002 - Hope [Action!]

[noras_boy]

[He had no idea how long he'd been trapped in there, but thank god he was allowed out now. He had no idea what had caused him to get such an icky and debilitating disease but he was just praying and hoping he'd never have to deal with that ever again

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[kat_asks_later]

[The first thing Hope hears is--barking. It suddenly stops, though bounding in front of him is a large fox with a bright red rubber ball in his mouth. He prances around with it, paws it about on the ground, and then picks it up again, offering it to Hope.]

Arf!

[Not too far behind comes a red-headed pointy-eared woman, panting just a bit as she dashes up to fox and boy.]

Trying to make friends, are you, Kitsune?

[noras_boy]

[Hope blinks down at the little fox. He'd seen a lot of interesting creatures in his travels, but nothing that looks like this.]

Oh- huh?

[Hope jumps to attention when he hears the female voice, then immediately relaxes a little when he see's it's not a nurse.]

Sorry- I thought you might have been the matron running after me.

[Slightly embarrassed he looks down at the fox.]

He's interesting. What is he?

[kat_asks_later]

He's a fox. Also my pet, though he's more a partner than just a pet. Even if he's the most troublesome.

[The elf woman kneels down next to the fox, taking the ball from his mouth--which just makes said fox bounce away expectantly, yapping, before he looks at Hope.]

I think he wants you to throw it. Would you oblige him? His name's Kitsune, as you probably heard. I'm Katsura.

[It's hardly school time, no need to intimidate him with titles. She offers Hope the rubber ball with a smile.]

[noras_boy]

[Hope was only distracted by the pointyness of her ears for a few seconds before she outstretched her hand with the red ball in it. He smiles back at her and takes the ball and throws it across the quad.

It felt good to throw something again. He missed his boomerang something fierce.]

Is he from this world? I've never seen anything like that. Oh- I'm Hope. Hope Estheim.

[He nodded at her with a smile.]

[subjected]

[ After several weeks of seeing his name on the roster but not actually seeing him in person, it's somewhat of a surprise to Claire when she spots Hope Estheim out and about, entering the quad.

It's certainly not a pleasant surprise, however; instantly her mood is darkened as she follows him in, expression serious as she subconsciously smooths out her - dark-colored, distinctly PSICOM-esque - uniform. As much as she'd like to avoid directly interacting with any of the Pulse l'Cie? She really can't deny that she's curious about what his reaction to her will be too. Surely it's hard to put on the insane friendly spin when faced with the woman who tried to kill you, right?

Maybe. ]

... No doubt. [ And her voice carries an unusually grim tone to it as she stops behind where he's seated-- disgusted, almost... ]

[noras_boy]

[It takes him a moment for the voice to register. A great big smile spreads across his face before he spins around to greet Lightning.]

Lightning!

[His smile immediately fell. There was something wrong. Lightning wouldn't have talked to him like that- Not after everything- A cold realisation slipped over him as the words Snow spoke to him washed over his thoughts. She must be from the time where she thought Hope was a waste of space. Before everything happened. Clutching to his incorrect explanation he looked up at her, with a nod.]

It's good to see you.

[subjected]

[ Well, that was... interesting. Claire's even expression doesn't falter at all as she looks down at him, but she's not sure what to make of the fact that he seemed happy for a moment and then corrected it-- though not to the point she feels he should. The fact that she's already weathered similar things from the others helps a little, though without a doubt it still irritates her. ]

Really.

[ Testing the waters- considering what he called her, what does he remember? ]

[noras_boy]

[Uncomfortable shuffling.]

Are you okay?

[bratbeyond]

[After all that time-traveling nonsense, the last thing Damian wanted was to actually go back to his room and study. So he's killing time in the Quad. Boss'd call it "procrastination," Damian calls it "a good use of his limited time."

Except wait... is that... huh! His roommate was totally let out! He's heading over there now and folding his arms once he stands in front of Hope.]

Hey, zift. You didn't think about letting me know when you were getting out? [... Don't be fooled by the tone; Damian was worried sick.]

[noras_boy]

Sorry. I was on my way back.

[He smiled apologetically at his room-mate. He remembers the little gift package he'd gotten.]

Thanks for the food. It was a life saver. The Matron made the worst food I've ever tasted but if I didn't eat it I'd have to have a couple more tests.

[bratbeyond]

Tt, it really wasn't a problem. [Still, he looks slightly pleased at the praise] I figured hospital food wouldn't be that schway anyways.

[He pauses for a second, tilting his head to the side] You were in the hospital this whole time, right? No crazy Time Compression slag?

[noras_boy]

I was. I wasn't allowed to leave my bed for the first two weeks... Even if I could have.

[He wretches slightly remembering the debilitating disease he had been inflicted with for the past month.]

What happened? Did the time compression get worse or something?

[focusedfate]

[Cid had been reading prior to Hope's arrival in the quad, but he had looked up just as the boy had taken a seat. Cid had known of the other's presence here in the Garden, but this was the first time he had seen him in person. Snapping his book shut, he stood and walked over to greet the other.

He had no idea when Hope had come from, but Cid would deal with that as it came. If he were lucky, Snow would have spoken to the boy already...]

Hope. It has been quite some time since we last met.

[Cid offered his hand.]

[noras_boy]

[Um. Last time he saw you, you tried to kill him. So forgive his distrust. Immediate distrust at that.]

What-- What're you doing here?!

[Hope jumps to his feet looking angry.]

[focusedfate]

[So Snow had not spoken to him yet.

Cid retracts his hand and lets out a little sigh.]

The same reason you are here: time compression.

My apologies for startling you.

[noras_boy]

Startling me?!

[He looks very unhappy with you.]

The last time I saw you you tried to kill me.

[thewindything]

HOPE!!

[This icon may or may not be what is happening right now. That is your call.]

[noras_boy]

[Spla-doof. Hope goes down off of his perch, tackled by John.]

Ow! John... I guess it's good to see you too.

[thewindything]

[This may seem like normal excitable John-tackling but he is also very glad to see you're okay because. Well. Dead or otherwise!Friends has been something that's been on his mind. You missed some great insanity, Hope.]

[Will roll off of you!]

Are you all better, finally?

[noras_boy]

IT depends how hard you just tackled me.

[He massages his side sitting up.]

Yeah. I'm feeling better.