[Action -- Cafeteria]

[rebellingheart]

Seriously? [Rinoa puts the newspaper down next to her partially eaten meal with a disgusted look.] A traitor walks among us? What happened to giving people another chance?

[Maybe she'd have to send in a strongly worded editorial of her own at this rate. That's what freedom of the press was for after all, right? Shaking her head, she reaches out to pick up the paper again.] If anyone should be complaining about Seifer being here it's me isn't it? So why does it feel like I'm the only one who's really willing to give him a clean slate?

[The question is addressed to no one really, but feel free to answer it anyway. Those who know Rinoa will soon realize that all this is mostly bluster to hide the fact that underneath it all she's terrified. The latest news from Galbadia hits entirely too close to home for Rinoa after all and instead of dealing with it she's just going to just push it aside for later.]

Comments

[whiplashings.livejournal.com]

[It'd been a while since she'd seen Rinoa-- not so much because she'd been avoiding the raven haired girl, but rather the SeeD didn't attend the classes which took up a majority of Rinoa's time, and also because Quistis had been away for the past several weeks on a mission to Esthar. She was in the cafeteria grabbing a plate of salad for lunch when she spotted the long dark hair a ways away, and decided to peak over for a greeting.

As she walks over, though, it's obvious that the younger girl is under some distress. She can hear the muttered words, and they cause Quistis to stiffen slightly. Nonetheless, it's probably a matter they should discuss, and she tapped the surface of the cafeteria table with a finger to catch Rinoa's attention.]

Do you mind if I join you?

[rebellingheart]

[Rinoa stopped avoiding Quistis a while ago thankfully and had more or less tried to forget the entire reason she'd been avoiding the SeeD in the first place. So when Quistis shows up at her table the smile she gives the other is as real as she can manage given the situation. Which is to say it's convincing unless you know her really well. Too bad Quistis has been around Rinoa long enough to know her pretty damn well by now.]

Of course. I didn't realize you were back yet, it's been a while.

[whiplashings.livejournal.com]

[And indeed Quistis can tell that the smile is a bit forced, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out why. She still remembers that ridiculous blurb in several past newsletters in regard to herself and Squall, and while she still didn't believe Xu when she recounted what had happened that night, Quistis has done everything in her effort to keep the relationship between Squall and herself purely professional. In fact, she hasn't spoken to him recently at all, other than the day she had received orders to head to Esthar for a mission.

She slides the tray onto the table before situating herself into the seat across from Rinoa, giving her a small smile, albeit a hesitant one.]

It has, hasn't it? How are things with you?

[rebellingheart]

[The sad thing is that it actually has nothing to do with Quistis as much as Galbadia being stupid jerks. Though sure, the whole issue with Squall certainly isn't going to help matters any, but it's honestly not the issue anymore for the most part.]

My classes are going okay, though I think I'm going to regret taking math and chemistry at the same time before too long.

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

What's between you and Seifer?

[Snow doesn't think anything of asking that question. Snow has barely noticed the world outside darker blue eyes at all for a couple of days, so the fact that he's actually in the cafeteria is probably connected to the owner of said eyes reminding him to eat. Anyway, the point is he's clearly floating about a foot off the ground, metaphorically, as he leans on a chair across from her curiously.]

[rebellingheart]

It's complicated?

[She's honestly not sure just what to tell him on the matter, because it really is that complicated. It's not like she could just sum it up as him being a maybe somewhat of an ex who tried to sacrifice her to a crazy sorceress after all, right?

Thankfully, he looks all too easy to distract at the moment, something she's totally fine with taking advantage of.]

You look really happy. Did something happen?

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

[She could. Snow has a low threshold of belief.]

[And a radiant smile.]

My fiancee, Serah -- she's here!

[hotpinkwhirlwind]

[Surprise! Another tray gets plonked down on the table in front of her.]

Because people are idiots.

[Sharpay gives Rinoa a searching look as she sits down.]

You okay?

[She picks up a fry and looks at it with a little distaste. Ugh, cafeteria food, one of the things she didn't miss about Garden.]

[rebellingheart]

[They'd probably butte heads a little at the beginning, but Rinoa's really glad to see Sharpay now.]

Sometimes it feels that way.

[She manages a half smile, putting the paper back down yet again.]

I've been better? Things just seem like they keep going from bad to worse lately, that's all like this missile thing. Once was more than enough, I'd rather not have to go through that again.

[hotpinkwhirlwind]

[Sharpay nods. While she'd never lived through a war at home, she'd certainly learned a lot about the wars here.] Hopefully you won't have to. It's so unfair that you got... [She searches for a word, then settles on:] compressed to a time like this.

[shops-a-lot.livejournal.com]

[Bulla slides in beside Rinoa at the table as she speaks.]

It's probably because he walks around talking about using people as 'target practice'. But I get the importance of second chances. My dad wasn't a very nice person when he was younger...and if the guy who became his best friend years later didn't give him a second chance, I wouldn't be alive right now.

[rebellingheart]

I'm sure he'll grow out of it. [Rinoa looks up and offers Bulla a tired smile.] He's not that bad really. I wouldn't tell him I said this, but he really does tend to be all talk.

[She nods.] People make mistakes and I can understand how he could have one the things he did and thought it was right.

[shops-a-lot.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can't say that I take "the List" too seriously.

I think he deserves a second chance and a pin to deflate that ego of his.

[There's a little wink as she adds]

...me beating him in an arm wrestling match might have been a start to that ego deflation.

[Particularly since at 5'0", Bulla was even shorter than Rinoa.]

[fierybluebird]

Oh? What did he do to you?

[A little tense because second chances is all well and good, but somethings are unforgivable. If someone asked him to give Teach a second chance, Marco might actually drown them.]

[rebellingheart]

I'd say it's complicated, but something tells me you wouldn't be happy with an answer like that.

[The price of having big brother types, they actually seem to want to know what exactly is going on in your life. Who knew?]

It's kind of a long story and it's not all his fault either.

[fierybluebird]

I'm all ears, and I'll try not to judge too harshly.

[eggplantallergy]

Why would you have the right to complain about Seifer? [Just happened to walk past and overhear Rinoa talking to herself, which isn't always healthy.]

[rebellingheart]

It's kind of a long story. [And one that she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to rehash right about now. Though maybe clearing up a few things about what happened might be for the best in the end.]

[eggplantallergy]

Long enough not to tell? I can take a hint, though. [Wry smile.]

[turnip-rage.livejournal.com]

[]

Second chances are earned, not given freely.

[rebellingheart]

[Looking up, Rinoa levels a less than happy look at Espio.]

And who's right is it to say that he's earned that chance? Yours? Chessy's?

[turnip-rage.livejournal.com]

Garden's students, maybe? I wouldn't be too impressed either if someone who tried to kill us all and destroy our home suddenly turned up on our doorstep and asked to live with us.

If there's one thing I can not put up with, it's betrayal.

[]

Besides, he wants a second chance, he should act like he wants one. Not start insulting and outright threatening other cadets.

[lostmyhyperion.livejournal.com]

[OOC: My turnnnnnnn~ feel free to assume this takes place well after the last thread.]

Never thought you'd be the one to take that article seriously.

[And he doesn't care. He's not going to bother trying to defuse whatever situation is already going to spread and occur. Simply put, what's happened, happened.]

[rebellingheart]

[Well if it's not the most talked about man of the hour. Squall's probably grateful that it's not his name Chessy's dragging through the mud this time.]

I didn't either, until I found out that sometimes she actually knows what's going on. [Like with the whole fiasco about Quistis in Squall's room.] Even then, a bunch of the cadets do take it seriously, so what else could I do?

[Rinoa just doesn't like the idea that people will start judging others on what they've supposedly done. It's a a touchy subject for her after all considering some of the things that had happened.]

[lostmyhyperion.livejournal.com]

Could have at least gotten the facts straight. A traitor is one thing...

[And he told he wouldn't bring this up with her, but it had to be done.]

The Sorceresses are another thing. Hardly anyone here would have the guts to stand up to one of them if they knew exactly what they're capable of.

[Of course. The cadets. He didn't care much for them in the first place, nor did he care enough for defusing this situation.]

Just let them think what they want. If they're incapable of finding out the truth from the ones who were there, I don't see why you need to reassure them of anything that didn't happen.