sparkstrikes | empatheias IC contact. (archive)

[ About a week or two after the flower festival ends ~~in true heinously backdated fashion~~, Lightning will receive a special delivery!

Well, it's actually not very exciting. A white card with gold emboss print on the front in an envelope the colour of robin egg blue, edges sharp, paper uncrinkled. The ink on the note inside the card is fresh and dark still; it's clear that Pyrrha did this as soon as the facts were revealed to her.

When Lightning opens the card, she'll get a quick message. Pyrrha's script is neat, almost polite looking, but easy to read, no unnecessary flourishes.

Dear Lightning,

Jaune told me you were the one who got two day passes to the spa for us. Thanks to your effort, we had a lovely day together and I wanted to express my gratitude.

Sincerely,
Pyrrha

P.S. When are you coming over for dinner? We would love to have you.

She doesn't get a choice in the matter, apparently. :D ]

[ At the Hearth, just before Lightning starts her shift, Jaune had left her a fun scavenger hunt. For no reason!! None whatsoever!!! In fact, he doesn't even tell her that it's from him, and on his way out as his own shift ends, he never once hinted that he knows what day today is.

Nevertheless, an unsuspecting Lightning is about to get her first clue when she opens the kitchen fridge to find a note addressed to her. ]

[ ...He tried to rhyme anyway.

If she chooses to follow it, and if she's clever enough to figure it out, it will lead her to a plush toy sitting somewhere on its own in the restaurant. Does she pick it up? ]

[Sometime in the mid-morning hours, Lightning is going to find a very large box at her house. Daisy is probably hopping all over it so no way to miss it. On it is a note with the following words:]

Caught a good haul this morning and thought this big guy would be perfect for you to try. Bet you can make a feast out of it!

— Rokurou

[When we say this box is very large, it is very large because inside not only is she going to find a good number of trout and other fish, but there's also this monster:

.

Enjoy.]

Edited 2018-07-04 07:59 (UTC)

Lady Lightning, are you busy?

[There's something very important Machina needs to ask her. Because no matter how much they butted heads a few months ago, Lightning remains the one person he trusts above anyone else to see it done.]

There is... something important I need to talk to you about.

[ something in Eos house has been going bump in the night, and it's starting to bother Steven. he hadn't given much thought to the slight noises waking him up at first, but now that they're happening consistently, he's starting to wonder who could be making them at such a ridiculous time of night. he's been experimenting over the past week with slipping out of his and Ignis' bedroom on the pretense of getting a glass of water to hone his senses and try to find an answer - his first few attempts yielded no results but a couple of nights ago had revealed two familiar, hushed voices speaking at the top of the staircase. that much is enough to confirm it, and a brief bout of eavesdropping a few days later all but confirms it.

so, as is natural upon learning information about a friend that could be used to tease them, he plans to have a bit of fun.

on this particular night, when Lightning heads to the kitchen on her way to leave the house, she'll be greeted with a flick of a light turning on. ]

Good evening, Ms. Farron.

[ leaning on the door frame is a certain Steven Stone, looking uncharacteristically casual in a housecoat and lounge pants. he's being stiffly courteous on purpose, and it's not without a coy smile. someone's been caught..... ]

Or should I say "good morning"? I can't say we were expecting company this early...

[ It's Milkshake Day, the day you give a milkshake to a female friend you care about!

Lightning will find hers at the Hearth, with her name and note attached to it. It's strawberry marshmallow flavour, because that's what Lightning is. ]

Dear Light,

Side by side or miles apart,
dear friends are always close to the heart.
Thanks for everything.

Enjoy!
-J

Hey, Lightning? Are you there?

[Special delivery to Lightning! It's a decent sized package and inside she'll be greeted with a face she knows so well. That of a particular starfish, its eyes staring up right into her soul. Along with the costume is a bottle of sand with a starfish inside, made to be like a Christmas ornament, and there's also wool hat not in the shape of a starfish, but a moogle. Or close to one, anyway. More like a white cat with a pom pom attached to it, but close enough. There is at least one real nice thing in there, and it's a sword maintenance kit.

Attached to the costume is a card:]

Want a turn?

[MERRY CHRISTMAS, LIGHTNING.]

[ For Christmas, Noctis will give Lightning this apron. Because he thinks he's funny. Har har har. On a more serious note, he'll gift her a camping cooking set for when Gladio drags her outdoors. ]

[ It's been about a week since Lightning turned into a crystal, although it has been several weeks more since they last met up in person. Unsure how long she's going to stay frozen this way, he requested to see the statue today. ]

Hey Light... it's, uh, Jaune here. I... don't think you can hear me right now, but... I think if you were here, you would want me to check in, so. Here I am! Heh. You'd be happy to know that I'm still keeping up with my training, but it doesn't feel the same without you. I got your holiday present, too! [ He flashes her the Saviour badge, which he proudly wears on him. ] I just wish I had the chance to thank you before... well-- maybe I'll save that for when you come back.

[ He pauses for a moment, gathering his thoughts for why he's really here. ]

I... after we took down the leader of the rebels, I went back to Verens, and tracked down the man we apprehended back at the hospital. I don't even know why. To find answers? It turns out he's in a maximum care facility, and he's quite the entertainment attraction, heh! Every week, he puts on a magic card show for the other patients. You should see the smiles on their faces...

... You were right, you know. I was irrational with the Lady in Red. Maybe... she can do something good, too. I don't know...

[ He shakes his head, trying to wrap this up now. ]

Selenium's coming up. I'm... not sure if I'm gonna go. Last year was hard, but I found my strength in being there for others... for Pyrrha, for Nora, for you. I... don't think I'll be much good for that this year. Maybe I'm the one who's lost.

...heh! Must be nice being wherever you are at this time of the year. I hope you're having nice dreams. All the people you lost since last time, they're here now, waiting for you, and... they miss you a lot. I miss you, too. So... don't sleep too long, okay?

[ A moment of silence again, as if he's hoping he'll hear some kind of response. Naturally, nothing happens. ]

Right. Well... later.

Edited 2019-01-07 15:03 (UTC)

[Not having her sister around was something she was sadly used to. She had gone three years (plus whatever was added with her jumping along the timeline) and some handful of days before the thirteen days leading to the whole Pulse l'Cie branding and all when she had been doing her PSICOM thing, but while that was bearable to a point, this was not for whatever reason. She had put on a happy face for so many people to try to comfort as many as she could between her own memories becoming manifest and showing her things she missed, things she longs for, and things that have happened.

So regardless of wherever Lightning turned into a crystal, Serah slips in in the early morning, approaching silently in the sunlight filtering in to wrap her arms tight around her sister to cry. She had kept it together pretty well, but few got to see the tears. Lightning? She could trust Lightning. She could trust her not to tell her to cheer up or to be happy and smile through it all. No, she knew Lightning would let her cry it out, to sort out her feelings so she could go back to spreading joy and happiness as she would normally do. Nothing gives Serah more joy than to see all of her friends and family and everyone she cares for (read: everyone ever except like... the Orphan and Bhunivelze once she knows what happens) to be happy too.

Once she calms down from her initial outburst, through tears, she wants to tell Lightning what's happened.]

Light, I... I'm sorry. I saw-- I saw Snow. No, well, I saw his ghost. Here. The holiday, Selenium. It showed me Snow. He laughed and smiled and it was like he never left like he did to look for you, and I-- I told him I still had his necklace. The one that matches mine, you know? When he comes back [for her, it's never an if: she knows he'll find his way back] I told him I'd give it to him. Do you think-- do you think he knows? Like he heard me even though we're here and he's back in our world looking for you for me? He knows I'm here waiting for him to come back?

[She had been doing so well to keep it together long enough to explain to her big sister, one she had teased during Christmas that was the brattiest big sister but one she loves unconditionally, about what she talked about with the ghost of her hero. It takes its toll though, and Serah starts crying again. It's not as bad as it was when she first came into cling to the rocky silhouette of her sister, but it's there.]

I miss him so much, Claire. I saw him so briefly in the Waterscape and then he left me behind again, and then... then he was here but then he was gone before I came back. It feels so long since I've seen him or I've been able to hold him. It hurts so bad.

[She knows Lightning can't properly comfort her, and Serah's not even sure that her sister can even hear her. But being able to pour out her true heart and its feelings is nice. The housemates may hear something, but she can chalk it up to... something else. She won't admit to crying her eyes out on her sister's shoulder. Lightning will know, maybe. She'll understand her little sister's heart and tears that hadn't been this bad since Lightning was suddenly gone after Etro had released all of them from their crystal sleep, with her losing Snow in the Waterscape coming in second to that.

For now, though, she'll keep crying to keep her own emotions and feelings in check for later, and slip out as quietly as she had come in to bare all in emotion earlier.]

I hope you wake up soon, Light. You're here, but you're not here. I can endure it, I have before, but... I just want you to wake up. ... I love you, sis.

[ The most wonderful thing Lightning could ever hear coming into her mind, the voice of ~~Kain Highwind~~ Just kidding she could never be that lucky. It's Caius. Caius was invading her mind this late at night. ]

We need to talk.

[On this perfectly normal day, Lightning is going to get bombarded by images of chocobo themed foods. The words "Happy Birthday" lingered somewhere with the images.]

Hey, up for another "date"? [And just deliberately putting some exaggerated emphasis on the word because he's just joking around. But she can hear the amused smirk in his voice before it changes back to a lighter tone.]

Heard of a new place that's opening up that you might like. No dancing this time, but plenty of desserts to share.

[There's the sound of a bunch of stuff toppling over?? CRASH.]

Uh... You need to come get me I'm pretty sure gravity is going to crush me??

[Serah knows that her sister knows things now, but originally she had no idea why that angry "Serah?!" came out of her mouth. SHE HADN'T DONE ANYTHING and she was an adult here!!!

...but that's why, in front of Lightning's room now, on a tray so she won't step on them by accident is some rose-flavoured cupcakes and a note:]

I didn't know why you were angry at me, but here's some cupcakes to hopefully make you less so. Yes, this is a little sister bribe, but we can talk if you need to.

[ Lightning will find a small envelope with her name on it. No name of who the sender is but when she looks inside it will be obvious. There was a small letter with a small gift inside. ]

Don't expect such kindness often, but putting my pride aside, I can admit when you have helped beyond what was needed.
I've taken your words into consideration.
To what I do with them I don't know, but I felt some other form of gratitude was in order.

[No matter where Lightning is, the messenger birds will find her to deliver a long, skinny box wrapped in shimmery paper. Attached to the outside is a typed note that only reads:]

Happy Birthday Lightning

[Inside, once it's unwrapped, Lightning will find a rose gold necklace and matching earrings. The note gives no indication as to who it's from, if only because Serah knows her sister would probably get rid of or not even look at the gift if she knew who it was from right now. Maybe she'll tell her later, maybe she'll never get the chance to tell her. Serah doesn't know. What she does know is that she loves her sister, that it's her birthday, and that no matter what, Lightning deserves the world.]

[ Lightning didn't ask to be contacted this way, but as soon as she allows this particular telepathic message to go through, Weiss begins. The words in her head are quick, snappy, full of excitement. ]

Okay, so I know it's been a couple of weeks since the Flower Festival, but I've been busy and I never got the chance to tell you properly. Shintarou kissed me, though. We kissed! We were having snacks and I said I like it when he shares new things with me. I've never had grilled corn before— part of it is actually burnt! And I had to eat it on a stick... it was a bit messy. I don't think I'll do it again. Oh, and then he told me to close my eyes and then he kissed me! As it turns out, we both had plans to kiss the other, and he said he was even going to sing to me. Isn't that romantic? So, anyway, he's just going to be singing another time. I'm actually looking forward to it! It's... really nice that he's doing things he doesn't normally do for me. And I was worried for nothing!

It's— [ A pause. She composes herself. ] I'm happy, Lightning.

[ Really happy! ]

[Bright and early one morning (just in time for breakfast!) a cloth covered basket will be delivered to the Eos house with a label marked: Lightning. Inside are some fresh strawberry muffins and a bottle of milk. No signature, but the handwriting is blatantly Yeul's.]

We love you very much, Lightning! I hope the muffins are yummy!

P.S. I made lots, so share with the house!

[Not that Yeul actually thinks the chocobros would let Lightning go hungry while she's living with them, but Light is still part of the family (internal squabble or no) and the tribe takes care of its own.]

[Yeul's a lot better off than she has been all month. She's quiet with her poking at Lightning, but there's some stern resolve to make herself heard behind it that she very seldom employs.]

Lightning? It's Noel's birthday.

Come home.

Please.

mail.

may 13

[ sometime in july/tessa/whatever ]

8/2 Voice

action; idk sometime before the player plot

gift!

Image;

[ 12/25 ]

Christmas gift

action;

morning after Selenium

Voice;

2/22