Hotaro Hino

A child of both Sun and Jade, Hotaro was reared by his mother in the Empire from a young age, and as such, it is the only home he remembers. Because both he and his mother’s names were changed to ones more befitting the land, he no longer recalls his birth name. Back then, such a fact did not bother the young fomantis.

His mother became a dancer of Radiant Harbor, bringing an Imperium style across the waves, fostering intrigue and a sense of novelty. Her biggest fan was none other than her own son who attended every show, wishing to follow in her footsteps, and mirroring her movements at every opportunity.

A humble and fulfilled life, the two were nigh inseparable, wanting for naught so long as they were together. They became a daily sight for the locals; a mother slowing her steps so her son’s tiny legs could follow alongside her, chattering away in a world of their own without a care.

He would trade anything to return to those days. To do things differently. To change the outcome, now that he knew the signs. At ten years old, the image of his mother's final plea for his safety seared into his soul with devastating clarity.

The child, distraught, ran to find help. His feet swollen, his body battered and bruised by the elements, his lungs heaving, his heart breaking, his eyes painfully dry - he finally found a healer, a Hatterene named Tomomi, and clung to her desperately, pulling at her clothes with what little strength he had left.

Though she did not hesitate to follow, the horrific sight before her told her there was never any hope to begin with. She turned to leave, only to find the broken child grabbing her once more. Lost, frightened, and still in denial, Hotaro continued to beg her to make his mother better.

Tomomi felt her hand was forced and, begrudgingly, took the child into her care. There's only so much sobbing she can ignore. As the weeks passed, she warmed to his presence, despite how loud his emotions rang through her head. She had always wondered what it would be like to train a successor, and it was a challenge she had not tackled yet. When she thought about it, the perfect candidate practically fell into her lap – he wasn’t going to leave, after all, he had no one else.

Though his mentor was lacking in the maternal instinct the young boy craved, she gave him a sense of security and routine, even if her methods looked unusual or even cruel from an outsider's perspective. Through repeated exposure to her line of work, Tomomi was able to increase Hotaro's tolerance and desensitize him to gruesome sights that previously would have triggered a panic attack. He could now take these things in stride, pushing through for the sake of the afflicted and aiding in their care under her guidance. He took his mentor's words to heart; "If a heart is still beating, it means there's still something you can do." He has since become obsessed with improving his skills, not wanting to lose anyone to illness or injury ever again.

Years went by, Hotaro grew, evolved, and matured in his field, becoming an expert in his own right. Tomomi felt she had nothing left to impart to her student and it was time that they parted to allow him to become independent. At first, he protested, the dread of isolation already descending upon him, but was reminded that this is just what it means to grow up. Knowing his mentor was not one for sentimentality, he painted on a smile as they went their separate ways. This wasn’t goodbye – it was a “see you later,” he had to remind himself of that fact as he marched forward.

And so, Hotaro wanders the realm, seeking those who need aid and methods to improve his skills. For now, he is content to drift on the outskirts of the lives around him, but for how long will that hold?

Likes: Compression, cooking, dancing, dango, expanding his knowledge / skillset, flowers and flower arranging, fruit and berries (pecha in particular), gossip / rumours, herbal teas, reading, stories, sunbathing / napping, wandering at night, watching performances.

Dislikes: Being asked personal questions, insults towards his appearance, loud noises, people moving too quickly / suddenly around him, places with no clear exits, relying on others, staying in one place for too long, tight deadlines.

Skills: Wound care, identifying herbs and plants, crafting medicine, cooking, dancing, acupuncture.

References

Design note: The appendages on the top of his head are his ears. He does not have humanoid ears.

Notes/Trivia:
⬥ Hotaro primarily specializes in wound care, his secondary focus being a combination of herbology and food therapy.
⬥ He always has a reserve of pecha berries on hand. Tomomi once punished him by leaving him poisoned for an afternoon after he’d finished off their stock.
⬥ He is knowledgeable of a dancing style from the Jade Imperium like his late mother before him. Proficient, though not a master; he struggles to improve without a mentor.
⬥ He has also come to love Sun Empire styles of dance. He has no teacher, so instead tries to recreate what he sees from memory. There are likely many errors, but there is sincerity in his attempts.
⬥ Hotaro's fangs and the ability to use Worry Seed are traits he inherited from his father.
⬥ Worry Seed has allowed him to prevent patients from falling asleep during procedures where losing consciousness would be detrimental or dangerous. It has unfortunate (though temporary) side effects, however, so he saves it as a last resort.
⬥ Due to spending so much time with his mentor, Hotaro has unconsciously adopted some of her body language.
⬥ Similarly to wild lurantis, the colours of Hotaro's hair, eyes, and appendages become slightly desaturated if he is unwell or is not taking good care of his health.