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.]

[skysmirror]

[This time, Xion decides to try getting his attention. She moves forward to shake his shoulder--not roughly, but definitely noticeable unless he was pretty deeply asleep.]

Riku? Riku, wake up.

[Cambot decides to be helpful and provide an alarm clock sound. At full volume.]

[halfdarkened]

[The shoulder shake does nothing.] ...Consume the darkness...

[And then there's the alarm! Riku falls backwards, but uses the momentum to handspring backwards and land on his feet. He takes up a position as if he has a keyblade.] RETURN It to... [And he just stops and looks around without moving his neck. His face drips.]

[skysmirror]

[Xion exchanges a look of confusion with Nami regarding what he said. How could anyone consume darkness...

Then the alarm wakes him up and apparently he's not quite aware of where he is at first. She takes a step back and pushes Nami behind her. Riku wouldn't knowingly hurt either of them, but if he's still thinking he's fighting whoever he was up against in the dream, she's the one of them best able to deal with that. Fortunately, his confusion doesn't seem to last long.]

Riku?

[halfdarkened]

...Light. [He lowered his non-existant weapon and licks his lips. Strawberry.] ...Xion? Namine? [He wipes his face with his hand and arm.] Don't tell me I fell asleep in my food.

[colorbymemory]

[Both girls relax a little and Nami steps forward. She picks up a few napkins from a nearby table and hands them to him as she speaks.]

I'm afraid you did.

[She's not going to lie, but she's not laughing, either.]

[halfdarkened]

Just great. [He sighs.] Thanks. [He begins wiping his face and his arm and hand, but stops quickly, looking the two girls over. They seemed fine, but still...]

I... Didn't hurt either of you two, did I?

[skysmirror]

[Fortunately, they're both fine. Concerned about him, yes, but otherwise fine. After Nami nods to acknowledge his thanks, Xion speaks up, moving forward a little herself.]

No, you didn't.

[halfdarkened]

[Riku's sigh of relief is silent, but visible.] Good. [He resumes trying to clean himself off when he finds it's in his hair. Upon the discovery he heads to the sink to try to clean himself off.]

This is really getting old fast.

[colorbymemory]

[Nami trots after him to help as much as she can. It might be much, but she can try, and this way they can keep talking.]

How long has it been going on?

[halfdarkened]

[He sighs.] A few days. [Riku looks back at the pancakes, which seem even less appetizing. After a pause he goes back to the replicator and activates it.]

Bacon. And. Eggs. [With that he gives it a good smack this time. And out pops... Bacon and eggs! With some sugar cubes to the side, but there's still bacon and eggs! Riku slumps his shoulders and looks up.] ...Thank you. Finally. [He takes them and moves back to the table.] Who knew the Sora-approach to technology would actually work?

[skysmirror]

You don't have any idea what caused it?

[She'd known he hadn't been feeling well, but if the sleepiness was due to that, wouldn't he still be resting?

Once the replicator finally decides to cooperate, she joins him at the table. The comment about the Sora-approach gets her to crack a smile.]

Sometimes that's what's needed, I guess.

[halfdarkened]

No. Just that I have strange dreams every time and I never remember them. ...Last two times I had really vivid, strange dreams they were important, but those I remembered.

[Riku sits down and doesn't hesitate to start cutting up the eggs and bacon and taking a big bite. There's a short sigh of relief not unlike one from a long-earned victory.] Not unless you want to break something. Though I'll admit I was about frustrated enough...

[colorbymemory]

Dreams are always important. Maybe you'll remember these, too, eventually.

[Namine joins them both at the table.]

It took that long to get what you asked it for?

[halfdarkened]

No, not always. [He raises his eyebrows.] Somehow I doubt any dream where I forgot to wear pants to school can be that important. I figure when they are important, though, I will remember.

Yeah. [He points back to the trashcan that's been pulled over to the replicator. It's full of cake and candy.] Those were the failed attempts. And not my idea of breakfast food.

[skysmirror]

[Xion didn't dream much that she remembered, so she couldn't say much about those.]

When you do remember, let us know? If they're important, then it could be something we all need to hear about.

[Xion looks over at the contents of the trashcan--not exactly her idea of breakfast food either.]

I guess it has something to do with everything else going on this week.

[She tugs on a coat sleeve that now seems to have A LOT of sparkly rainbows on it.]

(He's referencing KH3D but doesn't realize it.)

[halfdarkened]

[He's listening, but he's also very focused on his meal. He's not talking with his mouth full at least.] I will. Last thing we need is for this to be contagious. [He takes a bite and looks up at Xion and stops chewing a moment. He swallows finally, eyes narrowed.] ...Did you have a question for me earlier?

Hm. Probably. [He looks down at his own clothes.] I guess I can't talk much about fashion. Rarity thinks I'm a mess, anyway. [He shrugs and turns his attention back to the bacon. Clearly, fighting with the food replicator is a good way to work up an appetite.]

(That's the beauty of all this. XD)

[colorbymemory]

[She can't blame him, he must be pretty hungry. They both nod in assent to his point regarding contagiousness, then blink in confusion at his question. After Xion's quiet "No," Namine speaks up.]

Maybe it was something from your dream?

[Namine looks at her own dress, now replete with sparkly pink hearts.]

I think she thinks all of us need some help when it comes to that.

(Inorite?)

[halfdarkened]

[Riku pauses and lowers his fork a moment.] I don't... think so. [He doesn't look so sure.] Maybe. I just feel like I'm supposed to do something, and it had to do with your question, Xion. Something about... [He looks away, sighs and shakes his head before cutting up his egg more.] ...I'm really starting to feel like these dreams are something I DO need to remember, and that I'm losing something important.

[He smiled and hummed a hint of a laugh.] Probably. At least I got lucky and it only got my clothes. [He points to the top of his head in gesture to them.] How're the ears doing? [Based on his tone he'd noticed them well-prior, but was unphased.]

(I still feel kind of bad for him, though. Poor guys having an ordeal.)

[skysmirror]

[Xion tilts her head in thought. She hadn't talked to Riku that much at all since he'd been sick, just once or twice when she'd helped Namine bring him something to eat. There really hadn't been any chance for her to ask questions--especially not the kind that made him think he needed to do something.]

If they are, I hope you remember them soon.

[As if in response to his question, her cat ears twitch.]

Okay. You get used to them, eventually.

(When ISN'T he having an ordeal?)

[halfdarkened]

[Riku sighs a bit.] Me too. I'll keep you posted. [He stuff some egg and bacon into his mouth and lifts up a glas of milk. At least that was in the fridge and he didn't have to deal with the replicator... Or maybe it was just there because it went well with cake and cookies.]

[His eyebrows raise slightly with the twitch.] Can you hear with them? Do you even have your normal...? [He peers around slightly, trying to locate any human ears on the two girls.]

(Especially in IJaG. Also, sorry, wrong icon.^^;;;)

[colorbymemory]

[Nami would be guess the milk was supposed to go with the cake and cookies. Really, the food this week was more to Pinkie Pie's taste than anyone else's.]

Thank you.

[When she notices he's looking, she brushes her hair back to show that she still has her regular ears.] We do. I don't know about hearing--nothing's seemed to change.