31st Dawn

[halfdarkened]

[There's some static and Cambot's feed comes up. Riku doesn't seem to know Cam's recording. He's sitting on a pipe in a hallway, looking at the stars outside. He seems to be thinking very seriously about something. He closes his eyes and sighs. The heat alone is enough to open his eyes wide.

Riku simply blinks. Slowly he raises his head and breathes out like one expecting to see their breath in the cold winter air. Instead is a puff of flame. The color is unsettling.]

...This can't be good.

Comments

[halfdarkened]

[Riku was a few steps down the hall, but he stops when he hears her door open. He turns with a smile. He's cracked a lot of bad flame-related jokes, why not another?]

Doing anything tonight? We could have a... hot date. [He lets a few flickers of flame pass his lips.]

[optimistickey]

Are you kidding? I was too hot for any Hall of Flame!

[Uh oh, it's a challenge, and he can't say no to those. A little while later, he's down at the Recreation Deck himself.]

[colorbymemory]

[Oh good, he waited for her. Namine returns the smile, though she's not good at punning back. At least she laughs, a faint hint of pink on her cheeks.]

Actually, I'm not. Though I think the nature deck might get a little too hot if we're not careful.

[skysmirror]

[Roasted marshmallows aren't bad, but s'mores are even better.]

You bet. I'll get the graham crackers and chocolate?

[halfdarkened]

[Jokes turn to playful jabs.] Knowing you you'd accidentally burn it down.

[This was serious business. Serious business didn't have time to change into swim trunks.

Okay, perhaps it was less serious business and more teenage hormones... Either way, Riku's removed everything from his pockets and stripped to nothing but his pants. Not like they didn't jump into the surf fully clothed at home all the time.]

[halfdarkened]

[He smirks.] And I'll bring the heat.

And marshmallows.

[halfdarkened]

[Jokes came free when he ordered the snark.]

I was planning on avoiding the nature deck for a few days, unless we have to watch and see if the animals are breathing fire, too. This calls for something less flammable. Maybe ice cream and a swim?

[optimistickey]

Yeah, right!

[Well, if Riku thinks that their clothes might be a hindrance, maybe Sora should follow suit. He takes off his shirt, jacket and gloves as well. He rubs his hands together.]

You ready?

[skysmirror]

We probably both will.

I'll be there in a few minutes.

Wrap this thread and the Xion one here?

[colorbymemory]

That's probably a good idea. We don't want to hurt anything there.

Ice cream and a swim sounds good. Give me a few minutes to get ready?

[halfdarkened]

You got it. We'll make it a toast. [Smirk.]

Sounds like a good idea

[halfdarkened]

Sure. I need to grab some towels and my trunks anyway. I can grab some ice cream bars and put them in a cooler and meet you there. Got a favorite flavor? [Besides sea salt.]

[halfdarkened]

[That plus clothes are still flammable, though admittedly less so while wet.]

Are you? [He lets a little flame light his face before he dives gracefully into the pool to keep the flame from burning him, surfacing quickly.]

[optimistickey]

'Course I am!

[He dives into the pool as well, then surfaces and shakes out his head. When exhaling, he lets out quite a bit of flame, too.]

Done for reals?

[skysmirror]

Of course. [Smile]

Okay, wrap here for reals?

[colorbymemory]

Chocolate's nice, thank you.

I'll get my things and meet you at the pool, then.

[halfdarkened]

Okay. Inhale and exhale on three! One... [A little flicker of flame licks at the water's surface.] Two... THREE!

[Riku inhales deeply and breathes out a massive plume of green flame that even takes him by surprise. The empowerment that it gives him encourages him to keep at it for as long as he has breath.]

[optimistickey]

[Sora takes in a big breath (perhaps a bit too big) and then exhales on three. His bright red flame meets Riku's, and they clash over the water. It starts out strong, but starts to flicker a little since he may have inhaled too deeply to start.]

*Listens to the Last Agni Kai XD *

[halfdarkened]

[Sora had the opportunity to take a deeper breath than Riku had, since the older boy had been the one counting down. As such, Sora's flame instantly began to push back Riku's, but as Sora ran down, Riku's began to push Sora's back. About when Sora ran out of breath, Riku felt as if his lungs might collapse and had to stop as well. He gasped to refresh his body, some flame hitting the water as he exhaled.]

...Who won that one?

[optimistickey]

[Eventually, Sora runs out of breath and the fire goes out. He's not sure if Riku goes out at the same time his does, though.]

Umm, I'm not sure...

[He shrugs] Best two outta three?

[halfdarkened]

[Riku shrugs back.] Sure. This time though I'm counting down with my fingers so I get a little more time to breathe. [He holds up a few different numbers of fingers in gesture, smirking a bit.]

Ready?

[optimistickey]

Ready!

[Sora waits while Riku counts down with his fingers, takes in a deep breath (but not too deep so that he doesn't run out of steam), and then blows a stream of fire in his direction.]

[halfdarkened]

[Riku exaggerates his hand gestures as he counts down, drawing in a breath that fills his entire torso. He blasts it forward, chest and neck straining. He squints at the heat, flames threatening to catch his wet skin and hair. Still, his powerful start was enough to force back Sora's fire.

Still, his vie for power at the beginning wasn't enough, and as he lost breath he found his own being pushed back towards the end of Sora's exhale. In the end, it had been much like the previous duel but in reverse.]

[Gasp] Was that a tie again? [Slight pant]

[optimistickey]

[Sora keeps blasting back with his own fire, keeping up a steadier stream this time, although it's quickly pushed back by Riku's. By the time he runs out of breath, it seems like Riku has, too.]

I think so? I'm not sure.

Sheesh, maybe we need some kind of referee here. [Makes him wish Kairi was here.]

[halfdarkened]

[Riku dunks his head, splashing back up and running his hand over his hair to get the wet strands out of his face. It doesn't matter if he's already wet, that was still really hot.]

Know anyone who'll ref us who won't be biased? [Kairi was always the best referee. He missed how she'd praise both winner and loser and tease them both.]