shiningworld | 01 Round Fired § Action + Video

[The sight of the sand and sun and waves, usually tranquil in their quiet beauty, is interrupted by a figure dressed in black, laying half in / half out of the softly crashing waves. It appears unmoving, the shallow rising and falling of its chest barely visible to even the focused eye, un-phased by the encroaching tide. Only when the water moves higher, up the outstretched arm that dangles into the ocean, past the loosened tie and white blouse stained with dirt, grime, and blood, the miniscule remains of the wave just brushing against barely parted lips...

And the figure jerks, coughing and gasping for air, making sputtering noises of surprise, shock, and perhaps a touch of fear. Blonde hair shifts and moves as the body struggles to its knees, crawling out of the water and well away from its icy touch. Still gasping for air, a hand clutching tightly at the center of her chest, the other working the hair into its proper place.]

Tseng?

[Eyes, clearly exhausted from some unknown event or cause, strained as they shifted form one end of the beach to the other, grimacing as she struggled to her knees and then fell back, unable to muster the strength to get to her feet. Instead she tries moving a few inches across the sand, grunting as pain shot up from both her legs and shoulder.]

Tseng! Where are you?!

[Restless hands groped at her jacket, patting down every square inch, frowning at the discovery that her suit was cut and sliced in every which angle - how it stayed on her without falling into slices of fabric was beyond her - before making a noise of relief, a phone being pulled from a pocket. Fingers worked the keys, attempting to reach Reno or Rude - hell, reaching Rufus would work just fine - with no luck. Little does she realize she's turned on the video and she's broadcasting for anybody to see.]

Odin's Beard! Why can't I get through to anybody! And how the hell did I wind up on the outskirts of Junon?!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Um, no. I haven't seen anyone like that. But please, you shouldn't move so roughly, you might hurt yourself.

[Her heart sank, stomach knotting.] T-That can't be. We were together just moments ago...

[Her head turns this way and that, scanning the beach desperately to try and find her partner. Teeth grit together, a hand pressing to her head, fighting a wave of dizziness. Turning her attention to the young male beside her, her panic is clearly evident in both expression and tone.]

I can't...I can't just sit here! I have to find him! He's in just as bad of shape - maybe worse! You have to help me!

[He felt bad for her, that look in her face. Of course he wanted to help, but she wasn't exactly in the best shape herself at the moment.]

B-but, you're injuries--

.... [As much as she didn't want to agree, the boy was right. She was useless in this current state, what could she hope to accomplish without recovering some? Surely Tseng, who was much stronger and more resilient than she was, could manager without her for a little while. And who knows, maybe he got just as lucky as she was and was found by somebody.

Somebody not wanting to kill them, that is...]

...What's your name?

...I'm uh--Fletcher. [He had to stop hesitating about his own name, he doesn't have to lie anymore.]

C-could I ask yours? [It was good to know who you were helping, but he was still highly more concerned about her wounds and how much blood she may have lost. How long had she been out here?]

That's a good name. [Another wave of dizziness and she's struggling to sit upright.]

I'm....I'm Ele..na.. [How long indeed? Whether from heat stroke, anemia, or sheer exhaustion, she's having a hard time staying conscious and accidentally falls forward against his smaller frame, her head resting against his shoulder.]

[Oh! She was getting weaker by the second. He glanced at her head on his shoulder now and shook her gently.]

A-are you alright? Miss Elena?

...Nnngghh... [Eyes clenched before opening partially, eyes turning up Fletcher with an embarrassed, apologetic look.]

I-I'm sorry... I'm just...very tired...

[If only he were strong enough to carry her back to a cabin, she could rest there while he searched for a doctor.]

El..en...[his eyes were welling up with tears, why was he so helpless? But, nonetheless he wiped them away with an arm and gently lowered her down, desperately looking around for something that might slow, or even stop the bleeding. If she was somewhat conscious, she might hear]

...Stay here...I'm going to...[and he trails off as he stands up, wiping his face.]

[Oh, Gaia, she was so tired. Bones and muscles ached painfully, thudding up and down every inch of her body. Eyes clenched shut, forcing back a wave of nausea, feeling her world rotate, not realizing that she was being gently laid back until she heard the slight crunch of sand being pushed down behind her head.

An eye opened partially, seeing the terrified look of the boy who had found her, and felt her stomach sink. He was standing, he was...leaving her?]

W-wait.... [Her hand reached out, grabbing hold of the closest pant leg she could reach, fingers curling into the fabric.] Don't leave...

[Hm? What was--he looked back and felt the tug. Oh, she was still partially awake. He leans back down, looking at her sympathetically. He doesn't want to leave you like this Elena, but he doesn't want you to stay like this.]

But...I need to find a doctor, you're in pain.

... [Oh thank Shiva, he felt her hand on his pant. A short breath, unknowingly held, was exhaled. Her grip doesn't yield, the free hand pushing her slowly back up into a sitting position.]

I'll...I'll go with you, then. Just don't leave me here... [Releasing his leg, she continued to struggle to her feet, finally managing to stand despite the shaking in her legs.] If I can lean on you...we can go together...

[He immediately rushed to bring one of her arms on his shoulder to assist her stand and glances up at her.]

Miss Elena...a-are you sure?

[Its probably a good thing that she's as petite as she was, otherwise she might have knocked Fletcher over back into the sand. Resting her arm a little heavier than she had planned, she gave him a little nod, offering him a weak but assuring smile .]

I would prefer it. I....I don't want to stay out here...exposed...

[Not to mention he wasn't exactly very strong in the first place. Even with the fact that his own clothes had been a bit stained by now, his primary concern was getting Elena fixed up.

And that last part of what she had said worried him.]

Exposed? Is there something wrong with the air?

[Guilt would come later when she was in a safer place and she could see the amount of staining that her blood had left on his clothing. For now, she was more focused on getting herself somewhere safer, where she could actually relax.]

N-no, that's...not it. The sand is bad for injuries and....and there are some...people....who are mad at me.

[Mad at her? That was concerning, but he'd have time to ask about it later.]

There are some cabins around, you can rest there so you wounds don't get worse.

01 Round Fired § Action + Video

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