☈ strike # 22 (filtered voice / public video / action)

[thestormishere]

[ Again.

For the third time now, someone Lightning has cared for has left; unfortunately, despite it being a major staple of life in Luceti, it doesn't get any easier-- especially given the identity of the absent person in question.

But it is different this time, if only because her explosiveness in reply to it seems sapped... when she speaks up on the journal, her voice is flat and quiet, deceptively even. ]

-- Voice only, evening of the 8th, filtered to Hope & Noel --
I thought you should know... Serah's gone home.

[ ... And that's all; with that she's gone- locked in her room if anyone cares, without answering, touching, or even looking at her journal...

It's not until well into Thursday afternoon that Lightning makes a reappearance to the 'public.' That said, it would be hard to pinpoint anything's wrong at all for those who don't know her fairly well, save for a sort of distant demeanor- evident in her averted gaze and too-smooth voice.

She's sitting on a beach in her transmitted video, but it's not Luceti's beach, given it's clearly night where she is, in contrast to the real sun still shining away cheerfully outside. ]

I'm looking for people wanting to spar-- maybe help me test something. Weapons, hand-to-hand, anything. Send me a message. Or just come to the battle dome.

[ "-- I don't care." There's a short pause, while she briefly taps her fingers on her knee, tries to think of anything else worth mentioning.... ]

Magic is a bonus too, if you've got it.

[ And then there's an abrupt end to the 'feed' once again. Anyone who doesn't catch her message or decides to just go ahead and wander over to the battle dome will find her fiddling with the simulation controls, armed with an unusual, bulky weapon - looking somewhat like some sort of gun - hanging holstered behind her hips.

... No, there's really no words for how much pain she's in right now, but perhaps distraction may help. In any case, no matter how much she sometimes seems set on it, she knows quite well by now that cutting herself off has a very low chance of making her feel any better. If nothing else, this is at least worth a try. ]

Comments

[wingenvy]

Yeah... me too, believe me. I guess that's why I try not to waste whatever time I have with people here... I know I might not get another chance at it.

[Losing Cloud, losing Aerith, finding out that he dies... it's been a wake-up call, the last year or so. Depressing as hell, but he's also benefited from it, so he could never say it was a total loss. She's proof enough of that.]

[thestormishere]

[ She swallows at that, his words resonating stronger than they might have if she wasn't aware of the context they were coming from. Sure, she's got more information now about her own future, even if it's weird as all hell and doesn't make much sense... but his fate haunts her constantly as well these days. It's a lot like she's fallen for someone who's since been revealed to have a terminal illness- one that, thanks to Luceti's unpredictability, could take him from her at any moment.

Needless to say, it's not a happy thought when she's already stinging with abrupt loss. Her grip on his hand tightens, her face a lot more openly sad as she glances up at him. ]

Zack...

[ ... Having everyone you care for constantly taken away kind of really bites, man. What'd they ever do to deserve it, anyway? ]

[wingenvy]

[His response at first is a quiet hum, a pause, then a tilt of his head, leaning his body enough to rest his head against hers, wanting to get closer. He hadn't meant to bring it up as if seeking a pity party or anything, but now that it's out in the open, he fully recognizes how it sounded. And that's just not fair.]

Don't start worrying about me, now. I'm not going anywhere.

[Which is an empty promise, okay, he knows that. But he needs to say it.]

[thestormishere]

[ Lightning's eyes close- squeezing shut, really, and by this point she's holding onto his hand with enough strength that it's probably pretty fortunate she's not the only one here with some extra power to back it up. Wanting to be closer is plenty fine with her; her free hand lifts to his shoulder, catching in his shirt. ]

... Good, because I'll kill you if you do.

[ The real reason why Zack goes down: girlfriend from another dimension enacting her revenge. True story.

She laughs quietly, but coupled with her voice breaking slightly, the humor in it is non-existent. ]

[wingenvy]

Well hey, at least then I'd have a pretty cool death to gloat about in the Lifestream. "My dimension-hopping girlfriend was mad at me."

[She'd laughed, which he already considers a small, personal victory, even with how hollow it had sounded. Even a fake laugh is better than no reaction at all, so he's definitely seen worse responses. He'll take what he can get.]

[thestormishere]

Tsk.

[ She huffs... but then relaxes a bit too, breathing deep in a way that suggests she's just taking the time to remember how. She's fine with just staying silent like that, staying still- save for when she turns just slightly to glance at Baldr, finally extracting himself from the much tighter situation. He lays back down, but not without a quietly mournful "Breakfast..."

Oh, dogs. ]

... I'll be alright.

[wingenvy]

I know.

[It's said without an ounce of doubt; he's hoping that his confidence will rub off on her, offer a bit of reassurance, whether she needs it or not. She's strong, and it's more than just physical. She can handle even this sort of heartbreak.

He just really, really hates that she has to.]

...But I'll be here, you know. Just in case.

[In case you ever aren't.]