Loss. [Action | Front Gate]

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

[Not wanting to suck the life out of the quad and not feeling up to training, Snow had found himself a seat on one of the raised planters that held a few small trees and some decorative plants, out past the ID checkpoint in the landscaped area. There he sat, hands on his knees, head bowed, and thought.]

[In his right hand, he held a crystal.]

[As far as he knew... he had lost a sister. And he was amazed how much it hurt.]

Comments

[focusedfate.livejournal.com]

[Cid allows himself a small smile. He needn't have worried.]

Rash, perhaps, but not necessarily a bad thing.

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

[Snow grins broadly, more his old self than he has been.] I'm Serah's hero, and Lightning is Serah's sister. Can't save one Farron and not the other.

[focusedfate.livejournal.com]

And I have no doubt that you will stay true to your word, regardless of what hurdles you may come across.

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and --

[A thought occurs to him as he glances down at the brand on his forearm.]

One way or the other, I think we might have to deal with Odin. Unless she wouldn't have the same Eidolon as a Sanctum l'cie?

[It's a question but he doesn't honestly believe Cid would have an answer. After all, if Cid even had an Eidolon, he would've seen it before this... given the circumstances.]

[focusedfate.livejournal.com]

[Cid considers this for a moment. Snow's right--he has no personal experience with Eidolons, but he can speculate.]

It is possible it may be different: branded by a different fal'Cie and having been raised in different circumstances...

While neither myself or Dajh Katzroy ever summoned one, legends certainly suggest that Cocoon l'Cie have the capability to have an Eidolon, given the right circumstances...

[Cid stops again before glancing over at Snow.]

Do you suppose she even has an Eidolon at this point?

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

[Given the circumstances Cid had faced, Snow finds it interesting that he never has. It raises a lot of questions that.. well, he's not the best one to articulate.]

I think if we ever convince her that we're not the enemy, that Dysley's using her, that... everything, I think that might bring it out.

[Easy enough to remember his own despair...]

/scrambles to create appropriate headcanon ajsdkfl;a

[focusedfate.livejournal.com]

[There's a moment's pause.]

What exactly is it that causes the appearance of an Eidolon, if you do not mind me asking?

You speak as though it is a result of emotional distress.

Feel free to stall on the tag! (Especially if you wanna talk to Anduin about it. I'm in no hurry.)

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

Despair. That seems to be what does it. Maybe they come to execute a l'cie that seems to be failing, but they do a pretty bad job of that. I think they're more like a wake-up call. When you're at your worst, having to beat an Eidolon helps you pull yourself together.

[focusedfate.livejournal.com]

I see.

[Cid looks thoughtful, like he'll be taking that tidbit of information and analyzing it later on.]

In that case, then yes, I must agree with you: convincing her of all those things may just cause her to summon her Eidolon. She is strong-willed and unerringly faithful to the Sanctum right now--I imagine that such a change in views will no doubt be difficult for her.

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

If I just knew why...

[Too many 'why's to pick just one.]

We'll show her. Lightning may be a lot of things, but stupid was never one of them. She can't pretend that all of us, that her own sister, are all mindless engines of Cocoon's doom, if she sees us here being normal people for long enough.

[Though he chuckles, then.]

And I like to think some people here'll speak up for me if she lets any of that anger out.

[focusedfate.livejournal.com]

[Cid smiles in turn.]

Yes, I imagine that you would have many people here to vouch for you. And you persevered at home. You won her over, did you not?

[There's a pause, but Cid's smile doesn't falter.]

Though, there will likely be more work required this time around. Not that the hero will give in, of course.

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the first time it only took constant life-and-death odds, plus help from Hope deciding not to kill me. All in all, easier than I would have guessed!

[But they'd shared something even then: love for Serah. This Lightning appeared to have surrendered that.]

[Appeared to have.]

I don't think any of us will.

[focusedfate.livejournal.com]

[He nods.]

Though I also have my own reasons for seeing her freed of her ties to Barthandelus, should you need my assistance in any way, do no hestitate to ask for it. It is the least I can do for all the trouble I have caused.

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

I think we can both agree that whatever he wants, we don't.

[focusedfate.livejournal.com]

Succinctly put.

[A pause.]

Do you feel better now?

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

Better?

[He crosses his arms, looking down and away to think about that.]

Only if I don't think about it. This is worse than just a Light before the Purge! But it's good to know what's going on.

[focusedfate.livejournal.com]

[He dips his head once and starts turning away.]

If I hear of any further developments, I will let you know, and if you would do the same, I would appreciate it.

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

You got it.

Thanks, Cid.