Banter. Kurai doesn’t like small talk, but he enjoys sharp, meaningful conversation, especially if it comes with wit, challenge, but rarely with flirtation. He has a rough, dry sense of humor and appreciates those who can keep up.

Bathhouses. While Kurai dislikes excessive heat and humidity, he enjoys the controlled warmth and relaxation of a proper bathhouse. The steam helps ease muscle tension, and the hot water provides a rare moment of peace in his otherwise restless existence.

Beer. Kurai drinks heavily, and beer is his go-to. It’s simple, strong, and dulls his heightened senses just enough to take the edge off. He doesn’t care about fancy brands or craft brews. Just as long as it’s cold, bitter, and plentiful.

Brawling. For Kurai, fighting isn’t just about violence. It’s instinct, survival, and self-expression. A good brawl is better than any conversation, and there’s no stronger bond than one forged through combat.

Cats. Despite his rough, violent nature, Kurai has a clear soft spot for felines. Whether it’s their independence, their sharp instincts, or their playfully defiant nature, something about cats resonates with him.

Creature Myths & Legends. Stories of Auspices, yokai, and other supernatural beasts interest Kurai for obvious reasons. His own existence is tied to myth, and he seeks understanding, connection, or power through these stories.

Esoteric Lore. Kurai has an innate fascination with the strange, the forgotten, and the forbidden. He’s drawn to tales of lost knowledge, unnatural forces, and the creatures that lurk in the dark.

Quiet. Kurai isn’t a social creature. He values silence, space, and moments of solitude. He enjoys being around others when he chooses to be, but when he wants quiet, interrupting it is a mistake.

Snow. Kurai thrives in cold, crisp environments. Snow reminds him of the wilds, the hunt, and the silence of a world covered in frost. It’s one of the few things that genuinely soothes his restless spirit.

Thunderstorms. Kurai is deeply attuned to primal forces, and few things stir his blood like a proper storm. The rumble of thunder, the scent of rain, and the electricity in the air awaken something raw and untamed in him.

Complicated or Fruity Drinks. Kurai does not appreciate frills, flourishes, or unnecessary complexity in his drinks. The moment a bartender starts shaking a cocktail mixer, adding fruit garnishes, or setting things on fire, he’s already checked out.

Excessive Noise. Kurai has heightened senses, and loud, chaotic environments grate on his nerves. He dislikes places where too many people are talking at once, music is blaring, or the background noise is so loud that it drowns out his own thoughts.

Heat & Humidity. Kurai’s thick fur and naturally high body temperature make heat unbearable. Humid weather is even worse, making him feel heavy, sluggish, and irritable.

Large Crowds. Kurai is not a social creature, and large groups make him tense. He dislikes feeling boxed in, unable to control his surroundings. His heightened senses mean he’s hyper-aware of every movement, scent, and sound, making crowds an exhausting experience.

Pointless Small Talk. Kurai has no patience for empty words. He sees small talk as a waste of breath, serving no purpose beyond mindless noise. If a conversation isn’t useful, important, or interesting, he disengages immediately.

Sweets. Kurai has an active disdain for sweet things, not just a passive dislike. Whether it’s candy, pastries, or honeyed drinks, he finds them cloying, sickly, and unpleasant. The artificial nature of processed sugar bothers him, and overly sweet flavors can make him feel nauseated.

Lupine ears and tail, knee-high feral hind paws.

Elongated canines, claws.

Runic tattoos.

Heavily scarred from long-healed wounds.

Complete blindness. Aniridia, ashen.

Supernatural strength. Lupin and Garlean genetics.

Heightened auditory and olfactory senses.

Aetherscent. Detect aether via scent.

Werewolfism. Two alternate forms: wolf & hybrid.

Voracious. Lupins are known for their appetite.

Ice & wind aspected, inability to manipulate aether.

Unsettling aether. Uncanny valley effect, paranoia.

Yokai-granted curse inducement.

Hematomantic blood.

Blind fighting; untrained, berserker-style.

Scent tracking; hunting intuition.

Instinctive awareness; insight.

Rudimentary blood binding knowledge.

Avatar manifestation; shadow wolf.

Blindfold. A humble strip of well-worn cloth, draped over his blind eyes like a veil of silence. As one might conceal a scar too deep to forget, he wears it to spare the world from the sight of his pale, unseeing gaze. The fabric whispers what words need not: he cannot see, yet it draws less notice than the stark, unsettling white of his hidden eyes.

Wolf Mask. The mask bears an elongated, angular snout, carved with fierce fangs that gleam with menace. Worn in the heat of battle, it becomes a ritual divider, marking the moment Kurai casts aside his humanity. Beneath its snarling visage, he surrenders to his primal instincts, letting the beast within rise.

Requiem. A butterfly knife with blackened blades, its edges deep and matte, devouring light rather than reflecting it. The hilt, simple yet etched with intricate shadows, feels like an extension of Kurai himself, as natural as tooth and claw to a beast. When idleness creeps in, his fingers dance across the blade, flicking it open in quiet restlessness. This knife once belonged to his sister, Meisa, a ghost of her memory now held in his hands.

Feline Fascinators. But a whiff of this plain material is liable to show any kitty cat a glimpse of kitty heaven.

Tomestone. He still hasn't quite figured this out, yet.

Ring. A simple black band with a lustrous black opal, its depths shimmering with an ever-changing play of frost. Inlaid within the opal's surface is an intricate ouroboros symbolizing eternity and unyielding dedication. Within the ouroboros are four delicate chains, each extending inward to bind small petal-shaped settings, each cradling a smaller opal at its heart. These chains symbolize the unbreakable bonds that connect and tether, the petals the bearers of these opals. At the apex, the topmost petal stands distinct, adorned with a ruby eye of a dragon.

Chikage. Kurai’s associations with Chikage run deep, and those within its circles know his name. Whether they see him as a weapon, an ally, or a potential threat depends on past dealings. Tairiku remains the one place where he makes an effort to remain civil, though how well that effort holds depends on the company.

Cursed?! Kurai does not offer help freely, but he knows curses—the weight they carry, the scars they leave. If someone is afflicted, he might know someone who can help... if the price is right.

Drinking Contest. Kurai’s metabolism is ridiculously fast, which means he can drink most under the table before he even feels a buzz. If challenged, he welcomes the contest—though whether he plays fair is another matter. He hates sweet drinks, and any attempt to trick him with one will be met with a scoff, and perhaps a friendly (or not-so-friendly) growl.

Fishing. What appears to be a quiet hobby is, for Kurai, something more. Fishing hones his patience, sharpens his senses, and gives him an excuse to linger in places without suspicion. Those who dismiss it as simple pastime fail to realize how easily the stillness of fishing mirrors the stillness before a kill.

Hematomantic Blood. Kurai’s blood is not natural. It is thick, blackened, and dangerous—a drug, a curse, or a gift depending on the one who drinks. Those who sample it may find themselves stronger, faster, more powerful—or lost in a waking nightmare.

Mercenary. Kurai thrives in the shadows where morality bends. If someone needs persuading, a debt needs collecting, or a rival must disappear, he can be bought for the right price. He is efficient, brutal when necessary, and, above all, discreet.

Monster Hunter. Though he no longer hunts openly, Kurai’s instincts remain sharp. Whether he’s drawn to a creature of legend, a yokai that should not exist, or a personal challenge, he never truly stops seeking prey worth his time. Those who share his interests might find themselves drawn into the same hunt—or standing in his way.

Mune. She has a habit of slipping away, whether for mischief, curiosity, or simply to test the boundaries of her freedom. Those who find her might notice she plays both the lost kitten and the taunting brat, depending on her mood. Anyone returning her to Kurai might receive a grumbled thanks—If someone deliberately keeps Mune away, however, they may find themselves on the receiving end of Kurai’s particular brand of wrath.

Myth & Legends. Kurai listens to whispers of the past, tales of forgotten creatures, and myths that refuse to die. Any piece of strange lore, no matter how small, may one day prove valuable. He is not a scholar, but he understands that stories hide truths others ignore.

Wolfish Kinship. Kurai does not trust easily, but those who share his wolfish nature—whether by blood, spirit, or mere understanding—are easier to tolerate. A bond of instinct can form where words fail.

Yokai & Auspice. Those with a connection to yokai, auspices, or spirits may sense something wrong about Kurai. The entity bound to him is old, twisted, and hungry, and it has left its mark on him in ways he cannot entirely conceal. Yokai may find his presence uncanny—both familiar and corrupted. Those attuned to such things might hear whispers when he passes, shadows stretching oddly in his wake.

Bathhouses. A place of quiet indulgence, where steam clouds the air and voices are kept to murmurs. Kurai enjoys the solitude of the baths, letting the warmth soak into muscle and bone. It’s one of the few places where he might be at ease—at least until someone disturbs him. Whether alone or with company, he prefers the deeper, quieter pools away from the crowd.

Kugane After Dark. When the sun sets, the city's true nature is revealed. Shadows lengthen, and those who thrive in the dark step forward. Kurai moves through these streets like a specter—sometimes a predator, sometimes just another lost soul. He’s at home in the underbelly, whether hunting, drinking, or simply wandering without purpose. The streets know his steps, and the wise know to avoid them when his mood is foul.

Local Fishing Spot. Fishing is one of the few pastimes that allows him true peace. The rhythm of the waves, the pull of the line, the quiet patience—it’s all meditative in a way. His blindness is no hindrance; his senses are sharp enough to read the water better than most men with sight. He doesn’t often keep what he catches, but he enjoys the process all the same.

Tairiku. Kurai doesn’t trust easily, but for some reason, he lingers at Tairiku. Perhaps it’s the alcohol, or perhaps it’s the subtle push to work on his social skills. His patience for customers is thin, his manner brusque at best, but those who can handle his sharp tongue might catch rare moments of genuine camaraderie. Whether he’s there to work or to drink depends on the night.

Taverns. Where there is beer, there is Kurai. He drinks to dull his senses, to drown out the voice in his head, or simply to indulge in the simple pleasure of a cold brew. His usual haunts are dimly lit and low on conversation, the kind of places where a man can drink without the weight of forced pleasantries. If someone is foolish enough to challenge him to a drinking contest, they’d best be prepared to lose.

The Wilds of Othard. Though his home is in the city, the wilderness still calls. Sometimes, he vanishes for days at a time, seeking solitude in the deep forests or the snow-covered mountains. Here, he sheds the constraints of civilization, running with the primal instincts that define him. Those who find him in the wild meet a beast with no patience for intruders.

Si̴s̷t̶e̴r̶. Kurai holds her dear, though the one calling herself Meisa is but a faint shadow of who she once was. Trauma and loss bind him to the echo of her voice, for she was his closest companion in life, and now lingers in death, too precious to abandon, too familiar to refuse.

Kurai’s trusted retainer, once an innocent soul, now serves as the vessel for Meisa’s dark influence. A former cult kitten, Mune has become Meisa’s chosen canvas, her corruption seeping into the Miqo’te with motives known only to her. Kurai guards her fiercely, his protectiveness bordering on obsession.

...

IC =/= OOC. I’m not my character, my character is not me. I’m happily married. Friends are great, but don't flirt with me OOC.

Consent and communication are paramount to interaction. Let me know if you’re not feeling the scene or uncomfortable; I’ll do the same.

21+ only. Keep things third person, please.

Quality over quantity. In-game, expect 1-2 paragraphs; on Discord, expect 2-5 paragraphs.

I prefer plot-heavy connections and long-term non-romantic bonds, but I am not opposed to ERP if it happens.

I’m interested in dark and mature themes intermixed with conflict.

Lore-bending is fine, but I’m not interested in lore-breaking, WoL, self-inserts, kinning, or alternate universes. Permanent death and disfigurement, metagaming, godmodding, and powerplaying are also no-goes for me. Injuries are fine, talk to me about it first.

Dice rolls for combat and determiners when not improvising.

I’ll always get consent on what Kurai can detect via aetherscent. It’s up to you to tell me what your character's aether would smell like and any information he may glean.

I use [ and ] to denote Meisa’s ‘voice’ and lend insight into the entity’s influence within Kurai's mind.

A'raht Rhode

Kiru Mori