Day 10:
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Relationships and history:
What is their family history like? How does it affect them?
On the paternal side, the Hakuba family is small, but industrious. They take pride in blazing new trails in whatever field interests them and own their accomplishments duly. Each member of the Hakuba family is expected to take life’s reins in their own hands and be in control of your own destiny! …as long as you fit into society and are fully Japanese and respectable and not poor, etc. etc. etc.
The maternal side is actually quite similar, though they have a much larger focus on family. And while they are also rich, snooty, proud people, they don’t really care where you come from so long as you don’t cause a scandal. Oh, and you should probably be Catholic, too, but Grandmum Wickham isn’t going to ask for your records so it’s fine if you lie about it. Heaven help you if you do something that requires it, though, because she will claim ignorance and throw you to the wolves…
All of this makes Hakuba extremely conscious of his conduct in society because he doesn’t want to get ire from either side, which is so easy to stir. As frustrating as it would be to deal with bad press for himself, he is WAY more concerned with not wanting his parents to have to deal with the backlash on either side for something HE did or didn’t do. Alas, in order to be a great, self-made man, you have to take risks that can easily bite you in the ass, so there’s really nothing he can do but be perfect 24/7. No pressure, right?
How do they feel about their family?
Even though he and his father have a very strained, one-sided relationship, Hakuba greatly admires his father and becomes more and more like him each day. He would like him a lot more if Hakuba Sr weren’t such a flake, though he does understand that it’s due to the excessive tunnel vision and dedication to the Japanese police force that keep him so occupied.
He has very tense feelings in regards to the paternal grandparents, meanwhile. Almost every interaction with them has been unpleasant and markedly distant. He claims he would be content to never have to see them again, but I think that’s a lie, and he really wants to make them proud. Somehow. If that’s even possible.
Hakuba and his mother get along very well, though, and they’re close despite the turbulence and his reluctance. He has no siblings, but adores his four uncles, and is able to put up with his overbearing and controlling grandmother without much difficulty.
And, though Baaya isn’t family, technically speaking, Hakuba is closer to her than anyone else. So much love and adoration for her!
How does their family feel about them?
Hakuba Sr couldn’t be prouder of his son, even if he doesn’t really know how to express this in a way that Saguru will accept. He’d do anything for him (if he had the time), and will ALWAYS love and accept him for who he is, even the controversial parts, though he sort of hopes he never has to deal with that because…
Grandparents Hakuba, as mentioned in previous posts, still don’t even recognize Hakuba Sr and Marion’s marriage, let alone his ‘bastard’ halfer son. They don’t consider him part of the family, at least officially, though I strongly suspect that they are aware of Saguru’s achievements and accomplishments and are just waiting for him to stand up to them before they finally relent and accept him…
Marion loves Saguru to bits and pieces and thinks he’s just the greatest and should move back to England and be happy. She often fights with her mother about it, though, since Grandmum Wickham seems to think that Hakuba should come back, settle down with some nice girl, have tons of kids, take over the world… which is exactly what Marion thinks, but that makes her mad because no one should control his life and he should be free to do what he wants but he should probably want to do x, y, z anyway because CUTE GRANDKIDS~!
His uncles adore him and treat him like a little brother, and just like having him around.
Baaya worries about the young master constantly, since she knows more about what he’s going through than anyone else, and just… does all that she can to support and comfort him within appropriate means. Like insisting that she drive and regulating his cigarette supply…
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