00: app;

[tensai]

Player
Name: Rika
Livejournal Username: tauburn
E-mail: bloodriot at gmail dot com
AIM/MSN: bloodrioting (AIM)
Timezone: GMT +0800
Current Characters in Route: None

Character
Name: Marui Bunta (Western: Bunta Marui)
Series: Prince of Tennis
Timeline: Post-Nationals/Pre-U17 Camp
Canon Resource Links: I have lots of links. TeniPuri; Rikkai; Marui Bunta: FET; 20.5 profile; 40.5 profile; AnoPuri; Wikia

Personality:

“Eat, sleep, play.” If you think about it, it’s a pretty sound sort of philosophy. Do what you want whenever you want to, eat as much as you want whenever you want to, and sleep for as long as you want, whenever you want to. Live a laid-back kind of life. That’s pretty much how Marui would like to live for the rest of his life, and it doesn’t say much about him at all, does it?

It’s no secret that Marui Bunta has a high opinion of himself, self-proclaimed genius and all. Of course, there is some truth behind this, as he is one of the best serve-and-volley players in the Junior High Tennis Circuit in Japan. So good that even Hyotei's volley specialist Akutagawa Jirou idolizes him so much, and had gone as far as stealing Marui's wrist weights (he keeps it in his bag always) and molds his play-style to be like Marui's. Marui thinks of himself first and foremost, doing and saying things that would most benefit himself. He uses this all the time to get away from physical work (such as chores and helping out with cleaning the clubroom), usually pointing a finger at his best friend and doubles partner, Jackal Kuwahara, to do his part of the chores. He just really doesn't like manual labor.

But that isn't just who Marui Bunta is. Deep down, he's actually a good, caring guy. When he realizes (or if it's been pointed out) that he's been a jerk, he'll apologize and make up for it. Despite his having a bit of an ego, he knows how to be a decent person of society and is rather flexible, adapting to the situation at hand. He helps out the club newbies at practice-- he even waited for first-year Kirihara to show up on the day of club recruitment and helped him ease into Rikkai's tennis team until he landed himself a regulars spot and became the team’s Ace. He's patient when he comes to guiding his juniors, most likely coming from handling (and doting upon) two younger brothers.

Marui enjoys three things: Tennis, baking and eating cakes, and just hanging out with the people he likes (mainly Rikkai). He mostly hangs out the most at the school’s Home Economics classrooms, whipping up sweet confectioneries that he will end up eating by himself. His free time is either spent with Jackal and Kirihara in a game center, or taking care of his two younger brothers. He has a naughty sort of cheerfulness that is pretty contagious, something that Yukimura, Rikkai’s team captain, himself is grateful for, saying that it helped during his hospital confinement.

His easy-going attitude is pretty helpful when you want to go through life without a lot of problems. Marui is a pretty laid back kind of guy, if you think about it. While he doesn’t hold grudges and dwell on problems so much, he doesn’t set high enough goals for himself. He’s pretty content with how things are. “As long as I aim for the expected chance, it’s okay!” His own words are a testament to this. Marui doesn’t take anything too seriously, and hey-- that’s the key isn’t it? To just enjoy life and what you do in life, and you’ll get by.

Eating though, is pretty much his favorite past time, especially when it concerns sweets. The sugar helps him with his stamina, too. He even has a few slices of cake just before tennis matches to give him a sugar rush that would help him keep going. the gum-chewing is supposed to help, too, but it's now become a habit. He's rarely seen without gum (green apple flavored gum, usually, but he likes other flavors too!), and he even chews gum on the courts.

While it is true that Marui's self-confidence is as high as it gets, it still doesn't match his pride and loyalty for his team. Although his priorities aren't the same as, say, Sanada, who puts the team first before himself, unlike Marui who would himself first before everything else, it still goes without saying: he has as much Rikkai pride as the next person in the team. Marui will go great lengths to defend Rikkai's pride, as a team or as individuals. You really don't mess with Rikkai.

Have I mentioned that he loves sweets and can get selfish when he's got them?

Strengths/Weaknesses:

Surprisingly, one of Marui's greatest strengths is his ability to take care of people. While he doesn't look like it (because of his diminutive stature), he's actually the eldest in Rikkai, and also an elder brother. He knows how to take care of people in the sense that he's a great source of guidance and support, and he's pretty good with pep talks and encouraging you to do what you want-- ask Kirihara! Marui is also a really, really good friend, despite being a terrible influence. He'll stick right beside you when you need back up, and he'll be with you through the end. His tennis skills are also top-notch (how else could he be a regular at Rikkai?), as well as his skills in the kitchen. His cheerful attitude can also make you forget you’re confined in a hospital diagnosed with some sort of French Cancer that you need surgery for so you can play tennis again*!

*used as an example. Can apply in other situations, such as getting scolded by Sanada.

Marui's greatest weakness is sweets. You can probably get him to do almost anything if you bribe him with a slice of his favorite cake. His stamina is also pretty shot, which is why he needs the help of a sugar rush to get by. But hey, he's improving! Somewhat... He does have his Rikkai training to help him improve, you know! His self-confidence is a bit of a weakness. While he doesn't underestimate his opponents, he can occasionally overestimate himself and ends up with his foot in his mouth. He can be a very spoiled brat, too, what with his selfish attitude. He still needs to learn to do some things on his own, rather than pass it on to Jackal (or anyone else, really). He’s still childish when it comes to some things, and he probably knows this. He just needs to act on it, rather than keep putting it off. He’s a little stubborn that way.

Pokémon Information
Affiliation: Trainer
Starter: Munchlax (Puchi)
Password: Taco Bell Taco Bell, product placement with Taco Bell~♪

Samples
First Person Sample:

[no video, no audio, just text. and it looks very urgent too!]

HELP!!!

SOS!!!

MAYDAY!!!

N> FOOD. SOMEWHERE IN R29??? RAN OUT OF FOOD. PKMN LOOKING TASTY. SEND HELP IMMEDIATELY

PS: NE1 GOT GUM? RUNNING LOW ON THAT TOO

Third Person Sample:

"You can't have this, it's mine," Marui scolds the Munchlax tugging at his sleeve for the bento Mom gave him. He was seated on the grass (not the tall one, thankfully) somewhere along Route 29 after deciding that it was time to eat the bento Mom (not his real mom, mind you, but the one in the game/twilight zone/whichever) made him.

It hasn't been an hour since he arrived in Johto and discovered the blue thing (a Munchlax, Marui discovered later, after using the Pokedex) standing next to him, looking up expectantly. Within that hour, he'd panicked, pinched himself several times, tried talking to people, threw rocks at trees, been talked through by Professor Oak-- it even looked like him --ran off to the nearest patch of tall grass to check, got attacked by a Rattata, saved from the rodent by the Munchlax that kept following him around, and finally concluded that he was, indeed, stuck in some twilight zone type of Pokemon world after having nostalgia for the game a few days ago. It was a tiring hour, and his stomach felt empty. It was simply logical to sit down and eat, and the Munchlax, his Munchlax, thought so too.

"Muuuuuuuuun," the Munchalx whines again, trying to reach for Marui's bento. He only lifted it away from the pokemon. "Look," Marui said, "This is human food. I'm sure we'll find something for you to eat, but first, I have to get something in my stomach, or else we'll be Rattata fodder... Or something." The Munchlax responds by pouting, his eyes tearing up. "Muuuunch," he whines pathetically. Pokemon and Master stare at each other for some time until Marui gives, sighing loudly.

"Fine, but just this once! You might get indigestion or something, and I have no idea where the Pokecenter is," Marui says, picking out an octopus hotdog from the bento and throwing it at the Munchlax, who happily catches it with his mouth, satisfied. Marui couldn't help it, the Munchlax just looks so happy that he reaches out and pats it on the head.

"Just this once, alright? And then we're getting you proper Pokemon food."

"Munch!" The Munchlax nods and Marui feeds him another octopus hotdog.

The problem here is, Marui thinks, is that this version of the Pokemon world was a completely different one from the games he'd played. Where would he get Pokemon food? And where was the nearest Pokecenter? He probably should track back and gather more information... For now, the most important thing was eating!

...And he probably should name the Munchlax.