thestormishere | ☈ strike #13 (action / voice)

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☈ strike #13 (action / voice)

[ Today, Lightning's doing something fairly unusual in comparison to her normal - and recently even darker than normal - behavior. For once, she's outside and yet doesn't seem busy, merely watching as her puppy Baldr frolics about in the general area of community housing 4 in search of sticks to defeat, things to dig up, and nearby people to greet. In fact, the young woman and dog look pretty safe to come 'visit' with today- especially since there's also no gunblade in sight, and as she sits down to lean against the outside wall, she makes a pretty inane-seeming public message. ]

These seasons... usually last about three months each, right? How much warmer does it get?

-- Filtered to Sigmund --

Sigmund. About earlier... when and where?

-- - --

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[ Lightning just gives a short hm as Zack steps forward. That's sort of what she always does, after all- shove people away whenever she's uncertain. She figures he's not serious anyway, though, so even if she'd usually she'd feel weird about it nowadays when it's towards someone who she's halfway friendly with...

... He is joking with her, right? It's not like she can even pretend to understand half the things these 'Gaian' folk do. Guess that's what she gets for spending almost six years being a complete workaholic, deliberately cutting herself off from 'normal' people and all. Imagine that.

Anyway, while Zack's paying attention to Baldr - he actually brought the same stick back this time, wow - Lightning is left to stare at Daisy instead. Who stares at her.

It's like a party back here. ]

[So dismissive, Light. Zack just grins and shrugs it off- she can take it however she likes, it doesn't really bother him. Some people move faster than others, and some people just don't reciprocate; he can't help that flirting comes easy. It's just easier to flirt when people joke back, sob.

Slow is okay sometimes, though, so he keeps playing tug-of-war over the stick with Baldr, letting himself fall back to sit down in the grass more comfortably.]

He's getting pretty big now, huh? [Well, bigger.]

... Yeah.

[ Lightning looks back from trying to remember if it's alright to pet Daisy without offending the creature, shifting her weight as she watches the fluffy pup actually try crawling into the man's lap somehow while he wrestles with the branch. Obviously, he hasn't quite figured out himself how big he's grown. ]

Hopefully he doesn't just keep growing. I don't know what I'd do with a dog the size of a chocobo or something.

[Zack doesn't mind, leaning back to give the pup some room and scuffing up his fur playfully. Daisy is playing silent observer at the moment, but he won't bite her if she tries, so... she should be safe. |D]

You wouldn't want to ride around town on a giant dog? I think that would be pretty awesome.

[ It was a fleeting idea anyway- Lightning's perfectly chill with just sort of... chilling with Creepy O'Wolfmeister without any physical contact. With the attitude and way her own Lucetian wings are colored, they even kinda match... a little like her own dog and this one guy she knows, hmmm. ]

... There wouldn't be room in the apartment for him any more.

[ Of course Zack would think like that, though. Of course. But it's just not practical. ]

[Said guy is oblivious to her puppy comparison and is busily roughing the dog up, because puppy-tussling is the best thing ever.]

I guess it is better when they're small enough for a house- they're less of a hassle to feed, at least.

And to pick up after. [ Sigh. Ah, but while they're talking about houses...

... Hm. ]

Actually... [ She steps forward with arms crossed then, trying to make the conversation a little more face to face with a wound-up dog still in the way. ] To be honest, it's already feeling kind of cramped up there.

Cramped? I thought it was just you and Hope. [Noticing her movement, he ruffles Baldr's fur once more before tossing the stick to give himself some space.] And that little guy, of course.

Yeah. But with the two of us in that little apartment three stories up, Baldr having to come outside several times a day... [ Lightning's brows are definitely coming together as she thinks on it, shaking her head slightly as she watches the puppy practically skip off after the stick. ] By my count, there's at least ten others on the same floor, too.

[ HUGE SURPRISE: Lightning's not too fond of living so close to so many others. Back in their world, she and her sister lived in a big old house all by themselves, sooo... she likes the space. ]

You thinking of moving? I'm pretty sure there's an apartment free on the first floor. [Is that a slightly hopeful tone there?] Or you could find a house for yourself if you need the extra space.

[But then he'd be lonely.]

... That's the thing.

[ Her hands move to her hips, glancing off to watch Baldr while he struggles again to drag back the stick that has since caught on something else. Yeah, this is definitely all the more awkward considering the conversation just a few minutes beforehand, but... she's got the chance open and is set on taking it. ]

Even if you count Baldr, the houses are probably better for more than just two people. [ A quiet sigh. ] But... if you and Aerith moved with us, then we'd have four.

[ And two dogs. Wouldn't be so lonely that way, huh Zack? 8|; This is totally strategic in Lightning's mind, though. For herself and for Hope. ]

[....omg.

Did she just-

OMG.

Zack perks up at once, brows lifting.] Hey, that's a great idea! There's bound to be a few empty houses around here, and it would be great to have a bigger place. I like the apartments and all, but I've kind of wanted a house for a while now. I think Aerith would like it, too.

It's just something to think about, I guess. Hope and I have been talking about it for a while.

[ It's been... half a year, after all. She's just trying not to think about how much this feels like agreeing to settle in here. That's not what she really wants at all.

... Not that she's displeased he seems alright with the idea though, and her body language finally seems to ease up a little in response. Just don't do anything to make her regret bringing this up, Zack! ]

But yeah... I doubt Aerith would have much of a problem with more free space to plant flowers.

Well, I'm definitely game. [He straightens up, stretching his arms out.] Feel like going for a walk? We can check the village for empty houses, in case we decide to go for it.

[ At the same time, Lightning bends to retrieve the stick Baldr's brought back, though she then holds onto it instead of throwing, looking over. ]

How do you suggest we do that? Go looking in windows?

[ ... Lightning is not from a place where it's apparently cool to go and dig through people's dressers and stuff, you know. She only loots a grand total of one still-occupied house in her entire game's course! ]

Haha, maybe! But the Welcome Center might have something less voyeuristic than that. They must direct the newcomers somewhere, right?

[He can't help a sneaky look after that.]

But if you want to peek in on people, we could do that.

[ Yeah, she figured as much too, but it seems her sarcasm is on in full-force today for some reason. It's just... kind of hard to wind down, when you're so used to being wound up. Safe to say she's got a lot on her mind.

Although... uh... if he keeps pretending to take her seriously, that kind of diminishes the effect, you know? She raises her eyebrows at him. ]

You're impossible.

And you're willingly trying to live with me. Who's the crazy one now?

[He's just out to have fun, Light.]

[ Her, apparently, though she just... glances down and appears vexed instead of answering. If Zack's out to have fun? At their core her most marked reasons for this are just about the opposite, in that they have almost nothing to do with her or what she wants for herself.

... As such, she takes a deep breath, briefly looking toward the building again in what is transparently an attempt to make sure they're not being listened in on... and then seems to switch her tune completely. ]

Listen. I know that Hope... pretty much locked himself in our apartment after the last... recruitment.

[ She is getting at something with that though, and frowns as she pulls idly at the stick that Baldr's gotten a re-grip on. ]

[...Ahaha, that's a serious comment. The mirth fades from Zack's expression, shifting into a more reserved look, and he nods in agreement.]

Yeah, he was... pretty upset. It's never easy, being the one left behind.

[And then to get bad news brought home, instead of the one you're waiting for? It was terrible.]

[ She's silent for a second more, eyes down. Is it really a surprise that she has such serious-business motivations for this, though? ]

That's why I think we should do this - if something happens to one of us, we should look after each other.

[ Read into that as you will. That's just how she's learned to do things- she definitely wouldn't go as far as saying Zack and Aerith are like family like she would with the other Pulse l'Cie, but... well, Zack was the one that kept insisting they were all friends, right? They're like... her only friends right now. This is as close as it gets for Lightning here in Luceti. ]

[Zack nods again; there's no argument for that, and he wouldn't want to even if he had a good reason to refuse. It's just how it works here- people have to learn to look after one another. Especially friends.]

It's nicer to come home to a big house than a lonely little apartment, anyway. Even if you do have a roommate. I say we go for it.

[ ... Lightning stares for a second longer than she probably should, but then for once she smiles slightly- genuinely, if maybe a touch sad as well. ]

Right.

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☈ strike #13 (action / voice)

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