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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[ Yeah, Lightning's mind is completely on Aerith and whatever this is all about, and without even thinking she's quick to go right out the door behind her. Not that she knows what to do now, of course; even though she's got a pretty good idea of what she wants to ask or say... if the clothing store was an inappropriate place to do so, then the plaza is even worse.

Which leaves her drawing a blank, then. And even though she could do what's been fairly normal for her in the past - act like nothing's wrong, just stay silent until something changes and she's compelled to respond - for once she feels like she should say something. So... what? ]

... I seem to be pretty good at ruining conversations, huh?

[It pulls Aerith out of her thoughts, and she smiles a little.] Mm, maybe sometimes. But really, you're only being a good friend, right? So it's okay.

[Just. That whole give-and-take part of friendship. What is that. 8|;;;]

...It is really quiet now, though. Even Baldr's finding the air heavy, huh? [And she looks around Lightning's feet for the dog, but... wait.]

[ She... tries, at least? It's not just that she's a touch clueless- sometimes she's not sure of her own intentions anyway, particularly when it's her at the center of them. ]

Something like...

[ Uh. And Lightning senses something's off and glances down too... just as a slightly-muffled howl of heartbreak sounds out behind them. Oh. Sighing quietly, she closes her eyes, brows coming together. ]

... Be right back.

[ Embarrassed but hiding it, and she breaks into a slow jog as soon as she's turned back around. See, stuff like this is part of why she never wants her own kids. 8| ]

Huh. He missed us fast! [That heartbroken howl. How dramatic... Baldr might be hitting puppy puberty, but he's still more like a toddler when it comes to missing mommy.

Lightning did say be right back, so Aerith will wait for them rather than immediately pursue, though she is looking curiously back at the shop. ]

[ Well, surely Aerith must feel lucky for being able to witness what is apparently the happy reunion of the century, once Baldr is finally released from his clothing-filled prison- tail-wagging, jumping up a bit in sheer joy...

... It's obvious from the reaction and look on Lightning's face that it's not really anything new, though... save for the part where she's also, uh, having to extract a bikini top from over the puppy's head too. Dogs. Her expression is completely flat as the two make their way over.

With Baldr at a sprint. Watch out, Aerith. ]

[Watch out? Naw. Aerith's going to be encouraging a little of Baldr's puppy naughtiness here. Not that she really means to, but when she sees Baldr's lively enthusiasm, she impulsively crouches down, opens her arms for Baldr to fling himself at, and falls over with him. At least her swimsuits don't fly out the bag.]

[Best way to forget depressing thoughts about death: cold puppy nose and playful tongue all over the face. The giggles come up by reflex and she pets him fondly. Puppy~] You found us!

[ And Lightning just puts her hands on her hips as she crosses the short amount of distance left between the puppy launch site and Aerith's position on the ground, watching her tumble with that SEEMINGLY-ENDLESS SOURCE OF HAIR AND SPUNK. ]

You know I'm trying to teach him not to do that, right?

[ She doesn't sound too upset, though. ]

[Nooo just a few more seconds with magical puppy love... which actually stretch on a bit, but after a nice cuddle she feels a lot better.] Okay, Baldr. No more. Be a good boy.

[HEADTILT. DOES HE GET ONE OF THESE? Still, his distraction lets Aerith get back up, dusting off her dress.]

Edited 2011-06-08 23:12 (UTC)

... Baldr, heel.

[ Lightning doesn't make a show of the order- just says it with neutral firmness, and fortunately, for all the nonsense that comes out of having a puppy that can talk, Baldr is indeed good enough to follow it. Probably because he does get praise and a small treat for doing so, as Lightning picks up the leash and sorts it out before getting back to walking home like they'd planned. ]

Should probably do something about the... separation anxiety.

Probably. But, it's kind of cute.

[It feels much easier now that they're talking about neutral subjects... though she wonders if that'll change when they get back to the apartments. ...Even though she knows she'd urge someone else to tell her, she's always kept her troubles to herself. Most times, she had to. It was the safer way.]

[ Lightning's first thought is something along the lines of him having to learn that just because someone's not there doesn't mean they won't come back, but... this is Luceti. She can't actually promise that, can she?

... And it reminds her way too much of that conversation that happened months before, when she finally told Aerith about being a l'Cie. That seems so long ago now... ]

Hm. I don't know. At least he doesn't do it as much at the apartments, I guess.

He's used to you coming and going there. So I guess if you left him alone more often outside... but that's not safe for him. Nope! We've got a few strange people here.

[Toootally going the avoid route on serious thought right now. Puppy preoccupation.]

... Maybe you're right.

[ Not on the 'cute' bit, but on the implication that it's not really that big of a deal. Lightning just goes silent as she thinks, staring down at the young dog... who's starting to look a lot less enthusiastic. Been a pretty busy day for the furball. ]

[Aww, poor guy.]

Chin up, Baldr! We're almost there. [And they are; after all, it's not a far walk either way. Aerith hesitates for a step.]

Light... Do you want to talk about it? Should I talk to someone else? ["Someone else" would probably turn into "no one", but Light doesn't need to know that. It just still feels like she'll make Lightning sad. So she wants to be sure that the other woman is sure about taking that on.]

[ Lightning's so used to sudden changes in mood that this one doesn't even phase her. Therefore, there's a slight, thoughtful pause, but very little actual hesitation from the woman. ]

... Would you talk to anyone else, Aerith?

[ It's not meant to be mean, but Lightning is wise to the part where she might not, after what she's heard so far. Her face is neutral- the sort of thing she wears when she's concerned but hasn't hit Worried yet. ]

...Maybe Buffy.

[The smile's one that says she knows she's probably caught, though.]

[ Okay, now she's worried. Aerith lives with Zack, so is it not something she can talk to him about? She just said he got pulled from earlier, but... ]

You can talk to me. Honest.

...Okay. [It's hard to say, like she's forcing something sticky and disgusting up her throat.] Let's go to your apartment. [Because Hope already knows the basic fact... and it's indeed something she doesn't want Zack to know at all. Not unless--until--she's found a real chance to overcome it.]

Right... go on, Baldr. Upstairs.

[ Aerith's request doesn't bode well at all, and yet Lightning seems... strangely unchanged as she follows her dog towards her apartment ("Up up up...")- honestly, she's used to being around people in similar situations, even if she has yet to get what's bothering Aerith confirmed. Sadly, imminent death sentences are nothing new to her.

Third floor's not far, and by now Lightning's gotten much better at opening the primitive lock even if Baldr's insistence on getting in the door first gets a scoff out of her. You would have never guessed he was equally excited to get out a few hours beforehand... ]

...Mmm... [Aerith watches Baldr stretch into a pile of tired puppy fluff not far from the door, her lips pursed in thought. The words are hard to find. For what seems the hundredth time she's wondering if this will help--what good will it do?

...What she wants to do is a lot simpler to think. If she focuses on that, maybe something could be figured out.]

I want... to figure out another way to go back home. Not the Malnosso's or this Planet's way, or whoever's responsible for it. I don't like it. We're thrust back into that moment we were taken from, even if it was bad for us. ...Even if... some of us were dead.

[ .... Having a suspicion doesn't mean it's any easier to hear. Lightning gives a short, heavy sigh, crossing her arms, listening to her heart thump a little louder in her chest. ]

Yeah. [ -- And she trails off, eyes averted. ] Sit down.

[ She needs a quick delay, to reorganize her thoughts and figure out how to take that idea in stride - ironically, it's that wish that's harder on her than the news, regardless of how much it does or doesn't show. ]

[And Aerith does go to sit down on the couch, but she doesn't do it quietly; she doesn't want the news to just sit there, like some ominous thing.]

It's not that I'm ignoring it all the time. I'm okay. I don't think about it that often. ...Sometimes it's hard to believe anything happened. The sun on my face feels the same as ever.

[Even if this Planet won't say anything at all. But she's definitely worried about how Lightning took the news, looking up at her face.]

[ And Lightning is... well, it's clear she's unhappy, but she's far from freaking out or anything. She sits as well, dropping her bag between herself and the end of the couch, then leaning forward as she looks at Aerith. Other than that, she's still probably pretty hard to read- her voice is softer than usual, but just as steady as ever. ]

You're sure that's the case... I'm guessing the others confirmed it, then.

[ Except for one... ]

[Her face turns slightly away from Lightning's gaze once she notices it, even though she consciously tries not to.]

I put Cloud in a tough spot. He... was with me when it...

[She's getting really fidgety now, fighting back the impulse to up and walk away.

But there's something about what Light said--the others--]

Light--Zack doesn't know. He wasn't there.

[ Oh. Oh great. ]

Why--? [ False start, for the second time in almost as few minutes- pretty unusual for her, considering she generally just says whatever is on her mind. Here, she's at once annoyed and... she doesn't even know. Subconsciously, she probably realizes Aerith's a lot like her in that she doesn't want people to worry, and she can definitely understand that, but at the same time...

Ironically, this serious ex-soldier who's personally knocked down more people than she can count is still sort of trying to get over the concept of people attacking each other with intent to kill in the first place- the idea that anyone would want to kill Aerith. People from Cocoon just don't do that, and in her personal experiences she doesn't really know of any situations that quite match up.

And that's not even getting into how weird it would be to not just be from different times but have someone's death standing in the way too. Lightning thought she was prepared here, but apparently... not really. ]

... I'm sorry. [ A touch belated, but it's not pitying or upset despite the sincerity. It's not until she shifts her weight thoughtfully and puts a hand to her chest before she looks away, muttering almost entirely to herself. ] Just what makes them think they have the right to mess around with something like that anyway?

☈ strike #13 (action / voice)

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