Dreams CAN come true! [Lobby | Open]

[gunblade-grrl.livejournal.com]

[Maria manages to make it past the front gate, the checkpoint, and into the Garden proper --]

[And then it's too much. Her bag drops from her hands with a thump as she just stares upwards, left and right and all around, at everything.]

I'm finally here!

[Wedding vows have been spoken with less rapture; worlds have been saved and villains cast down with less satisfaction.]

Comments

[sweetapple-seed.livejournal.com]

Well, you sure sound mighty excited to be here! Sends most people's heads into a spin, first time they get here.

[]

[alwaysanarcher.livejournal.com]

[Wow, someone's enthusiastic. Cissie can't help smiling a tiny bit, even if she's currently more than a little miffed at Time Compression.] Welcome aboard....?

[eggplantallergy]

Yes, you are! [Smiles brightly to her before looking to her in confusion.]

So...you're new?

[moirailcompass]

[Nepeta had made a habit of spending some time in the lobby each day. It was where all newcomers would pass by, after all, and if another troll were to appear she didn't want to miss them.]

[She had kind of been drifting off into her own thoughts, so when Maria lets out her exaltation it starts her and she nearly falls from the bench she was perched on.]

Eheh, wow, you're the furst purrson I've seen so excited to be here.

[gunblade-grrl.livejournal.com]

[Drawing her fists up to her chest, she presses them together to keep all the sheer glee from erupting.]

I've wanted to be a SeeD since before I can remember! And now here I am! In Balamb Garden! This is the happiest day of my life!

[gunblade-grrl.livejournal.com]

[Oh! There are other people here! She quickly and furiously debates if she should salute, but... wouldn't a faculty member be more formal? She settles for grinning broadly.]

Thank you! I'm very glad to be here!

[gunblade-grrl.livejournal.com]

[Oh! Is this a SeeD? Should she salute? Making a good impression was paramount! Maria inwardly frets for a good few seconds before deciding against it.]

Yes, fresh off the boat.

[gunblade-grrl.livejournal.com]

Of course I'm excited! I'm --

[She's turned to LOOk at the person addressing her, and Waaaagh! NOT HUMAN!]

[But that only lasts a moment! The letter had warned her, after all. If being a SeeD meant accepting weird people and offworlders than so help her she would.]

I've always wanted to be a SeeD. Being here is a dream come true for me.

[focusedfate.livejournal.com]

[Cid can't help but crack a smile at her enthusiasm.]

Welcome to the Garden, Cadet.

[alwaysanarcher.livejournal.com]

[That smile's contagious!] Need any help finding anything? I wouldn't mind showing you to the dorms or cafeteria or whatever.

[gunblade-grrl.livejournal.com]

[Uh-oh! He's got to be a SeeD, maybe even an Instructor! Maria fumbles over herself for a moment before straightening her spine, finding her stance, then delivering what is honestly a fair approximation of a SeeD salute for someone who just started.]

Thank you, sir!

[There's a pretty unsubtle element of 'recruit at basic training' in that recitation. Also why is he so tall, she's gonna get a neck cramp...]

[gunblade-grrl.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, please! I should probably put my things in my dorm...

[Hefting the bag back into her hand, then onto her shoulder. It makes the muscles in her arm (especially her forearm) stand out.]

[focusedfate.livejournal.com]

At ease.

[She certainly didn't seem to be an off-worlder... To know the SeeD salute before even really getting settled in was unheard of from those who didn't belong here.]

You are from this world, I take it?

[gunblade-grrl.livejournal.com]

['At-ease' translates into a lowered hand but no less stiff-backed a posture. She is putting every iota of herself into looking like a good cadet. Or what she thinks is a good cadet.]

Yes, sir. I'm from Dollet, sir.

[Of course most people on this world wouldn't know the SeeD salute either. But Maria isn't most people. (She is a raving fangirl.]

[focusedfate.livejournal.com]

Dollet.

[Cid thinks about this for a moment before nodding his head. He had not traveled there yet, but he recalls the location on a map.]

I trust your travels here were without issue?

[gunblade-grrl.livejournal.com]

I --

[A slump and a lot of the fire gone from her voice. She swallows hard. Damn it, she'd DONE her mourning already.]

Dollet was in a pocket of time compression when I left, sir. The boat ride here didn't -- didn't feel like it, but several years passed outside the boat, sir.

[focusedfate.livejournal.com]

Time compression? [He frowns slightly at that.] Then all the better that you arrived here safely.

[He studies her for a moment; physically speaking, she looks to be alright. Perhaps a little rest would restore that spirit... ?]

Shall I assist you in settling in?

[moirailcompass]

[Nepeta was a little use to that reaction, and really, she couldn't fault the other. When she had first come here she had spent a lot of time staring at all the humans too.]

[Nepeta still didn't understand entirely what beeing a Seed meant, but it was obviously very important to this person]

Well congratulations then!

[alwaysanarcher.livejournal.com]

[Cissie arches an eyebrow, but figures it's probably better to not say something just in case.] No problem! I'll take you to the dorms and then we can swing by the cafeteria for some hot dogs.

[hums thoughtfully] What's your room number?

[gunblade-grrl.livejournal.com]

[Thank you for saying nothing. She is sensitive about her Popeye forearms.]

[She checks her letter really quick.]

B117.

[gunblade-grrl.livejournal.com]

[This is about all it takes to win Maria over: supporting her dream.]

Thank you! Are you a cadet too?

[gunblade-grrl.livejournal.com]

[Eep! Wait? What?! A faculty member offering to help?! But -- awp!]

[Oh yeah, that flustered embarrassment showed.]

Oh, I'll be fine! Sir! I-I wouldn't want to take you away from your duties!

[eggplantallergy]

You must have had a long trip then!

I'm Gakupo. [Bows to her before standing upright.] Welcome to Balamb Garden! Did you get a letter from the Headmaster?

[gunblade-grrl.livejournal.com]

[Maria makes a surprisingly game effort at a SeeD salute.]

Very long. And yes! [She produces said letter from a pocket.]

[eggplantallergy]

Ah...I'm not a SeeD, so you don't need to salute to me! [Nervous smile. Maybe he should get used to it?

Looks at her letter.] It's just as long as mine was, I think. [Thinks] I can't really remember. It's been a while.