Riku

Links: Theme || Playlist, 2, ATR || Character tag || Gallery

Age: nearly 16

Height: 6’1

Birthday: July 9th

Physical appearance notes:

Ridiculously tall, slouches like crazy. Pretty decent muscles, but he doesn’t look “buff”. EVEN THO I'VE ALWAYS RECOLORED MANGA PANELS TO MAKE HIM LOOK WHITE AND PALE AND HE, idk, he probably is, I'm kicking myself because I headcanon Destiny Islands race as being brown and not white but [vibrates aggressively].

There’s also a patch of purple on his gut where his dark suit tried to prevent him from bleeding out, and over time he’s developed similar purple patches over the rest of his skin, namely his arms.  (Gets cut in a fight > dark suit tries to fix him > purple spots.) Those will go away if he ever gets his darkness fixed.

Notes:

Incredibly loyal, will constantly put himself on the line for anyone he loves

(this has expanded to, uh, not just include Namine, thankfully)

He’s got incredible hearing, which means he can eavesdrop on any conversation, but on the flip side makes him extremely sensitive to loud noises

He can’t wield a Keyblade—the potential to is arguably in him, but whether because he’s hopped universes and it doesn’t work like that (like the stars not seeing him) or he just, doesn’t need it / the universe doesn’t need him to have it, WHO KNOWS, but he doesn’t have a Keyblade in FtPverse.

The loophole to the “darkness can’t affect replicas” rule because Vexen was lazy and didn’t install Darkness Protection Protocols.

Though un-diagnosed, probably has some form of PTSD

Struggled with depression, and while he’s not 100% better, he’s come leaps and bounds from where he used to be

Most likely autistic

Has gotten better about being self-depreciating and, is working on breaking self-harming habits. He still slips up, but, he’s come a long way, and is getting better.

Inherently cruel, thanks to Larxene. His cruelty the most when he’s mad/upset or when he’s on a darkness high, and though he’s usually not cruel in a day-to-day setting, he’s still,,,, sometimes,,,

In general: he came from a real bad place (Larxene’s abuse, boiling self-hatred for most of his life, The Literal Mess He Was In Dead Inside) but he’s much better now, he’s much better since moving to HB, he’s healing and he’s better and he has a family and he’s happy and that is so important. That is so important.

History to keep in mind:

All of CoM, including Larxene’s abuse, killing Zexion, nearly killing Sora, etc

He killed like 2/3 of the Organization, HOO BOY

Fighting in the Rebellion kind of against his will, because he was roped into it by Alpha, even though he kind of didn’t care about the cause, just figured he owed it to them. Him kind of hating being with the rebellion is important, alright, fight me

Namine being rewritten, having to fight her

Going after Larxene, Larxene dying, the relief felt from that

Loving, and getting over, magik’s Namine

Living in HB at all with a family and people who love him!!!!!! [KICKS A TABLE OVER]

Fighting Style:

The trope that best fits him is a “glass canon”—he’s super strong and knows what he’s doing with a blade, he’s, I mean, boss level material, but he has no idea how to do any magic besides dark firaga, and can’t cure or protect himself. He’d be your strongest member in your party, but the one who gets killed all the time, so, literally, a glass canon.

He probably eventually learns magic but until then it’s just a lot of physical attacks, and, for a  while there, recklessly throwing darkness around, but now he can’t use darkness anymore without risking killing himself faster sooooo.

by sottapop

Battle log entry:

Riku should, for all intents and purposes, be considered “boss level” material. He thrives in battle, and certainly isn’t a foe you want to cross. Admittedly, he rarely strategizes and sticks to a rather “let me throw everything I have at you and hope it works” sort of fighting style. His strength and innate skill is more than enough to make up for his overconfidence and recklessness, but he’s still reckless, and that should be used to your advantage should you cross him. He’s also fairly easy to overcome when distracted.

Relationships with other characters

Namine (tag)

art by ramflega

He and Namine are!!! well….

They started off in a kind of shaky spot because ye they “loved” each other but it was kind of like…….. Riku didn’t know how to do anything but love Namine, regardless of the universe, regardless of the Namine, and he was kind of just projecting his love for magik’s Namine onto ftp Namine and

Namine loved him back but also kind of just because she didn’t know what else to, I mean, she was built from Riku’s memories which included his intense love for her (well, not her, but) and so she was in some ways built to love him so

They were together kinda but not really and even though they were cutesy and sweet and all that other stuff 14 year old rar really had no clue what she was doing with a romance and it was kind of just ~romance ideals~ and this is how it’s ~supposed~ to be but I didn’t know what I was doing and neither of them knew what they were doing because neither of them really, really understood what a healthy love was (Riku definitely did not, Namine was kind of better, kind of, but only by, a little) PLUS THEY WERE ONLY 14 AND 15 AND OH MY GOD THAT’S TOO YOUNG TO BE DATING, THEY’RE STILL TOO YOUNG BUT!!! HOOOOO

Anyway so they were cutesy and they have always loved each other, but, the romance part of it kinda, hmm

And eventually Namine realized that Riku putting her above literally everything else wasn’t romantic and sweet it was kind of unhealthy and so she started becoming uncomfortable and pushed him away, cue ATR part 1 and the start of part 2

From there, they’re…. working on it. They made up, Riku’s in a better place, he’s learning about what love is really about, he’s promised to do his best to not depend so heavily on Namine / her safety and they’re working on it and, they’ve… they’ve come a long way

There are still bumps. Love is hard, romance is hard, this is hard, but they’re learning. They’re learning, they’re trying to make it better, and, that’s great.

I can’t really list specific reasons why they both love each other, or, since we’re on Riku’s page, why he loves Namine, she’s just always meant a lot to him and at this point she’s someone who’s been in his life for basically all of it and he doesn’t want to imagine it any other way—they’ve been through too much, had each other’s backs for too long, there’s no giving up now

See also: their (second, healthier) ATR mix, and my notes about it, which, cover my feelings and, and kind of, well, where they are now

Sora (tag)

Riku and Sora have had bumps in the past but, that’s probably more related to Sora’s darkness than their personalities don’t mesh well.

Admittedly (unfortunately) the ftpverse main four haven’t had a lot of development, but, they are good friends. The main four are all good friends and, like, I hate that I pretended they weren’t?? They are.

Sora and Riku were slotted as ~competitive~ but I’ll be damned if Kairi wasn’t into the competitions as bad as they were half the time, so, like, lmao. LMAO.

Sora’s kind and Sora’s friendly, he’s always supportive of Riku though he does eventually end up jealous (thanks darkness). I suppose articulating their relationship back before FtP is kinda pointless because it doesn’t matter that much now, but, they’re good friends. They’re great friends.

I mean, it wasn’t like Riku hated Sora so much he didn’t spend three months searching for him.

COME ATR idk I guess they haven’t interacted much but Sora’s got his shit together and Riku’s largely got his shit together and Riku does have a ginormous soft spot for Sora, Sora’s one of his best friends, THEY’RE ALL GOOD FRIENDS AND I’LL FIGHT PAST ME FOR IMPLYING THEY WEREN’T BECAUSE WHAT THE FUCK

Kairi (tag)

art by ramflega

They have!!!! One thing about Kairi/Riku is their personalities are extremely similar in the blunt/rude/stubborn categories so they butt heads a lot, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get along. They get along really well.

In fact, Riku loves Kairi because he feels like he can always be honest with her, (especially come ATR)—he feels like he can be honest with her when he can’t bug Namine or Aerith, and idk why he doesn’t go to Sora with it, but, maybe he figures Sora’s got enough on his plate, too. Maybe Sora’s not quite as willing to be honest as Kairi. I dunno.

He and Kairi get along really well and I don’t have a lot of notes about their relationship but I’ll do my best to cover all the SoRiNamiKai dynamics in the future and I’ll try to update at least those here when I do!

The main four are really good friends though and never, ever doubt that.

Aerith (tag)

AERITH IS FAMILY AND IT’S A LITTLE, UH, BIASED BUT SHE’S DEFINITELY HIS FAVORITE, Aerith is everyone’s favorite. I mean Cid’s largely impartial but. Aerith is most everyone’s favorite. Lllmmaaoooo

But anyway she’s the first person to say “I love you” to him and for it to click. She decided he’d suffered enough and that she had to do something and the best—only, really—thing she can do for him is to accept him into the folds of this family and assure him that someone does love you, and that person is me, I care about you so much Riku everyone in this house is worried about you

He loves her so much he loves being in a family for starters and it’s nice to have someone to look after him it’s nice to not be on his own and I know specifically in ATR he’s kind of iffy about telling her about the whole I’m fuckin dying thing but that’s not because he doesn’t trust her it’s because he doesn’t want to weigh her down with it, lmao

He does trust her with other things he trusts her with a lot of things and she’s!!! family!!! He loves her so much!!!!!!! SHE’S EVERTHING HE DIDN’T KNOW EXISTED, EVERYTHING HE EVER NEEDED—LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED AND IT’S SO GOOD FOR HIM!!!!!!

HER AND THIS FAMILY, THIS FAMILY IN HB PLAYED SUCH A LARGE ROLE IN HIM BEING HAPPY AGAIND AND I’M GONNA PUNCH THROUGH AN ENTIRE WALL I’M SO HAPPY FOR HIM!!!

(riku + hb fam tag)

Leon

Leon!! You’d think Leon is who Riku’d go to second because he’s the next most level headed and understanding, he’s a Gainsborough too (arguably: they all are, but Leon was raised as one) and so Riku would go to him but I think because Riku and Leon have yet to talk about anything heavy, Riku’s not comfortable going to him about heavy stuff he can’t go to Aerith with because he hasn’t yet and it’s hard to do things like this for a First Time

Though also the only thing he’s really been unable to tell Aerith is that I’m dying?? thing in ATR—everything else he can go to her for so it’s. I mean. it’s Whatever.

Leon is still!! another rock in the family, another one who will help Riku sort through his problems, the only one besides Aerith, uh, probably, who knows about Riku’s self-harming habits (which he is working on breaking!), though I figure since he moved in those became clear to Yuffie and Cid over time. Whatever. Leon knows, Leon looks out for him.

Leon looks out for him he’s the protective older brother, and he’s gr9, I love Leon.

He and Riku specifically bond over books, for the record.

Cid

Cid’s a little exasperated with Riku because he and Riku are on ends in a lot of the same ways he and Yuffie are constantly on ends. Riku’s rude sometimes, he kind of doesn’t have manners, he shouts when he’s angry he’s kind of unreasonable when he’s angry (though, Cid is too?? Lmao) and Cid just

He’s the uncle of the group he’s there because he decided back when they left Radiant Garden when it fell someone has to look after these kids, even though Aerith and Leon weren’t kids, but. He had to look out for them, and then Yuffie, and now Riku too??? ALSO NAMINE??? Aerith stop adopting people.

I haven’t explored Riku/Cid dynamics um, at all, in story or out of it, but Riku likes Cid a lot—he’s kind of like Vexen but 10000 times easier to get along with and be around. He’s Family, there’s just nothing… deep, there.

Yuffie

YUFFIE AND RIKU ARE BROTHER/SISTER SO MUCH THEY TEASE EACH OTHER AND SHE TEASES HIM AND SHE DOESN’T HOLD BACK AND FRANKLY HE LOVES THAT ABOUT HER?? It takes him some time to realize she’s teasing, to realize she’s joking, but once he gets comfortable with that he cracks the teases right back

Like. I mean

“Yeah, geeze Yuffie,” Riku butt in. Behind his book was a lopsided smirk. “If you’re going to ask border-line rude questions, ask good ones.”

THEY GET ALONG!! THEY REALLY DO!! IT’S GREAT LIKE THEY’RE THE SAME AGE TOO SO THEY BOND AND they are both terrible at showing affection Yuffie’s the gruff kinda I Care A Lot About You, Okay? but reluctant to admit it sort of type

And Riku just plain, doesn’t know how to do affection

BUT I THINK THEY END UP W/ A GOOD SIBLIGN RELATIONSHIP ALSO RIVALRY YUFFIE HATES WHEN HE SHOWS OFF WHEN FIGHTING HEARTLESS. SHE LIKES FIGHTING TOO. YOU’RE GATHERING ALL THE MONEY RIKU, CUT IT OUT. NO I DON’T WANT YOU TO GIVE IT TO ME THAT’S NOT THE SAME

On that subject: they have a running thing where Riku, with his endless money he earns from Heartless—Yuffie refuses to just take it from him when he offers it to her but he starts hiding it in plain sight for her to steal. She finds it, leaves a note saying “try better next time! >:P”  and then, well, eventually it becomes a Thing between them and he hides money in progressively more difficult places and it’s a game—can he hide it somewhere she can’t find? Can she find it anyway?? It’s good.

Also they bond over video games a little. She’s really the only other one in the HB fam who plays video games (Aerith doesn’t seem the type, neither does Leon really, Cid’s a bad sport) and while it’s nothing like. shooting or violent video games they play, like, Mario party together.  (HER AND RIKU AND NAMINE PLAY MARIO PARTY OH MY GOD!!!!!!) Also tetris, but never on marathon because riku can go forever. Also I really feel original Mario Bros games. IT’S A THING THEY DO

Joseph

Joseph is kind of the annoying sibling Riku never wanted. He’s largely exasperated with Joseph all the time, at least in Dead Inside, but, he does like Joseph. Joseph is sweet and nice to him but he doesn’t really understand the concept of boundaries or no I don’t want to talk to anyone I just want to be left alone go away

Riku’d never wish harm on Joseph, of course!!! And though they uh, don’t interact much in ATR they still get along and not having to put up with him nearly 24/7 definitely helps, lmao. Riku likes him, is fond of him, they’re friends but, not, close friends.

Roxas

Uhhh look Roxas’s relationships with everyone changed drastically and though I assumed he’d be a big part of the main characters he’s, he’s not. he’s a secondary character like hell.

Riku and Roxas kind of get along, but, Roxas has a casual sort of cruelty that makes Riku uncomfortable (too much like Larxene), and Roxas is generally just an asshole to everyone so it’s hard to, uh, really get along with him. Neither of them try to be friends, and, I don’t think they ever will be great friends. Maybe ten years down the road after ATR they’d be, uh, well they’d get along for sure but

But.

ALSO MOST TIMES ROXAS AND RIKU HAVE INTERACTED THEY’VE BEEN ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE FIGHT, AND ROXAS HAS TRIED TO KILL RIKU, UH, MULTIPLE TIMES and honestly not sorry about it. it’s an “oops I tried to kill you my bad” kind of attitude, not a “it’s just programming it wasn’t me I’m so so so sorry”—he ain’t sorry at all

Shad / Kano

Well in ATR Riku hasn’t interacted with Kano, uh, more than once and they argued then but.

His stance on Kano is “I trust he loves Sora and I trust he won’t hurt Sora because he loves Sora, I don’t think it’s a problem he’s around, it’s probably fine.”

I could consider post-ATR relationship dynamics for them but, why. Why.

Vexen

I could fully articulate their relationship but, like, nah.

Vexen does legitimately care about Riku now that he has a heart and Riku realizes that, but…. It will be a long time before Riku warms up to him, if he ever does, and, like, there will never be a point ever where Riku will call Vexen his “father”

First the idea is extremely foreign to him, second is that he’ll never really like Vexen. Begrudgingly accept, sure. But that’s about it.

((He’ll eventually learn to forgive Vexen, but fully trusting Vexen is another story, and actually liking having Vexen around and in his life is, uh, something that’s probably not going to happen.))

Xion

Their relationship in Nothing’s Fair is… shaky, at best. Xion really really hates and resents Riku, blames him for the Rebellion, for Saix being in charge, for, uh, a lot of things, and it’s kind of unfair but she hates him and he doesn’t consider her a joy to be around because, uh, who wants to spend time with someone who hates you?

Also everything she blamed him of and accused him for really stuck with him and it didn’t help his already shaky self-confidence. So. Lmao.

Alpha

He think’s Alpha’s a prick and is about 3000000% done with him and ideas

Magik's Namine

art by mrbenvey @ tumblr

He loved her very very very deeply and very very very much, even if it was feelings based solely on false memories. He understood that, but that didn’t change his feelings for her, didn’t change how he clung to her, didn’t change the fact it would be a long time before he could bring himself to let go of her

And I think what appeals to me the most about them in FtPverse—besides that mutual need to rely on each other back during the events of CoM because everything was cruel and they only really had each other

They… they were never meant for each other he loved her but she did not love him. That didn’t mean she didn’t care about him—she cared about him, and wished he hadn’t been subjugated to the fate he was, wished he wasn’t forced to endure the cruelty he was—but she didn’t love him.

Honestly, she was scared of him, not that he’d ever know.

They weren’t meant to be, weren’t meant for each other, and he clung to her like a lifeline until he had to let her go.

And what I really love is we do get to touch them moving on, him letting go of her, her telling him she wishes him happy but they weren’t meant for each other, getting to touch on them—on him—moving on and learning to let her go

The pinnacle of their relationship has to be the Larxene sequence, has to be when she tells him that he needs to let the past go, let her go, let Larxene go. “I’ve changed, you’ve changed, we’ve moved on.”

I am very very very happy with how their relationship developed and what it came to, in the end. I am so so very glad