18th Dawn

[halfdarkened]

[Hey, what's this? There's some guy with his head against the food synthesizer this morning. Someone we haven't seen for a while, and in the morning of all times. His pants are the brightest purple ever, and to make things worse, one of the back pockets has a little rainbow heart on it. His sleeveless shirt is made up of orange and purple tiger stripes, and there's an old school, brightly colored slap bracelet on his left wrist. His hair is an utter mop right now, barely-combed.]

...I just want some bacon and eggs. That's ALL I want from you. [There's a bunch of candy and cake in the trashcan nearby...]

[He pushes the button again. Instead out comes a stack of pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream. He bangs his head against the food synthesizer once and grumbles.]

...At least it's breakfast food. [He settles for it and shuffles half-awake over to a table to eat. It's about then he realizes he's being watched.] Hey, Cam. Hey guys. I'm still here. I was sick for a while. Instead of spreading a disease around a small satellite, I figured you'd all appreciate it if I went ahead and quarantined myself. [An unethusiastic thumbs up.] You're welcome.

Actually. Namine? [He parts his bangs so its possible to see his eyes.] ...Thanks for the soup. [He smiles.] It helped.

By the way, has this week affected anyone else's sleep? [HE suddenly looks VERY sleepy.] I keep dreaming about animals that look like a rainbow sneezed on them. [Going...] And places I've never been before. [His head's drooping, and he seems to realize this because he props himself up with an arm. Going...] And like now I can't stay...

[Gone. Riku falls face-first into his pancakes, out cold. He'll be quite the sight when he finally lifts his head again. At least the pancakes are nice and soft and warm.]

Comments

[colorbymemory]

[Namine looks happy to see him out and about, but concerned because he doesn't look like he's quite well yet.]

You're welcome but are you sure you should...

[Then he falls asleep right in the middle of saying something.]

Riku? Are you okay?

[She's already on her way, but figures she can at least ask.]

[halfdarkened]

[Riku's only reply is a wet-sounding snort through the whipped cream. He's out like a light on his pillow of pancakes. He looks quite peaceful, though... And sticky.]

[colorbymemory]

[Okay, this calls for reinforcements. Nami has no intention of leaving Riku asleep like that, but she'll need help getting him back to his room if that proves necessary. A slight detour allows her to pick up Xion on the way, and then it's not long before they're in the cafeteria.

If he's awake, they'll make sure he's okay and deal with any surprise at the change in their appearance. If not, they can at least try to get him to a better place to sleep.]

[halfdarkened]

[No, Riku's still out cold in his warm breakfast. He's at least turned so he's not face-down anymore, but that does nothing for the dignity he's unwittingly lost. Then again, dignity seems to be a rare commodity for him, here. His face is stained with strawberries and his hair smeared with whipped cream. Yet he looks fairly peaceful, and there's a hint of a smile on his face. Riku mumbles something about wood.]

[shortpants_knight]

[Ah, well, if Riku hadn't fallen asleep, Link would have answered his question in regards to this week's shenanigans and sleep. But, now he's asleep. That can't be good. It doesn't take very much consideration for Link to decide to head to the cafeteria and see if he can rouse the boy.

Whether he wakes before Link gets there or after, he'll be treated to seeing Link in much the same state as everyone else, with his garb resembling Lisa Frank's interpretation of his character. His tunic and hat are a much brighter green than normal, any of the other, more somber colors he usually wears have been replaced accordingly, with bright oranges and yellows replacing shades of brown. The missing colors from the rainbow appear as a scattering of Dalmation spots on the back of his tunic and on his hat.]

[halfdarkened]

[Link comes in to see Riku waking up with a coughing fit. He managed to inhale some of the syrup. Strawberry juice has stained his hair and drips from his face. Half a pancake remains plastered to his cheek, and a big glob of whipped cream begins to slide down his forehead. Riku looks around befuddled before realizing what's happened and grumbling about it.]

[shortpants_knight]

[That certainly is a sight. It's really not funny, though, given that the cause is unknown.]

Are you alright?

[halfdarkened]

[Riku just looks at Link a moment. The pancake falls off his cheek and hits the floor with a sticky splat.]

...Yeah. I'm fine. This isn't my first sleep episode, but it's definitely the most humiliating. [He raps his fingers against the wooden table unenthusiastically.]

[royal_sunrise]

[Oh dear. She's now wondering if she should come over there, move him to a more comfortable spot and clean up his face or just leave him be.]

[halfdarkened]

[His hair is pink with it all, oh my... And now he's talking in his sleep.] All for one...

[royal_sunrise]

[Then she'll be coming over then. Though this will take a while since she's still new.]

[halfdarkened]

...Anyone could make an Ansem... [He rolls his head over so the whipped cream gets all over his face. For all intensive purposes, he looks like he has a beard and mustache.

[optimistickey]

Hey, Riku! You feeling...

[Aaaand then he falls asleep on the pancakes. Sora can't help it; he just bursts into barely-controlled laughter. How on earth did that happen to him?!]

[Sora's on his way to help him, but...wow, he needs to get pictures of this for the future.]

[halfdarkened]

[Sora will find him still face-down in his food. Even better, he's managed to spill the glass of milk he had while shifting in his sleep. The milk is all down his side and in his lap. ...That really had to be cold. He's mumbling in his sleep, too.] ...That stupid grin...

[optimistickey]

[Sora eventually shows up, but with a small camera he found. Well...just one picture shouldn't hurt. Kairi and their other friends back home would be amused by this. He snaps a picture, then pockets the camera again.]

Hey! [He gently shakes Riku's shoulder.] Rikuuuu! You okay there?

[halfdarkened]

...Don't chase the dreams... [Woooow, he's out like a light. Ironically. He's not a light sleeper, but Riku's not a heavy sleeper, either. That should have been enough. Nope. Not this time.] Droplets...

[punsofiron]

Woah!

Looks like somebody could use some coffee.

[halfdarkened]

[There's a soft snore and then silence.] ...Dream eaters...

[punsofiron]

...LOTS of coffee.

[coming to save you from drowning in that whipped cream, young man.]

[halfdarkened]

[Said young man would have no clue what Liz is talking about, since he's in his own world. So here, have a Riku with a pancake on his head.]

[sailorgenerous]

I am glad you're feeling better. If you don't want something quiteso sweet, maybe you can scrape the whipped cream off-

[And then he collapses. Oh, no. Ohhhhhh, no.] Riku! Riku, are you alright?

[She's not waiting for an answer - she's going straight to him.]

[halfdarkened]

[Good thing, she won't get one. He's gone to the world and off in his own. He mumbles amongst his strawberries.] ...Fight more than boredom...

[ttlynotanagent]

[GAH! First Sora, now this. Perry rushes off, his stupidly colored hat held down.

He wonders if this is some sort of epidemic. No one else has shown signs...just Sora and now Riku. Are the two incidents even related?

Perry gets to the cafeteria and pokes Riku in the ribs. COME ON RIKU. FOOD IS NOT FOR SLEEPING ON.]

[halfdarkened]

[Soft furry thing poking him? Huh, Riku hasn't had plush animals to sleep with for years, but he's feeling a little cold... Huh, well, maybe a plush toy would help.]

[Riku gently - yet firmly - takes hold of Perry and pulls him up onto the table next to his head. Hm, yeah, this is a very warm plush.]

[ttlynotanagent]

[There's a brief choking noise of surprise as Perry is whipped up into Riku's arms.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

Perry squirms around, trying hard not to get in the syrup since Riku has now placed him on the table. WAKE UP RIKU!]