002 || [Action / Video]

[punching]

( Action | Sigyn House )

[Well, something's definitely not right. In fact, something's very wrong here. Very wrong indeed.

Anyone who resides at the Sigyn house might feel a slight disturbance in the Force air. The structure itself may even literally shake a little as huge booted feet storm up the walkway and onto the porch, although... as soon as Snow gets there, he halts in his stride, simply pulling open the door and entering. He's been there before, after all, it's not like he's new to the place. He doesn't need to be an intruder, even with his heart pounding the way it is.

You see, he's lost something very important to him. Something that was once in this house. And he's not going to believe it until he's questioned every person in his path, left no stone un-turned... you get the point.]

--

( Video | Later that evening... )

[Once Snow's recording starts, there's the glimpse of a bed beneath him, a few haphazard things scattered on the floor. Obviously, it's his bedroom. And he's slumped a little, gloved fingers idly toying with something shining and translucent he's holding in the opposite hand.]

Hey.

[He's not looking at the camera at all, gaze focused instead on that very bauble he's holding onto. The thing's cupped in his big hands like it's something fragile and living that could be easily broken to pieces in his strong grasp, or snuffed out, like a flame.]

Just thought I'd let you guys know. I dunno when she left or where she's gonna go now, but Serah's gone.

[And he leaves it at that, reaching to click off the feed, not once meeting the video with his eyes.]

Comments

action.

[notheroic]

[ She notices the stomping and she doesn't actually... avoid it. In fact, she thinks she might follow it. People in Sigyn are usually much more mild-mannered than this. So she's just going to approach the source of the stomping and give him a concerned look. ]

Are -- are you alright?

action.

[punching]

[At this point, the stomping is really nothing more than the fact that the feet pacing restlessly around the corridors happen to belong to a huge 6'7" man. But he stops when the girl approaches, glancing over at her – his face is definitely not even the slightest bit as intimidating as the rest of him might be.]

Yeah, I'm lookin' for someone who lives here. Do you know a girl named Serah?

action.

[notheroic]

I'm sorry - I don't -- I'm sure I've seen her around before, but I've never actually talked to her... [ She frowns. ] I'll keep an eye out.

action.

[punching]

Okay. [He looks a bit disappointed, but there's plenty of people in this house. Surely someone has to recognize her.]

She's about your height, usually puts her hair up on one side. And she should have a necklace just like this. [Slipping a finger beneath one of the silver chains around his neck, Snow lifts the pendant for emphasis, something that resembles a miniature globe with a large chasm in the center.]

[Action]

[lethechained]

[Naminé doesn't fail to notice the stomping as he comes up the stairs and stops in her own, less violently made tracks, glancing toward the door with a mix of confusion and concern. It... sounds like someone isn't in a good mood. When the door opens, the girl is still standing within view of it, and she blinks at Snow as he steps inside the house, watching him cautiously. Hello there, very... large and unhappy gentleman.]

[Action]

[punching]

[And unfortunately, very large and unhappy gentleman doesn't even see the little blond girl, too lost in his own thoughts... at least, until he nearly trips over her.]

Whoa!

[With an awkward, apologetic smile, Snow stops in his tracks.]

Sorry. You okay?

[Action]

[lethechained]

[Naminé is not quite expecting to nearly be tripped over; the sight of him headed her direction triggers a freezing up that ensures that she's both in his way and not prepared to remove herself. She blinks up at him and that smile, eyes wide and uncertain. Well, he's... apologizing, anyway. She works out a fragile but hopefully convincing smile.]

It's-- alright...! I'm fine.

[video]

[whatagoodgirl]

Snow? [She's never seen him looking so... small. So utterly shrunken.] Are you o - no, of course you're not.

[A pause.]

Do you need someone to talk to?

[video]

[punching]

[Blinking, he sits up straight then, fingers curling around the thing in his palm.

Probably should have expected people would answer back, Snow...]

Oh, hey. [He attempts a little smile.] Guess if you're up for it. I need to get out of this room, anyway.

[video]

[whatagoodgirl]

You don't have to do that. [Meaning the smile.] If you're sad, you can be sad.

I'm in 805, if you want to come up here.

( action. )

[brightens]

[ All of that bigness and stomping around could only be one person, and rather than being startled, Vanille is worried— she hasn't seen Serah around in a few days. Which is why she darts out of her room and down the stairs to the main hall to meet him. ]

Snow..!

( action. )

[punching]

[Snow turns when he hears Vanille's unmistakable voice. He might've been more polite with the other house guests, seeing as they're little more than strangers, but the desperation is written all over his face.]

Vanille! I'm lookin' for Serah. When'd you last see her?

( action. )

[brightens]

I-It was a few days ago... [ It's not like she blames him for a lack of small-talk— this is important! ]

Um— why don't we look around? I'm sure if she's in the house we'll be able to find her if we work together!

[titties]

... Dammit. They have people come and go like it's nothing.

... Sorry.

[punching]

No kidding.

[Snow's brow creases in a frown, though it's obvious it's not directed at the young man who's addressed him.]

Well I'm not accepting their definition of "nothing".

[titties]

That's the spirit. I'm not about ready to let them get away with this, either.

[Action.]

[aeterno_arma]

[Laurent was heading to his room, his dog Hunter by his side, when he noticed the other man storming inside. He doesn't know every single person at Sigyn's but he talked to him before and Laurent is pretty sure Snow doesn't live here.]

Mr. Villiers? Is there something wrong?

[Action.]

[punching]

Oh, hey there. [Snow stops when he's addressed, flashing a hurried grin the youth's way.] Just 'Snow''s cool, all right?

[Action.]

[aeterno_arma]

Alright, sorry. Force of habit. [He gave him a shy smile.] Are you looking for someone?

[struckout]

[ Whether Lightning managed to somehow catch wind of Serah leaving them behind before or after Snow did... well, does it really matter? What it all boils down to is simple: guess who else is utterly crushed by a certain young woman's disappearance?

She's not too far behind his journey to and invasion of Sigyn district's welcome hall- just long enough to catch him right as he's leaving. There's an odd look on her face, as she stands outside amidst the lingering ice on the ground- an expression caught in the limbo of waiting to hear the confirmation of bad news... yet desperately hoping that it's not something that's ever going to come. ]

[punching]

[He eventually wanders out of the house, his face looking rather defeated and forlorn. Looks like they're back to square one as far as Serah's concerned. He'd kept it together pretty well while interacting with the house's occupants, but as soon as he's set foot back outside a fist's slammed into one of the rails.]

No...!

[Lightning's imposing figure then makes itself known at the corner of his eye. Snow looks up – right now she looks anything but imposing. He wanders down the stairs in her direction, jaw firmly set, a hand slipping into his pocket to clasp the crystal he's always held dear.]

No sign of 'er.

[struckout]

[ It's true- she's hardly intimidating at all right now, as the gaze that was locked on his face as soon as he appears drops immediately, lashes veiling her eyes as she aims them at the ground instead. His reaction upon coming out of the house was answer enough, though: they might have had Serah here for a little while, but now she's gone.

And-- might as well just stab her in the chest already. Her heart is hurting, and while it's not quite as bad as it had been that first time, when the girl had turned to crystal and Lightning had been sure she was gone for good... it's awfully close.

Because for all her displeasure at being caught up here, she'd been grateful in a way too- for the opportunity to see her sister again, talking with her-- just being with her, even if they were still somewhat separated by being in different Houses. It was better than not being able to see each other at all. It was better than being separated by the boundary around the Unseen Realm and the entire length of time itself.

Of course it wouldn't last forever. Lightning had always known that- knew that it's up to her sister to change the future of their world in a way that she can't touch... but she had never wanted it to happen so suddenly. ]

video

[selfestheim]

[Hope recognizes the look on Snow's face; it's no stranger to him at all. the feeling of losing a loved one, of losing one of the most important people in your life... it's one he knows very well, and one he's still coming to terms with. he almost asks "are you okay?" but he knows what the answer to that is; it'd be pointless to say something like that. no one is ever completely okay when something like this happens, no matter what they might say.]

Are you sure she's gone?

[... he's aware that it might be a stupid question, but it's better than the other. plus, he doesn't want to jump straight to assumptions. his name is Hope, after all.]

video

[punching]

Yeah. [Snow reclines back against the wall his bed's pressed against, folding his arms behind his head with a sigh.] Believe me, I looked all over the place, tried callin' her...

[He shakes his head, giving a strained little smile.]

Never even got the chance to introduce you to her properly, huh.

video

[selfestheim]

... I'm sorry.

[he gets the nagging feeling he should probably pass on the same sentiments to Lightning soon, too... but right now, he's talking to Snow, and he needs to be here for him. Snow had done him the same favor so many times before; it's time for him to return that.]

It's... it's fine. I mean, if she showed up once, then... there's nothing saying she can't come back, right?