[Action in Balamb Garden]

[lastesper.livejournal.com]

[ Mid-Afternoon in Balamb, and Terra is almost going out of her way to avoid people. Well, if she's spotted before reaching her destination, she'll chat someone up, but ultimately, the girl is heading into the Training Center.

Not to fight, no sir, just for a little quiet time. Why she chooses her quiet spots in there who can say? Nonetheless, if someone DOES happen upon her, she could be found deeper into the Training Center, perched on a large boulder with a book in her lap. She is also talking quietly, almost whispering.

She's not alone. Seated beside Terra and curiously looking over her shoulder is an ethereal woman. Shiva. Anyone who comes into audible range of her lowered voice would hear her talking with the GF(s). ]

"Have you decided?" [ This from Shiva, apparently, as Terra shakes her head at the GF. ]

"I'm not so sure about this 'ballroom dancing' ... although it was pretty to watch when I first came here."

[ She pauses, and both she and Shiva seem distracted a moment, listening to something. Terra finally smiles, nodding. ]

"It's a little easier now that I understand how things work here, for the most part. Plus I have you and Shiva to help me, Quetzacoatl."

[ Don't mind her. She's just a weird girl being...weird. ]

Comments

[fierybluebird]

[Blinks at the voices and then politely backs up so as not to eavesdrop too much, trying to wait for it to finish.]

[lastesper.livejournal.com]

"It seems a bit peculiar tha-"

[ Abruptly, Terra and Shiva look up, sensing or seeing another presence. ]

"...Um... you'd better go Shiva. I'll talk to you later." [ She didn't want to draw more fuel to the newsletter flames of hate. Shiva merely inclines her head and desummons herself - not that she can't still talk to Terra in her head anyway. ]

[fierybluebird]

Sorry Terra. Just me. [Walks back out into the open, apologetically.]

[lastesper.livejournal.com]

Oh, Marco. [ Headtilt. ] Why are you apologizing?

[fierybluebird]

Because I seemed to have startled you from whatever you were doing.

[lastesper.livejournal.com]

Oh, I wasn't startled. I was only looking at the course list for this quarter.

Have you already selected your classes?

[fierybluebird]

Yeah, I think so. [Wanders over and grabs a seat next to her.] How about you?

[birdwhoseeks.livejournal.com]

"...I suppose you have given due consideration to the classes you shall take?"

"I am nearly done. I only need a few moments to clear my head."

"Truly? Because slaying more of those plant monsters resembles an avoidance of the issue rather than 'clearing your head'..."

[To an outside observer, Gwendolyn seems lost in thought as she makes her usual rounds of the Training Center. Of course, anyone with supernatural senses can see a bluebird flitting around her. And most likely, hear at least the bird's side of an argument.]

"It would not befit your new plan to leave this for the last moment, after all and-- oh, is that one of your friends with a Guardian Force?"

[Curious to see Shiva out and idle (Terra she's already used to seeing in the Training Center for reasons other than training), she goes to where they sit and hails her.]

[lastesper.livejournal.com]

[ Here's an interesting sight - Gwendolyn being followed by a chatty bluebird. One that was obviously more than it appeared - Terra could certainly sense something about the creature. And apparently both young ladies were being advised by spiritual/magical creatures at the moment. Who knew?

About to tell Shiva to desummon, Terra instead relaxes since Gwendolyn knew what she was -- sort of -- and was unlikely to leap to conclusions. ]

"Gwendolyn, hi... who is that?" [ Maybe 'what' was a better term? ]

[birdwhoseeks.livejournal.com]

"Curious. She can see you?"

"Yes, she can see me. She can hold conversations with this world's Guardian Forces, so it only stands to reason."

"Good day, Terra." [Bows to Shiva, as she knows it's good manners to pay the beings that everyone in Garden draws their power from the proper respect. Not to mention how they look much more impressive from up close.] "Greetings, Lady Shiva."

[The bluebird rests in a nearby branch and raises a wing in greeting.]

"The bird... is rather complicated to explain. She appeared to me a few times in Erion, and here again once the nightmares ended."

[lastesper.livejournal.com]

[ Shiva inclines her head in turn to the Valkyrie, looking a little amused. Or as amused as the ice queen can look. Terra glances at the GF with a smile, and then looks back to Gwendolyn, with a polite nod to the bluebird. ]

"Erion... is the name of your home, right?" [ A pause. ] "I didn't think she would be able to find her way here." [ And either because it's rude to talk about someone when they're right there, or because she's just strange that way, she looks at the bluebird. ] "Were you brought here because of the Time Compression also?"

[birdwhoseeks.livejournal.com]

"Indeed, 'tis the name of my world."

"In a matter of speaking: I followed someone through the Time Compression while searching her. Unfortunately, something must have happened during the passage between worlds, and I was locked in her subconscious until recently."

[Gwendolyn looks at the bird in surprise - she's apparently figuring out the implications of what she just said.]

[lastesper.livejournal.com]

"Followed someone...?" [ A glance to Gwendolyn. ] "Wasn't that man from your world too?"

[ Back to the birdie, puzzled at this last. ] "But to say that you were locked within Gwendolyn's subconscious... however did you get out?"

[ From Gwendolyn's expression, she may already have an idea. ]

[tardytardis.livejournal.com]

[ oh, he was just going to the not-so-secret area, but to pass that he passes Terra. and, well... that's odd. he approaches, quirking an eyebrow. ]

[lastesper.livejournal.com]

"Yet you've indicated subjects of interest, correct?"

[ Terra nods to Shiva's assessment, pauses and glances up. ] "Someone's coming --" [ And there he is! ]

"Oh... John. I mean... good afternoon." [ ... Awkward Terra is awkward. ]

[tardytardis.livejournal.com]

[ waves a hand. he's aware to pretty much everything, so while he doesn't understand why they're there, it doesn't bother him. ]

Afternoon--go on, didn't mean to interrupt.

[lastesper.livejournal.com]

[ Terra shakes her head. ]

"Oh, I'm sorry. It's no interruption." [ She laughs a little. ] "I didn't expect to see other people come this way. I was just looking at the class schedule for this quarter." [ ... With Shiva and Quetzacoatl :D ]

[tardytardis.livejournal.com]

With "Shiva" and "Quetzacoatl". Both are... well, they're gods. Shiva, a Hindu diety, and Quetzacoatl being a Mesoamerican diety.

But they aren't really gods, not to you, are they?

[lastesper.livejournal.com]

"Gods?" [ Terra glances at Shiva, who offers absolutely no help in enlightening the situation. Rather, the corner of her lips lifts slightly in amusement. Apparently she finds a baffled half esper pretty funny. ]

"... no, no they're not ...at least I've never thought of them as such." [ Friends, perhaps, even family - or half-family but... ]

[willnotsubmit.livejournal.com]

[After the near miss that happened in Dollet, Mitsuru is taking her own advice and restricting her Persona training to the Garden. And since she wasn't about to risk a reprimand for practicing anywhere else, that only left the Training Center as an option.

And she was getting close to an area where Mitsuru thought she could drill without any disturbance, when she hears a familiar voice, and turns to try and locate the speaker.]

"Bradford...? Who are you talking to-"

[That's when she notices the other...Thing next to Terra. Her thoughts don't exactly freeze when she spots it, but there as a sudden chill that settles in her mind, although it feels as far removed from that sensation in the fire cavern as using an ice pack compared to standing in a blizzard.

There's also a little comfort in the fact that nothing so far has burst into flames, frozen over, or caused anyone to violently react. It would be ideal if they could keep it that way.]

"...Bradford. I don't suppose you could...Explain what is going on, precisely?"

[lastesper.livejournal.com]

[ Thing? How RUDE, that happens to be her auntie --sorta-- you're talking about! *sniff*

Terra glances up, tense at first, but relaxing immediately when she realizes who's speaking. Hi Not!Celes! ]

"Mitsuru?" [ She ...glances at Shiva curiously, and then back to the redhead. ] "I'm just going over the course list for this quarter."

[ The best part? She says it in this voice that makes it seem like it's the most natural thing in the world to consult with GFs. ]

[willnotsubmit.livejournal.com]

[If it LOOKS like something that can't be conventionally classified, floats like something that can't be conventionally classified, and behaves like something that can't-

Well. One catches the idea.]

"While you have...That manifesting?"

[Mitsuru keeps her voice level, but doesn't break eye contact with the GF. Blessedly, Artemisia isn't trying to push her way out of Mitsuru's head, although she can still hear a low hum in the back of her thoughts.]

"May I request an explanation on why?"

[lastesper.livejournal.com]

[ There is a slight tensing of her shoulders at Mitsuru's phrasing; Terra's response is defensive, with a small frown. ]

"Her name is Shiva. Not That."

[ For her part, Shiva stares back at Mitsuru, quite levelly, not perturbed in the least, as opposed to her young companion. ]

"As for why... well... I wanted someone to talk to about my schedule, so... why not?"

[willnotsubmit.livejournal.com]

"Very well then. Shiva."

[Mitsuru doesn't allow herself to falter anymore then that; she keeps her expression fixed in a neutral look, as she keeps Artemisia calm. And slowly, she transfers her attention from the GF over to the girl sitting next to it.]

"So you can communicate with her."

[For some reason, the notion strikes Mitsuru as odd. There have been a few occasions when Artemisia has whispered a few words as she is summoned, or in the depths of her dreams, but that is the limit.]

"I'll commend you on having the good sense to only do so in the Training Center, though."

[You know. Compared to the prep student who studied herself into unconsciousness in the Quad, and half-summoned her Persona.]

[lastesper.livejournal.com]

[ Terra relaxes, and ... blinks in surprise at the question. ]

"Of course I can. You can't communicate with Artemisia?"

[ Huh. Y'know she had talked to Squall about that but he couldn't tell her if the GFs normally spoke with the people who junctioned them. As for the latter-- y.. yeah, she's... so not going to bring that up again. *cough* Silly Mitsuru! ]

"I didn't want to cause another panic like what happened with the waterbending girl." [ She was scared enough of these people who were ready to lynch anyone who demonstrated different abilities. What would they do to someone who was a GF? ]