melodiesoflife | Back in Aquares Ixen and the aftermath... OTA

What: Lydia's finally settled back in Aquares Ixen, mostly, after evacuating and then time-travel shenanigans. Too bad she's not dealing well with it all.
Who: Lydia Deetz and open to whomever?
When: August 17-18th-ish onward.
Warnings: Teenage dramatics and angst? Potential actual angst?

Normally, Lydia was reasonable; fairly responsible and level headed despite her dramatic streak and creative sides, she was used to being the sane one compared to her friends. Too bad being the 'reasonable' one sucked a lot. Especially when she found out the most relevant and important parts of what had happened. The city had barely survived--Sephiroth had spared her the worst of the details. They'd been stuck in the past, and unable to save or fix any of it. Then stuck in stasis for 28 years, rescued by moogles...

And another one of her friends had gone into Crystal Stasis. She was touched, truly, and had cried that Mr. Makoto had left her the paintings he'd promised. BUT he'd gone into stasis, and she hated it. This was worse than the Empire--there, at least, she'd cried on the airship out only because they finally WERE on their way to something safer.

THIS? This was all too much.

She still hadn't gotten her things from Trano Golsaucia--Betel Po had gone to retrieve them. But the teen couldn't wait; too antsy, she didn't want to be in the city. Not like this, when there were too many memories and recent reminders. At least she waited until night, especially since she was now at the max of her Vampire job, and she had her dagger. She'd be safe enough, and if she wasn't? It didn't really matter as much to her right then.

Headed out of the city, only vaguely caring which direction she went in.

[OOC: She's heading East in the Ancient Caves direction, or South towards the Aquarean Forest. Feel free to pick either of these, as she'll probably try and get out a few times. She can't sit still right now, too angsty and antsy.]

Coming home, Lydia found her housemates in crystal stasis too. Betel-Po confirmed Nanami was safe and active, but there was no sign of Henry. It would probably make Nanami happy, as they could use the basement again--but it would need to be aired out. At least. Still, some sense had been talked into the teenager, so she rolled up her sleeves, got on some clothes to get dirty, and opened all the windows as she started hauling stuff out from the basement. She'd seen the mage with at least one hand and no owner, and probably a bag more, so who knows what she'll find.

[OOC: Feel free to help her clean/organize the house--aside from her room and Nanami's room.]

Once sense was talked into her, Lydia had reluctantly returned and stayed. Betel-Po had fetched her bicycle, things, and sword from Trano Golsaucia. He'd also given her a good scolding, then a hug, as she really was still upset. But she's at least putting that energy to good use now. Ferrying supplies to people, carrying lunches, whatever's needed as she's around town on her bicycle and using her need to be moving to good use now at least.

[OOC: Feel free to have her ferrying supplies via bicycle, ferrying food/drink to people who're working, or just almost be run-over by a bicycle. ^_^]

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Being one of the only other people with a bicycle, Manami also got roped into being a gopher if he stood still long enough. He really wanted to escape this whole situation that they came back to when they were rescued from crystal stasis, but no such luck. Tia was always there to make sure his time was full. (Which... maybe wasn't such a bad thing.)

Today it's just before noon and he has a bag slung over his back full of drinks for workers. It's heavy, but once he gets going it doesn't feel so bad. He just hopes he doesn't have to stop suddenly...

But sure enough, as he speeds through an intersection he's surprised to have another bike dart out from around a group of pedestrians. He grips the brakes tightly, swerving dangerously from the weight on his back shifting.

But it seems like he avoided the collision- he looks around with wide eyes and sees that the person he'd nearly hit was Lydia. Of course that part was no surprise- she is the only other one with a bike he knows!

"Ahh, sorry, Lydia-san. That was close."

Lydia is a bit more used to the weights and balance on her bicycle, since she'd used it while evacuated, to carry her stuff. But she's swerving dangerously herself, as her bicycle--for all it's made by MarKus and made well--is not the same as back home. "Wooooahh..." Gripping her own breaks, recovering and leaning into the swerving in a circle, as she comes around to face Manami, her eyes wide from the sudden shock.

"Manami-san! I'm sorry!" Adrenaline going through her, before she motions for them to get out of the main street at least. Once more out of the way, she kicks her break down for her bike, coming over to him.

Following her gesture, he also walks his bike to the side of the street. He then leans his bike up against a lamp post and takes off the heavy bag of drinks.

He hadn't really thought of it until seeing her again, but he was glad to see her safe after everything the Heroes had been through over the past month.

"Hi! It's been a while."

She's really glad to see him too, and that he's safe. Hopefully she's not taking him too much by surprise, as Lydia throws herself at him in a big hug. Holding on tightly, as she's already lost friends to Crystal Stasis and between that and the invasion and everything else...

Ok, so earlier she'd had her fits of anger and frustration, but now? As much as she'd kept herself distracted, she just was relieved. Don't mind her too much as she's latched on in a hug, and there are hints of a sniffle.

"Too long. Not fair, and I'm glad you're safe."

Nope- that's pretty surprising! Can't say he gets hugs a lot.

What to do? Ah, ah... Mmm. The sniffles especially throw him off. What is there to be upset over? He tries a pat to her back, like 'there there, there there.'

"I'm glad you're safe too, Lydia-san. You were in another city too, right? So it was fine."

The good news is, the sniffles are just that. A tighter hug, and then she's pulling back and giving him space. Trying to smile, but it is clear she's relieved.

"I was, but it's still reassuring. We lost more people to stasis." More quietly, hands in front of her. "I'm getting tired of saying goodbye to friends. It's almost worse, because they're not really gone..."

"Ahh... the planet is really good at keeping us here..." Unfortunately.

Although there was that rumour about a gun that could kill a Hero instead of putting them in stasis... but even Manami can read the atmosphere enough to know now is not the time to bring that topic up.

"Mmm. So, people are working you hard just because you have a bike too?"

"I volunteered. It's been helping keep my mind off other things. Mostly because I'm frustrated." Lydia hadn't done well in keeping her anger at bay otherwise, so better to be busy and doing things.

Especially more active things that tired her out instead of keeping her awake with her own thoughts. "You didn't have a choice, huh? At least you have a more modern bike. Not to complain too much, but it's been an adjustment. Even if MarKus is amazing in making this."

The edge of his smile tightens. He's frustrated too. And he couldn't even take out his frustrations like he normally would, by riding in the mountains all day.

"Nope, not much choice. Maybe Tia thinks that 'keeping my mind off things' by working is good for me, too." He jerks a thumb over his shoulder without looking and sure enough he points directly at Tia, who could be seen hovering in the near-distance. "Heh. She's been shadowing me ever since we got back." He likes the moogle, really he does, but it's been a bit much.

"I know what you mean about the bike, though! Maybe MarKus can upgrade it for you!" He hasn't heard much about it, but he's assuming that regaining things from home might be on hold if Jessie was the one always taking care of it.

"Maybe, but I don't wanna bother him with all the rebuilding." Lydia responded, waving to Tia, before giving her attention back to Manami. "I think we really scared our Moogles though, vanishing. I've never seen Betel-Po that serious, or that worried."

She should be getting back to work, but this had been nice.

"If we can get a chance to breath, we should find a good place to go riding. I need to keep in closer touch with my friends, like you Mr. Manami."

"Ohh! Nice idea, Lydia-san! I know lots of good places. Let's go soon!" He casts a faintly disgruntled look at his bag and grins at her. He supposes Lydia-san isn't going to let him procrastinate here for long. "After work, I suppose." His mouth fits strangely around the word 'work'. He's not much used to it, still.

Back in Aquares Ixen and the aftermath... OTA

In town

Re: In town

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