Platanus

The Rising Tide

Would almost bet that I am your oldest. XD

The Rising Tide

Better not to expect my post before Wednesday.

The Rising Tide

Ryver et Rhine said Platnus I love your char so far. xD He is sadly half way across the world in Japan.

Anything is possible. :D
I was afraid though, that he portraits too much of how I have seen the Finns so far: goofy with a certain passion at heart... and sometimes pissed off. (chewing on fingernails again)

The Rising Tide

Thanks. ^^
I was quite hesitant since it was my first time here... my previous experience was all in smaller groups and mostly in German, I am glad that it seems not to be so different.
AND Jennifer had to deal with my questions.

Btw I left everything about J-P's wife open on purpose, in case anyone has any specific ideas, from taking her as a character, NPC, from specific background or any bonds and ties at all. She could even be an alien for all I care.

The Rising Tide

Definitely one of the cases of parents being more excited than their kids where everyone on the plane was able to tell at first glance whose »trip« it really was. It was Jahho-Pekka's, no doubt. He had been waiting a lifetime for this, had dreamt and daydreamt the details so many times that should he one day in old age want to tell someone about his first time in Japan, he would most certainly not remember which version was the one having taken place not in his mind but in the material world. Has it not been for his wife almost constantly pinching his arm and the furious looks he got after the first half of an hour, he would have wanted to keep photographing every little detail until they arrived in the land of the rising sun. His 8 year old giggled mischievously, throwing looks towards mum to make sure daddy's behaviour – or rather his not behaving – was going to be used as a very good excuse later. A couple of times Minkka – first born child of the family – could not hold back her laughter. Antti though, with his 3 years of life experience, naturally showed much less attention for daddy's hyper excited state. Considering the Japanese security being at its highest after all the reconstructions and repopulating of their country, it was almost a miracle the Sepännens were not turned in and investigated because of the father's more than suspicious behaviour.

The plan was to stay in Tokyo for a week before Jahho-Pekka started with his work. Of course he was going to take photos at every possible opportunity, but the official reason he had signed the contract for was making an artistic, journalistic album of the national Kendo championship, supposed to also portray the old and proud tradition of the samurai, swordsmanship and the bamboo blade. Arashida Sensei(s) had gotten him signed up for the job. It was one of the side projects of reviving the Japanese history and its various traditions before it was too late and Japan, as it had been, was lost from memories and eventually from history. As to our Finnish photographer, he could not have been more grateful for the opportunity. For the past three months he had taken the kids out for Japanese food at least twice a week and they had visited the Arashidas for at least one long evening a week, hoping for the kids to get introduced to a – maybe poor – simulation of where they would live for the next six months, because no way Jahho-Pekka was simply returning to Finland after the Championships. Thanks to his thorough project proposal he had gotten an extension in his contract, so that he could make a road trip across Japan, photographing the remains of older dojos, whether they had been put to use or not, and whatever relics of the Kendo-tradition before the incident was to be found.

But the first week in Tokyo was still meant as a family vacation. He had promised to put work off for one week and be more of a dad than a photographer – or a Japan-freak.

The Rising Tide [ Cast ]

Name and/or Alias(es): Jahho-Pekka Seppänen

Age: 38

Sex: male

Occupation: (artistic) Photographer

Race and Origin: Jahho-Pekka – as his name may have already suggested – was born up in the north. Well, not exactly Lappland (Finns having to smile at this point), but in Finland. I thought of him still living there but should it be more convenient to the plot, I could easily have him and his family having moved elsewhere.
...and as long as he can tell he is pretty much human.

Appearance: When it comes to looks, Jahho-Pekka is quite the average – at least among Finns – with his brown hair, neither too dark nor too light, and the grey eyes that come with the hair. He is also neither tall nor short with his 1.86 m of height, along with the 94 kg of mass he carries around, enough to give him a small beer belly around the waist. So the first thing which might catch your attention when seeing him for the first time would most probably be the long dreadlocks around his slightly big head or the occasional earrings and/or ear piercings he cares to wear.


Equipment: From the casual pocket camera to professional ones with gigantic lenses for every purpose or smaller ones attachable to various kinds of material.
One could also take his various shinais and Kendo-gear into account. (He will have his 4th Dan exam pretty soon.)

Abilities/Talents: Jahho-Pekka discovered during his school time his affinity with electromagnetic oscillations. Having mastered his way with light as a kind of electromagnetic oscillation, it has allowed him to make exquisite photos some of which resemble dreams.

History: Jahho-Pekka was born in Turku-Finnland and grew up as the middle child between two others. With his father being a musician his artistic side was nurtured from very young age, while his mother kept trying to convince him of learning a craft which was more capable of bringing bread to the table. Finding out about his »oscillation magic« - Oskillaattorinoituus or Oskkinoituus as they named it, whether it was one of his siblings or friends, he does not remember any more – gave mum exactly what she had been waiting for. So after graduation from high school he applied for electronics (engineering) on the university of Turku. A slight sense of adventure and a desire to see the world took him to the States, Poland and Norway for further studies. Although he graduated with a master's degree in Optics (Physics) ten years ago, he never intended to pursue science, technology or much less industrial development as a carrier. Thanks to his physical understanding of light though, Jahho-Pekka was able to become a much better photograph with a sharper eye than he could have hoped to become with having only studied the art. It goes without saying that he did take photography courses and workshops every now and then. About eight years ago he came back to Finland and settled down.
His life has also another history, a nightmare haunting him for about two decades. It came about because of his greatest hobby since the age of 14: Kendo. Wanting to play somewhat a fusion between a Viking and a samurai, Jahho-Pekka started with the martial sport one year sooner, yet he was 14 when he knew he did not ever want to stop practising Kendo, even should he not be fit for championships. Having found a Sensei like out of a dream did naturally help with the notion and with the bond he felt to the inherited ways of the sword. Arashida Sensei was one of those people born to become teachers, which made him run the courses at the dojo while his wife was a much fiercer Kendoka. Having grown fond and close to the couple, Jahho-Pekka - along with some other pupils – shared their grief and pain when they lost their people along with many loved ones. The incident turned Jahho-Pekka's attention towards poets and it was not the appreciated kind of attention. He knew then, he was going to hate poets for the rest of his life. He knew poetry was a wretched profession, passion or whatever these people took it for and he knew he wanted someday to see the end of this lot in the name of justice. So he took it upon him to raise awareness of the no longer silent danger lurking along. He was still studying for his bachelor's degree in Turku when he started the Campaign and tried to reach people all over the world. He has been active ever since, trying to make people see the true danger which lies in poetry, the vicious ways of the poets and trying to organize them in identifying poets. After all he is the father of two now and the last thing he would want is for his children to grow up in the world with »them«.

Children:
Minkka, his daughter, 8 years old
Antti, the son, 3 years old

The Rising Tide

So, I sent Jennifer my character sheet... now chewing on fingernails. ;)

World War 2 RP - 1946?

kingkonrad said
EDIT: I thoroughly support the idea of politicans/diplomats/soldiers/inteligence operatives, such as that of Admiral Canaris's agency and the OSS and the likes, rather than an NRP, to really immerse the idea of all of it.

Second that.

World War 2 RP - 1946?

I'll definitely keep reading where your ideas will be leading to and how it ends... depending on the outcome I might do something about a »Dresden« front. Oh yes, and I would definitely need to know whether the Allies have bombed DD nevertheless or not. (This should have been an evil laugh, the smiley makes it way too creepy!!)