sparkstrikes | empatheias IC contact. (archive)

[For this special occasion, Lightning will receive a few roses via messenger bird as well as a handwritten note:]

happy valentines day, u "light" up my life... j/k but srsly, thanks for everything \ (•◡•) / - prompto

[This definitely comes as a surprise to her. Once she receives them, Prompto will immediately receive a telepathic text message in response.]

Cool it with the name puns. [She's kidding.] Thanks for the roses, they're beautiful. I've got them in the living room in a jar... Sorry, I don't have anything nicer. I promise I'll keep em alive as long as I can. :)

Happy Valentines Day.

[The festival is all said and done. He actually didn't have much time to see Lightning at the festival and he'd skipped out on the masquerade all together.

But he did know that Lightning went. With Gladiolus and all how could she not, right? Right?]

So. Have fun dancing with the stars?

[She had been packaging some fruit from her garden when he found her, gently stuffing some raspberries (or Empatheias' version of raspberries) into a container for safe-keeping in the fridge. She doesn't look up to him at first at his cheeky comment, instead choosing to slam the lid shut before peeking with a single raised brow.]

About as much fun as you did staying away from it.

[This is the look of a woman who knows your secret, Noel. Squinty eyes....]

I didn't see you there.

[What's with the look? Noel looks more amused than anything else.]

Big fancy dresses and coats and tacky masks aren't really my thing.

[He shrugs.]

I heard that it was pretty good though.

That's a shame. I bet you would've looked good in my dress.

[She moves on to packaging the strawberries next, but not before sliding the pile of washed ones across the counter in offering to him.]

It was about as good as any fancy party would get, and they aren't really my thing. People can be pretty convincing if you aren't careful, though.

[He snorts.] Maybe next time... [aka Not a chance in a million timelines is that happening.

He leans against the counter and picks a strawberry to snack on with a nod of thanks.]

No doubt, if they got you to go, they must really be good at convincing. At least you'll be prepared for the wedding now.

[Maybe in the darkest timeline, Noel is wearing that dress in this very moment. With such an infinite number of timelines, who knows what else he could be wearing? ~~The moogle costume?~~]

If it's dancing you mean, then maybe.

[She had more than a few offers to teach her and she's not sure how much she's learned or even remembers.]

Speaking of weddings... you find yourself a date yet? It's coming up.

[A completely innocent question asked in a completely innocent way.]

[~~please he'd rock the shit out of that moogle costume~~

There's a definite smile on Noel's lips at the question as he glances off to the side. A smile he can't stop from forming, but he's not trying to hide it.]

As a matter of fact, I do.

That so?

[She leans forward on the counter, trying to bite back the smile that pulls the corners of her lips, and she picks up a strawberry to turn it between her fingers, examining it closely.]

Is she cute?

[He hums thoughtfully as if wondering if he really should share details with Lightning or not. He's already told Serah of course, but that's a different story. Best friend privileges and all.

Really, he's just waiting for dramatic effect.]

Yeah. I'd say. She's no Gladio, but... [a small laugh, he can't even finish that joke.] She's cute. Too cute.

Yeah, he's a tough one to beat. She must be real cute, then.

[She can't even say that out loud without a derisive snort and she pauses to take a bite of the strawberry.]

Cuter than me? [pffff]

[He nods without a second of hesitation.]

Sorry Lightning, you've been dethroned.

It's Penelo. I know you two have talked before.

[She pretends to act both affronted at the dethroning and surprised by the news but admittedly, she's not very good at it.]

Penelo...? No way. I had no idea.

[ !!!!!!! ]

[Brand new news!!!

It's a good thing Lightning is shit at acting.

He crosses his arms.]

You had an idea.

[~~She is not bad at acting, oh my god??~~

Lightning straightens up and mirrors his stance by crossing her own arms after popping the rest of the strawberry in her mouth. She chews, her face completely serious while she does, and when she's done, she shakes her head.]

And you didn't even tell me before she could.

[Her poor feelings, Noel. :( ]

[Noel stares at her, a little surprised.

And then laughs softly, his shoulders shaking with it.]

Sorry, Lightning. I was still figuring things out myself.

[And now he's ready to share with the family.]

Figuring what out?

[Why is she even asking that question? She's still working things out for herself, and it's been longer than a few weeks. She smiles playfully across at him and helps herself to another strawberry. She pauses to raise her hand at him.]

Spare me the details. She told me what happened. [... A beat as she bites back her widening grin.] You two slept together and then you kissed her. Or was it the other way around?

[Noel happened to be reaching for another strawberry and putting it in his mouth about the same time she says it like that Noel chokes on the pieces of fruit and roughly swallows. He gives a small cough.]

That ... Would be the other way around. Technically.

[He means, she's not wrong. They did sleep together. He's not one to kiss and tell, though. Knowing Penelo, she's probably already cleared up that detail and Lightning is just trying to troll him.]

Edited 2017-08-16 16:03 (UTC)

It's fine. She gave me the details.

[Penelo really didn't, but for once, it's fun to be the one teasing rather than the one being teased. Lightning pauses to laugh, not at him but to herself as he coughs on the strawberry.]

... You're happy?

[He rolls his eyes and looks away when she laughs.

He keeps his gaze away as he lets the teasing fall away and gives a small smile.]

Yeah. I still feel like there's more about her to learn but... It feels nice.

[To be wanted. To have someone genuinely interested in him too. Sometimes he's not sure if it's actually all happening to him.]

[She nods her head, eyes flicking across his face to watch the changes in his expression, even as he turns away.]

You'll learn a lot about yourself, too. Things you didn't know before.

[There's a sense of understanding there that becomes palpable in the amount of warmth that settles in the air, and the way the sun seems to shine through the windows a little bit brighter than earlier.]

[A soft breath leaves his lungs.]

Does that half suffocated feeling ever go away?

[He says this lightly and with a smile. He doesn't mean that in a negative way. More just... does that feeling of screwing it all up ever go away? Because he can't get it to.

He probably sounds somewhat like a boy in that moment...]

Sometimes, but never fully.

[If he's asking from her experience, anyway. Lightning tilts her head in thought, keeping her voice gentle and comforting, despite the truth behind what she's saying. The two of them are probably far more similar than they like to think but it makes it easier to open up to Noel about these kinds of things. Things she wouldn't otherwise talk about.]

Some days I think it's only made it worse.

[Being scared of ruining everything has been a heavy thing on Noel's shoulders. He's been alone for so long that he sometimes wonders if he'll somehow have this ripped away from him too. So...

He raises his gaze to her with a slightly raised eyebrow. Obvious curiosity and concern in his gaze.]

Trouble in paradise?

Something like that.

[She can feel his eyes on her but Lightning doesn't look, choosing to keep her focus on her fingers curling and uncurling into a fist on the counter.]

You feel afraid... [Her voice drops, falling away into a murmur.] Afraid that someone or something is gonna mess it all up or take it away.

[The very potent fear is one that will never truly disappear.]

You feel it too?

[Noel lets out a small huff and nod.]

Yeah.

[And he doesn't really have an answer how to get rid of that feeling. It's just always as the back of his mind even if he's feeling happier than he has ... well- ever.

So he smiles at her lightly.]

I suppose the best thing to do is ... cherish it.

Make sure you do.

[Lightning pops the lid back onto the container of strawberries, pressing down on it firmly with her palm until it makes a click, filling the brief silence.]

We don't know what tomorrow's gonna be like.

[That's very true for the both of them, isn't it. The whole household, really... It's always harrowing to hear.]

Right...

[He rolls his shoulders and crosses his arms next.]

So. You going to teach me to dance, or what?

[Her brows raise at him. Is he being serious right now...]

You saying you don't know how?

[As if she's much of an expert on it, either. The most she remembers is what she was shown at the Masquerade.]

You wanna impress her with your dancing, you're on your own with that one.

There wasn't exactly annual galas on Gran Pulse.

[He says this with a shrug.]

Maybe I'll just avoid it then.

You might've been able to avoid the last dance but I'm not so sure you'd get away with it at the wedding.

[She smiles, fond and warm.]

Not sure Serah would let you.

... Or Snow.

[Noel's expression grows immediately exasperated.]

Snow...

Maybe I'll just up and ask Penelo to teach me. She says she dances.

[She nods, aware that they both know what she means by that. If either were caught not dancing, Snow would be the person who'd get them dancing.]

Could always ask Iggy or Gladio if you wanna surprise her. Even Noct. [She smiles wryly because the image of Noel dancing with any of them...] I'm sure the Crownsguard and his Highness have some tricks up their sleeves

No thanks.

[He says this pretty quickly with a shrug of his shoulders.]

Those guys have enough dirt on me and I don't need to be adding to the pile.

[You know exactly what he's talking about, Lightning.]

What, you worried Gladio'll accidentally toss you into a tree again?

[Lightning knows full well what he's talking about. She brings the fruit containers with her over to the fridge and organizes them neatly in little stacks on the shelf.]

Your loss. Guess we'll have to wait for the wedding to see if it'll pay off.

No comment.

[He snorts with some quiet laughter and then turns to leave the kitchen.]

If I keep my dancing limited to Serah and Penelo only, maybe I can get away with my dignity.

[He waves.]

Lightning.

[Have Noel, sounding slightly concerned.]

I think we need to talk.

[Noel's sudden voice in her head startles her, and it takes her a while to respond back as she pauses to rub her temple with her fingers. She can already make a guess on what this could be about...]

Yeah, figured we would. [There's another pause.] Where are you?

[Well, at least that's a good sign, sort of. She knows something about what he wants to talk about.]

I'm coming back from the hospital area to the house. Meet you there.

Sure.

[Lightning waits for him to return at the kitchen table, two glasses of ice water set out for the two of them already and one hand drumming her fingers against the surface while the other fidgets anxiously with the amulet around her neck.]

[When he gets there Noel doesn't really look that upset but more a little wary and confused. He greets her with a small hello and then hops right to it.]

Alright. I'm sure you've seen ... The tiny Hope.

[He gets that one. Hope is from Snow's timeline. Okay.]

But ... The tiny ... Farron.

[Wasting no time getting straight to the point. Lightning doesn't answer straight away, instead swirling the water around in her glass before taking a long sip. The tiny Hope probably makes sense, and she knows that isn't why he's here.]

You've met Lumina, then. She's not a Farron, despite what I'm betting she told you.

She was definitely insinuating that she was your sister but I had my doubts.

[Because he'd like to think they're close enough that Serah or Lightning would tell him something like that? Unless she was the problem child locked under the stairs all the time or something and that seems like a far stretch.]

She has the power of Chaos, Lightning. Or something similar to it.

[Please explain.]

[Of course she tried to convince him of that. Lightning doesn't appear to be surprised in the least. She taps her nail against her glass, thinking for a while, trying to figure out how to explain who, or what, Lumina is.]

She's... different from the rest of us. Not really human... Lumina comes from my time. Five hundred years into the future when the world was coming to an end.

[All a part of the story Noel didn't want to hear... Lightning looks up at him cautiously through her lashes.]

[He figured this part, put together with what Lumina had told him. He sighs. Noel is still unsure if he wants to hear more about this bleak future yet his curiosity seems to be growing each day.]

And why did she come around looking like you...? What's her deal?

['What's her deal' is oddly broad, because even Lightning doesn't fully know what her 'deal' is. She knows what Lumina is and why she looks like her, but why she's such a little troublemaker? No idea. And having to explain it is proving to be just as difficult as she imagined it would be the moment she spotted her in Verens.]

She... I made her...

[Which sounds weirder than it actually is? She stares at Noel, watching for his reaction.]

Lumina is... a part of me.

[He just stares back, eyes a little confused.]

A part of you. [He repeats, displaying his confusion.]

She formed from what, the Chaos...?

I'm... not really sure.

[There's a long, drawn out pause because as much as she wishes otherwise, there's no easy way to explain things without telling more.]

You sure you want the answers you're looking for?

[It isn't so much about protecting him as it is herself. It wasn't the Chaos that Lumina was created from. It was something Lightning found far more frightening....]

[He watches her face for a moment before he nods slowly.]

Yes. I think I'll find out eventually. Either from you or Lumina because she seems intent on letting little things slip to me wither I like it or not.

[So really, it's a matter of who should he hear it from more? Lightning or Lumina?]

[Yeah, no. Finding out from Lumina is bound to head down the road of inconsistencies and lies just to get a rise out of Noel. No thanks.

Lightning lets her finger trace along the rim of the glass, trying to think of where to begin. The start would be a good place.]

You know what happened after Serah died. The world was consumed by Chaos... I fell into a long, crystal sleep. When I did, my wish to save Serah's soul was so great that I created a vessel -- something to keep Serah's soul safe while I was asleep. Someone...

... Lumina?

[That little bit is enough to start with. Noel expression is hard to read, a mixture of alarm and confusion.]

Lumina has Serah's soul?

Yes.

[As strange as that sounds, but Lightning keeps her gaze fixed on Noel.]

When a person dies, their soul melts into the Chaos. Without me, Serah's soul would have been lost... I wanted to remember.

[Another pause, because she's about to head into uncertain territory again. Noel had stopped her from telling the story once before, so she starts slow, giving him the opportunity to stop her if he wishes to.]

Bhunivelze wanted to create a world without Chaos. His new world would be filled with brave souls... people without regret or sadness.

[Noel feels conflicted about the next part but he remains silent, giving her a small nod to continue.

If Lumina harbored Serah's soul (even when she's alive and well here) than Noel can't help but feel like they should protect the girl somehow. As strange as she is in both her creation and purpose...

And a world without Chaos, regret or sadness... That seems like a strange concept. What would a world like that be like... Timeless.]

[She takes that nod as confirmation to continue, but she conveniently leaves out any details that might relate to Noel in any way. That's a story for another time.]

Without the Chaos, all of the souls of the dead would be lost. No one would remember them. Anyone's memories of the dead gone. It would be as if they never existed. Before... [Lightning breathes an uncomfortable sigh.] Before I went to defeat Bhunivelze, Lumina returned Serah's soul to me.

Sometimes, I'm not sure I really understand why or how...

[He'll be thankful for her omission later. Noel is still very wary about hearing about his future self. He's unlike Snow who wanted to know. He'd rather not.]

I can't say I understand why she would do that either... She seems like a very independent person.

[And wanting to help Lightning like that... Well... Lumina's motives are never clear it seems.]

What do you want to do with her, Lightning? Here.

[Which is an important question and decision that Lightning has to make.]

[Lumina's motives are the biggest mystery. One moment, it feels like she's trying to cause her grief for a laugh and the next, she's begging Lightning to stay with her while the rest of the world turns to ash beneath all the Chaos.

Her fingers drum against the table again while she loses herself in deep thought -- it's a decision she's been trying to make, but one she hasn't figured out yet.]

I don't know. She's a troublemaker but she won't hurt anyone. For now, leave her alone.

[Noel nods slowly.] No issues with that.

[It's hard not to look at Lumina and think child so the idea of not at least keeping an eye on her seems unreasonable.

He doesn't blame Lightning for not knowing what she wants to do with the girl just yet either. It's been a day.]

She'll find her own way. She always does.

[There's a twinge of guilt in the back of Lightning's mind for even thinking of leaving Lumina to fend for herself, but she's proven herself capable of doing it before. It's not like Verens is that much worse than their own world, if not better than.

Something else occurs to her, though.]

I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell Snow.

She ... Yeah. Seems like a Farron, after all. [He doesn't mean that they really are related or anything like that, just that she does seem to have that same knack for fierce independence as the other two do.

He gives her a slightly curious look at the mention of Snow.]

Another ... Issue in the future, I'm guessing?

[If there's any one thing she has in common with the actual Farron sisters, it's that she's just as self-sufficient (and stubborn) as they are. That's it, that's all. Other than that, Lightning will continue to convince herself that they are completely unrelated and totally different. Even though deep down, she probably knows better.]

Mhm. They don't exactly get along. I'd prefer it if she wasn't the one to spill all of the details about Snow's future to him because she 'felt like it.'

I see.

[He sees no real argument against that. It'll be for them to figure out and it's not Noel's place.]

Guess we'll be needing to make some more room around here.

[For Hope and Lumina.]

[For now, Lumina can continue being the stray cat she is. Hope, on the other hand...]

About that... Will we have the room?

[Their family is starting to grow again. Not that she has any issue with that -- in fact, she's quite happy to have Hope here with them as well, but the house is only so big and Lumina can't be a stray cat forever.]

I'll admit, it'll be a little cozy.

[Cramped.]

But we'll be fine. It's not like we can't make a few upgrades to the place too.

[He'll leave out the fact that he's been thinking about moving out lately... He'll wait to bring that up later once he's seen how Lumina settles in.]

[A smile cracks across her face.]

I trust you'll be the one who can make those upgrades happen? Hope'll need some furniture for his room.

[Lumina, too. When the time comes...]

[He smiles as well.]

You can count on me.

I know.

[She always has, and perhaps more than Noel thinks she does.]

Might need to get a bigger place soon, if more people keep showing. Shame, I like this house. It's got a lot of charm.

[Noel glances away and shrugs a little.]

I don't think a bigger place should be the answer. Worked so hard on this place, after all.

[Lightning looks around them, her smile fading a little. She really does love this house. It would be a shame to let it go and all of the memories with it.]

You did, especially. I'm... not sure what we would've done without you here.

[Not just the house, either. Lightning herself never wants to think about what she would have done without Noel here...]

I owe you.

[Noel chuckles lightly under his breath and taps the counter with a finger.]

You would have managed, I'm sure. You always do.

[He's being somewhat nonchalant about it but he does smile. It's nice to hear and he likes helping make their lives easier but still... They would have managed.]

[Lightning visibly flinches a little at that. It sounds eerily similar to what she'd said about Lumina earlier, about how she always manages, and while she doesn't think it was intentional, it still makes her tense.

Clearing her throat, Lightning nods.]

By the way. I'd appreciate it if you kept this between us for now... what we talked about.

[He's also kind of glad she drops it. For other reasons.

He gives her a small nod.] I will. I'm sure you have a lot to deal with about it.

[ Depending on the time of day, anyone chose to leave Lightning's home, there is a package sitting out front on the porch. There's a tag that states the box is for Lightning but nothing indicating who it might be from. if she chose to open the box instead of destroying it for being mysterious she'd find a bright pink handmade hoodie jacket. The back of the hoodie was handsitched of two Gunblades clashing like swords. They might look familiar to her since they bare a striking resemblance to hers and a certain moody teen's. Along the sleeves where made to looking like lightning strikes. ]

[Well this box is definitely a surprise. When Lightning is sure that no one is looking, she snatches the box up from the porch and brings it inside, taking it with her up into her room where she promptly closes the door. It's not the first time someone's left her a box in this manner and she doesn't find it suspicious at all.

She opens it, and what she finds inside makes her snort out loud. The bright pink colour, the stitching on the sleeves and upon unfolding it, the two gunblades clashing on the back...

Lightning laughs again and slides it on over her shirt. It fits just right, almost as if it had come from someone who knows her well. A friend, perhaps?

Whatever Squall is doing at the time, he'll suddenly receive a tiny little shock through his crystal -- it carries the same kind of tickle he might be familiar with. That's it. That's all she sends. It's her own way of saying thank you. And perhaps teasing him a little for the gunblades on the sweater.]

Hi Lightning, my name is Arden. Usagi said I should talk to you. I'm trying to figure out how someone can make sure they stay in Verens forever.

[It's a bit of a surprise because one, she hadn't expected a stranger to contact her, and two... the number of times that anyone has contacted her like this she can count on one hand. Which is why her response is both curt and sends a spark back, unintentionally.]

You what?

[He pulls his head back a little at the sharp response, but he tries to just answer back honestly.]

I'm trying to figure out how I can stay in Verens.

[ ... ]

Why the hell would you wanna do that?

[FIRST of all...]

... You want the honest answer?

[ So this is what Usagi meant. ]

Because if I go back I'll die. Again.

[ At least he's pretty sure. ]

[She raises an eyebrow at his answer. Well, at least he's honest, but she's still got a lot of questions and no answers.]

And Usagi said I could help you? I'm not looking for reasons or ways to stay. I wanna know who's in charge.

No, she didn't say you could help me exactly.

[Trying to get a friend off the hook.]

But I asked her for anyone else looking into this kind of stuff, and you were one of the people she suggested. If you're looking for how to get out, then the reasons why people end up staying instead could be part of it, right?

Could be.

[If there was any way to convey her arms crossing through voice, it's definitely there right now. She's a little wary of letting her reasons be known to a stranger, but Lightning's also not one to turn down someone when they come to her for help. Maybe in the past, she would have, but it's her job to help.]

Haven't found much out yet, so you're outta luck for now. Thought maybe the Arehtei would be a good place to start, though. [A beat.] Why not just ask one of them to let you stay?

[Does it even work that way? She has no idea.]

I... thought about it. I guess I'm just not sure which one I should probably talk to. Usagi suggested not...

[He has to think about it again.]

Just not Sosyne.

What, afraid of some whale?

[There's a hint of some teasing there, masked behind her usual flat voice.]

Which one are you aligned to?

I'm not a representative like Usagi is.

[That's what she means, right? He never learned this bit and still has his original crystal.]

Nevermind.

[Lightning pinches at the bridge of her nose, letting out a long suffering sigh.]

So what are you expecting I do to help you?

Well for one thing you could explain what you meant if I didn't give you the answer you were looking for.

[He can at least catch that from 'Nevermind.']

[There's a sudden shock of static that sends over the connection, this one not as much an accident as the first.]

Do you know which Arehtei you're aligned to?

... No. I didn't know anyone was aligned to an Arehtei.

[... Hm. Dare for a follow up...]

How can I tell?

[She doesn't bother to hide another sigh, and when she speaks through it, her voice is both tired but firm. Either he's really new or no one gave him the rundown, but as far as she sees it, this isn't on her.]

Look, kid. I'm not here to give anyone lessons on how this place works. Look at your crystal, figure it out. Then we can talk.

[Definitely not the answer he was expecting, but then he remembers what Usagi told him about her.]

Fine. I'll call later.

['Later' being after talking to some of the other, more helpful folks about the original issue.

But since she isn't interested in explaining things, he hangs up.]

I need your help with something. Desperately.

[ this is a fashion emergency, lightning. ]

[She is still not used to the whole sudden telepathy message, so it takes a few extra seconds to respond.]

Something wrong?

[Lightning is under the impression that this is a dire emergency and someone, likely either Steven or Ignis, are in trouble, and her stomach sinks.

Yes.

[ it's WORSE than an emergency. his response is emphasized as the connection changes to what he's seeing, and that's ignis and regis chatting oh-so-amicably on the couch in their matching sweaters. his disgust and exasperation is palatable. ]

He refuses to take it off. I thought I could rely on you for backup.

[Lightning immediately switches to her face just as Steven does, and her face is already shifting into confusion and disgust at the sight before her, or in her head (whatever). She always admired Ignis for having good taste, probably the best, but even Regis is in a similar abomination. She squints as if trying to get a better look.]

Are they matching?

Dreadful, isn't it?

[ that's a yes, and he hates it. he's learning plenty of things about his resident eosians that he would have rather been ignorant to. ]

[She pinches the bridge of her nose between her fingers, letting out a loud, long sigh. It's too bad closing her eyes doesn't do the trick of pushing it out of her mind because regardless of how tight she shuts them, it's still there.]

I'm no expert on fashion but who's bright idea was this?

[Ignis wouldn't betray Lightning and Steven, would he?]

You don't have to be an expert on fashion to know how to feel about these.

[ that was his reaction as well. unfortunately, this sight is going to be burned into their brains for the foreseeable future. ]

From what I understand, Crowe. She wasn't met with much resistance... Noctis and Nyx have their own as well.

[ it's chaos. he already feels betrayed. ]

Crowe?

[Her tone makes clear that she's extremely surprised about it, but the other two -- Noctis and Nyx? She's not surprised about that one at all.

They're horrifying and this image is horrifying and everyone involved should feel bad.]

Have you tried talking to Ignis?

[She's not going to say it out loud, but it's kind of like getting dressed in the dark?? Maybe he's not even aware of how horrible the sweater looks??? Just a shot in the dark here. (No pun intended.)]

I know what you're thinking.

[ oh, how he wish that were the case. ]

He's fully aware. He finds it endearing, even.

[This just keeps getting worse and worse, and she narrows her eyes.]

What do you want me to do about it? [A legitimate and genuine question.] Only thing I can offer is burning it without a fire.

[Which... she would be more than willing to do.]

[ he sighs. it's not as if this is a big problem, but it's still an eyesore. ]

I don't really expect you to do anything. I was only looking for some sort of reassurance that I'm not going insane.

[ everyone in the house seems to love them. it's maddening. ]

[Lightning laughs a little, not managing to stifle it before it gets out. In spite of the ugly sweaters, the fact that he had come to her, of all people, for some solace is amusing.]

You're not. Unless looking at them for too long'll make you that way. Wouldn't be surprised if it did.

[There's a visible crinkle to her nose as another image passes through her mind, this one not shared with Steven but within her own imagination.]

Don't let Snow find out about these.

[ it's okay, light. as awful as this situation is, he can't deny the humour of it all - he even smirks along with her. he's just glad that she Gets It. ]

I don't exactly intend to spread the word. I trust you won't, either.

What, and spread the plague of tacky sweaters along with it? My lips are sealed. I'm starting to think this whole Christmas thing is a bad idea.

[If he shows up at any parties wearing that, Lightning is promptly leaving and will gladly take Steven with her if it comes to that.]

I can appreciate the good will that comes with it, though I've seen several traditions that leave much to be desired.

[ oh thank god. he actually feels something akin to relief knowing that she's willing to side with him. ]

I'll file this under the latter.

Don't bring it up around them. Knowing Ignis, he might start wearing them just to bug you. Or me.

[She doesn't actually know if that's entirely true, but she wouldn't put it past him. No harm in being cautious, though.]

I won't. This stays between us.

[ not that he'll probably be able to hide his disgust when ignis inevitably approaches him in it, but lightning doesn't deserve to be dragged into it. this is his battle... ]

I trust you'll do the right thing. You won't let me down.

[You got this, Steven!!

This is oddly dramatic for a conversation about ugly Christmas sweaters.]

[ the messenger birds of verens never really spoke to steven - he prefers to have a personal touch to the delivery of his letters and packages, which is why he sends skarmory on this particular errand. knowing her from when they had met at the wedding, the steel-type leaves a gift and accompanying card at her doorstep, written in neat cursive. ]

Lightning,

Though I believe neither of our worlds celebrate the holiday that takes place during this season, I wanted to take the opportunity to show my appreciation for the past few months.

You've been an invaluable friend to Ignis, but also to myself by extension. I'm grateful that we've had the opportunity to get to know each other, and hope that it will continue in the coming new year.

All the best,
Steven Stone

P.S. You have excellent taste in rings.

[ inside of the wrapping is a cookbook on verensian cuisine, along with a sterling silver bookmark. ]

[ On a cold Ennea morning, Lightning will find a very tiny gift package delivered to her. It's addressed from Jaune, so hopefully she'll trust to open it. Inside the package, she will find one (1) gross letter and one (1) tiny fashion badge/pin. ]

Dear Lightning

We haven't known each other for very long, but you've accepted me for who I am from the moment we met. The truth is, I wasn't quite in the happiest state of mind that night at Helisium, but at the same time, meeting you has been one of my highlights in my time in this strange world. You've shown me kindness, you've given me insight, and most importantly, you hear what I have to say, too.

I'm sorry I made jokes about your judgmental glares - it must be just your face! I know now what kind of heart you have, I know you're a good person. It's why I couldn't let you pull the trigger that one time. I followed my instinct, just like you told me to. Thank you for trusting me on that.

There's a lot about you I don't understand yet, the part of you that's angry, or the one I catch looking lonely sometimes, but I hope I can be there for you as a friend. If I can't, I'd like you to have this badge I made as a holiday present! That's my family symbol on there, it's supposed to represent a rainbow arc. Get it? Arc? Fun fact: It's sometimes mistaken for two crescent moons! I don't know why I said it's a fun fact. It's just a regular fact. You see, my family history has a long line of heroes and warriors that spans across generations, so you should wear it with pride! In some ways, you would make my ancestors more proud than I ever could. In other ways, this is just me saying I care about you like you're family.

Actually, you don't have to wear it all the time, or ever. It's probably silly. :) Sorry!! I just didn't know what else to get you.

Happy Holidays!
~ Jaune Arc

[More presents! At her door Lightning will find a package. Inside is a small cherry pie, and a wooden brush for Daisy. Plus, a fancy card with elegant handwriting.]

Merry Christmas, Lightning! They say lightning never strikes twice, but I hope you keep on going forever and ever!

Love,

Apple White.

[The day after Christmas, a large butternut squash is delivered to Lightning's room with a note that it's from Yeul for the pretty tree holiday.]

[What does one get for Agito on a holiday that celebrates another world's savior? Machina really was at a loss, especially since he really doesn't quite understand the totality of this Christmas but he does grasp that gift giving is part of the tradition.

Delivered to Lightning's house is a toasty winter scarf in vermilion.]

[Waiting for Lightning come Christmas morning is a bag of cookies. Attached is a simple note:]

Happy holidays!

Love Usagi

[ When Lightning wakes. . . she might not be able to see anything at first. It's because she now has an eye mask on. It might not be to her tastes, but putting it on before sleeping will help her sleep right away and she'll have good dreams.

Once it's off, though, she will find that her crystal is glowing! Her emotion drops for the month of Ennea have resonated with Empatheias' giant crystal, and a reaction has been formed.

(Thank you for submitting to the Emotion Tracker!) ]

Light- if you have a bit of time today, could I perhaps interest you in meeting for a cup of coffee?

[The invitation is sudden and unceremonious, though that's not particularly out of the ordinary for either of them. In fact, by all accounts, this is rather routine, though he does have a particular need to speak with her today beyond the desire for an impromptu outing.]

[The invitation out comes as no surprise to her – in fact, she's quite happy to accept. Even if she was busy, it's rare that she would decline or not make time for him some other way.]

I've got time. Where to?

Our usual?

[There are a number of cafes that they visit, but there's one in particular that they've come to favor over the last year, not far from the Hearth in Merchant's Square.]

I'm certain our table misses us.

[She knows just the place he means – out of all the cafes in the city, that one had grown to become her favourite. The Hearth was her number one choice always, for obvious reasons, but it didn't create the same kind of atmosphere a small boutique shop could give so easily.]

I'm sure it does, it's been a while. I can be there in half an hour.

[She's already going for her coat.]

Perfect.

[There's a brief pulse of warmth, and she can certainly hear his smile in his voice.]

I'll see you then.

[Likewise, he'll be seeking his own coat and gloves, as well as his cane.]

[She's there a tad earlier than the half hour mark, the bell on the door giving her a merry jingle in greeting once she swings it open. It's a little packed in here today, with the chillier weather beginning to settle in the city and people seeking refuge with hot cocoa and cozy teas, and she takes a look around for Ignis, eyes wandering to their usual table that seems to be occupied by someone else.

Well, guess it's time to find a new one.

Except Lightning doesn't go to find a table just yet. She wanders up to the counter and orders their usual drinks in to-go cups - it makes them easier to hold - and waits for Ignis to arrive by the door instead once she's prepped the coffees.]

[She doesn't have to wait long. Just as Lightning tends to be early, Ignis has always considered 'early' to mean 'perfectly on time,' and so he walks through the front door less than a minute after she takes up her post by the door, cane in hand. The jingling of the bell above him is pleasantly familiar, and he smiles to himself as he inhales the intermingled scents of coffee and pastries.

Aside from the Hearth, this place had become something of a home-away-from-home.]

[Once she sees him, Lightning pushes herself up from against the wall to maneuver over to him so he can be sure to avoid most of the crowded café. Before she says anything, she skillfully laces an arm and a coffee through Ignis' and nudges him to the left.]

Hey.

[She'll lead him to one of the tables near the back corner, isolated from most of the crowd lining up to get their drinks, kicking a chair out for him to sit in before she takes the seat across. Setting their cups down, Lightning folds her arms.]

This was a bit sudden.

[He smiles warmly; her offer of direction is both discreet and welcome, and he allows their arms to link together comfortably before starting in the direction she'd indicated, letting his cane inform him of whether or not the way is blocked.]

I see you're as punctual as ever.

[Lightning has always managed to beat him to their appointed meeting places with some regularity. He offers her a brief nod of thanks as she pulls out a chair for him, easing himself into it and letting his cane rest against the table before he carefully reaches for his cup, closing his hands around it a moment later. He's getting better with regards to spatial awareness, his ears growing sharper.]

I hope that doesn't mean it was unwelcome?

[Of course, he knows it wasn't.]

You think if it was, I'd be here right now?

[There's an amused lilt to her voice, and Lightning lets her arms unfold so she can cradle the warm paper cup between her fingers. There's a chillier breeze that sneaks into the cafe anytime the door opens, so the extra heat is a treat for her hands.]

Just wasn't expecting it is all. Something on your mind?

[Not that she doesn't think he would invite her to have coffee just because, but she sees no harm in asking to be sure.]

Edited 2018-01-29 04:50 (UTC)

You know me too well.

[He laughs softly, pausing to take a first sip from his own cup. The first taste of a cup of coffee is always exquisite in its own way, and he exhales a moment afterwards.

There were plenty of instances of them taking the time to get coffee or lunch just for the sake of enjoying each other's company, but those outings had always been planned ahead. She's right-- this is different.]

I was hoping we could... catch up.

[Lightning opens her mouth to give him a soft protest to that – "we see each other all the time" – but her intuition makes her close her mouth and she pops the lid of her cup off to hide behind a sip. She doesn't have much to update Ignis on that he doesn't know already, so whatever he needs to say, she's there to listen.]

Something bugging you?

[He exhales a bit, and it comes out as a soft huff.]

I'm that obvious, am I?

[He smiles faintly, but it fades a moment afterwards.]

There has been something weighing on me for some time, in fact, that I've been unable to speak of until recently-- and certainly not openly. Beyond you, only Steven knows, and I don't intend to tell anyone else. I trust the both of you with my life.

You're not exactly subtle.

[She fixes him with an intent stare when she sees his smile fade and, shifting slightly, she lifts her cup to her lips without taking a sip, her eyes not leaving Ignis' face once. Her voice turns delicate, lacking any of the humour or amusement from earlier.]

If you wanna talk, then talk.

[And she will listen. Lightning has a couple of ideas on what this could be about, but she isn't going to make any assumptions... not out loud.]

[He grimaces, though only slightly. It's not quite that simple, and he's certain this must seem out of the blue to begin with, but he'll do his utmost to handle this situation with grace and tact.]

When I first returned from my trip home, you asked who did this to me.

[She'd been quite intent on finding out, if he recalls.]

What happened wasn't so clear-cut as all that. We were fighting against the Empire, yes, but I wasn't attacked.

[She licks the taste of coffee from her lips and purses them together, nodding, even if Ignis can't see it. Lightning remembers the day he returned well, like it was yesterday. The panic that had set in upon discovering him, and in the state he was in...

She remembers feeling angry for him, and at the Empire who dared hurt him. She remembers thinking that if she could reach through the divide between their worlds, she would bring her wrath down on them...

... Which is why she sounds so confused now.]

What do you mean, you weren't attacked?

[Had she misunderstood it all?]

Not directly.

[There was certainly combat involved, and he'd cut his way through countless MTs and other imperials in order to reach his goal, but no attack had been responsible for how he had changed.]

Noct was in danger. Lady Lunafreya, I fear, was beyond saving, but it wasn't too late for him-- he was in Chancellor Izunia's grasp.

[It's not often that he speaks of Ardyn, but the same low, seething tone always threatens to surface when he does.]

Ever since I was a child, my sworn duty has been to remain alongside Noctis. To protect him, no matter the cost.

[Lightning continues watching him, setting her cup down on the table as quietly as she can so as not to interrupt. She holds her breath, anxiety and worry getting the better of her as if this is something that hasn't already happened. She has no idea where this is going, or what protecting Noctis has to do with all of it. Sworn duty or not, hearing that makes her churn on the inside, even if she would have done anything to save Serah. It's hypocritical, but she hates seeing the people she cares about get hurt.

After a few more moments of silence, Lightning lets out that breath she's been holding in, sounding more troubled than she intended.]

What was the price you had to pay?

[He shifts in his seat slightly, lifting one hand with his fingers spread, gesturing vaguely towards his own face. Of course, that much goes without saying, given the way this conversation had started, but his lips pull into a thin line as he considers how to explain the rest.]

Noct's bloodline has been entrusted with the Ring of the Lucii-- a weapon to be used by the chosen king in order to save our dying star.

[He has to tell her that much before he says the rest.]

Izunia sought this ring, considered himself to be the rightful bearer. To keep it from falling into the wrong hands, I seized it in a moment of desperation. [Though he wishes that he had been that altruistic. In truth, it had been somewhat more selfish, panic driving him to do whatever it took to protect the person he cared for most.] To protect Noctis... I attempted to wield its power. Even those who are favored by the ring and the past Kings of Lucis lose themselves to it, bit by bit.

[Her jaw tightens and without realizing it, her drink begins to heat up and the steam thickens, but she's paying far too much attention to Ignis now, watching for any signs of his expression shifting, and her eyes fall on the scar along the side of his face.]

And so that's what that power did...

[It's not a question as much as it is seeking confirmation that she's following along.]

[He nods stiffly. Yes-- precisely.]

There are worse prices to pay. Countless people have already given their lives for this same cause. I was willing to give mine, as well.

[And yet, though he's ashamed to admit it, there are times when he feels like this is worse. That being cut off from his world and denied being whole made living so much harder, but he's grateful to have escaped that particular conflict with his life. He very well may not have.]

... Noctis doesn't know. Nobody knows that I took up the ring.

[Lightning reaches across the table and snatches one of Ignis' hands up in her own in a firm hold. She wants to scold him, and tell him that he shouldn't be out there risking his life because there are people who care about him, but not only is it selfish, but she quickly realizes that if it had been Serah, or even Ignis, she would have done it in a heartbeat, consequences be damned.

There's one important detail, though.]

Are you gonna tell him? Or anyone?

[He shakes his head slowly, his expression somber, and he allows her to maintain her hold of his hands, curling his fingers slightly.]

No. He can't know. He already feels responsible for what happened, even without knowing how. If he were to learn that this was the direct result of my attempt to protect him— he would never forgive himself. I can't allow that.

[Noctis bears enough guilt and weight on his shoulders already. Ignis could never bring himself to heap more on top of him.]

I've told you, and I've told Steven. I needed to unburden myself, and I trust the both of you implicitly.

[She's glad, even appreciative, that he trusts her enough to share this information with her, except she disagrees. Noctis has a pair of real broad, strong shoulders, and Lightning is of the belief that he at least deserves to know the truth about what happened.]

I'm not telling you what you're doing is right. Or wrong.

[Here it comes...]

But you ever think it might be harder on him not knowing how it happened?

[Of course, here it comes. As surely as he knows that Lightning won't tell betray his trust and tell Noctis herself, he's equally confident that he can expect her to remind him that she doesn't quite agree with the way he's chosen to handle the situation.]

He knows that it was suffered in the line of duty.

[It was an omission of the whole truth, but certainly not a lie.]

To tell him anything more than that would be cruel.

[Silence follows while Lightning shifts, her fingers sliding out from between Ignis' so that she can take another sip of her coffee, but not without a reassuring squeeze first to remind him that she's not upset with him. It could definitely be taken that way, given her tone and the lack of immediate response, and a part of her is a little disappointed, but she'll get over it.

She's in no place to tell any of them what is and isn't right.]

We do what we have to to protect the ones we care about.

[That much, she gets. It's always been something she's carried a mutual understanding for with them. Just as they would do anything to protect Noctis, Lightning would do anything to protect Serah... and if it came down to it, she probably would have made the same decisions Ignis did.]

[He nods once, and his disconnected gaze moves downwards towards their joined hands.]

Whatever the cost.

[He would have chosen just the same, given the opportunity to do it all over again. If it meant protecting Noct, if it meant stopping Ardyn? It was enough. The sacrifice was worth it. Other people had already given up so much more than just their sight.]

Fulfilling my vow was well worth the price.

[Some days, it's hard for her to remember where they all came from. In between all the coffees she's shared with Ignis, the photos she's taken with Prompto, and the dates she's had with Gladio, Lightning sometimes forgets that before all of this, their vows and their prince came first. Everything here feels so... normal in comparison.

That's not to say that it doesn't matter still, but from what she's observed so far from the outside, Verens gives them all a little more room to breathe and do things for themselves, Noctis included. She's glad for it. After all they've been through... they at least deserve this.

Smiling to herself, Lightning bows her head and lowers her voice.]

Thank you... for trusting me enough to tell me.

[It means more to her than she's able to put into words.]

[His expression softens as his attention shifts upwards once more, towards her voice.]

Thank you for listening. Keeping it to myself has been...

[His voice falters for a moment, and he smiles sadly.]

It's been a weight, though I have no regrets.

Don't thank me.

[It's what she's here for. For as little as she likes to lean on others for support out of fear of burdening them, it's easy for her to be that pillar for them when they need it.

Lightning shifts again and she licks her lips, nervous, because there's something she's been hiding from him as well. It's no heavy secret like his, but if there was ever a time that felt right to share it, it's now.]

There's something I've been wanting to tell you, too.

[He feigns a brief look of surprise, though his smile warms just a bit.]

I didn't realize we had so many secrets between us.

[But of course, for as well as he knows Lightning and as much time as they spend together, he doesn't know everything about her.]

You have my undivided attention.

[A sound escapes her – more like an anxious sigh than a laugh – and she fidgets with the lid of her cup a moment longer. It gives her a second or two to debate even telling him the secret. He had shared one so significant that making a big deal out of hers feels almost like undermining it, which isn't her intention. Telling Ignis her most closely kept secret is her way of reminding him that she, too, trusts him with everything she's got, and it's that notion that makes it easier for her to shake off that small bit of doubt sticking in the back of her mind.

So, with another deep breath, the sound of the paper cup toppling against the table comes to a stop.]

I don't know if you know this, but a long time ago, Serah and I lost our parents.

[This isn't the part that matters, but some context is important. She's starting to forget who knows what.]

It was just me and her for a while... this was before she became a l'Cie, and before Snow. I wanted to be strong for her, so I thought that changing my name and letting go of who I used to be would be the answer. It's why I became Lightning.

[There's a pause, and she looks up from her hands at Ignis, studying his expression through her lashes.]

[The anxiety in the air becomes almost palpable, and he ceases any further teasing then, however gentle it may have been. His attention is fixed on her completely, his fingers loosely curled around his own cup, and he nods as she takes a brief pause in the telling of her tale. He had known that they were without their parents, as he had been without his, but he had never been told the details— and had never been quite so invasive as to ask.]

And who were you before?

[His tone is as gentle as it is curious, his expression even— he realizes that what she's sharing with him is privileged information.]

[Of course he could guess what was coming... She hadn't exactly been subtle about where this was going, but his question still makes her freeze up and drop her gaze again. To anyone else it's just a name, but for Lightning, it carries much more weight than that – it represents all of the things she was always too afraid to be: a young, naïve, and weak girl who couldn't be strong for her sister. It completely contradicts everything she tries to be on the outside, but on the inside, she's not all that different.]

It's Cl—

[No, too quiet. She's already come too far to back out now. With another deep breath, she lets it out gently, loud enough for just Ignis to hear.]

My name is Claire.

[He smiles faintly. He doesn't have to be able to see her fallen expression to know that this is particularly difficult to share, that it's something she's kept to herself for so long for good reason, and that alone makes him feel touched that she had offered it to him at all.]

It suits you.

[His own voice is soft, gentle, understanding.]

I'm honored that you trust me enough to share.

It felt like the right time.

[Ending that conversation on a lighter note – Lightning didn't want the last thing to be about how Ignis had given up everything. She smiles to herself, though it's audible enough in her voice that he should be able to hear it in her gentle reminder as she reaches for his hands once more.]

I'd... appreciate it if you kept this between us.

[Not that she trusts that he won't, but it still needs reiterating, if only to really solidify just how important it is that he keep it secret.]

There aren't a lot of people who know.

[He nods to confirm, and his hands easily curl into hers as she reaches for them, offering her a careful squeeze of reassurance in the process. Of course, there had never been any question of that.]

Your secret is safe with me. I swear.

[He won't tell a soul.]

As ever, you can trust me.

I know.

[She trusts him with a lot more than something as silly as a name.

Her grip is warm against his, either thanks to the coffee or the mutual understanding the both of them have (it's hard for Lightning to tell which), as is her smile. Even with the cold bursts of air coming in every time the door to the cafe opens, their table remains unaffected by it.]

You ever need to talk, I'm here.

[It never needs repeating, but having the reminder there is still nice to have.]

[ He's well overdue for this, but honestly, he can't believe he's already been in town for more than a month already. Time flies when you're...having fun? Or something like that. ]

Hey, Lightning! [ Easy and warm. ] If you could do one thing right now - like, anything at all, what would it be?

I mean, within reason.

[ THIS IS NOT A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION. ]

[This is a pleasant surprise. There's an accidental warmth that she sends back before she says anything, and she doesn't notice that it's even there at all, but it's nice to hear his voice again. It's been in passing when she'd occasionally visit the Eos house with coffees, but she never really stayed long enough to really catch up.]

If I could be doing one thing right now?

[She smiles to herself.]

Do you want me to say grabbing coffee with you?

[BUT IS THIS A TRICK QUESTION? Does Prompto even drink coffee?]

[ He certainly doesn't need to drink it for the energy boost, and he's nowhere the fanatic that Ignis is, but he won't turn down a coffee run with a friend. Especially when he feels that warmth coming over their mental connection. Navigating all of this is is still...tricky, uncertain of where he really stands with most people here, but he wants to make things right. Right as they can be, at least. ]

Hey, what d'you know - that was gonna be my answer, too! You got a few minutes?

[ They can always plan for later, but if she's available now... ]

Really. Could've fooled me. [Truly.] Was half expecting you to come up with something like visiting Klaus.

[Lightning hasn't forgotten how much he loves his giant birds, and it would have come as a surprise to her if Noel hadn't mentioned it to Prompto at the very least. She'd be disappointed to learn that he has no idea.]

Yeah, I'm free. How about you come here, I'll make us something? My treat. I've got leftover cake in the fridge that needs to get eaten, too.

[ Visiting Klaus might've been a close second, and to be fair, once he stops on over he may just end up asking after the chocobo's whereabouts for a quick neck scratch or two.

As she's offered... ]

How can I turn down free cake? [ Like, that'd just be crazy. ] You sure? I-I don't mind pickin' us up something on the way. I'm a great gofer!

[ And also, he hates to impose like this, out of the blue. ]

[And how can he turn down free homemade cake? It's not the most perfect cheesecake, not like the ones he'll find in a bakery in the city, but close enough. It's a little cracked from the baking in the oven, but it's still delicious.]

It's fine. We've got tea if coffee isn't... your cup of tea. I'll leave the door unlocked.

[She's already started prepping the coffee pot, and adding some water to the kettle just in case.]

You know where we are, right? By the lake?

[ Cheesecake? Oh, now they're talking. He'd learned nebulously where Lightning her friends lived, but "by the lake" is clear enough for him and if he really needs to, he can always "call for directions", as it were. Handy thing, telepathy. Until he accidental broadcasts his shopping list or a daydream about chocobos, or something. ]

Mh-hmm! I'll be there in, like...a jiff and a half.

[ ...Whatever that means.

But he's already on his way out the door by the time he's thinking this, so it won't be too long at all, considering the extra spring in his step as he goes. He's not a slow walker at the worst of times, but when he's looking forward to something, he all but skips. When he arrives, he does knock first, crisply so, before nudging the door open. ]

- Hey, Lightning! It's me! I'm coming in! [ ... ] And by "me" I mean "Prompto"!

[The entire bottom level of the house smells like a mix between coffee and lemon – not the most common blend of scents but it feels like home. Daisy the goat trots up to Prompto to greet him with a happy bleat once he's inside and she nudges his leg with a clumsy head butt to grab his attention.]

In the kitchen.

[Lightning calls from down the hall, where she's slicing a couple of pieces of cake for them and drizzling some homemade strawberry sauce over them. On hearing the noise Daisy makes, she straightens and rolls her eyes. The damn brat... at least let Prompto get his shoes off first.]

Mind the goat. She likes getting under your feet.

[ Whoa, she's got a pet goat? Way to bury the lead. And as Daisy has so ungently made her presence know to him, far be it from Prompto not to give her due attention for a moment, a sort of incredulous laugh slipping out of him as he scratches the goat around her scruff. ]

As if I could mind a cutie like her! [ Just, like, don't eat his shoes or something. With a final pat on the head, Prompto trots down towards the kitchen to join her, his face lighting up at the smell that greets him. ]

That's smells amazing! You really know how to make a guy feel special, huh?

[Snow's shoes are the only shoes that little one will eat, thankfully. It's much better than eating Lightning's... Daisy happily trots alongside Prompto, looking up at him and clumsily tripping over her own hooves. She gets too enamored with new friends for her own good, but she can be a brat about it too, once in a while.

Seeing him, Lightning smiles wider and slides the newly decorated slice of cake his way.]

I know how to make you feel special.

[She points a fork in Prompto's direction, like this is a very important distinction that needs to be made. It really isn't.]

I just want to make sure you're comfortable.

[ It isn't, but it is, at the same time. Feeling "special" isn't exactly his strong suit - at least, not in the way she implies, but it's something he's been working on and gestures like this certainly help, no matter how undeserving of them he may feel.

So without delay, he takes the fork from her, his grin quirking. ]

Hey, thanks. Seriously, I mean it.

[ And his tone carries that sincere weight that leaves little room for doubt. But not a moment later, he picks up his usual cadence again. ]

You're gonna have some, too, right? You know what they say about eating cake alone!

[ ...Don't ask him what "they" say, he doesn't know. ]

Don't thank me.

[Lightning owes Prompto a lot more than he thinks she does.

But he can't just say that and not expect her to leave it at that? There's a second plate left out for her, and she helps herself to a humble slice. She glances up from her knife slicing through the cake to raise a brow at him.]

They say something about that?

[Can't say she's ever heard that before... she eats plenty of cakes by herself... at two in the morning... when no one else is awake, but that is her little secret. Someone's gotta eat them!]

[Seriously, Machina's still feeling more than a little raw from Selenium. But it's that which compels him to check in on Lightning. He's been trying to let her have her space but it's been a month. He doesn't know what it's like to lose a spouse like Snow did, but he does know how it feels to have a sibling taken away from you. And frankly, he's still terrified that Izana could up and vanish at any time.]

Lady Lightning?

[Just like any other bit of contact someone makes via the crystals to reach out to her, it startles Lightning enough to make her stop what she's doing. It's been a whole year and then some, and she still hasn't grown used to it... what happened to good, old fashioned phones?

She clears her throat before she opens the communication, her voice free of any malice.]

Yeah? What do you want?

[...and please stop calling her Lady Lightning, Machina.]

[He's tried just thinking it! Only it blurts out anyway.]

I...

I wanted to see how you were.

[This was dumb, wasn't it? It made sense in his head, but now he feels awkward about bringing it up.]

[There's nothing dumb about it. Although Machina can't see it, Lightning smiles to herself. It would be a lie to say that she didn't appreciate people reaching out to check on her, especially after everything that's happened in the house in the last month or so.]

I'm alright.

[It's not entirely true, but it's not all that false either. Frankly, she has no idea how she feels right now.]

You got the news too...

Yeah, I did. Lord Snow told me.

[Of course, Snow also was blaming himself and that hardly seems a thing to bring up. Not really Machina's news to share.]

Do you need anything?

[Because he desperately wants to help, but has no idea how he can or what to say.]

[That's a good question... does she? Lightning doesn't really know herself.]

No. I'll be fine, with time.

[Maybe that's all she needs, some more time. She thought there was more than enough of that to go around here, but she was proven very, very wrong, and quickly, too.]

Do you need anything? This seems sudden.

Not really. That holiday was...

[Yeah no, he doesn't want to talk about bits rubbed raw by Selenium.]

...

...

...it would have been different if Izana weren't here.

I should apologize, though.

[Even if Machina can't see it, he certainly might be able to hear the eyebrow raise in her voice.]

Apologize to who? Your brother?

[Because as far as she knows, there's nothing for him to apologize for to Lightning.]

No. To you. And Snow.

[But not Noel. Never that jerk.]

I was trying to find a way to keep Lady Serah and Izana here, but I haven't come up with anything conclusive yet. And now it's too late.

You don't have to apologize for anything.

[It's given firmly, leaving little room for debate.]

We've all been trying, but haven't found any answers. But thank you... for that.

[Lightning has a feeling admitting that might not have been as easy for someone as Machina, but she appreciates it all the same. The fact that he cares enough about Serah to do that speaks volumes.]

[It's not wholly altruistic, not truly. Machina has a very vested interest in making sure that Izana doesn't go back. At least, not without a contingency plan in place.]

I'm not giving up on it. But I'm going to work harder with Apple to try to find a way to change history. Especially now.

[Wait, rewind. Something in what he's said makes the pit of Lightning's stomach turn uncomfortably.]

Change history? What do you mean?

Apple has a theory. Since people from here from different points in time, maybe it's possible to return to a different time. If we can figure out how to do that, we can change the past. I can stop Izana from being deployed and killed. Maybe I can even warn my country that an attack is coming and prevent the war totally.

We could stop Lady Serah from dying.

[Her stomach makes an uncomfortable turn again, and she grimaces, letting the silence between them linger a little bit longer. With a very audible and loud sigh, her face appears in the connection, and she looks very unamused.]

I don't think that's a good idea.

Why not?

[It's a genuine question. Not a hint of his typical belligerence. Not argumentative. Not even a touch of surly grump. He appears earnest enough but his tone is edging towards calm. At least he's not afraid that disagreeing or having a different opinion will inevitably end with a broken friendship anymore.]

[She thought the whole "don't play with time" warning was a universal thing... Not even the gods gave Lightning the power to bend time that much at will and even her own ability to do so is limited...]

There's nothing good waiting at the end for anyone who tries to mess with time. Trust me.

I do trust you. But, if there's a chance, I have to try. I can't sit back and do nothing at all.

[If there's any kind of hard evidence about this, he'll respect Light's judgment call. Otherwise, it's full steam ahead, consequences be damned.]

Then don't.

[She's not sitting back and doing absolutely nothing either. Lightning hasn't exactly made it public knowledge that she's been looking into the hows and whys of people coming and going the way they do, but this? This isn't the answer she would ever seek.]

But you know what'll happen if you mess with time, Machina. We all do.

[Machina would most likely feel 100% differently about this whole conversation if he knew he's had his life reset over six million times. Or if anyone had told him outright what killed Lady Serah. But no, he doesn't know what happens if you mess with time and...]

...why do people keep saying that? Isn't changing a bad past a good thing?

[If there was a way for Machina to feel a long, debilitated sigh over a connection, this is it.]

Sure. You can change the past, but then what? You've got no control over the consequences it'll have on the future. It's a ripple, all across the timeline. Change one small thing, and thousands of other things change, too.

[Oh yeah, he can feel the sigh. It's still strange to get emotions and not just voices or words but there we have it. Not that he understands fully why this is a bad thing. After all, the point is to change things. How could that go wrong? ~~Other than Machina's historical knack for Bad Life Decisions.~~

He lapses silent, genuinely listening and thinking about what she's saying. Not diving in on his emotions and stopping to think things through before acting isn't something Machina does often. But he's trying. But his frustration and feelings of helplessness are probably leaking through anyway.]

[If they are, Lightning makes no comment on them. She realizes she might have sounded a little harsh, especially with the accompanying sigh, but this isn't something she takes lightly, nor should he.]

Machina.

[It's firm, to try and grab his attention back from the silence he's fallen into.]

Do you think that if I could change everything that's happened, I'd be sitting here talking to you right now?

[Well when she puts it like that...]

Not a chance.

[He sighs in frustration, hands pressed into the sides of his head.]

Great. So it's back to square one.

Right.

[Well, she's glad he's at least listening to her... maybe there's still some hope for you after all, Machina. Her tone and features soften.]

What made you think you could do something like that, in a place like this?

Because there's something weird about people coming and going. Izana died almost a year before I got here. But Apple is from her mom's future. Something or someone is pulling us in and out of time. Whatever or whoever it is... if they can do it, shouldn't we be able to?

[Lightning falls silent for a moment. These are the exact questions she's been asking since Prompto and Gladio left, and even more now with Serah gone.]

I've been looking for answers. Checked history books, newspapers, anything that might have had some information about the past, but I came up with nothing.

... Almost like whoever, or whatever, is doing it doesn't want us to know.

I noticed that too when I was looking. Someone said the Arehtei don't know anything, but I don't believe that.

They're not gods. They aren't all-knowing like people think they are.

[Though they certainly seem like they are sometimes, which is why talking about them still leaves a sour taste in her mouth. Not that she's had the chance to speak with any one of them face to face yet.]

You hear stories about Simpathis?

I saw a couple of references, but nothing more. Something I should know?

Mm, no. Thought that maybe you'd know more than I do.

[She lets out an exhausted breath.]

Trying to find answers to anything here is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Sorry I can't be more help.

It's okay. I'll keep at it as long as it takes to turn up something.

[Anything.]

You turn anything up, you let me know.

[And she'll do the same for him. She's not all that hopeful, though. Not anymore.]

[Waiting on Lightning's doorstep when she gets home is a pink rose with a pink ribbon wrapped around it. There is also a box of heart-shaped chocolates with a card. All it reads is:]

- From Auron

[ Left outside of Lightning and co's home was two gift boxes. One with the tag Snow and the other with the tag Lightning. Left beside Lightning's box was a single bright pink flower. Inside the box was a metallic figurine that looked like Odin, or rather Squall's world's version of him anyway. ]

Lightning,

As you may have noticed, feelings don't come easy to me. I just wanted to let you know that despite my complaints, I appreciate you. I enjoy the time I spend with you.

Squall

[Before he speaks, he kind of gently taps on her awareness. In case she's busy doing something.]

[Lightning is doing nothing at all, since she's been spending time alone in her room for the better part of the day, but that doesn't mean the gentle tapping inside her head doesn't come as a surprise.

She's still not used to this whole telepathy thing so it's with a tentative, quiet, and tired voice that she answers.]

... Hello?

Hey. It's me.

[Fortunate for him that his voice (mental or otherwise) is distinctive enough that he can be recognized. It's also quiet with an emotion he might not have ever expressed to her before. Wonder.]

I just. Just wanted to say you were right. It is like falling.

And I got caught.

[There's a gentle laugh from her end. It doesn't take long for her to recognize his voice at all, and not much longer than that to guess what this might be about and her suspicions are quickly confirmed.]

Yeah? I'm happy for you.

[A simple response, but genuine.]

How'd it go?

Absolutely terrifying. I needed about three beers to calm down afterward.

[Fortunately he was eating lunch with Regis so he didn't get quickly drunk in the middle of the afternoon.]

I have no idea what I'm doing but I guess I'll make it up as we go along.

No other way to do it.

[And is there anyone in this world or the next who actually knows what they're doing? Lightning could have given him all the best advice she could think of, or she could have been an expert, but no two relationships are the same, just like no two people are.]

You gonna tell me who?

Well...we're...trying to figure out how to tell certain people about this so. Would you mind just...keeping it close to your chest for a bit?

[Do you know what else is a rare emotion for Auron to display? Especially for a voice so raspy and gruff? Shyness.]

...Regis.

[Which might explain a WHOLE LOT about the hesitation Auron had felt when explaining things to Lightning beforehand.]

[Lucky for Auron, Lightning is the last one who'll talk, about this or about anything, really. His secret is safe with her.

Except as soon as he drops the name, there's a telepathic version of something similar to a record scratch, like all of her thoughts have come to a halt so fast that Auron might be able to feel that mental jolt.]

You mean... Noct's dad?

Edited 2018-02-17 04:21 (UTC)

Y..yes?

[Is that disapproval? Or more like a sensation of "wait WHAT?" on Lightning's part.

Probably the latter. Embarrassment starts to form on Auron's end of the link, coloring his words.]

Can you see why I've been a little...confused about everything?

[It's definitely only the latter. There's a long pause while Lightning herself tries to piece words together, as if this is her own secret she has to explain. It's not, but she's still feeling at a complete loss for them.

Eventually, she sighs.]

Yeah, I can. But he's not a bad person?

[Wow good job, Lightning. Totally nailed those words of comfort there. Something Auron couldn't figure out himself.]

[You know, he's kind of had first hand knowledge that Lightning isn't the best at these kinds of things, but not like this. He will not laugh because it would be rude.

He can't help but sound amused.]

No. No he's not. He's a lot like me. Been through a lot. Think that's why we started to be friends and then...somewhere it changed.

[She appreciates the not laughing, especially after she realizes how it must have sounded on the other end.]

How... how'd you know that things changed?

I don't really consciously know when it changed. Although I'm pretty sure he does because he kind of...uh...told me he liked me and I kind of...freaked out about it.

Which is why I took a while to figure out what to do.

Hm.

[There's a pause while Lightning laughs to herself because this sounds and feels oddly familiar.]

I know the feeling. It's strange, isn't it?

Yes! I almost thought he was drunk when he told me because, why me?

I've been so used to being alone that I never thought anyone would consciously want to be with me. So I'm sure I'll need a lot of alcohol over the next few months as I figure all this out.

You're welcome to join me.

I might.

[... There's a long, telling pause. She might need a drink, or three for this so the timing of his invitation couldn't be better.]

He came back, you know.

Gladio? Yeah, I saw him. When he didn't remember anything, I knew you probably already knew.

[He can't even imagine what that must be like for her. To have it all wiped out like it didn't matter. Except it did. Very much so.]

Whenever you want, Lightning. Or just to talk. Like we're doing now. I'll do my best and listen to you.

[She opens her mouth to say something aloud, rather than transmit it through her crystal, forgetting for a moment that that's what they're doing. It closes, and Lightning chooses not to say it. She shouldn't have to remind Auron that he doesn't remember her at all – he already knows.

Besides, this isn't about them. He needs to talk and work through things just as much as she does. The two of them can use someone to lean on, even if that someone also has no idea what they're doing, or will do going forward.]

Yeah. You'll be hearing from me soon. I'll hold you to that promise, and you can hold me to mine, too. First round's on me.

[ :) ]

[ Between Lightning's excursion of doom and Jaune's own excursion out of this reality, this is the first time he's seen his friend in nearly a week, or perhaps more. Whether or not she knew of his own disappearance, she might notice the awkwardly tall teenager standing a little taller than usual, and he clocks in to his Monday shift with a bit of a spring in his step. ]

Lighty-Light!

[ In a short burst of energy, he drums the counter of the bar with his hands before stopping abruptly. ]

Mr. J. Arc, reporting for duty! [ Salute!! ] Hmm, looks like it's gonna be a slow day today.

[ Hi. :) ]

[It's been well over a week – almost two – give or take a few days since they last spoke. Lightning's become skilled in the arts of avoiding others when she feels she needs to, coming in to work minutes before her shift and keeping herself busy all throughout, and leaving as soon as it ends.

So in comparison to the last couple of weeks, it's a little strange for her to be behind the bar counter, leaning over it with some papers and a cup of coffee. Most of her early morning prep in the kitchen is done, so she's able to enjoy a quieter morning, before any lunch rush begins.

Not that she doesn't welcome Jaune's company when he drums on the counter, even if she does open her end of the conversation with a very firm 'don't call me that' look over her cup. Let's not add that to the endless list of nicknames; Light will do just fine for him.]

Mondays aren't usually busy.

[She has no idea that he's even left and come back, but Lightning does note the difference in his energy this morning with a raised brow.]

What's got you in the mood?

N-Nothing! Just... I guess I missed all of this. You, Ignis... Pyrrha...

[ Truth be told, he's trying to hype himself up as much everyone else around him. His time in Remnant, particularly the big battle, was traumatizing and downright dehumanizing.

"You're just a failure with a deathwish" still rings in his ears, a reminder that all the training he had done up until that point was still for nothing.

And then he came back to a rattled Pyrrha, which... will also take some healing. He's doing great! ]

--oh, right! You probably didn't know. ... I spent some time back in my world again. Gotta say, this whole thing feels weird.

[Her coffee is set down and Lightning straightens immediately.]

You went back.

[She had seen him in passing only a few days before leaving for Verati, so the safest assumption is that it happened during the time she was gone, but that still doesn't change the fact that she's mad at herself for having no idea. If she had a choice in the matter, she would have been there the moment he had come back. And what the hell is with this place, toying with people like this?

Anger begins to build up in her chest and Lightning gestures to the bar stool across from her with a nod, her adamant expression implying that she is leaving him little room to dispute this. She hasn't forgotten how alarming it was to be thrown back into this world with a set of memories she didn't even remember she had, and what's even more unsettling than that is that Lightning has no idea what he had gone back to.]

You alright?

[ Jaune complies without much argument, claiming a seat on the stool across from her. Her first question is about his well-being, and he immediately goes into damage control by answering as quick as he can. ]

Yeah! I'm... I'm okay. I think.

[ The last thing he wants to do is worry her right now. He can see the expression already painted on her face, but he knows it's not directed at him. ]

It's just... an adjustment period, maybe? My two realities colliding... I was gone for three days or so, but I also have about two months worth of new memories. You ever had it happen to you?

[Too late! She's already worried.]

Yeah. It has. [She gets to work on prepping him a drink – non-alcoholic of course, she is a responsible big sis!! – glancing up at him while she slides a scoop of ice into the glass and fills it with iced tea.] Left and slept for five hundred years, then came back here only to find out four days had passed.

[Topping it off with a slice of lemon, Lightning slides the drink across the counter to him. She doesn't even know if he likes iced tea?]

Took a while to settle back in and figure out what was what, but things start to straighten themselves out sooner or later... if that's what you're worried about.

[ Let's find out if he likes iced tea! ]

Oh, right! The 500 year nap - totally relatable. Hah!

[ He reaches for a straw from the counter and has a taste of Lightning-brand Iced Tea. It's a tiny slurp through the straw, but then he pauses, looking confused as if the taste hit him by surprise. He takes a closer look at the concoction, then decides to have another careful taste.

...

Verdict: He likes it! ]

... Lightning. [ His smile becomes less natural and more... rehearsed. ] Have you ever met someone really cruel? I mean an actual person, who's aware of their actions...

[There's another pointed stare, this one a you know what I mean look, but Lightning can sense that bit of humour there, however subtle it may be. She realizes it's not relatable at all, but the meaning she's trying to get across is along the same lines – leaving and coming back, no matter how long, is one of the most bizarre experiences she's had since she's been here, and neither of them are alone in that respect.

Her name grabs her attention though, and she pauses to think on it before offering a slow, tentative answer with a tilt of her head.]

Not really. Most of them were gods or pretend-to-be gods.

[Dysley doesn't count, and the others had at least atoned for what they did one way or another.

Lightning moves so that she's standing directly across from him, her fingers curling into fists on the counter on either side of her cup. She can sense something's a little off and makes it clear that, if he wants to talk about it, she's here to listen.]

But I'm guessing that you have.

[ Pretend-to-be gods could sum up Jaune's enemy's, too, he thinks. But yes, he does want to talk about it. More than that, he feels comfortable talking about something as sensitive as this with Lightning. He trusts her to give it proper thought, and that she'll offer him more than just simple platitudes. ]

About Pyrrha... you figured it out by now, haven't you? She's... no longer alive in my world.

[ He pretty much told her without ever spelling it out until now. ]

Cinder Fall. She's the one responsible for everything. I thought that if I could find her, I could... get justice, or at least know why she did all these awful things. Instead, when I finally did, she only rubbed it in more.

...I hate her, Lightning. [ And he has never hated anyone before, not even Cardin Winchester. It's an ugly emotion, a bottomless pit he can't see himself getting out of. ]

[A simple bow of her head to the first part. She says nothing more on the matter, filling her own silence with another helping of coffee while she listens, because what more is there to say? It's one of those things better left unsaid, because apologies or comfort do nothing, but when he starts to talk about this... Cinder Fall, Lightning's hands grip her cup a little tighter.

Strange as it is to hear Jaune saying things like this, she bears no judgment against him. She understands the feeling – the endless hatred and anger, especially for something out of their power to change. It's not a great place to be in.]

What was your plan? For when you found her...

Edited (what are words) 2018-03-01 15:47 (UTC)

That's the thing, I didn't know for the longest time. My friends and I knew she was planning the same kind of attack on a different academy... so we went there to stop her.

[ Stopping, ideally, meant disarming their enemy, or making them surrender. Jaune often wondered if he would afford Cinder the same lack of mercy that she had to Amber and Pyrrha, should she ever find herself on her knees. Eventually, he got his answer... ]

That reminds me... before I went back home, one of Cinder's people showed up here. She's a kid, like us, who pretended to be our friend until... well, you know.

I'm not sure how I feel about her.

[ Emerald didn't show much remorse for her actions, but she was never cruel about it either. It's a lot different to Cinder's tune, which he knows now more than ever. Still, he knows that lines will be drawn again someday... and Emerald will be on the wrong side of it. ]

[Leaning forward over the counter now, her chin resting in her hand, Lightning plucks a straw for herself to spin between her fingers – something idle for her to do while she looks over Jaune's expression. She can't fault him for being upset or angry, or even confused; if it were her in his shoes, she's not sure how she would have handled it. Certainly not as well as he is, which is a good thing for him. She's relieved that, judging from all that he's told her so far, he hasn't done anything stupid.

Somewhere from behind the bar, there's the sound of a hairline crack making its way through porcelain and, looking down, Lightning realizes that her cup is beginning to leak coffee from the bottom...

If one of that Cinder woman's associates is here...]

She hasn't caused any trouble for you.

[Not even a question as much as it is a very real and honest threat if she has.]

N-No, nothing like that! Not now, anyway.

[ She was much more diplomatic than Jaune was when he confronted her here. Still, he has no illusions about their allegiances. ]

We're... co-existing, for now. But we made it clear that we'll be enemies if Cinder ever comes here. She'll do anything for her, and I'll do anything to stop her. It is what it is, I guess...

[ Something about it makes him even sad, on some level. He had hoped to make Emerald express some kind of regret when he confronted her, but he only ended up feeling sorry for her instead, once he knew of her own hardships.

Still, it won't make him hesitate if their time to fight ever comes. ]

--which brings me to my request. [ He knows that Lightning would rather put her sword down and live a normal life these days, which makes him hate the fact that he has to ask her something like this. However, it's also something he can trust her with. ]

Lightning, if... if I disappear again, and Pyrrha's all alone... and then she comes here...

[She can sense what's coming before it even does, and as soon as a break presents itself in Jaune's request, Lightning pipes up.]

Yes.

[Not a beat of hesitation, and no lack of conviction either. He can count on it that this Cinder is on her naughty list... she'll do whatever she needs to to protect them from her and there will be little that can stop Lightning once she's started. After everything, she owes it to Jaune.

It's times like this where she remembers just how much people here have come to mean to her, and the thought of him leaving again, with or without her knowledge, frightens her on some level... which brings her to her next point.]

And if you're here? I'll have your back.

Edited (i don't like using her name twice in the same sentence) 2018-03-03 05:30 (UTC)

Ah-- t-thanks.

[ He didn't even need to finish his sentence, did he? Lightning knew exactly what he wanted to ask, and he's glad that he can trust her on this. He feels better already, in fact. ]

I'll, uh... I'll have yours, too, for what it's worth.

[ He may not stand much of a chance against gods, but damn it he'll try. ]

I'm a little stronger now, you know! I got... an ability, you could say...

[ He'll probably need to explain Semblances first, huh? ]

[That brings Lightning's smile back, and he keeps her undivided attention, even while she searches around for a towel to wipe up the puddle of coffee that's pooled under her cup. Thankfully for both of them, the likelihood of any god showing up here is slim at best, but she understands what he's getting at and appreciates the sentiment.

Dabbing the counter and shaking off the drops of coffee from her fingers, she pushes it all aside finally with a raised brow. She's just going to pretend that didn't happen and maybe Auron won't notice that a cup has gone missing from his bar.]

An ability? You gonna tell me what it is, or am I gonna have to guess?

No-no! I'll tell you!

[ Making her guess would either take forever, or it might get to a point where the reveal is underwhelming. ~~Like canon.~~ ]

Where I come from... everyone is born with something called Aura. Think of it like... uh, energy! It comes from the soul, so everyone has one. It's why I can take hits, get shot at, fall from high places... well, to a certain limit, anyway.

[ He pauses, in case she has any questions. There's still more to cover, after all. ]

So, like a shield.

[A magic shield, that is. It all makes much more sense now with an explanation like that. She'd wondered to herself why someone training to fight had no way of protecting themselves other than their own weapons and reflexes, but it's good to know that there is one. A relief, actually.

Lightning is pretty sure she gets it and she nods, signalling for him to continue.]

Yes! Exactly.

[ Flashbacks to Pyrrha explaining Aura to Jaune and him shouting "Like a force field". Lightning truly is the senpai Jaune never knew could exist. ]

While everyone has Aura and can easily learn to manipulate it, there's something else about us... something that makes each of us more unique. We call it a Semblance, and everyone's Semblance is different. Some can create illusions, others can teleport, absorb thunder, or block out pain... those are a little harder to discover.

Some can go their whole lives without knowing what their Semblance is. ... I thought I was gonna be one of those.

[ For a moment he looks down at his iced tea, feeling a little ashamed at how late he learned all of this, but his eyes do meet Lightning's again soon enough. He knows he shouldn't be feeling sorry for himself, and she wouldn't have any of it either. ]

... This is why I thought I'm not good enough. When we fought; and all those times before...

[As soon as he trails off, Lightning finishes with where she thinks he's going.]

You didn't know what it was.

[A proud smile pulls at her lips, in spite of her best efforts to will it away. Lightning always tried to remind him that there was no such thing as him being not good enough and as long a road as it appeared to be to accepting it, she would be there every step of the way when he needed it. Just like he has been for her.

The last thing she wants is for him to feel like she's undermining this in any way, because it feels as though this is a much bigger deal than what he's currently letting on, which is why she gives him a little verbal nudge.]

But you're not going to be one of those people, are you?

[Not that Lightning ever believed he was.]

H-Heh, I suppose not...

[ The story of how he had to discover his Semblance is a little unpleasant, but it ties in with earlier mention of Cinder. He holds his hands out in front of him, presenting them to Lightning, too. It seems as if just recalling that event is enough to make his hands glow, just like they did on that day. ]

Cinder... she had me pinned down and disarmed. She was furious that I almost got her - no, she was angry that I made her feel scared for a second. But... I didn't show her any fear when I was on the ground. I was willing to di... [ The realization of how careless he was with his life doesn't hit him until he says it out loud, but he tries to move on from it as quick as possible. ]

--because of that, Cinder targeted Weiss instead. To show me how helpless I am. Weiss... she was dying at my feet, and that's when this happened.

[ The glowing light in his hands intensifies. ]

My Semblance.

[There's a wrenching feeling in her gut where Jaune cuts himself off, but she says nothing, not wanting to bring any more awareness to it past a brief glance away. No, she's just glad he's here and he's safe, which is why she quickly turns her attention back to his glowing hands held out in front of him. She'll come back to the Weiss thing in a moment – for now, she's far too intrigued by what this could even mean to spoil the significance of it. It’s a pretty extraordinary thing, and whatever dread she may have been feeling earlier is chased away by pride.

His Semblance. There are a lot of things she thought made Jaune special, but this is different – this is the one thing he has that no one else does... physical proof that he's much more than just some kid who wiggled his way into some combat school with a sword and shield.

Lightning lifts a curious and tentative hand to touch the end of her index finger against his, but stops just short of it.]

What does it do?

Well, Aura doesn't just protect us... it can also heal our wounds over time. I guess it depends on how much you have, and how fast you can recover it before the wound settles.

[ It's why some people from his world (including Weiss) have scars, while others heal on the spot - like his. ]

My Semblance... I think I can give up some of my own Aura, to kickstart someone else's. Aura Amplification. That's... what I'm calling it anyway. Thanks to this, Weiss recovered her Aura by tenfold, and healed completely in no-time.

[ He's got some theories about what else it can do, such as that time Cardin almost beat him up, but he'll keep it to himself for now until he can test it out later. This whole thing still makes him nervous, the last thing he wants to do is get over excited. ]

Heh - go ahead!

[ She can touch the hand, if she still wants. He's pretty curious to see how it reacts to someone who doesn't have Aura. ]

[She tilts her head while she listens, her hand lowering briefly as she continues to watch the glow across his hands and up his arms. There's a slight furrow to her brow when he brings up Weiss again, and she tucks that away in the back of her mind for now.

It can't have been the most thrilling way to discover what his Semblance is – it's a little unfair, actually, for something so important to be tied to an experience like that. She can only hope that he's come out of it for the better, though... and not just because of his gift.

Lightning's lips press together in a thin line and she lifts her hand again, and this time she does poke him – gently – on the finger.]

It's warm.

[And she's got a smile to match it. There really isn't any other word to describe the sensation. It wouldn't mean much to him, but it reminds Lightning a little of what a Medica feels like, but a different brand of magic from a l'Cie's, or her own.

Her arm relaxes.]

I told you that you had it in you.

[ He smiles back at her, grateful for her kind words and encouragement. Her belief in him, inexplicable as he may find it, is more than his parents ever afforded him. They loved him, sure, but "I knew you had it in you" would not be words he ever expects to hear from them.

Their moment is brief, however, and Jaune quickly makes a pained expression on his face. ]

L-Light, wait!! You absorbed too much of it!! My Auraaaaa--!!!

[ He starts to cough violently, then falls off his stool to the side, hitting his head against the cold hard ground.

Don't worry, he's just messing with her!

... The head bump was real though. Ouch. ]

[He may be messing with her, but she totally falls for it, jumping back when his expression shifts and watching in horror when he falls, like she was the one to push him over herself (accidentally, of course). She hadn't meant to! She had no idea! If she had known it would happen, she could have caught him, or even slowed time to a crawl so she could break his fall a little! Why this!? She's so sorry!!

There's also a strange, overpowering sense of dejavu that comes over her in that moment. At least Jaune didn't break the chair? Wait, what?

The drop from the seat of the bar stool to the floor isn't a short one and when she thinks it's all over, Lightning gets on her tiptoes and peeks over the top of the counter.]

... Jaune?

[ By the time she peers over the counter, he already springs back up and nearly collides his head against something hard a second time -- the hard surface being Lightning's thick skull. Thankfully, he doesn't! He manages to stop in the last moment, then slowly backing away until they're at a polite distance. ]

--HAH! Got you!! Aw, man, you should see your face, h-hahah!

[And by the time he backs away, Lightning is staring over the counter at him, unamused and arms folded over her chest.]

Cute.

[Should she be laughing, because she's not laughing. She was genuinely worried that she had done something wrong! She pauses, drumming her fingers on the bar a moment before she moves out from behind it, walks right up to him...

... and pokes him in the middle of the forehead.]

Don't do that again.

[ Jaune swallows nervously, like he's about to get detention from a teacher, until she gives him the affectionate poke on the forehead and he smiles in relief. For a moment, he considers acting like she poked the part of his head that hurts the most, buuut he decides against it. He only wanted to lighten the mood a little, after talking about Cinder... ]

H-heh, sorry!

[ Rubbing his head, the sobers up a little and hopes there wasn't a larger reason why he couldn't make her laugh. Did he miss something in his absence? ]

...Are you alright?

[A slap on the arm before she just casually goes to steal the stool he was seated on now, and reaches for his iced tea like she's about to steal a sip for herself. She doesn't, but he'll have to earn it back! Fiddling with the straw and letting it spin around the rim of the glass, she nods her head with a faint smile.]

You worried me is all.

[And while there is a lot on her mind, she's not going to burden him with any of it... especially not after what he had just gone through. Discovering his Semblance was the fun part, but at what cost? That is something that Lightning is curious about, so she goes on to ask about it in a low, gentle voice.]

You mentioned something happened to Weiss?

[She doesn't know the girl as well as she does Jaune, but that doesn't erase the fact that she cares about her well-being as much as she does anyone else's. Sorry to dampen the mood again!]

[ Does he have to fight her for the drink?! He sighs, laughing softly because yeah, something did totally happen. ]

I guess there's no way to gloss over that, is there?

[ He doesn't want to downplay the gravity of her near-death, and the effect it had on both of them moving forward, but he also doesn't want to dramatize it too much either. ]

... Would it be easier to show you?

[ It's not something he will ever offer to anyone else, but he owes Lightning for the memories he got to look at in Selenium. In a way, it will bring them a little closer. There is a practical reason for it, too, and a very important one at that.

If Lightning is to protect anyone from Cinder and he's no longer around do it himself, then she needs to know what the woman looks like. ]

Not really, no.

[As much as she wishes she could unhear it, to go back to being blissfully ignorant to what these kids had to go through in such a short time, she knows that isn't how things work. There's no shaking her worry now, and she wonders quietly to herself how Weiss is doing, or if she's okay. He hasn't said anything to contradict that, which is a good sign...

However, Lightning knows what showing her will entail – showing her means having to remember it for himself, too... Telling it as a story doesn't have the same impact that having to almost relive it does, and while it isn't that, it's close enough that it makes her shift in her seat.

She's not one to turn down an offer, but she also doesn't want to make Jaune go through it if it's only going to be more demanding for him..]

You sure?

Nope. [ He says it a little too bluntly. ] But... I trust you.

[ He's more worried about doing this without Weiss' consent, but as he already said, he trusts Lightning. ]

It's just... you're not gonna like it.

[ Because he knows how much Lightning cares. In the time that he's known her, he has learned that she is capable of as much empathy as him, which can be a burden. Being happy for others is a wonderful feeling, but being angry or sad... that's a little harder to deal with. ]

[She scoffs.]

There're a lot of things I don't like. Have to put up with 'em anyway.

[That's just the way the cookie crumbles.

Lightning gives him a slight nod, hopefully enough reassurance that it's okay. She can handle anything he has to throw at her, and any burden this might put on her shoulders, small or large, she's prepared to carry it, even if all it'll do is take some of the weight off of his. If she can't, well... she'll do it anyway.

In the meantime, she slides his glass across the counter towards him and gives it one last nudge with the end of her finger.]

[ God damn it, why is she being so cool and suave with his glass, now he won't know how to hold it without looking like a flustered dork!!!

Thankfully (?), he has no need for it just yet, since they're about to get to business. As Lightning is still occupying his stool, and Jaune being a ridiculously tall teen, he positions himself next to her with his hand on her shoulder as he looks onward. This should be a little easier without eye contact, at least for the time being.

As promised, the scene plays out from Jaune's point of view, which will at various times be blurry and shaky from all those moments he cried. It starts from a very haunting "Are you gonna let her die, too?", showing Jaune's failed attempt to end Cinder, her resulting fury and psychological torment, all the way until Weiss collapses.

--and then it abruptly ends. ]

[That sensation of someone else's thoughts invading her mind is still so remarkably unaccustomed, but Lightning lets it happen anyway – her eyes close and she rests a hand on top of the one he has on her shoulder, holding it there under a sturdy grip. It's more staggering than she expected, especially with it being from Jaune's point of view, and Lightning's eyes shut tighter and her fingers squeeze his hand.

As the memory plays, she takes note of Cinder's face – the mask, the parts of a scar that show from behind it, as well as the clothes, her voice... every detail that Lightning can commit to memory, because should this woman ever dare show it in Verens, she'll have more than just these kids to deal with.

Even knowing what was coming, watching that spear pierce through Weiss at the other end of the room is still unsettling and it makes her stomach sink, and when it ends as abruptly as it does, she looks to Jaune and tries to blink back the tears that are staining the inner corners of her eyes.]

I...

[Sometimes, finding the right things to say in any circumstance is hard for her but no matter how hard she tries, there's nothing she can come up with. So instead of that, she spins on her stool and throws her arms over his shoulders.]

[ Even with her arms around him, Jaune doesn't react physically, but deep down he appreciates it more than anyone will ever know. It was only Pyrrha who hugged him since he came back, but that comes for granted between them. After a short moment of silence, he continues... ]

She was right, you know. I was in over my head. Maybe I saved Weiss in the end, but I couldn't stop Cinder from hurting her.

I can't stop her from hurting anyone...

[ And he can't always be around to heal those who fall victim to her. ]

[He doesn't need to react for her to know, but as soon as he goes on, Lightning lifts her head and moves back, keeping her hands on his shoulders. Solidarity, support, whatever it is he wants to take from the gesture, that's what it can be.]

No, she wasn't. Remember when you asked me if I believed everything I said? About changing fate?

[She shakes her head.]

It might be that, it might not be, but you keep telling yourself that you can't, and you won't. Just means you'll have to train harder, and fight harder.

Edited 2018-03-12 12:50 (UTC)

[ He nods, deliberately hiding his eyes under his fringe. He knows if he tries to speak now, he'll just cry like a baby. He doesn't want to dismiss Lightning's kind words, even though he has heard it many times before. Even Pyrrha says that she never met anyone who works so hard to get better, and yet he's always out of his league when it counts.

If Lightning and so many others believe in him, then why is it so hard for him to focus on the overwhelming encouragement, and instead keeps tripping up over what one person said about him being a failure? It shouldn't work that way. ]

... Y-Yeah.

[ No, if his friends believe in him, then he should do the same. Lightning is right. ]

[ He shakes his head quickly, shaking a rogue tear out of his eye. Once that's been taken care of, he looks at Lightning directly, drawing on his confidence as a leader. He may not fight as well as others, but he knows what he needs to do. And if not, he knows he'll figure it out eventually. ]

I'll do it. I'll train even harder... I'll push myself--

I'll become like you.

[ Oddly enough, the sentiment echoes Lightning's own self-confessed wish to be more like Jaune. Why can't these warriors ever just be happy with themselves? ]

[His declaration takes her completely off-guard, and her fingers squeeze his shoulders a little tighter. She would argue that, if she was ever in any place to do so, because she had said those same words once. So, her expression softens and so does her grip, but her hands don't lower yet. Instead, she gives him a nudge.]

Don't get too over your head.

[Joking, of course, but he should know better by now, even without the suggestion of her smile – she has more unwavering faith in him than she was probably ever ready to give. This is just her own strange way of trying to lessen the tension, even if she isn't a natural at it... not like he is.]

You know you can come to me for anything. I don't want you to be afraid to ask.

[There will be no more of this 'too many burdens to shoulder' crap.]

N-No, I know... I know I can count on you.

[ She's the first person he's sought out, apart from his fellow friends from Remnant, to tell her about his Semblance. Furthermore, he doubts he's going to tell anybody else about Cinder, they can't help with that kind of thing the way Lightning can.

It also occurs to him now just how much he missed her, now that his new memories are settling in. It feels like it had been two months... ]

It's just that-- I worry about you, too. [ As he should. Lightning isn't his hero; she's his friend, and that's what he does for his friends. ]

But, uh... since you're offering... is it okay if we trained more regularly?

[ He's got some new moves to show off, too! Ozpin bootcamp will do that to you. ]

[There's something of a low chuckle under her breath as she spins back on her stool to set her elbows on the counter again. Jaune has every right to worry about her, but no reason to – things may be shaky right now but it's nothing she can't handle given some time, and if things do go south, Lightning is learning (slowly) that there are people she can lean on, him included, should she ever need it.

His question makes her smile to herself, because honestly, she's been waiting for it.]

Thought you'd never ask.

[About time!]

How regular are you thinking?

[ Preferably, all the time? He knows he's got a lot of catching up to do. The amount of time he dedicates to training now has been cut in half, now that he's in an actual relationship plus working full-time. Of course, all of those things have been his choice, so no regrets there.

It just means he'll have to be a little smarter about his time management. ]

Hmm... either we can go one full day a week, where you push me to my limits and I cry tears of pain and occasionally wonder if it would be better to just die, or we spread them out to slightly less extreme sessions over the course of a week.

[ And since she's still sitting in his seat, he makes his way around the counter, pacing slowly as he thinks about it. Eventually, he ends up sitting on her original seat across from her. ]

...I choose hard mode.

[That's quite the elaborate battle plan he's come up with... and Lightning quirks a brow while her eyes follow him as he paces, all the way up until he stops.]

Hm.

[Is all she says at first while he takes a seat. She has no problem with either of his ideas and will find a way to squeeze it into her schedule somehow. She did promise him, after all, and she intends to keep it.]

Hard mode being the one where you wanna die? I can work with that.

[Those four years in the Guardian Corps with their military training wasn't for nothing!]

[ He's well aware of her military background -- or rather, as much as she chose to share with him up until now. If he's going to follow in her footsteps, then he wants the same type of training that she had. ]

I just don't wanna keep taking it easy, you know? I'm already so far behind, I need to push myself twice as much. And then some.

[ His training with Ozpin at Haven was pretty relentless, but it was also brief. It didn't even help him much in the end, even if he learned some things. ]

I... I promise I won't waste your time, Light.

[ ...and that's the other reason he rarely asks people he respects to spar with him. Why should they train him when there are more promising students out there? ]

[If that's what he wants, then that's what he'll get. When it comes to things like training and learning how to hold one's own, nothing good ever came from "taking it easy". If it weren't for Amodar pushing her past her limits, Lightning would never have made it as far as she did.

"Waste your time", huh? Her tone takes a shift into a more serious one again and, if she had it in her, she'd respond with a sigh.]

You planning on learning anything from this?

[The only thing that'll waste anyone's time is if he comes out with nothing to show for it, and Lightning isn't going to let that happen.]

These aren't going to be just sparring sessions. You wanna get tough, then we're gonna have to toughen you up. Mind and body.

Mind and body...

[ Jaune definitely wants to learn something-- anything from this. It took him a long time, but he eventually discovered his Semblance. If he can overcome step one, he can do the 99 others. He really doesn't want to disappoint Lightning, because he knows he'll be letting himself down, too... but for the first time in his life, he actually believes that he can achieve his dreams.

He nods at her, indicating that he's not afraid of whatever she'll throw at him at some point in the future.

Unless-- ]

--wait, you're not gonna have me sitting underneath a cold waterfall, right?! 'Cause I tried that once, and-- well... I tried it once. S-So. Yeah. I tried it.

[ and he screamed like a wuss ]

[Wrong muse! If it's ice cold waterfalls he wants to stand under, he needs to go talk to Maya Fey and she can hook him up. That isn't really Lightning's style, and she chuckles under her breath at the mere thought of it because what kind of person does that? Maybe it's good for endurance, but she has her own methods that don't involve water. Besides, he's made it abundantly clear that he's already tried it, and it doesn't sound like it went all that well?]

No. Nothing like that.

[Lightning leans over the counter like she's about to tell him a secret.]

Here's your first lesson: stop thinking that way. You're not wasting my time.

[She's upset that he even went there...]

[ When she leans over the counter, his eyes dart elsewhere again. ... And he holds his drink super protectively! ]

I know, I know... [ Damn it, she's right, why does he keep being so self-deprecating? ]

I-It's just... I realize I'm asking a lot from you. I ask a lot from myself, too. Sometimes so much that I don't even see the progress I make. [ Which makes him think he's wasting his own time on some days, but he's stubborn if nothing else. He'll keep hitting his head against that wall until it either kills him or the wall itself comes down. It's going to take a lot of hits for either of those things to happen, though...]

...I won't think that way anymore.

[ At least when it comes to her as a teacher. He has already learned quite a bit. ]

[Don't worry, she's not going to steal the drink. Although, she can use one of her own now that her coffee has gone to waste...

She accepts his answer and sits back in her chair again.]

Better to ask for more and have too much, than to not have enough. Keep asking, it's what I'm here for.

[And she isn't the only one, either. She hasn't met a lot of his friends from Remnant, nor does she know many of them well, but she has no doubt that they'd be there for him just as much as she's willing to be, if he asked. She appreciates them for it.]

And if you still have trouble seeing your own progress, then I'll make sure to show you.

[At least he can admit that weakness to her... not a lot of people can, and knowing it now, she can help him see it to the best of her ability.]

[ He doesn't realize how much he missed her until now, as his new memories slowly start to settle. Has it really been two months? ]

That sounds fair, heh. ...Thanks, Light. [ He would apologize for even disappointing her like that in the first place, with the way he thinks of himself, but he knows that would just take them further down the rabbit hole. Instead, he smiles appreciatively.

And now, trying to be cool like her, he leans back on his stool as he looks at her, and brings the glass up to his face so he can finish the delicious drink.

Unfortunately, the straw from the glass gets shoved right in his nose as he brings it up, and he freaks out as he pulls away from the glass. When he looks down at the glass, the straw is nowhere to be found??

(It's still in his nostril...) ]

[Her eyes narrow while she watches him and she bites back a smile, and somehow – somehow – she manages to keep her face as straight as possible when the straw gets lodged in his nose.

She scratches at the bridge of her own with a finger.]

You've got something on your face.

[ Tapping his own nose leads to him discovering the lodged straw, and he immediately pulls it out and turns on the stool so that his back is facing her. The last thing she needs to witness is his horrified red face after that display of... uncoolness?! ]

Oookay, well, that's enough catch-up!! Back to work now!

[ Just in time, too! The Hearth is starting to fill up with its first round of visitors, and things are only going to get busier as the day goes on. ]

[Not sure there's anything worse than her seeing a straw up his nose, but she lets him have his moment of privacy, although Jaune will be able to hear her snort from behind him. And while he's turned away? She steals his drink and finally throws back a stolen sip for herself before she hops off the stool at the sight of the customers.]

Right. [At least he's being a responsible employee. She's proud. :) ] Try not to cause too much trouble out here today.

[Or, you know, get more straws stuck up his nose.

Jaune gets a super cool farewell to top it all off – she saunters off in the direction of the kitchen, giving him a wave over her shoulder. Seeya later!]

[Doesn't matter that Lightning's working at a restaurant, or capable of providing for herself. Yeul did this for Snow, she will do it for Lightning. She is part of the tribe, end of discussion. And the tribe takes care of their own.

Delivered to the Eos house, marked for Lightning is one juicy roast chicken, a fluffy kale salad, and one strawberry shortcake. The cake itself is a little tough having been overmixed, but the flavor is spot on and the construction is solid.]

So... Lightning. Could I ask you something?

[ there's something particularly impish about her tone... or maybe you're just imagining it! either way, it looks like Iris has a question. ]

[The message is a bit of a surprise, but luckily for Iris, Lightning hasn't been back at the house much that day. So, it does make some sense. Did something happen? It's likely not some kind of emergency, because that tone implies something else, and if Iris is trying to hide it, she's doing a pretty poor job.]

Yeah? What's up?

I've been hearing some interesting things around the house. One of them was that you and my brother were pretty close when he was here last.

[ she is being about 0.5% serious with this, but she'd be lying if she said she wasn't interested. after all, it's basically in the little sister job description to tease and annoy their older siblings. Iris is just sneaky about it. ]

Now that he's back, I gotta wonder. What are your "intentions" with Gladdy?

Edited (SORRY) 2018-03-21 14:15 (UTC)

[This is the last thing Lightning expected when she got the message. The absolute last thing. There's a long, looooong silence, and for a while it might seem like she's "hung up" entirely, but the brief sensation of a shock that passes through the mental connection to Iris during it will give away that she's still there. It won't hurt, but it'll feel like a tickle.

Is Iris Amicitia giving Lightning Farron the shovel talk!? Just... give her a second. Or five. Ten, maybe? No, thirty. Yeah. Thirty.

... Forty-five.

She's glad for this being just voice, because if it were anything more than that, or a conversation face-to-face, Iris would be able to see that the colour in Lightning's face is identical to that of a ripe tomato. Clearing her throat, she finally answers.]

.... Who told you? [Like it wasn't obvious enough?]

Edited (this is what i get for laughing at you) 2018-03-21 14:36 (UTC)

[ Iris is also incredibly glad that she opted for voice only, because it disguises how hard she's trying to hide her smile. she'll wait patiently for Lightning to speak up again - it gives her plenty of time to formulate a plan. ]

I figured it out myself. [ read: she eavesdropped. ] And besides, it's not hard to tell what people are feeling around here.

[ that part is true. there's been something lighter in the atmosphere around Gladio lately that she's taken notice of, but he hasn't said anything to her directly. ]

Right. The emotion thing.

[Betrayed by Emotion Island again. That's not to say that she's been good at hiding it, either. Ever since she's started staying, the residents of the Eos house may have noticed a few stray red petals laying about, likely where she and Gladio met for a brief, and maybe even a normal, conversation. Lightning's tried to collect them as best as she could, but half the time, she doesn't even notice they're there. Damn it, she'll have to start paying more attention...]

I don't... have any intentions? I mean– [Wait, let her rephrase that!] I don't know. Yeah, we were close... once.

[Now? Well... She can't really make that call alone, nor does she want to. ~~and we aren't done the thread yet!~~]

[ she had the intent to joke around Lightning a bit, but she's realizing now that the topic might be more sensitive than she initially thought. ]

I'm just teasing. If anything, I bet should be telling him what a jerk he was for disappearing on you.

[ she knows it wasn't his fault, just as much as it wasn't hers for her own disappearance. she just wants to try and lighten the mood. ]

And... I know you wouldn't need it in the first place, but I wanted to say that you've got my little sister blessing. I think you're way too cool for him, but that's not my call to make.

[Sometimes (see: all the time), Lightning takes things way too seriously. Someone needs to teach her to loosen up a bit! In her defense, Iris sounded pretty serious about it, nor is it a topic that she takes lightly. Still, knowing that it had meant to be a joke, it does make her laugh – not just mentally, but out loud... and it probably looks really awkward to anyone watching her.]

A little sister's blessing... [The most important blessing. For a moment, she wonders how Serah would handle all of this.] Not so sure about the 'cool' part. Turns I'm the one who messed up more than once.

[The house probably smelled like coffee for weeks.

She's genuine about the next part, and rather than a little tickle of a shock, there's warmth instead.]

Thank you. He's... a good man.

[ if she needs someone to teach her to loosen up, Iris is her girl! she just wants to make sure she doesn't touch a nerve - she wants to get to know Lightning properly, especially if she's got history with her brother. ]

Nobody's perfect. And if anything, you guys have something like a fresh start now, right? That's gotta count for something.

[ as always, she tries to look on the bright side. there's lost time to make up, but Iris can't imagine that rekindling that kind of relationship would be that bad, especially if it's mutual. ]

Yeah, he's pretty awesome. Don't tell him I said that, though.

[No nerves touched here! Lightning is on-edge with just about everything, especially in the romance department. Despite having been in one for several months with him before, this is still brand new territory for her. If anything, she's pleasantly surprised that Iris even reached out to her at all, now that she's gotten over the initial embarrassment.

A fresh start does sound kind of nice, though... and that seems to be the direction they're heading.]

I don't think he needs anyone to tell him that. [Sometimes she wonders if he's got more ego than abs. ~~just kidding~~] So is this how all Amicitias give the talk?

[ she wants to be friends with Lightning! even if she wasn't courting her brother, she knows that she means a lot to Ignis as a friend. people like that should stick together, and she seems pretty badass to boot. ]

I think it's just me, actually. I've never brought anyone home to face Gladdy... He'd probably scare them off before getting a word in.

[Lightning's mental snort is robust enough that it makes it through to Iris.]

Hm. Does he think he's scary?

[Is that what he tells himself? Or tells his little sister? Really, Gladio.....?]

No idea. I guess it helps that he's tall... But then he opens his mouth.

[ he could definitely be intimidating if he wanted to, but Iris knows that he's a goofball not-so-deep down. she's not afraid of him in the least - his enemies, on the other hand... ]

I bet he'd get a kick out of it if you asked.

[Yeah, and then he starts talking about Cup Noodles and any hope of him being intimidating is gone. Granted, he could probably use that to scare any prospective suitors and it would be just as effective as standing there, arms crossed over his chest and saying nothing at all.]

I'll remember for next time, and let you know how that goes.

[There's a pause, and then:]

Hey, Iris...

[ one of her biggest fears is that the Cup Noodle obsession is hereditary. maybe one day she'll wake up and start reciting promotional scripts that have been latently with her since birth... it makes her shudder. ]

You better. I want to hear his reaction.

[ she giggles, but it quiets slightly when Lightning addresses her. ]

What's up?

[Maybe she'll even remember to broadcast it live to Iris. It'll be their little secret. :)

The typical hardness in Lightning's voice is gone, and she sounds a bit... sheepish? Shy, almost.]

Thanks. For looking out for him, and... [Ah. She's so bad at this.] And allowing me to, too. I know how important it is, and... it, uh... means a lot.

You don't need to thank me for that. It's a little sister's job to keep an eye out for their older sibling every once and awhile.

[ she vaguely remembers Ignis mentioning that Lightning had a little sister, too. hopefully the sentiment resonates with her. ]

You make him happy. That's good enough for me.

Yeah.

[The mention of siblings brings further softness to Lightning's voice, and even trying to stifle the sadness that lingers there, her worry is still distinct. She can't help but wonder how Serah is doing... or if she even knows about what Lightning's been up to since she packed her bags and left for the Eos house. Even being apart, she has no doubt that it's Serah who's always looking out for her.

She can only hope that her sister will have the opportunity to meet him someday (she has no idea that they've already become acquainted), and maybe even Iris, too.

Lightning isn't going to be a Debbie Downer, though! At least, not within this mental link.]

He's lucky to have a sister who can take care of him. Etro knows he can't do it himself.

[ :) ]

[ A bird arrives to bother Lightning with a small package! Inside is this, a pink hair pin. Along with it is a letter that reads: ]

Dear Lightning,

This is days delayed, but thank you.

My emotions aren't usually this all over the place, and I'm usually a lot better at controlling my temper. I shouldn't have been excused for what happened.

I can fully understand should you wish to no longer be friends, but I hope you accept this present nonetheless. I think it might look good on you.

Next month is the Flower Festival. It's the perfect time to wear it.

Yours Truly,
Weiss Schnee

[Sometime on Lightning's birthday, there's a package delivered to her home. Inside is a bottle of wine, the sort Lightning enjoys (since Auron is keen to know what people drink). It's wrapped up in a towel and a note.]

If you ever use my face as a towel again, you can kiss me buying you drinks goodbye.

Happy birthday, Lightning.

[ Perhaps a liiiiittle bit earlier than is reasonable on the morning of her birthday, Lightning will hear that telltale chime in her head of an incoming message. It would seem someone (not naming any names, Ignis Scientia) has spilled the beans to Prompto about the advent of Lightning's birthday, and, well. He isn't just going to sit idly by and let it pass by without comment. He's well aware she's the type of person who doesn't enjoy a lot of spotlight and fanfare, but birthdays are meant to be celebrated. He'll just make a concentrated effort to reel himself in.

Even if...that's easier said than done. ]

Heeeeey, Lightning! A little birdy told me today is a pret-ty special day!

[Ah, here they come. It's probably a good thing for him that she's an early riser on most days, even on her birthday, because she's less grumpy than she would have been if she hadn't already been up for a couple of hours already.

Actually, if she's being honest with herself, she's in a great mood, but doesn't let that pass through in her response just yet.]

And which little birdy was that?

[Prompto can probably hear her brows raising. She's sure she knows the answer to her question already, but confirmation on whose face she needs to smear cake on today would be nice. :D ]

[ Come on, Lightning, would you smear cake on the face of the one who made it? But unfortunately for Ignis, Prompto is about as good at lying as he is at cooking.

Despite her tone, a little bit of a laugh edges the message that returns from him. ]

I couldn't tell ya! But your cake is gonna be delicious, heads up.

[ Whoops. ]

A-anyway, could I steal you for a few minutes sometime today? Won't be long, promise!

[She absolutely would smear cake all over the bespectacled face of the person who made it! One might say it makes it even better and more satisfying. She's looking forward to this delicious cake, though. If her hunch is right, which it usually is, then it's going to be as best as it can be.]

Hm. I'm real busy. [She's not, but Lightning still hums to herself thoughtfully.] But I guess I can make some time for you. You wanna stop by, or you want me to come to you?

[ Oh, it's going to be a very good cake. Also, very smearable. Ignis has designed his own demise, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made in the celebration of birthdays. ]

I can come to you! No sweat. Just give me a few shakes to get the confetti poppers and fireworks ready!

[ He's joking.

Or is he??? ]

Don't bring confetti poppers or fireworks.

[Joking or not, Lightning makes sure that the warning is firm because she wouldn't put it past him to be 100% serious about this. Besides, a confetti popper going off in her face might short a light bulb or make it explode, and that's a fireworks show everyone can do without!]

The door'll be unlocked, so just come in. And mind the goat when you do.

Riiiight, got it. I'll watch out for Daisy. Don't make me any coffee this time!

[ He means that in the best possible way, honest. He just doesn't want to put her own on her birthday! Maybe he should have told her to come to their house...but too late now. Prompto disconnects from the conversation and heads over to Casa de Crystalfam, and nudges the door open with his boot...

...because his arms are quite full.

He calls out from the entrance: ]

Heeeeey, Lightning! Hope I didn't keep you — oof, watch out, Daisy! You're gonna — !

[ There's an absolute crash from the front of the house. ]

[Following the crash is a loud, concerned, and frightened bleat from Daisy just as Lightning pokes her head around the corner from the kitchen with a half-eaten strip of bacon in her mouth, except it's a little hard to see the front entrance from where she is.

Of course the goat would run to the door as soon as there was any sign of movement outside, and most times, she's easy to step around.

... Unless you're a guest. She's slowly grown into the role of Crystalfam House Welcome Committee, much to Lightning's chagrin, but there's little she can do about it right now.]

Prompto? You alright?

[Daisy answers back, and Lightning responds with an eyeroll before rushing out. Hopefully he's not on the floor!?]

[ He's not on the floor...because he had something substantial to break his fall. Daisy noses at the gargantuan bear as Prompto scrambles upright once more, and, well, there goes the surprise! Not that he had much home of one considering this thing is six feet tall, but he would have liked to have at least presented it a bit more dramatically.

Though perhaps there's no better entrance he could have made than tripping over a goat with a giant pink teddy bear. Let it never be said that Prompto Argentum does things by halves. ]

I'm fine! F-fit as a fiddle! Hap — [ HECK, he can't even see around this thing, now that he's upright and attempting to carry it towards her. It's a marvel he even made it all the way to her house without dropping it.

He wedges his head between the bears shoulder and head to peer at her through it.]

Haaaaaaappy birthday, Lightning! Bet you'll never guess what your present is!

[ It is a real mystery. ]

[This is truly a sight to behold. She expected to find him on the ground because that's just what Daisy does to those whose feet she manages to get beneath, but what she actually finds is something she never imagined to find in a million years at her front door.

Lightning rushes over, but slows to a halt once she's near him, afraid that she might run into the giant bear or that it will smother her alive.

Her hands find her hips as she peers around the bear, and she gives both Prompto and the massive plush a once over, all while trying to maintain a straight expression and holding in a laugh. Holy Etro, how did he make it all the way here in one piece?]

... Hm. Is it a bouquet of flowers?

Noooooope, not quite! You're on the right track, though.

[ Whatever that means. Prompto would keep up the banter, because it's fun and he'd like to hear what other ridiculous things Lightning can suggest that are not a giant pink teddy bear, but gods, this thing is heavy, and look, he has his guns but even they can only take so much plushed stress. So, better cut to the chase. ]

I'll give you a hint. It's biiiig, cuddly, and it loooooves you!

[ No, it's not Gladio, though if Prompto was privy to their relationship having Gladio jump out of this thing would have been quite a memorable stunt. What a shame!

Tucking one hand under the bear's massive arm, he gets a sort-of-wave out of it, and then he adopts a high-pitched voice that one can only assume is meant to be the bear's. ]

Hi, Lightning! My name is Stuffles McBearington the Third! I like biiiiig hugs and my favorite color is pink! Won't you be my frieeeeeend? Ker-powzah!

[ ...

...in his normal voice once more, and whispered: ]

That's his catchphrase.

[The high-pitched voice and the waving of the bear's hand seems to amuse Daisy too, because she skips down the hall and returns to give the giant plush a headbutt. It's ineffective, given her smaller build, and she stumbles backwards a step before bleating at it like she's got something to say.

Lightning, on the other hand, while amused... is not going to headbutt the bear. She does step over the goat, and with a fist, pats the bear in the stomach like she's punching it.

Then, delivers this supposed catchphrase in true deadpan Lightning fashion.]

Ker-powzah.

[She peers around the bear's head at Prompto.]

That how it goes?

[ Her delivery, however flat, is absolutely perfect, and a laugh bubbles out of Prompto in response. ]

You nailed it! Ker-powzah! [ Then, a bit more sheepishly: ] I know it's a little...large, but you know what they say! Go big or go home!

[ Sometimes, that means literally. ]

A little large, yeah...

[That's an oxymoron if she's ever heard one...

Lightning tries her best to wrap her arms around the bear to relieve Prompto of it for a while, and the thing is surprisingly heavy for a giant stuffed animal. Once she's got a good enough hold on it, after having to catch her balance a couple of times before finally finding it, she peers around its arms at Prompto while she wiggles backwards away from the entrance and towards the living room.]

... You didn't have to, y'know.

[ Prompto is careful with the handover, not wanting to accidentally topple either of them over, or drop the bear onto Daisy and risk suffocating her. This thing is probably more a hazard than anything else, but hey, it's at least cute, right?

(He really hopes she thinks it's cute.)

Once Lightning begins to...waddle, more or less, back to the living room, Prompto follows, hot on her heels. ]

What, get you a giant stuffed bear? 'Course I did! It's your special day!

[ Though he did refrain from bringing any confetti or noisemakers, you're welcome. ]

[It's definitely a hazard, but it's a cute hazard, so she'll forgive him. However, Lightning isn't one to say as much, even when her smile betrays her silence.

She takes him to the living room and sets him down on one side of the couch, or rather... an entire half. She has to pause to adjust him so that he's sitting like a proper bear, with his (nonexistent) knees together and his hands folded neatly on his lap before Lightning slumps down to take a seat next to him.]

Is it? Just seemed like any other Sunday to me. Except Serah's made breakfast and I hear there'll be cake later... too bad every Sunday's not like this, huh...

[ As Lightning poses the bear, Prompto tucks a hand beneath his chin and nods thoughtfully at her progress. Yes, that will do. Stuffles is a proper gent, it's only appropriate that he should sit like one! ]

Yeah, well...that'd only happen if every Sunday was your birthday!

[ Yeah, she might be coy about it, but he isn't!! He drops into the nearest armchair, sitting forward to lean on his knees. ]

So, how does it feel? What wisdom can you bestow upon us, O Wizened Lightning Farron?

[ By "us", he means himself and the bear, of course. Oh, and Daisy. ]

[Quietly:] Whose birthday is it?

[She jests, and leans over until her side is resting against Stuffles'. He makes a good pillow, she'll give it that much! It makes his arm slide from his lap, though, but Lightning adjusts it soon enough.

Prompto's gesture is not lost on her, and although she may not have thanked him yet, her smile is brimming with gratitude and appreciation. Honestly, the best birthday present he could give her is being here, but the bear does add to its charm.]

Wisdom? [She lets her smile fade and feigns offense at his question.] Why? How old do you think I am?

[Answer carefully!]

[ Wow, she can't ask that question! Except for on her birthday, Lightning can ask any question that she wants. But how is Prompto supposed to answer that? He knows better than to try and guess a lady's age!

He drums his fingers on his knees as he looks her over, as if gather important intel that will lead him to the truth. ]

You're...twenty-two. Twenty-three? You can't be much older than me. I don't think.

[ If it turns out Lightning is actually younger than him, it's going to rock his world. ]

Hm.

[Lightning stares at him for a while, silent and neutral-faced, with her lips pressed together. Then, she stands upright and walks out of the room without a single word, leaving Prompto alone with Stuffles staring right at him through his large beady eyes. 'Sup. Her movement to get up tilts his head sideways and forces his hand to drop back to his side.

It's not long before she returns with a plate of bacon in one hand, and a glass of orange juice in the other, both of which are placed on the coffee table between them. The drink is slid closer to Prompto, indicating that it's for him.]

Close. Try five hundred and twenty-three.

[Was that disappearing act even necessary!?!? Probably not, but she wanted to leave a bit of suspense!!]

[ It absolutely is suspenseful, and from the moment Lightning stands up, giving him that stony look, he's sure he's said something wrong. Was his guess that far off?! He should've known better than to try and guess her age! For those few long seconds, he can only sit there and sputter, trying to form a cohesive apology or explanation or anything, but she's gone into the kitchen before he musters anything up.

And on her birthday, of all days...he exchanges a knowing look with Stuffles, who seems to have disappointment in his big, black eyes.

But then she's returning a moment later with food and an answer. Close, she says, and he fumbles the piece of bacon he just picked up as she gives her answer, his eyebrows flying into his hair. ]

F-five hundred and— c'mon, you're pullin' my leg!

[ ...Isn't she? She must be. ]

[Her standing up and leaving like that was probably a lot meaner than it needed to be, but the walk to the kitchen and back for some food and a drink for him was worth every single second of his reaction she managed to catch. Her arm wraps around Stuffles as soon as she gets comfortable with her own piece of bacon, and Lightning pauses to munch on a bite before waving it at him.]

If you wanna lie about your age, why go for five hundred?

[Not that she's ashamed at all about being twenty-three (and then some), but if she's going to make anything up, she doubts she'd go for that.]

What... You don't believe me?

I-I wouldn't say that, I just...wasn't expecting...

[ There's really no good way to put it, but he crams his piece of bacon into his mouth anyway, to give himself a moment to chew and think. However, even once he's swallowed, he's no closer to an explanation. Or, at least, one that doesn't sound bad. ]

You just...wear five-hundred and twenty-three really well! Not a wrinkle on you! [ He chuckles, sheepish but warm. ] Sorry. I believe you. Unless you're just pulling an extra-special birthday bluff on me.

[ Which he doesn't really suspect, but how could she actually be that old? ]

[It's fine, really. It does admittedly sound very farfetched when she says it out loud like that, but there couldn't be anything closer to the truth. Though, she'll continue to go with twenty-three when (if) she tells others since it's a prettier number anyway.

As for the wisdom he's asked her to impart on him?

Lightning pauses to take one more bite of her bacon and stretches before she bestows it.]

Wanna know the trick?

[She leans forward and lowers her voice, like she's really about to tell him her ancient, long-kept secret.]

[ His eyes flicker between the bacon and Lightning, anticipation drumming up inside him, absolutely certain he's about to hear something very cool. After all, even if Lightning weren't as old as she says, she would still doubtless have plenty of mind-blowing things to tell him. Though considering the circumstances, he's halfway convinced it has something to with bacon. ]

You bet I do. Lay it on me, girl.

[ He is hanging on her every word. ]

[Thinking about it now, Lightning realizes that she knows quite a bit about Prompto but he knows very little about her. There are some things she doesn't share so openly with others, like what she's about to disclose, but if done in the right way she doesn't mind talking about it so much. Besides, it's not as if he's difficult to open up to. In fact, she thinks she needs to learn to do so more often...

No better time to start than now, right?

Despite the very real heaviness of her admission, she makes an effort to keep the tone light.]

Plenty of sleep – five centuries of it. You'll wake up without a wrinkle, and your skin'll glow.

[Lightning motions to the juice on the table.]

Or just drink a lot of fluids.

[SO PROFOUND... ~~And not as clever as it was supposed to be!!!~~]

[ So, it doesn't have to do with bacon after all.

But what she does tell him is far more important than anything that could have to do with bacon—or even sleep habits, even if that is what she couches her response in. It's a technique he knows well, buffing the edges of something sharp an unexpected with humor to lessen the blow, but the impact of it is still not lost on him. She's telling him about herself, about her past, and this unexpected part of it that can't be easy to explain. After all, they've just been over it. She doesn't look like she's over five-hundred years old, and there must be quite the story to go along with that if she was sleeping for five centuries.

Yet this doesn't seem like the right time to ask about it, even if she did bring it up herself. There's still so much he doesn't know about the life she led back on her home world, and perhaps he should have been asking about it sooner. Yet Prompto has never been one to pry, well-acquainted with the fact that some people—many people—have secrets they want to keep, and he would never want Lightning to feel obligated to tell him anything, even if she does know his own secret. Besides, that kind of thing isn't always easy to talk about, and that's not usually the kind of mood he tries to set.

Still, she's just told him something pretty major about her past, and he's not going to brush it off with a laugh, even if it takes a similar approach to her, lifting his glass of orange juice in his hand. ]

Hey, good advice. Just don't tell Noct that first part. If sleeping for five centuries is an option, he'd do it.

[ Little does he know... ]

But—hey, I think that calls for a toast, don't you? Not every day you get to celebrate the big five-two-three!

[ An orange juice toast, yes. ]

[She's appreciative of the fact that he draws no further attention to it. There's a time and a place for that talk, and now is definitely not the time – they have company and she's not sure how Stuffles would feel about them dampening the mood on her birthday... probably not very good! One day, the opportunity to tell him all about it will present itself, she's sure of that, and when it does she'll know.

For now, she'll settle for a toast. There's only one problem!]

I don't have anything to toast with.

[Whoops, in the middle of her attempts at being cheeky, she forgot to grab a glass of something to drink for herself. That's fine, there's probably a "when life gives you lemons" saying for situations like this, so she'll go by that mantra. Lightning picks up a piece of bacon and raises it at Prompto, and the corner of her lip twitches upward.]

To the big five-two-three, I guess.

[She probably looks really dumb right now, but whatever. She's in good company.]

[ He can't help a snort of laughter when she lifts the piece of bacon to toast with. He might've overlooked the fact that she didn't have a drink of her own, but this improvisation is even better. Chuckling warmly, he tips the lip of his glass to her piece of bacon, meeting her gaze with genuine joy at the corner of his eyes. ]

To the big five-two-three! May you have many happy returns.

[ And then he kicks back the glass of O.J., takes a few heart mouthfuls — before he swallows down the wrong tube and has to cough into the glass to avoid dying. He doesn't, however, avoid sounding and looking like an idiot, snorting orange juice inelegantly through his nose and turning his head to sputter into his shoulder.

What a toast... ]

[What a toast, indeed... but there'll be many more toasts to come in the future that he can master the art in no time! She's sure of it. Whether it's birthdays or other, bigger celebrations, Lightning is hopeful that they'll be sharing more memories like this one, as simple as it is. There's something special about how regular this is (minus the fact that they just toasted to five hundred and twenty-three years!), and there had been a time when she'd forgotten what living was like. She could help save the world over and over again, but when it boils down to it, eating a slice of bacon next to a giant stuffed bear is truly living.

Lightning waits for him to finish his choking (why isn't she helping him!?!?), and after leaning forward to check if he's alright, she finishes off her slice of bacon as if it were her own glass of orange juice.

And as her smile warms, so does the room as the sun peeks through the window and basks them in its glow.]

Thank you, Prompto... for this.

[For everything.]

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Backdated to February 14th

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August 2;

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September 5; Voice;

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Dec 12th / Amulet

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