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!

Lightning swallowed all that she could--a piece of buttered toast. That was all that her nausea would allow her to consume. She still wasn't alright, but it hardly mattered. She was the head of this household. The bills weren't going to pay themselves. The situation as a whole made her feel even more sick to her stomach.

Riku approached the elevator and silently rode up, his hands in his pockets as he thought about Serah. He wondered what she thought about this, if she knew at all. Lightning may have just said she was sick. If that worked, that was good. He knew Lightning didn't want Serah to worry over things, but that made Riku worry over Lightning more. He sighed, shaking his head and running a hand through his hair. "When did I become such a sap?" he asked aloud. It was so...weird.

"Eight hour shift, here I come," Lightning muttered. She had to do it; otherwise, that was eight hours of pay that she would go without. Money was too tight for her to regularly miss days like that, even if she really was feeling awful like she was today. This was the real world and she accepted everything that came with that. That was her only option. After a few seconds, she walked to the door and pulled it open.

The door chimed and opened, and Riku stepped out, turning down the hall to where he knew Lightning's apartment was. He had to escort her home last night, but he didn't get to see past the door. Of course, that was fine; he didn't need to come in. He was just glad that Lightning would be okay.

Lightning put her hand on her pocket, feeling the apartment key inside. She'd need that later. Exhaling a soft breath, she stepped out into the hallway and shut the door behind her. She only walked a few steps towards the elevators when she saw who was walking towards her. Riku.

Riku's pace slowed upon seeing Lightning leaving her apartment, and dressed in her work uniform. He lifted an eyebrow. "Going somewhere?" he asked, though it was obvious. She was going to work, but he was going to keep that from happening. She needed to rest.

Lightning kept walking towards Riku, though her pace was slowed as well. "I need to go to work," she said without flinching. Riku's tone showed he knew this and had issue with it, but it was her life. It was she and Serah who would face the consequences if Lightning didn't have enough money to buy them supper for a few nights.

Riku shook his head, stopping a few feet from Lightning. "Doc said you need to rest," he reminded her. She needed to do as he said, too; if she didn't, she would only feel worse. He knew she didn't want that, and...he didn't want it either.

Though Riku stopped, Lightning didn't. "The bills on the counter say I need money more." She kept walking, stepping over to pass Riku. He may have had a lot of money, but she didn't. That was the reality of her living situation. Surely Riku knew that, since he saw her working all the time around town.

Riku's hand grabbed onto Lightning's arm instantly, his grip gentle but firm. "Call in sick," he said, advising her. She knew that he would help pay bills, or maybe she didn't.... He had enough money from his past travels to help her, but he knew Lightning wouldn't accept. She was too stubborn for that.

Lightning was forced to stop walking when Riku grabbed her arm. Was she angry at him, or touched that he cared so much? The two feelings mixed and left her confused. "Calling in sick means the bills still don't get paid. I don't have the luxury of not working. Now, do you mind letting me go? I'm going to be late."

"I do mind," Riku answered, looking over at Lightning as he kept his grip on her arm. "Missing one day of work isn't the end of the world. If you're that worried about it, I'll help you. Just ask." He wasn't afraid to donate some of his money to her. She didn't even have to pay him back. Lightning was trying to raise her and her sister when she was only seventeen. That was rough. A little help was okay.

"I don't accept charity," Lightning said lowly. Riku may have paid for the hospital bill last night, but that didn't mean that he had to flaunt his money in front of her. She wasn't jealous, because she knew that he worked for that money. Just because he had the money didn't mean that she was going to accept a wad of cash from him every day. No way.

"It's not charity," Riku said, eyebrows furrowing. "It's just a favor." He really didn't mind, but apparently Lightning did. He understood why she would be sensitive---she had too much pride. Hopefully that would change sometime, and hopefully he was the one to do it. He didn't want her to put herself through so much hassle when she didn't need to.

"It's still a 'no'," Lightning said, shaking her head. She wasn't going to accept any money that Riku offered her. She appreciated that she had somebody so willing to help her, but money was where she drew the line. It wasn't her pride that stopped her from accepting cash; it was her father's teachings. He told her to earn everything in life, and she intended to do just that.

Riku shrugged. "'Kay, but you're still not going to work," he told her. Lightning wasn't in the shape; it was written clear as day on her face. It made the guilt that rested within him worse, but all that could be done now was to make things better. And he was trying.

Edited June 17, 201213 yr by Forever Love

"I don't have a choice, Riku," Lightning said. Frustration came across in her voice, and in her eyes. Stress like this really wasn't a good thing when she had a concussion, but what could she do? Life continued on, concussion or not.

Riku caught the aggravation in Lightning's eyes, and in her tone, but he still didn't release his grip. "You're right, you don't. Doctors orders, remember?" he said. He then bent down scooping her up and putting her over his shoulder with a grunt. "You're going back inside."

Lightning grunted as well when Riku put her over his shoulder. At first, she was shocked by the move, but then she became angry. "Riku!" she scolded harshly.What am I to you, a child? Why would you throw me over your shoulder?! She was ticked off all right. He had been cautious around her before and given her space, and he had been right to do so. Now he was acting the opposite. Pushy and forceful. And she didn't appreciate it one bit.

"I'm doing what's best for you," Riku said, holding Lightning with one arm as he approached her apartment door. "One day of rest isn't enough to recover from a concussion, and if you go to work, I won't be very happy with you." And that was never a good thing. He could handle people being mad at him, but he knew that some people couldn't handle his anger toward them. Understandable, since he knew he could be intimidating. He always had been, anyway.

"Since when do I care what you feel towards me?" Lightning spat lowly. As soon as she said the words, she wished that she could take them back. She didn't mean them at all, even if a part of her wanted to. She both hated and liked that she considered Riku a friend, and with that friendship, she did care if he was mad at her or not.

"Since you held my hand last night," Riku hinted, approaching the apartment door and stopping right in front of it. He held his free hand up and back toward her. "Key." If not, he would just use his Keyblade. As for his words, he wasn't ashamed that he said them. He noticed how Lightning held his hand so often last night, and though it was odd, since he'd never had that kind of contact with anyone, a part of him actually....enjoyed it. But they were both really...close last night. It was odd. His eyebrows furrowed a little at the realization. Stop being a sap.

Lightning began blushing furiously as soon as Riku brought up that she did indeed hold his hand last night. Longer than necessary. But she welcomed the other matter at hand. "Kind of hard to get it right now," she muttered about the key. It was in her front pocket, which she couldn't get her hand into right now.

Riku sighed, dropping his hand to his side as he backed up. He called his Keyblade to his hand and held it up towards the lock in the door. A beam of light shot out, and after he caught a faint click in the door, he sent his weapon away, grateful for its help. He kept his grip on Lightning and walked forward, grabbing the door handle and stepping inside. He wasn't surprised that the place was spotless once he was in the apartment, but he did figure that two teenage girls living together wouldn't exactly be tidy.

Lightning had been watching Riku when he dropped his hand, unsure of what he was going to do since the door was locked. But then when he summoned his Keyblade and unlocked, she realized that the rumors she heard about it were true. Keyblades really could open any lock out there. "Good to know you can break into my house anytime you want," she found herself muttering. But was she really bitter? She knew Riku wouldn't abuse his power like that.