obi

OOC INFO

Player Name: Asher
Player Age: 32
Player Contact: Plurk: asherdashery (preferred); Discord: asherdashery#5061
Reserve Link: Wha-bam

CHARACTER INFO

Character Name: Obi
Character Age: 23
Proof of Maturity: N/A

Canonpoint: Just after chapter 95 of the manga.
Canon Summary: Obi's Wiki Page, which is, ehhh, you get the gist but it's slim on chronology. Here's a brief summary of Snow White with the Red Hair up to the canon point above as far as it relates to Obi:

Shirayuki is a common-born town herbalist who catches the attention of her kingdom's prince, who demands she become his concubine on account of her rare, vibrantly red hair. Sensibly wanting no part of that, Shirayuki runs away to the kingdom next door, where she ends up meeting Zen Wisteria, yet another prince, whose offbeat worldview and determination to chart his own path through life inspires her to take charge of her own story, too. Naturally, they end up in dokis for each other. Obi enters the scene early on, when one of the nobles working in Zen's palace hires him in his capacity as a doer of dirty deeds to slyly drive Shirayuki off. It doesn't work, Shirayuki's determination and her and Zen's mutual belief in each other save the day, and Obi and his employer are caught.

Instead of upset, Obi is highly impressed with Zen and Shirayuki and decides to be as helpful to them as possible so he can keep front-row tickets to the ZenYuki show. He proves himself useful during an investigation into a case of poisoning and theft at a fort under Zen's jurisdiction and unconsciously jumps to Shirayuki's aid, too, despite orders not to show his face around her. Once Zen tests and confirms his reliability, he (reluctantly) assigns Obi to be Shirayuki's bodyguard under the guise of being his "messenger," so as not to draw even more attention to her. Obi becomes more and more fond of the two of them and their close companions and is steadily drawn into the fabric of life at the palace.

When the first prince of this tale--the one who wanted Shirayuki as a concubine--invites her back to Tanbarun for a ball as an an apology/thank you/attempt to do better, Obi challenges Zen to let him be her attendant for the trip. Unfortunately, he fails to stop intruders from kidnapping her the night of the ball. Though he, Zen, and 70% of the manga's cast pull off an incredible rescue, Obi never forgives himself his failure and refuses to let Shirayuki absolve him, either. Still, she and Zen subsequently insist that his place is with them. As the manga progresses, Obi embraces the role he wriggled his way into and becomes Zen's aide and Shirayuki's guard in earnest. His dedication to them both runs deeply enough that Zen makes him one of his immediate knights--a knight that reports directly to him, not to a local knight circle or even to the crown--and entrusts Shirayuki's safety and well-being to him entirely while she's essentially on a two-year pharmacological immersive that keeps them apart. He does so having explicitly confirmed Obi has feelings for them both.

I'm taking Obi from just after a really freaking adorable three-way date he, Zen, and Shirayuki have while reunited in the North.

Regains:
1. Stray Cat's Dog Tag: A somewhat archaic-looking identification tag for use within the kingdom of Clarines. Apparently, it belongs to a knight in direct service to Zen Wisteria.
2. Princely Dagger: What do you call a small, ceremonial blade presented to someone's immediate knight? An immediate KNIFE!
3. Wunderock: A glowing chunk of crystal hung as a pendant on a cord. Could be super useful if you need to find a shady guy at night.
4. (RENEWABLE) Multicolored Seeds: A few flower seeds, all the same shape and size but each a different color. Some plant collectors try to catch 'em all.
5. Headwrap: A versatile accessory for the discerning sneak, it keeps one's ears and forehead warm and their eyes in that all-important suspicious shadow.
6. Courtly Clothes: A fine, dark formal outfit fit for an attendant to royalty.
7. Hair Ornament: A woman's hair clip sporting a lovely, round stone and tassel. It was won in a martial arts tournament.
8. Pointed Earmuffs: Omg RAWR!!1! xDD Aren't u kawaii?? These muffs actually do a good job keeping your ears warm, if you can get past looking like some kind of were-fox.
9. Kunai: A belt of six throwing knives. Very Naruto.

Trait List:

1. Perceptive: As befits a former assassin, Obi possesses keen physical senses and a sharp sense for danger or difference. Additionally, he's good at reading people, quick to pick up on their emotional states and make a good inference about what they're feeling and why.
2. Helpful: Perhaps unlike what one would expect from a former assassin, he's inclined to put his skills to use helping others. Even when a task is outside his wheelhouse, such as helping the herbalists in the garden or studying up on political affairs with the prince's team, Obi reliably ends up all in. Usually, his unique talents, perspective, or plain old job-oriented tenacity provide something invaluable to the effort.
3. Resourceful: He's a man always aware of his surroundings, his gifts, and all the assets at his disposal, and on a number of occasions he's used items in his possession (or, um, adjacent to his possession) in inventive ways to get a job done.
4. Adaptable: He's also more than capable of adjusting personally to a number of different environments and social situations, changing his inner expectations and his outer demeanor to get along with those around him. This malleability can be as immediate as modifying the way he holds himself or his manner of speech or as deep a shift as from thug-for-hire to loyal knight.
5. Irreverent: That said, even as Zen's loyal knight, Obi has no actual respect for authority. He serves Zen because he likes Zen, and that doesn't stop him from ribbing him, taking catnaps in his presence (or in his bed), calling him "Master" even if that's not actually the appropriate title, and so on. He likewise nicknames and jokes around with everyone else in his new life, including the nobles, and even good-naturedly told the then-Crown Prince to his face that he would only take orders from Zen, not him. Obi's not here for pomp and circumstance, he's here to have a good time with his buds.
6. Easy-going: Zen, Shirayuki, and even one of Obi's former associates from his criminal phase are all on record as appreciating Obi's ability to let things and people be as they are without wanting to change them. His old friend says, "You could get along with anyone. And you never got attached--not even to yourself. Made working with you a piece of cake," while our protags put it more kindly: "Zen and I can let those brave faces drop when you're around, Obi." He frees people from societal expectations by having almost none for them nor for himself; he's the one who lightens the mood or relaxes tensions by always being 100% himself, no matter what role he's playing externally.
7. Nosy: He does, however, like to butt into other people's business, gossip, and tease. He pestered his way into this manga for entertainment and BY GOD HE'S GOING TO GET IT. He does offer good advice from time to time but at what price.
8. Secretive: When it comes to himself, Obi's much more evasive. He's uncomfortable when the primary target of attention, preferring his usual supporting roles, and has managed across ~125 chapters of existing in the manga not to reveal much to others (or to the audience) about his past or his inner world. It's not that he acts defensive when asked about himself; he simply, breezily dodges the topic. Similarly, he dislikes exposing temporary injury or vulnerability, even to get wounds treated.
9. Dedicated: Even before pledging himself to Zen and Shirayuki, Obi has always been the kind of guy who sees a job through to the very end. That dedication has now evolved into utter devotion. To be with the two of them, more and more, Obi braves situations he finds strange and uncomfortable--everything from restrictive, fancy clothing at royal functions to the dire ordeal of Being Perceived. He has told both of them some variation on, "For her sake and yours, I would go anywhere." He's extended that to his other friends among their party, as well, traveling great distances and fighting for his life to help them out of various jams.
10. I'm not sure how to boil this down to a one-word trait, but if Obi has one emotional issue he doesn't seem to shrug off with his usual devil-may-care ease, it's making excuses. He makes none for himself--when Shirayuki is kidnapped on his watch, he refuses to let her forgive him or tell him it wasn't his fault, even to the point of telling her that her feelings on the subject don't matter to him. Not his finest display of emotional maturity! It also rubs him the wrong way coming from others, at least from fully grown adults. He's shown impatience with men torn between conflicting ideals/emotions and gets frustrated when people don't follow through on what they've resolved. Small wonder he's drawn to people like Zen and Shirayuki--those two have sincerity and determination in spades.

Sample:

((I've got actual RP samples here and here, but they weren't from the TDM so I wasn't sure if they'd fly. They're both some measure of AUey, too, though that doesn't matter so much with a guy like Obi.

Anyway, here's something set in USeas instead:))

[Though he knows he might be late to the usual Tuesday afternoon meeting if he goes too far, Obi takes off anyway, as soon as he's sure he's out of sight. He has to get somewhere high, even if everything in New Rapture is sealed over and claustrophobic, what with the tons of seawater pressing down on their bubble from above. He needs air, he needs distance, and most of all, he needs not to be around these people who act friendly all week--until the bodies hit the floor.

Damn.

He's had to revise his opinion of several of them after the "trial"--if any of them can really call it that--just days ago. A couple of them are just what he thought they were, at least, but others... Man, oh man, it's scary what people turn into when they're pressed into a corner. Ain't nothing Obi hasn't seen before, but since he started spending so much time with noble types like Mitsuhide and Princess Kiki, he just isn't used to ugliness like that any more. His chest tightens at that thought, as does his throat. Heck, he misses them.

A flash of red hair in the sun flits through his vision, chased by an image of warm, depthless blue eyes, and Obi pushes down that sharp longing, too, as he climbs his way up through New Rapture. They're fine. They'll be okay. They're gonna be pissed at him for disappearing and making them worry, and he'll soak in their scolding like flowers soak in light and rain and feel alive for it. He chuckles without much humor as he finally alights on a rooftop that suits him.]

Maybe Master will slip a real leash on me this time. Heh, my lady might even let him. Sorry, you two, but I can't say it's my fault this time around...

[A circle or two around the roof assures Obi that he's alone. He then hops down to the fire escape and crouches, putting his back to the wall. Now as secure and private as he can make himself, he takes out the box he was handed earlier today. His "incentive." He'd gotten goosebumps as soon as he touched it, but everyone else's presence around him kept him from doing anything, especially when he saw how they were reacting. Badly, that is. All around. He blows out a slow breath and steels himself.]

Well, here goes nothing.

[He undoes the ribbon, opens the box, and freezes--feels himself crystallize, ice inside and out, lungs locked cold. Inside the box, held together with yet another ribbon, is a full tail of red, red hair cut free from its owner's head.

Obi has never dropped anything accidentally in his life. Now, the box tumbles from his hands onto the fire escape landing.]

Shira--

[The name cuts off as suddenly in his mouth as it arose. Obi presses the back of his hand hard against his mouth and stares at the disembodied ponytail, eyes tight and flinty, and tries to think.]

Title:
Night Knight (because he's a knight who's most effective at his work at night)
Kunaight (kunai + knight)
Friend in High Places (because he's an Anime Rooftop Jumper and also is a friend to some in high positions, i.e. the prince and his retinue)
Ally Cat (like an alley cat but instead he's a useful friend)
Buddyguard (HE'S A BODYGUARD AND A BUDDY)

Would you like your character to be involved in a case and, if rolled, would you prefer victim or culprit?: RNG is RNgood 👍

Do you have any other concerns about your character?: Nah!

Meme: