contempsi | 001 || {Audio / Action}

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001 || {Audio / Action}

[Groggy and disoriented, Hope awakens in the middle of the forest—just as he'd left it.

Or maybe not so much. The air is cold against his skin, and that's the first thing he notices as he lifts a hand to rub at his eyes. His clothes are gone entirely; there's nothing on his person but a simple pair of white pants, and in the chill of winter, they aren't much help.

Never mind the fact that Pulse wasn't this cold in the first place, by a long shot.

There's also a stiffness in his back, and when he folds his bare arms around himself for warmth, feeling the bumps raise on his skin—the ache in his shoulderblades is almost excruciating. Wincing in pain, the boy automatically lifts a hand to touch the afflicted area as his eyes dart around in search of his tiny companion, who had accompanied him on his food-gathering expedition.]

...Chocobo...?

[The confused question immediately catches on a gasp of surprise as his fingers brush against something decidedly feathery on his back. Hope immediately twists his head back to see just what the heck is wrong with him, finding a pair of wings there, of all things—wings with silken feathers the same pale silver as his hair.]

What—

[His heart begins to race in fear and uncertainty, though he attempts to will it down. If he allows himself to become too stressed, after all... Hope lifts his arm, staring at the marking on his wrist. The crimson eye, slowly on the edges of awakening, stares back—and he immediately squeezes his eyes shut, turning his face away. As he lowers his hand again, it brushes against something. He snatches the object up: it's a book.

It doesn't take Hope long at all to figure out the thing—he's a smart kid. Clearly, with the marked buttons and everything, it can be used to communicate with others. But where did it come from? This doesn't look like anything they have on Cocoon, even with its advanced technology... and Gran Pulse is so primitive in comparison. It doesn't make sense.

No matter. Finding the others is of the utmost importance, before it's too late. Pressing the button that would enable him to broadcast his voice, Hope attempts to send out a message to the other l'Cie, in hopes that maybe they were able to locate a similar device, or that perhaps it would transmit to some kind of central beacon.]

...um... guys...?

[His voice is thick from sleep, slightly slurred. He clears his throat.] Can anyone hear me? I... I think I got lost, and I can't find Chocobo either. Someone... or something... robbed me, too. As... as weird as that sounds. So... it doesn't look like we're alone here after all.

Um... I'm going to try to find my way back, but... [He trails off, biting his lip, feeling a little silly.] ...if I don't make it back... just... go on without me.

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[ Her agitation towards this whole thing is sort of lacking a proper outlet... even if it might sound like it a little, she's not actually mad at the teen himself. Just extremely frustrated. ]

Good. Just give me a minute.

[ Fortunately, his word is enough for her to figure out which side of the forest he's been thrown out in, and once she's outside means she has reason to feel cooled down in more ways than one. There isn't time to hit the stores or anything, and so she just brings what she has on hand, hastily stuffed into a bag and slung over her shoulder as she swiftly makes her way to the edge of town.

... Hopefully it won't matter too much that what she's wearing now hardly resembles anything from home any more- to the point where her boots and holstered gunblade are about the only things that have obviously stayed the same amidst new choices in nearly everything and the addition of a thigh-length, green-stitched white coat to go over it all. However, there's also her own wings to take into consideration: one is white and the other red, which makes them fit in with the remnants of her Guardian Corps attire much better than most would realize.... ]

[Hope isn't sure if Lightning plans to wait at the village for him, or start walking until they meet halfway somewhere. Either way, he's able to make it in the direction of the village. Seeing it loom on the horizon immediately has him scoping the area for his comrade's imposing presence.

After parting ways with Ven, he soon comes across what could very well be his long-lost partner at the edges of the village—or someone else with the same pink-hued hair and militant posture.

...Not likely. If it weren't for those things, and the sheathed blade at her hip, he wouldn't have been able to pick her out otherwise. Hope breaks into a jog, ignoring the cold air cutting at his skin.] Light...!?

[ She would have gone out to meet them halfway, definitely, but it seems she was fortunate enough to miss making that a necessity. Recognizing him at a distance isn't hard at all for her either- his stature and hair color are unmistakable themselves, and... most people don't really make a habit of wandering around half naked when it's so cold. So there's that too. ]

Hope!

[ Bad circumstances or not, she is glad to see him... although damn, she feels frozen just looking at him! Worry clearly crosses her face, and the bag comes off her shoulder the instant she's in range; a moment later, she's practically throwing a blanket she took from her apartment around his shoulders. Hopefully she doesn't catch a wing too bad in doing so? ]

Let's get you inside somewhere.

[A mixture of relief and gratitude washes over his face when Lightning does, indeed, confirm her presence. Though along with it comes a pang of fear—if they're here, then what will happen to Cocoon? What about their Focus?

He's grateful, too, for the blanket—though he lets out a quiet gasp and winces as it disturbs the wings on his back. He lifts a hand beneath the shroud and rubs at the place where they meet his body. So sore and tender to the touch. But he gives an affirmative nod to Lightning's statement, still shivering. No argument there.]

G-good idea. [There's a lot of questions burning in his mind, but they can wait.]

[ Oops. She could apologize or say something about the wings now, but no... instead she just makes a soft hm, then briefly puts a hand on his shoulder to pull him along for a few steps. She may be in different clothing, but that doesn't mean her efficient manner has wavered at all. Especially when it comes to things like this. ]

This way. [ One of the community housing buildings isn't far, and it should have an area appropriate for a short commandeering- the dining area, which will fortunately prove empty upon entrance. ]

[Obediently, Hope follows her lead. Though he attempts to keep his gaze forward to get to wherever they're going as quickly as possible, he can't stop his eyes from roaming around the foreign surroundings, attempting to take it all in. This causes him to trip over his blanket a couple of times.

Biting his lip, he finally forces himself to keep his eyes in front of them until they reach the building that Lightning is guiding him toward.]

[ Lightning continues maintaining the verbal silence, even though she knows Hope is probably confused out of his mind- she doesn't blame him at all, of course, but she's also trying to keep quiet as they enter the building, so as to not disturb any of the residents who might be spending the day at home.

Inside? She counts it as a small victory of chance that nobody else seems to be around, though she still thoroughly makes sure of that by lingering in the hall a bit longer as she ushers Hope into the dining area ahead of her. It's a little different than the one she uses across town, but... at least it has a few tables and chairs. ]

Sit down.

[ Yeah. Not leaving much room for objection here. She frowns as she strides over, setting her bag on the table to start digging through it again. Hope can be glad she's not into lacy pink things or whatever though, since the first thing she pulls out and pushes over to him is just a dark grey shirt, made of some warm material. ]

... This isn't on Gran Pulse, if you didn't already catch that.

[Hope pulls out a chair and sits in it, leaning his elbows on the table and propping his chin in his hands. He watches Lightning rummage through her bag for a moment, and then lets out a relieved sigh when she extracts the shirt and shoves it on over. Even indoors, being bare-chested like this is chilly. And a little embarrassing.]

Thank you. [Quietly, as he pulls the shirt on, then props himself up same as before. It's somewhat baggy on him, with how much Lightning towers over him, but in a case like this—it's welcomed. The ends of the sleeves droop over his nearly-numb hands a bit, warming them.]

I know we're not on Pulse now. [He almost has to force the words out.] I... um... when I sent out that message, I thought it would reach everyone. And a lot of people from this place responded. Someone sent me reading material about it, too. Apparently we're in a place called Luceti. [He frowns then.]

[ That isn't all- she brought footwear too, and though they're completely inappropriate for going outside in the snow and most likely the wrong size entirely, it's better than nothing, right? With a sigh, she stops rummaging and turns out a chair herself, sitting with a practiced gesture to avoid letting her gunblade get in the way. ]

The 'guide,' right? Yeah, that'll cover just about everything. [ Unsurprisingly, she sounds a touch bitter there. When she first arrived, she refused to believe it herself, until the evidence made that thoroughly impossible. Hope's younger though, and with her there to confirm it.... ]

'Luceti.' About three hundred people live here-- are trapped here.

[He takes the shoes, too, with a murmured thanks and shoves his feet into them. Definitely better than bare toes for certain.

When she relays this information to him, though, he frowns deeply and crosses his arms on the table.] And now we're trapped here too. [It's not a question; he can figure it out, especially after the other conversations he's had through the strange magic-book. Hope closes his eyes for a moment, exhaling slow.]

What about our Focus? What are we supposed to do, Lightning?

[ Of course Hope jumps right to the question that makes Lightning feel entirely helpless- it's been over two months here, and she's still hardly any closer to finding an actual solution. For a long moment she just sits silent and almost painfully straight, then again glances towards the door to make sure they're not about to be interrupted. ]

... The same thing we were trying to do back home, Hope: find a way to deal with our Brands, without hurting Cocoon.

[ Not that it's around here to be in much danger from them anyway, although that also makes saving it a little harder too. But if nothing else, he should have more time than her, right? She looks down and towards where his Brand would be seen if it hadn't already been covered by her shirt, instantly regretting not stealing a better look when she had the chance. ]

Of course we can't hurt Cocoon. [His tone is more mournful than bitter, despite the words that shape it.] We're not even there.

[Hope stares down at his hands for a moment. Like someone who can't resist peeling a bandage away to look at their wound, he does likewise with the sleeve of his shirt, staring at his brand.]

I can't just sit here and do nothing. I heard that... that there's people who have been here for years.

[He lets the sleeve fall back into place, pressing his lips together in a frown.]

We don't have years.

[ Meanwhile, Lightning follows Hope's look... and immediately her expression turns to shock as she realizes just how bright his Brand is, and how many arrows it has coming out of it. ]

Hope--

[ But then she cuts off, turning a particularly intense gaze on the teen and studying him far more carefully than she had before. He looks... different than she remembers, though in a way that's difficult to explain- a little leaner and fit, maybe, and yet... less emboldened, somehow. Like he's been living in the wilderness of Gran Pulse longer than the mere day she remembers, but still isn't any more clued in than she is regarding what to do with themselves.

So... that's what she has to deal with. Her own lips pressed together and eyes narrowing, she forces herself to push aside her own questions for the moment. When she speaks, it's as even as she can manage, and rapidly growing in determination by the word. ]

Time and magic are both different here. It's already been two months for me, and I'm not a Cie'th yet. There has to be an answer that's not just sitting around and waiting to give in. And if it's there, we will find it.

Two—

[Hope lifts his eyes to his comrade, shock and confusion alike written over his young features. His fingers curl around the brand on his wrist, now hidden beneath the fabric once more. It doesn't make much sense to him—hadn't he just seen her? And the others?

How long has it been since he walked away?]

Time and magic are different. [Echoing, somewhat to himself.] Someone else told me that time works differently here, too. But that doesn't make any sense. [With a noise of frustration, he presses a hand to his head, fingertips curved against his brow.]

...I guess I have no choice but to wait and see what it does to my brand too.

[ Yeah. Lightning swallows uncomfortably, but still she means every bit of what she said. Sitting here and trying to tell Hope all of this though... she wants to do something. The threat to her own well-being is one thing, but the threat to Hope... that seems even more dire. The fear of failure is striking her particularly hard.

Without really thinking about it, she leans over and puts a hand on his shoulder, looking up at him through her hair. ]

Hope... this is really bad. But don't give up on me now. Don't.

[Lowering his hand, Hope turns his head to look at her. Despair would only further things along, anyway. Even if magic—and their brands—are affected here differently, it's not exactly a risk he's willing to take.]

I... I won't. [He attempts to look a little less despondent, though it's difficult with so much turmoil at hand.] But... what have you been doing for two months? [He laughs a little, shakily, trying to lighten things up.]

[ That's something she's been trying to keep in mind as well: it's not good to get too upset when you've got a countdown to losing yourself completely branded on you- one that's very well-known to respond to that kind of thing.

And well... good question. Lightning pulls back, blinking thoughtfully through long lashes. ]

... You want me to list everything?

Edited 2011-01-29 09:46 (UTC)

Yeah. Go for it! [Hope laces his fingers over his belly, offering a small grin now in spite of himself.]

But really... [He glances around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the outdoors through a window or something. Bringing a hand up, he rubs at the ache on his shoulder again.] What do you do here? I... I guess the buildings are where people live. [At least... he hopes they don't force them to sleep outside. But he hasn't seen anything resembling tents or bedrolls in the part of the village he's seen, so that's really the most logical deduction he can make.]

[ WOW, she's not really going to list everything, Hope. Her eyes widen a little, and then she looks away as she thinks, leaning an arm on the table. ]

Well... learn how to live in the cold, for the most part. [ That should be obvious though- a young woman from Cocoon wearing sleeves? Pretty rare, there. But seriously: ] Try to work out information, train... some people run businesses, even though there's no money here, or... go to school. [ And guess who is just about the right age for that? She frowns faintly at the thought. ]

There's several of these apartment buildings around town with places just free for the taking. Mine's... on the other side.

There's school here? [His ears catch onto that bit of interesting information. Strangely enough, like most other kids his age in existence, he didn't really care for school... and yet after getting swept up in the fear and panic of the l'Cie and fighting for the survival of himself, his comrades, and his world—he found himself missing it. Or, more accurately, he yearned for anything in his old life back... and even school wasn't exempt from that.

No, he must push that train of thought behind. Back where it belongs. He can't get comfortable here. Not when they need to get out and take care of their Focus.

Chin in hand, he leans forward on an elbow. Lightning's mention of the buildings doesn't escape his notice, either.]

And what do you mean... for the taking? If we're prisoners here... don't they tell us where we're supposed to stay?

[ Yes, school- she simply nods silently at that, expression veiled. She probably wouldn't make him go, of course... but she's heard about the subjects they teach there and can't deny she's curious. With her own age and sense of pride, there's no way she'd dream about trying to attend herself, though with Hope... maybe she can talk him into it later for the sake of strategy. ]

No. Actually, we're free to do as we like; anything really... except leave. [ Scowling and restless, she suddenly stands from her seat, striding around the edge of the table and trailing gloved fingers along the surface. On the opposite side, she stops and leans there, closing her eyes in agitation. ] Outside the village it's mostly forest... some mountains to the east, a sea beyond them....

But even if you go out there, there's a barrier to stop you from going much further than a few days' journey. Some sort of magic, as far as I know.

[ A pause and a sigh-- what were they talking about, again? She goes a bit quieter once more. ] You can stay with me, if you like.

[Hope looks visibly relieved by the offer. He'd been afraid of being confined in a small windowless cell, or something. At least if he could stick with Lightning, they could watch each other's backs. And it would make it all the easier to plan their strategy out of this place.

He gives a little nod.] I... I will. Thanks, Light.

[Leaning back in his chair, his eyes dart around the dining area again. Then he remembers something else.] Did... did they take all your stuff, too?

[His gaze is downcast now, studying the grain in the table. It's bad enough to be in a strange place without any visible way of escaping, but to have everything taken away is an added blow when you're already feeling pretty isolated and completely out of your element.]

[ Lightning shifts her weight, her lips pressed together thoughtfully. ] Not everything. We'll probably be able to find most of what you were carrying before you showed up too. Eventually.

[ Such as his clothing, at the very least, though a lot of good those will do in this damn frigid weather. They'll have to hit the clothing shops for sure, very soon. Of course, her mind is on one other thing too: her knife that Serah gave her, which has yet to show up still. Maybe with Hope here too...? ]

Haa... We should leave here. How are you feeling?

[Sliding the chair back, Hope rises to his feet. He stretches his arms out before him and cracks his fingers, wincing as the act pulls on the aggravating pain in his back.]

I'm okay... but do you know when these things stop hurting so much? [He gestures toward his back, where the blanket sticks out oddly, covering his new wings.

The possibility of retrieving his things is a small relief, at least.]

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