Application: Somarium
[Player name] Allie
[Age] 19
[Personal Journal] missinfinitive
[Other characters currently played] None at all! :(
[Character name] Seishirou Sakurazuka
[Age] 34
[Canon] X
[Point in time taken from canon] Volume 16/after his death.
[Background] And so today, I will let you go.
[Personality] So this turned out like a hideous hybrid of background and personality and I am sorry it is so tl;dr.
Seishirou was raised from a young age to be an emotionless killer in order to become the heir to his family’s line of magical assassins. He also frequently kills puppies, makes bets with small boys, and eats ice cream while watching thousands of people die by his own hand. Basically, he’s an unrepentant asshole.
…Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s go into a little more depth.
Seishirou Sakurazuka is a hard-working, charismatic, handsome man with a heart of gold and a love for animals. He can often be a little too silly, has an odd sense of humor, and sometimes comes on a bit strong, but he is overall a harmless, big, gay dork. He is a doctor of veterinary medicine and runs a small clinic in Shinjuku, Tokyo, which has a wonderful reputation, much like the head vet himself. He is well-informed on a wide variety of subjects, clearly a man who keeps up with current events, and knows a great deal about the occult, which, while strange, isn’t exactly suspicious. Besides, Seishirou Sakurazuka would never willfully harm anyone; he’s too kind.
…or at least, this is who he allows everyone to think he is. The reality is much, much different.
Seishirou’s childhood was an abnormal one, to say the least. Just to have some perspective: he was born into the Sakurazuka clan, a family of onmyōji who, since the 6th century, had served Japan in the shadows by quietly assassinating anyone who might be or become a possible threat to the country in any way. (They also sometimes carry out killings in order to further their own agenda, but shhh.) They were and are the direct inverse of the Sumeragi clan, also onmyōji, but who served Japan in the light, a well-respected family of high standing (especially in the occult community), taking care of the country’s spiritual wellbeing. These clans, understandably, were rivals, to say the least. The Sumeragi did not approve of the Sakurazukamori’s methods, and the Sakurazukamori thought the Sumeragi got in the way. The head of the Sumeragi and the Sakurazukamori have always been at odds. In Sumeragi history, there have been numerous killings of members attributed to the Sakurazukamori, generation after generation.
In some ways, though, it’s actually incorrect to call the Sakurazukamori a clan leader, when there is actually no 'clan' to lead. In Seishirou’s own words, “The Sakurazukamori has always been a clan of one.” He further explains, “The Sakurazukamori have clients, and we do not lack for collaborators. You see, that is why we are sometimes called a clan of assassins. When the Sakurazukamori inherits his rightful place, he naturally must kill his predecessor, as well as those who were connected to him.”
Seishirou preformed this rite at the tender age of fifteen, killing his mother, the previous clan head, in the garden of their home, and became the 13th Sakurazukamori. This was his first kill. He had been raised, before then, presumably in a way that discouraged and punished emotions-an assassin should be cold and ruthless, after all; he would have no need of them- most likely in the same manner as other Sakurazukamori before him. If he was not born with sociopathic tendencies, he certainly developed them over the course of his childhood. He was likely trained physically, as well, developing his body’s strength and endurance in preparation for his future role. His relationship with his mother, Setsuka-a beautiful, doll-like woman who never seemed to age-before he killed her was…questionable, to say the least. (Oedipus complex, ahoy!) Though mother and son had never truly met one another until Seishirou was nine years old-he’d been taken away from her at birth to be raised and taught without her influence for the first few years of his life-she clearly adored him (too much), and even professed to love him, despite likely receiving the same emotional desensitizing as a child that he had. She asked for him to kill her, and as she lay dying in his arms, she romanticized the beauty of being killed by someone you love, and prophesized that he, too, would be killed by the person he would come to love most. He denied this possibility, of course. “But I will never come to love anyone. You know that,” he said. He looked on her as she died with a certain detachment. She was his mother, and she was his mentor, and he respected and revered her, but he didn’t care that he would never see her again. He didn’t care that he’d just killed her. Even when she whispered, “I love you, Seishirou,” and he replied, “I love you as well, Mother,” and kissed her as her life ended, his expression didn’t change at all.
Seishirou is almost a textbook example of a sociopath. He constantly asserts that he has no emotions whatsoever, and he certainly doesn’t appear to, judging by his actions and his complete lack of shame or remorse. When remembering, ten years later, the day that he killed his mother, he said, almost fondly: "I felt nothing. Though drenched in my mother's blood... I felt nothing. And those I killed after that were the same. I have never felt anything in particular." As he is in the midst of torturing poor Subaru Sumeragi-his so-called ‘prey,’ whose significance in his life would come to be unparalleled-before killing him (or intending to kill him, at least) he continued, “For the longest time, I have not been able to distinguish between ‘people’ and things.’ For instance: to break your arm like this,” and he snapped Subaru’s arm quite clinically, ignoring the boy’s screams, “or to break a glass cup? Where is the difference? Corpses, wreckage…they are one in the same to me.” And, smiling, he added, “I suppose in that sense I am well-suited to be the Sakurazkamori.” There is a more than obvious flavor of sadism in Seishirou as well, but it isn’t that he takes particular pleasure in inflicting pain; rather, what he finds intriguing is the person’s reaction. But while he might be mildly interested in one thing or another--one person or another, even--ultimately, he simply doesn’t care. He doesn’t care about anything-including himself. He has no feelings of guilt or remorse, nor concern for people around him, no matter how ‘close’ they may be, no concept of responsibility or shame. He does whatever he likes, unfettered by the burden of a conscience. That is the root of his identity.
That isn’t to say, however, that there is nothing that Seishirou likes or enjoys doing outside of making susceptible young boys fall in love with him and then breaking their hearts (and their arms). He likes food! He has a keen sweet tooth in particular. He seems enjoy cooking, and is quite skilled in the kitchen. He enjoys things which are aesthetically pleasing: flowers, sharp suits, and good-looking people being only a few examples. But Seishirou has few close relationships. (‘Few,’ as in ‘one,’ honestly.) He did, however, manage to develop the strangest sort of pseudo-friendship with the Kamui of the Dragons of Earth in 1999. While watching the destruction of Shibuya Station-which Seishirou had caused by soiling the barrier with blood from one of his victims-from the top of a nearby building, Kamui shared his ice cream cone with Seishirou, who enjoyed it, and the two of them lamented the fact that the ice cream shop where he got it was likely up in flames. They then vowed to sample all of the finest eateries in Tokyo together before the city was destroyed-which, presumably, they did, at least to some extent.
His only truly close relationship, however, is with Subaru Sumeragi, and even then there is a void between them. Subaru, nine years Seishirou’s junior, is the head of the Sumeragi clan-remember them?-and therefore Seishirou’s ‘twin star,’ as it’s put in the X universe: his opposite, as all Dragons of Earth have an opposite among the Dragons of Heaven. They are the two sides of the same coin, which makes sense, as they practice the dark and light sides of onmyōdō-a magical tradition based on the concept of Yin and Yang-respectively. Since Seishirou and Subaru’s relationship is covered extensively in the ‘background’ article link, I’ll assume knowledge of that and concentrate on describing his emotional influence on Seishirou.
Wait…emotional?
It’s tough to say if Seishirou had genuine feelings for Subaru. On one hand, we have Setsuka’s prophecy: “You, too, will be killed by the one you love most.” Thinking that it was Subaru’s Wish to do so, Seishirou used Hokuto’s final spell to his advantage, forcing Subaru to kill him. Was this Seishirou’s way of admitting-if only to himself-that Subaru was the one he loved most?
On the other hand, Seishirou is a very possessive man. This is demonstrated on several occasions, the most notable of which both have to do with eyes. (This is a CLAMP manga, after all!) In Tokyo Babylon, when a woman is about to stab Subaru, Seishirou steps in the way, resulting in the loss of his right eye. He would rather become half-blind than have someone else get to his prey before he can. (Consequently, this is also an obvious example of his complete lack of self-preservation. Harkening back to a few paragraphs ago: he doesn’t care about anything, including himself. And yet somehow he still manages to be incredibly selfish.) The second instance is after his death. It was his final Wish for Subaru to receive his working eye-his left one-to replace the eye Subaru had lost to Kamui, because, as Kamui puts it, “He couldn’t stand that there was now a scar on your body left by one other than himself. The Sakurazukamori’s desire was to erase that scar.” So, by essentially committing suicide by Subaru’s hand, he may have wanted to simply ensure that he left a mark on Subaru forever, so that Subaru would belong to him completely, even after his death. If that was his goal, he succeeded. (Again, total lack of self-preservation; he was completely cool with dying if it meant he could ensure Subaru’s devotion to him--quite selfishly.)
The complete answer is left ambiguous, along with Seishirou’s last words, whispered in Subaru’s ear. Of course, the audience isn't privy to the most important part. Personally, I lean towards option number two: he's being his usual possessive self. Once a manipulative bastard, always a manipulative bastard.
[Abilities]
Seishirou is one of the two most powerful practitioners of onmyōdō in modern-day Japan. As such, he has extensive knowledge of the occult, as well as the spiritual practices of a variety of different religions, particularly Shintoism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and he is shown to know great deal about other religions and their practices as well, though he does not utilize them. Onmyōji have a wide variety of magical skills, including divination, mediumship, and exorcism, which rely heavily on ritual. They also know about spells and curses, both how to create and deflect them. In addition, they control shikigami, which act as something of a familiar which appears when they call on it. Seishirou’s takes the form of a black hawk. In the Tokyo Babylon/X universe, onmyōji are known to be able to enter another person’s mind while they are asleep, though it is at great personal risk to themselves, and they must also put themselves into something of a dreaming trance before they do so. They can also dreamwalk, though understandably, these powers won't be used in Somarium, but rather replaced with the abilities Somarium grants. Though likely he'll be pretty good at it.
As far as combat goes, in X, the onmyōji typically use ofuda-slips of paper bearing a spell on them-to attack. These ofuda do any number of things depending on the spell, but most of the time explode, or transform into a flock of magical birds. He’s also able to create a shield in front of himself by drawing an inverted pentagram-the traditional symbol used by the Sakurazukamori; the Sumeragi use an upright pentagram-in the air, usually, amusingly enough, with the end of a lit cigarette.
There are also couple of things unique to Seishirou. He can manipulate memories, to a certain extent. He can’t falsify them, and he can’t delete them, but he can bury them in a person’s subconscious. The person will likely still have dreams along the lines of these memories, but unless something happens to trigger them, or Seishirou brings them back to the surface himself, they remain buried. He likely can’t do anything to past memories, however, only very recent ones, as in ‘right after they occur’ recent. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, is an infamous skill of the Sakurazukamori: the ability to create intricate and powerful illusions-spaces separate from the world itself, it seems, as nothing which happens within them affects the world outside-which can encompass an entire area; on a few occasions, he created illusions in which giant boulders rained from the sky to crush his opponents, though the illusion Seishirou favors most often is one of a simple cherry tree, always in full bloom despite the season, with deep pink petals. (It is under this illusionary tree, in fact, that he made the bet with Subaru, who had the power to wander into his illusion.) Often, he drags his victims into this illusion before he kills them. (Sometimes with a hand driven straight through their chest, and sometimes by seemingly suffocating them in a whirling vortex of cherry blossom petals.) I'll be restricting his illusionary powers to a smaller scale than he's used to, and as far as the memory-manipulating one goes, it would be used exclusively with player permission only, and even then, very rarely, if at all. (If you would rather, mods, that these powers be blocked entirely, that is more than all right. Just let me know.)
[Other important stuff]
His right eye is a prosthetic. Why he got a blank, creepy white one, we’ll never know.
Also, he really does hold a degree in veterinary science. He didn’t make that part up, at least. And he really is good at treating animals, provided they don’t die in his place as the scapegoat for his sakanagi (magical backlash, the inverse of every spell cast which returns to the caster in a harmful way in order to keep magical balance) while in the clinic, of course. And though he hasn’t actually worked as a vet in years, he’ll likely be seeking to establish a practice in Somarium as a cover and will be picking up that persona again, at least until he can feel out the situation a bit more, which is the reason the first person sample will be answered that way.
[Sample post]
[First Person] (Note: EVERYTHING IS A LIE. Well…most things.)
- You're asked to take someone out for a date. Do you agree? If so, describe what you would do. If not, tell why.
I certainly do agree, especially if it is someone I love. Going with an acquaintance in order to get to know them a little better is fun, too. I would take my date’s personality into consideration, of course, but I myself would particularly enjoy the aquarium, or a small eatery. Perhaps both!
- You are on the verge of death. You know there is no way to survive and there's no coming back. Choose any of the following to answer: What is your last wish? How do you feel? Who is the last person you think of other than your killer?
My last wish is to be remembered. While dying I would feel completely calm, no matter the situation. Death isn’t something that concerns me. But the last person I think of other than my killer? That would greatly depend on who my killer is, I think.
- Murder. What is your opinion?
Completely reprehensible.
- There is a cake in the rain. What do you do?
Save the poor thing, of course, and see if any of it can be salvaged. It would be a real shame to let it go to waste.
- Do you prefer the city or living out in the country? Why?
There is something about the city I have always found magnetic. It's the energy, I think: so many people living, working, loving, and dying, all stacked on top of one another, all interconnected. One is never entirely alone in the city.
- You are suddenly told you are the child of an ancient prophecy to save the world. How do you feel? Will you embark on your journey? Or would you rather shove it onto someone else and run away? Explain.
That sounds like quite a unique situation. I don’t know if I would be able to do it!
- If you could destroy a city, how would you do it?
I would wipe out its magical barriers one by one, causing devastating earthquakes that would leave the city in ruins. [He smiles brightly.] …though that is pure conjecture, of course.
- Am I asking too many personal or strange questions?
Not at all! I am quite enjoying them, actually.
- Oh no! Someone tripped and injured themselves right in front of you! What do you do?
[He chuckles.] I would help them up and see if they are all right, of course-especially if they’re cute.
- You find yourself with a cute, little penguin slave. What do you do with it?
I find penguins quite charming, though I don’t think I would want one as a slave. I would, however, make sure it is taken care of.
[Third Person]
The city air is heavy, especially on such a warm summer night. The temperature had been brutal while the sun had been up, and though it’s decreased enough that Seishirou is comfortable enough in his suit, the humidity still remains, sticky and unpleasant. He’d just returned from a job: minor politician, but still notable enough. No doubt he’d be seeing news of the man’s death in the headlines the next morning. He would sip his coffee and flip to the next page. Sometimes he enjoys reading articles about his victims, and sometimes he doesn’t feel like it’s necessary. Either way, he always knows far more than the media.
He’s caught by surprise when a relatively unfamiliar sound splits the air: a scream. One would think that, in his line of work, he would hear screaming on a regular basis, but this is hardly the case. His targets never get the chance to scream. Unconcerned, he continues walking, his pace leisurely. The scream sounded as though it had originated in the direction he’s heading anyway, so there is no need to go out of his way to indulge his mild curiosity, at least. He might not have even bothered if he'd had to diverge.
It’s in an alleyway between two moderately-sized buildings that the incident is taking place. A figure in a jacket far too bulky for the weather, hood pulled up to hide the individual’s face, has a woman backed against a wall, the very tip of a knife pressed against her belly. Routine mugging, Seishirou guesses at once, given how the woman has her handbag behind her. How boring. He doesn't lack for money, but he doesn't understand why most people find it so important.
He moves to keep walking, but the woman screams again, and she’s looking right at him this time. “Help!” She shrieks, voice shrill and desperate. “Please!” He is the only bystander nearby; she must be talking to him. The mugger doesn’t even notice he’s there yet, stupidly thinking she’s screaming at nothing. Seishirou takes this moment to observe her again. There is nothing particularly remarkable about her: shoulder-length dark hair (messy from the struggle), dark eyes (wide with terror), a shade of eye shadow that clashes with her skin tone (smudged), and a jarring pink skirt-suit (rumpled). His sunglasses-which he wears even at this time of night; it’s troublesome when people ask about his eye-turn the world a shade darker, so even with his well-trained eyesight he can’t make out the face, or even the sex, of her assailant. Regardless, he could step in. He could save her, if he felt so inclined. There's no doubt about that. But, why should he go to the trouble of aiding her? She doesn't interest him in the least.
After only a few seconds’ pause, he turns away without a second thought. His hands slide into his pockets and his thoughts turn homeward to his apartment: his refrigerator, in particular. He still has some green tea ice cream left in the freezer, he thinks. It's probably still good; he only bought it a few weeks ago. It will be the perfect snack after a long night of work.
He hears it when the woman-paces, and, as far as he’s concerned, worlds-behind him screams for a third time, but he hardly registers it. It isn’t his concern. He has ice cream to look forward to.
[Why do you want to play this character in Somarium?] THERE ARE CASTMATES. This never happens. And it’s amazing. Also, since dreaming and dreams are such a big part of the X canon, and I've been wanting to place Seishirou in a game for quite some time now, I thought it’d be fun to port him over here.
[Which rule was your favorite and why?] ‘cross-canon characters are allowed’ because that is unbelievably useful when you play a CLAMP character. They tend to have…several cross-series versions of themselves.
[Where did you hear about Somarium?] I found it on my own first, and was later directed here again by a current player.
[Any questions?] Nope! I have a comment, though. I’m aware of the debate going on about whether to move the community or not, and I would just like to say that if I'm accepted, I’ll be starting up at Somarium whether it stays here or ports to Dreamwidth. I have little preference either way.
[Age] 19
[Personal Journal] missinfinitive
[Other characters currently played] None at all! :(
[Character name] Seishirou Sakurazuka
[Age] 34
[Canon] X
[Point in time taken from canon] Volume 16/after his death.
[Background] And so today, I will let you go.
[Personality] So this turned out like a hideous hybrid of background and personality and I am sorry it is so tl;dr.
Seishirou was raised from a young age to be an emotionless killer in order to become the heir to his family’s line of magical assassins. He also frequently kills puppies, makes bets with small boys, and eats ice cream while watching thousands of people die by his own hand. Basically, he’s an unrepentant asshole.
…Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s go into a little more depth.
Seishirou Sakurazuka is a hard-working, charismatic, handsome man with a heart of gold and a love for animals. He can often be a little too silly, has an odd sense of humor, and sometimes comes on a bit strong, but he is overall a harmless, big, gay dork. He is a doctor of veterinary medicine and runs a small clinic in Shinjuku, Tokyo, which has a wonderful reputation, much like the head vet himself. He is well-informed on a wide variety of subjects, clearly a man who keeps up with current events, and knows a great deal about the occult, which, while strange, isn’t exactly suspicious. Besides, Seishirou Sakurazuka would never willfully harm anyone; he’s too kind.
…or at least, this is who he allows everyone to think he is. The reality is much, much different.
Seishirou’s childhood was an abnormal one, to say the least. Just to have some perspective: he was born into the Sakurazuka clan, a family of onmyōji who, since the 6th century, had served Japan in the shadows by quietly assassinating anyone who might be or become a possible threat to the country in any way. (They also sometimes carry out killings in order to further their own agenda, but shhh.) They were and are the direct inverse of the Sumeragi clan, also onmyōji, but who served Japan in the light, a well-respected family of high standing (especially in the occult community), taking care of the country’s spiritual wellbeing. These clans, understandably, were rivals, to say the least. The Sumeragi did not approve of the Sakurazukamori’s methods, and the Sakurazukamori thought the Sumeragi got in the way. The head of the Sumeragi and the Sakurazukamori have always been at odds. In Sumeragi history, there have been numerous killings of members attributed to the Sakurazukamori, generation after generation.
In some ways, though, it’s actually incorrect to call the Sakurazukamori a clan leader, when there is actually no 'clan' to lead. In Seishirou’s own words, “The Sakurazukamori has always been a clan of one.” He further explains, “The Sakurazukamori have clients, and we do not lack for collaborators. You see, that is why we are sometimes called a clan of assassins. When the Sakurazukamori inherits his rightful place, he naturally must kill his predecessor, as well as those who were connected to him.”
Seishirou preformed this rite at the tender age of fifteen, killing his mother, the previous clan head, in the garden of their home, and became the 13th Sakurazukamori. This was his first kill. He had been raised, before then, presumably in a way that discouraged and punished emotions-an assassin should be cold and ruthless, after all; he would have no need of them- most likely in the same manner as other Sakurazukamori before him. If he was not born with sociopathic tendencies, he certainly developed them over the course of his childhood. He was likely trained physically, as well, developing his body’s strength and endurance in preparation for his future role. His relationship with his mother, Setsuka-a beautiful, doll-like woman who never seemed to age-before he killed her was…questionable, to say the least. (Oedipus complex, ahoy!) Though mother and son had never truly met one another until Seishirou was nine years old-he’d been taken away from her at birth to be raised and taught without her influence for the first few years of his life-she clearly adored him (too much), and even professed to love him, despite likely receiving the same emotional desensitizing as a child that he had. She asked for him to kill her, and as she lay dying in his arms, she romanticized the beauty of being killed by someone you love, and prophesized that he, too, would be killed by the person he would come to love most. He denied this possibility, of course. “But I will never come to love anyone. You know that,” he said. He looked on her as she died with a certain detachment. She was his mother, and she was his mentor, and he respected and revered her, but he didn’t care that he would never see her again. He didn’t care that he’d just killed her. Even when she whispered, “I love you, Seishirou,” and he replied, “I love you as well, Mother,” and kissed her as her life ended, his expression didn’t change at all.
Seishirou is almost a textbook example of a sociopath. He constantly asserts that he has no emotions whatsoever, and he certainly doesn’t appear to, judging by his actions and his complete lack of shame or remorse. When remembering, ten years later, the day that he killed his mother, he said, almost fondly: "I felt nothing. Though drenched in my mother's blood... I felt nothing. And those I killed after that were the same. I have never felt anything in particular." As he is in the midst of torturing poor Subaru Sumeragi-his so-called ‘prey,’ whose significance in his life would come to be unparalleled-before killing him (or intending to kill him, at least) he continued, “For the longest time, I have not been able to distinguish between ‘people’ and things.’ For instance: to break your arm like this,” and he snapped Subaru’s arm quite clinically, ignoring the boy’s screams, “or to break a glass cup? Where is the difference? Corpses, wreckage…they are one in the same to me.” And, smiling, he added, “I suppose in that sense I am well-suited to be the Sakurazkamori.” There is a more than obvious flavor of sadism in Seishirou as well, but it isn’t that he takes particular pleasure in inflicting pain; rather, what he finds intriguing is the person’s reaction. But while he might be mildly interested in one thing or another--one person or another, even--ultimately, he simply doesn’t care. He doesn’t care about anything-including himself. He has no feelings of guilt or remorse, nor concern for people around him, no matter how ‘close’ they may be, no concept of responsibility or shame. He does whatever he likes, unfettered by the burden of a conscience. That is the root of his identity.
That isn’t to say, however, that there is nothing that Seishirou likes or enjoys doing outside of making susceptible young boys fall in love with him and then breaking their hearts (and their arms). He likes food! He has a keen sweet tooth in particular. He seems enjoy cooking, and is quite skilled in the kitchen. He enjoys things which are aesthetically pleasing: flowers, sharp suits, and good-looking people being only a few examples. But Seishirou has few close relationships. (‘Few,’ as in ‘one,’ honestly.) He did, however, manage to develop the strangest sort of pseudo-friendship with the Kamui of the Dragons of Earth in 1999. While watching the destruction of Shibuya Station-which Seishirou had caused by soiling the barrier with blood from one of his victims-from the top of a nearby building, Kamui shared his ice cream cone with Seishirou, who enjoyed it, and the two of them lamented the fact that the ice cream shop where he got it was likely up in flames. They then vowed to sample all of the finest eateries in Tokyo together before the city was destroyed-which, presumably, they did, at least to some extent.
His only truly close relationship, however, is with Subaru Sumeragi, and even then there is a void between them. Subaru, nine years Seishirou’s junior, is the head of the Sumeragi clan-remember them?-and therefore Seishirou’s ‘twin star,’ as it’s put in the X universe: his opposite, as all Dragons of Earth have an opposite among the Dragons of Heaven. They are the two sides of the same coin, which makes sense, as they practice the dark and light sides of onmyōdō-a magical tradition based on the concept of Yin and Yang-respectively. Since Seishirou and Subaru’s relationship is covered extensively in the ‘background’ article link, I’ll assume knowledge of that and concentrate on describing his emotional influence on Seishirou.
Wait…emotional?
It’s tough to say if Seishirou had genuine feelings for Subaru. On one hand, we have Setsuka’s prophecy: “You, too, will be killed by the one you love most.” Thinking that it was Subaru’s Wish to do so, Seishirou used Hokuto’s final spell to his advantage, forcing Subaru to kill him. Was this Seishirou’s way of admitting-if only to himself-that Subaru was the one he loved most?
On the other hand, Seishirou is a very possessive man. This is demonstrated on several occasions, the most notable of which both have to do with eyes. (This is a CLAMP manga, after all!) In Tokyo Babylon, when a woman is about to stab Subaru, Seishirou steps in the way, resulting in the loss of his right eye. He would rather become half-blind than have someone else get to his prey before he can. (Consequently, this is also an obvious example of his complete lack of self-preservation. Harkening back to a few paragraphs ago: he doesn’t care about anything, including himself. And yet somehow he still manages to be incredibly selfish.) The second instance is after his death. It was his final Wish for Subaru to receive his working eye-his left one-to replace the eye Subaru had lost to Kamui, because, as Kamui puts it, “He couldn’t stand that there was now a scar on your body left by one other than himself. The Sakurazukamori’s desire was to erase that scar.” So, by essentially committing suicide by Subaru’s hand, he may have wanted to simply ensure that he left a mark on Subaru forever, so that Subaru would belong to him completely, even after his death. If that was his goal, he succeeded. (Again, total lack of self-preservation; he was completely cool with dying if it meant he could ensure Subaru’s devotion to him--quite selfishly.)
The complete answer is left ambiguous, along with Seishirou’s last words, whispered in Subaru’s ear. Of course, the audience isn't privy to the most important part. Personally, I lean towards option number two: he's being his usual possessive self. Once a manipulative bastard, always a manipulative bastard.
[Abilities]
Seishirou is one of the two most powerful practitioners of onmyōdō in modern-day Japan. As such, he has extensive knowledge of the occult, as well as the spiritual practices of a variety of different religions, particularly Shintoism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and he is shown to know great deal about other religions and their practices as well, though he does not utilize them. Onmyōji have a wide variety of magical skills, including divination, mediumship, and exorcism, which rely heavily on ritual. They also know about spells and curses, both how to create and deflect them. In addition, they control shikigami, which act as something of a familiar which appears when they call on it. Seishirou’s takes the form of a black hawk. In the Tokyo Babylon/X universe, onmyōji are known to be able to enter another person’s mind while they are asleep, though it is at great personal risk to themselves, and they must also put themselves into something of a dreaming trance before they do so. They can also dreamwalk, though understandably, these powers won't be used in Somarium, but rather replaced with the abilities Somarium grants. Though likely he'll be pretty good at it.
As far as combat goes, in X, the onmyōji typically use ofuda-slips of paper bearing a spell on them-to attack. These ofuda do any number of things depending on the spell, but most of the time explode, or transform into a flock of magical birds. He’s also able to create a shield in front of himself by drawing an inverted pentagram-the traditional symbol used by the Sakurazukamori; the Sumeragi use an upright pentagram-in the air, usually, amusingly enough, with the end of a lit cigarette.
There are also couple of things unique to Seishirou. He can manipulate memories, to a certain extent. He can’t falsify them, and he can’t delete them, but he can bury them in a person’s subconscious. The person will likely still have dreams along the lines of these memories, but unless something happens to trigger them, or Seishirou brings them back to the surface himself, they remain buried. He likely can’t do anything to past memories, however, only very recent ones, as in ‘right after they occur’ recent. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, is an infamous skill of the Sakurazukamori: the ability to create intricate and powerful illusions-spaces separate from the world itself, it seems, as nothing which happens within them affects the world outside-which can encompass an entire area; on a few occasions, he created illusions in which giant boulders rained from the sky to crush his opponents, though the illusion Seishirou favors most often is one of a simple cherry tree, always in full bloom despite the season, with deep pink petals. (It is under this illusionary tree, in fact, that he made the bet with Subaru, who had the power to wander into his illusion.) Often, he drags his victims into this illusion before he kills them. (Sometimes with a hand driven straight through their chest, and sometimes by seemingly suffocating them in a whirling vortex of cherry blossom petals.) I'll be restricting his illusionary powers to a smaller scale than he's used to, and as far as the memory-manipulating one goes, it would be used exclusively with player permission only, and even then, very rarely, if at all. (If you would rather, mods, that these powers be blocked entirely, that is more than all right. Just let me know.)
[Other important stuff]
His right eye is a prosthetic. Why he got a blank, creepy white one, we’ll never know.
Also, he really does hold a degree in veterinary science. He didn’t make that part up, at least. And he really is good at treating animals, provided they don’t die in his place as the scapegoat for his sakanagi (magical backlash, the inverse of every spell cast which returns to the caster in a harmful way in order to keep magical balance) while in the clinic, of course. And though he hasn’t actually worked as a vet in years, he’ll likely be seeking to establish a practice in Somarium as a cover and will be picking up that persona again, at least until he can feel out the situation a bit more, which is the reason the first person sample will be answered that way.
[Sample post]
[First Person] (Note: EVERYTHING IS A LIE. Well…most things.)
- You're asked to take someone out for a date. Do you agree? If so, describe what you would do. If not, tell why.
I certainly do agree, especially if it is someone I love. Going with an acquaintance in order to get to know them a little better is fun, too. I would take my date’s personality into consideration, of course, but I myself would particularly enjoy the aquarium, or a small eatery. Perhaps both!
- You are on the verge of death. You know there is no way to survive and there's no coming back. Choose any of the following to answer: What is your last wish? How do you feel? Who is the last person you think of other than your killer?
My last wish is to be remembered. While dying I would feel completely calm, no matter the situation. Death isn’t something that concerns me. But the last person I think of other than my killer? That would greatly depend on who my killer is, I think.
- Murder. What is your opinion?
Completely reprehensible.
- There is a cake in the rain. What do you do?
Save the poor thing, of course, and see if any of it can be salvaged. It would be a real shame to let it go to waste.
- Do you prefer the city or living out in the country? Why?
There is something about the city I have always found magnetic. It's the energy, I think: so many people living, working, loving, and dying, all stacked on top of one another, all interconnected. One is never entirely alone in the city.
- You are suddenly told you are the child of an ancient prophecy to save the world. How do you feel? Will you embark on your journey? Or would you rather shove it onto someone else and run away? Explain.
That sounds like quite a unique situation. I don’t know if I would be able to do it!
- If you could destroy a city, how would you do it?
I would wipe out its magical barriers one by one, causing devastating earthquakes that would leave the city in ruins. [He smiles brightly.] …though that is pure conjecture, of course.
- Am I asking too many personal or strange questions?
Not at all! I am quite enjoying them, actually.
- Oh no! Someone tripped and injured themselves right in front of you! What do you do?
[He chuckles.] I would help them up and see if they are all right, of course-especially if they’re cute.
- You find yourself with a cute, little penguin slave. What do you do with it?
I find penguins quite charming, though I don’t think I would want one as a slave. I would, however, make sure it is taken care of.
[Third Person]
The city air is heavy, especially on such a warm summer night. The temperature had been brutal while the sun had been up, and though it’s decreased enough that Seishirou is comfortable enough in his suit, the humidity still remains, sticky and unpleasant. He’d just returned from a job: minor politician, but still notable enough. No doubt he’d be seeing news of the man’s death in the headlines the next morning. He would sip his coffee and flip to the next page. Sometimes he enjoys reading articles about his victims, and sometimes he doesn’t feel like it’s necessary. Either way, he always knows far more than the media.
He’s caught by surprise when a relatively unfamiliar sound splits the air: a scream. One would think that, in his line of work, he would hear screaming on a regular basis, but this is hardly the case. His targets never get the chance to scream. Unconcerned, he continues walking, his pace leisurely. The scream sounded as though it had originated in the direction he’s heading anyway, so there is no need to go out of his way to indulge his mild curiosity, at least. He might not have even bothered if he'd had to diverge.
It’s in an alleyway between two moderately-sized buildings that the incident is taking place. A figure in a jacket far too bulky for the weather, hood pulled up to hide the individual’s face, has a woman backed against a wall, the very tip of a knife pressed against her belly. Routine mugging, Seishirou guesses at once, given how the woman has her handbag behind her. How boring. He doesn't lack for money, but he doesn't understand why most people find it so important.
He moves to keep walking, but the woman screams again, and she’s looking right at him this time. “Help!” She shrieks, voice shrill and desperate. “Please!” He is the only bystander nearby; she must be talking to him. The mugger doesn’t even notice he’s there yet, stupidly thinking she’s screaming at nothing. Seishirou takes this moment to observe her again. There is nothing particularly remarkable about her: shoulder-length dark hair (messy from the struggle), dark eyes (wide with terror), a shade of eye shadow that clashes with her skin tone (smudged), and a jarring pink skirt-suit (rumpled). His sunglasses-which he wears even at this time of night; it’s troublesome when people ask about his eye-turn the world a shade darker, so even with his well-trained eyesight he can’t make out the face, or even the sex, of her assailant. Regardless, he could step in. He could save her, if he felt so inclined. There's no doubt about that. But, why should he go to the trouble of aiding her? She doesn't interest him in the least.
After only a few seconds’ pause, he turns away without a second thought. His hands slide into his pockets and his thoughts turn homeward to his apartment: his refrigerator, in particular. He still has some green tea ice cream left in the freezer, he thinks. It's probably still good; he only bought it a few weeks ago. It will be the perfect snack after a long night of work.
He hears it when the woman-paces, and, as far as he’s concerned, worlds-behind him screams for a third time, but he hardly registers it. It isn’t his concern. He has ice cream to look forward to.
[Why do you want to play this character in Somarium?] THERE ARE CASTMATES. This never happens. And it’s amazing. Also, since dreaming and dreams are such a big part of the X canon, and I've been wanting to place Seishirou in a game for quite some time now, I thought it’d be fun to port him over here.
[Which rule was your favorite and why?] ‘cross-canon characters are allowed’ because that is unbelievably useful when you play a CLAMP character. They tend to have…several cross-series versions of themselves.
[Where did you hear about Somarium?] I found it on my own first, and was later directed here again by a current player.
[Any questions?] Nope! I have a comment, though. I’m aware of the debate going on about whether to move the community or not, and I would just like to say that if I'm accepted, I’ll be starting up at Somarium whether it stays here or ports to Dreamwidth. I have little preference either way.