Kiku [Ready]

[Kirby Krackle]

Name: Kiku

Sex: Female

Age: Young mare

Species: Earth Pony

Eye Color: A pale rosy pink (#BD628B)

Character color: Dandelion yellow (#FFC55A)

Mane/Tail/Other: A dark gray, not quite black (#525252). Both mane and tail still have some rich bounce and curl left to them, but lack of maintenance has caused them to fall back to their natural straightness.

Physique: Thin and toned; modelesque. But, perhaps, carrying a bit more heft than it used to. It's just water weight, she insists.

 

Residence: Poninawa, with no permanent residence. Formerly the Kuro Kayaku Manor, before the property was seized by higher ups and her family was forced out. Now it's wherever she will be put up for the night.

 

Occupation: Former socialite (rich idiot with no day job). Also former con artist. She now performs whatever menial tasks given to her in exchange for a roof over her head.

 

Cutie Mark: A chrysanthemum blossom, the same color as her eyes. Little filly Kiku earned this during some simple flower arrangements in the family garden, albeit against Father's wishes. It was the gardener's job, after all. And this was a professional he hired, in an effort to get the house in tip top shape for a visit from his employers that day. But his skill wasn't up to snuff. So, being the charming little thing that she was, convinced the help to arrange things her way instead. With the two of them getting their hooves dirty now, the garden was ready in record time. There were nothing but compliments at the end of that unforgettable luncheon, where, in a sudden burst of self confidence, she announced to the table that she was the one who did it. She was about to be scolded... until boss pone told her what a talented daughter he had.

 

Unique Traits: The curse she bears is a nasty one. In the back of her head, splitting the mane that she was always so proud of, that she took such excellent care of, is now home to a second mouth. A wide one, with full lips and teeth like daggers. And this second mouth, very much a part of her, says everything the front half of Kiku dares not. 'She' is loud and crude, a viscous flirt who curses like a sailor, and cannot tell a lie. The second half of Kiku is the ugly truth that she'd rather hide but now cannot, ever, until the curse is removed.

 

History: Kiku is a thoroughbred, born into wealth and status, thanks to her father's successful fireworks business, Kuro Kayaku. There’s was a household name; their stunning artwork on full display at events both local and national. And that position has treated her well, offering her the opportunities afforded to very few. Fine dining, expensive clothes, lavish clubs and late night parties were her standard. Life was good and Kiku wanted for nothing. That is, of course, until father lost his job. He was found using his expertise to make less-friendly kinds of explosives for the wrong ponies. With Dad now in prison, the family was now disgraced; their assets seized. Riches to rags in just a day. Mother took to it well, finding manual and artisan jobs, able to make a living on her own and avoid disgrace. She married into the money. But Kiku did not fare as well. She couldn't handle going from having everything handed to her on a silver platter to actually having to earn it. So the spoiled little brat did what (she thought) she did best.

Being both a charmer and a looker, Kiku never had little trouble batting the goo-goo eyes and whispering some sweet nothings to get other ponies to do her a favor or two. So why not use these wonderful skills of hers to turn a profit? And oh, what a profit she made; leaving in her wake a trail of broken promises and broken hearts. All the while she stockpiled money, jewels, whatever gifts her pseudo-suiters would give her as she wandered from city to city digging for gold. And she would have kept going, until she tried her shenanigans against the wrong mark.

Kakusareta seemed like just another entrepreneur, a fashion mogul with too much money on her hooves, looking to spend it all on some eye candy. Rich and lonely, exactly what Kiku was looking for. She laid it on thick and Kakusareta fell hard and fast. The two were inseparable, a marriage proposal being dropped on Kiku in a matter of months. And no expense was to be spared; this day was going to be perfect.

But something went wrong at the altar. The vows that were exchanged; Kiku had no idea that they were part of a spell. One of Yokai magic. And it was... Kakusareta who was doing the casting? But how could this be? She never once said she was a... A giant spider. Kiku was terrified. Of her would-be lover's true face. Of the spell that she was now a part of. Of the fact that the spell had gone horribly awry. The vows they both recited, they were promises of true love, honesty and loyalty. None of which were to be found in the heart of Kiku. So in a cruel twist of fate, the magic, now a curse, took on a life of it's own. The back of her head split. Her mind split. And she was permanently marked as a liar for the entire world to see, with the truth now flowing freely from the newly formed second mouth. Kakusareta cast her out, heartbroken, as the new half of Kiku spilled the beans of her plan to the bride, to onlookers, to everypony within earshot. So Kiku, now a monster, headed into the forests to isolate herself.

With nothing more than the clothes on her back and a bit of money, she spent months alone out in the wilderness, in solitude, in meditation. She learned to calm her second half, for the most part. She learned how to fend for herself. She learned humility, honesty. And in those rare occasions where she had to wander into civilization for supplies or for some simple petty jobs, she made certain to try and find anyone she may have tried to trick in the past. To apologize and try to make up for some of the pain she may have caused.
 

Personality: Kiku is, for better or for worse, a shadow of what she used to be, now that she's been knocked down more than a few pegs. She's incredibly humble, cautious with her words, and probably apologizes a little too much. She is still, however, as polite and well spoken as she ever was, thanks to all those diction classes from her youth. She's generous now; freely giving her time and effort and what few bits she has to whomever might ask. Perhaps a little too much sometimes, but that's overcompensation for you. And as always, the back of her head is far more honest than the rest of her; be it from some witnessed mistreatment of another pony or under-seasoned food. But she's learned to clunk herself in the head if perhaps her other voice is about to say something a little too biting.

 

Summary: A haughty Earth Pony, native to Poninawa, was a mare of wealth and taste, with a silver spoon in her mouth. Few could resist her charms or her money and she knew it. But when the wealth dried up and she was left to her own devices, rather than take up an honest living, she instead turned to gold digging. Things went fine for a while and she remained in high society until she ran afoul of Yokai magic. She broke one too many hearts and one too many vows and now she's cursed to always speak the truth, no matter what. She wanders now, doing simple jobs to earn a meal or two for the day, hoping perhaps that today is the day she can apologize to those she hurt and break this miserable curse.

[Dubstep]