thestormishere | ☈ strike #17 (action / video)

☈ strike #17 (action / video)

Action; House 41; morning and onwards of the 22nd.

[ The calendar used in Luceti might be noticeably different than that of Cocoon's, but the way Lightning-- or rather, her friends seem to figure, since her previous birthday was roughly a month before her arrival last November... a Saturday in 'October' seems about as good a time as any to acknowledge somehow making it to twenty-two years of age.

She's really not looking for an outright party or anything, but after some stubbornness-filled discussion, the woman's reluctantly agreed to... well, what she'd likely do anyway: focusing on just having a relatively good day in general. That may or may not include humoring her housemates by dragging them around town to just Do Stuff too, though. Maybe indulge in just a little bit of the sort of food she tends to refrain from? Who knows.

After rolling out of bed and showering, it doesn't take her long to gather up Baldr and start looking into obtaining breakfast, studiously trying to put herself in a good mood. In other words, not thinking about how awful a year before now (and the events directly following it) turned out to be...

Of course, the problem is... coincidence is a tricky thing in a place like Luceti. Is she ever allowed to forget about anything for very long here? ]

Video/Action; plaza center/fountain; late afternoon of the 23rd.

Your moon... looks strange today.

[ Your moon because it's certainly not her moon, a sentiment that's quite obvious from the odd, tense quality to the woman's tone of voice. All things considered, with her homeworld's unknown status, her floating land's distinctly moonlike appearance as it hangs over the planet below, and most importantly, since it's pretty damn hard to forget the day after her twenty-first birthday being the one where she lost her sister and became 'fated' to tear Cocoon down out of the sky... she's understandably pretty tuned into any celestial objects' condition. Especially since it's currently the day following the one that, as a l'Cie, she never expected to reach.

As such, there's a looong pause, apparently thoughtful as she looks up at the sky. And then, randomly: ]

... How are you supposed to 'get over' something in the past, when it's still tainting what's supposed to be good?

[ -- Wait, no no no, asking that kind of thing? Not something she normally does at all, particularly over the journal or in front of strangers. Naturally, now it's too late, however. She aims a frowning Look towards her journal, then at anyone who might have heard from where she's sitting on the fountain. Her voice turns quiet and dry as she shakes her head, a hint of dark sarcasm sneaking in. ]

Why do I get the feeling something bad's about to happen anyway?

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Are you really that bothered?

[ Although she doesn't sound annoyed. Or convinced Light's really focused on the singing.

(Spoilers: faces will be made.) ]

[ At last Lightning finally pauses and turns her face towards Aerith, and yet although her expression is vexed, it's... also lacking in actual anger. It's not really about silly things like being embarrassed when people sing at her, no.

But are they really going to turn on the angst before they make it outside? ]

[ Aerith--clucks her tongue.

Hooks her arm under Light's.

Attempts to make with the out-the-doorin's. ]

You'll see. This is going to be a fun day.

[ ...well, they'll at least get through the actual celebrating without disaster. ]

But there has to be a song.

[ -- For once Lightning allows the gesture, unresisting as Aerith pulls her along, save for the few seconds it takes to turn just enough to shut the door in poor little Baldr's hairy face. When it comes down to it, she doesn't want to go and fall into a bad mood either, so even though she sulks half-heartedly and pretends to drag her feet, it's secretly a relief as well. ]

No chance of bribes, either...?

I'll hear offers, but I'm not making promises. What would you even bribe me with?

[ ... Oatmeal? No no no, that's a terrible bribe, regardless of Lightning's learned experience in making an awesome serving of the stuff. Her true skills are a little useless here too, unless Aerith wants someone assassinated...

She frowns as she considers, then deflects with: ]

What would it take?

Maybe we should just get it over with. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to~

[ ...She may be the first non-biologically-related person to dare try swinging on Lightning's arm. ]

[ AERITH, WHY? AERITH, WHY?? DX

Lightning makes a face.

She also attempts to dislodge the other woman from her extremities, which is at least a little more than the earlier prediction, if not very positive. ]

[ Clinging, CLINGING--okay that's enough, no making Light use full force; Aerith lets go and ~spins~ away, crunching through fallen leaves. ]

--birthday dear Liiiight, happy birthday to you!

[ BEAMING over at Light. :DDD! ]

[ Oh, how tempting it is to set fire to those leaves and... but no, Lightning's not that mean. Her expression is flat as she raises a hand to her jaw, elbow resting in the palm of the other. ]

Do you feel better now?

[ She giggles and nods. ]

I think we can skip birthday pinches.

[ why yes, there ARE worse traditions. (not that she'd ever stood a chance of doing those...) ]

[ Sigh. Although at least, yes, it's over now. Hopefully. Hopefully her assumption that Hope wouldn't dare in favor of saving his teenage pride, and that Zack wouldn't dare in favor of keeping his ribcage relatively bruise-free, holds true.

She rolls her eyes a bit, crossing her arms as she keeps walking. They left the house for a reason. C'mon, woman. ]

[ Coming along! They're not too far from the plaza in their house, so it doesn't take long to reach the stores. ]

So what are you thinking of getting?

... Beats me. I've found it's better most of the time to not even try having something in mind.

[ Different worlds and all. The selection tends to be... pretty eclectic. Although, after another moment: ]

Maybe another coat that's more suited to layers.

Shouldn't be too hard. And that way you can get the temperature juuust right for yourself.

[ Lightning is apparently Goldilocks now. Goldilight. Aerith heads into the clothing store, holding the door open for Light. ]

[ But that only serves to remind her-- ]

And you?

I think the scarf and boots should do it. Maybe gloves, too?

Probably a good idea. [ A brief pause as she takes a few thumpy steps into the shop, gaze casting about distractedly. ] You're going to have to be really careful, Aerith.

[ Which of course she's already heard a dozen times and is sure to recognize herself in vivid clarity, but at least... uh... Lightning cares enough to keep on top of the idea? She doesn't want her friend's fingers to freeze off or anything. :[ ]

Aw, darn. No scaling the mountain peaks this winter. [ She knows Light cares and smiles at her after her exaggeration--but yeah, that doesn't stop her from being silly about it in the first place. ] I'll be careful. Ooh, sparkly! [ THAT IS ONE GLITTERY SCARF UP THERE. ]

[ Oh Aerith, you so zany. Lightning sighs to herself as the flowergirl turns away, her attention caught by something the pink-haired woman wouldn't even consider giving second thought to, if it hadn't been pointed out.

Meanwhile she'll just. Be kind of sorting through these long-sleeved shirts over here. Yeah she said she was aiming more for something else in coming here, but it can't hurt to see if there's anything that doesn't have those stupid seams that tend to bother her so much... >:T ]

[ If she didn't love soft and shimmery things so much she never would have been able to dress up Cloud so well! And how it has silver sparkles against a deep blue ahhh she loves it--

so let's skip over her fangirling and to the part where she spots a red scarf. Okay, even if Lightning sighed at her choice she knows Light likes red and it's soft and fluffy and if Light is still looking for seamless shirts she is maaaaybe going to try sneaking behind her to drape a scarf on. (And yes, she is wearing her own scarf now. Never mind that they're still in the store, it's not like a little excess heat is going to be noticed by her.) ]

[ WOMAN WATCH IT L'CIE ARE LIKE NINJAS.

However, FORTUNATELY, Aerith is spared, even though Lightning's wings fold up close to her body as she quickly glances over her shoulder at the woman's approach... then turns in place, looking down her nose.

She doesn't say it, but the expression makes it clear well enough- hay, wat de hell r u doin?? ]

[ CURSES, FOILED. Instead she just holds it out for Light's inspection.. ] Feel it! It's so soft.

[ She gives a dubious look before reluctantly reaching her hand out to do as told, catching the fabric between the very ends of her fingertips. It is indeed worthy of this description called 'soft.' ]

It's probably... hm.

[ ... Actually, she has no idea what it's made out of. ]

[ disclaimer: "soft" is only applicable to this garment as a descriptor. It does not cure petrification. ]

I want to say cashmere, but I can't be sure... I don't see it a lot.

Still, it looks pretty nice, right? Try it!

☈ strike #17 (action / video)

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