Richard Huang

* Character Summary 357
* Character Summary 5
* Character Summary 4

> *Richard had always seemed a curious creature to her. Sometimes, he felt akin to an esoteric monk. Richard often remarked on her beauty, but more in the manner of a man appreciating the gentle curves of a Bonzai. He was a gifted Mage but didn't seem to crave magical power for the sake of power itself. Likewise, the way he blustered through one faux pas after another, was more an act to push everything and everyone away, including his parents.*
>
> Gwen on Richard

Richard is Gwen's cousin and loyal ally, and the only child of Kwan and Tali Huang. He is a Water Conjurer-Abjurer, aided by a high-tier sapient Undine named Lea. He protects Gwen's interests and furthers her goals while improving his Spellcraft. He currently attends King's College at Cambridge and has an apartment on The Isle of Dogs.

## Description

### Appearance & Physiology

Richard is tall and handsome, with a lean and athletic build. He has a thin face, with a square jaw and a narrow Roman nose. Though of mixed ancestry like Gwen, he takes after the Asian side of his family. He wears enchanted horn-rimmed glasses. His default expression is amiable and impassive.

### Personality

> *She could never make heads nor tail of her cousin, his incredible competence, his cold and hot demeanour, his abrasive social behaviour and stoic charm.*
>
> Gwen on Richard

Richard's most immediately obvious trait is his blunt and abrasive social behavior. He often teases others, particularly when he senses that they're attracted to someone, but can also be very charming when it suits him. He adapts quickly to new environments, where he is often very socially successful.

He hates being touched, and early in the story is described as being stiff and "wooden" in movement; both of these traits become less obvious as time goes on. He is not very emotional, either inwardly or outwardly, but does suffer nerves in situations of reckless excitement, such as when arriving in Shanghai. Much of his outward persona is implied to be more artifice than truth.

He possesses very little empathy, which is one of his most commented-upon character traits, alongside his abiding loyalty to Gwen. He is entirely comfortable with the pain and discomfort of others, and approaches problems with extreme pragmatism, embracing solutions inclusive of blackmail, extortion, torture, and murder. Despite this, he does possess some idiosyncratic sense of morality, as evidenced by his deep antipathy toward his father's unethical business practices, and the responsibility he feels to repay his parents for his education.

He also shows a quiet but longstanding affinity for NoMs, who are most impacted by his father's business practices. While he doesn't share Gwen's utopian view of them, and is realistic about their motivations and place in the world, he is unusually friendly toward them for a Mage. He often learns their names and backgrounds, and makes consideration for their inconvenience.

He is fiercely independent and uncomfortable with owing others, even to the point of endangering his own life. Although he describes himself as "pretty lazy", he has a strong work ethic and is more accurately described as a workaholic. He is ambitious, and pursues his goals with single-minded devotion.

## Relationships

### Gwen

> *To Gwen and her Tower. May I occupy the level below the Master Suite!*
>
> Richard

Richard met Gwen in their teens, where he took an immediate liking to her. This was followed by a great curiosity about her: her powers, her past, and her life growing up. He seems to have decided early on that he wanted to be part of her life, and is excited at the prospect of adventuring with her. He sees his good and hers as linked, and wants their paths in life to be as closely-aligned as possible. The few occasions where his goals have brought him into opposition with hers have been visibly painful for him.

He is attentive to her emotional needs, and on several occasions has shown the ability to quickly calm Gwen when she is overwhelmed by emotion. However, he prefers it when others, such as Petra, can meet those needs for her. He knows her well and is not above manipulation. He is protective of her property and interests, and often curries social favor for her in groups where he has sway.

### Kwan & Tali Huang

> *Kwan's just doing what he thinks is best, regardless of whether it's best for you or me.*
>
> Richard

Richard is not close to his parents, seeming to have little desire to associate with them or be their son. He has little regard for Kwan, particularly his scummy business practices. He has a better opinion of Tali, who loves him unconditionally, but still keeps her at a distance. However, he has a strong sense of filial duty toward them, as they raised him and gave him the best education they could. As such, he worked hard, risking life and limb and sleep, to earn the crystals and CCs necessary to relocate them to the Tier 1 city of Shanghai with a condo near the second orbital ring and enough crystals to restart their lives (though he had to ask Gwen to provide half of the CCs). With his filial debt paid, he now considers himself free of them.

## Character Information

### Spirit

Lea is a high-tier Undine spirit who grants Richard many abilities which are unique to her. Through his high Affinity and certain supplemental items, he is able to keep her manifested at all times. He is able to use their Greater Empathic Link (a.k.a. Possession) to tap into her senses, which turns his eyes white; Lea is able to use their link to possess his body in turn; turn into water, mimicking the effects of Elemental Avatar; and turn into mist (Elemental Dispersion).

### Spell List

* Dimension Door
* Water Shield
* Water Prison
* Water Bolt
* Elemental Form
* Recycle
* Tidal Flood

## Trivia

* According to Gwen, Richard did not exist in her world, though due to her distance from her original family, it's possible that she may have simply never met him.
* He is a good cook and baker, and loves spicy food, particularly curry.
* Before Lea found him, Richard's familiar was a Monotreme Platypus. After consuming the core of a lesser sea dragon, which Richard won in a bet, it gained the appearance of an aquatic pseudo-dragon covered in scales, but with the platypus's duck bill and paddle-like tail.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 *Metaworld Chronicles:* Ch. 240 - Slippery Slopes
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 *Metaworld Chronicles:* Ch. 387 - Back to the Grind
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 *Metaworld Chronicles:* Ch. 427 - The Hound
4. ↑ *Metaworld Chronicles Vol. 2:* Ch. 23 - Sharing is Caring
5. ↑ *Metaworld Chronicles:* Ch. 56 - A Curious Encounter
6. ↑ *Metaworld Chronicles:* Ch. 126 - Off to see the Wizard
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 *Metaworld Chronicles Vol. 4:* Ch. 7 - Preparatory
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 *Metaworld Chronicles Vol. 3:* Ch. 20 - No Longer Alone
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 *Metaworld Chronicles Vol. 4:* Ch. 15 - Good Neighbours
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 *Metaworld Chronicles:* Ch. 268 - Sour Grapes
11. ↑ *Metaworld Chronicles Vol. 2:* Ch. 12 - Something's Fishy
12. ↑ *Metaworld Chronicles:* Ch. 233 - The Milk-Tea of Human Kindness
13. ↑ *Metaworld Chronicles Vol. 3:* Ch. 25 - Visions and Revisions
14. ↑ *Metaworld Chronicles Vol. 4:* Ch. 4 - Questions and Answers
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 *Metaworld Chronicles:* Ch. 220 - A Step in the Right Direction
16. ↑ *Metaworld Chronicles:* Ch. 350 - Little Seeds
17. ↑ *Metaworld Chronicles:* Ch. 210 - Six Degrees of Separation
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 *Metaworld Chronicles:* Ch. 360 - A Full Revolution
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 *Metaworld Chronicles:* Ch. 72 - Sharing is Caring
20. ↑ *Metaworld Chronicles Vol. 4:* Ch. 23 - Routine
21. ↑ *Metaworld Chronicles:* Ch. 228 - I guess that's why they call it the Blues
22. ↑ *Metaworld Chronicles:* Ch. 219 - Figuro Magnifico
23. ↑ *Metaworld Chronicles:* Ch. 70 - House of the Rising Huang
24. ↑ *Metaworld Chronicles:* Ch. 198 - The Undertow