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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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[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)

[ It's not just any Cie'th. Hope gives a grunt - of course he followed them, of course he'd show up here - but suddenly shoves back at Lightning, almost barking at her. ]

I can handle him!

[ Him. Gendering the Cie'th, Hope? She suddenly draws her boomerang in one hand, her survival knife in the other.

She can handle him. She simply needs to distract, slice, and run. Hack off some more crystal, keep on trying to make all of them unable to move. But with Lightning here, it's going to be harder. Perhaps she could use her as a distraction-- no. She still looks like Lightning. She can't just abandon Lightning, even if she... ]

[As if Lightning's going to give her the chance to leave her behind. Rather than stay back and let Hope handle this on her own--oh what she'd give for Magic right now!--Lightning charges forward towards the Cie'th, blade in hand.

The placement of the eye is odd. Normally it's on the chest, or whatever's left of one, and serves as a target. But this one? And Hope called it a him? ...Something's wrong with that picture. The only l'Cie Lighting had ever known with his brand on that arm had been Snow or Hope, and if Hope's here, then...

Snow. By all that's still good this is Snow!

Eyes wide, Lightning rolls under an ungainly swing and stares before she can get her voice back.]

Hope! Is this Snow?!

Of course he is!

[ Hope shouts back - cursing slightly under her breath, arm burning... burning? It hadn't felt like that before. Was something happening? All she had to do was fight now. Fight until there was an opening.

Throwing her boomerang, Hope... hoped it would at least distract Snow. Stop the fighting if only for a moment. Hope couldn't have Lightning fight to kill. There had to be a way... ]

[Of course he is. Dammit. She can't kill Snow! Even like this.

Even if the Snow she knows would have rather died than become Cie'th. They all would have. It never came up, but if one of them had turned, then...she banishes the thought, forcing herself to move. They can't kill him, but turning him away and running for it? That could work.

Especially since Snow--the monster he's become--turns away to swat at the boomerang. It gives Lightning the chance to run, clamber up his back, and hit the ground on his other side rolling. She runs for Hope, reaching to grab the teen's arm.]

Come on! They're slower than we are!

[ Hope grabbed the returning boomerang, and nodded. But first -- ]

There's something I need to do!

[ Charging towards Snow, grabbing out her survival knife, and a quick slash. A tiny bit of the crystal skin flaked off. Before Hope could rush back, though, she was hit, she couldn't... huh?

Suddenly, there was static, gripping Hope. Nothing could move. ]

[ And hovering slightly over the Cie'th? That Beoulve. He had been watching, seeing how Hope was growing as a being like him. ]

It is pathetic.

[ It really was. Somebody gifted with powers like this - and they still couldn't do anything to change the world? How childish this Hope was. ]

I will make it easier.

[ He will. With a static sound - surrounding the Cie'th - Snow seemed to appear. Carved from crystal, Manikin-looking. Colour returned to him, but he was still a crystal. Ramza was smiling at his handiwork - this might end up with them not just fleeing like cowards. ]

[It won't end with Lightning continuing to flee, no. It'll end with her turning around and seeing red when she sees Ramza.

Him, she has no qualms about killing. Especially as she realizes just why Hope has frozen up, and just what has caused the odd static to flicker across her arm. Deep in her chest, Odin begins to stir despite the crystal that forms an ocean between them.]

Beoulve!

[And then she's running, speed letting her leap up the crystalline facets that make Snow's frozen form and sending her leaping up towards Ramza, blade in hand and face contorted in anger. He's so dead.]

[ He doesn't move. Of course he doesn't move. He's never dodged a blow - being unable to feel pain does that to you. Even as she jumped, Ramza simply spoke. ]

Hope is my child.

[ ...That even made Hope look, before dashing to try and get Snow out of there. Snow wasn't attacking anymore, Ramza wasn't her father, and-- damn. Why is her arm not working! Though she couldn't see it, her hand had been covered in that blackness, under her gloves.

And Ramza was struck, damaged. But still simply standing there, looking back to Lightning. As if he wasn't bleeding. ]

Hope is like me. But you do not attack it. Why?

[Lightning lands on her feet, face curled in a heavy snarl. Odin continues to stir, trying to reach a place where she can reach him and summon his wrath upon the monster who would dare threaten his child of storms.]

Hope isn't a monster like you! She'll never be like you!

[She may not be the Hope that Lightning knows. And maybe there is a connection between Hope and Ramza. But no Hope could ever be so cruel, so callous, as to become like Ramza. With a wordless yell of rage, Lightning charges forward again. If it kills her, she's going to kill him.]

[ And as Lightning tried to attack again... Ramza was gone. He did not feel like having to use a Phoenix Down on himself today. As he left, though, his words echoed. ]

She'll never be your Hope. S̞̝h̦̺e͙͎̱ ̡̥̜̘s͖̫̖̫̮̫̩h̙̜o̹̟̩̜͓u̼͍ḷ͙͓͜d̢̼͉n͇̗̬̼'̦͕̭̕t̶ ̹̦̩̠ͅe͘xi̲s̮̲͖̝t͈̥̯̥̜.͉͟

[ ...But he was out of there. He turned that Cie'th to Human. Those Cie'th weren't meant to follow - tsk. Ramza had to go cure the others. No time to play with Lightning. Maybe another time. They had forever. ]