✗ s i l e n t h e l l - application
Character Info
Character Name: Riku Replica
Series: Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories (PS2 video game)
Canon Point: After Marluxia is defeated, as he runs off to the basements.
Character's Age: The Replica appears to be 15, but in all actuality he’s only been in existence for a few weeks at most (most likely its only a few days, given how Riku enters the Castle about halfway through Sora’s story, and the Replica doesn’t show up for a while in either).
Canon resource: here
How familiar are you with your character's canon? Extremely. I’ve played all the games multiple times. I have also read all the manga volumes published, I own a few game guides, have watched playthroughs of each game multiple times (including all stories of Birth By Sleep), and even have extensive knowledge of Birth by Sleep through the Ultimania and through a friend who owns the game and speaks Japanese. So... I’m pretty good with the KH knowledge!
History: As Sora and Riku progressed through Castle Oblivion, a Nobody named Vexen came up with an idea. Seeing as Marluxia was using the Keyblade Master of Light, the older Nobody got it in his head to use the Master of Darkness for his experiments. As he was in the midst of the Replica program, having already created No. I for the Superior, the Scientist... decided to experiment a little. So, after fighting Riku in Basement Nine of the castle, Vexen retreated, having gathered the data he needed, and started work on the Replica.
Two basements later, the Replica was created, and he went forward to face Riku. After a bit of goading, proclaiming himself more powerful because he embraced the Darkness Riku was so afraid of, the two fought. Although the Replica had been created to be a perfect copy of Riku’s power, perhaps even stronger since he embraced something the real Riku refused to, he was still new. He hadn’t had the battle experience his Real Thing had, so ultimately... the Replica fell. However, when Riku rushed in to try and finish it, the Darkness proved to be stronger than the teen’s attack. So, with a quick laugh, the Replica retreated to the depths of the castle, facing Zexion, Lexaeus, and and Vexen with the news of his fight.
After a quick conference where the Replica told them that Riku was weak and not a problem, Zexion asked how he’d like to meet another hero in the Castle. The Replica merely asked if he meant Sora and snorted, saying that if Riku was so weak... Sora couldn’t be much of a problem either. However... the Replica didn’t know what he was getting himself into.
Vexen then took him up to the top of the castle to Larxene and Axel, offering them his and the Replica’s services. Axel then handed Vexen a card containing the memories of Sora and Riku’s home. After a quick discussion, the three Nobodies decided that the best course of action was to completely remake the Replica’s heart, to make him forget that he was nothing but a fake and put in the memories of Riku. In essence, they wanted to make the Replica think he was Riku. Needless to say, the Replica wasn’t very happy with that. He told them that the real Riku was a coward, afraid of his own power, and even went on to say that he was nothing like that, and never wanted to be like that. However, the Nobodies said it must be done. So, the Replica was subdued and brought to Naminé, and the memories of Sora and Riku’s home were twisted and forced into his heart.
However, the Replica didn’t get everything, it seems. The memories that were formed the clearest and the strongest in his heart were those of the day he and Naminé were at the beach during the meteor shower. He held up a sword to the sky and said that he’d protect her if a star fell on them, just like he’d protect her from everything. And then... Naminé gave him a charm, a charm that the Replica then clung to almost desperately. Sure, he had some memories of Sora from that fake childhood, and even some of the days after that, leading up to when the Islands fell apart, but nothing was stronger than the need to protect Naminé. After all, the Nobodies needed the Replica to be following their every command as well.
And so, once the Replica’s heart was remade, he was sent down to confront Sora. After goading the boy and fighting him once, saying things about Naminé that further cemented the fake memories in Sora’s heart as well, the Replica was forced to retreat. After all, even though he had Riku’s strength and fighting style, he was still new to fighting, even if his memories said differently. So, he came back to Naminé’s room, only to fight Larxene bullying her again. With a gentle ferocity, he told Larxene off and tried to cheer up Naminé, extending their good luck charm and swearing on it. Underneath the bratty exterior, the Replica really was a good kid, just trying to make good on a promise and the only memory he fully had. He didn’t know any better, he didn’t know to question it and... he didn’t know that it, like everything else, was fake. Just like he didn’t know that the changes to his heart were what was bothering Naminé, not just Sora being in the castle. So, going off that memory, he promised to keep her safe and happy, and to keep Sora away and from causing any more pain. With that, he walked off, gone before he could hear Larxene’s laughter and congratulations for the complete remodeling of his heart.
Meanwhile, Sora became concerned for the Replica, thinking him to be Riku. So, the next time the two met in the Castle, the brunet tried to jog his friend’s memory to remind them that they were friends. Only... nothing worked. After all, this was a fake Riku. One with a memory of Naminé and a feeling of betrayal, thinking that Sora only cared for... that girl, the other one. The one none of them could remember. Eventually, that feeling faded with Sora’s memories, merely leaving the Replica convinced that although Sora appeared concerned with both of them, he didn’t really care. So, when they met again, the Replica told him to go away, that Naminé didn’t want to see him so he shouldn’t try. Another fight ensued, and the Replica was once again defeated.
The next time he clashed with Sora happened on the eleventh floor, after Vexen had been defeated. Sora came forward saying that the Replica was no longer under Vexen’s control, that he shouldn’t be forced to do things anymore. To be “evil”. However, the Replica only stated that he was protecting Naminé of his own free will, that he’d never been controlled by anyone. However... then things started to fall apart, because the Replica went on to tell Sora of the promise he’d made Naminé. That confused Sora, who vehemently denied the Replica had those memories, because he had them. Confused and starting to get a headache from it all, the Replica just proclaimed Sora’s charm as a fake, saying that he had the real one. And, once again, the Replica ran off. Only this time it wasn’t just because of his defeat. No... he had things to figure out this time around.
A few hours passed, and Sora made his way to the twelfth floor of the Castle. There, the Replica faced him again, saying that he was the one who would protect Naminé, and that Sora and his fake and scrambled memories kept interferring. They fought again and, as usual, the Replica was defeated. However, as Sora went forward to try and help him, the Replica knocked him back. Taking advantage of the sudden change in the situation, the Replica was about to finish Sora off when Naminé yelled out. A sudden jolt went through the Replica, and he fell to the ground, motionless. The little Nobody had shattered his memories and thusly, his heart. Larxene then emerged from a portal, laughing at Naminé, who seemed to honestly regret what she did, and Sora... who was mourning the “death” of who he thought was he best friend. The older Nobody then told Sora that the Replica was a fake, going so far as to admonishing Naminé for “killing” him and tossing the boy’s body about like a rag doll. Angered, Sora quickly dispatched of Larxene.
Naminé then told Sora about what was going on, and about Marluxia, all the while kneeling in front of the motionless body of the Replica. The little group then moved on to confront Marluxia, leaving the Replica there. After all, there was no way he could have recovered, right?
Wrong.
In the middle of the fight with Marluxia, Naminé got captured and used as a “shield” of sorts. At a loss of what to do, Sora was in a right mess. However, just as all was “lost”, the Replica’s voice came out of nowhere just before a portal opened and he came out. It seemed that since his heart was something that was created, it didn’t matter if his memories were taken from him and his heart was shattered. He could stand up again after it. However, he had lost all the memories that had been planted in his heart. The only knowledge he was left with was what had been going on in the castle, the fact that he was a Replica created just a few days ago, and... the promise he made to Naminé. Even though that promise had been faked, the memories themselves not real... it was something he clung to. After all, it was created for him, and it wasn’t something pulled out of Riku’s memories.
Once Sora had gone ahead and destroyed Marluxia, the Replica bid him farewell, saying that he was going off to figure some things out, also saying that “A fake like him didn’t deserve to be together with them”. And despite the fact that this boy had been trying to kill him the entire time, and the fact that he wasn’t Riku, Sora still felt for him and tried to cheer him up. Touched despite himself, the Replica smiles and says that Sora’s a good person and turns to leave. He had finally made his peace with the boy. And with that done... there was one last thing to do. To defeat the real Riku and secure his place in the world. So with that goal in mind, he disappeared to the basements of Castle Oblivion, following his nose towards his Real Thing.
That’s when he wound up in Silent Hell.
Personality: While at first glance it seems like the Riku Replica should be a complete carbon copy of the teen he was based off of, when push comes to shove, the Replica is immensely different from his “real thing”. To further explain this, lets look at some key aspects of his personality.
First of all, lets explore the few things that the Replica has in common with Riku. Namely, the boy is proud. He has an air of confidence around him even in his darkest moments, even when his heart is weakest. He has a pride in his strength and in his promises, and once he makes one he’ll follow through with it. Even at the cost of his own life. However, as good-natured as this “pride” may sound, the Replica’s confidence and pride in his strength and in his memories kind of... makes him come across as a bit of a jerk. He has no qualms about boasting about his strength, and has the tendency to look down on people he thinks are weaker than him. Occasionally, he’ll even go so far as to inform said people that they’re lower than him. His countenance can be a bit condescending, and his tone betrays some serious issues with authority, but underneath that first layer of jackassery are some deeper emotions.
Pretty much, this Replica is scared. Although... this isn’t something that’s easily seen. After all, he’s built off of a boy made of snark and pride. But when push comes to shove, the Replica doesn’t have much going for himself. He existed for all of thirty days at most, and only had a few memories to cling to. Knowing nothing of himself, and where he came from, he clung to the few memories that’d been planted into his head and went after what few connections he thought he had with a nearly desperate fire. And once he remembered what he was? That he was merely a Replica, a copy of the person those memories were based off of? How could he not be scared? He was being used to replace someone, he was called a puppet. A fake. In the eyes of all but two of the people he’d been around, he was just something replaceable. Something that, once it run the course of its usefulness, could be destroyed. Living with that and a few scraps of things that never actually happened... with that little to go off of, its safe to say that the boy was scared. Is scared. Which is what has led to his fervent desire to be real.
Many people seem to think that the Replica is “creepy”, given his seemingly strange attachment to Naminé. However, there really is nothing creepy about his relationship with the girl if you look at what he’s working with. She is the only person he has memories of, besides the ill-formed memories given to him in order to keep him up to speed with the events of Kingdom Hearts. The one strongest memory he has is of him and Naminé when they were younger on the night of a meteor shower. Of him raising his sword to the heavens and saying that he’d protect her from everything out there. With that and a few other foggy created memories, his single-minded devotion to Naminé is really just that of a child clinging to what he knows. To someone he cares about. In essence, the Replica really is a child.
His memories aren’t very developed, and its usually assumed by various experts that personalities are built through experiences, through figuring out things and making mistakes. Without life experience outside of a few memories of when he was five, the recent days in the Castle, and a few hazy facts of the recent years, the boy hasn’t had much of an opportunity to grow and mature. As such, he is prone to outbursts of anger, a selfish view that he is the center of everything that’s going on, and a possessive streak to rival... well... a raccoon is the best metaphor that comes to mind. He sees something “shiny”, something he can call his and not his “real thing’s” and he’ll do everything he can to keep it safe and keep it his. While in a fifteen-year-old, such things can be construed as creepy, these are common in the developmental phase of a child.
Given as the Replica’s experiences don’t go much beyond a few faked relationships, fighting, and the general ability to snark, it is safe to say that when it comes to everyday life, the boy is clueless. He knows some things, sure, but when it comes to... say... how to make a bed, make a sandwich, or work a communication’s device, he has no idea how to go about doing so. But he’s stubborn and prideful, and will continue to work at such things until he figures them out for himself. .... Or until someone else comes, whacks him over the head, and shows him how to work things.
But as childish as the Replica can be, there are definitely still aspects of Riku in him. After all, he was based off of the boy. These main aspects are his stubborn streak, his pride, and a fierce, unfettered loyalty to the people he’s close to.
The Replica snarks. He considers himself the best and only one to protect people, and he won’t hesitate to inform others of such things. He will always, always, always refuse help due to his pride, and will stubbornly run headfirst into a wall until someone either guides him around it or until he smashes through. He has the need to be an individual, to do things on his own, even if he has no idea what he’s doing most of the time. He really is like a child in that way. Refusing to believe that the stove is hot until he burns his hand on it. He’s in the middle of his trial and error phase of life.
But despite all these misgivings, he really is a good kid. If you manage to earn a spot of favor in his heart, he’ll do everything in his ability to make sure that you’re protected and happy. In a way, he’s even more focused around this than Riku is, namely since he has no issue with expressing emotions and things like this. He won’t beat around the bush, he’ll just say what’s on his mind be it bad or good, and will learn - eventually - that sometimes... its better to keep his mouth shut.
How will you character react to the setting?: While the Replica might make it seem like nothing in Silent Hill will phase him, and that he’s not afraid of the monsters and can take whatever’s dished at him and then some... the boy will be rather frightened. After all, he cowers and backs away from Larxene. Actual monsters.... will absolutely terrify him. And being powerless will have a large influence on that. However, don’t expect him to outright say this, or even show it. His knees might be shaking and he might be wanting to go curl up under a desk and never come out, but if it means saving face and coming across as that “knight in shining armor” he’ll leap headfirst into danger... and will be rather loud about it.
Writing Samples
First Person:
[At first, the post to the network comes out in text, although its really just a jumble of letters and numbers, absolutely nothing intelligible about it, no matter how hard you try and how you manage to look at it. Its just a simple apoaergneidfjhweoeija;lknehtie. But, a few minutes after that little beauty popped up in the network, a separate message is sent, broken by different dial tone-esque beeps as the owner of the phone continues pressing buttons and muttering to himself, seemingly not noticing that the phone is even on.]
Where did my clothes go?!
[Its the first thing heard, and rather loudly, too. But after another moment of silence... that obnoxious beeping from before cuts in. And the boy's veeeeery familiar voice keeps cutting in and out.]
--lieve I [BEEP] -actually left her with him. Its that stu- [BEEPBEEP] -d smile of his. Must still have s- [BEEEEEP] -e of his memories. Somewhere.
That trick would have never- [BEEP] -orked on me yesterday.
.... What is this place, anyway?
[And, after some cluttering about, the feed switches off. However, a few moments later, a short, ten second video clip is shown. The phone clatters to the ground, showing a boy in bright blue balloon pants and a yellow shirt taking a few steps forward, stopping, squaring his stance, bending his knees, and moving his arms out to the sides, fists tightened and head tilted back as he cries out as if.... expecting a power up. Its all very DBZ-esque. But.... nothing happens. And just before the feed clicks off, the boy grabs his hair and lets out a short, loud cry of frustration.]
GRAH!
Third Person:
The walls were bleeding. Yup, bleeding. Not that the Replica really knew what that was. Blood. Huh. To him it was just some red liquid seeping from the walls, something that made him screw up his face with distaste. After all, it smelled of metal. Wet metal and something... bad. Darkness practically clung to this world. He might not know what it was, seeing as he'd never seen something other than Sora that was completely untouched by the stench that littered Castle Oblivion and its occupants, but he knew it was there. And he knew that it kept him on guard. As he had been for... days.
Man, had he already existed for days? It seemed like such a long time, that span of four to five days (not like he really knew that, exactly. After all, the sun neither rose nor set in Oblivion), such a long, long time to be living. And so much had happened. He'd gone to all those different card worlds, had fought his real thing, Sora, had had those memories he couldn't quite recall shoved into his head and then shattered. And Naminé... in the end, he'd managed to help fulfill that promise to her. The promise to protect her. He'd saved her from the man keeping her captive, even though he had Sora's help. Sure, it hurt his pride, but... the end result was the same. Not that... he'd thought that at the time. But Sora wasn't too bad, just--
"... I'm going soft, huh?"
It was muttered under a sigh, accompanied by a quick push up with his legs, his upper body remaining bent over so he could brush off his pants before standing up straight, running a hand through his hair almost... awkwardly. These clothes... had never been his. They'd been Riku's. His clothes... were that Dark Suit. The suit he couldn't summon for the life of him. Along with Soul Eater. Not that that really mattered, since that sword was his, too. But the loss of that suit... it was like losing what little he had to define him as... him.
After all, he had nothing else. No memory that was solely his own, no matter how much he tried to convince himself that false memory he and Sora shared was truly his. No origin beyond that Castle. No name other than...
"Replica. Riku Replica. Didn't even get a number," its just said bitterly, to those weeping walls. But after a moment of glaring at the red slowly seeping into the plaster and dripping onto the already dirty floor, he shook his head and sighed. "No..." no use moping. No use feeling sorry for himself. After all, he had a job to do. And that howling in the distance was reminding him of that. So, he reached over and picked up his worn and dented pipe, spinning it in his hand as a smirk crossed his face, the prospect of battle causing his blood - or whatever that fake heart of his was pumping - to race in his veins. Nope, no time to emo. After all...
He had to keep the hotel safe.
Character Name: Riku Replica
Series: Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories (PS2 video game)
Canon Point: After Marluxia is defeated, as he runs off to the basements.
Character's Age: The Replica appears to be 15, but in all actuality he’s only been in existence for a few weeks at most (most likely its only a few days, given how Riku enters the Castle about halfway through Sora’s story, and the Replica doesn’t show up for a while in either).
Canon resource: here
How familiar are you with your character's canon? Extremely. I’ve played all the games multiple times. I have also read all the manga volumes published, I own a few game guides, have watched playthroughs of each game multiple times (including all stories of Birth By Sleep), and even have extensive knowledge of Birth by Sleep through the Ultimania and through a friend who owns the game and speaks Japanese. So... I’m pretty good with the KH knowledge!
History: As Sora and Riku progressed through Castle Oblivion, a Nobody named Vexen came up with an idea. Seeing as Marluxia was using the Keyblade Master of Light, the older Nobody got it in his head to use the Master of Darkness for his experiments. As he was in the midst of the Replica program, having already created No. I for the Superior, the Scientist... decided to experiment a little. So, after fighting Riku in Basement Nine of the castle, Vexen retreated, having gathered the data he needed, and started work on the Replica.
Two basements later, the Replica was created, and he went forward to face Riku. After a bit of goading, proclaiming himself more powerful because he embraced the Darkness Riku was so afraid of, the two fought. Although the Replica had been created to be a perfect copy of Riku’s power, perhaps even stronger since he embraced something the real Riku refused to, he was still new. He hadn’t had the battle experience his Real Thing had, so ultimately... the Replica fell. However, when Riku rushed in to try and finish it, the Darkness proved to be stronger than the teen’s attack. So, with a quick laugh, the Replica retreated to the depths of the castle, facing Zexion, Lexaeus, and and Vexen with the news of his fight.
After a quick conference where the Replica told them that Riku was weak and not a problem, Zexion asked how he’d like to meet another hero in the Castle. The Replica merely asked if he meant Sora and snorted, saying that if Riku was so weak... Sora couldn’t be much of a problem either. However... the Replica didn’t know what he was getting himself into.
Vexen then took him up to the top of the castle to Larxene and Axel, offering them his and the Replica’s services. Axel then handed Vexen a card containing the memories of Sora and Riku’s home. After a quick discussion, the three Nobodies decided that the best course of action was to completely remake the Replica’s heart, to make him forget that he was nothing but a fake and put in the memories of Riku. In essence, they wanted to make the Replica think he was Riku. Needless to say, the Replica wasn’t very happy with that. He told them that the real Riku was a coward, afraid of his own power, and even went on to say that he was nothing like that, and never wanted to be like that. However, the Nobodies said it must be done. So, the Replica was subdued and brought to Naminé, and the memories of Sora and Riku’s home were twisted and forced into his heart.
However, the Replica didn’t get everything, it seems. The memories that were formed the clearest and the strongest in his heart were those of the day he and Naminé were at the beach during the meteor shower. He held up a sword to the sky and said that he’d protect her if a star fell on them, just like he’d protect her from everything. And then... Naminé gave him a charm, a charm that the Replica then clung to almost desperately. Sure, he had some memories of Sora from that fake childhood, and even some of the days after that, leading up to when the Islands fell apart, but nothing was stronger than the need to protect Naminé. After all, the Nobodies needed the Replica to be following their every command as well.
And so, once the Replica’s heart was remade, he was sent down to confront Sora. After goading the boy and fighting him once, saying things about Naminé that further cemented the fake memories in Sora’s heart as well, the Replica was forced to retreat. After all, even though he had Riku’s strength and fighting style, he was still new to fighting, even if his memories said differently. So, he came back to Naminé’s room, only to fight Larxene bullying her again. With a gentle ferocity, he told Larxene off and tried to cheer up Naminé, extending their good luck charm and swearing on it. Underneath the bratty exterior, the Replica really was a good kid, just trying to make good on a promise and the only memory he fully had. He didn’t know any better, he didn’t know to question it and... he didn’t know that it, like everything else, was fake. Just like he didn’t know that the changes to his heart were what was bothering Naminé, not just Sora being in the castle. So, going off that memory, he promised to keep her safe and happy, and to keep Sora away and from causing any more pain. With that, he walked off, gone before he could hear Larxene’s laughter and congratulations for the complete remodeling of his heart.
Meanwhile, Sora became concerned for the Replica, thinking him to be Riku. So, the next time the two met in the Castle, the brunet tried to jog his friend’s memory to remind them that they were friends. Only... nothing worked. After all, this was a fake Riku. One with a memory of Naminé and a feeling of betrayal, thinking that Sora only cared for... that girl, the other one. The one none of them could remember. Eventually, that feeling faded with Sora’s memories, merely leaving the Replica convinced that although Sora appeared concerned with both of them, he didn’t really care. So, when they met again, the Replica told him to go away, that Naminé didn’t want to see him so he shouldn’t try. Another fight ensued, and the Replica was once again defeated.
The next time he clashed with Sora happened on the eleventh floor, after Vexen had been defeated. Sora came forward saying that the Replica was no longer under Vexen’s control, that he shouldn’t be forced to do things anymore. To be “evil”. However, the Replica only stated that he was protecting Naminé of his own free will, that he’d never been controlled by anyone. However... then things started to fall apart, because the Replica went on to tell Sora of the promise he’d made Naminé. That confused Sora, who vehemently denied the Replica had those memories, because he had them. Confused and starting to get a headache from it all, the Replica just proclaimed Sora’s charm as a fake, saying that he had the real one. And, once again, the Replica ran off. Only this time it wasn’t just because of his defeat. No... he had things to figure out this time around.
A few hours passed, and Sora made his way to the twelfth floor of the Castle. There, the Replica faced him again, saying that he was the one who would protect Naminé, and that Sora and his fake and scrambled memories kept interferring. They fought again and, as usual, the Replica was defeated. However, as Sora went forward to try and help him, the Replica knocked him back. Taking advantage of the sudden change in the situation, the Replica was about to finish Sora off when Naminé yelled out. A sudden jolt went through the Replica, and he fell to the ground, motionless. The little Nobody had shattered his memories and thusly, his heart. Larxene then emerged from a portal, laughing at Naminé, who seemed to honestly regret what she did, and Sora... who was mourning the “death” of who he thought was he best friend. The older Nobody then told Sora that the Replica was a fake, going so far as to admonishing Naminé for “killing” him and tossing the boy’s body about like a rag doll. Angered, Sora quickly dispatched of Larxene.
Naminé then told Sora about what was going on, and about Marluxia, all the while kneeling in front of the motionless body of the Replica. The little group then moved on to confront Marluxia, leaving the Replica there. After all, there was no way he could have recovered, right?
Wrong.
In the middle of the fight with Marluxia, Naminé got captured and used as a “shield” of sorts. At a loss of what to do, Sora was in a right mess. However, just as all was “lost”, the Replica’s voice came out of nowhere just before a portal opened and he came out. It seemed that since his heart was something that was created, it didn’t matter if his memories were taken from him and his heart was shattered. He could stand up again after it. However, he had lost all the memories that had been planted in his heart. The only knowledge he was left with was what had been going on in the castle, the fact that he was a Replica created just a few days ago, and... the promise he made to Naminé. Even though that promise had been faked, the memories themselves not real... it was something he clung to. After all, it was created for him, and it wasn’t something pulled out of Riku’s memories.
Once Sora had gone ahead and destroyed Marluxia, the Replica bid him farewell, saying that he was going off to figure some things out, also saying that “A fake like him didn’t deserve to be together with them”. And despite the fact that this boy had been trying to kill him the entire time, and the fact that he wasn’t Riku, Sora still felt for him and tried to cheer him up. Touched despite himself, the Replica smiles and says that Sora’s a good person and turns to leave. He had finally made his peace with the boy. And with that done... there was one last thing to do. To defeat the real Riku and secure his place in the world. So with that goal in mind, he disappeared to the basements of Castle Oblivion, following his nose towards his Real Thing.
That’s when he wound up in Silent Hell.
Personality: While at first glance it seems like the Riku Replica should be a complete carbon copy of the teen he was based off of, when push comes to shove, the Replica is immensely different from his “real thing”. To further explain this, lets look at some key aspects of his personality.
First of all, lets explore the few things that the Replica has in common with Riku. Namely, the boy is proud. He has an air of confidence around him even in his darkest moments, even when his heart is weakest. He has a pride in his strength and in his promises, and once he makes one he’ll follow through with it. Even at the cost of his own life. However, as good-natured as this “pride” may sound, the Replica’s confidence and pride in his strength and in his memories kind of... makes him come across as a bit of a jerk. He has no qualms about boasting about his strength, and has the tendency to look down on people he thinks are weaker than him. Occasionally, he’ll even go so far as to inform said people that they’re lower than him. His countenance can be a bit condescending, and his tone betrays some serious issues with authority, but underneath that first layer of jackassery are some deeper emotions.
Pretty much, this Replica is scared. Although... this isn’t something that’s easily seen. After all, he’s built off of a boy made of snark and pride. But when push comes to shove, the Replica doesn’t have much going for himself. He existed for all of thirty days at most, and only had a few memories to cling to. Knowing nothing of himself, and where he came from, he clung to the few memories that’d been planted into his head and went after what few connections he thought he had with a nearly desperate fire. And once he remembered what he was? That he was merely a Replica, a copy of the person those memories were based off of? How could he not be scared? He was being used to replace someone, he was called a puppet. A fake. In the eyes of all but two of the people he’d been around, he was just something replaceable. Something that, once it run the course of its usefulness, could be destroyed. Living with that and a few scraps of things that never actually happened... with that little to go off of, its safe to say that the boy was scared. Is scared. Which is what has led to his fervent desire to be real.
Many people seem to think that the Replica is “creepy”, given his seemingly strange attachment to Naminé. However, there really is nothing creepy about his relationship with the girl if you look at what he’s working with. She is the only person he has memories of, besides the ill-formed memories given to him in order to keep him up to speed with the events of Kingdom Hearts. The one strongest memory he has is of him and Naminé when they were younger on the night of a meteor shower. Of him raising his sword to the heavens and saying that he’d protect her from everything out there. With that and a few other foggy created memories, his single-minded devotion to Naminé is really just that of a child clinging to what he knows. To someone he cares about. In essence, the Replica really is a child.
His memories aren’t very developed, and its usually assumed by various experts that personalities are built through experiences, through figuring out things and making mistakes. Without life experience outside of a few memories of when he was five, the recent days in the Castle, and a few hazy facts of the recent years, the boy hasn’t had much of an opportunity to grow and mature. As such, he is prone to outbursts of anger, a selfish view that he is the center of everything that’s going on, and a possessive streak to rival... well... a raccoon is the best metaphor that comes to mind. He sees something “shiny”, something he can call his and not his “real thing’s” and he’ll do everything he can to keep it safe and keep it his. While in a fifteen-year-old, such things can be construed as creepy, these are common in the developmental phase of a child.
Given as the Replica’s experiences don’t go much beyond a few faked relationships, fighting, and the general ability to snark, it is safe to say that when it comes to everyday life, the boy is clueless. He knows some things, sure, but when it comes to... say... how to make a bed, make a sandwich, or work a communication’s device, he has no idea how to go about doing so. But he’s stubborn and prideful, and will continue to work at such things until he figures them out for himself. .... Or until someone else comes, whacks him over the head, and shows him how to work things.
But as childish as the Replica can be, there are definitely still aspects of Riku in him. After all, he was based off of the boy. These main aspects are his stubborn streak, his pride, and a fierce, unfettered loyalty to the people he’s close to.
The Replica snarks. He considers himself the best and only one to protect people, and he won’t hesitate to inform others of such things. He will always, always, always refuse help due to his pride, and will stubbornly run headfirst into a wall until someone either guides him around it or until he smashes through. He has the need to be an individual, to do things on his own, even if he has no idea what he’s doing most of the time. He really is like a child in that way. Refusing to believe that the stove is hot until he burns his hand on it. He’s in the middle of his trial and error phase of life.
But despite all these misgivings, he really is a good kid. If you manage to earn a spot of favor in his heart, he’ll do everything in his ability to make sure that you’re protected and happy. In a way, he’s even more focused around this than Riku is, namely since he has no issue with expressing emotions and things like this. He won’t beat around the bush, he’ll just say what’s on his mind be it bad or good, and will learn - eventually - that sometimes... its better to keep his mouth shut.
How will you character react to the setting?: While the Replica might make it seem like nothing in Silent Hill will phase him, and that he’s not afraid of the monsters and can take whatever’s dished at him and then some... the boy will be rather frightened. After all, he cowers and backs away from Larxene. Actual monsters.... will absolutely terrify him. And being powerless will have a large influence on that. However, don’t expect him to outright say this, or even show it. His knees might be shaking and he might be wanting to go curl up under a desk and never come out, but if it means saving face and coming across as that “knight in shining armor” he’ll leap headfirst into danger... and will be rather loud about it.
Writing Samples
First Person:
[At first, the post to the network comes out in text, although its really just a jumble of letters and numbers, absolutely nothing intelligible about it, no matter how hard you try and how you manage to look at it. Its just a simple apoaergneidfjhweoeija;lknehtie. But, a few minutes after that little beauty popped up in the network, a separate message is sent, broken by different dial tone-esque beeps as the owner of the phone continues pressing buttons and muttering to himself, seemingly not noticing that the phone is even on.]
Where did my clothes go?!
[Its the first thing heard, and rather loudly, too. But after another moment of silence... that obnoxious beeping from before cuts in. And the boy's veeeeery familiar voice keeps cutting in and out.]
--lieve I [BEEP] -actually left her with him. Its that stu- [BEEPBEEP] -d smile of his. Must still have s- [BEEEEEP] -e of his memories. Somewhere.
That trick would have never- [BEEP] -orked on me yesterday.
.... What is this place, anyway?
[And, after some cluttering about, the feed switches off. However, a few moments later, a short, ten second video clip is shown. The phone clatters to the ground, showing a boy in bright blue balloon pants and a yellow shirt taking a few steps forward, stopping, squaring his stance, bending his knees, and moving his arms out to the sides, fists tightened and head tilted back as he cries out as if.... expecting a power up. Its all very DBZ-esque. But.... nothing happens. And just before the feed clicks off, the boy grabs his hair and lets out a short, loud cry of frustration.]
GRAH!
Third Person:
The walls were bleeding. Yup, bleeding. Not that the Replica really knew what that was. Blood. Huh. To him it was just some red liquid seeping from the walls, something that made him screw up his face with distaste. After all, it smelled of metal. Wet metal and something... bad. Darkness practically clung to this world. He might not know what it was, seeing as he'd never seen something other than Sora that was completely untouched by the stench that littered Castle Oblivion and its occupants, but he knew it was there. And he knew that it kept him on guard. As he had been for... days.
Man, had he already existed for days? It seemed like such a long time, that span of four to five days (not like he really knew that, exactly. After all, the sun neither rose nor set in Oblivion), such a long, long time to be living. And so much had happened. He'd gone to all those different card worlds, had fought his real thing, Sora, had had those memories he couldn't quite recall shoved into his head and then shattered. And Naminé... in the end, he'd managed to help fulfill that promise to her. The promise to protect her. He'd saved her from the man keeping her captive, even though he had Sora's help. Sure, it hurt his pride, but... the end result was the same. Not that... he'd thought that at the time. But Sora wasn't too bad, just--
"... I'm going soft, huh?"
It was muttered under a sigh, accompanied by a quick push up with his legs, his upper body remaining bent over so he could brush off his pants before standing up straight, running a hand through his hair almost... awkwardly. These clothes... had never been his. They'd been Riku's. His clothes... were that Dark Suit. The suit he couldn't summon for the life of him. Along with Soul Eater. Not that that really mattered, since that sword was his, too. But the loss of that suit... it was like losing what little he had to define him as... him.
After all, he had nothing else. No memory that was solely his own, no matter how much he tried to convince himself that false memory he and Sora shared was truly his. No origin beyond that Castle. No name other than...
"Replica. Riku Replica. Didn't even get a number," its just said bitterly, to those weeping walls. But after a moment of glaring at the red slowly seeping into the plaster and dripping onto the already dirty floor, he shook his head and sighed. "No..." no use moping. No use feeling sorry for himself. After all, he had a job to do. And that howling in the distance was reminding him of that. So, he reached over and picked up his worn and dented pipe, spinning it in his hand as a smirk crossed his face, the prospect of battle causing his blood - or whatever that fake heart of his was pumping - to race in his veins. Nope, no time to emo. After all...
He had to keep the hotel safe.