21st Dawn

[halfdarkened]

[Cambot has been searching around the SOL over the last day and a half for Riku, broadcasting on and off, possibly unintentionally. It seems lonely, not too uncommonly videoing the floor. Slowly it wanders into the cafeteria deck idly. It's late evening, and fairly dark. Cambot starts to turn when there's a little "pop" from inside the fridge. The bot enters, a little curious, until the door flies open, leaving light and cold to tumble out... Along with something else.]

[The short-haired figure groans and sits up, half-covered in what looks like someone's leftover Chinese food. Riku looks around, trying to figure out where he was.] Cambot? [Abruptly he checked his clothing, pulling the shoulder of his vest to get a look at the cloth on the back.] So it wasn't a dream... [And then he notes the food all over him and looks back over his shoulder. He reappeared in a familiar area.]

Again? ...Are you kidding me?!

[Cambot bounces up and down in joy!]

Comments

[shortpants_knight]

Again? You've... been in there before?

[halfdarkened]

Link?

Yeah, the first time I got stuck here.

[shortpants_knight]

Yes.

I see.

[It has not escaped Link's notice that the satellite seems to have it in for Riku's dignity.

[thirteenth_brat]

[Well this is mildly amusing.]

I think your Cambot is happy to see you.

[halfdarkened]

[Cambot pans up and down rapidly!]

Heh. I can see that. Hey, Cam. [The feed glitches a second, leaving Riku just staring.] I guess some things don't change.

What's happened since I left?

[thirteenth_brat]

Not much. Everyone's figuring out what kind of powers they've either gotten back or just gotten if they didn't have any before. And Wilykit wants to put together a party to look for whatever's bringing us here.

[optimistickey]

RIKU! Riku, you got back here after all!

...Are you in the fridge again?

[halfdarkened]

[Well that was a familiar kind of greeting. He blinks, then smirks.] Sora.

[And then the smirk drops as he answers.] Yeah.

[And suddenly he looks around.] Hey. Is Kairi here?

[optimistickey]

So what do you remember now?

[His face falls a bit.] No, I still haven't seen her. But it hasn't been that long.

[ttlynotanagent]

[And suddenly there is a platypus in a hat.

He looks at Riku curiously. Soooo you had the same experience as Sora he takes it?]

[halfdarkened]

So I wasn't just dreaming up a little teal platypus. [He smiles warmly.] Nice to se you again, Perry.

[ttlynotanagent]

[Dreaming? No, teal platypi are real.

Does he need to pinch you to be sure? Because he will.]

[sailorlaughter]

Ooooooh, Riku! AND Chineighse!

[A small herd of Pinkies trots up to Riku, greeting him individually in-between picking noodles off of his clothes. One of them turns to the Cambot.] See, I told you he'd be in there!

[halfdarkened]

{Even Riku's Cambot seems surprised by this one. Riku just stares. It's a train wreck.] No, nevermind, I think I am dreaming.

[sailorlaughter]

You're not dreaming, silly!

You'd probably still be in the FRIDGE if you were dreaming!

Hey, who's got the - oh, here you go! [Another Pinkie arrives from a different part of the kitchen with Riku's Welcome Back cupcake, which gets quickly passed up to him from the back of the crowd.] Welcome back, Riku!

[verygassy]

Oh, there you are! Man, how hungry were you the past few days?

[halfdarkened]

[He pulls some noodles out of his much-shorter hair.] I wasn't. I just reappeared here.

[verygassy]

Oh? So you went home? Lucky.

How was it? Is everything ok?

[skysmirror]

Again?

[Surprised Xion is surprised. Sorry, Riku, she'll be properly glad to see that you're back in a moment. Now she's just dealing with the new look and, you know, you showing up in the fridge.]

Are you okay?

Congratulations, Canon update is GO

[halfdarkened]

Yeah-- [Poor Xion. Riku won't be answering either of her questions. He does a double-take at the screen before narrowing his eyes as if he's caught between remembrance and disbelief.]

Wait... I met you before. Here. Before Sora's dreams. You're... Xion.

[skysmirror]

[Well, that wasn't the expected response. Xion is taken aback for a moment before responding.]

Before Sora's dreams? Riku, we've known each other for almost a year here.

[Not that she doesn't have an idea as to what's behind Riku's response, but it's rather unpleasant.]

[colorbymemory]

[Namine looks surprised and a bit confused for a moment, then smiles.]

Welcome back, Riku.

Do you need any help?

[halfdarkened]

Namine. [He smiles. It's been a while on his end.] Thanks. And I'll be okay as soon as I get a shower and clean clothes. [He pauses and it looks like the transmission is about to end, but his face lights up in realization.] I guess I should go check under my door.

[beforethemoon]

What happened to your hair?

[halfdarkened]

It got cut.