[Action] • Arrival

[socialdisaster]

[Squall hadn't known what to expect after defeating Ultimecia, but suddenly standing in the Garden library had been furthest from his mind. He read the letter that was lying on the desk in front of him, but scowling at it wasn't going to help things make more sense, so he's now walking briskly through the hallway, heading for the Headmaster's office, looking for any signs of his comrades -- no, friends -- along the way.]

Comments

[gunbladegrrl]

[Be careful, Squall! A large stack of books appears ready to burst through the door and attack!]

[...okay, it's just Maria, carrying too damn many books again.]

[socialdisaster]

!!

[He manages to side-step just as a large, moving stack of books threatens to topple onto his head.]

Watch it. [Charming as always.]

[gunbladegrrl]

Oh! I'm sorry, sir --

[She peeks out from around the stack of books, face flushed and beaded with sweat -- and when she sees who it is, that's when she nearly fumbles the books. It wouldn't have happened if she weren't hurt, but, well, she is and it did, making her immediately blush in embarrassment.]

[socialdisaster]

[He rolls his eyes and lifts some of the books off the stack, then sets them down on a desk.]

(What's with all the books?) [He notices she's giving him a weird look.] What?

[gunbladegrrl]

I hadn't realized you had returned, sir. [She decisively sets her remaining stack on the desk as well, then gives the most damn crisp salute anyone could ask for. Even thought she winces doing it.]

[socialdisaster]

[Squall returns the salute, out of habit if nothing else, because he's very confused. Sure, it wouldn't be hard to figure out that he had left Garden when they docked at FH, but the way she said it sounded odd.] Neither did I.

[gunbladegrrl]

Oh, you're -- you're just back, aren't you.

[Um. She glances to the side.]

I'm willing to explain to the best of my ability, but there are others here you may prefer to hear all this from...

[connects]

_{[Ellone was on her way to the library to return some books she had checked out, but a familiar sight gives her pause. Whether he's spotted her as well or not, she'll approach regardless.]}

Welcome back, Squall.

[socialdisaster]

[Seeing Ellone makes Squall feel a bit relieved, but he still has too many questions with no answers. He holds the letter up for her to look at it.] Do you know anything about this?

[connects]

I know about as much as you might, unfortunately; I've been here twice now. _{[She smiles apologetically.]}

[socialdisaster]

(...? Twice?) What do you mean? [He huffs, blowing his bangs out of his face.]

...It's good to see you again. [His voice is a little softer this time.]

[connects]

We were brought here because of Time Compression- I think Quisty might have explained it once, but we're... in the future? But it seems that just as Time Compression brings us here, it can send us back.

[socialdisaster]

We're in the future. [He repeats it, not as a question but more of a statement, trying to wrap his brain around it. Time Compression is too complicated.]

I thought stopping Ultimecia would fix all of this.

[rebellingheart]

[This is Rinoa walking through the hallways with her nose buried in notes for tonight's class.]

[This is Rinoa walking right by him without noticing.]

[This is Rinoa stopping because wait a second that was....]

[And so now Rinoa's turned around and headed back the way she came to make sure. Sure enough.]

....Squall?

[Damned man. One of these day's he's going to have to figure out if he's going to stay or going to leave and stop playing with her emotions like this.]

[socialdisaster]

[He had noticed her walking by, but something had looked off, so it didn't click until she called his name. Turning around, he meets Rinoa halfway through the hallway.]

Rinoa?

[Squall reaches out and touches her arm. Poor guy doesn't have a clue what's going on.] I'm glad you're okay. Have you seen the others?

[rebellingheart]

[So this one doesn't remember anything either. She's not surprised and by now that's what she's come to expect.]

I'm doing fine. [Most of the time anyway so long as she keeps her emotions together.] Sorry, it's just me and Ellone. Everyone else seems to be back in their, your.... [she pauses and tries again. Why is this so hard?] What I mean is back in our time.

[She's been in the future so long the past doesn't really seem like her time anymore.]

[socialdisaster]

[Sigh. He had hoped to find everyone here in one piece.] I'm just glad you're alright. I saw Ellone earlier.

[He hands her the letter.] So what the letter says is true. (Damn it.)

[rebellingheart]

Good. I'm sure she was really happy to see you again.

[She doesn't even bother to read the letter. By now what's the point? Since he's going to have to find out this sooner or later anyway, she might as well get it out of the way.]

I've lived here in the future for almost two years now.

[No preamble, just straight to the point. Rinoa's much less inclinced to pull her punches now.]

[socialdisaster]

[Squall stares, mostly due to shock.]

(Two years!?)

But, we just defeated Ultimecia not more than two hours ago.

[Yeah, yeah, Time Compression, but Squall wasn't paying attention when Edea explained it. And if what Maria said is true...]

I was told that this is the fourth time I've shown up in a year. Is this true?

[fierybluebird]

[Marco freezes at the sight of him. This again? How many times was it going to happen? No, it wasn't Squall's fault, and blaming him was ridiculous. But it was definitely fucking annoying, and so it is that the pirate is a little more than just annoyed.]

Commander.

[A curt nod and icy tone.] Check in with Rinoa when you can please. [Yeah, it didn't need saying, he's sure Squall would anyway, but it was sadly the most civil thing Marco could manage.]

[socialdisaster]

[Squall glowers in response.] (What's his problem?) Who are you?

[fierybluebird]

[Of course he didn't remember. He never did. But that wasn't his fault. As Marco repeats to himself.]

Marco.

I'm not from this world, but Rinoa's my little sister. [Adopted of course.] So hopefully that will explain a few things. [Or create a billion questions, whatever.] You really don't remember do you?

[socialdisaster]

(You don't look like her, that's for sure.)

I just got here. [He keeps glaring as he holds up the letter.] Do you know anything about this?

[fierybluebird]

Yes, but pretty much just what the letter says. You've also been here multiple times before.

[socialdisaster]

[Now Squall is really annoyed.] Of course I have, I live here. What does that have to do with this?