I know this is a really old thread, but I wouldn’t want to create a new thread when there’s already one so I hope this is okay ;__;
I’ve been having a lot of thoughts about how my MC develops throughout the original trilogy and how I’d imagine him developing into Redemption Season. I actually wanted to draw a comic (or maybe do an animatic, but I’d probably have to do the voices myself and I have no recording equipment besides my laptop and phone so the quality would be awful) but don’t really have the time or energy for that at the moment so I typed this up
This was really quickly done and I might pick it back up in the future to actually draw it as I originally intended. I just wanted to post this up because I really love my MC ;__;
This takes place some time after the events of the Redemption Season after things go wrong (read: Riley ignoring his problems and letting them build up and eventually bite him in the ass) and may end up non-canon depending on how the next games go. Under a cut to not take up space
Nothing Like Getting Depressed And (Almost) Calling Up Your Ex In The Middle Of The Night
Riley sits on the edge of his bed looking at a holographic display that’s flashing ‘DIALING… DIALING…’
It’s dark, like Riley had woken up in the middle of the night - or like he’d never gotten to sleep in the first place.
The display then changes to a video of Lucas saying “Hey there, if you’re seeing this message, then you’ve reached Bright Magic’s video mail box! Leave a message after the beep.”
Riley sighs. Lucas must be busy. He might be on a job tonight. Or he’s probably just dead asleep and not answering because, according to the digital clock display in the top right corner of the display, it’s a quarter ’til three in the morning.
“Hey,” he starts, “sorry for never answering any of your calls. I’m okay. I guess. Maybe? Not really? I don’t know.
I’ve just been thinking. Remember that time you almost went on a murderous rampage but didn’t? What I said to you then? Something about what it means to be a hero and all that crap? I’m just realizing how much of a damn hypocrite I was for that.
Who am I to tell you about what a hero is when I’ve never been that myself?
Saving people? Yeah that’s great and all, but it was never the reason why I wanted to be a hero in the first place.”
He pauses. Purses his lips in thought.
“Now that I think about it, I don’t really know what it even was in the first place.
Saving my parents, restoring the family name? My job there’s done.
Proving them wrong? First of all, I don’t know who “they” are in the first place. My high school bullies who I haven’t seen in years, maybe? Sure. Second, I’m not sure what I was even trying to prove. That I could become a hero at all? That I’d ever amount to anything? That I’d ever be more than ‘Good-for-nothing Riley’? I guess they’re right, there.”
He furrows his brow in… Anger? Disappointment? He’s not sure what exactly.
“If there’s anyone who needs to learn how to be a hero, it’s me.”
He huffs a sharp exhale through his nose.
“I don’t know why I’m even telling you all this shit in the first place. Anyway, I just wanted to say I’m okay and thanks for checking up on me, or trying to, I guess. Sorry to making everyone worry.”
He stops recording and stares at his own face staring back at him through the end of the holovid.
“Whitney, delete the video.”
Whitney’s face pops up beside the video. She looks concerned and Riley’s stomach twists. “You sure, Sugar? You don’t wanna send? Or even save it at least?”
Riley nods. “Yeah, I’m sure. I’ll answer him for real tomorrow.”
“You said that last night too.” She didn’t sound accusing, just sad. Riley felt guilty anyway.
“I mean it this time, really. This’ll be the last time.”
Whitney frowned. That was probably a lie, but she did as he said anyway. “Well, alright Sweetpea. Get some sleep, it’s late.”
Riley nodded and climbed back into bed. “I will, Whitney. Goodnight.”
“G’night, Sugar.”
He calls BM here, but he never gets back together with BM after breaking up with him during THP. I imagine them making much better friends than boyfriends, especially after (headcanon) BM gets some help (either through self-help resources or a therapist, which I think he, along with about half the cast, really needs) after Hero Fall and before Redemption Season