Application

[classifidol]

[Player name] Kia
[Age] 25
[Personal Journal] starswing
[Other characters currently played] N/A
[Character name] Takane Shijou
[Age] 18
[Canon] the iDOLM@STER
[Point in time taken from canon] Post-Episode 25

[Background]
The iDOLM@STER, along with additional info on Takane (in the anime, however, she's already a member of 765 and was never a rival)

[Personality]

As mysterious, elegant and seemingly unreachable as the moon she so often gazes at, Takane isn't the easiest person to garner information on. Internet speculations have her from being anything from a long-lost princess to an alien with no real answer in sight, and her manner of speaking as formally as ancient nobility does nothing to dissuade those rumors. Even when asked outright to talk about herself, she either politely refuses on the grounds that the answer is top-secret (such as being asked about where she comes from or her reason for becoming an idol) or she smoothly derails it-- being the case where an interviewer asks about her favorite food and Takane waxes poetic on the flavors of Autumn. She finds nothing odd about this either; the conversation was bound to head in that direction, anyway, as repast is a societal norm.

It's actually a big thing that influences her relationships with the people around her that hardly anyone knows anything about her-- not her fellow idols, and not even the producer. It's this secrecy about her that leads to misunderstandings among her peers and fears about her possibly leaving them and results in the producer outright asking her to trust him a little more. This also acts as a trigger for Chihaya, who (like Takane) harbors secrets in her past, things she'd rather keep hidden. And the simple truth is that Takane just dislikes being asked about her background without good reason, and believes that "everyone has a secret-- or a hundred."

Secrecy aside, she's rather odd in several ways. The first being that, as she comes from a rich family with a strict father, she is either captivated or perplexed by things a lot of people would gloss over or take for granted. She takes an interest in the frog head of a mascot costume and has to be told that she can't take it home with her, and while she breezes into a ramen shop with the air of a triumphant princess, she finds herself thwarted by the ticket machine. She even looks surprisingly enthralled by a video game. Her appreciation doesn't stop there, of course; Takane expresses her love of food poetically, not only powering through bowl upon bowl of ramen at a deliberate pace (often earning herself an awed crowd in the process) but approaching it very seriously. To her, ramen is culture, evolution, and possibility and she reins the overexcited twins keeping company with her by gently reprimanding them not to rush headlong to their destination. "Meetings are but once in a lifetime. They must be approached with a quiet heart."

And one can't forget the moon. Takane often turns her gaze towards it, no matter where she is. Everyone sleeping in an inn? She's standing by the ocean gazing at the moon. Everyone practicing for an upcoming concert at home? She's standing outside gazing at the moon. She dislikes being lonely, and while staring at something so solitary and unattainable could indeed invoke those feelings, she's grown enough to be able to smile at the moon and assure 'someone' that she's doing well-- presumably her important people back home.

Takane lives at her own, decisive pace, regardless of what the people around her may think of her seemingly pompous behavior. Her idea of effectively dealing with a cockroach is clapping a hand over someone's mouth and holding them against her while she fires off bug spray. She refuses to let threats and false rumors deter her from her work, dislikes sitting idly by when she knows her friends and her work are being threatened, and she can be very blunt in her formality when she feels as though she needs to get a point across. We see this when one of the other idols starts crying and wants to quit before she slows the others down, and Takane informs her that she's lacking in resolution moreso than technique. She's a very intelligent and observant girl who's often quick to point out when the others should calm down before jumping to conclusions, and who notices when something's wrong often before anyone does. She's the one to ask Yayoi if something's bothering her, though she leaves the comforting to the others, she's the first one to sense when she's being followed, and she's the first to mention to Chihaya that she hopes she'll be able to talk to them about whatever is haunting her. Though it's rare, she's very apt at offering advice to help the situation without being particularly overbearing about it, and even when she's angry, she's level-headed, finding some way of curbing herself from losing her composure. Hell, even when she's trying to display a sense of humor, she's got such a poker face that it's hard to tell.

The rest is really a mystery. Her singing ability rivals the songstress Chihaya's, and she's fluent in almost all languages related to Latin, but she has her moments of gullibility and naivete - fretting and declaring that they should call an ambulance when another idol says her heart is going to leap out of her chest - she appears to be nearsighted, and doesn't place as much importance in some things as she should (such as feeling as though someone's watching her, but opting not to mention it). She can notice when something's unusual, but might not understand the reason for it unless told directly-- like when the idols start keeping more of an eye on her because they're worried she'll disappear. Because of her poker face and her tranquil yet strong manner, it can be hard to tell what she's really thinking, but she's a kind girl at heart who gets along with children and treats everyone politely, be they friends or rivals. She's also afraid of snakes, though this fact rarely, if ever, comes up.

[Abilities]

She possesses some fighting abilities in terms of self-defense, though the extent is currently unknown (like everything else). She's able to evade and pull a judo move on a black belt in the same art with no preparation whatsoever, so it could be implied that her skills in that area are on the same level as a black belt's.

Other than that, unless you count being just plain weird, she doesn't seem to have any magical abilities.

[Other important stuff] Top-secret.

[Sample post]
[First Person]

What were you doing before now?
Preparing to declare exultation in the season of new beginnings. I suppose that shall be on hold for the time being.

[ she was getting ready for a performance-- more or less. ]

If you were to describe yourself in one sentence, what would that be?
[ a tiny smile. ] I could no more limit myself to a single phrase than you could form a lake from a single drop of rain.

You discover someone stalking you. Do you call the police or deal with it yourself?
As I have been informed, the fundamentals of a job consist of the following: contact, report, and consult. In order to ascertain a motive, I doubt I will achieve little by delegating further responsibility to the fine men and women who strive to uphold justice and honor. There are others... who are just as capable, and I, too, shall face any obstacle with unwavering will.

... Though I do believe he has since learned his lesson.

There is a cake in the rain. What do you do?
Who would commit such a deplorable act??

[ she's a little too stricken to continue this hypothetical situation. ]

Would you consider yourself a lover, a hater, a sinner, or a saint? Or maybe a mix?
I must admit to some puzzlement regarding the necessity of categorizing a person. Do we not all harbor admiration or affection during some course of our lives? Do we not seethe or rage in fury if we are slighted? Do we not make mistakes, or seek to correct them and, in doing so, atone if we are able? What, then, does one become?

As for myself, I am simply Takane Shijou. Please think of me as that, if you must label me at all.

Am I asking too many personal or strange questions?
Would your inquiry be necessary, if you yourself did not view it as such? I cannot prevent you from asking what you desire, but I would request your comprehension on one additional fact.

There are secrets everyone possesses, that they do not wish for others to know. I am no exception, so with that stated, I believe I have said all that I have wished to.


[Third Person]

Wandering about a city was nothing new on Takane's agenda. If anything, it soothed her heart, invoking her usual sense of calm and familiarity so that she could very easily imagine herself back home beneath the light of the moon. Even if there were some... minor differences. The inclusion into dreams? She still wasn't certain on how she felt about such an intrusive process, though she could say with full certainty that she didn't wish to see what others in their slumber inadvertently revealed. Wasn't that far too rude? And to have them return the favor, have them lay eyes upon the secrets she couldn't guard in her sleep... she had yet to remark on it to anyone than herself, but it was a troubling thought.

A troubling thought, she reminded herself with a chuckle of faint self-deprecation, that she shouldn't be dwelling on. It would accomplish nothing, except to weaken her resolution, and for all the things Takane Shijou was, irresolute wasn't one of them. It was better to enjoy the air, to smile softly at the fountain - Iori Minase would have loved it - and to move on, towards the fields. Her usual wandering habits, not quite aimless, but with no real sense of purpose. It worked wonders for observation.

And that was why she suddenly paused, directing her gaze until it rested on a group of pale shapes with-- yes, she was sure those were arms. But what were a group of people doing in the middle of a field at night? She wasn't sure whether to settle for wariness or perplexity, but either decision would have resulted in her usual polite manner, so when she spoke, she could have very well been either or both.

"A tranquil evening, is it not?" she began, stepping forward. "How does it find you-- ah."

It took a few more steps before she could properly focus on the... scarecrows. There was a moment in which Takane took in the sight with an air of slight surprise. What a strange mistake to make (and maybe somewhere in the back of her mind, she agreed with Hibiki's suggestion that she get glasses, but that wasn't important right now). Even stranger - in her eyes - was that the scarecrows were scowling. And rustling in a way she could construe as nothing less than threatening.

"... You do not appear as insouciant as I would have expected from scarecrows," she said at last, still soft of voice but steel of gaze. "However, I am not a crow. Should you not be employing such tactics against those that pillage your fields?"

She was the voice of reason among the idols, after all. Surely advising scarecrows wouldn't be that much of a difference.

When the rustling only grew more antagonistic, she closed her eyes in a silent sigh and braced herself. So much for a peaceful night. She'd have to salvage it with some ramen afterwards.

[Why do you want to play this character in Somarium?] The thing about Takane is that she's not only a good character as a starter - not the most openly friendly, but capable of being affable and social - but she's the type of character who shows rather than tells. I like the idea of putting her in the position of people witnessing her dreams and the development stemming from that, where no one would ordinarily learn that much about her. It's a lot of opportunity for growth for her.
[Which rule was your favorite and why?] No playercest! It always just struck me as weird to join a game, but then end up playing with yourself...? No fun, no fun.
[Where did you hear about Somarium?] From a friend, ahaha.
[Any questions?] Nada!