By poppler demand

[lucetimods]

Who: Are you in Luceti? You are? Okay, good. Then it includes you.
What: More Luceti Valley AU shenanigans
When: Today! Or other times, if you specify.
Where: Anywhere your heart desires~
Summary: Today the beasties arrive. And more of that dream business. Or just some more slice of life?
Rating: Intended for Immature Audiences Only

Comments

25th or 26th

[thestormishere]

[ This weird dreaming nonsense is already starting to really wear on Lightning's nerves. Ever since they've started, she's been haunted incessantly by visions of things she doesn't understand- about a girl made of crystal, an annoying(?) man in a coat, guns and magic, women in colorful clothing... all of them and others, people Lightning doesn't recognize except when her son Hope is there too, taking part in events that are totally foreign.

... Foreign, but oddly familiar. Worst of all is the sense of impending doom she keeps waking up with, her hand over her heart and a strange name on her lips- Ragnarok. When that happens, it takes her quite a while to calm down enough to be able to even leave her bedroom. Needless to say, sleep has been fleeting.

Therefore, even though the woman has been getting better about this, knows that it's 'bad' for her and she should really either cut down or stop entirely... she really, really needs the cigarettes right now. Problem is, just one at a time isn't even close to enough, and standing

25th

[gardenerofgaia]

[It's late at night, so there shouldn't be many other people out...

Shouldn't be. It seems like tonight is a restless night in general. Still, the plaza isn't as crowded as it is in daytime, making it easier for Aerith to spot Lightning...

And she sighs.] I thought you were stopping that.

[thestormishere]

[ Lightning sees Aerith approaching and frowns, knowing what's probably coming. It's not like she's particularly proud of the habit, after all-- especially when it's got her in its grip as strongly as it does now. Honestly, she's already long lost count of how many cigarettes she's gone through in just a day.

She puffs out a breath in response, clears her throat quietly as she crosses her arms with obvious caution. ]

I was.

[gardenerofgaia]

So... what's up? [Because it is noticeable that Lightning is tense--no, not in the way she normally is. This is different. Aerith eyes her thoughtfully.]

[thestormishere]

Nothing. Just getting some fresh air.

[ Ha ha. It's ironic because she's smoking like a chimney, see. If Aerith needed any more confirmation she's feeling 'off' though, the fact that she doesn't sound joking at all about that is probably a good start. ]

[gardenerofgaia]

No, if you were just doing that you wouldn't be getting it dirty on the way in. [She turns her head to the side for a second, getting fresher air--she really isn't used to it. No one in her family smokes as far as the mun knows.]

...It's pretty late. Couldn't sleep?

[thestormishere]

[ It's been a long time since the chastisements from... pretty much everyone in town brave enough to give them to her affected Lightning, but Aerith's apparent discomfort is noted. The soldier looks away and down as she drags at the cigarette one long, last time before lowering and grinding it out on the brick wall behind her.

Not that she's happy about it, and she looks even more troubled at the question. ] Seems to be a common theme. What about you? [ She's out here too, after all, and Lightning knows too that neither of them tend to deviate much from the early to bed, early to rise mindset. ]

[gardenerofgaia]

I think I'm seeing that theme. Maybe one of the food booths was a little fishy? [Though by now that shouldn't be an issue.] ...I had a dream about an old raid. [She gives a soft smile.] Honestly, dreaming about it still... I'm not really a fighter after all.

[thestormishere]

[ Lightning's thinking more along the lines of 'Shift' and frowns at that in thought. If anything, it's probably more likely to be water than food- she just wishes she knew more about that kind of thing....

The mention of Aerith's dream is more interesting right now, though. She tilts her head at that. ] An... old raid? [ One that actually happened...? ]

[gardenerofgaia]

Well, it was about it, but at the same time it wasn't. I got surprised once, and--[Her hand presses briefly against her stomach, fingers splaying out.] --hm. I stick to one-pieces now. It was more about that one moment. There was still a fight, but I was praying. To the spirits... or more like all of them, altogether. Someone else was there, and I felt really, really happy for just a second, because I knew everything would work out, and then it happened all over again--an attacker from behind.

[She sighs, looking up.] The changes were a little odd, but I'm sure I'm not the only one with dreams like that. At least it's only a memory.

[thestormishere]

[ Lightning listens to that with an odd look on her face, confused as well, realizing she never even noticed Aerith's reluctance with midriff-baring- not that they know each other that well, but....

... But she does know all too well what rehashing old emotional and physical wounds during sleep is like. How many times has she seen her parents die in her own dreams? Relived what might have been had her fortune been less steady? ]

Yeah... I think you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who hasn't been hurt a couple dozen times here. Dreaming about it probably isn't that unusual. [ She looks up into the sky, obviously disturbed a little despite herself. Habitually, her hand feels over a pocket and pulls out another pack of cigarettes... before she remembers she was supposed to have stopped for this conversation and is left forcing herself to just mess with it in her hands instead. ]

... Mine aren't memories. But... I'm sure the same people keep showing up in them. Same... themes, I guess. It's weird.

[gardenerofgaia]

[She knows it's something she hasn't told the other woman before. Honestly--didn't see a reason to tell her, because even if she should have died from it, it was an old wound now and nothing to worry about. If everyone swapped sad stories from the Third Party's attacks they'd just end up feeling sorry for themselves.

Instead she focuses on Lightning's description of her dream, making a curious "hm".] Themes? Are they good or bad?

[thestormishere]

I don't know... I feel like I should be doing something in them and the others are helping me... if that makes any sort of sense. When I wake up, most of it's already gone. Just pictures and emotions left over.

[ For the most part. She lowers her head a moment, her pack making a steady tap in the opposite hand as she thinks, mentally comparing her account to the one she just heard from her friend. This time, it's her turn to make a soft hmm, though she doesn't elaborate. ]

[gardenerofgaia]

Even in a dream you won't kick back and relax.

[She smiles, then leans forward.] You're thinking about this a lot.

[thestormishere]

[ Lightning glances up suddenly, caught a little off-guard by the comments. It's far from the first time Aerith's pulled that on her, though - the woman seems to have a knack for it - so any irritation at the surprise alone quickly fades. ]

... Never really been one for sandcastles and sunbathing. [ And... sigh. ] It just... seems important. [ Which is extremely frustrating to her and shows- almost more than the inability to sleep because of it. She's a woman grounded in reality, and dreams... are not reality. ]

If the dreaming is tied into a Shift somehow, it could get worse.

[gardenerofgaia]

But we just had a Shift. With everyone getting misplaced, and all our things. They don't usually happen that close toge... [...Wait a second.

Things in the wrong place in the last week: herself, her belongings. And, in her dreams, where she had gotten that scar. Could those all be connected? It seemed like a big leap to go from tangible to intangible things, but no one in the village could claim to know how Shifts worked... For Lightning to be taking this dreaming thing seriously... she bites on her lip slightly, distracted by this line of thought. Because Lightning's right: if the dreaming's tied to a Shift, it could get very bad.]