007

[justabignobody]

Characters: Riku (justabignobody) and Naminé (lethechained), then O P E N
Setting: 5th September, Daytime, all around the Tower
Format: Action to start with, but I'll match!
Summary: After spending a month back home (and finding out that it is really all destroyed) Riku returns to the Tower. Clearly, the first thing on order is to check up on everyone!
Warnings: Non as of now.

[A - Dormitory Hallways - Closed to Naminé]

[It's... hard to say just how much time has passed since he woke from the dreams into a living nightmare, since he had realized that this wasn't another trick, another dream, but reality. How much time he's spent wandering, wondering, thinking.

Sometimes along the road, he had decided not to give up, not to give into the despair - no matter how tempting it might seem.

And the moment he reawakens and knows, feels that something has changed, he also knows that that was the right decision to make.

Finally, he steps out of his room, still slightly disoriented, but determined to find somebody.

(He has missed them. He has missed them so much and the ache in his heart is even worse than it had been in those ten months before he had arrived in the tower)]


[B - All around the Tower - Open to all!]

[Things are clearer now not just because his hair and bangs are maybe just a little bit shorter). A whole month has passed since he had been forced to sleep. A lot has happened since, a lot he has missed. But even though Naminé has reassured him that everyone is fine, that non of their friends is gone or hurt (too badly at least), he needs to make sure himself.

So, for once Riku is the one, who systematically wanders the floors in search of familiar faces (and possibly running into some not so familiar ones). And for once, the relief of being back, of being back with people is showing more and more, with every passing hour.]



[ooc: a.) Please indicate the number of the Floor you want to run into Riku, either in the subject line or the tag itself!

b.) I'll probably still be using some blindfold icons, but as of now Riku is not wearing it anymore.

c.) Also, if you haven't please take a moment for his permissions post!]

Comments

[justabignobody]

[He reaches up to let his hand hover over her shoulder - she doesn't have to apologize and she shouldn't worry. He knows the risks he is taking.]

Of course.

[lethechained]

[Such a gesture is always a surprise, but definitely not an unwelcome one. She nods in return, then, smiling faintly, tilts her head ever so slightly in the direction of his hand. She doesn't touch it, not by a long shot, but in it's own way the motion is one of acceptance.]

[She knows if they linger on this topic, they're running of the risk of being further troubled by it. So, after regarding him a few moments, she says,]

Your hair has gotten so long...!

[justabignobody]

[He smiles right back; there is no need to say or declare any more - not now, not when all needed has been said.

He blinks at the sudden change of topic, then reaches up to tug lightly at a strand of his bangs (they are reaching well past his nose now), glancing at it as if to examine.]

...I guess it's been a while.

[......Considering that his hair has pushed past his shoulder blades, that may or may not be quite an understatement.]

[lethechained]

[The sight makes her smile all the more, head tilting slightly.]

Longer than a while, I think.

[There's not a single hint of malice in it, just amusement. Understatement indeed.]

Would you like some help with that?

[justabignobody]

[He makes a face (and it may or may not look quite suspiciously much like a pout), but it's probably obvious that it's just for show, just like the careless shrug at her question.]

Well, if you are offering...

[They are kind getting heavy.]

[lethechained]

[Ah, Riku. Silly, silly Riku. She giggles behind her hand, just a little, then.]

I am. I can take care of it now, if you'd like. But I'd understand if there was something else you wanted to do first...?

[Like go and check on other people while still looking like a hippie.]

[justabignobody]

[The moment she giggles, he drops the silly face and chuckles as well - lighting the mood had been the intention of that after all.

He reaches up to touch his chin, considering, then shaking his head lightly.]

Let's take care of this now.

[After all the time he had spent wandering in the wasteland of the worlds half an hour more or less won't really matter.]

[lethechained]

[An admirable success. She waits for his answer, head very slightly tilted, then straightens once he speaks and nods.]

All right! [Pause. What was that expression, again?] My place, or yours? [No connotations meant.]

[justabignobody]

[He'll celebrate it later on Okay not really.

He takes a moment to think.]

Well... I don't have any scissors in my room.

[Not that that means they can't do it in his room; he totally gets if she doesn't want the mess this haircut is likely to make in hers.]

I guess, we could get them and return to it?

[lethechained]

[Come on Riku, enjoy your victories a little--]

Mm. That would be a problem. [It's fairly cheerful. (She really is glad he's okay.)] We can do it that way, if you'd like. [But she wouldn't mind taking care of it somewhere else is the implication here.]

[justabignobody]

[He is? Will be? Just. It's not a true victory until he's managed to make her laugh at least three times in row. You know. Without anything serious coming up in between. /sagenod

But, but, but. Haircuts are messy. She shouldn't have to deal with the clean up. Though admittedly Riku would maybe just shove the cut-off-strands beneath his bed and ignore them forever. Which may not be the best way to deal with them.

He nods, because yeah.]

Let's get going then.

[lethechained]

[Now that would be a feat.]

[And she's rather he didn't have to deal with it either. Gosh, Riku. Knowing the Tower, that's a recipe for a monster popping up under his bed - or at least a serious and possibly sentient mess.]

Yes, let's.

[Here, have a fond smile before she gets walking.]

[justabignobody]

[He figures as much. It might be a tall order, but he is confident enough to succeed. One day at least.

It's his hair though. Which means it's only logical that he should be the one to deal with it. Oh, so what. He can take on any monster the tower throws at him.

And there he follows, trailing half a step behind her.]

[lethechained]

[One yet distant day, perhaps, but it may be worth trying now, too.]

[And she's the one who offered to cut it, leading to the mess in the first place. Even in his sleep?]

[They're off to see the wizard fetch the scissors--]

[She walks quietly for a moment, then,]

I'm... really glad that you're okay, Riku.

[justabignobody]

[Of course! He hasn't given up yet, hasn't he?

He's the one who's let it grow so long though. Sleep, what sleep?

He hesitates for just a moment before he replies.]

...I'm glad that you are okay too. That everyone is.

[lethechained]

[He hasn't - and she appreciates it. Even if it might yet be futile--]

[And he could have let it grow longer, too, if he hadn't been interrupted. -- Right, of course. 'Resting his eyes' then.]

[She doesn't look at him right away, but her smile grows slightly, eyes lowering to the ground but not in a bad way.]

Thank you.

[justabignobody]

[Well, maybe this time. But there will always be another chance.

Any longer and it would have stated to give him a headache though. Yep. See? Nothing to worry about.

He glances at her, chuckling lightly when he sees that smile, reaching up to brush his fingers lightly against her arm.]

Come on.

[They have places to be after all. Sort of.]

[lethechained]

[So long as the Tower keeps offering the opportunity, yes. It's somewhere between comfort and not.]

[That's something with muscles like his-- Resting one's eyes is still a good way to get surprise!mauled by a hair monster.]

[That's always a good way to get her to look right at him, even though it startles her - it's not a bad sort of startle and she doesn't jerk like she might have some time ago. In fact, she offers and even wider smile.]

Right.

[Close enough. Definitely going to be getting a move on, then.]

[justabignobody]

[What can he say, he has a lot of hair and it's heavy. Not to mention that too long hair is kind of impractical in a place like the tower. Usually maybe, but this is Riku. He smells monsters before he sees them anyways. Eyes closed or not.

For a second his stomach clenches in uncertainty when she startles, but the widening smile chases that away just as quickly again, leaving him with a small grin as he follows right alongside her until they reach her room... or where ever else she keeps the scissor.]

[lethechained]

[Very impractical, which is just one more reason she's glad she can do this for him. Gotta make sure he stays safe, after all. Yes, but what would said hair monster smell like? Would it just smell like hair?]

[She does appear to have some scissors in her room, because that is where they stop, and she opens the door and leaves it that way, so he can follow her if he wishes. Even if he doesn't, he can probably see in. Her part of the room seems to be the one with the drawings around. It doesn't take her long to fetch said scissors and turn back to head out again.]

[justabignobody]

[It's not that bad, really... though he certainly more than appreciates her help with this. Like a bad hair day, probably. However those smell.

He doesn't exactly enter, but rather leans back against the door frame, arms crossing as he glances over her drawings as he waits.]

[lethechained]

[Of course, but every little bit counts, especially in a place as dangerous as this. Next thing you know, there'll be a hair-pulling monster. And what if the day the hair monster attacks from under his bad he's already having a bad hair day and can't smell it? ... This is very silly.]

[She offers him a smile as she makes her way back, only once peeking over her shoulder at her work. Though she doesn't say it, she rather hopes he at least doesn't find them objectionable; he does make an appearance, as do several other familiar faces. If he's still in the door when she gets there, she'll pause to wait for him to be ready to leave again.]

[justabignobody]

[Indeed, they do. ...Though the possible appearance of a hair-pulling monster is maybe kind of stretching it. ...Yeah. They should probably stop while they still have some dignity left, huh?

He stays by the door, eyes drifting over familiar faces and places - as far as he is concerned, her art is her own; he has no place to object or find it objectionable - a thoughtful look settling on his face, but it disappears the moment she steps close. Taking a step to the side, he takes hold of the door to hold it open for her.]

[lethechained]

[Probably, probably. It's not quite horrible enough for the Tower. Sounds like a good idea.]

[Her eyes study him and his reaction as she approaches, and she can't help being pleased to see no obvious signs of any negative reaction. -- Ah, he's kind enough to hold the door for her. That deserves a smile and a quiet,]

Thank you.

[As she steps out into the hall.]

[justabignobody]

[Nope. Though the tower is capable of plenty ridiculous things, that would be a bit too much.

Riku doesn't think it really deserves much at all - it's only polite, isn't it? Nevertheless he answers with,]

You are welcome.

[Then he follows her into the hallway, closing the door behind himself.]