001 || dream a dream of me.

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

[Some dreams have some fluidity. They remain constant, with an overlaying theme - much like a storybook of the consciousness. Others can be sporadic, having no meaning, and easily shifting from one thing to the next. They can be serious, or strange. They can be hopeful, or heartbreaking.

Or... they could be Zack's dreams.

As it is, a deep, dark violet night sky floods the area. You might see quite a bit of snow, as if walking up a steep mountain, with the ice wind blowing through your hair. And right at the cliff's edge stands a man wielding a long, sturdy sword, resting safely upon his back. The weight doesn't seem to bother him in the least - if anything, he's accustomed to it by now, both hands on his hips as glowing, bright blue eyes stare off to the distance.

What could be he thinking about?]

Comments

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

--huh?

[He can tell just by the tea's tint that it changed without either of them touching it. He draws a gasp, his eyes widening at the sight, then turns back to his companion in stunned silence.]

...how'd you do that?

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

Didn't I just say it? Illusions. [She's not nearly the adept with them that some of the shitennou are, but she can do a decent enough job with something simple like this.]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

So... it's not really any different?

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[Ami gives Zack a sly look.]

That's why it would help for your lunches. Nothing brought in.

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

I've never even heard of doing any of this without materia. Think you'd be able to show me?

[If not, he could probably harrass Essai for a sandwich or two during this particular mission. In the short time they'd known each other, the kid was good at smuggling things past the higher-ups.]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[When he wakes up, he probably can't take it with him; and she can't teach her command of her element anyway.

But the illusions, those can probably be taught, if he has an aptitude for magic.]

Are you saying you're talented with magic?

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

You bet! I wouldn't be a First if I didn't know how to handle magic.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

A First? It must mean a high rank, but I've never heard it used that way before.

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

Yep. Means I'm one of the highest in my group, an' one of the best fighters. [He smirks about that, taking another sip of his tea.] Maybe I can teach you a thing or two sometime, yeah?

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[Her lips quirk upwards.]

You don't have anything to teach me.

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

Oh no? An' how can you be so sure of that?

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

I have confidence in my power. Shouldn't you already know not to take me lightly?

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

'Course I do, but everyone's got somethin' they don't know about yet. Heck, I've still got a lot to learn, myself!

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

If you're so eager to prove yourself, want to be my opponent? [She leans forward as though ready to set down her tea.]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

[Oh, now they were talking! Cold or not, Zack was always up for a good fight. So he sets his tea aside as well, cracking his knuckles.]

Well, if you don't mind. I'm not gonna go easy on ya just 'cause you're a girl, y'know. [He brandishes his sword with a grin, flipping it over to the blunt side to ensure he wouldn't be hurting her *too* much.] We'd better take it outside, though.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

You wouldn't be worth it if you'd go easy. [She wants a true, satisfying fight with her opponent's attention wholly on the battle.]

Shall I let loose, too? [Her lips curve upward with the thought. Apparently there's more to her than a few ice tricks.]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

Same to you! Wouldn't be much of a challenge if you went easy on me, either. [He starts moving towards the door, opening in with his free hand.] Shall we?

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[For her answer, she simply reaches out with her hand, low, as if gripping something; her sword shimmers into existence, even without transforming.]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

[Zack watches her a moment, holding his sword out in front of him. At first, it almost seems like he's ready to attack...

But then it's pressed to his forehead (http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u150/yuna_wings/Crisis%20core/ccsd.jpg), in a gesture of meditation.]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[She does not give him long. A fierce slash against the air releases a blast of her sword's energy channeled through the weapon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDxCjDuBVGg).]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

[The grin is there before she even releases the attack, using the Buster Sword to block most of the blast, but still blown back in the snow.

Once the attack passes, it's only a split second until he's already rushing at her, strong and fast and bringing his sword down with incredible force.]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[Though her weapon holds up far better than ice should, Ami loses ground quickly under the onslaught of a larger, built opponent. She has to think of something quickly to regain her footing.

Or his. Ice starts to form around Zack's feet. She expects him to be able to break it; but she hopes to still gain a few seconds to put herself in a better position before then.]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

[He was starting to slip a Thundaga materia into his holster when the ice began forming around his feet - or, one foot since the other is instinctively yanked away. Even so, it holds strong, and the SOLDIER finds himself momentarily trapped.

That's when he activates the materia, a hail of lightning bolts appearing seemingly out of nowhere above Ami - *towards* her.]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[It hadn't given her the space she'd hoped.

She releases her own energy again, against the thunder; it helps to drive off the brunt of the attack, but her uniform starts to show signs of wear, and she feels the unsettling electricity through her body. She coughs for breath, but keeps her feet.]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

[She's even stronger than he thought, which was a very good thing. He loves a challenge, and if she can provide that? Then they were off to a good start.

While she's distracted, the SOLDIER gets to work trying to free his foot from the ice. Even that's holding up better than he anticipated, however, and it's going to take some time before he properly gets loose. Until then, he can ward off her attacks in place, still clinging to that Thundaga materia.]