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!

Ashe nodded faintly. "You're a good actor, but she can't keep up. Try some of the awkward 'I'm-new-to-the-relationship' mannerisms. You're acting too comfortable compared to her." They were acting at two different levels--Riku like he had been in the relationship for a while, and Lightning like she was new to it. She genuinely felt bad for the girl; she was famous for bad reasons compared to Riku.

Riku glanced away at that, running a hand through his shorter hair. Well, at least it was only the first day. Maybe it wasn't that noticeable...or so he hoped. Riku was too used to the cameras; he knew how to act in front of them. Lightning was new to it, and he should have taken that more into account. My mistake.

"Don't worry about it," Ashe said after taking a sip of water. "The others are too shocked to see you in a relationship to over-analyze like I did. You should get by for a little while on your act, even if it stayed how it did today." The hand-holding was a nice touch to it all, and so was Riku mainly talking to the press. He was being a gentleman.

Riku made eye contact with Ashe at the comment, lifting an eyebrow. "I've been in relationships before," he told her. "You know that." It shouldn't have been that surprising that he was in a relationship again. While Sora stuck with Kairi, Riku was all over the place. That's how it had always been...and if things didn't go well, it would stay that way.

Edited July 30, 201213 yr by Forever Love

"Of course," Ashe stated. "But you know the press is being swayed by that lawyer, Zimmerman. He expected you two would be split by all the harassing comments, not brought together. So when he was surprised by it, so was the press." She knew this through one of her connections--an intern for Cecil Zimmerman. "I'm not under him, clearly. If I were, I'd threaten to make the news of your fake relationship public unless you do whatever Zimmerman is threatening you about."

Riku leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms. "Using me for your own gain wouldn't be anything new, Ashe," he said, gazing at her as he reflected on their past. So she had a tie with Zimmerman, which wasn't too great. And she had a rough patch with Riku in the past. It seemed a little too set up, but he would trust Ashe for now. He was still skeptical, after all.

"No, unfortunately, it wouldn't be," Ashe agreed. She shut her notebook and looked up, meeting Riku's eyes. "So I'll try something new, in hopes of atoning for past sins." She really was sorry for what she did in the past. At the beginning of it all, she really did have a crush on Riku. The fame just got to her head. Who could have blamed her? Any seventeen year old would have jumped for the chance to date a Keyblade wielder.

Edited July 30, 201213 yr by Peanut

"And that would be?" Riku prodded, putting up his guard. He liked Ashe in the past, he really did, and she ruined that by using him. He wasn't so quick to trust anymore. But...was Lightning an exception? Something about her was different, and he did trust her. Maybe a little too much for how quickly they got to know each other. Was that a mistake, or was Ashe's presence creating unnecessary worries?

"Publishing an article on you two and making the relationship sound completely legitimate," Ashe said. That was what she was going to do on the business part of it. As for the personal. "...And apologize. I was wrong a few years ago for letting the fame get to my head." She should have focused on Riku and not the love she got from the media.

Riku gazed at Ashe in silence, not sure about this apology. Why was she just apologizing now? "...I trusted you, you know," he told her softly, leaning forward and letting his hands rest on the table. And she broke that trust the moment he was no longer important. He hoped Lightning didn't turn out like that, and he didn't think she would. But....he thought the same of Ashe.

Edited July 30, 201213 yr by Forever Love

Ashe's eyes reflected her sadness. "Yes, I know," she said softly. "And I know it's hard, but I'm asking you to trust me again. I won't share that your relationship isn't what it appears to be. I need to do something to make up for the past, because believe it or not, I really did care about you. It became diluted by the press, but you should know that I didn't go into the relationship looking for fame. I genuinely cared about you."

Riku lowered his gaze at that, not sure how to react. Ashe actually cared about him the entire time? She really didn't show it that well, but he knew that the press had a negative effect on people sometimes. He'd seen it firsthand. But...did that really excuse her bad behavior?

When the waiter brought the bill, Ashe filled it out before looking back to Riku. "I was young and stupid," she said bluntly. "But that doesn't excuse my behavior. I grew to like the fame more than the attention you gave me because it was bigger and flashier. I was dumb to choose that over you, and I'm genuinely sorry over it." She reached across the table and squeezed his hand, still feeling that spark that she felt years ago. "Somehow, I'll make up for it," she said. "Whether I receive your forgiveness or not." She was going to do the right thing no matter what.

Riku looked down at Ashe's hand on his, and he found himself wrapping his fingers around hers. He looked up at her in silence, not sure how to react--what to do, or what to say. This Ashe was the girl he first met, not the one who became affected by the publicity he helped to bring upon her. "...I believe you," he told her softly. She was genuine, like how she used to be. That was enough.

Ashe smiled weakly, nodding as well as she kept her hand in Riku's and realized she was closer to him than before because of that. "I'm glad," she said more softly. "You're a good guy, Riku. You deserve more than what the press has been throwing at you lately." He was kind, selfless, devoted, strong...Sure he had an ego, but what guy didn't? He was still amazing. She wished she still had him, but...maybe she could again, since he wasn't in a real relationship.

"Thanks," Riku said with a small nod, smiling ever so slightly at the compliments. "I appreciate it." Ashe had really turned around in the last year or so. It was hard to believe, but he guessed that was enough time for someone to realize their mistakes and come around.

Ashe's small smile remained as she nodded. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the waiter return with the small booklet that had her credit card inside. She hadn't even noticed him take it away. "I suppose that's it, then," Ashe said quietly, slipping her hand out of Riku's as she took back the credit card and put it into her wallet. She then rose to her feet, notebook going into her purse. She'd let Riku go, even if she wished she could spend more time with him.

Edited July 30, 201213 yr by Peanut

Riku rose to his feet as well, pushing his chair in. "Thanks for dinner," he said, stuffing his hands into his pockets. It wasn't really necessary, but it was a nice gesture. It was something he did for Ashe in the past, and the fact that she did it for him? That expressed that she was different.

"Of course," Ashe said with a small smile. She outstretched a hand to shake Riku's, figuring that this was where they would part ways. "It was nice to see you again, Riku." Hopefully she would see him again soon, and maybe then, they would be friends again. A girl could dream after all.

Riku took Ashe's hand in his larger one, gently shaking it. "You too, Ashe," he said with a small smile. She looked great, and was doing well. He hoped that continued; she seemed like she was a lot happier. Even if Riku was still hurt by what she did to him in the past, he wanted the best for her. That was his heart speaking, not his mind.

Ashe felt like she was at least friends with Riku, so she decided to give him something more as goodbye. She stood on her toes and gave him a light kiss on his cheek--one that was definitely friendly and not romantic. Yet her heart fluttered at the feeling of his skin against her lips again. She stayed close to his face even once the kiss was done--too close. You still have feelings for him. Strong, strong feelings.

Riku was surprised to feel his heart skip a beat the kiss, something he hadn't been expecting. He looked at Ashe while she was close, not sure what to do. His hand still held hers, his grasp a little more secure with the kiss. The fact that he reacted so...well to something like that was disorienting. Did he...still have feelings for Ashe, after all this time?

Ashe's cheeks held a faint blush, especially when desire took control. She gently connected her lips with Riku's and shut her eyes, knowing that he felt the same spark that she did just now. This kiss wasn't passionate or out of control; it was gentle. Caring. But...she also felt like it was a goodbye kiss. She and Riku didn't end on good terms, but kissing him now, she realized that he wasn't the one meant for her anyway. There was chemistry, but that was it. No more burning love.

Riku's eyes fell shut at the kiss, the young man returning it with softness. He hadn't kissed Ashe in so long... He almost forgot how it felt. It felt good, but something about it wasn't the same. His eyebrows furrowed as he kissed her, the rest of the world gone apart from the two of them and his thoughts.

Ashe pulled back after a few long moments, the girl opening her eyes and looking up at Riku as she stood back. "Goodbye Riku," she said softly. Goodbye felt like the right thing to say, because things would never be this way again. Ashe had changed a lot over the past year, and so did Riku. If they stayed together back then, they could have been happy together now, but as things were...it just couldn't happen.