𓆏 how you doin', explorer? woah ... no need to get all shaky, 'kay? just gonna throw some easy questions your way! nothing too serious — standard procedure, comprende? so, first things first: riki ishikawa, twenty-five, former camper ? awesome, awesome ... you wrote in your application that ─ oh my! ─ you see yourself as perceptive and abrasive? sheesh, talk about a killer combo. oh, yeah, and let's not forget your abilities: painting, karate, swimming, boxing, & photography . well, aren't you just a jack of all trades? but even the strongest oak in the forest has a soft spot, right? being trapped somewhere and not being able to see his surroundings ... woah, hey, this is a judgment free zone! scout's honor! welp, looks like we're ready to wrap this up. ah, wait! knew i was forgetting something. remember to slip that his little sister’s gemstone ring worn on a chain into your bag. oh, how do i know about that? pssht, you told me, silly! see you 'round camp.
𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗖𝗦 ..
full name: riki ishikawa.
nicknames: nothing really, unless you like testing fate !
gender & pronouns: cis man, he/him.
sexuality: bisexual.
age: twenty5.
date of birth: october 28th, 1966.
hometown: creeks nest, north carolina.
zodiac sign: scorpio.
occupation: freelance photographer & artist.
languages spoken, in order of fluency: english, japanese.
family: masaki ishikawa (father, estranged), kasumi ishikawa (mother, deceased), yuki ishikawa (older brother, status unknown), mei ishikawa (younger sister, deceased).
𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 ..
faceclaim: nagumo shoma.
height: 5'11''.
build: athletic.
hair: nearly black, grown out and frequently tied back in lieu of styling.
tattoos & piercings: too many to count.
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 ..
(+) courageous, loyal, perceptive, resourceful, adaptable, imaginative, creative, bold.
(-) self-destructive, rebellious, irresponsible, reckless, cynical, resentful, temperamental, defensive.
mbti: istp - the virtuoso.
moral alignment: true neutral.
habits: rolling his eyes, getting on the defense, cracking his knuckles, speaking before he thinks.
𝗕𝗜𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗬 ..
trigger warnings : car accidents, parental + familial death.
the ishikawa's bring their second child into the world only a year after immigrating to the us, riki, to be strong and powerful. but their second son is docile next to their first, preferring finger paints to playing in the mud. father is too busy building his empire to notice, and mother is too fond of his softness to pay it mind. a year and a half later, they bring their third child into the world, bright and beautiful mei. while the eldest busies himself with sports and school, the younger two of the ishikawa's are two peas in a pod from the first spring mei is born. camp hollow's river is their parents' first attempt to socialize the two, force them out of the codependency before it started to bleed into their teenage years. it's futile, even if the camp helps them make some friends along the way. mei was stronger than riki, a little bit more charming and friendly than he was. they return every few summers, and it's like she never left, all while he remains in the shadows wishing he was anywhere else. the siblings become staples at camp. mei with her friends, and riki who never seems to be around. riki doesn't remember when he started to rely on her too much, until verge adulthood comes around and a massive fight erupts between the two. "you're suffocating! too suffocating, riki! like a shadow that won't leave me alone!" the words are imprinted in his mind, whatever he managed to spew back, lost in the grander moment. they're in the backseat of mom's car, arguing about some boy mei had been hiding from him, because it was easier than having her nosy brother start asking too many questions. it's raining outside, screams louder than the emergency weather alert sounding off on the radio. somewhere between dickhead and bitch, their mother loses control of the wheel, swerving right into a telephone line. kasumi ishikawa is pronounced dead on impact. her son sustains a broken leg and a fractured wrist, and her daughter escapes with a few scratches and bruises. they don't talk about that night. they don't go back to that camp either. at least riki doesn't. there's an inheritance waiting for him the day he turns eighteen. something about generational wealth on his mother's side, and his father, who's managed to turn that empire of his into something great, is more than happy to let his son run free. instead, he gets himself a job as a mechanic fresh out of high school, breaks spent on doodling in some worn down sketchpad. he doesn't think about camp hollow's river, not when there's a bad omen looming over the place. but his sister thinks of it. and of course she does. it had been where she thrived after all. says she ought to spend her first summer free back there as a counselor. he doesn't ask her to stay. the summer of ‘87 comes around, and every plea is kept in the depths of his mind. instead, riki ignores the gnawing feeling of letting mei go, of finally being out of reach where he couldn’t protect her. but he knew the truth, knew he hadn't been the same old brother to her since the night their mother died. he's angry and drunk the night before she leaves, profanities that leave his mouth, and a bitter conversation between the two. with every shred of insecurity, he pushes her further away, right to the steps of the camp that both of them knew so well. and it was something he'd regret till the day he dies too.
mei doesn't come back that summer. she never comes back at all. she dies with the memory of her bitter, jealous brother at the hands of some fanatic psycho. he closes every open door after that, cashes in his inheritance, and hits the road. riki never intends to return, especially not back to creek's nest. until he hears word the camp is back, calling to him like some sadistic siren. in their final moments together, mei caved and asked riki to go with her, just like old times. he'd denied her then, told her he had nothing to go back to. but now it feels like he does. redemption, vindication, the ghost of his sister pulling him back in. he drives his beat up chevy back home, and ignores the sinking feeling of the summer ahead.
of course, he'd always been his sister's shadow.
𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗡𝗦 ..
guilt! guilt-ridden! blames himself for what happened to his mother and his sister, not a day goes by that he doesn't wallow in silence about it. causes him to be unfriendly towards others and estranged from the rest of his family — has zero contact with his father and older brother (both of which, leading successful lives without him anyway).
while he grew up sweet and gentle, the kind who'd probably adopt and nurture a wild bunny and whimsically run through fields of flowers, present-day riki is an entirely different breed. knuckles that are permanently scarred and bruised, tattoos running up and down his arms, constant downturn to his lips with narrowed eyes. if menacing had a picture next to it, he'd be a top contender on exterior alone.
most likely to be forced into manual labor rather than entertaining the children. he ain't all that mean to them (at least... the young ones, that is). something about a potty mouth and an unapproachable nature. some of the kids have built up an image about him in their heads, that he's an underground boxer (unconfirmed), frequents sneaking out late at night for more than just a quick smoke (true), and once made a pre-teen pee his pants (false— kid just got stranded before making it to the bathroom).
jack of all trades sort of guy. easily picks up new hobbies, throws old ones away. became a mechanic fresh out of school, and was a damn good one, until he grew restless for something more. art's the one thing that sticks every time. painting, drawing, photography. makes decent money as a freelancer, and has even managed to land himself in a few galleries along the years. his style leans more abstract, ironic considering his own emotional constipation. mainly just does doodles to pass the time when he's bored and lacking in chores around the camp, something better for his hands to occupy themselves with rather than another rage-filled outburst.
