001 [Action-Garden Entrance]

[nvrstrikestwice.livejournal.com]

[It had been a long year since Lightning had last been here, walking through the turnstiles to get back into Garden. One year of chasing a monster all over the continent without any backup. One more year with only her thoughts as company, and not so much as a clue to get home for it. Just more gil and a teaching job to look forward to come morning.

Nothing had changed, really. Not even the place looked different as Lightning looked up, eyes narrowing in thought. Would she ever find a way back? Hard to say. But she was going to try, and standing around wasn't going to solve anything. So she stepped forward, never turning her head from what was in front of her.

It would honestly be a wonder if she didn't crash into someone or something, at the pace she was following.]

Comments

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

[On the way out, thoughtful but cheerful despite that, comes a familiar figure in a familiar coat, on the way out to go punch some monsters that weren't in the Training Center, just for variety.]

[Not paying much attention, he spots only the gist of the uniform and the pink hair, and starts to step aside and around in a wide berth.]

[nvrstrikestwice.livejournal.com]

[Soldier instincts are good for several things, and that includes spotting familiar men in familiar coats, even if the thoughtful look is rather odd. They are not so good for handling surprise, however. When had he gotten here?!]

Snow?

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

Sorry, Instructor. I don't intend to bother you.

[He says that in the most neutral voice he can manage, trying very hard to make that a statement of fact and not at all challenging. He doesn't intend it that way, he's trying so hard to be neutral... not that he expects anything but a frosty reception.]

[He really ought to pay attention more.]

[Still, he's trying to step around and let her pass even now.]

[nvrstrikestwice.livejournal.com]

[He can try to step around her, but it won't do him much good. Not when Lightning manages to reach out and grab his sleeve to make him stop. Confused Light is confused and wants answers. Especially about that tone; something's not right here.]

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

[eidolonracing.livejournal.com]

[Much like Lightning, Sazh also happens to not be focusing much on where he is going, which is why he almost runs into her. However, he manages to catch himself at the last second, and he steps back to leave a good distance between them.]

Sorry about that, Instructor. I guess I should be paying more attention to where I'm going, right? [He says all of this cautiously, and gives Lightning an apologetic smile.]

[nvrstrikestwice.livejournal.com]

[Lightning hops back at the first sign of boots that have nearly run into her own, but that familiar voice has her looking up to quite a surprise. What in the world--]

Sazh? When did you...[Get here? Get the skills to sneak up on her?]

[eidolonracing.livejournal.com]

[He raises an eyebrow at her for a moment, surprised that she doesn't seem to be angry.] Don't worry about it. I'll just be on my way.

[At this point in time, it would be better to not ask for any trouble, so leaving as soon as he can would be the best option. He gives a small wave before begins to make his way past Lightning.] See you later, Instructor.

[nvrstrikestwice.livejournal.com]

[When Sazh begins to walk away, Lightning turns to face him, one hand slightly extended in his direction. Sure, they hadn't been close or anything back during the l'Cie fiasco, but...]

Don't worry about what? What are you talking about?

[It is just her hearing that note of confusion in her voice? It certainly seems that way.]

[ex_strongerthanshelo_266]

[Sanctum L'cie. Even now the word echoes in Serah's head. It's hard to imagine her sister as a l'cie at all! However, she's at least gotten used to the idea of Lightning being a Pulse L'cie after Snow told her about everything that happened. Having to get used to the complete opposite? Is kind of weird.]

[Not as weird as getting used to the idea that apparently where Claire's from, she'd tried to kill her. It's completely alien to her, the very thought of it. Lightning's one of the two most important people in her world after all. So despite her misgivings, she'd decided to apologize to Claire the next time Serah saw her.]

[Oh look, familiar pink hair! It's a little too soon really, but ultimately there's no time like the present. Squaring her shoulders, she heads right up to "Claire" though makes sure to keep herself a safe distance away.]

Snow told me about what I apparently did and I just wanted to say I'm sorry.

[Too bad this is the wrong person, but at least her intentions are good?]

[nvrstrikestwice.livejournal.com]

[Normally, it would be instinct to just keep moving and ask Serah what she was apologizing for, but now...after more than a year after of not seeing or hearing her little sister, Light grinds to a screeching halt and looks up to see Serah standing right in front of her. When had she---]

Serah?

[She may be lifting a hand from her side to reach out to Serah; she's not really sure about that herself. She's just trying to make sure she's not hallucinating or dreaming or anything of the sort. It's been too long.]

[ex_strongerthanshelo_266]

[Don't take it personally Lightning, but Serah's first reaction is to flinch and take a step back out of her reach. Which is understandable really. Last time she'd tried to come into physical contact with her sister she'd ended up lying on the floor on her back.]

[That said, that tone of voice is so, so very different from what she's slowly getting used to hearing. So she looks at her older sister carefully, trying to figure out just what's going on.]

Lightning?

[nvrstrikestwice.livejournal.com]

[Serah's flinch causes Lightning to draw her hand back, holding it just above her chest in that old nervous habit from her l'Cie days. Her own sister is scared of her. What in the world happened while she was gone to cause this?

Still, this is Serah. Whatever happened, she's going to try and fix it. No matter how much it stings to see Serah step away from her.]

Yeah. It's me.

[noras-boy.livejournal.com]

[Hope was taking the long route back to his Dorm. It'd not been long in his mind since that conversation on the beach. He was still trying to decide what to do.

So forgive his look of deer caught in the headlights crossed with Oh my god I don't know if I should attack you right now. Hope attempts to Hurry past Lightning.]

[nvrstrikestwice.livejournal.com]

[Lightning hears Hope's footsteps before she sees him, and when he tries to pass her, she reaches out a hand towards him. It's been a year since she last saw him, but she's more concerned about what could have him in such a rush.]

Hope!

[Try as she may, she can't keep that tiny note of worry from her tone. The last time she saw Hope moving that way...they had to beat a hasty but wounded retreat from an Adamantoise. Not good memories.]

[noras-boy.livejournal.com]

[Hope freezes, And turns to face her. But doesn't look her in the eye. He takes a deep breath and stands, his back straight and he's trying to radiate confidence.]

Yes?

[nvrstrikestwice.livejournal.com]

[Almost hesitantly, Lightning takes one step towards Hope. He seems confident but he won't meet her eyes. What's happened?]

What's wrong?

[She's not making any attempt to hide the concern in her tone. Whose ass does she have to kick, Hope? You can tell big sis.]

[focusedfate.livejournal.com]

[Cid is passing through the lobby when he spots her--it always seems like it's the hair that catches his eyes first. He pauses briefly before shaking his head; he's not ready for another encounter with Claire, not right at least.

And then he realizes that the PSICOM colors are decidedly missing.

He turns to look again and starts heading toward and then out of the lobby doors. Cid stops short instead of continuing to meet the woman coming his way. Her hair and her movement are slightly different--the expression she wears, not quite so severe.]

Sergeant Farron?

[There's a note of caution in his voice. Claire she may not be, but still, the last time he had met her, Cid had tried to kill her and her entire party. Will her response be more like that of Snow's or Hope's, he wonders.]

[nvrstrikestwice.livejournal.com]

[It's an old rank, that. No one had known about it here, so it was a surprise to hear it from a voice that was decidely familiar. So Lightning looked up, eyes widening a touch in surprise. How long has she been gone if Raines is here?]

...Raines?

[She hears the caution in his voice, but there's only a slight note of surprise in hers. She never expected to see him again. Not after all that happened back home.]

[focusedfate.livejournal.com]

[Well, that certainly is a far better start than he had had with Hope...

Cid takes a few steps forward and offers his hand. A smile appears on his face, brief and apologetic.]

It's been quite some time. You have been well, I hope?

[brightens]

[ After that last encounter with Lightning in the quad had ended in Vanille skipping classes to hide by herself in her dorm, she wasn't exactly happy to see her walking in her direction. Vanille froze in her spot, not able to decide whether she should keep walking and try to slip past her undetected or turn tail and run back the way she was going, fists clenching at her sides. The closer she got, the more she felt her stomach curl up— and the last option won out. ]

Ah— [ Spinning on her heels, Vanille started marching away doubletime, much faster than she had been going moments before. She didn't relish the idea of Claire spotting her and yelling at her for... Existing, again. ]

[nvrstrikestwice.livejournal.com]

[Lightning's singleminded focus of getting back to the doors was broken by the sound of Vanille's footsteps, and she looked up in time to catch the Pulsian turning on her heel. For a moment, she just stood there in surprise: the last time she'd seen Vanille had been...when dealing with Orphan, hadn't it? What in the world was going on around here?]

Vanille?

[It's hard to keep the surprise and wonder from her tone, though there really isn't much of either yet.]

[brightens]

[ She stops in her tracks at the sound of her voice— not quite as harsh as she would have expected, but still enough to make her back stiffen. It had been the voice of family a while back... But now... ]

[ She turned back around slowly, keeping her hands at her sides, not able to meet the taller woman's gaze. ]

Yes, ma'am? [ She was probably in trouble for something. She hadn't even done anything, but she really doubted that mattered to her. Not anymore. ]

[bahamutgal.livejournal.com]

Well, well, look who the cat dragged in. What's your hurry?

[nvrstrikestwice.livejournal.com]

[And fullstop, along with a bit of skid. One voice she was never expecting to hear again, right in front of her. Bit of a surprise, it is.]

Fang? When did you...

[bahamutgal.livejournal.com]

Come on now, is it really that shocking? You're here too, aren't you?