Rosalina "Has No Chill" Nurumi

PLAYER
Player name: Pudding
Contact: puddingandpie; AIM ( puddintastic )
Characters currently in-game: N/A

CHARACTER
Character Name: Hanako ‘Rosalina’ Nurumi
Character Age: Approx. 340; Phsyically: 25
Canon: Original Character
Canon Point: Haven End Game

World Description:
There are many people who believe that humanity is alone in the world. As one might have guessed, they are wrong. However, they are only partially wrong. Creatures like werewolves and vampires were human at one point. Just like many species, these 'freaks of nature' are genetic mutations that have occurred throughout humanity's existence. While there are plenty more of these mutants to speak of, vampires and werewolves are the most 'popular' and thus the most commonly represented in modern media. So, why is humanity partially right then in thinking they are alone in the world? It's because the scariest things that go 'thump' in the night aren't actually from their world. The world that they do come from is called many things across many different cultures. Some religious groups call it 'Hell.' The closest name to being accurate would be the Japanese lore of the Makai – the Demon World.

This world is connected to humanity's at several different points. Though, as one can imagine, it isn't exactly easy to find let alone pass through these points. Only those with an aptitude for energy manipulation and detecting the supernatural ( shamans, 'witches,' etc. ) are able to even think about tapping into the other side. It takes a lot of skill and determination to travel to the Makai. In fact, it usually requires the work of more than one person. What of the the yōkai, the demons? Don't they also try to cross the barriers that separate them and the human world? The answer, simply, is no. Though humans and yokai used to co-exist, such a time has become history now. Humans taint the purity of their world and thus the demons keep to themselves.

The Makai is a primitive place. Things like electricity and running water that humans take for granted are reserved only for the most powerful demon lords. Many live off the land, hunting and gathering for food. However, most are content this way. They gain a sense of pride from living so in tune with nature. It is how they have gotten by for the entirety of their existence. Some things are becoming more 'modern' but those areas are isolated and, again, reserved for the elite. Being one with nature is in demon blood, it is at their very core of who they are. Many yōkai originated from animal spirits, after all.

They do not think of humanity or their world as being luxurious. Part of the reason why is because because most demons see themselves as superior to humans. A good many demons are warriors with superhuman strengths and abilities. Humans do not even provide them a challenge. In fact, humans that venture to the Demon World are usually either enslaved or slaughtered before they have a chance to do much else. That is why humanity shifted from trying to get to the Makai to instead bringing yōkai to them. By performing rituals, humans discovered that they could summon forth demons from the points that connect to theirs and enslave them with the proper incantations or magically embedded chains. It wasn't an easy task but after enough trial and error, several groups of people throughout Japan became rather proficient at summoning otherworldly creatures. They would capture these demons and pit them against each other for their own entertainment and gain over one another.

It is the yōkai that are called monsters by humans. But it is humankind that are seen as nothing but a plague by the yōkai. Peace between the two worlds seems like an impossibility; yet, there are some who would like to believe differently. However, those that believe are few and far between. So, while peace isn't unobtainable it certainly is still a long, long way off.

History: Hanako's story begins simply. She was born of the Northern Okami ( wolf, not god, in this case ) Clan of the Makai. It was a highly feared and respected pack of tabi-inu. The freezing conditions and harsh environment they lived in molded the best warriors that side of the Demon World. Hanako was child of the beta - the second in command - and his lovely mate. It was a joyous, splendid occasion. The alpha himself initiated the newborn into the pack as was custom. Her mother called her "Rosalina," after her favorite flower the rosa rugosa, as an affectionate nickname. She was their first child and all their hopes rested with her. Little did they know that her birth meant the end of their lives as they had known them.

It was subtle at first. There were minor things that were off about their daughter. While Hanako showed amazing aptitude in battle, she was all but disinterested in it. The girl grew morose about her training as a warrior and seemed to withdraw into a shell. The only way to get her out of it was to present to her with knowledge. She desired an education; the girl wanted to learn how to read and write. She wanted toexplore. There were so many things she found wonder and fascination in. "It's just a phase," the elders told her parents. And though they said that, it did not appear hold true as she continued to grow and only become odder and odder among those in the pack. There began to be whispers about her parents and how maybe it was their fault. Maybe her mother had birthed a "defective" pup. The woman, of course, lashed out with ferocity at anyone who dared to say such things about her daughter. In the end, it only caused more rumors and outlandish lies to be said.

It was her first trip to the market that ruined everything. Human slave trade was common in the Makai. Though the girl knew that, it was first time actually seeing a mortal for herself. He was a male, probably in his twenties, with dusty brown hair and dark, dead eyes. He was completely nude except for the chains around his wrists, ankles, and neck. The poor boy was badly emaciated and looked like nothing but skin and bones. He turned his attention to the tiny wolf poking and prodding at him with mild annoyance. Hanako, however, was wide-eyed and fascinated with him. Where were his tail and ears? Why couldn't he speak in their tounge? He was so different.

Hanako's mother quickly reigned her daughter in but lingered when she saw the slaves up for trade. The one she was interested in was the very one her daughter had been harassing. There was something unique about him. He didn't flinch as she drew in close. There was no fear in his eyes, only a cold apathy. He was smart. By showing no fear, he may just survive the Makai yet. The alpha had mentioned wanting someone to help him with his duties... That trip to the market ended with Hanako's mother getting everything she needed plus one human helper.

The human slave--Taylor, he was named--became the personal servant of the alpha. It was much better than anything he had hoped for and so there were no complaints on his part. It didn't take long for Hanako to befriend him either. Though the alpha would try and shoo her away, she was the daughter of a good friend and had amazingly impressive puppy eyes. Hanako absolutely loved talking to Taylor. He taught her English. Though really it was more like he only spoke English so she learned it to be able to communicate with him more easily. After a while, he told her stories of the the world he came from. Taylor had lived in a place called Texas where it was much warmer than here and there was lots of open space. The more she spoke with him the more fascinated she became. Years passed and she had come to love the idea of humanity, of living among so many diverse and interesting people. It was her mother she spoke about it with first. The decision to do so is one she'd come to regret most.

Her mother was not at all pleased with Rose for even thinking about going to live among humans. The woman tried to explain that humans were were lesser beings; their species were just too different to even compare. How could Rose want to live with them, let alone be anywhere near them? It devolved into an argument. The fight grew heated, loud, and accusations were tossed around. "Maybe if I'd like fighting more, but I don't-" came from Hanako and things like "I should have never bought that slave, he's been nothing but trouble!" were thrown back from her mother. Eventually, it reached a boiling point and led to Hanako admitting that she just felt more comfortable around Taylor than anyone in her own pack. The look of absolute disdain on her mother's face is one she'll never forget.

It was a few weeks later her mother was found dead. Suicide. She'd leaped off the side of a mountain and been bashed to death by the rocks below. Crimson stained against white snow is another thing that will never leave her memory. By then, she was the equivalent to a teenager. Her mother's death made her numb. There were no smiles to be seen or "Rosalina" or gentle humming around the house to be heard. Shutting herself down was the only way to combat the crippling guilt and "what ifs" that swirled around in her mind. She became so detached that when Taylor was torn apart by her pack and devoured right in front of her eyes she didn't even flinch.

Her father took it the hardest. Her mother was his first, and only, true love. He grew bitter, cold, and couldn't even look at his daughter. Hanako had a suspicion that he blamed her for what had happened. It wasn't until he tried to murder her that she found out she was right. It was under the guise of an "outing." Something to take their mind off all that happened and to hopefully try and move on from it. They went down South a ways where Spring was instead of their eternal Winter. Hanako was sitting next to a riverbed when he struck. With a frightening force, he twisted her arm against her back and used his other hand to hold her head down underwater. She tried with her own free hand to pry his off but he was too strong. Her lungs burned as water began to fill them instead of air. She remembers her gargled screaming but no one could hear her. She truly thought she was going to die there. Suddenly, her father's weight was gone. Hanako lifted her head, sputtering water as she coughed. Once her vision cleared, she saw the alpha wrestling her father to the ground. He must have had the same hunch she did that this was going to happen eventually. He screamed at her to run. There was a moment of hesitation before she did as her alpha commanded and fled. It was the last time she saw any of her pack.

For nearly a century, Hanako wandered the Makai as a lone wolf. The young woman made her way by stealing and hunting any food she could find. The challenges of trying to survive alone in the Demon World molded her into the warrior she'd never wanted to be; fighting for her life became commonplace and, as it turns out, she had one helluva self-preservation instinct. The woman grew into a beautiful, strong yōkai but that actually wasn't in her favor. Being a lone wanderer gathered unwanted attention. It was one day, when she was the human equivalent of eighteen years old, that she was approached by a cloaked man in a tavern. He was a smooth talker, telling her how "lovely" she was and how rare it was to see a wolf from the Northern clans by herself. Hanako tried to brush him off but he was persistent. He asked what she was traveling for and, in a moment of drunken weakness, she told him her plan to find a way to the world of mortals. He made an offer to turn her dream into a reality. Against all better judgment, she jumped at this chance.

It was - as expected - a trap. As soon as they crossed worlds, she was surrounded by humans and thrown in a dungeon. The shackles that bound her were embedded with magic. Even with her strength, she couldn't break free. If she did, there plenty of guards that were also magically inclined to stop her. Hanako was quick to learn that she wasn't the only supernatural creature to be ensnared by these humans... and that she certainly wouldn't be the last. It was a fighting ring. These wealthy men had made a "game" out of capturing 'monsters' like her and pitting them against each other in battles to the death. They bet on who would win and of course each of them had their champions. By sheer will and determination to live, Hanako became her "master's" champion within a couple of years. Her greatest asset was that she was a quick thinker and just as quick on her feet as she was in her mind.

During her time in the fighting ring, she grew close to the man in the cell next to her. His name was Luke Johnson ( though that was only his stage name; his real name was Ren Kazuki ) and he was a second generation werewolf born of an Japanese mother and American father. He taught her Japanese and how to keep herself alive even longer in this Hellscape. He had been there years already. Apparently, he had been caught by wanting a little publicity for his band. They weren't doing so well and anything could help. They'd offered to promote his band at a dirt cheap price and he'd accepted not realizing entirely what he'd walked into. When he went to meet them for the final arrangements, he was ambushed. So, here he was, rotting away in a cage and fighting just to stay alive. He liked to sing to calm himself down before and after fight... and so did Hanako. She discovered a love for music in that dank dungeon. As cheesy as it sounds ( even to her still ), they'd sometimes sing to one another or just in general to lift each other's spirits. Though she'd never wish to re-live those days, she looks back fondly on those memories at least.

Their relationship, in time, grew into something deeper than love. She was his 'wildflower' and he was her 'songbird.' They helped each other heal emotionally, physically, and mentally after fights. They were closer than any two people ever had been, she imagined. They knew everything about each other and touched each other in in ways they both never thought was possible. It was why, when her "master" got bored with her as champion and planned to slaughter her, Luke wasn't going to stand for it. It was about two in the morning when it happened. Luke had allowed himself to get angry enough to force a transformation from human to werewolf. It was painful for him and painful for Hanako to watch. Bones snapped and shifted into different places and she remembers screaming for him to stop. One fully converted, he easily burst open his cage and promptly broke Hanako out as well. He gave her directions telepathically ( the only way he could as werewolf ) to a friend who was a witch. She was someone who could help her fulfill her dream of being human and that was all he told her. Blood splattered against her face and body as Luke's head rolled to the floor. There's nothing but a gaping hole in her memory after that.

When she awoke, she was on a strange bed in an unfamiliar house. An elderly woman was there to greet her. Apparently, she had arrived three days ago crazed and covered in blood. Upon learning that she had come to the right location, she had immediately fallen unconscious and slept the entire time until then. Hanako was sore. She also felt... disgusting. Caked blood hung to her body and made her feel heavy both physically and metaphorically with sin. She entered the bathroom, washed up, and once she took the time to actually see it gasped audibly at her reflection in the mirror. Blond hair replaced white. Ears on the side of her head replaced those that had been atop her skull before. Her eyes were brown, not golden, and her tail was all but missing.

She stormed towards the strange old woman who answered her before she could get a word out. It was what Luke had wanted. He'd managed to get a message to the witch just a few days before his death. Rose was under a simple illusion spell that made her appear human. It wasn't permanent, of course. It lasted a month or until the full moon. On nights of full moons, she couldn't cast the spell because of how her wolf blood connected her to the lunar cycle. The only other time it would break is if her body and mind were under too much stress. By now, Hanako had deflated. The only things she could get out were a small, apologetic "thank you" and a question about where she was.

Okinawa, Japan. Her "master's" base of operations had been nearby. It turns out, as the woman told her, that she had killed him. Her relief at the revelation was short-lived though. Apparently, the man's son had found out just a couple days after her escape about her father's death. Based on surveillance information, he now knew she was murderer. Even though she looked different as human now, her basic features were the same. They would find her if she wasn't careful. The woman had kept her safe as long as she could but Hanako would have to leave soon. The witch gave her knowledge of the spell and a "parting gift" from Luke before she went on her way.

It was an acoustic guitar, case and all. It wasn't difficult but she wrote it down and attached the note inside her guitar case. She also taped inside a picture of Luke's band the woman happened to have on hand. After a brief farewell for the witch that saved her life, Hanako fled. To where? Even she didn't know. She did, however, quickly find out that being a "roadie" was a great way to travel. By following bands, she got to elude her pursuers and learn how to play the guitar, improve her musical skills, and pick up a little bit of dancing as well. She was a natural, apparently, and quickly fell in love with American Pop music, J-Pop, and all those kinds of uplifting beats. She also has a quiet fondness for Rock as it was the genre Luke's band had been. It was her way of remembering Luke and preserving his memory. She sang for him, for her mother, and made sure to keep on moving and stay alive for their sake.

Hanako started going by Rosalina, which eventually became even more simply Rose. She adopted a "Japanese" last name - Nurumi- to blend in. The past she tells to people is an intricate web of falsehoods. She was born of a Japanese father and American mother but looks much more like her mother. It explains her fair complexion despite being "Japanese." There's some truth in what she tells people sometimes but even then the details are usually made up. So far, with this strategy, she's kept safe and on the down low but her peaceful life didn't last long. Her previous "master's" son came after with a vengeance. He destroyed everything in his way to get to her, including people who only cared and wanted to keep Rose safe. So she stays on the run, following the music and losing her pursuers all in the same go under the guise of a simple roadie just trying to live her life.

Personality:
On the surface level, Rose is a complete contradiction. Most would believe that her life should have left her a much more cynical and bitter person. However, she's anything but. Or, at least, she's amazingly good at pretending to be. It was something she picked up on fairly quickly when trying to blend into human society. Her cold and aloof personality only seemed to make people that much more determined to get to know her. She quickly learned, however, that letting people learn about her past and in turn learn about her wasn't an option. Not if they were to stay safe.

So she started going at it from a different approach. It was something she picked up on quickly by watching other humans from the sidelines. Rose noticed those that suffered most seemed to have the biggest smiles; no one ever truly spoke of their problems outwardly until they were forced to come to light. Some people wore their hearts on their sleeves but Rose preferred the former tactic instead. As long as she acted fine, people would think they she was fine. They wouldn't get too close and so they couldn't be hurt. And better yet: they can't be used to hurt her. Rose began practicing smiling and laughing whenever she was alone. After a while, it started to become second nature when around others. Now her perfectly pleasant smiles are a force of habit more than anything else. Her jokes are merely a coping mechanism she's learned to adapt to her illusion of happiness. It all comes together well and gets the job of keeping her appearing happy-go-lucky done rather nicely. Therefore, at a glance, Rose is probably one of the nicest, funniest, and most laid back people you'll ever meet. A metaphorical ray of sunshine, this girl always has a smile on her face and a song on her lips. Her high energy can be a little overwhelming but is more often than not considered endearing.

Even though most of her happiness is a facade, Rose does try to focus on the good where she can. She's not necessarily an optimist but can be hopeful despite herself. Her idealism is probably one of her most truthfully redeeming traits. The woman has seen the absolute worst of hers and the human's world. Despite that, she's consistently seen just enough good filter through to give her hope. Though some consider this naive - especially after what she's been through - Rose doesn't see it that way at all. There haven been so many chances for her to prove herself despite her monstrous origins, so why shouldn't she extend the same opportunity?

Despite her brave face, however, there is a lot of bad that bubbles beneath the surface. To others, nothing ever seems to really get under her skin or bring her down. Those around her unaware of her true internal struggles; they're ignorant to the true trauma and self-hatred locked away deep inside. If she isn't careful, the people she's surrounded herself with could find out the monster that she's keeping hidden from them. And that's exactly what she believes she is: a monster. She's a wolf in sheep's clothing that's pretending to be a human when she could actually break them in a blink of an eye. If anyone found out, they'd hate her. They'd try to kill her or enslave her again. If not to fight then for other degrading purposes. She isn't about to let anyone have the chance to the trap her again. She isn't about to let anyone have the chance to help her again. While Rose appreciates the help that so many people seem willing to extend to her, she also knows better thanks to first-hand experience. As much as she tries to keep people at an arm's length, there have been those that have wormed their way into her life without her actually realizing. They found out bits and pieces of her "troubled" past and why she was always moving. As she's since learned, nothing good can come of it. Most of them either lost their lives or were tortured for information on her whereabouts. It's taught her the hard way that no one can get close. No one can grow near. Not if they want to live, anyway. It's why, nowadays, she doesn't consider anyone a friend easily. She also doesn't let anyone get close enough to consider her a friend. She's nice enough, sure, but if you ask those who know her they really don't know anything about her in the slightest. As long as she keeps her smile up no one really bothers to ask the personal questions. No one knows that there's ever anything wrong.

Yet there are things that are extremely wrong with the woman. The most notable is that Rose suffers from PTSD from her days in the fighting ring. Sneaking up on her is highly unadvised. Because of her instincts as a trained killing machine, she will retaliate and violently if someone surprises her. There's a hidden savagery that's been ingrained in her brain that she just can't fight. Understandably, the woman has gained an aversion to touch in general thanks to this fear of unintentionally hurting others. Or the fear of them secretly wanting to harm her. There's also the nightmares. Horribly vivid night terrors that haunt her on a regular basis. Make-up and being a superb liar has helped her cover up her troubles sleeping. It's not like she needs as much as as humans do anyway. It's something that, through the years, she's come to accept as just being part of her life. It's just one of the many things she's come to believe she 'deserves' for the atrocities she's committed.

Despite everything, however, the woman manages to at least put up one amazing front. She decided long ago that it was just much better like this. That way no one ever even begins to think of asking her about anything too close to home; no one ever has the chance to realize that she's more than your typical human twenty-something living a nomadic life to the fullest. Her fears and worries are carefully kept under wraps. They're hidden behind a constant smile and outwardly optimistic attitude that she does her best to maintain. Nothing's ever wrong and the world is rainbows and butterflies for Rose. Or so she does an excellent job of trying to convince everyone.

Inventory:
- Acoustic Guitar
- Guitar Case
- Photos of Puddle of Paint (Ren's band), Charlie, Roxanne, and the spell to keep her human taped on the inside of the guitar case
- Shadow knife (awarded via Haven event)
- Pink iPod Mini

Abilities: Being a yōkai makes her 'superior' to humans in a few key ways. Though Rose never liked to think of herself as better, there are a few advantages she has that she can't deny. The woman has superhuman strength; though she appears petite, demon strength often defies appearances. She's approximately as strong as three adult human men combined. She doesn't flaunt this ability. In fact, it's quite the contrary. Rose dials back her true strength as much as possible unless it's necessary.

In addition to that, she has super speed and agility. Hers is above average even for her kind. At her fastest, she can appear as a blur to the human eye, which is a feat impressive to even some yōkai. In addition to her physical speed, she is very quick mentally. The woman can analyze a dire situation fast and efficiently to see what her best options for survival are.

Last, but not least, Rose has a small control over ice. Being an okami from the Northern Clan of the Makai and living in a harsh, frigid environment they all have some ability to manipulate ice. It's very small and is about the equivalent of using an ice pack or a cool breeze; she is also able to melt a small tray of ice cubes. She can freeze things if she really concentrates but it's still difficult for her without expending a ton of energy.

Flaws: Most of where Rose's weaknesses rest are within her own convoluted mental state due to what she's been through. She’s murdered a lot of fellow yokai despite it being a ‘do or die’ situation that she was forced into. So, her greatest weakness is believing that she is undeserving of just about anything. She isn't worthy of any goodness granted to her, especially not the people in her life that care about her. All she sees is a monster that isn't near worthy of things such as friendship or love. She doesn't understand why they care about her and even goes so far as to convince herself that they actually don't. Or, even worse, that they do but they'd be far better off without her. It is because of these beliefs that she ends up making extremely selflessly selfish decisions and hurting or disappointing them terribly.

To go along with that, Rose thinks only of herself, only of her suffering, and tends to take the weight of the world on her shoulders instead of seeking help when necessary. The blond lets things reach a breaking point that inevitably lead to the aforementioned bad decision-making. She holds a lot of negative thoughts and emotions inside behind her smiles and tries to deal with them on her own instead of confiding in others. She sees this not as harmful to herself but instead helping others; her problems aren't a burden anyone else should have to bear.

Finally, one of her strengths is a weakness of its own. Her quick thinking outside of do or die situations can lead to impulsive decisions that actually do more harm than good. She is quick to decide on something only to realize the the repercussions of her actions after the fact. Though this can lead to some very fun, interesting situations it can also lead to very dangerous mistakes as well.

CR AU
Previous Game and Time: April 2013 – May 2015

Previous Development: Haven was, Rose will always believe, Hell in every sense of the word. Though she certainly didn't start out believing as such. For all it's unethical conduct - human experimentation, twisted 'tests' of their abilities - Rose found in Haven something she never had before: camaraderie. Though trapped and tortured, they were all fighting against the common enemy of the Yao Corporation. It didn't matter the world they'd come from or their status before; everyone in Haven was on equal footing when it came to opposing Yao and thus bred a strong sense of togetherness she'd never experienced until then. It allowed her for the first time in her life to truly open up and to let people in. It allowed her to understand the importance of working with others despite having to fight against them for most of her life.

Unfortunately, the longer she spent in Haven the more she started to realize that the Yao Corporation held all the power. They could tear people out of her life just as quickly as the could bring them in. Over the course of two years, the woman watched as different 'versions' of the people she knew cycled through. It eventually became easier to remain detached than it did to suffer through the pain of losing the people she'd come to call friends. The final straw was when Yao didn't just take away those she cared about, they turned her against them.

Phillip Kite - one of the corporation's leaders in human experimentation - brought out the 'beautiful' monster in her. Rose watched herself destroy everything she'd come to enjoy about Haven by literally devouring it. Some yōkai are known to eat the flesh of humans if given the opportunity and Rose's kind is not an exception. Kite's experimentation had not only caused her to desire to eat human flesh for the first time, it brought on an overwhelming addiction to it. It consumed her for months and no one, not even friends, were spared from her hunger.

Her chance at returning to the 'right' path came in the form of a man by the name of Wade Wilson. With his abilities to regenerate, she was able to feed off of him. It wasn't ideal but it was still a fix to her problem until they could find a more permanent solution. Or, at least, she had hoped so until she ended up eating Wade's still beating heart from his chest during one of the corporation's infamous mental manipulation events. It was enough to scare her into seeking her help from the very people that had ruined her in the first place: Yao.

She demanded that they undo what they'd done to her in exchange for her services as an employee. When they couldn't offer anything but a 'maybe,' she backed out of the deal. Yao didn't appreciate that. Rose was branded a thief for stealing their time and the punishment for stealing was her hand. Unable to play music, unable to do much of anything useful anymore, and the disappointment in herself for making such a reckless decision alone in the first place led Rose to believe there was no hope for her. She tried to end her own life only to be saved by the very people she'd tried so hard to push away.

After hitting rock bottom, the only way she could climb was up. Her friends - her family, her packmates - helped lift her back up and lead her on the right away again. It is because of them she's alive today and continues to find reasons to be alive. It is because of them that, for the first time, she is able to see the value and importance in her own life. Though she still stumbles and falls into old mental tricks and traps, she is finding ways to overcome and keep pushing forward just as she had before.

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