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sparkstrikes) wrote2023-01-01 12:11 pm
sparkstrikes) wrote2023-01-01 12:11 pm
empatheias IC contact. (archive)
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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. ]
[ 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.]
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. ]
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.]
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. ]
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.
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)
[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.]
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.]
[ 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. ]
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? ]
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.]
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. ]
[ 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?
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.
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!]
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? ]
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.
"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 ]
[ 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...]
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...]
[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?
Yeah? What's up?
[ 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. ]
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. ]
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?
[ 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?]
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)
[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.]
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.]
[ 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. ]
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. ]
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