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Name/Nick; Jessie
LJ name: talia_of_eragon
Other characters currently played [ name :: series :: lj username]:
Himura Kenshin :: Rurouni Kenshin :: crossshapedscar
Doris Lang :: Vampire Hunter D :: hunterborn
E-mail: taliaoferagon@gmail.com
AIM/messenger: TaliaOfEragon
Character: Oibore (Previously known as Yukishirou Hideki)
Abilities:
Oibore is generally unskilled. By his own words and his daughter's words, he was neither gifted in martial or scholarly arts. His redeeming quality is his sincerity and kindness.
Flaws/weaknesses:
Oibore's greatest flaw is his inability to deal properly with loss--there is a reason he wound up in Rakuninmura afterall.When faced with such a situation he has a tendency to run away from it rather than face it. While his family was living he held out against that reaction, as he loved them too much not to solve the problems that needed to be solved. However, in their absence he literally came to a point where he just didn't care anymore and let it all go.
Speaking in present terms, Oibore does not deal well with confrontation and has a general lack of assertiveness. While he maintains a level head, he often backs down easily in arguments because he simply doesn't want to argue
Finally, he lacks drive. Another in his shoes would have came back out of his depression after his children abandoned him and went on living their life in regular society. However, he just couldn't find the reason to do that--and it reflects in much of what he does on a daily basis.
History/background:
- 1817-Yukishirou Hideki is born
- 1836-Marries Yamaguchi Akemi
- 1846-Tomoe is born
- 1855-Enishi is born, Akemi dies shortly afterward
- 1863-Tomoe is engaged to Kiyosatto Akira
- 1864-Kiyosatto Akira is killed, Tomoe leaves without notice for Kyoto, Enishi follows soon after.
- 1865-Hideki learns of Tomoe’s marriage and death//Later in the year he loses all hope that Enishi will ever return
- 1866-Hideki becomes fed up with his life, alone and looked down upon as a father and samurai who could not keep his children in line for their own protection and abandons his life and all the remaining ties to it he had, wandering Edo homeless and nameless.
- 1867-Over the years, becomes known as “Oibore” among those of “Rakuninmura,” his past forgotten and almost never spoken of, except in general nameless recognition.
- 1878-Currently 61 years old.
Yukishirou Hideki was born in 1817 to a low-level Samurai family. Growing up he was often described by his peers and elders as being too calm and agreeable and destined to be walked upon by others. This never bothered him, he was always more concerned with getting along with those around him. When he was 19 he was married to the daughter of a similarly ranked family, Yamaguchi Akemi (age 15). As with his childhood, he often heard from his peers that he was too laid back in his marriage as well-it was no secret that Akemi was the boss in their marriage. Considering their personality types they meshed well, and Hideki was blissfully happy with his wife.
While their marriage was happy, they had difficulty conceiving and were not blessed with their first child until ten years into their marriage. In 1846 Yukishirou Tomoe was born. At the time Hideki was 29 and Akemi 25. It became clear as she was growing that Tomoe had inherited Hideki’s gentleness and kindness, but had also taken on Akemi’s deadpan sense of humor and cool tendency to others.
In 1854, when Hideki was 38 and Akemi was 34 they conceived a second time by complete surprise. Both were extremely worried as a pregnancy at that age was very dangerous at that time and could pose many complications for both the baby and the mother-especially considering Akemi had had poor health for the majority of their marriage. However, neither Hideki nor Akemi could think of terminating the pregnancy, and so she carried the baby to term, giving birth to Yukishirou Ensihi in 1855. However, the worry they had in this pregnancy turned to reality, and Akemi died shortly after giving birth.
Because Hideki did not have a terribly large income a nurse maid was not available to care for Enishi, and so in the first year his neighbors’ wives and his daughter primarily cared for Enishi. Once he was old enough for Tomoe to care for him herself, she took over raising him, becoming both sister and mother to him.
As Enishi grew it was apparent that he had inherited more of his mother’s personality than his father’s. The quiet cool reserve that was displayed in Tomoe at the same age was generally absent in Enishi, who was rather prone to emotional outbursts and tantrums. Still, the father, daughter and son had a close knit family, and while Hideki did not possess the prowess with academics or swordsmanship for their family to be well off, they always had enough to eat and they were happy.
When Tomoe reached marriageable age Hideki knew he would have to arrange something with another family. Knowing how close Tomoe had always been to Kiyosatto Akira, Hideki spent the better part of a year speaking with the Kiyosatto family and planting seeds in hopes of arranging a marriage that would make his daughter happy. When the news was given to both parties it was apparent that they were happy about the results-or at least it was apparent to Hideki, who had become very adept at reading his daughter’s subtle mood changes over the years.
However, it became clear that Akira was not nearly as adept at reading his future bride. Convinced that Tomoe was not satisfied with him he set off to Kyoto to prove himself to her so that she could be happy with him in their marriage. Despite the fact that most onlookers could not tell what his soft-spoken daughter was thinking or feeling, he knew that Akira’s decision pained her, and that she did not want him to go. When the news that he had been killed reached them in Edo he could have cut the atmosphere in their home with a knife. He felt the distinct sorrow, but did not know how to console her. He never expected Tomoe to act on her depression as she did-running away.
Hideki didn’t know where she had gone, he only knew that she had left without any warning and without disclosing her destination. For the first month of her disappearance he spent every night out in the streets of Edo looking for her, praying that nothing had happened to her.
As he had growing up, Enishi reacted badly to Tomoe’s disappearance, acting out in anger and being generally unruly-and as always Hideki heard the tongues wagging of how he needed to be more stern with this children and not allow them so much freedom. When Enishi followed his sister Hideki was beside himself. Where there had been loving, close knit family, suddenly there was only him. As when Tomoe left, he searched for his son to no avail, resigning himself to merely wait in hopes that they would return.
The days turned into weeks, with no sign of either of his children. Hideki slowly became a shadow of himself, living in his home and being surrounded by the memories of his family. All the while those around him gossiped of how he had failed as a father and husband, and if he had only been more stern from the beginning then his children would have been kept under control and wouldn’t have run away.
In early 1865 Hideki received an anonymous letter from Kyoto, outlining much of what had happened: Tomoe’s appearance in Kyoto, her marriage to a young man named Himura, her accidental death, and the location of her grave. Hideki was devastated by this news. All that had kept him going since Enishi had run away was the thought that they would eventually return to him. He continued as he had since they had abandoned him, but as the time continued to pass it became more an more clear to him that Enishi would never return, or worse, had also met his own death somehow.
By 1866 Hideki was a shadow of his formal cheerful self, in a constant state of muted depression in his life. Finally, the disdain by those around him drove him to wonder why he put himself through that treatment? All he cared about in his life: his wife, his son and his daughter were gone, never to return. He continued to try to hold to the ties of his life-his home, his place in society, all of these things-while those same ties held him in this horrible depression, tarnishing the happy memories of his family with the sad thoughts of how he could not hold onto them. Why continue holding on? He had never cared about what society wanted-not as a boy, not as a man. Why WAS he holding on?
In the spring of 1866, at age 49 Yukishirou Hideki abandoned his home, his social status, his name and his identity, choosing to wander Edo homeless and without ties to anyone or anything. He was free to remember his family as he pleased, without the society’s opinions discoloring his memories. As it happens in any large City, the homeless forgotten people tended to gather together-Rakuninmura. By 1868, the end of the Bakumatsu and the beginning of the Meiji Era many more people of the same mind frame gathered together. By this time Hideki no longer even looked like his former self, his hair and beard thick and tangled and his clothing dirty and tattered, and those around him in Rakuninmura had taken to calling him Oibore, or ‘old fool’ as a pet name, as he had claimed to have forgotten his name. Still, despite what outsiders would think looking at this life, Oibore was happy-free to be his gentle self with no criticism and free to remember his happy years with his family.
Oibore lived like this up to the late summer/early fall of 1878, when on the return of his rounds his attention was brought to a newcomer in Rakuninmura: a samurai holding a chained up katana and possessing a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek. The second he saw the tell-tale scar he knew exactly who the samurai was. Through the years of the bakumatsu he had come to the realization that the young man mentioned in the anonymous letter informing him of his daughter's death had been "Himura Battousai." Too many details matched up for him not to make the connection. However, he also realized that despite the horror stories he had heard about the hitokiri, for his daughter to have agreed to marry the man on her own terms he had to be a good person--and the number of people who repeatedly came into Rakuninmura with hopes of pulling the samurai from his position among the fallen attested to that. And so, Oibore decided to watch over him and aid in coaxing him from the place with gentle words and quiet company. When no progress seemed to be made he went a step further, gathering the little money he had to buy a vial of hakubaiko perfume in hopes to stir the catatonic samurai's emotions to life again. Whether it had the desired affect or not, he never knew. However, a day or two later, when yet another person came to the samurai--this time calling for help--he did, indeed, come out of his catatonic state and leave Rakuninmura.
Satisfied that he had helped his daughter's husband, he made the decision to leave Tokyo for the time being and visit her grave--and while in Kyoto trying to find another area similar to Tokyo's Rakuninmura he wandered into the City...
Personality:
Outwardly Oibore is a carefree, clueless old bum. And for the most part that is the truth. After the heartbreaks of his life he decided that he didn't want to live in the shadow of that pain and left it behind him when he put his place in society behind him. He is very gentle and very easy going--you would be hard pressed to find someone who didn't take a liking to him--or at least his personality, his personal hygiene may be another matter--but being homeless does make regular bathing difficult. He does his best to get along with everyone around him, and is not above making jokes that make those around him groan. Inwardly, Oibore still caries around the pain of losing his family, and it can be seen in his eyes when he starts reminiscing about the past (mostly to himself). However, he keeps the attitude that "it is another new day" and that the past shouldn't necessarily define the future.
He normally spends his time singing to himself, or striking up conversations with people. He is such a likeable person that he often gets handouts (on his weekly begging rounds) simply because he gives the impression that he is too nice not to help out. This trend even seems to extend to the animal kingdom, as small birds have a tendency to follow him around and keep him company. He is well aware of this, and even jokingly points it out to people on a regular basis if his integrity is questioned.
He is not fond of conflict and tries to avoid it, whether said conflict is between those around him or with someone directly. In the former case he is not above trying to redirect attention to himself in a joking manner to attempt to diffuse the situation. In the later, again, he will try to direct the attention away from the current topic in order to avoid a fight or argument until both parties are able to think things through. If a situation cannot be diffused he is able to keep calm and collected, avoiding making a situation worse with angry words, until an understanding can be made.
Overall, Oibore said it best himself: "Here, I'm called 'Oibore,' the nicest old guy around."
Background setting: 1878 Japan, 11th year of the Meiji Era/Restoration, the Rurouni Kenshin universe, end of the Jinchuu Arc.
Physical description: One, Two
Sample RP:
He smiled warmly, quietly kneeling before the grave. “Hello darling. It’s been a long time. I’m sorry.” He sighed before removing his hat and reaching to the bun of messy white hair at the back of his head, removing the women’s hair ornament he had kept there for safe keeping. He held it gently in his hands, studying it for a long time, his hat set to the side for the time being.
“You would never guess who I recently met. Although perhaps you would. I imagine you are still watching over him.” He smiled brightly. “It is very apparent why you cared for him. He is a very good man.”
He turned the ornament over in his hands. “I thought I should give this back to you now. I’ve kept it with me for so long, but it should be here with you.” He smiled again, placing the ornament gently before the grave before placing his hat back on his head, letting out a satisfied puff of air.
“Well then, I should be getting back. But I promise I will come visit you more often.” He stood, not bothering to dust his already dirty clothes before folding his hands together and saying a silent prayer for her.
Afterwards he gave a loud yawn and stretch before proclaiming to the surroundings, “Aaaah, it’s such a nice day!” He held his hands behind his back and began shuffling off, singing to himself, the birds that always seemed to follow him hovering near his head.
Sample post:
Voice
[In a singing voice]
Oh it’s great, it’s great~ Everything is fiiiiine~ Hm hm hmmmm. Let’s see… let’s see… Huh… this doesn’t seem like Kyoto… That’s odd.
[Pause.]
...
Huh...
[Pause.]
Oh, hello, ojou-san, would you have time to explain to an old fool where he's wandered to?
Aditional RP Sample:
Oibore hadn’t know what to think of the two children wandering through the gates to Rakuninmura. They were far too young to be coming to stay, not to mention the way they carried themselves was not the way that new members acted. Those who came into “the crowd” were coming in broken-these two had determination radiating off of them. Definitely not what he would have expected from anyone fallen.
Needless to say he was curious, so he shuffled back a little faster than he had been going, only to see Kuma leading a comical attack against the two “intruders” in order to throw them back out. Honestly, he didn’t understand why-what harm would it do? And it was so obvious that they had come to see the newcomer-the samurai with the chained katana. Oibore was happy to see when anyone who wandered to Rakuninmura didn’t truly belong there was called back out. He smiled, holding back a snicker as the members of the crowd dog-piled on the two children.
“What are you all having so much fun with?” he called in an effort to distract the crowd from the visitors. “It’s been three days since I saw everybody.” He held out a small sack. “here are some cigarette butts from town, so share amongst yourselves nicely.”
He smiled happily, seeing their faces light up, and took his chance to talk to the two children-a boy and a girl. “Are the young ones all right?” The two were most definitely on a mission and not wanting to speak at length to an old bum, however he continued talking happily before asking, “And young man, young lady, why have you come here, two, even three times?”
“To see someone. Anything wrong with that?”
“To see someone. Can it be the Samurai-san with the katana sealed with chains who came into the ‘crowd’ just recently?” While Oibore hadn’t seen the man himself yet, the news about the newcomer and his entourage of people who had shown up almost immediately to remove him from the place had spread among the members of Rakuninmura, whether they were on the outskirts of town or wandering inside. He had never actually seen anyone in the ranks of Rakuninmura have people follow them to the outside…
“Yeah, that’s Kenshin.” The boy replied as he and the young girl turned to continue on their way. However, any other words either of them said were lost as the wheels in Oibore’s head started turning.
Kenshin… Kenshin… Kenshin…
He knew that name… had heard it in town on his begging rounds in the last few months.
Kenshin…
Himura Kenshin.
Oibore’s eyes widened slightly as he watched the children continue.
No… It couldn’t be the same man…
Could it?
That name was probably just a coincidence… wasn’t it?
“Old man, you shouldn’t have let them go!”
Hearing Kuma’s voice brought him back to the present all of a sudden, and he gave a wide mock-coy smile. “I didn’t know Kuma-san was so fond of children~” and he let out a peal of laughter.
The other man’s face flushed red. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. They shouldn’t even be in here. This place is supposed to be sanctuary from the rest of town.”
Oibore smiled, turning to Kuma. “I don’t think they mean any harm. It’s true we turn no one away, but not all those who wander in here necessarily belong here.”
“Bah, you havn’t seen that guy. He hasn’t moved or eaten since he wandered in here. He’ll probably starve himself to death in a couple weeks.”
Oibore continued to smile. “With all the people who have come to see him I don’t think that’s the case.” He turned, smiling, “But I haven’t met him yet. I think I’ll go over and talk to him now.”
“Good luck with that. He hasn’t spoken to anyone yet.” He gave a slight snort before he started to walk the other way. “You’re too nice, Oibore.”
He gave a stupid grin, scratching at the back of his head. “Am I?” He let out another peal of laughter as he shuffled off the way the two children had.
As he walked the lighter air he had just had about him diminished slightly-and as he came upon the scene of the two children confronting the samurai his breath caught a little in his chest.
Red hair.
A cross-shaped scar on the left cheek.
“She married a young man named Himura…”
There was no doubt… this… this was his daughter’s husband… All of the smaller pieces fit together…
This was Hitokiri Battousai. Himura Battousai.
Himura Kenshin.
The old man’s mind whired with thoughts and memories of his daughter and when he was notified of her marriage and death… of the horror stories he had heard of this particular hitokiri… and then the stories he had heard in gossip wandering the city in the last year…
But the one thought that struck him, particularly overhearing the last few words of the young boy and feeling the conviction in his voice, “I won’t come back here again. I will be waiting for you at Kamiya Dojo.”
…
Someone that could bring that sort of conviction out of a boy like that… did not belong in Rakuninmura. Someone who had clearly won his daughter’s affection did not belong in Rakuninmura. And most important of all: his daughter would not want this man in Rakuninmura.
He waited a few more seconds after the two visitors were gone and finally walked forward, giving no signs that he had any idea who the man was and flopped down beside him, leaning against the wall. He sat like that for a minute or so, his birds fluttering around his head before finally speaking with distinct cheer in his voice.
“That seems like a young man who is looking forward to the future.” He paused for a second, glancing out the corner of his eye at the samurai, letting the wide grin fall to a calm smile and after a short pause, he continued.
“I… well, I’ve been living here since I was born. But Samurai-san, you are the first one who has fallen here whom a young boy like that from the outside has come to see two, even three times.” He gave a slight sigh, his birds twittering in the silence.
“Whatever the case, it seems just a little too early for you to settle down here.”
He said nothing else, but remained sitting beside the samurai, all but radiating kindness and well-being, glancing up at the blue sky before smiling again.
Don’t worry, darling. It may take a little while, but I will do what I can to ensure he stands up and leaves this place.
He was singing to himself, as always, as he walked along the streets of the City, carrying his tackle and fishing pole-as well as a small obento that contained a sample of Akechi-san’s ohagi. Oibore smiled broadly. It had been so kind of the young lady to offer him some-and to offer a check up at the hospital, but he was long past worrying about his health.
He laughed a little as his stomach rumbled thinking of the ohagi. It was one of his favorites-and it reminded him of long ago when his wife would make it as a treat for their daughter. He smiled broader at the memory, avoiding the urge to stop and open up the obento. He had a small job to do first.
He shuffled along the streets, still humming. He saw the church up ahead-the one that dealt with the City children-and entered curiously. And after a few seconds of peering around he saw what he had come for: the donation bin. He moved up to it before fumbling around in his tattered sleeve. He pulled out a change purse, which he opened and unceremoniously dumped a collection of colorful coins into the bin, holding out just enough to buy food should he need it.
He rolled the nearly empty purse up and placed it back into his sleeve. He had been surprised to learn that the City was going to essentially give him money because of his age. But he had been homeless and destitute by choice since he was 49. He had no need or desire for money-he’d left that back with his previous life.
He was well aware that people did not understand that. Most who saw him took him for a drunk who was unable to find work and support himself-and who would only waste any money he was actually given. On the contrary, he had always been a hard worker when it came to things he felt were important. However, the things he had always considered important-the happiness and prosperity of his family-had disappeared with his family back then. Without his family money and social status were so very pointless. He could be happy with nothing but his memories of them, untarnished by the opinions of the society he had left those 12 years ago. The things needed to survive day to day-food and water-could be found if one knew where and how to look. And that was enough for him to be satisfied.
He smiled warmly at the thought of helping the children in this place before he turned and exited the building, laughing slightly as the birds that had been fluttering around his head before he entered the building returned to their previous places, one actually landing on the top of his hat.
“Hee, hee~ Are you impatient for Akechi-san’s ohagi as well, little ones?” He laughed again before shuffling off to find a good place to sit and finally dig into that obento.