☈ 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

[presumablyalone]

[This was a bad idea. Definitely a bad idea.

Going out when you're vision is so bad you can't make out anything or anyone and you keep tripping over yourself, you shouldn't be outside in the freezing cold. He's lucky he even managed to get on his coat and zip it up right. But Seto being Seto, he hates being trapped inside his apartment, especially when he's alone in said apartment. Why did Firo have to go out? Sigh.

But did you hear that yelp and thud coming from behind you Lightning? Because that was just Seto faceplanting into the snow]

[thestormishere]

[ Lightning's fast, slightly paranoid, and has reflexes on a hair-trigger, so... yes, yes she does hear Seto diving involuntarily into the snow, and turns around just in time to see the dust settle, as it were.

... Baldr lets out a soft whine, but stays put, as does Lightning. She doesn't recognize the kid from the back of his coat and hair. ]

[presumablyalone]

[For a minute or two, Seto just... stays like that before finally letting out a groan and he presses against the ground with his hands to get himself back up. But actually getting back up on his feet is even more difficult than walking itself.

First he just gets on his knees, leaned forward with both hands on the ground and very slowly he starts to rise, flailing a little as he tries to find something to grab onto but since there's nothing close enough to him... he ends up losing his balance and falling back on his butt. Damn it all] I should've grabbed a walking stick or something...

[Then he looks up and stares right at Lightning, not registering that she's there since he can't see her clearly. He has no idea if he's looking at a bush with pink on it or what] Hello?

[thestormishere]

[ Obviously whoever this is is having issues, so Lightning does take a step or two closer, until-- oh! Not only does she actually recognize him, but it's someone she's vaguely familiar with! ]

Seto...

[ And Baldr knows him too!! The fluffy dog perks up suddenly and rushes closer ahead of Lightning, stopping a few feet away to leeeaaan forward, sniffing the air right above the ground audibly.

Lightning's not far behind, however, trudging up with confusion wrinkling her brow. Something is definitely off here- not just in the way he's struggling to stay upright, but in the way he's looking at her. ]

[presumablyalone]

[The bush spoke! He can't help but smile now, especially since the voice is recognizable.] Lightning! I-Is that really you?

[Once he notices the black mass slowly getting closer, he just stares at it for a minute then reaches out to try and touch it. What is that thing?]

/brb takin this post's DW virginity

[fairly]

[As the two of them are wandering past, say, the bar, a tennis ball goes flying through the air from behind the building, right past Baldr's nose and into a snow hill nearby.

Take that! Doggy distraction!]

LEWD

[thestormishere]

[ 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!

ohyeah and this is AT FLOWER SHOP

[gardeningaia]

[ Because flowers are A Thing

Lightning at the flower shop is not so much a Thing, and Aerith looks up from some minor redecorating to look at her with a curious smile. ]

Hi, Light. Hey Baldr! [ eeee big puppydog ] What's up?

where else would it be

[thestormishere]

[ What? Lightning can't come see her friend when there's not much else to do?

Alright, no, it's fairly obvious this isn't a case like that, given Lightning's oddly reserved manner, subtly different from her usual taciturn act. Her eyes trail around the shop; she's actually looking for something here right now. ]

Hey.

[ Hm, she seems reluctant to answer the question, too.

... Baldr, however, is unfazed, definitely knowing what person 'belongs' in this particular building. He trots up to Aerith right away, turning to lean against her leg fondly. Pet the fluffster! ]

HURR HURR

[fairly]

[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.

GROUNDED.

[thestormishere]

[ 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.

In the observatory with the candlestick, Colonel Mustard

[gardeningaia]

Hmmm...? [ She kneels down to pet Baldr, but Lightning's odd manner makes her keep looking up at the other woman. ]

You're looking for something?

BUT MOOOOOOOOOOM

[fairly]

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.]

B|

[thestormishere]

[ A soft sigh, but then: ]

Chrysanthemums?

[ Reluctant, but once she's got her mind on something... it's pretty hard to push away. She steps forward, tugging at her neck to loosen her scarf a bit in the warmer air of the shop. She just hopes for a miracle in that there might be some blooming in here...

... And wonders whether or not Aerith might catch on to what she's doing without her saying anything more than that. ]

B)

[gardeningaia]

[ Nope, she doesn't, drawing on a traditional meaning for the flower instead and smiling. ]

Branching out a little from roses? Chrysanthemums are perfect for this time of year... and luckily, there's a few blooming.

[ Yaaay for electricity making greenhousing easier! ]

Any particular color, or should I guess?

NO BUTTS

[thestormishere]

[ 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. ]

[thestormishere]

[ And just as Lightning reaches him, Seto will be finding a palm full of cold nose and fuzzy doggy lips... plus whatever it feels like to have a talking dog laugh into your hand. ]

What happened?

[presumablyalone]

[Uwah--what a weird feeling. Is this her dog? The last time it had a cold nose so it must be him. So Seto smiles and tries to pet him]

What do you mean? [Because the whole him being severely blind isn't something]

not even a cute SOLDIER butt?

[fairly]

[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?

[thestormishere]

[ Noooot quite, but although she affects a soft frown for a second, Lightning doesn't object. ]

I'd... like to take a look.

[ Although, yeah. She's not hard to know well when it comes to flowers. If there's pink or red, those will probably be the ones she's after. ]

[thestormishere]

[ While Baldr lowers his head for lettings, Lightning goes down to one knee beside Seto, peering at his face carefully as she hooks a hand on the curve of his elbow. ]

Why can't you see?

[presumablyalone]

[He jumps a little when she touches his arm, looking over to the side at her but not really at her. It's more like he's looking right through her.

A frown tugs at his lips and he just let's his hand rest on the top of Baldr's head] ...It's my penalty for dying... A-At least that's what Giles told me.

ESPECIALLY SOLDIER BUTT

[thestormishere]

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?

[gardeningaia]

Hmmm... [ Now she's really wondering what this is about, but for the moment, she just straightens up and turns. ] They're over this way.

[ Once they're over there, she leans over the chrysanthemums, examining them to make sure they're healthy. ] Ahhh, looks like they're doing great! I was worried when we couldn't get to the store.

Have you ever picked out this kind before? The red mums are the prettiest with red roses and lavender daisies. Even if it's a little extravagant that way... [ Okay, the chatter is more to make the question stand out less. Floral arrangements with words! er anyway. ]

[thestormishere]

[ Penalty--

Lightning freezes, her heart skipping a beat as her hand grips tighter onto the teen's arm. A death penalty... which beyond the obvious, also means that whatever this is, it's permanent. Like her magic's control being affected, or Aerith's inability to feel hot and cold. ]

What happened?

[ Same question, totally different tone. ]