thestormishere | ☈ 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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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...]

[Zack drags over the desk chair so Aerith can sit down, then makes himself comfortable leaning against the wall with the window, arms crossed as he listens. What's this l'Cie Aerith mentioned before...?]

[ Lightning's eyes remain focused downward, but they still follow Zack as he goes to lean against the wall- hell, that's the guy she was seriously in love with the week before, and though obviously she doesn't feel that way any more... she's not sure what she thinks. There was certainly a good deal of getting to know each other, whereas before she would have considered them only friendly acquaintances at best. She has no idea how he might react.

But for now she just answers the woman. ]

... Yes. [ There's... really no easy way to say it. What they did most likely just ruined her chances of making it another week. ] It's over, Aerith. No more.

[She gives Zack a brief smile for pulling out the chair before she sits down...

And Lightning's words have her grip the sides of it hard as she looks down, pushing back grief.

...She hasn't asked (or told) Zack to leave, though. Which means... he will be told. That's how Aerith takes it. After a pause, her eyes rise to Lightning's and she says:]

Light is a l'Cie, Zack. [she turns her head to look at him.] l'Cie are people chosen to complete a certain task. They're made stronger, given their own magic... but they only have a limited time to get the job done. ... I was trying to buy her more, but it just made things worse.

[His concern is just about doubled, hearing that, and he glances over at Lightning, eyes narrowing. Limited time, huh...]

What happens when that time runs out?

[ Aerith deciding to explain it herself is strange - and grating - to Lightning, considering the woman isn't even from 'her' world. Then again, after everything they've researched and tried, she probably knows just as much about it all as the ex-soldier does, save for experience in actually dealing with it first-hand. There's only so much that books cover, but what's there works well enough. Lightning is still left to answer Zack, however- something she does with her flat expression and downward gaze still firmly in place. ]

... L'Cie who don't complete their Focus in time turn Cie'th. Into monsters.

[She thought it might be easier on Light to help explain, but really... a little easier is never easy. Just hearing it said again--that she'll turn into a monster--it hurts.]

Monsters... [Oh geez, oh geez. Zack's eyes widen, and he pushes away from the window, angry in a rather frustrated manner. What the hell kind of messed up magic is that!?] Isn't there anything we can do!?

[ Yeeaaah. A flicker of annoyance crosses Lightning's face, and then she briefly glances over at Zack without moving her head. But still she sounds strangely calm about this- deliberately so. ]

Do you really think I wouldn't try 'anything' to get out of it? If there's another option, it's not...

[ ... Sigh. ]

Nothing's worked. We've tried. ... There should be something, nothing is impossible... [Don't give up, never give up hope. She'd told Tifa that, but even she was having trouble here. Her hands fret at each other before she spreads them apart.] There's not enough time, those stupid Malnosso wouldn't take her off the draft!

Well we can't just give up, either! We have to keep trying, keep thinking...! There must be some way...

[He's starting to look kind of desperate at this point, but... dammit, he really doesn't want to see any more friends die. He's not going to surrender, even if he hasn't known Lightning that long. It doesn't make a difference in the end- a friend is a friend.]

... I asked the Malnosso to help me. Even they said it wasn't possible for them to find a way to fix it in time. [ She tenses at this admission, lacing her hands together- doing that had cost her a lot of pride... revealing it to others, even more so. Maybe she would have beforehand if it could have helped, but she didn't specifically because she didn't want the other woman to give up. Now, however, it's a moot point. ]

I don't want to try anything else. If this 'draft' means fighting to help protect everyone else trapped here, then I don't want to lose my chance by failing another attempt.

You can't trust what they say. All it means is they won't help. [ Whether it's possible or not... It was tempting to trust Bil with his absentminded manner, but there was a possibility that was just for show.] Please don't decide because of what the Malnosso are telling us.

No way, not because of them. We've gotta try something else, anything else. There's lots of different kinds of magic here, right? So there's got to be someone who can help!

Of course we shouldn't trust them! [ Lightning frowns between the two- that's a solid given, you guys, come on. ] But if they refuse to do anything that's still the end of it- there's only a day and a half left and I'm not in a position any more to just go trying things all... haphazard.

[ She puts a hand over her heart once again, then adds with finality- ] This isn't negotiable. [ ... ] Besides... there's still Hope to worry about.

So you're going to... [It's murmured quietly, trailing off as one hand ghosts over the stomach of her dress. When Hope is mentioned, though, she looks back up at Lightning.]

Light... I don't have any more ideas. We need someone else to help.

Maybe we could ask on the journals? There's tons of experienced people here! Not to say you aren't, Aerith, but I'm sure other people could make a difference!

[If she turns into a monster, then... someone's going to have to kill her, aren't they? That... no. He doesn't want that at all.]

☈ strike #09 (video / action)

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