for a trip, she tries to arrange things so as to sleep for as much of the trip as possible. If someone were to impose a flight spell upon her or suddenly render her airborne against her will, that would be incredibly bad. For both parties.
Failure
Likes:
Aggressive Music; Punk, Rock, Metal
Sugary Drinks and Coffee
Witnessing/Experiencing Great Skill
Sunsets
Independence
Dislikes:
Coddling/Babying
Sour Tastes
Gossip
Silence
Public Displays of Affection
Skills
A listing of skills, such as horseback riding or cooking. Levels include novice, apprentice, journeyman, expert, master.
Online Gaming (Expert): Himari is an amateur player in a variety of rotating E-sports leagues when time permits, and consistently tops the charts as a DPS in her MMO Guilds.
Gardener/Herb Lore (Novice): Himari keeps a garden, and of all her skillsets this one is the closest to being 'relaxing' for her.
Stealth Training (Journeyman): Himari possesses some talent with hiding, sneaking, disguising, camouflaging, and otherwise engaging in infiltration technique.
Archery (Novice): The sole traditional custom of her family that Himari maintains, she has a foundation in the fine art of Kyujutsu, and as she disdains firearms this would be her weapon of choice should she ever need to get involved in an altercation.
Linguistics (Apprentice): The world is a big place, and Himari has spent time learning foreign tongues so as to better communicate on a global theater.
Military Tactics (Novice): Part of her shinobi upbringing involved the organization and logistics of warfare-- or, rather, the disruption of these things. While it was not overtly reinforced in her youth, she possesses the foundations for strategy and tactical thinking from the lens of the guerilla fighter.
Talents & Powers
Shinobi Toxincraft (Minor) The beginnings of a ninja education are about countermeasures and tools to deal with superior opponents, whether that be arms, armor, or magical talent. A little bit of poison goes a long way in evening the playing field, or ensuring swift and non-lethal incapacitations of those who are incidental bystanders to the shinobi's mission. Himari has the very foundations of these lessons instilled within her, and is capable of producing and crafting an array of minor poisons to give her an edge over would-be assailants. She's not so vicious as to intend to kill anyone, and thus her personal stock of toxins are the paralytic and sleep-inducing variety.
History
Parents: Divine Emperor Natsuhito [Father], Divine Empress Yuki [Mother] Siblings: Himari is the eldest of four daughters. In descending order; Nari (14), Aomi (11), Ritsuko (6). She has a myriad of other female cousins, and a singular male cousin named Norishige (4) who is the current heir-apparent to the Chrysanthemum throne.
Childhood: ”Deru kui wa utareru.”- Japanese Proverb « The nail that stands out gets struck down. »
Himari's childhood is best broken down into three distinct stages. The period of time following her birth when she was the sole potential heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne, the period after the birth of Nari, and the period after she was taken under the wing of Sanzo, elder ninja.
While brief, the period of time Himari experienced as the sole child of the Imperial Family was deeply formative. She was a cherished thing, doted upon and coddled and given unlimited attention by two doting parents and a host of mystical doctors, as well as ceaseless attention and care granted by mundane staff and nursing specialists. There was much concern following her birth, and for this time she was shielded from public attentionand held in privacy. The cause of such concern was the lack of glow within her flesh; Himari did not possess the divine spark of Amaterasu, which had dazzled the divine House of Yamato for over two thousand years in a line of unbroken Emperors. Her father glowed with a radiance from within, and yet she herself did not. Her health was under suspicion, and the infant experienced many strange esoteric rituals and seances throughout her toddlerhood. She thought it was all a good time, having fun with dad and being doted on by aunts and uncles. Even now, however, she experienced a coldness from her mother; the Empress took the failures of the child to be the failures of her own, and their relationship never warmed.
The birth of Nari signalled a sharp decline in the quality of life of Himari. Even as Nari screamed in her swaddling, she displayed the divine radiance of Amaterasu that her family expected. Himari was kept out of public eyes even longer, whilst her now infant sister was put on display for the world to see. This jarring schism from unlimited attention and dotage into 'second place', as it were, shocked and dismantled the young girl's worldview. When the third daughter of the Emperor was born Himari began to fight for attention. Her education advanced at a meteoric rate, and she pursued a wide range of academic extracurriculars including language studies and advanced mathematics-- but it was never enough.
The very night that the fourth daughter of the Emperor was born, Himari was approached at midnight by a man shrouded in secrecy as she wandered the Imperial Palace; even in her youth, her insomniac qualities were showing and the lack of care given to her meant she was practically invisible as she wandered the grounds. The man kowtowed before her and revealed himself as simply 'Sanzo', and extended to her an invitation to join a family bound not by blood, but by honor and secrecy. To someone who was already pariah within her own home, the only complaint she found in the offer once she surpassed her initial fear and skepticism was that Sanzo had waited so long to approach her. From that fateful night onwards, her daytime studies advanced at the same meteoric pace of academia that they always had but her nights were now filled with secret purpose. She learned to protect herself, to move unseen, and to listen where others were ignorant.
She began to learn to be her own person, but the road to that independence was to be paved with further hardship.
Adulthood: ”Nana korobi ya oki.”- Japanese Proverb « When you fall seven times, get up eight »
Her formal adolescence and burgeoning adulthood can be said to have begun at the age of twelve, two years after her instruction in the ways of the ninja began. Puberty was gently late to come to Himari, but when its inevitable signs showed is when she was suddenly brought into the spotlight of the Imperial Family once more. The old nostalgic signs and symbols of ritual were writ, the traditional garb adjusted to her size, the incense was thick, and her head dizzy with worry and anticipation. What was unusual was the presence of her mother, rather than that of her father, in the position of honor. In all her youth it had always been the Emperor seated there, radiant in his splendor, whilst her mother had lurked at the edges of the room as a bystander gazing in on this divine rite that Himari had participated in.
The change in administrator made the event ominous to her shinobi-taught instincts. She ignored them; this was her mother.
The ritual proceeded as it always had; the court mages invoking the spirits, the weaving of spells triggering ancient runes in the chamber, the thrumming sensation of destiny and anticipation welled within Himari-- and the ritual came to a screeching halt, as it always had, suspended by the lack of Amaterasu's favor. Himari's anger welled, she stomped, screamed, clenched her nails into her hands so tightly they bled... Anything to try and dredge up from within her true power instead of this hollow sensation of desire and ambition. When her blood hit the floor, dripping between tightly wound fingers, is when her mother struck her. Stunned, Himari lifted her face in time for it to be grabbed in a cold vice of uncaring fingers. She vaguely remembers some comment about testing the blood. Her eyes widened, and her eyes were filled with the flashing of a knife in the firelight.
Training kicked in, but her mother's grip was unwavering. Himari twisted, leapt, turned, tried to get away-- but it only served to make the Empress' aim worse, or perhaps to enable her cruel intentions further. The knife, aiming for her forehead, instead caught the bridge of her nose and raked down her face as she thrashed in her mother's arms. The pain split her consciousness, and as her own blood fell to her lips she twisted away and the knife pressed down her throat. Panic welled within her when escape revealed itself to be impossible and she jerked forward, into her mother's arms tighter. Her mother's embrace enveloped her fully even as the knife carved over her shoulder then finally found purchase and plunged into the high of her back. Himari clung to consciousness even as she felt weakness fill her limbs. Her mother's words in that moment will forever haunt her, as her blood pooled and filled the ritual circle...
And yet, still no divine spark.
Himari awoke wrapped in bandages, to the prayers of an old monk, with not her father at her side but instead old Sanzo. Her teacher quietly soothed her, and remarked that her royal mother had chosen to leave her with the scar rather than permit the Imperial Healers to cleanse the wound completely. Himari wept. While this moment marks her progress towards independence and adulthood, it also marks the ultimate unveiling of her own internal darkness. From this day forth, in secret, Himari felt herself drawn to the knife. Through the shedding of her own blood could her impurity and filth be revealed, and this internal reminder of her unworthiness haunts her always.
Her father never spoke of that night, though Himari recalls seeing her mother's face blemished with a blackened eye at the next dinner she attended. Her mother's bruise was gone the following morning; Himari's scar will never fade.
Duty and Honor are a two way street. Just as she cannot abandon her family and obligations, nor can they give up on her entirely. At the foot of the family hierarchy as she was, Himari at last found the semblance of true freedom she craved. They ignored her, and she them. She pursued her own interests, and so long as they did not bring too much shame on herself the family stayed out of her business. When she dyed her hair, there was lashback- but she didn't yield, and there was nothing to be done for it. When she joined an amateur league for Starcraft, there were snide comments from Nari, but her second place award received the first praise from her father that she had gotten since she was a toddler. When she took up kyujutsu, it shocked the rest of the family-- but her lessons from Sanzo and competitions with a boy her age in the ninja clan named Mitsuo pushed her to openly seek more practice. She had found a line to walk, tension was present but not overbearing, and so long as she obeyed the tenets of Shame she could maneuver freely upon her leash. In such ways does the dog feel free.
She found what she thought to be love in Mitsuo. Their late night lessons under Sanzo, their exercises and training with the other pariah members of the clan, their shared interests in the bow- though Mitsuo was far her superior- and plantlife sparking them together in a way that only youths can experience. But it was not meant to be; Mitsuo wanted things Himari could not give, and it drove a rift between them. Their friendship was not irreparably damaged by their breakup, and to this day they are close friends and share a kinship through the clan that few could understand.
Then the boy, Norishige, was born at last. Born to one of her uncles, the boy was immediately declared Heir Apparent and the great debate of succession that had been occuring her entire life was at last put to rest. Any aspirations she may have privately harbored of one day being Empress were killed outright, and yet her leash grew longer and longer and longer. She was no longer bound so powerfully, though her actions still reflect upon the family; public attention was upon Norishige and the political rivalry the young princess Nari was already imposing over his birth. Himari was glad to step away, at last. She withdrew some of her personal funding, and looked for a place to go that was very very far away from the hurricane of chaos that was beginning to broil in the House of Yamato. At long last she wasn't the center of the drama.
Mitsuo had tried to keep her in Japan, telling her that the Clan would need her in the coming years. Sanzo, however, permitted and encouraged her to pursue her own ends; they would welcome her back when she was ready to return.
Special Moments:
”Just because they do not want you does not mean that you are unwanted.” - First spoken by Sensei Sanzo, upon inducting her into the Ninja Clan.
”The world wants you to be the sunrise, but I see your beauty in the darkling sky, Tasogare.” - Spoken by her first and only romantic partner, fellow Ninja student Mitsuo, upon her ending their relationship over disagreements on intimacy.
”At last all is clear; her blood is filth. She can be of no use to this family.” - Spoken by the Divine Empress Yuki, as Himari screamed and bled.
”Incredible! Three for three— and there’s the fourth! Hong Kong must be reeling right now, Twilight has landed four headshots in a row. The pressure is on, and we’re seeing this amateur pick in a new light today folks!” - The commentary reel from her first tournament win, specifically as a sniper on an FPS team.
”I’m sorry, did you hear that? I didn’t see you there, all shrouded in shadow and so bland to look at-“ She giggled with a bend towards cruelty in her eyes. “-Have you tried smiling a little brighter?” - Spoken by her younger sister, Nari, after publicly criticizing Himari’s first attempt at dying her own hair green; a double layered criticism and insult referencing Himari’s lack of divine glow.
Current Events: ”An heir is born. The line of Yamato is ensured. The succession debate ends today.” - Spoken by the Divine Emperor, sealing Himari’s fate four years ago.
Alienated by her own family, her childlike craving for their approval at last diminished- but not eradicated entirely!- Himari seeks answers elsewhere. Attending Saint Valerius Academy was something she chose to do on her own. The boarding and enrollment fees were paid out of her own pocket. She wanted to get as far away from Japan as she could under the guise of seeking prestigious opportunities in education and association.
The remainder of the House of Yamato: ⚜ Unfriendly
The Shinobi Clan (Sensei Sanzo, ex boyfriend Mitsuo, etc): ღ Ally: Himari is on good terms with her ex boyfriend, and she maintains a regular contact with her old teachers and companions from her shadowy schoolings. She’s aware there may be a greater agenda for the Clan having inducted her into its membership, but she doesn’t care; they’re good people.
Gl1tch (They/Them): ☮ Friends: Gl1tch is an online friend of TwilightImpress’, as well as a prominent Support role player in their mutual MMORPG hobby. She relies on them quite a bit for support. Utterly platonic.
Alice Jones // Sassy (Online Gaming Handle): ☮ Friends: Sassy is an American and a fellow competitive shooting amateur. They play casually together and scrimmage in the off-seasons. Himari has the slightest of crushes on her, though their relationship is entirely digital. They text often.
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Extras (Optional)
Character Quote: Ichinichiippo « One step each day » Theme Song:New Beginnings - KiKi Aura Color: Grey Scent: Chrysanthemum Partner: TBA Anything Else:
Guardian Angel Haruki,
rush99999,
Pilatus,
mattmanganon,
wanderingwolf,
ColdAtlas,
Lurking Krog,
Damycles,
QueenBea,
Noctis
