CHARACTER TEMPLATE
For AOYAGI RITSUKA on the S.S THOR gargleblasted. Includes changes that have happened being on Thor.
by the mun
NAME: Aoyagi, Ritsuka.
SIGN: Sagittarius.
BLOOD TYPE: B.
AGE: 12. Will be 13 soon. I actually kind of messed up with the age though -- after rereading/reevaluating, he should have technically been 13 when he got on the Thor in the beginning, and should technically be turning 14 now. However, I decided against backtracking and fixing that for a few reasons. One, I have no idea if Yun Kouga will make a serious change when he's actually 14 and two -- IT JUST FELT WEIRD. I had already gotten used to calling him 12 by that point and it's not like it's a big deal.
HEIGHT: 4'11. Getting taller! I'm planning on having him reach 5' by his birthday, if only because we've seen a picture of Ritsuka when he's 17 and he's 6 foot flipping 3 inches. That only would give... say he's 13 at 5 feet -- Four years to grow a foot and three inches. Which I really want to space out evenly (somewhat evenly) and show an actual rate of growth. Hopefully someone will comment on it ICly eventually!
WEIGHT: 69 lbs. He's still really light, despite eating more and more lately. He'll probably always be on the thinner side, since that's how he's built.
BIRTH DATE: December 21, 1990. I always think it's the 26th but IT'S NOT it's the 21st. 12-21. Yun Kouga does that on purpose.
HAIR: Black. Some pieces are shorter/longer than others. A lot of bangs.
EYES: Purple. That's my take, anyway. Some peg him as being blue-eyed but I think a light purple outside and darker purple inside is pretty, and it suits him well.
BIRTHPLACE: SOMEWHERE IN JAPAN. In a hospital.
OTHER FACIAL FEATURES/OTHER APPEARANCE DETAILS: He always has a bandaid on his cheek for some reason or another. Thanks, abusive mom! My headcanon is that he still has it while on Thor because there's a scar there now, after his mom kind of going after that area several times. He hasn't shown anyone it because he doesn't really want to. It's small, but it's also a memory in itself. He wouldn't get it removed, even though technology on Thor would probably allow him to with little to no problems. He also has old scars (very light though, barely noticeable) on his arms. Because sometimes mom did go light and he got off with just a few scratches, but sometimes she was NUTS and he ended up with a fork in his hand. And soft, white skin tends to scar easily -- I have one myself from some fight back in Middle School on my face -- it's very, very faded but it's still there. And it was just from her nails! Not a fork! So I think it's safe to assume he doesn't have baby smooth perfect skin without any blemishes -- it's nice skin, but there are some old hurts. He should have the LOVELESS name written on his skin too ... but Yun Kouga hasn't told us where that is yet. So I don't know. But it TECHNICALLY should be there unless she does some weirdass shit.
He also comes with a pair of cat eats and a long tail, which everyone from his world has before they have sex. However, everyone's looks different. Some people have short tails or more floppy ears of whatever. His tail is on the longer side and his ears tend to perk up very easily. He is also very boney! He only weighs in the 60s, so... yep. Boney kid.
DRESS (Style, colors): Yun Kouga usually has Ritsuka dress like a hooker in her cover art. Which... kind of bled into his own personal style in the manga itself. It's commented on that he has a kind of weird style that stands out, like he'll wear tight legging like pants and heavy boots, with a sweaterhoodie and a belt. Even his coats have fur on them. Compared to most kids his age, he really does already have his own sense of style. He tends to wear darker colors, though, like blues and blacks and stuff, but he does wear lighter ones too, so there's a bit of a mix. He doesn't wear white (in a solid form).
That being said! He doesn't always dress outlandishly -- it depends on what he's doing. If he's going out with friends? He usually does wear something different and in his own style/liking. But going to school? He tended to wear something more plain. I personally think that the 'other' Ritsuka didn't much care about clothes so their mom just picked everything out for him. This is probably another reason why she thinks this Ritsuka isn't 'her' Ritsuka -- it's subtle, but it's a change. She even says once (when she's been somewhat placid and not crazy) that she's not used to him getting up all by himself, getting ready for scool, and getting his own breakfast. And he says that he's been doing it for a really long time.
He tones down his outfits when he's in a specific mood, much like people in every day life. But overall, yep, he kind of dresses like a hooker. I blame Yun Kouga. For everything.
DESCRIPTION OF HOME: Broken. That's a pretty good way to describe it. His mother is very, very distressed and often takes medication to deal with her emotions and emotional break downs. Seimei faked his own death -- but for a while everyone thought he was brutally murdered (especially Ritsuka, who found his burned corpse in his chair at school. Yeah. You try to get over that). And his father is like a ghost, always at work or off somewhere else, never at home to deal with his wife abusing their younger son.
Ritsuka's home is kind of like walking in a field of landmines. Everything is a trap, he has to tailor himself to make sure his mother won't go off the deep end, and there's no comfort. No sense of safety. The neighbors don't say anything, teachers turn their faces away... Ritsuka became used to it. There were other kids like him, right? So why should he be special, getting help from an outside source? And he couldn't leave. Because if he left, his mother really would be all alone. And she'd be sad -- something that he wouldn't want.
He knows this isn't a special case and that there are people like him everywhere, so he doesn't mention it much. In fact, he doesn't like it when people try to make a thing of it. No home is perfect, his is just a little less perfect than others.
On the Thor? He's moved to 4-11, after residing in 3-28 for the majority of his stay on the ship. His walls are covered in photographs and drawings now, and he's built himself a nest of sorts of things he likes. Like warm soft blankets -- he loves being cuddled up in warm soft blankets. And warm things in general! But he has tons of blanets and warm clothes shoved in his drawers and closet. He also still has the Buddhist Alter Genkaku gave him ages ago in the corner, neatly kept.
DOMINANT CHARACTER TRAIT: Before his amnesia, Ritsuka was said to be outgoing and generally a happy kid. He didn't do well in school but got along well with people. After the accident (what we're assuming was an accident) his personality completely reversed to being good in school/with education and general bad and awkward with his peers. As he is now, Ritsuka's general traits are that he's honest, blunt, and generally mature for a kid his age. He's very good at reading people's body language and actions (he was quick to guess that something was wrong with the female zero with the way she was acting when they met). He's also very stubborn when it comes to his opinions and ideas, and while he'll listen to other opinions, he tends not to change his own. He is also a pacifist, and he really does strongly oppose violence under any circumstance. This stems from his mother's treatment of him and how he sees how others are after being treated badly. The thought of touching someone in a violent way actually makes him feel sick and nervous, which is one way abuse victims can go. The other is, of course, becoming abusers themselves.
SECONDARY CHARACTER TRAIT (contrast with dominant): Ritsuka isn't innocent. He's not blind to how adults really are, nor is he blind to the fact that there will be violence/abuse/death in the world. However! He is still naive about a number of topics, despite being smart and quick to understand things. He's 12. There really is a lot he still doesn't know, despite his front of maturity. The strongest nativity he has is probably with love and dating -- and while you might say "oh well that's normal he's 12" it goes deeper than you may think. I'll start with dating, because that's shorter. The other kids his age in his class have already started dating. This has been said several times in the series. 6th graders dating 8th graders, Yayoi having a thing for Yuiko, Yuiko having a thing for Ritsuka, etc. It's present! However, Ritsuka doesn't seem to be interested in it at all, or even know how to handle it. His old classmate, Osamu, clearly also had a thing for him, but he never noticed. But he does blush around girls quite a bit! In canon, he's blushed around Yuiko and even their Sensei, thinking "I LOVE THESE PEOPLE".
Being stunted in building relationships and such, he doesn't know how to go about it. Even with love -- he stays with his mother because she would be lonely... but he also needs someone to love. She gets his focus despite not wanting it, and he doesn't know what to do. He doesn't know how to express love properly, and he feels awkward trying to. And he confuses love and obsession -- if you look at his relationship with Seimei, that's obsession. He's recently seeing that he doesn't like Seimei very much -- he's actually mad at him -- but he still can't leave him alone or give him up. He still wants to bring him home. Plus since his feelings overwhelm him, they end up making him feel nervous, anxious, and sick. That's why I think he doesn't like it when people say they like or love him -- it fills him with feelings he can't properly express and makes him feel sick.
So basically he's still really naive about...well, things he needs to grow into. He's by no means a genius and does make mistakes, and his understanding is limited to how much he's learned. It's always growing, though, which is normal!
BEST FRIEND: Back home, it would probably be Yuiko, since she was the only person in his class who actually... liked him. And he grew to like her after some time, when he saw that she wasn't dumb, just very sensitive. Now? Yuiko isn't on Thor currently, so I don't think he has a best friend. There are mostly people he talks to but Best Friend status isn't easy to accomplish.
OTHER FRIENDS: Starting with home. Yayoi, Natsuo, Youji, Soubi (though this one is questionable, if they're really 'friends'), Osamu, Midori, Ai, and Nana. People he talks to and likes a decent amount! On Thor? He's not really sure who to consider a friend. Namine and Xion are people who he likes, and Xion did ask if they could be friends, so they count. He's not sure about Genkaku, Badou, or Envy, because his interactions with all three of them are...strange. If they are friends, they certainly aren't normal ones. But otherwise, he doesn't hold much attachment to most people, but there are a few he doesn't mind talking to when it happens.
ENEMIES and WHY: On the ship he doesn't really have anyone he can call an 'enemy' -- because no one has really gotten into his business or tried to ~*thwart*~ him or anything. But back home? Septimal Moon was his enemy. Nisei was a jerk. Basically, anyone who was against Seimei, because Ritsuka said that he would side with his brother. Hell, if you really think about it, Seimei is also playing an enemy card with the kidnapping and the lying and the generally being an asshat to his little bro. There are tons of lies and hidden truths, and Ritsuka doesn't really know who to trust.
FAMILY: Ritsuka is the youngest in a family of four. He also has his mother, father, and older brother. His mother's name is Misaki, and I pin her to be in her later 30s. His father's name isn't given (or I don't remember it) since he's so retardedly minor, and he'd be in his early forties. Seimei was 17 when he was "murdered".
Ritsuka's mother is sick, mentally and physically, and often hallucinates and forgets things. She's also under the impression that Ritsuka's personality change is why Seimei "won't come home" and that Ritsuka is essentially a monster in her son's body, wearing her son's face, etc. Sometimes she "forgets" and treats him like the old Ritsuka, but when he corrects her, she flies into a panic and rage. This usually ends in her beating the crap out of him! Most days had beatings. Sometimes she merely told him "Ritsuka likes this!" and he would tailor himself to like that, to be more like him.
Seimei, when "alive" and in the house, would protect Ritsuka from their mother. He'd tell Ritsuka that it was okay to run away and that he hadn't done anything wrong. He loved Ritsuka, took care of him, cooked for him, shared his bed, taught him things, showed him the world... he was Ritsuka's most important person ever. He was alone and confused with no memories or any sense of self -- and Seimei was the one who was there. So he's extremely loyal to him, even now when Seimei is kind of being a crazy tadpole.
Their father is literally a phantom in their house. He doesn't protect Ritsuka despite Misaki yelling at him to be a man and to stop her. He just...phases into the background. Ritsuka doesn't have much of an opinion on the man because he doesn't hold any influence over him, and never attempted to have any connection to him.
What kind of person is character with others: Ritsuka tailors his personality to different groups of people when he first meets them. To those who are older than him, usually adults, he keeps himself as a polite young man with a smile. He isn't rude, nor sharp or crass, but keeps a fake 'happy kid' attitude so adults won't pry into his business. Not that they would, anyway, because most adults like to keep to their own business. As they should! But there are those rare exceptions.
To those younger than him, he's cool and uninterested. Blunt. He generally keeps to himself and doesn't bother with them. This is generally how he treats his peers as well. Like they say, "He's either a player... or a loser!" Not that he cares about how others who he doesn't care about label him.
To those he is close to, his character changes a bit. He's actually the type of person to attract people to him -- as shown with the number of people who become infatuated with him (romantically or platonic-wise). He tries to understand them, and tries to express himself better (because like I said before, relationship retarded!). He listens to them and offers his advice and support, spends time with them, makes memories with them, all sorts of things. He's more subtle than aggressive about most of those things, though, being the way he is. But he tries.
Sees self as: He doesn't see himself as anything special nor someone deserving of special attention. He's not the only person who has gone through his troubles, so he doesn't act like it. He knows that kids are abused and that family members die (and are murdered), so why is he special? He's not. He also doesn't see himself in a specific way in regards to being good or bad. He's not a good kid, but he's not a bad kid, either. He's just doin' what he's gotta do. He also sees himself as a pacifist and refuses to hurt anyone, due to his disgust with how his mother treated him. He's also well aware that he can be fake at times -- he does that on purpose. It's a defense.
Is seen by others as: People tend to become easily infatuated with him, due to his 'real' personality. That is, when he's not acting like a brat or jerk. Or both. A lot of people in canon can see that he's mature yet naive, smart yet easy to make mistakes, and...well, human. He's gone through hard times, but he thought he deserved them. People see him and just grow attached to him and the way he is. He's an easy person to like because he's realistic and honest, and keeps his own opinions and ideals while respecting other opinions and ideals enough to not knock them around constantly (unless he really disagrees). He's almost charismatic, in a way, when he's really comfortable with someone or really focused on something. He's the type of person to really get into stuff when he likes it.
Sense of humor: He has an odd sense of humor. The things that make him laugh are a little off kilter, like slightly mocking someone or making a comment on a funny aspect of someone's personality. But he isn't malicious in these sorts of things, even when they happen at... times when the can seem malicious. Like, if someone gets themselves into a sticky situation that's funny, he'll laugh. They'll be stressed because AAAH STICKY SITUATION but to him it's funny. However, if the person was in serious danger or something, it wouldn't be funny at all.
Little things make him laugh. Small jokes, friends kidding around, animals tackling one another... he's generally playful when in the mood for it. But when he's in a mood? You probably can't make him laugh. Especially if he's pissed. Because this kid goes through more moods and emotions in one sitting quicker than a kid goes through the good candy on Halloween.
Temper: He actually has quite a bit of a temper that I haven't really gotten to show on Thor due to various circumstances. But yeah, he... has a quick temper. He's actually pretty quick to get mad at things, and to THROW TABLES. Yes, he does this in canon. At classmates. He scared them. But they got over it. Anyway! Yes. A lot of the time when he's texting he gets mad at stuff people might say (LOOKIN' AT YOU ENVY and some other people) which is why he prefers texting. So he can talk out loud at the phone and rant angrily at it, and then text back something more normal and less angry sounding. Like, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?? That's horrible!" and then the texts reads Yeah okay. I believe you. or something like that.
He's working on his temper. Mostly because he doesn't want to be the kind of guy who flips out and throws shit at other people if he doesn't have to be. And aside from getting angry easily, he also gets depressed and upset easily, too. He can either easily get over these emotions if it's over something minor (which it usually is) but Ritsuka can hold a grudge for quite some time and even feel bitter over something months after the fact. His emotions are very fluid and are always changing -- he never just feels one thing at once. Which is why he can get confusing and hard to understand at times -- because his emotions are all kind of battling and being all BITCH THIS MY TIME TO SHINE. This, again, is because he was pretty stunted when he came to after the accident. Channeling emotions is something that's difficult for him.
Basic nature: Ritsuka, by nature, is a quiet person. He's generally calm, and enjoys doing calming things like reading or taking pictures. He doesn't like big events or big crowds. He'd rather be with a few people doing something really personal like making memories. But while he's fairly quiet and cool, he has strong convictions and opinions on a number of subjects, and he's fairly unrelenting about his thoughts/opinions/and how he views things. He's not a push-over. He may back down some of the time, but generally he's a go-getter and fairly aggressive when push comes to shove. Again, I haven't really gotten to show that yet, but I don't doubt that it'll happen eventually!
Ambitions: He's actually very ambitious! There are a lot of things he wants at this point. He wants to find Seimei, settle things with Seimei, and bring him "home". This...will be a lot more difficult than you may think because Seimei is 18 kinds of crazy with a side of flapjacks. He wants to get the truth out of Soubi -- or, well, he wants to get it to the point where Soubi will tell him the truth despite Seimei telling him not to. Again, hard! Because Soubi is deadly loyal to Seimei, even to the point where he betrayed Ritsuka despite knowing it would hurt him. He also wants to learn more about the Sacrifices, Fighters, and Name business. Also? The name Loveless? Fuck that. He's on a mission to prove that wrong -- screw destiny.
Aside from those things, he wants to rebuild his world and find his family and friends. He wants to figure out his relationship with certain people, and he wants to build up solid relationships on Thor. He wants to make more memories and preserve the old ones. He wants to form bonds and links and all that special stuff. So overall, there's a lot that he'd like to do.
Educational background: He reached the end of 6th grade before his world blew up. However! He's very much like a sponge when it comes to education and facts, and he really enjoys learning. Math is his favorite subject because numbers are straightforward and not up to interpretation (until you get to fucking imaginary numbers, that is). He's booksmart, he loves to read, and he reads "adult" books in the adult library rather than shitty kids books. And he's learned a lot being on Thor because of the expansion of books and teachings and he's been attending school here for a while.
Work experience: Back home, he didn't have any, because he was 12 and there are things called Child Labor Laws. But on Thor, he's had an array of jobs ranging from cleaning up mud to working in the library. Back home he was dependent on his parents to support him and provide him with clothes, food, and shelter. But on Thor? He's had to take care of himself, which was pretty hard at first. Working a job was nerve-wracking and managing finances was difficult to figure out. Plus, balancing work and school? How do people even do that? But he's had to figure it out. He's had to learn how to pay his own bills and take care of his own laundry and try to figure out how to cook good food for himself. And, of course, he doesn't really ask for help from friends and people he knows, because it's his responsibility.
Philosophy of life: "You have your way, I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist." That's a good way to sum it up! There's also "I won't be destiny's bitch" -- aka he believes that people should forge their own destinies and shouldn't let others dictate how they should live their lives. He also feels like he's dually lucky and unlucky to be here -- lucky because he's come to really like "existing" and unlucky because he shouldn't be here and his mom knows it and etc. So enjoy it while you can, make memories, and do what you gotta do.
Habits: Most of the habits that I have for him are headcanon, since the manga doesn't really go too much into his daily habits.
• I think he has a habit of playing with hair -- tugging on his own or twisting it when he's not really thinking, touching other people's hair or brushing it aside, he can braid really well!!
• Knuckle-cracking. Boney hands and all.
• Checking the Guide Network once a day. He's not crazy about it, and it's a habit, just to make sure there's nothing important going on.
• Taking a bath right before bed.
• Waking up at 7 o'clock in the morning, even when he doesn't have to.
• Behaving a certain way around certain people.
Talents (when character looks good): He's good at taking photographs, and was even in the photography club in his old, old school. He's good at video games and he's a really fast runner, as commented by Yuiko. He has a talent reading people's body language to determine what they're thinking or going to do, courtesy of his nuts mom. Growing up where anything could set her off does that to you. He's talented at writing nice calligraphy when prompted to, because he's very neat about it.
Hobbies/pasttimes: Making memories! Playing video games! Now, drawing (thanks Namine). He likes to play games that aren't video games too, like tags and 'chase'. Kid games. He also likes texting people a lot, because it's a lot less stress than video or voice functions and it's also communication at the same time. He likes watching movies and listening to music sometimes, but he's not the biggest movie/music person. He'd rather be out doing something, like going on a Ferris Wheel! He likes Ferris Wheels. He's also trying to cook one thing a day so he won't get fat off of fast food. Because at home his mother would cook for him homemade stuff! Even if he didn't like half of it, he'd eat it, and it wouldn't make him fat. Sooo yep, watchin' that waistline.
Choice of entertainments: Photographs..??? Video games, outside games, things like that. He's not huge on movies and music (the crazy loud kind) and all of that. He likes watching people a lot, too, like sitting in the mall on a bench and just watching the kinds of people that pass by and what they do. He likes things like festivals and carnivals, too, because it's cool to see all of the exhibits and lights and live performances. He's generally not picky about what he does, though, when he's with friends and they're going to do something. He'll just go with the flow in that regard.
What trait will make character come alive?: LMAO WHAT DOES THIS EVEN MEAN... uhhhh. Okay I guess this means CHARACTER PINGS. I can do that. Of course, anything to do with memories. If memories are important to someone else, he'll probably be attracted to them in some way. Brothers are also a ping for him, as well as cameras/photographs and people who are especially kind or sensitive to how other people feel. HE DIGS A REALLY NICE GIRL??? He's also attracted to fairer looks physically in people -- lighter hair and skin and eyes -- because he has a fondness for lighter colors. Especially white, because that's his favorite color and it's "pure" in a way. It really contrasts against himself because his hair and eyes are darker, and he tends to dress in darker colors. Not to say he doesn't wear lighter colors. It's my headcanon that he doesn't really like to wear white, despite it being his favorite color.
Why is character likeable? He's generally honest, he speaks his mind, and he tries to be more of an optimist than a pessimist now-a-days. He's a sweet kid when he wants to be, he can realize his own mistakes, and he's a lot more mature than most 12 year olds. He's actually a very good friend once he acknowledges you as one. Or, well, when you finally say that you two ARE friends. Friendship tends to grow, but he doesn't normally notice unless it's...said. Which is why he may ask, if the conversation is brought up.
Why is character loveable? LOLOLOL. WELL. He's very supportive to those who cares about, generally mushy with those he cares about (even if it's only on the inside), and he really cares about the relationships he has with the people he likes. He's also very cute and has cat ears and a tail that are soft. That is always a plus. He values the people he considers close a great deal, and is willing to go to great lengths for them.
PERSONAL INTERVIEW WITH CHARACTER
(responses in his/her own voice)
OCCUPATION: ...It changes a lot, with the missions. So I guess just a student, really. I'm 12.
CURRENT HOME: I just moved to 4-11. ...I used to be in 3-28 but I wanted to move. I was there for too long.
MARITAL STATUS: I'm 12.
CHILDREN: ...Maybe someday.
FAVORITE PIG OUT FOOD: Marshmallows.
FAVORITE PERFORMER/AUTHOR/SPORTSMAN ETC: Friedrich Nietzsche.
EVERY NEW YEAR’S I RESOLVE TO: Keep making memories.
NOBODY KNOWS I AM: LOVELESS. What that really means -- how names work in my world. And I haven't told most people that name at all.
I WISH I COULD STOP: Trying to find answers that aren't here. I'm not going to find them on this ship. But... I can't stop looking.
I'M A SUCKER FOR: What...? Puppies, I guess?
THE WORST PART OF MY LIFE IS: ...Pass.
I WANT TO TEACH MY CHILDREN THAT: It's okay to be yourself. Don't let other people sway your opinions or control you.
A GOOD TIME FOR ME IS: Around 1:00 PM? I'm not too sleepy or anything.
THE WORST ADVICE THAT MY FATHER GAVE ME WAS: He never gave me any.
I THOUGHT I WAS GROWN UP WHEN: I could get up, get dressed, make breakfast, and go to school all by myself.
WHEN I FEEL SORRY FOR MYSELF I: Remember that I'm not alone. There are other people like me. I shouldn't feel sorry for myself. There are people who are a lot worse off out there.
NOBODY WOULD BELIEVE ME IF THEY SAW ME: ...What? Seeing is believing, isn't it? I guess stealing though. I don't steal. ...Fighting, too. I won't raise my hand against anyone.
MY FRIENDS LIKE ME BECAUSE: I don't know.
MY PET PEEVE IS: Liars.
MY MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT: ...Pass.
I CAN DIE HAPPY WHEN: I know the truth. And when Seimei is home again.
I'D REALLY RATHER: Sleep.
MY MOST HUMBLING EXPERIENCE WAS: Everything that my mother said when she was beating me.
by the mun
NAME: Aoyagi, Ritsuka.
SIGN: Sagittarius.
BLOOD TYPE: B.
AGE: 12. Will be 13 soon. I actually kind of messed up with the age though -- after rereading/reevaluating, he should have technically been 13 when he got on the Thor in the beginning, and should technically be turning 14 now. However, I decided against backtracking and fixing that for a few reasons. One, I have no idea if Yun Kouga will make a serious change when he's actually 14 and two -- IT JUST FELT WEIRD. I had already gotten used to calling him 12 by that point and it's not like it's a big deal.
HEIGHT: 4'11. Getting taller! I'm planning on having him reach 5' by his birthday, if only because we've seen a picture of Ritsuka when he's 17 and he's 6 foot flipping 3 inches. That only would give... say he's 13 at 5 feet -- Four years to grow a foot and three inches. Which I really want to space out evenly (somewhat evenly) and show an actual rate of growth. Hopefully someone will comment on it ICly eventually!
WEIGHT: 69 lbs. He's still really light, despite eating more and more lately. He'll probably always be on the thinner side, since that's how he's built.
BIRTH DATE: December 21, 1990. I always think it's the 26th but IT'S NOT it's the 21st. 12-21. Yun Kouga does that on purpose.
HAIR: Black. Some pieces are shorter/longer than others. A lot of bangs.
EYES: Purple. That's my take, anyway. Some peg him as being blue-eyed but I think a light purple outside and darker purple inside is pretty, and it suits him well.
BIRTHPLACE: SOMEWHERE IN JAPAN. In a hospital.
OTHER FACIAL FEATURES/OTHER APPEARANCE DETAILS: He always has a bandaid on his cheek for some reason or another. Thanks, abusive mom! My headcanon is that he still has it while on Thor because there's a scar there now, after his mom kind of going after that area several times. He hasn't shown anyone it because he doesn't really want to. It's small, but it's also a memory in itself. He wouldn't get it removed, even though technology on Thor would probably allow him to with little to no problems. He also has old scars (very light though, barely noticeable) on his arms. Because sometimes mom did go light and he got off with just a few scratches, but sometimes she was NUTS and he ended up with a fork in his hand. And soft, white skin tends to scar easily -- I have one myself from some fight back in Middle School on my face -- it's very, very faded but it's still there. And it was just from her nails! Not a fork! So I think it's safe to assume he doesn't have baby smooth perfect skin without any blemishes -- it's nice skin, but there are some old hurts. He should have the LOVELESS name written on his skin too ... but Yun Kouga hasn't told us where that is yet. So I don't know. But it TECHNICALLY should be there unless she does some weirdass shit.
He also comes with a pair of cat eats and a long tail, which everyone from his world has before they have sex. However, everyone's looks different. Some people have short tails or more floppy ears of whatever. His tail is on the longer side and his ears tend to perk up very easily. He is also very boney! He only weighs in the 60s, so... yep. Boney kid.
DRESS (Style, colors): Yun Kouga usually has Ritsuka dress like a hooker in her cover art. Which... kind of bled into his own personal style in the manga itself. It's commented on that he has a kind of weird style that stands out, like he'll wear tight legging like pants and heavy boots, with a sweaterhoodie and a belt. Even his coats have fur on them. Compared to most kids his age, he really does already have his own sense of style. He tends to wear darker colors, though, like blues and blacks and stuff, but he does wear lighter ones too, so there's a bit of a mix. He doesn't wear white (in a solid form).
That being said! He doesn't always dress outlandishly -- it depends on what he's doing. If he's going out with friends? He usually does wear something different and in his own style/liking. But going to school? He tended to wear something more plain. I personally think that the 'other' Ritsuka didn't much care about clothes so their mom just picked everything out for him. This is probably another reason why she thinks this Ritsuka isn't 'her' Ritsuka -- it's subtle, but it's a change. She even says once (when she's been somewhat placid and not crazy) that she's not used to him getting up all by himself, getting ready for scool, and getting his own breakfast. And he says that he's been doing it for a really long time.
He tones down his outfits when he's in a specific mood, much like people in every day life. But overall, yep, he kind of dresses like a hooker. I blame Yun Kouga. For everything.
DESCRIPTION OF HOME: Broken. That's a pretty good way to describe it. His mother is very, very distressed and often takes medication to deal with her emotions and emotional break downs. Seimei faked his own death -- but for a while everyone thought he was brutally murdered (especially Ritsuka, who found his burned corpse in his chair at school. Yeah. You try to get over that). And his father is like a ghost, always at work or off somewhere else, never at home to deal with his wife abusing their younger son.
Ritsuka's home is kind of like walking in a field of landmines. Everything is a trap, he has to tailor himself to make sure his mother won't go off the deep end, and there's no comfort. No sense of safety. The neighbors don't say anything, teachers turn their faces away... Ritsuka became used to it. There were other kids like him, right? So why should he be special, getting help from an outside source? And he couldn't leave. Because if he left, his mother really would be all alone. And she'd be sad -- something that he wouldn't want.
He knows this isn't a special case and that there are people like him everywhere, so he doesn't mention it much. In fact, he doesn't like it when people try to make a thing of it. No home is perfect, his is just a little less perfect than others.
On the Thor? He's moved to 4-11, after residing in 3-28 for the majority of his stay on the ship. His walls are covered in photographs and drawings now, and he's built himself a nest of sorts of things he likes. Like warm soft blankets -- he loves being cuddled up in warm soft blankets. And warm things in general! But he has tons of blanets and warm clothes shoved in his drawers and closet. He also still has the Buddhist Alter Genkaku gave him ages ago in the corner, neatly kept.
DOMINANT CHARACTER TRAIT: Before his amnesia, Ritsuka was said to be outgoing and generally a happy kid. He didn't do well in school but got along well with people. After the accident (what we're assuming was an accident) his personality completely reversed to being good in school/with education and general bad and awkward with his peers. As he is now, Ritsuka's general traits are that he's honest, blunt, and generally mature for a kid his age. He's very good at reading people's body language and actions (he was quick to guess that something was wrong with the female zero with the way she was acting when they met). He's also very stubborn when it comes to his opinions and ideas, and while he'll listen to other opinions, he tends not to change his own. He is also a pacifist, and he really does strongly oppose violence under any circumstance. This stems from his mother's treatment of him and how he sees how others are after being treated badly. The thought of touching someone in a violent way actually makes him feel sick and nervous, which is one way abuse victims can go. The other is, of course, becoming abusers themselves.
SECONDARY CHARACTER TRAIT (contrast with dominant): Ritsuka isn't innocent. He's not blind to how adults really are, nor is he blind to the fact that there will be violence/abuse/death in the world. However! He is still naive about a number of topics, despite being smart and quick to understand things. He's 12. There really is a lot he still doesn't know, despite his front of maturity. The strongest nativity he has is probably with love and dating -- and while you might say "oh well that's normal he's 12" it goes deeper than you may think. I'll start with dating, because that's shorter. The other kids his age in his class have already started dating. This has been said several times in the series. 6th graders dating 8th graders, Yayoi having a thing for Yuiko, Yuiko having a thing for Ritsuka, etc. It's present! However, Ritsuka doesn't seem to be interested in it at all, or even know how to handle it. His old classmate, Osamu, clearly also had a thing for him, but he never noticed. But he does blush around girls quite a bit! In canon, he's blushed around Yuiko and even their Sensei, thinking "I LOVE THESE PEOPLE".
Being stunted in building relationships and such, he doesn't know how to go about it. Even with love -- he stays with his mother because she would be lonely... but he also needs someone to love. She gets his focus despite not wanting it, and he doesn't know what to do. He doesn't know how to express love properly, and he feels awkward trying to. And he confuses love and obsession -- if you look at his relationship with Seimei, that's obsession. He's recently seeing that he doesn't like Seimei very much -- he's actually mad at him -- but he still can't leave him alone or give him up. He still wants to bring him home. Plus since his feelings overwhelm him, they end up making him feel nervous, anxious, and sick. That's why I think he doesn't like it when people say they like or love him -- it fills him with feelings he can't properly express and makes him feel sick.
So basically he's still really naive about...well, things he needs to grow into. He's by no means a genius and does make mistakes, and his understanding is limited to how much he's learned. It's always growing, though, which is normal!
BEST FRIEND: Back home, it would probably be Yuiko, since she was the only person in his class who actually... liked him. And he grew to like her after some time, when he saw that she wasn't dumb, just very sensitive. Now? Yuiko isn't on Thor currently, so I don't think he has a best friend. There are mostly people he talks to but Best Friend status isn't easy to accomplish.
OTHER FRIENDS: Starting with home. Yayoi, Natsuo, Youji, Soubi (though this one is questionable, if they're really 'friends'), Osamu, Midori, Ai, and Nana. People he talks to and likes a decent amount! On Thor? He's not really sure who to consider a friend. Namine and Xion are people who he likes, and Xion did ask if they could be friends, so they count. He's not sure about Genkaku, Badou, or Envy, because his interactions with all three of them are...strange. If they are friends, they certainly aren't normal ones. But otherwise, he doesn't hold much attachment to most people, but there are a few he doesn't mind talking to when it happens.
ENEMIES and WHY: On the ship he doesn't really have anyone he can call an 'enemy' -- because no one has really gotten into his business or tried to ~*thwart*~ him or anything. But back home? Septimal Moon was his enemy. Nisei was a jerk. Basically, anyone who was against Seimei, because Ritsuka said that he would side with his brother. Hell, if you really think about it, Seimei is also playing an enemy card with the kidnapping and the lying and the generally being an asshat to his little bro. There are tons of lies and hidden truths, and Ritsuka doesn't really know who to trust.
FAMILY: Ritsuka is the youngest in a family of four. He also has his mother, father, and older brother. His mother's name is Misaki, and I pin her to be in her later 30s. His father's name isn't given (or I don't remember it) since he's so retardedly minor, and he'd be in his early forties. Seimei was 17 when he was "murdered".
Ritsuka's mother is sick, mentally and physically, and often hallucinates and forgets things. She's also under the impression that Ritsuka's personality change is why Seimei "won't come home" and that Ritsuka is essentially a monster in her son's body, wearing her son's face, etc. Sometimes she "forgets" and treats him like the old Ritsuka, but when he corrects her, she flies into a panic and rage. This usually ends in her beating the crap out of him! Most days had beatings. Sometimes she merely told him "Ritsuka likes this!" and he would tailor himself to like that, to be more like him.
Seimei, when "alive" and in the house, would protect Ritsuka from their mother. He'd tell Ritsuka that it was okay to run away and that he hadn't done anything wrong. He loved Ritsuka, took care of him, cooked for him, shared his bed, taught him things, showed him the world... he was Ritsuka's most important person ever. He was alone and confused with no memories or any sense of self -- and Seimei was the one who was there. So he's extremely loyal to him, even now when Seimei is kind of being a crazy tadpole.
Their father is literally a phantom in their house. He doesn't protect Ritsuka despite Misaki yelling at him to be a man and to stop her. He just...phases into the background. Ritsuka doesn't have much of an opinion on the man because he doesn't hold any influence over him, and never attempted to have any connection to him.
What kind of person is character with others: Ritsuka tailors his personality to different groups of people when he first meets them. To those who are older than him, usually adults, he keeps himself as a polite young man with a smile. He isn't rude, nor sharp or crass, but keeps a fake 'happy kid' attitude so adults won't pry into his business. Not that they would, anyway, because most adults like to keep to their own business. As they should! But there are those rare exceptions.
To those younger than him, he's cool and uninterested. Blunt. He generally keeps to himself and doesn't bother with them. This is generally how he treats his peers as well. Like they say, "He's either a player... or a loser!" Not that he cares about how others who he doesn't care about label him.
To those he is close to, his character changes a bit. He's actually the type of person to attract people to him -- as shown with the number of people who become infatuated with him (romantically or platonic-wise). He tries to understand them, and tries to express himself better (because like I said before, relationship retarded!). He listens to them and offers his advice and support, spends time with them, makes memories with them, all sorts of things. He's more subtle than aggressive about most of those things, though, being the way he is. But he tries.
Sees self as: He doesn't see himself as anything special nor someone deserving of special attention. He's not the only person who has gone through his troubles, so he doesn't act like it. He knows that kids are abused and that family members die (and are murdered), so why is he special? He's not. He also doesn't see himself in a specific way in regards to being good or bad. He's not a good kid, but he's not a bad kid, either. He's just doin' what he's gotta do. He also sees himself as a pacifist and refuses to hurt anyone, due to his disgust with how his mother treated him. He's also well aware that he can be fake at times -- he does that on purpose. It's a defense.
Is seen by others as: People tend to become easily infatuated with him, due to his 'real' personality. That is, when he's not acting like a brat or jerk. Or both. A lot of people in canon can see that he's mature yet naive, smart yet easy to make mistakes, and...well, human. He's gone through hard times, but he thought he deserved them. People see him and just grow attached to him and the way he is. He's an easy person to like because he's realistic and honest, and keeps his own opinions and ideals while respecting other opinions and ideals enough to not knock them around constantly (unless he really disagrees). He's almost charismatic, in a way, when he's really comfortable with someone or really focused on something. He's the type of person to really get into stuff when he likes it.
Sense of humor: He has an odd sense of humor. The things that make him laugh are a little off kilter, like slightly mocking someone or making a comment on a funny aspect of someone's personality. But he isn't malicious in these sorts of things, even when they happen at... times when the can seem malicious. Like, if someone gets themselves into a sticky situation that's funny, he'll laugh. They'll be stressed because AAAH STICKY SITUATION but to him it's funny. However, if the person was in serious danger or something, it wouldn't be funny at all.
Little things make him laugh. Small jokes, friends kidding around, animals tackling one another... he's generally playful when in the mood for it. But when he's in a mood? You probably can't make him laugh. Especially if he's pissed. Because this kid goes through more moods and emotions in one sitting quicker than a kid goes through the good candy on Halloween.
Temper: He actually has quite a bit of a temper that I haven't really gotten to show on Thor due to various circumstances. But yeah, he... has a quick temper. He's actually pretty quick to get mad at things, and to THROW TABLES. Yes, he does this in canon. At classmates. He scared them. But they got over it. Anyway! Yes. A lot of the time when he's texting he gets mad at stuff people might say (LOOKIN' AT YOU ENVY and some other people) which is why he prefers texting. So he can talk out loud at the phone and rant angrily at it, and then text back something more normal and less angry sounding. Like, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?? That's horrible!" and then the texts reads Yeah okay. I believe you. or something like that.
He's working on his temper. Mostly because he doesn't want to be the kind of guy who flips out and throws shit at other people if he doesn't have to be. And aside from getting angry easily, he also gets depressed and upset easily, too. He can either easily get over these emotions if it's over something minor (which it usually is) but Ritsuka can hold a grudge for quite some time and even feel bitter over something months after the fact. His emotions are very fluid and are always changing -- he never just feels one thing at once. Which is why he can get confusing and hard to understand at times -- because his emotions are all kind of battling and being all BITCH THIS MY TIME TO SHINE. This, again, is because he was pretty stunted when he came to after the accident. Channeling emotions is something that's difficult for him.
Basic nature: Ritsuka, by nature, is a quiet person. He's generally calm, and enjoys doing calming things like reading or taking pictures. He doesn't like big events or big crowds. He'd rather be with a few people doing something really personal like making memories. But while he's fairly quiet and cool, he has strong convictions and opinions on a number of subjects, and he's fairly unrelenting about his thoughts/opinions/and how he views things. He's not a push-over. He may back down some of the time, but generally he's a go-getter and fairly aggressive when push comes to shove. Again, I haven't really gotten to show that yet, but I don't doubt that it'll happen eventually!
Ambitions: He's actually very ambitious! There are a lot of things he wants at this point. He wants to find Seimei, settle things with Seimei, and bring him "home". This...will be a lot more difficult than you may think because Seimei is 18 kinds of crazy with a side of flapjacks. He wants to get the truth out of Soubi -- or, well, he wants to get it to the point where Soubi will tell him the truth despite Seimei telling him not to. Again, hard! Because Soubi is deadly loyal to Seimei, even to the point where he betrayed Ritsuka despite knowing it would hurt him. He also wants to learn more about the Sacrifices, Fighters, and Name business. Also? The name Loveless? Fuck that. He's on a mission to prove that wrong -- screw destiny.
Aside from those things, he wants to rebuild his world and find his family and friends. He wants to figure out his relationship with certain people, and he wants to build up solid relationships on Thor. He wants to make more memories and preserve the old ones. He wants to form bonds and links and all that special stuff. So overall, there's a lot that he'd like to do.
Educational background: He reached the end of 6th grade before his world blew up. However! He's very much like a sponge when it comes to education and facts, and he really enjoys learning. Math is his favorite subject because numbers are straightforward and not up to interpretation (until you get to fucking imaginary numbers, that is). He's booksmart, he loves to read, and he reads "adult" books in the adult library rather than shitty kids books. And he's learned a lot being on Thor because of the expansion of books and teachings and he's been attending school here for a while.
Work experience: Back home, he didn't have any, because he was 12 and there are things called Child Labor Laws. But on Thor, he's had an array of jobs ranging from cleaning up mud to working in the library. Back home he was dependent on his parents to support him and provide him with clothes, food, and shelter. But on Thor? He's had to take care of himself, which was pretty hard at first. Working a job was nerve-wracking and managing finances was difficult to figure out. Plus, balancing work and school? How do people even do that? But he's had to figure it out. He's had to learn how to pay his own bills and take care of his own laundry and try to figure out how to cook good food for himself. And, of course, he doesn't really ask for help from friends and people he knows, because it's his responsibility.
Philosophy of life: "You have your way, I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist." That's a good way to sum it up! There's also "I won't be destiny's bitch" -- aka he believes that people should forge their own destinies and shouldn't let others dictate how they should live their lives. He also feels like he's dually lucky and unlucky to be here -- lucky because he's come to really like "existing" and unlucky because he shouldn't be here and his mom knows it and etc. So enjoy it while you can, make memories, and do what you gotta do.
Habits: Most of the habits that I have for him are headcanon, since the manga doesn't really go too much into his daily habits.
• I think he has a habit of playing with hair -- tugging on his own or twisting it when he's not really thinking, touching other people's hair or brushing it aside, he can braid really well!!
• Knuckle-cracking. Boney hands and all.
• Checking the Guide Network once a day. He's not crazy about it, and it's a habit, just to make sure there's nothing important going on.
• Taking a bath right before bed.
• Waking up at 7 o'clock in the morning, even when he doesn't have to.
• Behaving a certain way around certain people.
Talents (when character looks good): He's good at taking photographs, and was even in the photography club in his old, old school. He's good at video games and he's a really fast runner, as commented by Yuiko. He has a talent reading people's body language to determine what they're thinking or going to do, courtesy of his nuts mom. Growing up where anything could set her off does that to you. He's talented at writing nice calligraphy when prompted to, because he's very neat about it.
Hobbies/pasttimes: Making memories! Playing video games! Now, drawing (thanks Namine). He likes to play games that aren't video games too, like tags and 'chase'. Kid games. He also likes texting people a lot, because it's a lot less stress than video or voice functions and it's also communication at the same time. He likes watching movies and listening to music sometimes, but he's not the biggest movie/music person. He'd rather be out doing something, like going on a Ferris Wheel! He likes Ferris Wheels. He's also trying to cook one thing a day so he won't get fat off of fast food. Because at home his mother would cook for him homemade stuff! Even if he didn't like half of it, he'd eat it, and it wouldn't make him fat. Sooo yep, watchin' that waistline.
Choice of entertainments: Photographs..??? Video games, outside games, things like that. He's not huge on movies and music (the crazy loud kind) and all of that. He likes watching people a lot, too, like sitting in the mall on a bench and just watching the kinds of people that pass by and what they do. He likes things like festivals and carnivals, too, because it's cool to see all of the exhibits and lights and live performances. He's generally not picky about what he does, though, when he's with friends and they're going to do something. He'll just go with the flow in that regard.
What trait will make character come alive?: LMAO WHAT DOES THIS EVEN MEAN... uhhhh. Okay I guess this means CHARACTER PINGS. I can do that. Of course, anything to do with memories. If memories are important to someone else, he'll probably be attracted to them in some way. Brothers are also a ping for him, as well as cameras/photographs and people who are especially kind or sensitive to how other people feel. HE DIGS A REALLY NICE GIRL??? He's also attracted to fairer looks physically in people -- lighter hair and skin and eyes -- because he has a fondness for lighter colors. Especially white, because that's his favorite color and it's "pure" in a way. It really contrasts against himself because his hair and eyes are darker, and he tends to dress in darker colors. Not to say he doesn't wear lighter colors. It's my headcanon that he doesn't really like to wear white, despite it being his favorite color.
Why is character likeable? He's generally honest, he speaks his mind, and he tries to be more of an optimist than a pessimist now-a-days. He's a sweet kid when he wants to be, he can realize his own mistakes, and he's a lot more mature than most 12 year olds. He's actually a very good friend once he acknowledges you as one. Or, well, when you finally say that you two ARE friends. Friendship tends to grow, but he doesn't normally notice unless it's...said. Which is why he may ask, if the conversation is brought up.
Why is character loveable? LOLOLOL. WELL. He's very supportive to those who cares about, generally mushy with those he cares about (even if it's only on the inside), and he really cares about the relationships he has with the people he likes. He's also very cute and has cat ears and a tail that are soft. That is always a plus. He values the people he considers close a great deal, and is willing to go to great lengths for them.
PERSONAL INTERVIEW WITH CHARACTER
(responses in his/her own voice)
OCCUPATION: ...It changes a lot, with the missions. So I guess just a student, really. I'm 12.
CURRENT HOME: I just moved to 4-11. ...I used to be in 3-28 but I wanted to move. I was there for too long.
MARITAL STATUS: I'm 12.
CHILDREN: ...Maybe someday.
FAVORITE PIG OUT FOOD: Marshmallows.
FAVORITE PERFORMER/AUTHOR/SPORTSMAN ETC: Friedrich Nietzsche.
EVERY NEW YEAR’S I RESOLVE TO: Keep making memories.
NOBODY KNOWS I AM: LOVELESS. What that really means -- how names work in my world. And I haven't told most people that name at all.
I WISH I COULD STOP: Trying to find answers that aren't here. I'm not going to find them on this ship. But... I can't stop looking.
I'M A SUCKER FOR: What...? Puppies, I guess?
THE WORST PART OF MY LIFE IS: ...Pass.
I WANT TO TEACH MY CHILDREN THAT: It's okay to be yourself. Don't let other people sway your opinions or control you.
A GOOD TIME FOR ME IS: Around 1:00 PM? I'm not too sleepy or anything.
THE WORST ADVICE THAT MY FATHER GAVE ME WAS: He never gave me any.
I THOUGHT I WAS GROWN UP WHEN: I could get up, get dressed, make breakfast, and go to school all by myself.
WHEN I FEEL SORRY FOR MYSELF I: Remember that I'm not alone. There are other people like me. I shouldn't feel sorry for myself. There are people who are a lot worse off out there.
NOBODY WOULD BELIEVE ME IF THEY SAW ME: ...What? Seeing is believing, isn't it? I guess stealing though. I don't steal. ...Fighting, too. I won't raise my hand against anyone.
MY FRIENDS LIKE ME BECAUSE: I don't know.
MY PET PEEVE IS: Liars.
MY MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT: ...Pass.
I CAN DIE HAPPY WHEN: I know the truth. And when Seimei is home again.
I'D REALLY RATHER: Sleep.
MY MOST HUMBLING EXPERIENCE WAS: Everything that my mother said when she was beating me.