Final Fantasy VIII: The Twilight Hour

Saga

Saga

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The White SeeD ship bumped lightly against the dock, swaying a tad more than Elizabeth would have liked as she leapt from the prow and onto the wooden planks that lead onto the beach. She sighed softly, her eyes rising to rest upon Edea's Orphanage. How long had it been since she had set out to discover the mystery surrounding Esthar? She could not remember. A good three months at the very least. Tearing her eyes from the building before her, Lizabeth raised a hand to the SeeD behind her.

"Take care of the ship. I'm going to report to Matron," she said with a flick of her hair before sprinting up the beach.

Stopping momentarily at the doors, Elizabeth took a steady breath. Slowly she pushed open the doors and strode into the building. Children were playing here and there, and a few young faces turned to her with beaming smiles. Elizabeth knew a few of them, though a couple were new. Giving them a soft smile in return, she moved to where she knew she would find Edea.

"Matron, I have come to report my findings."



==============================================


Xu stared at the paper before her, her eyes closing as a head moved to her forehead. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she cursed the headache that was slowly creeping into her brain, trying to remove her concentration as she wondered what to do about the reports she had recently recieved. Maybe she should ask Squall, but then, Xu was usually the one who dealt with the paperwork, leaving him free to command the SeeD.

"Tch..." she tutted, closing the pages and covering them before taking another sip of the now moderately warm coffee sat before her. "I'm going to need more of that..."



(Remember your PM's guys ;)) Also, don't expect the RP to move fast.)
 
Christiane was in the first floor lobby, near the directory. She was leaning against the wall meditating to herself about what events will happen for the day. She aced her SeeD written exam and was awaiting her field exam.

Christiane was happy, even though she did not show it. Her friends were already at lunch, and were happy that her friend passed and would join the ranks of SeeD soon. As Christiane's beaming crimson eyes looked up into the early morning sky, she knew that things are about to change, whether for the better, or for the worse...
 
Rinoa ran her fingers through her hair and sighed. Yet another SeeD field exam was creeping up on her, and she always worried about them. Things could go wrong, people could be hurt, and Rinoa didn't like that. Squall and Quistis assured her that nothing would happen, as the fully qualified SeeDs who accompanied the cadets would take over if needed... but it didn't stop her worries.

She turned around with a small shake of her head to push her thoughts away. Crossing the room to the closet, she opened the door and quickly switched her pajamas for her usual attire, adding her necklace last. The rings clinked together as she adjusted the chain, and she turned to the window next to her. Rinoa reached up and flicked the curtains back, letting a fair bit of light stream into the room. She looked down at the bed where Squall was still sleeping, and sat carefully on the edge of it before starting to shake him awake.

"Squall," she said softly. "It's a bit late..."
 
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Squall felt the soft touch on his shoulders as he awoke.

"Squall," Rinoa said softly. "It's a bit late..."

"Wha - What time is it?" He asked as he sat up slowly. Looking round the room he noticed the light streaming in through the open window...

"Is today... the SeeD exam?" Why he had asked he had no idea, he knew it was, that was why she had woken him. He was supposed to see them off along with Cid. If it was getting near that time already he would have to go to the lobby.
"That can wait" He thought to himself.

He looked at Rinoa. Over the last three years he had slowly gotten better at reading her emotions, only her mind you, he reminded himself...
"You look worried, if it's about today you should just relax OK? I've told you there won't be any problems, there is a full team of SeeD's on hand to take care of anything that happens, besides I know one of the recruits," He placed his hand on her shoulder, "Is a half decent fighter, she was by my side through everything that happened three years ago after all."

He lifted himself out of bed and got changed into his usual attire. Despite his outward encouragment this day always got to him too...

If something did go wrong, if there was an accident, he knew he'd have to deal with it, and he could still remember the first serious incident since he became SeeD commander, he wouldn't allow that to happen again, not when someone so important to him would be out in the field today...
 
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"Patrolling" the cafeteria, Seifer and his gang walk around the cafeteria. He watched the other garden students eating and chatting. He wondered to himself if they truly forgave him for his actions three years ago. Then he realized that none of them had the balls to voice their opinion otherwise. He wanted to ask one of them, just for the hell of it when....

"STOP. IT" Said Fuujin

"Stop what?" He said, confused

"THEM. STOP ."

"You can tell?"

He considered it before he went on patrolling the cafeteria. Then he decided that he would just prove his worth somehow instead of pondering about such things. He knew that he had the power and skills to show that he could be properly inducted among his garden peers again, but he did not know what he could do. His first thought was to battle one of them and remind them of who he was. That idea seemed simple, but might not work with the garden in it's current state. Then he just stopped thinking entirely and began to dwiddle his Hyperion.

"Watch that thing, Boss! You could hurt someone, ya know?" Said Raijin

"And?" Said Seifer with a smirk

"We should start something...."
 
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Stephen lay on his bed, the Single bed in his Seed Quaters wasn't very comfortable, and it wasn't the double bed he had hoped for. he was in his black jeans, but had nothing on his top half, Staring up at the roof, Stephen's head was filled with thoughts of past missions, he was always trying to improve his skills. he sat up, and slid his feet off the bed and placed them on the floor. Looking around his small room, Stephen's eyes stopped on the Starfang, and thoughts of his father ran through his head.

"I'm sorry i wasn't stronger dad" he muttered as he stood up and walked over to his cupboards, pulling a white vest out he slid it on over his head, he grabbed the sword and it's sheath from the rack, he slung the sheath over his shoulder, the strap sitting diagonally across his body, he then spun the sword around a couple of times and slid it into the sheath.

"well, Seed Exams are comming up, i wonder If he was going to be supervising somekid hopeing to be a Seed, he also contemplated if the Kid or group of kids would be good enough to join the Seed, Stephen had supervised two Seed Field Exams before, and so far, he had a 100% uneeded record. the people he was supervising were strong enough both times, Stephen was sick of supervising. He wanted some action for himself, he wanted to fight, and not sit on the sidelines.
 
Dashing through the Garden, Zell was late once again to the Cafeteria, if he didn't hurry he'd miss out on the Garden's delicacy of hot dogs. Charging down the Cafeteria corridor he practically launched himself at the counter "Any hot dogs left!?" he was then greeted with the hot dog stand... Empty. "Oh nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not again!" before the Cafeteria lady could try to entice him with the barely-passable-as-food Garden lunch Zell made for the exit when he caught sight of Seifer. "What you doing? You know having your sword out in a crowded place like this is dangerous! You trying to hurt someone? Fujin, Raijin, why haven't you said anything? Aren't you part of the Disciplinary Committee?"
 
Irvine paced through the training centre until he found what he was looking for, a comfortable rock. His gun was in his right hand, trailing just above the ground as he inspected the rock. It was slightly mossy and when he sat down on it his feet touched the ground quite comfortably. He took off his jacket and placed it on his lap, he spread out his knees so as to provide the largest possible surface area without causing himself discomfort.
He lifted his gun onto his jacket and slowly began to dissemble it, taking it apart piece by piece and meticulously polishing and cleaning every part. More ritual than a necessity now, it gave him plenty of time to think. Despite all the changes and the many friends he had made since leaving Galbadia, some parts of his life were still solitary. The burden of the final shot was still his and his alone perhaps he purposely burdened himself with extra responsibilty so that could become stronger, but he doubted this was true. Without having a desire to focus his thoughts on any one thing in particular, a myriad of thoughts flew through his mind, none occupying him for more than a couple of minutes and none that he would be able to recall later. When his task was completed he felt an urge to justify his actions, to kill a few monsters. However he easily suppressed his urge as he was in no mood to kill a few monsters just to prove that what he had done had been worthwhile. Having done away with thoughts of action, Irvine decided he would enjoy his inactivity. He was not wanted elsewhere today and the training centre was just as good a place for doing nothing as anywhere else. He got down from his rock and sat infront of it, his legs stretched, his back resting against the rock. He pushed the brim of his hat down below his eyes, he let out a long sigh and began to relax.
 
Edea turned to view Elizabeth. Dressed in a long white dress, she stood up from where she was speaking to a boy and girl who had managed to stain their clothes with dirt and grime.
"Matron." Edea Kramer smiled softly at Elizabeth. "You always insist on calling me that." She looked at the kitchen. "Can I interest you in some tea before we start your report. I find a hot beverage always helps after a long trip such as your's.
 
Selphie stood on a ladder setting up the stage with one of the quad members. She reached to stretch a streamer on the top of the metal bars. The next Quad concert had to be particularly good this time! "Raise it higher!" Selphie called down to him as the small student struggled to raise the ribbon.

Finally with much frustration Selphie descended the ladder. There was no way just the two of them would be able to decorate the stage for the upcoming performance. "Where is everyone else?" Selphie asked the student. "They know it's time to help with the committie today!"

The small male student looked worried. "They're all studying for the SEED exam." he said softly.

"Oh yeah I forgot!" said Selphie. "Aren't you supposed to be taking the exam too?"

"I figured I'd stay and help out anyway." said the boy. "I'm too clumsy, I'll probrably end up failing."

"Do I have to tell you the story of my experience passing SEED again?" sighed Selphie. "There's nothing wrong with being a little clumsy now go and study with the others!"

At this the student left her and Selphie began to look at the decorations for the concert and remembered the ball for the SEED passing exam had to be decorated too. "There is simply no way I can get this done by myself." she sighed as she began to climb the ladder again, scissors and streamers in hand.
 
"What you doing? You know having your sword out in a crowded place like this is dangerous! You trying to hurt someone? Fujin, Raijin, why haven't you said anything? Aren't you part of the Disciplinary Committee?"

"Calm down, Chicken-Wuss. Don't get your panties in a bunch. I'm just bored...."

"Yeah, the boss knows what he is doing. He won't hurt anybody, you know?"

Seifer, not waiting for a rubuttal, walked away from Zell. He was immensely bored and wanted something to do. He decided he might as well start some trouble, as it was a little too peaceful in the cafeteria and he already had his Hyperion out and all. He thought to himself that maybe he could start a big enough fight to garner a lot of attention, but who to fight? Then he realized he had just walked away from a certain wuss who was one of the heroes of the battle of Ultimecia. Walking back to him, he realized that Zell might be the same old wuss, which would mean he wouldn't accept his proposal, so he just went on his way, performing sword slashes to the air.



 
"It's an affection," Elizabeth responded to Edea and smiled lightly. "That would be great. The folk on the ship don't always make very good tea and eventually, you start to lose your desire for it."

Elizabeth followed the older woman, her heart heavy with the report she was about to deliver. She hated failure, and the fact that this brief was not going to contain all the information she would have liked to have gotten weighed on her. Montague hoped she was not about to disappoint Edea.

She lent against a wall and toyed at the collar of her uniform. "It's not good news, I'm afraid."


=================================================


Xu allowed her eyes to drift from the folder before her to the little communication device laid beside it. She had several of these. One for Squall and Nida, not to mention Quistis, Irvine, Seifer, Zell and Selphie. She had yet to give Irvine his. Xu was fond of these tiny devices, for whilst she could easily use the main intercom to give orders or summon people to her, it was sometimes far easier to talk directly to that one person.

Picking up the device that linked her to Nida, Xu sighed softly.

"Nida, can you come up to the office? And bring coffee.... I have a feeling we're going to be needing it."

Setting the piece aside, her fingers tapped lightly on the desk. She had to wonder what Squall was doing. Hopefully reassuring Rinoa about her SeeD exam. Xu closed her eyes. If things were a dire as the report seemed to indicate, Rinoa was going to need all the help she could get.
 
Nida paced back and forth on the control deck. He stopped briefly to glance out the window over the open fields surrounding the Garden. He was eager to get behind the wheel again, so to speak. Piloting the garden was very relaxing, especially out on the open water.

It had been awhile since the Garden had been off the ground. The technicians were now in the process of checking the controls to make sure everything would still run smoothly.

"Nida, can you come up to the office? And bring coffee.... I have a feeling we're going to be needing it."

Nida smiled a bit at Xu's remark. She was undoubtedly poring over paperwork as usual. He had always admired her fierce dedication to her work.

The two technicians were still fiddling around with the controls; they'd probably be there for a bit longer. He walked over to the elevator and took it down to the first floor; he then trudged down the long hallway to the cafeteria.

It was crowded as usual. He spied Zell on the far side and waved at him. He appeared to be in conversation with Seifer and the disciplinary committee. What a joke those guys are, he thought to himself.

At the lunch counter, he ordered two coffees and paid for them. He had to maneuver carefully through the throngs of students standing around, trying not to spill the hot coffee. His hands were burning by the time he got back to the elevator. He took it up to the Headmaster's office.

Xu was seated at the desk. The look on her face clearly showed that she was uneasy about something. He wondered if it was related to today's SeeD exam. He approached the desk and set the coffee down in front of her.

"Is something troubling you?"
 
"I'll see you in a couple of minutes." He said to Rinoa as he left the dorms.

Squall had only just woken up and was desperate for something to eat and drink.
"I'll head to the cafeteria..." He thought "I might even see Zell at this time." He walked around the garden greeting people as he walked past them. As he reached the entrance to the cafeteria he heard a noise behind him, someone had dropped some books...

As he had looked over his shoulder to see what the noise had been, he had noticed Nida heading towards the elevator with two cups... "Probably going up to see Xu."

He headed into the cafeteria and was less than surprised by the sight that met him.
Inside Zell was standing in the middle of the cafeteria apparently having some sort of arguement with Seifer, who was wandering around with his gunblade in his hand...

"Seifer put it away..." He knew he had to sort this out before something happened. "You'll only hurt someone if not."
 
Stephen headed out of his dorm and down the corridor, he wasn't sure what he was going to do for now, he had nowhere to be until he got summoned to be given the mission brief. Stephen wasn't really paying attention to where he was going, he just let his feet carry him, when he finally thought about it, Stephen was stood in the Quad, looking at Selphie who was working away on the concert decorations.

he smirked and leant against a wall, he would have offered to help, but he didn't want to, Instead he stopped leaning on the wall and then headed over to one of the benches, he sat down and pulled his sword from his back, Stabbing the blade about wo inches into the floor and then leaning back on the bench.
 
Around this time, Christiane's two friends heading from the field, her classmates and closest friends while at Balamb Garden.

"Hey Christi" said the short, white haired Garden student. Her name was Augustina, or "Tina" for short. She was a spirited young girl from Balamb, if she would be compared to the heroes from three years ago, she'd be more like Rinoa. Her weapon of choice was a pair of Smith & Wesson M29 .44 Magnum Revolvers.

Christiane looked down and saw Tina as well as her second friend, Luna, and said, "Hey, are you ready to take the Field Exam today?"

"You bet!!"

"Don't get carried away Tina, or you'll hurt yourself"

"Luna", full name Luminara, had personalities between Tina's Entusiasm and Christiane's Stoicism. She, like Christiane, is a martial arts expert, but her weapon of choice are Knives. Luna carrys multiple knives, the fewest of which Christi saw her use was 6.

Tina spoke up, "Do you think we will be in the same team, Christi?"

"I doubt it, but whatever the case may be, all of us better make SeeD, understand?"

Both of them nodded, and did their salute before the three laughed. Tina and Luna both headed towards the Caferteria, leaving Christiane alone on her thoughts again.
 
Selphie worked away, putting up tables that would be used there for the nights ball. Her work load couldn't get any more tiring. Table after table she sat up. She began to sing while she worked. "Work work work awaaaay!" she chimed.

Suddenly she spotted a man sitting on the benches by the quad. He looked smug to Selphie and seemed satisfied having watched her work without offering to help. "Hey!" shouted Selphie as she spotted the blade sticking out of the floor. "That's damaging school property!"

Selphie walked over to the student trying to keep herself calm. "Well? Aren't you going to go prepare for the SEED exam? If not I've got a job for you!"
 
"Seifer put it away..."

"Or what, you gonna make me? Maybe you could be the fun I have been looking for. Being in this damn cafeteria for so long is making me agitated."

Seifer pointed his gunblade at Squall. He was secretly hoping and excited for a reaction from Squall. This would be their first battle in three years and he wanted to see if Squall had improved any more. He realized that the cafeteria was not an ideal battleground, but where else could he go?

"Wanna dance, Mr.SeeD? Or are you scared you might set a bad example for you subordinates? Must be hard to have to be their role model, their Leader"

The other cafeteria students began to take notice of the little confrontation, all waiting to hear Squall's reply....
 
(OOC: thanks for being pacient guys. Also, this first post will be more of an introductory initiation than anything else)
_________________________________________

Arukab had his Gunblade in hand. He had gone to the training center to kill some time mainly, but also to further imporve his skills. Traing was always a good thing, and sometimes he would pick up something he saw another student doing, and at the same time, try and share his combat knowledge. His age had never stopped him from learning, some of these kids had much potential and some would hopefully grow to be stronger than him. A lot of the SeeD's are ones he admired most, because he knew, the could best him given a certain situation, but no battle is 100% certanty.

He had lost before, several times, but he stuck to his efforts and made his way to being a mercenary, and due to this part of his past, he admired others like him, and liked to encourage kids to stick with their practice, for even failures can succeed.

Arukab was fighting a grat, trying hot to inhale the various pllens it emited. He ran torwards it in a curcular motion, something he learned from a few SeeD's back in the day. With this he followed up with a Powerful slash to the center body of the plant-like monster and watched it fall. Others were doing simalar, and he enjoyed the sight of kids training and becoming strong.
 
XU


"Is something troubling you?"

Xu rolled her shoulders and peered at Nida with her large eyes. Her hands moved to cup the coffee he had placed on the desk, warmth seeping into her fingers, slowly moving through her tired body as she let out a small sigh. "Thank you." She said quietly, closing her eyes for a moment and allowing herself a single second of uninterrupted self peace. As her eyes fluttered open, Xu smiled at her comrade.

"You up to flying this thing this afternoon?" she asked him, moving the coffee and flipping open the folder. "Location will be Trabia. Seems some troubles come up there but our reports are a little sketchy." Rubbing her forehead, Xu hefted a much deeper sigh. "I'm a little hesitant to use this for the SeeD Exam... but we don't really have a choice."

She rose from her seat, took a small sip of the scalding hot coffee and placed it back on the table. "I just hope this lot of cadets are ready..." she gave Nida an almost pleading look, as though she was searching for comfort in his deep eyes. "But I have to believe in them."
 
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