STRIKE!
by Mariye

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Disclaimer: I don't own anything here. You all know that though, don't
you? Of course, cause you all are brilliant. And yes, I own one of the
Wuvluv 2 babies, it was a gift....

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It was a solemn day at Garden. Everything seemed to have a quiet air
around it. Squall walked alone in the hallway.

...

Mariye: I SAID Squall walked alone in the hallway.

...

Mariye: Okay, hold up, where's Squall? [steps away from her computer.
She turns and picks a lump up off her bed.] Wuvluv Fwaidy, what's
going on?

Fwaidy: I'm afwaid.

Mariye: Drop the act. What's going on?

Fwaidy: Um... they said they wanted to make an appointment. I told
them you sleep till noon and to come anytime aftew that.

Mariye: Great, a waiting game...

[ten minutes later.]

M's Mom: Mariye? Some weird people are here to see you. I sent them
upstairs.

Mariye: Thanks. [mumbles] Yeah, she questions when my normal friends
come, but if I'm involved in a Gotcha game or some weirdos with
weapons come by she just lets them in.

Door: KNOCK KNOCK

Mariye: [touches up hair and opens door.] Hi, come on in SeeDs.

[Seed from Suikoden 2 pops out of Mariye's closet.]

Seed: You call? Highland coming back together?

Mariye: [sighs] Not you Seed. SeeDs.

Seed: Get me excited for nothing. I never get in stories. [walks back
into the closet and disappears.]

[Squall, Rinoa, Zell, Selphie, Irvine, Quistis, Seifer, Fujin, and
Raijin walk in.]

Quistis: Hello. I have been made the designated speaker for the group.
We are unhappy with our current working condition. We also are aware
that you have written a FF9, Tales of Destiny, and Star Ocean fics.

Mariye: Yeah, I can write fics about topic I want. Its no biggie if I
don't write about you all the time. That means you get a break. I
didn't hear you complaining when I wrote some original stories.

Zell: They were no threat to us. Made up characters, big whoop. These
other ones take time away from us. And you call yourself a true
FF8 writer.

Mariye: [smiles.] I never said that.

Zell: Its kinda implied though...

Mariye: Sure, okay, tell me your 'demands.' [grabs a notebook from
sketchbook plateau next to floppy disk mountain.]

Quistis: [starts, then stops] We'll do them person by person. I really
have few demands. What I want is more Seifer time. So far the only
times you've associated me with him is in Walk the Walk and Triple
Triad. He is my man and I would appreciate more time with him. We
need a life you know. I mean, we have to leave and do this if we want
time together. Well?

Mariye: [scribbling.] Fine, thats easy. I'll start one in a few.

Zell: Now, don't get me wrong, I don't wanna sound picky, but I want
more action scenes. I like being in those funny and romantic fics,
but I want fights too. Actually, I like the comedies too. I want to
star in one. Be the main attraction.

Mariye: Alright. What about the Library Girl series I have you in.
You alright with it?

Zell: Oh yeah, I'm lovin it, but can you make me a little more
considerate in it?

Mariye: [sighs] Living characters, they're so temperamental. That it
for you? Squall? Any protests?

Squall: ...Use me in stories more often. I feel like I'm a piece of
the background right now...

Mariye: Fine. Seifer?

Seifer: Same thing as Quistis. Just put me in a story with her and
everything will be fine, get me? Or else we might have trouble. Do
YOU want trouble?

Mariye: Okay... I see which story gets priority now. Rinoa?

Rinoa: Okay, I don't mind the funny stories you write about me,
really, but I would like a normal role once in a while.

Mariye: But stories where you're a ditz are funny.

Rinoa: Are not.

Mariye: Are too.

Rinoa: Are not.

Mariye: Are not.

Rinoa: Are too!

Mariye: Okay, so I'll just keep things the way they are. Next?

Selphie: I want a romantic story. One with Nida. No one shows our
relationship. He's the one who taught me about navigation. How else
would I have been able to fly the Ragnarok. I also was gonna say to
make me less ditsy... but in Uh Oh you made me normal so... you
kinda already solved that. I'm done.

Mariye: Simple enough, I'll work it into the whole Library Girl thing
storyline... K, three left.

Irvine: I want a story with you. Mariye, I rarely see you anymore.
I mean, sure in Uh Oh 1 we have one of the cheapy dorm rooms where
2 people share a living room area and desk, and in Uh Oh 2 you hint
at us getting together, but there's nothing.

Mariye: Irvine, you are a character. I am a writer. It wouldn't work.
Trust me. I like normal people. H-U-M-A-N-S.

Irvine: Can you at least give me a few stories to remember? I am a
lone wolf gunman, searching for love.

Squall: ...there he goes again...

Quistis: Is no woman safe from him?

Mariye: 1 aside from Uh Oh. take it or leave it.

Irvine: [kicks a shoe on the floor under Mariye's bed.] Well, can I
at least come by and visit you sometimes? I mean, you let Dias and
Jubilee and Yuffie and Stahn and Rutee come visit. So....

Mariye: [sighs.] Fine, you can come visit. Just don't bring the gun.
Any other complaints?

Irvine: Don't make me too much of a womanizer. I saw this one story
you were starting, Too Much of a Bad Thing? And well... maybe could
you get rid of it? Sure I'm a flirt, but come on now.

Mariye: I dunno, I'll see.

Irvine: Good enough.

Raijin: Yo, Fuj and I have only one complaint, ya know?

Mariye: And what would it be?

Fujin: FINISH OUR STORY.

Raijin: Yeah, its gettin to be too long without you writing it, ya
know?

Mariye: I'll try, its just hard. Is that all? No more?

[they all gather and talk. Quistis steps forward.]

Quistis: We want you to stop typing these up between 9:30 and
midnight. It gets annoying. Sometimes we get to sleep early and you
wake us up.

Mariye: Again, I'll try. Listen, I have to go. I'm meeting friends
at the mall. Are we all set?

All of the FF8 people: Yep.

Mariye: Fine, bye.

[all of them walk out except for Irvine.]

Irvine: Can I come?

Mariye: Um... well, I'm meeting Nanami, Jowy, and Hero to talk about
writing a story for them. Maybe next time?

[Irvine looks down and shuffles his feet.]

Mariye: Aw, no. That is cheating. No making me feel guilty.

[He gives puppy dog eyes.]

Mariye: FINE! Fine! OKAY? But if you start your womanizing there
I will send you back to your Garden so fast your head will spin.
Now lets go.

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[the end]