025 [Video/Action for Saffron]

[soggypastry]

--I said stop that.

[Well. Someone sounds a little angry today, doesn't she? Lightning's not exactly known for her easy-going nature, but she's calmed down a lot here in Johto. Except it doesn't seem that way from the tone of her voice.

But at least the growling isn't her. No, that growling belongs to the Shinx who just happens to be chewing on the gear, keeping the feed in blackness until Spark pulls it free of his mouth and starts a bit of a Pokésquabble. This does let anyone watching see that Lightning has a cloth over her arm and is chasing Odin around, the horse prancing and...yep. Dancing around to avoid her. He seems amused, though, especially after she tosses the cloth over his back. It's a saddle blanket, and it's supposed to stay on, but Odin's not having any of it. Nope, he's just running away so quickly it falls to the ground and leaves Lightning in the dust. Amused horse is amused and...almost laughing.

Yep. A laughing horse. It apparently does happen, but Lightning is most certainly not amused. She's just picking up the saddle blanket and trying again. And again. And again. And each time, Odin just runs away and ditches the blanket, leaving Lightning shaking her head while Shinx and Spark continue to tussle, hitting the gear and ending the feed without her noticing it was even on.]


Private Text to: Rise Kujikawa

[About six hours after the video feed, Rise will receive this:]

Can you meet me at the Train Station? I have something for you.

Comments

[soggypastry]

[Good that she's more than happy to duck...because if she wasn't she'd been getting tackled by one ex-soldier, and the floor here hurts.][Fair is fair, yes, but as a hunter Fang should know how hunted animals react. Odin isn't much different in that respect...though he's still keeping his distance from any alleyway entrances. He knows what you're planning, people!]

[lif]

[ She does, but remember that Fang's history of problem solving includes things like attacking a power plant for lack of any other clear options. Subtle isn't always her forte. There is one other possible solution that comes to mind, but now the question is: how to let Lightning know without cluing Odin in as well? ]

'less you got a brilliant plan, want to take a breather? I think the Cie'th were less trouble than this guy.

[soggypastry]

[After a minute of hesitation and nearly saying no, Lightning nods with a sigh. Cie'th, huh? Yeah...he's more stubborn than any of them.]

That's because they were. That and there were three of us taking them on at any time.

[With Odin, it's really just Lightning and her stubborness. But that breather sounds great to her, and so she'll just be sitting down on the sidewalk and watching her squabblers growl at one another for a moment. Yep. She's kinda tired.]

[lif]

[ With a glance she sits next to Lightning, on the opposite side of the fight. ]

Hey, don't make me start worryin' over you too.

[soggypastry]

[She gets a glance right back, but Lightning's is mostly confused. Why would Fang be worrying about her? She's not hurt or anything...]

What makes you think I'm going to start doing that?

[lif]

Cause you're probably takin' care of everyone but yourself.

[ She leans back on her hands and nods toward Odin. ]

Maybe you should let 'im win this round. Call him back into his ball and get some real rest.

[soggypastry]

[Oh, Fang, you know her so well. So the face she makes probably won't come as any surprise, even as she crosses her arms and refuses to give up just yet.]

You know I'm not going to do that yet.

[lif]

[ No, that's pretty much the reaction she was expecting. However, Fang responses to Lightning's objection with a sidelong grin and a lightness to her voice that doesn't match her previous tone. ]

You sure about that?

[soggypastry]

[The suddenly light tone gets Fang a look from the corner of Lightning's eye as she wonders just what is going through her friend's head, but she still doesn't back down.]

Yeah. I'm sure.

[lif]

[ She shakes her head. ]

That's why I gotta worry 'bout ya. Even I know you can't knock down a wall by banging your head against it.

[soggypastry]

[Lightning sighs, looking up at the sky. Really? Really?]

Everything caves in eventually if you bang on them hard enough. Just have to keep trying.

[lif]

[ Look, she did say being subtle wasn't her strong suit. But Fang wasn't lying about Lightning needing to take care of herself too. ]

I'm just sayin' you should change the rules, that's all.

[soggypastry]

[The subtlety, or lack thereof, isn't the problem. It's that she wasn't expecting this from Ms. Tear Down The Sky of all people....even if taking care of herself would be a good thing. She's too focused on the others, really.]

Change them to what, Fang? The saddle is the only trouble I've ever had with him.

[lif]

[ That's different. That's family - it's important. Family which, if Lightning hadn't noticed, she belongs to. For family, Fang would rip apart Saffron. But you have to take it easy sometimes, and this is one of those times. Especially if it's just wearing Lightning out more.

Believe her, if Fang could snap her fingers and have the saddle on Odin, she'd do it. It may be a moot point, as she's gotten frustrated enough to just spell things out. ]

Not everything. Just the location. There's too much room to run out here, and nowhere we can get him without him just jumping away. But what if you got him in a room or something and tried from there?

[soggypastry]

[Lightning knows she's family. Fang is her family, too, and for them there's nothing Lightning wouldn't do...except let them help her, at any rate. She's not used to asking people for help yet, not entirely, and Odin is her starter. If she can't handle getting a saddle on his back alone, what kind of trainer is she?]

He'd do this inside, too. Do everything in his power to try and get away.

[lif]

[ That Fang can understand. Still, she doesn't have an immediate answer for Lightning's assertion, and so she watches Odin for a moment. ]

He really hates that thing, huh? Figured he'd be polite enough not to kick down a door, but guess not. Can't really blame him.

All we really got to do is take away his ability to run away. But if we can't trap him, the only other thing I can think of is wearing him out. So unless you've thought up something, let me take a stab at it. Better for you to have the fresh legs later on.

[ She doesn't have a chance of catching him and she knows it. ]

[soggypastry]

[A nod; Odin does indeed hate the saddle and would do everything he could to get out of it, manners be damned, and Lightning knows this. So why is she doing this? Hard to say at the moment, but she's not giving up. Not yet.

So, to the offer, Lightning shrugs a bit. Can't hurt, right?]

Go ahead. Just don't let him hurt you.

[She'll step in if it looks like Odin's going to charge, but it's hard to stop flames without spells these days, and he's....very good at using those flames.]

[lif]

Yeah. [ She stands up and flashes Lightning a smile as she takes the cloth. ]

Cheer up, Light. There's only so many people I'd let myself get set on fire for, y'know. At least look like you're enjoyin' it.

[ She snaps her fingers, then pulls out a pokéball and releases Taejin, now a Haunter. Bahamut, for his part, now seems extremely unwilling to budge from his spot on the sidewalk as Fang grins at her ghost. ]

C'mon. You'll get a kick outta this.

[ Taejin watches for a moment as Fang strides after Odin, who deftly avoids her. Once he understands, he laughs and chases after them. He is not helping. He's just enjoying the chaos. ]

[soggypastry]

[Enjoy watching her friend get hurt? Yeah, no, Lightning's not that vindictive. She's just watching, peering through her bangs as Odin snorts and avoids both Fang and her ghost, turning this way and that to do so.

He's got the stamina to continue this for a long time, Fang. Do you? Does Taejin? Because he's going to get away sooner or later; there's just too many openings for him to bolt.]

[lif]

[ Not watching injury. Just the dedication of friendship and watching said friend run about the street while you catch your breath. It's Taejin who fades first, getting either tired or bored and merely hovering on the sidelines and watching.

Fang lasts a bit longer, partially due to stubbornness and partially due to the fact that despite her failure, she's having fun with it. Truth be told, there a part of her that misses fighting; not the violence, but the rush of adrenaline and the sheer joy of pushing herself and her abilities to see just how far she can go.

So when she breaks off pursuit and half-sits, half-collapses next to Lightning, she may be trying to catch her breath and still holding the saddle blanket, but she is grinning. ]

Was hopin' I'd surprise us both. But not half bad.

[soggypastry]

[Well, in that case, she still doesn't enjoy it. She's grateful, though, even if it leads to nothing but a slightly more worn down unicorn and a breathless Fang sitting next to her. She does appreciate the effort, truly, and the small smile that appears should say as much.]

Not bad is right, considering you haven't fought anything yourself in a while.

[Yes, Fang, she just implied you're out of shape.]

[lif]

[ She catches that and laughs. Hey, she can take as well as she can give. Especially when she's tired just from chasing a horse around. Even a magical fiery horse. ]

Not what I used to be. But when I got here everyone couldn't stop talkin' about how nice and quiet this place was. Or that we couldn't have weapons.

[ Someone was not a happy camper when she woke up and found her lance missing. ]

Hell with that. Haven't had that much fun in a while.

[soggypastry]

[Fang's good mood is infectious, and Lightning raises her head slightly to smirk now. Seems things are slowly getting back to normal, eh?]

I just figured you'd like to know why you couldn't find your spear, that's all. I know getting you to let go of that thing is like getting Snow to stop saying "hero" all the time.

[lif]

[ Normal is good. Or at least, that smirk is good. ]

You're makin' it sound like I slept with it. I'd rather my bedmates not come with the chance of waking up missin' a finger or two. Figured you'd get that part.

[ Yes, that's a reference to Leon. No, she is never letting the dating thing go. ]

[soggypastry]

[As good and as normal as Fang's teasing, which earns her a look and the smirk's disappearance. Why is Lightning not surprised? Because it's Fang.]

He's not a Gorgonopsid, you know.

[Because making any comment about biting not being his thing or who they share their bed with wouldn't end with no teasing...even if it's a perfectly tame Shinx that wriggles into bed and bites anyone who tries to move him.]