☈ strike #06 (action / voice)

[thestormishere]

[ Lightning doesn't tell anyone the reason why she spends so much time outside despite her hatred of the native weather. Walking or jogging in the cold, training at the 'battledome' and barracks, visiting the stores when people tend to not be around... these things keep her busy, in the time she's not poring over the journals and library and whatever else she can get her hands on, looking for some clue towards what she's supposed to do with herself.

She's certain her time left to complete her Focus - something she cannot do here even if she wanted - is running out. Running out fast. Needless to say, it's pretty difficult to indulge in any sort of holiday mood for long, with the threat of either dying or turning into a monster hanging over her head.

Today, however, the ex-soldier has something entirely new adding to the mix of things on her mind- one that's not hard to figure out for once, considering the mild spectacle she's sort of making of herself around the outside of community housing building 4 right now. In one hand, she's got a makeshift leash that probably started its life as a drawstring to a jacket's hood or something, and at the other end is a black fluffball of a puppy, snuffling around in the snow while his new owner watches with a stiff posture and mostly neutral expression. If there was anyone who actually knew her very well here, they'd probably be able to tell that she's... at a complete loss.

Eventually, she decides to try consulting anyone who might be near their journal, though as usual, she's sure to make it very short and to the point- ]

Who knows anything about dogs?

[ And... yeah. She's definitely going to be outside with the puppy quite a bit - mostly outside CH4 where she lives, though at some point she finally just picks him up and ventures into the part of town with the shops, searching for anything that might possibly help out in this... little predicament. ]

Comments

[goggle-syndrome.livejournal.com]

[Due to the fact he hates being inside all the time, Taichi's out and about today when he spots this unfamiliar woman. Lightning's not really his concern, but instead he's focused on the puppy.]

Wouldn't it be easier for him to walk on his own?

[thestormishere]

[ The puppy is quite busy at the moment trying to pull a stick out of the snow, with limited success. Lightning looks up from watching him stiffly, though she's slightly taken aback for a moment over finding a kid talking to her. ]

... It's easier to get him to come back inside, this way.

[goggle-syndrome.livejournal.com]

[He's busy watching the puppy then, shrugging at Lightning's answer.]

How do you figure?

[thestormishere]

Because he doesn't follow all the time. It's either that or picking him up.

[goggle-syndrome.livejournal.com]

He just needs some training. He's brand new, right? He probably doesn't know any better.

[thestormishere]

And until he learns, that's what the leash is for.

[ She glances back at the puppy in question at a particularly loud play-growl, just as he loses grip on the stick and tumbles backward. Cue eyebrow raise. ]

[goggle-syndrome.livejournal.com]

Right, sure. [And at the puppy's tumbling and Lightning's eyebrow raise, cue snickering. He's going to crouch down to puppy-height and see if he can get the animal to come closer.] What're you calling him?

[thestormishere]

[ The puppy flails a bit but then recovers his footing, generously flecked with snow along one side and up all four legs. Then he notices the boy and seems to straighten, staring at him curiously but slightly cautious as well.

As for Lightning, she frowns a little at the question. They say giving something a name definitely means you intend to keep it, and she's not quite sure about that yet. ]

"Hey Puppy," for now.

[goggle-syndrome.livejournal.com]

[That just makes him laugh more, and he's holding out his hand for the puppy to sniff if he so chooses.]

You don't really expect him to listen that way, do you? How's he supposed to know who you're talking to?

[thestormishere]

I really don't think it matters to him at this point. He'd probably listen to anything if you used the right voice.

[ And has Lightning been using said voice yet? The world may never know. For now she crosses her arms, letting go of the 'leash' as the puppy slowly walks over the boy. Hopefully the puppy doesn't bite him and that he doesn't, you know, grab the dog and bolt or something. ]

[goggle-syndrome.livejournal.com]

Dogs are a lot smarter than people give them credit for. He probably knows he can get away with anything that way. [If it helps, Taichi's not dumb enough to run off with Lightning's dog...probably because Lightning might hit him or something. He's just coaxing the puppy closer because he's convinced he's an awesome animal trainer.]

Did the Malnosso bring him?

[thestormishere]

[ No comment on that first part, although yeah, Taichi would probably find himself face down in the snow before he even turned around to run. :| Fortunately, the puppy isn't anywhere near as hair-triggered and suspicious, so after a moment he begins wagging his tail as he makes the last few steps to that outstretched hand. ]

How'd you guess? [ Totally flat delivery there. Why couldn't they have given her... oh, the rest of her stuff back? Or even just her necklace? ]

[goggle-syndrome.livejournal.com]

[PUPPY. Don't mind him, he's having fun just petting behind his ears and stuff.]

Because they brought a lot of people presents this year. Sounds like you were really surprised though.

[thestormishere]

You have no idea.

[ Lightning just watches, thinking the dog would probably be much better in the hands of someone who actually seems to care, like this kid. Someone who's not a l'Cie. Oblivious to her misgivings, however, the puppy just keeps playing. He's more interested in inspecting his newest human friend than sitting still for scratches at the moment, though. ]

[goggle-syndrome.livejournal.com]

There has to be a reason they brought him to you though, right? [Taichi's cool with letting the puppy inspect. Hey, he likes dogs okay? It happens when you grow up with your sister's cat constantly taking up room in your bed at home.]

[thestormishere]

Oh, I'm sure there's a reason. I'm just not sure I'd like to know what it's supposed to be.

[ So inspect the puppy does, sticking his nose into different places of Taichi's clothing and inhaling deeply. You didn't get crumbs or something on you lately, did you? ]

[goggle-syndrome.livejournal.com]

Maybe you're just not supposed to know right away. Sounds enough like them. [No, no crumbs...okay actually probably, but he also usually carries some small treats in his pocket. Habit he picked up when Amaterasu was around. Taichi's gone through a lot of animals in Luceti, let's leave it at that.] Don't be so nosy, hold on. [Yes, he's talking to the puppy. And he's fishing into his pocket and holding up what looks like a piece of bread before turning back to Lightning.]

You don't mind, do you?

[thestormishere]

Hm.

[ And bingooo! As Taichi holds up the obviously delicious morsel just for puppies oh yes, the puppy begins reaching as high as he can go, attempting to catch it with his tongue and snuffling loudly. Lightning raises her eyebrows at that. ]

... No, go ahead.

[goggle-syndrome.livejournal.com]

[That's more like it. He laughs and presses on the puppy's head lightly to get him to back off.] Not so fast, dude. Sit. [Yes, he's going to attempt to train him...why he got it in his head that he has to prove how simple it is to Lightning, who knows.] He's going to press on the puppy's back end to try and make him sit.] Sit. [You're not getting the bread until you do, pup.]

[thestormishere]

[ Puppy crueltyyyy! The puppy resists the hand at first, not knowing what's wanted of him and why this boy with food for him is saying weird words... but eventually, he gets frustrated just trying to reach for it and sits, staring up at the hand in confusion. ]

Well... that's a start.

[goggle-syndrome.livejournal.com]

[Victory! Here puppy, have part of that bread and an ear-scritch.] Good boy. [And once he holds out the bread for the puppy, he looks up at Lightning again.]

It's a lot easier than you think, I guess. It's better than trying to train a cat.

[thestormishere]

Hm.

[ Lightning thinks of NORA with its cat mascot and... can't agree any more in that regard, really. Meanwhile, that piece of bread is long gone and the puppy is already trying to figure out how he can get more. ]

Maybe so. I doubt he's stupid, even for a dog.

[goggle-syndrome.livejournal.com]

Not really. Dogs are fast learners, and this guy's no exception...even if he's not as cool as Gabumon. [Because Gabumon will forever be the Saint Bernard with a horn on his head. And dogs are always better; he has a few scars from Meeko to prove that training a cat never works. Ever. However he sees the puppy is trying again and so he's using his free hand to press on its shoulders to make it lay down.] Okay, down. Down. [And while he's waiting to see if the puppy responds, he keeps the bread out of reach.]

I'm Taichi, by the way.

[thestormishere]

[ Lightning raises an eyebrow at the Gabumon comment, but otherwise just watches silently. The puppy is pretty stubborn though, and Taichi's attempt to get him to lay down doesn't really go anywhere. However, in the meantime Lightning's mind is working- hard enough that she ignores the introduction in favor of suddenly crouching down alongside the boy, plucking a piece of bread from his hand without asking. ]

Here. Lay down.

[ She holds the treat flat to the ground, her hand over it, so that eventually, the puppy gets tired of just snuffling after it and lays down as he tries to figure it out. Satisfied, Lightning lets him have the treat, the slightest hint of a triumphant smile on her face. ]

... I'm Lightning. Is Gabumon your dog?

[goggle-syndrome.livejournal.com]

[Huh. So maybe Lightning is trustworthy enough to keep the puppy, never mind that slight sound of protest once the bread's taken from his hand. He watches in approval though, grinning when the puppy follows orders...even if they're not his.]

Lightning huh? Kinda cool, I guess. [He shakes his head though.] No way. Gabumon's...not exactly a dog. He just looks like one, and sometimes acts like one.