lucetilogs | We are the named and we are known

Entry tags:

We are the named and we are known

Who: All Draftees
What: Arriving at the dorms
When: 26th
Where: Dorms, location unknown
Summary: Dorm information is here. This is your room!
Rating: PG... we hope?

Your characters are shuffling off to their rooms. Each room has their name beside it and only they can open the door. People can only enter their room if they're allowed in (or they leave the door open). Characters will find any requested items in their room already. If they have a requested vehicle, there will be another door in their room that will take them to the hangar to inspect their equipment.

((Mod note: Extra draftees won't experience their Shift Incompatibility handicap in their dorms. :|a))

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[ Ever since Lightning was first marked as a l'Cie, the idea that she could become a Cie'th had always been there- that's what happens to l'Cie who can't or won't complete their Focus. However, that idea was also always one that the former sergeant refused to believe. She always knew that she would find a way to defy her Focus, save Cocoon, and avoid turning Cie'th.

That was back home, though. Here in Luceti, her time has almost completely run out. And with this 'draft' thing-- the chances of coming out on the other side as still human and/or alive: practically zero.

Regardless, the way she sees it... if she is going to end up dying without a shred of dignity, the least she can do is make sure everything she does up to that point remains as dignified and as under her control as she can manage... and with as many of these 'Third Party' bastards lying dead by her weapon and powers as humanly possible.

So no, she's not messing around here. Currently, she's sitting in her room, in full Guardian Corps attire, readying herself and her supplies. What she's in is not the dress uniform she generally wears, though; this get-up is all-business, tailored close to her body and designed to be worn in actual battle. It's also not in her colors at all, but... that's alright. She's got her reasons for not specifying otherwise.

Point of interest #2 is that she's even switched out her custom Blazefire Saber for something a little heavier and outright destructive, which she's working on getting accustomed to as quickly as she can. All things considered, she's astonishingly steady and serious for someone who knows she's about to meet a bad end. Her receptiveness to being bothered is definitely on a case-by-case basis, but her door is propped open slightly. ]

[ And Aerith pokes her head in the door without knocking -- Lightning seemed more a private person, so the open door is Something to Investigate. But Lightning is inside, and she smiles immediately. They're about to go to battle, really? Her smile might seem a bit odd for that.] Hi.

[ That was left open for a reason, yes, but-- ]

Aerith... close the door. [ Lightning, she's in the same oddly neutral mood she's been in ever since the incident at the battledome- her expression doesn't change much at all as she turns and flicks her wrist, sending the gunblade in her hand into its 'resting' position for carefully setting down. ]

Edited 2011-02-28 20:19 (UTC)

[ She does, closing it with a quiet click as she enters and slips by the bed. ]

I'm ready for tomorrow. Let's do our best.

...What do you want to talk about?

Hm. [ ... What do you think she wants to talk about, Aerith? Or well, she doesn't want to talk about it, but it's not as if she's been given too much of a choice. She sits down very slowly on the bed, her eyes never leaving the other woman, and picks up one of the heavy magazines for her gunblade. She needs something to do with her hands. ]

Are you... coming with me? [ It's a simple question, delivered in a relatively cool tone... and yet somehow it's a touch desperate at the same time, overlaid with an entire library's worth of meaning. This is not an easy or happy inquiry. ]

Of course. [It's said very simply, decidedly. This has not been in question for Aerith at any point in time.]

[ There's no need to question it, then. Aerith isn't stupid... she should have a pretty damn good idea what accepting entails, unpleasant as it is. Needless to say, this is long past the point of denial and arguing, and though Lightning knows that the other girl is probably hiding a lot... she can't really be concerned about it any more unless it's going to interfere.

So she just takes a long, slow breath in, lets it out, and only then finally looks away. She also straightens, seamlessly jumping into full sergeant!Lightning mode. ]

There's some things you should know, then. And we're going to need a strategy. [ She's already got the basics in mind, of course, but if Aerith wants to offer up what she can do to help out... ]

[Some of the worry creeps into her expression when Lightning takes that long breath, but it clears at the commanding tone. She nods.]

Okay. Let's start with what I need to know, then. Then we can talk planning.

Edited 2011-03-02 02:24 (UTC)

[ Another breath, though definitely not as long this time. Aerith very likely knows bits and pieces of this already, but... ] Magically, my optimum range is about twenty strides. It doesn't really matter what's going on- if I can see it, I can hit it, no exceptions. [ She briefly raises her hand and curves it through the air, indicating that yes, she can change the flight path of a spell. ] After that it's harder to control, but... it's safe to say that anything within forty is fair game. Same with the gunblade- lined up, if I can see it I can shoot it.

[ .... Aaaaand here we go- ] What they don't really tell you about Cie'th... is what they can do. Their eyesight isn't usually very good, but if they know any magic and can see you? You will get hit.

[...Why did she start with magic? Lightning doesn't do magic. She can use it, yes, that's known perfectly well, but she doesn't, because the brand--oh.]

Don't be reckless with your spells. [That's not about picking targets wisely, it's about not using them just because they're there and time's "run out". She still wants to hold out... some hope.]

What kind of attack magic do you use? Will that stay the same?

Lightning, water, fire, ice, air... earth, too, but that's harder to do more than once or twice in a row. If it'll stay the same... I don't know. All the Cie'th I've fought- I don't know much about them except that... they hadn't been l'Cie for very long.

[ Implying that they probably weren't very strong in the first place. At that, there's a pause as she tries to ignore the feeling of tightness in her chest; she's able to distance herself a little, yeah, but there still isn't much getting around that she's telling her friend things that could turn into a strategy for how best to kill her. As for being reckless...? ]

Don't think I'm not going to fight this until the end, Aerith. [ But at this point, it would be stupid not to prepare... ]

Okay.

[There's a worried look around her mouth before she smiles again.]

I know. You're strong... that's why I'm still hoping. Though, I really wish you could just get a break from all this.

[ A pause. However, as sappy as this next part is, Lightning's voice remains as serious as ever. ]

I did, Aerith- when you stuck with me. You and the others, Zack, Hope... [ She looks away... kind of awkward on the middle mention there still; experiment or not, it's weird to be kissing on your best friend's ex who they continue to live with. The point definitely remains, though. Maybe it didn't help much in the long run when it comes to time and inevitability, but for those few short times and then that week after "Valentine's?" She really wasn't worrying about this whole mess. ]

Times like these... that's important.

[Aerith is not feeling any awkwardness about Valentine's, though Lightning looking away may distract her from immediately noticing Aerith shifting on the bed, moving closer.

The next move is not as easy to miss: she hugs Lightning. Not loosely, not painfully tight, but firmly, with a light squeeze.]

... I know. You won't be alone.

[ -- Ah. Lightning stiffens slightly at the contact, although... she's had enough experience by now that it's not entirely unexpected. For a second she hesitates, then lifts a hand to press it into Aerith's back, right below the wings. Not that she can say anything different, but-- ]

Thank you... [ And also: ] Just... be careful.

I've fought before, you know. [It probably has come up. A little.] I'll keep myself safe.

... That means you have to stay away if something happens. [ Just to be clear. Hurting Aerith as a Cie'th = utterly unacceptable. ] Warn the others.

I will. I won't let anyone get hurt. So leave it to me, okay? Focus on taking care of yourself.

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We are the named and we are known

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... no hue changing THIS hair

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