Twenty-Fifth Link.

[colorbymemory]

Almost done.

[Why, yes, that is Namine with a black Sharpie marker. Looks like she found something to write/draw with, but really, is the wall between the staircase entrance and elevator on the fourth deck a good place for that? It's not even a very nice drawing, just a big frowny face from the look of it.

She seems pretty intent on her work, though. Normally, she tries to take everything on the SoL in stride, but having her movement restricted AND one of her main coping mechanisms taken away seems to be taking its toll. To the point at which she's given up using even subtle methods of protest/fighting back.

Finished, she looks up and finally seems to notice she's live on Cambot. Apparently she hadn't meant to make this public.]

Cambot! I thought I said no recording.

[She reaches to turn him off, but he floats away. Time for a rare Namine scowl. Anyone who looks closely, though, might notice that her hair has some blond tint to it, and her eyes are a pale, pale blue.]

Comments

[thirteenth_brat]

[Roxas sees that color. He's got a bit of color back himself, also in his hair and his eyes. He's kind of relieved to see it in her. He's also kind of amused that she's drawing on the walls. Considering what they've been going through this week, it's appropriate.]

I think we need to see more of that, actually. These restrictions are a royal pain.

[colorbymemory]

[It's a relief not only to see that Roxas is getting some color back, but also that he's not particularly upset by this little outburst. Really, she's just had enough.]

They are, but...

[ But she knows it's unusual behavior for her, so she'd hoped to avoid the broadcast. She didn't want to worry anyone or make them mad.]

[thirteenth_brat]

[Upset? Never. If anything, he thinks the walls have been needing some decorating for a long time.]

You know, it's a hunch, but it looks like acting out and not taking this crap anymore is what's starting to bring some color back.

[It is a little unusual, but he can't really blame her.]

[colorbymemory]

[They did need some decoration, but something a little better than this would have been preferable.]

Really? How would you guess...

[Then she makes the connection. He and Zidane had gotten some color back when they'd started protesting. Now she was.]

You might be right.

[thirteenth_brat]

[Maybe, but they're not exactly in a position to be picky at the moment. Perhaps something better can be done once they get the art supplies back.]

Watching Zidane over Cambot, I could see the color coming back a bit, starting with his tail.

[colorbymemory]

[When they get the art supplies back, she'll probably paint over the frowny faces with something better, yes.]

I saw that, too.

[halfdarkened]

[Riku raises his eyebrows. Behind him is another frowny face. He gives her a nod.] ...I should have figured. Keep it up. [He smirks.] It's refreshing.

[But he keeps looking. His own color palette is as monochrome as it has been all week, but she's picking up a little variety.] Hey. When you're finished with that, check a mirror. [He's smiling, an indicator that it's for a good thing.]

[colorbymemory]

[It's an obvious method of protest for her, even if she hadn't been caught in the act. Still, she ducks her head in embarrassment. She was upset, yes, but that didn't make being caught in the middle of an outburst any better.]

You think so?

[She looks back up again when she makes his suggestion. Oh, good, he's smiling.]

A mirror? Why?

[halfdarkened]

Yeah. Adds some variety around here.

[Riku points to his own hair.] You got a little color on you. Here. [Then to his eyes.] And here.

[colorbymemory]

I'll have to do something better when we get all the paints back.

[A quick look at her hair proves him right on that count.]

My eyes, too?

[halfdarkened]

...You could do a mural somewhere. [Now THAT would be pretty neat.]

[He nods.] Just a touch of blue.

[colorbymemory]

Something with a different subject than the one in the cafeteria?

[She'd had Amaterasu's help for that one, and it had still take a while. Not that painting it hadn't been fun.

She smiles.]

I guess it comes back a little at a time.

Aaaand cue player fail, I didn't know there was already a mural!

[halfdarkened]

And somewhere else. [Smirk.]

Yeah. [He seems thoughtful.] What's making it happen, though? It can't be just rebelling against this week's stupidity. I tried to help Zidane get into the media and theatrical decks. [He rubs his arm as he comments. He's got a bruise, but it's more light black than any blue.]

NP, I think you were on hiatus. Also, yeah, I think we're good to wrap in the Xmas thread.

[colorbymemory]

I'll have to think of something, then.

[Covering these frowny faces was a good idea.]

I know. There's something else, but I don't know what.

[She frowns in concern at the bruise.]

As I often am. /).(\

[halfdarkened]

I look forward to it.

[Well, that's just what he gets for trying to throw his shoulder at a chained door!]

I guess the question is what else do the two have in common?

[Well, that's what he gets for throwing his shoulder into chained doors!]

*patpats*

[colorbymemory]

It might take a while, though.

[It is, but she still worries.]

Maybe because we're acting in a way we normally wouldn't?

[She knows she's a little out of character at the moment, and she'd certainly hope Zidane didn't take hatchets to locks very often.]

[halfdarkened]

So? Good things come to those who wait. Maybe I could help a little. [Though he will never claim to be any Amaterasu.]

[Which he'd think is sweet.]

...Maybe, but I seriously doubt doing something like eating only salads all day or getting up early is gonna get my color back.

[Then again, since for him the ends justify the means, actively trying to get his color back might be hard...]

I think we're good to wrap up in the other threads, yeah.

[colorbymemory]

That'd be nice. Three of us should be able to work more quickly than two.

[There should be some way he can help. Mixing paints, helping fill in outlines--he could do those easily, if he didn't want to actually draw or do outlining work. And anyway, it was the thought that counted.

His suggested methods of getting his color back get her to smile.]

It would get everyone's attention.

[Sora would be asking who this new person was and what had they done with his best friend.]

[halfdarkened]

[He smiles, giving a slight shrug.] I could be your gofer.

[For most people's sanity it's probably best he doesn't mar the walls.

Her smile makes him smile slightly.]

I'll keep that in mind for the next time I want to call a meeting.

[He'd think there was another doppleganger week!]

[colorbymemory]

That would help a lot, but you could paint a little, too.

[It's the thought that counts, Riku. Trust her on this.]

Cambot would help you let everyone know.

[He really would.]

[halfdarkened]

Well... Maybe. Only if you're there to fix my mistakes.

[The thought is that he doesn't want people's eyes to bleed, but he'll trust her.]

[Cambot pans up and down in a nod.]

I think just a Cambot announcement would do and I'll forego getting up early.

[colorbymemory]

Of course. We can help each other.

[That's a good thought, but what about wanting to paint something nice?]

[Cambot is so helpful that way.]

It would.

[halfdarkened]

That'd be great. ...You could show me your best techniques.

[That's why he'd leave most of it to her, so painting something nice would actually happen.

He looks like he realized something.]

Hey... Maybe we could paint something in that little 7-foot hallway on the way to the nature deck.

[colorbymemory]

I don't know if I'd call them techniques.

[Namine tends to just draw what comes to mind. Practice has helped her, along with a sense of what looks right. Anyway, it's more about heart than skill]

We could, though that wouldn't cover up any of the faces.