☈ strike #11 (backdated action / video)

[thestormishere]

[ Okay, so thanks to Luceti, Lightning has now accomplished the impossible: not only coming back from the dead, but coming back after becoming a Cie'th- something that is not supposed to happen under any circumstances. Despite that, however, everything is not as peachy as you'd think. Now? She's left in the aftermath, trying to sort things out

Comments

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[its_troublesome]

[He was wondering if this subject would come up. You sound better than last time, at least.]

You after something in particular from those that did?

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[thestormishere]

[ Oh, it's this guy... though looking back, he wasn't too bad during when she'd just returned, which is why she cuts to the chase and bothers actually asking him-- ]

How many were there?

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[its_troublesome]

[He almost grins to himself. Yeah, he thought that might be what she was after.]

Four. Including your friend, that is.

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[thestormishere]

Are you sure?

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[its_troublesome]

Positive.

[He can be very thorough when he needs to be; ninja training and all.]

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[thestormishere]

[ She makes a sound like a muted hmm at that. Fortunately, the businesslike attitude is something she definitely doesn't find fault with, even if she's concealing a lot of personal conflict right now. For herself, it's easier to volley questions when she's got the persona to fall back on. ]

Aside from Jack, was anyone else injured?

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[its_troublesome]

You? [Not that you need a reminder, but he think it should count - not that he lingers on the subject.]

Aerith and Yue had distance on their side. Far as I could tell they were all right. And everybody should've gotten a look over before being sent back to the village.

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[thestormishere]

[ There's a difference between getting killed and being injured here... in light of her question being answered, she addresses that instead, her voice quieter. ]

It had to be done.

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[its_troublesome]

Yeah. [It's why he can't apologize - they did what they needed to do, and they can't be blamed for that. All the same:] Doesn't mean we have to like it.

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[thestormishere]

[ Nor is she going to thank him for helping kill her, no matter how necessary. Honestly, she also isn't very interested in hearing just how much he "doesn't have to like it" right now, either... though she doesn't comment in that vein.

She doesn't comment on it at all, actually- for several seconds there's just silence. ]

In any case...

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[its_troublesome]

...if you're worried about me saying anything about what I saw, I won't. [Getting that out there.]

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[thestormishere]

[ Plainly: ] Thank you.

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[its_troublesome]

[The journal picks up a nod, but nothing more for a bit.

There's a part of him that's curious to know just what it was he was fighting out there; the hows and the explanations. At the same time, it really shouldn't be making it his problem.]

Back at the park, you said this wouldn't be happening again.

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[thestormishere]

[ Not that she remembers that conversation particularly clearly now, but-- ]

It won't. [ And... she takes a breath, but doesn't elaborate. Yes, she's aware he's probably going to want an explanation next, but he also might not and she isn't about to start blurting it out without prompting first. ]

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[its_troublesome]

And you're sure of that. [Not quite a question, but it's impossible to miss the underlying disbelief in that statement.]

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[thestormishere]

Absolutely. [ And it would be impossible not to miss the certainty that's in hers... if a bit forced in alongside some obvious stress at talking about this. ]