Meiko Amano

MEIKO AMANO

ALL FOR THE SAKE OF FAMILY

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「 家族を取り戻さなくちゃ。ほかの選択肢がないの。 」

"I have to get my family back. There are no other options."

GENERAL INFORMATION ■ CURRENT ALIAS... Meiko Amano. ( Pronounced MEY-koh ah-MAH-noh. ) ■ BIRTH NAME... Meiko Jameson. ( Pronounced MEY-koh JEYM-ah-sun. ) ■ RACE & CLAN... Hyur, midlander. Ethnically half-Doman. ■ GENDER... Biologically and mentally female. ■ AGE & NAMEDAY... Twenty cycles. 15th Sun, 2nd Astral Moon. ■ ORIENTATION... Heterosexual, one on the Kinsey Scale. ■ MARITAL STATUS... Single and uninterested.

OTHER STATISTICS ■ NATIONALITY... Limsa Lominsan. ■ BIRTHPLACE... Small seaside village in La Noscea. ■ CURRENT RESIDENCE... Travels often, doesn't claim a 'home'. ■ OCCUPATION... Freelancing her sneaking, spying, and knifing talents for coin. ■ PATRON DEITY... Llymlaen the Navigator. Moderately religious, practicing. ■ HEIGHT & WEIGHT... 5'5". Weighs around 120-130 lbs. ■ ALIGNMENT... Lawful Neutral, type three. Family is her 'code'.

✖ CHARACTER WARNINGS ✖ First and foremost, Meiko is not your typically "friendly" character. She can be very blunt, short, and even rude towards people, especially to strangers or acquaintances. However, please don't take this to heart! I'm still very much open to walk-up roleplay, and Meiko's feelings and actions are not representative of my OOC feelings! She may be a jerk, but I'm really not! I swear! Also, Meiko does engage in law-breaking and sometimes morally questionable activities, mostly in her line of work. When RPing these kinds of scenes and situations, I very much prefer to use public chat channels (say, emotes, etc.) where relevant in order to keep things more realistic. Thus, this tends to leave my RP open to consequences, which I prefer because it forces me to think more in-depth in my roleplays. If you're not comfortable with this kind of possibility, please be up front about it with me OOCly. *** OOC NOTE *** Please note that I expect us to maintain a clear IC / OOC division in RP. In short, what Meiko feels about your character is not necessarily my own feelings OOCly, and vice versa. I'm a very friendly person and love talking to and hanging out with my RP partners. Yet if I feel an OOC relationship is becoming stifling or uncomfortable, I will not hesitate to address it or cut contact. That said, please note that I am very happily taken IRL and as such, I really, really don't enjoy nor will I tolerate advances of either the (OOC) romantic or sexual variety.

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P E R S O N A L I T Y

Serious. Blunt. Independent. Determined. It wouldn't take long into a conversation with the half-Doman woman for one to realize just how stiff and prickly the woman could be. Meiko is very much the no-nonsense type, not caring to mince words or beat around the bush. Her speech style is blunt and short, and certainly pulls no punches, whether it be a particularly bothersome adversary or closely trusted ally. Even her family, to a lesser degree, is not entirely spared from her sometimes sharp tongue and strong opinions.

In fact, the general manner in which she carries herself is very reflective of this particular trait of hers - unaffected, painfully logical, and very much detached. A childhood of abuse and betrayals by the one man whom should've protected their family, partnered with her time spent eking out a meager life in the Limsa Lominsan streets for herself and her younger sister has greatly molded her mental state. While these experiences have certainly toughened her considerably, they've come at the cost of crippling her emotional development. Her sense of empathy for others has become warped at best and non-existent at worst, and her ability to effectively deal with her own emotions is minimal. Such can easily be gleaned should one stumble upon one of the handful of particularly raw nerves she has, such as her older sister's predicament, which can see her shifting from calm to violently seething in a moment's time.

In conjunction with her emotional problems, she also has trouble trusting others past surface level. Her experiences have taught her that most people are only out for themselves, and that they will hurt anyone to get to their own desired ends. Meiko doesn't exactly begrudge people for this line of thinking as she's come to embrace it herself to some extent; yet, she is not so naive as to believe in the selflessly good intentions of others. Still, she isn't so lacking in trust to be unable to work with or deal with others at all. She simply prefers to go at things alone if given the choice. If not, she will trust only insofar that an individual has proven themselves trustworthy to her and even then, it's exceptionally difficult to get in past arm's length.

Her other defining traits would be her determination and loyalty. After being reunited with her elder sister, Meiko has dedicated her time and efforts to not only caring for Naruko, but earning the money to pay off the brothel contract that more-or-less legally enslaves Hiroko. When she realized that her previous position within the Dutiful Sisters of Edelweiss proved that it would not earn the coin she needed, she easily walked away from the guild to pursue more efficient options - namely, breaking the selfsame 'code' she used to enforce. While some would name her traitor for this, it was her determination to care for her family that brought her to the Rogue's Guild in the first place and continues to motivate her still. Thus, any person or organization through whom she can get the means to pay off her sister's debt and ensure the care of her youngest sibling would, undoubtedly, earn itself the woman's staunch loyalty.

L I K E S ■ Complex work. The more complex a case or job is, the more Meiko is willing to take it on. Not only is it interesting, but they tend to pay better.. ■ The ocean. The sea and beach bring back fond memories of home, from before her mother's passing. ■ Cities. They're lively, and what better place to skulk about than in a sea full of oblivious strangers?

D I S L I K E S ■ Debt. Meiko does not like being put into anyone's debt, avoiding it at all costs and repaying it immediately when she cannot. ■ Familiarity. Overly friendly types tend to annoy her, as it is rare for Meiko to even share her given name with others unless needed. ■ Prostitutes. Given her sister's predicament, those who willingly engage in the flesh trade certainly don't have her respect.

M O T I V A T I O N ■ Family. Ultimately, Meiko's overarching goal is to pay off Hiroko's contract and to go back to a happier life with her sisters. ■ Improvement. She always seeks to improve her abilities, especially when it comes to aspects such as combat. ■ Wealth. Even past the scope of paying off Hiroko's contract, Meiko recognizes the value of having coin and aspires to one day be able to live quite comfortably.

S T R E N G T H ■ Stealth. Ever since she was young, Meiko has had a particular talent for sneaking and skulking. ■ Bilingual. Meiko is fluent in both the common Eorzean language and her mother's native dialect of Doman. (Indicatedly ICly within { }s.) ■ Sharpminded. Not only is Meiko quite observant, but she is also good at reading and coming to conclusions about people and situations.

W E A K N E S S ■ Stubborn. 'Help' in her past has always equated to 'debt', and so she is stubbornly resistant to accepting one-sided aid. ■ Emotions. An abusive childhood derailed Meiko's emotional development, making it difficult for her to process most emotions normally. ■ Her sisters. As strong as she may be, if anything were to happen to her sisters, Meiko would most assuredly fall to pieces.

Q U I R K S ■ Sudden anger. While she is typically very calm, certain triggers or stressors can bring out swift and severe anger. ■ Cheapskate. Money is extremely valuable to Meiko, and so she is loathe to part with gil unnecessarily. ■ Somnus. On seldom occasions, Meiko has been known to indulge in the use of Somnus and other similar substances when she needs to relax.

A P P E A R A N C E

Meiko is a Midlander woman of average build, reaching a height of five fulm, five ilm and weighing around 120-130 ponze. Extensive training has seen her develop a respectable amount of muscle and tone over the years. Yet it is rather obvious that hers was not a body built for brute strength, but rather for speed, mobility, and dexterity. What muscle she has is lean and sleek, and does little to harden the appearance of a soft, feminine figure. Though the curves of her body were not particularly pronounced, such traits were nevertheless undeniable.

The one trait of her appearance that most seem to notice, however, are her clearly Doman facial features inherited from her mother. While this did draw attention to her during the earlier years of her youth, much to her chagrin, the subsequent arrival of the Doman refugees after the razing of their homeland has given her a little more of an ability to go unnoticed in a crowd. However, she is still aware that such features tend to make her face easily recognizable. As such, when she feels it best to go for secrecy, she goes to great lengths to draw attention away from her face.

Meiko has no particular taste for elaborate or fancy clothing when it comes to her wardrobe, tending to prefer light cloths that are both practical and afford her a greater degree and range of movement. She avoids bright colors and patterns that draw the eye, and seems to prefer desaturated earthtones and blues. One particularly notable outfit, however, is that which she typically used to wear while on Rogue's Guild business. Though she has since left the Dutiful Sisters of the Edelweiss, she will occasionally don the clothing again along with a mask to give her an air of legitimacy on her jobs, if she believes it will help.

C O M B A T & W E A P O N R Y

Meiko's combative skills come chiefly from time spent training under the Dutiful Sisters of the Edelweiss in Limsa Lominsa, learning how to properly fight in the Rogue's dual-dagger style. Her natural tendency towards agility and stealth lent itself well to her training as well, making her a rather quick study. While she lacks the brute strength and fortitude of many common fighters and adventurers, she makes up for such in speed and mobility, often times making it difficult for slower and bulkier opponents to even so much as land a hit.

Still, skilled though she may be, the woman tends not to care for an unnecessary fight. If she can puzzle out an alternate approach to a situation that is more lucrative than fighting, such is typically the route she will go. However, when the need arises or certain buttons are pushed, the woman will not back down from a challenge.

D A G G E R S These are Meiko's favored type of weapon - lightweight and maneuverable, yet still deadly and efficient. There are no fancy bells and whistles. No aetherically-enhanced anything, nor even anything flashy in terms of design. Just two simple stabbers that she can also sling from a distance with surprising accuracy when such a thing is needed.

S T E A L T H The woman possesses an uncanny knack for stealth, light on her feet and moving with scarcely so much as a shuffle. Partnered with her tendency to disregard socially accepted "honorable" fighting practices, this can be particularly useful when she needs to get the jump on an adversary - to hit them before they even know she's there.

A G I L I T Y She is quick and she is nimble, simply put. When she fights, she gives the feeling that there is never a muscle in her body that isn't acting or moving in precisely the way she's dictating it, displaying impressive control despite the speed at which she moves. Truly, this can make for an annoying opponent, should one be unused or unsuited to dealing with her type.

F O C U S When she encounters a combat situation, Meiko drops into a super focused state of mind that helps her react quicker and strike more precisely. She isn't one for show or extravagance and nary even gives up so much as a peep when she's tussling. Though if one does manage to find a lapse in her focus, this strength can easily turn into a weakness unless she is quick to recover.

H I S T O R Y

Meiko scarcely talks about her history in-depth. As such, all of the following information is provided for OOC perspective and my own record-keeping, unless there is a legitimate reason (i.e. a connection to her past) that warrants your character having some or all of this IC knowledge.

C H I L D H O O D Origins ■ Sachie Amano, daughter of a Doman dockworker, immigrates to Eorzea aboard the ship of a Limsa Lominsan trader by the name of Bayard Jameson. She takes up residence in his hometown - a small port town in La Noscea. After a few years, the two agree to marry and together have three daughters: Hiroko (the eldest), Meiko (three years later), and Naruko (four years later). ■ Most of the girls' younger years are spent solely in the company of their mother, as their father spends most of his time out at sea. As such, they grow exceedingly close to her. Sachie teaches them bits and pieces about Doman life and culture, and even teaches them to read and write fluently in her native tongue. ■ A particularly terrible storm sees to the sinking of Bayard's ship, losing not only the extensive goods it was holding but also costing him his livelihood. He and a few members of the crew only barely manage to escape with their lives, pulled from the sea by another ship making the same route. At the time, Hiroko is thirteen, Meiko is ten, and Naruko is six. ■ Bayard takes out loans from Limsa Lominsan lenders to cover the cost of lost cargo, but is unable to secure enough to purchase a new ship. As such, he attempts to turn to land trading instead, but is unable to find a sufficient market. His debt continues to climb while his family's income dwindles. He takes to the bottle, and becomes increasingly hostile and abusive towards his family. ■ Bayard and Sachie become estranged as the man's treatment of not only herself but their children grows worse. When she finally prepares to take their daughters and leave him, however, he strangles her and then frames it as a suicide. Hiroko is the one to find her hanging the next morning. Given the family's private nature, suicide is ruled the cause of death and there is no outside push for any further investigation into the matter. However, the children are certain that it was their father's doing, but are unable to leave or show proof. The rift between them grows even greater and turns to hatred. Hiroko is fifteen, Meiko is twelve, and Naruko is eight. ■ A year later, Bayard's lenders offer to relieve the man of his debt if Hiroko will agree to sign a contract to "work" for their boss. He is all too happy to offer his daughter up, and convinces her that if she does not agree, those men will come and take all three of them regardless. In order to protect her sisters from the alleged threat, she agrees and is taken to the city. The information that she decided to go willingly is not given to her sisters, as it happens too quickly to allow Hiroko time to speak with them. Hiroko is sixteen, Meiko is thirteen, and Naruko is nine. ■ Meiko, heartbroken and angry at the loss of now two maternal figures in her life, can only endure her father for so long. She quietly takes the anger and beatings to protect Naruko from the worst of it, while simultaneously working to save money - mostly from unsuspecting dockworkers and traders passing through their small port town. It is during this time that Meiko learns she has a true knack for sneaking about and cutting purse strings. Finally, after two years of quiet endurance and determined saving, she takes Naruko and makes for Limsa Lominsa proper. At the time, Meiko is fifteen and Naruko is eleven. Surviving Limsa Lominsa ■ Life in Limsa Lominsa is decidedly harder than Meiko anticipated. She and Naruko live on the streets where ever they can find shelter for months. Meiko's pickpocketing and petty thievery helps to keep them fed, but only barely. She also comes to know the dangers of the city's darker sides, and takes it upon herself to steal a dagger for her and her younger sister's protection. ■ While trying to find coin one evening, Meiko attempts to make off with the coin of a distracted merchant in Hawker's Alley. While the man does not notice, another particularly vigilant young man nearby does. He follows her and confronts her, asking her to return the coin to someone that he claims isn't deserving of thievery - just an honest trader with a family of his own to feed. ■ Afraid this odd man will turn her into the Yellow Jackets and Naruko will be left to fend for herself, Meiko - backed into a corner and desperate - pulls her knife on him. However, he is unafraid and manages to disarm her quite easily. Meiko finally breaks down and begs him not to turn her in, that she was only trying to get food for herself and her sister. He takes pity on her and agrees not to turn her in. However, he does march her back to Hawker's Alley to the merchant she had stolen from, only to introduce her to the man - who had by then noticed his missing coin and had became quite frantic - as the one who caught the thief who had made away with his money. The merchant thanks her profusely and offers her coin as a reward. However, uncomfortable and guilt-stricken, she declines. ■ Impressed with both her aptitude for sneaking and with her apparently sense of guilt by refusing to take the coin, the young man makes Meiko another offer: First, a place to stay for both herself and her sister. Secondly, an introduction to the Rogue's Guild, which he is a part of, where he claims she will be able to put learn and put her skills to good use. She gratefully accepts.

A D U L T H O O D The Rogue's Guild ■ Around the age of sixteen, Meiko enlists with the guild and begins training. She works hard to learn all that she can, improving her abilities to go unnoticed, see without being seen, and hear without being heard. Likewise, she gradually becomes more skilled with knives and daggers - the guild's signature choice of weaponry. ■ After about three years of constant training, Meiko's skills had progressed far enough for her to begin to take on small investigation jobs for the guild. She shows skill in gathering information and spying, relaying her findings back on various individuals and situations back to her colleagues. However, one assignment has her trying to gather information on a businessman suspected to be kidnapping young women and forcing them into slavery to work at the brothels he owns. It is during this investigation that she manages to find Hiroko, working at one of these high-end brothels for this man. ■ Meiko's investigation into the situation continues, becoming almost an obsession. However, she is unable to find any direct evidence on the man to turn over to her superiors nor the Yellow Jackets. Without any substantial results or leads, she is told to leave the matter be for the time being, though she refuses. On her own time, she continues her investigation and questioning, turning to whatever avenue necessary to try and gather information on the mysterious man and his businesses. Yet, the search is still fruitless. ■ Frustrated and impatient, Meiko finally decides to sneak into one of the brothels directly to find damning evidence. However, when she sneaks into the office, all she can find are contracts that seem to show consensual employment - including her sister's. It is then that she is discovered by the businessman himself and confronted over her sneaking. She threatens to expose him - a bluff, given her lack of evidence, and one easily seen through and called by the man. ■ Noting her similarity in appearance to Hiroko, the man surmises the reason behind her vehemence. Instead of threatening harm on her or arrest for trespassing, he simply explains the contract that Hiroko signed: She agreed to work for him in order to pay off their family's debt. Once all had been paid, she would be free to leave, just as the other girls were. The man acts upon the uncertainty this gives her and offers her a deal: leave the Rogue's Guild and drop her investigation and work for him instead, to pay off Hiroko's contract faster. Still unsure, she asks to see Hiroko first, and he reluctantly agrees. ■ Meiko is overwhelmingly pleased to be reunited with her older sister, and is quick to explain the offer given to her. However, Hiroko is adamant about refusing, stating that both her own contract and the one that he would undoubtedly have her sign would be tantamount to legal slavery - that such a complicated piece of paper would see that they would both forever be under the man's employ, and so legally airtight that there would be no chance of arguing against it. ■ With this knowledge, Meiko returns to the man to decline her offer, claiming that she will come up with money her own way to pay off her sister's contract. He is displeased, but consents to the arrangement. She also demands the ability to visit her sister on occasion, and he consents only if she pays for her time like every other customer and only if she agrees to keep her nose out of their business. Figuring this would be the best deal she could strike, she agrees to the terms. ■ After a few weeks, Meiko makes the decision to leave the Rogue's Guild. Though she keeps the reasoning to herself, the money made from her work was simply not to her liking, and the different investigations and assignments provided too much distraction from her current priority. She figures there is more money to be made on the 'other side' of the underground, and decides to offer up her skills as a freelance thief, spy, and occasionally even offering up her daggers. Recent Times ■ It does not take long for Meiko to realize that keeping solely to Limsa Lominsa is detrimental for her business, given suspicion over her past ties to the Rogue's Guild and the selfsame group's ever-watchful eye. Using an airship pass she gained in a trade for her services with one client, Meiko decides to turn to the other city-states to look for work as well.

I N T E R A C T I O N S

R U M O R S Some of these rumors are untrue, speculation, or are greatly exaggerated. If you wish to add anything, please let me know, and I will update this section! ◢ Common Rumors - Easily overheard. Use these freely! ■ "Amano? Used ta' work wit' t'rogues, she did. Up'n left not too long 'go.. Why she left? Hells'f I know! All I bloody know is I won't be missin' 'er prowlin' 'round m'business an' askin' 'er godsdamned questions." -- Shady Lominsan Merchant. ■ "Good luck trying to get in with that one. She's as cold as ice at best and prickly as a cactuar at worst." -- Skirt-Chasing Taverngoer. ■ "Aye, might'a been a dove what skulked 'round these parts by that name. Though most'a us what knew 'er called 'er the Lightfoot. Right brilliant at skulkin' 'bout, she were. As light on 'er dew beaters as a ghost an' twice as vengeful with 'er stabbers. She quit the Guild t'go where th' blunt is benar, but there've been whispers that she's been takin' on work in the ruffmans. If that's true, Lightfoot's done a real bene job at keepin' it all quiet-like. Not that I'd much expect nothin' less from 'er." -- Former Rogue associate at the Dutiful Sisters. ◢ Uncommon Rumors - A little more difficult to hear. Use sparingly or ask first! ■ "I 'appen ta' catch 'er strollin' inta' some 'igh-class brothel from time ta' time. Though' maybe she were tha' type ta' enjoy a whore's comp'ny. But I 'eard later tha' there's a Doman lass what works there. A friend'a 'ers, maybe?" -- Lominsan Information Broker. ■ "Perhaps I'm mistaken, but she looks rather familiar.. There was a young girl that favored her years ago when I was hawking my wares in Limsa Lominsa. I saw her filching someone's coinpurse once whilst his back was turned, but she looked so small and pitiful that I turned the other cheek. She likely needed that coin far more than he did, anyway." -- Traveling Merchant. ◢ Rare Rumors - Very rarely overheard. Please ask before using! ■ "Not long ago, I hired a Lominsan woman to take care of a loose end in a.. business arrangement. She asked no questions, other than what she needed to track down the problem and take care of it. I would quite recommend her services if you're in need of a certain level of professionalism and discretion. I can put you in contact with her, if you'd like." -- Ul'dahn Businessman. ◢ Player Character Rumors - Feel free to add rumors of your own! ■ Add rumors here!

R E L A T I O N S ♥ Romantic Attraction – ♥ Sexual Attraction – ♥ Platonic Love – ♥ Family – ✔ Business – ✖ Deceased – ● Positive – ● Negative – ● Neutral – ≈ Unsure Hiroko Amano (Jameson) ( ● ♥ ♥ ✔ - NPC / Unplayed. ) - Beloved elder sister. For most of their childhood, especially after the loss of their mother, Meiko looked up to her elder sister as not only a close confidant but a matronly figure. When she was taken to Limsa, leaving her and Naruko with their father, she was duly heartbroken. Now, years later, she's found her and has dedicated herself to paying off Hiroko's brothel contract. To that end, the woman also serves as an occasional business partner, feeding Meiko information and leads from her clients. Naruko Amano (Jameson) ( ● ♥ ♥ - NPC / Unplayed. ) - Handful of a younger sister. Naruko's care became Meiko's chief concern as soon as Hiroko left and, even if the younger girl is now almost an adult in her own right at the age of sixteen, naught has changed that sense of responsibility. Even if the girl's free-spirited, stubborn, and occasionally petulant manner tend to drive her up the wall. Still, she loves her sister deeply and spends as much time trying to ensure her care as she does trying to pay off Hiroko's contract. Sachie Jameson ( ✖ ● ♥ ♥ ) - The late Amano matron. Meiko and her sisters grew up very close with their mother, learning about her homeland and about life from the woman. It devastated them all when she passed, even more to know that it came at their father's hand. There is scarcely a day goes by that Meiko doesn't think about or remember the woman in some way, and she makes a point to make offerings to Thal every year around the time of her death. Bayard Jameson ( ● ♥ - NPC / Unplayed. ) - "He is no father of mine.." If it wouldn't take valuable time and resources to head back to her home town, Meiko likely would've put a dagger in the man by now. The verbally and physically abusive man tormented herself and her siblings for years after a ruined livelihood turned him to the bottle. Yet it was the murder of their mother than made the man truly unforgivable in her eyes, compounded by the way he essentially sold Hiroko into a life of prostitution to pay off his debts. If she ever sees him again, it's likely that he won't survive the encounter.

G A L L E R Y

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F O O T N O T E S

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