[ Lightning's sympathetic, but also candid. Tilting her head as well, she leans forward until her arms rest on her legs, and huffs as she thinks, looking down at her hands as she folds them together. She knows Aerith had already been intensely upset about what had happened to her before showing up in Luceti, and she's definitely been concerned about what the other woman would think when she returned, depending on what happened...

This is such a mess. However-- ]

... I don't think any of us 'should' be here, either because we've run out of time, or... should still have a lot of it left. [ Or both, in her case. Her hand lingers by the Brand on her chest for a moment, though she doesn't address it any further than that. ] It isn't right at all.

But despite that, we are here, whether we like it or not. It's not going to do anyone any favors to feel sorry for ourselves because of it.