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 rolled her eyes, nearly folding her arms over her chest. "Right," she muttered. As if. She couldn't just loosen up and have fun with this. It was too weird. It was hard to put into words right now why she felt so uneasy, but she'd figure it out eventually. Until then, they had a show to put on.

Riku smirked slightly, but it wasn't in amusement; it was sincere. He lifted his free hand to cup Lightning's head of pink hair. "Hey," he said softly. "Relax, okay? You're doing great." She played along well, something he half-expected. The other part of him imagined her being stiff. Clearly that wasn't the case, even if he did suggest she loosened up a bit. But the tension only seemed more realistic, since Lightning wasn't used to the spotlight. Unlike Ashe, who basked in it while she could.

This just feels so wrong though, Lightning thought to herself, though she smiled weakly and covered up those thoughts as she gazed at Riku. She didn't think she was doing that great, but she supposed she did alright since the press wasn't calling them fakers. Hopefully this would get easier in time.

Riku let his hand fall as he turned, heading toward the checkout counter. At the same time, his smirk fell away instantly. Lightning wasn't enjoying this, that much he could tell. It was the complete opposite from Ashe, who was eager to get out and show Riku off. Of course, they weren't the same person, and for that he was grateful; Ashe wasn't real with him, ever. But Lightning was...or so he hoped.

For once, Lightning was the one who initiated something. Even if she only reached for his hand and held onto it, she was the one who did it. That was because when she grasped his hand, she felt like it was real. She didn't do it for a show just now; she did it because she wanted to hold onto the Riku that she had a crush on for so long.

Riku's steps faltered a little at the sudden touch, and he looked over his shoulder slightly to look at Lightning. His eyes found hers and he smiled faintly, squeezing her hand. That look, and that squeeze...they weren't for the cameras; that was all him. He confessed his feelings, sort of. Lightning should have known he wasn't doing all of this for the press. Riku focused forward again, keeping his hold on Lightning's hand as he stepped up to the cashier to get her jacket, a gift he wanted to buy.

Light smiled weakly at the squeeze, but once they were at the register, she slipped her hand out of Riku's so that he could pay more easily. She glanced out the window and saw paparazzi, not that she was terribly surprised by that. It'll get lighter eventually, she told herself. She just needed to give it some time.

Edited July 30, 201213 yr by Peanut

Riku nodded to the cashier in thanks after paying for the jacket, and he automatically reached for Lightning's hand when he was finished, handing her the bag with the other. He didn't exactly want to carry the bag. Besides, he wanted his hands free so he could nudge the press away if need be.

Lightning glanced down at Riku's hand holding hers as she accepted the bag. "Where are we going?" she asked, glancing towards the doors again and seeing reporters. It was still early in the day, and she supposed that if they were going to convince the press that they were together, they'd need to be out in public a little longer.

Riku started toward the doors, but he didn't rush; he needed a plan. "A little more shopping won't hurt," he said, his eyes leaving the door to find his companion. Lightning needed to buy some more feminine stuff, that way the press wouldn't get on her about her wardrobe. After all, every other girl Riku dated since he got back home was more girly than Lightning was. It was kind of expected.

Lightning couldn't hide a small frown. "I hate shopping as much as I hate chick-flicks," she stated, looking over and up at Riku. Wasn't there anything else that they could do? Something that was actually a little bit enjoyable? Like go see some violent movie, or go to the gym. Or beat up some paparazzi, just for the fun of it. She knew that last one wasn't possible, but it was still an idea.

"The press will be happier if you get more clothes," Riku said, approaching the door. "Trust me." They wouldn't harrass her nearly as much if she dressed more like Riku's past dates. It would be easier for her to handle them that way, or so Riku assumed.

Lightning couldn't argue with that--she didn't have the time to. When they stepped outside again, there were the cameras flashing in their faces again. Questions came, but more slowly than before. Questions like: What did you buy in that store? Was it a gift for an anniversary? How long have you been secretly together? Questions like those rather than statements of harassment.

Riku didn't bother answering the questions thrown at him, instead holding Lightning's hand tightly as he moved through the press. They got out of his way, but they still lingered closeby. The next store wasn't too far off, and Riku made his way toward it, but not without sparing a few glances Lightning's way to make sure she was alright.

Lightning felt Riku's gaze on her a few times, but she just kept her gaze set forward as they entered the store. She maintained the expression that she tried to have on earlier: a bit of annoyance with the press but happiness that she was with Riku. If Riku had to put on an act, then she'd support him the best that she could. She would do her part of the charade.

Riku got inside the store with Lightning, but he didn't release her hand. He felt kind of bad, having to control her and tell her what to do with the press around. But he had to, or this plan would never work. And now that it started, it couldn't fail; they would be in hot water if that happened.

"What kind of clothes are we looking for?" Lightning asked Riku once she could hear herself think. She had a feeling that she already knew--clothes that made her appear worthy of a Keyblade wielder. Girly clothes. You're not getting me in a dress. No way. But he probably would in the end if he wanted to, because he knew better than she did how to make the press happy.

"Hate to say it, but girly," Riku said, casting Lightning a look before continuing through the store. He knew Lightning wouldn't like it, but it had to be done. The press would be all over her, and him, if she didn't meet Riku's previous standards. But they weren't even standards, really. It didn't matter, though. The press got what it wanted.

Lightning frowned and loosened her grip on Riku's hand. "No dresses or skirts," she said. At least she hoped he wouldn't make her get any of those. With Christmas coming up though, she probably would need something nicer. If Serah were here, she would have been able to pick out nicer clothes that wouldn't completely make Lightning uncomfortable. But this wasn't Serah with her; it was Riku. What did he know about clothes?

Riku smirked a little, disregarding the fact that Lightning loosened her hold on his hand. "Saw that one coming," he muttered. How couldn't he, with the way Lightning was? But...he didn't think she'd look so bad in a skirt, one that was more her style. It didn't matter, however, since they weren't here for Lightning's particular style; she had to dress like Ashe and the other girls Riku dated in the past, for the press's approval.

Edited August 26, 201213 yr by Forever Love

"You can probably guess I want to get this done quickly, too," Lightning said as she slipped her hand out of Riku's. "You look over there. I'll look by these racks." She pointed to the right for Riku and motioned to the left for herself. This would still take a while, depending on how many clothes he expected her to get. Was her whole wardrobe being redone?

Edited July 30, 201213 yr by Peanut

Riku nodded slightly before moving to where Lightning directed him, and the next twenty minutes were spent looking through clothing racks. He did find some stuff, but nothing with floral designs or pink; he knew Lightning would slug him for any of those suggestions.

Lightning forced herself to pick out a few things that she wouldn't have worn otherwise. The worst of them all? A dark pair of skinny jeans. She frowned and threw them over her arm, along with a burgundy scarf, a black shirt, a navy blue turtleneck, and grey long-sleeved shirt. The lack of color wasn't lost on her, nor would it be lost on Riku.

Riku found Lightning in the store shortly after picking out a few things, and he hoped she didn't completely disapprove. He was sure they would look nice on her. He saw that she had quite a few things picked out herself, and now all that was left was to try them on. He swapped the bag she was holding for the clothes he had, letting her go ahead and try them on. Clearly he was buying, not that he had any problem with it. He had enough money for it.

Lightning was tempted to take her time with the clothes so that she could have some privacy, but she hated clothes shopping so much that she sped through it. Most everything fit--including the brighter clothes that Riku bought. She noticed he threw in a skirt though. It may have been a black skirt and to her knees, but it was a pencil skirt. Not only did it go up to her belly-button, but it was also tight. Just because it looked good didn't mean she liked it. If he threw it in the pile though, he meant for her to have a skirt. This is so lame. She didn't sulk about it though. When she was done, she came out of the dressing room to find Riku again.

Edited July 30, 201213 yr by Peanut