Thread: Learning How to Fly (ClearSight x Vawnie Bear)

Another day of subordinates looking at her with eyes full of disgust as they made their reservations about working under a L'cie known. Of course they didn't say anything aloud, she was still a rather decorated superior officer with a reputation that made her a favorite of the higher ups, but she could see it and that was tiresome enough. Silent disrespect and hushed tones were often more infuriating that anything else, especially to someone like Lightning, someone who liked to take things in a head-on manner and confront those she had a problem with. For her silence and private conversations were less tolerable. Yet that was the reality, the life she had been assigned by higher forces, a Pulse L'cie. It wasn't without its perks, gifts that allowed Lightning to become more fearsome than she had been before, but it also put her in the minority and a hated one at that. She was forced to be part of an exclusive club and the world hated her for it. Things had been so much simpler before. Then again Lightning had always been a loner, a soldier and a protector, looking after her sister before herself and not wasting any time making friends or cultivating relationships. In her profession her life was seen as perfect, it made her a more reliable and trustworthy soldier, dedicated and untethered. Yet when that loner lifestyle had become mandatory, when the entire world started pushing her away even as she retreated naturally, well it felt lonelier than it ever had before. Lightning didn't give a damn though, she powered through it all, made her own way as she always had and didn't let a single person stop her. Some days were worse than others however, and as time had passed she had turned to a particular comfort to help her on those days, and as of late nearly every day in between to some extent. Alcohol. Lightning was someone who could control her emotions and desires rather well, she prided herself on that matter. Yet drinking changed that, and while Lightning hated losing even an ounce of her ironclad control she needed the comfort a stiff drink could provide. The Dive provided her a place to do this, a place L'cie were welcomed, if being used as a marketing ploy could really be considered as such. It was a place she could always get in to, where she could get a discount on drinks, and that let her avoid a majority of the bullshit she received most other places. So she had done what she usually did after a long day, left and headed straight for The Dive, arriving before it began bustling with the night crowd, though not much before they all crammed inside, and found her way to a seat that was practically reserved for her most nights. She had been sitting there drinking for awhile, several empty glasses having been taken away, Lightning sitting listlessly as she tried to ignore the nauseating music and noise around her, finding the feel of the music to push against those walls of control with her usual solitude weakened by the booze. Nobody hit on Lightning at that point, she had been going there for awhile and after months of attempts and failures, some ending rather painfully for that occasional idiot, people had stopped trying. Hell people avoided her all together, letting the rose-haired beauty sit in peace and drink. And that was what she did, almost always in her uniform, blade and all. Her night was coming to a close however, she was inebriated enough and prepared to call it a night and head back to her home for a deep dreamless night's sleep. Yet a familiar voice called her attention and she turned to see Fang, a troubled look hiding just behind her features, the usual skill at which she hid her expressions dulled with the amount of beverage she had already consumed. Company? I'm quite sure I've done just about everything I possibly could to make it clear that is the last thing I want. Despite the intoxication Lightning still sounded level and fine, though her uncharacteristic gesture of frustration hinted otherwise. Besides, I was going to be leaving soon... A sigh escaped her lips, being cut off quickly before she looked back to Fang. Fang was a rather impressive woman as much as Lightning hated to admit it, a L'cie like herself and one of the few she believed strong enough to consider an equal. Of course she would never admit it, Fang's personality would bring with it too much trouble if Lightning ever fed her a compliment, as if she would in the first place. Then again, despite refusing to vocalize anything she had fought with Fang enough to have a slight admiration for her, as a fellow fighter, and she didn't mind her as much as she tried to make it seem like she did. In fact she found her eyes following Fang occasionally when they fought together, watching the odd grace and strength displayed. Light swallowed hard before cutting off her thoughts, shaking her head gently before taking a deep breath and trying to bring her senses back to a useful level, not an easy task in her state. She didn't get up though, regardless of what she said and had intended to do prior she didn't get up and leave Fang, instead she looked over at her, as if expecting something profound to spill forth.