☈ 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

[Voice // Locked]

[originaljackass]

I saw 'em.

[Voice // Locked]

[thestormishere]

[ It's Jack's voice that sets Lightning on edge right away, even if she doesn't immediately understand why. There's a long pause before she answers, and even then there's a strange tone to her voice when she does that is somehow both flat and dark. ]

Jack.

[Voice // Locked]

[originaljackass]

[Wow. He gets that tone from a lot of his exes. Scary.]

Hey Light.

[Voice // Locked]

[thestormishere]

[ -- Wait, what? ]

... It's Lightning. [ Automatic response. Where in the world did he get the impression he could call her that? ]

[wingenvy]

[Zack's got the afternoon shift at the bar today, so once he's done cleaning up and his replacement arrives, he heads out of Good Spirits to get home for dinner.]

[thestormishere]

[ And guess who's waiting for him when he does, leaning against the outside wall of the establishment with arms crossed across her chest and legs crossed at the ankle? Lightning, of course, though she doesn't say anything when he finally appears-- just looks at him. ]

[wingenvy]

Whoa! [Zack jerks back a bit at SUDDENLY, PERSON, but relaxes as soon as he recognizes her. He blinks in surprise, though, lifting a brow.] Light? Were you waiting for me?

[thestormishere]

[ .... Mmmmmaybe? She frowns slightly. ]

Is that a problem?

[gardenerofgaia]

[Silly Lightning, like Aerith has a set schedule of staying away from her flowers.

...But it's true she tends to come in the mornings and then leave for a lunch, so Lightning can catch her just as she's finishing up for the morning, wiping dirt away from her dress.]

[thestormishere]

[ Maybe Aerith just doesn't realize she has one yet... or maybe Lightning's just a little weirder than usual right now and extra-sensitive to any patterns...

In any case, she knows, and it's then that she pushes into the building with a jingle, looking serious despite the cheery tone and skipping right to the point as soon as she's close enough. ]

Aerith. My books.

Leeeet's say this one is shortly after Light comes back btw.

[gardenerofgaia]

[HAND SMACK ON MOUTH.

...She knew she was forgetting something. She shakes her head, lowering her hand to speak properly.] It slipped my mind with everything... Raine has them. Do you need them?

:|b tell me if I need to fix anythin'

[thestormishere]

[ So Aerith was the one who'd taken them; aside from knowing the culprit, Hope had been generally unhelpful on explaining why the books on Cocoon and the like she'd taken from the library had disappeared while she was gone. ]

Why... [ Pause. Wait... waitaminute. ] Who's Raine?

[voice | locked]

[winged_moon]

Why?

[voice | locked]

[thestormishere]

[ What she drew still matches her wings now too, so although obviously she's looking for people who saw the Cie'th, she's careful to watch her words. ]

I just need to know something. Were you there?

[voice | locked]

[winged_moon]

Yes.

[voice | locked]

[thestormishere]

... With the monster?

[Filtered]

[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?

[Filtered]

[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?

[Filtered]

[its_troublesome]

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

Four. Including your friend, that is.

[Filtered]

[thestormishere]

Are you sure?