witchesreign | [ action ] Ϟ [ 03 ]

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[ action ] Ϟ [ 03 ]

[ Regardless of what some off-world cadets may claim, it turns out that they actually don't brainwash those who become SeeDs. Therefore, even if one goes and gets hired on as part as the staff? There's definitely nothing that says they just magically forget about things that were known as a cadet.

Case in point: the 'secret area' of the training center, which may just become the location of a ~~rather unpleasant~~ surprise for anyone who dares to make a late-night trip up to the secluded balcony there- Instructor Claire Farron, leaning against the rail and looking generally... well, miserable, though as always she's bound to be trying to hide it.

Of course, how she ever found the place to begin with when she has no real friends is up for debate.

In any case, obviously she's not exactly in a good mood, and obviously, she's probably not doing much of this 'sleeping' thing recently. This extends to the day time as well, as anyone who's in her classes or currently being tutored may notice she's suddenly grown even more tense and prone to distancing herself... and if not that, then they should still be pretty hard-pressed to miss that several days ago she cut off most of her hair. The reason for that should be clear; she is not a fan of particular recent arrivals.

Good luck figuring out when she actually does stuff like shower or eat anything besides the occasional in-hand fruit now, although people are still welcome to try.... ]

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[ And Claire's not helping- she's used to silence and immune to the brand of awkwardness that commonly grows out of situations such as these. After a minute or so, however, it occurs to her that chances are the girl's going to eventually say something, and it would probably be best to preempt it... ]

Care to offer why you're out teasing T-Rexaurs past curfew...?

[ Easy topic, considering the enthusiastic rustling down below still taking place. The SeeD's voice, unsurprisingly, continues to be lukewarm. ]

AFTER curfew?!

[She looks around, horrified.]

Oh nooo, I lost track of time.

[ An eyebrow is raised as she glances back over. So dramatic, Maria. ]

As long as you're in the training center, technically, it's not against the rules. [ Pause for effect, as she looks away again, closing her eyes. ] Just a bad idea, considering classes start early in the morning.

[Dramatic, maybe, but she means it. She feels terrible about messing up like that.]

I'm sorry, ma'am. I'm just... [She lifts up both her fists.] Really enjoying this. All of this, but especially now that I can feel confident about coming in here without getting killed... and I've even got a GF Junctioned now. It feels like I'm almost a SeeD already!

I know I have a long way to go, it's too soon to feel like that, but...

[ Ah, to stare into the face of optimism, of someone who is absolutely certain of their future and looks forward to it...

Except Claire doesn't look over again. Right now she just... can't, because for her? Once this whole thing blows over and time compression decides to throw her back to where she belongs, her own future is clear-cut and extremely short in duration. She's a l'Cie with a specific Focus- bluntly put, commit murder six or so times over and then turn to crystal, or risk eternal suffering as a Cie'th. She might still be a lieutenant in name there, but her career and life are effectively over. ]

... You'll get there.

I know I'll get there. I am not going to fail.

[It's not just optimism, but determination. The absolute conviction to set a course and see it through, to make a dream come true.]

You know... I know a lot of people here don't like the off-worlders, but I'm actually glad for a lot of them I've met. I know that's... kind of awful, but a lot of the cadets here are amazing people, and the Instructors I've been training under are great. I think I'm doing better on my path like this than I would have if Garden has just been full of people from this world!

[That is, of course, a very oblique compliment. Still trying to cheer Claire up, even if that might have been a horrible choice of subjects. She doesn't know better.]

[ Yeah, Maria is basically fighting an impossible battle here. That sort of thing... is really not a compliment in Claire's view. "You didn't have a choice in being here at all, but I guess I don't hate you for it!" Not exactly gratitude-worthy material.

And usually Claire's wouldn't be too put off by it because she knows the girl just doesn't understand and probably hasn't really thought about it beyond how it affects her and all, but tonight... she frowns, dipping her chin towards her chest. ]

I see.

[Maria lacks all the context in the world. She can't know she's in the middle of a minefield.]

Ma'am, do you... like it here, at all? I know it's not your world, but...

[ And there the frown deepens, Claire falling into pointed silence- probably enough to tell the answer by itself, honestly, but after a few seconds she glances back over, her eyebrows drawn together. No context at all? She can fix that. ]

What would you think... if you'd spent all the time necessary to become a SeeD and, not only that, but you were specifically assigned to a mission that had to be done. [ She recrosses her arms, her gaze going down to the main part of the training center below. ] But then, instead of getting to do as planned, you woke up one morning and you were in an entirely different place- different people, different culture... and they all told you that it's impossible go back home on your own. That despite everything, despite all your training, you have to start all over from the beginning, at a school aimed towards a cause you've never even heard of.

... All of us 'off-worlders,' technically we have a choice but not really. There's no way most of us would be able to fit in well enough without help... and everyone here pretty much already hates or fears us anyway, so going at it alone is impossible.

[ She lets that hang in the air a moment, but doesn't change her position or tense tone at all. This is as plain and honest as it gets. ]

Would you want that?

[She bears that rant stoically. It, of course, isn't the answer she'd hoped for, but... at least she's talking. And that seems to be something she needs to do, the way she's been practically boiling over with rage.]

[Maria takes a moment to compose her answer.]

No, ma'am, I wouldn't. Of course not.

[But that hadn't been what she asked.]

I... do understand, a little. Time Compression hurts all of us on this world. It's still my world, but... I lost ten years. My world isn't gone, but the home I knew is.

Garden is still wonderful, though.

But... something must have been worth taking that extra step to become an Instructor? I mean, you could've just stopped at SeeD, ma'am.

[ She still really doesn't get it, in Claire's opinion. Of course... the woman kind of has zero sympathy for those at Garden affected if they managed to stay in the same world despite it anyway. And Maria's already thoroughly proven it hasn't gotten in the way of her own goals. ]

I don't dislike what I'm doing. I have my reasons, Cadet.

[ A touch of warning (and a dance of wording) there; she has little interest in getting much more personal here. ]

I just hope those reasons are something you like maybe a little. That's all.

[Nothing in that sentence that demands a reply or further explorations. She toys with the buckle of her gunblade holster where it crosses her side, before straightening up again.]

What I mean to say, ma'am, is that I've already learned a lot of helpful things from you, and I've improved because of it. I'm grateful for your instruction. That's all.

... Then I'm glad.

[ But her voice is flat, her face impassive as she stares up at Garden's lights and the sky above. It's a tricky situation, that's for sure. ]

[Awkward, awkward silence. Broken, perhaps inevitably, by an obsession, because Maria's gaze has drifted downwards to Claire's weapon.]

They didn't have... our sort of gunblades where you're from, did they?

[Our sort of course, means the sort that explode when you pull the trigger, not sensible double-weapons.]

[ Claire's in one hell of a terrible mood, but again, silence just doesn't ever bother her unless she personally feels like she's said or done something awry. She breathes a sigh through her nose at the question. ]

No.

[ And braces for what she assumes is going to be the next one: either just what the weapon is that she's carrying, considering it's not particularly recognizable when folded and holstered, or the whys or how long it took her to pick up the FF8-style version. ]

I wonder why that is.

[Surprise: no question, just curiosity. The weapon has such a fascination for her she can't imagine why so few others have chosen to learn it, or why it seems to exist nowhere else but on this world.]

[She draws one of her own weapons, just to look at it; her thumb absently rubs over the engraving on the blade.]

It's not very practical, except in specific conditions.

[ Blunt, but not mean by intention. Claire's just not one to mince words or dodge honesty though, even if... well, normally she'd at least have the decency to pad it at least a little when talking to someone like Maria.

But this isn't specifically a learning environment, and right now, Claire really doesn't even have the energy for something as simple as that. ]

[Oh, Maria understands better than Claire thinks; after all, the gunblade itself had been on the way out on this world till the SeeDs had used it to such effect against the Sorceress. Guns worked a lot better in most circumstances, but SeeDs tended to break the rules with paramagic and Junctions. Thing is, other worlds didn't seem that much different...]

Because it requires so much more training and practice than an ordinary sword, you mean?

... Because it's a sword in the first place. If there's nothing to fight that can't be defeated with something that doesn't require being in extremely close range, there's no need for that particular type of weapon.

[ Just a plain sword in Cocoon? Yeah, no. Just because a few of her superiors carry them doesn't really mean anything- they're only for show and ceremony, really. ]

That's true, but after meeting all these other offworlders, it seems like a lot of them still prefer weapons like that... or there's something that makes swords still useful, even if projectile weapons or magic exist.

[She's at least trying to think this out.]

[ Long breath in and then out. ]

Make that one of your projects then- when you're talking to 'off-worlders' and get the chance, ask if they commonly use swords and, if so, on what.

That sounds like a good idea! Thank you, ma'am!

[You did some... good? today? Well, anyway, Claire's given Maria an outlet for her enthusiasm that is vaguely productive...]

[ And Claire will definitely keep trying to aim Maria at productive things to use her energy on if she can. It's... in Garden's best interests, really.

She's silent for a few more seconds, but then finally looks back over at the girl, her answer a little softer toned than her usual. ]

Why don't you go and try to get some sleep before morning, Cadet.

[Because she can only hit grats with gunblades so many times before that energy needs an outlet.]

[She starts a little as she remembers the time and where exactly she is.]

Oh, oh, yes, of course! I forgot. Again.

[She starts to smile, then remembers her training and instead snaps off another salute.]

Thank you for your time, ma'am.

[And then she's heading back for the Training Center proper, like she's not tired in the slightest.]

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