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[ The rain was beating down across the planes of the land between lands - the land the 012ers had been forced to cultivate, to protect the multiverse. It was never a thankful job... but, at least, nothing had gone wrong for a while. People still came here, on their way to whatever world they were meant to go to. Normally not staying for long, and not remembering it. Only a few stayed... and it felt the world seem more lonely.

Hope had been running for so long - even after entering this land, all she did was run from them. She didn't know quite where she was - but she was away from... her family. Her steps slowing, Hope let out a sigh... before noticing a tent, pitched near to a cliffside, protected from the rain. Anything was better then this rain and tiredness... even if there was somebody inside. Letting out a tired sigh, Hope entered... and froze up. That looked just like Lightning. What's going on. Sleep deprevation? Hoping for her big sister back?

...Perhaps she could sleep here - until this other person awoke. At least that might be a little bit of rest, a bit of time to let her feet rest. Nuzzling up to this lady, Hope couldn't help but smile a little.

...She smelled like Lightning. ]

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[Though she tenses, Lightning doesn't pull back. The crystal beneath Hope's fingers is cold and smooth, as smooth as if Lightning has already become a crystalline epitaph, and only warm where it gives way to the flesh of her collar.]

...I fought in a war.

[Letting go of Hope's wrist, Lightning rests her hands on her knees as the teen goes to get dressed. They're strangers, yes, but at the same time there is...something there. Some sort of tenuous connection. Truth be told, Lightning is lonely. Longing for someone who even remotely understands what it means to have been branded, and the fear of those days and nights when the only certainty was death. Vaan has tried. The others have tried. She can't fault them for that, but at the same time...she eyes that blackness on Hope's wrist, then continues softly.]

I fought for a long time. I turned Cie'th, but someone was able to change me back. [Could he change the others? Her family? Maybe. She won't bring it up yet.] This was the cost. I'm not your usual l'Cie anymore.

[ Hope listened, quietly, now resting her hands down. She'd... changed back? How was that possible? Nobody ever changed back. They certainly didn't, as he begged and ran.

But perhaps this Lightning went down a different path. That's what that odd man said, wasn't it? She was just one of many paths, a failed one. Fists bunching up, Hope let out a silent growl. She never even got to do anything to that 'Beoulve' before they... did something to her. ]

Are you still... changing?

[ Hope finally asked quietly, touching her own nothingness. It did seem to be spreading ever so slowly, but not like a brand. It was... hard to explain. She had no powers anymore - but still this spreading nothingness. ]

Yeah.

[Always changing. Always. If it wasn't for Vaan, she'd have turned permanently so long ago. Closing her eyes for a long moment, she has to remember to breathe before she can continue to speak.]

But the man who changed me back stayed with me. He's been able to keep it at bay for a while.

[And turn her back if they're separated again. That first time had been fun, to say the least. But now, here they are. A pair of messed up former l'Cie with no focus and no way home. She sighs through her nose.]

Never gotten rid of it, though.

[ Hope lets out a bit of a sigh - before eyeing Lightning. Was this man her boyfriend? If Serah was here, she would tease Lightning so much...

Serah. Hope still held her tear - the last gift from Snow before it all happened. A sign of trust - did Snow know what was happening?

These thoughts needed to stop, Hope knew it. She gave a nod to Lightning. ]

Of course. There's only one way out of this... and we can't do it.

[ Their Focus - they'll never follow it. At least, Hope... well, hopes Lightning feels the same. But she's seemingly been though so much... ]

Who is this man?

[As if Lightning would even consider it at this point. Even a thousand years of Conflict couldn't make her consider doing what the fal'Cie had tasked her with. She would sooner die a monster than a fal'Cie's slave.

The thought still puts fire in her veins, and she has to tamp it down to keep her tone even as she responds.]

His name is Vaan. He's my...[Friend, she almost says. But they're more than that by now. Boyfriend seems too childish...lovers? Maybe. They certainly haven't avoided the issue before. She makes a pensive noise, then:] It's complicated. He's a friend.

[ Standing, Hope moved over to grab her clothes - now dried, thankfully. As she got dressed, though, she gave a little chuckle.

The first one she'd given in quite some time - it sounded quite odd. But she couldn't help it. It was obvious, wasn't it. Lightning may notice, in a necklace in one pocket of her coat, Serahs' Tear has been crafted into well. A necklace, which Hope slips on under her scarf.

A pause, though. ]

You were never the sort for friends.

[ Not after becoming Lightning. There's another pause, before Hope asks: ] What were you doing here?

Things change.

[She saw that Tear. But as Hope finishes getting dressed, Lightning turns away to repack her bag. No use staying here now that the rain's passed. It's either further forward or back to Bastok. And with Hope here now...she shrugs her shoulders.]

Just looking. [A pause, then a wry sound.] Gets boring, staying in one place all the time.

[ Hope wishes she could just stay in one place for a while... but Lightning seems to have things together. Of course she does - she's always had things together... or at least given that appearance.

Tying up the bandanna around her blackness - glad for it to be hidden again - and stretched out a little. With all her clothes on, her bandages were hidden - she looked pretty okay. Almost like the Hope Lightning would know...

Giving a nod, Hope paused. ]

I'll... go, then?

[ She said, quietly. She didn't want Lightning to be caught up to by her old family. By all of them. Even if she wanted to stay by her, to pretend this was her big sister, not that monster out there. ]

[Together enough to keep moving. Over the past thousand years, the only thing hesitation or doubt has gotten her is pain. Pain and loss and the knowing that waiting around will only end in a turn. Better to pick a path and keep moving, even if there was no real path to follow.

No real path but a makeshift family to keep alive. She watches Hope for a long moment, contemplating. It would be easier to say yes, to split off from this Hope and never see her again, but....she made a promise to her Hope. To watch out for him and keep him safe. This girl is not her Hope, but the idea of leaving any Hope to fend for themselves...she sighs, shouldering her bag.]

Yeah. You'll come with me.

[They're not the family either knows, but she can't just leave a teenager wandering on her own in this dead world.]

Unless you've got other plans.

[ That makes Hope let out a slight gasp, before steadying himself, trying to mask a small smile. She knows this isn't her Lightning. For one... ]

They're still here. I've seen them.

[ Would she be ready to fight them? Instead of running like Hope has been doing... Lightning wasn't a runner. At least, the Lightning Hope knew. Giving a slight nod, Hope approached, to be next to Lightning.

Her movement... it was still so similar, as well. Everything was slightly off. But that was probably how Lightning saw her as well. Perhaps she should ask about her Hope... ]

[They--Hope's version of their family. The Cie'th. Lightning masks a hard swallow by turning away to open the tent opening so they can go into the morning sunlight, but the set to her shoulders is obvious. Obvious and the same as Hope's sister, tense and tight and concerned in the same moment.]

We'll handle it.

[Trap them. Hold them long enough to find Vaan and see if he can do for them what he's done for Lightning this past millenia. Maybe he can't, and they will have to be put down, but this Hope deserves a chance to keep her family, too. Lightning wasn't a runner in any sense of the word, but sometimes...sometimes, a tactical retreat was required. Maybe it would be here, too.]

[ Looking outside to the wasteland, Hope slumped a little. She had run quite a way away, huh... this didn't look like anywhere on Pulse. It looked... darker, a world plauged by something. ]

Do you think I'll like him?

[ Hope said, ready to get moving. She was assuming they were off to meet with more people... it couldn't just be Lightning and her boyfriend, right? ]

I'm going to make sure he's good for you.

[ Said with a teasing tone - something quite familiar to Lightining, in the past. It's not just like Hope... ]

I think he might try to hug you.

[Said after they step outside and she can begin to pack the tent, movements unhurried and unconcerned. This world really is dead. Unless Beoulve did something, there won't be any monsters out here to try and eat them. The only concerns are the people, and since it's just them here...she turns enough to give Hope a small smile, wry.]

Vaan's got a soft-spot for kids. Don't think you'll be able to get out of getting hugged with that hair.

[Or the age she appears to be. A teenage Farron? That's going to hit all of Vaan's buttons.]

[ The deadness of the world was making Hope just stare, as she moved slowly, eyes drifting from Lightning to the plains in front of them.

Giving a slight pout, Hope looked forward. Lightning was quite relaxed... that made it a little better for her, honestly. Not being the only one around - she could let somebody else watch her back. At the same time, however, Hope wasn't simply going to trust this Lightning.

After all, she had that crystal growth. It could be dangerous. ]

If he wants to hug me, he'll need to ask first.

[ ..........vaan asking? hope plz ]

[That? That earns a bark of dry laughter as Lightning finishes, tying the tent now neatly folded to her bag.]

Good luck with that. He never asks for anything.

[Comes part of the deal when you've lived with a group for a millenia. You learn the tells and the unspoken agreements or disapprovals...or you just don't care at all. That's more likely to be the thing with Vaan after all these years, really. If Hope's around long enough to get used to him, great. If not...well. It'll at least be something new.]

Never has, never will. You're going to get hugged if you don't force him off first.

[ An eyebrow quirk, and Hope tilted her head. ]

And you just let him? Is it because he can help you?

[ Same old Hope, not mincing words when not terrified anymore. Big sis doesn't need to listen to people like that.

But, at the same time... Hope feels something is going on, something deeper then she can tell. It was... something must have made them come together. It's like... their old family. Hope stifled a chuckle, as they started to walk. That sort of thing seemed to spring up. ]

Something like that.

[Another similarity between the Lightnings? Their no-nonsense, ground eating stride. Used to this terrain, Lightning doesn't hesitate to take the lead. This is the route to Bastok, but also the ruins on the way there. Plenty to find, even if it's old ground for Lightning. Still the best route to take.]

Helps that we've been together for a millennium already.

[ Hope slows to a stop, staring. ]

A-- A millennium? But you--

[ You look the same. Move the same. Everything is so similar... perhaps she misheard? Trying to stop biting her lip, Hope tried to keep walking. Her legs felt so heavy, though...

Who was this Lightning...? Hope could feel tiny tears in her eyes - mostly fear. Creatures shouldn't live that long. Was she awake all that time? Or did she get the mercy of crystal? ]

[Two steps ahead, Lightning also stops. Hands open at her sides, she turns back to look at Hope. Tiny, small, bright Hope. Not hers, but...someone close enough that this explanation hurts her, too.]

I told you. I was caught in a Conflict.

[Left behind to die when Kain's plan actually worked. A thousand years of wandering and fighting and wanting to die later, here they are. Slowly, she shakes her head.]

A Conflict is a never-ending war, Hope. I haven't seen Cocoon or Pulse in almost a thousand years.

...I didn't know, Lightning.

[ Still not calling her Light - she's really not his, she might not like it - he almost called her Claire, though. This just cements it. But before thinking, Hope came up to her - and held onto her. ]

I was stuck on Pulse - but not for too long. [ She can't imagine being away from home forever, for that long. Especially if they'd been running... but this world doesn't seem to have much to run from. That's worse, though - it would hurt.

Her grip was loose, though. Unsure. ]

[Of course she didn't. It's not like she'd said anything about the duration and--

--She tenses. Hugs from Vaan or Tifa are one thing, but...a strange yet similar Hope? That's another thing. She doesn't shove back, barely reacts were it not for her body going almost rigid and the quiet sigh that ruffles soft pink hair.]

Long enough to end up alone.

[It's not meant to be accusatory. Her family is gone and that's no fault of Hope's. She shakes her head.]

Does my past really matter right now, Hope?

[ A moment passed - a tense moment - as Hope let go, shuffling away. ]

...It doesn't.

[ It really doesn't. This is a stranger. They're not Claire Farron - they're not Light. They're just a stranger. A stranger who she opened up to. She shouldn't have. And now she'd dragged this stranger into their issues.

Hope didn't notice, but the blackness covering their arm had grown a little at these thoughts. The blessing of Beoulve... it was glitching, being affected by the emotions Hope felt.

They should just keep walking, though. Just keep walking, travel with this stranger, and leave them as soon as possible. To not burden her with anything else. They were strangers, and they'd part as strangers. ]

[There's a part of Lightning--of Claire Farron--that still longs for her family. That aches harder than any forming crystal can ache. As Hope shuffles away, the ache pulses, a shard of crystal piercing flesh from within at the emotional pain. She watches the teen go for a couple of steps, but then follows with a quiet sigh.

This isn't her Hope. She knows that. But to see her hurt still aches.]

Keep your eyes front. Don't look back.

[Not quite what she'd said all those years ago, but...maybe it'll be enough anyway.]

[ It doesn't even seem to resonate with Hope - internally, that is. She gives a slight nod, however - of course she knows.

She can survive on her own. She doesn't need to get tricked by this.

Her ears twitch, though. She can hear something in the distance - it must be dangerous. Having lived as a lone hunter for so long, that was the first thought.

Without a word, she looked in the direction of the sound. ]

[Hard to miss that noise. Hand reaching back to her Gunblade, Lightning unsheathes her weapon just as the source of the sound rounds the corner of a cliff.

And that's when her heart, crystal and flesh alike, shudder to a halt. It's a shambling creature, black flesh and gleaming dark blue crystal, a red eye smack on its left arm wide open for the world to see.

It's a Cie'th.

Terror putting ice in her veins, Lightning surges forward and grabs Hope by the shoulder, pushing her back as she brings her blade to bear. What is this thing doing here?! How'd it get in?!]

Stay behind me!

[Her voice is high, uneven and almost terrified. This is so not good.]

Edited 2015-04-06 09:44 (UTC)