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lifeisbriefPlayer nickname: Orlando
Player DW:paperback
Way to contact you:
Email: agreylady@gmail.com
AIM: Elspeth Vimes
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ElspethVimes
Other: n/a
Are you at least 15?: Y.
Current Characters: Masamori Sumimura, Orlando Gardiner, Michael Westen, Anthy Himemiya, Sayaka Miki, Ayako Matsuzaki, David
Character: Takiko Okuda
Fandom: Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden
Character Notes:
History:
Takiko was born in the Meiji era, but the last twelve years of her life have been the first twelve years of the Taisho era (taking us up to 1923). Takiko has spent most of her life in Tokyo, primarily in the company of her mother, Yoshie, and governess. Her father, the famous novelist Einosuke Okuda, was frequently absent for one reason or another. When she was quite young (seven or so), Takiko met a student of her father's named Ohsugi (who was studying in University at the time), and almost instantly developed a very strong crush on him. While Ohsugi married about a year after Takiko met him and had a daughter, Takiko's feelings for him remained. While it is implied Takiko has always done well in school, and she has been exposed to a certain amount of "modern" ideas (as shown by her fashion style, which is apparently kind of the Japanese equivalent of being a flapper), she has been largely isolated for much of her life- especially after her mother became ill.
At some point, Yoshie contracted tuberculosis, and over time became increasingly sick. While Einosuke was still MIA on a research trip somewhere in China, Takiko and her mother moved back to her mother's hometown of Morioka. Though Yoshie didn't say it, Takiko understood that that was where her mother wanted to die. Takiko settled into her new school well academically but poorly socially. Her mother's condition worsened. Then, Ohsugi came to see the family and her father returned with a book he was translating from Chinese- "The Universe of the Four Gods."
While her father was locked away in his study working on the book, Takiko's mother died.
In a moment of emotional weakness, Takiko confessed her feelings for Ohsugi, and was naturally rejected. While caring for her mother's body, Takiko began an argument with her father over how he was never there for his family and she knew he had never wanted her. During the argument, Takiko tried to destroy the book her father had only just completed.
It didn't work. She got sucked into the universe of the four gods instead. Where it turned out she was to fill the role of the legendary Priestess of Genbu.
I can summarize the rest of the series that's been translated for you if you want that too, but if accepted I'd be taking Takiko starting from right before her move from Tokyo.
Personality:
At first encounter, Takiko is likely to be polite and ingratiating. She's generally inclined to give people the benefit of the doubt, and will almost always try first to get along with others. For all that she's not led a very social life, she genuinely cares about others, and will show interest in their lives. She's not exactly naturally social, but she is community-oriented, placing value on people helping each other and getting along for the benefit of everyone.
She's a compassionate person. She does her best to understand where others are coming from, even sometimes going so far as to allow herself to be endangered for the sake of a chance to better understand and help another. She doesn't like the idea of others getting hurt or suffering, and will do her best to prevent or alleviate that, even if it causes her pain.
But she is in no way a pushover. If someone is consistently insulting to her, she has no problem being insulting right back (though she would never dream of causing someone physical harm for that). She proves to be outspoken when she's around family or good friends, though she tends not to share her opinions unless they've been thought out first. And once she has a decided opinion, she can hold to it for a long time (unless she's given evidence that leads her to revise it)- her dislike for her father is a good example of that. She has a strong sense of justice, and will not hesitate to try and set a wrong she witnesses right, whether that means chasing down a thief or going up against soldiers who are raiding a village. This can make her hotheaded at times, and at other times she'll stubbornly keep going even when it would be wiser to stop.
She's also rather intelligent. She's well-educated for her era and age, and she catches onto things and makes connections pretty quickly. She can maintain a clear head and continue to think through situations even under a lot of pressure, though not under all kinds of pressure.
But a lot of her compassion, and even some of her outspokenness, comes from fundamental insecurities. While it's likely her father never truly deliberately rejected her, she grew up seeing him ignore her in favor of connecting with his male students, which gave her the impression that a) she was unwanted and b) she might have been wanted if she were a boy. It's not unreasonable to assume that some of her dedication in her studies, and particularly her pride in being able to use her naginata skills in real-life situations such as stopping a thief, comes from a desire to prove to someone that she can be as good as a boy, and that she is a worthwhile person. Her feelings of inferiority have worsened with her mother's illness, as she's felt increasingly like her every effort towards one of the few people who wants her is futile. Her compassion often comes from an understanding of how others have felt rejected or useless. It's worth noting that when she comes across situations that are truly foreign to her experience (such as needing to sell yourself so that you and your family can survive), she can be (unintentionally) insensitive to those in the situation unless or until she's brought to understand their point of view.
For all that she has no problem with others sharing their problems with her, and she will in fact go out of her way to help others with their problems, Takiko hates to cause others to worry. She keeps many of her feelings to herself out of the belief that they will only trouble others, and it takes an extreme situation to force Takiko to admit to something she's deliberately hid away. Honestly, she probably has a bit of a martyr complex. (Though when it comes to things like lying about why she's awake/in this area/ect., she's terrible at deceiving people.)
At her core, she is someone who believes, entirely in living with a purpose. In using the life you have to improve the lives of others. In being useful. And she will fight through everything for that belief.
Other:
For all that she's the kind of girl who, when faced with monsters after being dumped in a strange world, immediately looks for a weapon, Takiko is very bad at dealing with thunderstorms. (Lightning hit a tree right in front of her when she was a child and she's been terrified since.)
Even though she does seem to know the facts of life, and seems to have picked up some modern/progressive ideas from some people in Tokyo, Takiko is sheltered enough that she doesn't know what exactly prostitutes do (though she knows it's demeaning. and none of this stops her from volunteering to infiltrate a brothel. because Takiko.).
I'd be going with a mixture of the official translation and fan romanizations. For the names which Viz clearly uses the Chinese readings of the characters for (i.e. the names of the countries in the Universe of the Four Gods), I'll be going with Viz (though with the correct tone marks wherever I can figure them out- seriously Viz it's not that hard). For things Viz romanized badly (i.e. Rimudo becoming "Limdo"), I'll be going with the fans.
Additional Links:
obligatory wiki link
First Person (entry type):
Morioka isn't bad. The landscape is lovely, especially the view of Mt. Iwate. I'd like to climb it, someday. Perhaps I'll do that when this term is over.
I was a little worried about school, but our sensei are very good. The new class structure and books are a little disorienting, but I think I'll get used to it soon. And I've been able to continue to study the naginata!
The rumors have already started to spread as to why mother is rarely seen. Some of them are completely ridiculous, but a few of them are right. The neighbors seem distant. It probably won't be long before the rumors reach school. I only hope Tanabe-sensei and the others don't give them much credit.
Ah- that's not true. I hope that mother improves. I think she would like to see some of the town, if she can.
Third Person:
There was a theory that the air near mountains would help slow the progress of the disease, but Takiko had yet to see evidence of that in her mother. She was just getting worse.
It's father's fault too, Takiko thought bitterly, if he were here maybe...maybe she would try harder. Takiko grit her teeth. In spite of everything, her mother never thought of her father without a faint smile. She couldn't understand how a man who would leave his ill wife for another country without a second thought could deserve that sort of devotion.
Angry now, she increased the pace of her walk. She had set out this morning to get to the top of a hill near their house, and she would be damned if she didn't make it to the top before noon. She'd tied her hakama up around her knees. Lower class, some of the girls at school would probably say. What should that matter, if it was useful? And it wasn't as if she meant her behavior to be attractive to suitors, anyway.
She shook her head fiercely. She was just making herself upset with these thoughts, and she wanted to enjoy this day. She turned her face to the wind, stood still and felt its movement, its purpose. Perhaps it could blow everything that wasn't needed away.
...Or would that mean it has to blow me away?
Player DW:
paperbackWay to contact you:
Email: agreylady@gmail.com
AIM: Elspeth Vimes
Plurk:
Other: n/a
Are you at least 15?: Y.
Current Characters: Masamori Sumimura, Orlando Gardiner, Michael Westen, Anthy Himemiya, Sayaka Miki, Ayako Matsuzaki, David
Character: Takiko Okuda
Fandom: Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden
Character Notes:
History:
Takiko was born in the Meiji era, but the last twelve years of her life have been the first twelve years of the Taisho era (taking us up to 1923). Takiko has spent most of her life in Tokyo, primarily in the company of her mother, Yoshie, and governess. Her father, the famous novelist Einosuke Okuda, was frequently absent for one reason or another. When she was quite young (seven or so), Takiko met a student of her father's named Ohsugi (who was studying in University at the time), and almost instantly developed a very strong crush on him. While Ohsugi married about a year after Takiko met him and had a daughter, Takiko's feelings for him remained. While it is implied Takiko has always done well in school, and she has been exposed to a certain amount of "modern" ideas (as shown by her fashion style, which is apparently kind of the Japanese equivalent of being a flapper), she has been largely isolated for much of her life- especially after her mother became ill.
At some point, Yoshie contracted tuberculosis, and over time became increasingly sick. While Einosuke was still MIA on a research trip somewhere in China, Takiko and her mother moved back to her mother's hometown of Morioka. Though Yoshie didn't say it, Takiko understood that that was where her mother wanted to die. Takiko settled into her new school well academically but poorly socially. Her mother's condition worsened. Then, Ohsugi came to see the family and her father returned with a book he was translating from Chinese- "The Universe of the Four Gods."
While her father was locked away in his study working on the book, Takiko's mother died.
In a moment of emotional weakness, Takiko confessed her feelings for Ohsugi, and was naturally rejected. While caring for her mother's body, Takiko began an argument with her father over how he was never there for his family and she knew he had never wanted her. During the argument, Takiko tried to destroy the book her father had only just completed.
It didn't work. She got sucked into the universe of the four gods instead. Where it turned out she was to fill the role of the legendary Priestess of Genbu.
I can summarize the rest of the series that's been translated for you if you want that too, but if accepted I'd be taking Takiko starting from right before her move from Tokyo.
Personality:
At first encounter, Takiko is likely to be polite and ingratiating. She's generally inclined to give people the benefit of the doubt, and will almost always try first to get along with others. For all that she's not led a very social life, she genuinely cares about others, and will show interest in their lives. She's not exactly naturally social, but she is community-oriented, placing value on people helping each other and getting along for the benefit of everyone.
She's a compassionate person. She does her best to understand where others are coming from, even sometimes going so far as to allow herself to be endangered for the sake of a chance to better understand and help another. She doesn't like the idea of others getting hurt or suffering, and will do her best to prevent or alleviate that, even if it causes her pain.
But she is in no way a pushover. If someone is consistently insulting to her, she has no problem being insulting right back (though she would never dream of causing someone physical harm for that). She proves to be outspoken when she's around family or good friends, though she tends not to share her opinions unless they've been thought out first. And once she has a decided opinion, she can hold to it for a long time (unless she's given evidence that leads her to revise it)- her dislike for her father is a good example of that. She has a strong sense of justice, and will not hesitate to try and set a wrong she witnesses right, whether that means chasing down a thief or going up against soldiers who are raiding a village. This can make her hotheaded at times, and at other times she'll stubbornly keep going even when it would be wiser to stop.
She's also rather intelligent. She's well-educated for her era and age, and she catches onto things and makes connections pretty quickly. She can maintain a clear head and continue to think through situations even under a lot of pressure, though not under all kinds of pressure.
But a lot of her compassion, and even some of her outspokenness, comes from fundamental insecurities. While it's likely her father never truly deliberately rejected her, she grew up seeing him ignore her in favor of connecting with his male students, which gave her the impression that a) she was unwanted and b) she might have been wanted if she were a boy. It's not unreasonable to assume that some of her dedication in her studies, and particularly her pride in being able to use her naginata skills in real-life situations such as stopping a thief, comes from a desire to prove to someone that she can be as good as a boy, and that she is a worthwhile person. Her feelings of inferiority have worsened with her mother's illness, as she's felt increasingly like her every effort towards one of the few people who wants her is futile. Her compassion often comes from an understanding of how others have felt rejected or useless. It's worth noting that when she comes across situations that are truly foreign to her experience (such as needing to sell yourself so that you and your family can survive), she can be (unintentionally) insensitive to those in the situation unless or until she's brought to understand their point of view.
For all that she has no problem with others sharing their problems with her, and she will in fact go out of her way to help others with their problems, Takiko hates to cause others to worry. She keeps many of her feelings to herself out of the belief that they will only trouble others, and it takes an extreme situation to force Takiko to admit to something she's deliberately hid away. Honestly, she probably has a bit of a martyr complex. (Though when it comes to things like lying about why she's awake/in this area/ect., she's terrible at deceiving people.)
At her core, she is someone who believes, entirely in living with a purpose. In using the life you have to improve the lives of others. In being useful. And she will fight through everything for that belief.
Other:
For all that she's the kind of girl who, when faced with monsters after being dumped in a strange world, immediately looks for a weapon, Takiko is very bad at dealing with thunderstorms. (Lightning hit a tree right in front of her when she was a child and she's been terrified since.)
Even though she does seem to know the facts of life, and seems to have picked up some modern/progressive ideas from some people in Tokyo, Takiko is sheltered enough that she doesn't know what exactly prostitutes do (though she knows it's demeaning. and none of this stops her from volunteering to infiltrate a brothel. because Takiko.).
I'd be going with a mixture of the official translation and fan romanizations. For the names which Viz clearly uses the Chinese readings of the characters for (i.e. the names of the countries in the Universe of the Four Gods), I'll be going with Viz (though with the correct tone marks wherever I can figure them out- seriously Viz it's not that hard). For things Viz romanized badly (i.e. Rimudo becoming "Limdo"), I'll be going with the fans.
Additional Links:
obligatory wiki link
First Person (entry type):
Morioka isn't bad. The landscape is lovely, especially the view of Mt. Iwate. I'd like to climb it, someday. Perhaps I'll do that when this term is over.
I was a little worried about school, but our sensei are very good. The new class structure and books are a little disorienting, but I think I'll get used to it soon. And I've been able to continue to study the naginata!
The rumors have already started to spread as to why mother is rarely seen. Some of them are completely ridiculous, but a few of them are right. The neighbors seem distant. It probably won't be long before the rumors reach school. I only hope Tanabe-sensei and the others don't give them much credit.
Ah- that's not true. I hope that mother improves. I think she would like to see some of the town, if she can.
Third Person:
There was a theory that the air near mountains would help slow the progress of the disease, but Takiko had yet to see evidence of that in her mother. She was just getting worse.
It's father's fault too, Takiko thought bitterly, if he were here maybe...maybe she would try harder. Takiko grit her teeth. In spite of everything, her mother never thought of her father without a faint smile. She couldn't understand how a man who would leave his ill wife for another country without a second thought could deserve that sort of devotion.
Angry now, she increased the pace of her walk. She had set out this morning to get to the top of a hill near their house, and she would be damned if she didn't make it to the top before noon. She'd tied her hakama up around her knees. Lower class, some of the girls at school would probably say. What should that matter, if it was useful? And it wasn't as if she meant her behavior to be attractive to suitors, anyway.
She shook her head fiercely. She was just making herself upset with these thoughts, and she wanted to enjoy this day. She turned her face to the wind, stood still and felt its movement, its purpose. Perhaps it could blow everything that wasn't needed away.
...Or would that mean it has to blow me away?
