☈ strike #19 (action)

[thestormishere]

[ It's absolutely freezing and the village is covered in snow, but although Lightning would usually be all for avoiding that kind of weather like the beach-town native from Cocoon she is, today she's out anyway... and accompanying Baldr, who has definitely been inside way too much lately.

Hard to believe that a year ago saw her struggling with what to do with the little puppy she suddenly found herself saddled with, but now? That little black fluffball is a full-grown dog: long-haired, well-muscled... and currently bounding about, snuffling through the white covering, and chatting back to his pink-haired human about his various findings. Still a puppy at heart sometimes, that's for sure.

And while he doesn't run up to just anyone and bowl them over or anything - look at who his trainer is, come on - he does pay special attention to anyone else who happens to be out as well, ears perked forward, snow in his ruff, and a hearty Hello! to most who cross their path.

As for Lightning herself, she's... a noticeable contrast, solemn and distracted as she keeps an eye on the dog, making her way slowly into the middle of town. A visit to the flowershop later, and she's carrying something pretty unusual: a small bunch of pale pink crysanthemums. Where she's heading after that, however, remains to be seen. ]

Comments

[thestormishere]

[ Except Lightning's got her eye on these funky things- to the point where she pulls off a glove to reach her hand out, running her fingertips under the petals to turn one of the blooms toward her better. ]

Yeah, they look good. [ .... She turns her head toward Aerith. ] Can I cut them?

[gardeningaia]

Of course. [ She goes to fetch the clippers, coming back with the handle held out to Lightning. ] Do you need a vase to keep them fresh?

[thestormishere]

[ She would have just used a knife or something if given the chance, but whatever. Waiting until the shears are in hand, it's then she bends slightly, separating out the stem of one flower from the rest of the plant.

The vase question gets an odd look out of her though, brow wrinkling as she shakes her head slightly. ]

No, that's alright.

does this work

[gardeningaia]

[ Nope

Not letting you have the chance

Hmm, that means this isn't decorating.

...Well, she could just ask... ]

Are you giving them to someone?

cuuuute :>

[thestormishere]

[ Ugh. Uuuggghhh. Alright, fine. Frowning, Lightning hooks her arm over Baldr as he wanders over to see what she's doing, only glancing up to make eye contact after a long second or two. ]

Aerith, these aren't really flowers... you give to someone.

[ -- Says the soldier to the woman obsessed with flowers. But. Cultural stuff. ]

LIGHT IS SMILING

[gardeningaia]

Huh? But they're so nice...

[ She trails off as she realizes they obviously mean something else for Light. If it wasn't being kept for decoration and you didn't give them to someone... There was the way she was acting, too. ]

They couldn't be... mourning flowers?

[ but but but THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPY D: ]

DAMMIT BUT IT'S SUCH A NICE BUTT

[fairly]

I was gonna start now, but I can take the day off, if you want to hang out. Pretty sure Shizuo can hold the fort on his own.

[Like letting a teenager stay at home by himself for the first time! How coming-of-age.]

[presumablyalone]

[He stays still for a moment, just trying to make out the look on Lightning's face (which is impossible) before moving his gaze down to the ground]

I was trying to protect Fuuko and Yui on the draft and I... [With the hand that Lightning isn't holding in place, he puts it over his stomach and cringes just a little. Even though the wound is gone he can still remember how it felt.]

...I got hurt... really badly.

LIGHTNING NEVER SMILES SHUT UP

[thestormishere]

[ Ding ding ding! Is her silence enough confirming answer for that question? That, and her tightening expression- her eyes don't leave her work, but she pauses, feeling confronted and growing slightly defensive in response. ]

Is that alright?

NO MEANS NOOOOO

[thestormishere]

[ That guy? By himself? Well, Lightning won't judge. Much.

That's not really the source behind the sudden weirdness he gets out of her now, though. She frowns and looks down, staring at the flowers she's carrying. ]

I was just wondering.

[thestormishere]

[ Frowning. So, so much frowning. It's not like Lightning's unfamiliar with death, but after all the crap that's gone down in Luceti specifically....

Dammit...

She doesn't say anything more, but moves to stand, pulling up on Seto's arm to both urge him up with her and to steady. Baldr gets pushed away slightly with her free hand, just to give enough room to rise. ]

UH HUH PUT HER AND ZACK IN A ROOM. WHO'S SMILING.

[gardeningaia]

--The flowers are for everyone. [ The dead aren't excluded from this. ] I just hadn't realized...

[ With this coming up just now, she still thinks for the moment that it's a Luceti death. Though she doesn't ask who for the moment, aware of Light's tenseness. ]

[presumablyalone]

[--Oh, you're going to help him up? He didn't expect her to be moving so soon but once she pulls on his arm, he obeys. Grabbing onto her arm to help keep himself steady, he slowly gets back up onto his feet.

He's a little wobbly though... ]

SO STINGY, LIGHT, SO STINGY

[fairly]

[Well- he should. Manage to survive for an afternoon, at least. He'll let it slide for the moment, since she hasn't outright invited him, but he can lean in that direction, at least.]

What's with the flowers?

.....ZACK? why is that a question 8|

[thestormishere]

[ Lightning's gone all weird now - self-conscious, really - frowning and even leaning away as Baldr tries to touch her face with his nose. This is hard enough for her as it is, and now she's... she has no idea what Aerith's expression looks like since she's not looking at her, but it's definitely not smiling any more, is it? GJ, GJ, all around. ]

[thestormishere]

[ Hopefully it helps more than it harms that Lightning's a lot stronger than she looks. If nothing else, she's plenty steady on her feet enough for two people too, so unless Seto manages to slip with both feet flying out from underneath him... chances are there won't be much issue. ]

... You're out here by yourself?

[ Which isn't much of a question considering just how obvious the answer is, but... Lightning's practically obligated to ask it anyway. ]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[thestormishere]

[ Well, it was only a matter of time before he asked... though she just stands and debates with herself silently for a few seconds anyway, rather than answering right away. While he's in a good mood, she's really not... and yet is reluctant to go and rub it off on him right now.

To boot, the underlying topic is one she's very reluctant to share. Even with him. ]

They're uh... [ Frowning and pausing, she looks at them again, and then away. ] Mourning flowers.

[ ... So, yeah. ]

because it's hardly a question at all with Zack. |D

[gardeningaia]

[ No, it's not smiling... for those few awkward seconds that the silence stretches.

And then she reaches forward, taking the shears and even Light's hand if need be in her own to finish cutting the chrysanthemums, which she gathers up. ] I'll get them wrapped up nice! They should look their best.

[ LA LA LA /SKIPPING OVER AWKWARD which hopefully won't make more. She doesn't need to ask. She really doesn't. ]

FINE WHO NEEDS IT ANYWAY

[fairly]

[Oh. Oh dear. That doesn't sound good. She's not being up-front about it, exactly, so... should he ask? Talk about mixed messages.]

Would... you rather be left alone, then?

[He doesn't want to bother her if she's doing something serious, but after hearing that he doesn't really want to leave her on her own, either.]

[presumablyalone]

Y-Yeah!

[Ah--that looks kinda bad doesn't it? He smiles sheepishly and scratches his cheek]

Firo went out to the store and I got bored so I thought I could go for a walk on my own... I guess I can't. [Call him foolish. He just doesn't like to be trapped inside one place, alone, for too long]

[thestormishere]

[ ... What in the heck. You can barely see and seem to have major issues navigating in the snow in the first place, Seto. This is so not a smart decision to make at all, when there's-- danger of your extremities turning blue and stuff. ]

You should have at least stayed close to your building.

NOBODY HEEEERE

[thestormishere]

[ Good question, and even Lightning herself, she's... ]

... I don't know.

[ Had this been something like a year ago, she would have said yes without a moment's hesitation. However... since then, she's learned a lot about having people around; she's not as set on tackling her emotions by herself as much as she used to be.

That said, again, this is all kinds of extremely personal, and she waffles immensely on giving Zack the go-ahead to stick around.

And meanwhile, Baldr takes one look at her as he finally finishes his lap of victory-- and drops the ball like a hot potato to go over to her. Animals and their intuition, man. ]

why did lightning make friends with these people again ...

[thestormishere]

Hm.

[ She straightens, thoughts still bitter on one side, and-- absolutely conflicted on the other, feeling completely awkward in a way she normally doesn't get into at all.

She's not even sure what she might say if she allows herself to speak, so she just remains silent instead, lips pressed together and fingertips idly running over the top of Baldr's head as she watches Aerith bustle obliquely. ]

because platonic topping and LIFE DECISIONS.

[gardeningaia]

[ When Light isn't looking any more relaxed when she turns around, Aerith figures she nees to say something more. ]

It's really fine, Light. You do what you need to. If giving flowers helps, that's good.

[presumablyalone]

I-I tried but I couldn't really... see it.

[Insert sheepish laugh here. And it's the truth! He would have just stood outside the building and waited for Firo there but... he ended up walking too far and couldn't find his way back. In fact, he has no idea where he is right now]