Also known as: Ri
A human of female gender eighteen [18] years old, born on September 6
PERSONALITY
Carefully brought up as she is Airi was, and still is, on the first place a lady. One of refined manners and sophisticated tastes, who moves, walks and talks gracefully and never takes her turn prematurely. One who keeps her head cool and thinks before she acts, minding her own place and business without ever interfering into that of another. Expected to be sensitive and empathetic, who carries her heart towards these next to her, but never shows her emotions excessively. It is an elegant and demanding image that she carries, composing herself to be a true noble lady in front of others.
However, underneath these layers of manners and polite, fragrant speech there is a character far more hot headed than one expects from her at a first glance. There, under the mask of pretence is a character afraid of disappointing, a perfectionist through and through, who is critical and cynical of the people surrounding her, but above all of herself. Never easily entertained, nor satisfied Airi is a demanding character who always expects the best results and quality, for less she won't settle. A personality who has murdered, or tries to smother out, all of her emotions and empathy towards the world for she believes it to be undeserving. Airi is shortly put another victim of life, who had too many ideals that were never realised.
HISTORY
The Toimaru family is a wealthy and traditional family with a clan-like construction. They are known as a family of entrepreneurs with patriarch tendencies, following many old customs of the Japanese culture. Though Airi wasn't born into the main branch of the family, and thus several seats away to become the head, there has always been a certain pressure upon her since birth. A certain standing that forced the young girl to grow up quickly and bend down to the expectations of her family. Within the Toimaru family it was common for their children to be pitted up against each other as if they were in some sort of competition. This created a hostile atmosphere within the family, a mood of animosity as every one of them wished for their kids to outrank the other. It was quite ridiculous and grew even more ridiculous as children from different age-categories were compared to each other, their parents eternally bragging about the talents of their off spring. Airi grew up much alike to the rest.
The many comparisons made between her cousins and peers as well as the negative feelings sparking up between the family members made it increasingly hard for Airi to move around freely. Every move, breath, and word was registered, observed, and reported. The family branches were all eager to watch and see someone fail, make a mistake, or to make a fool out themselves. Everything to see the other fall down or lose their face. Gossips and whispers lingered all around the room, as parents were trying to praise their children up whilst tainting the images of the other off springs. A dirty game and it forced many of these kids, like Airi, to grow up like puppets, robots, who executed every single command given as they made sure that they kept to the top of everything they did. Many of them grew up to be unhappy later on, some managed to free themselves, disgracing their family in the progress, but the majority of them all stayed. They didn't know what freedom was, what there was asides from being perfect and so the same was for Airi.
Brewed to perfection Airi thus never had much to say about herself. The way she dressed, talked and moved was all influenced by her family. Chosen and decided for her, she never had a true say in these choices which frustrated her so very much. Deep down Airi wished to be free, envied her classmates who were allowed to be whoever they wanted and decide their own paths. However, she was also afraid to carve her own route, to move on her own as she had no idea what was ahead of her. She stuck to the safest path which allowed her parents to have free reign over her, paying it with her own freedom and will. However, when her parents announced to her that they wished for her to marry, way before her time and with someone she didn't know Airi finally snapped, deciding to make the one decision that came from herself. She ran, for she didn't want to marry before her time, for she hadn't experienced freedom yet, and because she realised that she had never lived. She ran off in the hope that she could avoid her fate, but then realised that she was running and leaving everything behind she once knew.
Her greatest fear came over her again, as she had lost everything that she once knew and has to start over again. However, what was worse of it all was that she had forgotten the road back home, forgotten about her own name.
STRENGTHS/SKILLS
Con Artist
A formidable liar she is and a natural actress. Through years of hiding herself, and pretending to be the puppet her family wished to see, Airi has become an easy liar and a great player. She can wear many masks to cover herself, hiding away the truth and whoever she truly is. Masks of deception if she wishes to keep secrets, masks of character, in which she pretends to be someone she isn't. It is an automatic survival instinct to her, who has grown up in an hostile environment if tasks and wishes weren't executed as liked. The girl had found that it was easier to pass by her days if she just got along with the wishes and hopes everyone have for her.
The Koto
The national instrument of Japan, but also one of the many traditions pressured upon Airi since young. Her mother was a Koto player, and so was her grandmother, and so was her great-grandmother. Shortly put, the practise of the instrument has been in the family for generations, forcing Airi to pick it up as her instrument as well. When young the girl would wish that she could play something smaller and more modern, however, over the course of years she has learnt to love the stringed instrument and gained a certain passion for it. Nowadays she plays it with much joy, finding a surprising serenity in the plucking of the strings.
Gendai Budō, specialisation Kendo
The umbrella-term for the modern practise of Japanese martial arts. It is based on its predecessor Koryū, however, instead of focussing on warfare Gendai Budō focusses on self-improvement. Under the term elements exist, ranging from hand-to-hand combat like Akido and Judo, or on the art of the sword, like Kendo and so it goes forth with the possibilities. Originally the intention had been to train Airi in Kyūdō, the way of the bow, archery. The girl, however, showed more talent and affinity with the way of the sword, Kendo, which led to a change of decision. Though Airi may be considered somewhat of a talent with Kendo, her teachers have commented many times how her suppressed character also presses down on her abilities, causing the girl to never be able to reach her full potential. Her fighting style could be described as graceful and fierce, with a hidden blood-thirst layered within each blow that she makes. It is the proof that there are frustrations within Airi she has never voiced, a hidden anger she might not even be aware of herself.
Mediator
Surprisingly Airi is a talented mediator with a real ear to the problems of others. It has mostly to do with her acts, how she had been pretending to be a lady and thus developed a skill of a listening ear. With a certain patience she sits by as she hears the stories on, asking questions and giving her own input wherever needed.
WEAKNESSES
Honesty & Trust
Her automatic defences and the habits she has developed leads to it that Airi has a hard time being honest or to trust anyone with even the slightest amount. The tendency to lie and to pretend that she is someone she actually isn't are stronger than the will to be honest with herself or others. It is a reason why she has a hard time as well to believe if anyone else is being honest with her, or when someone claims that they trust her, for she doesn't know these feelings and is incapable of being so herself. It is a lacking in her character that makes it so hard for her to believe and hope for these traits.
Pride
Perhaps the greatest flaw in her character would be her pride. The pride for her family, for her role, for her achievements and talents. Airi has a lot of pride within herself, causing an ego that is unable to admit wrong, to give up without a fight, or who refuses to ever lose. It is a flaw, but also a weakness as it means that she can be easily challenged if someone attacks her pride.
Indulging
She can get herself so entirely lost in anything. Overwhelming emotions, mostly anger, passionate subjects, in anything that at the moments takes over her mind and interest, making Airi lose sight of herself. It is a hidden character trait within the female, a character filled with passion that is fuelled by her own tendencies to do everything perfect.
Superstitious
A trait that Airi will never admit to herself, but the girl is extremely superstitious. Though she would like to claim that she doesn't believe in the supernatural and the likes deep down Airi is scared out of the wits for them, suggesting that she does believe in their existence.
LIKES
Origami
The Koto
Kendo
Tea
To read
Dancing
DISLIKES
Emotions
The unpredictable
People in general
Asymmetry
Loud noises
Wasting
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