eudio > headcanon meme

[icarusalsoflew]

Note that all of this has been adjusted specifically for Eudio, and the changes that took place between Waking the Dead 2.0 and Waking the Dead 2.5: Welcome to the New Age.

The Basics.

Full name?
Which one Hikaru Shinta. Technically, though, his birth name in this life cycle was Toshizou Fukuzawa. He always goes under Hikaru Shinta once he remembers himself after reincarnation, since it was the first name that he ever had.


Is there a history to it?
One that burned up a long time ago. The Shinta Family were from the ancient Japanese kingdom of Yamatai - we're talking 11th Century shit here. The Methuselah inferred from scattered records that there was a Demon Born within their line a long time ago, based on the tales of an ancestor of Hikaru's being the "wife" of a kitsune. That explains the violet eyes. At the moment, there are no "pure-blooded" Shinta left other than Hikaru himself.

As for Hikaru's full name, the kanji translates into "Heart of Light". Reputedly, his parents felt the need to choose something filled with "divine meaning" because of their failure to produce a proper child in Setsuna (recall: they, like everyone else in Yamatai, believed she was a witch). Hikaru finds the meaning of his name very ironic.


Does he have any nicknames (if applicable)?
Brother Wolf, which is something unique to Zangyaku oni-tsukai. The operative who coined it was Kalika Shinta, Hikaru's adopted younger sister.


When is his birthday and how old is he?
September 5, 2042. Physically 22 going on 23 at the moment. He's actually on his 29th life cycle, so in actuality, he's about 1,251 years old, give or take.


Where was he born?
The first time that he was ever born into this universe, he was born in what is now the location of Shin Yamatai, the Necropolis of the Fifth World. In this life cycle, however, he was born in New Atlantis.


Did he grow up there?
It's Zangyaku custom for Hikaru to stay in the place of his birth up until he "Awakens" as himself, and then he moves to Seigi, Zangyaku's power base in Tokyo. So yes, he lived through his first eight years as Toshizou in New Atlantis, and then he shuttled between New Atlantis and Seigi when he wasn't busy with the Darkest Vigil.


What is his family's heritage?
Japanese on both sides for this life cycle.

On a related note, specialists from Rashinban have studied the pattern of his reincarnations established by Alistair Mordechai, and have figured that from here until the end of his "agreement" with Brother Death, he's probably going to be born to families with at least three of the following qualifications:

• At least one parent is Japanese, or with traceable Japanese origins somewhere down the line.
  
• At least one parent is British/Irish/Scottish/Welsh, or with traceable British/Irish/Scottish/Welsh origins somewhere down the line.
  
• Possesses a connection to Zangyaku, no matter how distant - barring that, possesses a connection to the Vigil.
  
• At least one parent or grandparent is supernatural.
  
• At least one parent or grandparent is Christian.
  
• Family is directly or indirectly involved in some martial profession (i.e. soldier, weapons dealer, martial artist) or a profession within the Humanities or fine arts (i.e. performer, artist, historian, philosopher, teacher).
  
• He's either the first child, the only child, or the second child of the family.
  

As such, the question of heritage kind of varies from cycle to cycle.


What cultural aspects did his parents value, if any?
Hikaru's first parents hailed from the pre-medieval period of Japan's history, and were thus deeply suspicious of anything they could not understand and incredibly traditional.

On a much more recent scale, the Fukuzawa are about as Zangyaku as you could possibly get. They're Japanese at the core, but have particularly liberal ideas with regard to how the kids are raised and how they treat other people. Zangyaku, for example, believes that both parties in a marital relationship ought to be equal in respect and regard for each other (a deviation from the Japanese setup, which is almost stifling in its patriarchal slant), sexuality is a personal choice and never considered a flaw, and children are allowed to determine their own future, especially if it's evident that they have the potential to become Keepers of the Vigil.


What was his childhood like, on a socioeconomic level? How did this affect his upbringing?
He was born to a blacksmith father who was favored by the Stormguard and a veritable noblewoman during his first life cycle, and was thus rather comfortable even when he abandoned his own parents out of disgust for their treatment of his sister. Of course, that might be due to the fact that he became the Blade of the Storm Queen and General of her Stormguard, thus making it unnecessary for him to rely on his parents in any fashion.

If we're talking about recent things, though, Hikaru's childhood was pretty damned good in this cycle, reincarnation angst aside. His father is a former member of the Searing Wind, and the representative of the Awakened community on the Wiseman's Committee - he's rolling in the dough. His mother is a well-established preschool teacher from New Atlantis: she was the founder of her own school in the Mage City-State, and now runs a school in the Falner Estate. Beyond that, he's still got the entirety of his own assets across 28 other life cycles, managed by Zangyaku. Even before he remembered himself, he never wanted for anything.


How has that changed now that he's an adult?
Since he's back to being the Blade King of Zangyaku, he's in full control of all of his assets and resources - to say that he's loaded would be a massive understatement. Interestingly enough, while he's inclined to indulge himself on occasion, Hikaru's generally pretty frugal with his cash. The only time he spends big is when he's spending for other people.


What is his current social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
A high-profile Keeper of the Vigil, a multi-licensed operative, the founder and leader of the strongest conspiracy in the Fifth World, and a highly influential member of Japanese society. Big steps up and undoubtedly huge changes, I would say, from what it must have been like for him to be the son and younger child of a blacksmith in pre-medieval Japan...


What does he do for a living? Is he good at it? Does he enjoy it, or would he rather be doing something else?
He's a Keeper of the Vigil and he fucking loves it in the "no, not trading this for anything else in the Fifth World" kind of way. He also happens to be the King of an Unseelie Court in Arcadia, and the Vessel of Death. He is, for the moment, ayt with those roles - although not as all right with being the King of an Unseelie Court (thus effectively making him a part of the Gentry) as he is with being the Vessel of Death.

Also: yes, he's very good at what he does, as Keeper, leader of Zangyaku, and Gentry King.


What kind of house does he live in? Where is it located? In what style does he prefer to decorate?
At the moment, Hikaru has settled down in the Brennan Residence, a modest-looking thing owned by his fiancee Joshua LaRue. It's located in the West District of the Falner Estate.

When Angela and Aaron, future parents-in-law, are over Hikaru's actual living spaces on the Falner Estate (the one that are in his name) are in the Falner Manor. His room in the Manor is on what everyone refers to as the Malice Kings Wing, as that is where each of the Malice Kings of Netsach have a set of quarters tailored to suit their purposes. His room there is clean, modern industrial and minimalist.

Technically speaking, though, Hikaru's "official" place of residence is the Wolf's Ward in Seigi. There's an entire compound for the Shinta Family, and one whole wing of that compound (we're talking a big bedroom, a study, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a garden, a training hall, an armory, and several other rooms for guests) has been sectioned off just for him. That place is also clean and minimalist and modern industrial touches and a clear Japanese slant. A PATTERN, YAY

Randomly, he has a room at the Fukuzawa Residence on the estate grounds because Asami wants to make sure that when she requires his presence, he can stay in with the family without difficulty. He also has a room of his own in the penthouse of the Zobel de Ayala Tower, which is the personal retreat of the War Hounds. Both of those rooms match the style he's chosen for his pad in the Falner Manor.


What other places has your character lived in?
I'll go in order with regard to the significant homes that he's had throughout his life cycles.

The ancestral home of the Shinta Family in Shin Yamatai has been refurbished and fitted to suit both Hikaru's purposes and to serve as a stop over and resting place for special guests of the Wolfborn. The place's style and decor is informed by ancient Japanese (as in, pre-Heian) sensibilities, although it's been outfitted with modern facilities. Hikaru now uses this place to house his ever-growing collection of books, antiques, relics, and other odds and ends. The most interesting thing in his collection are the masks he has possessed across the life cycles as an oni-tsukai of Zangyaku.

The Mordechai Home - where Hikaru grew up as Seth Mordechai, Alistair's only son - is the ancestral house of the Mordechai line of Rivers Hunters: it's somewhere on the Cooley Peninsula of Ireland, and protected by enchantments that prevent pretty much everyone from going there unless they're traveling with a Mordechai or in a Mordechai vehicle. The house is old Irish wood and stone, and has rooms for Alistair, Maes and Hikaru; the trio use the place as a getaway, and as a repository for their regalia, important documents and other Brotherhood of Violence-related things. The house itself is built on top of the Great Tree that reputedly gave the Mordechai line their Rivers legacy. The family cemetery is a fifteen minute walk away.

The Lightless Lands are the realms of the Blade King Izanagi - Hikaru's official title as nominal Gentry - within Arcadia. He inadvertently inherited the entire kingdom after killing Izanami, the Fae that abducted him during his sixth life cycle. The Lightless Lands are a throwback mix of ancient Japan, Korea, China and India, and the entire place looks like a moving ukyo-e painting. Hikaru's obligated to go back to his kingdom on a regular basis, as the Lightless Lands has become the premier "safe zone" for Changeling Keepers of the Vigil, and a foothold of the Vigil within Arcadia.

The Wolf's Ward within Hirato, Kyoto, was the first of its kind and one of the two primary places that Hikaru stayed in for many of his life cycles - the other were his rooms within the Falner Manor. Hikaru rarely comes to this place now since his conspiracy has moved their main base of operations to Seigi, but it's the best maintained Wolf's Ward in the entire lot - his conspiracy provides him with lavish quarters in every power base they have.

One special place of note from Hikaru's recent history is a mansion that he and Alistair bought together in 2010, located in Antipolo City on the Eastern outskirts of Metro Manila - it's the compound that Kibo, Zangyaku's power base in Metro Manila, is centered around. That house - fashioned in an interesting mix of modern industrial and traditional Filipino - was intended to be Alistair's means of showing Hikaru that he was serious about entering into a permanent relationship with the Blade King, made doubly significant by the fact that it became Tala Vega's home until she reconciled with her actual parents and it was a constant getaway for Wolf's Choice, the Pack, and the Rockin' Rollas between 2012 and 2022. These days, though, it's a common space that Alistair and Hikaru are content to share with each other, even if they won't be romantically involved for a very long time. It also serves as the equivalent of Kibo's Wolf's Ward for their Blade King.

He spent the first eight years of his life in the Fukuzawa Residence in New Atlantis, a house that Tohru built for his wife Asami behind her preschool. He still has a room there, especially since he used to make it a point to visit his family regularly.


What kind of accessories does he like to keep around?
Beyond the communication device that all volunteer citizens of Eudio have been issued, Hikaru will usually be spotted with a black, leather-bound notebook and a pen wherever he goes. Said notebook is always the latest addition to the notebook of names and other "interesting things of note" that he's been filling up since his 21st life cycle. Those who have seen Hikaru across several life cycles have realized that he always uses the same pen to write in the thing: a fountain pen with gold engravings. A gift from Riley Falner.

The cigarette case he always uses is a sleek, thin, classy black thing with beautiful etchings of higanbana and wolves. It was a gift from Liandrin Delacroix, back when the two of them were together. It also happens to be unbreakable, and chanted with several hundred protection spells. His Wolf's Crest has been attached to the interior of the case.

On the other hand, Hikaru's Zippo is Calintz Duskrider's first gift to him ever, so that makes the thing pretty damned old. That lighter is silver with a custom finish of knives and roses. An equally old thing to his lighter is the small, silver alcohol canister he uses - that one has a similar finish to the lighter. Maes Mordechai was the one who gave him that.

The rest of Hikaru's usual paraphernalia and weapons (listed in this same section over here) wasn't brought with him to Hug City. He has, instead, two katanas that he's registered with the Administration, and the engagement ring that Josh gave him just a few months back.


What financial habits does your character have? Does he routinely buy certain things?
The majority of Hikaru's assets and resources go into maintaining Zangyaku, helping Zangyaku oni-tsukai and their families out in any financial venture, investing in corporations allied with the Vigil (primarily Vice Enterprises and the Rhiannon Group), supporting all Wolfborn family lines that survive to this day, maintaining the property and safe houses that Hikaru has for himself all over the globe, financing special cases that he has had a hand in through his notebooks (this is done anonymously), and donating to charity (also done anonymously). He used to have trust funds for Tala Vega, Selene Vega, Kalika Shinta and Kaizen Tempesta. At the moment, he only has a trust fund for Lyall.

The only things that Hikaru routinely buys for himself are cigarettes, alcohol, fine aftershave, cologne, books/manuscripts, antiques, works of art, keeping his tech and his favored modes of transport (bikes and cars) as updated as possible, creature comforts, and food. He used to shop for his own clothes, but Tala and Selene have taken to doing that for him as of late (and using his credit card to do it, of course).


What are your character’s short-term goals (within the next year)?
Restore the peace in the Fifth World before Grendal burns everything down. Try not to die too early, because he's got twenty million reasons in one Joshua LaRue to live long this go around.


What are your character’s long-term goals (within the next several years?)
At the moment? He hasn't really thought about developing any beyond the usual maintenance that comes with his "condition". Everything's been crazy as of late, so.

Unless, of course, one counts marriage as a "long term goal", given his circumstances. If that counts, then there you have it.


What does your character want to accomplish before dying?
In the case of this current life cycle: reconnect with as many of his people as possible, and actually try to live well inasmuch as he can. His previous life cycle was traumatic. A constant theme across all of his life cycles, though, is the desire to give as much of himself as he can to people and causes that he believes in, no matter what the cost.


What mode of transportation does your character use to get around?
Car, motorbike, teleportation, and Blood Walking. These days, he tries to avoid Blood Walking as much as possible since it takes a lot out of him.


Body & Appearance.
Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
As a general rule of thumb, Hikaru's always about 5"9 (tall, for a Japanese guy), with a lean and compact build. At first glance, people may be lead to believe that he's thin, and maybe a little fragile. Truth be told, his body quite literally bleeds down to the essentials every life cycle, from constant traveling and fighting. Barely an inch of fat on this one: he's 99% muscle. Anyone who gets close enough to touch him will be able to confirm this for themselves.


Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
He carries himself incredibly well, and with ridiculous ease. He never slouches, even when he's relaxed. The only time he really loses this poise is when he's tense, stressed, or angry - but that just makes him stand up straighter, and carry himself like he's ready to fight at the drop of a dime.


Are they left/right-handed or are they ambidextrous?
Ambidextrous.


How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
Fit as a fiddle - for now. Regardless of how strong they end up getting, the voracious appetite of all Bloodsingers needs near-constant satiation, and it only gets worse the stronger as the Singer grows in power. Hikaru might not have Sumire anymore, but that effectively means that he is his own Singer. A Bladian of his power actually needs to draw blood or kill something nearly every hour in a day - an impossible feat, especially if you're not into mass genocide (like most people). As such, the Singer will inevitably turn its fangs upon its own host.

In Hikaru's case, his own power is constantly eating him alive, and particularly excessive uses of power only speed this process up. He's always dying a little by the day, and will start to really decline in health anywhere between the age of thirty to fifty. He'll live to his forties, if he's very lucky or exceptionally prudent.


How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid? Any quirky mannerisms that they do?
Fluid and languid, much like a predator - although his mannerisms will probably keep most folks from realizing that he is one until it's too late. An incredibly observant person, however, will notice that there's never a single wasted movement on Hikaru's part, and that he's perfectly capable of staying absolutely still, regardless of the situation at hand. He's economic right down to his gestures and words - and subsequent lack thereof for either.

Given how collected he is, Hikaru often gives off the impression of being far older than he looks for people who don't know him. Truth be told, he IS, so. That indirectly answers the question on quirky mannerisms: as stated above, he's usually in perfect control of how he moves. The more comfortable he is in his present company, though, the more he lets loose, acting more like the young adult that he is at the moment (and has never really been able to be, on that note).


How does he sleep?
Curled up on his side, buried in his blanket. He used to curl up against another pillow (he always has two). These days, though, he gravitates towards the nearest source of warmth: Josh.


How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
Impossibly, unreally, stupidly attractive; the aura he projects and the easy way he carries himself coupled with the fact that he's only too good at being effortlessly charming just make this worse. As for how he perceives himself, he takes pride in looking good and clean at all times, in all kinds of company. It is also the way he orders his own personal universe. When he lets himself go in any fashion, it's a stress/sadness tell.


What is your character’s facial structure like?
While he's very obviously Japanese, certain features in his face - like his chin, the particular angular slant of his face, the strength in his jaw, and his cheekbones - seem to point at mixed East Asian heritage somewhere down the line. It's almost like he's got all the nice features of your quintessential Japanese man without any of the flaws like, let's say, the teeth.

For a clearer image, you can refer to his peg, Takeshi Kaneshiro in his twenties.


Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Light and clear, with no visible scars. He does get injured often on the job, but those usually heal very quickly, if not instantaneously.


What feature of your character’s face is most expressive?
Definitely his eyes. He might be able to school the rest of his features in a particularly emotional moment, but for the people who know him best, it'll be obvious what he's feeling from the look in his eyes.


What are his chief tension centers?
Beyond the fact that his movements reduce even further: mouth, eyes, jaw, shoulders.


Describe his hair: color, texture, style. Also: is he fond of hats or hair accessories?
Black and a little wavy, just long enough to style it when he has to. He'll only slick his hair back when he has to be particularly dressy, or go on 100% Samurai Mode for the press and family gatherings.

Occasionally, he will cut his hair short enough to let it spike a bit, or stay right within the realm of "tousled" after a shower. He tends to go with this look whenever he manages to hit his mid twenties to late thirties (or, on the rare occasion, beyond that).

On accessories: on the few occasions that a hat is required, Hikaru's a fedora kind of guy. He also doesn't like hair accessories, period. He'll tie his hair back on the occasions that it grows out (i.e. when he's in Arcadia, and his Arcadian appearance overrides his physiological makeup), but that's about it.


What color are his eyes? Does he wear glasses or contacts?
Violet: a reflection of the "magic" within the original Shinta Clan line (recall that bit about them having a Demon Born ancestor). This has not changed since his first life cycle because he always retains the appearance of his original line cycle.

Hikaru's eyesight is supernaturally good, but it's also the first thing that starts to go when the blade sickness begins to take its toll. Hence, the only time you'll ever see him wear glasses is when he's deeply immersed in his work (in this case, the glasses he wears are more like Waking the Dead's equivalent of Google Glass than actual glasses) or when he's close to the end of his current life cycle. Furthermore, the only kinds of contact lenses he'll ever indulge in are Vice Contacts.


Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
This is lifted from his dossier:

• Has a full montage of a lake at night, with lotus flowers, higanbana, and a wolf resting by the water on his back. There is a full moon in the sky close to his left shoulder, and ravens in flight close to his right shoulder. All of it is done in the traditional Japanese style. Closer inspection of the lake will reveal that the entire montage was built around the transmutation circle that was branded on his body during the God Slaying Ceremony: it’s reflected in the water.
  
• Has a full montage of thorns, blades and roses wrapped around his left arm.
  
• Has a tattoo of a black Chinese dragon wrapped around his right arm.
  
• Has a Japanese tattoo of a kitsune, done in gold, resting on the right side of his belly. It is surrounded by higanbana.
  
• Whenever he activates any of Brother Death’s abilities or when he’s particularly emotional, a fiery crimson ring appears just within the inner ring of the irises of both of his eyes.
  

Granted, violet eyes must also seem pretty strange on somebody who is physiologically Japanese in every other aspect.


What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does he have six of the same suit?
The perfect balance between dressy and utilitarian, with a clear preference for leather, silk, and corduroy. If his stuff isn't tailored, it's from top-of-the-line designer brands (everyone is welcome to blame this mostly on his daughters, and partially on the fact that he's left his heart behind in the Victorian Era/Meiji Era of Japan). Even his 'dressed down' when he's at home or on vacation isn't cheap. Favored colors are neutrals, and he does like the kinds of contrasts that really work on a body. Designs and prints are good in his book too: he does seem to have a fondness for pinstripes.

On a related note, Hikaru has a tendency to layer his clothing to an almost ridiculous degree, as if he's always a little cold. The layers are kind of like his unconscious attempt at putting on battle armor against other people. He's been dressing down a lot as of late, though, and going for things that make him really look his physical age.


Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
Yup. They fit so damned well it's like anything he puts on serves as his second skin.


Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
No. If he isn't in the actual uniform or armor of the conspiracy that he has chosen to represent for the moment (usually his own, Netsach, or the Brotherhood), he is in clothing whose color scheme matches the colors of said conspiracy, or in white.

Beyond that, he does go full on traditional (which does occasionally entail wearing the colors and mon of the Shinta Clan) when the situation calls for it.


You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Briefs, ayup. It should be known, however, that he'll go jock straps or maybe even commando in the right company, and he is all for fundoshi when it's time to be Japanese.


Speech.

What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
Perfectly balanced - not too high, not too low. Particularly observant people, however, will probably be able to tell that he smokes a lot if they listen to him carefully.


How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
Quietly and evenly; rare is the occasion that he'll raise his voice. He talks easily, laughs easily, is almost never caught off-guard by anything that the company he chooses to keep will say, regardless of who they are. Him going quiet is usually the sign that something is amiss, and the minute pauses between one statement and the next are always tells that he knows something, or is holding back on saying something, or is generally uncomfortable with the topic.


Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
Accent neutral, and with impeccable grammar unless he's out to troll his current company, in which case he displays an unhealthy knowledge of the latest Internet memes and trending topics.

One verbal tic he does have is calling other people "love" or "darling", and he will call particularly young people "kids" (although he has been known to do that to "older" people than himself). His English is definitely British rather than American, even though he doesn't seem to have the accent; it's in the word choices. His Japanese is neutral: not too formal, not too informal. He also uses male qualifiers (i.e. "boku").

On another note, he will always say that he's fine, even when he's not. As such, his closest friends and associates have come to learn that there are many shades of "fine"; it's all in - once again - the pauses, the tone and inflection of his voice, together with the look on his face. He's more expressive that he would like to be, especially when he's vulnerable.


What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
Fluent in English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Gaelic, German, French, Russian, Korean, Arabic, Jewish, Spanish, Italian, and Greek. He also knows Latin, Sanskrit and Aramaic.

On a supernatural end, he knows how to speak the First Tongue of the People, Infernal, Arcadian, Stygian, High Speech, and Spirit Tongue.


Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
The only time he'll switch to another language is if his current company appears to be more comfortable in a dialect beyond English, and if there is something that he does not want his current companions to hear.


Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
He's absolutely wonderful at impromptu speaking. If he ever does pause while he's talking to somebody, it's because there is something that he really doesn't want to say, and is hence attempting to deflect the attention away from himself, or towards another topic.


Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
Frighteningly eloquent; this tends to stick, even on occasions he's caught up in his moods or in the insanity of the Rapture, even if he's being fucked hard by his current partner of the evening. It's next to impossible to rout this one in verbal parley.

Suffice to say, if you do manage to render him speechless, you're damned good at what you're doing, or you've actually managed to shock him/push him past his thresholds that much.


Mental and Emotional
How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
Very, very intelligent in both fields. That tends to come out of living an incredibly long time, and having the propensity to attempt to approximate perfection in all things. It helps, of course, that he absorbs all sources of information like a sponge; it should be noted that he has a particular fondness for the written word.


Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
Quite capable of thinking on his feet. If he does have to step back and plan something, it's usually big.


Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
It's all about observation, assessment and empathizing. In as much as he's a sensitive person, too many years of living has given Hikaru the propensity to see things in patterns and possibilities; it doesn't help that he's brilliant. As such, he does tend to break the things he encounters down according to the patterns he recognizes. He's usually spot-on.

At the end of it all, Hikaru's an economic creature. If something or someone is useful to him, he would like to know how and why. And 'usefulness' could be anything from a plausible asset to his conspiracy to a potential fuck to a mark that will help him fulfill his quota of bloodletting for the day. He tries very, VERY hard not to think of getting attached, or making friends.

Read: he's failed miserably at that, as of late.


What kind of education has the character had?
All kinds of education, from all levels of formal schooling in systems across historical periods and countries to hands-on experience and training. 1,250+ years of it, really.


Can he name any notable teachers?
Alistair was Hikaru's mentor during his first life cycle, as the Seer wanted to personally take charge of preparing Hikaru to be the Weapon of the Methuselah. Other people whom Hikaru considers his "teachers" in various arenas would be Aidan Clayce, Riley Falner, Maes Mordechai, Marrigan Crowe, Oberon, Titania, and Abe no Seimei. All of these people gave him valuable lessons in his eyes, and Hikaru believes that for better or for worse, he would not have ever become the Blade King and Wolf of Zangyaku without any of them.


What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
Primary areas of expertise include swordplay, firearms, leadership, strategy, driving (like a maniac), research, literature, history, psychology, sociology, occult and esoteric studies, and being charming as fuck. Beyond that, he's dabbled in pretty much everything, and is preternaturally skilled as a result of him always remembering everything he has done in every single life cycle he's led. The only real "weak" area that Hikaru has is dealing with computers, and even in that, he is - by all standards beyond his own - brilliant at them now.


Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
Leaning more towards an introvert trying very, very hard to look like he's not. He's a person who's fundamentally open to the world and only too ready to give his all to whoever he meets, and he hates it. It's not because he's afraid of getting hurt; he's afraid that he's going to end up doing the hurting. He's also admittedly tired of losing out or never being able to get what he wants these days, especially since he's often too intense for his own good or for the chosen object of his affections to handle properly.


Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
Always ridiculously composed and even-tempered on the exterior; exacting, precise and driven when it comes to himself and Keeping the Vigil. He makes it a point to look cheerful and be sociable, even when he's hurting. Especially when he's hurting.

If he's hurting too much for his masks to hold, Hikaru has the tendency to lose himself in engagements, or retreat. Best way to tell that this is happening is to watch for his self-destructive habits to come out - that is, smoking a lot more, drinking a lot more, and recklessly or too casually using the powers that he has at his disposal.


How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
Relaxed, confident, almost always ready to entertain, almost always ready to be pleasant and charming.


Is he more likely to act, or to react?
Act, act, act. He rarely ever has to react to anything because he can usually predict, with 100% accuracy, how things are going to fall into place - or he has the ability to make it happen just as he planned.


Which is his default: fight or flight?
Fight, although he usually knows when to make a strategic retreat. Usually. Granted, knowing doesn't mean that he'll go for it, especially if he's in need of a good workout. Fighting is one of his major forms of stress relief.


Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
Default dry and witty; a good balance between British humor and Japanese back-handed compliments with a healthy dose of flippant douchebaggery. He can also be a complete, insufferable troll with a mean streak worthy of a toddler, and loves innuendo, especially if it's the sexual kind.


Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
If one could diagnose the crushing insecurity that Hikaru has always felt as a result of him being the Methuselah's Weapon as a mental disorder, that would be it. He has no sense of self-worth, because he honestly thinks that he's not worthy of being a part of the world. In his eyes, he's a karmic freak and an abomination, and while he'll do everything that he can in order to do good (including being a ruthless fuck and a villain when somebody needs to be one), he has no intention of claiming a place in the very world that he's trying to fix, or build for other people.

There is also the fact that Hikaru's got some serious hang-ups with relationships, especially with the idea of marriage and having children. He kind of killed the first and only wife and kids that he ever had. It wasn't his fault, but he certainly likes to think that it was.

Furthermore, he will ultimately attempt to distance himself from people. He has the propensity to get attached as fuck to people; he loves people. As such, the moment he feels like he's starting to have some level of affection towards somebody, he'll find ways of pushing them away from him.

Let's not forget, as well, the fact that he's a nominal god and therefore victim to a constant sensory overload combined with a brain that works at 100% capacity all the time. That pretty much makes him a high-functioning sociopath with all the tendencies that he works actively towards curbing.


What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
...There are kind of a lot since he is kind of really old, so you can mosey on over to his history page if you want to. Off the top of my head, though, the defining point was definitely when he met his older sister Setsuna, and decided to become the Storm Queen's Blade. If he had not done that, he would not have met Aidan, and not ended up becoming one of the Malice Kings. There is also a chance that he might have never become the Weapon of the Methuselah.

There is also the intimate relationship he has had with Alistair and Liandrin. Alistair was, for a very long time, the one constant he has in his life, and at present, the Seer has pretty much promised to BE that constant factor regardless of whether they'll stay together or not. Liandrin was the "dark" that he fell in love with, as he was the "dark" that she fell for herself. They did not work out in the end, but she will always have a special case in his heart.

Speaking of lovers: his relationship with Katherine Stiles (and later, the carry over in her reincarnation Aria Skye) changed him, as did losing her by his own two hands. She is, in fact, the only person he has ever married, and had children by.

On more "recent" events: having a brief romantic stint with Makoto Kuzunoha (the one who kept him steady while he and Alistair were falling apart), befriending Jessiah Vice (they have so much in common, it's kind of not funny?), and befriending (or adopting, or becoming kin/in-laws with...) the members of Wolf's Choice, the Pack, and the Rockin' Rollas in 2012. Those three blades are directly responsible, after all, for "perfecting" him as the Vessel of Death, NOT as the Weapon of the Methuselah.

The MOST recent milestone in Hikaru's life is his befriending of the War Hounds, which is inclusive of adopting Brianna Lopez and falling in love with Joshua LaRue. They're the fourth blade in his personal history to literally and figuratively save his life (fifth if you count the Malice Kings), and he's kill-ready protective towards the lot of them. Let's not forget, as well, that they're responsible for finding the artifact that their superiors built a ritual around. Said ritual has effectively returned him to the karmic cycle as of late.


What does he fear?
Losing control and succumbing to his "condition". It is not so much about him being possessed by Brother Death (they trust each other now, and even call each other "brother"), but the fact that he already has too much power at his disposal, and he's only going to get stronger. This might make him distant, or change him in ways that will prevent him from being empathetic to the Denizens of the Fifth World somewhere down the line.

He also fears the possibility of going against the Vigil, a cause that he believes in wholeheartedly.


What are his hopes or aspirations?
Settling down with Josh, and slowing down in order to live life properly for the next couple of cycles. Maybe even forever.

He also hopes that on the off-chance that he does go renegade, the Keepers will be powerful enough to stop him.


What is your character vulnerable to?
It's been mentioned above: the constant sensory overload that comes with the beyond supernatural level of perception and sharpness of senses that he possesses due to the fact that he's always, always growing in strength, power, and potential as a "human being". Combine that with his brain capacity being at near-constant 100% full functionality and eidetic memory, and you can imagine what it must be like to live for just a minute in his shoes. Hence his deep-seated need for control, and to stay IN control under any and all circumstances. Hikaru's a living lesson in how it might not actually be fun for anybody to be superhuman.


What is your character’s biggest regret? What are some of his minor regrets?
Hikaru's biggest regret used to be the fact that he was still alive in the first place, and had not just instructed his oni-tsukai to kill him every time he reincarnated sooner. Recent events, however, have helped paint all of the events across his previous life cycles in a different and better light. He doesn't really have any regrets now, big or small.


What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
I don't think there's any big, dark secret that he doesn't want anyone to know about. In general, though, he's a pretty careful person, and dislikes it when he's too obviously emotional. Overall, he doesn't like shunting the "burden" of his feelings on others.


If your character were granted one wish, what would it be?
That he manages to live up to the expectation he set out for himself and Brother Death: that the two of them, at the very end of their Bargain, will be able to stand as equals, made better for having known each other across the centuries.


Family Background.

What are your characters’ mothers’ full names?
The first woman who was ever Hikaru's mother was Junko Shinta. Her maiden name remains unknown.

Asami Fukuzawa is Hikaru's mother for this life cycle. Her maiden name is Suzuhara.

Interestingly enough, Hikaru's mother from his 27th life cycle is still alive - this is due to the fact that Rivers Hunters are long lived. Her name is Kasumi Aoi. She does not have a maiden name because her husband was the one who inherited her surname. My reasons for noting her down here will come out in the succeeding sections.


What kind of people are they?
Junko was a favored courtesan of the Storm Queen's court, with all the desirable aspects of a woman of that position: genteel with impeccable social graces and a sharp sense for politics.

Asami is incredibly warm, sweet and down to Earth - the farthest possible thing one could ever get from a woman of Zangyaku. Nevertheless, she's got spirit in her, and an uncompromising belief in the idea that one must move as gracefully through the world no matter what.

Kasumi, on the other hand, is the epitome of Zangyaku woman: ruthlessly elegant, elegantly ruthless, and loyal to the conspiracy right down to her bones. She's also fiercely, fatally protective of Hikaru, whom she will always view as her son even if their time is done - her official title in Zangyaku isn't Mother of the Wolf for nothing.


How old are they?
Junko is, of course, long dead. Asami is 51. Kasumi is 101 years old, and turning 102 on July 9 this year, in-game.


What did they do for a living?
Junko, as we stated earlier, was a courtesan of the Storm Queen's Court, and one of the few ladies who had won the personal favor of Marrigan herself.

As previously mentioned, Asami started out as a preschool teacher in New Atlantis - she eventually moved on to found her own school in the Mage City-State, and has recently passed the management of the original school down to her best teacher in order to establish a second school in the West District of the Falner Estate.

Kasumi is the Magistrate of Seigi, and the current Right Hand of the Blade King - that is, the highest ranking member of the Myobu who handles all of the conspiracy matters in his place, especially when he is busy with other matters or he hasn't awakened yet.


What kind of relationship does your character have with them of them?
Hikaru's relationship with Junko fell out completely after he found out what she and his father had done to Setsuna. He never bothered responding to the attempts she made at reconciling with him, since said attempts never included setting his older sister free.

Even with the small rough patch that Hikaru had for two years after he remembered himself, Hikaru's relationship with Asami has always been warm and supportive. She's always made it a point to impress upon Hikaru the idea that while yes, his "condition" makes him rather different from everyone else, he still deserves to live a normal life and be treated like a normal human being, with the most important aspect of that being the fact that no matter what, he is her son.

His relationship with Kasumi is much, MUCH better now than it has been for over half a century. The two are working towards reconnecting with each other properly as mother and son, especially since Kasumi spent years grieving over the fact that Hikaru was directly responsible for killing Akihiko, his father and her husband.


How do these women feel about your characters’ respective fathers?
Junko was typical to a woman of her times: her husband was her world, and she did all that he wished of her no matter what. The only matter that she strictly controlled was their issue with Setsuna. She was the one who actually ordered Mitsuoumi to lock their own daughter up in order to make sure that her position in the Storm Queen's court was not compromised in any fashion.

On the other hand, both Asami and Kasumi view their spouses as the only men they will ever be in love with. Interestingly enough, both Tohru to Asami and Akihiko to Kasumi were the first people either women fell for.


Where they good as parents?
Asami is a Japanese Super Mom among Japanese Super Moms. As for Kasumi... well, it's complicated, isn't it? But neither of them can ever be accused of not loving their families enough. And Hikaru has nothing good to say about Junko, so it's best not to go into that.


What was she bad at?
Read: Asami = Japanese Super Mom. And, uh, yes. Kasumi = Complicated, Junko = Let's Not Go There.


What is a good memory your character has of each of his current mother figures? How about a bad one?
For Asami
He's got plenty, but the one that really stands out for Hikaru is the day she picked him up, at the age of ten, from the junior oni-tsukai ward after training. This was the time she held on to him and refused to let go, and told him that no matter what, he was always going to be hers, and she was going to love him.

Suffice to say, he doesn't have any bad memories of Asami so far, and he's pretty sure that he never will.

For Kasumi
The good memory that really stands out for him is this one random moment he caught between his parents. He had been seven years old, and had snuck down that evening because he had heard his father come in. He ended up watching the two sit outside on the patio of their home, watching the fireflies. Akihiko had his arm around Kasumi's waist. Kasumi had her head on Akihiko's shoulder. The moment stood out for Hikaru, perhaps, because while it was clear that his parents loved each other, they were never so openly affectionate.

The two bad memories that really stand out for Hikaru is the day he stood by as Kasumi cried on Akihiko's corpse, and the first time she ever summoned him to her quarters after recovering from her nervous breakdown.

Hikaru refuses to discuss Junko.


What are your characters’ fathers’ full names?
Mitsuoumi Shinta was the first man to ever become Hikaru's father.

Tohru Fukuzawa. He is Asami's husband, and Hikaru's biological father in this life cycle.

Akihiko Aoi was Kasumi's husband, and he was Hikaru's biological father in the 27th life cycle. His original surname was Ishida; he inherited the surname of his wife as is the custom with Rivers Hunter lines.

On another note, Alistair Mordechai was Hikaru's biological father from his second life cycle.


What kind of people are/were they?
Mitsuoumi, like Junko, was a man defined by the historical period that he lived in. He did what he could within his spear of influence, avoided what he felt would threaten his safety and the safety of his family, and was suspicious of all things new and mysterious.

Tohru is an intensely driven man who is, pretty much, just the sort of oni-tsukai that gets into the Searing Wind. He's a quiet man has lived through dark and difficult times that make him believe that he is still rather undeserving of a normal life, but he is fatally protective of his family.

Akihiko, on the other hand, was a solid and warm fatherly presence to Hikaru all the way up to his death. He was the steadier one between him and Kasumi, more realistic in his aspirations and openly affectionate towards his son.

Alistair's another quiet and driven individual with the tendency to sell himself wholesale to a cause and to the few people he gives a fuck about. Suffice to say, he and Tohru used to butt heads a lot because of their uncanny similarities and their own individual reasons for their loyalty towards Hikaru.


How old are they, if they is still alive?
Mitsuoumi is, of course, long dead now.

Tohru is 153 years old. He's long-lived because of the fact that he's an Obrimos Mage.

Akihiko was killed during the engagement that Zangyaku had to recover their leader. He was 37 years old.

Alistair, to date, is 465 years old and in his current and last reincarnation cycle. Aidan Clayce, the Voidseeker, made him a fixed point in time. He will no longer die and no longer grow old until the very end of the Fifth World.


What do/did they do for a living?
Like we said before, Mitsuoumi was a blacksmith of the ancient kingdom of Yamatai, and the favored weapons maker of the Stormguard. Hikaru's other three of these father figures of note are Zangyaku oni-tsukai. Alistair, a Rivers Hunter, is still in the Searing Wind; Tohru - an Obrimos Mage - has recently stepped down from his position. Akihiko was a Shadow of Heaven of Zangyaku, and a Rivers Hunter of the Aoi Line.


What kind of relationship do they have with your character?
Hikaru made it a point to be a good son to Mitsuoumi up until he discovered his family's dark secret. That pretty much ruined their relationship.

Hikaru and Tohru actually had a paternal relationship well before Tohru ever became Hikaru's biological father. Hikaru was the one who had brought Tohru into Zangyaku, and helped him begin to work through his rage and grief over the betrayal of his master and subsequent death of his first family at her hands. They get along rather well, although Hikaru's feelings for Tohru are complicated. Up until now, he still believes that he stole Tohru's one and only chance at living a normal life simply by being born.

There was never any doubt in the Fifth World that Akihiko loved his boy, and he made it a point to make Hikaru feel that, right down to the moment that Hikaru ran a sword through him.

...As for Alistair, well. "Complicated" does not begin to cut it, given the fact that - in different periods of their long history together - Alistair has been friend, comrade and brother-in-arms, mentor, guardian, surrogate father figure, actual father, and lover to Hikaru. They had a terrible fallout between 2012 and 2062, and only really worked out their differences in 2063. They're doing fine now, especially since Alistair has accepted the fact that he truly is fine with whatever makes Hikaru happy, and gives his boy the things that he's been denied since the beginning.


How does/did he feel about your character’s mother?
Technically speaking, Mitsuoumi was marrying someone who was above his station. This was never really a point of insecurity on his part, but it did make him mindful of her, and informed, on subtle but significant levels, how he treated her.

Asami is the light of Tohru's world, and the woman who has, literally and figuratively, truly saved his life. She is his world.

The feelings Akihiko has for Kasumi directly mirror how she felt about her. Perhaps, if he had lived and she had died in an attempt to save their son, he would have been as broken up about the loss as she was during Hikaru's 27th life cycle. Granted, it might be difficult to make such a conclusion given how stable Akihiko was as a person.

Fianna was the only other person Alistair ever fell in love with the same way that he fell for Hikaru later down the line. She's the woman who helped him get back on his feet after the guilt of Hikaru's first death crushed him, and she did remain as strong and as compassionate as she possibly could even after he abandoned her in his obsession with finding Hikaru again. He doesn't talk much about her, but those who know him best can see that leaving Fianna was one of the only things Alistair truly regrets.


What were they good at as a parents?
Undoubtedly, Akihiko can be seen as the most "normal" paternal figure in the lot. Tohru comes close given the fact that he had eight years to raise Hikaru as his own and years before that to watch over him in a more fatherly fashion than an oni-tsukai to his leader. Hands down, however, Alistair's devotion to Hikaru - while it is a result of a whole mess of possibly confusing things - is unquestionable. The Seer, after all, devoted the entirety of his existence to fixing Hikaru's "condition".

Mitsuoumi, or so Hikaru says, is as good as he could have possibly been.


What were they bad at?
Hikaru has always said that while Mitsuoumi never did anything completely bad by their period's standards, his lack of any truly good action was a problem in itself.

Little can be said about the other three in this direction, even Alistair.


What is a good memory your character has of each of his current father figures? How about a bad one?
For Tohru
Good memory: the quiet drink he shared with the Assassin back in the 27th life cycle, when Tohru admitted to Hikaru that his Blade King and leader reminded him of the son he had lost.

Bad memory: the aftermath of Operation Hecaton Phase 002, "Shutdown". Having to sit by Tohru's bedside and watch over his father's shattered body as he struggled for life is something Hikaru's always going to remember in painful, vivid detail.

For Akihiko
Good memory: being a toddler, always running into his father's arms after Akihiko returned from his duties around Seigi, and getting hoisted up on those broad shoulders, feeling like he could touch the sky.

Bad memory: the weight and feel of his own father's body sagging against his sword, and looking up in horror to see that the man's still smiling at him and so very glad to see that he's coming back to himself, even as the light in his eyes is going out.

For Alistair
Good memory: his 24th birthday in 2012, the night he went back to his room to find Alistair waiting for him with two gifts and a promise.

Bad memory: getting backed into a metaphorical corner in 2013, and being forced to order Alistair to turn around, pack his things, and walk away from him.

Hikaru refuses to discuss Mitsuomi.


How did your character’s parents meet?
Junko and Mitsuoumi met in the Storm Court. Junko was the most beautiful woman in the kingdom, and Mitsuoumi, the finest steelsmith. The Storm Queen saw it fit to have them marry each other - it helped that the two of them were actually in love.

Tohru and Asami met on a train in New Atlantis. Asami accidentally smacked Tohru upside head with the large, metal case of a tarp she had been carrying to her preschool.

Kasumi and Akihiko met in Hirato: she was 6 and he was 9, and they were batchmates. They trained together, and were in completely in love by the time she was 16 years old.

Fianna was a Sister in Violence, and a member of Maes Mordechai's Seven. She met Alistair after Alistair returned to Ireland following Hikaru Shinta's first death.


What kind of wedding did they have?
Junko and Mitsuomi's wedding was typically luxurious given their social standing within Yamatai. The ceremonies in the other three cases were modest celebrations, strictly for the closest of family and friends.


What kind of marriage did they have?
The marriage between Junko and Mitsoumi was traditional to the bone: patriarchal, with the husband calling the shots and the wife running the household. The other three relationships were strong and steadfastly loyal, where both parties viewed each other with equal regard and - as a sign of their love - gave each other as much autonomy as they possibly could.


How many siblings does your character have?
Hikaru has one sister from his first life cycle. In both his second and twenty-seventh life cycles with the Aoi and the Mordechais respectively, Hikaru was the only child of these couples. With the Fukuzawa, however, Hikaru has three biological siblings and one adopted brother. Furthermore, in his twenty-seventh cycle, Hikaru adopted Kalika and Kaizen as siblings.


What was your character’s birth order in relation to any siblings?
Life Cycle 1: Second child, younger brother
Life Cycle 29: First child, first son


What are the full names of his siblings?
His biological siblings are Setsuna Shinta, Masato Fukuzawa, Eri Fukuzawa, and Hotaru Fukuzawa.

His adopted siblings are Kalika Shinta, Kaizen Tempesta, and Estanislao Marisigan-Fukuzawa.


What kinds of people are they?
Setsuna is as every inch an honorable, driven, self-sacrificing individual as Hikaru is. That could probably explain why she is the way that she is now.

Masato takes over Tohru the most in the Fukuzawa family while Eri takes after Asami. Hotaru is an interesting middle ground - she used to be painfully shy, but her Awakening as a Moros Mage drastically shifted her world view and gave her the confidence that she needed.

Kalika is unapologetically animal in her instincts and fierce loyalties to her own, and it's likely because she is a Heart Ripper Feral. Kaizen, on the other hand, is often distant and a bit inhuman due to his nature as a Qashmallim, but there has never been any doubt that he is loyal to his family. Estanislao, on the other hand, is much smarter and much more ruthless than his friendly, deliberately crass disposition lets on.


How old are they?
Setsuna is technically timeless now. Estanislao is 36, Masato is 19, Eri is 17, and Hotaru is 11. Kalika is 68; Kaizen is 77.


What does they do for a living?
Setsuna Ascended in 2012 as a Great Spirit of the Fifth World. She occasionally manages to find her way back to places like the Falner Estate, and was particularly present in 2063.

Estanislao is a multi-licensed Keeper of the Vigil. His current pursuits are geared towards Taskforce Valkyrie and Stormwatch, which means that he spends most of his time in space.

Kaizen is a multi-licensed Keeper of the Vigil, and his primary conspiracy is Aegis Kai Doru. He's also away for long stretches of time since he's keenly interested in the continual study, cataloging and recovery of relics all around the Fifth World.

Kalika is a multi-licensed Keeper of the Vigil, a member of the Searing Wind, and the Magistrate of Kibo.

Masato is a newly initiated member of the Silver Ladder. Eri is a full-fledged oni-tsukai, currently assigned to Gisi. Hotaru is currently attending class at Balamb Academy under the Special Cases Program.


What kind of relationship do they have with your character?
Incredibly strong across the board, biological and adopted. Hikaru is closest, though, to Setsuna, Hotaru, Kaizen, and Kalika.


How do they feel about your character?
Complications aside (and in some cases, particularly Setsuna's, personal guilt and regret), it is clear that all of Hikaru's siblings regard him with the same amount of respect and love that he shows them. Notably, though, it's Kalika who is, perhaps, the most fierce in her loyalties. Hikaru picked her up at 14 and brought her into his home. It's a debt that she feels that she'll never be able to repay in full.


How often do they fight with your character?
Try never.


What does your character like about this sibling? Dislike?
"Nothing comes to mind."

Yes, that is his answer for all of them.


What are good memories that your character has of each of his siblings? Bad memories?
For Setsuna
Good memory: bringing her out of the cave where she was imprisoned, and watching the look on her face as she stepped out into the light of the sun for the first time in years.

Bad memory: post-Operation Nyx. Waking up to the news that she had Ascended while he was asleep.

For Kalika
Good memory: looking at the way she smiled the day he gave her those combat boots.

Bad memory: the way her voice sounded over the phone when he called her back in 2024, the last battle he ever found in his 27th life cycle.

For Kaizen
Good memory: that quiet conversation they had after Hokkaido, where Kaizen, for the first time out of many, called him "brother".

He doesn't have any bad memories of Kaizen so far.

For Estanislao
Good memory: sitting together with sake and cigarettes on the rooftop of the Shinta Ancestral home.

Bad memory: seeing him also sitting by Tohru Fukuzawa's bedside and knowing, without a doubt, that the Assassin being down there was something he was directly responsible for.

For Masato
Good memory: building models together on quiet Sundays while discussing the finer points of willworking.

Bad memory: seeing Masato cry for the first time since he was a baby. That was the night that he and the rest of the Fukuzawa brood came to Seigi following Tohru's arrival, post Operation Hecaton Phase 002.

For Eri
Good memory: getting roped into staying up really late because his beloved baby sister really wanted to talk about Boys. And Girls. And Things You Can't Talk About With Parents.

Bad memory: running across of Eri in the training room the morning after she and the others arrived in Seigi, post Operation Hecaton Phase 002. She wasn't using any protection for her hands, and she seemed intent on beating her own knuckles to a bloody pulp on a training dummy.

For Hotaru
Good memory: coming home to her and Joshua LaRue in the kitchen. The way she looked up at him as she shyly offered a bit of her cheesecake in a cup.

Bad memory: watching her cry herself to sleep on his lap as they waited the hours out by Tohru's bed.


Romance, Sexuality & Intimate Relationships
What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
Sexual orientation: Pragmatisexual. That is: "If it is useful, fuck it." And "useful" has many, many layers of meaning for this one.

As for the Kinsey Scale, he's a solid 3.


Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
Currently taken, and in a long-term relationship with Joshua LaRue that WILL end with wedding bells. The last time he was married was back in Life Cycle 10, to Katherine Stiles.

Randomly, there was talk of an arranged marriage between Hikaru and Satsuki, then Crown Princess of Japan and now Empress of the Land of the Twilight Sun. While Satsuki loved Hikaru, however, Hikaru did not love her. The arrangement fell through, of course, but the pair remain good friends.


How did your character and his current lover meet?
Interestingly enough, Hikaru met Josh long before Josh ever had meaning for him. He and Rethe Kyriff-Clayce were on duty when Annie Finnick attempted to jump, and both of them watched Josh talk the girl down from the ledge. Their formal meeting was back in 2063, when Hikaru ended up piloting the plane that would take Josh, Yulia and Taning - three future War Hounds - to the Falner Estate.


What is a good memory your character has of this person?
"Do I need to choose?"


Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than his significant other or spouse, if he has one?
No, but it should be noted that Hikaru is perfectly capable of being in love with multiple people all at once. He does, in fact, still love all of his previous lovers either with a little less intensity or more distant gradients than his current (that being Josh): he'd just never go back to any of them. He makes it a point to be completely, totally loyal to his beau of the moment.


Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
Hard to say. Hikaru's inherently a creature of instincts and appetites. While he never gets crushes, per se, he does have the tendency to find many people sexually attractive at any given moment - and the feeling goes away just as quickly as it came around.

The first person he ever fell for, though, was definitely Alistair.


Are their other previous lovers of note?
Alistair Mordechai is at the top of that list, strange and oftentimes painful as their relationship has been in the past. Someone whom Hikaru values with equal regard to Alistair is Liandrin Delacroix, whom he became involved with during his seventeenth life cycle.

Technically, the first lover Hikaru ever had was Marrigan Crowe, his Storm Queen. They only really had a meaningful relationship as "equals" later down the line, during the initial years of Zangyaku.

While he was in Arcadia, Hikaru was the Consort of Oberon, Seelie King of Summer. This was a political relationship, as Oberon's conditions for aiding Hikaru with his planned escape from the Lightless Lands was that the boy became his possession in bed. Hikaru also maintained a romantic relationship with Titania, Seelie Queen of Spring - their affection rarely went intimate, as it was more a marriage of minds and sensibilities.

Naturally, one must mention, yet again, Katherine Stiles, the only woman Hikaru ever married. By extension, mentioning Katherine means taking special note of Aria Skye, Katherine's reincarnation and the person Hikaru was romantically involved with before Joshua LaRue. There is also Makoto Kuzunoha: he and Hikaru had a brief but meaningful relationship during Hikaru's twenty-seventh life cycle.

On a lighter note, Hikaru and Jessiah Vice had a one night stand during what Jessie likes to call "a moment of horny weakness".


What does he look for in a romantic partner?
Trust, consistency, presence, high intellectual capacity, wit, charm, humor, and yes, they have to be amazingly hot & beautiful/handsome. Sexual experience not necessary: he'd be happy to teach you.


How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
Sex is, by default, a natural bodily function, and said "natural functions" are the piecemeal of Bladians, especially exceptionally powerful ones like himself. Therefore, I'd say that sex is INCREDIBLY important to this one, and he loves to fuck (or be fucked by) the people he loves as often as possible.


What was his first sexual experience?
Sharing the bed of the Storm Queen on the very night of his induction as her Blade and the General of the Stormguard. She pretty much seduced him, and it started on the premise of her ordering him to let her pleasure him.


How many sexual partners has your character had?
...A lot beyond the many people that have been mentioned above. We're talking several life cycles here, folks.


What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
Turn ons: bondage of all kinds, physical restraints with or without bondage, sensory deprivation (especially if it's through blindfolds or gags), dirty talk, rough and/or intense sex, sex in any other place in a house beyond one's bed (he especially enjoys wallsex, tablesex, and showersex) public sex, rimming, teasing, power play, and sex toys. He's definitely got a thing for people who are physically older than his current age, and also enjoys challenging the status quo with regard to his social position versus that of his partner's (i.e. teacher/student, boss/subordinate). He also loves it when he has someone who is capable of bringing him as far down as possible in bed, and fucking him up gloriously. It might also be good to note that he has recently discovered a love for genderbent sex - namely when HE'S the woman in the scene. Thank you, Bladian abilities!

Major turn offs: noncon, extreme forms of control, body mutilation, any kind of vomit/feces/urination play, vore, death, debilitating violence, and whiny partners. Sex is about pleasure and exploring limitations that'll eventually take you to highs that you never thought you could go, not about being a total freak.

Full list is over here.

Bedroom habits: not sure if this counts as weird, but he does like to make sure that he's showered before hunkering down to fuck somebody/be fucked by somebody. Is also definitely a post-coital cuddler, and - regardless of whether sex happened or not - he unconsciously gravitates towards the nearest source of human warmth.


Friendship, Other Filial Relations & Social Relations
What kind of person is your character, socially?
Incredibly approachable, smooth and charming. He isn't exactly the life of the party (he leaves that sort of thing to livelier people) and often waits for others to approach him, but he never hesitates to go over to people who interest him, and he does tend to be the one who keeps the conversations going in any circle that he finds himself in at the moment. It may be said that he definitely leaves a lasting impression on anyone who meets him, even if it's just for a couple of minutes.


What kind of social circles does he frequent?
Hikaru's primary social circle is the network of the Vigil, and the group that he is most comfortable with. He involves himself in the upper echelons of Japanese society and government as a matter of necessity rather than preference.

One scene that Hikaru was deeply involved with during his twenty-seventh life cycle was the clubbing scene. Clubbing was a good escape for him when it felt like his life was falling apart. He went back to this during his twenty-ninth cycle for a bit, but he hasn't been around his usual haunts ever since things started settling down. These days, he only ever goes to clubs with Josh or very close friends.


Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close to? Are there ones he can't stand?
Maes Mordechai, by merit of being Alistair's older brother, was Hikaru's uncle when he was Seth Mordechai. Hikaru continues to view this man as an actual blood relative of his, and deeply values his opinion.

Any blood relative whom Hikaru could not stand (and the only two that come to mind are his parents from his first life cycle) died out a long time ago.


Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
General rule of thumb: all oni-tsukai of Zangyaku, regardless of whether they're "pure" Zangyaku or Sworn Wolfhearts, are family to him, with the members of the Searing Wind - past, present, and "secret" - being those closest to the Blade King in that lot. There are, however, a number of special mentions listed below, both in and beyond Zangyaku.

The current roster of the Malice Kings and a number of Kings from the past are default family to Hikaru. He is, of course, exceedingly close to Aidan Clayce (the man who could have been his brother, had he and Setsuna worked out) and Riley Falner. His relationship with both of these man has been, at certain times in the past, estranged, but there's no doubting the love and regard that Hikaru has for them, and they for him. It's also important to note that Hikaru views Rethe Kyriff-Clayce as his little brother.

Elias Tagabigay and Anton Reyes dela Cruz are't simply brothers-in-law to Hikaru: they're brothers. Hikaru's relationship with Elias, especially, runs thick as blood. The two grew very close in 2012, and continue to look out for each other as much as possible.

Cisco, a member of Wolf's Choice, is someone whom Hikaru is incredibly fond of, and is somewhat of a surrogate aunt figure to him now that she's older than him.

Other blades whose members are default family to Hikaru are the Pack, the Rockin' Rollas, Wolf's Choice, and the War Hounds. Special mentions in those blade include Aurora Santos, Drake Badd, Lars Hartzler (while Lars was still alive, in any case), Liana Panilio-Frostholm, Kaz Zobel de Ayala and Yulia Bostova.


Who is the character's best friend? How did they meet?
The first real friend Hikaru made was Calintz Duskrider, a fellow Malice King. Several life cycles of being together, though, has kind of "promoted" Calintz to familial status in Hikaru's eyes, as indicated in the item before this one.

Jessiah Vice was the second real friend Hikaru ever made, and another fellow Malice King - he is, at the moment, definitely someone whom Hikaru would consider to be his "best" friend. The two of them met during Jessie's days as blade leader of the Grateful Dead, and Hikaru was instrumental in helping Jessie dismantle the Grand Game of Fate. They've seen each other through some pretty dark times together, and trust each other intrinsically.


Does he have other close friends?
The circle of friends that kept Hikaru afloat during his twenty-seventh life cycle, beyond his relationship with Jessie, was Kaien Yamazaki, Feranen, Makoto Kuzunoha, Rui Ishikawa, and - later down the line - Shoji Kawamura. They all continue to look out for each other, even if some of them have shifted out of active duty as Keepers of the Vigil.

Gideon Reyes, the second-in-command of the Pack, is another person whom Hikaru holds a lot of affection for. Hikaru saved Gideon's life back when both of them were much younger (and during Hikaru's twenty-seventh life), and they've been close ever since.


Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
The answer is yes, but there are gradients to "friendship" for this one. Furthermore, once a "friend" has hit a certain point, Hikaru tends to already view them closer to family than anything else. He doesn't have any trouble getting along with people at all.


Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
Family, but well. Hikaru's definition of "family" is pretty expansive.


Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
The two children he really fathered were Sara Stiles-Shinta and her younger brother Andrew; Andrew is long dead, and Sara is now an Amrita under Anton dela Cruz's care.

At present, he has three adopted daughters in Tala Vega, Selene Vega, and Brianna Lopez. He has also recently taken a Changeling child named Lyall (he named her, in fact) under his wing. It'll be obvious to anyone with eyes that he views her with paternal affection, even if she has drawn rather strict boundaries between them by merit of viewing him as her King and sovereign.


Does he have any rivals or enemies?
Rivals? No. Enemies? Probably a lot, but he can't bring himself to give a shit about them unless they fuck with his family, or stand against the Vigil.



Beliefs
What is your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
Uh... technically speaking, Hikaru's fallen under ALL of the signs already. Overall, though, on the Western Zodiac I'd say that he's a mix of Gemini/Aquarius/Scorpio tendencies. On the Chinese Zodiac, he's best described as a Tiger.


Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
Definitely spiritual, and religious in the sense that he wholeheartedly ascribes to the particular breed of Christianity that is spread by the Brotherhood of Violence. It's tempered with Zen Buddhism: you can't take the Japanese samurai out of the Blade King, at the end of it.


Does this character have a personal code of morals or ethics? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it?
His personal code has three major tenants: move as gracefully and as gently in the world as you possibly can because everything you do will always find its way back to you or to the people you care about, there is no such thing as "perfect" but that is not an excuse for slacking off, and there is no such thing as "impossible". A lot of this is seated in all of the angst that formed him as a person in his very first life cycle, and having to struggle with being the Weapon of the Methuselah for 26 life cycles afterward.

Hikaru has also always believed that all things in the Universe have their roles to play - the one exception, for the longest time, was himself. Hence his constant drive to do as much as he could in order to help the people he truly loved. He was (and in many ways, still is) the benevolent monster for years, capable of doing violent and unspeakable things if it meant Keeping the Vigil, or protecting friends and family.


How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
Indifferent until they fuck with him. Then he'll destroy them.


What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
Tends to be automatically prejudiced against individuals who make a sport out of enslaving/imprisoning others, hurting children, depriving other people of basic rights (i.e. food, shelter, clothing, company), or seem to have a thing for violence without any direction. The Gentry also have a special place on his shitlist due to his 444-year durance under Izanami.



Daily Life & Personal Preferences
Is your character up to anything else other than his current job?
Beyond being a Malice King and the Leader and Founder of Zangyaku, Hikaru is kind of really the full-time Vessel of Death, thus making him the regulating force of the Final End for all living creatures. He goes "on Duty" regularly together with the other Reapers of the Fifth World.

Hikaru is also an instructor at Balamb Academy - this is a fallback to how he used to do occasional stints as a professor in ivy league universities throughout East and Southeast Asia, namely in the Philippines and Japan.

It should be noted, as well, that Hikaru's a Godhand of the Brotherhood of Violence, and one of their priests. He can occasionally be found saying Sunday Mass at the Dragon Spires, or at the Cathedral of the Twenty-Six.

Something that a lot of people don't know about is that Hikaru occupies himself with a LOT Of private investigations by chasing down leads that he has collected in the notebooks that he has been filling up since his twenty-first life cycle. These investigations aren't always Vigil-related: he has assisted, anonymously or otherwise, in criminal cases and other matters in the World of Light.


Pick: books, movies/television shows, video/computer/whatever games, theatrical performances, or concerts/music?
Definitely books, games, theatrical performances, and music. He can, however, appreciate a really good movie or television show: he just likes the solidity of the written world or the interactivity of games and performances a lot better.


Any preferred genre for the stuff mentioned above?
While Hikaru will read/play/watch/listen to pretty much anything and everything under the sun, he does have a notable preference for jazz and bluegrass, rock, EDM, industrial music, Modernist and Post-Modernist works of fiction, speculative fiction, horror, science fiction and fantasy, Symbolist poets, the Metaphysical poets, beat poetry, Shakespearean works, and all things British and Japanese.


On that note... what are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
He pretty much loves to travel and/or learn all the things, but he does have a particular fondness for video games, literature and narrative, fictional or non-fictional. His free time is often spent in the company of Josh or his closest confidants, but if it's "alone" free time, you can trust that he's multi-tasking several hundred things, and at least a couple of hundred of those are Vigil related. One of them will likely be a video game, or a new thing to read.


What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
Generally has HORRIBLE eating habits even if he's fantastically good at cooking and baking, especially when he feels like he hasn't "done enough work" in a day (quotations necessary: his standard for this is unreal, even for functional immortals). Being with Josh, however, has improved this immensely. These days, he now eats three square meals a day, and he eats them on time with healthy servings.

Default setting for food: loves whatever is good, regardless of where it comes from or how strange it is. Favored cuisines: Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Indian, Thai, Greek, Filipino, Italian, German, British/Irish/Scottish. He's notably not too fond of sweets and confections unless they have a bitter edge to them. He's also been spoiled by Rilea: he can't take pastries unless she or somebody she taught baked them. The other exception would be pastries from his current mother Asami.

Hikaru enjoys eating out because new things. He also loves his booze (especially beer, whiskey, absinthe, vodka, and scotch), loves his junk food, loves his cigars, loves his weed, and loves his cigarettes. He doesn't like hard drugs, though. If he wanted that kind of high, he'd just go off and kill some things.


What other habits - good and bad - does your character have?
Hikaru has a strict exercise and training regimen to keep himself in tip-top condition of the Vigil, and he makes it a point to go out on engagements as often as possible.

His worse habits continue to be his propensity to overwork himself, or give way too much for people he cares about in spite of how much it costs him.


Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:

1. Color? Violet
2. Smell? Cloves and expensive cologne
3. Time of day? 2 AM
4. Season? Autumn
5. Book? John Milton's "Paradise Lost"
6. Music? Industrial and the darker side of indie
7. Place? A quiet room overlooking the water
8. Substance? Fine sake
9. Plant? Lycoris flower / higanbana (spider lily)
10. Animal? Wolf



END.

{{ Stole questions from two sources for this massive thing: here and here. }}