bTitle:/b Gravity of Love
bAuthor:/b DivinityGun
bWarnings:/b Mature
bCharacters:/b Orphanage Gang plus Rinoa, Original Characters, Others
bPairings:/b Seifer/OCs, Zell/OCs, Irvine/Quistis, Squall/Selphie, Rinoa/OC
bFull Summary:/b A young woman comes from our world, planted in the world of FF8. It's eight years later since the last Sorceress War. There's a new sorceress bringing back the Hyphonian religion and those who went against Ultimecia smell something fishy. So, our girl may just have a destiny to fulfill, but she won't be the only one who has a destiny. Afterall, special snowflakes usually turn out to be everyone. This is a story of love and redemption. I hope you enjoy.
bAuthor's note:/b This has been swindling around in my head for over a decade. I had this actually written up a long time ago, but then it got destroyed, so it's all from scratch. I've tried rewriting this twice now but it never comes out right. Things have definitely changed from the original storyline. I warn, the beginning is trite and boring. I just wanted to get some things over with and get straight to the point. So, I hope you stick it out with me.
Also! My favorite pairings have made it in, because I don't feel right without doing them. Squall/Selphie, but please don't see it as Rinoa bashing. Much as I'm indifferent toward her character sometimes (because other times i think she's adorable), I really don't want to bash her. I've always had it in my head that her and Squall broke up somewhere down the line. They were just better off without each other and realized it was young love. I never saw them as compatible.
And my other favorite is Irvine/Quistis. I've always felt like they'd really compliment each other and Quistis wouldn't get angry with his flirting as long as he never actually did anything. (I like Irvine/Selphie too, but it's not my absolute favorite)
Also as other notes, at first I was gonna write Zell's pov of view sometimes but Seifer and Manesa just took over. I have way more muse for these two then I really should and I have five chapters written up so far. I don't know how many there will be, but I do know I haven't dented the adventure storyline. It's just a lot of relationship building between characters for now. In the next three chapters, I'll probably get there. Just wait it out with me.
bZELL/b
Lightning crashed across the darkened sky. The Garden was in a flurry with instructors and members of SeeD trying to lead students to safety down to Garden's basement. Meanwhile, Zell and Selphie were worried about the students that had made the trek out to the fire cavern earlier. This storm was unexpected and Balamb Radio was saying it was a hurricane. They'd move the garden but it was too late and it would be up to them to help the town clean up since it was their home. It was only fair and full of enduring love that they proposed this. '
"We should go get them, make sure they're making it back safe," Selphie said, worrying her lip between her teeth with her hands on her hips and standing on her tippy toes many times in nervous habit.
"Yeah. I should go check on Ma too or at least call," Zell said as he shadow boxed in the infirmary, Dr. Kodawaki's office.
"Lines are out, hon," Dr. Kodawaki told the instructor. "And it'd be stupid to go that far now. I'm sure your Ma is smart enough to get to the basement."
Zell nodded. "Yeah, you're right," he said, stopping his own nervous tick. "Selphie. Want to come with me to the cavern? Make sure they're all getting back here safely? Pretty sure the ones who went are some of our youngest SeeD undertakers in a long time."
Selphie bounced, head bobbing. "Of course, Zelly Welly! Let's get a move on." She bounded from the room, nearly skipping and Zell couldn't understand how she had all that positive energy in the face of possible devastation.
"Be careful," The doctor told him as he started heading out.
"We will be," Zell said, looking back with a smile as he saluted.
"I mean it, Instructor Dincht," Dr. Kodawaki warned, frowning.
"Okay, Okay," Zell whined a little as he moved out into the hallway and caught sight of Selphie down the hallway.
He ran to catch up with her, almost running into a few teenagers who were hurrying toward the stairs for the basement. Usually they didn't use the elevator in natural disaster situations. A few moments later he was past the gates and outside where Selphie was waiting, it was starting to drizzle. "Shit! Let's hurry," he said as he and Selphie ran into the field and toward the fire cavern.
Just as they got almost there, (the rain became a little heavier, the wind beginning to pick up), everyone was rushing out of the cavern in excitement until they stopped and looked up. There were murmurs about them and they watched as the two instructors came forward.
"Instructor Mu," Zell greeted. "Guessin' ya guys didn't know 'bout the storm."
"No, not at all," Mu, the female instructor with long dark red hair answered.
"Don't worry though, it's kinda sudden. They didn't expect it to hit land until a couple more days," Selphie explained.
"We should get going. I don't want anyone to get hurt out here, storms usually make the forest monsters come out into the open and the last thing I want is for my students to run into a bunch of terrified and uproarious T-Rexes," Mu said as her students started looking a bit terrified. Zell had news for them, if they thought a little storm was scary, then they better worry about missions where their lives were really on the line.
Selphie nodded, waving at them to move past. "Go on! We're right behind you!"
Mu grabbed one of the fifteen year olds hands for comfort and another before she started running off with all three of her students.
"I really want to check on Ma," Zell said, sighing.
Selphie laid a delicate hand on his shoulder, trying to sooth him. "Your Ma is a really smart cookie. I'm sure she knows what's up."
"Maybe," he said, getting a semi bad feeling. "We should get back to Garden." He looked at the trees in the distance swaying due to the wind, inside the forest he could hear the sound of creatures crying out and moving about.
Selphie bounded off once more, without saying anything and Zell followed after. He wasn't paying much attention to anything other than Garden when it came into view, when he heard Selphie let out a womanly groan. "You okay, Selph!?" He jogged to catch up as she continued groaning, on the ground, by a wet heap of something.
"Yeah! Just tripped over something...," she trailed off, getting on her knees and then turning to see what Zell was looking at. "Oooh! A person shaped person."
Zell snorted. "Selph. Usually people are person shaped."
"Shush! You know what I mean!," Selphie scolded, but there was no real bite to it.
"Ya', I know," Zell said, as he bent down, hoping the storm wouldn't start getting nuts just yet. "So, lady by my estimate."
"Girl. Check," Selphie said, noticing a black duffel bag. "And there's a bag with her!"
"That's all we really need to know right now. Let's get her inside," Zell said, as he bent down and picked her up, throwing the girl over his shoulder. "Get the bag?"
"You got it!," Selphie said as she hefted it over her shoulder and followed Zell.
Xxxxxxx
She had long curly/wavy hair that reached just a little past her shoulders. Her eyes yet to be opened. She was pretty, even with the dark smattering of freckles and the somewhat wide yet tiny nose. Her skin was a medium caramel color and she was dressed in purple pants pajamas with little black kittens and crescent moons all over them. She was also a little bit on the hefty side, not a whole lot but a enough that you could see her belly pudge. Zell would kindly call her thick and needing a serious exercise regimen, because even a little belly fat was dangerous for one's health.
One reason he was always asking Ma if she wanted to go on walks with him or him show her a few healthy dishes, because he wanted her around longer but he didn't have the heart to come out and say: iHey Ma, I'm really worried you'll die before I give you grandchildren. Please lose the weight./i
Yeah, he really doubted it would go over well and he'd only hurt her feelings. He didn't want to hurt his Ma's feelings, not even a little bit.
The orphanage gang (minus Seifer, who was sitting by himself over by Norg's old spot) was seated near the elevator with the girl nearby them so people wouldn't step on her. "She's not one of our own," Quistis observed.
"Haven't seen her in town either, and I promise, I've been around town enough to know everyone there," Irvine pointed out.
"Yeah, I get you, man. I haven't seen her there too," Zell said, crossing his arms and leaning against the elevator door.
"Maybe, she's from out of town," Squall said as Selphie leaned against him, snuggled up. Rinoa and Squall hadn't worked out. For three years, after the battle against Ultimecia, they had stayed strong and then Rinoa realized they weren't right for each other. Squall had been devastated. After all, Rinoa had been his first at everything and he had truly loved her. Part of him still did, he had admitted to Zell and Quistis one night not long ago but it was Selphie who picked up the pieces, being there for him every step of the way and being Squall's cheerleader of life. It seemed only natural they ended up together over two years ago.
Squall says he loves Selphie more than he ever did Rinoa, because it was real between them, not a forced situation with high tensions and teenage dreams. They were currently engaged and looking to getting married in the fall in Timber, where the seasons actually changed. It was both their favorite season. Zell was happy for them.
"I'm sure she'll tell us when she wakes up," Quistis said, a serene smile coming to her lips. "In the meantime, let's ride out the storm and hope the town isn't too damaged afterward."
"I'm actually scared as shit here. I've never been through a hurricane before," Irvine admitted. "Back in Galbadia we didn't have things like that to worry about. Sandstorms? Sure. But not hurricanes."
Quistis chuckled and kissed Irvine's cheek. "Don't be scared. I'm surprised we haven't gotten one in the time you've lived here with us. We get them every now and then." No one was more surprised than Quistis when her and Irvine ended up together. He wore her down after four years of trying t0 get her to go out with him and finally she said yes. He surprised her with intellect, love and attention. He still flirted but Quistis wasn't the jealous type and understood his need to be himself.
They were married now, much to the disbelief of the Trepies. She was now Quistis Kinneas. She cried so hard on her wedding day and even Irvine shed a few tears. She had been classy and regal in her wedding dress. Now they were trying for kids and thinking about leaving SeeD to get a house in town and raise a family. Irvine was ready but Quistis was still on the fence. She thought they were too young. Something she confided in Zell about not long ago.
They were only twenty-five and twenty-six.
"Guess as long as I have you with me, I reckon there's nothing to be scared about," Irvine said, grinning.
As for himself. Zell wasn't in the market for a girlfriend. At least not right now. Sarah and him hadn't worked out. While he had an intellect that took some time for people to believe in, Sarah just read too much and spent a lot of time in the library the first year they were together. Then she never became SeeD and left garden at twenty, moving over to Balamb Town. They were still an item for awhile, but eventually she moved to Esthar and unfortunate for him? Long distance relationships never worked. He needed someone there with him, in the flesh.
"Who dragged the rag doll in?," came Seifer's voice as he stood over the group. His trench coat had been discarded after the war, because people were too familiar with it and professed pain whenever they saw him. The world had been angry with Edea and Seifer for awhile, as none of them realized the confusing and complicated situation that had taken place for all involved.
Edea was completely forgiven but Seifer was still treated like a social pariah since he was the one who carried out orders. Ontop of being ostracized, Zell got the feeling Seifer was wrecked with guilt about the whole situation. The older man had mellowed out a lot, stopped teasing people so much in cruelty and more in playfulness. Now they even hung out together sometimes. Down by the dock, fishing late at night with a couple Balamb Brewed beers. Zell looked up. "I did."
"She doesn't look-," Seifer started but was cut off.
"Familiar. We know," Squall said, shrugging.
Seifer sat down by Zell, their thighs touching as he sat cross-legged. "So, what you guys gonna do with her?"
"We'll figure that out when she-," Quistis started, but then the whole garden shook fiercely. It made everyone in the crowded basement gasp and crying could be heard from some of the underclassmen.
"Wowie, it's getting bad out there," Selphie commented, bouncing up and down as she left Squall's side. "I hope the town is okay. I know people's homes are kinda underground, so they're safe but everything else is above."
"Not to mention fishing is one of our main exports. Balamb would be fucked if the docks got messed up," Zell said, feeling concern.
"Only for a little while. If anything gets too out of hand, we'll be there to fix it," Quistis said as she pushed her glasses up on her nose.
There was a sudden groan. Everyone turned their eyes on the prone figure that was suddenly moving. Brown eyes blinked open and stared up at the ceiling. "Who the hell hit me with a freight truck?"
"You okay?," Selphie asked, leaning over on her knees. "What's your name?"
"One question at a time, Selph," Squall said, chuckling.
The girl blinked again. "Um...," she stared up, squinting her eyes and then they widened. "Holyshit!"
"Holyshit?," Quistis inquired, blonde brow raised.
The girl sat up, staring at Selphie as she reached out to touch her hair and just made everyone confused. "You're...okay, wow. This must be a dream."
"Something tells me, you know us, chickadee," Seifer said, his own blonde brow raised too.
The girl frowned. "I suppose I do, but if you're real, then not really."
"Interesting way of putting it. Before we get into how you know us. Do you have a name?," Quistis questioned.
"Manesa but most people call me Maney and I'm from...not here. Like not anywhere from here," she admitted, looking around at everyone slowly.
"Not from anywhere? How the hell is that possible?," Zell asked, feeling more confused by the second.
"Well... you wanted to get into it but... okay. I'm from America in my world," Manesa began.
"Do you mean in the old world? Before our current one was shaped?," Zell asked, frowning.
"Old world?," Manesa questioned, tilting her head with furrowed brows.
"Yeah. Long ago, try like three thousand years ago, there was a hell of a lot of war going on between these countries. America being one of them. They wiped each other out with nuclear weapons and eventually everyone who survived slowly changed the world into what it is today. But... most of the history is shady at best, so there's not much information on the old world," Zell explained, feeling pride at his knowledge.
Manesa blinked owlishly, then smiled shyly. "Thanks for the history lesson, Zell."
Zell blinked in return. "You know my name? Get to explaining."
The ground shook again and Irvine literally curled up against Quistis by putting his head in her lap and getting in a fetal position as she played with his hair. The big baby.
"I'll explain but please, don't freak out or get mad," she said slowly, looking a little unsure of what was about to come out of her mouth. She went down the line after that: in her world, their world was a video game. They were characters and the story, gamers are told, is the time of the last sorceress war. She was an avid fan of the video game but she didn't explain any further than that. "I don't know how I got here. The last thing I remember is booting up the game after not playing it for awhile, the screen went red and their was a flash of light. After that... I ended up here." Everyone was silent, including himself. She hissed, putting a hand to her forehead. "Ah. Fudge. Headache from hades, here I come."
Selphie smiled softly. "We'll get you asprin when the storm passes. 'Kay?"
Manesa gave a weak smile. "Thanks, Selphie."
"What strange events," Quistis said with a hum. "There must be a reason you're here. I doubt it's just some weird coincidence. I'm sure there's a reason."
Manesa nodded. "I can't say what it is, but there must be something. Yes."
"Maybe you're like the new destiny hero. Like our golden boy here," Seifer said, ribbing Squall in the side as the usually quiet man grunted and glared.
"I somehow doubt that," Manesa said, laughing nervously. "I've got no clue how to fight and I wouldn't know the first thing about magic... except, well, I kinda do if everything works the same here."
"We'll figure it out," Zell said, offering an encouraging smile. He couldn't imagine what it was like to be an a situation like this. Seemed far-fetched, but shit happens.
"How come you guys believe me so easily? I could be some crazy chick who fell asleep wherever you found me after catching a train from Timber," Manesa said, eyebrow arched.
Squall shrugged. "Crazier things happen around here."
"Hell, if you know my story... you know it's possible for ianything/i to happen," Seifer said, leaning back on his elbows,
"I guess," Manesa said, nodding as the ground shook again. She blinked. "Um, what's going on?"
"Hurricane but everything is fine. It'll pass," Quistis explained, stroking Irvine's hair.
She looked around once more, then stood up slowly. "Well, I don't want to be in the middle anymore. Don't really care for attention... so, can I sit by one of you? If you don't mind that is."
Zell grinned. "Sure, man. Take a seat between me and Seif."
She walked over, sitting between them. "What's in the bag?"
"It came with you," Selphie said. "Look inside! I wanted to look but Zelly wouldn't let me."
"Oh...well, I'm not sure if that's my bag or not but I guess I'll take a look inside," Manesa said, as she reached forward and grabbed it pulling it toward her.
Zell peered over as it was unzipped, watching as she started pulling out contents which were clothes. Everyone one was silent except for Selphie, who was humming and watching like he was, as was Seifer. Everyone else was seemed uninterested.
"Okay, so... definitely not my clothes but they look like my size," she said, holding up a pair of black jean shorts that would cut just below the butt. Two more pairs just like it, along with red tank tops. There was also a pair of steel toed black boots inside and then she got to the good stuff, pulling out a deck of cards. "Strange."
"Mmm~?," Selphie inquired. "Those look like Triple Triad cards."
"They are," Manesa confirmed. "And..."
"You're starting to make me antsy here, lady," Seifer said, looking disgruntled.
"Well, these are cards of everyone here. Sitting here right at this moment. High level cards like in the game... and there's a PS1, the game and a memory card in here," Manesa explained. "Along with something even stranger..."
"Lemme see!," Selphie exclaimed, grabbing the cards from Manesa's hands.
"Hey! Don't bend em'!," Zell nearly shouted.
"Cram it, Zell. I won't bend them, just wanna looksie," Selphie said, going through the cards and studying them.
"It's fine. I have no clue why I need them anyway," Manesa shrugged as she pulled something else from the bag.
"No. I wouldn't say that just yet, they might be important," Quistis said seriously. "Now. Mind explaining what that is?"
"It's a gunblade," Seifer stated, eyebrow raised. "Why the hell do you have a gunblade?"
"No clue," Manesa said, looking at the gunblade thoroughly. To Zell's eye, the blade was a little shorter than Squall and Seifer's gunblades but it was curved slightly at the end with a razor sharp edge. There was a chain hanging from it, with what looked like a snowflake design hanging off it. "Huh. Guess this makes me a special snowflake."
Selphie giggled. "I'm a special snowflake."
"That you are," Squall said, smiling.
"I'll show you guys special snowflake," Seifer grunted.
"Stop being such a scrooge, Seif. We're just having a little fun," Zell said, patting him on the shoulder, placating.
Seifer swiped his hand away and rolled his eyes. "Anyway... why do you have it is the question? It's hard as shit to master."
"I'm guessing that's because you have to learn how to pull the trigger and swipe at the same time?," Manesa suggested.
"That and they're heavy as hell. How are you even holding it?," Seifer asked, looking perplexed.
"Feels pretty light to me," Manesa said, shrugging.
"Let me see," Zell asked, reaching out and taking it from her. To his surprise, as soon as it was in his hands, it dropped to the floor like cement and he couldn't pick it up. "What the hell!?"
"Let me try," Seifer said, reaching over and trying to pick it up by the handle but it didn't budge. "Okay, that's bullshit."
"Guess I'll give it a go," Squall said, reaching over and doing the same, and he had the same results. "Well, there goes that."
"Maybe, it only works for her?," Quistis suggested, blond brow raised.
"Could be," Irvine chipped in.
Manesa reached over and picked it up easily. She moved it back and forth a little. "Okay, not only am I a special snowflake but I'm also the only one worthy. For I am Thor."
"Is Thor another name of yours?," Quistis asked.
"Um, no... nevermind," Manesa said, with an embarrassed smile.
"There has to be something to these cards," Selphie murmured, putting them down beside Manesa.
"Why do I get the feeling that Gaia is in deep shit again?," Zell said, sighing.
"Probably because it is, Chicken-wuss," Seifer said.
"Suppose we couldn't go on forever without something crazy happening," Quistis said, sighing as well.
"Could be something to do with that new sorceress," Zell said, crossing his arms as the garden shook.
"New sorceress?," Manesa asked, blinking. "I thought Edea and Rinoa were the only ones left."
"Well.. there's this new chick, Nolie. A couple years ago, she introduced herself and her two knights. She's trying to bring together the world and talk peace treaties," Seifer explained.
"Okay... well, maybe that's a good thing?," Manesa said. Ah, to be that innocent and ignorant.
"Well, it is but it'll put all Gardens out of business, for sure," Zell explained. "Besides... she's gaining too much power and allies. She's also started the Hyphonian religion. Brought back people's dedication and worship of Hyne. In my opinion, she's brainwashing the whole damn world."
"Rinoa swears by her. She's met her a few times and she adores her. Says she's very sweet and kind," Selphie said.
"I don't trust it either, personally," Manesa said, lips turning down into a parody of a frown. Looking thoughtful.
"There's churches popping up everywhere, there's even one near the beach here. There's priestesses and priests. My Ma started worshiping too... something I'm not fond of," Zell admitted, feeling that gut instinct of bad once more.
Manesa went silent for a few minutes. "If it's something to do with me. I seriously have no training and wouldn't know where to begin."
"One of us could train you... or you could become a student," Squall suggested, looking at her sideways.
"Um... no thanks. I'm not cut out for battle and also, I'm over the age limit. I'm eighteen," Manesa went on.
"Rinoa was seventeen when she became a student and nineteen when she became SeeD," Quistis said, smiling.
"Did she really?," Manesa asked, looking surprised.
"Yes, she did," Squall said, nodding.
"She was a special snowflake too then," Manesa said, shrugging. "But I decline. I'm just not cut out for it."
"I feel like you should," Quistis said, imploringly. "but I won't push. I'll have faith that you come around."
"It's really not so bad, you learn to protect yourself and others," Zell said, trying to be comforting.
Manesa smiled, shrugging again. "I don't know, man... I'll think about it."
The elevator to the garden dinged, out walked Cid and Edea. "The hurricane has passed, but it's best if you all remain down here for a little while longer," Cid announced.
"How bad is it, Headmaster?," Squall asked.
"We don't know yet. There's some debree outside from what we saw and I think I saw a shark in the entrance way but I can't be too sure," Cid told him.
"Poor thing is probably dead by now," Edea said, looking sad.
"It's a shark. One less, the better," Seifer said, shrugging his shoulders.
Edea gave him a disapproving look but said nothing further about the subject. "I'll go let everyone else know, then I'll be heading back upstairs with Cid."
"Hey, Matron," Zell spoke up.
"Yes?," She said, stopping mid step with a kind smile.
Should he tell her? Should any of them tell her? Squall gave him a look that he was able to decipher as wait, something he had learned over the years from the scarred brunette. "Nevermind. I'll talk to you later."
"Alright, dear," Edea said as her and Cid walked off.
"Soooo...," Manesa said, looking awkwardly.
Zell felt bad for her. "Yo, we'll figure things out. Don't worry about it."
"Yeah, we'll talk to the headmaster later and explain the situation," Selphie said, smiling gently.
Manesa nodded. "If you're sure. I could always just uh... try and find my way back or do something to make my way."
"Darlin', everythings gonna be fine. You'll see," Irvine spoke up, looking less green from worry.
Zell wasn't sure what was going on but he honestly had a really bad feeling about the whole situation. His gut instincts were hardly ever wrong.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
bMANESA/b
Admittedly, she was scared. Why was she here? What or who brought her here? Sure, she always wondered what it'd be like to be in the world of one of her favorite games. That wasn't full of horrible things like Silent Hill and Resident Evil for example, but she never thought she'd actually end up here. Now she sits in Headmaster Cid's office, in front of the desk as Zell and Selphie chat behind her about a recent mission Zell went on.
Her skin was itching from anticipation. It had been five days since she got her, she had been staying with Selphie and Squall during that time. She learned they were together, which warmed her, she always thought Selphie was better suited for Squall in the first place. She wondered where Rinoa was though, but she figured it was too rude to ask at the moment. Maybe, if she got a little closer to everyone, if they even became her friends, then she would ask. Until then, she wouldn't impede.
She had decided what she was going to do. The gunblade, which she had fondly named IceFaerie, had kept calling to her like a siren's song. She often found herself picking it up and studying it closely. It seemed strange and significant. Why did she have it? She wasn't stupid. There was a ireason/i she was here. Quistis had been right, this couldn't just be a random act of the universe. It had to be something else.
And honestly? She really didn't want to find out. She wasn't some teenager who had been training here all their life, ready to take on soldiers and fight to the death. Hell, she wasn't even violent except in her mind when someone pissed her off. What was she supposed to do? What would be Cid's verdict?
Her nervousness grew, until she heard the door to the bridge open, turning her head to look and the Headmaster walked in, wearing a pair of black slacks and a brown vest. So, everyone did have outfits other than what the game showed? Go figure. Well, she had learned that after being around everyone the last few days. She turned around to look forward. Did she salute? Stand up? Okay, yeah, that seemed plausible. Saluting in front of the face, right? She stood up, almost falling over awkwardly but managed to stay up right as she turned to the Headmaster and salute. "Hi, Headmaster Cid. It's a pleasure to meet you." She almost fell against the chair again but caught herself. "Sorry."
"No need to apologize. Relax," Zell said, coming over to her and putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "He doesn't bite."
"I don't at all," Cid said, smiling. "Take a seat."
She nodded, sitting down in the buttersoft brown leather chair. She put her hands in her lap as Cid sat across her from.
"I hear you're not from here. Not even from our planet," Cid started. "Mind explaining?"
"Yes, sir," she said quietly. Then she ran down the list of things about her world, the game and how she came here, which she knew nothing about.
"And what came with you?," Cid asked, looking perplexed.
"Triple Triad Cards of Zell, Selphie, Quistis, Seifer, Squall and Irvine. A gunblade that only I can lift, some clothes, my game system, a controller and the game itself," Manesa went on, voice half a chatter and half anxious. "I'm wearing the clothes right now." Her hair was also in a ponytail, with a couple wavy curls at the sides of her face.
"Peculiar," Cid commented.
"I know, sir," Manesa said. "I'm as confused as everyone else."
"I see," Cid said, leaning back in his chair and clasping his hands over his rounded belly. "Well. I can see what Quistis means by we need to look into this. I'm sure you realize this is no coincidence."
"Yes, sir," Manesa said, nodding.
"We were thinking she could become a student and potentially a SeeD," Selphie chipped in, standing beside her chair.
"I could certainly pull some strings," Cid said, smiling.
"You don't have to. I know I'm past the age limit and I wouldn't want you to break rules for me. Much as I joke about being special, it's more in the head than actually being well... special," she finished awkwardly.
Cid laughed. "I'm the Headmaster. I was joking about pulling strings," he said, grinning. "If you want to become a student I don't mind. Rinoa didn't become a student until seventeen, and Seifer only came back four years ago. He's still training to be SeeD, which is a different branch of SeeD."
"Different branch?," Manesa asked, blinking.
"Yes, drugs have always been prevalent in our world but in recent years it's gotten much worse. He's studying to become part of SeeD RED. It's a special part of SeeD that takes care of drug dealers, human trafficking, and all else dealing with corruptness. Not something you''d be interested in, I'm sure," Cid explained.
"Not at this time, no," She said, nodding her head. So, even in this idealistic world? Aside from Sorceresses. They had to deal with the problems of her world? Guess she couldn't get away from it.
"Well, alright. Do you want to become a student?," the old man asked, looking serious.
She pulled her bottom lip halfway into her mouth and bit down in thought. "I guess. I don't know what's coming and I should jump at a chance to defend myself."
"Aww. Come on, Maney! Say it with a little more spirit, huh?," Zell chimed in, animatedly moviing around his arms.
"Okay, I want to become a student and eventually SeeD," she said a little louder.
"There we go, baby!," Zell exclaimed, grinning.
She just smiled, rolling her eyes. He really was a sweetheart, as he had shown since she got here.
"I'll get your paper work going and you'll have to fill out information about yourself," Cid said, sitting up.
"Well, I don't know what kind of information there would be. I don't have birth proofs, or my identity here... sooooo...," She trailed off, uncomfortably.
"You see. We have granted orphaned children who came through here, the ability to get all of that. Do you really think they had any of those things before becoming students?," Cid asked, her, smiling.
"I guess not," Manesa answered, smiling back.
"Then let's not worry about it. It will all be taken care of and you'll have to sign a few things to get stated into the world," Cid said. "Okay?"
"Okay, sir," Manesa said, nodding. "When should I come by to start doing all that?"
"You don't need to come by. I hear you're staying with Selphie and Squall, so I'll have my wife drop by the papers at their dorm and then you can return them to me when you've finished," Cid said seriously. "if you finish them by the weekend. Starting Monday. you'll be a student have. your own dorm, though, you'll be sharing with someone else."
Manesa grinned, she was feeling a lot more excited strangely enough. "Okay!" Was she really going to do this?
"Then it's settled, Miss Bellum. I'll see you soon," Cid said, standing up.
"Definitely, sir!" Manesa said, standing as she saluted again.
Cid chuckled. "You've got moxie. I think you'll get on fine here." Then he went back to the bridge.
"This is gonna be so much fun!," Selphie said, holding her arms out and dancing from side to side.
"Fun? You guys are already SeeDs. Not like we'll have classes together anything or even... well, remain friends," Manesa said, shrugging. Even though she really wanted to be the orphanage gang's friends.
Selphie reached up and bopped her on the head, hands going on her hips afterward. "Don't be silly," she scolded. "We're going to be great friends, and you're going to need a support system. We can help you study!"
"Yeah, Maney! We know all that shit, it'll be a breeze with us," Zell said, grinning.
"Well, I hadn't actually played the game in a long time, so I forgot a ton of stuff that's important... like monsters, guardian forces, and the whole shebang. Guess I will need help," Manesa said, smiling bashfully. "It might come back to me as I study though."
"There's more to it than that. Things you probably didn''t have in the game," Zell said as he headed for the elevator. Manesa and Selphie were right behind him.
"Like what?," Manesa asked as they stepped inside and Zell pushed for the first floor.
"Battle conduct, leadership skills, following instructions. Lots of surprise tests on things you didn't even study for," Zell said. "I failed classes one year when I was fourteen, then I got serious and started studying hardcore. After that it was easy."
Manesa felt nervous again. Could she seriously cut it? "I'll try my hardest."
"That's all that's asked of you," Selphie said, as the elevator dinged and everyone stepped out. "You ready to go into town?"
"Hey, I want to come!," Zell exclaimed. "I could introduce Maney to Ma."
"I wouldn't mind meeting Mrs. Dincht," Manesa said, smiling.
"It'll be us three then!," Selphie said, bouncing excitedly.
"What about Squall?," Zell asked, blond brow raised.
"Oh! He has two classes extra classes to teach today. He would have come otherwise," Selphie said, pouting. "Anyway! Let me go get my purse and you guys wait for me in the parking garage. I don't think Maney is ready to meet any monsters yet."
Manesa laughed nervously. "Nope."
Selphie giggled and took off running down the stairs.
Manesa just smiled. She missed home really bad, but she supposed it wouldn't be incredibly messed up to be here.
Xxxxxxxxxx
bSEIFER/b
The classes were getting harder. Why he decided to become part of RED after becoming a SeeD finally four years ago is beyond him. He breezed through the original SeeD exams because he already knew all of it and then he actually passed because he wasn't such a hardass anymore. Something he tries not to think about because it makes him feel ashamed how difficult a person he was to deal with. To the point that he only had two friends. He knew his need to lord over people was a mechanism to push them away. He guessed he and Squall were no different except in the way they conducted themselves back then.
Anyway, now he was going to become a part of SeeD RED and that meant the tests were getting harder. He had his field exam in two months. He didn't know what it was, but no one taking the exam would know in the first place. Field exams were always random, for whatever got called in. Why he wanted to become part of RED? Well, battles were something he had once been one hundred percent into but now he wanted to make a difference in the world. He really didn't want to think of why. He'd still be doing regular SeeD situations when they were short handed, however.
He missed his trench coat, he burned the damn thing after the war, realizing it now held a stigma. He had taken to wearing a gray military jacket these days, but he wasn't wearing it now. Just black jeans, his steel toed boots and a white muscle shirt. He had filled out, and grown his hair just a little longer. He liked the new look but he still missed the fucking trench coat. It had been his baby for years.
He was bone tired now, his brain hurt and he just wanted to eat lunch, then go to his dorm. Sleep, eat dinner and study until he could sleep again. Maybe train a little to tucker himself after the nap. He dropped his books off at his one bedroom dorm and headed for the cafeteria. It wasn't too packed around three in the afternoon, everyone else ate lunch around twelve and one o'clock, so the large cafeteria seemed bare with a few people eating.
He grabbed himself a plate of a double helping of steamed asparagus, a t-bone steak, two apples and a large bottle of water. He always liked to be healthy, he wasn't into the famous hotdogs or pepperoni pizza that everyone else ate. Clogged arteries before he was thirty? No thanks. He started walking for a seat when someone caught his eye. Ah, yeah. That girl that … came from another world? How stupid did that sound, eh? He wouldn't believe it but he had seen with his own eyes what had come with her.
Huh. Maybe he should sit and talk with her for awhile. She didn't seem off-put by him. Not like most people here were, remembering what he was before he changed. Though.. honestly, he didn't feel like he was worthy of people's friendships these days either. He felt like he burned his bridges, even though the others he had grown up with still wanted him around and Fujin and Raijin always wanted him to come visit them in their little town in Trabia.
He just felt... unworthy.
No use fucking around with feelings. He didn't want to think about those things but he guessed after being mind-fucked by a sorceress, you changed in bad ways too. His confidence in his personal life wasn't all that great because of it.
Right, the chick with the unruly hair.
He made his way over, standing there for a second before he spoke. "Mind If I sit here?"
Manesa looked up, then around slowly as if she were gauging why he wanted to sit here. "Um.. Are you sure? There's like a thousand other seats in here."
"Yeah, your company would be nice," Seifer said, smirking.
She nodded, smiling, blushing a little. "Sure then."
Seifer sat down across from her, studying her plate for a moment. Fried tempura shrimp and carrots, a bowl of cherries and a bottle of lemon tea. Okay, not entirely unhealthy. "You're going to clog your heart."
She blinked. "What makes you say that?"
"Fried foods, the worst way to die," he said, arching an eyebrow.
"Not in moderation," she said, shrugging.
"I prefer to stay away from the crap. I hope to live to a hundred and see everyone I know die," Seifer said, chuckling darkly.
"That's really morbid, you know," Manesa said, laughing nervously.
"I'm only kidding," He said, smiling a little. "Promise."
"I believe you," She said, nodding slowly.
Everything went quiet for a few moments as he ate, focused on his food instead of lost inside his head. When he looked up, she was staring at him and he was suddenly uncomfortable. He wiped off his mouth from the beef juice almost dribbling down his chin and raised his eyebrow. "You always smile like that at murderers, little girl?"
She smiled, he could tell it was genuine as she shrugged. "We all sin."
Seifer blinked, staring back for a few moments, then popped the end of an asparagus in his mouth. He honestly didn't know what to make of that. "You get all the gory details of my life during the war?"
She looked thoughtful. "Well.. you weren't the main character, so no but I got to see where you were being controlled... and excuse me for assuming, but I think you were too far gone and thought you couldn't turn back?"
Once again he felt uncomfortable. She had hit the nail on the head. "Something like that."
"You know, I never asked anyone their age. You guys relatively look the same, except more real and older," Manesa said, lips crinkled to the side.
"I'm twenty-six," he said, shrugging.
"Okay," she said, like she was holding back from saying something else.
Seifer didn't say anything for a few seconds then he spoke up. "Got everything figured out?"
"Everyones been helpful, including Cid and Edea, so yeah," she said, chewing on a carrot. "I've been a student for the past three days."
"How's that working out for ya?," Seifer asked. "Plan on becoming a SeeD?"
"If I can handle it, definitely. I was never one to sign up for the military, so it's going to be a little weird," She said, sounding nervous again.
"You nervous about it?," Seifer asked softly.
"Yeah, I mean... I didn't grow up here. In this world. I'm really out of my element," Manesa admitted.
Seifer knocked a booted foot against her's underneath the table, smiling. "Believe in yourself. You'll handle it just fine."
She smiled back. "If you say so."
"I know so," he said, continuing to smile.
"You're not what I imagined at all," She said, chuckling.
"How did you imagine me?," He asked, a little surprised that anyone would imagine him at all.
"Well it's embarrassing but...authoritarian, self-centered but also wanting to redeem yourself, mellowed out, a lot nicer after the war..." Manesa admitted, blushing.
Seifer furrowed his brows. She was half right... "Maybe I am that way. Maybe I ain't."
"Don't mind me. It's just the thoughts of a teenager," Manesa said, looking bashful.
"Been there, done that. Bought the shirt," Seifer said, chuckling. "So, I get it."
She nodded. "Thanks for not knocking my head off."
"Anytime," He said, nonchalantly. He rather liked this girl, she was kind of a bumbling idiot, but nice. She was giving him a chance instead of just assuming he was this bad guy. Who didn't care one iota. "Hey... tomorrow is Saturday. You doing anything?"
She looked up. "Me?"
Seifer rolled his eyes. "Yeah, you. Who else am I talking to?"
She blinked, blushing again. "Um..."
"It's not a date," Seifer reassured her, laughing.
"Oh, okay," She said, nodding.
"Did you want it to be a date?," Seifer asked, eyebrow raised, smirking.
"What!? No... no, no. Not at all," Manesa quickly said, waving her hands animatedly. "I just wasn't sure what you wanted."
"Just to hang out, fish and drink a couple beers down by the Balamb docks," Seifer said, shrugging. "Might ask Zell to come along too."
She smiled at the mention of Zell. "That'd be awesome, but I can't drink. I'm not twenty-one."
Huh. Did she have a crush on Zell or something? "On our continent, the drinking age is eighteen. So, you're cool."
"Alright then," she said, finishing up her lunch. "I should get going. I've got studying to do and then I promised Selphie and Quistis I'd hang with them this evening."
Seifer nodded. "Have a good time."
"Thanks!," she said, hurriedly walking off.
Seifer sat there for a few moments, his mind blank. He guessed he would invite Zell tomorrow. Maybe it'd make her more comfortable.