[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]

It's... very complicated, sir.

[socialdisaster]

(That doesn't sound good.)

[He puts his hand on his hip.] Try me.

[gunbladegrrl]

[Well. Here goes.]

Sir, due to Time Compression, our world has been suffering many temporal and spatial anomalies. This has most commonly resulted in the appearance of people and creatures from other worlds on our own, and in addition, members of your SeeD party who were present at the Sorceress's defeat are often appearing at this time as well, having skipped the intervening ten -- excuse me, twenty years.

People also may disappear without warning, and on occasion have been known to reappear without memory of their prior visit here. Consequently, sir, this is... I believe the fourth time you have appeared in Balamb Garden within the past year or so.

[socialdisaster]

Twenty years!? [He takes a few moments to process that information.] (I don't understand what went wrong.)

You say this is the fourth time? (Am I going to disappear again?) How long did I stay each time?

[gunbladegrrl]

Yes, sir, to my knowledge. You were here for a matter of months to a matter of weeks.

[socialdisaster]

[He folds his arms over his chest and glares at the floor, lost in thought.]

(I might not have much time... I need to go see the Headmaster.)

[He looks back up to see that she's still standing there.] What's your name?

[gunbladegrrl]

Maria Cyphert, sir. [She salutes again, then bites down a wince. She's entirely forgotten she's injured... or well, she HAD, but now she remembers again. Ow.]

[socialdisaster]

[He doesn't return the salute but just looks at her for a few minutes. After boring holes into her for a few minutes, he sighs heavily and speaks.]

Have you been to the infirmary?

[Look at him, showing concern! Rinoa would be so proud.]

[gunbladegrrl]

[She is capable of holding that salute absolutely as long as necessary. Go on, find one cadet who takes discipline and adherence to the Garden code as seriously as she does!]

Yes, sir. I'm still healing, but much improved.

[socialdisaster]

[He finally humors her and returns the salute.]

You don't have to salute me, you know.

[gunbladegrrl]

You are the Commander, sir.

[socialdisaster]

(Of all the stubborn...) [Eyeroll.] Then I'm ordering you to not salute anyone until you're fully recovered.

[Seemed like a simple enough solution.]

[gunbladegrrl]

Yes, sir.

[She's gonna get nailed by someone for not saluting, and it will lead to long and complicated explanations, but who's she to disobey? And she doesn't so much as twitch on accepting the order, proving that she can at least obey and overrule reflex.]

[socialdisaster]

[Squall may be causing Maria more problems, but it is rather ridiculous seeing her salute when it's actually physically painful. He's wasted enough time here anyway.]

...I'm out of here.

[With that, he heads for the library exit. He needs to find the headmaster and confirm what Maria just told him. And give his report.]

[gunbladegrrl]

Sir. [She still doesn't salute, but if people could salute with their voices, she just did.]