Cai Lai (WIP)

Cai Lai,

this is gospel for the fallen ones

One could call him intelligent in his knowledge of mathematics, spatial reasoning, or common riddle-solving; he is also challenged in discerning artistic and philosophical meaning. (Perhaps this is why he took on the job he did.) He isn't completely unaware of street tactics; he's also unable to become a kingpin. Tactical is a fair word to describe Cai, but systematic tackles his roots, and so long as he keeps his hands clean. When he works with microwave energies and other classified data, this seldom happens.

One thing notable about Cai is his consistent self-reflection. He spends some time each day focusing on his behavior and not only how it affects himself, but his environment. Remorse, if he truly makes a mistake, is given swiftly. Outbursts of anger are short and typically controlled, often accompanied by a polite request to enter another room. If he can find someone that clearly made him suffer, he will direct his anger at them alone. Outside office hours - or maybe on, depending on if you threatened his family - fights aren't out of the question.

One could look at Cai and find him generally relaxed. Despite his general composure, he isn't one to avoid conflict, and will in fact work to pick reactions from people. Physical conflicts are not out of the question, as old-school "might-makes-right" philosophy has rarely moved. Cai has never been a particularly charismatic speaker, which left him generally quiet. His silence may keep him out of lies or drama, but it also leaves a cold and/or awkward air.

Perhaps his greatest downfall is his short-term planning. In his studies, he can pick and focus on consequences just fine. He rarely does so, elsewhere. In his plan to cut long-term goals into shorter ones, the consequences his actions bear on himself or on others are left open. Until he has more information, he avoids making predictions.

Not only has he denied the Magi genocide, but when provoked Cai reveals his views of Magi as subhuman; dangerous, unnecessary, and unable to adapt to a human lifestyle. He holds a strange desire to let them storm over the city and attempting to overthrow the order - further proving his point. Beyond that and the toppings that belong on [pizza or pizza equivalent, mods plz help], that seems to be the only racial stigma that's stuck. He's not quick to judge cyborgs, despite his mother's treatment of them, and won't think twice about a bionic. Customs are oft ignored; he'll freely suggest building over a burial ground, for instance.

Cai's goals in life are far and few in between. Beyond the obvious - to thrive - Cai wishes to establish a small home for himself, to keep doing his job, and perhaps to see if the University of Magic provides the services it boasts. He's not thought of entering another relationship; his thoughts on this are as meandering and as accidental as his sense of humor. If something happens, it happens.

appearance

A matte of coal-black hair folds around his head. While he prefers to buzz-cut his hair, his grows so long so quickly he's perfectly willing to compromise with ear's length, complete with bangs and even a small fringe. Flat, small lips sit on his face, as if pasted there. His hair never reaches his touches his eyes by his own volition. A slender and triangular face, complete with sunken chestnut eyes, belies his body composition and general activity.

Cai Lai, standing at 6' tall exactly, stands at a clean 159lbs. Despite his job requiring hours of number crunching, he manages to stay relatively fit, courtesy of his exercise regime and diet. His shoulders are broad and abdomen developed, though he has a pretty clear specialization. One look at his calves, though, and it's pretty clear he skips leg day more than he'd like to admit.

Cai has a third nipple, positioned right under his second left abdominal muscle. It is very small, non-functioning, and besides its presence has otherwise no bearing on Cai's functioning as a human being. He has three nipples. Yay.

Cai Lai's a very clean man, as well, and as such carries his wheat-colored skin with pride. Blemishes on his face have long since been taken care of, though there are scars from younger years. He may smell like smooth-soap; he's known for taking cold showers before big meetings.

One could call his speech refined, polite, and optimized, with just the right word to describe a scenario. Coupled with his voice, which some describe as smooth yet somewhat monotone, and one can see how conversations with Cai can sound boring or forced.




Generally speaking, one can find Cai Lai with well-flattened, well-fitting clothing. His work and casual wardrobe always has a pair of dark khakis, and usually a dark-coloured collared shirt to go along with it. If for work, a suit or a collared tee; if out and about, a black tee. Sportcoats feel weird to him, so he does not wear them, ever. Graphics are either simple and meaningful, or complex and ornate - nothing in between. In the rain, he'll carry a bright pink umbrella. Possibly due to stubbornness, he things pink is a "rain color." It may also have to do with putting Sable's belongings out to dry during a summer typhoon.

On the off-chance he's in an emergency, he'll throw on a pair of white sweatpants and a long white shirt. All of his exercise clothes are pale, except during the winter, when they're thicker and blacker than a huddle of stripeless skunks.

family relations

Parents
Mother: Marianne Lai-Hartlova (Living in Felici)
Father: Zhen Lai (Living in Felici)

Extended Family
Zhen's father: Jo "Terry" Lai (Living in Pate)
Zhen's mother: Zun Whisman Lai (Dead)
Zhen''s Uncle: Mao Lai (Living in Pate)
Zhen's First Cousin: Sable Lai (Arrested in Felici)
Marianne's First Aunt: Lisa Stewardson  (Living in Felicia
Marianne's Mother: Riyanna Hartlova-Stewardson (Living in Felici)
Marianne's Father: Kuzma Hartlova (Living in Felici)

biography

Cai will admit: he was was not born from the same planning put forth in his work. His family met under tumultuous circumstances. Marianne, then 26, worked to crawl $245,000 out of a $400,000 debt to become a surgeon, among other expenses for partying and other unexpected emergency costs. Costs, such as failing vehicles and two pretty big thefts, didn't help. Meanwhile, a same-aged Zhen, former Pate shipyard manager-turned-Felici business teacher, steered through the politically nasty death of his mother, which left Zhen's first cousin down a path of alcoholism and Zhen with only a small portion of the will. After meeting at a food festival, the stressed two decided they enjoyed their company. At one point, the two consummated out of sheer boredom. They decided they liked consummating together, so they decided to settle down and have a child.

They attempted to have a child without a wedding. Which, while Zhen's family were completely fine with this, those on Marianne's side nearly lost their collective shit when they found out. Kuzma nad Riyanna both wanted to provide their child the most flowery. Alas, while Zhen 

Cai, the first child, was born the only child. There'd been an attempt at a second, but it did not go well at all. Case in point, Zhen and Marianne agreed on an abortion after the discovery a combined fourteen eyes outside of the head, a predisposition for Down's syndrome, and no discernible genitalia in the first trimester pregnancy. Alive, and otherwise healthy, but far from well. Both parents took this badly enough that they declared no more children were to be had in House Lai.


An eighteeen year old Cai...not sure, one of those three
A) Devised a way to earn a large sum of money through a lottery, but only took a thousand to be "fair"
B) Earned a solid green belt in martial arts
C) Won a lottery for a microwave

He'd take project housing if it meant a contract. Unfortunately, Cai learned pretty quickly that he'd have to keep himself alert in an era like this one. Perhaps he'd pick up a new craft. Definitely keep. He paid attention in those time management sessions earlier on for good reason.

-Unarmed Fighting I - You know the basics and can hold your own in a street fight.
You may know how to throw a good punch or low kick, though your judo (universe equivalent?) training pushes this aside for grapples and locks. Of course, there are some blocks and side-steps. However, you lack the experience to pull off more complex techniques, as well as the experience to take on more formidable hand-to-hand fighters.




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[b]Arakawa Under the Bridge, Kou Ichinomiya[/b] as [i]Cai Lai[/i]