set fire to the sky

Although Riley is rather friendly and outgoing, she tends to struggle when it comes to making friends. She is willing to go out of her way to lend a hand where it’s needed, but her tactless and occasionally sarcastic nature often lead to Riley putting her foot in her mouth and offending people. It also doesn’t help that Riley is used to her accomplishments being overlooked due to the misogynistic culture of the Air Force and she has found that the only way to get recognition for what she’s done is to boast about it. Most of her acquaintances have no idea that being humble has ended poorly for her in the past and simply see her as narcissistic. However, Riley is rather thick-skinned and doesn’t mind too much when people tell her to shut up, though she often promises to prove that what she said was true later.

Those that do put up with her long enough find that Riley is a devoted and protective friend. She still might come off as rude or insulting, but Riley is more than willing to apologize if she realizes that she actually offended a friend. Once people show that they aren’t going to dismiss her outright she tends to back off on the boasting, though she often replaces it with friendly teasing and good natured insults if she thinks the person can handle it. She also expects to be teased in return and enjoys it so long as it isn’t actually meant to be offensive.

Riley does tend to babble on about airplanes and just about everything to do with flight when she thinks she’s found a sympathetic ear. Anyone who genuinely takes an interest in what she has to say is almost automatically upgraded to friend status in her mind, regardless of how the person might perceive Riley.

Riley can come across as narcissistic and rude, which results in quite a few people disliking her right away. However, Riley is used to some people disliking her and usually doesn’t actually consider others to be her enemies even if they attempt to offend her. One of the few things that does tick her off is when people tell her she’s incapable of doing something. When this does happen, Riley will do something to show them up. It might not be right away, but eventually she will get back at them, even if it’s been long enough that the slight has been forgotten by the offending party. The same goes to anyone who actively tries to harm her or a friend; eventually she will do something to harm them in return.

Riley hasn’t had the best of luck in the romance field. She doesn’t really advertise the fact that she’s homosexual, given that her workplace isn’t exactly welcoming, but it is fairly obvious to most people who hang around her that she’s not really interested in guys. Her only real romantic experiences was a with a boyfriend she dated for a few weeks while she was figuring things out and a few disastrous crushes on friends during high school.

Fortunately, she takes some time to fall for someone, especially since when Riley likes someone she is really obvious about it. Riley might try to hide it, but she turns into an awkward blushing idiot and tends to do increasingly stupid things in an attempt to impress the girl she’s crushing on. Regardless of how transparent she is with feelings, Riley will likely not admit how she feels unless she is completely certain the other person feels the same way.