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!

Riku took the paper from Lightning in silence, but upon seeing how wet it was, he finally paid attention to how she was. "Um, let me get you a towel or something," he said, shaking his head a little to snap himself out of his disbelief. He stepped past her and placed the piece of paper on the counter for the time being, then going down the hall to get a clean towel for Lightning to use to dry off.

Lightning continued shaking faintly, staring down at the ground. The same thoughts kept running through her head. I'm going to lose her. They're taking her. It's over...What do I have to live for other than providing for Serah? How could I have let this happen? How could they separate us? She gritted her teeth to fight her chattering teeth, which were wanting to shake because of the cold now too and not just fear and anger.

Riku grabbed a towel from the bathroom and brought it back to the living room, where he left Lightning last. He approached her from behind and unfolded the towel, then gently wrapping it around her. Hopefully that warmed her up a bit.

Lightning could only bring herself to nod faintly in gratitude. One of her hands grasped the edge of the towel as she pulled it closer to her trembling body. Serah. Serah was all that she had left, and now she was about to lose her. Without Serah, there was no future. And without a future, there was no purpose to live for.

Riku turned once Lightning had a secure grip on the towel and approached the counter, where he set the paper. He then proceeded to read it, his eyes hardening with every word. The letter was...ridiculous, and awful. If his parents really did write this...he wasn't sure what he would even do. Riku set the paper down, leaning his hands against the counter as he stared straight ahead. His parents actually wrote this...didn't they?

"I'm a minor," Lightning said after a while of silence. She swayed a little on her feet, fighting the urge to collapse. This behavior was unlike her, but it was about Serah. Serah was everything to her. "I can't fight the system. Now that there's been a complaint, things have to change." She nearly sank down to her knees when she shifted on one of her feet to remain standing. "I've lost her."

"No...no you haven't," Riku said, shaking his head. He looked over at Lightning, though her back was to him. "Even if you are a minor, you've supported yourself and Serah for two years without fault. You have steady jobs and Serah gets good grades in school. You've got a good case on your hands." She would be okay. He would make sure of it. His parents were the ones who did this, so he would make up for it.

Edited July 10, 201213 yr by Forever Love

"They'll find something to use against me," Lightning said in fear. If they were bold enough to take this step, surely they would follow it up. They were going to take away her only family--her only reason to live. It was scary how the thoughts of depression crept into her head and led her to a conclusion she didn't want to face. I hate you, Mom. Why'd you make me think and feel like this?

Riku approached Lightning, stepping over and grabbing her shoulders. He turned her to face him a little, looking down at her shorter height. "Lightning, you are not going to lose your sister, okay?" he said, voice low, a frown set on his lips. "Trust me." He would set this right. He would go talk to his parents, right now.

Edited July 10, 201213 yr by Forever Love

"How?" Lightning dared to ask, though her voice wasn't antagonizing. She wanted an answer to the question--she really did. If there was any way to save Serah, she would do it. No matter the cost. Serah was the only thing that mattered to her. Riku was important to her now as well, but it wasn't nearly the same thing. Serah was family; Riku was a crush. Big difference.

"I'm gonna go have a talk with my parents," Riku declared, eyebrows furrowing. "I'll make them withdraw their claim, and turn this thing around." He bent down ever so slightly, his grip on Lightning's shoulders tightening. "I'll do whatever I can, alright? I promise." He knew how important Serah was to Lightning. His parents were not going to be the reason they were torn apart, just because his parents didn't approve of his choice. That wasn't how this was going to end.

Lightning nodded faintly, her eyes dancing over Riku's. She believed him. At least, his intentions. He really was going to do all that he could to save her and Serah from this situation. But what if his parents didn't budge? What if it was already too late to do anything? She was scared. Very scared.

Riku gazed at Lightning in silence, the fear in her eyes softening him up. "Stay here," he told her gently. "I'll be back soon." He released her after looking at her a second longer, moving to grab his keys and his jacket. He grabbed the paper and was out the door in less than a few seconds, leaving Lightning to his apartment. She wouldn't be coming with him to his parents'. The confrontation was bound to get ugly, especially since Riku was involved.

Lightning watched Riku leave, having no chance to protest this. She felt as if she should go to, since this was about her. But at the same time, she understood that Riku purposely left her behind. His conversation with his parents wasn't going to be pleasant in any sense of the word. What was going to happen? She stared at the door for a few seconds before looking out the window. This was going to get messy.

Riku rode his bike to his parents house as soon as he was out of his apartment, neglecting the speed limit in his anger. He turned a corner and saw his old home up ahead, turning into the driveway a few seconds later. He climbed off his bike and tore the helmet from his head, putting it on the seat as he marched toward the door. Once there, he banged his fists against it, not bothering to be subtle. They would pay for this.

Celes jumped at the pounding at the door, glancing at her husband as she stood in the kitchen. "Locke...?" She didn't know who that was, did he? Either way, she assumed that he would want to answer the door. Whoever was on the other side seemed angry.

"I've got it, Celes," Locke said, passing his wife as he made his way toward the door. He opened it, hearing the pattering of the rain outside as he looked at his son. "...Riku." He recognized his son's expression immediately, having seen it plenty while his child grew up: anger.

 

Riku held up the paper, glaring his father right in the eyes. "Mind explaining this?" he asked, voice low. His father glanced at the paper before meeting his eyes again, and he saw his expression lose its original surprise. Now, it was calm...and demanding. His father wanted him to understand, but that was highly unlikely at this point.

Celes headed over towards the door as well, seeing her son past Locke. "Riku, come in," she said. "There's a reasonable explanation for this." It wasn't personal; it was Celes' conscience that led her to send a letter. Lightning shouldn't have been a parent at such a young age.

Riku glanced over at his mother from where he stood outside the door, and he looked back to his father. He shoved the paper in his father's chest before stepping past him and into the house. "There better be," he grumbled, starting toward the kitchen. His parents had a lot of explaining to do.

Celes ignored her son's tone, knowing that he had a right to be angry. They did go behind his back, after all. "It was my idea," she said. "Once I realized Lightning was basically a parent, I couldn't just sit by. A seventeen year old girl shouldn't have to parent anyone." Not even her own sister. It was for Lightning's sake as much as Serah's.

Riku stopped in his tracks, turning to look at his mother. "So you're using sympathy for your argument?" he asked in disbelief. "That doesn't justify anything. Lightning is a mess because you two decided to go through with this stupid idea!" He jabbed a finger in his mother's direction, though he could see his father stiffen at the action. Like he cared. He wasn't going to take this situation lightly.

"I'm sorry you think it's stupid," Celes said, eyebrows furrowing at her son's anger. But she wasn't fainthearted. She could handle the backlash Riku was throwing at her. "But I believe it's what's best for both of the girls." They were going to have loving families now. They wouldn't have to grow up sooner than they had to. Celes didn't know that it was too late to prevent that; the two were already scarred by their pasts.

"They're all they have left!" Riku boomed, seeing his father take a small step forward at his volume. "Their parents are dead, and you want to take them away from each other? The only family they have is each other!" Why didn't his parents understand? He cared a lot for these girls...

 

"Riku, son, we see where you're coming from. We do," Locke said, voice calm despite the situation. "But we were just thinking about their well-being. Your mother was thinking of their well-being."

"And now they'll get new families," Celes added. "They'll still see each other too. After all, they'll still be on the same island." Or so she thought. Everything was going to turn out for the better, truly. Riku had to agree that Lightning shouldn't have been a parent at such a young age.

"That's not the same and you know it," Riku hissed, sharp eyes moving from one parent to the other. How ridiculous could they get? He knew that Lightning was parenting at only seventeen, but this was her sister; it was different! All Serah and Lightning wanted was to stay together.