☈ strike #11 (backdated action / video)

[thestormishere]

[ Okay, so thanks to Luceti, Lightning has now accomplished the impossible: not only coming back from the dead, but coming back after becoming a Cie'th- something that is not supposed to happen under any circumstances. Despite that, however, everything is not as peachy as you'd think. Now? She's left in the aftermath, trying to sort things out without suffering some kind of breakdown in the process.

This is Lightning, though- she's not okay, but she is better than she was at first. Fortunately, her memories of the whole incident and leading directly up to it are relatively fuzzy-- or depending on your viewpoint, unfortunately, considering she feels like she should try and figure it out... and yet doesn't want to think about it too much due to the sheer level of awful being in that state felt like.

On top of that, her main problem now is actually not her l'Cie Brand that has burned its way to completion... but its sibling set onto Hope's arm that is very likely working its way into doing the same. She needs to do something about him, before it's too late.

But to avoid or put off her other 'obligations' at this point could seem cowardly, and Lightning is not a coward. Therefore, as soon as she's reasonably alright, she kicks herself into action, searching out those she knows and 'needs' to see, trolling around community housing building #4 and the village in general.

... She may or may not actually hunt down Zack, Aerith, and possibly Raine specifically-- at their work places, even, just in time for their shifts to end. Yes, she's just that stalker enough to have figured that sort of thing out.

In addition, she soon turns to the journals as well, making this short message aimed at the last draftees- the filter is not particularly strong, save for locking it away from Hope as well as she can manage: ]

Anyone who saw this on the battlefield... I need to talk to you.

[ A picture is pressed into the journal directly afterward: a crude rendition of two wings- one non-colored, the other filled in with blood-red marker. There's a short pause and then a sigh in the background, but Lightning withholds further comment until responses - if any - come in.

And to avoid the headache of figuring it all out... each piece of this is backdated to just whenever this stuff would have happened. Seriously: any time. And if anything's been missed, just make something up. ]

Comments

[Voice // Locked]

[originaljackass]

I saw 'em.

[Voice // Locked]

[thestormishere]

[ It's Jack's voice that sets Lightning on edge right away, even if she doesn't immediately understand why. There's a long pause before she answers, and even then there's a strange tone to her voice when she does that is somehow both flat and dark. ]

Jack.

[Voice // Locked]

[originaljackass]

[Wow. He gets that tone from a lot of his exes. Scary.]

Hey Light.

[Voice // Locked]

[thestormishere]

[ -- Wait, what? ]

... It's Lightning. [ Automatic response. Where in the world did he get the impression he could call her that? ]

[Voice // Locked]

[originaljackass]

Yeah, I knew that already. [Light seems less like a made up name.]

We've got things to talk about, right?

[wingenvy]

[Zack's got the afternoon shift at the bar today, so once he's done cleaning up and his replacement arrives, he heads out of Good Spirits to get home for dinner.]

[thestormishere]

[ And guess who's waiting for him when he does, leaning against the outside wall of the establishment with arms crossed across her chest and legs crossed at the ankle? Lightning, of course, though she doesn't say anything when he finally appears-- just looks at him. ]

[wingenvy]

Whoa! [Zack jerks back a bit at SUDDENLY, PERSON, but relaxes as soon as he recognizes her. He blinks in surprise, though, lifting a brow.] Light? Were you waiting for me?

[thestormishere]

[ .... Mmmmmaybe? She frowns slightly. ]

Is that a problem?

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

[Silly Lightning, like Aerith has a set schedule of staying away from her flowers.

...But it's true she tends to come in the mornings and then leave for a lunch, so Lightning can catch her just as she's finishing up for the morning, wiping dirt away from her dress.]

[thestormishere]

[ Maybe Aerith just doesn't realize she has one yet... or maybe Lightning's just a little weirder than usual right now and extra-sensitive to any patterns...

In any case, she knows, and it's then that she pushes into the building with a jingle, looking serious despite the cheery tone and skipping right to the point as soon as she's close enough. ]

Aerith. My books.

Leeeet's say this one is shortly after Light comes back btw.

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

[HAND SMACK ON MOUTH.

...She knew she was forgetting something. She shakes her head, lowering her hand to speak properly.] It slipped my mind with everything... Raine has them. Do you need them?

:|b tell me if I need to fix anythin'

[thestormishere]

[ So Aerith was the one who'd taken them; aside from knowing the culprit, Hope had been generally unhelpful on explaining why the books on Cocoon and the like she'd taken from the library had disappeared while she was gone. ]

Why... [ Pause. Wait... waitaminute. ] Who's Raine?

[voice | locked]

[winged_moon]

Why?

[voice | locked]

[thestormishere]

[ What she drew still matches her wings now too, so although obviously she's looking for people who saw the Cie'th, she's careful to watch her words. ]

I just need to know something. Were you there?

[voice | locked]

[winged_moon]

Yes.

[voice | locked]

[thestormishere]

... With the monster?

[Filtered]

[endgames]

[He was wondering if this subject would come up. You sound better than last time, at least.]

You after something in particular from those that did?

[Filtered]

[thestormishere]

[ Oh, it's this guy... though looking back, he wasn't too bad during when she'd just returned, which is why she cuts to the chase and bothers actually asking him-- ]

How many were there?

[Filtered]

[endgames]

[He almost grins to himself. Yeah, he thought that might be what she was after.]

Four. Including your friend, that is.

[Filtered]

[thestormishere]

Are you sure?

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[Lightning is free to catch her either after a shift at school or at the flower shop, depending on the day. The former would have her leaving earlier on in the afternoon, the latter is less of a set schedule.]

[action]

[thestormishere]

[ Some time after she's spoken to Aerith, hunting down Raine at the flower shop it is (too many complications over at the school), with Lightning... not entirely psyched about it, but at least more put together than she has been. She knows she'll have to be though, if they decide to talk at all about certain things.

And since she doesn't know much about the art of subtlety, it's pretty obvious she's staring once she's in, approaching with her expression rather... set. ]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[She'll be focused on the plants at first, though she picks up on the fact that she's not alone in the shop quickly enough, lifting her gaze toward the approaching woman. No sign of familiarity, and yet--that's certainly quite the intense gaze.]

... Good afternoon.

[action]

[thestormishere]

[ Lightning at least remains a respectful distance away, arms crossed, brows furrowed-- though in something a little more complicated than mere irritation. She's also slightly surprised that so far it seems the woman doesn't recognize her, since she knows it's possible that Aerith might have warned her. ]

Raine... right?