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[Here is a fully bundled Aerith, blue scarf wrapped loosely around her face as she smiles.]

Speed run! Don't try this at home. I'm a professional.

...Not really. But I've been practicing, and I think I'm getting better!

[This is about all the introduction given before the journal gets set down to show wide open sky, but once Aerith throws herself in its direction and sets things into a blur of motion, it quickly becomes apparent what she's doing: enjoying her toboggan present from Christmas. She seems to be quite childishly pleased with herself on the faster runs, and pouts when one bumpy ride ends only halfway down. Finally:]

All right, now for the obstacle course! [Tucking the journal under-arm, Aerith drags the toboggan ba-a-a-ck up. This time she turns it to a different position a few feet away and a very different angle. She starts out more slowly, letting gravity lead the way, and steers the tobaggan around trees and rocks, her expression turning focused as the wind whips back her hair. And then--] Oh, no, no! Move, rabbit, run! Hey--ah--!!!! [After wildly veering, once she hits a fallen tree, Aerith and journal are airborne. Too bad they have to come back down, but at least it's in a snowdrift, right?]

...Mmmf.

[...FEEL FREE TO ACTION IT UP / BE SLEDDING WITH HER? She's on the lower part of the mountain slope, closest to the village. Or just shake your head at her from afar, whatever.]

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Of course. [...although if Lightning needs someone to take care of him...what's going on?] Are you going somewhere?

[ Lightning didn't walk so far out here, carrying the dog's equivalent of a toddler most of the way, with the intention of making today the day she finally spills her reasons for being so off-center since arriving in Luceti. True, she's thought about it over and over and over, but although Aerith told her she was willing to listen... where do you even start?

She could still probably just brush it off, of course- point out that in a place like this anyone can go missing at any time, then act like worrying for the puppy is her biggest concern. However, even though Lightning's generally reluctant to open up and outright adamant about trying to avoid hopelessness, being deceitful and dancing around a problem isn't her style either. As far as she can tell, nobody else here is familiar with the concept of failing a Focus and turning Cie'th as a result. Choosing to tell someone has nothing to do with wanting pity at all.

And Aerith should know. It's not right for Lightning not to tell her friend, so that if the curse kicks in nobody has the foggiest idea that it was about to happen or why. Lightning doesn't want to hurt anyone, but it's either this or trying to push Aerith and everybody else away completely- something she's done quite enough of in the past already, and something she can't really deny would be ultimately more painful for both of them.

Her existing behavior is probably ominous enough, but she stays silent for a moment more, eyes never leaving the dog begging attention near their feet. When she speaks, it's quite a bit softer than her normal tone, but not sad or upset at all- for her credit, it's completely neutral. ]

I'm dying, Aerith.

...You're... [It's echoed quietly, Aerith's eyes growing wide. Lightning seems perfectly healthy; just now she'd been surprised by her strength.

But this isn't something Lightning would joke or lie about. And even the strongest people can be frighteningly close to death. Elfé had been ill...]

What's wrong?

[ Maybe not exactly what it sounds like, with 'dying' a bit misleading, but in reality that's probably about as true as anything else- go Cie'th, and she loses who she is, her entire existence driven by regret. And once that happens, something will have to finish her off, or she'll just... keep attacking everything else around her. There really isn't a way around it. ]

It's... a long story.

[ Yeah, not that Lightning still has much idea how to go about answering Aerith's question. At this point though, she suddenly seems to realize something, narrows her eyes, and steps past the other woman to pick something up out of the snow a short distance away: Aerith's journal, which she then makes sure is closed. This is not a conversation that she wants overheard. ]

I'll listen. [She watches Lightning check the journal as she pets Baldr's head to keep him distracted. He's young, yes, but children and animals still pick up on tone very easily.]

You don't look it, really. [Her eyebrows knit together as she looks up at Lightning searchingly.] ...Is this a "death sentence"?

[ Leave it to Aerith to make sure the puppy doesn't get upset. That said, Baldr's probably already heard this- he might not understand what it means at all, but... he's a dog and will listen to anything, and Lightning, with all her problems, lives alone with him....

However, she's quiet here, and pauses before handing Aerith's journal back to her. She doesn't understand the reference at first, but that's a pretty accurate way to describe it anyway, so... she nods her head, very very slightly. ]

Cursed. By a Pulse fal'Cie.

[She'd found it a little odd after Lightning's vehemence against her speaking with the spirits that she didn't seem to know much about her own world's magic... like her feelings were born of experience instead of studied facts. The brief answer confirms it and she looks down briefly before looking back up, a sad frown on her face.]

Maybe someone here can help you. [She stands up, her footing shifting to keep her balanced in the snow.] Maybe I could help you-- I have my own magic, I'm a healer.

[ .... Oh, Aerith. :( ]

I don't think it's possible to just 'heal' it. Someone would have figured that out, by now.

[ But. She frowns anyway. What if. ]

Our worlds work differently, have different magic. Maybe it won't work, but if there's a chance it could, isn't it worth a try? [She can't imagine doing nothing as Lightning just...dies.]

[ Lightning just crosses her arms, brows drawn together- when Baldr wanders back over as if trying to figure out what's wrong, she glances at him but nothing more, far too caught up in thought. Problem is she isn't sure what to think- when it comes to breaking the contract of a fal'Cie, is it really possible that the magic of someone else's world might be able to help?

Before they all left for Gran Pulse though, they did swear to find answers and a way to remove their Brands. This isn't Pulse, of course, but... maybe something like this is what they meant without even realizing it. And if more than one person is working on it, someone with a different view, then maybe they can at least learn something? ]

You'd have to remove the Brand... or at least find a way to make it go inactive for good.

Remove it, or seal it... [She purses her lips in thought, allowing Baldr to make his curious trek. Can she do something like that? Back on Gaia, she had still been learning what she could and couldn't do as a Cetra. She knew how to remove impurities, how to inhibit enemies... was that enough? If only she'd had more time...]

Could you show me it, please?

[ Lightning finally kneels down to the puppy in order to put her hands in his fur, carefully brushing clumps of snowflakes out. He says something to her about it, but neither that or Aerith's question manages to change her now thoughtful expression. ]

... Little cold out here for that now.

[ And it's in a strange place, but... modesty is easily overwritten by the will to survive- it's only a passing thought. She glances up. ]

I could tell you what I know about it.

Edited 2011-01-20 13:31 (UTC)

Mm. Maybe we should go to the apartments first, then. It is cold, and there might be interruptions. [Looking at the snow; theirs aren't the only tracks.]

... Right.

[ Well, any way this is done it's going to be awkward, but such is the price of telling your friends you're doomed and all. She half-stands slowly, still not looking at Aerith. ]

Walking this time, Baldr?

[ This is a yes, apparently, since with a pleased "Walk!" the puppy is off trying to make his way through the snow. Lightning sighs quietly- better get your toboggan since it doesn't look like he's waiting up, Aerith. ]

[She picks up her toboggan, but she also pauses to stand side-by-side with Lightning, touching her arm.

... Even she isn't sure what to say in the face of something so black and upsetting, but what comes out finally is:]

Let's walk side-by-side. [Not just now, but -- as long as Aerith can help it -- she doesn't want Lightning to be alone.]

[ Before the whole l'Cie mess started, sometimes people would still throw sympathy at Lightning, when they heard even a little about what had happened to her family. This, however, is entirely different... and strange, because at least back then she was able to develop some kind of strong-seeming response.

Here, she has no idea... and it's amazing, really, how just a few simple words can come dangerously close to making even someone like Lightning break. She doesn't object, just nodding once with her eyes averted. ]

[Aerith didn't expect much of a response; the statement doesn't need one. She takes the nod as answer enough, walking along Lightning on the way to the apartments. Occasionally low hums punctuate the crisp air, but besides that, she's rather quiet, glancing at Lightning from the side from time to time.]

[ Lightning half-expects Aerith to ask or say something more, but doesn't bother breaking the pause herself when nothing happens. After leading around a group of people in the same plight, she's already used to long thoughtful silences- there was certainly lots of that in the Ark. All things considered, her demeanor is probably surprisingly confident for someone who just told her best friend here that she has a doom ticker branded onto her body... if a little low for how she usually is.

And despite Baldr's exuberance, he does seem to get tired not far from the community building. Lightning moves to pick him up a short ways from the door- she usually ends up carrying him in anyway. ]

My apartment, then?

[Aerith is waiting for the privacy of the apartments for more questions, though as they approach the village there's a small comment on how pretty everything looks in the snow. She's thinking, too; trying to figure out what she can do, hoping she can do something.

At Lightning's question, she looks over and nods.]

Mm. I don't know if Zack's in right now or not.

[ ... Yeah, probably not a good idea for Zack to be around, especially if Aerith wants to actually see the Brand itself. Settling the puppy under-arm, she pushes through the door and heads for the stairs- such fun it is to live on the third floor. 8|

She's been wondering something though, and with it already sort of brought up at the moment, she hasn't gone very far before she just has to finally ask- ]

Are you two... a couple?

Hm? [She looks surprised, and then giggles.] Why, do you like him? [Probably nnnot the time for teasing, but she's so used to trying to make things light-hearted that it simply comes out on its own. Now for the serious answer.] We used to be, when we were teenagers. We're friends now.

[ -- That's not what she was getting at! She whips a glance over, then frowns with just a little bit of defensiveness. Why you gotta tease when she's trying to ask a reasonable question? ]

But you live together.

Cloud was living with us too, until Tifa came. [~~And they all were a thing once but they don't know that |D~~] Three is just right, but four is too many! That's why they're staying in the next apartment over.

...I don't want him alone. [She looks back at Lightning with a smile.] He needs some looking after. Just like Baldr.

... You have to look after him?

[ Does he make messes in the apartment if you don't get him outside often enough too...? ]

Don't take me completely seriously.

That one's yours, right?

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