Judgement has been delivered. (Video)

[soulsflight]

Who: Claire/Lightning Farron & Open.
Broadcast: Fleetwide.
Action: No - unless you're on the Marsiva.
When: Evening.

(Maybe she has revoked calling herself "Lightning" too soon. Claire blows out an impressed and amused breath as she searches her new quarters. In space. That little detail is hard to forget as she walks by windows clearly showing the stars, bright and twinkling.

Pausing by one said window, a hand on her hip, she admires them. It's hard not to, really. They will always be beautiful even if the idea of their creation and the gods in general are...complicated. At least she knows Bhunivelze isn't responsible for this little interlude.

Flipping open her communicator, assessing the buttons and their various functions, she gives anyone watching a small sigh. Who can blame her, really? She thought she would get a longer break from reality bending oddities.)

Do I look familiar to anyone? (She isn't fond of just giving away her name to a bunch of potentially odd strangers. Unless...

Are we really back to that? Tilting her head, she blows her pink fringe out of her eyes.) My name is Lightning and I don't remember signing up for this voyage.

Comments

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[searingedgelord]

No one signed up for it.

[A beat.]

Are you supposed to look familiar?

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[soulsflight]

That's an interesting way to acquire a crew.

(Against their will.)

I wondered if any of my friends were here.

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[searingedgelord]

Multiple crews.

[Multiple ships means multiple crews.]

We're supposedly entertainment, though. So it's possible your friends will be here, if they think it'll be good for ratings.

[Honestly she doesn't really know what ratings are, but they get talked about a lot.]

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[soulsflight]

All of them are part of one fleet.

(They act as one and that's all that matters to her currently. It's nice to know what side you're on...if there are sides.)

They've got some nerve. (She doesn't blow up or feel angry. Lightning is confident in her ability to handle this.) Does that set well with you?

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[searingedgelord]

[Well, that's true. Velvet isn't always the best at looking at the big picture, though.

She raises an eyebrow at the question.]

Being kidnapped doesn't set well with anyone.

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[soulsflight]

That part is problematic, but I was referring to being seen as entertainment.

(She leans a shoulder against one of the walls.)

It hits a little too close to home for me.

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[searingedgelord]

Oh. Right.

[She shrugs.]

It's annoying. But no one really knows how true it is. Everything about it is pretty sketchy.

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[soulsflight]

(Sketchy is a good descriptor for all of it.)

So nothing is expected of us? We man ships and go where they lead us?

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[searingedgelord]

More or less. We all just play along until some opportunity to learn or do something presents itself.

text.

[torsion]

What, do you have amnesia beyond your name or something?

[ The phrasing implies it to her, but she might very well be misunderstanding. Nice hair, though... maybe she can give Jill some tips on dyeing hers?

Wait. It might be natural. ]

I'm Jill and I didn't sign up for it either. Don't think anyone did, actually.

text.

[soulsflight]

No. (She gives a small laugh.) I was looking for my friends in case they made it here before me.

(Her hair is all natural, Jill.)

The Atroma are to blame, aren't they?

[torsion]

Got a weird way of saying that, but maybe it's just me.

[ She is totally going to fry her hair once the roots come in whoops. ]

Believe so. Haven't met any yet, myself.

Guess it's good for them that we haven't. ;)

[soulsflight]

Is this situation normal?

(Leave your pretty hair alone, Jill!)

So you're ready for a fight?

Good.

They're never easy. We'll need resolve.

[torsion]

New people coming here? Yes. The situation itself? I hadn't experienced it before coming here.

[ It's complicated, alright? She used to be a natural brunette, you know. ]

Any time, day or night. If there's one thing you can count on, it's that I'll have your back in a fight.

...well, within reason. As much as I'd like to say I'm that honorable, even I have my limits.

[ Trust is what builds and pushes those limits, though. ]

[soulsflight]

I was speaking rhetorically. In a weird situation, weird questions are expected.

(Lightning is fine with interesting haircuts, but dying? Bleaching? Definitely not. The color is just about the only connection she still has with her parents. Well, one parent in particular, but you get the idea.)

Another hero? (Those words are affectionate.) I guess they need those in space too.

[torsion]

Exactly the reason why I couldn't expect it to be rhetorical. After all, I might know some important detail, right? Never know when it comes to new places and new people.

Don't know how common space travel or anything is for you, but for me it's pretty out there (pun actually intended). So any question is warranted, I think.

[ Jill just wants her hair to look the way it's supposed to. There are other parts to it, as well. Control, autonomy. It's something after everything that's happened that she can control, however small it may be. It's like washing her hands of him. ]

Ha ha, well, I wouldn't call myself one but I do typically align myself with justice and trying to do the right thing. Someone has to fight where others can't and I'm perfectly capable of it.

[soulsflight]

I guess you make a good point. I am interested in those important details. I can't help but feel like I won't have much time to learn them before I have to put them to use.

(That's how it goes. She is transported off by a god or some other entity and she has to learn on her feet.)

It's not as strange to me. I've seen worlds die and I've seen worlds born.

(She has been around.)

I am too.

[herosheroine]

[ It's an adjustment, to say the least. The idea that there are people watching them and actually possibly getting a kick out of their daily lives is completely unnerving on a skin-crawling level. Since finding that out Serah hasn't been able to shake the eerie sensation of being watched. Which, you know, duh, because she IS, but knowing that it's more than mere paranoia certainly doesn't make her feel any better.

She browses through the log of messages archived for viewing and listening daily, but it's not until today, after she's been assigned to the Red Fish that she sees something- someone of particular interest.

It doesn't occur to her to try to mask her surprise, but as Lightning speaks that surprise wears away bit by bit, giving Serah enough composure to offer up a witty- ]

You do look a little bit like someone I know.

[ -in a casual tone betrayed by the glassy glimmer in her eyes. The last she saw of her sister they'd been parting ways before the final show down. It feels like there was something more between them after that, but when she tries to remember what happened after thanking Noel, the only thing that she can clearly recall is the pain in her chest and head. ]

[soulsflight]

(It's not as much of an adjustment for her. She is used to gods watching, weighing, judging. They have been using her - them - for centuries, making them dance and giving them outrageous powers so they can hold their own while the world ends. Just when she thought herself free of all of that, here she is again in a situation that is remarkably similar. But she has her heart, at least, and she trusts.

That's it. She trusts. No matter how far she falls, she knows she will find her way home. However, she is shocked upon seeing Serah. It's one thing to mess with her - she's fine with that (if a bit flustered) - but oh hell no not her sister. Some of her old anger flashes in her eyes, but it is consumed by her protective instincts.)

So do you. Are you going to put me to the test? (Her lips curve in a sad smile.) Serah, are you alright?

[herosheroine]

[ She could still remember with perfect clarity the last time Lightning had asked her some form of that question, and the laughing answer she'd received when all she could do was look guilty. "No, it's good to doubt. It means you're growing up."

The anger that flickered in her sister's eyes, even just for a moment, told her what she wanted to know, that this Lightning was real. From the explanations she'd been given about this place it didn't seem like it could be a paradox or alternate timeline. Besides, she'd seen the final gate close with her very own eyes. What could possibly have caused one to reopen? No, something else was at work here and the two of them had somehow been dragged into it. ]

Yeah, I'm okay. [ She has no idea HOW she's okay, or how she's here. She may not remember what happened clearly but she's fairly certain she knew what that pain meant. ] Better now, actually. But what about you? Were you assigned to one of the ships in the Fleet already? You're not hurt?

[ Her worry is clear, just like her relief (even held in the slightest reservation depending on Claire's answer) and joy. She wants to ask more, what the last thing she remembers from home, what happened during her fight with Caius, if any of the others were with her. She forces herself to keep it simple to start and waits to hear her sister's response, wishing all the while that they were still back on the hospitality deck so that they could see one another directly. ]

[soulsflight]

(The final gate. She remembers Serah's death. She had gone quietly to a death-like state of her own, perched on the throne of the goddess. Without Serah, what was the point of living? She would rather spend her days dreaming.

But of course she hadn't completely given up. Maybe that's a Farron trait. She had lost herself, in part, along the way, but everything had been regained in the end. She was finally whole and who she was always meant to be.

Not Lightning. Not a failure. Not a poor excuse for a mother or father or sister. Claire.)

I'm glad. (Her fingertips brush Serah's image and she feels her eyes sting.) Not yet. I will be soon, I'm told. Each ship should have a docking bay. I'll find it and come to you.

(She is happy to answer any questions her sister might have. Setting down her communicator on a ledge, she steps back so most of her body is in the frame.)

See? I'm not hurt at all. I came from...a good place.

[herosheroine]

[ The relief is palpable even across the device screen. It's evident in the way that Serah's smile shifts, changing the landscape of her expression. She sees Lightning tracing the screen and can't resist doing the same, touching her fingertips to it as though that would enable her to feel the warmth of her sister's hand, her fingers. But as much as she wished they were having this conversation in person, voice and image would have to do for now.

Claire said she'd come from a good place? Serah could believe it. She seemed lighter than she had in years, like a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Serah is reminded of standing on the plains of Gran Pulse, beneath the crystal pillar of Cocoon, and unbidden a joyful tear slips free along with a short, happy laugh. The younger Farron quickly frees her hand to reach up and rub at her eye, brushing away the tear with a finger. ]

I can tell. You look good, sis. You look happy...

[ Really, truly happy. Granted their situation wasn't the most ideal, but it was something. They were both alive. She worried even now about the fate of Noel and Snow and Sazh and the others, but they may still turn up yet. ]

Me too. I can't wait to see you again. I heard someone else say something about visits to the planet. We could always meet up there, too.

[soulsflight]

(She will feel the warmth of her sister soon enough. Lightning is more liberal with her affection these days, though somewhat shy at the same time. Serah is a special case, however, so she can expect to be wrapped up in Lightning's - no Claire's - arms for a good while. They have earned that respite and she will not let it go to ruin for anyone or anything.

In fact, if she could leave the Marsiva, she would. But she's no good to anyone choking in space. This will have to do; this will have to tide her over.)

I have every reason to be. (When are their lives ideal? She is angry they dragged Serah into this... Whatever it is. But it's not like she's sad to see her. Never.)

Whichever happens the soonest. I'll go as far as I need to. You just...do what feels natural. (That's how it goes: she seeks, Serah holds dominion over their lives and their hearts.)

[herosheroine]

[ It's a change Serah isn't expecting, not with her memories being what they are, but it's a change she'll whole heartedly embrace- no play on words intended. Even so, she's aware that something has changed. Claire can count on a nice, long embrace when they do finally reunite. After everything that's happened and how much they've gone through to be together again she's naturally going to be a while before either sibling is willing to let the other out of their sight more than necessary.

But Claire isn't the only one eager to see her sister. Serah has already decided, with the knowledge that Lightning is still aboard the Marsiva too, that made the decision easy, and knowing that they could go planetside for additional visits after arriving on their assigned ships made Serah feel better about the situation as well. ]

We could meet on the hospitality deck. I haven't left for my assigned ship yet either, so it's perfect!

[soulsflight]

I'll be there in a few minutes. (Less time, actually, since she takes off at a run the moment Serah verifies her position. Her feet cannot carry her fast enough and she wishes she could be as quick as her once-namesake. Lightning may have a habit for destruction, but it's swift! Besides, she knows whether she is Lightning or Claire, she doesn't have a propensity for destruction. She can help things be renewed.

With the hospitality deck coming into view, she finds her voice for a single name:)

Serah! (Who the hell cares if she gets weird looks? She skids to a halt, her heart racing - and not from her jog.)