☈ strike #10 (video / action)

[thestormishere]

[ It's really just the icing on the cake that, after everything's that happened to Lightning here- trapped away from her home, failing her Focus by force, conscripted to fight in a war she has little stake in, turning Cie'th on the battlefield of all things... she's finally returned to Luceti, not a week following her eventual death like what's supposed to happen, but ten days after the fact instead. It's not as bad as it could be, of course, but it's definitely enough to cause worry in a way she really wouldn't approve of at all.

And not only that, but it's raining as well. It's quickly approaching evening, and huge drops are heard landing heavily on the pages of a 'recording' journal laying open somewhere outside... and then suddenly a shriek- not unlike another one heard two weeks earlier, although this time it's localized not far from the center of the village. A minute later, and anyone then paying attention to this particular 'video' will get treated to a rather erratic view of the sky, an overhead structure of some kind in passing, and the occasional fleeting glimpse of Lightning, wearing a white dress and with most of her hair plastered wetly to her face.

There's also the sound of ripping, as someone in a state of acute distress begins tearing the pages out of said journal in handfuls. Overlaid on that is the sound of heavy, uneven breathing, what sounds suspiciously like the occasional sob, and-- ]

Stop it. Stop it!

[ ... Obviously, Lightning is not well right now- a fact that is not only apparent over the journals, but in person as well. It's certainly not normal for a woman in what looks to be New Feather garb to be sitting in the middle of the school's playground in the rain, hunched over and trying her best to destroy her own journal. Please help? ]

Comments

Re: [Video]

[consultmybooks]

[Giles realizes his mistake about a second after Lightning does.]

I can bring it by the playground, is what I meant.

Re: [Video]

[thestormishere]

[ ... Oh. ]

Hmn... [ Okay, so even when at her best Lightning isn't exactly a conversationalist, but lacking there is also explicit refusal. Her eyes just go to the assaulted journal, then down again. ]

Re: [Video]

[consultmybooks]

[Considering the state Lightning seems to be in? A lack of explicit refusal is as good as a "yes".

Giles closes the journal, grabs his umbrella from the umbrella stand, and heads out into the rain. His goal is the playground.]

[thestormishere]

[ And that's where Lightning will be alright, sitting where you could say there would be grass if the village wasn't coming right out of winter and the ground here wasn't so trampled. Her arms are wrapped around herself but, even if she's cold, her head isn't down. She looks almost like she's thinking, and is bound to notice when he nears... if unlikely to do much about it. ]

[consultmybooks]

[Giles...marches right up to her and puts his umbrella down on the ground next to her.]

Building 7, Room 22. I'd like it back, when you get the chance.

[thestormishere]

[ Lightning just watches, her eyes on him for several long moments before reaching for the umbrella. Her movements are automatic, as is her response-- ]

Understood.

[consultmybooks]

[He nods, wondering if he should say anything more. Eventually deciding against it.]

Try not to get sick.

[Well...more or less.

And, after waiting for a second or two to see if Lightning has anything more to say, Giles is just going to head back to the apartment before he gets too badly soaked.]