Bolton's Office Hours

[theoverseers]

[Want to chat with Bolton privately? Here is where you do it! Bolton's office hours will be held in conference room B in the library for approximately four hours in the morning several days a week. During that time the blinds will be drawn and that room will be off-limits unless you're there to talk to Bolton, though the other three study rooms will still be available for use.


Comments are screened for privacy.]

Comments

[bylight]

[If her choking on her next sip of coffee is any indication, no, Lightning does not regret. She had no idea that there was clothing tighter than those suits they woke up in.]

A-At least you didn't attach it to his legs.

[theoverseers]

[Okay now that makes him laugh.]

Then you would both have had a hard time walking. And, well, the jokes would write themselves.

[bylight]

[Bolton]

Haha. Whoever gave him that sabotage is going to get their ass kicked. He might not be the revenge type, but I am. That was too dangerous in a lot of ways.

[theoverseers]

I mean I know he's a sword-only fighter but he's still pretty skilled at combat. If somebody came at him to try and kill him like that, thinking him vulnerable...he could definitely kick their ass enough to escape. You can block with it, pull it up right across someone's neck to go for the sleeper hold, all kinds of things.

He'll be fine.

[bylight]

[Unless they aim for the legs.]

Then what about Jane? She's practically blind. And those mittens don't make good boxing gloves.

[theoverseers]

[That's true too]

She's a little young to be seeing that much of Xander.

And if anyone knows how to kick someone's ass with oven mitts on, it's that one.

[bylight]

She's not that young.

[Sixteen is close enough to an adult. In some places. Actually, who knows. Each universe/world/dimension is different.]

You're going to keep counter-arguing with me. Which makes sense since you seem to know more about us than we do ourselves.

[theoverseers]

Maybe right now. But once your memories come back, you'll be fine.

[bylight]

It just comes at the risk of someone else dying. This experiment... How can you go along with it? Isn't it wrong?

[theoverseers]

[His grip tightens on his coffee cup, and he speaks quietly and with his head tilted down.]

If we could solve this Jamie's way, I'd be all aboard. But there's something at stake here for me, too.

I can't say more than that.

[bylight]

[That is an admission Lightning hadn't expected. She nods and sips her coffee.]

I won't ask. Neither will I tell the others about this conversation. You'll be bombarded with questions and complaints otherwise. I'll just tell them you make damn good coffee.

[theoverseers]

[He does brighten a little at that, although he still looks pretty damn tired.]

Thanks, Lightning.

Don't give up on each other. You guys are the ones with the power to change this experiment.

[bylight]

[Bolton needs a nap.]

Right. I just have to think of a way to get everyone to stop-[Waving of the hand.]-being so adamant about not wanting to play nice.

[If six people can band together to take down the equivalent of gods, why can't people here get along?]

[theoverseers]

Hah, well good luck with Togami.

[That kid's sworn loyalty to one person and one person only]

But if anyone can bring this group together, it's you and Xander.

[bylight]

Togami is the Champion Survivor. He'll be fine without us.

[He's also a dick.]

You mean Xander. He's the leader of this outfit. He can use Yurika to encourage people and keep up the morale.

[theoverseers]

I mean you and Xander.

All jokes about romance aside, that kind of chemistry is rare. Two people from totally different worlds... Sometimes, the hard part about finding someone who holds you up and makes you want to do better, is knowing that at some point you have to let go.

[Maybe he's referring to her deal with a god and her Bad Decision re: her sister, maybe he's not.]

It's something to think about. Hold onto it while you have it.

[bylight]

[Gods, it's irritating and a confirmation that this is what is going to and is meant to happen. Lightning is quiet for some time before she replies.]

There is no romance, I can tell you that. Just two people trying their damnedest to save as many people as we can. I know in the end that I'll have to go back home and I won't see anyone here ever again. It's for the best. [The next memory regain is going to make this all the harder.] All I can do is help them how I can and pray that they can all return home.

[theoverseers]

[Bolton's quiet for a long moment, like he doesn't quite buy it but isn't going to fight her on it either.]

You mean more to them than you know.

I'm just saying- Nobody forgets the people who went through hell with them, even after they go home.

[bylight]

[Good, because come hell and high water, Lightning might get violent if it goes on.]

So some of them keep telling me. [..........] If they find out what I've done back home, being forgotten would be a mercy.

[theoverseers]

[Kiss the prince, Lightning]

You made a mistake because you're human. So what if it was a pretty big mistake, scale doesn't really matter here. What matters is that you want to make it better. That's what makes you different from bastards like Twiright.

You made a mistake out of love. You're what holds your universe together now... or something like that, right? Honestly, I'd trust my soul with somebody who got the job because of how much they loved their sister over a manipulative Atlas just trying to get the world off his shoulders.

HOW DARE YOU

[bylight]

[If he earns it she might.]

Out of love... You're right about that. Not only Serah, but the family I made along the way. I'd do anything for them. [But just to make sure.] That doesn't leave this room. I have to keep some credibility with everyone here.

I don't even go here

[theoverseers]

[At that, he laughs.]

Between that and the coffee, it's a good thing Jamie would hang me if I suggested a secrets motive.

But don't worry, nothing leaves this room.

[bylight]

You're not bad, Bolton White. Definitely a lot less sappy than your partner.

[Light will down her coffee before doing her best to get up.]

I'll get going. [Placing the cup on the desk, she'll casually let herself skate out the office, taking one last look back.] Thanks. Staying here will be a little easier now.

[And she's gone.]