[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

[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?

[rebellingheart]

Time works in weird ways thanks to Time Compression.

[Two years.]

That's right, you're the fourth Squall to show up in the future so far.

[And she's been here through all of them.]

[socialdisaster]

[He suddenly feels really, really awful about himself. Even though he had no control over what had happened (and besides, he was used to giving her grief), he still hates what he's put her through. He pulls her into a hug, smoothing her hair in a surprising display of affection.]

...I'm sorry.

[rebellingheart]

[At first Rinoa is surprised, but the gesture is a familiar one, one that brings back memories of an earlier time. So while it takes a moment, it's not long before she's relaxed against him just like she had then. It's silly by now to get invested, but it seems where Squall's concerned she might not be able to help herself in the long run.]

Sometimes.... [Her voice might be a little muffled right now, but it's understandable given their position.] Sometimes it felt like they weren't really you. Just strangers with the same face.

[socialdisaster]

[People were probably looking at them, but for once in his life Squall didn't care. He doesn't really know what to say, so he just continues to hold her.]

I thought getting rid of Ultimecia would keep things like this from happening.

(Did we do the right thing?)

[rebellingheart]

[Squall's always had a few issues with words, that's nothing new. Rinoa's quite used to it by now. Admittedly just holding her like this was as good as anything he could have said anyway if not better.]

We all did. No one knows how or why things ended up like this. Just that they are.

[socialdisaster]

[He finally lets go and sighs.] I should go find Cid.

[He's surprised that the old man is still headmaster, but then again he always imagined Cid would be there even after they were long gone.]

[rebellingheart]

[All good hugs must come to an end, sadly.]

Yeah, you've probably got a lot of questions and he's probably got more of the answers than anyone else.

[Cid is secretly immortal, that's all there is to it.]

[socialdisaster]

[It would answer so many questions.]

I'll...see you later. [He heads off towards the elevator, lost in thought.]