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

[lif]

Nope. I like living, and I'm not gonna rely on Lady Luck liking me that much.

[ She takes a look around their surroundings, trying to think. ]

If we could corral him, he wouldn't be able to run.

[soggypastry]

[A nod; she knows Fang gets her point now. As for the corralling, well, Odin's just snorting and now stepping to avoid Fang, as well. Good luck, lady!]

We'd need something he wouldn't be able to jump, though. A regular fence won't cut it with him.

[lif]

[ She's totally unimpressed with Odin's showing off. Of course she wouldn't be able to do it on her own. ]

What about using an alleyway? If he can jump buildings, then I'll be impressed.

[soggypastry]

[Unimpressed? He can deal with that, easy. Have a horsey-snort, Fang. You don't impress him, either.]

He can't jump that high. Only problem's going to be getting him to an alley.

[Case in point: Odin has turned away already, going back to dodging Lightning's every approach like a mouse avoiding the cat.]

[lif]

We could use some extra hands, like Bahamut and your handful over there. Surround him, herd him in, and go from there.

[ It's a hunting tactic. Problem with that is- ]

Doesn't help that our friend here's smarter than that and can tell what we're saying. [ To Odin, with a grin: ] You know she's getting that thing on ya sooner or later, if just by sheer stubbornness. Makin' her earn it?

[soggypastry]

He can't jump a building, but he can jump over them and over us easy.

[Hunting tactics are great...when what you're hunting doesn't jump six feet in the air if he gets enough room. They'll have to move fast. As for Odin, in response to Fang's question he stops, snorting and bobbing his head in a horse-nod as he paws at the ground with a hoof. Yes, he's making Trainer earn it! He won't wear the thing easily! ...or so he hopes, anyway. He knows Lightning's stubborn enough to do it.]

Be careful he doesn't charge you to get away. He'll probably try it any second now.

[And Lightning, trying to break up her squabblers, won't be able to move to stop him in time. Watch your head, Fang.]

[lif]

[ She's more than happy to duck, well aware that she doesn't have her l'Cie powers to abuse here. ]

I was thinkin' more that he'd hate sparks as much as the rest of us, not trying to keep him away with intimidating balls of fur.

[ Fair's fair when the guy they're chasing can jump you or set you on fire at will. ]

[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. ]