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[nomblivious]

✖ CHARACTER:
Name: Shizuka Doumeki
Canon: XxXHolic
PB/Image: http://images.wikia.com/ccs/images/f/f3/ShizukaDoumeki.png
Info links: http://xxxholic.wikia.com/wiki/Shizuka_Doumeki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shizuka_Doumeki#Shizuka_D.C5.8Dmeki (shorter entry, but better written)
Canon Point: Chapter 184
Gender & Sex: Male and male
Age: 17
Birthdate/Sign: March 3 (Pisces) Canon.

Tattoo: About 4 inches across in the middle of his lower back.

Suitability: Even though he’s about half a year shy of his 18th birthday by the end of canon, Doumeki is both mature and responsible. He looks after his family’s temple pretty much by himself and is well suited to surviving on his own in a variety of situations, both earthly and supernatural. He is highly protective of Watanuki in canon as well as people that Watanuki cares about. In many ways he is the most responsible person in the entire series, meaning that living on his own and fending for himself will not be a bother or even much of a change for him. He is also mature enough to understand and give consent when necessary. Despite not having any reason/opportunity in canon, Doumeki will take sexual situations the same way he does everything else; with a stoic expression, a deadpan remark and overall very seriously.

Power: Since Doumeki’s normal power to drive away spirits is only useful situationally and is not something he can consciously control, he would be a better candidate for a zodiac related power. As a Pisces, he will gain the power of water manipulation as he is more suited to active powers than passive ones.

Personality: Quiet and determined, Shizuka Doumeki is serious in everything he does, from sports to schoolwork to eating. Even in the face of danger, Doumeki always manages to keep his cool. His serious nature can come across as rude, which isn’t helped by the fact that he is sometimes blunt and demanding on purpose as a teasing sign of affection. This is most often seen when he’s interacting with Watanuki, who he cares for deeply, but who he often demands food and drinks from. He is often insulting to Watanuki directly, calling him loud or foolish, which is interpreted by everyone but Watanuki as the two of them being good friends. Eventually, as Watanuki mellows out and Doumeki gets closer to him, the two are less antagonistic to one another and Doumeki teases him more out of habit or even nostalgia than aggravation.

It’s telling of Doumeki’s personality that he’s known almost exclusively by his family name, even by the people he considers friends. It’s difficult to be truly close to him. He is seen as cold and aloof, which ends up being an attractive quality to many of the women he meets, but puts him at odds with Watanuki from their very first meeting. Really, Doumeki just isn’t good at expressing his emotions. Which isn’t to say he doesn’t have them, it’s just very rare for him to emote, and even rarer for him to articulate how he really feels. He mostly seems to express affection through his appetite and demands for food, most specifically Watanuki’s cooking. It wouldn’t be a big deal, as everyone who tries it likes Watanuki’s cooking. But Doumeki is extremely picky about food; he won’t eat anything cooked by someone who doesn’t put their heart into their food. Which is one of the things that draws him to Watanuki, and keeps him around even when they don’t seem to get along well on the outside.

Other characters tend to interpret Doumeki’s feelings for him based on his actions, which is useful as hiss actions speak far louder than his words. It’s with actions that Doumeki shows himself over and over to be extremely dedicated and protective to the few people close to him. From early on in canon he is willing to put himself in danger to protect Watanuki; including standing in the rain for 10 hours when Watanuki mysteriously disappears, waiting for him to return and saving his life on multiple occasions. He even gives part of his eye and a large amount of blood to Watanuki after a couple of very serious injuries/disasters. He would do anything for Watanuki, even if he would never say as much out loud.

It’s impossible to talk about Doumeki without bringing up Watanuki as their fates are deeply entwined. Although it’s only tangentially talked about in canon, Doumeki and Watanuki are meant to meet and bond. Their very natures are complimentary, Watanuki naturally attracts ghosts and spirits and Doumeki drives them away. Watanuki tends to be loud and spastic while Doumeki is quiet and calm. It doesn’t take long after their first (somewhat violent) meeting before the two are grudgingly friends and eventually close friends. Through his friendship with Watanuki, Doumeki mellows out some and becomes more tolerant of things he would normally avoid or complain about.

Doumeki lives with his mother at a Shinto shrine that was run by his grandfather until his death. His grandfather was a huge influence in Doumeki’s life as he didn’t grow up with a father and had very few other ties to family or friends for many years. His grandfather was skilled in exorcising spirits, a skill which Doumeki inherited, and taught his grandson a lot about the spiritual world. All of these things factor into who he is, as Doumeki’s grandfather is grooming him for a greater purpose, which is to meet Watanuki. He is raised to be strong and faithful, which he takes very seriously, even if it turns out to be somewhat misleading as he is seen more as a tool than a human being.

✖ SAMPLES:
"Zodion" First-Person Network Entry:
[ at first it doesn’t seem like he knows what he’s doing with the recording, the image jumps some and he can’t seem to get it fully settled on his face. But eventually he manages to make sense of it and the video stabilizes as he sets the camera on a flat surface and gets himself mostly in frame. It’s not that easy, really, he’s quite tall and obviously not used to being recorded. His body language is closed off and uncomfortable ]

Since I was abducted and brought here I have to assume it’s because someone else was abducted and brought here first. I’m usually the one who has to get him out of trouble, no matter how annoying that is. He’s shorter than I am, with two different colored eyes, may be wearing glasses. And he’s probably being loud and annoying.

So if you’re watching this, Watanuki, or anyone who knows where Watanuki is, I’m here. I don’t know where here is, but maybe you know, and I’ll figure it out soon. But for now, just come find me. I want lunch.



"Zodionlogs" Third-Person Prose Entry:
Doumeki is practicing on his own now, his limited eyesight means he no longer has the precise aim necessary to be worthwhile in archery club. But he’s been doing it for so long he can’t really figure out what to do with his time after school when he isn’t on the range. Each time he hits the target it’s a surprise, and he has to wait until the end of the set to find out whether he’s improving or not. It’s peaceful here, though, the only sounds are his. His feet on the bamboo floor, his bow groaning slightly as he draws, his arrows striking the dirt. Off in the distance the kendo club yells and strikes each other, a sport for boys with more aggression than Doumeki has ever had or ever will. When the last of his set of practice arrows sticks into the grass well in front of even the earth meant to catch stray arrows Doumeki resigns himself to finish practicing for the day.

Despite the fact that no one is around he still goes through all the proper procedures to collect his arrows. It’s soothing, in a way, to keep with the many traditions that make up Japanese archery. He’s wound and unwound the deerskin glove on his hand so many times he can almost fool himself into thinking he will look up and see his classmates chatting and waiting to be dismissed. But no one is there when he gets up to unstring his bow, nor are they likely to show up as he completes the ritual by honoring the shrine and leaves.

Somewhere inside Doumeki thinks he should feel bad for everything that’s happened. But instead as he leaves the dojo he feels... better. The things he’s lost are minimal compared to what he’s gained. In fact, he would go through everything again without hesitation, injuries and all. He’s already headed toward the shop, it’s more familiar than going home now. He would never admit how eager he is to see Watanuki, but he knows it, and for now that’s enough.

When the scenery changes suddenly he stumbles, but he catches himself before he falls completely. Doumeki has never been good at sensing strange things the way Watanuki does, but he sees no reason to panic, so he doesn’t. He approaches the altar without hesitation, not just because he feels drawn to it, but because it’s obviously the focal point of the area and he won’t get anywhere by standing around doing nothing.

Just as he crosses the shallow water there’s an unmistakable pain in his back and he doesn’t have to wonder long at what it might be. The tattoo is familiar but it still takes him a moment to place it. Doumeki was raised with myths and legends from many cultures, but most prominently, Japan’s, but he still knows the sign for “Pisces” when he sees it. It’s his own sign on the Zodiac, after all.

He takes a moment to make sure he hasn’t been marked anywhere else and then takes the box waiting for him on the altar and stepped back before opening it. The letter explains why he’s there, but he can’t help but feel there’s something more, something missing. He tucks the letter, and his suspicions, away for now and examines the communication device he’s also received. If he really has been taken away, it’s going to take some getting used to.