Eiko

Eiko first comes off as quiet and reserved. He doesn’t speak up much, which likely contributes to his aloof and confident demeanor. Despite his passive silence, he has more of a dirty mouth than he lets on. While not intending to be actively mean, -- does have a judgemental streak. He prefers to observe from the outside, but in some cases that results in negative, sometimes even self-righteous assumptions. Generally, he is good about keeping these thoughts to himself. However, if he slips up and spills his thoughts, it can be pretty nasty.

Aside from that, Eiko has a cynical, witty sense of humor. Often his humor presents itself in snide comments and sarcastic overtones, which can be misconceived as aggression. -- himself has yet to pick up on that, though. He is rather clueless when it comes to how others perceive him, and as such has no idea how his mannerisms come off. To say his confidence in himself combined with his pessimistic outlook and aloof standoffishness appear intimidating to the average onlooker would be an understatement.

Despite all that, Eiko loves working with people. He likes to please them, especially if it is with something tailored and personal. It is for this reason that he began an apprenticeship with a local tattoo artist. Being trusted with such a sacred canvas and the honor of having his artwork proudly worn and displayed by a client is perhaps the most gratifying experience life can offer him. His observational habits make him uniquely sympathetic and understanding of many clients, allowing him to easily create meaningful and personal designs for those who come to him. This translates into his daily life as well: he cares deeply about the people around him and wishes to help them, to make them happy in any way possible.

TL;DR Though he appears intimidating and standoffish, -- cares deeply about the people around him. He is cynical and confident, but also introspective and understanding.

✦ Appearance

Eiko has curly, shoulder-length dirty-blonde hair that he ties up in a ponytail. It is dyed red on the sides, and it tends to fall out easily, leaving it more half-up half-down. In an attempt to keep it back, he wears barrettes on either side. It doesn’t work. He is somewhat short, standing at 5’7, and as such wears exclusively platform shoes. His build is lanky, as he is mostly, if not entirely, skin and bone. He wears baggy clothing and layers in an attempt to cover it up. He has stretched ears and multiple piercings above them, as well as a number of tattoos across his collarbone, shoulders, and wrists.

Eiko had never had very many friends. He preferred to stick to himself, but in all honesty, he was a little lonely. He knew plenty about those around him, from having overheard conversations, seeing them around. He picked up bits and pieces as time went by. But none of them knew anything about him, and by now, it was too late. He would rather not intrude on their existing friendships. He continued his life in the silence of the shadows.

To keep himself busy, Eiko became invested in media. Art, books, music. He loved to extrapolate on their meaning, to get to the heart of the creator, whoever it may be. It was where he found motivation. Before he knew it, he had gotten his first tattoo, a small decorum piece on the side of his wrist, from a local artist. It was something he wanted to be able to see every day, to inspire him, to nudge him forward. For almost a year following, he returned regularly, piecing small bits together to form a greater work spanning from shoulder to shoulder. He grew to be friends with his artist, and one day decided to ask if he could apprentice there at the studio.

For the next year, Eiko worked part-time at the studio, juggling both that and school deftly. He loved working with clients, creating something that they would cherish. After graduating, he decided to work full-time there. His love of media only grew during this time. He read books, watched movies, played games. When a local theater troupe began advertising for new members, he couldn’t help but check it out. If nothing else, a play could serve as new inspiration for him. Though lacking in acting experience, his insight and empathy allowed him to portray a character’s intricacies in a simple, yet powerful, manner. He tried out for the troupe, and the rest is history.