☈ strike #09 (video / action)

[thestormishere]

[ Lightning looks particularly tired today, although even with it obvious that she's got her journal open, she's clearly not looking at it- something that might explain why she doesn't seem to notice that she's 'recording' herself. ]

I'm not tired.

[ She seems pretty frustrated, too. After a moment, she literally tosses the journal aside- the image spins wildly... and yet keeps going even after it lands. A view of Lightning's legs strolling away can be seen, and then Aerith, standing a short distance away and fiddling with the staff in her hands. Lightning stops next to her, hand on hip, but their conversation - if any - is seemingly too low to be caught.

They're in the battledome, and anyone who happens to be around out there or tuning in curiously will quickly see that what they're doing doesn't seem very interesting: like many others, preparing for the draft by fighting simulated Third Party combatants. Lightning takes point, wielding her gunblade with practiced ease as Aerith calls on the magic of the Filial spirits, firing jets of water and following up with her staff. Those familiar with spirit energy may also recognize that she's gathering and is close to unleashing it, a very faint glow of light around her body.

Eventually the last soldier collapses, the body fading away, and Aerith turns to Lightning. There's a slash on her arm, bloodied but shallow, but the brunette doesn't pay it mind for the moment, looking at Lightning with an earnest expression. ] All right, I'm ready.

Right... [ Lightning seems at once determined and uneasy as she folds her gunblade and slams it into its holster, shifting in place. Aerith pauses, then holds her staff in front of her, concentrating with her brow furrowed. The energy goes out from her, surrounding Lightning and surging forward as beams of light-- going specifically for her chest, from which a different glow starts to appear: bright blue, seemingly shining from a small but elaborate something beneath her sleeveless tunic...

But almost immediately after that, it's obvious that something is extremely wrong. The lights flare, almost seeming to clash, and what looks like it should be a magical healing of some sort causes Lightning to suddenly stagger back as if struck, pressing a hand into her chest.

And as if that wasn't enough, the pink-haired girl screams in pain. The sound abruptly cuts off just as the glow fades, Lightning wavers where she stands, and then just collapses, straight down with zero effort to catch herself- not a good sign, considering the former soldier could probably do that in her sleep.

OOC: Both video and action open! ]

Comments

[Action] 1/???

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

[that... was not supposed to happen. What did that do?]

[Action] 2/???

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

[What did that just do to Lightning-- oh god, what did she just do to--]

Light?

[Action] let's just stick with this for now

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

Lightning-- [The staff is cast aside as she goes to Lightning's side, kneeling down to peer at her face. Her hand rests on Lightning's shoulder, shaking gently. Well, as gently as she can while panicking.] Light. Light!

[Action]

[thestormishere]

[ Dead? Fortunately, no. Completely unresponsive? You bet- she's clearly been knocked out entirely, doing nothing more than taking quick, shallow breaths where she lays. ]

[Action]

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

[And after Aerith checks breathing and pulse, well--well. She should heal her, right? Except the brand just reacted to her limit break--would it react to healing magic too? Was it--what was it doing, was it defending itself?

... Maybe she'll have a better idea if she checks the brand. Despite knowing Lightning can't hear her, she still murmurs:] I'm going to look at your Brand and see if I can tell anything. Okay, Light?

[And she really really wishes she'd hear a response, even a refusal, because it'd mean Light was conscious.]

[Action]

[thestormishere]

[ Still nothing, save that her body is slightly tensed- if attempted, it may prove a bit difficult to move her... ]

[Action]

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

[Difficult or not, the brand is getting checked now for Light's own good, even if there's a wrenching feeling in Aerith's gut of dread for what she might see. She struggles in moving Lightning over, opens the shirt...

...That feeling in her gut turns to ice. How could it have progressed like that? It's too fast--like that, with the toll the draft would take...

She won't make it.

Her right hand covers her mouth, stifling a sob, and then another awful thought comes: I made the brand do that. Tears drip on top of shaking knuckles before they rise up and scrub at her eyes. No, no. Lightning needs help now, she can't fall to pieces. She focuses on the filial healing magic, but it comes only weakly, her concentration faltering. She's too focused on the brand, horrified by the prospect that it might change any further.]

[originaljackass]

[During all of this, Jack is up in the viewing area, watching this unfold. Whenever they finish, Lightning might catch him up there, next to his odd poodle-sized blue ox. He'd been hoping for more catfight from the two of them. This was a little different. Interesting stuff, at least.]

[thestormishere]

[ It's a little unlikely Lightning will be doing much of anything for the rest of the day, considering the extent of her reaction to trying to seal the magical Brand that has a hold on her soul and body. As soon as she's back to speed with a working mind again, however, she seems to realize it's possible that incident could have been seen- she casts a glance up towards the second floor, her jaw clenched, even though it's impossible to see anything from the simulation side. ]

[originaljackass]

[For a second he thinks he's been spotted, then he realizes better. He smirks and glances down at Babe.]

I think we might be in trouble.

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

--Light? [Aerith's not exactly about to leave Light alone like this, so guess who's still hanging around? She looks up at the "mirror" too, an unhappy look crossing her face as she realizes what Lightning must be thinking.] Maybe there's no one up there...

[She hopes. And no one came to help her with Lightning, so... who could be up there?]

[thestormishere]

... Maybe.

[ It really shows that Lightning isn't anywhere near steady, but she manages to stand, at least. As far as she's concerned, though, they're done here. Show's over. With what she brought with her gathered up, she fully intends to just go home and wait for the start of the final blow. If Jack wants to run into them on the way out or something, however... ]

[originaljackass]

[Seeing the way she's walking, it's clear she's weak. Much as he thinks Aerith, she's a tiny little thing. So Jack ends up strolling on down the stairs. He'll be waiting outside the chamber doors when they exit, leaning against the wall.]

That must have been some workout.

[Voice / Action]

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

[Hope had been walking the dog, journal accompanying him under an arm as he does so. He's been restless since he first heard of the draft, and with Lightning and Aerith having gone to the Battledome to practice... he's found himself unable to sit still. Indoors or out.

After returning Baldr to the apartment, he stops and leans against the door, opening the book like he had done several times before. Just in case. Flickering over a clip that seems to be from the ground, he almost skips past it—that is, until Lightning's voice catches his attention.

Watching the entire scene unfold, dumbfounded, he's entirely silent until he hears that scream—it's a horrible sound that cuts him to the core. He presses a hand to his chest, his own book slipping out of his hand.]

LIGHTNING!

[Panicked, he darts his head this way and that, sizing up the distance between here and there...

Then Hope decides he's not waiting for a response. Snatching up the journal, he bolts from the community building toward the river, over the bridge to the path that would lead him there.

Whether he'd be welcomed in the dome or not is irrelevant as far as he's concerned.]

[Voice]

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

[The yell comes soon after she checks Lightning's vitals, before she checks the brand. Her eyes flit up, looking for Hope, though she soon realizes--it's the journal. Lightning's journal.]

Hope, she's -- [Okay? No she's not.] --she's alive. Don't panic. [She shakes her head. Are words any good right now? What's most important is healing Lightning, and she bites her lip as she continues to do that.]

[Voice]

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

What happened?! What did you do?!? [He doesn't mean to lash out at or blame Aerith - not entirely - but ever since that draft he's been on edge, terrified something could happen to her or any of the others he knows... and especially to Lightning, who had delivered the sour news just mere days beforehand, of the looming possibility that her brand could reach The End.]

I'm on my way there right now! [He's breathless, frantic, rapid footfalls of his feet on the path and then grass as he cuts through the bit of forest surrounding the dome. His hands are shaking so much that it's a wonder he doesn't lose his grip on the journal.]

[Voice]

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

[The raw emotion in Hope's voice stings--she didn't mean to hurt Lightning, had no idea it might turn out like this, but it has. Hope is just a teenager, he needs Light. They're family. And Aerith just hurt Lightning.]

I was trying to seal the brand, it didn't work-- [Obviously.] --I'm sorry, I didn't think it would--!

[Her words die off as she shakes her head.]

... Okay. We'll be here. [They aren't exactly going anywhere like this.]

[Action]

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't waste time responding now. Hope runs as fast as his little legs can carry him, through the trees and toward the dome that he can see looming in the distance—he'd been intrigued by it before, but now it just seems to be a beacon of fear and uncertainty. An omen.

He bursts inside, looking around frantically for the pair of young women. There's so many people in there, training and fighting... anxiety wells up within him.]

Lightning!? Aerith!

[Action]

[thestormishere]

[ Lightning managed to stay checked out long enough to miss the conversation with Hope over the journal, but in the time it takes the teen to get there, she's at least hit the realm of semi-consciousness. She's really, really weak though, and continues opting for staying on the ground while she regains her bearings.

That is, until she hears Hope sounding distressed through the cracked-open door of area #4- something she's very in-tune with. Despite lingering disorientation, she immediately starts trying to get up, looking alarmed. ]

-- Hope!

[Voice] fashionably late |D

[wingenvy]

[Okay that's not something he expected to see upon opening the journal. Even if things have been kind of weird since the experiment, there's no way he can just ignore that.]

Hey, hey! What happened!? Are you guys okay!? [Does he need to charge in to the rescue, bbs.]

Voice] welcome welcome :)

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

[things have been kind of weird with the experiment--there's a small gutwrench when Aerith hears Zack's voice, knowing that just a week ago he was in love with the girl who is currently on the floor because of her. And how does she explain what just happened? But if he can help, Lightning needs it.]

Light's unconscious. My magic, it--it didn't work the way it's supposed to. [She tries keeping her voice level, but the undertones of panic and worry are all too obvious.] Did she tell you anything about l'Cie?

[Voice]

[wingenvy]

[l'Cie? Really not ringing any bells.]

I don't- I don't think so, what is it? Where are you? I'll come help!

[Voice]

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

[I don't think so is a definite no, since that's not something you ever just forget. Aerith takes a shaky breath, covering her mouth. So Lightning hadn't told Zack, either.

...There's a lot of things he hasn't been told.]

Battle dome. In the fourth room.

[She's going to work on calming back down and taking care of Lightning before delving into explanations.]

[wingenvy]

Be right there--

[He's off like a rocket, then, to go and help out if he can because enough people haven't already right 8D;;. It shouldn't take him long to get there, all things considered. A matter of minutes, maybe.]

[thestormishere]

[ That last week of being inexplicably in love with Zack? Lightning doesn't even know where to start... and it's probably pretty good she didn't hear that he's heading their way, considering she's hardly strong enough right now to even be sitting up. To say the least, that is a state highly unusual for the woman; she'd prefer not to be seen by anyone like this, with her head still spinning, resting on the arms that are draped across her drawn-up knees. ]