Post by Sugase Akemi on Apr 10, 2015 13:17:34 GMT -6
||| SUGASE AKEMI |||
maria akizuki ; from the new world
#Name ; Sugase Akemi
#Age ; 17
#Gender ; Female
#Sexuality ; Unknown
#D.O.B. ; October 14
#Occupation ; Student
#Year and class ; 3-E
#Height ; 5' 3"
#Weight ; 112
#Physique ; Slim
#Hair color and style ; Waist-length dark red hair cut with blunt bangs
#Eye color ; Blue
#Clothing styles ; In school, Akemi wears socks of varying lengths with her uniform as well as occasional hairclips and accessories. When she's feeling daring, she may try to get away with such odd dress code violations as mismatched socks or wearing a distractingly large number of hairclips at once. It usually never gets very far without being stopped by a teacher though.
Outside of school, Akemi's quirky tastes are much more evident. Her current interest in street fashion leads her to dress in attention-grabbing styles that look out of place in a small town like Hikarizaka. Most notably, she has become fond of decora and can be seen walking about the street bedecked in a cascade of colors and accessories. Even when she's dressed in more "normal" clothing, she's fond of odd trinkets and patterns that set her apart.
#Personality ;
At face value, Akemi is the type of calm, sweet-faced girl who, had she been born in another world, may have had many admirers. Quiet but not shy, she gives off a sense of ease and gentleness that, in theory, should make her likeable. The key word, however, has always been should.
There is a peculiarity to Akemi that is often difficult for others to describe in words. She blends in just enough to not stand out as a complete freak, yet remains just out of step enough to keep others an arm’s length away. Her pleasant manner draws people in only to be repelled after five minutes of speaking with her, unsure of what precisely made the encounter so odd. Is it her unnatural responses? The way she smiles when she isn’t supposed to or laughs at things that aren’t funny? Perhaps it is her knack for offbeat statements and unusual observations, making connections between things that shouldn’t be connected at all. Or maybe it's the unnerving way she always seems to be watching, breaking people down into characters and waiting curiously for their next line.
In truth, Akemi knows she is strange but doesn’t feel bothered enough to change. She contents herself with being an observer, watching the world and the people in it with a vague fascination while feeling no need to be a part of it herself, though she will not object to socializing or may occasionally seek out those who tickle her interest. People-watching is her favorite pastime, and she seems to get more enjoyment out of imagining what others’ lives are like rather than actually finding out. Her mind is full of elaborate backstories for the people around her. And yet, while she claims to be fine with her social situation, while she does not feel compelled to accommodate others’ expectations, there is an underlying sense of loneliness and melancholy that hangs over the girl and colors everything she does. She cares not whether others accept her, but longs for something to latch on to. This tends to lead to a variety of “phases,” ranging from bizarre passing interests and hobbies to temporary obsessions with new music or movies. As a result, she is a walking trivia book, able to speak a little about a lot of different things, yet being an expert on nothing. Her most recent fascination has been with the street fashion of Tokyo, particularly the decora style, and she has spent weekends out in all sorts of unusual outfits, looking out of place in the small town rather than a big city.
Surprisingly, Akemi also has a stubborn streak. Though she is generally the type to casually adapt to whatever situation rolls her way, when it comes to the very few things she is set on, she will not budge an inch, stewing in a quiet but unrelenting protest. Predicting what situations will evoke this response is not easy either. In the past, she has dug in her heels over trivial matters while being indifferent toward bigger issues. She doesn’t feel strongly about most decisions, so when she happens upon something that does bring out a knee-jerk response from her, no matter how small, she will resent any kind of change or contrary voice. Even her refusal to conform or act more “normal” can be interpreted as a purposeful choice and manifestation of her obstinance. One could say that she acts strangely because people have found her weird and wanted her to change, thus pushing her to continue the behavior and creating a cycle.
But behind the quirks, beyond the acts, Akemi is, ultimately, a girl searching for her niche. She is directionless, lacking any true sense of identity outside of the quirky persona she has chosen to take on, and as a result, fixates on whatever she can. A newfound interest. A food she hates. A book she read. Anything that can make her feel real, or like she is doing something, the same way she imagines others are doing when she watches them. Maybe she is content being apart from the rest of the world, but someday, she’d still like to feel she means something in the world, even if it is in a way that others won’t see.
#History ;
Despite her peculiarities, Akemi's childhood was not unlike that of others who grew up in Hikarizaka. Aya and Eiji Sugase were rather typical parents, concerned for their child's upbringing and future. Their neighborhood was a typical neighborhood, and their daughter's school a typical school. If an outside source served as the initial catalyst for Akemi's oddities, no one has identified it.
She was a serene but precocious child who watched other children more than she played with them. Though she was quiet, she was not timid, and when she chose to speak, she did so without fear of judgment, asking questions and making statements that were genuine yet not always appropriate. Social groups, even children's social groups, had rules and expectations, but these didn't seem to apply to Akemi. Her friendly, easygoing manner and excellent grades earned her enough respect to avoid outright bullying, but classmates kept their distance. Everyone knew Sugase was the weird girl, but she seemed indifferent to the label, if not secretly proud. In her eyes, it was a title that helped to define her role and identity. She was different from other people. Special, maybe. That title, however, was not without a price. The more she embraced it, the more others rejected her, and the more they rejected her, the further she pushed it out of pride and stubbornness.
Akemi's parents were initially unconcerned with her behavior, chalking it up to childish habits she would surely outgrow. Her quirks were "cute," and she had plenty of time to improve, they thought. It was not until her sixth year of elementary school that the pair began to worry. Middle school was fast approaching, and their daughter was as strange as ever and had no real friends. Could she be successful in life?
Aya and Eiji became increasingly critical, hoping to nudge Akemi in the right direction, but the more they pushed, the more she pushed back and clung to her ways. It was a passive aggressive power struggle that lasted for months, with both parents politely urging her to fit in while Akemi simply listened then proceeded to ignore their advice. The increased pressure did, however, cause one difference: Her grades began to slip.
It was then that the family decided to call a truce. Akemi could act as she wanted so long as she studied hard and caused no trouble. Her parents begrudgingly accepted that, even if she could not conform to society, she could still contribute to it, and Akemi adopted much the same attitude. Her stubborn streak pacified, she spent the next few years obediently following the new path set for her, attending cram school and studying hard so she could eventually obtain a scholarship at Hikarizaka High School.
Her first two years at the private school were not much different than her elementary years. People were generally polite and her high test scores garnered some attention, but the whispers and nervous looks that were occasionally thrown her way did not escape her notice. However, she had grown used to them, and rather than feel put down, they fascinated her. Why did they find her so odd? What made them "normal"? Even now, as she enters her third year, she observes her peers with curious eyes and an amused smile...The Roleplayer's Corner
#Nickname ; Kim
#Age (optional) ; 22
#Gender (optional) ; Female
#Ever roleplayed before? ; Yes~
#Other Characters (if any) ; Erina Yasuda
#Seen the anime/played the visual novel? ; Both, but have not completed the visual novel
#How did you find us? ; RPGD
#Sample Writing ;
Can be found on Erina's profile, though I may put an Akemi sample here later.