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P L A Y E R;
NAME: Pris
AGE: 25
PLAYER JOURNAL:![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
gamblingdancer
TIMEZONE: GMT+8
CONTACT: PMs to personal or character journal, or plurk at![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
paako
OTHER CHARACTERS PLAYED: Josuke Higashikata (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure)
C H A R A C T E R;
NAME: Gintoki Sakata
CANON:Gintama
POINT IN CANON: Post anime. The series is generally episodic anyway; there isn't really any sort of overarching plot.
AGE: Headcanon'd at 27-28
APPEARANCE: He's not actually this cool. Like, at all.
CANON HISTORY: Scroll down a little for a plot summary
Character background
CANON PERSONALITY: Context is very important to take into account when one talks about Gintoki's personality. When you need him, he is a valuable ally and a trustworthy friend, but when you don't? You wish you didn't know him at all. That's the sort of man Gintoki is, and he doesn't bother trying to hide it.
First and foremost, other characters have continuously noted Gintoki's laziness and lack of motivation to achieve anything greater in his life beyond being a man who does odd jobs. He would much rather doze off on his couch with a carton of strawberry milk within arm's reach and the latest issue of Weekly Shounen Jump resting over his face than going out and doing the society some actual good. He is consistently behind on the payment of his rent, he picks his nose, he reads comics aimed at children half his age, he's a ridiculous glutton for sweets, and he's not ashamed to slip in a sexual innuendo just because he can. He is argumentative, blunt, brusque, perhaps even antagnostic in his ways, and conversations with him more often than not tend to degenerate into outright shouting matches and temper tantrums, and if he's pushed really far, he's definitely not above physical retaliation. Gintoki Sakata is, simply put, a child masquerading as an adult. A selfish, stubborn, stingy, fanboy of a child who would sooner throw you under a bus than share his parfait with you. He is a living, breathing example of what children should not become, and what's worse is that he is not ashamed to flaunt every single one of these traits where people can see and hear him. Thus, these are all qualities that consistently put him at odds with numerous, if not every single other character in his canon, but they tolerate him, cherish him nonetheless, because of who he is beyond all of that.
But more on that in a moment. I'm not finished explaining how pathetic this man can be.
For a man in his late twenties, Gintoki still indulges in Weekly Shounen Jump, and will go through great lengths to ensure he gets his weekly fix. That said, he tends to make several pop-culture references in daily conversation, and failing that, he tacks on bizarre metaphors and analogies whenever they are appropriate, and sometimes even when they aren't. He is known for being a talker, whether it be smooth, wise-cracking, or outright nonsensical, and if he still can't seem to get ahead, his temper steps in and flares right up, though these moments are always done in a comedic fashion and played for laughs in the series.
He also has an open crush on the weather girl. Yeah...
Despite doing absolutely nothing to contribute to a struggling city otherwise, when things are asked of Gintoki however, he certainly knows how and when to deliver. Samurai are a dying breed in Edo, and they have been ever since the Amanto established their dominance, but Gintoki's bushido, his moral code, is still strong as ever. It may have changed over the years to keep up with the turbulent pace and sharp turns his world has taken, but at its core, it sends its message just as effectively. Despite having participated in a war aimed at liberating his country from Amanto control, Gintoki has stated before he couldn't give a shit about what the foreigners want with his country. He fought alongside his friends and killed for them, yes, but it was always, always, always for the things that were important to him. He is not naive enough to think he can save the country and change it for the better, no, that is better left to people more qualified, but he is not the type to disregard wrongdoings when they happen where he can see them, and that makes all the difference.
It doesn't matter to him if you're a big shot celebrity, a homeless bum, or even the Queen of England; nobody gets special treatment in his book, and he will be the same brusque man he always is. He does not respect his elders and he definitely doesn't respect authority, let alone even the most basic chains of command. None of those things are relevant to Gintoki, and it certainly shows. That doesn't necessarily mean he's a cold and callous man however. In the same way that people have come to consider him an important presence in their lives, they are, to him, symbols of everything he lives and fights for. He may never openly admit it, but they are precious to him. Gintoki has lost numerous things in his life; brothers, comrades, friends, but rather than dwelling on the past and on things that cannot be retrieved or restored, he looks forward, and lives for what he has now.
This drive, this motivation to do right, not necessarily by others, but for them, has not always been Gintoki's motto however. Yoshida Shouyou, the man who can easily be called Gintoki's foster father, played a very large role in shaping him to become the man he is today. It was with his guidance, his gentle teachings, that Gintoki grew to wield the sword so efficiently, and despite knowing no form of parental love prior to being taken in by Shouyou, he grew to love the man with all his being. It is unfortunate then, that Shouyou turned out to be a loyalist, one of the many who remained faithful to his homeland, and for his 'crimes against his country', was arrested by the government. It was at that very point in which Gintoki decided he would train up to join the war efforts when he became of age, and he did exactly that. In the end, he and his two close classmates were unable to save their teacher, and as a lesson to Shouyou's rebellious students, his severed head was sent. Their morale dropped significantly after that, and having lost hope and claiming cowardice, Gintoki abandoned his classmates and the war, and the Shiroyasha was never heard from again.
There is a blank between that period and Gintoki appearing in Edo, but after meeting residents of his new hometown, he learned that "fatalism won't make anybody happy", and it's no use simply living in the past. You must hold your head up high and press on.
"If something has fallen at my feet, then the least I can do is pick it up". Gintoki fights for what's right in front of him, and strives to fix what has broken, what others throw away, what others wrongfully condemn. Doubly so if you are unable to do it for yourself. It may be because of his upbringing, but he recognizes and emphasizes the importance of friendship and familial bonds, and he is more often than not willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to see to it that those things are protected. He rarely ever fights for himself or for his own goals, and it may as well be said that he is a tool designed for the sole purpose of driving home the point that if something's important to you, it is worth fighting for. It doesn't even matter whether the odds are stacked against him, because Gintoki will make it so.
It probably safe to say then, that in this manner, and only in this manner, that Gintoki is selfless. Remember when I mentioned that he was selfish? It applies here too in that he will force his way of thinking on you and make you realize that there are things in life you simply can't do without. He is a firm believer in the pursuit of happiness, in living life in such a manner that at the end of it, you can say you have no regrets. That is certainly the way Gintoki lives, and he loudly and proudly preaches it through direct actions as well as indirect ones, such as excessive drinking and gambling (possibly why he's always in debt with his landlady). Do things you enjoy doing while you still have the time to do them.
It's as simple as that.
So yeah, he'll just enjoy being a lazy, crude stain on society until something makes him get off his butt. Hey, pass the strawberry milk, buddy.
POINT OF DEPARTURE: NA
ABILITIES: Within human standards, Gintoki is certainly above average when it comes to physical strength. In canon, he was able to fend off attacks (albeit barely) from a Yato, a humanoid alien race known for their physical prowess and fighting ability. It was also noted by a veteran swordmaster that Gintoki's sword style is actually one of his own making and was likened to a drunken man's stagger by a trained assassin. That is to say, it is languid and unpredictable, yet ultimately very effective. It is also good reflection on the sort of man Gintoki is.
Having fought in a war and survived relatively unscathed, Gintoki's title as "Shiroyasha" is not to be taken lightly. He has learned how to think quickly to ensure survival above all else, whether that be by reducing damage to otherwise vital areas, or seeking viable escape routes. On top of that, his skill with a sword is just as impressive. They definitely didn't give him his title for nothing.
Procrastination and laziness also get an honourable mention. I wish I was joking.
INVENTORY; 1) His wooden training sword, unique only due to the kanji engraved upon the hilt. It is important to note that this sword is not made of regular wood, but that of an alien tree. It is sturdy enough to shatter stone without repercussion. Gintoki bought it through an infomercial on TV. That's the sort of era they live in now...
2) 300 yen in an otherwise empty wallet.
ANYTHING ELSE WE SHOULD KNOW? He's disgusting.
S A M P L E S;
FIRST PERSON: A thread from his time in Haven. An actual sample can be provided if this post is too old!
THIRD PERSON: People tell him all the time that he's useless, he's worthless, that he never gives back what he borrows, and that he's, in short, an embarrassment to the samurai name. Gintoki never takes any of these things to heart. Partly because he doesn't care to, but mostly because he knows he doesn't have to. There is a mutual understanding between himself and every single person who's ever said anything remotely negative about him. An understanding that when the going gets tough, Gintoki will be there to kick the shit out of it and tell it to get the hell out of the Kabuki District. They all know that when they need him the most, he will pull through for them. Always.
That's why he's able to nonchalantly take a swig of his sake as Otose squawks in his ear about having missed his rent for the past three months.
"Look, if you were that desperate for your money, you'd have kicked me out the first four times I skipped out on the rent." He watches the liquid swirl in his glass, feeling the faint warm tingle of the alcohol as it sets in. "Yet here we are, month after month, trapped in an endless waltz. Aren't you sick of me stepping on your toes yet? I'll bet they're a nice shade of purple to match that black heart of yours."
The old woman's reply comes swiftly and vigorously (god, why does she have so much energy at her age anyway?), but it falls on deaf ears. Gintoki knows she'll let it slide eventually. After all, if any of her anger was legitimate, she wouldn't have poured him a drink, much less allowed him to set foot in her bar.
So when Gintoki tips his empty glass in her direction, she takes an indignant puff on her cigarette, blows the smoke off to the side and wordlessly pours him another round.
NAME: Pris
AGE: 25
PLAYER JOURNAL:
gamblingdancerTIMEZONE: GMT+8
CONTACT: PMs to personal or character journal, or plurk at
OTHER CHARACTERS PLAYED: Josuke Higashikata (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure)
C H A R A C T E R;
NAME: Gintoki Sakata
CANON:Gintama
POINT IN CANON: Post anime. The series is generally episodic anyway; there isn't really any sort of overarching plot.
AGE: Headcanon'd at 27-28
APPEARANCE: He's not actually this cool. Like, at all.
CANON HISTORY: Scroll down a little for a plot summary
Character background
CANON PERSONALITY: Context is very important to take into account when one talks about Gintoki's personality. When you need him, he is a valuable ally and a trustworthy friend, but when you don't? You wish you didn't know him at all. That's the sort of man Gintoki is, and he doesn't bother trying to hide it.
First and foremost, other characters have continuously noted Gintoki's laziness and lack of motivation to achieve anything greater in his life beyond being a man who does odd jobs. He would much rather doze off on his couch with a carton of strawberry milk within arm's reach and the latest issue of Weekly Shounen Jump resting over his face than going out and doing the society some actual good. He is consistently behind on the payment of his rent, he picks his nose, he reads comics aimed at children half his age, he's a ridiculous glutton for sweets, and he's not ashamed to slip in a sexual innuendo just because he can. He is argumentative, blunt, brusque, perhaps even antagnostic in his ways, and conversations with him more often than not tend to degenerate into outright shouting matches and temper tantrums, and if he's pushed really far, he's definitely not above physical retaliation. Gintoki Sakata is, simply put, a child masquerading as an adult. A selfish, stubborn, stingy, fanboy of a child who would sooner throw you under a bus than share his parfait with you. He is a living, breathing example of what children should not become, and what's worse is that he is not ashamed to flaunt every single one of these traits where people can see and hear him. Thus, these are all qualities that consistently put him at odds with numerous, if not every single other character in his canon, but they tolerate him, cherish him nonetheless, because of who he is beyond all of that.
But more on that in a moment. I'm not finished explaining how pathetic this man can be.
For a man in his late twenties, Gintoki still indulges in Weekly Shounen Jump, and will go through great lengths to ensure he gets his weekly fix. That said, he tends to make several pop-culture references in daily conversation, and failing that, he tacks on bizarre metaphors and analogies whenever they are appropriate, and sometimes even when they aren't. He is known for being a talker, whether it be smooth, wise-cracking, or outright nonsensical, and if he still can't seem to get ahead, his temper steps in and flares right up, though these moments are always done in a comedic fashion and played for laughs in the series.
He also has an open crush on the weather girl. Yeah...
Despite doing absolutely nothing to contribute to a struggling city otherwise, when things are asked of Gintoki however, he certainly knows how and when to deliver. Samurai are a dying breed in Edo, and they have been ever since the Amanto established their dominance, but Gintoki's bushido, his moral code, is still strong as ever. It may have changed over the years to keep up with the turbulent pace and sharp turns his world has taken, but at its core, it sends its message just as effectively. Despite having participated in a war aimed at liberating his country from Amanto control, Gintoki has stated before he couldn't give a shit about what the foreigners want with his country. He fought alongside his friends and killed for them, yes, but it was always, always, always for the things that were important to him. He is not naive enough to think he can save the country and change it for the better, no, that is better left to people more qualified, but he is not the type to disregard wrongdoings when they happen where he can see them, and that makes all the difference.
It doesn't matter to him if you're a big shot celebrity, a homeless bum, or even the Queen of England; nobody gets special treatment in his book, and he will be the same brusque man he always is. He does not respect his elders and he definitely doesn't respect authority, let alone even the most basic chains of command. None of those things are relevant to Gintoki, and it certainly shows. That doesn't necessarily mean he's a cold and callous man however. In the same way that people have come to consider him an important presence in their lives, they are, to him, symbols of everything he lives and fights for. He may never openly admit it, but they are precious to him. Gintoki has lost numerous things in his life; brothers, comrades, friends, but rather than dwelling on the past and on things that cannot be retrieved or restored, he looks forward, and lives for what he has now.
This drive, this motivation to do right, not necessarily by others, but for them, has not always been Gintoki's motto however. Yoshida Shouyou, the man who can easily be called Gintoki's foster father, played a very large role in shaping him to become the man he is today. It was with his guidance, his gentle teachings, that Gintoki grew to wield the sword so efficiently, and despite knowing no form of parental love prior to being taken in by Shouyou, he grew to love the man with all his being. It is unfortunate then, that Shouyou turned out to be a loyalist, one of the many who remained faithful to his homeland, and for his 'crimes against his country', was arrested by the government. It was at that very point in which Gintoki decided he would train up to join the war efforts when he became of age, and he did exactly that. In the end, he and his two close classmates were unable to save their teacher, and as a lesson to Shouyou's rebellious students, his severed head was sent. Their morale dropped significantly after that, and having lost hope and claiming cowardice, Gintoki abandoned his classmates and the war, and the Shiroyasha was never heard from again.
There is a blank between that period and Gintoki appearing in Edo, but after meeting residents of his new hometown, he learned that "fatalism won't make anybody happy", and it's no use simply living in the past. You must hold your head up high and press on.
"If something has fallen at my feet, then the least I can do is pick it up". Gintoki fights for what's right in front of him, and strives to fix what has broken, what others throw away, what others wrongfully condemn. Doubly so if you are unable to do it for yourself. It may be because of his upbringing, but he recognizes and emphasizes the importance of friendship and familial bonds, and he is more often than not willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to see to it that those things are protected. He rarely ever fights for himself or for his own goals, and it may as well be said that he is a tool designed for the sole purpose of driving home the point that if something's important to you, it is worth fighting for. It doesn't even matter whether the odds are stacked against him, because Gintoki will make it so.
It probably safe to say then, that in this manner, and only in this manner, that Gintoki is selfless. Remember when I mentioned that he was selfish? It applies here too in that he will force his way of thinking on you and make you realize that there are things in life you simply can't do without. He is a firm believer in the pursuit of happiness, in living life in such a manner that at the end of it, you can say you have no regrets. That is certainly the way Gintoki lives, and he loudly and proudly preaches it through direct actions as well as indirect ones, such as excessive drinking and gambling (possibly why he's always in debt with his landlady). Do things you enjoy doing while you still have the time to do them.
It's as simple as that.
So yeah, he'll just enjoy being a lazy, crude stain on society until something makes him get off his butt. Hey, pass the strawberry milk, buddy.
POINT OF DEPARTURE: NA
ABILITIES: Within human standards, Gintoki is certainly above average when it comes to physical strength. In canon, he was able to fend off attacks (albeit barely) from a Yato, a humanoid alien race known for their physical prowess and fighting ability. It was also noted by a veteran swordmaster that Gintoki's sword style is actually one of his own making and was likened to a drunken man's stagger by a trained assassin. That is to say, it is languid and unpredictable, yet ultimately very effective. It is also good reflection on the sort of man Gintoki is.
Having fought in a war and survived relatively unscathed, Gintoki's title as "Shiroyasha" is not to be taken lightly. He has learned how to think quickly to ensure survival above all else, whether that be by reducing damage to otherwise vital areas, or seeking viable escape routes. On top of that, his skill with a sword is just as impressive. They definitely didn't give him his title for nothing.
Procrastination and laziness also get an honourable mention. I wish I was joking.
INVENTORY; 1) His wooden training sword, unique only due to the kanji engraved upon the hilt. It is important to note that this sword is not made of regular wood, but that of an alien tree. It is sturdy enough to shatter stone without repercussion. Gintoki bought it through an infomercial on TV. That's the sort of era they live in now...
2) 300 yen in an otherwise empty wallet.
ANYTHING ELSE WE SHOULD KNOW? He's disgusting.
S A M P L E S;
FIRST PERSON: A thread from his time in Haven. An actual sample can be provided if this post is too old!
THIRD PERSON: People tell him all the time that he's useless, he's worthless, that he never gives back what he borrows, and that he's, in short, an embarrassment to the samurai name. Gintoki never takes any of these things to heart. Partly because he doesn't care to, but mostly because he knows he doesn't have to. There is a mutual understanding between himself and every single person who's ever said anything remotely negative about him. An understanding that when the going gets tough, Gintoki will be there to kick the shit out of it and tell it to get the hell out of the Kabuki District. They all know that when they need him the most, he will pull through for them. Always.
That's why he's able to nonchalantly take a swig of his sake as Otose squawks in his ear about having missed his rent for the past three months.
"Look, if you were that desperate for your money, you'd have kicked me out the first four times I skipped out on the rent." He watches the liquid swirl in his glass, feeling the faint warm tingle of the alcohol as it sets in. "Yet here we are, month after month, trapped in an endless waltz. Aren't you sick of me stepping on your toes yet? I'll bet they're a nice shade of purple to match that black heart of yours."
The old woman's reply comes swiftly and vigorously (god, why does she have so much energy at her age anyway?), but it falls on deaf ears. Gintoki knows she'll let it slide eventually. After all, if any of her anger was legitimate, she wouldn't have poured him a drink, much less allowed him to set foot in her bar.
So when Gintoki tips his empty glass in her direction, she takes an indignant puff on her cigarette, blows the smoke off to the side and wordlessly pours him another round.