☈ strike #15 (action / video)

[thestormishere]

[ For Lightning, because of the circumstances at the end of the last time she'd been drafted, this is actually the first time since her arrival she's ever had to go and try to readjust back to 'normal' life so suddenly- to go from experiencing days of battle and worry, thinking critically, ready to kill or order to kill at a moment's notice... to

Comments

let's just call it fashionable

[wingenvy]

[No, not a happy house at all. But he does try to perk up when he sees her, offering a smile despite her expression. He's not sure what's on her mind just yet, but he has a few guesses, and none of them are particularly happy. Still, he's not about to turn tail and run from this.]

Hey, Light. How're you doing?

[thestormishere]

[ Lightning looks down, silent for a moment, but then... well, hopefully Zack's hand-eye coordination is in working order, because there's only about a second while she holds an apple up in her hand - just long enough for him to see what it is - before she tosses it across the room at him underhanded. ]

Okay.

[ "Uncomfortable," more like, if the look on her face is any indication. She's kind of atrocious at hiding that kind of thing, if she doesn't have a reason to be angry for veiling it that way. ]

[wingenvy]

[Whoa, suddenly apple. He catches it out of the air, eyes widening. "Okay"? Well. "Okay" isn't good but it isn't bad, either, so Zack'll take it. Even if she doesn't really look okay. He nods slightly, lips pursing as he tosses the apple idly into the air.]

It looks like you've got something serious on your mind.

[Certainly enough going on to be serious about...]

[thestormishere]

Yeah.

[ Short answers seems to really be her thing today, huh? But with what had been in her hand relinquished, she leans forward until she can rest her forearms on her legs; pressing her lips together slightly, she glances Zack over. ]

... And you look tired.

[wingenvy]

Not too tired to catch an apple, at least! [He twirls the fruit playfully between his fingers before taking a bite and sauntering over to the couch, plopping himself down.]

[thestormishere]

It came off one of the trees t-- ah, north of town.

[ It's not difficult to agitate Lightning in one way or another, but it's very rare indeed that she gets distracted enough to do something like trying to fall back on her old vocab, being from a place that has a pretty different concept of what north/south means. Her tone in uninterested anyway, though- who cares where it came from?

She turns her knees aside when he gets closer so that she doesn't, uh, flash him when he sits at a lower level than her, and... watches him so closely now, fhdusafg.

Is it really so hard to guess what might be on her mind? ]

[wingenvy]

[Not terribly hard, though he's wary of mentioning anything; after all, he'd made his intentions clear, and had given her the opening to make a choice. All that's left to do is wait for her to choose.

Not that waiting is easy, with all of... well, her right in front of him all the time. But he's a patient guy. He still wanted Aerith after four years, after all. Mind you, someone like Lightning might need a push now and then, if only a mention to say that it's okay to say what she needs to say. Or wants to say. Or to take her time. Decisions, decisions...

He bites the apple again, pondering his options for a moment. Then-]

Don't push yourself. It's okay to give yourself some time.

[Time to think, time to wonder, time to consider the possibilities.

Time to grieve. Aerith's still gone.]

[thestormishere]

[ -- She figures he already knows, and has to suppress reaction at the thought while she looks away, listening as he bites into and chews the apple she gave him. However, at the comment... she really does give a sigh, slow and quiet, and leans forward until her elbows are on her legs again, raising a hand to rest her chin into it.

Time, right. As if she's ever been one to keep herself from barreling into things head on. The funny thing is, for once in her life, she has been taking it slow. She's conflicted. Ever since she was fifteen, her entire life has revolved around focusing on making sure other people are happy while holding herself at a distance. This time, it's more about her, and because of that she's not quite sure how to act.

And now it's just... while it feels weird to even consider dating Zack or-- whatever it was they were alluding to in their discussion right before the draft, it's even weirder to just leave it there, hanging in the air all unaddressed while they awkwardly continue on with life without one of their

[wingenvy]

I don't think she'd be mad. Exasperated maybe- she wants us to know she's strong. But Aerith isn't the type to resent someone for protecting her.

[She wouldn't have indulged Daisy for four years if that wasn't the case. And Zack isn't exactly the most willing to let her fling herself into danger without some sort of guarding, either. He's still getting used to difference between Aerith of "back then" and the Aerith of today, but her kindness hasn't really budged an inch. She's never blamed someone of something they weren't responsible for. Her forgiveness of him is all the proof he needs for that.]

[thestormishere]

[ Well Zack, you manage to get close to Lightning... and you also get to witness her emotions and personal problems in hi-def: here especially, her constantly-trampled-on desire to protect what she actually cares about. He's the closest outlet she's got right now; while there's Hope... there's only so much you can lay on a teenager who looks up to you.

And while Baldr's a decent listener as well, he doesn't really understand concepts much more complicated than simply being there when his people are too upset about something to want to play. ]

I tried to, Zack.

[ She pauses, uncertain, and after a beat lets her arms fall to drape across her knees before turning to look at him again- as if she's about to say something more... despite nothing at all coming out. She's not even sure what it would be. An apology? Asking if she should have tried harderFrankly, she's not even sure what she's looking for out of this from him-- or how it relates at all to anything else. Here she is blatantly opening up to the guy she likes and-- it's not

[wingenvy]

[Zack glances over at her, rolling the apple idly between his hands.]

I know that, and Aerith will know it too, when she gets back. It's not your fault.

[He's firm on that stance, unwilling to change his opinion. The last thing any of them need is a lot of finger-pointing in the midst of this grief, even if it's self-blaming.]

[thestormishere]

I know. But...

[ Frustrated tone aside, she isn't objecting to his opinion - blaming herself for something another person did, in a case where both of them had been taking on so many responsibilities otherwise, doesn't make sense no matter how it's spun.

But.

Very, very slowly, she slides off the back of the couch, lowering herself to the actual seat with oddly stiff movements. Her agitation might as well be visibly hanging in the air around her, as she leans heavily against the arm rest. ]

I can tell myself that all I want, that I shouldn't feel guilty. I can act like everything's okay, but I'm still--

[ ... Oh, so actually this might be even more complicated, and to boot... it's in a way that she still can't just bring herself to blurt out. Instead, gritting her teeth and eyes down, she lifts a hand and puts it over her heart, fingers over the location of her hidden Brand

[wingenvy]

[He purses his lips, and with her down on the couch and therefore closer to him, it doesn't take him more than a moment to reach out and set his hand over hers- the one on her chest. She touches that spot - the Brand - a lot, he's noticed. And he can't put a finger on why, exactly, since she's told him it's better now, but... it bothers him. It really does. He gives her hand a light squeeze, his gaze lowering a little.]

I know. I felt that way too. This time, and... back then.

[When she'd died, when he'd been here and helpless. He couldn't have done a damn thing to save her, much as he'd wanted to. And now it's happened again.

Surely Aerith must have felt the same when Light had been taken from them, however briefly. There's nothing wrong with letting it hurt, however... it's just tricky, plain and simple.]

[thestormishere]

[ The gesture's definitely habitual. The thing wrecked her life and tried its best to wreck her mind too, so although she and Hope are 'safe' for now, and at last she doesn't have to worry about him experiencing what happened to her... that doesn't negate their screwed-up pasts and uncertain futures--

She glances over to stare at Zack, and her stomach does what feels an awful lot like a slow flip in the place below her ribs. It's not really as pronounced as it could have been though, especially given the position. Her head's in an unusual place, for once not bothering to double-guess motives.

A long moment later, her gaze drops, and she lowers her hand to push his down and away..... but then slowly turns it over, so that hers lays on top of his in the space between them. Troubled, yes; clingy, no. Buuuuut.

... It's okay if it stays like that for a minute more, right? ]

[wingenvy]

[Not exactly- a moment or so after she touches his hand, he curls his fingers around to hold hers instead of just resting one upon the other. His grasp is gentle, but firm, intent on sending a very clear message: he's here. He's staying. Get ready for the long haul.

Sometimes it's just good to indulge in some supportive company, and she needs to know that.]

[thestormishere]

[ Oh, okay. Lightning blinks at that, at how strangely warm his fingers seem against her own-- and surprisingly free of awkwardness, despite how thoroughly she'd destroy most who would even dare to think of trying something like that with her otherwise.

If nothing else, it gives her space to think, mulling over the facts and his words without feeling quite as weighted down by all the other crap in her head. Without the things that block out the less horrifying memories--

You can't shoulder everything you know. You really should lighten up sometimes...

For a moment she looks surprised, but then shakes her head, banishing the bittersweet feeling and sepia-toned echo of her sister's concerned words with a sigh. Now isn't the time to pile how badly she misses her on top of everything else too... after yet another beat or two of silence, finally, she looks up. ]

... Thanks, Zack.