One of the interesting things about the FFVIII world is the way that the pasts of the main characters is connected... but the connection between Squall and Rinoa's pasts kinda creeps me out.

Julia and Laguna had a budding romance, although when he disappeared after the Lunatic Pandora mission, she ended up marrying General Caraway. Anybody ever think about what might have happened if they had somehow not been ripped apart by war?

In a weird way, Squall and Rinoa potentially could have been siblings. I mean, obviously, they wouldn't have been the same people considering the lack of Raine and Caraway's X-chromosomes and the family environment and the specific traits that were passed on, blah blah ad nauseum, but it's still kinda freaky.

Obviously the creators had used that connection to foreshadow as well as build the significance of the eventual intersection between the two family lines, but despite it being their intention to heighten the romance, it doesn't lose the creepy pseudo-incestuous aspect to it.

I dunno about that last bit... incest is pretty odd no matter what the circumstances.

Out of curiosity, was there ever an established timeline to dispprove that Rinoa and Squall AREN'T related?

...That would be creepy. Really creepy.

Well, it's known for certain that Rinoa's parents are Julia Hartilly and General Caraway. The only lineage slightly questionable is Squall's, although it is pretty clear that his parents are Laguna and Raine. In any case, they would have ended up in the same place if they were siblings (either in the orphanage or with Caraway in Deling City).

But just the "if" part of it creeps me out.

I cant remember exact bits or quotes, but during the course of the game it does confirm that they arent actually brother or sister, or even half bro/sis. It does let onto the fact they could've been related though, which is where this thread comes in. It is kinda weird, but hey, thats FF for you!

I guess you have to view it in such a way as the story lays it out. For example, if they were related, they would be very unlikely to be the same people as they were when they met.

Worst case scenario would be that they were in actual fact half brother/sister, in that Julia and Laguna might have a relationship at some point, the real question with that would be, is the age difference between Squall and Rinoa enough for that to have been able to have happened?

I think it is safe to believe the writers did not decide to make them related in anyway

incest..... is weird.
SO weird.
No matter what,incest is weird.
Now,i think that even though Julia and Laguna would´ve had it going,there is no proof that Julia woould've popped out exactly Squall and Rinoa.Maybe,if Squall wasn't there,the whole story woul have drastically changed.
Am I right or am I right?

Well, obviously if they'd been together Squall and Rinoa wouldn't exist in the same capacity (due to the lack of Raine and Caraway's X chromosomes) but I'm just saying it's conceptually weird.