( PLAYER INFORMATION )

Name: Venus/V

Contact: Email: venuschanmail@gmail.com, AIM: alwaysryoji, Plurk: alwaysryoji

Are you over 17?: Yes!

Characters in Forest Covered: None

( CHARACTER INFORMATION )

Name/Work Name: Ryoji Mochizuki/Mushi

Canon: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable

Canon Point: Post-game, after being sealed by the protagonist.

AU/CRAU: N/A

Age: The simplest way to put it is that he looks around 16-17, having taken some of his humanity from the MC. That human side of him has only existed about a month, but he has had an existence as Death for about ten years. Prior to that, he existed only as Nyx, but if taking that into account, he has lived since time began. So… say he’s seventeen.

History: Persona 3’s wiki page is here, with Ryoji’s specific section here.

Personality: Ryoji was never meant to be human in the first place, yet somehow became more human than could have been thought possible. In many ways, his existence is a contradiction, and in Persona 3, he can represent several facets of the main character, whom he was born from. If the protagonist spares his life, Ryoji can eventually grow to comprehend the hope that encouraged the protagonist to continue on when fate demanded she fail, and he will become hopeful himself, accepting second chances, admiring the humans who are changing their ways and refusing to give in, and hoping for a better world.

It is important to first recognize that at first, Ryoji is a regular high school student. He is lazy, and would rather spend time at the arcade or Wild Duck Burger than on his school assignments. He is preoccupied with girls, and participates in the typical locker room talk with Junpei. If one passed by him in the hall, he may seem just like any other high schooler.

Spend a bit of time with him, however, and Ryoji shows parts of himself that are quite unlike the norm. His enthusiasm and energy is ridiculously high, and he always seems excited and cheerful, whether participating in a class lecture or a round of claw games. He is childishly innocent and enthusiastic, always trying to have fun no matter where he may be and questioning all the amazing things that make up the world. It wouldn’t be possible for him to even ignore his surroundings. He sees the world as a beautiful thing, and doesn’t take it for granted. He is also a bit of a charmer, and loves to flirt with the students in his classroom, using lines that would be more at home in a romantic comedy than when they are used in real life, though if they blow him off, he will back off and take on a more friendly tone with them. When Aigis gets angry at him, he is quick to give her the space she needs, even if he’s confused why she seems to dislike him so intensely.

He’s incredibly selfless, to the point where one almost wonders if he even thinks about himself when making decisions. He is the kind of person who serves everyone else cake before cutting himself a slice. In the drama CDs, Ryoji hands over the prize he wins at the arcade as soon as he sees the male protagonist, Minato, without even considering keeping it. He is similarly sacrificing in the female route, though a part of him is selfish too. He understands that he may be a danger to Minako, and that scares him, but he is unable to separate himself from her side. Still, he is more concerned about others than he is himself, as seen very clearly in the offer he makes to SEES upon recalling that he will summon Nyx to instigate the Fall and end the world: he is willing to give up his own life and all their memories of him just so they can have peace in their final days.

Ryoji is also amazingly sincere and honest. He tells people what he thinks, no matter what it may be. Some people may find it almost off-putting. When he thinks someone is beautiful, he tells them. When he can’t remember important details of his past, that, too, he shares. He doesn’t even consider lying about these things, and to be fair, he may not even know how to. There are many things he doesn’t know… and eventually, when he recalls why he is so different from humans, that is when Ryoji begins to drastically change.

Ryoji is Death itself. He never had a choice in this matter, and in fact, never truly had a choice in whether he would have the ability to react to this. Everything has been given to him by someone else: first, his existence was created by the scientists, and then his humanity was eventually developed through Minako. He has had no control over any aspect of his life, and he beliefs this… at least until he sees what humans truly are capable of. In the ending he is taken from, Ryoji becomes the Avatar of Nyx and believes he will bring about the end of humanity. Despite this being his fate, and despite so many people subconsciously wishing for this, SEES faces him, fights him… and, thanks to the sacrifice Minako makes and the energy to puts forth, defeats him. The group fought against something Ryoji originally thought couldn’t be fought. Not only that, but Minako also shows unbelievable strength, and manages to push through and see everyone on Graduation Day as they had promised each other, even though she’s near death. She used her very soul to seal Nyx, and should have died instantly… but yet she refused to let fate define her. Ryoji watched her do this from his spot in his afterlife… and now, though he’s saddened Minako and her friends had to struggle, he understands that it’s possible to fight against the path fate sets for everyone.

With this knowledge, and with the opportunity for a second chance given to him by the Witch, Ryoji will also fight his own nature. He will be hesitant to get close to others, still frightened by the lack of control he used to have, but his social nature will shine through and he’ll become outgoing once more. He wishes to do good things, and though he is still unsure of himself and still hesitant to believe something like him will ever be able to be a person, much less a good one… he will still try. He will try to atone, try to do good and try to be everything he wanted to be back when his life was his own.

He owes Minako that much. He has a second chance at life, and he’ll use it to make her smile once again.

Debt: Ryoji will only make one wish, but the nature of it means there are several major parts to it that will increase his debt. He wishes to be able to work to free Minako from the Seal she has created without any harm coming to the world she gave up her life to protect. To do this, he needs to be brought back to life, and he’s also working to bring back Minako’s own life… plus keep her entire world alive. If he ever finds out about Minato, he’ll likely make the same wish for him…

Good thing Death is forever, right?

Previous Game Info: N/A

Inventory: ...Ryoji literally had nothing. He lost every part of himself when he became Nyx, so frankly, he’s lucky to even have a human appearance.

If anything, he could have his regular outfit, consisting of black pants, black shoes with red soles, black suspenders, a white button-up shirt with black cuffs, and a yellow scarf with black trim. He may also have some spare change in his pocket and a few crumpled up pieces of paper (notes he had made for himself in December in an attempt to find the right words to say to SEES).

Abilities: Ryoji is a piece of what may be considered a godlike being in his world, and is therefore very powerful himself. He is near immortal, only able to be killed by his counterparts, Minato and Minako. He initially was an extremely powerful Shadow, and because of this, has every elemental ability known in his universe (his Nyx Avatar form has most of the abilities that he would normally have, listed here). He can adjust his appearance slightly, to adopt the guise of Minako’s Persona, Thanatos, and the form of Nyx Avatar. It is suggested that Ryoji also has some abilities to mentally influence others, as he is able to enroll in school without anyone questioning his lack of a family, much less his entire past.

Strengths and Weaknesses:

Strengths:

-As mentioned above, Ryoji is near immortal and has several elemental spells at his disposal. He doesn’t look it, but he is very strong and can carry other people his size. He’s also fairly quick on his feet.

-Ryoji is friendly and polite, and can speak to nearly anyone calmly and properly.

-Ryoji can read emotions quite well, and would be able to tell if a customer was truly happy or if they were just saying that.

-Ryoji is very in tune with others and has a strong desire to help people with any problems they may have. He is willing to comfort anyone who may need comfort.


Weaknesses:

-Ryoji is innocent. He does not know much about the world, having only been part of it for a few short months, so things that are common sense to others are entirely foreign to him.

-Ryoji is gullible. He doesn’t realize other people may lie to him, and he trusts everyone until he gets hurt due to his misplaced trust.

-Ryoji is self-loathing and fatalistic. He doesn’t think highly of himself at all, and cannot acknowledge his strengths. He will always consider another human’s life as far more important than his own.

-Ryoji is selfless. He will put all others needs before his, and while that can be a good quality, it can interfere with his own needs and cause him to put himself in danger for others.

-...He’s also way too flirtatious for his own good, and he’ll probably get slapped.

( SAMPLE )

Characterization Sample: Test drive!