[ action ] Ϟ [ 01 ]

[subjected]

[ OOC~ Backdated to... a reasonable amount of time before the 'home' event start!

Regardless of the rather strange act of making sure to sneak in without anyone noticing at first, Claire Farron has now decided that she won't be hard to find any more- at least for now. There's a very distinctive, pink-haired presence around Balamb Garden again, and though most of what she's up to currently - making sure her rooms are in order, going through any changes that have taken place since her last visit before missions... make no mistake. The school's latest new Instructor is definitely eying up wandering students and anyone else who happens to pass her by as well.

And she's obviously, almost painfully tense, looking very severe in her dark, form-fitting clothing as she stalks the lobby, dorm, and classroom areas with broody purpose and a stack of various folders in-hand. Every time she bothers to take pause, her arms are crossed, posture stiff. Yes, she knows perfectly well that they are around here somewhere, and the idea that they've been allowed to teach and train here makes her blood boil. Time has done very little to fade the dark feelings she has towards the cursed Pulse l'Cie from her home.

Although "Lightning" won't really object to others coming to talk to her too, her sharpness is palpable- when it comes down to it, she knows that either she will find them... or they will find her. It's just a matter of when... and she might as well get it over with, in addition to 'greeting' those she'll be spending time near from here on in general. ]

Comments

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

[How would you like to trade horrible anticipation for a sick certainty and dread?]

[Because there's only one person, ever, that tall, in that outfit. And he's walking down the hallways, heading generally Lightning's way. Hasn't noticed her yet, but it's only a matter of time.]

[Wait for fate to meet you, or go face it head-on?]

[subjected]

[ Certainly something she doesn't like it at all and... Claire knows she could do neither of those things- duck away and leave before he catches sight, do something that saves herself from that and the feeling of at least one hand curling into itself so hard she's bound to be leaving nail indentations even through gloves.

But even before she was trained as a SeeD, she's never been a coward in any sense of the word, and her fate... well. That's a funny story, really. Needless to say she decides to face it, stepping into Snow's line of sight from some distance away, glare firmly in place.

Of course, she has no idea that it's just about impossible for her to truly be ready for what's in store. For all she knows, he should be pretty willing to return her dark look without hesitation. ]

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

[Not at first -- in fact, on spotting the pink-haired girl, Snow's first reaction is to grin broadly and lift a hand. He hadn't seen Lightning for a couple of months now, and he and Serah had figured that she'd fallen victim to time compression. So the relief and happiness at seeing his sister overwhelms the small details he ought to be noticing.]

Hey, there --

[But that glare isn't the glare Lightning gives him even when irritated. Not even the glare she gave him back in Bodhum at her birthday party. And noticing that brings the other small details into focus, like the difference in the uniform. He slows his forward pace, hesitantly.]

...sis?

[And the way he lowers his hand offers a glimpse at the burned-out brand on his forearm.]

[subjected]

[ ... At first his reaction definitely doesn't make sense, and for a split second Claire wonders if this man might actually from the time compression pulling someone from earlier than when she remembers- possibly even before one or both of them were made l'Cie. The fact that he knows her, though... that suggests it being past the point at which her sister had started seeing him. Before--

Then, she spots the Brand, completely whited out now just like hers... although with a much more sinister shape. It takes a long moment before she's able to drag her eyes back to his face after that, revulsion written into every inch of her expression and posture. ]

Instructor Villiers...

[ And yeah, if the behavior and that tone aren't enough, she does look a bit different too: subtly different haircut, uniform in dusky colors... although not with the illuminated stripes. If there's something this world has taught her about that, it's that it's not always wise to glow in the dark...! ]

[toomanyverses.livejournal.com]

[Claire might be tough as nails and scary to boot, but Greece never really pays attention to things like auras.

Of course, it helps that you can't pay attention to... well, anything, really, when you lean against a wall and then pass out.

Occupational hazard, all right?]

[subjected]

[ There is a man against the wall-- sleeping? That's definitely not something you see every day, and it's by far enough to give Claire pause as she... looms over him with a frown from a few feet away. His breathing appears normal, and yet-- ]

Hey. [ She bends to touch his shoulder, tone sharp. ] Wake up.

[toomanyverses.livejournal.com]

[Greece stays put, still completely out cold. She might as well be whispering, for all the effect that has. ]

[subjected]

[ Not cool. Somewhere between concerned and annoyed, now she kneels down to one knee beside him, deftly tugging off a glove... ] Hey! Are you alright? [ ...and pressing her fingers into his neck, peering at his face at closer range. If his unconscious self knows what's good for him, he'll be waking up soon before she has the chance to do more. ]

[thewindything.livejournal.com]

[And this is one of the younger cadets near the lobby. John has been trying to make a decision on his Major for the last week and this time he's pretty much told himself HE WILL DO THIS.]

[So he is kind of staring intently at the catalog of classes.]

[And doesn't seem to realize he's floating a few inches off the ground.]

[subjected]

[ Oh Garden... apparently, today is just not Claire's day for normalcy. She's just about to pass John by entirely when she notices... he's not exactly the best example of a well-grounded child right now, is he?

The clipped sound of her boots comes to an abrupt stop, her pale eyes half-lidded as she turns her head to look down at him. No, by no stretch of the imagination is that the weirdest thing she's ever seen, but... ]

[thewindything.livejournal.com]

[He seems to have not noticed Claire, rather he scrunches his face at the paper and pushes up his glasses.]

I guess if I majored in magic I could still take the weapons elective...

Man, this is hard.

[Oh wait is that the feeling of being watched. He looks up.]

Oh.

[subjected]

... You're free to take any of the electives regardless of what you specialize in, so long as you have the time for it.

[ Significant pause, and then as if this actually needs to be asked: ] Are you a new cadet?

[ex_strongerthanshelo_266]

[Unfortunately for her, Serah doesn't really notice any of the differences in Lightning. The only thing she notices is that it's her sister and that she's back in Garden.

Practically flying, she runs the distance between them and pretty throws her arms around Lightning's neck for a hug or that's the idea anyway. Smiling and giggling a little it's clear that Serah is ecstatic.]

Sis! You're here! Where did you go? We thought you'd been pulled back by Time Compression. Was it just a mission then?

[Her words tumble over each other like overeager puppies in her zeal to greet her sister. Sadly this euphoria won't be very long lasting.]

[subjected]

[ Prevention of attack is hard-wired into Claire's brain: when she hears those footsteps - that voice that she's spent well over a year growing bitter over - her reaction is instinctive. She doesn't think, and before Serah probably even has the chance to notice that her sister's form of surprise is gravely off, Claire is evaluating the danger automatically, grabbing the young woman's arm, setting feet to trip her up, spinning to use the girl's momentum against her--

Even when what she's doing hits her, halfway through the action, it's not enough to stop Claire from trying to forcefully throw her little sister to the ground, then immediately start backing up, her expression a bizarre mix of anger and horror. ]

[ex_strongerthanshelo_266]

[Thankfully DEF 101 did a pretty good job of covering situations like this. So while meeting the floor does knock the breath out of her lungs it could have been much, much worse.

However, the fact that it's her own sister that's put her on the floor means it's painful in an entirely different way.]

Lightning? [Her voice is small and rather strained as she stares up at the older woman.] Is something wrong?

[She coughs then, carefully trying to sit up.]

[subjected]

[ She's not the only one hurting and confused, really. Even after so long, the urge to help her up is still there, the desire to feel sorry, but even though this is her sister, if Serah is a l'Cie, then Claire still thinks she was trying to destroy the world and... that's unforgivable, always.

Only problem? She just went and threw a cadet to the ground- provoked in her eyes, maybe, but all the same she's not really interested in losing her job so soon after getting it. ]

Serah. Stop.

[brightens]

[ Vanille had slipped out of the dorms and headed toward the lobby when she saw a familiar form and set of clothing walking along not too far ahead of her. Without thought, she immediately skipped a step to run in her direction, waving a hand over her head cheerfully to greet her. ]

Lightning..! Heeey-!

[subjected]

[ "Vanille." One of the girls who was not just a Pulse l'Cie, but actually from the execrable world below Cocoon! It's been over a year, and yet Claire still recognizes her voice... even if it was pretty far from sounding that cheerful in the times they'd encountered each other.

And well, by now, the absolutely bizarre behavior of the others 'from home' here has Claire extremely on edge. At the greeting, she turns sharply, already looking about ready to snap. ]

[brightens]

[ And she stops in her tracks, confused. ]

Light? What's wrong?

[neutralchaotic]

[He's not very fazed by Lightning appearing unapproachable. He does it all the time. Although, Shadow is surprised to encounter her in the hallways. He hadn't seen his former...comrade? Not friends, but not enemies. There's a sense of respect he has for her.

Stops a few steps away and gives her a salute in greeting.] Instructor Farron.

[subjected]

[ She returns the gesture immediately, relatively calm by now but... it has been a very stressful day so far. In fact, it's almost nice to interact, however briefly, with someone she can just act fairly neutral to and not have to lecture or fend off. ]

Shadow. [ Brief pause as she looks him over- little more than habit, really. ] Been a while.

[neutralchaotic]

[He relaxes after his salute, nodding once.] I wasn't aware you had returned.

[eidolonracing.livejournal.com]

[He wouldn't mistake the pink hair and the stiff posture for anyone other than Lightning. It's been a long time since he's seen her—more than a year, so Sazh is ecstatic when he sees her. Only... something seems a little off. Although Lightning's always tense, Sazh doesn't quite recall her ever being quite that tense.]

[So when he approaches her, he does so with a bit of caution. Catching Lightning in a bad mood wouldn't be a whole lot of fun.]

[Still, he smiles when he walks up to her, giving her a small wave.] Hey, there. It's been a while since I've seen you.

[subjected]

[ It's really a wonder she hasn't torn all that pink hair out by now- out of all the different possibilities Claire could have pictured for how returning to Balamb Garden would go when there's Pulse l'Cie about... fielding their bizarre behavior as it goes from friendly to hurt was not one of them. If she wasn't so stubborn, she would have definitely already marched upstairs and insisted she be taken off the roster, because this... this is ridiculous.

Her lips press together at his words, obviously outright glaring at him... and she steps back as soon as he's within a few strides of her, her chin lowering. ]

... That's true.

[eidolonracing.livejournal.com]

[Sazh just raises an eyebrow at her response. They didn't always get along but... she was never like this.]

Yeah. [There's a slightly long pause.]

Hey are you... feeling okay?