SAVE THE EARTH

[rivalize]

OOC Information:
Name: Fellie
Are you over 15? Yes!
Contact: PM this journal!

IC Information:
Name: Well, seeing as he's a clone, he doesn't really have a name of his own. Here's one from scratch: Tyler Vaughan.
Canon: Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Age: 15 ➙ 19

Preincarnation Appearance: Here!

Any differences: Aside from the fact that he looks like a young adult rather than a kid, there's no major differences. His hair's still white, although it's a little shorter, kinda like this.

Preincarnated History:
Riku Replica was never meant to be real—to exist. He's a clone entirely made of data, created by Vexen in order to coax Riku back to darkness. His life is relatively short and abruptly cut short; he spends it following the Organization's orders in Castle Oblivion, constantly pushed into battles he never really wins. Used and abused, his memories—as fake as they are— are tampered with to fit the Organization's needs, and he struggles both to do as he's asked and finds his place in the midst of the mess he creates in his wake. He fights against both Sora and Riku multiple times, and even rebels against the Nobodies ordering him around (namely Larxene), usually to no avail. It's good to note that there's turmoil among the Organization—traitors looking to overthrow it and take over—and with Vexen eventually defeated along with a few others, plans are altered and Repliku never does accomplish what he was created for. He sticks to Naminé's side and protects her with fierce determination, and somewhere along the lines, even with his memories messed with, it's what he seems to wind up caring the most about. He ultimately gains some sort of conscience, going as far as helping Sora against the Organization—Marluxia is defeated, and there's one last thing left on the clone's list: Riku. He strives to be real at this point, and there's not enough room for the both of them. He loses to him, of course—a fatal fight, this time—and he fades back into darkness thinking that it's the only fate a fake like him could possibly meet.

Detailed history here!

Reincarnated History:
Tyler Vaughan's had little to no childhood at all. Abandoned in the months following his birth, he's adopted in a family where excelling is favored above all else. As a retired professional swimmer—and with a lot of hard-won medals to depict his success—Tyler's father forces him to walk in his footsteps at an early age. It's the Olympics he aims—no more, no less—going as far as allowing him to be home-schooled in order to waste as little time as possible. It's not what Tyler wants, of course, but he doesn't have it in him to rebel against his wishes; it's the only way he's got to make him proud and gain what little recognition he can get. There's no love in his family. His parents are altogether stern, polite but cold towards him as well as towards each other, and it takes him years to gather the strength to break free from this life he hasn't chosen, even if it means what he fears: rejection.

He's 16 when he tells his dad that he can't do it anymore. A few medals and a broken social life later, he's learnt discipline, he's learnt responsibility, but it's everything else that's out there that he craves and at the risk of being dismissed, he decides to finally listen to his own heart. It's an ugly fight that ensues, and ultimately Tyler is shipped off to his aunt—his adoptive mother's sister—pretty much disowned. It's where he discovers affection, and it's where he realizes that he's broken, just as much as his parents were, but there's no way in hell he'll let himself turn into them. There's a strong desire to help that boils inside him, to lend a sympathetic hand to those in needs because it's what he lacked his entire life, but he often finds himself at a loss when comes the time to reach out to people as he doesn't always know how. Still, he's made a few friends along the way, and if he still keeps in shape, he loathes swimming. He avoids pools like the plague and he got rid of every medal he's ever won—too few, according to his father—hoping to start anew.

College is a turning point in his life. It gets easier to mingle with people—albeit still awkwardly difficult at times—and if he still questions himself on a daily basis, he's relatively content to be where he is. He's just starting to fly with his own wings and he insists on being fully self-sufficient, working 45 hours every week in order to save up as much as he can and pay both fees and rent for the next two semesters. He's a barrister—the salary isn't anything extravagant, but he manages and he's never been afraid to work. It's where he's at right now, living near Campus and working his ass off, distancing himself as much as he can from his youth and learning how to find his own way.

First Echo:
Riku was this one being he never stopped wanting to kill, even after making peace with Sora and turning against the Organization. Meeting Riku for the first time in his Reincarnated life brought that feeling back, the sensation that the Earth isn't big enough for the both of them, the impulse to surpass him no matter what. It was in the way he stood, older and taller and seemingly stronger, and because of their similar features— it didn't help that his parents always seemed to praise him—Tyler winded up feeling less, which in turn created a deep-seated kind of hatred towards him that resulted in a slowly developing competitive streak.

Preincarnation Personality:
Riku Replica can be described as what Riku would have been—in the first game—had he embraced the darkness. He shares a lot of the personality traits that Riku had under the wing of Maleficent, only more intensified. He is insolently proud and arrogant whereas Riku's cocky; he's more aggressive in the way he speaks and prone to pick fights for any sort of threat. This is especially true soon after he is made; however, he does evolve throughout the game, the first replica that actually becomes self-aware. He knows that he is a fake—a touchy subject to avoid at the beginning of the game, as he is extremely defensive about his own value—and while he denies it at first, it is something that he ultimately comes to accept.

As a being made of data, Riku Replica lacks the experience that the original Riku has. Vexen didn't bother showing him manners or diplomacy, and his communication skills are somewhat deficient because of this. He's extremely bold, brash and straightforward, with little regards for proper conduct; the guy means business, and he has no time for tact. 'Think twice before you speak' isn't something that applies to him. He's impulsive and very keen on protecting his honor, and should you insult him in any way, he will lash out at your provocation instantly. This is especially true when it comes to confronting "the real thing", or anyone who hints towards him being phony. He's really just trying to find his place, after all, even though he knows he has none.

His honor isn't the only thing that he wants to protect; Naminé is his top priority, and he vows to never break the promise he's made her. Riku Replica is often portrayed as an angsty kid—which he is, really—but he's got his fair share of positive traits as well. Like Riku, he's determined and independent, trying his best to achieve his goals and keep his promises. He doesn't give up easily, even when defeated; this is only an opportunity for him to get better, to improve, and his self-confidence plays a big part in this. He believes himself better than most—a belief mostly forced upon him by the Organization—and he won't hesitate to pick a fight with you if you push the wrong buttons, regardless of whether you are stronger or weaker. He'll react the same if Naminé is threatened in any way, for she holds a special place in his heart, however fake it may be. He's gentle toward her, kind and protective, and thus he IS capable of caring for people—he simply hasn't had a chance to really try, for he's had orders to follow and points to prove. Like Riku, I believe that in the long run, he would show loyalty to the friends he makes, even though he isn't much of a social butterfly. In the end, he makes peace with Sora, whom he despises the entire game, and with his last breath finally comes to peace with what he is.

All in all, aside from the whole darkness and supernatural aspects of the game, he isn't much different from your average teenage boy; competitive and impetuous without much life experience. He isn't the type of person who'll ask for help; he is proud and likes to be self-reliant, and will rely on others only if absolutely necessary. He's rather possessive, can be jealous at times and tends to hold grudges; hurt him once and he'll hurt you twice. He can be a show off and come off as an arrogant jerk, but deep inside, he's a jealous, defensive and vulnerable guy when it comes to who he is. No matter how confident he may be about his abilities, when it comes to his identity, insecurity fills him. He doesn't like being a fake; he denies it for a time, and comes to realize that he wants to be a unique individual. He doesn't want to be Riku, let alone his clone; he simply wants to be, but his life ends before he has the chance to discover all of what he could have become, if they had let him shine through.

Any differences: I like to think of his reincarnation as the life he could have had, had he not ultimately lost to Riku. From the moment he decides to break the chains holding him back, he dives headfirst into life, scared but eager. Whereas his preincarnated self sought power and naively let the Organization manipulate him, it's companionship he seeks now—albeit awkwardly—the desire to be a better person than the man who raised him. He's sick of being alone, and yet he doesn't know how not to be, which can easily lead to conflicting emotions. Striving to find his place in the world is one thing; succeeding is quite another. Because of the utter lack of affection he's missed during his childhood, he's easily disarmed by any kind of attention he may get, but he struggles against it and the cold demeanor he sometimes displays is merely a facade. He wants to be loved—he simply doesn't know how—and he tends to leave the second he feels as though he's about to get hurt.

Another difference is that he refuses to live by whatever expectation others may have of him. He doesn't want to prove anything to anyone but himself, and it's even more blatant once he finally turns against his adoptive parents. He's a bit of a rebellious soul, and he brushes things off a lot more easily than his preincarnated counterpart, sometimes choosing to remain silent when provoked instead of lashing out. It doesn't mean he's void of anger—there's a deep-seated fury boiling inside him for all the restraints he was forced into, but he's learnt how to handle it... at least for the most part. Controlling his temper was at the core of his education and it's only when thoroughly troubled that the relatively calm appearance he keeps threatens to crack. Love and hostility can both equally throw him off-balance, which either leaves him speechless or defensive.

Of course, he can most definitely still snap, but he doesn't naturally engage in battles he knows he can't win—he'll fight for the causes/people he deems worth fighting for, rather than fighting out of a superiority complex or because someone else asked him to. He was never as good as his father wished him to be and it's something he's accepted; he's never tried to deny it, and if there was a time he struggled to please him, he rarely ever compromises anymore. Rather than sticking to a fate he hasn't chosen, he breaks free and embarks on a journey to discover what he really wants; he focuses on the aspects of his life he feels he's good at, instead of giving too much wasted importance on skills he's expected to have. He is what he is, no more, no less, and he often goes by a "take it or leave it" kind of motto, however difficult it may sometimes prove to be for someone who's often self-doubting.


Abilities: Riku Replica's weapon of choice is a keyblade called Soul Eater (a magical sword, basically). Since he's a clone, he possesses the same abilities that Riku does, and uses them profusely during battle. It's darkness that fuels most of his powers, and aside from basic swordsmanship—he's very swift, very fluid—there's a list of magical moves he can perform:

➙Helm Split: Enables him to leap into the air and aggressively attack enemies from above (note that he has a natural ability to jump higher than most).
➙Dark Firaga: Expels dark energy in a searing blast.
➙Dark Aura: Used to rush enemies repeatedly with blade in hand, and to finish them off by stabbing his Soul Eater into the ground for a column of light that confuses the enemy.

Reincarnated abilities: Nothing out of the ordinary, aside from being fit and having decent endurance. He can, however, hold his breath for ~5 minutes underwater, and due to the strict environment he was raised in, he does rather well in school.