001; Home again. Or not. [Action]

[tempest_lion]

[There was a very confused SeeD Commander wandering around the Garden. He read the letter he as given. Read it three times even. But it didn't make any sense at all. Things like TIME COMPRESSION wasn't supposed to happen any more. They'd dealt with Ultimecia already, didn't they

Comments

[gunblade_grrl]

[Pity the poor Commander for running into the girl carrying a case that ought to be familiar to him; it is, after all, a gunblade case.]

[As for her... she stops and immediately snaps off a picture-perfect SeeD salute.]

[tempest_lion]

[Oh, he recognizes it alright. His own is leaning against the wall beside his bed.

And instincts make Squall automatically respond to the SeeD salute with one of his own.]

Careful with that.

[gunblade_grrl]

[Ah. So the rumors had been true. Time Compression had struck.]

[She swallows.]

Yes, sir. I'm going straight to the Training Center with them.

[tempest_lion]

Good. [Squall looks like he was going to head off on his own way...then something occurs to him.]

Not alone? [Because cadets really shouldn't be there alone...too dangerous.]

HEY ELLIPSIS BUDDY

[7_days_clapping]

[Walking around today, Neku suddenly became aware of a new adult walking around. Not very interesting on its own -- there were instructors wandering in and out at all times of day, it seemed -- but notorious in that Neku actually kind of vaguely recognized this one. Vaguely. If he had ever bothered to pay attention to anything, Neku might have realized that this was Squall Leonhart (the Squall Leonhart). But hilariously, he didn't remember any of that, so he's going to take note of the way Squall is looking around and approach on his own terms.]

New guy?

HULLO THAR~

[tempest_lion]

[It was actually a bit of a novelty and a relief NOT be recognized on sight. Directly after the final battle with Ultimecia it seemed everyone in Garden knew him, knew his name, the name of his gunblade, where his room is, etc.... (Whether all that information was actually accurate was another story altogether.)]

Not exactly. [He knows Balamb Garden quite well after all. Just not the version twenty years in the future.]

[7_days_clapping]

You definitely look new. [Such flippant disregard of the most basic of respect systems. Neku is a sinner indeed.]

[tempest_lion]

Things change in twenty years. [Squall is beginning to get a bit frowny with you.]

You're a new cadet?

is the Quad okay?

[yellowzippers]

[ One thing hasn't changed. Selphie is still clad in more yellow than anyone should be and walking around Garden with GFC papers in her arms. It takes a moment for her to spot him. But , when she does the papers tumble from her arms.]

SQUALL!

Perfectly fine!

[tempest_lion]

[And Squall immediately bends down to start picking them all up.]

Sephie. [He is very relieved to see her though, not that it shows on his face. A familiar and friendly face among all these people in the Garden he didn't know.]

[yellowzippers]

[ Have a super hug.]

You're back! O'my my gosh! YAAAY!

[ Squeezes harder. You are a a lemon in her juicer grip.]

Rinny is gonna be sooooo happy. I gotta tell her! Oh wait , you'll wanna do that, right?

[tempest_lion]

[Omph.]

Selphie. Air. [Because dying of asphyxiation is not on his list of to-dos.]

She's here too?

[rebellingheart]

~Sometime after his talk with Selphie?~[It's actually kind of nice being a SeeD. Any time not spent on lesson plans or missions is hers to do seemingly whatever with. It's actually quite relaxing after all the hustle and bustle of student life. Though man, thinking of herself as a SeeD will probably never stop being weird. Rinoa Heartilly, SeeD - yeah it just doesn't sound natural

[tempest_lion]

[Squall immediately hones in on Rinoa as soon as he heard his name coming from her lips. Selphie had said she was here, but wasn't very exact on her location. It was a relief to see her well, and he automatically opens his arms to catch her in a light return hug as she rushes to him.]

[And he did see the gunblade. But there are more important things to discuss first other than the change of weapon.]

Rinoa. You alright?

[rebellingheart]

[She didn't hesitate to settle against him, sighing contentedly as she absorbs the fact that he's really there. He's really there and there'd been no hesitation in holding his arms out for her, so its' like maybe evrything's okay between them after all.]

[Rinoa's honestly so busy basking in her happiness that it takes his question a moment to register. Oh wait, right. Answer his question, she can do that.]

I'm okay. I'm great! I'm just so glad you're back. I've really missed you, you know.

[She pauses, realizing something rather belatedly.]

Though I guess you probably don't remember that, huh.

[tempest_lion]

No. [Squall answers her comment with a short blunt one of his own.

Hearing that she's safe and sound, and being able to feel her warm body next to him settled some of Squall's worries.] I'm told I'm missing twenty years...but I don't feel like it. [Or really believe it for that matter. It hasn't quite sunk in yet.]

[endscenterstage]

[Oh look, it's one of those random new SeeDs! Sharpay throws off a lazy salute and smiles.] Welcome back, sir. [Oh, Rinoa will be so happy!]

[tempest_lion]

[Have a perfectly executed return salute back.] Thank you. You are...? [Squall will be both happy and relieved to find her safe and sound.]

[endscenterstage]

SeeD #64213 Covert Operative, Sharpay Evans; drama, and art and music appreciation instructor.