Riku

Have a problem with the way I'm playing Riku? PLEASE feel free to leave a comment here, so I can improve. However, if you do, I request that it be constructive. Nothing will turn me off of advice more than wank and flaming.

In addition, my contact information is...

AIM - Mega da Hedgie/gotowardslight
MSN - Mega_zee_Hedgie@hotmail.com

Comments will be screened, IP logging off, anon enabled.

SPOILER, SPOILER, SPOILER. Please only read this if you have already played Birth by Sleep or don't mind spoilers, for what lies under the cut relates directly to BBS. While it may not be directly applied to the way I play Riku right away, these are my thoughts on the new canon and how I will be interpreting it ICly and how it fits in with previous games. So, without further ado...

( Thoughts on Riku's role in Birth by Sleep )

More general headcanon to come, once I do the meme, most likely. For now, this is just the information I've formulated upon playing BBS along with some tidbits from the Ultimania.

Work in Progress.

( Under the cut )

Wanna interact with Riku at any time? You've come to the right place! This post is for convenient interaction, be it voice, action, or written. Just be sure to include the date and time in your comments. Also specify whether it's voice/action/written.

Riku;

[Okay, maybe he should've seen this coming. Something feels vaguely familiar about the situation. A strange influx of people, general shenanigans ensuing. The village is a heck of a lot more crowded than he last recalls seeing it, and for that reason, Riku's decided to do a little recon.

So, rather than take it by foot, passersby may spot this young man ricocheting off of trees, buildings, and any other solid objects that'd provide enough of a springboard for his Flowmotion. Just be careful to duck if he comes flying your way. We don't want any head-on collisions!

Later that day, he posts a journal message:]

So, has anyone been keeping a tally of all the people here? Looks like they don't have any wings, so there's gotta be some kinda catch, just like every other time this has happened...

[Well, back to scoping out the area, he supposes, but first:]

Lea, this seems like as good a time as any to get some training done. Hope you haven't been doing too much slacking.

Ventus;


[While Riku's taking the crowds with a touch of skepticism, Ven is not. Oh no, he's scurrying through the streets, smiling, waving, and greeting newbies and even offering some treats if people seem nice enough... in part because he has some excess cookies from a recent baking experiment. But don't worry, they're not toxic! Really!]

Rainbow Dash;



[But newbies may instead find themselves awstruck by the rainbow streaks lighting up the sky as Rainbow Dash rockets down towards the village and shouts at the top of her lungs:]

Hey, newbies! Forget all about the crowds, the noise, and just how crazy this place is. If you're looking for something to get your mind off of all the chaos, well, hang tight, 'cause I'm about to wow ya! Just keep your eyes glued to the sky, kick back, and be amazed. It's not every day you get to see Equestria's top flier pull off heart-pounding, death defying stunts like this!

[And once again, she zips off at hundreds of miles per hour, zigzagging through the sky and sculpting the clouds into the shape of her cartoony pony body... in ten seconds flat. And that's just a warm up, folks! There's plenty more to come.]

Filtered from Ino;

So... suppose you've been dating someone for, say, about a year. Your first anniversary's coming up, and you really want to blow them away.

[Heh, heh. It's something that's been on his mind for several days now. A whole year is a big deal for someone whose last romantic affairs ended in utter despair. Or heartbreak, at the very least.]

I've got a few ideas, but... well, I don't want to give her anything short of the best. I want it to be something she'll remember.

So, yeah, if anyone's got suggestions, I'm all ears.

[Whew. There. That wasn't so bad, right?]

Public;

And by the way, for any New Feathers out there... No, you're not dreaming. No, the Malnosso aren't the ones who brought you here. Yes, there are people with magic, talking ponies, dragons, and turtles, and the barrier's unbreakable.

Filtered to Ino;

...Also, can I talk to you for a second? There's something I want to show you.

[ooc: some replies may be slow while I double check a few things! if it looks like I've skipped your tag, don't worry; I'll get to 'em ASAP. :)]

Heh. The end of the year. Time sure flies, huh? This marks the third winter I've spent holed up in this place. Now, I could get all nostalgic about how things changed, but frankly? I'm sure you guys are tired of that by now.

There's... something else on my mind, though. Something I've thought about for a while, about the way this place works.

[He pauses for a few seconds, mulling over how to properly phrase this...]

Anyway, I'm sure most of you guys are familiar with the way people vanish out of the blue just like I'm sure you're used to people showing up without a single memory of their time before. Assuming they'd been here, anyway. But sometimes people come back with memories fully intact or those memories return after a quick reminder. I've even seen a few cases of somebody coming back as a blank slate and showing up again later with memories from a visit before the last.

Maybe I'm over thinking it, but have you guys ever thought that maybe the people who show up without memories might be different versions of someone rather than the same person with those memories wiped out? Now, I'm not saying people actually remember this place back home; I've gone back twice and I sure didn't. And, sure, timelines probably factor into it, but who's to say there can't be, say... twin versions of the same world?

Just some food for thought, I guess.

( And some action stuff! )

[Well, there's no point in dodging this now. Especially after that entry Ling made. Despite his reservations, Riku opens the journal and begins with a short, sweet message.]

Kairi's gone.

[There's a drawn out pause. After all, Kairi'd been there since he first showed up in Luceti, and she'd always been with him and Sora before. And Sora hasn't even shown himself in months. Xion moved. Besides Roxas, everyone else from their universe is off living with Ven.

Sigh.]

It's kind of crazy. People come and go all the time, but Kairi was here longer than me. At least three years. Just goes to show how unpredictable this place is. Some people leave in a week. Others years. Some people come back again and again. It's like a constant guessing game.

[...Man, maybe he's thinking too hard on it. Either way, he needs a distraction. Badly. Much as Kairi's departure's upset him, he doesn't wanna make it too obvious. What good would that do?]

But enough about that. No point in crying over spilled milk, right? At least she's not wrapped up in the experiments. That last one was bad enough, and don't even get me started on that 'Count' guy. If he ever met Mickey, I bet he'd rethink his insults a little.

[So, in light of Robert's recent post and that last experiment, Riku's decided that now would be the best time to explain a thing or two.

So, yes, he's actually using the journals again. Gasp.]

So, I take it that most of you dealt with the star-shaped fruit from last month. Well, first of all, they're called paopu fruit. Second, the paopu at the beach were not normal by any means.

Paopu don't mess with your heads usually. They definitely don't give you the sudden urge to make friends at the drop of a hat. That's not to say they're just ordinary, but they're definitely not harmful. So, since somebody might be harvesting them, I wouldn't stress it.

[Hmm... He pauses for a moment, pondering something real quick, and then he continues.]

What I will say is that the paopu are a pretty big deal back home. There's this whole legend about them. Basically, if two people share them, their destinies become intertwined. They'll remain a part of each others' lives no matter what. Some people see it as romantic, others just treat it like an unbreakable connection.

And whether it's true or not... well, I'll just put it this way; I've seen a lot stranger things in the worlds I've visited than a legendary fruit. Could all be superstition, but who knows? Maybe it's legit.

[And with that he will finish with one final thought.]

Still, I wonder why the Malnosso have a weird fixation with Valentine's anyway.

You know, it's kind of crazy to think about. When I first showed up here, I was fifteen, completely powerless, and all I ever wanted was to see the outside world. Everything about this place was new to me. I thought it was a dream come true.

[Mostly, anyway. He had some rough times back then. Selfishness, arrogance, mistakes... It's never fun.]

My friends were a year ahead of me. Learning about the future wasn't easy, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who's been in that position.

But it's been almost three years. I know my future, and when I leave, I'll probably go right back to where I was. The thing is, I just don't see myself as the same guy my friends know from their time. Not completely.

[There's a pause, followed by a soft 'hm'.]

Anyone else feel that way? Like, after being here for so long, your identity's just kind of changed?

[And with that out of the way, Riku can be found chilling in the battle dome after creating a simulated version of Destiny Islands. After some hanging out there, he'll just be wandering the village. Probably going to hang by the plaza, maybe drop by the library. Anything goes!]

[Another day, and Riku's feeling fairly bored. He hasn't had a lot to say over the journals as of late, but hey, it's been a while. And with such an... interesting cycle, he might as well say something.

So, Lucetians, witness Riku as he boredly looks into this magical book and speaks.]

So. I think it's pretty obvious that Luceti's got some 'interesting' people around. Mice, rabbits, turtles, demons... I think you get the idea.

Some of you guys aren't as open to this as others. I know I've seen my share of human haters or people against some other group.

[Not that he's surprised; fear of what's different is natural to just about everything.]

So here's a question. What do you guys think of all the species or races that are different than yours? Especially if they're not from your worlds.

[Ah, the wonders of boredom. And since he's still bored...]

And while we're at it, suppose you could go back to your world with memories intact. If you learned about your future here, would you try and change any of it?

[With that out of the way, Riku's going to head down to the battle dome and start creating a quaint little simulation. With the new battle dome settings, Riku's taking advantage of the features in order to recreate one of the more peaceful worlds he's visited in great detail. Way to go, Riku.

Feel free to wander inside. He's definitely in need of some company right about now, and Traverse Town is pretty sweet.]

[There's something seriously ironic when your friends get kidnapped again and again and you yourself have not... in almost two years.

So, today, as Riku flips through the journal, he takes a moment to speak.]

You know, I've been here for almost two years, and I've never been kidnapped. It's happened to my friends a few times, probably most of the village too... But it's pretty weird.

Anyone else in the same boat? And if not, how long did it take them to get you?

[Hmm... With that taken care of, he tosses up a quick filter.]

( Filtered to Terra (KH)//100% )

[A little later, he leaves the house, heading out to the Battle Dome. Once there, he sets up the simulation in a strange area full of floating stones and rushing waterfalls. Several different Heartless appear in large numbers.

At first the fight isn't too hard; he's dealt with Heartless before, after all. However, as the fight progresses and the Heartless increase in number, it becomes a bit harder to dodge all of them. One of the Wyverns swoops down from above with its talons at the ready, and Riku has little time to react.

So, without even thinking, he steps back, as darkness envelopes his body. He reappears right behind the Wyvern and has little time to consider what just happened. Instead, he blasts a thundaga spell to finish the beast.

A few minutes pass, and he leaves the battle dome. For the next few hours, passers by can expect to see him opening up dark corridors to test the waters. It's true that he's held back a little with his darkness, but the fact that the portals work again is enough to merit some experimentation. He'll be all over the place within the village and forest. ]

[ooc: Mods okayed the use of dark corridors a while ago, but I never got around to an IC discovery of them on Riku's behalf, so here we go.]

So, is anyone else getting a a feeling of déjà-vu around here? Seems awful late for New Feathers to show up, especially this many.

[A beat.]

But something about this does seem kind of familiar.

[And with that said, Riku will head out to scan the village and see who he can find! It's awfully crowded, so of course he's curious.]

Kind of strange to think of how much this place has changed, just over the past year. Electricity's one thing, but a Battle Dome? Well, I guess it's got its uses.

[There's a pause. Truthfully, Riku's mostly using his journal as a distraction until Xion comes back. And, given who he is, coming up with good conversation material isn't always easy.]

Hey. Who here remembers that amusement park from last year?

[Well, look who's back in town! Indeed, it seems that Riku's lost a good five or six inches, but judging by the fact that he's already got his regular attire, has a black cloak slumped over his shoulder, and his journal in one hand, it seems he's already well aware of what's going on.

In fact, he's headed right in the direction of the smithy! But as he walks, he lets out a sigh.]

What a mess...

[He stops for a moment, quietly looking into the journal. With another sigh, he continues to speak. Might as well get it over with now--]

Hey. Sora, Kairi... Looks like the Malnosso haven't had enough of me yet.

[And after another short pause:]

I've probably got a lot of explaining to do. Xion... we need to talk. At least, if you'll let me.

[And with that said, he continues heading to the smithy. His sword has to be there somewhere.

Those who cross paths with him are free to interrupt him, of course, and those who can sense light and darkness may find an alarming amount of the latter inside his heart.]

Okay, so something's going on. Either it's another experiment, or there's more to it.

I mean, why else would people keep changing? Still doesn't explain why the changes are so different, though.

[He sighs. There's something going on alright, but small-talk won't get him anywhere...

Which is why, shortly after making the entry, people might spot him lurking around the village, trying to get to the bottom of things.

At first glance, he'll seem perfectly normal. Sure, he's got a Keyblade, and Kairi's good luck charm is attached to his belt, but so what? It's not a big deal, right?

... Or is it?]

[ooc: Info here. It is tl;dr.]

Hey, Sora, Kairi. Looks like we don't have to worry about rain today. How about we go finish working on the raft? Sooner it's done, the sooner we can take off.

At least, after that race is over with.

--

[Action;;]

[During the day, it's likely that people will have seen Riku out and about, carrying some rope, spare wood, and other materials. He doesn't stick around long, though, as the raft is out by the lake, and it's high time the "Black Pearl" got its final touch ups after nearly a year's worth of waiting. That, and there's the race that Sora and Sokka are supposed to have. Just another reason to get 'er done.

Eventually he'll make it over to the lake, where he sets down the supplies close by.

Along the way, his thoughts have appeared in a bubble above his head, much like others, shifting from images of him and his friends setting off, to occasional and brief flickers of the Keyblade and some of the other people he knows in Luceti. Whether or not he's caught onto this remains to be seen, as he seems incredibly casual.]

[ooc: Backdated to earlier in the day. People can run into Riku at any point as he heads off.]

[There's a brief pause before Riku speaks into the journal. He's been a bit restless as of late, and with the Replica around and his short encounter with Aku, well...]

Anyone up for a round? Haven't had much practice lately, so I could use a sparring partner. I use a sword, but I won't be too picky about weapons.

( Filtered to Riku Replica )

Oh, c'mon. There's no way Santa could've actually showed up here. Sora may think he's real, but I still don't buy it.

Besides, I didn't ask for some foam bat. Why would I need one when I've already got a real weapon?

action;

[Well, the irony is that Riku's wearing that dinky little hat Atoli gave him as he searches the village for a few more friends of his. Namely, Sora, Kairi, and Xion, as he's got presents for each of them.

Really, he's only wearing the hat to keep warm. Of course, that doesn't mean people can't poke fun at him.]

It's almost Christmas... but I think that's been pretty obvious with how many people have been talking about it on the journals. Looks like not everyone's familiar with it, but maybe I shouldn't be so surprised. With as many worlds as there are, you can't expect everyone to celebrate the same holidays.

Still, for those that don't... you've been missing out. I mean, besides birthdays it's really the only time of year when you can get that many presents. Then there's the whole "season of giving" thing, I guess.

Do the Malnosso ever do anything around this time? They sure did on Halloween.

[Filtered from Sora, Kairi, Xion, Rena]
But let's get to the point. I need help picking out presents for a few friends of mine.


( Filtered from Sora )

( Filtered from Kairi )

( Filtered from Rena )

( Filtered from Xion )

Should've known it'd snow sooner or later. Still, it's weird seeing it up close. It was always warm back on the islands, even during winter. Heh, guess this place has its moments.

I don't know what's going on about that doctor, but it seems pretty clear to me that some people could use a distraction. There's snow outside, so I've been thinking... what about some kind of snowball fight? There's more than enough people around here, and it's better than just sitting around, even if it is cold.

[...there's a pause.]

Oh yeah. Sora, Kairi... you two met Xion yet?

action;

[Riku's currently taking a good look around the village, dressed in more appropriate winter clothes. He's not really used to the snow, which is why he's picking some up, aaand...

throwing it! Feel free to get caught in his path or whatever. He's experimenting. Yes.]

Glad that the project's almost over. Yeah, I get that it's supposed to simulate parenting, but I'm in no real rush for that. Can't believe some people actually dressed theirs up...

[there's a pause]

It's been five months since I got here. Almost half a year and barely anything's changed. [...well, for him, at least.]

[Well, well. This sure sounds like Roxas, but his tone and inflections are a bit off. Closer to Riku's, really.]

Another experiment... great. I'm really starting to get tired of the Malnosso's sense of humor.

Roxas, you better not try anything. I told Kairi I'd play nice, but that doesn't mean I'll sit around if something comes up.

Action;

[And because the last thing he wants is to hang around with Axel, Riku's making his way back to his apartment. He's a bit miffed that he wound up as Roxas, of all people, thus hasn't really considered the temporary benefits...like Keyblades.

Mistakes are more than welcome, or just random pestering.]

( Private, written // 50% Hackable )

( Filtered to Kairi )

( Filtered to Xigbar )

Talk about a hectic couple of days. I take it this doesn't happen very often.

[Well, Riku's got a vague idea of what's going on, but he wants to test it. As such, he opens the journal, not bothering to write for once and simply says]

Go jump in the lake.

Added Later: Stop jumping in the lake. Go... do something productive, I guess.

[ooc: Riku is totally evented. ;D Feel free to get some payback, haha.]