Yukino Sohma
"Humans are interesting. How they are somehow capable of pledging eternal devotion without completely grasping the concept of ‘eternity’ is beyond me." – Yukino Sohma
BASICS
Name: Yukino Sohma
"To be like snow. I like to think my parents are rather unoriginal."
Nickname: None thus far.
"An emphasized ‘him’ should suffice. Unless, of course, one was speaking to me directly. Then things would get awkward."
Age: Nineteen
"I was born in the midst of a blizzard. Birthdays, for me, are always cold."
Gender: Male
"I was under the impression the masses considered it rude to ask."
Occupation: Head of Sohma House, College Student
"I would probably try harder if I had worked to obtain the position."
Zodiac Animal: God
"Well I wouldn’t call myself an animal...."
APPEARANCE
Hair Color: Either black or a very, very dark purple.
"I hear it’s rather common amongst the family."
Eye Color: Violet.
"However unusual they might be, there are still others with this color as well."
Skin Tone: Naturally pale, ever-so-slightly sunkissed.
"I don’t tan easily. People tell me this is a good thing."
Height: Six foot, flat.
"I can’t imagine being any shorter. How many steps would one have to take?"
Weight: One-hundred and fifty-three pounds.
"Don't try to pick me up. I am ridiculously heavy."
Physical Description: Yukino’s picture is a very, serene, soothing one. He has a very graceful-looking appearance, filled with gentle lines and pleasant color combinations.
Yukino’s posture is effortlessly perfect, a result of growing up in a very traditional, formal environment. His speech and sense of style are likewise influenced, both somehow managing to be an odd mix of casual and sophisticated. For example, when Yukino talks, his tone is clipped and precise, so even when he speaks softly he is still easily understood. He’ll use word conjunctions, but not in the places a normal person would, and not as often. And though Yukino has slang common for people his age, he’ll also incorporate his large vocabulary, making the terms sound mismatched and out of place. On top of all of this, it seems like Yukino follows his own sentence formula, first stating his opinion, then proceeding to explain/justify it either by providing additional information or more of his thought on the matter.
Yukino’s style works the same way. Every article of clothing he wears is clean (no matter the circumstances), sophisticated by design, and perfectly pressed. But then Yukino will ruin them; not tying his tie properly, rolling sleeves, leaving buttons undone, ect. His hair, cut to accentuate his aristocratic features, will fluff up and curl out of place, making Yukino actually look his age. His complexion is meant to be very pale (nearly white), but since Yukino is outside most of the time, his originally pristine skin is dumbed down with just a touch of sun, giving Yukino a more humane look. When winter sets in, however, that tan goes straight out the window.
With all of the time Yukino puts into being active, it’s inevitable for him to be physically fit. For all of his deceptively lean physique, Yukino is actually very heavy, giving him a certain solidity when it comes to things that require strength. He doesn’t body-build, however, putting no time whatsoever towards actually furthering himself physically. He simply has a preference for activities that promote his cardiovascular system.
Though Yukino tries very hard, it’s simple impossible for him to blend into any sort of casual, street-crowd. He’s simply too mismatched, too contrary. While this might look awkward to some people, to others it can be charming.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Potential Interest: Though he isn’t currently interested in anyone, that is viable to change, and I’ll update if it does. Yukino takes this sort of thing very seriously. He is under the opinion that if he ever likes someone to the point of kissing or hugging them, that someone will be the person he marries.
Silly/Clumsy People- "This is a secret, but I find that people who naturally have the misfortune of constantly falling over their own feet are unbearably cute. However, if this seems forced, or if they encourage their antics in any way I can easily become annoyed."
Likes: To Yukino, the majority of the things he likes are simply the opposite of the things he doesn’t like. However, there are a couple of things that don’t have opposites, and are simply on the list due to preference.
»Hanakotoba/Ikebana- "When I was younger, I remember having a nursemaid who placed a high priority on all things traditionally Japanese. Out of all of the things she taught me, I found I had a knack for flowers."
»The Zodiac- "It's like having a group of friends guaranteed to never betray each other, always together, always doing something. Preserving this is very important to me."
»Being Sought Out- "By someone my own age. Whether I am being confronted, or offered companionship, I very much like meeting with other young people. As long as they aren't too rude or disrespectful, of course."
»Trying New Things- "I have a difficult time bringing myself to deal with change, however, so I need someone to walk me through things."
Dislikes: For the most part, Yukino dislikes being told what to do by someone who hasn’t earned his regard or respect. He dislikes things/people that grate against his somewhat shaky inner peace, and can quickly become malevolent if pushed too far.
«Crude Language/ Behavior- "Customs and manners are important to me. If one doesn't behave properly, I can get offended. But besides that, I simply find such vulgarity distasteful."
«People Who Are Friendly to Everyone- It doesn't sit well with me. It seems dishonest to give familiarity to people you're not truly familiar with. Things that are dispensed to everyone loose their value. Friendship becomes something commonplace. It's disgusting, really."
«Assumptions- "There is little that will irritate me faster. Especially if they’re right. It seems unfair to be freely rewarded with knowledge that should have be earned."
«Constricting Environments- "While I have patience reserved for these situations, my stores are admittedly limited. I can get... frustrated...."
Personality: Yukino is aptly named, his personality being very much like the snow. Though he isn’t cold, per say, he’s disdainful towards people who haven’t proved their worth. It’s these people, who haven’t been given permission to talk to him but decide to do so anyways, who piss him off more than anything else will. He has this strange way of thinking, where all things mundane and outward are scorned, and only has appreciation for things with personality, meaning, or a subtle message. It’s for this reason that Yukino would be repulsed by a gorgeous girl who focuses completely on her outward appearance and by how people perceive her, but drawn towards an average girl who has managed to build elaborate mental landscapes at the cost of her social standing.
"Though snow is inhospitable by nature, it is also soft."
Though Yukino holds considerable scorn for the ‘masses’, as he calls them, he holds the people he respects at an equal level of importance. The people he goes to school with, for example, will always be treated with a standoffish, matter-of-fact politeness. Other Sohma’s will receive equal politeness, but Yukino is certain to treat them a little more respectfully. Staff who’ve been taking care of him for a long time will be permitted to see his personality; Yukino’s slightly obnoxious tendencies, his dry sense of humor, and his awkward way of trying to be normal and superior at the same time. The Zodiac, however, has it’s own category all together. Since they are the ones Yukino considers his “friends” (despite the fact that he’s only occasionally spoken to most of them), he looks up to them with a hushed sense of awe. It’s these people he respects above all others, the people he’s made himself vulnerable towards. It’s because of this respect that Yukino has rarely exerted his authority over the animals, only doing so when the situation called for it. Though he would rather die than show it openly, Yukino is extremely protective of the people he’s close to, and tries to keep up with their affairs.
"And, like snow, I can sometimes melt. However, it costs me my state of existence."
Showing someone affection, letting someone in, is perhaps the highest honor he can bestow upon a person. To Yukino, nothing is more important than heartfelt feelings for another person, whether they be friendship or romance. Since he rarely ‘melts’ around someone, this ‘alternate state of being’ is childish. Yukino suddenly craves physical contact as he had previously shied away from, he looks at things with a sense of wonder, but it’s not like he becomes a different person. It’s just that traits he’s always had are suddenly made clear. That wholehearted delight you can see sparkling in his eyes? Yeah, if you had looked closely, you’d see a glimmer of his when he’s playing sports. That way he has of gesturing excitedly when he wants to share good news? You could’ve easily seen it in the slight bounce of his step he had walking here.
"But the more watery snow becomes, the more dangerous it’ll be if it freezes over."
When Yukino opens himself up to someone, say, the Zodiac, he can become paranoid. He’s extremely, extremely, afraid of abandonment, of being left behind, that he can become quite the horror if he perceives betrayal or declining affection. It’s this fear that spawned his shyness towards the Zodiac, his attempted to become more casual. Yukino, ultimately, wants to fit in. The thing is, when he’s scorned, he can transform into something ugly along the way to achieving that goal.
History: When Yukino was growing up, attention from his parents was scarce. He was raised by the staff on the outskirts of the Sohma estate, only seeing ‘momma’ and ‘poppa’ when his presence was officially required. Their presence in his life dwindled over time, but instead of slowly getting used to it, Yukino’s need for his parents spiked. Why didn’t they want to see him? They were busy? But then how come there were stories about poppa never doing his job? Didn’t they love him?
Events escalated. Yukino’s father was young and in love with his wife, but the Sohma’s disapproved of the marriage. She was foreign. She didn’t have any prestige. She wasn’t mentally strong enough to support the household. She was allergic to animals. The list went on and on, but at the end of the day, this much was clear; she wasn’t suitable for the position. The resentment grew. The household refused to invite his wife to events, so Yukino’s father also refused to attend. The Sohma’s arranged for several pretty girls to move into the residential area. Yukino’s father started drinking. Eventually, pressure grew to the point where Yukino’s parents couldn’t take it anymore. They figured that since they had already given the Sohma’s an heir, they didn’t have anymore reason to stay, changing their names and leaving the country a few days before Yukino turned eight.
And thus, the Sohma household was left with an abandoned seven year old as their leader and God.