Hildr Kawasaki

Student,
Shin'o Academy
Reiatsu
50
Strength
20
Defense
5
Speed
20
Spirit
5
Well, hi!

Hildr is a fresh-off-the-burner Academy grad who was placed in the 11th Division due to the high demand for foot soldiers given the black death currently wrecking havoc on Earth. As someone who manifested her Zanpakutō even before joining the Academy and a person who has an innate talent for the spiritual arts, she definitely has a level of resentment towards the faceless "higher ups" who deemed it appropriate to shunt someone like her into the canon-fodder Division. While she doesn't hide her disdain for the situation, nor does she necessarily like the ideals of the Shinigami, she's trying to make the most of her situation.

In general, Hildr is a very personable, outgoing young woman who sees herself as a protector. A leader at heart who will go out of her way to fulfil this heroic role she's placed upon herself. After all, she's great! She's a prodigy, someone destined for more than just a nameless Shinigami lost to the sea of death that's crippling all three of the worlds. You can read the actual write up (subject to be tweaked) or her personality below.
There's no question that Hildr is destined for greatness. She was able to manifest her Reiatsu nearly a year before being recruited. Though not top of her class, she excelled in practical skills and her studies while in the Academy. She graduated with the highest Reiatsu of her class. She's a prodigy; a child destined to see everything the world has to offer. To bring peace in this time of chaos.

Well, that's how she sees it.

Hildr is a woman driven by passion and (perhaps unjustified) a sense of entitlement. She's viewed herself as a leader, someone who is loved and motivated by those beneath her. The signs given to her throughout her life are certainly breadcrumbs trailing her towards a larger purpose in life. Her destiny almost certainly cannot be the rank and file life of the 11th.

She cannot be destined to be faceless fodder, fed to the Hollows unceremoniously.

On the surface, when her raging frustrations at her circumstances are stifled, Hildr is a positive, upbeat personality. Though she is prone to a fierce judgmental streak, she does her best to reach out to those around her. She enjoys the feeling of comradery, the closeness of those looking up to her, the rush of someone relying on her -- asking her for help. When someone is in trouble, or is prone to isolating themselves, Hildr will go out of her way to "rescue" the lost and meek souls around her.

More often than not, however, her relentless pursuit to help those around her will often get her into more trouble than it's worth. In her rush to be the hero, she'll bravely stick her neck out of the less fortunate, even going so far as to put her own life on the line depending on the situation. In that regard, she's inherently self-sacrificing even if it is for self reasons. This can often manifest as an empathic, understanding demeanor coupled with a "don't worry; I'll protect you no matter what" sort of attitude.

And that isn't to say her heroic, leader-like persona isn't all bark. She trains fiercely, honing her skills to protect those she has taken under her wing. And, of course, to prove to the "higher ups" that there has clearly been a mistake in her placement. Through the support of her peers and sheer skill, she believes she can claw her way back to the path fate had been pathing for her.

There's no question that this is just a bump in her road to greatness.

As for history, I've left a lot of her time in the Rukongai pretty vague for now. She's about 500 years old and lived most of that time in the mid-far Districts (maybe around 60ish). She didn't have a proper family unit and instead lived with a group of homeless teenagers and adults that travelled about. There was some sort of traumatic event that resulted in the death of most of the members of her gang, the details of which I haven't decided firmly on, but they're not super relevant. This event is what sparked her Zanpakutō to manifest and, shortly thereafter, got her recruited into the Academy.

Her first couple years in the Academy were spent with bright eyes and excitement for the future. She felt special and eagerly looked forward to becoming a proper Shinigami. Someone helping the greater good. Needless to say, this vision was shattered before she was graduated as she learned more about the state of things. As her studies took her away from her love of Kido and the realization of why she was recruited set in, she became almost calloused towards the other Shinigami regardless of their intentions.

Starting out with her, she wouldn't be afraid to butt heads with other Shinigami -- especially those who think everything is fine, turn a blind eye to how recruits are being sent out to die unceremoniously, or simply those who have, for one reason or another, been able to escape the horrors of what's going on. In contrast, those who sympathize with her (or simply stroke her massive, girthy ego) will easily make friends with Hildr.
 
her whole relationship with the idea of "fodder footsoldier shinigami" - which is really never even explored in cannon - is pretty great to see here. It feels split in an interesting way, almost as if she simultaneously empathizes with and wants to protect these people while also putting herself above them. She views herself as the one to save these hopeless meatshields, but she also dreads the idea of being like them. It's like a nicer way of looking down on people. How much do you think it's weighted towards genuine selflessness compared to just matching the image of hero? Does her sacrificial nature come from a belief that she can handle anything that's thrown at her, and that she's not really in any danger because she's this special, talented person? If she were faced with a situation that would actually cost her her life for the sake of others, would she be willing to go through with it? As far as her position within the Gotei goes, do you think being (presumably/inevitably) surrounded by the deaths of her colleagues would weigh on her self-belief, or would it reinforce the fact that she survived because she's destined to not be like them? Lots of things to look at here.

On a lighter note, her kido thing is also nifty! Can't help but wonder what kind of dynamic it would create with her squadmates. Does she still try to pursue those arts in her own time? Or has she sort of begrudgingly been made to let it go? Do you think her outgoing nature and her enjoyment of comradery is weighed down by the fact that she sorta doesn't fit in? Would she ever look to move Divisions?
 
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Reactions: Hildr Kawasaki
Student,
Shin'o Academy
Reiatsu
50
Strength
20
Defense
5
Speed
20
Spirit
5
Lots to unpack here. I like it!

There's definitely a level of selflessness to her nature, as she does care a great deal about those around her. However, you're right on the head that the main crux of her attitude is based around the idea of "I'm so much better than these people, so it's my moral obligation to help them at all costs." Whether that would extend to her risking her own life depends, I think. For someone she's close with? Absolutely. For a random person she just met? Ehhhh, I think it depends on the context.

She hasn't been exposed to the death of her comrads just yet -- she's only a few weeks out of the Academy at best -- but even now she's already accepted that it's inevitable. She certainly feels awful about the situation, but when people do start dying I don't think it would weigh on her too hard.

As for Kido, she definitely pursues it in her own time. I hope for her to learn Shunko rather quickly. Ideally from someone teaching her, but if she stumbles into it that would just further bloat her massive head (which is great).

She definitely wants to transfer Divisions, but how I imagine the state of things likely makes it difficult. The Seireitei needs as many capable bodies doing Shinigami things. With her having competent Reiatsu and passable skills, she's more valuable doing actual Shinigami work rather than splitting her attention.

Lastly, when it comes to her peers, I figure she gets along well enough with them. Whether she truly fits in is something I'd like to explore in character since we've got so many other people in the 11th.

Whew. How that addressed everything! Forgive any mobile-post weirdness.