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!

Aqua smiled. "That's great," she said cheerfully. "I remember that was huge to you when you were younger." He really did embrace his dreams. Good for him, she thought, looking down at his hands. They were rough, calloused. His muscles were bigger as well. By "hero" Zack must have meant soldier. His outfit said as much.

"And how about you?" Zack asked lightly, ignoring the thoughts of grief that threatened to cloud his mind. "What were you up to?" It was something weird, considering she didn't look aged from the last time that he saw her. He supposed that was good because he was closer to her in age now (a bit over, actually).

Aqua's smile vanished at the question. She gazed at Zack, not knowing how to answer. "Um..." she tried, glancing away for a second. How did she answer that? He deserved to know, considering he did wait for her for ten years. But...would he think she was bluffing? Was he familiar with the Realm of Darkness?

Zack glanced over at Aqua, seeing her expression. "That's cool," he said casually, picking up another one of the pebbles and stroking it between his fingers. "We have time to go over that kind of stuff." The date, remember? If she didn't want to talk about it though, that was fine too. After all, he wasn't completely open with his own past. 

Aqua looked back up at Zack, nodding slightly. "Considering that, I'll keep it short for now," she told him softly. "...I was in a dark place." That summed up a lot of it really, but he would better understand when the time came. Zack was smart, and kind. He would understand.

Zack enclosed the pebble in his fist, looking over at Aqua in confusion. "A dark place..." he repeated. The way that she said it, it sounded like a real place, not a reference to her spiritual or emotional state. "Like a place that was literally dark?"

Edited March 28, 201411 yr by Peanut

Aqua smiled weakly, the expression sad. "You could say that," she agreed. There was no light there, no illumination or the element. It was just...dark. She wasn't even sure what she did there but exist. It was a depressing ten years, even though it felt like days on end. They all blended together.

Zack saw that smile, but the sadness behind it too. He turned his focus forward and flung the pebble across the pond. "Alright then," he said. "I'll just have to take you some place with a lot of light." He didn't know what they'd do yet, but he'd figure it out.

That's really not necessary, Aqua thought to say, but...the sweetness behind Zack's declaration had her fighting a blush again. He really was kind, something she recognized in the past. She had been stressed and worried, and he was so naive, just a kid. Things were different now.

The Next Day 

 

Serah sat outside Disney Castle, a large pool sprawled before her. It was amazing that this castle was big enough to cover a huge part of the world, and that it had almost everything you could want. It had this huge swimming pool and infinite wardrobes that could produce whatever clothing you wanted. That was why Serah was able to wear the pink bikini that she had on now, and why Lightning donned her own swimsuit. Lightning didn't care much about what she wore: she cared more about the pool that she was now doing her fourth lap in. "Go Lightning!" Serah cheered from the side, seeing her sister going strong. This was a good way for her legs to recover their strength, and it was probably good for Lightning's heart too.

Riku heard the holler, which triggered a lift of his eyebrow. He was dressed in his own swimwear, much like Serah and Lightning, his being navy blue swim trunks. A towel was draped over his bare shoulder as he walked over to the pool, noticing that Serah sat near the edge and watched Lightning make laps. He didn't know Lightning was a swimmer...

Serah glanced over her shoulder when she heard someone, and she wasn't surprised that it was Riku. She waved to him from where she knelt by the pool, a smile of greeting on her face. Upon discovering the  pool, Serah and Lightning invited everyone to come, but Riku was the first taker. 

Riku nodded to Serah with a faint smile, looking from her to the girl doing laps. "She better enjoy what time she has left," he warned, tossing his towel on a nearby pool chair. "Sora's bringing everyone down with him soon." The pool would be full soon enough, even if it was rather large.

"I don't know if anything could get her to stop," Serah said with a slight chuckle, though her lips turned down in a slight frown immediately afterward. "She must have missed this," she said quietly. She was going all out, even though her legs probably weren't up to full strength. Serah was glad to see her sister improving, but this was also a reminder from the past that brought up some sorrow.

"Missed it?" Riku said, standing beside Serah as his eyes trailed Lightning. She was like a fish. "What do you mean?" Lightning had the beach back home. Didn't she ever swim in that? Maybe not, considering how busy her life had been lately with taking care of Serah and dodging the paparazzi because of him.

"She used to swim--competitively," Serah explained, glad Lightning was swimming away so she couldn't hear. She wasn't sure if she'd want Serah telling Riku this part of the past; she'd say that it was the past and it didn't matter now. "She was one of the best, too. But when Mom..." She almost said "died", but she realized that wasn't accurate. Their mother was...murdered. Serah swallowed and then took in a breath, seeking a better phrasing. "When it turned into the two of us, she had to drop it all together."

Riku glanced at Serah when she rephrased, and he knew what she meant. "Oh..." he murmured, eyes then finding Lightning. He had to admit, she was good. He and Sora were good swimmers just from growing up on the Islands, but Lightning could probably pass them up since she swam competitively. But...she had to quit because of Cedric. Just the thought of the man had Riku's blood boiling.

"Lightning told me it didn't matter," Serah added. "That family was more important than swimming. And I know she meant it, but seeing her doing it again...She must have missed it." Lightning looked like she was...free. She was able to move quickly and without leaning on anyone else. There was nothing to hold her back in the water.

Riku hummed faintly to show Serah he was listening. She was right, though, especially when Lightning was healing from the Darkness that infected her legs. She could move better in the water, even if she could walk on her own now. It was easier, just like flying had been in Neverland.

Serah stayed silent for a moment, not finding it awkward. She and Riku knew each other well enough now that they could be silent and comfortable at the same time. But as Lightning neared them, she brushed away her sadness and looked down at her sister as she stopped right in front of them. "It's like you never stopped," she said truthfully. Lightning was still really good.

Riku bent down, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked at Lightning. She appeared to be carefree, refreshed. It was good to see. "Hey," he greeted lowly. "How's the water?" She acted like it was good, from what he could tell. She was comfortable in it, that was for sure.

"Come see for yourself," Lightning smirked. She moved quickly as she spoke, jumping up out of the water slightly as she reached for and grasped Riku's arm. She pushed her feet against the wall and pulled on his arm to force him in, sure that she'd be successful. After all, it was easy to lose balance with the position Riku was just in.

Riku cried out before he had to close his mouth to prevent himself from swallowing water. The water was cool against his hot skin, and he rose to the surface and shook out his short hair before sending a playful glare Lightning's way. "Clever," he said lowly. She would pay for that move.

"You asked," Lightning said with a slight shrug, though she couldn't wipe that smirk off her face as she said it. She pulled him in against his will, but whatever payback he was thinking of doing wouldn't be too bad; he was too kind to do anything that could actually hurt her or her feelings. 

Riku floated beside Lightning and looked to Serah after rolling his eyes. "What about you, Serah? Care for a swim?" he asked. Of course, he wasn't going to pull her in like Lightning did him. Serah was still kind of fragile these days. Pulling a prank like that could do damage if she was sensitive enough.

Edited April 5, 201411 yr by Forever Love