http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/SoulEaterTroubledSoulsClassCrescentMoon

Main Character Index
Death Weapon Meister Academy: Headmaster, Teachers, and Staff | Students (Crescent Moon, Half Moon, NOT) | Affiliates (Vladingham Family)
Novus Partus: Novus Partus (Project Omega, Anria)
Miscellaneous: Gangs | Other Antagonists

Class Crescent Moon is a classroom located in the DWMA and one of the four homerooms for designated EAT Class students. It is the classroom that the main characters of the series, including Maka and her friends, attend to and thus is the one with the most exposure. The instructor of this homeroom is Professor Franken Stein.

Remember: Tropes applying to Canon Characters should come from the story. For canon information and tropes, please see here.

Beware of unmarked spoilers.

Artwork Note: All artwork and illustrations of the Original Characters and other such original concepts have been retrieved from here with express permission also given here. Credit is given to the proper people.

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Tropes Relating to the Class and Students In General

Badass Crew: You better believe it.
Combination Attack: A whole arc is centered around pairs learning a Joint Resonance to create this. We have…
- Maka and Caius: Venator Malorum and Donum Dei.
- Black☆Star and Kid: Execution☆Star.
- Crona and Ox: Heaven Piercing Roar.
- Kim and Tsuji: St. Elmo’s Fire.
- Kilik and Rowena: DDT, “Deadly Destruction Twins.”
Enemy Without: Maka and co. face shadows in the Cobra Island that want to kill and break them emotionally and physically. Some win, some… aren’t so lucky.
Locked Out of the Loop: Until Cobra Island, the non-canon class members were unaware that Medusa and Kim were witches, among a few other things.
Multinational Team: Maka, Black☆Star, and Tsubaki have Japanese origins; Jacqueline, the Thompson Sisters, and the Ricardsens are American; Kilik is African-Dominican, the Pot Twins may be fully African; Caius is Russian; Claudia is French; Nayumi is Canadian; Marcellus is African-American; Kid is a Grim Reaper; and Kim is a Witch.
Ragtag Bunch of Misfits: Let’s see… Class Crescent Moon consists of an angsty Last of His Kind, a neurotic Grim Reaper, a loudmouth assassin, a meek person of ambiguous gender, a money-hungry Witch, a giant nerd, a higher-than-life archer, a tomboyish strongwoman, and the Academy’s resident Extreme Doormat. Maka, Klemens, and Kilik are the relatively normal ones. And that’s just among the Meisters.
Token Nonhuman: Kid and Kim.
Wacky Homeroom: Since you have read Ragtag Bunch of Misfits, now factor in the presence of an eccentric Mad Scientist and imagine the kind of stuff goes on with all those characters in one room.

Canon Characters

Maka Albarn & Soul 'Eater' Evans

Maka Albarn

“Well, I’m certainly not going to let something like adversity control me. The fear of failure, fear of hopelessness, of the unknown. I don’t care about any of that. We might get scared, but that’s what makes us stronger! You can always find something to keep hope about! Even out of nothing!”

The story's main protagonist. Maka Albarn is the daughter of Spirit Albarn, the current Death Scythe, and Kami, who is currently traveling the world. Her goal is to obtain the 100 souls required to turn Soul into a Death Scythe. Initially, she feels troubled by the influx of missions and the emergence of new, more powerful enemies, but she continues to remain strong and courageous. She is a One-Star Scythe Meister.

All Men Are Perverts: Downplayed this time around, and look no further than Act 1 Chapter 22 for evidence. She’s come to realize that not all men really are perverts. When she’s talking about her relationship with Spirit, she’s very careful not to offend any of the guys in the circle. This mindset is reserved for only the guilty.
Badass Bookworm: Come on, it’s Maka Albarn, people.
Big "SHUT UP!": Medusa attempts to sway Crona and break him/her through her words, but Maka immediately steps in, announcing her arrival with this.
Bond One-Liner: The exchange between Maka and Gestas in the edited Act 1 Chapter 7.
Gestas: Alright, now where’s that Plain Jane girl? (hears her coming but is too late to do anything) Uh-oh.
Maka: (kills him) Here I am.
Brought Down to Normal: In the Cobra Island Arc, Maka is stripped of her courage, turning her into a total coward who would rather run away and point out how hopeless things are. It’s the first official personality change that lets everyone know something is terribly amiss.
Comedic Underwear Exposure: Courtesy of Gestas and an air vent trap. Apparently, they’re pink.
Cowardly Lion: Rowena’s speech inspires a Maka without courage to go support Kim in her fight against Medusa to the best of her ability, a marked difference from before when she wants to escape.
Curb Stomp Cushion: In their first fight, Cancer absolutely trashes Maka no matter what she does, and any momentum she gains is quickly undone. That being said, the one time Maka has the advantage is when Soul taps into the Black Blood and makes her Ax-Crazy. She manages to electrocute Cancer twice before dumping her out of a window and onto a waiting vehicle.
Daddy Issues: Still.
Defiant to the End: She is cornered by the Gemini and Soul is incapacitated. Her response to their taunting is to tell them to “go to hell.” Subverted in that, of course, she gets saved and lives. Still demonstrates her character well.
Demon Slaying: Her Anti-Demon Wavelength, natch, and she’s pretty famous for it. Even Cancer knows about it despite Act 1 Chapter 8 being, as far as we know, their first time meeting.
Experienced Protagonist: How long Maka's been on the job isn't stated, but something can be inferred. She's known Claudia since the latter was a new student, which was before she met Caius, who has a two year tenure under his belt already by the start. Add to the fact Maka has been on the canon adventures up until the Baba Yaga Castle invasion, she's pretty experienced.
Foil: To Caius. See his entry for more details.
Generation Xerox: With her mother. However, Maka’s suggest alludes to Maka possibly exaggerating this trope with respect to herself.
Giver of Lame Names: Maka is the one who came up with the idea of "Makenshi" for Crona's new last name. According to her, it roughly translates to "magical swordsman". Several characters lampshade how unoriginal it is, but Crona accepts it because Maka is one who thought of it.
The Glomp: Gives one to Crona after they kill Medusa once and for all.
Heroic BSoD: Maka is left ashamed and emotionally confused following her first confrontation with Cancer. It's so bad she barely recognizes a murderous giant crab coming directly and is bailed out by Klemens, a green rookie. According to Act 1's final chapter, it lasted even after that. That's how bad it was, but thankfully, Soul restores her usual confidence.
Heroic Self-Deprecation: Possibly a deconstruction. Maka harbors a reservoir of insecurities. She worries about how she appears to her peers and fears what a slipup will do to her reputation. Her shadow suggests she also stresses how she compares to other people in terms of combat. If canon is factored in, this could also be applied to her appearance (despite the surprisingly few comments about her flat chest in the story). All in all, Maka’s lack of ‘selfishness’ is the source of these massive insecurities.
Hope Bringer: If the above quote didn’t tip you off, she’s described as “a beacon of hope, comfort, and friendship.”
I Can Still Fight!: In line with being a Determinator, Maka shows this off. She never gives up against the Gemini, Project Omega's First Form, Medusa, and Cancer. In fact, her grim persistence against Cancer is what keeps the fight going on despite being thoroughly outclassed. Even when Noel takes out Cancer, Maka says this trope word-for-word, meaning she wanted a piece of Project Omega's Second Form, before Noel shows her that, no, she cannot.
Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: In Act 1 Chapter 46, her Cross Counter with Cancer has her impaled by her crab-claw arm. To say Maka is in pain would do no justice. Oh, and she gets struck with large needles all throughout the fight.
Just a Kid: One of the reasons Cancer dismisses Maka as naive, too idealistic, and unworthy of her time is because she's around 13 or 14 years of age and therefore nowhere near old enough to understand the world and society at a deeper level. Cancer tries to ignore her and tell her to leave her alone, but Maka isn't having that. In fact, she seems insulted by Cancer's patronizing.
The Leader: She’s the de facto leader of the main cast.
Missing Mom: Still, too. Poor girl’s got parental issues.
She Cleans Up Nicely: At the annual Eve of Anniversary Dance in the Act 1 epilogue, Maka dons a lavender dress and slippers and keeps her hair down. Rowena sincerely compliments on how pretty she looks in the outfit, surprised to see how Maka looks in a non-combat situation, even though she says something similar to her.
Shut Up, Hannibal!:
- Here's one:
Cancer: You know absolutely nothing, child, and you certainly have not the means to fight me.
Maka: Screw you.
- And another:
Cancer: —If you live long enough, you shall see it sooner or later, even if I must be the one to teach you that.
Maka: You know nothing about the world!
A Taste of Defeat: Cancer reinstalls a fear in Maka she hasn't experienced, by her own admission, since Crona was a bad guy, which is likely a very long time considering how seasoned she is now. Hopelessly outmatched and seeing nothing she does can affect her, Maka is stunned at how incapable she is with dealing threat like Cancer at her current state. To compare, in the preceding arc, Medusa had to curse Maka but never put her in a state of defeat. Cancer did just being herself.
The Protagonist: Other characters leave or enter the spotlight, but Maka is the overarching hero of the story.
Uniqueness Decay: While this aspect is never seen as a big deal in the manga, the anime finale made it a point of interest that Maka is the child of a Meister and a Weapon. In this fic, several other characters with the same kind of parents are introduced ^note. Likely because of that, the story goes the manga route and never brings it up.
What the Hell, Hero?: Maka really lets Caius have it in Act 1 Chapter 9 when he’s still trying to rebuff her, Soul, and Claudia even in the face of the object of his vendetta. She tried being nice in the chapters following, but Caius’s behavior merited a more forward approach. It works.
When You Coming Home, Mom?: Maka still longs for the return of her mother, Kami. She is growing rather concerned since some very serious Kishin Eggs and Evil Human are afoot.

Soul Eater

Maka's Demon Weapon partner. Soul Eater comes from a family of very talented musicians, the Evans family, and he himself plays the piano. However, he suffers from an inferiority complex to his older brother, Wes Evans. It and the pressure of trying to be as great as him ultimately drove Soul to join the Academy when he discovered he had Weapon blood. He is a One-Star Demon Scythe.

The Lancer: Most of the time. This counts only when the Weapons are involved; otherwise, Caius is the Lancer.
Offscreen Moment of Awesome: Word of God unfortunately skips over the fight with Maka’s shadow, but the implications is that Soul managed to fend off his meister’s shadow long until it vanished and he and Maka could leave.
Sinister Scythe
This Looks Like a Job for Aquaman: Donum Dei is only possible if Soul plays an active part in it. Literally, he must play his piano and treat Maka’s Anti-Demon Wavelength and Caius’s Soul Blaze as if they were music. Then again, both Maka and Caius had this in mind when they started practicing.

Black☆Star & Tsubaki Nakatsukasa

Black☆Star

Black☆Star is the sole survivor of the Star Clan extermination. He was taken into the DWMA by Sid, who cares for him until this very day. Surprisingly, he shows no resentment toward the Academy for killing his parents and clansmen, as he believes they deserved every bit of it. While largely still loudmouthed and brash, Black☆Star desires to follow the Path of the Warrior and defy what defined his fellow clansmen and family. And of course he wants to surpass God (or the gods).He is a One-Star Shadow Weapon Meister. He also participates in the Swordsmanship Club and Basketball.

Angst? What Angst?: Lampshaded in-universe. Quite of the people in the Kumbaya Circle are surprised Black☆Star doesn’t care that his clansmen are dead and that he’s working for the people that killed them. He says the Star Clan deserved what they got, and he resolves to not follow their footsteps.
- This may reflect Character Development. Tsubaki herself muses how Black☆Star used to be dismissive about the same subject back at the Village of Shin.
Be Careful What You Wish For: Black☆Star got really sick of Medusa and her games during the Cobra Island Arc, and he made sure she knew it too. He dared her to show herself so he could teach her a thing or too. The Ouroboros curse proceeds to take away his pride and he’s thus no longer a threat.
Big Ego, Hidden Depths: Ohh, boy. According to his shadow, Black☆Star’s arrogance originate from a need to gain recognition. It has been established that he wants to stray away from his clansmen’s roots, and this information suggests his theatrics, while genuine, may come from this desire to be known, regardless if it’s annoyance or respect.
The Big Guy: Shares this role with Rowena.
Brought Down to Normal: In the Cobra Island Arc, he loses his pride, meaning he loses the will to exert himself and keep going. This is signaled by him saying “I quit.” Because of this is Black☆Star we’re talking about, it shows you that things are going south real fast.
Casting a Shadow: Thanks to Tsubaki’s Enchanted Sword Mode.
Characterization Marches On: Initially, Black☆Star’s personality takes cues from his later anime depiction, still being as arrogant and spotlight-hogging as always. Then, after the Kumbaya Circle reveals the extent of the canon story followed ^note, Black☆Star acts to act progressively more like his manga portrayal, lesser emphasis on his selfishness and more on his heroism. It might be a case of Early-Installment Weirdness.
Charles Atlas Superpower: His immense strength, stamina, and speed comes from being practically obsessed with training and getting stronger. For comparison, Black☆Star is as fast as Tsuji and close to being as strong as Rowena, both of whom are specialists in speed and strength respectively.
Determinator: He doesn’t stay down for long, and he doesn’t quit.
- He was fully prepared to complete the puzzle by himself once Rowena loses her strength. Keep in mind that the puzzle is huge, full of long paths, divided into sections, and requires placing two huge boulders in different locations.
Large Ham: Wouldn’t be Black☆Star without the ham!
Worthy Opponent: He considers Noel one.

Tsubaki Nakatsukasa

The Shadow Weapon, a Demon Weapon capable of transforming into multiple types of weapons instead of just one. Tsubaki Nakatsukasa descends from the Nakatsukasa Clan, a family of Demon Weapons famous for the aforesaid ability. However, her gift led to a brutal sibling problem with her older brother, Masamune, that she has since resolved. Tsubaki is Black☆Star's partner, which means she is one of the most agreeable, patient, and nicest characters in the setting. According to Act 1 Chapter 22, she is 16, going on 17. She is a One-Star Demon Weapon. If Black☆Star is out of the picture, don’t expect her to sit around and do nothing.

Adaptational Badass: This fic plays up Tsubaki’s abilities as a ninja or assassin. She also seems to be a bit more resourceful.
Casting a Shadow: Through the Enchanted Swords, as always.
Fish out of Water: Tsubaki is a part of the Lady Leaders Club. The Distaff Counterpart to the Male Role Models… a ‘how to pick up a boyfriend’ club basically. In her defense, even she was fooled.
The Heart: When factoring in the Weapons.
Shout-Out: Tsubaki’s Chain of Blackness turns into a gunblade during Execution☆Star.
Slashed Throat: How she kills Black☆Star’s shadow.
Weak, but Skilled: She does not possess a Meister’s physique, much less her own, but Tsubaki is very good at applying her ninja and assassination skills

Death the Kid & The Thompson Sisters

Death the Kid

“We suffer together, we grow together, and we be together. We move forward and cover each other’s weaknesses. One’s fight is everyone’s fight! We must compensate for what we're losing because we have an objection in mind! And we are going to conquer it in the name of the Death Weapon Meister Academy.”

The son of Lord Death himself. He is a very gifted Meister whose only flaw is his crippling OCD, which manifests as an obsessive need for symmetry. Kid has noticed the various omens appearing one after the other, making him worry about the future for himself and the world at large. Kid, therefore, is ready to become stronger and a better Reaper for the sake of the world as its future leader.

An Arm and a Leg: Two arms, in fact. Kid’s shadow blew off his arms in their fight, but the resulting injury helps kick off a Chekhov's Gun.
Chekhov's Gift: After the first Baba Yaga Castle invasion operation, Lord Death entrusted BREW to Kid. It is revealed in Act 1 Chapter 2 he keeps it inside his suit, where it has been since. In Act 1 Chapter 30, BREW activates its soul amplification ability, helps Kid connect one of his Sanzu Lines, and turns the tide in the grim battle against his shadow.
Friendless Background: Kid didn’t experience friendship until he met Liz and Patty. Anyone else stayed away from him out of fear or intimidation, being the Son of Death and a Grim Reaper himself.
Grim Reaper/Shinigami: Just like his dad.
The Gunslinger/Gun Fu: As you’d expect of a meister who uses twin pistols at the same time.
Obsessively Organized: His love for symmetry, of course, but it is explored. During Kid’s fight with his shadow, the latter says this makes Kid “too unique” and that such a radical difference will bring about insurrection and fighting among his peers and underlings. It also aptly demonstrates that Kid, for all his prodigal talents, will waver against very dangerous foes if they show that symmetry he loves so deeply.
Out of Focus: He isn't around a lot for the Chicago Gang Arc or gets that many scenes and lines.
Supporting Leader: The whole reason Medusa turns Maka into a coward is to leave the group without a leader and ensure chaos among them. Kid steps up to the plate and takes over, thwarting that. It makes sense since he’s destined to be THE next Grim Reaper.
Took a Level in Badass: As of Act 1 Chapter 30, Kid can connect one of his Lines of Sanzu, leading to another level of personal power for him.
You Are Not Ready: The main part of Kid’s shadow’s argument is that it claims Kid is unfit to succeed his father’s place as guardian and ruler of the world as a Grim Reaper. Not everyone will agree with his beliefs, the shadow using Kid’s symmetry obsession as the basis, stating he is far too unique. It also claims he simply isn’t strong enough to combat any of the potential threats.

Elizabeth 'Liz' Thompson

One of Kid's Demon Guns and the older Thompson sister. Liz is the laidback one and often expresses chagrin at her teammates' wackiness. Originally hails from Brooklyn, where she was the leader of the Brooklyn Demons.

Audience Surrogate: She constantly lampshades the Ricardsen Twins’ habit of speaking in unison.

Patricia 'Patty' Thompson

The other of Kid's Twin Pistols and the younger one. Patty is a strange one. Her personality yo-yoing between childish to serious from when she and Liz lived on the streets of Brooklyn.

Affectionate Nickname:
- Has one for Kilik, Kiri, based off of his real name Kirikou.
- She has an occasional one for her older sister, Lizzy.
- And Nayuyu for Nayumi.
Cloudcuckoolander: At times, her scatterbrained and flighty remarks are welcoming in settings that desperately. Like the Cobra Island Arc.
Get a Hold of Yourself, Man!: Patty was having none of Nayumi's selfish, nihilistic bullshit in Act 1 Chapter 42:
Patty: Now you listen here! This attitude of yours need to be put out! You’re not the only one who's upset that Marcey is gone! I know you’re upset, but don't sit here by yourself bottling things up! That makes it worse! We are your friends, and we will get through this together whether you like it or not!
Nayumi: (struggling to get out of her grasp) Let go of me!
Patty: No! You’re just saying all of because you’re heartbroken! We understand! My big sister Liz thought nothing would change when we met Kid. She was proven wrong. Maka thought all guys were cheaters at heart. She was proven wrong. Kim thought nobody would like her as a Witch. She was proven wrong! The list goes on and on, Nayumi! All that stuff you said isn’t true.

Crona & Ragnarok

Crona Makenshi

"This is something I have to do. If I can't face her by myself, we'll never live peacefully. She may come back and do something even worse than today."

Former name: Crona Gorgon

Crona Gorgon is Ragnarok's Sword Meister of intentionally unclear gender, and initially worked for Medusa. Crona is unusual for a meister because he/she and Ragnarok share the same body unless when assuming the Meister-Weapon combination. Crona feels grateful that he/she is no longer under the clutches of Medusa despite lingering trauma and memories. Thus, he/she is slowly learning the Academy's ways to become more like his/her new friends.

Adaptational Badass: Receives stronger forms, learns Soul Resonance, can fight Medusa on equal or better footing, overcomes Mad Blood, and is saner. Oh, also, "badass" as in kills Medusa permanently! That alone ends the discussion.
Ambiguous Gender: Wouldn’t be Crona without it. In addition, the author averts "It" Is Dehumanizing whenever he uses the pronoun ‘it’ for Crona, though he tries not to use it.
- It’s also naturally lampshaded by even Crona’s closest friends.
And This Is for...: Crona does this while mauling Medusa in the second half of their fight.
Crona: This is for abusing me. For reviving the Kishin. For all the lies you’ve told and lives you’ve ruined. For Maka, Ragnarok, and me.
Artificial Human: In one last attempt to sway and break Crona, Medusa reveals his/her true origins – Crona is a genetically engineered lifeform taken from her and the father’s genes.
Badass Creed/Badass Boast:
Crona: Those who are swallowed by madness...swallow madness...melt into madness...and harden with madness. I, however, oppose Madness. I am not going to let myself go back down that path.
Bond One-Liner: To Crona’s shadow.
Crona: That’s all you have, and now you’re nothing.
Boxing Lessons for Superman: Crona's been focusing on developing its skill to better match their power, and in Act 2 asks Mifune for help with their swordsmanship.
Character Development: Builds off of what is shown in the anime. While braver, Crona is still rather hesitant to confront Medusa and remembers how disastrous things went, making Crona unsure of him/herself. In the fight against the shadows, Crona shows some progression by rebuking the harsh words of his/her shadow and deciding to never go back down that path. While a bit of regression happens when Ragnarok is sealed away, when he comes back, Crona’s resolve returns full-force and fights Medusa without fear whatsoever, speaking his/her mind all the while.
Conditioned to Accept Horror: All the eldritch stuff and horrors in Innsmouth don’t faze Crona at all, considering all the stuff he/she has gone through.
Combat Pragmatist: A few times, Crona reacts fast enough to strike Medusa before she can call the names of her vector spells.
Cooldown Hug: Gives one to Maka in Act 1 Chapter 27, who had her courage taken away from her and is now an easily frightened coward.
Curb-Stomp Battle: The second half of Crona’s fight with Medusa consists of the latter getting thoroughly creamed.
Day in the Limelight: The Cobra Island Arc, sharing it with Ragnarok.
Declaration of Protection: To Maka in Act 1 Chapter 27.
The Dog Bites Back: The entirety of the final between Crona and Medusa consists of the former venting all of his/her frustration towards the latter’s malice. Crona is no longer scared or weak-willed and wants let Medusa know how horrible she is.
Flashback Nightmare: Ever since the Cobra Island Arc began, Crona suffers a few nightmares used to show the extent of Medusa’s abuse and experimentations, including murder and the consumption of Ragnarok’s first soul.
Hates Being Alone: In a sense. Crona acts more panicky at prospect of being drowned in the Mad Blood with no one around, and one of the main reasons he/she confronts Medusa is so she can’t harm his/her friends anymore.
Heroic BSoD: Crona suffers a brief one after he/she learns he/she isn’t fully human. Ragnarok talks some sense into the poor child.
I Just Want to Be Free: After a certain point in the Cobra Island Arc, Crona grows sick and tired of Medusa because she/he comes to the conclusion she will continue to haunt everyone unless he/she does something about it personally. Only then will Crona believe he/she will be free from Medusa's hold, and this is the driving motivation behind the final confrontation with her.
Leave Him to Me!: Crona insists on Medusa one-on-one under the impression nothing will change unless he/she fights her. Though Maka makes it obvious she will not remain idle if things go south.
Magic Missile Storm: Screech Theta. Crona draws a circle that glows and it releases a circle formation of monstrous projectiles. It’s only been used with Khmer Dragon.
Master Swordsman: Between owning an extremely powerful weapon and being planned by Medusa to become a Kishin, Crona’s swordsmanship skills are very high.
Matricide: Ultimately, Crona finally achieves payback against Medusa for all the crimes and heinous acts she’s committed to him/her personally and those around him/her. Medusa had it coming.
Meaningful Rename: Crona changes his/her last name from ‘Gorgon’ to ‘Makenshi.’
Multi-Armed and Dangerous: In Bloody Knight.
Patricide: Sometime when they were still together, Medusa ordered Crona to kill a certain Evil Human and Ragnarok to eat its soul. After the deed is done, Medusa muses on how “[its] genes helped [her] created the perfect subject,” all but confirming that Medusa made Crona kill his/her biological father.
Pre-Mortem One-Liner: To Medusa.
“My blood is black, you know?”
Self-Made Orphan: Bizarrely, Crona is directly responsible for the deaths of both his/her father and mother.
So Proud of You: Everyone, in particular Maka, Soul, Blackstar, and Ox, are impressed and happy Crona finally overcomes his/her Dark and Troubled Past and is free to do as he/she wishes from now on.
Super Mode: Bloody Knight. It’s powerful, offers more utility, and Crona has yet to lose a battle once it is activated.
Team Chef: Act 1 Chapter 35 reveals that Crona can cook, usually doing it for him/herself and Ragnarok. For the occasion in which this comes up, Ragnarok downplays Crona’s achievements by saying Marie helped out.
Throwing Your Sword Always Works: Will throw one of the three swords in Bloody Knight.
Troubled Fetal Position: After Ragnarok is cursed away by Medusa.
Unskilled, but Strong: Not very skilled at fighting without a Black Blood boost. In Act 2 they ask Mifune for help moving past this.
Walking Spoiler: Crona’s most significant actions and moments in the Cobra Island Arc are tied to spoilers.

Ragnarok

"Well, dang. This is even easier than I imagine. Guess that means we'll have plenty more to give once we're out of here."

Before, Ragnarok was one of the few surviving Demon Swords, a term that describes Demon Weapons who have consumed pure souls and therefore are a step away from becoming Kishins. He loved to torment and bully his partner for his own amusement. Ultimately, Ragnarok became a mostly good guy and is now a member of the team.

Always a Bigger Fish: Ragnarok is rude, assertive, and opinionated. Yet, he’s also a very powerful weapon in the hands of an experienced meister. Even then, by his own admission, he’s still scared of Medusa. At first.
And I Must Scream: During his time sealed in the crystal ball, Ragnarok is alive and conscious the whole time, sensory perception and everything.
The Confidant: Whether Ragnarok likes it or not, he is this to Crona whenever Maka isn’t around. After all, they’re in a symbiotic relationship so if Crona cannot confide in him, who else can he/she?
Cool Sword: His weapon form.
- His sword form when Khmer Dragon is active has him gain studs along his blade.
- Bloody Knight produces three – a jagged sword, a thin sword, and a greatsword. It appears he can control the first two on his own.
Day in the Limelight: The Cobra Island Arc, sharing it with Crona.
Foreshadowing: In the very first chapter, Ragnarok says he and Crona failed to do a Soul Resonance (not Scream Resonance, Soul). Crona insists they need to keep trying until they get it. They pull off a successful one in Act 1 Chapter 16 that turned the tide of the battle.
Get a Hold of Yourself, Man!: Once Crona experiences a Heroic BSoD at a shocking revelation, Ragnarok puts his foot down and brings Crona out of it with this speech.
Ragnarok: Alright, Crona, you listen to me, and you listen to me good. Get up. On your feet. After all that stuff we talked about, don’t turn into a hypocrite. I ain’t scared no more, I’m ready for this! You shouldn’t be either. I’m with you! Albarn’s with you! Hell, if everyone else was here, I’m sure they’d have pom-poms at the ready too! So what if you’re not completely human? I’m not either! You gotta learn not to take everyone’s crap at face value. It’s like what Albarn is saying – you’re you! Can’t anybody change that!
Giant Flyer: As the Khmer Dragon.
Good is Not Nice: At first, Ragnarok’s temperament and disposition give him shades of this.
Jerkass: Some things never change.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: But he does soften up, especially towards Crona.
The Nicknamer: Ragnarok has become this either to be a Jerkass or to be funny. The list so far is…
- OCD Freak - Kid.
- Poindexter - Ox.
- Incredible Hulk - Rowena.
- Penguin Suit Freak - Professor Gregory Matilda.
- Four Eyes - Caius.
- Cow or Hag - Maka.
- He also tends to call Monsters or Anria “ugly” or “freakshow.”
- Wonder Twins - The Pot Twins.
- Sharkboy - Soul.
Retired Monster: Once upon a time, Ragnarok used to be a Demon Sword, a Demon Weapon that is one stage below becoming a Kishin.
Scaled Up/Our Dragons Are Different: His and Crona’s Soul Resonance, Khmer Dragon, transforms Ragnarok into a large, scaly draconian beast. It’s meant to replace their Black Dragon form from their old days as baddies, and boy, does it sound tons cooler.
Tsundere: Hilariously, Ragnarok vehemently denies thinking about Crona when he returns in Act 1 Chapter 34 as he/she hugs him. Right after we are treated to a scene of him thinking of Crona.
Voice of the Legion: In Bloody Knight, he speaks in a booming voice that comes from all three swords.

Ox Ford & Harvard D. Eclair

Ox Ford

Ox Ford is a Spear Meister and is largely defined as by great academic prowess. He still harbors feelings as Kim and is Maka's intellectual rival. He rather arrogantly refers to himself as the Royal Thunder Commander.

Adaptational Badass: In canon, Ox has a pretty limited repertoire of techniques and moves. Here, he has plenty to spare, up to and including a Soul Resonance between him and Harvar.
Badass Bookworm: Maka’s other Spear Counterpart.
Boarding School of Horrors: Ox attended a place called Washington Boarding School before the DWMA. It is a classic example of this trope. If a student receives A’s, then they are golden. If not, well, this is where the nasty stuff comes in. Sadist Teachers abound and an Absurdly Powerful Student Council is brought in to do something to students who make a B or lower on exams. Corporal Punishment and harsh lectures only scrape the surface. It is heavily implied worst punishments can be and have been inflicted. All this to ensure that their students are conditioned to make perfect markings, believing smarts are the most powerful tool ever.
Brought Down to Normal: See Took a Level in Dumbass.
Cerebus Retcon: Act 1 Chapter 29 puts a darker spin on Ox’s intelligence and nerd pride. And this is after Medusa has taken the former away…
Hidden Depths: He's an excellent swimmer and underwater battler. Even Kid, the person Ox saves when this is first revealed, is impressed.
The Perfectionist: Ox is in actuality a raving perfectionist who believes his intelligence is his only good quality and must strive to make sure he keeps it. Just in case you were wondering why he is trying to outdo Maka.
Took a Level in Dumbass: Enforced in the Cobra Island Arc. Ox has his intelligence taken from him, resulting in him reverting to an almost infantile state of mind. He’s incapable of recognizing familiar faces, and the world “puzzle” seems like a foreign concept to him.
The Rival: To Maka, when it comes to academics.
Shock and Awe: Courtesy of Harvar.

Harvar D. Éclair

Harvar Éclair is a Demon Spear that can generate electricity for his meister to manipulate. Harvar is relatively emotionless but logical man. He went to the same boarding school as Ox before they came to the Academy.

Jerkass Has a Point: As we know, Harvar isn't exactly a pleasant man. In Act 1 Chapter 27, Krysa is trying to convince everyone the area they're in is a rest stop. Harvar doesn't buy it, claiming something is going happen when they all are asleep, or they could be in a game already without their knowledge. The narration implies the rest buy the story. Marcellus manages to placate Harvar on the grounds that there's nothing they can do anyway. Guess what? The next chapter proves he's absolutely justified in his paranoia.
Pragmatic Hero
Undying Loyalty: Ox somehow manages to get Harvar acquitted of something back at Washington Boarding School. Considering it is a Boarding School of Horrors, it’s no wonder why Harvar swore loyalty to him out of gratitude.

Kirikou 'Kilik' Rung & The Pot Twins

Kilik Rung

Kirikou 'Kilik' Rung is a One-Star Pot Meister. He is an ethnic mixture of Dominican and African. Kilik was originally born in the Dominic Republican but moved to American when he was young. He acted out in his youth, resulting in him being a former Correctional Class student. He shaped up once he begins his partnership with Pot of Fire and Pot of Thunder.

Backstory: As he says in the Kumbaya Circle, Kilik was born in the Dominican Republic, his mother’s home. His dad’s African but doesn’t see much of him. He moved to the USA early in life.
Brought Down to Normal: The Ouroboros curse strips Kilik and the Pot Twins of their ability to synch wavelengths with each other. Kilik cannot use them in battle or else a rejection happens that will damage his arms.
Daddy Issues: His shadow suggests Kilik has these despite his nonchalance towards the subject shown in the Kumbaya Circle.
Delinquent: Kilik used to be part of the Correctional Class. That flashback that reveals this shows him even picking a fight. It’s implied he is lashing out at the world for his father leaving both him and his mother. Truth in Television because there are quite a few prisoners and criminals whose bad behavior are rooted in lack of parental attention.
Only Known by Their Nickname: Kilik’s real name is Kirikou, but everyone calls him Kilik instead. The writer probably did this to acknowledge both the original and the dub name of the character.
Papa Wolf: To say Kilik wasn’t pleased when the Pot Twins were targeted by Medusa is an understatement. In other words, leave the little kids alone.
Parental Abandonment: He doesn’t see much of his dad.
Parental Substitute: To the Pot Twins. Look no further than Act 1 Chapter 27. It is suggested he wants to be a better model to them to spite his disappeared dad.
Token Minority: Shared with Marcellus among the main group.

Pot of Fire & Pot of Thunder

Pot of Fire and Pot of Thunder, collectively referred as the Pot Twins, are two young children who act as Kilik’s Demon Pot partners. As their name imply, they can generate fire and lightning. The two are Earth Shamans, meaning they are capable of communicating with the Earth itself.

Backstory: The Pot Twins were discovered in an abandoned African village by Death Scythe Dengu Dinga and Alexander. This village apparently venerated an all-seeing god. Obviously, they were taken into the care of the Academy.
Conveniently an Orphan: Not one mention of parents period, even though they’re just little kids. Apparently, Noah killed their original parents/guardians but was unable to capture them.
In Harmony with Nature: Earth Shamans.
Lightning/Fire Juxtaposition: Exactly What It Says on the Tin.
Precocious Crush: According to Thunder in Act 1 Chapter 22, Fire has one. Who, is the question.
Semi-Divine: They turn out to be the descendants/mortal reincarnations of gods.
Suddenly Voiced: They have speaking roles.

Kim Diehl & Jacqueline O'Lantern Dupre

Kim Diehl

Kim Diehl is Jackie's Meister and partner. She is obsessed with making money and appears to be rather condescending and bossy toward a few people. She is, in actuality, a Witch that was exiled from the Witch Society due to specializing in a Magic that is nondestructive. But Kim disliked the lifestyle of witches anyway and finds life at the Academy much more desirable. She was originally from the NOT Class and became an EAT Student. She is a One-Star Lantern Meister.

Adaptational Badass: She fends off Medusa Gorgon long enough until The Cavalry comes without her Regeneration Magic. Definitely counts.
Barrier Maiden: Soul Resonance Prometheus, a giant circular shield of fire.
Brought Down to Badass: The Ouroboros curse seals her Regeneration Magic and everything that comes with it. Yet she manages to soldier on as one of the few people still able to actively participate in combat because nothing prohibits her as a meister.
Chekhov's Gag: On the ship taking them to Cobra Island, Kid dryly tells Kim to go make some magic potions. She simply rolls her eyes and walks off, saying she will. Later, in Act 1 Chapter 31, a curse removes Kim’s ability to heal at a time when it would really help. Then, she blithely reveals to everyone she actually made healing potions.
Childhood Friends: In Act 2 chapter 4 we learn that she and Walena's sister Tazmina were friends as children.
The Cynic: She really wants a world where the opposite is true, but Kim philosophizes money in this world is ultimate and can buy anything. She’d rather be realistic about it and holds onto this view for all it is worth.
Fiery Redhead: Pink, but it's a shade of red. Kim is spunky, gutsy, and plucky. Ironically, Jacqueline is the cooler one of the two.
Foreshadowing: In Act 1 Chapter 14, Kim survives what Marcellus perceives to be a fatal injury without, well, injury. Later, in Act 1 Chapter 22, Kim reveals she is a tanuki witch, whose main power is healing. This may be unnecessary because followers of the manga know this, but anime watchers probably didn’t.
Freakiness Shame: Not actual shame, but there are implications Kim may be self-conscious about her nature as a witch as it pertains to being public knowledge within the Academy.
Guile Heroine: One of her greatest assets is her subtlety, and her willingness to lead others astray to her advantage. For example, in her fight with Medusa, she hides herself in smoke. Medusa attacks her silhouette with Vector Drill only to quickly realize she drove her arm in a fire clone Kim fabricated and gets severe burns for her trouble.
Healing Hands: Kim’s most valuable tool is her Regeneration Magic, which allows her to heal even bad injuries. She temporarily loses it via Ouroboros.
Healing Potion: She crafts some on the boat ride to Cobra Island from ingredients in the kitchen. Good thing, too, because she and the rest of the crew would be so screwed without them.
Hidden Depths: Kid, in a conversation with her in Act 1 Chapter 36, listens to Kim essentially claim money makes you special and worth something. He then asks if the reason Kim is so avaricious is that she’s a witch associating herself with her natural enemies. While she doesn't directly answer, the long pause before Kim’s interestingly chipper response implies that Kid may have revealed an Inferiority Superiority Complex.
- Act 2 chapter 4 also reveals that while she doesn't regret leaving the Witch Society and it's rules, she sometimes feels homesick and misses her friend Tazmina.
Inferiority Superiority Complex: Something of one. It is hinted Kim is a little image-conscious about being a Witch and becomes upset when someone insults her as such, taking it as a personal attack.
It's Personal: In the Cobra Island Arc, when she discovers that Ox has been cursed and his intelligence taken away, Kim does not take the news well.
Money Fetish: Money means everything to Kim. To the point thst she claims she’s going to charge Caius for her services even though a giant snake bit into his whole forearm and he needed the healing. Kim’s shadow actually mocks her for her Greed.
Plucky Girl: Evident in her round with Medusa. Her crutch in Regeneration Magic is gone; the narration expressly says her teammates Ox and Kilik are more physical durable than her, so she's unaccustomed to dealing with pain for long periods of time. Even so, she keeps going and lasts until The Cavalry arrives.
Shaping Your Attacks: Through Soul Resonance, Kim molds Jackie's fire into distinct forms like flaming tanukis and a fire clone.
Staring Down Cthulhu: Kim is fully aware Medusa is superior to her in every possible aspect. She adopts an air of smugness and self-confidence as a means of keeping her fear and apprehension at bay, knowing Medusa can and will goad or manipulate her into performing a stupid move and kill her for it.
Token Heroic Orc: She is a Witch, but she wants to fight for the Academy instead.
Weak, but Skilled: She is not as smart as Ox, nowhere near as powerful as Kilik, and her magic hinges on support more than offense. Therefore, Kim relies on sheer wit and Jacqueline in battle to stay ahead of the game.

Jacqueline O'Lantern Dupre

Jacqueline O'Lantern Dupre, or simply Jackie, is a Demon Lantern and Kim’s weapon partner. Jackie has been rolled in the DWMA for about three years, but has only been partnered with Kim for a year. During the time period, she helped out in the EAT Class and instructed NOT students. A One-Star Demon Weapon, Jacqueline is loyal to a fault.

Backstory: Jacqueline was born in Boston, Massachusetts and moved to Death City at age 11. Her father specialized in lanterns and woodworks, which might help explain her weapon form. Most of her family still lives in Boston, and she has an older sister servicing in the Navy. Lastly, she was brought up to be proper and be ladylike. Just in case you were wondering why Kim calls 'straight-laced chick’ in Soul Eater Not!.
Friendless Background: Kim is implied to be the first friend Jacqueline has ever had.
Gayngst: Is bi, and is afraid of telling her traditional family despite the fact that her current romantic interest (Tsuji) is a guy, though Kim encourages her to at least try.
Playing with Fire: Naturally.
- Fireballs
- Fire-Breathing Weapon
- Kill It with Fire: Her more powerful moves, like the St. Elmo’s Fire Joint Resonance.
Lap Pillow: She has an unconscious Tsuji sleeping on her lap in Act 1 Chapter 31. When he wakes up, she tells him he started breathing strangely during the healing process, so she propped his head up.
Proper Lady: What she was raised to be, tying in to her depiction in Soul Eater Not!.
Ship Tease: With Tsuji.

Hiro

Hiro is regarded as the most incompetent Meister at the DWMA. Up until his encounter with Excalibur, he was bullied and used as everyone's doormat and errand body. Now that the Excalibur incident has long passed, it is unknown if things have changed at present. However, Hiro has been seen attending Mifune's Swordsmanship Club and is surprisingly a member of the Student Council.

Took a Level in Badass: Early in Act 2, he does pretty well when sparring with Crona.

Original Characters

Caius Vladingham & Claudia Moncharmin

Tropes related to the both of them:

Blue Boy, Pink Girl: Claudia is mostly associated with pink while Caius is no doubt associated with blue.
Brooding Boy, Gentle Girl: Caius is someone with a terrible past, and it’s deeply affected him. Claudia, while bratty and haughty at times, does manage to bring the best out of him through being nice.
Gender Flip: You know how manga, particularly early on, had a habit of making the males in the duos more troublesome than the girls (other than the specific exceptions with Kid, Liz, and Patty)? These two turn that notion on its head. Claudia is the No Respect Girl who only talks a big game and is often Played for Laughs whereas Caius is far more down-to-earth and treated more seriously by the narrative.
Huge Guy, Tiny Girl: Caius is 5’10” compared to Claudia’s 4'7". He’s more than a whole foot taller!
Lady and Knight: Not actually, but they seem to subtly sport this dynamic. In fact, the chapter title that details their meeting is “Another Day: My Knight in Shining Armor,” implying this is how Claudia really views Caius.
Mistress and Servant Boy: Shades of this. In Act 1 Chapter 2, Caius is carrying both his and Claudia’s supplies and books. She carries nothing but her own body weight. Then, there’s the fact that Caius provides the lemons to Claudia upon her demand. Caius even lampshades on their Ireland mission how much he feels like a servant.
Red Oni, Blue Oni: Caius is blue, Claudia is red.

Caius Vladingham

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/com_caius_nicetsukichi.jpg

Caius Vladingham is a member of the Vladingham Family, birthed into the family by Amagai Vladingham and Rukia Forsythia. He is the youngest of four, consisting of himself, Chloe, Remus, and Phyllis Vladingham. A boy who lived a completely normal life, his life turned upside down when, two years prior to the beginning of Soul Eater: Troubled Souls, a witch named Cancer Lucrenian killed off the entire family in an event to be called ‘The Vladingham Family Massacre.’ Miraculously, he survived, was treated, and taken into the care of the Academy. After meeting and befriending a young girl named Claudia Moncharmin, he seeks revenge in order to make Cancer pay for her crimes.

Making his first appearance in the story in the prologue, Caius is a 16-year-old Lance Meister and one of the many students in the Academy. He enrolled at the DWMA as a Half Moon Class student for two years until he transferred to Class Crescent Moon five weeks prior to the story’s beginning.

Academic Athlete: A basketball player, and a bookish student.
The Aloner: As part of a traumatized mindset leftover from the massacre, Caius put himself in a self-imposed Friendless Background in which he keeps everyone around him at arms’ length and makes no attempt at socializing with others. Even the Moncharmin; after all, it apparently took him two whole years to accept Claudia as a true friend. The result is a person, once perfectly capable of holding conversations with former friends and family members, who is now socially awkward and has to readjust.
Arm Cannon: Deus Iratus. Well, it’s a missile rather than a cannon.
Armor-Piercing Question: Blindsides Claudia with one in Act 1 Chapter 25: "Alright then, what can you do to help me?"
Awesomeness by Analysis:
- Caius closely observed his family members in the past. He noted Amagai’s use of strength and power, Remus’s polearm mastery, Phyllis’s emphasis on dancelike grace, and Katrina’s use of precision. He committed each element to memory and created a fighting style that combines all of that.
- Furthermore, as someone can use Soul Perception, this means his personality is perceptive enough to have the ability.
Badass Bookworm: For "bookworm," he's pretty much Maka's Spear Counterpart in this regard. Heck, the two started talking only because Maka noticed Caius was reading a book. For "badass," his fight with Scorpio already made this obvious. But, as if that wasn’t enough, Act 1 Chapter 9’s flashback shows Caius, at age 14 with no Demon Weapon, minimal combat training and experience, and little to no knowledge or control over his Soul Blaze, fighting off three full-grown adult thugs, one of whom was armed, in order to protect young Claudia, a total stranger at that point in time.
Badass Family: The Vladingham Family.
Badass in a Nice Suit: Parades around school looking quite sharp.
Badass Longcoat: Goes to missions wearing one.
Berserk Button:
- The sight and mention of Cancer is one in and of itself.
- Don’t say anything bad about the Vladingham Family. Your first clue is when he loses it when Cancer insults them and says they deserved every death that happened.
Best Served Cold: He has relentlessly dedicated his meister career on pursuing the witch responsible for the massacre, and nothing is going to stop him.
Big Sister Worship: Saw his oldest sister Phyllis as a role model.
Blind Without 'Em: Played for Drama. His character bio states he has astigmatism. He really does need those glasses. The main pair gets cracked from Tadpole Bomb Minefield, and Mizune steps on his spare after they are knocked off. He is utterly unable to do anything because he can’t see.
Blue Is Heroic: Typically wears blue, his hair is a shade of blue, and his Soul Blaze is either blue or purplish-blue. Very much a protagonist.
Bond One-Liner: Says one after killing the Brother of the Gemini. Too bad he doesn’t stay dead.
Brother: Wh-what?! What are you doing?!
(cue final bow)
Caius: Killing you.
- A more proper one is what he says after slaying one of the ogres.
Caius: Next time, behave yourself.
Broken Bird: Male example; he is focused and studious because his Dark and Troubled Past is his drive.
Byronic Hero: Very intelligent and sophisticated? He’s a Badass Bookworm and Cultured Badass. Emotionally conflicted and oftentimes moody? Got that too. Strong personal beliefs? He resolves to fight no matter what in order pursue vengeance. Bonus points for deciding to take the long, hard road to achieving this (until Act 1 Chapter 8). Intense drive and determination to follow his self-made path? Yes, and it comes into conflict with Maka, Soul, and Claudia eventually when Cancer returns. We’ve got a match, ladies and gentlemen. Though, Character Development is starting to steer him away from this.
But I Read a Book About It: With no one to give him formal instruction on Soul Blaze, after the Cobra Island Arc, Caius decides enough is enough and searches in the library for something, anything to provide clarity on his family's trademark ability. Kathi provides a book about Soul Blaze written by his aunt, Katrina, "For the Blue Flame: A Comprehensive Look into Soul Blaze". He has been reading it diligently to improve his own prowess.
Character Development: The earliest example. Caius starts off a standoffish and rather antisocial loner who prefers to keep things to himself. A series of events, and Maka and Soul, forced him to come clean about why he’s that way. Afterwards, Caius starts to become a more open person, revealing stuff about himself little by little. Some of his quirks and interests have come to light as a result.
Charles Atlas Superpower: Capable of impaling and knocking around monsters and Kishin Eggs larger than him. Bifurcation and dismemberment aren’t any more difficult for him either.
Combat Pragmatist: Not afraid to attack someone from behind or hit below the belt (despite understanding no one wants to be hit there). He actually adopted combat pragmatism during his time as a Half Moon Class student.
Cultured Badass: Appreciates the literary art quite avidly. Authors he frequently reads about include William Shakespeare and John Milton.
Dare to Be Badass: Watson helps Caius reach an epiphany in Act 1 Chapter 9’s flashback when they saw a candidate reject Claudia. He decides to become a Meister strong enough to end Cancer’s life to avenge the Vladingham Family.
Dark and Troubled Past: See Last of His Kind.
Death Glare: He gives a spectacular one to Cancer in Act 1 Chapter 8.
Deceased Parents Are the Best: Caius pretty much loved his parents as much as his siblings. Special mention goes to his father, Amagai, who he idolized as a meister. Oh, by the way, they died during the massacre like every other Vladingham.
Defiant Stone Throw: He catches Scorpio's attention by throwing a single stone at its face right before he victimized an innocent family of three. The message is pretty clear, he's Scorpio's opponent now and cares nothing about it.
"Eyes over here."
Deuteragonist: He’s this to Maka, The Heroine.
Dork Knight: He’s the kind that is regularly competent but shows moments of endearing awkwardness. He’ll deny he’s knightly, however.
Emotion Suppression: Caius highly attempted this. Because of the trauma he experienced from the Vladingham Family Massacre, he didn't want to get close to anyone no matter his true feelings toward them. Altruistic, but it caused him emotional pain and prevented Joint Resonance. Maka and Soul get him out of this.
Exotic Eye Designs: Pupil-less, dark white eyes.
Expy: The sole survivor of the genocide of a famous family who now wants to exact his revenge on the culprit, who has an affinity with fire, and who also is represented by the color blue. Caius is one of Sasuke Uchiha of Naruto, only Caius is TONS nicer than Sasuke.
Family Honor:
- He viewed his sister Phyllis as a role model, his dad Amagai is the object of his idolatry, and he unquestioningly loved of the rest of his immediate family. For non-blood Vladinghams, it seemed he had quite a bit of friends, including Vyoma and Marina, the latter of which he had a small crush on. To sum it, Caius has a lot of Pride in the Vladingham Family and believes Cancer living on without being punished is a great injustice.
- Later developments play with this. Despite the above, Caius knows next to nothing about his family’s trademark, Soul Blaze, and is explicitly described as a “late bloomer” when it comes to their affiliation with the DWMA. This makes one wonder how much of his family culture does he really know.
Fireball Eyeballs: Caius’s eyes show a blazing inferno within them under moments of great emotion, meaning his Death Glare can be rather poignant.
Fire-Forged Friends: With Maka and Soul. The rest are maybes at this point.
Foil: To Maka, as you would expect of The Heroine and her Deuteragonist. They’re the Meisters of opposite-sex pairs, are both Badass Bookworms, employ spinning frequently as part of their fighting styles, have family issues (Maka with her mom and dad’s messy divorce, Caius with his being killed off), and even show similar clothing style (both have Badass Longcoats and wear ties and vests during school hours). No wonder they team up a lot.
Friendless Background: Invoked and played straight. The friends Caius had in Rozniak he either lost in the massacre or presumably left behind when he was taken to Death City. The trauma of the event and Cancer’s actions has let Caius not wanting to make any more friends and only settles for acquaintances. A secondary side-effect is Caius purposely keeping it that way so that nobody would get hurt being around him.
Gentleman Snarker/Deadpan Snarker: Can either go the refined route or the classic route.
The Glasses Gotta Go: A practical example. Caius considers getting some contact lenses for combat to replace his glasses because his regular pair and his spare were destroying during the course of the Cobra Island mission, rendering him helpless.
Glorious Mother Russia: Born in Russia in the fictional city of Rozniak.
Goal in Life: To exact revenge on Cancer Lucrenian as punishment for the Vladingham Family Massacre.
Good Is Not Soft/Beware the Nice Ones: Nice Guy Caius is, he's pretty fierce, and almost condescending, in combat. His battles with the Monster of the Week in Act 1 Chapter 1 (Scorpio) and in Act 1 Chapter 6 (the Ogres) best illustrate this trope.
Graceful in Their Element: On missions and in battle, Caius is cool, focused, and collected, attacking expertly and uttering one-liners when it suits him. Out of it, he's a socially awkward dork who nonetheless tries his best.
Rowena: Dang, Caius, why can’t you act like this all the time?
Caius: (defensive as heck) This is totally different!
Gratuitous Latin: His techniques, including his Joint Resonances, are translated into Latin.
- Deus Iratus: “Wrathful God”
- Regnum Dei: “Kingdom of God”
- Venator Malorum: lit. “Hunter of Evil Things”
- Donum Dei: “Gift of God”
- Quo Vadis: “Where are you going?”
- Eruptio Maxima: "Greatest Eruption"
Handwraps of Awesome: Wears bandaged arm-warmers.
Heartbroken Badass: The deaths of all Vladinghams close to him hit him pretty hard. Special mention goes to Marina, whom he had a crush on. This left him with a ton of emotional baggage, but he remains a competent fighter.
Heartwarming Orphan: The Soup Kitchen scene really brings this to light.
The Hermit: Pre-Character Development, Caius willingly chooses not to socialize or makes friends with anyone.
Heroes' Frontier Step: Saving then 12-year-old Claudia from a trio of thugs out of the goodness of his heart despite fresh off his Dark and Troubled Past.
Heroic Neutral: Again before his Character Development, Caius wants to be left alone to his own devices. The plot, of course, conspires against him.
How Do I Shot Web?: Even Soul Blaze is his main skill, he’s only self-taught based on observing other Vladinghams and practicing by himself. Now that he has gotten his hands on a book specifically about Soul Blaze, his skills may improve.
Ineffectual Loner: Caius starts out as a loner. Though, he does make some good progress on his own, obtaining respectable strength, his feelings made Joint Resonance impossible. He also couldn't defeat Cancer's experiment without Maka and Soul's help. He would've died too. He gets much better.
I Work Alone: As a self-imposed loner, he bears a preference for going on missions by himself. His teaming up with Maka in Act 1 Chapter 2 is stated to be the first time he worked with someone else, excluding his time in a squadron in the Baba Yaga attack weeks prior to the fic’s beginning. There is a reason behind this, and it serves as a minor theme for the Introduction Arc. He can’t beat the Gemini until Maka convinces him to use Chain Resonance with her, he wants nothing to do with Noel’s teamwork lessons, he can’t use Joint Resonance because of his desire for self-sufficiency, and he tries to confront Cancer and fight Project Omega’s first form by himself without a weapon. Nothing goes his way until he accepts Maka, Soul, and Claudia as true friends and partners. In other words, Caius’s insistence on working alone because of past trauma is presented as a character flaw, but he thankfully learns his lesson.
Jack of All Stats: Caius shows great physical abilities overall, but there exists someone better than him at every facet.
Last of His Kind: The Vladingham Family was killed off two years prior to the beginning of the story by Cancer Lucrenian. He's the sole survivor (although barely if that little flashback at the end of the prologue is anything to go by). His moniker is even "The Last Vladingham".
Leave Me Alone!: At first until he learns to accept Maka and the others' offer of friendship.
Loner-Turned-Friend: Part of his Character Development.
Magic Pants: Averted. The Chicago Gang Arc provides an explanation: in short, the "Creation Wavelength" behind his Soul Blaze makes himself and his clothing Friendly Fireproof.
Misunderstood Loner with a Heart of Gold: At first Maka and Soul are a little suspicious of Caius since they know no next to nothing about him, and he hasn't given much of an impression, but they learn he's kind and empathetic in spite of a Dark and Troubled Past.
New Transfer Student: Subverted. Caius has been attending the Academy for two years. Almost all people thinks he's this because they didn't notice he existed before the beginning events of the story. That's just what he wanted. However, he did transfer from Class Half Moon to Class Crescent Moon five weeks prior to the prologue.
Not So Above It All: When Rowena is teasing Caius about his lacks of social skills, Caius adamantly refutes they are satisfactory while silently admitting they used to be better. The kicker is that he turns away in a manner similar to Claudia.
Nice Guy: A gentlemanly and empathetic person, he tries his best not to be rude to his peer and gives authority the respect they deserve. He goes to the Soup Kitchen every now and then to pay his respects to less fortunate people. Of special note – Caius offers to pay for a book about Soul Blaze, but Kathi says not to. When she is momentarily distracted, she finds money on the counter, meaning Caius paid for it anyway.
Officer and a Gentleman: A Gentleman of War, scion of a respected family, and decent student who fights to exterminate evil no matter what.
Orphan's Ordeal: He has to deal with the trauma of his life getting turned completely in the span of one day, including grief at the loss of his family, something that’s still crippling him even two years after it’s happened. Then, there’s his issues involving friendship. Then, there’s Cancer running around doing as she pleases after the fact.
Out of Focus: His one meaningful scene in the Chicago Gang Arc is to explain the underlying mechanics on Soul Blaze before having his kill taken by Tsuji. That's all. Even worse, he doesn't appear or is even mentioned in the epilogue of Act 1 where many other characters, minor or otherwise, get at least a mention or line. Perhaps justified considering all the focus he gets in the first half of Act 1, but he's supposed to be the deuteragonist. The gap started in the latter half of Act 1 becomes even bigger in Act 2 thanks to all Original Characters being Put on a Bus.
Pinned to the Wall: This is the state he ends up and is found in following the massacre.
Playing with Fire: As a Vladingham, he can use Soul Blaze for offensive or defensive purposes. The wavelength flames produced by Caius are described as blue or purplish-blue.
Pop-Cultured Badass: He has watched Advent Children, has an MP3 Player to listen to quite the selection of music, and above all, he's a fan of Power Rangers and even his text message ringtone is set to the iconic communicator jingle of the series. This trope arguably lets you know that Caius is still a teenager despite past trauma.
Pre-Asskicking One-Liner: Here’s one against Scorpio.
Caius: Scorpio, I will show no mercy. I’ll be taking that life of yours.
Revenge: Caius has sworn to get Cancer back for the Vladingham Family Massacre. Sadly, this trope is the whole reason why he even decided to become a Meister in the first place.
Revenge Before Reason: Caius, darling, we know you’re a badass and all, but why leave behind your allies and your own weapon partner to pursue Cancer, who you know is deadly strong?
Russian Guy Suffers Most: While his backstory and its effects on him aren’t the most tragic of the cast, it is up there.
Say My Name: "CANCER!"
Sharp-Dressed Man: Caius seems to prefer going around doing everything with a suit, vest, or something similar on.
She-Fu: Another male example. Caius is basically a Lady of War trapped in a male’s body. While his strength and pyrokinesis certainly make him deadly, many of his maneuvers and actions have an elegant flow to them. Flipping, twirling, jumping, and spinning come naturally to him as he wields a lance skillfully. When Claudia links with him via Song of the Souls, this graceful fighting style of his makes the resonance easy.
Sleeves Are for Wimps: His longcoat is sleeveless.
Slice-and-Dice Swordsmanship: He uses his lance for both thrusting and slashing.
Smart People Wear Glasses: Caius is an intellectual student and fighter who wears glasses.
Socially Awkward Hero: Shows occasional shades of this. While he is capable of holding a decent conversation, there are times when he stutters like Crona and, in eyes of some people, doesn’t say enough. He’s getting better.
Specs of Awesome: He adjusts them by the bridge.
Spin to Deflect Stuff: Yet another thing he does commonly. The objects he is deflecting are usually projectiles.
Swipe Your Blade Off: Does this after inflicting the killing blow to Scorpio.
They're Called "Personal Issues" for a Reason: He chooses to bear his pain in silence.
Took a Level in Cheerfulness: He’s becoming less moody. You could even say he’s reverting back to his old demeanor shown in Soul Eater: Saeculum.
Too Many Belts: He wears arm-belts that go with his bandaged arm-warmers and presumably a regular belt to keep his pants fastened.
Tragic Keepsake: His family’s scrapbook.
Troubled, but Cute: At first, Caius gives off the vibe, but loses it as time goes on and his Character Depth is explored. About the only thing that remains consistent is Dark and Troubled Past.
Unstoppable Rage: In Act 1 Chapter 8, he enters this state when both of his Berserk Buttons are smashed. However, Project Omega promptly shoots him down.
Used to Be More Social: He had it all before the massacre — a loving family, great friends, people to play streeball with, and a nice community to live in. Once that was all taken away from him, Caius devolves into a Socially Awkward Hero, and it takes a couple of months after finally coming clean to show any form of progress.
Weapon Twirling: Does this a lot. A lance is a polearm after all.

Claudia Moncharmin

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/com_claudia_min.jpg

Claudia Moncharmin is the only daughter between Diana and Claude Moncharmin. The Moncharmins are a wealthy family whose roots are traced back to France. Claudia herself initially attended the Academy of the Arts in France to practice ballet. However, an unfortunate accident regarding her Partial Transformation resulted in her expulsion from the school. As a result, she now attends the DWMA as an alternative.

One night when she decided to get away from another gathering at her family’s mansion, a young boy named Caius managed to rescue her from potential thieves. Thereafter, she gave him a place to stay and became Caius’s partner. Claudia is 14-years-old and her weapon form is known as the Demon Lance.

It should be noted that Claudia does not belong to the author but rather a friend he calls HopeDiamond101.

Absurd Cutting Power: Her lance is sharp, simply put.
Attention Whore: According to narration, Claudia tends to make herself known around the Academy, being a member of the rich Moncharmins.
At Least I Admit It: During the Kumbaya Circle, Claudia describes Gertrude and her posse from the Academy of the Arts as "rude, mean, and always [looking down on] people". She notices Maka and Black☆Star giving her looks and defends herself with more or less this trope.
Ballet: Claudia initially aspires to be a ballerina and attended the Academy of the Arts to reach that goal. Then things happened. She still possesses her dancing skills, however.
Belligerent Sexual Tension: A platonic example but put Claudia and Black☆Star in the same scene together and watch the sparks fly.
BFG: The Soul Resonance Deus Iratus^note“Wrathful God” in Latin is a giant missile launcher.
Blade Below the Shoulder: A non-combat example. During her narration in Act 1 Chapter 22, she uses Partial Transformation to help illustrate a part of it.
Book Dumb/Dumb Blonde: According to Claudia, no matter how hard she studies, she eventually gets text anxiety and she consequently does bad on tests. Overall, she's not very strong academically. Time will tell if that test-taking skills class will help or not.
Bratty Half-Pint: Small in stature but aristocratic in personality.
Bratty Teenage Daughter: At first.
Break the Cutie: Before the DWMA, Claudia attended the Academy of the Arts in ballet. Long story short, her best friend Constance was being attacked and bullied by three snobs (Gertrude and her posse). In the midst of the confusion in her attempts to save her, Claudia unknowingly activates her dormant Weapon Gene and injures Gertrude badly. The witnesses, unfortunately Gertrude's posse, blamed everything, including what happened to Constance, on Claudia. She was banned from the school despite her pleas, forced to leave her dreams and friends behind. Ouch.
Butt-Monkey: Prone to the most insults and slights. Look no further than the beginning of Act 1 Chapter 12 for evidence.
Casual Danger Dialogue: Comments on how "irksome" the Nigh-Invulnerable Implacable Man Project Omega is being in a rather chill manner. Caius lampshades this.
Character Tic: All souls she’s consumed on-screen are done so only after she squeezes a lemon on it for flavor.
Cheese-Eating Surrender Monkeys: She is incapable of combat and prefers not to get her hands dirty, not that Caius actually minds early on, and is quite frankly all talk and no action. Like a lot of things, this is Played for Drama.
Chekhov's Skill: She claims she is resourceful in Act 1 Chapter 9, but Caius and most likely the readers dismiss her. Turns out, she is resourceful enough to come up with Song of the Souls. The fact that she is an expert in ballet also plays a hand. Not only did she come up with Song of the Souls, she figures out how to implement her one outstanding talent, dancing.
Clingy Jealous Girl: Did not react well to seeing Blair advancing on Soul in Act 1 Chapter 13.
Dance Battler: Not herself, but through Song of the Souls, Claudia can make the person she is linked to become an effective one. In summation, Claudia handles the “dance” portion, maneuvering her partner around in a graceful and elegant way while said partner is the “battler”, likely possessing the instincts and combat skills necessary to dominate enemies.
Deadpan Snarker/Little Miss Snarker: Oh yes. She’s got nothing on Nayumi though.
Black☆Star: Oh yeah? Not if Tsubaki and I have anything to say about it.
Claudia: Please don't because your breath stinks.
Desperately Looking for a Purpose in Life: Claudia has no clue what she wants to do with her life. Initially, she expressed the desire to succeed her mother, Diana, and her side of the family as an entertainer, but her backstory explains why that never happened. She considers grossly incapable of succeeding her father and taking over the family business. The DWMA seems like a last resort to her, but that does nothing to curb her feeling of inadequacy.
Dogged Nice Girl: Claudia is determined to get Soul's approval and attention, even if it's pretty obvious to everyone that won't happen. In Act 1 Chapter 39, Marcellus calls her pretty when ironically Soul has never. From a platonic standpoint, she's also one for Caius. She patiently endures his lonerism for two entire years until he finally accepts her friendship.
Drama Queen: Can act especially melodramatic at times. Not so much nowadays.
Dumbass No More: At the start of Act 1, she's a bit airheaded and suffers from a form of test anxiety. The end has her father Claude reveal she's improved her grades enough to be taken off punishment. She's also confident enough to begin learning about her family business as a future possibility.
Epic Fail: Claudia apparently doesn't know her social security number. She also got a test grade worse than Black☆Star.
Epiphany Therapy: When Caius seriously asks her what can she do to support him in battle, she’s rendered speechless and embarrassed, and she comes to the conclusion that she’s useless. Before, her lack of ability and such are treated for jokes or as an ‘elephant-in-the-room’ type of thing. Act 1 Chapter 25 officially marks this great flaw of hers coming to light.
Every Proper Lady Should Curtsy
The Fashionista: Loves shopping and changes her clothes quite frequently.
Flaming Weapon: Caius learns to wreath her lance form in wavelength flames.
Fleur-de-lis: Her weapon form contains a gold one right below the blade.
Girly Girl: She loves fashion, she likes sweets, she’s pampered, she wears dresses, and she doesn’t like getting her hands dirty. Or her dress. Or her hair. Or her shoes.
Girly Skirt Twirl: She did it in Act 1 Chapter 9 to model her new canary yellow dress.
Graceful Ladies Like Purple: Her outfit during Song of the Souls transforms into a purple and pink dress, modelled after the one she wore at her first dance.
Hair Flip: She did the haughty version when speaking to Maka in Act 1 Chapter 2. Probably won’t be the last time either.
Heroic Lineage: Claudia in particular sports a rich heritage. From Claude, her father, she is part of the Moncharmin Family, an extremely rich Legacy Family. From Diana, her mother, she is descended from a long line of musicians, singers, and dancers.
Hidden Depths: Claudia may be haughty, but she is actually a nice person. After all, she was the one who (kinda) got through Caius at his most emotionally broken. In addition, she had to stomach throwing away her initial hopes and dreams all because of a freak accident. Couldn't figure that one out at a first glance.
Honorary Princess: Frequently called the "Moncharmin princess".
Hopeless Suitor: Raise your hand if you truly believe Claudia has a chance with Soul. We didn't think so either.
I'm Your Biggest Fan: Not actually said, but Claudia reminisces on Wes Evans's orchestra with quickly-escalating glee and compliments him like a person saying this trope would. It appears she loves her some Evans. Too bad this doesn't help Soul's inferiority complex.
Inadequate Inheritor: Views herself as horribly incapable of inheriting the business on her father's side of the family, limiting her option of career choices.
Lethal Chef: In Act 1 Chaper 13, she bakes cookies for Soul. He breathed fire somehow. Probably the result of a lack of culinary direction.
Claudia: Although, I probably put too much cinnamon in it…
Caius: (thinking sarcastically) Or you used the hot sauce bottle instead.
The Load: Like you’d expect of her character archetype, Claudia is a spoiled, pampered, and sheltered little girl. Outside the battlefield, she can only do so much. In combat, her only abilities are transforming into a Demon Weapon and her Deus Iratus Soul Resonance with Caius. She may be just a Weapon but compare her to the others. Caius finally calls out her on this in Act 1 Chapter 25 with one simple question.
Lonely Rich Kid: Implied in Act 1 Chapter 8.
Lovable Alpha Bitch: She is aristocratic, haughty, and condescending, at the same time being sociable, perky, and loving to certain people. Being the butt of some gags also helps.
The Napoleon: Her size does not cow her attitude.
Noblewoman's Laugh: She lets one out before Maka and Caius finish off the Gemini with their Chain Resonance-strengthened techniques.
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Her backstory. She finds one of her dear friends getting harassed by bullies, and a freak accident regarding her Partial Transformation results in her gravely injuring one of them and getting her kicked out of her old school. So, she gets kicked out for trying to do the right thing and has to leave her dreams behind.
Older Than She Looks: Quite a few people didn't initially believe Claudia is 14. In Caius's case, he didn't think she was 12. Her shortness and style of clothing don't help.
Ojou: The Moncharmins aren't royalty or anything, but they're a well-known, high-class family, especially in their home country of France. So Claudia has shades of this trope.
Parody Sue: Claudia is rich, cheerful, pretty, well-known, scion of a Legacy Family... and nobody takes her seriously, thinks she's a nuisance, and her boast means nothing in the grand scheme of things because she can't do anything. At first, that was Played for Laughs. Then, it gets Played for Drama when her insecurities crop up and she becomes a Deconstructed Character Archetype.
Pink Means Feminine: Her classic outfit has quite a bit of pink.
The Pollyanna: For someone unable to fight in a crazy place like the DWMA, and for someone with a background that spells Break the Cutie, Claudia’s usually bright and happy – not in the over-energized way.
Proper Lady: When she's not being a brat or a Smitten Teenage Girl, Claudia acts composed and dignified like you would expect a girl of her class to be.
Rich in Dollars, Poor in Sense: We're going to keep reminding you that this rich little girl didn't know her social, and didn't learn how to clean until Soul taught her in Act 1 Chapter 13.
Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: Although whether it’s rule-breaking or not is up to debate, Claudia does manage to make a phone call and get her and Caius on a mission to Ireland in Act 1 Chapter 6. The reason is that she’s the daughter of members of the DWMA's Recon Association and Exploration Team, who basically make the missions specs and such.
Shameless Self-Promoter: See Attention Whore and Smug Snake.
Sheltered Aristocrat: Essentially, Claudia was raised akin to a princess. Since her conception, she has been surrounded by high-class lifestyle and style. For a time, she did not know how to do even basic domestic chores, such as cooking and cleaning, or even bothered to remember something as critical as her social security number.
Sophisticated as Hell: She's supposed to be high-class, but Claudia has used the words 'prick, 'bull crap,' and 'whore'.
Smitten Teenage Girl: Only 14 and has a big-time crush on Soul.
Smug Snake: Loved to hype up herself and Caius as future elites. Also, she believed that she and Caius could handle the Gemini without Maka's and Soul's help. She's no longer this as it seems.
Spoiled Brat: She wants to go shopping now, damn it!
Stuff Blowing Up: When she and Caius use Deus Iratus, her lance form becomes a giant lance-missile launcher that is integrated with Caius’s arm. It inevitably results in this.
Sweet Tooth: If Act 1 Chapter 6 is any indication, she likes sweet like ice cream. Yet another feminine trait to add to the list.
Synchronization: During Song of the Souls, she and Caius essentially share each other’s bodies, and the technique’s efficiency is maximized only when the two are completely in synch. Claudia controls the dancing and the motions thanks to having supreme finesse and coordination as a dancer while Caius takes over only when attacking. If for some reason one of them must stop, their will supersedes the resonance and forces the other to stop as well.
Token Mini-Moe: Her and Nayumi. Their physical descriptions fit the bill.
Took a Level in Badass: No, seriously, hear us out. After being succinctly chewed out by Caius, Claudia desperately searches for some way to become more useful. In the middle of their seemingly hopeless battle against Caius’s shadow, Claudia hatches an idea and has Caius resonate with her. She hearkens back to her days as a dancer and puts her exceptional talent to use in the form of Song of the Souls.
Tsundere: Claudia bounces back and forth between being nice and sweet to being assertive and sharp-tongued.
Vitriolic Best Buds: With Maka.

Tsuji and Rowena Ricardsen

Tropes related to the both of them:

Beware the Silly Ones: Two characters you can rely on for comic relief. Sometimes, they are class clowns, but still fun to be around. Woe betide any enemies and if you hurt friends or family… They are skilled meisters with Tsuji having incredible marksmanship, and there is a reason why Ragnarok prefers to call Rowena "The Incredible Hulk" rather than by her actual name.
Combination Attack: It’s implied they have a Joint Resonance together because they performed the setup to one perfectly. We’ve yet to see it.
Dark and Troubled Past: When they were only 10-years-old, a Kishin Egg subjected them to a brief nightmare and attempts to kill them seconds after they wake up from it. Their mother, Rosalind, saves them. The twins respond to this attack differently: Rowena resolves to become a Meister to counter the feeling of helplessness, while Tsuji is left reluctant to do same because he is afraid and traumatized.
Expy: Their whole dynamic seems strikingly similar to Sonic and Knuckles. Tsuji and Sonic are the brash speedsters who favor their lower bodies, Rowena and Knuckles are the aggressive heavy-lifters.
Force and Finesse: Tsuji is the Finesse, an athletic shooter with remarkable aim and dexterity. Rowena is the Force, a powerhouse who focuses on overpowering her foes.
Guys Smash, Girls Shoot: Inverted. Rowena, the girl, is the bruiser with a large sledgehammer. Tsuji, the guy, is the ranged fighter who usually supports.
Male Might, Female Finesse: Inverted. Rowena is the one defined by how much power and strength she possesses while Tsuji is all about acrobatics and finesse.
The Nicknamer: Not to the extent of Ragnarok, but they don't consistently refer to select individuals by their name or title. For example: Doc^noteStein, Old Man^noteNoel, and Big LD^noteLord Death.
Pop-Cultured Badass: They love video games and music. They're usually up-to-date in various fictional series and fandoms. They even regularly bring IPods or handheld game consoles to school. They also have a tendency to reference certain media.
Running Gag: The Ricardsen Twin's habit of speaking in unison.
Tsuji and Rowena: We just got in. Like, literally today. Doc and Dad just expect us to be able to score well on a test on stuff covered weeks in advance! Yeah, we got a packet and junk, but that didn't really prepare us for half the shit on the test!
Liz: Did they just say all that at the same time?
- Nayumi occasionally speaks along with them.
Sir Swears-a-Lot: Tsuji and Rowena have so far said the most swear words. Though, they're better than most examples.
Speak in Unison: See Running Gag.
Strong Girl, Smart Guy: Tsuji is an unapparent Genius Bruiser and lover of poetry that fights with archery, a style of fighting that necessities awareness of one's surroundings and the position of his targets. His techniques are more catered towards utility rather than heavy damage, not to say he can't do that under the right conditions. Rowena is a girl of strong personality and fights by overwhelming her opponents with her immense strength, powerful weapon, and Nayumi's elemental Mode Changes that allow her to still hit hard in different circumstances.

Tsuji A. Ricardsen

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/com_tsuji.jpg

"Voice, I'm gonna make a promise to you right now. I'll help. There's not enough info out there for people with the Enchanted Eyes. Word of mouth ain't enough. We gotta let those guys know, whatever they're goin' through, we're there for 'em. I'll be your real-world helper. This power born from despair will be used for the greater good. So will all this knowledge you gave me too. Bank on that."

Tsuji Anthony Ricardsen is the 15-year-old son of Noel Ricardsen and Rowena Ricardsen’s twin brother. Originally, he hails from Cambridge, Massachusetts where he and the rest of his family stayed for the majority of his life. He learned how to shoot a bow and arrow at around the age of 5.

One day when his family visited their uncle Edward in Chicago, Noel stopped and picked up two strangers in the rain. One of them was Marcellus, who would become his partner at the DWMA. For two years, Tsuji and Rowena trained under their father to prepare for their enrollment in Death Weapon Meister Academy. He is introduced as a 15-year-old freshman and is a Bow Meister.

10-Minute Retirement: Happens in the early stages of the Chicago Gang Arc. He is shaken to the core and would rather go on break than risk messing up again. Lord Death then personally requests him and Marcellus for a mission, and he pushes his feeling aside to get the job done.
Achilles in His Tent: After a pretty brutal Hope Spot at the end of the Cobra Island Arc, other than a scene where he trains, he spends time moping around. Although it is said some characters take him around to get his mind off, Tsuji winds up doing very little productively.
Almighty Janitor: Alongside sister and their partners, Tsuji is the least experienced of the bunch. But that doesn't detract from the impressiveness of his later stunts. He becomes the first unambiguously human character in the story to defeat a Witch, and this was accomplished during a three-on-one confrontation with distractions like Left, Portis, and voodoo spirits all around trying to kill him.
Master Archer: Tsuji is a Bow Meister, meaning he specializes in archery. Well, this may be long-range weaponry in general seeing as he can use a javelin quite well too.
Arrows on Fire: Alucard's Blaze. Tsuji fires a single arrow cloaked with intense flames.
Attack! Attack! Attack!: Against one of the Knights of Dishonor, an Evil Human in Act 1 Chapter 39. He abandons his usual fighting style and all semblance of tactic in favor of brutal offense, due to him forgetting the Enchanted Eyes are testing him and his mental state.
Awesomeness-Induced Amnesia: One minute, Tsuji is motionless and broken. The next, Eruka taunts him, and he nearly suffocates her to death out of blind rage. Marcellus senses feeling an “evil-feeling wavelength” in the middle of the tirade. Mizune attacks Tsuji and knocks him out of it; he mentions blacking out before it happened and can’t recall it. The “awesomeness” is if you consider the attack justifiable comeuppance for Eruka saying too much and being guilty by association.
Ax-Crazy: Brief example. He gleefully stomps an Evil Human to bloody paste without any regard for his safety, as seen in the above entry, while laughing and smiling. In general, it appears his behavior is more psychotic when he uses the Enchanted Eyes.
Badass Longcoat: Wears a beige trenchcoat all throughout his fight against Walena.
Bad Powers, Good People: You wouldn't expect something as dark and sketchy as the Enchanted Eyes to belong to someone as kind and understanding as Tsuji. In fact, in spite of everything that happened to him, Tsuji declares he will use this "power born from despair" for the greater good.
Beneath the Mask: He is introduced as confident, cocky, and self-assured. Medusa eventually exposes a deep-seated fear from an attack when he was a child that he traumatically repressed and is now unable to escape it. The Enchanted Eyes curse then exploits this fear, almost killing him in the process.
Berserk Button:
- Don't insult his aim.
- Matter of fact, don’t speak ill of archery in general. It is something he feels very passionate about.
- He considers Marcellus family. For the love of all that is good, leave Marcellus alone if you know what’s good for you.
Blessed with Suck/Cursed with Awesome: Starts off as the former at first. He can do many amazing and useful things with the Enchanted Eyes, from empowering his bow and arrows to making he himself a deadlier combatant. Unfortunately, the sheer amount of turmoil the Enchanted Eyes curse subjects him to is decidedly unpleasant. And that's before he can use the Eyes with impunity. Becomes the latter once things are resolved. Not he particularly cares.
Boom, Headshot!: Loves this trope.
Brought Down to Normal: In the Cobra Island, a curse leaves him without the ability to aim. In other words, he’s useless as an archer and as a fighter.
- Brought Down to Badass: Still, he resorts to improvising with Marcellus’s Javelin Form and continues to try and get something done.
The Champion: Becomes one for Voice. Tsuji is likely the only person to sit down have a conversation with it and learns Voice's past and innermost feelings. Out of sympathy, Tsuji wants to continue Voice's mission in the real world, realizing word of mouth amounts to very little in fighting the Enchanted Eyes Curse.
Character Development: The fundamental guy never changes, but Tsuji does do some growing up. He learns to face his fears and, in the process, comes to the conclusion the easy path might not always be the best one. He fights harder than ever as he’s more appreciative of life and making the most of it while having fun. In addition to that, Tsuji becomes even more heroic of a character.
Charles Atlas Superpower: Tsuji has been shooting a bow and arrow since he was a young child and steadily grows in competency with it until he reaches insane proficiency. His (lower body) strength, speed, and toughness are the results of training for two years before the events of the story. His only superpower, the Enchanted Eyes, really boils down to just enhanced perception and works off the stuff he already has.
Chekhov's Cough: A sign that he is failing his “test” and something is happening to his health.
The Coats Are Off/Flung Clothing: Removes his blazer in Act 1 Chapter 24, ready to oblige Krysa with her “game.”
Combat Parkour: Good luck seeing Tsuji stay in one place during a fight. Except when he’s busy sniping people faraway.
Covert Pervert: He was totally checking Jacqueline out in the Amazon.
He inspected the girl sitting in front of him. With her straight, dark brown hair and seemingly athletic body, Tsuji thought she was rather cute. Curious, he leaned over to the side to examine her from another angle. “Oh yeah. She passes.”
Crazy Enough to Work: Running through an active minefield generally gets you blown up on the spot. Not if you’re Tsuji Ricardsen. His hasty gambit to get everyone through it is agreed to be totally absurd; Caius even calls him insane after seeing it work firsthand.
Character Development: All the skill and preparation in the world doesn't compare to actual experience with dangerous situations in the real world. That pretty much describes the error Tsuji made in both the Cobra Island and Chicago Gang arcs. He gets better.
Deadpan Snarker: He loves to toss out some good quips.
Death Glare: Gives a potent one accentuated by the Enchanted Eyes to the voodoo spirits trying to ambush him in Act 1 Chapter 45. Not only do they back off, they back off for the rest of the fight. This utterly perplexes Walena because it's a human making supernatural spirits cow.
Deer in the Headlights: Clarke and other gunmen of the Chicago Gang prepare to shoot Tsuji dead firing squad style after he discovers Anria resting beneath gang territory. He is frozen with so much shock and fear he cannot move at all.
Despair Event Horizon:
- The constant string of failures he experiences in the Cobra Island Arc shakes his confidence to the core, reaching a head in Act 1 Chapter 33 when he fails to retrieve to the crystal ball holding the cursed concepts. He is left unresponsive, sobbing in despair, and utterly disappointed in himself. Though he refuses to submit to the Mizunes, Tsuji remarks pride is all they have left.
- The ending of Act 1 Chapter 37 has him amidst a Deer in the Headlights moment, thinking he is going to die right then and there. He accepts the gruesome reality. As the chapter title indicates, crossing this is enough for him to unlock the Enchanted Eyes.
Dodge the Bullet/Bullet Catch: No Big Damn Heroes moment is necessary for Tsuji to avoid death by Chicago Gang firing squad. Once the Enchanted Eyes awaken, he saves himself by dodging most of the bullets. The ones he didn’t, he caught them with his teeth.
Does Not Like Guns: Clarke mocks and derides Tsuji’s use of bows and arrows, boasting that guns are inherently superior. Having his Berserk Button smashed, Tsuji reveals his dislike of firearms.
Double Entendre: His reply to Jackie's question about going on a date still injured:
Tsuji: Girl, you'd be surprised what a guy can do with one hand.
Drunk with Power: Tsuji’s attitude starts to degenerate the stronger he gets with the Enchanted Eyes. While he certainly becomes more powerful, he’s far less careful and considerate of others. It doesn’t last long but this is precisely what the Enchanted Eyes curse wants to happen.
Face Your Fears: His whole Character Arc in a nutshell. His coping mechanism for his Dark and Troubled Past is him locking away the memories and the fear associated with them in the back of his mind and never looking back. He subconsciously runs away rather than faces them head on. This is the root of some very serious problems all throughout his arc, with Medusa and the curse of the Enchanted Eyes being the prime benefactors. He eventually confronts his inner demons and masters the Enchanted Eyes as a result.
Failure Hero: Sees himself as one after the Cobra Island Arc. For all of his effort, he couldn't shoot down the cages in the first game, was totally trounced by his shadow and Mizune, and lost the crystal ball when he had it in his hands. While much of that was beyond his control, try telling him that.
Fanboy: According to his profile, of Spongebob Squarepants and Sonic the Hedgehog.
Flight, Strength, Heart: The Enchanted Eyes provide enhanced senses, a stronger body, limited hellfire manipulation, a stronger weapon in Ichaival, and... stronger, sharper teeth? Then you see him catch bullets and swords with them.
Flipping the Bird: His response to Walena thinking aloud she should make him a puppet for her False Utopia.
Foreshadowing: When Tsuji finally moves after Eruka taunts his failure to get the crystal ball, he is described as having orange glints in his eyes and Marcellus senses an “evil-feeling wavelength.” Way back in the field exam, similar descriptions are used for Noel when he unleashes his Enchanted Eye on Kid and Black☆Star. This foreshadows Tsuji having and unlocking the Enchanted Eyes himself later on.
Freak Out: When he finds out he has lost his aim in Act 1 Chapter 27, Tsuji becomes overcome with grief and despair, to the point he says out-of-character stuff. Really, all that was missing was him screaming and writhing in emotional agony. Kid barely manages to reel him back into a relatively sane state of mind.
Friendly Sniper: Tsuji can also play the role of a sniper, staying behind his allies or stationing a post in higher grounds to help support or outright one-shot enemies.
The Gadfly: Friend or foe, he loves to get a rise out of them to get some laughs.
Genius Bruiser: Surprisingly. See Hidden Depths below.
Genki Guy: He is hotblooded, a little hyperactive, enthusiastic, and optimistic.
Grin of Audacity: Even when he's serious in a fight, he can't help but let his opposition know he's not scared of them.
Groin Attack: Averted in Act 1 Chapter 14. Tsuji had the wherewithal to use his hands to protect his nads from a tree branch he landed on.
Heart Is an Awesome Power: The Enchanted Eyes give him sharpened, stronger teeth as a side-effect. This more or less justifies him catching bullets with his teeth.
Hellfire: A side-effect of the Enchanted Eyes has some of Tsuji's attacks punctuated with black and red hellfire.
Heroic BSoD:
- He catches a minor case in Act 1 Chapter 24 when he fails to shoot down the cages. He believes he failed his friends when they needed him the most, and it eats at him. But he doesn’t know it’s really Medusa’s doing. It’s only a brief case because he’s cured the next chapter.
- He gets hit with a much harder case in Act 1 Chapter 27 when he finds out that a curse has robbed him of his aim, a marksman’s greatest asset. It’s so bad his personality almost does a complete 180 like Maka’s and Black☆Star’s when they get cursed.
- Has another bout in Act 1 Chapter 33 because he loses the crystal ball.
Heroic RRoD: Tsuji is athletic and energetic through and through. So when he starts developing bizarre health complications all of sudden starting in Act 1 Chapter 40, you know something is up. Black☆Star is the first to call this to attention after Tsuji is left completely exhausted from just warmups and a simple sprint. The Enchanted Eyes is killing him slowly via blood loss, that’s why.
Heroic Willpower: Seriously. His will to live is what pretty much gets him through all the shit he’s subjected to, other than being a Determinator Made of Iron.
He's Back!: Several times following his Heroic BSODs.
- Comforting words from Jacqueline and some emotional support from a few friends like Kim and Caius bring Tsuji out of his funk following Act 1 Chapter 24.
- Unlocking the Enchanted Eyes and relishing in the newfound powers they provide returns Tsuji to his normally outgoing self after a string of failures in the Cobra Island Arc’s climax.
- The most triumphant one is Act 1 Chapter 45. He conquers his inner fears, masters the Enchanted Eyes, and reaches the end of his Character Development along with a different, more refreshing outlook on life. He proceeds to engage Walena in a battle where he puts his whole heart and soul in it, feeling better than ever.
Hidden Depths: He may know more about literature than he lets on. He reads poems and once perfectly recites a line from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Horrifying the Horror: A single Death Glare and exertion of his demonic wavelength intimidates Walesa's Laos to the point they no longer participate in the battle after that point. Walena flies into a rage because she can't comprehend why they'd be afraid of a mere human.
Hot-Blooded: He’s pretty spirited on and off the battlefield.
I Am a Monster: Subverted. When Voice regrettably confirms the rumor users of the Enchanted Eyes lose part of their humanity, Tsuji falls silent. Marcellus comforts him by saying he's still him, but Tsuji rather tactlessly shouts he is aware of that before moving on like nothing happened.
Implausible Boarding Skills: In their pursuit of Eruka and the Mizunes, Tsuji and Caius are falling down the outside of Cobra Island’s snake monolith. To slow their descent, Tsuji breaks off a large piece of rock and surfs down the rocky exterior with Caius clinging to his back. Their landing involves Tsuji expertly maneuvering through the trees and grinding on branches like rails. He repeats these boarding skills with a different rock by surfing down a river in hopes of capturing the crystal ball needed to turn things around for the heroes.
Improbable Aiming Skills: According to Act 1 Chapter 24 in the Cobra Island Arc, shooting down two suspended cages at the same time in different positions at a fair amount of distance is considered an easy shot for Tsuji. That’s just only one example.
Improbable Use of a Weapon: He’s used his bow to block melee weapons and Javelin Form as a close-range polearm.
Improvised Weapon:
- In Act 1 Chapter 14, Tsuji had no choice but to use Jac quel ine for a time. He wasn’t very good with her.
- While he doesn’t use it often, Tsuji decides to use Marcellus’s Javelin Form like a polearm so he could stay useful without his aim. Becomes a Chekhov's Skill when he later makes it a regular habit.
Javelin Thrower: When using Marcellus’s Javelin Form and performing Meteor Javelin.
Jerkass Realization: He starts to get Drunk with Power as he tests out the Enchanted Eyes and becomes a big enough jerkass that he habitually soloes fodder without regard to his friends’ feeling, wellbeing, or their strategy. This reaches a head in a particularly violent encounter with a Knight of Dishonor. Once Marcellus talks some sense into him, Tsuji realizes what he’s done and apologizes to him and later the others.
Kick Chick: Gender Inverted. Tsuji prefers to attack using his lower body when in a close-quarters combat situation and is well-versed in kickboxing.
Kill Steal: Develops a nasty habit of this in Act 1 Chapter 39, going on whatever mission he can just so he can test out his new powers, everyone else be damned.
Large Ham: At his most bombastic.
Le Parkour: He does this in Act 1 Chapter 20 as a means of getting up the cliff.
Long-Range Fighter: Tsuji is a mid- to long-range fighter first and foremost, and he also works best covering someone’s back as an assist.
Mage Marksman: Humans can't learn magic in this setting; however, the Enchanted Eyes are explicitly referred to as a "supernatural skill". Since his bow uses his soul wavelength to generate arrows, this means arrows with the Eyes on become stronger. Also, Tsuji gains powers such as Super-Senses and Playing With Hellfire. So he's close enough to count.
Magical Eyes: In Act 1 Chapter 37, he unlocks the Enchanted Eyes and everything that comes with it.
Manly Tears: Sheds these brokenly after losing the crystal ball. When you have a chance to beat the odds with the deck completely stacked against you but fail anyway because of a fluke, you have every right to cry.
Meaningful Echo: Says Audrey’s line “Be safe, be smart, be ready” to Marcellus as a reaffirmation of each other’s Character Development.
Momma's Boy: Said to be one in his profile. With how he sings praise about Rosalind and fondly reminisces her, it's easy to see. Even he cried a lot after she unexpectedly passed away.
Mood-Swinger: He himself lampshades the rollercoaster of moods he undergoes during the course of his Character Arc. This best puts it:
He went from his usual self to a depressed boy with low self-esteem to his usual self again to a self-absorbed jerk drunk on power and finally back to his usual self. In his eyes, enough was enough – it was time to stay normal again.
Multi-Ranged Master: Tsuji is skilled with every one of Marcellus's Mode Change Forms.
Multishot: Yet another thing he can do as a marksman.
No "Arc" in "Archery": Justified. The Demon Bow's arrows are spiritual in nature and therefore do not follow physical rules.
Nothing Personal: Played with. He's never met Walena prior to his fight with her and thus doesn't hold a personal grudge against her. However, because Marcellus clearly dislikes her, Tsuji sides with him.
Tsuji: And since Marcellus can't hit the broadside of a barn, the honor goes to me. Nothing personal, ya know. (pauses to smirk and lick his lips) Well, okay, maybe a little.
Post-Victory Collapse: Collapses to the ground, completely spent, right after landing the finishing blow on Walena to end her Evil Plan.
The Promise: See his top quote. It’s a vow to use his newfound power and knowledge of the Enchanted Eyes to assist future users and combat the curse associated with them, thus becoming Voice’s champion in the process.
Our Vampires Are Different: Implied. The narrative loves to remind us Tsuji has vampiric teeth under the influence of the Enchanted Eyes, and his attack Theme Naming with them are names of vampires. Ancillary material explicitly confirms his Enchanted Eyes theme/motif is vampirism.
Out-of-Character Moment: Tsuji’s Freak Out during the Cobra Island arc is rather suspicious given how confident and Hot-Blooded he usually is.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: While it could be taken as another sign things are getting worse, Tsuji’s shadow later alludes to something that Tsuji desperately wants to hide, indicating a front. Turns out it is right.
- Out-of-Character Alert: Almost everyone close to him realizes he and Marcellus are in trouble emotionally.
Outside-Context Problem: To Walena. As far as she is concerned, there is nobody in the city of Chicago who could possibly put a stop to her plans. The only person aware of her treachery is Marcellus, who is a Non-Action Guy, and she doesn't know Noel, Stein, Spirit, and Tsuji are even on their way to Chicago at his behest. So when Tsuji arrives with Marcellus to come thwart her, her Evil Plan has just barely begun and is summarily derailed after he trounces her in combat.
Past Experience Nightmare: Discussed. He says the traumatic experience on Cobra Island gave him nightmares for a time.
Rain of Arrows: Ultima Arrow.
Repressed Memories: He'd prefer to pretend the Cambridge attack five years back never happened. When he started developing his combat skills and learned of his talents, Tsuji grew very confident and subconsciously pushed his fears to the back of his mind. This mental block was compromised when the fear of death was reintroduced to him thanks to Medusa.
Roundhouse Kick: Orlok's Wrath is a very powerful, stylized roundhouse that Tsuji uses a flaming leg for.
Sarcastic Clapping: When Medusa first speaks to everybody through Krysa, Tsuji responds with a healthy dose of snark and a sarcastic applause to go with it. He doesn't stop until the Wham Line is dropped.
She-Fu: Rare male example. Tsuji is very acrobatic, using series of polished but athletic movements to get him around or line him up for a proper shot. Then, there is his preference for kicking and lower-body strikes.
Shell-Shocked Veteran: Even with prior two-year training before enrollment, on just his second mission Tsuji tangoes with death and crushing defeat on Cobra Island and suffers a series of Heroic BSODs that makes him more somber in demeanor. He says he goes through nightmares in the middle of night and cannot move on. Not to mention, there is apparently something from his past coming back to haunt him. He envisions the face of the Kishin Egg that nearly killed him five years back.
Ship Tease: With Jacqueline.
Shout-Out Theme Naming:
- “Meteor Javelin” has the same name as Noel Kreiss’s Full ATB Skill. Its description is quite similar to how Noel performs it in-game too.
- Ditto with Serah’s “Ultima Arrow” from the same game.
Slasher Smile/Psychotic Smirk: He openly embraces the Enchanted Eyes' influence on his latent mania, resulting in some gnarly smiles and grins when particularly excited or even exhilarated.
Stepford Smiler: A brief example after the Cobra Island Arc. He tries to hide reawakened pain and anguish through smiles and chuckles, but it is clear to the audience and other characters something is terribly amiss.
The Straight and Arrow Path: In a setting where we have scythes, twin pistols, ninja weapons, mirrors, lamps, and everything in-between, Tsuji settles on a Demon Bow and does a damn good job at making the style look relevant. Don’t you dare mock good ole archery, either, or he’ll make you regret it.
Super-Senses: The Enchanted Eyes grant sharpened human instincts and give their owner clarity of perception, allowing him or her to sense and react to situations far better than the average person. However, if you can’t physically react to the stimuli, it does nothing for you. Tsuji in particular has a hard time adjusting to his new power. He almost gets shot in the head and his eyed poked out because he’s too busy focusing on the actions being slower than usual than actually dodging.
Super-Reflexes: Act 1 Chapter 12 firmly establishes Tsuji as having this, too. Exhibit A: One of the Twin Gentlemen has a powerful musket aimed at the back of Jacqueline’s head right behind her while Tsuji himself is sitting across from her. He saves her. Exhibit B: The Twin Gentlemen attack him with extremely quick sword strikes that probably would’ve diced up a regular person on the spot. He dodges them.
Super-Speed: In Act 1 Chapter 5, Tsuji runs the 100m dash in 6.11 seconds. Considering canon, this means only Black☆Star and Kilik are faster. In battle, Tsuji moves around a lot and shows amazing speed and quickness. So this trope is a staple of his abilities.
A Taste of Defeat: Audrey makes it clear Tsuji is still a rookie in their practice fight. She and Shannon are far more experienced, including with the Enchanted Eyes. He strays from his original intent of the spar (observe a different set of Enchanted Eyes to write about) because his competitiveness and desire to beat her get the better of him. Sid ends the fight prematurely, but it appears Audrey was in control for most of the fight.
Trauma Conga Line: The time period from midway through the Cobra Island arc to near the end of the Chicago Gang arc is not a merciful one to Tsuji. He fails to win the first of Medusa's games despite being the most apt to, his hard-earned aim is cursed away, he suffers a massive Freak Out that dredges a traumatic experience from his past, he nearly gets beaten to death by his shadow in the fourth game, and he loses Medusa's crystal ball to a fluke incident when everyone was depending on him. Then, despite shaken to the core, he is sent on a recon mission to Chicago and gets shot twice, unlocks a Deadly Upgrade that slowly threatens his life, and the malevolent force behind said power-up makes him vomit blood in the middle of class For the Evulz as a final attack on his life.
Thinking Tic: When in thought, he tends to fold his right arm over his chest while propping his left elbow up on it and placing a hand on his chin.
This Is Unforgivable!: Tsuji makes it crystal clear Medusa and her consorts will never have his forgiveness.
Thousand-Yard Stare: Once the crystal ball is out of his grasp, he catatonically stares over the edge of Cobra Island’s waterfall before and after Eruka and the Mizunes arrive. It’s a sure sign he crossed the Despair Event Horizon.
Took a Level in Badass: Unlocking the Enchanted Eyes in the first place increases his overall power as a fighter. Mastering them gives him access to some nifty tools that makes him stronger as a Meister and an individual combatant.
Traumatic Superpower Awakening: The prospect of death by firing squad with no escape, and the subsequent acceptance of it, allows the Enchanted Eyes to latently activate for Tsuji. Before, it is explained the Eyes first awaken when the owner is in a state of extreme duress.
Unstoppable Rage: Eruka unwisely pushes his buttons amid his state of catatonia. He responds by blitzing through Mizune and Tadpole Jackson, tackling Eruka into the water, and simultaneously choking and drowning her. He is so pissed that he blacked-out before so.
Walking Armory: He can work with a regular bow, a longbow, a javelin, a "crossbow" that actually shoots a bladed boomerang, and even stronger bow in Ishaival.
Warrior Poet: Recites a stanza as part of his introductory banter to Walena. Then proceeds to kick her ass.
What Would X Do?: He, Caius, Marcellus, and Claudia reach the roadblock that is Eruka’s Tadpole Bomb Minefield. Tsuji looks to the sky and asks his dead mother, Rosalind, what she would do in this situation. It appears she gives him an answer: RUN THROUGH THE WHOLE THING AT MAX SPEED!
Your Approval Fills Me with Shame: Harvar compliments Tsuji on a job well done when everyone reclaims their lost powers and traits, but his self-loathing worsens because he actually failed.

Rowena C. Ricardsen

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/com_rowena_nicetsukichi.jpg

Rowena Correlia Ricardsen is the 15-year-old daughter of Noel Ricardsen and Tsuji Ricardsen’s twin sister. She comes from Cambridge, Massachusetts where she and the rest of her family stayed for the majority of her life.

One day when her family visited their uncle Edward in Chicago, Noel stopped and picked up two strangers in the rain. One of them was Nayumi, who would become her partner at the DWMA. For two years, Rowena and Tsuji trained under their father to prepare for their enrollment in Death Weapon Meister Academy. She is introduced as a 15-year-old freshman and is a Sledgehammer Meister.

Affirmative Action Girl: Adds to the list of female meisters among the main group, joining Maka and Kim.
Alliterative Name: Rowena Ricardsen.
Amazonian Beauty: Caius takes note of her muscles and abs and muses she looks better than the “feminist caricatures” he read in certain stories.
Badass Adorable: She has her moments, including her victory celebration after stopping a runaway train and embracing Nayumi’s weapon form when she can wield it again.
Badass Boast:
“Rowena Ricardsen is in the house, here to kick ass and takes names. Whoever wants to die stay up cuz we’re about to bring you evildoers to justice in the name of Lord Death.”
Bare-Fisted Monk: When fighting weaponless.
Berserk Button:
- Don't hurt her friends or family.
- Her shadow smashes one as well: calling her weak and a burden.
The Big Guy: Well, “Girl,” but you know. She shares this role with Black☆Star. Rowena is an individual who can toss around an oversized, heavy sledgehammer with either one or both hands. It just goes up from there.
Boisterous Bruiser: Rare female example. She's loud, cheerful, excitable and hits like a bullet train.
Book Dumb/Dumb Muscle: Outstanding physical abilities (speed and reflexes could be better though), but Rowena has no appreciation for studying for long amounts of time.
Brought Down to Normal: In the Cobra Island Arc, the Ouroboros curses takes away Rowena’s strength. She’s unable to lift up Nayumi and, when she tries moving a boulder, one that she was previously shown moving, she runs into it like a brick wall.
Charles Atlas Superpower: We don’t know how Rowena got so strong, if it’s really inherited from her dad, if she trained really hard before she came to Shibusen, if she has a secret enhancement, or if there’s something else entirely. We just know she’s really freaking strong.
Close-Range Combatant: Her options are limited even with Nayumi's Mode Change and weapon form size. She fares better than her dad though.
Death Glare: Once she regains her strength and hits Free with a powerful swing (that he shakes off), Rowena gives him a dark, chilling glare because she wants a piece of him. So dark that Free cautions her to be "careful flashing looks like that" because "some people might get the wrong idea".
Expy: Orange-haired Tomboy and Shorttank? Sounds like Misty.
Fastball Special: In the battle against Gladiolus, Rowena launches Tsuji and Black☆Star higher up the monster with a swing of her sledgehammer.
Fiery Redhead: Nothing less from an orange-haired Tomboy and Action Girl.
Freak Out: Downplayed. When a curse strips Rowena of her trademark strength, Nayumi expected her to freak out like Tsuji did. She didn’t, but she’s definitely as heartbroken as he was.
The Gadfly: Just like her brother, she tends to make quips and jests to enjoy people's reactions. Caius seems to be a favorite target of hers.
Gamer Girl: By the way, she's a fangirl of the Mario series.
Ground Punch: She did this during the field exam, breaking up the earth to get Sid out of hiding underground.
Happy Dance: She dances and celebrates like a dork once she and Kilik finally stop the monster train in Act 1 Chapter 12.
Heroic Build: One point when her blazer is removed, Rowena is described as fairly toned and muscular while, as her picture above shows, still being slim enough.
Hidden Depths:
- She is a tea aficionado. She grows her own tea leaves and brews her own tea.
- Though she acts very similar to her brother, Act 1 Chapter 42 shows that she's quite capable of being deep and is a little more attentive than you would think. After hearing Noel tell Nayumi to form bonds with everybody who reaches out to her, she is quick to point out to herself Noel is being a hypocrite:
Rowena: (thinking) Practice what you preach, Old Man.
Human Shield: She gladly becomes one for Kid when he fights Free in the climax of the Cobra Island arc. Unfortunately, Rowena is left injured enough to the point can’t provide viable assistance once everyone gets their powers back, despite her protests.
The Lad-ette: Rowena is a tomboy who swears, is more than ready to play hardball, is one of the toughest people in the setting, is rather assertive, and has a rough fighting style you’d expect strong manly men to have. But that’s about it. She’s has a few moments and traits that pull her away from the edge of this trope. And we’re pretty sure she hasn’t drunk alcohol or has had sex.
Mighty Glacier: Rowena is slower than many other characters, even Demon Weapons that don't fight. That said, Noel and super-strong monsters are the only ones capable of matching or exceeding her physical strength.
Multi-Melee Master: Able to use all of Nayumi’s Mode Change Forms quite good even though the difference between them isn’t much.
Muscles Are Meaningful: She regularly lifts weight to maintain her Super-Strength. Her musculature is hidden beneath her clothes. Fittingly, she's one of the physically strongest members of the team.
Muscles Are Meaningless: ...On the other hand, despite being able to withstand enormous punishment and knock massive things across fields, Rowena doesn't sport a build that makes her a walking fortress of budging muscles to do that kind of stuff.
Never Be Hurt Again: Her primary motivation as to why she became a Meister. Her response to the Kishin Egg attack in Cambridge five years back is to resolve to be strong and powerful enough to ward away anything else that dares to attack her. Sets up a contrast to her brother.
No Stat Atrophy: Averted. She must maintain a consistent workout regime or else her superhuman strength will deteriorate.
One-Handed Zweihänder: Whenever she swings Nayumi with a single hand.
Pride: Has quite a bit of pride in her family, the Academy itself, and her Super-Strength. Attacking her pride is one way to rile her up.
Required Secondary Powers: She is every bit as tough as she is strong. Par for the course for a possessor of immense physical strength or else she’d be breaking her back and arms every time she punched something or swung Nayumi. Becomes something of a plot point in the Cobra Island Arc; her Super-Strength is taken away, but Rowena realizes she still can take beatings, which allows her to live against her shadow and function as a Human Shield for Kid when he fights Free.
She Cleans Up Nicely: At the annual Eve of Anniversary Dance in the Act 1 epilogue, Rowena has let her hair out of her bun to let it fall around her shoulders in thick curls, and wears an orange and white Jacquard sheath dress with stockings and flats. Maka comments on how nice she looks in the dress and with her hair down, even though she says something similar to her.
Shorttank: She’s got the personality, the short shorts, and the midriff-bearing halterneck.
Super-Strength: Good God, this girl is strong. Her physical strength is what makes her stand out as a fighter. During the weightlifting portion of her fitness exam, Rowena presses a ridiculously high amount of weight.
Tomboy: Boyish Short Hair with loosely-curled sidetails, The Lad-ette, Shorttank, Gamer Girl, one of the two big guys… definitely a tomboy.
Tomboy and Girly Girl: Tomboy to Nayumi’s Girly Girl. Though, Nayumi’s definitely not as girly as this trope would imply.
V-Sign: After the aforesaid Happy Dance, she gives a “V for victory” finger sign when she announces they can skip school.

Marcellus and Nayumi Ardsen

Tropes related to the both of them:

Bonding over Missing Parents: Nayumi and Marcellus essentially go from complete strangers to comrades-in-arms when a subject about their parents come up, and they confide in each other their feelings about it. The two have had an inseparable bond since.
Foil: To each other. Both of them hated their parents, despised their professions, and were forced to grow up at young and tender ages. Nayumi was a thief and had taken people’s valuables and possessions; Marcellus a future crime boss that might end up taking someone's life. Both of them had to do whatever to survive regardless of circumstances. Whereas Nayumi seems to be fine and dandy after escaping, Marcellus seems to still be dwelling and worrying about the past.
Happily Adopted: Noel adopts them into the Ricardsen family at the end of the Chicago Gang Arc.
Huge Guy, Tiny Girl: Marcellus is 6'3" whereas Nayumi is 5'3".
I Just Want to Be Normal: They want normal lives, plain and simple, and they got them. Well, normal by DWMA standards.
Lonely Together: Despite being total strangers at the time they meet, in the short they converse with one another, Nayumi and Marcellus realize how much alike they are, bonding through their negativity and terrible situations in life. Marcellus lampshades this.
Parental Neglect: Their Dark and Troubled Past.
- Portis and Morgan cared more about getting Marcellus ready to succeed as the Chicago Gang’s don than his own personal interests.
- Nayumi’s parents were more concerned about their heists and making sure she could help them out rather than her actual wellbeing.
The Runaway: They both live in Death City with Ricardsens now.
- Convinced by Nayumi, Marcellus abandons the Chicago Gang and his parents, Portis and Morgan. Of course, this does not come without its own set of problems.
- By the time she meets Marcellus, Nayumi has already crossed the Canada-America border, escaping her criminal parents and possibly police.
Swiss-Army Weapon: Both of them are capable of an ability called Mode Change, meaning they can convert the appearance of their weapons form into a related state, known as a "Form." It’s not quite like Tsubaki’s unique multi-form trait because their Forms need to be at least similar in purpose and/or design. For Marcellus, all Tsuji needs to do is some manual adjustment. For Nayumi, she and Rowena need to conduct a Soul Resonance first before the manual adjustment. See their own entries for more information.

Marcellus Ardsen-Ricardsen

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/com_marcellus_min.jpg

"The fact of the matter, Walena, is you're guilty of a serious crime. And I, Marcellus of Death Weapon Meister Academy, am supposed to make sure you are convicted of it. Try and stop us if you can, but you'll see Tsuji and I won't lose that easily. So you better go ahead and pray to whatever god you believe in. Because your soul is ours, end of story."

Marcellus Ardsen was born into a powerful gang known as the Chicago Underground Association, better known as the Chicago Gang. In fact, he is the son of the current don, Portis Ardsen, who is married to Morgan Ardsen. Marcellus became increasingly disillusioned, culminating in intense dislike for the underground world. Unfortunately, he become too aware of his surroundings and was too afraid to actually do anything about his situation. However, at age 15, he meets a young girl named Nayumi and finally escapes Chicago, ultimately allowing them to meet the Ricardsens

In the Introduction Arc, Marcellus debuts as a 17-year-old Demon Bow who acts as Tsuji's partner.

Academic Athlete: One of the few things Marcellus loves doing is playing basketball. Combine that with his intelligence, and you got this.
Awesomeness by Analysis: Able to make accurate deductions by just taking a step back and watching carefully. His role as a Demon Weapon helps this role immensely.
Badass Pacifist: Marcellus does not participate in combat, and is implied to be bad at it anyway. Nonetheless, while never delivers a single blow in battle, Marcellus makes up for it through sheer guts, intelligence of two different kinds, levelheadedness, and a very strong moral compass. He's a good weapon partner and coach to Tsuji and, after his Character Development, he's pretty cutting verbally. In one notable instance, Marcellus throws himself in front of his sick mother and takes the front bumper of a car to his back.
Badass Boast: That top quote was said to Walena. And he means it.
Brilliant, but Lazy: Marcellus lives and breathes this trope. He's Wise Beyond His Years, combines both book smarts and Street Smarts, and acts as the Only Sane Man. But, he'd rather sleep, be lazy, and do other things. Or, at the very least, do the things he wants to do. Case in point, he matched Caius’s score on a test early on without studying.
Calling Parents by Their Name: Not only does her refer to Portis and Morgan by their first names, he does it to every other adult in the setting as well. Literally the only people he calls properly are Lord Death, which everyone else on his side does. He also calls Stein just by his last name, which again every other adult does. He calls them "Mom" and "Dad" after their Heroic Sacrifices, showing he's finally forgiven them.
Celibate Hero: Marcellus actively spurns and avoids any attempts at developing serious relationships beyond friendship or filial because he’d like to get his life in order. He even manages to ignore Blair of all beings.
Chaos Is Evil: One of his personal beliefs. Marcellus hates anarchy and would rather be in a controlled, more orderly environment. It is one of the reasons why he hates gangs and the lawless world they reside in.
Character Development: Marcellus starts off as standoffish, reserved, and rather apathetic. He preferred to do as little action as possible and was discouraged by wasted or fruitless effort. Once the mask is let down and we see who really is behind it, an emotionally repressed person desensitized by years of neglect and despair, he improves little by little, becoming a nicer, slightly more open person willing to put his foot down and speak what's on his mind. He's also less impassive and less hesitant to do things, especially if it's for the greater good.
Child of Two Worlds: Three in fact. From Portis, he is the successor as don of the Chicago Gang. From Morgan, he is technically also the next leader of the de Niro family. From his association with the Ricardsens, he is a member of global organization Death Weapon Meister Academy.
Cool Big Bro: Now that Noel adopted him and Nayumi as of Act 1's final chapter, this makes Marcellus the oldest of his children. Despite being an only child before, Marcellus is trying to mold himself into one for the sake of his younger siblings.
Cowardly Sidekick: To Tsuji. While he is brave and confident, Marcellus is impassive and slothful. Twice on Cobra Island does he recommend the group should turn around and leave only to be shot down both times. And when Marcellus grovels to Mizune so they can be sparred, Tsuji outright calls him a coward and derides him for taking the easy way out.
Deadpan Snarker: Probably the biggest one among the main cast.
Despair Event Horizon: In the past, Marcellus was very close to passing this. He hated being apart of the Chicago Gang but was utterly hopeless and too afraid to do anything about it.
Determined Defeatist: Well aware of the dangers in the world, but decides to keep on anyway.
Marcellus: So we have Kishin Eggs that terrorize the Earth to eat souls to become Kishins, Evil Humans whose souls become corrupted through strings of heinous crimes that must be executed for humanity's sake, various Monsters, Witches with an inclination towards destruction willing to do whatever to undermine the Academy, and things like the Enchanted Eyes curse trying to make people's lives hell. Here I thought the world was better than that. I thought I'd seen it all in just Chicago. That's a lot of things out to get us. But you know what? That's fine. Somebody's gotta help teach those things a lesson even if the dangers are very real. That's our job as Academy students, right?
Dismotivation: Sloth is his Fatal Flaw after all. He gets better eventually.
Does Not Like Spam: According to his profile, he dislikes anything sour as well as grape-flavored lollipops.
Energy Bow: Sort of. The bow itself is mechanical and solid. However, the arrows Marcellus produces are compressed wavelengths of Tsuji's soul.
Fanboy: Of Mega Man, the only video game series he really pays attention to.
Fatal Flaw: Two of them so far.
- Sloth. Marcellus prefers to sleep around and take the easy road. While he is presented as Brilliant, but Lazy, there are times when his suggestions are considered reprehensible because they are blatantly meant to, well, take the easy road, which isn’t always the best. There are also times when he won’t speak up about his true feelings if it means the conversation will end quicker.
- Impassiveness. Marcellus doesn't quite like responsibility because his parents and the Chicago Gang put so much pressure on him. Running away and meeting the Ricardsens finally ensured he's away from that. Unfortunately, this has made Marcellus a little too lax. Oftentimes, he can be a little inconsiderate, especially when he feels he put too much energy into something only to get nothing out of it. This also comes into play with his very frosty relationship with his biological parents.
Foreshadowing: In Act 1 Chapter 14, Marcellus checks up on Kim after she gets blasted (though it was unnecessary) by one of the Twin Gentlemen. As it does, the sounds of gunshots and police sirens go off in his head. Because he was part of the Chicago Gang, we’re sure he heard that a lot.
Forgiveness: A major theme concerning him. He refused to forgive or reopen his heart to Portis and Morgan, unable to forget their neglect of him in the past, despite their genuine attempts at penance. He doesn't realize that last part until the two of them sacrifice themselves. He apologizes to Portis in his final moments and requests he tell Morgan the same in the afterlife.
Full-Potential Upgrade: Tsuji unlocking the Enchanted Eyes therefore makes him more powerful. An effect of the Eyes is the user's power leaks to his or her weapon, automatically transforming it to make it more powerful as well. Marcellus goes from a regular Demon Bow to the Blood Bow: Ichaival.
Gangsterland: Originally comes from Chicago because he is in fact the next-in-line don for one of the most powerful gangs stationed there.
Get A Hold Of Yourself Man: Marcellus is appalled to see Tsuji during his Ax-Crazy moment. So much so he turns human to chew him out and get him back on the right path. It works.
Irony: He wears a red jacket. Red is the main color of his parents' rival gang. Presumably, he still wears it when he goes back.
Lampshade Hanging: Some of Marcellus's snark consists of him recognizing certain tropes and being utterly sarcastic about them.
Let's Get Out of Here: Marcellus tries to convince everyone to leave Cobra Island since they had already killed Atlas after seeing the group fail the game in Act 1 Chapter 24. Unfortunately, nobody is hearing him.
Loophole Abuse: The rules of the first game on Cobra Island boils down to “save the captains.” The cobras the gang must defeat endlessly regenerate and are a downright pain to deal with. Time is running short because magical fire threatens to consume the cages imprisoning the captains. To have a fighting chance, Marcellus comes to the conclusion the cages must be shot down simultaneously at the links where the fire originates. An ingenious plan that could have derailed the first phase of Medusa’s plan, but she uses the Ouroboros curse to rob Tsuji of his aim, a pivotal part of the Loophole Abuse.
Mafia Prince: Rare Male Example. Marcellus is the son of the Chicago Gang's don and matriarch. Although fully aware of his heritage, Marcellus has no intention of fulfilling his duty as heir. The pressure even convinced him to run away with fellow Justified Criminal Nayumi. He's even called the "Gang Prince" around the shadier parts of Chicago.
Malfunction Malady/Un-Sorcerer: According to his character profile, Marcellus has a genetic disease called Pheryoxoma. It prevents Demon Weapons from undergoing Partial Transformation. This means Marcellus can only be fully human or fully weapon.
Marry for Love: Upon hearing Marcellus's adamant decision to focus on straightening out his life before making any serious attempts at a relationship, Morgan and Portis tell him this message during his welcome back party, something the latter reinforces during his final moments.
Morality Chain: Shockingly enough, to Nayumi. When he temporarily leaves the Academy, Nayumi undergoes a complete reversion back to her old, nihilistic self from before she met Marcellus.
Non-Action Guy: Marcellus has no combat ability. He makes up for it by being the smart one between him and Tsuji and being a good Demon Weapon.
Non-Action Snarker: See the above and see Deadpan Snarker.
No Guy Wants to Be Chased: Defied.
Portis: What's wrong? Don't like being chased?
Marcellus: No. Believe it or not, that actually makes it easier.
Not Distracted by the Sexy/Ignore the Fanservice:
- Marcellus kindly feeds Blair some of his fish that Crona prepared in Act 1 Chapter 35. Apparently it is so good that she transforms into a human straddling his lap and giving him an eyeful of cleavage. He is more concerned that she is eating his food, and he is reactionless towards her advances.
- Miyuki hanging around in his bedroom creeps him out more than anything else.
Not So Stoic: Starts off rather calm and cool. The earliest time his stoicism breaks is when Kim gets shot by one of the Twin Gentlemen in Act 1 Chapter 14; he frantically gets himself and free out of harm's way. Later on, his past comes to bite him. He starts showing anger, sadness, and frustration especially when he airs out his differences to Joe and Tsuji. The apex comes after seeing Portis and Morgan sacrifices themselves to ensure his survival from Walena and Soriano respectively for his sake. He actually cries, calls Noel to tell him he needs help, and impatiently waits for Noel's arrival, hugging him when he does.
Only Sane Man: Gotta be in order to live with the Ricardsen Twins and Nayumi. In fact, he’s literally one of the most mature and rational people in the story.
Oral Fixation: His lollipops. If he finishes, expect him to put one right back in his mouth.
Otaku: One of Marcellus's few hobbies include anime and manga.
Paranoia Fuel: In-Universe: Marcellus at one point muses how his room to run and avoid the Chicago Gang is fading because he has the sinking feeling they are still searching for him even after two years. His suspicions are confirmed later on.
Properly Paranoid: Marcellus tends to get gut feelings whenever something feels off. This is most notable in the Cobra Island Arc where is the first to voice something is wrong long before the danger becomes obvious to everyone.
Rebel Relaxation: Prone to this sort of posture.
Red Is Heroic: His coat is red. He's a hero.
Sarcastic Devotee: To Tsuji.
Sensor Character: Marcellus has an ability called Wavelength Sonar. More specifically, Marcellus manipulates his own soul wavelength and emits it in the form of sonar waves. When they come into contact with other stuff, the wavelengths of those other people will bounce off his own like a sort of echo. Things like animals only very faintly appear on radar.
The Slacker: He’d rather do other things than what he’s supposed to do. Even when he does, he may half-ass it.
Sleepy Head/Heavy Sleeper: Marcellus is often seen sleeping or appearing to be tired if he’s awake (his posture is a good indication). He apparently just likes sleeping.
Stepford Snarker: Marcellus hides so much behind his impassive demeanor and dry humor.
The Stoic: He’s not an emotional person and doesn’t like expending energy, and most of his interactions are deadpan.
Stopped Caring: A direction repercussion of his background and the mentality he forms afterward. While a brilliant mind, Marcellus does the bare minimum and sometimes not even that, but occasionally still produces results. This reaches the nadir after the conclusion of the Cobra Island arc because of the terrible things that happen. He begins to shirk schoolwork, his part of the room is a sty, and he even skips class.
The Straight Man: He’s got triple duty – he is this to Tsuji, Rowena, and Nayumi.
Sugar-and-Ice Personality: He's levelheaded, keeps to himself, and not one for expression, yet he's righteous and good-natured.
Sweet Tooth: Never seen without a lollipop in his mouth. Fittingly, another trope also applies because he is both smart and rational.
Swiss-Army Weapon: Demon Bow Marcellus has Forms that include a regular bow (his Default Form), a longbow (Longbow Form), a javelin (Javelin Form), and a crossbow (Crossbow Form). Here are the Forms in detail.
- Default Form: As the name says, it’s what Marcellus transforms into first and foremost. It is the most used one, meant for fast-paced action and shooting. Tsuji’s able to use Ultima Arrow when Marcellus is in Default Form.
- Longbow Form: Marcellus’s Longbow Form and its overarching concepts reflect more traditional aspects of archery, such as taking a post and taking proper aim from far away. The arrows fired are much stronger at the cost of repeated usage (read: one at a time). This Form works best being support for an ally.
- Javelin Form: Marcellus is converted into, well, a javelin. It’s meant to be thrown for Meteor Javelin, but it seems to have spear-like properties too.
- Crossbow Form: This form doesn’t shoot arrows, but instead a boomerang-like blade that becomes a spinning buzzsaw upon discharge. Naturally, it will return to its stock whether it scores a direct hit or misses.
Tall, Dark, and Handsome: He's 6'3", African-American, and is said to be handsome.
Tall, Dark, and Snarky: For the same reasons as above plus being a total snarker.
They're Called "Personal Issues" for a Reason: Just like Caius pre-Character Development, Marcellus tends to not speak up about his true, internal feelings. Most of the time he really believes his issues will go away by simply ignoring them.
Tired of Running: A large part of his development. Marcellus thought running away from the Chicago Gang two years ago would solve everything. Yet he still gets the strange feeling he's still being searched for, but ultimately ignores it. Sure enough, his worst fears are realized when the readers learn that, yes, Portis and Morgan never stopped looking for their son. He eventually learns from Noel his parents came to the Academy on an unrelated business trip (this comes after a therapeutic conversation with Joe). This trope is the secondary reason he goes back with them — he finally has the courage and the initiative to talk to them straight about his true feelings.
Token Minority: Of the main OCs introduced, Marcellus is the only African-American. Subverted when you consider Kilik's Ascended Extra role for the story as a whole.
Trademark Favorite Food: Lollipops. Heck, he's got a bag of them in his jacket.
Tranquil Fury: He's still calm and cool even though he's angry at Walena for what she did to Portis and the rest of the Chicago Gang.
Voice of Reason: Marcellus tends to give rational insight and suggestions so that others, like the Ricardsens, won’t make hasty or stupid decisions.
What the Hell, Hero?: See Get A Hold Of Yourself Man above. In addition to that, he adds in that Tsuji is being a reckless monster on top of an overzealous showoff.
Wise Beyond His Years: He doesn’t act like your average 17-year-old.
Wise Prince: The "Gang Prince" has a good grasp on life and society.

Nayumi Ricardsen

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/com_nayumi_nicetsukichi_min.jpg

"I wanted to be normal. No, I had to help steal every day. I wanted to play games and have friends. No, I had to spend time with my parents learning how to infiltrate. I didn't want those kinds of responsibilities. No, they said it was my destiny forevermore. I hope they rot in their jail cells... I hope their spirits never rest... Why do you think I never told you my last name? I don't ever want to be associated with those bastards! I hope Satan has many punishments for them in Hell! But whatever... Nothing matters."

Former names: Nayumi Henrietta, Nayumi Ardsen

Nayumi was born in Quebec, Canada. However, her family was semi-nomadic because her parents were infamous jewel thieves who performed heist and heist. When she reached an old-enough age, Nayumi’s parents taught her the tricks of the trade and honed her own skills so that they would be of use to her. However, this led to Nayumi almost breaking, becoming increasingly nihilistic due to their lack of care for her. One day, when she was 12, the Canadian police stopped and arrested her parents near the border, but she managed to escape on a boat and get into America. She met Marcellus in Chicago and ultimately convinced him to leave after a heartfelt conversation.

Their efforts eventually paid off, resulting them in meeting the Ricardsens. She winds up becoming Rowena’s partner for the DWMA. In the Introduction Arc, now leagues more cheerful and happier than in Saeculum, Nayumi debuts as a 14-year-old Demon Sledgehammer.

Awesome, but Impractical: Despite impressive power and access to somewhat elemental Mode Changes, Nayumi’s weapon form weighs approximately 300 pounds and is about as tall as Rowena herself. This is why she considers Rowena a godsend. Even if you can match wavelengths with her, good luck picking it up. Even Rowena herself mentions having to take long breaks between sessions in the past to avoid injury and even today sometimes wraps up her wrists and back, making Nayumi’s weapon form also a case of Difficult, but Awesome.
Badass Adorable: Nayumi escapes her parents and Canadian police over the border, gets herself into an orphanage in Chicago through wit and willpower alone, proceeds to rob one of the strongest gangs in America, and then helps their next-in-line don escape. At just 12-years-old. And she does not regret any of that. For a small girl with a penchant for purple and keeping her hair in ring-tails, Nayumi’s got guts.
Beneath the Mask: Excitable, bright as light itself, and cheerful. Once Marcellus (temporarily) leaves, she reverts back to her old self, showing a persisting disconnect with life and a lack of attachment to other people.
Big "NO!": A comedic example when Patty’s paper elephant, Kyle, beats her paper monkey, Jeremy.
Broken Bird: When introduced, she appears to be an excitable, childish little girl that makes fast friends with Patty because of how similar they were. Then we learn her Dark and Troubled Past combines Friendless Background, Justified Criminal, and Parental Neglect. Then we see just how broken and damaged she is; Nayumi is nowhere near as innocent or happy as suspected — she lost of all that long ago.
Broken Tears: In a flashback chronicling her and Marcellus’s meeting ^noteEntry 1 in Soul Eater; Saeculum, she sheds these after her rant. It’s a sign that tells Marcellus there is something more to Nayumi than what she’s projecting.
Marcellus: If nothing matters… (forces Nayumi to look at him) Then why are you crying?
Classy Cat-Burglar: Her previous occupation was thievery. She didn’t like it, so she doesn’t display typical traits other than great acrobatics and, presumably, being good at it.
Cloudcuckoolander: Rest in peace, Jeremy the deceased paper monkey that fought Patty’s paper elephant.
Elemental Powers: Her Mode Changes vaguely feature an elemental theme.
- Meteor Hammer: Playing with Fire.
- Morning Star: Light 'em Up.
- Broadax: Pure Energy.
- Bardiche: An Ice Person
- Lucerne: Shock and Awe.
Elemental Shapeshifter: Her weapon form to a degree.
Family of Choice: Wholeheartedly embraces her new family, the Ricardsens, and makes it pretty clear that, even without blood bonds, they are her real family and won't go back to the Henriettas even if they showed up.
Friendless Background: Can’t be helped when you are constantly on the move with your parents.
Genki Girl: Nayumi is an adorable and easily excitable ball of sunshine who loves arts and crafts, origami, and according to her bio Pokémon and Invader Zim.
Girlish Pigtails: Ahem, hair loops.
Green-Eyed Monster: She reacts rather violently to Blair pressing herself against Marcellus while accusing her of being jealous.
Hidden Depths: Nayumi is a bubbly and excitable little girl, which is how she, Patty, and the Pot Twins become fast friends. She was forced to be a jewel thief with Jade-Colored Glasses.
Hidden Eyes: Again in Saeculum, Nayumi usually kept her head down in a manner that caused her hair to hide her eyes. The emotional qualifications for this trope is definitely there.
Hidden Heart of Gold: A coping mechanism for her upbringing as shown in Saeculum. The facade slowly starts to erode starting with her first meeting with Marcellus until she's the Nayumi we know and love in Troubled Souls.
Justified Criminal: She stole from the Chicago Gang out of necessity. Her profession was jewel thievery, but not by choice; her parents pretty much decided that for her. That did wonders to her.
Little Miss Snarker
Meaningful Name: Her surname. Because Marcellus is African-American and Nayumi is Canadian, that's an easy way to let you know they're not related by blood. And they aren't. Marcellus courteously offered his last name to Nayumi because she hates her parents and doesn't want to be associated with them.
Morality Pet: To Marcellus.
Petite Pride: According to her character biography, Nayumi is not at all insecure about her underdeveloped physique, stating it means "less work for her."
Retcon: Originally a Demon Tomahawk before it was changed to a Demon Sledgehammer.
Scarf of Asskicking: A pink one.
Sensor Character: She’s got something called Wavelength Radiation. Concentrating her wavelength so that it’s sensitive to infrared radiation, Nayumi is able to detect the heat signatures of living objects. This has advantages over Soul Perception and Marcellus’s Wavelength Sonar in that she can still detect organisms that are protecting their wavelengths.
Shed the Family Name: Unhesitatingly did this. She later sheds the Ardsen surname once Noel adopts her to eliminate her attachment to Marcellus.
Smarter Than You Look: Marcellus silently admits to himself Nayumi is this, though it's mostly practical smarts. Also, admit it, you have a hard time believing Nayumi in that entry of Saeculum, which has since made it to the story proper, is the same one that appears in Troubled Souls.
Social Services Does Not Exist: Apparently no one thought it necessary to remove Nayumi from the clutches of her parents, two well-known thieves in Canada, despite being twelve-years-old. There is a Hand Wave that Nayumi’s family was constantly on the move to avoid capture and that means social workers couldn’t get ahold of her. She seems to believe in this as well; when her parents finally get stopped by the border, Nayumi is under the impression she is going down with them and decides to run away. Ultimately winds up being a subversion because the workers on the boat she hid on take her to an orphanage in Chicago.
Straw Nihilist: Before she Took a Level in Cheerfulness. In short, she thinks nothing matters and everything is pointless. Their fates were determined at birth and there is nothing people can do is stop it. Every attempt to change fate is a pointless endeavor that leads to distress.
Swiss-Army Weapon: Nayumi’s Forms include a morning star, a broadax, and a meteor hammer. This does not include her default weapon form, the Demon Sledgehammer. They are described as follows:
- Morning Star: Light energy sprays out of Nayumi’s weapon form in the form of concentrated disc, giving the sledgehammer effectively cutting edges.
- Broadax: Nayumi’s and Rowena’s resonation results in a blade of light extending from the blunt end of the Demon Sledgehammer, combining the normal form with the properties of a medieval-style ax.
- Meteor Hammer: The light of their resonance becomes so intense that it engulfs the hammerhead of the sledgehammer in flames.
- Lucerne: The sledgehammer's head splits open and propels itself through a lightning bolt. If Rowena is on, she can use the propulsion for travel. Then the electrified weapon can be used to hit something.
- Bardiche: The sledgehammer's head is bent parallel to the shaft as ice energy flows out. Once it touches the ground, the area is flash-frozen.
Took a Level in Cheerfulness: Her personality gradually changes from a somber Straw Nihilist to a Badass Adorable Genki Girl.
Tomboy and Girly Girl: Girly Girl to Rowena’s Tomboy, but Nayumi isn’t that girly. More childish than anything.
Token Mini-Moe: Her and Claudia. Their physical descriptions fit the bill.
Troubled Fetal Position: In Saeculum, Nayumi sits in this position for most of her conversation with Marcellus.
Troubling Unchildlike Behavior: Before meeting anyone else, Nayumi is shown to be a Straw Nihilist Creepy Child… at the age of twelve. Marcellus lampshades this to himself before realizing he's the same.
Theme Naming: All of her Mode Change Forms are named after crushing or blunt weapons.

Klemens Nielsen

Originally starting off as a baker in Denmark, 17-year-old Klemens Nielsen eventually finds his way into Death Weapon Meister Academy. He is part of the Crescent Moon Class and is partnered with Madeline Knight, the Demon Claymore. His personal philosophy, or aesthetic, involves looking beyond the ordinary to truly appreciate life.

Just like with Claudia, the author does not own Klemens but rather someone named Abysmai on DeviantArt.

Gentleman Snarker
Madeline: Not completely. More like half. (Beat) Get it? Half? Half Moon?
Klemens: That joke lacked finesse.
Mundane Object Amazement: As said up top, he looks beyond the ordinary to truly appreciate life. If his philosophy encompasses describing a simple punch in artistic detail, it’s a safe bet this trope is no question.
Offscreen Moment of Awesome: Klemens singlehandedly fights off a group of Brainwashed and Crazy people, which includes the Vanderbilts, after a training session during Shaula’s attack on Death City. We never see any of the fight, so one wonders how he fared.
One-Handed Zweihänder: Since Madeline’s weapon form is a Big Freaking Claymore.
Ordinary High-School Student: Klemens acts pretty subdued compared to the other kind of people in the school, but he has admitted things are a little overwhelming on him. He even says that he’s been ‘thrown to wolves’ for quite some time, trying to adjust to it all.
Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl: The Savvy Guy to Madeline’s Energetic Girl.
Took a Level in Badass: Behind the scenes, Klemens is learning to become a better Meister and is strengthening his skills. The first level starts with achieving his and Madeline’s first Soul Resonance, Empty Sky Form.

Characters / Soul Eater: Troubled Souls Class Crescent Moon

Canon Characters

Maka Albarn

Soul Eater

Black☆Star

Tsubaki Nakatsukasa

Death the Kid

Elizabeth 'Liz' Thompson

Patricia 'Patty' Thompson

Crona Makenshi

Ragnarok

Ox Ford

Harvar D. Éclair

Kilik Rung

Pot of Fire & Pot of Thunder

Kim Diehl

Jacqueline O'Lantern Dupre

Original Characters

Tropes related to the both of them:

Caius Vladingham

Claudia Moncharmin

Tropes related to the both of them:

Tsuji A. Ricardsen

Rowena C. Ricardsen

Tropes related to the both of them:

Marcellus Ardsen-Ricardsen

Nayumi Ricardsen

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Index

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Characters / Soul Eater: Troubled Souls Class Crescent Moon

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Canon Characters

Maka Albarn

Soul Eater

Black☆Star

Tsubaki Nakatsukasa

Death the Kid

Elizabeth 'Liz' Thompson

Patricia 'Patty' Thompson

Crona Makenshi

Ragnarok

Ox Ford

Harvar D. Éclair

Kilik Rung

Pot of Fire & Pot of Thunder

Kim Diehl

Jacqueline O'Lantern Dupre

Original Characters

Tropes related to the both of them:

Caius Vladingham

Claudia Moncharmin

Tropes related to the both of them:

Tsuji A. Ricardsen

Rowena C. Ricardsen

Tropes related to the both of them:

Marcellus Ardsen-Ricardsen

Nayumi Ricardsen

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Index

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