The Arms Hotel, Room Number Handwavey, Late Saturday Morning

[angelo_wings]

Rinoa was curled up against Squall, not bothering to wake up just yet. They'd had a lovely picnic last night with Karla and Warren, albeit unexpectedly, and there were no classes today. She really ought to be working on her political science homework, but she

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[whateverknight]

Squall woke as soon as she had moved, and he was already reaching out to take her hand to comfort her. Something was wrong -- VERY wrong -- with the psychic bond that had been growing between them, and he didn't like it one bit. "What is it?"

[angelo_wings]

"It's gone," Rinoa said, squeezing his hand like it was a lifeline. It should be. It was supposed to be. But the answering warmth of his bond in her mind was gone. She had no tether.

"Everything. Everything's gone. I can't --"

She lifted her hand, concentrated, and tried to cast a simple ice spell at the foot of the bed. With her free hand, she gestured ....

... and nothing happened.

"Everything."

[whateverknight]

Squall watched in horror. Something -- or someone -- had stolen her Sorceress powers? How could that have happened?!?!

He pulled Rinoa close. "Don't worry, I'll protect you. We'll get to the bottom of this. It's probably just..."

Fandom weirdness.

But instead of those two simple words, a whole story spilled out. "Okay, so you know how the island is sort of sentient, right? And your powers are amazing, but they also kind of scare you and worry you and keep you from ever being able to relax properly? Well, see, what probably happened was the island saw that we'd come back to visit, and decided to give you the gift of suppressing your powers, so that you could better enjoy the weekend."

[angelo_wings]

Rinoa had been relaxing. Until that.

She pulled back out of Squall's arms and stared at him.

"Okay," she said. "What's going on with you?"