Iwa Katai, The Hanged Man
Name:
Katai, Iwa
Age:
Seventeen
Gender:
Male
Backstory:
Iwa was born to two very poor parents in Ensunai Town. His father, Tetsuyoi Katai, was an unsuccessful pursuant
of the mechanical trade, while his mother, Kea Katai, was a nurse for a small nursing home. While Tetsuyoi considered abortion, Kea insisted that it was out of the question. Albeit reluctantly, Iwa's father agreed with his wife. Despite the hardships that would come, they would have this child.
They named him Iwa, Japanese for rock, in the hopes that he would be a strong foundation for the family's new life. Despite their financial strife, Iwa grew up knowing nothing but love. He was their light, their hope — the reason they kept the wheel turning. All their struggling wouldn't go unnoticed. Iwa understood what his parents had to go through in order to maintain the roof that was over their heads; he knew that, with the way things were going, that roof would eventually collapse.
Much to his parents' shock and dismay, the young boy suggested an orphanage, telling them his absence might give them enough of a foothold to pick themselves up. Initially, the parents refused. They wouldn't let him believe that any of this was his fault. The couple told him to never bring up the thought again, which he obliged to, not wanting to upset his parents.
Time passed, and the struggling only continued. Things were looking dire with each passing week. Eventually, things got to the point where the couple could deny it no longer — if nothing changed, they'd all be going under. As much as it broke their hearts, they decided to take the way out their son had provided. At 10 years old, Iwa Katai was put in an orphanage, with a promise that they'd be back to get him as soon as they were on solid ground again. They never would.
Years passed, and Iwa forsook any hope of his parents returning for him. In the early years, he watched as new friends he'd made came and went. Plenty of families asked about him, but he refused to leave with any of them, holding onto the hope that his parents would someday be back. Now, nobody bothered to ask. Nobody wanted someone as old as he, that they knew would someday be moving out into the real world anyway.
The orphanage treated him well, making sure he had food and care aplenty, as well as giving him the education he very much needed. He proved to be one that easily grasped concepts, and grew over the years to be considered a genius among his age group. It was something to take pride in for the boy. Everyone needs something. His intellect would eventually be noticed by a single man looking to adopt. Between him and Iwa was an under-the-table deal to join the JSDF if he was adopted. Iwa refused. He wouldn't trade his freedom for four walls and a roof, even when reminded by the man that once he hit 18, he'd be on the streets.
Iwa kept the man's offer to himself, not wanting to pester his orphanage guardians with a confrontation. Despite his lost faith in his parents' promise, he still wonders where and how they are each passing day.
Personality:
Iwa is a quiet person at base, only talking to others adamantly once he's allowed himself to grow attached to them. He has a very self-sacrificing nature, often giving part of his own meal to others. He also declines most luxuries afforded some of the other orphans, not wanting to burden his temporary caretakers. Through his education, he's demonstrated a near genius level intellect. Despite his rather introverted nature, he does find the world to be a fascinating place, and loves reading to learn new things and then telling others about them. Above all else, he is steadfast in his beliefs and ideals, not budging on what he believes to be either right and just, or simply the best decision he can make for himself or others.
On the other hand, his faith has been damaged because of his parents' continued absence. As a result, he's reluctant in opening up to others, preferring to keep them at arm's length so losing them won't be quite so painful. Seeing people he once called friends being picked up and taken away, Iwa has resolved to the fact that his best course of action is to not set himself up for heartbreak. He's also adopted a semi-nihilistic view of life, not looking ahead to exactly what homelessness will mean for him in his refusal to join the JSDF in exchange for being adopted. Iwa is also evasive of conflict to a fault.
Arcana:
XII: The Hanged Man
Primary weapon:
Nunchucks
Theme:
