Application @ ryslig

[believeprotector]

OOC INFORMATION
Name: Icey
Contact: iceyly#7221 @ discord | iceyly @ plurk
Age: 32
Other Characters: n/a

CHARACTER INFORMATION
Character Name: Riku
Age: 17
Canon: Kingdom Hearts
Canon Point: Kingdom Hearts III | After making contact with the Riku Replica in the Dark Realm for the first time
Character Information: "You see, it's my job to keep him on his toes. Besides, what kind of Keyblade Master sleeps through his test?"

Personality:
"I know it's out there somewhere – the strength that I need."
"Strength for what?"
"To protect the things that matter. You know, like my friends."

From young age, Riku has always been certain of what he wants – to leave his home, the Destiny Islands, behind so he can grow stronger and become a protector of all things important to him; first and foremost his friends. During his short encounter with Terra, he proves to be curious, smart – he recognizes that the other has to be from the Outside World right upon seeing him – and restless. He is a child in a hurry to grow up and find out what the worlds hold in store for him. Over the following years that curiosity turns into an obsession – he feels trapped and begins to regard the Islands as nothing but a cage – which in return is the first sign of 'Darkness' within him.

When Riku makes actual plans to leave the Islands – not just alone, but with his two best friends – his drive to depart is noted with slight discomfort by Kairi. His determination to escape the Islands is absolute to the point that he is willing to do absolutely anything without even asking what the consequences might be – when told by Ansem, Seeker of Darkness that opening the Keyhole would allow him to leave, he forces it open, unknowingly plunging the Islands into Darkness.

Before leaving home Riku has always been the strongest person of his friends group on the Islands, fiercely competitive and eager to prove himself. Due this he certainly developed an arrogant streak as well as fierce pride - both would cause him quite a bit of trouble when he first starts to explore the worlds.

Riku, at that point, is used to the attention of others (first and foremost Sora's) lingering on him and seeking him out for leadership and advice. Maleficent ends up using that habitual need in order to spark jealousy in his heart and guides him to start relying on the Darkness inside of him. Even as Riku grows more jealous and irritated at Sora's independence and success as the "Keyblade Master", his original intention – to protect his friends – still remains as he searches for a way to return Kairi's Heart; though his utter ruthlessness shows as Riku is willing to justify any means as long as the outcome is satisfactory.

He feels little to no remorse about kidnapping Pinocchio and using him in order to find out more about Kairi's condition and is taken aback when Sora calls him on it, even angry that his supposed best friend draws his weapon on him in response to his actions.

His anger would fester and poison their bond to the point of indifference and almost even hate (on Riku’s part), and that – along with his despair over being unable to help Kairi – would drive Riku further and further into the Darkness, until Ansem, Seeker of Darkness became able to posses him, using the weakness he showed the moment he first starts to crave power out of selfishness and pride – in order to best Sora – instead of his desire to help and protect others.

However, Riku has grown from his failures.

Over his journey through Castle Oblivion, he learns to accept his past mistakes and how to bear them, to accept consequences as they relate to his actions, and how to use the Darkness inside him without letting it overwhelm him.

When offered to lock away the Darkness and become the person he was before leaving the Islands, Riku refuses, noting that he has no need for that kind of thing as he was ready to face the Darkness (and Ansem) on his own terms.

Riku often comes across as very serious and mature, even more so after his insights at Castle Oblivion. He is very thoughtful and kind to the people he judges to be deserving of it and seems to have a softer spot for girls.

His maturity shows in his response to Xion when she accuses him of hating her for "taking away" his best friend ("Nah. I guess… I'm just sad.") – instead of assigning blame to her or Roxas, he is just focused on what needs to be done to awaken Sora again… saddened by his slumber, and also the sacrifices his awakening would come to cost, but determined to see things through anyway.

When Xion then asks him what she should do after finding out that her memories are not her own but Sora’s, he advices her to chose for herself but to take care that she chooses what is ‘right for everyone’. After that he makes sure to give her the time and keep her away from outside influences that might sway her from coming to her own conclusion.

Ultimately, a large part of his actions is defined by his will to do anything and everything to make sure that the people he cares about are safe and content – no matter the means and the costs. His absolute loyalty and protectiveness of those he cares about are two of his key traits and his most favorable attributes – if Riku considers someone a friend, he will go to hell and back to help and protect them.

In his time working with DiZ, he has become quite good at keeping himself hidden to observe and act out of the shadows – skills that would later help him in aiding Sora during his second journey through the worlds. In that time, Riku comes to realize that Sora's awakening would come at a price (Xion's and Roxas' existences as well as Riku's own physical appearance), and starts to prepare accordingly by asking Mickey to guide Sora after his awakening, showing the fair amount of foresight and pragmatism he has gained. In general, Riku is more likely to compromise to some degree according to the situation, even it means that he is forced to take actions that he would refrain from if given the choice otherwise.

In spite of his remaining pride – he is determined to see the consequences of his actions through by himself, to atone as "castaway from the Darkness" and never return to his home world or his friends – Riku remains insecure about his ability to wield the Keyblade and place among the Light, even after reuniting with Sora and Kairi, regaining his appearance and returning home. When approached by Master Yen Sid about taking on the Mark of Mastery, he notes that he may need to be tested, as the Darkness remains within him – his motivation to enter the exam isn't to attain Mastery, but to resolve the question of his own worth of the power that he inherited from Terra.

While traveling the sleeping worlds he is shown to be far more detached from the events within the dreams than Sora - while he is friendly, he does keep more distance to most of the people he encounters, is more than willing to help, but never forgets his own objectives in this journey.

Dream Drop Distance shows that his previous year of isolation hasn't done much for his social skills. Riku has become somewhat task-oriented as a result; focusing on what needs to be done and walking away after that. Shiki immediately calls him on this when he rescues her and tries to walk away two seconds later, and Riku even admits to her that he doesn't quite know how to interact with people after helping them out.

He also tends to be slightly thrown when being complimented even in joke, stunned when Shiki calls him her "Knight in Shining Armor", immediately telling her that she has the absolutely wrong idea about him, then is tongue tied when she teases him about it.

When confronted with Ansem, SoD/Xehanort's Heartless in The World That Never Was, he comes to admit that locking away the Darkness hasn't resolve anything and that rather than that he needs to consume it and return it to the Light. While he sees this through as he confronts Ansem and the other Xehanorts in the Keyblade Graveyard, when watching the Heartless fade for good after his defeat, Riku notes that he feels he will miss the Heartless. Ansem, in turn, notes that Riku's strength goes beyond the Darkness and that he should "go forth and seek" (which is about the closest to "don't mourn me, I'm proud to be the stepping stone to greater ambitions" that any Xehanort is ever going to get, I guess).

Ultimately, Riku's journey through the Realm of Sleep has lead him to fully come to peace with himself and his actions, and especially with who he has become as a result of them. He has lost what doubts he has in regard of his worthiness to carry the Keyblade and while he is still very new to his title and responsibilities as Keyblade Master, he has resolved to honor it.

When told about Master Aqua and her sacrifice to save him in the Realm of Darkness, Riku reacts with outrage – openly showing how upset he is with Yen Sid's judgement to keep her story a secret to prevent him and Sora from making any rescue attempts – to the point that he is called out on the oddity of that reaction by Kairi.

Riku then admits on having tried too hard at being a 'role model' for Sora and Kairi, and voices his resolve to listen to his Heart more, rather than to overthink what he is doing.

After all, he has already gained what he went looking for in first place: The strength to protect the things that matter.


5-10 Key Character Traits: ambitious, curious, competitive, loyal, task-oriented, socially awkward, proud, pragmatic, ruthless
Would you prefer a monster that FITS your character’s personality, CONFLICTS with it, EITHER, or opt for 100% RANDOMIZATION? Fits, please!
Opt-Outs: Werebear, Werewolf, Simulacrum, Slime, Naga, Arachne

Roleplay Sample:
"If you don't want to answer me, that's fine; I'm not here to cause trouble. Just let me be on my way."
"The locals here are something else for sure."