Mai Taniyama (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dreamsight) wrote2013-01-03 09:20 am
dreamsight) wrote2013-01-03 09:20 am
application | somarium
[Player name] Amm
[Age] 24
[Personal Journal]ammchan
[Other characters currently played]
Shirley Fenette / Code Geass /relive
[Character name] Mai Taniyama
[Age] 16
[Canon] Ghost Hunt
[Point in time taken from canon] The Bloodstained Labyrinth arc - after her traumatic dream about being murdered.
[Background]
- Mai's Wiki page
- Generic summary/premise, as well as links to other pages in the wiki that may be useful, too.
[Personality]
Mai Taniyama is just an ordinary high school girl who happens to enjoy telling ghost stories with her friends. This is what she'd have you believe, and it's how she's introduced, even if there is a lot more to her than you first realize. She's an orphan, and is therefore accustomed to taking care of herself for the most part, with the help of a good teacher and her school; but this isn't something she advertises. In fact, most of the cast don't even find out about this fact until a much later arc in the series, and it's only because they ask her directly about her family that she even talks about her life at home.
From this, one can gather that she doesn't really like to worry people about her problems -- which makes sense, since she grew up in an environment where she didn't have many people to turn to about them. She hates the idea of holding people back in general. Even after obtaining her new job at Shibuya Psychic Research (SPR for short), she hates the fact that she's so new to ghost hunting, and therefore must have everything explained to her as if she was stupid or slow. Naru (her boss) constantly berating her for this doesn't help, either -- but seeing as how this treatment is also peppered with occasional compliments, and the fact that he keeps her around as his assistant, it can be said that he perceives her as a quick learner, and definitely a worthwhile addition to his company.
Taking this attitude further, it can also be said that Mai considers people's perceptions of her to be very important. In her very first case about the haunting at her school, despite the fact that Lin never really says much, she spends most of the time assuming that he hates her (albeit with good reason, since he was injured because of her); and in the following episodes and arcs, you can see her subtle attempts to make it up to him in small ways: offering him tea, making small talk with him and trying to have pleasant conversation with him. As she explains to her classmate Kuroda, she doesn't think there is anything wrong with this, either. There isn't anything wrong with wanting validation or attention, because everyone wants it to some extent. Everyone wants something that makes them unique, special, and to be acknowledged for it, and Mai is no different. Unfortunately, however, she does not have much luck with Lin until much later.
Despite this, Mai is comfortable enough with herself that she doesn't actually need the validation and acknowledgement she seeks. In her confrontation with Lin about how he's been treating her (very coldly), she seems to be completely okay with the fact that he may hate her simply because he finds her annoying, or because of the poor first impressions he got of her. Those are a part of who she is, and she accepts that it's not going to be agreeable with everyone, least of all someone like Lin. What she is not okay with however is the problem Lin seems to have with her Japanese descent. Because he is Chinese, and the fact that the Japanese and Chinese have a less than stellar history, he admits to holding a grudge because of how important his heritage is to him. He even accuses Mai of being ignorant about what the Japanese have done, telling her to "pick up a book," but needless to say, she doesn't take this treatment.
Because she isn't ignorant; she just doesn't believe in grudges. Life is too short, and she has no problems telling Lin this. The confrontation is heated enough to reduce her to tears, but she speaks with conviction -- that's how strongly she feels about it.
On the topic of her feelings: Mai is actually very emotionally sensitive and protective towards the victims in each case they investigate, because of her latent ESP. This leaves her vulnerable: often, she has traumatic visions or dreams in which she experiences what the victims went through, and while they almost always help SPR solve the case, they also leave her very upset. A particular severe case had Mai dreaming about being murdered by Urado's two assistants -- exactly the same way he did to all of his victims, including two recent ones she met on the very case who went missing. When she wakes up (screaming and sobbing), she states that she couldn't even tell if she was alive or dead.
This kind of power allows her to relate to the victims during a case in a way that no other member of SPR can, and it gives her a very strong moral compass as well. She is often the first person to speak up when Naru makes a decision that is objectionable or otherwise harmful for the victims, simply for the sake of solving the case; and she doesn't back down, even when he's had the final say. Even if she seems to be the only one who doesn't think it's worth it to put them through that trauma.
As a whole, Mai is very emotionally and morally driven. She's a caring person who hates to be a bother to her friends-- and even though they've been through so much together, and have all fought numerous times over anything and everything, she never lets that get in the way of doing what she needs to do, as part of the team. She has her own role to play as a member of SPR, and she's come through for everyone at least once in a pinch. They've all done the same for her -- and even with the incomplete ending that the anime provides, it's clear how close they've grown.
They still fight; she still has her issues with them at times, in particular with Masako and the jealousy they have for each other. But she wouldn't have it any other way.
[Abilities]
Here on the Wiki, but for a more tl;dr version . . .
Mai is a latent psychic, as discovered in an experiment where the cast tried to have her guess which of four light bulbs would light up next -- and she guessed wrong every single time, against all probabilistic odds. This is a phenomenon known as psi-missing; and even though Mai actually denies being a psychic upon being called out, there's a lot of evidence to suggest she is one. This gives her a unique role on the SPR team.
In particular (and as pointed out by Naru), Mai is very sensitive to danger, and has strong instincts that are able to distinguish who may be a threat and who isn't. A good example is during the After School Hexer case, when she insists the entire time that Kazai, their main suspect, is innocent despite the evidence against the girl. This example shows her inexperience as well, however, since she missed the real culprit, Miss Obusena; but despite the imperfections, this has proved useful more than once.
Not only that, but the dreams she has when she happens to nap on the job have a tendency to come true, or become significant in some way relative to the victims of the case -- so they can serve as excellent warning for when the teams' predictions are off, or for simply preparing them for what may happen next. It is to the point where, when they are stuck on a case, Monk actually tells her to sleep so that she can have one of these dreams; and although the scene is played for laughs, it is a testament for how important these dreams can be.
Last but not least, Mai has demonstrated the ability of astral projection. When Masako is taken by Urado in the Bloodstained Labyrinth arc, Mai is not only able to find where she is, but she also gives her a good luck charm (her old house key) to keep hope alive until they are able to come rescue her. Later on, when they actually do, Masako returns the charm, and Mai is surprised, saying how she thought she only gave that to her in her dream.
[Other important stuff]
Nothing much - but it's worth noting that I would be playing Mai from the Ghost Hunt anime specifically. There is more material in the form of a manga series and a light novel series that I will use for supplement if the need arises though, since the anime ends rather prematurely.
[Samples]
→ First Person
→ Third Person
[Why do you want to play this character in Somarium?]
Ghost Hunt is one of my favorite anime, and I'm actually a little surprised it took me this long to pick someone up from it. I've always wanted to have more characters in Somarium as well, and after getting a character who would be a rare castmate in the game, plus giving the series a re-watch, things just kind of fell into place.
[Which rule was your favorite and why?]
My answer hasn't changed from my last application, actually. I still like the "Stay In Character" rule and the process detailed within about dealing with potentially OOC characters in the game - particularly those not responsive to criticism. It's a good balance between believing and catering to every complaint, and dismissing them.
[Any questions?]
None!
[Age] 24
[Personal Journal]
ammchan[Other characters currently played]
Shirley Fenette / Code Geass /
relive[Character name] Mai Taniyama
[Age] 16
[Canon] Ghost Hunt
[Point in time taken from canon] The Bloodstained Labyrinth arc - after her traumatic dream about being murdered.
[Background]
- Mai's Wiki page
- Generic summary/premise, as well as links to other pages in the wiki that may be useful, too.
[Personality]
Mai Taniyama is just an ordinary high school girl who happens to enjoy telling ghost stories with her friends. This is what she'd have you believe, and it's how she's introduced, even if there is a lot more to her than you first realize. She's an orphan, and is therefore accustomed to taking care of herself for the most part, with the help of a good teacher and her school; but this isn't something she advertises. In fact, most of the cast don't even find out about this fact until a much later arc in the series, and it's only because they ask her directly about her family that she even talks about her life at home.
From this, one can gather that she doesn't really like to worry people about her problems -- which makes sense, since she grew up in an environment where she didn't have many people to turn to about them. She hates the idea of holding people back in general. Even after obtaining her new job at Shibuya Psychic Research (SPR for short), she hates the fact that she's so new to ghost hunting, and therefore must have everything explained to her as if she was stupid or slow. Naru (her boss) constantly berating her for this doesn't help, either -- but seeing as how this treatment is also peppered with occasional compliments, and the fact that he keeps her around as his assistant, it can be said that he perceives her as a quick learner, and definitely a worthwhile addition to his company.
Taking this attitude further, it can also be said that Mai considers people's perceptions of her to be very important. In her very first case about the haunting at her school, despite the fact that Lin never really says much, she spends most of the time assuming that he hates her (albeit with good reason, since he was injured because of her); and in the following episodes and arcs, you can see her subtle attempts to make it up to him in small ways: offering him tea, making small talk with him and trying to have pleasant conversation with him. As she explains to her classmate Kuroda, she doesn't think there is anything wrong with this, either. There isn't anything wrong with wanting validation or attention, because everyone wants it to some extent. Everyone wants something that makes them unique, special, and to be acknowledged for it, and Mai is no different. Unfortunately, however, she does not have much luck with Lin until much later.
Despite this, Mai is comfortable enough with herself that she doesn't actually need the validation and acknowledgement she seeks. In her confrontation with Lin about how he's been treating her (very coldly), she seems to be completely okay with the fact that he may hate her simply because he finds her annoying, or because of the poor first impressions he got of her. Those are a part of who she is, and she accepts that it's not going to be agreeable with everyone, least of all someone like Lin. What she is not okay with however is the problem Lin seems to have with her Japanese descent. Because he is Chinese, and the fact that the Japanese and Chinese have a less than stellar history, he admits to holding a grudge because of how important his heritage is to him. He even accuses Mai of being ignorant about what the Japanese have done, telling her to "pick up a book," but needless to say, she doesn't take this treatment.
Because she isn't ignorant; she just doesn't believe in grudges. Life is too short, and she has no problems telling Lin this. The confrontation is heated enough to reduce her to tears, but she speaks with conviction -- that's how strongly she feels about it.
On the topic of her feelings: Mai is actually very emotionally sensitive and protective towards the victims in each case they investigate, because of her latent ESP. This leaves her vulnerable: often, she has traumatic visions or dreams in which she experiences what the victims went through, and while they almost always help SPR solve the case, they also leave her very upset. A particular severe case had Mai dreaming about being murdered by Urado's two assistants -- exactly the same way he did to all of his victims, including two recent ones she met on the very case who went missing. When she wakes up (screaming and sobbing), she states that she couldn't even tell if she was alive or dead.
This kind of power allows her to relate to the victims during a case in a way that no other member of SPR can, and it gives her a very strong moral compass as well. She is often the first person to speak up when Naru makes a decision that is objectionable or otherwise harmful for the victims, simply for the sake of solving the case; and she doesn't back down, even when he's had the final say. Even if she seems to be the only one who doesn't think it's worth it to put them through that trauma.
As a whole, Mai is very emotionally and morally driven. She's a caring person who hates to be a bother to her friends-- and even though they've been through so much together, and have all fought numerous times over anything and everything, she never lets that get in the way of doing what she needs to do, as part of the team. She has her own role to play as a member of SPR, and she's come through for everyone at least once in a pinch. They've all done the same for her -- and even with the incomplete ending that the anime provides, it's clear how close they've grown.
They still fight; she still has her issues with them at times, in particular with Masako and the jealousy they have for each other. But she wouldn't have it any other way.
[Abilities]
Here on the Wiki, but for a more tl;dr version . . .
Mai is a latent psychic, as discovered in an experiment where the cast tried to have her guess which of four light bulbs would light up next -- and she guessed wrong every single time, against all probabilistic odds. This is a phenomenon known as psi-missing; and even though Mai actually denies being a psychic upon being called out, there's a lot of evidence to suggest she is one. This gives her a unique role on the SPR team.
In particular (and as pointed out by Naru), Mai is very sensitive to danger, and has strong instincts that are able to distinguish who may be a threat and who isn't. A good example is during the After School Hexer case, when she insists the entire time that Kazai, their main suspect, is innocent despite the evidence against the girl. This example shows her inexperience as well, however, since she missed the real culprit, Miss Obusena; but despite the imperfections, this has proved useful more than once.
Not only that, but the dreams she has when she happens to nap on the job have a tendency to come true, or become significant in some way relative to the victims of the case -- so they can serve as excellent warning for when the teams' predictions are off, or for simply preparing them for what may happen next. It is to the point where, when they are stuck on a case, Monk actually tells her to sleep so that she can have one of these dreams; and although the scene is played for laughs, it is a testament for how important these dreams can be.
Last but not least, Mai has demonstrated the ability of astral projection. When Masako is taken by Urado in the Bloodstained Labyrinth arc, Mai is not only able to find where she is, but she also gives her a good luck charm (her old house key) to keep hope alive until they are able to come rescue her. Later on, when they actually do, Masako returns the charm, and Mai is surprised, saying how she thought she only gave that to her in her dream.
[Other important stuff]
Nothing much - but it's worth noting that I would be playing Mai from the Ghost Hunt anime specifically. There is more material in the form of a manga series and a light novel series that I will use for supplement if the need arises though, since the anime ends rather prematurely.
[Samples]
→ First Person
To mom & dad
[On the very first page of her brand new notebook, Mai's own handwriting stares back at her as she tries to decide what to write next. It isn't easy, when she's not entirely sure why she's writing it to begin with.]
I've never really done anything like this before, but you know, it's funny. I've started feeling really homesick since I've been here.
[A pause . . . she taps her pen a couple times in thought, trying to get another train of thought going.]
I can't even say that it's a bad place. Compared to the Kanayuki mansion, this should probably feel like heaven or something...but I guess I'm still getting used to things here. A part of me is hoping that talking to you guys will help with that.
[. . . Hmm. "Talking" is probably a poor choice of words here, but she goes with it.]
Well, it's okay. You don't have to talk back or anything... that'd probably be really scary, haha.
But wherever you are, I hope you're still watching over me. I think you'd really be proud of all the good I've done as part of SPR -- and honestly, I think I'm proud of myself, too. Even if it is scary sometimes...or even a lot of the time, it's that feeling that keeps me going. Even here, in a different world...
I wonder if Naru has something like that too.
[Naru. It always came back to him. What does keep him going, what makes him tick? She's almost angry with herself for not knowing -- so she presses harder, making her handwriting more pronounced and bold.]
Now that I think about it, even though he's my boss, I really don't feel like I know that much about him. The others are probably the same way...except for maybe Masako. Miss I think I know everything
[Casually underlining that a few times--
Oops.]
I shouldn't be venting to you about her, though. Not when this letter's getting long already. But I don't really know what else I should talk about, other than my job and my friends, so...
Mmm, I guess I'll just say I miss you. Is that okay?
['Is that okay' -- what is she even asking for?]
I miss you guys and love you a lot. But I'll find a way to keep in touch, you'll see.
And in the meantime, I want to thank you for everything. It's been a while -- especially for you, dad, but you've both helped me more than you know. Don't you ever forget it.
We'll be together again someday.
[Mai glances over the letter -- and then signs it the only way she knows how.]
Love,
Mai
→ Third Person
The dream still haunts her, even now.
It all felt so real: the two dark figures she couldn't really make out, no matter how hard she tried to look at them; the bitter cold table they had her strapped to, for who knows how long; and the knife they eventually had pressed against her neck, ready to slice. She tries not to think about it, because it's been hours now, and she really ought to focus on picking the right cottage for her before it gets dark -- but the truth is, it's hard. It's hard, when she can't even tell if she ever woke up from the dream, but at this point, her only choice is to believe that she has.
To move past it. And luckily, it gets a bit easier with each passing cottage.
She smiles -- even chuckles a little as she walks, wondering how it all came to this, after being in such a horrifying house. But she decides to be thankful for it.
"I guess this one's as good as any," she murmurs, after giving herself a tour of her third or so cottage. She sighs, feeling relieved despite the situation; and after finding the bedroom, she gently takes a seat to test out what would later be her sleeping conditions. She continues talking to herself -- which is a habit she's picked up, but she isn't convinced it's a bad one. "I probably shouldn't be too far away from Naru, especially if the others really aren't here."
. . . Oh, please, Mai, she thinks to herself suddenly. Almost as if another voice was interjecting, sounding exactly like hers. Don't make excuses. You'd live with him, given the chance.
An amused look passes over her face suddenly. Making fun of herself is another habit she's picked up, it seems, though not too many people know about it. She shakes her head, as if doing so would shake off the healthy shade of red on her cheeks.
"Oh well. Better not waste time."
He'll get cranky if I make him wait.
. . . She walks into the kitchen, looking around for a tea kettle, if there is one. And once she finds it, she puts in some water like she always does and places it on the stove. Then she'll reach into her pocket, pulling out her brand new Dreamberry to make a phone call to a certain narcissist and tell him where he'll be able to find her from now on. With a freshly brewed cup of tea, probably every morning.
She may have a lot of shoes to fill here in Somarium, with so many SPR members missing, but some things really don't change.
For that, she's glad.
[Why do you want to play this character in Somarium?]
Ghost Hunt is one of my favorite anime, and I'm actually a little surprised it took me this long to pick someone up from it. I've always wanted to have more characters in Somarium as well, and after getting a character who would be a rare castmate in the game, plus giving the series a re-watch, things just kind of fell into place.
[Which rule was your favorite and why?]
My answer hasn't changed from my last application, actually. I still like the "Stay In Character" rule and the process detailed within about dealing with potentially OOC characters in the game - particularly those not responsive to criticism. It's a good balance between believing and catering to every complaint, and dismissing them.
[Any questions?]
None!