As some of you may know, Peanut and I are crazy about Roleplaying, and it's clear, since this is the second one on this site that belongs to us. And we aren't even done with the first one! Regardless, that won't stop us from starting this new roleplay, Rude Awakening!

 

Kinda dark and mysterious title, eh?

 

As stated in the title, this RP is one on one, no exceptions. Please refrain from posting in the RP. Instead, follow us on this new journey!

 

Peanut, my amazing friend, let's begin!

Serah leaned the side of her head against Riku's chest, feeling the warmth and security. But she experienced it differently than Lightning: this wasn't the embrace of a lover. This was the embrace of an older brother. And it was a dependable, protective brother who'd always look out for her. She didn't lose her family with all this chaos: her family grew in number, and in strength. She shed some tears, though they weren't just tears of sorrow. "My family," she said quietly of Lightning and Riku. 

Riku smiled faintly, in both shyness and flattery. "You two are gonna make me blush," he muttered lowly. And Riku never blushed, nor did he like to. First Lightning called him family, and now Serah? That was unexpected, to say the least. Riku never saw any of this coming.

"Rule number two of being in a family," Serah announced, smiling as she looked up at Riku. "Embarrass each other as much as possible." That was what they were accomplishing now, though that wasn't their original intention. But Riku's comment broke through some of the tension, as did being together with her family.

"Oh good," Riku said, looking from Serah to Lightning. "My parents will love to hear that one." His parents were Lightning and Serah's adoptive parents, which kind of made Riku and the girls a family anyway. To add onto the embarrassment aspect, Riku's mother already accomplished that with those videos during Christmas. 

"They already know it," Lightning assured Riku with a tiny smirk. It was natural that family embarrassed each other, and Riku's parents obviously got that since they broke out his baby pictures and showed them to the Farrons. "And Serah here knows that the rule doesn't apply to me, so don't even think about embarrassing me." She'd kick his butt if he did. 

Riku smiled crookedly and looked to Serah. "I'm working on it," he assured her with a wink. He wouldn't let Lightning get out of this so easily; he would embarrass her one way or another, but in good nature. He wouldn't do anything to hurt her, ever.

While Serah giggled, Lightning protested. "No matter how hard you work at it, that rule's not changing," Lightning said with a stern expression. Lightning wasn't allowed to be embarrassed; she absolutely despised it when it happened. Well...except for certain cases with Riku when he caught her being shy. That wasn't so bad. 

"We'll see," Riku said, eyes finding the girl on his other side. When was the last time he held Lightning this close, without her having to depend on him to walk? He couldn't remember. It was awful that bad circumstances were the only time it occurred, like this moment. Riku didn't want that to be the only reason he held Lightning.

Lightning only rolled her eyes to that comment. No matter what she said, Riku wasn't going to believe her. She stood silently for a few moments, and since the thought came to her mind, she spoke it. "I've been in for a while," she said of the pool. "Let's get out, before I shrivel up." She normally didn't care about that, but the sun was shining nicely on other parts of the area, and resting there sounded good right about now. 

Riku nodded faintly and released both girls. Lightning and Serah could get out, but he was going to relax here in the water for a while. Besides, Sora and the others were supposed to be down here soon to join them. They must have been taking their time.

As Lightning walked over to the towel that she brought down, Serah just climbed out. Riku didn't look like he was going. "Come out with us," she encouraged. "There's one more thing that has to be done..." It involved fulfilling rule two of being family, not that she was going to tell that to Riku so quickly. He wouldn't get out if he knew that. 

Riku glanced from Serah to Lightning and back again, not sure what to make of what she said. Regardless, he pulled himself out of the pool, his trunks dripping water onto the pavement as he looked at Serah. "And that would be...?" he prodded. What else had to happen?

Five minutes later, Sora led everyone else down to the pool. He expected Riku, Lightning and Serah to already be in, but instead, it was empty. He turned his head and looked to the side, blinking at the sight that he saw. Serah...finishing up one of two braided pigtails on Riku's head. He burst out laughing, witnessing Serah's pleased expression and Riku's ticked one. 

Riku had his arms crossed, eyes ablaze with fury and agitation as he glared at the concrete. At Sora's laughter, his gaze flicked to his best friend, who he snarled at lowly. You think this is funny now, he thought. I'll make sure you suffer worse. Riku would toss Serah in the pool once this was over, and Sora would receive a whooping. Kairi too, since she was laughing. 

Lightning looked past Serah and Riku, seeing quite the group. Sora was doubled over with laughter, and once Roxas was in the pool area, he pointed and laughed too. Ven found it absolutely hilarious too, as did Lightning. Riku vehemently protested this, but once Serah stuck out her lip, he feared she would cry if he didn't. He fell for Serah's most classic and deadly deception. 

Namine kept a hand to her mouth, fighting her urge to laugh. She had to be the one person on Riku's side, or he would make them all pay. She let her gaze find the concrete as she fought her urges, focusing on keeping herself quiet. No laughing, Namine... No laughing.

"And...done!" Serah said, taking her hands away from Riku's head as she did the last hair-tie. "Lightning, where's the camera?" She wanted a picture with Riku, to remember and cherish the day where he let her braid his hair. 

"Nope!" Riku said, rising to his feet instantly. "That's where I draw the line." He started away from Serah and began to undo the short braids. Serah braided his hair, however impossible it seemed with how short it was, and that was it. Riku was taking them out.

"Riku no!" Serah cried, running and jumping onto his back. He wasn't going to take out the braids that quickly! She put so much work into it too. It was hard with the length of his hair, but she did a good job with it, whether Riku wanted to appreciate it or not.

Riku wasn't expecting Serah's additional weight, even if it wasn't much. He stumbled forward, falling straight into the water. He felt his skin sting from the impact. Serah's grip loosened enough for him to escape, and so he did. As soon as he stood up in the pool, he brought his hands up to take the braids out. There were going to be no pictures taken. Not of this.

Serah fell into the water along with Riku, going under and then rising without him in her grip. By the time she resurfaced, he already took out most of the braiding. "Awww," she whined in disappointment. That didn't last for long at all. 

"Hey, Serah!" Kairi called, attracting the girl's attention. She waved her phone at her. "I got it!" It was alright. Kairi had a video of the whole thing, which was better than a picture. But the redhead would spare Riku and not share it; it would stay in her phone.

 

"Kairi!" Riku hollered, outraged and horrified. She couldn't seriously keep that footage! He would never hear the end of it!

Sora knew what was coming next: Riku would throw Kairi in the pool (phone with her) just to destroy that footage. He snatched the phone out of Kairi's grip and called to another friend. "Light, catch!" he cried, throwing her the phone. Thank goodness she had quickly reflexes; she raised her hand just in time to catch the phone. "He won't throw her in the pool so easily," he told Kairi with a smirk. Riku treated Lightning with a special kind of care, and Sora was betting that he wouldn't throw her in like he would Kairi.

Kairi began to laugh at Riku's expression, and Namine couldn't contain her laughter now. She wouldn't say anything to upset him, because he seemed distressed enough. He must have been having one heck of a day. Even as he climbed out of the pool and gripped Lightning around the waist, she could tell that he wasn't going to let this make him too angry; he was lightening everyone's spirits.

Lightning looked at Riku as he knelt down in front of her, her arms behind her back with the phone as he gripped her waist. "Don't even think about it," she warned lowly. He absolutely wasn't going to throw her into the pool. It wasn't going to get him the phone anyway; she quick toss it off to someone else if he tried anything.