fairly | [Voice / Action]

Entry tags:

[Voice / Action]

Hey there, Luceti! Name's Zack. Just wanna toss in the usual mention to newcomers that the local bar, Good Spirits, is in the plaza, and it's pretty much always open if you're in need of a little something to take the edge off. We serve more than booze, so don't worry if you're underage. I run the place, along with Shizuo and the lovely ladies Buffy and Meryl. Feel free to stop by anytime!

[Filtered to Haruhi]

Just checking in to see if you've got the details for the Brave Vesperia job. Yuri's back, so he'll probably be taking over soon, but I figure I may as well handle this one first.

[AND WITH THAT DONE... Since Cloud's arrival, Zack has been giving some serious thought to his weaponry. With Cloud trying to stake his claim on the Buster sword, and Zack needing some way to break the tension, it's probably about time to make a peace offering. First things first, though- he heads over to the weapon shop to visit a blacksmith. After that, he'll head to Cloud's apartment, Buster sword in hand.

Feel free to bump into him wherever! Alternatively, use this as a mingling bar post. IT IS QUITE OPEN I SAY.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Oh, did someone mention taking the edge off? Because it sort of looks like Lightning could use that right now. She might not be really known around these parts for any signs of a light-hearted or friendly attitude and all, but her expression seems especially sour today.

In other words yeah she's basically a ball made of edges but whatever you know what here she is. She slides into a seat at the bar, leaning her elbows on the polished surface. Cue long sigh. Cue running a hand through her hair.

SERVE HER, BARTENDER. ]

[HE IS HERE TO SERVE. And try not to look melancholy. He did just give away something absurdly important, after all. She doesn't look to happy, either, so maybe he can cheer her up somehow.]

Hey, Light. Want a drink?

Yes.

[ Look at her, man. This is a woman who wants to forget. Give her the strongest crap you have in this place!

Or you know, something outrageously fruity with nine drops of alcohol in it. Probably the latter. ]

[Okay, yeah, looks like he'll have to take the reins with this one. Zack considers her carefully for a moment, then mixes up a watermelon martini for her.]

...Gil for your thoughts?

[A LITTLE CLICHE but the sentiment is honest.]

[ Well, it's pink so that's a plus at least. She just looks at the drink a moment, fingers on the stem of the glass... before she finally seems to remember her 'manners,' just long enough to muster a short-lived smile for him.

She looks aside after that though, frowning deeply. ]

It's... November 12th today. [ And because haha lucky for Zack she's not one to expect him to automatically remember the anniversaries for things: ] That means all of us except for Hope have been here for an entire year.

Ah... yeah, it has. [Zack mulls that over quietly for a moment, then mixes a drink for himself, pulling up a stool to sit with her from behind the bar.] I kind of only realized that today, myself.

[A year since his arrival, a year since the escape, a year since... well. Since his life started over again.]

Been pretty crazy, looking back.

That's one way of putting it.

[ The fingers of her free hand drum restlessly on the counter a moment, while she finally sips experimentally at the drink he made for her. It's a little sweet for her tastes, but... she can deal.

And this time, she seems to consider him for a second or two. ]

Are you... doing alright, Zack?

[ Okay, so maybe it's kind of weird for her to ask now and in the bar when she lives in the same house as him and all, but... it's probably not the first time she's asked anyway, and it can't hurt to try again. It's also... sort of a thing she feels needs to be brought up when there's a smaller chance of Aerith or Hope butting in, too. ]

...Hm.

[For what is probably the first time in a while, he doesn't bother faking a smile or offering up a lame dismissal. He mulls the question over, quietly, for a long moment, and then takes a deep gulp of his drink, almost downing the whole thing in one go.

And then:]

I gave Cloud my sword today.

[ -- Lightning stares a second, and then her shoulders drop slightly as she looks down, huffing out a heavy breath. ]

Thought you might.

[ As unwieldy as it may have initially seemed, for what it was worth, Lightning would definitely be one of the first to recognize that he fought pretty damn well with the thing. She knows too how important it was to him... and finds it hard to picture herself doing the same if she was in his position, no matter how hard she was determined to make friends.

A soft, vaguely vexed frown on her face, she considers her drink as she thinks on it, tilting it from side to side before she finally takes another sip. ]

... I hope he's happy, then.

I don't think he knows what'll make him happy yet, but... it's a start.

[And at this point he'll take what very little he can get. With Cloud, it's always been baby steps.]

Who knows... maybe he actually knows better than any of us.

[ She gives a touch of an ironic smile at that. And while it's not exactly right to say she enjoys Zack being in a sort of broody mood along with her, she's still a firm believer in it being better than bottling it up constantly. Being trusted enough that he's comfortable not hiding it a little in front of her? That's a plus, too. ]

He'll come around eventually. I know it.

[ Just-- hopefully whatever helped heal his mind back home is reproducible here. Somehow. Surely there's gotta be a way. ]

I'm glad someone is sure about it. [Because he really, really isn't. This isn't something he's dealt with before, and all of the optimism in the world isn't going to fix this in a jiffy. Which means he is officially going to suck at this. Patience? Not his virtue. Especially after Nibelheim.] I hope you're right, though. I... really miss being friends with him, Light.

[ Well, if he didn't have some patience, would they even be where they are now? But obviously, this is... different. And even though Lightning might have found Cloud a little off even when he'd been in Luceti before, he's still her friends' friend and that counts for something for sure. Plus, at least now she has some context for the guy's behavior. ]

I know. [ Her expression saddens a moment, but then begins to edge back to stoic thoughtfulness. After all, she meant what she said, and crying into her martini definitely isn't going to solve anything. ] The lone wolf act works for a little while, but it can't last forever- trust me... I've tried it.

[Well at least she still talked to him |D Being friends with Light was relatively easy compared to Cloud at the moment. At least she didn't tackle him on sight. Her comment is a comfort, though, so after a moment he nods, finally offering up a smile.]

I'll just have to make sure I don't leave him alone, in that case! One way or another, he's stuck with me.

You also can't smother him, though. Nobody likes a stalker. [ Her fingers drum on the counter once again as she sighs, tilting her head with what passes as an apologetic expression. ] If we can prove our intentions are good, though... I think then we'll be on to something.

[ Unless Zack decides to woo Cloud. That might be a problem. ]

No, definitely not gonna stalk him. I'm feeling a bit crazy right now, but not that crazy. I'll just have to get used to taking things slow.

[Which... is not easy for him, but hey, he's had some experience in that corner lately, so maybe it'll work out.]

[ Maybe not stalk, but Lightning can totally see Zack still doing the lost dog act without even realizing it, jumping in way too soon at that smallest little chance to insert his presence- something that to her seems just as likely to further bother the other man in question.

What else can she do about it, before it happens, though? Except maybe give him a funny look at him claiming he needs to get used to taking things slow. Uh, right.

But, well, whatever. She shifts and straightens in her seat then, as if she's literally trying to shake off the heavy mood settling down over them. ]

I think... we both need to blow off some steam. [ Except uh Zack doesn't have his sword any more so-- ] Maybe go run the beach one last time, before it gets too frigid out there.

... Something like that, anyway.

Hey, I'm always game. The cold doesn't bother me much, and the beach is a nice spot to visit no matter when we go.

[He shrugs, somewhat glad to be off of such a volatile topic of conversation.]

And for swords, I've got myself a temporary replacement right now, and I've ordered myself a new one. Should have that in a couple of months.

Well, if there's ice, that changes things.

[ Just a little bit of exasperation in her voice there, although-- er, the beach does get icy, right? It's not like she knows, considering 1) COCOON IS SHELTERED, and 2) the beach here... hasn't even been around for a year yet!

BUT WHATEVER, GREAT, LET'S GO RIGHT NOW, MISTER!

... She doesn't stand quite yet though, apparently perking up with interest as the conversation cycles back around to weapons. ]

You're getting one made?

Yeah, I was at the smithy earlier today. Hopefully Sokka's able to pull it off, it was kinda... complicated. Though probably on a different scale as, say, a gunblade or something.

Pretty sure nobody here is capable of pulling off a gunblade anyway. Not enough technology.

[ Said as casually as delivering news of the weather, of course. Thoughtfully, she sips down the last of her drink before moving to get out of her seat. ]

... How do you make a sword 'complicated?'

Tell you what- I'll show you when it's done. It can be a surprise.

[He's getting excited the more he talks about it- can you tell? And with the prospect of showing it off right in front of him, he really can't wait to do just that.]

[ Well, now he's just playing with her patience. Eyebrows raising, she gives him a Look caught between exasperated and amused at his apparent eagerness. ]

If you say so.

Promise it'll be a good surprise. And hey, we can have a really awesome spar to try it out!

[Or a failtastic one as he tries to get using to having six swords instead of one. Whatever happens.]

... Using a weapon you're not used to yet.

[ Yep. So in other words she's going to beat the crap out of him without much of a fight! 8D; Awesome. ]

[Voice / Action]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)