thestormishere | ☈ strike #19 (action)

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☈ strike #19 (action)

[ 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. ]

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[ As probably expected, Baldr's head whips aside probably before he even realizes what he's following... though it doesn't take long for the rest of him to follow. Hurray for toys!!

... And Lightning is about two nanoseconds from blowing up in sudden fury before she realizes the likely source of the projectile. Tennis ball? Bar?

But still-- ]

Hey!

[Zack pokes his head out from around the side of the bar, shielding his eyes from the sun as he watches Baldr scamper off.]

Whoa, that was an awesome throw! I hope he'll be able to find it.

[ And Lightning huffs a breath out as she turns towards Zack fully, arms held close to her body-- although carefully, to accommodate the flowers she'd rather not squish. ]

If he can't, it's going to be you looking for it next.

Ah, don't worry about it! Baldr's a dog, they can find practically anything even in the worst weather. He'll be back in no time.

[And if not then he can totally just snag another ball from the shop. He's in a good mood but he isn't crazy.]

[ Except Baldr's a shepherd, not a bloodhound! Lightning keeps up the lukewarm glare for a second or two more before looking back to watch the dog zigzag about, elbow-deep in snow, sniffing the air and ice in search of Zack's scent on the fuzzy projectile.

She's still going to make Zack look if it turns out it's more lost than Baldr's patience can hol--

-- Oh, he found it. Maybe? Cue excited digging, in any case. ]

[Zack follows her gaze to watch the dog as well, genuinely curious if his throw had outsmarted the pup. If not, well... it'd give him and Daisy something to do later, right? Eh-heh.]

Did he find it or is he just easily distracted?

Found it, I think.

[ Her voice is idle and gaze thoughtful as she continues watching, although she then seems to shake off whatever it is just as Baldr triumphantly catches the ball in his jaws... and turns back with his face covered in snow. She looks Zack over, then glances back at the bar with yet another beginning of one of her trademarked frowns. ]

Are you still working?

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.]

[ 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.

[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?

[ 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. ]

[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.]

[ 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. ]

[....Aha. Indecision. Zack considers this for a moment, then shrugs his shoulders, stuffing his hands into his pockets.]

How about I just walk your way for a few minutes? I don't mind being late for work.

[In other words, she's absolutely free to tell him to go away whenever she likes or just let him stick around. No sense in pushing the decision-making on her right away.]

... Alright.

[ Fair enough - no pun intended. It's better than standing around stewing in awkwardness, at least. She steps forward just enough to stoop and swipe up Baldr's latest ball, then turns back in the direction she was originally heading, looking over her shoulder and reaching her hand out to hand it back to Zack once he's drawn even again. ]

[Zack takes the ball, tossing it into the air a few times as he walks along beside her. He's not really sure where to go with this - or, indeed, where they're going at all - but the safest bet is to steer the conversation any direction but the flowers. He tosses the ball for Baldr again, this time onto the path ahead rather than into the snow.]

Baldr's pretty big now, huh?

[ May seem like she's leading them back home at first, but noooot quite. Another reason to allow him to come for now- there's plenty of time for her to run him off if she wants, before they make it southward enough to reach the barracks and the teleporter there.

She's already watching Baldr, but Zack's comment makes her study the romping dog closer, trying to focus through her distraction. ]

... Yeah. I don't think he's grown any more in a while, though. Just... gotten fluffier.

Too bad Daisy's not a little more playful. Poor guy needs a real friend.

[Not that Daisy isn't good for cuddles and companionship, but sometimes dogs just need a good romp once in a while. Especially puppies, and Baldr still sort of counts.]

[ Lightning blinks, then simply sketches out her usual pseudoshrug as she looks over at Zack- hey, she can't help but kind of relate to his and Aerith's oddball wolf...thing, alright? You've got your bouncy smiling puppies, yes, and then there's those who are just destined to hold down the more serious, brooding side of the spectrum. Nothin' wrong with that.

Daisy must like Baldr a little bit too, though. Not just because he tolerates the younger canine in general, but because he's the one who brought him back after the moon incident concluded. Lightning's pretty grateful for that... ]

[To Zack, there's a big difference between quiet and stoic, is all. Daisy's a sweetheart in some aspects but half the time he feels more like decoration than a family member. Poor genetically altered crime against nature.

Zack's quiet again for a little while, lifting his hands to clasp together behind his head. He's trying very hard not to ask, but it's growing difficult the more time that passes.

Should he have stayed at the bar after all? Or is she content to walk in silence? Or maybe he should try something else... hrngh... this is harder than he thought it would be.]

[ Usually she'd be fine with the silence, just hanging out without the need to fill the air with whatever chatter is deemed appropriate by others... but Lightning can definitely feel the tension here anyway, that question bubbling just beneath the surface. Not to mention she just kind of murdered his attempt at conversation, so...

She should admit something before they get as far as the transporter, huh? Or turn him away.

But...

Well, at long last she finally gives in, taking in a long, deep breath through her mouth, then letting it out through her nose. She looks toward him again, though not at him, gaze aimed towards his feet and eyes half-open at best. ]

They're for my parents.

[He pauses at her admittance, eyes widening at that, his step faltering ever so slightly. Her parents... that's right, they were gone. He's not sure what he could even say to that to make things better- actually, there really isn't anything to help, is there? Grief is something you need to work through over time, even if you have someone to share pretty words of attempted comfort. He at least knows that much.]

For... an anniversary?

[So very awkward...]

Edited 2012-01-26 03:51 (UTC)

I guess. Something like that.

[ Lightning frowns, her mouth set in a wry line. Yeah, she's already seen and heard it all- the shock, the awkward apologies, the pity-- which is the last thing she wants. The worst are the people who think they can get away with something like, "that's a hard thing to go through," as if she somehow doesn't already know. She hates feeling like all her hard work to survive and drag both herself and Serah through growing up by themselves - for five years, perhaps even longer if you considered their mother's frequent illness, lack of their father since Claire was eight - can be tossed aside so easily.

As unfortunate as it is that she lost both her parents at such a young age, she made it through- an entirely different person than she would have been otherwise, but that's... how it is. ]

Near as I can tell, anyway...

[ With the stupid, unpredictable, 12-based calendar here. She keeps her eyes down, only briefly glancing up as far at Zack's face. Is he still up for hanging around after that? ]

[Well, if nothing else, he knows what it means to miss one's family, so he doesn't comment on her feelings; comfort from someone who hasn't experienced it all too often just sounds so empty. He tucks his hands into his pockets, facing forward, and keeps walking at her side. He's not going anywhere unless she tells him to leave.]

I haven't seen my parents for about ten years now. It can be pretty rough sometimes.

[And lonely. Even if it was his choice to run away like that.]

[ Yeah Zack, yours was kind of by choice rather than necessity, soooo...

On the other hand, Lightning gets his reasoning a whole lot more than she used to, even if it still seems pretty outrageous--

Cuz you know, they're both totally normal in every other way, right?

-- But, well. She does wonder now, if Zack would even get the chance to see his parents again, even if he got sent home and wanted to. Given what they'd finally forced Aerith to reveal some time back...?

What a terrible thought, though. She forces herself to refocus. Mostly. Her voice is quiet when she responds. ]

... You think they'd be mad? After so many years?

[ Or even care? Man, she doesn't even know. His relationship with said parents is still just a huge question mark to her right now. ]

LEWD

HURR HURR

GROUNDED.

BUT MOOOOOOOOOOM

NO BUTTS

not even a cute SOLDIER butt?

ESPECIALLY SOLDIER BUTT

DAMMIT BUT IT'S SUCH A NICE BUTT

NO MEANS NOOOOO

SO STINGY, LIGHT, SO STINGY

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

FINE WHO NEEDS IT ANYWAY

NOBODY HEEEERE

.... ;A;

>B[

the crankiest girlfriend ever

at least she legitimately likes him tho ... most of the time

well alright, he'll give her that

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