Application;

[parkour]

Player
Name: Aly
Livejournal Username: samekh
E-mail: ohfourplan [at] gmail [dot] com
AIM/MSN: [aim] phantasm brigade
Timezone: EST
Current Characters in Route: Yosuke Hanamura

Character
Name: Izaya Orihara
Series: Durarara!!
Timeline: Post Novel 4.
Canon Resource Links: DURRRRRRRRRRRWIKI.

Personality: In a few words, you could describe Izaya as conniving, manipulative, and essentially, the game master of Durarara!! From start to finish, he’s the type to manipulate others around him - he bends them to his will to get results that will ultimately keep him entertained and aid in achieving his own personal goals.

At first glance, though, you may never guess this of Izaya. In fact, you may even think he’s a nice guy. Not knowing much about him though, you could assume he’s something of an enigma. He speaks with a smile - sometimes jovial, sometimes darker. That's just how he carries himself. He's never too shy about the fact that he's not the most trustworthy guy; he doesn't advertise it, but he doesn't hide it either. He knows what he wants from life and the people around him, and he knows how to get what he wants. He never morphs his personality, per say, but he does carry himself in whatever way he sees fit for a situation. Be it something of a friendly nature, such as when he first meets Mikado and pushes him into “saving” Anri from the girls who were bullying her, to the darker, more informed attitude he carries when he first begins to deal with Namie in her quest to find Seiji, he displays a variety of attitudes. At least, he does so outwardly.

When he's amused, he laughs. His laugh his powerful, sometimes even bone-chilling and twisted. He slips in and out of places, often being completely unnoticed until he choose to make his presence known - usually with a jovial greeting or the offer of help or information... in exchange for more information. He can be fun and playful, though his idea of playful usually consists of teasing, sometimes in quite a vindictive manner.

For those who know him a little better, his intentions always seem a bit questionable; it's difficult to say whether or not this guy is on their side or against them, but he never seems to let up with a hint. It's his selfishness, his desire to please himself that drives that.

He claims to love people - all people, with the exception of Shizuo. He finds them interesting, and he enjoys watching a situation playing out just as he predicts. The wildcards seem to be the most interesting to him - discovering things such as the true natures of Mikado and Anri, for example. Shizuo, on the other hand, he considers nothing more than a constant thorn in his side - someone who gets in his way and simply annoys him to the point of wishing he’d just die.

Izaya is also something of a coward, something he isn’t eager to admit, but does when prompted. Though he likes to use his abilities as an informant to play his own game, rarely will he be seen faced with any conflict directly. He uses a combination of his flick blade and a mastery in parkour to keep on his toes, usually avoiding face-to-face conflict. Even when it comes to Shizuo, who is abrasive and violent, Izaya will do his best to avoid attack (though this sometimes fails, evidenced in episode 3 when Shizuo blindsides him and hits him with a trash can) and run away given the first opportunity for Shizuo to be distracted.

His manipulation and desire to get Shizuo out of his hair isn’t limited to small things - he’s even gone as far as framing him for crimes and having him arrested. Of course, it didn’t last long, but was certainly enough to fuel their continuing rivalry.

But just what it Izaya after? The anime series doesn’t cover the extent of his goals, nor does it delve into his fears. The novels cover his biggest, and perhaps most driving fear. It’s not death that scares him; it’s the afterlife, or lack thereof. He doesn’t believe that anything happens when you die, but the idea of an eternity filled with nothing is one that makes him uneasy.

He holds the belief that Celty, while being a Dullahan, is also a Valkyrie - a legend of Norse mythology that brings her chosen war victims to an afterlife in Valhalla. Whether or not he truly believes in this is unknown, but he seems to feel that if Celty’s separated head can be awoken by great conflict (which, by the way of Norse mythology would be Ragnarök), then when he dies, he can be brought to a true afterlife and rest there in some sort of peace.

That’s not to say he’s without any sense of humanity or remorse, however. In fact, it’s the opposite it certain circumstances, namely that of old friend Shinra Kishitani. He’s not quick to admit it, but he harbors a great deal of guilt over the fact that in middle school, Shinra got stabbed in an attempt to protect Izaya from a very displeased Nakura. He expresses it in a strange way though – taking the blame for it himself. He’d rather have people think he was the one who stabbed Shinra, rather than let anyone believe that Izaya himself is worth taking such a wound for. It’s severe enough, though, that Shinra merely mentioning “what happened in middle school” is enough to get Izaya to keep his mouth shut. It doesn’t stop there, however. He even expresses a vague reluctance in awaking Celty’s head, knowing full well that it could make Shinra’s life unhappy.

Of course, he harnessed that to his advantage in a strange way, with Nakura, at least. He “bought” Nakura’s name from him to use for his own purposes… such as goading teenage girls into suicide pacts just to prove the worthlessness of a single human life.

Needless to say, for a guy who was raised in a fairly normal family environment, Izaya Orihara is anything but.

Strengths/Weaknesses: On one hand, Izaya is something of a genius. He’s well-thought and manipulative, hardly ever going into a situation without not only a plan, but a backup or two as an “emergency escape” if things somehow don’t turn out as he plans. He’s clever, has a quick wit and a sharp tongue. He’s good at playing the nice guy (and coming off as a genuine one, when he chooses!), and even better at finding out information about people. His ability to use parkour means he’s agile and quick on his feet, scarily so at times (I mean, who can shave someone’s head in a single motion of looking as if he’s falling?). And he’s also pretty mean with a switchblade.

On the other hand, he’s cowardly and childish, even if he does a good job of masking it. He doesn’t really care much about the people around him (on an individual scale) unless it’ll benefit or entertain him. He’s got a poor reputation amongst the locals in Ikebukuro (and perhaps why he bases himself out of Shinjuku). He’s a liar, he’s dishonest when there’s no money or benefit for him. And he’s got absolutely no patience for certain people – namely Shizuo Heiwajima and his younger sisters, Mairu and Kururi Orihara.

Pokémon Information
Affiliation: Breeder
Starter: Misdreavus; nicknamed Loki
Password: Sunflower Seeds

Samples
First Person Sample: July? Oya... how much time has passed! Really, I can't imagine - our captors must have been very bored if they decided to bring me back after so long! And here at the very beginning, no less. I wasn't even granted the priveledge of a strange coma? Johto, I'm so disappointed.

But that's enough of that. Really, having to start over again is nothing short of troublesome. Now that so much time has passed, I have to ask -- Kachin, Rise-chan -- are you both still here? After all, I did ask you to keep watch of some very important belongings of mine these last few months. Once I arrive at Cherrygrove once again, I'd like to retrieve them, of course! [He points upward, grinning almost innocently.]

I have so much catching up to do, I'm sure! Old acquaintances gone! New ones to greet and see! I can't say I expected it... but this may just be a lot of fun.

[He pauses, letting out a flippant sigh.]

...Well, provided that a certain bartender hasn't made his way back as well.

Third Person Sample:
If you've done something so massive once before, surely, it gets easier the second time around. Infact - waking up in New Bark Town had the oddest sense of deja vu. Some didn't like it, but it had brought a smile to Izaya's face, realizing that he had an advantage right now. He knew what was going to happen, he knew where to go, and he knew how to get there. He knew how to budget his minimal funds, as well as all of the ins and outs of their "goals."

All that ever really changed in Johto was the people.

So who would it be? How many familiar faces were still there -- who could be used to his advantage? Who could help him get back on the track of achieving the goals he'd set for himself during his previous stay? Izaya had a list of names running through his head - some came back to him more easily than others. After all, it had been over a year for him. Slowly, but surely they came back; Johan Andersen, Karkat Vantas - affectionately known as Kachin, of course - Rika Furude, Rise Kujikawa, Cocona Bartel, Cobra Commander. They were just a few of many that he knew, and he definitely didn't expect them all to still be there, people came and went so quickly in Johto that you could blink and miss them. He'd seen it happen to people he knew from Ikebukuro, so it was only to be expected he'd see the same from those of other worlds.

There were two in particular he was looking for. Two people - that he didn't necessarily trust as allies, but people who would serve their purpose in caring for his most prized Pokémon from his journey. They'd be the first he sought out.

He clutched the Pokégear in his hand, using a flick of the wrist to toss it, then catch, and repeat. A smirk appeared on his face as he headed towards the path for Route 29. He had no business in New Bark Town. In fact, getting to Goldenrod as soon as possible was the most ideal situation. Izaya's eyes wandered briefly, making contact with his newest "Pokémon partner," a Misdreavus.

"Well, Loki-san. I hope you're ready," His tone wasn't as jovial as he'd acted towards the people he'd spoken to, which made the already-mischievous Pokémon a bit curious of what was to come. "We've got plenty to do and you don't have very much time to learn!"