thestormishere | ☈ strike #09 (video / action)

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☈ strike #09 (video / action)

[ 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! ]

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[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.]

[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?

Edited 2011-02-26 05:54 (UTC)

[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!

[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.]

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.]

[ 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. ]

[Aerith's hovering over her, hand by the other woman's back, but expecting Zack's arrival, she's also looking at the door every so often. However, she keeps her attention as much on Lightning as possible.] I can try healing with Nala's magic again... [And it should be obvious that she doesn't mean anything with the brand. that's offlimits now.]

[Zack barges in a moment later, and dashes over right after spotting them, worried and admittedly a bit scared; the last thing on his mind is what went on the week before.]

Aerith! Light! Are you guys okay!?

[She's sitting up now... that's an improvement, right? ...Right?]

I don't-- [ And then... suddenly Zack? Lightning looks up and over at his appearance, vague refusal dying on her lips. ]

Zack? What are...?

[ ... Oh. Her eyebrows draw together as she glances down, and then she turns her face away entirely, putting her head back down with a sigh. Great. ]

I'm fine, Zack. [There are light wounds from the fighting, but who's worried by them at a moment like this? Aerith's relieved to see Zack here, at least.] It's Light-- can you help her up?

Yeah... yeah, of course. [Zack crouches down beside Lightning, winding an arm around her shoulders and offering his free hand for support. Please don't gutpunch him ;A;] Can you stand?

[ So not only did Lightning just get handed notice of her death sentence having its repeal denied and general date made definite, but now Zack is here too to witness the aftermath. She clenches her teeth so hard her jaw quickly begins to ache, but lets him help her up with another agitated sigh, feeling about as strong as a toddler and ridiculously embarrassed.

Buuut she can't help using him to brace herself still, keeping hands on his arm as she closes her eyes a moment to stave off the dizziness. After that, however, she then gives an odd, frowning look at Aerith. Did she call him there or what? ]

He was worried, Light. He saw on the journal. [It's directed in an undertone to Lightning, her eyebrows knit with concern, but she doesn't really mind if Zack hears that, so her volume isn't moderated as much as it could be.]

[He steadies her as much as he can, worried, and he'll try to let her keep her pride so long as she can support herself. If she stumbles though, pride be damned- he will carry her.]

We should get you to the med center here, you can lie down and get your strength back. Is it an injury? Do you need to be healed?

Saw? [ What?! She glances around, as if expecting to see the journal continuing to obviously broadcast this whole thing to the entire damn village. Of course it isn't, though. Still, it takes her a moment to absorb what Zack is asking. ]

... I'm fine. [ A little bit of denial and stubbornness? Definitely. ] I don't think... your world's magic agrees with me. [ Because that totally makes sense by itself and doesn't imply things all on its own. She's not really thinking completely clear yet... and obviously isn't aware that "l'Cie" have already been mentioned. ]

Don't rush yourself! I shut it off.

...Light, we should-- [Explain, is what Aerith's thinking, but that's not exactly fair to Lightning, is it? Neither is leaving Zack in the dark... but after a guilty look at Zack that slides away, she murmurs:] Never mind. [more to Zack] Let's skip the med center--she can rest at the apartment, she'll be more comfortable. It's not an injury.

Hey, hey, relax. We can talk when we get there. [He focuses on keeping them on the move; he can get answers when they're safe and inside a comfortable residence somewhere far away from here.]

[ Lightning wraps her arms around her torso, staring towards the ground with a dark, frustrated expression. Just... fuck her life all over. She's hating this so, so much.

But she can't get upset, can she? There is zero wiggle room right now, with her Brand burning red like a freaking beacon of her impending doom. ]

He shouldn't have to... [ "...get involved." Except wow, does she really mean to run off on this draft and turn Cie'th without him getting an explanation? Even after the utter embarrassment of the week before...

... Aerith is injured. Even if Lightning goes along with leaving the battledome, she stares at the woman-- ]

Aerith... you should heal yourself.

I was getting there. [She covers the cut on her arm, a dull burning throb complaining of neglect. But she calls on Nala's power, speaking as she does:] It'll be fine. It's nothing serious... come on, let's go home! [She starts moving to the exit, though she keeps looking back at Zack and Lightning to make sure they're following without too much trouble.

...She got blood on her jacket again. Sigh. This is why red is a good color to wear.]

[He's dying to ask what in the world they were doing to get this beat up, but it wouldn't be good to get distracted while they're on the move. Thus, for now? He'll be keeping his mouth shut. But you better believe that as soon as they're at the apartments he's giving them a good and proper interrogation. ~~A nice convenient Travel Transition would be useful right about now.~~]

[ Transitions are for pansi Even if Lightning's not exactly fond of how far away the apartments are from the dome right now, she doesn't seem to be getting weaker at least, which probably means she's regaining her strength at about the same slow rate as the walk is taking out of her.

She looks slightly uneasy when they make it to the community housing building, her eyes on the stairs that lead up to her apartment instead. The idea of being trapped in Zack and Aerith's with the expectation to talk about how she's basically dying doesn't really sit well with her either, for obvious reasons.

... But she doesn't object further or bolt, as much as she sort of wants to. Running away from her problems has never solved much of anything in the past, after all. ]

[ Lightning is going in their apartment so Aerith can make sure she is not going to get worse. And also so she can just take a load off her feet quicker because she does look pretty awful. The healer makes this pretty clear when she heads to her and Zack's apartment with hardly a second thought, holding the door open for them. At least her own arm is no longer a big concern. ]

[Zack's not going to complain about location, for sure- Lightning still looks pretty bad, even if she's walking well enough, so he guides her to their apartment after Aerith and guides her into the spare bedroom. There's the couch, sure, but a bed is infinitely more comfortable, and it's not like anyone's used it since Cloud moved out.]

There we go. How are you feeling?

[ Alright. That's not really what Lightning expected, but at least it saves her from worrying too much about getting the couch that they actually use dirty. It occurs to her that she could use a shower. She's been much worse off before, of course, but...

... In any case, there's only so much she can distract herself with before she has to deal with this. She just sits down with a sigh, eyes down and silently taking stock of herself before answering Zack. In doing so, she also raises a hand, gingerly putting fingers against her upper chest. ]

Been better.

We knew that already. [Aerith tries for a note of levity with the teasing in her response as she looks Lightning over. Her lips purse at Light's hand.] Does it-- [her own hand rises to her chest, fingers curling in briefly.] Do you feel different? [Changed, or changing still...]

[Voice] fashionably late |D

Voice] welcome welcome :)

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I should probably track this thread or something orz

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