Aariya Bajwa

Aariya Kaur Bajwa, mostly known as Riya, is a character in Thirlcrest Academy portrayed by Ann3x. Currently, Riya is affiliated with Thirlcrest Times as a Senior Editor [MR+].
==Appearance==
Riya's slender frame often accompanies her poor tendency to slouch or hunch over, especially when seated. Her brown skin, typically light and pale, stands out against her dark under eyes; a product of hyperpigmentation and lack of sleep. Taking inspiration from gothic culture, she decided to cut her bangs, which is apparent in all of her hairstyles. Typically, her thick, jet-black hair is styled in an up-do.
Across Riya's face are light freckles and her 16G septum, paired with her eyebrow piercing, which is concealed behind her bangs. Rejecting beauty standards, she refrains from wearing makeup, viewing it as both toxic and unnecessary. To top it all off, she possesses a round baby-face, making her appear younger especially when she's not adorned in her wildly unconventional attire. Albeit, Riya is not conventionally attractive whatsoever. 
Most noticeably, Riya embraces an outlandish sense of style, taking heavy inspiration from punk culture. Despite being frequently bullied for her unique fashion choices, she boldly continues to sport it- which further reflect her rebellious attitude. Her leather battle vest is decked out with studs, pins, zebra print, and patches, while her crust pants have an even greater array of patches, featuring bands like Misfits and D.R.I. Riya's most notable pieces of attire include her spikey headband and steel toed leather boots.
==Characteristics==
In person, Riya radiates a dorky and energetic vibe. She possesses a quirky, sarcastic sense of humor and finds joy in making up lies. She sometimes purposely acts slow to get out of trouble or bait out reactions. On the surface, she may seem simple, but underneath, she struggles with extreme jealousy issues and the fear of being alone forever, despite her attempts to play it off as a joke.
However, her articles reveal a different side of Riya—a more articulate, cunning, and even sinister side. Initially, she didn't have much interest in writing, and her skills were lackluster. But over time, she discovered a newfound passion for investigating and publishing articles. She closely monitors the feedback she receives, finding herself drawn deeper into a cycle of drama and validation. This trajectory sets Riya on a path where she may eventually find herself in trouble, sooner or later.
==Relationships==
===Justice Hill===
Best Friend | DistantJustice was the first friend Riya made in Times. Despite his position as security, their first experience together involved surveying students to create their own article- which turned out to be a hit amongst students! Since then, the two have become a well-known duo, complimenting each other in qualities they lack. Justice's calm and sassy demeanor, contrasts with Riya's loud and carefree attitude. Regardless of time or place, the two can be spotted bickering, their relationship resembling that of siblings. Though Riya often behaves rudely toward Justice, she values his advice and truly cares about him. Of course, Riya would rather die than admit that to him.
===Alexandra Madeline Itsumi ===
Friend | FriendlyWithin the first few weeks at Thirlcrest, Riya took notice of Alexandra's fashion sense. Riya associated Alexandra with Barbie, finding her beauty and fashion to resemble Barbie perfectly. Though what she admires most about Alexandra is her confidence. Recently, Riya helped Alexandra with her promposal, and despite Riya ripping off the "O" sign in protest of God, she was happy for Alexandra. The two can often be seen messaging each other in the Times group chat. 
==Trivia==
*Riya despises Outcasts, viewing a majority of them as posers despite having befriended several. Likewise, she secretly dislikes Times and a majority of the members, her passive aggression being most noticeable when interacting with people such as Vincent Kühn.
*Her favorite song is Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill.
*Riya aims to open a brand called "Justice" marketed towards tween girls. She plans on selling overpriced notebooks, backpacks with letters on them, and cheap sparkly accessories that little girls would gravitate towards. Surprisingly, Riya also plans to go bankrupt in 2020 and start having her company's products show up in retail stores such as Walmart.
*Riya proclaims to be "straight-edge", though she indulges in smoking and is guilty of consuming weed products occasionally.
*Before becoming a regular person, she was a full-fledged crust punk. She once went three weeks without showering until she was threatened with expulsion by Faculty for "improper hygiene".
==Art Gallery==
Category:Characters