A life so demanding;

[astracera.livejournal.com]

[The sound of a battle can be heard clearly from down the hall as a new member of the dressing room enters. She has no problems finishing the beasts off, returning Blaze Fire to the holster before turning and noticing the different surroundings.]

Is this some kind of joke? Come on, Hope.

[She sounds clearly annoyed, her voice stern. That is, until she realizes Hope isn't behind her where she left him.]

... Hope?

Comments

[craggyshores.livejournal.com]

He's probably not here.

[Says the random eighteen year old in that doorway over there!]

[astracera.livejournal.com]

[She turns and stares at him, eyes narrowing.]

What's that supposed to mean?

[craggyshores.livejournal.com]

It means you came here.

[He gestures vaguely around them.]

And he didn't.

[astracera.livejournal.com]

[She glances around for a moment.]

Are the Fal'cie behind this?

[craggyshores.livejournal.com]

The what now?

[His bored look is replaced by a curious one!]

[astracera.livejournal.com]

[Her brows furrow, looking at him like he's a complete idiot.]

... I don't have time for this. Just point me in the direction of the exit.

[craggyshores.livejournal.com]

There isn't one.

[He pauses, then shrugs a bit.]

Sorry.

[astracera.livejournal.com]

[She pulls her gunblade slowly and threateningly back out.]

No exit, huh?

[craggyshores.livejournal.com]

Yeah, as in we're all stuck.

[Emphasis on the "all" there, eyes narrowing as she draws her weapon. His hand drops to his side, ready to summon his own if it becomes necessary.]

[astracera.livejournal.com]

[She pauses at that. Her weapon is drawn, but not raised, and she just narrows her eyes right back.]

If the Fal'cie aren't behind this, who is?

[craggyshores.livejournal.com]

I don't even know who or what "the Fal'cie" is. And as far as anyone knows? This place itself is behind it.

[astracera.livejournal.com]

[Lightning growls in frustration, apparently not very happy with that answer. She spins on her heel and turns to stalk down the hall.]

Guess I'm taking the whole place down then.

[craggyshores.livejournal.com]

...what.

[Okay, he has to hear how she's planning on doing that, so he follows.]

[astracera.livejournal.com]

You heard me.

[Stalking off down the hall.]

[craggyshores.livejournal.com]

How the hell are you planning on taking down an entire realm?

[Yep, totally following. He figures she can handle herself, but if she ends up running into Heartless, there might be trouble anyway.]

[astracera.livejournal.com]

There has to be something behind what it does... I'll find it, take it down, and get the hell out of here.

[craggyshores.livejournal.com]

Then I'm coming with you, because otherwise I'm going to end up feeling guilty when you inevitably get lost and eaten by Heartless or something.

[astracera.livejournal.com]

[She shoots him a dirty look.]

I don't need help, kid.

[craggyshores.livejournal.com]

This place is literally endless. It's a maze, and you haven't even been here for a day. I'll happily let you do all the damn fighting if that's what you're getting pissed off about.

[astracera.livejournal.com]

I don't care, I have to get back to Cocoon. If I don't, I'll--

[She had turned to face him as she said this, but when she stops short, Lightning frowns harder and turns away.]

If you're not up for it, stop following me.

[craggyshores.livejournal.com]

I've got nothing better to do.

[He's not going to let her go alone. She seems perfectly capable, but there's always a chance this place will decide to fuck with her sense of direction or something. He's got the ability to access the Corridors, and if she gets lost, he can get her back to "civilization".]

[astracera.livejournal.com]

Fine.

[Is all she says before heading down the hall looking around.]

[craggyshores.livejournal.com]

[He'll follow silently, wondering why this place is so fond of bringing really stubborn people in.]

[astracera.livejournal.com]

[She's silent for a long time, just looking around, peering into doors every now and then, before she glances over at him.]

So what's your name, kid?

[craggyshores.livejournal.com]

Isi. Yours?

[He doesn't appreciate the "kid" comment from a stranger, being eighteen, but he's not going to make a fuss over it.]

[astracera.livejournal.com]

Lightning.

[She stops walking suddenly, looking off in the distance with a concentrated expression.]

[craggyshores.livejournal.com]

What.

[Why did you stop. Did you realize the stupidity of this.]

[astracera.livejournal.com]

[She's silent for a moment before heading off towards the room in front of them, just down the hall a ways. And no, it's not just dark down there, it's crawling with heartless.]

Is there a power source to this place?

[craggyshores.livejournal.com]

Not a set one. There's no generators or anything, if that's what you're asking.

[Oh. Great. Thanks for that, Lightning. He's summoning Soul Eater finally in preparation.]

[frostedwaters.livejournal.com]

Are you looking for someone?

[astracera.livejournal.com]

[She spins around to look at Kairi, giving her a once over before speaking.]

A kid not much younger than you, silver hair, about this tall--

[She makes a motion referring to his relative height.]

-- He was just here.

[frostedwaters.livejournal.com]

I didn't see anyone, sorry. You're not... a new arrival, are you?

[astracera.livejournal.com]

That would depend on my location. This isn't where I was before, that's for sure.

[frostedwaters.livejournal.com]

You're in the dressing room. People wind up in here all the time and from all different places.

[astracera.livejournal.com]

So why didn't he?

[She crosses her arms, looking all but pleased.]

[frostedwaters.livejournal.com]

I don't know. It takes some people and not others... and sometimes it takes people from the same world later than others. It's hard to predict.

[astracera.livejournal.com]

[She frowns hard.]

So he might not even be here at all?

[frostedwaters.livejournal.com]

Yeah. But he might wind up here later, you never know.

[astracera.livejournal.com]

[Lightning sighs hard, pretty much groans, really. She still sounds everything but happy as she turns away slightly and crosses her arms.]

So we're stuck here for good?

[frostedwaters.livejournal.com]

Mhmm. Sorry, but that's how it's always been.

[She looks sympathetic, at least?]

[astracera.livejournal.com]

Huh.

[She frowns hard, just lost in thought.]

[frostedwaters.livejournal.com]

You'd be best to find a place to stay, since you're going to be here a while. There are plenty of empty rooms.