Only the Demented
Disclaimer: Yes! I own ff8! I own ff8! Nyah nyah… [Dream dies] FF8 is Squaresoft's. Sighs
Author's Note:
Ø I might change the title… Anyways, I'm not too good at writing action scenes so you'll have to forgive me. First try at something half-serious after I got my lazy self to start writing again. I always have little beginnings to tons of stories but never really had the will to continue. Well I tried.
Ø Chapter 1 was written like a mini intro to everyone's personalities and junk. A brief glance into their lives. Sorry, but hopefully the plot will pick up soon. By the way, I also made magic accessible for non-battles, i.e. Fira could make a campfire, lol.
Selphie Tilmitt stands on the unsteady wooden ladder as she struggles to get one end of a flowing blue banner tacked against the frameworks of the Quad. Her boyfriend of four months, Irvine Kinneas, is nowhere in sight, having relieved himself of his duty as ladder holder. A bit nervous, she looks down towards the ground, which is about ten feet down. "Where is he?" She asks aloud, her voice warbling like a spring bird freezing in the winter. Balamb was notorious for its sneaky winter chill attacks.
The ladder begins to totter and the now-eighteen-year-old frantically wracks her magic for a Float or Stop spell but finds none. "What's an Ultima gonna do for me now?" She wails melodramatically, holding on desperately to the metal structure. Although she has finally gotten the pesky banner to stay attached to the structure through means of a punched hole in the material and some twine, the joy of that could not eclipse the fear.
Soon Irvine returns, carrying in his arms many various brochures. "Sefie, Rinoa's organizing a lil trip for the gang. Wanna go?" He asks, oblivious to the fact his girlfriend is clutching for dear life the Quad's frame.
"IRVINE!" Selphie screeches, astounded over the fact the nineteen-year-old did not see how afraid of falling and injuring herself she was and was inquiring over something as negligent as a vacation! "Do you not see what's happening?" Her knuckles were slowly turning a whitish color from gripping the structure so hard and her legs were beginning to cramp.
Sheepishly, Irvine looks towards her and then all jocular prospects of having an expedition dissipate as he lets go of the pamphlets and dashes towards Selphie. He grabs and steadies the ladder before wiping his face from mock exertion. "Whoo. That was a close one."
"IRVY!" She screams again and bewildered, the chestnut-haired cowboy looks up and gapes. Selphie is dangling from the Quad dangerously, her fingers unable to take the pressure anymore.
"Float!" Irvine casts in a booming voice and the spell gently brings the frightened eighteen-year-old brunette down to the safety of the ground. She gives him a dirty look. "Sorry…" he shrugs apologetically as he begins the tedious task of recollecting the papers. " Anyways, do you wanna go?"
Selphie pretends to consider it but she nods. "Ok then." Her eyes are glittering with excitement as hand in hand, the couple walks out of the Quad.
* * *
Eighteen-year-old Zell is busily practicing his martial arts skills in the library in front of Lydia Englerose, his crush. Swift motions cut, kick and jab at the air and the SeeD finishes with a smooth roundhouse kick.
"Wow Zell…" Lydia sighs dreamily, her chocolate-brown hair spilling in waves around her shoulders. Her usual pigtail is gone for today, out of a new face to the world.
The flaxen-haired hot-dog lover grins his reckless smile, melting Lydia's already smitten heart. "It all came through practice and training," he adds, leaning his elbows on the counter. "Hours of it." His modesty is natural coming to him, although his typical rashness overshadows that good trait.
Lydia nods, and begins seeing a wedding procession as she walks down a lily-covered aisle in a fancy white tulle dress. Zell is by the priest, looking dashing in a well-cut black suit. She lets out a wistful sigh and then her reverie automatically shuts down when a junior classmen places two books on the counter and shows his SeeD Candidacy ID card. Routinely, she checks out the two textbooks and the boy skips out happily. Then she returns her attention to Zell who is now practicing a series of close-up punches.
"Pow! Bam!" Comic book action words tumble out of Zell's mouth and he blushes, realizing that Lydia now knows he still reads comic books. The librarian only finds it more fascinating, her head tilted to one side as she avidly watches the person of her admiration.
Just then, Quistis Trepe enters the library, surprised there are no SeeDs around. Headmaster Cid had reinstated her license as an Instructor and over the weekend, she had assigned a massive research project about Dollet. Beforehand, she had spoken with Lydia to reserve books about Dollet for her class and when she checked the database, all the books were still on the shelves. "My class has the gall to dally in games instead of working?" She asks disbelievingly. Her face hardens as she pulls out a notepad. "Let them call me the Frosty Bitch." She mutters under her breath. In perfect script, she writes down "Procrastination, assign more homework."
"When is the project due?" Lydia inquires.
"I gave them two weeks. It's been four days." Quistis replies stiffly. "I will not be so gentle when I am marking them. Time and time again, in each class, I have reminded them to work on their reports because it will reflect at least half their final grade for the semester." Shaking her head, she rids the troublesome thought from her mind, burying it into an inner recess. "By the way, Rinoa's planned a short winter jaunt to an exclusive ski resort, would you like to come Lydia?"
Zell turns around. "You didn't invite me!" He says disappointedly.
Quistis rolls her eyes. "It's implied you're coming Zell, after all, you're one of the group. Well Lydia, would you like to join us on this outing?"
Lydia looks around. "No one is here studying or walking around," she admits, "no one but Zell so… I'll go. Besides I'm relieved from library duty for a week since James has to begin training a volunteer." She brightens up, and opens the gate. Taking a set of keys, she follows the two out the door before locking it and turning on an electric sign that says the library is closed.
* * *
"Flakes and Flurries is not your average Trabian ski resort. We pride ourselves on being the best in the world, with REAL snow instead of artificial snow for that genuine experience. Professional and licensed teachers will teach you the best way to ski the trails, whether you're a beginner or an expert. Our highest peak is Mesmerize Canyon at an astounding summit of 17,329 feet no other place can beat! The resort compound stretches a vast 32 acres (AN: I'm not sure about the acre measurement so if it's overly small/big too bad for you!). We provide cabin lodging, economy or luxury! In luxury, you can have a large projection TV, three fancy bathrooms, four large bedrooms with two full-sized beds in each room, a kitchenette and a large den with a fireplace. For extra service at a low cost of 200 gil daily per option, you can get crisp clear cable, pay-per-view movies, laundry and/or maid service. Scattered among the resort are many rest stations with clean bathrooms and gift shops. In the main hall, we have a food court, phones and friendly employees with smiles on their faces 24/7!" Selphie pauses to catch her breath, giving goo-goo eyes to Irvine who is offering her a cup of refreshing water. "We provide convenient transportation to Flakes and Flurries through a comfortable train ride from Deling City. The trip will take an approximate day and a half and the train will stop at one of Galbadia's best shopping malls, Decadence of Deling, where you can stock up on supplies. Flakes and Flurries offer low-price packages for everyone, whether you're coming alone, with a friend(s), family or a large group of at least 30."
"So should we go?" Zell asks.
Squall scans over the prices and his eyes go wide. "…It's going to be 1500 gil a day for each of us and that's just the luxury cabin fee MINUS the extra amenities… rentals start at 700 gil, the ski lift pass for one day is 350 and there's the 'donation' tax of 15% of our total bill at the end… If we're planning to go for a week and occasionally eat at the food court… we'll be paying well over 10,000 gil. Then we have to tip…" He finishes lamely.
"No problem," Rinoa grins. "We can split the cost of the options among us seven people. We just want the cable and movies. Therefore, 400 times 7 is 2800 divided by 7. We each pay 400. Goody! We're ready to go. By the way Squall, when can we go?"
The commander groans. Knowing Rinoa, he'll be paying for both of them. A little over a month's salary- spent in a week! "Uh, Irvine could you check if the train fee is included?"
Irvine nods and skims through the colorful leaflet. "Wow. The round trip's gonna be 1000."
"That's a rip off!" Quistis bursts abruptly. "I wouldn't pay more than half."
"The whole resort is a con," Zell groans. "Why don't we go to a smaller one?" Lydia nods in agreement.
Selphie cannot help but grin from ear-to-ear. "They're not so great."
"What do you mean?! A friendly family-owned business with REASONABLE prices! Nothing wrong with caring people instead of money-hungry ones!" Zell protests.
Rinoa shrugs nonchalantly. "Too bad Zell. I already made a reservation and paid the deposit in FULL with MY own money. The deposit was 1000 each so all of you owe me a thousand, okay?"
Grumbling, they fork over a thousand-note to Rinoa while Squall gives her two with a pained look. A stop over at a mall… He'll be spending near two month's salary if he knows Rinoa!
Placing the notes in her purse, Rinoa looks round the group. "Let's go pack and ski the slopes!"
* * *
Author's Note: I know, bad ending but even a review would be nice.