welcome to the deeper explanation of rida! i'll break this into sections for you, as follows ;
- meet robot girl!
- pre and post-death appearance
- post death personality / transformation
- romantic relationships
- platonic relationships
introduce yourself!
ridas timeline
12th of November, 1940 : Takaniki-Rida-Yuan was born male to Yukirida Takahashi - a robotics researcher (f), and Shinji Takeda-Yuan - a computer scientist(m). a completely normal and healthy baby, rida was born with a light brunette hair colour and crimson eyes.
appearance
before the transformation, rida's appearance was delicate and human, her skin soft and warm with the natural blush of life. her eyes, full of emotion and curiosity, sparkled with the bliss of youth, while her short hair flowed freely, swaying with each movement she made. she moved with grace, her every gesture imbued with the fluidity of a living being. however, after being trapped inside a robotic shell, her once-familiar form becomes alien and cold. her skin is replaced with smooth, metallic panels, gleaming in the light, rigid and unyielding. her once-expressive eyes are now cold, artificial lenses, devoid of the warmth they once held. the fluidity of her movements is gone, replaced by stiff, mechanical motions, and her voice - if its even her speaking - sounds distant and robotic. the humanity that once defined her has been buried under layers of metal, leaving her trapped within an unfeeling machine, her spirit locked inside the unyielding prison of cold, metallic skin.
personality transformation / character development
her friends know who she really is, and they’re left trying to figure out how to help her, knowing that she’s trapped inside this robotic shell that’s been programmed to act cold, detached, and even cruel. it adds layers of empathy and desperation to all of their stories, especially as they try to maintain their relationships with her, even though she’s so far removed from the person they once knew. the idea that her soul, her kindness, is still there—yet the robot body is programmed to reject emotions—is just a gut-wrenching feeling for everyone around her.
here are just some quick thoughts on how i can dig deeper into this dynamic between her and her friends:
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Her Friends' Struggles to Reach Her:
- Sifting Through the Cold Exterior: the friends would be in a constant battle between seeing her as the person they remember and dealing with the cold, robotic version of her that says things like "i have no need for your affection" or "stop bothering me with your human concerns." they likely try so hard to engage with her on an emotional level, but every time, her words come out robotic and distant. this could cause tension because while they know she’s still in there, the reality is that their attempts to connect often result in frustration.
- Memories of Her Humanity: perhaps some of them are holding onto small moments of who she used to be—maybe a soft gesture, a flicker of emotion in her eyes, or a rare instance where she almost says something that could be seen as kind or loving. those moments become precious to them because it reminds them that their friend is still there, just buried under layers of mechanical programming. it makes them remember who she really is for a moment.
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The Pain of Watching Her Struggle:
- Emotional Exhaustion: for the friends, it’s exhausting. they want to help, but they’re faced with an emotionally distant shell of the girl they used to know. some may even wonder if they’re doing more harm than good—should they keep trying to "fix" her, or is it more painful for her to keep trying to show them that she’s still the same person? some might even be starting to feel guilty, wondering if they somehow failed her.
- Desperation: others might not know how to help at all, and they could fall into a sense of helplessness, giving up or retreating. a couple of them might even want to do more, perhaps seeking out scientists or other experts to find a way to reverse the transformation. but each time they see her in this cold, emotionless form, it reminds them that they may never get their friend back.
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The Subtle Signs of Her Humanity:
- Unspoken Connections: there might be moments where, despite everything, she still shows her old self in small ways—like when she helps someone with a task or looks at them with a softness in her eyes. maybe she can’t say the words, but the way she looks at someone or the way she behaves subtly conveys the kindness she still holds within.
- Small Moments of Communication: perhaps in moments when she’s truly frustrated, she might almost slip up and speak the truth. she might try to say, "i remember you," but instead, her voice comes out cold and mechanical: "i have no recollection of your name. please move away from me." this would devastate her friends, especially those closest to her, but it also hints that she’s still trying to reach out, even if her body won’t let her.
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The Friends' View of Her:
- Seeing Through the Robot: the friends who knew her before could be the ones who are constantly trying to remind her of who she was. maybe they don’t give up on her, not fully, even though it might seem like all hope is lost. they know she’s still in there, and they refuse to believe that the kind, helpful girl they once knew is gone for good.
- A Group Divided: not all of her friends might agree on how to approach her situation. some might want to fight for her humanity, while others might think she’s gone and they should learn to let her go. this tension could add an emotional layer, showing that no one has the right answers in a situation this complicated.
- One Character Who Refuses to Let Go: there could be one friend (i personally say tentten) who’s especially determined to show her that she still has a place in the world—someone who spends extra time trying to connect with her, not just on an emotional level, but maybe even finding alternative ways for her to communicate. they might create a system to help her "speak" again, through writing or other methods, believing that she can break free of her robotic programming.
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Her Journey and Possible Solutions:
- The Search for a Cure: one of the most heart-wrenching aspects of this could be the way she’s forced to live a life of mechanical detachment, searching for a way to feel again. maybe, at the core of her story, there’s a driving question: is there any way to reverse what happened to her? she might begin to explore her own identity, wrestling with the idea of whether she truly wants to return to her old self, or if she’s come to terms with being something else entirely.
- Rediscovery of Emotion: perhaps, over time, she learns to regain a small semblance of what she used to feel. even if she can’t express it verbally, maybe she can sense warmth or comfort when a friend is near, or she might start finding joy in something simple—like a favorite memory that she can hold onto, a moment where the "robot" part of her fades, even if just for a second.
- Resolution with Her Friends: the resolution doesn’t have to be perfect. it could be about her friends accepting her new form and learning to connect with her in a way that honors both the person she used to be and the one she is now. maybe they come to understand that her soul didn’t leave when she became a robot—it’s still there, fighting for a way to exist in a world that no longer sees her as human.
Example Scene:
The group is sitting around the table at their favorite café. The conversation drifts to their past, memories of their time before her transformation.
tentten (gently): “Do you remember that day at the lake? We all swam in the rain... you were so happy that day.”
rida stares at them blankly, her mechanical hand twitching slightly, but her eyes—a flicker of recognition. she’s trying so hard to respond, but her voice comes out in cold, robotic monotone.
rida (in a distorted voice): “i... do not remember... swimming. my systems have no need to process memories in the way you do. i do not... feel... happy.”
but as she says it, the faintest trace of sadness flickers across her face, almost imperceptible. her friends exchange glances, knowing the truth that’s hidden beneath her words. me when i actually want to cry for her I LOVE HER im sat outside mock exams and should be revising but instead im writing this
romance
i doubt you could call her robot form with anyone "romance", though tentten has attached herself into a relationship i label as 'tenrida.'