app: gp

[izanagis]

APPLICATION

OOC

NAME: Kri
AGE: 38
CONTACT: posolutely; kribbit on discord
CHARACTER(S): n/a

IC

NAME: Yu Narukami
AGE: 17
CANON: Persona 4
CANON POINT: post-game (true ending)
CRAU: n/a
OTHER: n/a

SUITABILITY: Building relationships with other characters is one of the core components of the Persona games. Throughout the game, Yu is encouraged to form and deepen relationships with a vast range of different characters in order to add power to his ability to fuse Personas. In GP, he's being asked to do something similar for the purpose of playing the game, albeit somewhat more physical. (In P4, particularly, you're able to date and nebulously "spend the night" on Christmas eve with certain social links, so he's clearly down for that.) He's a curious and weirdly outgoing guy, for being so quiet, and he meets the minimum age requirements. The interest with him will be in seeing how he decides to bond with people, and where those bonds will take him.

ABILITIES:
A Persona is a manifestation of a person's inner thoughts, or hidden self. Having been honed and trained to fight in battle, they're pretty useful and have different effects, strengths, and weaknesses. Yu is a special Persona-user called a Wildcard, meaning he's able to summon and wield multiple different Personas, rather than just one. This comes in handy when fighting individually, or when you need a certain element or skill. He can have 12 on-hand at any one time, but without access to the Velvet Room, he wouldn't be able to switch them out. While Yu doesn't use any items to summon his Personas, and therefore would have access to them in GP, he will have very little use for them in game.

The Personas he'll have on hand are:

◩ Izanagi [fool]
◩ Rangda [magician] [notable skill: repel physical]
◩ Atavaka [chariot] [notable skill: amrita, cures ailments]
◩ Kikuri-Hime [high priestess] [notable skills: healing; posumudi, neutralizes poison]
◩ Barong [emperor] [notable skill: me patra, dispels confusion/fear/rage]
◩ Ishtar [lovers] [notable skills: healing; amrita; mutudi, cures silence]
◩ Atropos [fortune]
◩ Garuda [star] [notable skills: diarama, restores health; amrita]
◩ Uriel [justice]
◩ Kohryu [hierophant] [notable skills: healing, revival from unconsciousness]
◩ Isis [empress] [notable skills: tetrakarn, reflects physical damage]
◩ Lucifer [judgment]

In addition to his Persona abilities, Yu is good with a sword (one- or two-handed) and very athletic.

VICES:
Acquiescent. Yu can be something of a "social chameleon," rolling with the punches and going along with things even when they're weird. This can be a good thing --it helps him get used to situations very easily-- but it also gets him into trouble sometimes. For example, when his best friend starts waving weapons around right in front of police officers (like an idiot, Yu doesn't voice much common sense about this), Yu gets arrested right along with him. This tendency to "go with the flow" can make it seem like things don't faze him -- that's not always true, it's more accurate to say that he keeps things to himself and maintains a calm exterior. But the other effect of this trait is that he tends to accept weird things, like, say, being kidnapped to a multiverse sex casino, a little more easily. Aside from that, with the right (or wrong) influences, this tendency can also get him into trouble or into difficult situations, especially in a place that encourages it.

Curious. The phrase "curiosity killed the cat" is particularly relevant to silent protagonists, and Yu fits the bill very easily. Due to the nature of the game and the gameplay, he tends to do things just to see what'll happen: eating random weird stuff, talking to strangers, fusing Personas, etc. He loves to learn, to explore, and to find new things to do and experience. He's not afraid to talk to people or ask questions, and often puts his nose into other peoples' business. His inquisitive nature leads him to be very good at investigation, but it's also a "vice" in the way of being a good way to compel him to get involved in different things.

Distant. Independent, self-sufficient, reliable. These are all virtuous qualities that, in their darker reflection, mean that he is distant with other people. Yu makes friends fairly easily, but because much of his life has been fairly transient (moving, changing schools, etc), he doesn't always feel motivated or able to form lasting bonds. That changes over time once he moves to Inaba, but in typical silent protagonist fashion, most of the bonds he forms are based on getting to know the other person, rather than letting them get to know him. He's focused on truth and honesty, for sure, but he tells people the truth they need to hear, which isn't always the same thing as what he really wants to say. As the leader of his team, he has trouble relying others (they're supposed to be relying on him!), which becomes an interesting struggle to play with in situations where he has to rely on others. Game 52 is a great vehicle for that, as one literally cannot play the game on their own.

VIRTUES:
Loyal. Yu doesn't have an easy time showing other people who he is or opening up about himself, but he cares about them no matter what. Once he's formed a bond with someone, it feels unbreakable to him, and he'll go to great lengths to look out for them. His friends give him strength, and he trusts them with his life. This is an excellent example of something that would cause him to struggle with the core conceit of GP; he's deeply invested in making sure he doesn't bring harm to others, and it would be really hard for him to do something if that would be the consequence. Hurting his friends is an absolute dealbreaker. His ability to build bonds becomes, then, both a vice that the house can use to encourage him, and a virtue that keeps him from getting in too deep.

Thoughtful. Yu is thoughtful, observant, and inquisitive. He wants to know what's going on and why. This is reflected in the plot of Persona 4 as a whole: he and his friends show a strange power that seems tied to a murder investigation, and they immediately launch their own investigation to get to the truth of what's really going on. He doesn't take anything for granted, even when the investigation theoretically ends -- he wants to make sure all questions are answered, and all loose ends tied up. He's a quick thinker, somewhat calculating, and prefers to see the truth of things with his own eyes, rather than relying on someone else's words. This is already showing itself in some of his TDM threads, and he will continue to be suspicious of what Game 52 is, and whether it's really all it seems to be.

Straightforward. In terms of vices, Yu doesn't always tell his version of the truth, instead leaning on what other people need to hear. That is true, but he also tends to poke holes in lies and do his level best to get to the heart of things. He often refutes lies and half-truths with "that's not true," implying that a lot of his time is spent getting people to admit and accept things they don't want to talk about. If he sees something wrong, he says it. If he hears something untrue, he calls it out. He doesn't beat around the bush. As he builds bonds, it'll be interesting to see how his struggle between an objective truth and a subjective truth plays out, especially as he begins to unravel the nature of the setting.

SURVEY

▶ I REGULARLY MAKE NEW FRIENDS.
▷ 4. Agree. Despite being quiet, Yu is a chronic extrovert, and has no trouble talking to people and hanging out with them enough to become friends, no matter their personality or quirks. These relationships aren't entirely reciprocal; due to the nature of the gameplay, Yu finds out a lot more about his friends than they do about him, and most of his social links are based on watching the other character grow and overcome situations. It is notable, also, that before the start of the game, he doesn't seem to have many bonds or attachments.

▶ SEEING OTHER PEOPLE CRY MAKES ME WANT TO CRY TOO.
▷ 1. Strongly disagree. Yu tends to keep his emotions very strongly under control. If he sees someone crying, it makes him want to do something about it and affect positive change, rather than triggering an outwardly emotional response. For example, when Yosuke breaks down and cries during his social link, all of Yu's responses are based on actions, rather than emotions. This reliance on action, rather than reaction, is part of why the team so easily picked him as their leader.

▶ I OFTEN MAKE A BACKUP PLAN FOR A BACKUP PLAN.
▷ 2. Disagree. Yu's leadership style is fairly straightforward: go, fight, win. His job is to make sure he and his team are equipped to handle any enemy they face, but the Investigation Team doesn't tend to operate with elaborate plans or backup plans. They go in, get their scrapes and bruises, and then go back in. He ensures that they're prepared --having enough medicine, the right Personas, new equipment, etc-- but the general plan is never very nuanced or varied, nor does he have many other options besides fighting the bad guy.

▶ I USUALLY STAY CALM, EVEN WHEN UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE.
▷ 5. Strongly agree. This is the feature that is most prominent about Yu's style of leadership in the Investigation Team. When other people get emotional around him, he becomes very cool and calculated, focusing on results and action rather than getting wrapped up in a tense situation. When things get tough and tempers flare, Yu is the one who tells them to "calm the hell down," and tries to look at the objective facts in order to defuse the situation.

▶ I AM VERY SENTIMENTAL.
▷ 3. Middle. Yu deeply cares about a lot of people and loves his friends, but he doesn't let himself get bogged down in those feelings. He looks on the past with fondness, not sadness. He doesn't talk often about these feelings, but they show in other ways: keeping trinkets and photos of his friends, a quiet hug for someone who's crying, holding someone's hand. As quiet as he is, his attentiveness to his friends shows true care. In other adaptations and sequels to the game, he's given a chance to say this more plainly: "it's my companions that I draw strength from" and similar sentiments are common lines from him.

▶ EVEN A SMALL MISTAKE CAN CAUSE ME TO DOUBT MY OVERALL ABILITIES AND KNOWLEDGE.
▷ 1. Strongly disagree. Yu is not immune to making mistakes, but he doesn't dwell on them. Instead, he uses those mistakes to learn and do better, or to reexamine his choices. This is particularly prevalent when the Investigation Team begins to realize that Namatame isn't the true killer. Realizing that they made a mistake and that something wasn't right, Yu reflects on their evidence and their choices and comes up with a more informed hypothesis about who the killer really is.

▶ I AM MORE INCLINED TO FOLLOW MY HEAD THAN MY HEART.
▷ 4. Agree. There are very few situations where Yu acts impulsively over his feelings or emotions. It's not unheard of! In the manga adaptation of P4, he's the one holding Namatame up to the TV, grief-stricken, moments away from killing him. But that's a really extreme case. Most of the time, he prefers to keep a calm head and think things through -- to the point where his team is surprised in moments when he does have an emotional exclamation.

▶ I AM PRONE TO WORRYING THAT THINGS WILL TAKE A TURN FOR THE WORSE.
▷ 2. Disagree. Throughout the game, Yu projects a sense of quiet confidence, to the point where many characters outright say things like "as long as I'm with you, I believe I can do this." He doesn't always know how a situation is going to turn out, but instead of worrying, he expresses a sense of faith, optimism, and dedication through dialog choices: "It has to be us." "Let's do it together." "Leave it to me." These are common sentiments from him that show his tendency toward confidence over worrying.

▶ I ENJOY WATCHING PEOPLE ARGUE.
▷ 2. Disagree. Yu isn't averse to conflict and disagreement, but when faced with those moments in social links, he often disengages, inviting his social link to get away from the person they're in conflict with, or directly telling that person to back off. You could say he's kind of no-nonsense about it, especially when things get tense. He's similarly direct when it comes to fact-based arguments. One of his most common lines of dialogue is "that's not true," showing that his focus is on getting down to the truth as directly as possible.

▶ I TEND TO AVOID DRAWING ATTENTION TO MYSELF.
▷ 4. Agree. Yu is a fairly quiet person, and very low-key. He has a way of making even absolutely bonkers things look like no big deal (like when he sticks his hand inside a TV at the department store and just stands there). The guy manages to make friends with a literal fox and yet somehow no one questions it. That being said, in small-town Inaba, he's a bit of a head-turner simply by being a curiosity and a new face. He approaches this by being quiet, chill, and relatively genial to everyone. His usual M.O. is to keep his head down, do what he has to do, and get through it.

▶ I OFTEN DO THINGS AT THE LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT.
▷ 2. Strongly disagree. By nature of the mechanics of P4, doing things at the last possible second is doable, but incredibly difficult. For example, you can't raise his social stats (knowledge, courage, etc.) without putting consistent work in throughout the game. As a leader and as a student, Yu is shown to be diligent and very self-sufficient. He tends to approach things with that sort of diligent work ethic, and tackles problems as they come up, without putting them off.

▶ I FIND IT EASY TO EMPATHIZE WITH A PERSON WHOSE EXPERIENCES ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM MINE.
▷ 5. Strongly agree. The entire basis of social links in P4 is getting to know people (and...animals...) from all sorts of different backgrounds, with all different experiences. People are interesting, and since Yu's background is a lot more mild than a lot of them, he learns a lot from all of them. This is reflected in the social link system itself, where bonds translate to power. Deepening his relationship to other people makes him a more complete person.

▶ I BECOME BORED OR LOSE INTEREST WHEN THE DISCUSSION GETS HIGHLY THEORETICAL.
▷ 2. Disagree. As Persona 4 goes on, the plot becomes increasingly theoretical, focusing on conceptual ideas like the world's collective subconscious. While he isn't the chattiest participant, Yu remains engaged and attentive whenever people talk about these things, no matter how galaxy-brained it gets. This attentiveness is extremely important to his role in the game, because it's so intimately tied to their murder investigation, as well as him being able to expand his own powers and figure out the nature of what's really going on behind the scenes.

▶ I RARELY FEEL INSECURE.
▷ 4. Agree. No matter what he's doing, Yu approaches it with a certain amount of serious diligence that seems to disregard anyone else's opinion of him. The "Miss" Yasogami pageant is a prime example of this, when he gets unwillingly signed up to crossdress in front of the entire school and then acts, on the stage, like he was the one who signed himself up. No matter how the audience cringes, he throws himself into the role with dedication. This is how he approaches most situations: once he's in, he's all in.

▶ I AM STILL BOTHERED BY MISTAKES I MADE A LONG TIME AGO.
▷ 2. Disagree. Yu tends to move on quickly when he makes a mistake, whether it was a choice in wording or a thoughtless action. He does become bothered if he thinks a decision or conclusion he made was not right, or begins to feel like he missed something important, but only to the extent of being able to rectify that choice or mistake. For example, when they started to really think that Namatame might not be the killer, instead of beating himself up for mistakes he made (and almost made), he reexamines the evidence they have and uses it to come to a more informed decision. He's very action-focused, and as such, he focuses on actionable changes and choices rather than regrets.

SUIT REQUESTS: My top two choices are:

Clubs. Yu is a character who thinks before he acts, and maintains a sense of calm in whatever he does. Having a suit that affects his rationality and composure would be really interesting for him to deal with.

Hearts. It's Yu's tendency to put his own emotional needs on the backburner. Having a suit that targets his emotions and puts them on display would be a fun struggle for him, as well.

RANK REQUESTS: Any, I'm open!

SAMPLES: LINK SAMPLES.