☈ strike #16 (action)

[thestormishere]

[ Whenever there's an experiment, it always seems like Lightning gets a few days to contemplate the rest of the village going mad before anything happens to her too, doesn't it? It's not very amusing to her at all, especially considering she's spent the last few days fretting and waiting. She's been trying to stay out of trouble, but...

A Farron is not easily cooped up for long. Before she knows it, she's pacing her entire residence, messing in the kitchen for no reason, sitting on the floor with Baldr while staring at the ceiling, and-- ugh, stepping outside for just a minute won't hurt, right? Just as long as she avoids any weirdos who might attempt to pull her into something. Besides, everything seems normal right now. She feels normal.

With marked determinated, she walks out the front door and-- FGFDUAGFA, SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY FALLS ON HER HEAD??

And yet as soon as she leans down to see what it is, the woman goes stiff, looks up to gape at the cloudy sky, and then takes off at a sprint in the direction of the village square. Shortly afterward, if you happen to be anywhere outside: ]

Oh! Don't go!!

[ Hello, there is a woman with feathers stuck in her hair and dressed all in horribly clashing yellow trotting up, looking quite upset. And a little annoyed too, but... that's to be expected, given who this is. STOP BEFORE SHE FORCES YOU TO!

(Lightning is imitating Chocobo Loco/Chicken Little/Henny Penny for the event, sooo... characters are welcome to be either an innocent or the Fox in the story, if you wish. Alternatively... she will also probably play along as well, for those already affected by their own thang.) ]

Comments

[thestormishere]

I came outside and--

[ Hastily, she reaches into her pockets, and a second later produces a small plastic something- a pen cap, though her expression is clearly one of consternation as she stares at it. ]

Th-this thing fell on my head. [ A pause, worried, as she looks up at the "dragon" once more. ] I don't even know... know what it is. But...

[thestormishere]

I can fight.

[ -- Oh, she seems kind of annoyed about that... and her irritation only increases as she stays in place with her hand held to her face. Something's definitely wrong with her- it doesn't matter how 'right' it feels to play along, because what she's doing and saying don't match up with what she would do normally. ]

[redhairedknight.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see. That is troubling. [She knows full well that it's just a pen cap; she's just trying to think of a way to use this panic to her advantage.]

...Yes, I have heard about something like this, ages ago. To stop the sky from falling, you must bring every shiny object that you can find to the top of a tall building and put it in a pile. That one should do. [Erza points to Community House 3, which she's claimed as her lair.] It is an ancient ritual which, if performed correctly, should keep the sky intact. [Actually, it's just an excuse to get as much gold, silver, and other "treasures" together so that she can use them as her nest, so to speak. She's got a pile started on the roof, but it's mostly her swords and armour, which are quite painful to sit on.]

[thestormishere]

[ And so a warning he shall get. ]

Robby-Lobby!

[ Did she really just-- yes, yes she did. She skids to a stop beside him... stares for a long moment at his clothing... but then continues onward with transparent urgency in every bit of her body language and voice. ]

Stop what you're doing!

[markofthewise]

Well that's great, but fighting is kind of pointless with no one to fight. [Just... considering his options now. Giants causing the sky to fall isn't what he signed up for, but as long as he can send the head of a giant to the king, that's all that matters.] Where's a magic salesman when you need one?

[falenandawn]

.....I doubt it's ending, miss.

Luceti might be a confusing place but I think we would know, would we not?

[fierybluebird]

Oh. You wanted something? [Look! It's a real bird! ... Sort of. As much as a phoenix that looks like an awkward somewhat flaming, sparkling blue chocobo can be "real" anyway.]

I loled so hard at that name

[semper_cogitans]

[Well, that's... quite the warning.

Indeed, Robert glances up, causing that dress - more like a pile of lace and satin than a dress, really - to rustle all over the place as he faces the rather panicky, feathery Lightning.]

Ah... Sergeant Farron...? [His awkwardness around her punches through the haze of flouncy princess long enough for him to blink at her costume a moment - just before she tells him to stop. Then it's back to Disney mode.]

But whyever for? The poor, dear butterflies will be so hungry...

[One particularly vibrant tiger longwing alights on his puffy shoulder as he says this.]

[lost-pig-boy.livejournal.com]

Much time for what? Where are going?

[thestormishere]

I don't know. [ She only very slowly pulls her hand back, her voice thick. ] Maybe there's one in the plaza?

[thestormishere]

The sky is falling, we have to see the king!

[ And not only does she have one hand around his wrist, but she reaches back with the other to put it on his shoulder as well. Basically, he's coming whether he likes it or not! ]

[thestormishere]

I do know!

[ Her frustration is highly evident as she draws even with him, her back straight and chin lifted to look down her nose at him. Seriously- does she look like the kind of woman who would freak the hell out if there wasn't something awful going on?? ]

[thestormishere]

[ Wait-- shiny objects? Lightning's expression is overwritten with confusion as she absorbs these orders... which then slowly turns to something else instead, her brow drawn and lips pressed together. It seems to make sense, but she looks aside anyway, lifting a hand to entwine in her hair- a habitual gesture. ]

How will we know if... it works right?

:)

[thestormishere]

[ She gives a slight bow, clearly an afterthought but meant to make up for forgetting to show due respect to a princess earlier. This is too important for wasting much more time on formalities, though! ]

You have to help me- I need to see the king right away.

[thestormishere]

[ What in the...? Despite her haste to approach him before, Lightning now draws up short, openly staring at Marcobo in surprise and confusion. ]

Yes, I-- what is your name?

[redhairedknight.livejournal.com]

[She gives Lightning a look, as if trying to say "isn't that obvious?"] If it works, then the sky will stop falling. If it is still falling afterwards, that just means that the pile isn't large enough yet. [AIRTIGHT LOGIC.]

[markofthewise]

Maybe. Feel free to suggest one. But we'll need something to trade first. A cow, perhaps.

[thestormishere]

Ah.

[ -- She takes a step back, then another. There's a whole lot of conflict in her, though- immediately she's compelled to do as this 'dragon' suggests, but logic says... ugh! Shouldn't she go see the king first...? But if that actually works--

After about five seconds spent frozen in absolute bafflement, suddenly, Lightning simply turns tail and sprints off towards the town again.

Who knows what kind of "shiny" things she's going to find, though... ]

[redhairedknight.livejournal.com]

[Erza's not sure if that actually worked or not, but either way, she's quite tired, so she'll slowly drift back to sleep. She'll probably wind up fast asleep by the time Lightning gets back, which presents an interesting dilemma: how do you wake up a sleeping "dragon"?]

[falenandawn]

How? [Wow she's a bit intimidating for running around dressed like that.]

[fierybluebird]

Marco. [Scratches at the ground just because. He refuses to eat worms or grass in front of people. Be glad.] How about you, Miss?

[thestormishere]

[ Alright, prepare yourself for ultimate proof, girly-man. Without another word, Lightning reaches into her pocket, pulling out with notable aplomb: a piece of wrapped hard candy!

...?? ]

[falenandawn]

[What are you talking about he's not girly at all.]

......Candy?

[Candy proves the world is ending?]

\o/

[semper_cogitans]

[It's okay; he's too alarmed to notice, really.]

... The king? Why? What is wrong?

... Is there even a king...? [There hadn't been any asking for a princess's hand in marriage to their prince, anyway. He would've noticed that. Also a suspicious lack of balls...]

[thestormishere]

[ She crosses her arms; come on, man! ]

Surely we can argue for a discount.