Applejack: Stupid letter is stupid.

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

Now what is all this about?

[Applejack is in the Quad, leaning up against a tree and squinting at that letter she got, holding it at a distance as though it'll start making more sense that way.]

Well, would you look at that - darned thing's telling me all about time compression! Like I coulda missed hearin' all about that. And since when has Galbadia been on another world?

I know how I got here, and it ain't nothin' to do with no fancy time compression. Just good ol' fashioned public transport!

Comments

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

It's just a form letter, don't take it too personally.

[An amused Instructor happens to overhear, as he passes by.]

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

Well, howdy!

Yeah, y'see, I figured that much - but don't you reckon they outta put together another letter for us transfers?

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

To be honest, I don't think there are that many of you. From what I've seen at least, there are more people drawn here than coming here from this world.

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

That so? That's funny - I'd've thought what with Balamb bein' the only place to do the SeeD exam, there'd be a few more transfers. Unless they're all scared of y'all!

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

Balamb Garden has taken in a lot of people this world tends to fear.

How do you feel about Sorceresses, for example? People who can use magic? Not para-magic, but the real thing.

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

We-ell, I suppose I'd be a little scared - poor ol' Granny Smith, she remembers plain as day what the first Sorceress War was like! - but it all depends on the person, don't it? Not all sorceresses are like Adel, right?

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

Nope, not all of us. But sometimes all it takes is someone with powers you don't have, and aren't sure you can match, to make someone hate and fear you. And Balamb Garden is taking in a lot of people like that.

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

Are you sayin' you're a sorceress?

[]

Now see, that's mighty silly. There'll always be people different - why, it ain't just anyone who can handle a GF, for example. Why, my Garden never taught nobody how to use 'em. Don't go getting me wrong though - if y'all started shootin' fireballs at me, then I'd be scared. It don't even matter if it is para-magic in that case!

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

Well, not at you, but...

[He straightens up, then tosses a small black globe of nonelemental magic into the air, where it detonates harmlessly.]

Sorceress enough to nearly get killed when I showed up here.

So you're new here, but not to the SeeD program, I take it?

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

Whoo-eee! [] See, I can't tell the difference between that and plain ol' para-magic! Don't see no point in all the fussin' people are doing.

[]

Kinda. Galbadia Garden don't really train SeeD, you see? It's all mainly for the Galbadian Military, but I figured SeeD's more up my street. But if you're askin' me if I been at a Garden? You got it, sugarcube.

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

Hmm.

Galbadia sounds like it's been stirring up some trouble, lately.

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

Trouble? What kind of trouble?

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

A missile test right in the middle of peace negotiations, for one.

But you're here now, so hopefully that won't affect you at all. [He grins, rubbing the back of his head briefly.] Won't affect your course credit anyway!

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

Missile tests? I ain't heard nothin' about no missile tests!

[]

Well, I sure hope not.

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

Check out the newsletter sometime. They've probably got one in the library.

[He doesn't seem concerned. After all, they wouldn't have accepted her transfer if there was even a hint of suspicion about her.]

I'm Snow, by the way. [And he offers a hand.]

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

Newsletter? I'd better go take me a looksee.

[]

Oh! Begging your pardon, there, I gone and forgot my manners. Name's Applejack! A pleasure to meet you, Snow!

[]

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

[What he wouldn't give to see this girl meet Vanille.]

So did I, so I won't tell if you won't. [He flashes a grin and a wink]

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

No problem there! []

So, you're an "off-worlder", right? Never met me one of them before. Must be pretty rotten when I think about it, being dragged into a totally new place! You a cadet?

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't be the first time it's happened to me. I grew up on a world called Cocoon, but -- it's a long story, but I ended up on a world called Pulse. The average creature on that world made a T-Rexaur look petite, so this world really isn't so bad.

And no, I'm an Instructor. Martial arts. [He lifts a fist, as if that symbolizes the entire field of study.]

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

No kidding? Well, you'll have to tell us all about it when you get the chance!

So! Martial Arts, right? Wowee, guess that means I could be in one of your classes! I'm part way through the advanced course myself, I was hoping to carry on with it after I transfered! O'course, I got a bit to catch up on, what with the time it took packing up and getting myself here.

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

All right, I'm always glad to see another student. We're in free-spars this week, so if you can work it out this semester, I can take some time to make sure you're caught up.

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

Why, that's sure decent of you, but I really can't impose on your free time and all. I'll just check out the training centre and see how I get along!

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

It's not an imposition if I offered. I'd rather see you up to speed, and besides, I could think of worse way to spend my free time.

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

Hm... well, if you're sure it ain't gonna cause you no problems and all, why not?

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

I'm sure. I'd enjoy the chance to not do paperwork, for that matter.

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

Well then! How about I go settle myself in a bit, then we can spar later? I only got here barely an hour ago!

[haha-steelguard.livejournal.com]

You got it. [He lifts a fist in something of a salute.]

[noble-pride.livejournal.com]

Many new cadets have been off-worlders in recent years.

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

[]

So I hear! But it don't explain why I got this here letter - I'm sure I ain't no off-worlder, and Galbadia Garden must've sent all my old paperwork over! Not like I popped up outta nowhere!

[noble-pride.livejournal.com]

[He is indeed! But he's willing to be polite. She seems polite enough.]

It was likely an error on their part. Were you assigned a sponsor as well?

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

I figured as much...

Sure I was! See here? []. My family's kinda short on cash right now, so I gotta rely on the sponsor program for a bit.

[noble-pride.livejournal.com]

That may be the source of the error, then. Sponsors are automatically assigned to off-worlders.

In any case, welcome to Balamb Garden. I am Instructor Byakuya Kuchiki. I teach some of the bladed weapons classes.

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

Us "natives" get sponsors as well, so I'm sure that can't be it, but, well, I'll just be letting it go no matter how darn silly it is.

So you're one of the instructors? A pleasure to meet you! Name's Applejack - I don't think I'll be taking your classes, I'm more interested in martial arts, but it's good to meet people anyway!

[noble-pride.livejournal.com]

Sponsors are assigned to native cadets who require them. Off-worlders require them by default, having no family or friends to rely on when they first start out here.

[Byakuya nods.]

Then you'll be in class with Instructor Villiers. I am going to be teaching a seminar on calligraphy on Saturday the 12th, but it is not a class offered for credit at Garden.

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

Calligra-what? That's the fancy writing thing, right?

[noble-pride.livejournal.com]

That is...one way of describing it. It's an art form focused on writing.

[bratbeyond.livejournal.com]

You're probably the first native to get that letter in a while. [Don't mind Damian; he was just on his way to the Cafeteria for an extra treat] Huh. Guess even they slip up every now and then.

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

That right?

[]

Well, I guess it can't be helped, now, huh? Something a bit more personal-like might've been better, but I suppose this'll do.

[bratbeyond.livejournal.com]

Sure sounds like it. [shakes his head] So where're you from?

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

We-ell, you probably never heard of it over here in Balamb, but I come off of Sweetapple Acres, an apple orchard just an hour's travel out of Timber.

[bratbeyond.livejournal.com]

Never heard of it period. [can't help smirking slightly] I'm not even from this world.

[He's pretty used to passing off for a native by now and it's obvious from how he confidently looks at her.] Bet it's pretty schway, though--we don't get much trees back home.

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

Not much trees? Why, that's a shame if ever I heard one - you from a big city?

[bratbeyond.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Neo-Gotham's like one of the major cities in my country. It's mostly skyscrapers and cars and advanced tech, so there's not much room for nature.