Haruki Aoyuki
 Haruki Aoyuki
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| Gender | Male |
| Race | Miqo'te |
| Clan | Seeker of The Sun |
| Citizenship | Limsa Lominsa |
| Birth Date | 1st day of the 1st astral moon |
| Guardian | Halone, the Fury |
| Orientation | Males |
| Screenshot Gallery | Photobucket |
Introduction to Ao
… … … [silence] ~Ao
The morning sun brazenly streams through the narrow, high window behind me. Dust motes dance in the focused rays of light – rainbow prisms, refracted. I blink a few times, wondering at Althyk’s speed, my eyes gritty and dry from a night spent hunched over the tallow candle on my desk in study and writing that feels like minutes where hours passed. I don’t need to look around to feel he’s there – awake, alert, still – the weight of his presence is palpable to me now, after these many years together. A peaceful moment passes as I hear the ocean waves beat against the nearby harbor, a stray ray of sunlight tracing itself across my cheek to warm my skin. I rise, stretching, and move to open the window; rainbow-glittering motes transforming back into dust.
He crouches by the doorway on the balls of his feet, his arms loose in front of him and his tail curled behind, somehow fading into the shadows despite his solid, muscular height and the weighty two-handed axe strapped casually to his back. His orange eyes gleam darkly, closer to red in the shadows.
A cool ocean breeze explores the room from the now-open window as I return to my research notes. Out of the corner of my eye, I see it caress his hair and he blinks his eyes once, slowly, the lion-tufted tip of his tail lashing in a small, swift motion up and down once in happiness. I suppress a giggle, remembering...
My first impression of him? Blue. Blue and fierce, towering above me at what must be four times my height and ten to fifteen years my senior with a rough axe strapped to his lithe, muscular frame. A tight hempen top covered his chest but left his shoulders, back and abdomen naked to the bitter air of Coerthas. A fleeting thought, ‘who would walk around with skin bare in this cold?’ interrupted my appraisal of him as I peeked out timidly from behind my father. Not naturally shy, I found the combined effect of his features intimidating: kukuru butter brown skin, short cerulean-blue hair touched with the color of seafoam, black-tipped ears, facial features subdued under a mask of pale blue from forehead to chin, eyes rimmed by tattoos evoking ice shards, a long scar cutting across his right eye from his forehead to his cheekbone, his posture still and alert. My father introduced us, seeming pleased at my temerity as I had recently been caught sneaking out of the house to go about my research.
‘Zara this is S’hinja Tia. He’s the one I told you about, the one I hired to protect you. Please don’t wander from our estates without him.’
I nodded, frozen by anxiety under the Miqo’te Seeker’s gaze. A falling snowflake landed on my nose and I blinked, looking up at a sky suddenly filled with white. The wind picked up, howling and my father turned beckoning the Miqo’te and I to move from the doorstep into the warm rooms of our manor. My feet, however, refused to budge. My mouth dropped open slightly in surprise. The snow hitting my new guardian was… steaming. In the heavy snowfall the effect was unmistakable. He stood motionless, watching me with his blazing orange eyes as the snow steamed, dancing around him. The sun broke through the clouds, a stray ray illuminating his hair, the steam refracting the light into a myriad of frolicking rainbows. It was remarkable. A laugh began deep in my throat, threatening to burst from my lips. I suppressed it with some trouble, smiling up at him.
‘Haruki Aoyuki.’
He considered me, expressionless. His tail lashed once, slightly, the movement nearly imperceptible.
‘Haruki Aoyuki!’
I clapped with delight, more confident in my decision.
‘Sunshine and life, and blue in the snow.’
His expression flickered with what might be a grimace before returning to its stony impenetrability, his ears twitching once, nearly imperceptible. My anxiety forgotten in my curiosity, I approached him with a radiant smile.
‘May I call you Haruki Aoyuki?’
I peered at his face closely, my own neck craned backward painfully at this new angle. One of his eyebrows arched slightly as he turned his head to break our gaze. His tail lashed once, slightly, as he remained silent.
‘Ao it is, then!’
I watched as a faint blush tinged his cheeks, his gaze remaining averted. Gruff and low, so quiet I almost missed hearing it through the wind’s cries, the words ‘Ochi Mochi’ rumbled across my ears. The short phrase sounded like sulking. The laughter I could no longer suppress burst forth, ringing out across the entryway.
I felt my hair tousled gently by a hand as large as my head, rough with weathered callouses. Blinking in surprise, I reached up and wrapped his hand in my much smaller ones with a joyful grin. My father beckoned to us again from further inside the estate, annoyed at the wind and snow entering through the still open door. A strong arm scooped me up, pressing me against a broad chest that radiated palpable waves of heat, slightly damp from melting snow, and carried me inside.
~from the writings of Zarara Zara
Relationships
The S Tribe:
- Ao’s tribe, and particularly those raising him, were strict and closed to behaviors, speech and beliefs that differed from their own. Spending much of his childhood enduring ongoing punishment and daily censure for displays of individuality, Ao eventually stopped speaking and adopted subtler forms of non-verbal expression. Serious and deeply passionate by nature, he communicates through actions rather than words. With a warmer than average body temperature, loathing heat, Ao could not fathom pledging himself to Azeyma, the deity he sees as an embodiment of everything he dislikes most in the world. When he deemed his skill with the axe was sufficient for him to survive alone, he left his tribe in search of cooler climes. Without regret, he has not encountered the S-tribe since.
Player Characters:
- Arky Mosuke – Ao met Arky on a rainy day in Gridania, Arky attempting a conversation with Ao upon finding him crouched, relaxing under the deluge. Over the course of several more chance encounters, Ao grew fond of Arky’s company, viewing him in a similar light to how he views Zara, and becoming increasingly protective him. Due to frequent misunderstandings, their relationship is complex and somewhat volatile. Regardless, Ao simply can’t seem to leave Arky alone for too long without checking up on him.
- Dianthus Itsaul – A sweet and somewhat daring Miqo'te that Ao met exploring the Labyrinth of the Anceints. Their paths cross again in the East Shroud. Still in its early stages, a gentle friendship seems to be taking shape.
- Keroa Mosuke – Arky’s sometime companion, Ao finds something of a kindred spirit in Keroa’s silence. He is intrigued by her relationship with Arky and respects the deep fire he sees burning behind her eyes. After Arky unexpectedly leaves Keroa to his care, Ao’s bond with Keroa deepens as she becomes one of only three individuals that seem to truly understand him despite his continuing silence. This friendship translates into an even greater protectiveness towards Keroa and her happiness. Ao will take up the fight for her, even against Arky, if he thinks it is in Keroa’s best interest.
- Kerr V'yen – Ao met Kerr outside a Limsa Lominsan alley. The noise of a street fight drew Ao’s attention as he escorted his young charge through the city. Within the alley’s shadows, Ao caught a glimpse of the combatants and his own expression.. flickered. Seeing Ao’s expression waver, Zara waited for the fight to end, watching curiously until Kerr came out of the alley victorious, albeit slightly bruised. As Kerr looked at them in surprise and turned on heel to distance himself quickly, Zara stubbornly pursued him to tend his minor wounds with Ao alert and vigilant at her side. If Zara had to guess the meaning of Ao’s expression, she’d say it was love at first sight…
- Kota Wildmane – Despite Ao’s distaste for all things hot, he finds the ring of this blacksmith’s hammer on anvil soothing and familiar. Since their introduction, Ao has been rougher than usual on his axes, frequenting the smithy to have Kota see to their repair. While there, Ao will crouch in the coolest corner away from the forge, seeming to doze as he watches Kota work.
- M'dhori Rhea – Over the course of an intensive and grueling training exercise, Ao and Mi found themselves repeatedly bound by Fate. Their opposing personalities aside, a deep bond has formed between Ao and Mi through countless shared battles and adventures, leading him to tolerate – and often delight in - her eccentric behavior. When Ao is not with Zara, Ao is most likely to be found at Mi's side or alone.
- U'tano_Kazhe (alt) – Like the moon’s pull on the ocean, creating waves, U’tano has never directly crossed Ao’s path but has shaped it, nonetheless. Under Zara’s direction, he sometimes takes on odd jobs for U’tano, leading him to have an awareness of the people she interacts with and the stories left in her wake.
- Zarara Zara (alt) – Ao has been in Zarara Zara’s family’s employ for over a decade, hired as Zara’s sole bodyguard when the child prodigy began sneaking off her estate to pursue her research across the Coerthas Central Highlands. Despite their age difference, Ao and Zara have become close as the years passed, Zara being the person who, perhaps, most truly and deeply understands and can communicate with Ao despite his silence. Zara hires Ao directly, herself, when she leaves her family estate as a teenager to pursue her research further in Limsa Lominsa. While Ao previously had no desire to leave the mountains he finds most comfortable, he was unwilling to leave Zara’s protection to another, Choosing to accompany Zara, he accepts the revised contract.
Notable Minions, Mounts and other Critters
- Eye – An ahriman Ao encountered, gravely wounded, in the mountains above Dzemael Darkhold. With Zara’s assistance, Ao nursed the Ahriman back to health. It now skulks ever near Ao’s side, heeding his call.
- Shiroi – A chocobo presented to Ao by the Maelstrom in recognition for his services.
Tendencies
Notable Habits:
- All of his expressions are subtle, easily missed if one is not paying attention.
- He does not like to speak, so he rarely says more than a word or two. Furthermore, direct personal questions will often be deflected, avoided or met with silence.
- When he does speak, he frequently drops vowels.
- Fond of Lalafell, he will lick them in greeting.
- He pats others on the head regularly.
Likes:
- Lalafell
- Stargazing
- Snow
- Watching over others
Dislikes:
- Anything remotely hot: the desert, sunshine, fire, spicy food…
- Talking
- Personal Questions
- Crowds
Quotable Quotes:
- “T’anks”
- “pol’gies”
- “Hot”
- "'ccom'd'ting"
Rumors
In his line of work, Ao's sense are always on high alert. As such, he'd note any rumors floating around about him, true or otherwise.
Looking Through a Glass Darkly: Player-Based Rumors
- "I have to be more alert to detect his presence. I have not met anyone else who can sneak up on you completely undetected or unheard." - Altima Zeroblade
- "I know he's quiet, and I don't know much about where he came from, but his actions speak volumes more than words ever will. He has a sincere heart, this much I can see." - Keroa Mosuke
