The Pros and Cons of High Society

The Administrators have recently been discussing stepping up our expectations on characterizations of your patrons. Due to the overwhelmingly growing amounts of Ouran characters who have all adopted the “Haruhi Complex,” we need to address issues about the type of upbringing that Ouran students have, and the fact that many of these issues aren’t ever taken into consideration when you’re playing your characters.

We all love Haruhi’s characterization because she’s technically a breath of fresh air in what’s considered an overtly stuffy realm of high society. Unfortunately, her insane sense of apathy toward nearly everything also makes her a very flat character when duplicated en masse. In other words, having all of you act like “commoners are just normal people too” deflates any conflict in the game, and ultimately kills plot. The reason the Administrators combined Ouran with Wallflower was to help drive the story by stuffing two polar opposite cultures together under one roof and try to watch all the characters grow (and fight) throughout the story. This, however, is not being accomplished because all of the Ouran students are “okay” with commoner-based behaviors. To add to the problem, we’re seeing a lot of Ouran students perform activities that are not acceptable even in a commoner’s society.

This lesson is to help give you a better idea on the attitude and level of responsibility you need to consider when you’re role-playing an Ouran student. This lesson was written with many years of role-play study in the conception and implementation of aristocratic characters and how they behave in-game. The administrators ask that you read this lesson in its entirety and begin the process of re-evaluating your character’s attitude (and profile if you must) to better suit the overall basic standards of behavior.

If we continue to see consistent behavior within your character that better suits a Mori High School student, then the administrators will re-assign your character as a Mori student and your character’s influential background will be rewritten to a commoner’s level. Please note that this is necessary because currently there is a very low level of plotline advancement and players keep trying to diffuse any conflict with the “Why can’t we all just get along?!” cop-out. This is more of a “commoner’s” attitude and doesn’t befit the overall Ouran mentality.

Most importantly, please note that we are not doing this as retribution against any of you on a personal level. We are posting this for the sake and survival of a good, continuous game that will keep you interested and will entice more people to join in. We need to clarify that we do not hate anyone, nor are we trying to harp on your characters in any way. We’re doing this because we’re trying to help all of you take into consideration the roles you are portraying and what you might need to do in order to improve your level of thinking as a role-player. This is also the chance to possibly learn something new along the way!

We feel that now most of you have figured out how to physically play the game, you’ve graduated to the next level of possibilities!

The Ouran Mentality

In the world of Ouran, Bisco has depicted various types of students that range from fairly pleasant to really snooty. We’ve even gotten a major glimpse of how the adults act within their level of influence. For the most part, all of the characters have certain standards of living and expectations in life when they interact with others. The Ouran world is all about one’s image, and how you don’t want to tarnish that image. Bisco does a very good job in communicating aristocratic society through each of the hosts.

Tamaki may be goofy in nature, but he always makes sure to put his best foot forward in front of everyone he meets. Kyoya is also taught well to always be pleasant, despite the fact that he thinks everyone is beneath him both intellectually and influentially. The Hitachiins may perform the twincest scenes in front of the patrons, but it’s a strict “no-no” in front of any of the adults. Hunny is probably the most self-conscious about image next to Kyoya, which can be seen when new characters challenge his domination of cuteness. Mori is always well behaved, but that’s because his character is written to be very mellow. Go back into your manga and take a closer look at the way the people around the characters react to Tamaki’s behavior. Not all of it is always in a positive fashion.

The basic premise is that Ouran students always want to look their best in front of both aristocrats and the public. Yet, when it comes to one-on-one encounters, often aristocrats have no qualms with putting someone in their place. They are the Top Dogs of society and everyone else is beneath them. Some even go so far as to shun other aristocrats who aren’t as influential as themselves. For example, certain students from the A classes might not want to associate with those who are in classes B and lower. The school system blatantly marks each individual with their age and their ranking in society by the class they are in.

Being the fact that most of us are “commoners” in the real world (including the Admins), it’s hard to realize exactly how big of a deal image is in the public eye. It’s also multiplied since the Japanese are by nature a very polite society based on their cultural habits alone. If you’re struggling to understand the difference between Commoner Habits and Aristocratic Habits, we recommend the following movies:

Elizabeth Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights A Knight’s Tale Much Ado About Nothing Pride & Prejudice Ever After Memoirs of a Geisha Huckleberry Finn Shakespeare in Love

And also note that Shakespeare has mastered the art of writing about aristocratic society in all of its different forms and flavors.

Old Money vs. New Money

This is an old concept as well in the realm of high society. Old Money is in regards to the fact that your wealth is established through inheritance. In other words, your family has always been very rich for many generations prior, and the inheritance will continue to grow and thrive even when your great grandchildren are born. Old Money aristocrats are often more sophisticated and usually the snootiest of them all. Their children are taught to always mind their manners, and they’ll be forced to take over the family business. Old Money aristocrats are also very big on tradition, especially in Japan.

New Money is a fortune that a family has recently acquired in that immediate generation. Usually this is by finding a fortune out of land and materials, or inventing a new product that goes gangbusters in the business world. Bill Gates is a perfect example of a New Money individual. New Money families don’t really pay too much attention to ‘tradition’ or intricate details. A lot of them are a lot “friendlier” in the sense that they’ll do anything they can to make a good impression. But don’t be fooled because aristocrats, no matter where they come from, are always thinking about their image. New Money families are very much into pomp and circumstance, and try to impress everyone with all of the material things they possess. They’re constantly flashing their best suits, cars, clothes, and accessories in order to always look presentable. Often times Old Money families think that they’re just being obnoxious and flashy.

Old Money and New Money often times don’t get along so well (if at all). Old Money families are about long-term investments and sit comfy in their powerful positions. The Ohtori & Suoh Families are a shining example of Old Money at its best. When all is said and done, no one messes with Tamaki or Kyoya because they have an endless amount of power backing them up. All Kyoya has to do is make a phone call, and you might as well kiss your life goodbye.

Keep in mind that sometimes aristocrats make “friends” with others because there is something to gain by maintaining good relations with them. It’s not unusual to see a higher class family invite a lower class aristocrat to parties when the lower aristocrat has something the other wants. The higher class aristocrat will force a smile and try to be as pleasant as possible so that they can get that ‘favor’ out of them because their “friendship.” The Ohtori has “friends” in many various places, which attributes to a huge portion of their influence. Whether Kyoya’s father actually LIKES them or not is clearly debatable. It seems that Mr. Ohtori enjoys his influence “behind the scenes” and doesn’t mind propping up Mr. Suoh in front of a spotlight that could be decimated at any time. It’s a very cunning business tactic, which is why Kyoya’s motivations are ALWAYS questioned (he learned them all from his father). There’s no loyalty even within the Ohtori family itself; as Kyoya is trying to put himself in a position as prime heir over his brothers even though he’s the youngest.

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

All Ouran aristocrats tend to live by the motto: “Just because you CAN, doesn’t mean you SHOULD.” This is in regards to behavior and proper up-bringing. The difference between THEM (commoners) and US (aristocrats) is not just the fact that they have a lot of wealth and power, but because they’re more civilized. There’s a proper time and place for everything, as well as a specific kind of company that you can do different things with. Sunbathing naked is appropriate on your private beach or mansion when no one else is around except maybe your wife/husband. Sunbathing naked in the middle of a school is considered blasphemous and vulgar in front of the public eye. Just like you won’t DARE see an aristocrat belch, fart, swear, or even share food in front of other people. Tamaki was busted big time for this when Haruhi offered him something to eat. While his father found it endearing, his grandmother and the rest of the room was gasping with horror by this action. Intimacy in public is most certainly a “no-no” on many levels even when you’re at a party.

If your character performs an action that’s considered inappropriate in the aristocrats’ eyes, you need to consider the ramifications of your actions. Also, as an aristocratic character yourself; you need to be conscious of what other Ouran students are doing around you. React accordingly in the senses that if you see your classmate debasing himself to fighting, don’t hesitate to chide him about it. Informing the school board is another way of showing your disproval. Regardless if your character agrees with the action or not, your first order of business is to be concerned about your own image. If someone finds out that you were there to witness a vulgar action and didn’t report it, then your image would be lowered in the eyes of others:

“Can you believe she didn’t say anything about that? This is why society is going downhill these days. All of these children get away with acting any way they please!”

High Society is very catty when it comes to making sure they look better than everyone else. They’re HUGE drama queens in a lot of ways, so feel free to play up on that aspect. Kemuri did an excellent job in reacting to Croix and Miyuki’s first interaction with each other.

Also keep in mind that because your character is a very influential person, everything you do can (and will) be seen in the public eye. If your character goes out drinking and pees on a car, then you can bet your behind that a news reporter took pictures of you, and now you’re all over the front page. This goes double for patrons that are the children of political figureheads. Your actions can cause your mother or father to not get re-elected in the future. Your actions can also cause your parents’ business deals to go sour if you’re caught in the public limelight in a negative fashion. If you act like a delinquent at school, your parents will be on your butt quicker than bees on honey. Not to mention that your actions can and will embarrass your family. You need to think of not only your image, but your family’s image too. Everyone you’re connected to is affected by your actions on a constant basis, so be aware of that as you play.

You Can’t Have Your Cake and Eat it Too

There are two predominant situations that you need to choose between when playing a patron, and that’s whether or not you want to become an Ouran student or a Mori student. Each type has a pro and a con when you select one or the other. Very rarely can these pros and cons overlap themselves, and usually some of us hold a “first-come, first-serve” attitude on creative concepts on how to mix the two together.

Ouran Pros
Limitless money and a LOT of power and influence! Being an Ouran student allows you to visit the Host Clubs whenever you want, enjoy huge spending sprees, elaborate trips, schmooze with high-profile celebrities…the whole nine yards! The world is your oyster as far as you’re concerned, and since your parents are doing all the work, you get to sit back and enjoy the perks. What kid wouldn’t want that?

Ouran Cons
You can’t do whatever you want, whenever you want it. Well, we take that back, yes you CAN in regards to having front-row access to a concert, or getting access to a private beach. Rich boys and girls have access to just about anything their little heart desires, however, the catch is that even the ‘wild’ ones are still spoiled rotten. You wouldn’t catch them “slumming it” or being caught without the latest fashion. Even if your character isn’t too into appearances, they’ll still wear fairly nice clothes, or hang out with people that are intellectually stimulating. This includes their behaviors. Most rich kids don’t understand the actual concept of what “being a commoner” is really all about. They’ll avoid hanging out with certain types of people if they’re finding out that other people are gossiping about the friends they hang out with. Ouran students are very self-conscious about their image physically, intellectually, as well as how society (and their families) views them. Even children who have contempt towards their parents for making them do things they don’t want to hold enough self-respect to still be conscious of whom they’re ‘disappointing’. Tamaki is “odd” because he’s the only real exception to this rule, but he still pays attention to make sure that he is always well-behaved at all times while being watched by others.

Mori Pros
Your character can be crazy, intellectual, a druggie, a gangster, an average kid, a jock, a Goth, or anything else your little heart desires. Mori High School kids are middle-class society. That means you have access to just about any set of behaviors, quirks, and oddities that High Society would disown you for having. Mori characters have the freedom of choice to be who they want to be, as well as how they want to portray themselves to the world. Some of them are well-behaved, others are ill-tempered. They deal with the typical everyday life of being a teenager in an average life.

Mori Cons
Unfortunately, money and fame don’t exist here. Sure there are a few ‘celebrities’ among the masses, but for the most part you’re just a typical teen like everyone else in Japan. The Ouran Host Club is very expensive; which means you can’t visit them all of the time (some of you shouldn’t be able to afford them at all). But where one lacks in funds, one gains in creativity in how to interact with the hosts. That’s why STALKING was invented, and the Mori girls are professionals at this game!

The Wallflower

The “Everyone Loves Sunako” Epidemic: In The Wallflower, Sunako is portrayed as a very creepy “thing” to other people. Fan girls run away in massive hordes, men scream like sissies and cry for their mommies when they see her. She’s weird, she’s morbid, she’s gruesome, and she’s all for having a field day with your character’s limbs and organs. While we all know the fact that Sunako’s very adorable as a beach ball chibi, that’s what you as a reader and as a fan interpret. However, your character would most likely see her as a freak of nature. Would you cuddle Sadako (The Ring) if she came out of the well to chomp down on your shoulder? We hardly think so, and an Ouran student would probably be doubly afraid of her if she came anywhere near them.

We encourage you to be mean to her. This is the reason why we have her in the game, because she’s meant to cause conflict for both the Ouran students as well as her fellow Mori students. People should not be hunky-dory with the fact that she’s ripping out drywall in the basement! We’ve even had an Ouran girl offer to help participate. Please note that by being nice to Sunako you’re actually upsetting our player since she chose to portray this character and would like to retaliate against you. We don’t expect all of the characters to indulge in harassing Sunako, but please cease and desist on trying to be friends with her. The only people who are characteristically allowed to be ‘okay’ with this demented girl are Noi-chan and the Mori boys (and even THEY can’t handle her a lot of the time).

The Mori Host Club: For everyone who’s asking, “Yes! The Mori boys are hot!” Unfortunately The Wallflower manga has an art style that’s an acquired taste. But Tomoko created all of the Mori boys straight from Jrock band members that she’s a huge fan of (the author kind of scares us). These boys are supposed to look like male models; and girls swarm them as though they are movie stars. It also should be noted that, with the exception of Yuki, the other three are actually sons of very wealthy and influential families. It’s just that the families cut them off financially so that they could learn the harshness of the real world.

Patron Kudos

We’ve seen several patrons do an excellent job in creating and maintaining well-rounded characters that completely FIT their backgrounds. This isn’t to say that everyone else sucks, but these particular characters are worth studying a bit more in case you’re looking for other players to reference.

From Ouran:
Mayumi – While not overly snotty, Mayumi has displayed a perfect blend of Ouran hospitality without befriending everyone she sees. There’s also a distinctive line between her and the other ‘commoners’; and even though she hasn’t had too much of an opportunity to interact with Mori students, her conversations about them are on the ball.

Ori – Ori has consistently maintained a perfect blend between the obsessed fan girl and the Old Money aristocrat. There are a lot of things she THINKS but doesn’t act upon; yet, she continues to fuel the plot by keeping true to both her baser desires and up-bringing. Not to mention the fact that she keeps her associations distinctly within her pedigree and intellectual fields ONLY.

Shizuru – Shizuru hit high marks with us from the start because she’s the ultimate representation of “Royalty” when it comes to attitude. Her family has also maintained strict traditions which she is upholding to every extent (and even enjoys it).

From Mori:
Kinu – Mori High School girls are borderline psychotic on a lot of levels when it comes to stalking their favorite men. Kinu’s been keeping good tabs on bringing out some of that Mori flair with the way she literally slithers around and tries to grope things randomly.

Rylee – Rylee is also a new edition to the game, but it seems that she’s taken on a very well-rounded character who happens to be a druggie. Her reactions to Sunako have been the best we’ve seen so far.

Croix – As much as we hate to say it, Croix fits his ‘bad boy’ complex pretty well. His presence has managed to create a nice shake up within the game and now we’re beginning to see better reactions from other character players as a result of his behavior.

Basically our biggest concern has been "Driving the plot" and "reacting accordingly" with the patrons. A lot of you have been doing really well as players on an individual level.

Again, we appreciate all of you who play at the Host Club!

-Host Admin