[ action ] ϟ [ 05 ]

[subjected]

[ While SeeD exams are very interesting and all, truthfully, it's hard to say that Claire really cares that much about them when in they're in the process of taking place. For her, today isn't that much different than any other day. Just more time to try and find something to do while school isn't currently in session, right

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[contempsi]

[He doesn't notice Claire at first, only that there's someone there- but the flash of bright yellow feathers is unmistakable. Even in a place like this. Eyes widening, Hope steps close to the giant riding bird.]

Wow, I... never thought I'd find one of these here-

[Gingerly extending a hand in hopes of petting it, it's then that his gaze actually focuses on the woman right next to the bird.

Prompting him to immediately jerk a step backwards, accompanied by a gasp of surprise.

Whoops.]

[subjected]

[ It would be far beneath Claire to let this boy sneak up on her a second time, and away from where there is bound to be a whole lot less random people around than inside one of the classrooms during school-time... you can bet she notices Hope long before he happens to recognize who he's currently alongside.

And no, she doesn't look happy in the slightest-- especially since no matter how hard she tries to hide it, the abrupt change in her attitude is very apparent to a sensitive creature like a chocobo... and the teen's reaction completes whatever it needs to decide this is too much. It bristles with a screech, yellow feathers puffing out... and flees.

Leaving one very unhappy instructor alone with a boy she doesn't like at all. The look she gives him is withering, even before she opens her mouth, speaking in a voice that is at once dry and venomous. ]

Is there nobody keeping an eye on you?

[contempsi]

[The chocobo's running off, kicking up dirt behind it, and Hope instinctively turns toward in a knee-jerk bid to try and call for it to stay. There's no words that make themselves known, however. It's too late- the bird's already gone.

Leaving himself face-to-face, of course, with Lightning's doppelganger.

He's not entirely happy either, though his distaste springs more from the prickling tension between them in their last impromptu meeting along with the cold hard truth that Snow had filled him in about. There's no real hatred or animosity here, though that doesn't make him any less irritated and frustrated and conflicted to be in Claire's presence. Hope doesn't even look up at her, aiming a hard frown at his shoes.]

I don't need to be supervised. It was an accident.

[subjected]

[ Claire really doesn't get it, here- while he was obviously very new to Garden that first time they'd run into each other, surely he has to have talked to his fellow Pulse l'Cie by now, right? Are the others really so foolhardy as to not warn him to be careful-- to let their youngest 'member' wander around where he might do something just like this?

Of course, they don't know what she tried to do to her version of Hope Estheim, but all the same, she's made it pretty damn clear that she's potentially dangerous to their well-being, that mental leash from being in a different world or no. ]

You so sure of that?

[ She turns to regard him, eyes narrowed; it annoys her a little, that he's not looking back in turn... ]

[contempsi]

[He lifts his gaze then, although there's some hesitance to it. It's too strange and surreal for him still-even passing by in the hall, narrowly missing her presence-to see her face, her stature and posture yet to know that it isn't truly the person he's supposed to be familiar with.

Even the hair doesn't do much to detract from that.

He's tried psyching himself out many times, but it's still difficult when she's right in front of his face. Hope scuffs a toe in the dirt.]

Look- you probably don't even know what it's like. But I've learned a lot before I came here, and got strong. So nothing scares me here.

[Okay, so that might be only a half-truth: tangible things and monsters and people? Probably not so much. It's concepts that are the problem.]

[subjected]

[ Claire isn't evil - not really - but the fact that she laughs at Hope then is probably a little... uncanny. Does she care what he thinks or says? Nope, not at all, and she doesn't know 'her' version well enough to spot the differences- for all she knows, they're pretty much the same, and the bravado comes from being a l'Cie in the first place or something. The fact that he thinks he can say that when it was fairly easy for her to take care of him, in an entirely different way than her counterpart had of course, is plenty to be amused over.

... Or at least pretend to be amused over. The truth of the matter is that the idea of how it must be in his world-- that really scares her, actually. With her on the Pulse l'Cie's side and not really much evidence of some sort of replacement plan of some sort... who is going to save Cocoon? There's no way the Sanctum and the fal'Cie attached to it would allow things to completely fall apart without sufficient resistance... right

[contempsi]

[The laughter is pretty creepy-more than he would have expected to unsettle him. More of it to fit together into just how different from Lightning this woman really is. At least, in his own mind. Snow's words ring in his head about how, deep down, she's the same... but something like this just makes him want to throw it all to the wind.

Lightning wouldn't laugh at him. Not like that. And definitely not in response to something like what he'd just said - except, perhaps, in her dry but fond manner. Hope's jaw automatically tenses, hands clenching into fists at his sides.

He won't let Claire scare him off. Not this time. He's determined.]

What's so funny?

[Hope's voice has that demanding edge to it again, though it's calm in spite of everything, the boy lifting his chin defiantly.]

wow why didn't you punch me in the face for not replying here

[subjected]

Hm.

[ And that's the only warning at all Hope gets before the former PSICOM officer finally acts out against him. In an abrupt show of casual aggression, her hand snaps out to grab his collar, pushing him back in front of her as she steps forward. It's obvious she has no lack of practice in being intimidating...

... But for all of that, the shift doesn't extend as far as her flipping from anger to laughter and right back again. Her eyes are narrowed, but otherwise her face is strangely blank, her voice low and oddly muddled in contrast to her generally clear, even tone. ]

Killing teenagers is too much... I don't want to do it again.

because I suck even more |D

[contempsi]

Aah!

[His eyes shoot wide open as she abruptly grabs him like that and hauls him over, arms flailing practically of their own accord as he fights to keep his balance. Something swims in the pit of his stomach, briefly, but then it's overcome and he's bringing his hands up in an attempt to shove her arm away in protest, anger flashing in his eyes.]

Killed who? [He grits his teeth - probably a bluff, anyway. Trying to threaten him and push him around. Well, he's not having anything of it! Or so he'll convince himself, anyway.] Who did you kill, L-Farron?

I challenge that sentiment /)_(\

[subjected]

Put it together yourself.

[ She finally lets go and shoves him back to avoid being shoved away herself, deliberately looking and sounding a little disgusted-- but frowns to herself too, over the knowledge that what she's implying might not even be true anyway. Then again, all she has to believe in Hope's survival in her world is the fact that the other Pulse l'Cie insisted upon it. He hadn't actually been there on board the Palamecia with them.

Shaking her head, she turns to find and gather the bag she'd brought along out with her. Does she care what this boy thinks of her? Not at all.

But what she said was true: hurting him here wouldn't affect her home, and could mean she's up for at least a third try once she finds her way back. That's not something she wants to do, regardless of her willingness to attempt it if necessary. ]