iyashikei application

Player Information

Player Name: Zoki
Pronouns: she/her
Age: well over 18
Preferred Means of Contact: kharamagic, discord kharamagica, or journal PM
Invitation: Link
Other Characters In Game: N/A
Do you have any plans for this character in the game? The idea is that the ice king slowly defrosts. He may relent on learning magic (cue grumbling noises) to protect himself in a world full of people with powers, but he will definitely have to learn it's much easier to get by together than alone.

Character Information

Character's Full Name: Seto Kaiba
Character's Pronouns: he/him
Character's Canon: Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters (anime)
Character's Canon Point: post-ep-224 (series finale)
Character's Age: 17
Did your character willingly come to Iyashikei? If yes, why? No. There are things he's dissatisfied with in his life (a certain missing pharaoh he barely got to say goodbye to, for one thing), but his brother Mokuba is his everything and he wouldn't leave him except for world-ending circumstances (or possibly chasing the pharaoh, but that's another story).
Will they need any special accommodations upon arrival? No.

Character's History: Here
Character's Personality:

Questions:

1. Tell us about who your character is and what someone’s first impression would be upon meeting them. How would your character act once someone got to know them?

Who is Seto Kaiba? He's the improbably young CEO of his country's largest tech corporation, well-accustomed to wielding the power his wealth provides him. This holds him apart from most people, because having wealth and power makes you a target for those who desire those things for themselves. There are definite trust issues here, as he's been betrayed by his company's board more than once. He's highly intelligent and he knows it, impatient with those who he perceives as not keeping up, and all of this combined leads to a superiority complex. General first impressions of him: He's a capital-j Jerk.

Some caveats to this exist: he's noticeably softer around children, especially children he perceives as not having a family. He didn't have one either. As cold as the world made him, he still wants to build a better one for kids to protect them from what he went through. Additionally, his main hobby is a strategy card game that he's very proud of his skill in (and he's unhealthily obsessed with winning). Should he meet someone through a game of skill or a competition, he'll be arrogant, yes---but even he knows how to show respect to worthy opponents. After a bit of gamer rage, that is.

Should anyone have the patience to get through his layers of defensiveness, and past his insistence that bonds are weaknesses, they'll find him to be loyal and very protective of what's 'his'. He'll eventually realize that he can't get through the world alone, especially without the wealth that gave him so much power at home. If he'd like to survive long enough to return home, he'll cooperate, and maybe learn something.

2. What is something unique and interesting about them, or what is a fun little tidbit that sets them apart from the crowd?

Of all the projects Kaiba Corporation pursued in its transition from weapons dealer to game manufacturer, the one Seto's proudest of is KaibaLand. The theme park is simultaneously a monument to his ego, a revenue-generating opportunity, and a small gift to kids who grew up in circumstances like his. Its coasters are a crown jewel of the industry, its arena is a top-notch gaming venue, and he's proudest of the charity days: he invites the cities' orphans to enjoy the park free of charge once a month.

The initial idea for the park was created when Seto and Mokuba lived in an orphanage themselves, the first layout built in a sandbox. He held onto this idea throughout his childhood, throughout his training to become the heir to a war empire. Though Kaiba came out of his childhood bitter and broken in many ways, he still fulfilled his promise to leave a gift of hope for their fellow orphans.

3. What does your character think their flaws are? What do they think their strengths are? What are their actual flaws and strengths?

If Kaiba were asked to assess his strengths and weaknesses, his thoughts would be this:

His strengths are his sharp strategic mind, incomparable determination, and a quenchless thirst for victory. His weaknesses are his unavoidable emotional tie to Mokuba (it's been used against him repeatedly), his persistent weakness in countering the pharaoh's 'cheating' in their duels, and his unfortunate human need for sleep when there's more work to do.

His ACTUAL strengths and weaknesses are as follows:

Strengths: a mind for strategy well suited for both puzzle games and boardroom drama, the willingness to pick himself back up no matter how many times he's knocked down, and the love for his brother that pulled him back from the brink of self destruction. His actual weaknesses are a stubborn refusal to ask for help, arrogance and a general lack of social skill that keeps him from receiving said help, and a pathological fear of losing. 'To lose is to die', his adoptive father said. That's led to a host of behavioral and emotional issues that have stunted his growth.

4. What is a common misconception other characters have about your character?

Many people in Domino tend to believe that Kaiba doesn't care about anyone at all. Those who pay slightly closer attention tend to believe that he doesn't care about anyone except his brother. While there's a real grain of truth to that...he does care about at least one other person: the 'other Yugi', the 'nameless pharaoh', Atem.

Kaiba and Atem's relationship started off on terrible footing. Kaiba nearly killed Yugi's grandfather out of a rage-filled revenge scheme, Atem (Yugi's soul-sharing spirit guardian) shattered Kaiba's soul and forced him to rebuild as a slightly less terrible person. Kaiba woke up, chased Atem down, dueled him again....lost, had to cheat by emotionally manipulating Yugi. Built up a whole tournament to finally beat Atem, lost again. Went on a few life or death adventures reluctantly teaming up with him. And then Atem had the nerve to bounce off to the afterlife before Kaiba could ever win against him.

Over those duels (and repeated life or death circumstances due to magical annoyances that followed Atem around), he grew to respect the man. In their tag team duels he grew to crave his approval, even subconsciously. While he said his goal was to crush the pharaoh in defeat...what he wanted most wasn't really the victory, but the approval that came with it. Kaiba would deny this is asked (especially by Yugi and friends), but...he did care. Some of the friendship lessons sunk in, just a tiny bit.

Character Abilities: None. He's a completely ordinary mundane human.

Player Opt-out/Opt-in Permissions post: Opt-out/Permissions
TDM Sample Link: Link to TDM thread (positive, with a gremlin child who reminds him of his brother)
Link 2 (a more neutral/typical interaction if second sample is needed)


Any comments or questions you would like us to know? A funny meme is also welcome!