- Warrior of Etro -

~ Time flows without pause.. in a world where I no longer exist, the future is about to change.

[fall-intothepast-blog]

| Possibilities |

[deactivated-blog]

Just being outside of the city was nice. Sure, Snow was doing everything he could to get the place up to snuff, but he just really needed to get away from it all for a bit. Stretching he’d take in the sights a bit before locking his eyes up at the top of a cliff. “Anything really. The place could always use new materials for the houses and the wall, not to mention we need to set up some sort of farm eventually.” He explained as he made his way towards the cliff. “We’ll have to keep hunting for our meat for the time being, and I’m fine for that, but it’d be a lot easier if we could grow our own fruits and vegetables.” Rubbing the back of his head he’d let out a short chuckle. Who would have ever thought that he’d be planning the future of an entire village.

Staring up at the top of the cliff he’d raise a hand to shield his eyes from the sun. “What do you think? We could probably get a pretty good view from up there. Survey the land get a good idea of what’s where.” Snow suggested before taking a few steps back and looking around. There had to be an easier way up than climbing up the side of the cliff. “Oh, and clean water would be another good thing to find, like a lake or something.”

[fall-intothepast-blog]

Huh, fancy that. Snow's actually got a pretty good idea of where things need to go, what direction the village needs to take to survive. At least, he knows the theory. The practice is gonna be a little difficult, but hey. There's enough people in New Bodhum to keep things running on a schedule, one way or another. So long as they have a plan.

Lightning follows Snow's gaze up to the top of the cliff, and for a moment it seems too tempting to watch him struggle up the side of the cliff-face just to get a better look, but that's probably better left for another day. " Here, there's a path over this way. " She gestures towards the surrounding trees and heads off towards said path, not bothering to check if Snow's following or not. He's smart enough to listen to her, or at least she hopes, but if he wants to try and climb the side of the cliff instead, she'll just have to remember to wave down at him when she gets to the top.

[fall-intothepast-blog]

| Possibilities |

[deactivated-blog]

Snow watched as she turned around and caught the slightest glimpse of that cold glare she used to give him. It sent shivers down his spine and he winced slightly. It all went away when her expression relaxed and he let out a soft sigh of relief. Guess traveling Cocoon and Pulse to save the world paid off after all. Her words still stung a bit but at least they didn’t hold cold tone that they once had. “If there’s one thing scarier than you, its Serah when she’s mad.” He chuckled lightly before gazing off towards the ocean. Snow was really glad that they were able to find a spot near the water. New Bodhum just wouldn’t have been the same without it.

He’d almost gotten a bit too caught up in old memories that he didn’t hear Lightning yell out to him to hurry up. Shaking his head a bit he quickly jogged over to her. “Yeah, just hold up a sec.” He said as he broke off towards the bar. A few minutes later he came back with two little pouches and tossed one over to Lightning. “Better to be safe then sorry right?” He said as he tucked his own pouch into the inside of his coat. A few seconds later he laughed as he realized what he had just said. “Guess you’ve rubbed off on me more than I thought.” Snow smirked as he made his way towards the gate that lead outside of the village.

[fall-intothepast-blog]

That's a surprise in itself. Lightning stares at the back of Snow's head for a moment, before attaching the pouch to her holster and hurrying after him, the familiar weight of her weapon reassuring against the back of her legs. They may have settled here in New Bodhum, but that doesn't mean Pulse doesn't hold numerous threats.

" There had to be some room for common sense in that skull of yours. " Lightning responds with her own smirk in his direction, her voice cool and casual, but far from cold. Travelling as much as they had together had changed them both, and the way they saw each other. As much as they're different in all too many ways, Lightning can see more in him than she had before. Enough, at least, to give him and Serah her blessing. Of sorts.

" So, " Lightning can't help but raise an eyebrow, wondering just what Snow was aiming for with this. Especially considering Lightning knows for a fact that there's hardly anything left for them to salvage around here, not unless they head further out, and Light doesn't see that happening today. " What exactly are we salvaging for, Snow? "

[fall-intothepast-blog]

| Possibilities |

[deactivated-blog]

Snow had been going rather hard since they first started getting the village up and running. Mostly he kept to guard duty with the rest of NORA but he ended up helping with building houses, scavenging for supplies and building materials and he even went out hunting a few times. The only time he ever got any real sleep was when Serah would drag him off and force him to sleep. Even then it was only for a few hours before he was up again. Needless to say he was starting to run a little ragged. Yet being as stubborn as he was, he kept at it, determined to get New Bodhum up to snuff as soon as possible.

Yawning a bit the blonde walked along the shore, taking a moment to grab a few minutes to relax. Bending over he picked up a rock and skipped it over the water before looking up and seeing Light standing at the edge of the dock. Seeing as how busy he had been the two hadn’t really gotten a moment to talk since the construction of New Bodhum.

“Yo! Sis!” He called out to her as he jogged up to her, a hand waving up in the air and a smirk on his face. “I was about to go out, see if I could find something worth salvaging.” He said as he pointed over towards the wall that surrounded the village with his thumb. “Could use the extra pair of eyes.” Giving a bit of a shrug, Snow would cross his arms over his chest and await her response.

[fall-intothepast-blog]

The shout catches Lightning's attention, her head snapping towards the sound, and her first instinct is to go on the defensive. Old habits die hard, apparently. The voice is familiar, though - more so now that she's spent who knows how much time travelling the surfaces of Cocoon and Pulse with him - and it's no longer one that draws out hostility.

Well, not much at least.

" Yeah, alright. Can't leave you out there on your own, knowing you. Serah would kill me. " Lightning responds somewhat lightly, turning and making her way back along the dock. The idea of doing something useful is more than appealing, considering how little she's been able to do lately. At first, she'd played a big hand in protecting people, keeping them safe while they figured out what to do, where to settle. Now, though, defences are well built, there's patrols running, guards keeping things safe. Beyond some larger threats, though, Lightning hasn't been needed much for-- well, anything really.

" C'mon or I'll leave you behind, Snow. " She yells over her shoulder to the man, not needing to look back to know he will take the threat seriously. Really, he'd be foolish not to.

[fall-intothepast-blog]

| Possibilities |

It's almost surreal, standing at the steps of the small dock and looking around the village and seeing the calm, the quiet, the life people are building for themselves. They have homes, they have stores, they have a bar, so close to the one she remembers from Bodhum, and it serves for so much more. Snow and his team, NORA, work out of there, planning the new lives they're putting together. They've even decided on a name. New Bodhum. And it fits. Really, it does. Their small village, it could be home.

It's become home for some of them already. For her sister, and for her future brother-in-law. For Hope, who has no other family left, who is still finding out how to hold his own. For the kids who she recognises from her days in the Guardian Corps, running around the streets without a care in the world. For the parents who were willing to give this a try, willing to believe Cocoon isn't as much of a nightmare as they've always been told. They're setting up a school, bit by bit. Serah's thinking of teaching there, of doing her part.

Once upon a time, Lightning had known just how to 'do her part'. Now, she's not so sure. They need guards, but Light isn't so sure that's where her place would be. With a small sigh, she turns and wanders to the edge of the dock, looking out across the water with a slight frown. There are so many things she could do, but none of them feel right. All Light knows is she has to stay here, she has to be here, she has to protect her sister. Even if there doesn't seem like there's anything to protect her from yet.

[deactivated-blog]

Snow would let out a bit of a laugh as that was usually how he handled Light’s cold and quite often harsh attitude. He’d wave his hand through the air as if clearing the negativity from it. Snow wasn’t one to really let her insults get to him unless it was something he really cared about. He did however hope that someday she’d open up to him a bit more. At least enough so that the could have a civil conversation between them.

Standing up Snow would gaze out at the sea before stretching a bit. “Just try not to make her worry so much.” He said with his warm voice, the total opposite of Lightning. Bending over he’d pick up a small stone and bounce it in the palm of his hand a few times before chucking it into the sea.

[fall-intothepast-blog]

It was hard not to lash out, to be crueller than Light generally was with the man. Especially when he was being so presumptuous. As if Lightning doesn't know how to take care of her own sister? Really? Snow hadn't been around when the two had lost their parents, when all they had left was each other. When Lightning had to grow up fast, to take care of Serah. No one knew how to take care of her, not like Light did.

" As if I don't know that already. " She murmured under her breath, but she knew Snow had heard. He always did. The man was impossibly sharp for someone so hopeless. Watching the ripples spread out over the water, Lightning couldn't help but wonder - not for the first time - just what it was her sister saw in Snow Villiers. He wasn't trustworthy or realistic, he was constantly going on about being 'the hero', and worse still expected everyone to believe it. But if it came down to it, she could bet Snow wouldn't have any idea what he was doing. And yet, he still had the nerve to try to tell her how to take care of her sister.

Thank god Lightning had a handle on her temper, or she would have thrown the idiot into the water by now.

[deactivated-blog]

“‘Sup, Sis? What’re you doin’ all the way out here?” The young blond asked as he took a seat on the edge of the cliff  beside his ‘sister’. His blue eyes would gaze over the sea that stretched out beyond them. The sun was starting to set off in the distance, which was the reason he had come looking for her. He knew that she was a big girl and could certainly take care of herself, but it was Serah who had asked him to go find her, and well, Snow wasn’t about to say no to her. “Serah couldn’t find you so she sent me out to look for you.” 

[fall-intothepast-blog]

The familiar voice came as a surprise, but it wasn't a pleasant one. It was hard enough to accept that the man was involved with her sister - far too much for Light's liking - but the fact that he had come looking for her was absurd.

" I'm not your sister, Snow. " The woman did not even try to hold back her contempt as she spoke, though it faded slightly at the mention of Light's sister. Of course Serah had sent him after her. For as long as she could remember, Serah had worried about her, even though Light made a point of making sure she could take care of herself. " You can go back and tell her I'm fine. I'll be home before the sun sets. " The woman did not turn her gaze from the view before her as she spoke, knowing that looking at Snow would only give him an invitation to stick around and keep chatting. And that most definitely was not what she wanted.

[hardydaytona-blog]

Stern and observant she was, even as she was being scrutinized and answering to his demands. And her words held the answer he’d been looking for from the start, an honest and true tone to which he could relate and agree with. But more than anything, the answer showed to him what potential burden the young woman bore on her shoulders. There wasn’t even the slightest sway in her force of will as she spoke. Driven by duty? Yeah, he understood. Cloud nodded briskly, a murmured approval. He was coming to accept what she’d said enough to move on and that was the important thing. There was something to be fixed here and there wasn’t a chance Cloud would take ‘I’ve got it’ for an answer. Her responsibility, his world. It was a fair trade in his eyes. He turned and mounted the bike, letting the engine roar to life before turning back to his new acquaintance.

“So this rift,” As he spoke, he turned back to Fenrir, popping open the slots on the side. “How do we find it?” A daft and practiced movement brought the fusion swords to his lap where two hands plucked it into 6, storing the individual blades on either side. He preferred the sword split when traveling and there wasn’t even the slightest chance he would leave it behind. Even on a basic delivery run, the Fusion Swords were at his side. It was a comfort in more ways in one to have on his person. The compartments snapped shut once more and Cloud situated himself on the bike, casting his eyes back to Lightning. Hopefully she didn’t have any issues with vehicles, because she was about to get plopped on the back of one whether she liked it or not.

[fall-intothepast-blog]

Of course he was insistent on helping. From what Light could tell he was too stubborn to stay out of what shouldn't be his concern. But, really, if it was her own world she would do the same. Ensure things were safe, ensure her own town, her own world, her friends and family weren't in danger. And he had actually accepted her answer as the truth, and was willing to let her do what needed to be done. Who was she to tell him that he had no business helping her?

" That's a tricky question. " She responded as she watched him handle the sword. Or swords, rather, as the man pulled apart the blade into six smaller ones; something she hadn't quite seen before in a weapon of that kind. Each one fitted conveniently into slots on the bike, which she assumed he'd had made specifically. More than convenient, really. If her own weapon wasn't so easy to transport as it was, she would do the same.

Maybe if they had time after dealing with whatever problem had arisen in this world, Light would take a look at the blade. No harm in a bit of research, really.

" The paradox can present as anything. Anything as small as abnormal weather patterns to foes appearing where they shouldn't. Anything that doesn't belong in an area, something new and unexpected. If we find that, we find the paradox. " Her explanation was far too vague, and Light knew it. But that was the downside of hunting for paradoxes, especially when trying to reverse them. It was hard enough to find them to begin with, but trying to repair them somehow when you're not 100% sure what you're facing was even worse. " Look, once we find this thing you should probably head back. I can handle it. " Light stepped forward and nimbly hopped onto the back of the bike as she spoke. She knew her words were most likely likely a wasted effort, but there was no telling what they would be up against out there. And the last thing Light wanted was for someone else to get hurt as a result of her own world falling to pieces.

[hardydaytona-blog]

Well, she was following. A set of steady, confident footsteps falling in line behind his own. She was hesitant to tell why she was here, but she was attempting to explain and following just as he’d hoped. Lightning understood he meant business. Hero work wasn’t his job, not really, and yet when his home was in danger, his planet, well… In the end it was all his business no matter if he pretended to  care or not. Listening intently, he drew abreast of the bar and lead his tagalong across the street as she cut to the point. She spoke with the confidence of a girl who meant every word she said, no matter how strange the words may seem. It made it easy for him to be inclined to believe her, and what she said was definitely strange. Brows furrowed slightly, eyes roaming across the familiar concrete as he slipped around the back of the building to where his bike lay in wait.

“Another world…?” Here he stopped, turning to face her in the ramshackle backyard. “Why save this one if it’s not yours.” Cloud shrugged slightly. If her words were true, it brought the question as to why. How she got here or how she knew about something awry on Gaia was a question for later. Motive was the prime drive of the moment and Cloud had to know. After all, this planet had seen more cruelty from other worlds than kindness. Jenova, wherever she was from, could there be more like her? He didn’t want to think so, just one was frightening enough.

The keys to his bike spun around his fingers once as he leaned against the machine. Expression open, but stern. The story was outlandish despite her apparent honesty, he wanted her to believe that he was doing his best to listen with an open heart. But he couldn’t afford to seem soft either. Whatever was going on, whether it be the truth or a complex lie, it was big and possibly problematic. Right down his alley.

[fall-intothepast-blog]

The man's reaction told her exactly what she already suspected. Whatever it was that had happened in this world, it had been very much out of the ordinary. Something large enough that her news wouldn't automatically shock him into believing she was insane, but something bad enough that he began to question her motives immediately.

And that really was the only question, wasn't it? Why bother with another world when really, Light should be in her own world helping her sister, or back in Valhalla protecting the goddess? There was a long list of things she should or could do, so many things to be done, so many paradoxes to solve. But Light was only sent to solve a paradox if no one else could. If it were an area no one else could reach. There were already three fixing the timeline in their own world. Other worlds, it seemed, had fallen under her responsibility.

But the answer was simple, really.

" It's something that's come from my world. I'm not gonna leave it here to destroy someone else's. "

Light set a hand on her hip as she watched Cloud, wondering what he hoped to gain from her response. Maybe he was looking for a sense of trust, something to believe in, some sign that she wasn't a threat to him or his world. Maybe he was being nosey, but that didn't seem to be Cloud's thing. If anything, he seemed to be on the defensive. Aiming to protect the city from anything he had to. Something Light could admire.

[hardydaytona-blog]

She smiled, a quip at his earlier answer. She hadn’t believed him then, and she didn’t believe him now. He could hardly blame her. Despite, he gave a brisk and affirming nod in answer. She didn’t have to believe him to trust him. Then again, that street went two ways didn’t it? “Just a delivery boy.”

Her attitude changed again, bringing him answers he had sought, answers that only brought him more questions. As she spoke, his brows furrowed slowly. Eyes shifting in thought. Wasn’t sure? A kind of change? Sounded like fishy Sephiroth business. Like the stigma. Of course he couldn’t be sure. No matter how many times he seemed to have smited the ex-SOLDIER, he came back. Cloud direly hoped for her sake it was something else. Whether or not that was the type of change she was looking for didn’t matter. If it was Sephiroth, it was definitely more his business than hers. But if she wasn’t sure, he couldn’t be either. Too early to tell, too many factors. Too much ambiguity. She was going to have to take him up on his offer. She didn’t exactly look like a remnant. Then again, neither had he.

“Strange…?” He doubted she would provide the answer to his question, letting the word hover in the air. A set of eyes cast upwards, weight swaying from foot to foot for a moment before he took a step back and regained eye contact, turning slightly to the side. A shrug and a nod in the direction of the bar a few blocks away. “If you’re in a rush, a bike will do. Pulling the strings to get airborne could take a while. You can explain on the way.” 

[fall-intothepast-blog]

The doubt and suspicion was practically seeping through his pores, but Light didn't let onto it. He looked like the kind of person who had been through hell and back so the slightest sign of possible trouble probably wasn't welcome. Not to mention she wasn't exactly the most normal person, turning up and talking about strange changes but having no idea what she was actually looking for. Suspicion was expected. It just happened to make things a bit more difficult.

" I'm not sure what you want me to explain. The short version would be-- " Rubbing her forehead in frustration as she followed the man, Light tried to choose her words wisely. There was little doubt she couldn't win out against the guy if he thought she was a threat, but it would only waste precious time and put people at risk, and that wasn't what she was there for. And the longer the left the paradox unattended, the more likely someone was going to get hurt as a result. " I'm not from this world. And something from my own world is effecting things here. Causing a rift in the timeline. "

She paused to watch Cloud's reaction, knowing it would give her far more information than his actual words. Anyone who had seen half the things she had seen would not find it so hard to believe, and anyone who carried a weapon such as that and held himself in the way Cloud did would have seen more than enough in their lifetime. He might not realise it, but the way he responded to her information would tell her far more about himself than anything else could.

[hardydaytona-blog]

She seemed to be getting more impatient with his reaction, but her response in turn brought him a little relief. Not enough to throw his life into her hands or give up his pursuit in making sure she was not a threat. But it did alleviate his worries a bit. She had a good point, and seemed more worried about getting her job done than convincing him she was doing the right thing. In a roundabout way that too was a reassurance she was not out to destroy anything. Hopefully. Still, she wasn’t inclined to explain to him what was going on. That too seemed to frustrate her to some extent, if she wasn’t just simply tired of his inquiries. His arms unfolded and moved to a slight shrug and he heaved a sigh.

“Whatever it is you’re looking for you’ll find it faster by road or sky.” Cloud eyed her carefully. “I have been asked to take weirder jobs.” It was a risk, taking her back to the bar to pick up Fenrir. A risk he was most likely willing to take if it raised his chances in finding out what exactly was going on here. If she really wasn’t looking for trouble, then something around here was wrong. If she was out to harm them, he needed to know. And if she was out to save them? Then that was his business. Not hers. He couldn’t help but wonder if he was being too nosey, maybe it was just a simple job. It seemed like an awful lot of effort to conceal something, and nothing about Lightning thus far had been exactly normal. Hell, nothing about her, her explanation, anything about the situation was normal or even remotely added up. It may not be his job, his duty, his business. But nothing in his existence would permit standing by if people could be at risk. Be it his family, his home, or a stranger. If she accepted his help, all the better. If not, well… Cloud had plenty of eyes on his side in the city of Edge.

[fall-intothepast-blog]

Despite her general frustration, Light almost felt inclined to laugh at the man's response. Suspicious as he may be of her and her intentions, he still seemed determined to help. Maybe not help her in particular, but help all the same. Be it a sense of duty or honour or the truth of his nature coming to light, that whatever was behind his 'delivery boy' face was starting to seep out.

It was interesting to see just what lengths he could go to so he could ensure she wasn't a threat or a danger. To help people, even if she wasn't exactly one of them.

" Just a delivery boy, right? " She could not help but chuckle, shaking her head, neither of which were meant in a mocking way. If anything, she thought it was brave of him to offer assistance when someone he did not trust was involved. Though, it could all be a ruse to trick her into some kind of trap. Not that she would fall for something like that. There was also the complication of not exactly knowing what she was looking for. Maybe she'd have to take a chance. A leap of faith, as it were. Surely it couldn't end too badly.

" I know this is gonna sound strange as hell, but I don't exactly know what I'm looking for. " Light took a moment to consider her words, realising how stupid it sounded to anyone who didn't know about the paradox, about the timeline, about anything from her own world. But she had a job to do, and one way or another she was going to do it. " If there's anything here for me to find-- " And there would be, but that might just be a little too weird-- " It'll be some kind of change. Something strange, or unusual. "

The more she spoke, the more she realised how utterly bizzarre she sounded. More likely than not, Cloud would be considering the best way to attack her. Something that would slow her down ridiculously and waste time.

[hardydaytona-blog]

His suspicions skyrocketed immediately after her reply, setting him on edge. A finger twitched. Her ambiguity wasn’t helping his mounting distrust. A moment ago she had stated she was running errands, and now she was looking for one thing in particular. Though it counted under an errand, there was a finality to her speech that said it was an errand she’d take care of when she found it. And taking care of could fall under enough categories he had to be sure it wasn’t one that would land them in some kind of ultimate destruction. After all, checking on a reactor so many years ago had been at heart, a simple errand.

“Find.” In turn, he let his words carry a distinct and obvious finality. If she was indeed a soldier, she would understand. Understand he saw through her words, understood he couldn’t take chances. “You sure I can’t help?” Arms remained crossed solidly over his chest, he couldn’t shake the distinct feeling she wasn’t of dangerous nature, not at heart. But how a heart could be swayed. Cloud couldn’t trust her. If she had something to hide he’d find out whether she accepted his assistance or explained herself or not. He would make sure to that.

[fall-intothepast-blog]

The mounting suspicion was beginning to play on her nerves, but Light did not let her irritation rise. The last thing she needed was a fight with a local, especially not one who seemed as though he could handle himself well enough to give her something of a challenge. In the back of her mind it made Light wonder just what he had been through that would set him so on edge so easily. Maybe he was just naturally cautious. Soldiers generally were, after all, she could vouch for that herself.

Not that it made her want to tell him the truth any more.

He seemed determined to find out, though, and if she didn't give him at least some hint of something or the other, some decent explanation, this could get messy. And considering she was there to solve a problem caused by her own world, she doubted causing another one was going to play in her favour at all. She watched him carefully for a moment, trying to decide just how much she should tell him. If anything at all.

" Look, Cloud, I'm not here to cause any problems. " She explained sincerely. Chances were he wouldn't believe her in the slightest, but it was worth a shot anyway. " If I were, you think I'd be meandering around here chatting with someone? C'mon, you seem smarter than that. "

Way to go, Light. Antagonise him. That's really going to help.

Her forehead creased in a frown as she considered her words carefully. Telling him the truth about why she was there was out of the question, especially if she expected help, or to be left alone to search. There had to be something that would get him off her case, though. That would at least help the man understand she wasn't an enemy.

" I don't know. You might. " She sighed and dropped her arms, a hand resting on her hip instead, her fingers tapping impatiently as she struggled to decide. " Like I said, it's hard to explain. "

[hardydaytona-blog]

Errands? For a military? He kept his expression even. Never had he known a military outfit to send their soldiers alone save an undercover operation, which clearly she wasn’t. Neither was she in uniform or seen with any other soldiers. He tried to consider the options, that maybe she was out for an exploratory walk out of uniform while the rest of the outfit was elsewhere. Her inquiries and attitude told him otherwise. Without meaning to, Cloud was put on the defensive despite how casually she’d tried to speak. Her hesitation had spoke words she hadn’t. And where he knew better than to assume right off the bat, he also knew better than to not be careful in uncharted waters. Not to mention how strange the words “like I was never here” were in and of themselves. He couldn’t help himself from compiling the information and being thrown into defensive mode. His eyes narrowed slightly even with his best poker face.

“…Errands?” As he spoke the word, he decided more than anything it could be within his best interest to look closer, perhaps even tag along if at all possible. Couldn’t be too safe. He wanted to trust her, but something in him wouldn’t let him. “What are you looking for?”

Cloud could only hope he took his words as a friendly offering. After all, he knew his way around the area better than she did. He assumed. Perhaps he even then assumed too much, that she could know more than she’d let on. Or even that she knew nothing at all. A familiar pang in his chest of how easy it was to forget under mental instability, under the right circumstance. How driven someone could be when imbued with the right push. All that remained of Hojo’s work was gone, Shinra was collapsed. But files and memories remained. He couldn’t be too careful, not after all he’d seen. All he’d been.

[fall-intothepast-blog]

It was astounding how on edge her words had put him. Of course, Cloud did not show many signs, but there were tells here and there. Tells Lightning was all too talented at spotting. The way he asked what she was looking for, the slight undercurrent in his voice. His expression remained the same, but there was something in his eyes that spoke of distrust, of suspicion. Not that she could blame her. It hadn't been the most eloquent way of explaining her presence there. Light didn't let it bother her, though. Realistically, the only concern was that if she managed to find a paradox and it was dangerous in some way, she would have to worry about keeping the man out of harms way. Judging by the sword on his back, though, that may not be all that difficult.

The more pressing matter, though, was his question. He seemed like the reliable type, but Light had said that before and had been proven wrong. Trust wasn't exactly something she handed out to just anyone.

" It's difficult to explain. No big deal, I'm sure I'll find it in no time. " Light brushed off his question carefully, her voice level and her expression unchanging. Now that she'd made one stupid slipup, though, she doubted he would leave her be so easily. Chances were he would either tag along and make sure she didn't get up to anything dangerous or suspicious, or he would try to divert her attention elsewhere. Either way, she didn't particularly feel like explaining it when she doubted he would actually believe her anyway. That and she didn't really have time; if Light wanted to find the paradox, she'd have to make a move soon, or it would find her.

[hardydaytona-blog]

Being a soldier, a mercenary, was a path all too familiar to him. Without meaning to she’d related herself to a large part of Cloud’s entire life. Lightning had a practiced face, closed off and cold with a polite smile on top. More than meets the eye. Something he too, knew well. The path of a mercenary was never easy, no matter what the detail of the job was. Distance and separation was forever a factor in her line of work. Cloud understood that better than most. As well did he understand her second answer and the subtle note in her voice most might not have caught. Her voice and face alike did not betray her, though as someone without much of a family to speak either, there was something irreplaceable that even her best efforts could not hide. He nodded knowingly, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Job bring you here then?” He knew much better than to delve into the realm of distant and absent family. Not to mention he was still curious as to where exactly she was from, or who she worked for. Her appearance and dress was vastly different from what he’d seen anywhere his travels had brought him for one. Secondly, as an ex-Shinra infantryman he knew of most (if not all) of the mercenary outfits globe wide. If he could figure who she worked for it would certainly make things a little more clear. Prying was not his interest, but Lightning wasn’t exactly easy to pin down. He didn’t think she was a threat by any means, but curiosity did kill the cat.

[fall-intothepast-blog]

The man's flash of recognition at her job was not all that surprising, though it was reassuring to have her suspicions be assured. Living the life of a soldier was not something anyone forgot easily; if it truly means anything to you, that sense, that way of life stays forever. As it would in Light, and as she suspected it would in Cloud. Which was a reassuring thought about the man. Soldiers were much easier for her to understand, generally.

The way he sidestepped the topic of family was reassuring in itself, too. The topic of her sister, of her family in general - be it the crazy family she'd acquired in an effort to save her sister, or the parents she'd lost a long time ago - was not exactly something she wanted to dwell on.

His question, though, caught her mildly off-guard.

" You could say that. " She answered mildly, shrugging her shoulders. In a way her 'job' was the only reason she was there, and when she'd completed her task she'd find a way back home, most likely never to be seen again in this world. Which was likely for the best, considering she didn't really belong there in the first place. " Just have to finish some small uh-- errands and then I'll be on my way. It'll be like I was never here. " Lightning chuckled at the thought. Disappearing without a trace was something she was probably a bit too good at.

[fall-intothepast-blog]

Drabble | Grief

Lightning ached for her sister. With each passing moment the pain grew, threatening to consume her if she did not drive it back with all the force of will she could muster. It returned, though. Each day it returned. Lightning had spent so much of her life protecting Serah from the world. From everything that could possibly harm her. From whatever hardships they had been forced to face. Her sister had always been the one full of joy, always the soul radiating pure happiness. Serah deserved to stand in this beauty. Not Lightning. Not she who used violence on a daily basis, who could not allow herself the small pleasures of happiness, who could not find peace in the world, nor in herself.

“Lightning; it flashes bright, then fades away. It can’t protect, it only destroys.”

How could such destruction stand contentedly in such a place, when one who was filled with nothing but love could not? Lightning ached. She yearned. In her heart, she cried for her sister. To see her smile, to hear her voice. To bring her to this place, so she could stare at a beauty and peace that could only possibly be matched by her own. All the joys that Lightning was offered, she could never deserve. And her sister, who deserved all, may never have the chance for them again.

[hardydaytona-blog]

No, he supposed she wouldn’t buy that. It was the truth, really, but she was just as smart as she looked and it was a pretty flimsy truth. Her tone and expression showed enough but if she had any plans of sticking around in the future she’d probably figure it out. Cloud didn’t need or want to explain. Still, her reply brought the smile to a chuckle and a slow shake of his head.

“Quiet? You’d be surprised.” With the company he’d kept in the past, and still kept, his job was far from quiet. And besides being called upon by some of his… more questionable acquaintances, Cloud had a reputation. For this, he was called upon for everything from cross town mail to cross country assignments that pushed boundaries in on mercenary work. Not to mention the occasional favor toward an old campaign buddy or two, and affairs with his friends were never simple or boring.

Her next question brought him even more amusement however. Though they were his family, they certainly weren’t conventional. An adoptee, a best friend, and… well a kid he babysat for long periods of time. “A ramshackle family maybe…” Cloud let a laugh pass his lips before turning his eyes back on Lightning. It was about time he found out for himself who the stranger was, at least more than just a name. If what he could pick up of her personality held any ground, she wasn’t about to spew her life story either. “And you?”

[fall-intothepast-blog]

Despite his words, there was a hint of fondness in the man's voice both about his life and about his 'ramshackle family'. Whatever else he said, Cloud obviously liked the live he lived. And that in itself was a nice sight, to find someone who actually seemed content with what they had, especially in a world that seemed to have seen far too much chaos. " Well, you know. Better than nothing. " She laughed kindly, not wanting to come across as harsh or rude. Though, it wouldn't be the first time.

She'd been expecting him to ask about herself, really. No way she could be so investigative and not be asked in return, not by someone who seemed as though he knew the run of things around there and just kept it all to himself. Watching and waiting for any surprises that might just pop up. Really, if anything Light was surprised he hadn't asked sooner.

" Me? I'm a soldier. " Not strictly a lie. She'd been a soldier for years before everything had changed, before becoming a l'cie, before the goddess had deemed Lighting worthy of protecting her. Really, she still was. Just not in a way most people thought. And it was easier that way, for people to assume she was some simple footsoldier or something. " Not much left in the way of family. I have a younger sister back home. " The words hurt more than they should have, though Light kept her expression closed off with the same polite smile. Thinking about her sister, about anyone back home, wasn't going to help her, especially not considering how much she missed her. How much she missed everyone she knew.

[hardydaytona-blog]

If what he said bothered or raised curiosity, she didn’t show it. Fingers tapping absently at an arm, a thoughtful expression, nothing more. He expected nothing more. The story behind Midgar was complicated and long, much easier to sum up as a natural disaster. Close enough anyway. But like Midgar, there was probably more to the question then she was letting on. Cloud wasn’t one to go asking in places he hardly belonged and there was no way to tell if her question had other aims or otherwise. She wasn’t sticking to the topic so if there was any residual questions or thoughts about the abandoned city of Midgar, he wouldn’t know and didn’t plan to ask.

“… Me?” He was temporarily taken aback, a small smile tweaking the corner of his mouth. He was so used to people already knowing about him it had become a strange concept to be asked. Lately it had been better, but for a long time showing up at a bar yielded no “tell me about yourself”s and all “you’re a hero to us all”s. Not to mention if she didn’t know him, why should she be curious at all? No harm in asking he figured. Or answering. “I’m a delivery boy.”

Well it wasn’t a lie, it was just a generalized and watered down truth. Very generalized and watered down. The incidents with Sephiroth, all three, had been years ago. The most recent one being a year, the furthest being… He didn’t even want to count. Now, he really was just a delivery boy living above a bar with his family. He couldn’t ask for more, and didn’t care about the rest. The past was best left in the past.

[fall-intothepast-blog]

It was a laughable response. A delivery boy? Really? Either he was mocking her, playing a fool for kicks, or wasn't being entirely honest with her. If that sword on his back was anything to go by, the guy was a soldier of some form. Or had been, and had just taken to keeping it with him. Lightning knew when all of her own issues were over, if by some miracle she ever went home, she would probably still be armed at all times. Still, it begged the question as to why he had that kind of weapon to begin with.

Not that she was about to pry. If he wanted to keep that to himself, that was entirely up to him.

" Delivery boy? Sounds like a quiet life. " Light gave a half-smile as she raised her eyebrows, making it obvious enough that she didn't believe him for a second but that she wasn't exactly going to push for answers. It must have been nice, to live as a delivery boy in a quiet city. Something Light had never really had a chance at herself.

" You got a family? " Really she was just asking out of curiosity, now. Family had no relevance to her job, to what she was there for. But hey, the more you know. Nothing better in a quiet life to go home to than a family, than someone to see smiling at you at the end of the day. It was the kind of thing that always made it worth going home from a 12 hour shift in the Guardian Corps back at home for her. One of the things she missed, more than anything else.

[hardydaytona-blog]

“Well…” Oh, that was a can of worms Cloud wasn’t sure she wanted to open for her own sake. With a gloved hand, he scratched absently at his neck, mulling over the question. “It’s abandoned, for the most part.” His hand dropped and he regained his posture, if tilting his head slightly. There wasn’t much to see in Midgar. To a stranger anyway. All there was left was rubble on top of rubble as far as the eye could see. The only thing vaguely interesting was the Church that still stood in Sector 5 but to anyone who wasn’t from around here it was little more than a broken down block of granite. People still visited it off and on, but really Cloud was the only one who actively spent time there. Not living there like he had in the past, but it was a place to relax and get away which was sometimes exactly what he needed.

For a while Midgar was a great place to find stuff to hawk off in Edge or elsewhere. Since nearly everything was abandoned or wrecked, it had been easy for the first year to find stuff to sell off if you were desperate and willing to scale the treacherous terrain. Lightning didn’t much seem like someone out to go dumpster diving though. He gave her a slight shrug and shook his head again. To a tourist, Midgar was safer and more interesting to view from afar he would think. Though there was no harm in asking, the place was pretty wrecked.

“Why do you ask?”

[fall-intothepast-blog]

Abandoned. Huh. So if something was wrong, if something in the area had changed, it was unlikely anyone would know. That could both be good and bad. It kept innocents out of the way of harm, but if there was a paradox of some form it could spread before it was too late. Not a good sign. Not to mention there was no way to know if something was or wasn't wrong if there was no one in the area. It was purely a matter of investigating it herself, which wasn't too big of a deal. Besides, abandoned areas often held more information for someone like Lightning than crowded, overpopulated areas.

" Matters of curiosity, I guess. You know, the new kid in town and all. " Light chuckled as she crossed her arms loosely, fingers tapping on her arm in no particular rhythm or pattern. More thought based than anything. There was an instinct in her mind that told her Cloud wasn't telling her the whole truth about the area, that there was more to it than met the eye. That it meant something to him. Not that she was about to push for answers or information, but if it held some kind of importance to the man maybe he'd be able to help her in some roundabout way. She wasn't exactly about to spit out her story and expect him to believe it let alone flat out accept the idea that he should help her, something that was most likely better. Lightning had gotten used to working alone again.

But there was always a chance he'd let something useful slip. Something she could build on, however small. " So, what can you tell me about yourself, Cloud? "