Name: Makino, Tatsu
Age: 12
Gender: Male
Sex: Male
General Description: Tatsu has low opinions of most of the people that he meets. Upon meeting someone he places them into one of two separate categories: a fool who he can con, or a threat who can see through his tricks. He likes to appear amiable to his targets, but when he isn't trying to take someone else's money he is often quiet and uninterested in friendly conversation.
Tatsu is 4'8”, weighs 93 Lbs and has long, straight, dirty blond hair. He often has a toothpick in his mouth and his face is gaunt, like he hasn't been properly fed. He often wears a thick gray coat, hiding a scrawny frame.
History: Tatsu knows that life is hard and unfair. Raised by a poor family, he often had to do odd jobs to help pay for food. One day he was delivered a package to a casino. He gave the package to an employee, but did not leave immediately because he was transfixed by the games and the atmosphere. He wanted to get a closer look and went to one of the poker tables. Only two people were left in the game and one of them went all in. Standing behind one of the men, he noticed something, the gambler had switched one card out for another that was hidden in his sleeve. Tatsu started to speak up, notifying the player of his presence. He was quickly shushed and the gambler whispered in his ear, saying “If you shut up I will give you some of my winnings.” Silenced by the promise of money, Tatsu waited for the two to finish.
The man walked out of the building with his winnings, Tatsu following closely behind. “Did you cheat? Why?” He asked. The man shook his head, chuckling a bit to himself. “That place cheats more people out of money than I ever did,” He then looks at Tatsu and places a hand on his shoulder. “I have lived a life as a beggar once. It wasn't pleasant. You swallow your pride and embarrass yourself asking for ryo on a street corner. It's hard to find charitable people,” he says solemnly. “But, selfish people are common. If you ask for money you'll likely be ignored, but if you even hint to someone that you know a way to make them money, they will listen to every word you say,” he then hands the promised yen to him. “They don't care about me, so I don't care about them.” He then turned and walked away. Tatsu looked at the money in his hands and thought about the man's words. It was far more than what he got when working or begging. Maybe the gambler was right. Why work honestly if he can make so much more through trickery?
That day Tatsu learned the ways of a con artist, practiced in sleight of hand. He often set up games in the streets and earned a lot of money from winning bets in his fixed games. His family did not have to live off of scraps of food anymore, and things were looking up. At least they were, until a few years later when he cheated against a disguised ninja. He recognized the calculated way the boy threw the dice and caught him instantly. In most situations he would have been arrested, but the ninja saw potential. So, he was given a choice: Become a ninja or be arrested and outed as a con man. Tatsu did not want to risk his life for a village that had done little to help him, but he did not want to go back to his old life. Worse, all the people that he fooled would know that he tricked them, and some are not very forgiving. Having little choice, he took the man's offer.
(I apologize in advance if this is not up to your standards.)
Age: 12
Gender: Male
Sex: Male
General Description: Tatsu has low opinions of most of the people that he meets. Upon meeting someone he places them into one of two separate categories: a fool who he can con, or a threat who can see through his tricks. He likes to appear amiable to his targets, but when he isn't trying to take someone else's money he is often quiet and uninterested in friendly conversation.
Tatsu is 4'8”, weighs 93 Lbs and has long, straight, dirty blond hair. He often has a toothpick in his mouth and his face is gaunt, like he hasn't been properly fed. He often wears a thick gray coat, hiding a scrawny frame.
History: Tatsu knows that life is hard and unfair. Raised by a poor family, he often had to do odd jobs to help pay for food. One day he was delivered a package to a casino. He gave the package to an employee, but did not leave immediately because he was transfixed by the games and the atmosphere. He wanted to get a closer look and went to one of the poker tables. Only two people were left in the game and one of them went all in. Standing behind one of the men, he noticed something, the gambler had switched one card out for another that was hidden in his sleeve. Tatsu started to speak up, notifying the player of his presence. He was quickly shushed and the gambler whispered in his ear, saying “If you shut up I will give you some of my winnings.” Silenced by the promise of money, Tatsu waited for the two to finish.
The man walked out of the building with his winnings, Tatsu following closely behind. “Did you cheat? Why?” He asked. The man shook his head, chuckling a bit to himself. “That place cheats more people out of money than I ever did,” He then looks at Tatsu and places a hand on his shoulder. “I have lived a life as a beggar once. It wasn't pleasant. You swallow your pride and embarrass yourself asking for ryo on a street corner. It's hard to find charitable people,” he says solemnly. “But, selfish people are common. If you ask for money you'll likely be ignored, but if you even hint to someone that you know a way to make them money, they will listen to every word you say,” he then hands the promised yen to him. “They don't care about me, so I don't care about them.” He then turned and walked away. Tatsu looked at the money in his hands and thought about the man's words. It was far more than what he got when working or begging. Maybe the gambler was right. Why work honestly if he can make so much more through trickery?
That day Tatsu learned the ways of a con artist, practiced in sleight of hand. He often set up games in the streets and earned a lot of money from winning bets in his fixed games. His family did not have to live off of scraps of food anymore, and things were looking up. At least they were, until a few years later when he cheated against a disguised ninja. He recognized the calculated way the boy threw the dice and caught him instantly. In most situations he would have been arrested, but the ninja saw potential. So, he was given a choice: Become a ninja or be arrested and outed as a con man. Tatsu did not want to risk his life for a village that had done little to help him, but he did not want to go back to his old life. Worse, all the people that he fooled would know that he tricked them, and some are not very forgiving. Having little choice, he took the man's offer.
(I apologize in advance if this is not up to your standards.)
