application : luceti
Character
Name: Riza Hawkeye
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist
Gender: Female
Age: Unsaid. Mun did math and she's roughly twenty-five.
Time Period:
Riza will be taken from Chapter 107. At this point, Roy has gone blind and she has taken a substantial amount of blood loss from having it sliced open with a sword. Mei Chang, the seventeenth princess of Xing, has/had stemmed the bleeding with alkhestry. The Fullmetal cast are currently facing off with Father in the "final battle". Riza, before arriving, will have just been guiding the Colonel in his attacks against the opposing forces. She is taken right from when she protects Roy from a devestating blast from Father, but before Alphonse sacrifices himself to save his brother.
Wing Color: Light Slate Blue
History:
FMA Wikia
Personality:
Riza is one of the more complex characters that appears in the series. On the surface, we have a strict, nonsensical woman. However, underneath, those that know her can see a caring, dreaming, and almost heartfelt woman. At her core, Riza is a woman shaken from the trauma of childhood and her time in the extermination of the Ishvalan people. There are many sides to her we do not always see, but there is an unshaken, devoted loyalty to the man she puts her life on the line for; Colonel Roy Mustang.
First and foremost, Riza is a very independent woman. As stated canonly, by Berthold Hawkeye--her father--, "I was too absorbed in my research to do anything for you." And Riza herself stated her mother died long ago and both of her parents were estranged from their families, but her father made sure she received a good education. This points out that, because of having a father that was obsessive over completing his alchemic theories Riza grew up taking care of herself. Riza has always been independent and used to doing things on her own. However, her and Roy Mustang tend to share a codependency with each other. Knowing the other for almost two decades, and since her early child hood, Riza has a very admiring and respectful outlook for the man that seems to be shared. Either way, their codependency comes in play when throughout the entirity of the series the two take turns saving each other.
As a child, and before her time in Ishval, Riza can be perceived as an idealist. She looks towards Roy Mustang's dream to change the country with admiration even then; entrusting her back to him to help make that dream come true. After Ishval, this part of her is all but shattered. Remenants do, however, remain that are clear and spoken. Riza has said on several occasions "there is a man I must protect to help make his goals come true". Instead of a dream it is now a goal. Riza still has the potential of a dreamer at heart, however it's covered in darkness. She still moves forward as Roy's body guard not in a dreaming way, but with a determination to change a country for the better. Riza is indeed an idealist at heart.
Riza leads a life knowing that whatever happens she will die. Even if they face off and defeat every homunculus that comes there way and succeed in changing the country, she will die. Riza has accepted her fate as a "war criminal". She will do everything she can to protect her friends and the people around her. Notably saying "For future generations to be happy, we must carry corpses across a river of blood." That is her take as a soldier and as her life should be. When it comes to the Elrics and their friends, she will do everything in her power to keep them from danger. Riza knows that it's inevitable she will die, but she does not let this hinder her actions. Everything she does is for the sake of a better future and to help the Colonel she entrusted every secret she had to.
Underneath the hardened and darkened exterior, is a loving woman. Only those closest to Riza know the "inner side". The one who can be soft spoken and caring. We often see this side of her when it comes to her dog, Black Hayate. On the outside she disciplines and expects the best of him, as she does everyone, but when alone there are soft, tender smiles and hugs. (And in worst scenarios she takes comfort in the small puppy.) Riza is a woman that expects the best and most careful attention from everyone she becomes close to, and will guide them as she sees fit-- but when its needed she always has some sort of kind word or a smile to say. She's not made of ice, she is very much human no matter how much her exterior says otherwise.
Despite being a sniper, Riza hates having to use a gun. She hates the feel of blood on her fingers and knowing she kills people, but she has learned to accept it. She feels it's her burden to bear and she's done it willingly for so long. Before she carried a gun without a true purpose but to "shoot the enemy". Under the Colonel, she only shoots her gun when it's rightfully needed. She only shoots her gun for the person she's vowed to protect.
Her relationship with the Colonel is a strange one that plays quite the effect on how we can see her. She's known the man for almost two decades; from the time she was a child, to Ishval, and now to being his bodyguard and if need be executioner. He is quite obviously the most significant relationship in her life. With him, there are sides of Riza we don't see with anyone else (argumentatively, this could be compared to her relationship with Rebecca Catalina as well). An almost evil, teasing side at that. She has no problem tearing him down in her own dry sense of humor. She has cried for him, thinking he was near death. And flipped thinking he died.
This could be said because there are some sort of romantic feelings for him, and perhaps there might be, but the truth of the matter is: Roy Mustang is her family, the only family she really has left. The person who has been through everything with her, shared all the bloody hands and all the dirty secrets. He is the one person that when she shoots him, she will follow. The two have never breached beyond a "professional relationship", and the both of them respect that. Riza will do what she can to protect him until he's reached his goal to become Fuhrer, but it doesn't stop her from treating the one thing he is to her: family.
Strengths:
Physical There are two notable points for Riza phyisically here: her physique and eyesight. In Amestris the woman is known as the "Hawk's Eye [of Ishval]" because of her sharpshooting skills. She is well known for the fact that if she targets you and wants it to be lethal it will be lethal. She never misses a shot if she's determined to make it, but she is known to mess up if she can't fully concetrate (not that she'll allow herself that). Because of her occupation, Riza has a well muscled physique. While they don't outdo her feminine features, the manga-ku states she draws Riza with broader hips and shoulders because of this [her occupation]. Riza's treated as a bodyguard both by Roy and King Bradley/Wrath and has more strength in her body than a person might realize. A good example of this is when she helped knock out the two armed and military drivers that were guarding Mrs. Bradley during the siege.
Mental Riza is a very calm, level-headed woman in day-to-day routine. A joke back in the office was the fact she kept Roy in line and was more like a babysitter than a subordinate. Her attitude in most situations is handled so evenly it can be awestrucking. In some ways this helps in her partnership with Roy who can be passionate and hotheaded, she's the one that keeps the toe, then (but there are times, such as with Lust, he must with her). She doesn't easily let things change her reactions to people. When faced with an immortal army her and Roy continued to have a mocking verbal rebuttals, and when her neck was slit she calmly laid her eyes on Roy and, just from a look, told him she would rather die than let him perform human transmutation for her. It's here that we might say Riza is the most level-headed of them. Especially since it was clear that Roy might just have gone through with it.
Emotional Her strongest emotions are definitely her stubborness as well as her devotion to loyalty. When Pride threatened her, Riza was terrified, but she didn't allow her to get to him. Beforehand, when they found out the Fuhrer was a homunculus even though Roy gave her permission to run... she didn't. In this, we find that when Riza forms good, strong bonds with people she will protect them to all costs. This goes, especially, with children who we often see a more tender, gentle approach to. Riza wants to protect people, that was the reason she became a soldier and that is the one thing she wishes to commit to. She will never abandon a person, especially Roy, or their wishes if she can so forth help it. And this is definitely shown when she puts the gun to Roy's head and, despite his order, tells him she cannot allow him to kill Envy. Simply because, by doing so, he'd step off the path she promised to keep him from.
Weaknesses:
Physical.
A physical weakness for Riza actually happens to be more of an emotional one for her, but it is physical. When her father completed his alchemic research he tattoo'd it on his then teenage daughter's back. While we never find out if this was willing or not, the tattoo carries a heavy toll on Riza. The tattoo is the same array design Roy Mustang uses for his Flame Alchemy because it is the same technique. Riza entrusted it to Roy after her father died so he could make his dreams come true. However,afterwards it was used in the Ishvalan War of Extermination and Riza has never been able to forgive herself for allowing it's use.
Thus, while it's a mental and emotional weakness... For Riza, it's more of a physical if only for these few simple facts. If it were not for the tattoo on her back that she willingly passed on, thousands of people wouldn't have died from it. This alone weighs a crushing fact on the woman, but there's another part to this, as well. After the war she asked Roy to burn her back beyond recognition... and he obliged, but not the extremes she probably would have liked. While we never see it on the surface, the fact the burns cover muscle area for movements it's highly likely these burns cause physical pain for the woman from time to time. But the weight alone of thousands of people dying is more than enough.
Mental.
Riza has cases of PTSD after her time in Ishval. While it is not clearly evident, we can tell this from her motions and movements. Riza hates what she had to do in Ishval, and will refuse to do it again. Her time in Ishval shattered her idealist dreams and her naive nature. Because of Ishval, Riza has become that of a strict, solitudic young woman. She says she can not call her guns a "burden" because of the fact she made the choice. Made the choice to pick up the gun and inevitably become a killer. Riza's depression lies evident each time the word Ishval is brought up. While she does not allow her time there to affect her to extremes, because indeed it was her choice to her mind, the moments of pained silence give it all away.
Emotional.
There are many things we could call emotional weaknesses for Riza, and in fact a portion of her personality derive from traumas of her adolocent years. However, she steels them away and can do it convincingly so. However, there is one thing that is often shown as Riza's weakest emotional point, and it was briefly touched on earler: Roy Mustang. Or more specifically, the goal to change the country and attempt to chance repenting [some of] their sins. Riza will do everything in her ability to help make those come true, but if something happens to Roy or there's a chance they're fail is actually when we see the most emotion out of her (the first time being when he was potentially being transferred to Central. When she worried, canonly, she didn't make a shot at the shooting range, but as soon as the news arrived she did).
Roy, beyond Rebecca, is the one person who knows how to push her buttons. Unlike Rebecca, however, he can also do it so much further when he's in danger--- the farthest extent to her being in tears and literally breaking. When it comes to these sorts in canon when faced with them we have what can be called "Riza dumb moments", simply because she does go to extremes of suicidal though (once with Lust and then later with Envy). She can and will be brash, reckless and even panicked when it comes to him, it's truest to say Riza is most emotional when it comes to Roy's safety and their repetence to be made.
Samples
First Person: A Q&A would be nice if this isn't good enough! A-also, if unfamiliar with the canon... Uh, Riza's speaking in Team Mustang code.
Hello?
[A thoughtful, deliberating pause.]
My name is Elizabeth. Originally, I am from a city called Central in the country Amestris. It seems I have just arrived in this place called "Luceti". As much as I am aware many of you probably do not enjoy hearing many questions, I have one I would like to ask myself.
I am looking for a few people by the names of Kate, Vanessa, Jaqueline, Bradykins... or Mr. Mustang. If they are here and someone could point me to them, I'd be grateful.
And, unfortunately enough, I believe I have one more I should ask. Is there a place a person may get different clothes? Dresses don't exactly work for me.
Thank you for your help.
Third Person:
After finishing the message to the journal, Riza closed eyed and, as she did, closed her eyes as well. Her fingers were at the tips of her lip in thought. Pain ached on her back, but it was not the familiar burned burden that was causing it. This time it was wings. Wings that, currently, the woman was not too sure were really there. Something about this whole ordeal felt so surreal, it could not possibly be happening. But here she was, wings on her back and in a strange village. If she thought this was some trick of the one who called himself Father, it definitely was an elaborate one.
Pulling a strand of blond hair behind her ear, Riza allowed her mind to continue trying to figure out what was going on. She had found someone who explained this was "Luceti" and they were trapped... But there was a part of the woman who was refusing to believe that. If she were here the Colonel had to be here somewhere, after all she had promised to follow him even to hell. If this was hell, she mused to herself, than there was not too much of a chance she was here alone. Riza hoped, though, that wasn't the case, especially since the Colonel had so much more to do back in Amestris.
Well, that was until... Her look became fixed at the thought. The Colonel had so much potential, but they had taken that from them now, hadn't they? Roy no longer had his sight and Riza was his guide, if he were here or there he wouldn't be able to do anything. A blinded man couldn't be a soldier those were the rules and Riza knew that all too well. Which mean their chance to fix everything was lost, but this thought was where the fixed, stubborn look came in. No, everything was not lost. In Amestris the Colonel had still been fighting and she'd resolved to fight as well.
There would be no wallowing or thinking this was the "hell" they both deserved. There was still a fight going on in Amestris, a Colonel to protect and a country to change. Riza didn't have time for such things the stubborn part of her reeled. If the Colonel was here, Riza would have to find him and follow as normal until they got home, if for some reason he was not she would have to find a way to get back. Amber eyes were alight at the decision. And, without hesitation and with as much determiation as she had when she slapped herself in Amestris, the woman stood from where she sat the dull ache in her back not deteering her will..