Codename: Balinese

[Player name] Jeni
[Age] 30
[Personal Journal] N/A
[Other characters currently played] N/A

[Character name] Youji Kudou
[Age] 23
[Point in time taken from canon] Dramatic Precious 1st Stage: Sleepless Night (Drama CD. Summary can be found here.

[Background]
Wiki: here
Anime Breakdown: here


And since none of those are very good, here is a brief summary of Youji's background taken from the manga, the drama CDs, the anime and the OVAs:

Fresh out of university, Youji decided to become a freelance detective.  He and his partner Asuka Murase, whom he was in love with though never let on, started a private investigation agency.  When Youji was about twenty, they took a case in case investigating Riot, a prostitution ring.  Unfortunately, they were found out and Youji was left shot  four times in the chest. Youji told Asuka to leave him and make a run for it but was cut down in the street in front of his eyes, presumably killed in front of him.

He was found by a woman, codenamed Manx, who worked not only with the police but also with a secret, quasi-government organization called Kritiker, which oversaw an investigation and assassination group known as Weiß. Seeing that he would be able to do what the law could not by punishing powerful people with death when they eluded the police and court systems around the world, he joined up under the codename Balinese. Filled with pent up rage over the treatment he saw of women and his loss of Asuka, Youji realized he could now take revenge for them by accepting missions aimed at murderers and rapists of women.

Though Weiß is a secret organization, the members of the group have 'day jobs' at a florist shop called Koneko no Sumu Ie (translated to House of Kittens, it pokes fun at their codenames, all of which are names of cat breeds).

Two years later, after the addition of the fourth member of Weiß, Fujimiya Aya, a mission came up to once more tackle Riot. Youji immediately took the case and met a woman named Maki that reminded him physically of Asuka. With the help of his teammates, he was able to rid the world of Riot, but in the process, he nearly got Maki killed.

Not long after, Weiß was met by a female assassin group, Schreient. Youji had difficult meeting them in combat due to his code to protect women from harm. During one of their skirmishes, a member of Schreient known as Neu was injured and her mask broke. Though Maki looked similar to Asuka, Neu was the woman's clone and Youji immediately believed her to be his long thought dead love. He nursed the injured woman back to health despite the reluctance of his team. He desperately tried to make Neu remember Asuka's memories, thinking that she had not died in front of him but was only gravely injured and brainwashed by her new employer.

Unfortunately, Youji's obsession nearly got his entire team and himself killed with Neu revealed that she had been acting to get information for Schreient. Youji was forced to fight Neu and she confessed that she loved her employer, Masafumi, and no one else. Youji ended the fight by strangling Neu to death with a garrotte wire, seemingly both out of jealousy and a need to finish his mission while protecting his team.

After nearly dying at the hands of a super powered team of body guards called Schwarz, Youji traveled with Weiß across the globe at the direction of Persia, their liaison and mission giver. At each step of the way, Youji was offered redemption in the arms of a woman only to have that woman die or be seriously injured, usually because of him. He became more jaded and shallow as a result.

While in Kyoto on another mission, Youji learned just what his depression and guilt of becoming a murderer had done to him when he started sleep-strangling his one night stands.



[Personality]
Outwardly, Youji is sociable, passionate, romantic, and a little lazy. The last of which is often pointed out by his teammates when he refuses to take a case or when he leaves them high and dry during shop hours to go on a date (such as what happens during the first few minutes of the Dramatic Precious dramas as well as several times during Kapitel.  Omi is often the only one left holding down the flower shop after the rest of the crew wander off for their various reasons).  Youji is extremely good at manipulating people, especially women, though generally he uses this ability to garner him a date for the evening or making people believe he is who he says he is to scope out mission sites or targets.  He is often viewed as a charmer and though the women he dates (usually only once) know he's a womanizer, they still allow Youji to take them in.  Youji likes designer clothing and is the only one of his teammates to dress well on a consistent basis . He is a flirt -- with men and women despite his protests to only liking beautiful girls of legal age (examples of flirting with men are always meant as a tease not as an actual attempt to garner sexual interest in them and can be found in An Assassin And White Shaman manga when he teasingly flirts with Aya, his interactions Aya and Ken at several points during Kapitel and his responses to Azami in the Dramatic Precious albums) -- which therefore affords him the ability to be an excellent undercover agent when a mission calls for it.

Unfortunately, the real Youji is a manic depressive that self medicates with too much nicotine, a constant alcoholic buzz, and sometimes even illicit substances. He womanizes because he's afraid to sleep alone, though with his new penchant for strangling his bedmates, he's now equally afraid to sleep with someone too. Sex has become just another drug for the playboy and, unfortunately, just as destructive for himself and those around him.

Though it rarely seems like it, and he personally doesn't care what other people think about him, Youji is an extremely loyal friend and often puts his teammates over his own well being. He is a joker and has a crude mouth, often pretending to be flippant for the sake of saving face. Though Youji rarely takes a case that doesn't involve stopping people or groups that hurt or exploit women, he generally will reluctantly help out when members of his team need him or when his demons become too real and he finds himself talking to Asuka's ghost late at night.

As much as Youji is able to manipulate, he is easily manipulated too when offered a chance for love. Several times over his many years as Balinese, he turned or nearly turned against his team for love. It does call into question his usually unshakeable loyalty and points to just how lost he is in life.


[Abilities]
Youji is extremely agile, fast on his feet, and silent when he wants to be. Despite his constant drinking, he doesn't seem to have any nervous ticks that might make his job as an assassin difficult. He speaks Japanese and English fluently and is conversational in German. He is also accomplished at picking locks.

Youji can use guns but his weapon of choice is the harigane -- a monofilament wire that he keeps spooled inside of his watch. He is strong enough to string targets up with it, keep them entangled, and strangle them to death silently.

He is also mildly capable of hacking computer systems.


[Sample post]
[First Person]
- Someone comes to you to ask for the time. How would you respond?
Depends. My teammates need to get a damned watch already. If it's someone randomly on the street, it's usually good to be polite. But if the girl is pretty, has long legs, big breasts and is of legal age? My time is her time and trust me, she's not going to be wanting to look at a clock until the sun comes up.
- Would you consider yourself a hero or a villain? Why? Neither is an option as well, but still tell why.
The team's called 'White.' Guess that means I'm a good guy. Either way, I don't care as long as I get paid and a pretty lady gets to be very grateful to me at the end of my missions if you catch my drift.
- If you could have any super ability, what would it be and why?
Superman can see under clothes right? I wouldn't have to wait for dessert to unwrap my presents after a date, get what I'm saying?
- You are a given a mission. Would you complete it effectively or would you goof off and do something else? Expand a little on the response.
This is my job you know? My other job. If I decide to take it -- and the girl better be cute and in a lot of trouble for me to risk my neck -- then you know I'm gonna do it right. Goofing off just gets you killed. But hey, nothing says we can't have fun while we get the job done, right?
- Murder. What is your opinion?
Pays the bills. Fills the gas tank. Buys some smokes. Keeps me looking good.
- You discover someone stalking you. Do you call the police or deal with it yourself?
Is she cute? If so, go with it. Girl might be crazy but the sex is always good with the crazy ones. Besides, I can take care of myself. Anyone else is going to really regret trying to get in on my business.
- The hottest boy/girl in class/workplace just confessed their love to you. How do you respond?
Man this happens every time I look in a mirror.  I'm the hottest one in my workplace. I don't usually court myself but hey, when the pickings are slim, a guy's hand can be his best friend. Guess my answer would be: "Sure dude, but let me make sure my dance card isn't already filled up for tonight."
- You see a bloody knife on the floor. What do you do or think?
Someone's being sloppy. My bet would be on Ken. He's got a problem with seperating his job from everything else lately.
- Would you consider yourself a lover, a hater, a sinner, or a saint? Or maybe a mix of both?
The tattoo says I'm a sinner. The contact list in my phone proves I'm a lover.
- If you could be superhero, what would your codename and special power be?
Something fucking better than 'Balinese.' What the hell.  I'm not a kitten.  I don't have claws.  But you know what? I  do like a good petting.
- You find yourself on a robot unicorn. What do you do?
Get some coffee, sit down, or head home because the drugs I just took are cut with something that's going to have me puking or going into convulsions.


[Third Person]
The pack of Lucky Strikes laid crumpled at his feet along with a sprinkling of crushed beer cans and one half empty whiskey bottle hanging from loose fingertips. Youji's eyes stared at a point on the bare wall of his apartment, just beside where the early morning sun was casting a brilliant light in four-panes. He was trying hard not to sleep, the sheer amount of smoked to nothing filters in the ashtray and a baggy of uppers beside it proved as much.

There was something moving in the shadows of the room and dark eyes peered through strands of bottle blond that desperately needed a good washing to try and lock onto it. He knew the apparition by name at this point but he tried so hard not to call out to it. He didn't need it hanging around any more. It was making life difficult.

More difficult. If that was even possible.

Youji--

"Not now," he muttered, finally giving in. A buzzing from his pillow signaled a new text message had arrived and he didn't bother to look at it. He knew it was reminding him of a meeting that night. A new mission. A new chance to oggle Birman in her all too tight and short suit. He approved.

Asuka did not. Don't be crude.

He tried to block her out again by lifting the bottle to his lips. Sour fire. Standing up was difficult. His knees gave out and the whiskey fell from his hands as he toppled back into bed. Just as well the carpet got the last drink. Any more and his teammates would be shaking their heads at an accidental suicide.

When Youji dreamed, it was of blood. Blood and wires and a girl he didn't really want to forget.


[Why do you want to play this character in Somarium?] Originally I'd been thinking of applying as Jack Harkness since I'm really very fond of the player running your Eleven (from Doctor Who) but when I saw your Weiss cast, I couldn't resist. I haven't played Youji (other than in recent voice tests) in several years but he was the first character I ever RP'd as back in the days when AOL chat rooms were cool. And now that I've just given away my age (as if you didn't see it up above!) I'm going to slink away.

[Which rule was your favorite and why?]
No playercest!  Simply because the word just delights me!

[Where did you hear about Somarium?]
Monkie, who plays the Eleventh Doctor, has actually been talking about it for awhile now and trying to get me to join!

[Any questions?]
Probably hundreds but I can't think of any!