Karin Igarashi is your average girl with anger issues and a penchant for violence! She is a Persona-user, wielding Acallaris (Persephone in some verses) and the power of wind. She may be rough and ready to rumble at all times, but underneath it all lies an insecure, sweet soul that just wants friends and acceptance.
... much less control me.
this is an independent, selective & low activity Persona 3 OC! written and illustrated by Kona! crossover and OC friendly! established August 2012.
A soft sigh, yet it weighs heavy. Her heart follows a strange, rapid rhythm, one she didn't imagine experiencing once the day had finally come. Speaking fell down a similarly odd path, words in her mind, but unable to spill out. The feeling could hardly be categorized, let alone named. After years, she considered herself intimately familiar with the concept of death, having danced around and even alongside it long ago, yet this felt alien. As if it shouldn't be allowed to occur in the first place, despite how it settled as though it found a home.
Time waits for no one. All are equal in its flow, all lives borne to their ends.
Another sigh, one much deeper, and plagued with fatigue.
❝… Yeah. I guess it was time, after all.❞
I know it's been a long time since I've even popped in, but life for me had gotten very busy, very quickly, and I became wrapped up in a hell of a whirlwind for awhile. I've thought of returning a handful of times, and while I know my love (and muse) for Karin has not faded, it's not like she's a priority anymore, either.
What provoked me to pop back in is... not a very happy or maybe even practical reason, but I felt very inclined to at least... do something. I received news yesterday morning that, in summary, my mother was on life support and there was little chance of her surviving off of it. I gave my oldest sister the legal permission she needed to make the inevitable decision, and although I don't know the exact time it's supposed to stop, if it hasn't already, it is going to.
Those who have known me for the duration that I've had Karin know that I had... a tumultuous relationship, to say the least, with my mother. Karin's story in and of itself is somewhat based off of what I went through. This news is difficult for me to process for a variety of reasons, not least of all because I don't know how to feel about it, even after more than 10 years of having no contact with her. I'm still wrestling with these feelings. I've been talking to my roommate about Karin and her character, when it hit me that bringing her back and talking about her again is almost like a full circle moment, albeit a morbid and complicated one. Karin has always meant the world to me, has always been there with me, going through the same things as me. In the end, neither of us get true closure, but we know that death interferes and affects us in ways we don't expect.
A lot of this is me rambling, trying to talk about it, trying to process and get it out of my system. Nowadays I hate trauma dumping more than anything, especially out of the blue, but-- it might be one I need, at least a little bit. Still, I'm sorry. I don't even expect this to be read.
I still appreciate every person who was with me during that difficult time in my life, and those who are still friends with me today. Thank you for supporting me and being my friend.
As for Karin, I have no doubt that I'll come back one day, because I always do, if only for a little while. I love her too much not to. Until then, thank you.
I hope you have a wonderful day like you deserve and I'm so grateful to be able to talk about all the ships that we talk about -- including and especially Jojorin..... because I did not think they would work at first-- but I love them very much, and I adore you significantly.
anything and everything. favorites. thoughts on people, on events. what they would do in a certain situation. how things would be different if something had/hadn’t happened. simple questions, complex questions. have at it!
She was this close to hugging Karin and thanking the god above that she was willing to come with her and to get stuff ready for Valentine's Day. Then again, the fear of no sweets or cakes or ANYTHING being at the bakery or stores terrified Fuuka in the back of her mind. She could make the sweets, but she didn't want anyone to be sick on a very, very special day.
Even if she was scared to impress her friends that she knew how to make desserts and sweets. Then again, she didn't really hang out with Karin much--this was to make up lost time with her and to talk with her. Girl to girl. And she would love her opinion on stuff relating to the guys.
"Thank you so much. It shouldn't take long--worse case, we would have to make the sweets. But, let's going. I don't want to fight a girl over the last piece of cake." She chuckled and opened the dorm door leading outside. "And if we have to, I'll leave the fighting to you?"
❝D-don't worry about it.❞ Her obvious gratitude is a little embarrassing. Even now, she finds anything of that caliber flustering, still unused to this treatment regardless of all the months she's spent here thus far. Exiting the dormitory, she was prepared to brush aside her sheepishness and dedicate her attention to the task at hand, when a jest catches her off guard.
❝I don't know about that, Senpai,❞ she too chuckles, though hers is a twinge more diffident. ❝I won't fight anyone without good reason. Well… not anymore, anyway.❞ Though she doesn't at all fault her for thinking that, what with the raucous personality she first came to the dorm with. The harsh months have done much to change her. To offer more leeway, the two hadn't spent all that much time together -- something Karin admittedly laments. Not only is this an opportunity for her to perhaps charm her longest standing crush through holiday tradition, but it's also one to spend more time with her softspoken upperclassman.
❝Making it ourselves shouldn't be too hard,❞ Karin reasons aloud as the two venture toward the previously mentioned bakery. ❝If it comes down to that, I think we can do it. But we'll try Plan A first. Let's see what the bakery has to offer.❞
actually update Karin's biography -- it's been at least 5 or so years since I've rewritten that from scratch. I edited it vaguely a little while back, but that's. not enough. I need to reconfigure the information altogether.
finish drawing the Reload full body sketches I did a couple/few weeks ago, actually render those
on that note, draw Reload assets for Karin (like new sprites, her all-out attack finishing screen, a new cut in)
"Okay, so I know that Valentine's Day is today. And I am too scared to make any chocolates or cookies or brownies for anyone in the dorm." Fuuka quickly got to the point, knowing she didn't want to leave Karin blindsided. "I was hoping you could come with me and grab some cookies at the local bakery and divide them up for everyone? And we would have to buy goodie bags and all of that..." She lowered her voice at the second half of her proposition.
"And, if you could keep this quiet, then I'll owe you, Karin-chan." Fuuka smiled, clapping her hands together. It didn't sound like a bad idea pulling one of the youngest members of SEES with her. "I would really, really like to make everyone happy today. So, could you help me?"
Settled to a collected calm, she carefully considers Fuuka's words, though it didn't take much, seeing as she was so straightforward with her request. The initial inquiry for her help was surprising enough, but she wants her to help in procuring Valentine's gifts for the dorm as a whole? It's a sweet gesture, one that Karin herself hadn't thought of. Admittedly, a part of her feels bad that she hadn't.
Never mind the nagging desire to offer this exact gesture to a specific member of the dorm… This thought alone tempts her into action. But this is Fuuka-senpai's gift, her brain urges, so it wouldn't be from her at all. Well, unless she picked something up for him specifically. But did she have the courage? Is this too selfish a thought?
❝… Okay,❞ the first-year agrees softly, cheeks painted a tell-tale red. ❝I'll help. We're just going and getting stuff, right? It shouldn't be a problem.❞
With a smile on his face he presented a bouquet of rather colorful flowers (instead of going for the whole cliche rose bit) and of course he could never forget the heartshaped box of chocolates, granted it held a little more weight to it as there were also larger heart cookies within the second layer of the box. "Happy Valentine's day Love."
Though Karin expected to see Joseph today, she wasn't quite prepared for his surprise. It didn't matter if Valentine's Day was quintessentially meant for surprising your loved ones, she never expected one to be delivered unto her.
Rendered speechless, all she can do is stare at the colorful gifts presented. To be considered, to be thought of, especially on a day like this, has her heart soaring so high that she swears she feels weightless for a moment. A gentle red dusts her cheeks, though instead of its usual panicked association, it's based in genuine warmth. Yet, her eyes reflect confusion, even trepidation, as they raise to meet the face she's come to correlate with her affections. It was as if she was unsure if these were for her.
❝Thank you, Jojo,❞ she finally forces from her heavy tongue. Rather shyly, she reaches forth, taking the gifts into hand and admiring them. She wonders how she can return the favor. What does she do? Say 'happy valentine's day' back to him? What's the most appropriate course of action here? A brief pause, and the flowers are shifted into one arm, while the same hand opens the chocolate box. Decorated with sweet morsels of all kinds, she seems to stare in awe, before lifting a particularly delectable looking square between her fingers. Her gaze then flickers to Joseph, and she raises her hand to his lips.
Brows furrowing and cheeks thoroughly flushed, her expression returns to one he's seen countless times.
❝Open.❞ The demand is clumsy, and curt. Realizing that, she clarifies, ❝… I can't eat all of this by myself. Besides, it's… better to share, isn't it?❞
@tacitusauxilium asked: "Karin--thank goodness! You are the EXACT person I am looking for!" Fuuka looked relieved. "I need you to help me with a huge favor. And I promise to make it worth the hassle!"
❝M-me?❞
Surprise cracks her voice, eyes wide and brows furrowed, overly flustered for what seems to be an innocent request. Had she been searching for her? The idea of an elder thinking specifically of her, even if it was for the sake of a solution to a problem, admittedly embarrassed the small Magician. Perhaps the feeling of being needed heightened that sudden shock. Not looking to be seen through or ridiculed for her reaction, she clears her throat, pretending as though her heart didn't just leap into her throat for a solid moment.
❝… A favor?❞ Through a breath, her tension relaxes, a hand brushing aside stray strands that cascade over her shoulder. ❝Alright, alright. What do you need, Senpai?❞
@ruiination asked: “It’ll look worse before it looks better.” from yuki
❝I know.❞
The words tumble thoughtlessly, a jerk-like reaction, somewhat sharp despite her attempt to keep her tone neutral. Normally, Karin would have ignored this, treating him as though she would have treated anyone else, but there's a nagging regret clawing at her, forcing her to reconsider. This is supposed to be better, her conscience cries, she's supposed to treat people better. A gloved hand draws to the darkening bruise forming on her cheek, likely the reason why he had approached her in the first place. She hadn't meant for that altercation to cause a scene, let alone for anyone to actually witness it.
❝… Sorry,❞ she eventually relents, refusing to raise her eyes. ❝You're just… trying to help.❞ Her jaw tightens, as if this is legitimately painful for her to speak aloud. ❝Don't worry about me, Senpai. You should head back home for the day.❞
