019 [Video/Action for Olivine] {Backdated to sunset}
[Good evening, Johto. Have some quiet little "Pi" sounds over a dull roar as the feed starts up, Spark the Pichu having gotten his paws on Lightning's gear while his trainer is away. To anyone who's spent time at it, it's obvious that the roar is the ocean, which answers where Lightning is as Spark moves aside, showing the pink haired ex-Sergeant
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He's been avoiding this--her--for a while, unwilling to deal with the emotions she summons, the odd, niggling fondness he feels when she's there. He thought having her away for a few weeks would be liberating, but it's tough not to miss someone who'd become a part of routine.
When he sees her crown of pink hair, he is at once relieved, yet strangely uncomfortable. It's with that feeling in his belly that he goes to meet her, standing next to her in his paint-splashed work trousers. ]
Hey.
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When she sees it's Leon, it's hard to keep the tiny smile from her face. She's missed him, just a little, these past few weeks, even if she'd never admit such a thing. Readjusting to her old solo routines had taken longer than she'd expected, and it was still strange to not get up at the crack of dawn for a spar.
But it's nowhere near as odd as the feeling settling in her chest. Nowhere near as odd as the warmth that's flowing through her at the sight of him, and with no way to understand it, she simply writes it off as being happy to see a friend again.]
Hey.
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You wanted a spar? I'm here.
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Whenever you're ready.
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Finally, as he sees her move into an easy, fluid starting position, he beckons her. ]
Let's start.
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It's also pretty obvious that she has no problems keeping her balance on the unstable ground beneath them, shifting her weight between the balls of her feet and her heels as she uses her speed to her advantage. She is careful, however, to not let herself get thrown too far off balance whenever one of his hits connects. Even if she has him at a terrain disadvantage, he still outweighs her. One wrong move on her part and things can get tricky.]
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It's an excercise in frustration, and humiliation. He swallows his pride, but barely. As her kick comes rocketing at his face, he smoothly pushes it aside and catches it, stepping back. But the sand shifts, making his leg twist and sending him crashing. He barely has time to let go of her calf before he falls. ]
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Because that's the problem here, isn't it? Sooner or later, he's going to hurt her.
He heaves himself up abruptly and staggers a bit, before finding his bearings. He wills his face into a mask. ]
That could've been better. I'm sorry.
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Why is that things suddenly feel so tense between them? It's not the first time she's fallen on top of him in a spar, but this is...this is different and she can't figure it out and it just confuses her. What's she supposed to do in the face of this? What can she do besides take a deep breath and look him in the eye? They're only friends, after all.]
It's fine. Don't worry about it.
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[ Things have been tense between them for a while now; it's almost too easy to put his mask on in front of her, even if he feels guilty doing it. ]
That bottle was for Serah, right?
[ It's both a question and a reminder to himself why he needs to distance her. He could be Serah. He could be gone tomorrow. He turns and looks out to the water, the loss of Yuffie, and Kairi, and Sora, and Aerith weighing on him like lead. ]
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Yeah. Some things I needed to tell her but didn't get a chance to.
[And things she won't have a chance to, if Serah never comes back. She could disappear any day herself, but...there's no telling what'll happen if that day comes. It's something Lightning doesn't like to think about.]
I was thinking of writing one to Sora when you showed up.
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Which is why he draws himself up, staring out at the waves, and says with grim certitude: ]
It's no use.
[ He never thought he'd lose sight of Sora's optimism. It feels like a part of himself is falling apart.
But then he remembers that Sora isn't here, everything they'd shared gone with him. ]
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Maybe. But giving up hope is no way to live.
[She sighs, looking down at where the water meets the shore. She told Hope something like this so long ago, but it still rings true to her ears.]
It's just a way to die.
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It's not giving up hope. It's being realistic.
[ Giving up hope would imply that he has a life here, that he needs to keep enduring. But Johto isn't home. It can't be home. He won't let it be. ]
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And since when did being realistic mean having no hope at all? Maybe it won't reach them, but is it wrong to hope it will?
[Lightning leaves the "especially since I can't leave" unsaid for now. It won't solve anything to say it.]
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