contempsi | 002 || {Video}

[A few weeks have passed since his arrival; Hope's grown more accustomed to the way things run around here, finally gotten some climate-decent clothing, and is now attempting to stick his neck out further—for better or worse. When the video comes on, he's wearing a dark green turtleneck sweater—since there's no errant silver feathers sticking out behind him, this suggests that he opted to cover his wings instead of letting them hang out to be vulnerable.

His head is sort of halfway tucked on his folded arms, which suggests he's lounging across something—probably his bed. Hope props his chin in hand, staring at the camera.]

So... ah... [Idly adjusting the cuff of his sleeve.] I guess... it's time for me to go back to school, huh. [He gives a faint, nervous sort of smile.] Who here's already going? Um... I guess... i-it'd be nice to know who I'm going to be in class with. Or do they separate it by years here... like they did back in my hometown?

[There's the sounds of shuffling, then, and he quickly turns his head to the side.] W-what...!? H-hey, stop! [A black nose appears in view, along with the heavy sounds of panting—before a thick pink tongue drags over his cheek.] Gross! Cut that out, Baldr! I'm trying to... stop it! [He's clearly trying not to laugh, though, as half a curly black puppy face appears in the view, an audible thumpthumpthumpthump as his wagging tail smacks against the bed each time.] HOPE PLAY! HOPE PLAY!

We'll play later! [Hope's brow furrows as he attempts to shove the young dog away, now occupying the furniture. He gives up then, with a heavy SIGH, pulling the journal back toward him.]

I... guess they don't allow pets there, right?

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[Their brands? Hope hesitates when Lightning makes mention of them, lifting his hand to gaze at the back of his wrist like he'd done many, many times before—as if he could will that imposing crimson eye to simply go back to sleep forever and erase all his troubles.

It's still there, of course. As restless as ever. A testament to his own looming Fate, or so it seems.

Hope lets his arm fall back to his side, and he hadn't noticed until then that his fingers have been knotting nervously in the cord of the leash he's still holding. He untwists them, sighing, seemingly shifting a glance toward the dog but it's really just another object of nervous habit.]

Yeah... um... there's no life except for the monsters, little food... I woke up here after I went off to gather some.

[ There's a long pause as Lightning just watches Hope, feeling her chest slowly restrict with tension. She takes a breath and straightens her back, but unfortunately it doesn't really help any.

This isn't fair at all; there's nothing she wouldn't do to get rid of his need to worry about the stupid things and their stupid Focus and the fact that they're stuck here in this stupid place. Nothing. ]

The last thing I remember, we'd just set down... it'd only been a few hours since we'd left the Ark before I was pulled here. [ Which is totally weird to think about, considering she was apparently still there with the rest of them as Hope remembers it... which implies she goes back? Trying to wrap her mind around how that even works is nearly impossible.

... She looks away. ] My Brand's still been progressing since I got here. It's... close.

What...?

[Hope's eyes widen as they flicker back to Lightning's face. That doesn't add up at all. He had just seen her! Before he'd gone off on his own to look for food. They'd been searching and searching for a way, for life, for answers... for anything. Could she truly not remember any of that?

He glances at his wrist again, wondering how closely related they are. If Lightning's been here—supposedly—a long time... her brand must be pretty far along.

Is that why she had tried to get him to stay optimistic about their future, and the Fate that could possibly lie in store for them? Even here, away from their Focus, and the fal'Cie?

There's so many questions he could ask. But the most important one, now, isn't about their strangely contradicting memories but that last statement she made.

"It's close."

What could that possibly—]

W-what does that mean, Light?

[His hands are shaking now, and he buries them in the dog's fur to give them something to do.]

How... how close do you mean? [Hope can barely squeeze the words out, nervousness hinging on fear settling in the pit of his stomach. He swallows thickly.]

Edited 2011-02-23 20:44 (UTC)

[ Lightning just takes a breath and then slowly lets it out. Right now, her mind is just... blank, as if she's finally hit the point where it's impossible to think about it any more. Or as if not thinking about it will lessen the impact, somehow.

But it's weird. Especially when it comes to Baldr- if the Malnosso knew her Brand might keep going until... the end - and they must, she's sure of it - then why did they bother giving her a dog for Christmas? Cie'th just regret and try to kill things. They don't take care of pets.

She hesitates, gritting her teeth, but then... instead of answering directly, goes right for the front of her coat again and the shirts beneath it. Forget how weird she usually is about letting other people see, and just screw how odd it might seem to essentially flash a teenager when out walking the dog. She's finally letting Hope see hers for once.

And it's not good right now. If she gets one more arrow... ]

Aerith and I have been trying to find a way to seal it. Like Fang's. But...

002 || {Video}

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