/ 0 5 : k n i g h t /
"I don't understand all this."
Headmaster Cid put down the paper he was given and looked at the tall, blonde student that stood before him, a hint of confusion on his face. The student stood there before him, arms folded across his chest and expressionless. The report Seifer Almasy submitted to Cid Kramer (who now shared the spot of 'chief' in Balamb Garden and did his part by helping the Intelligence Division and the SeeDs) wasn't informative. It annoyed the headmaster even more and made him dizzy.
He snapped the paper up, elbow on the desk, and he looked at his student with an eyebrow raised. "I prefer words, Mr. Almasy. You may kindly proof-read and revise this according to my expectations," he said.
Seifer understood clearly that he wanted answers and he wanted them fast and logical. But machines only do what they are told to do - they fast-find what they are told to look for. He couldn't only say this out loud because he could already see, that just like any other adult, and he would be retorted with something concerning the machines "being in man's hands" after all. Besides this, the base fact that he was under his command gave him enough reason to keep quiet, and no reason to speak to him as if they weren't business partners. It was also Squall who assigned him to work in the Research Department, and Squall was commander now, leader of Balamb Garden's military force.
For Seifer to simply talk to any of the elite officers like they weren't of high rank - which was made up of his orphanage-mates and Headmaster Cid as well as his wife Edea - was a simple violation or defiance of authority. And he didn't want his arse kicked, as much as he was already pissed.
"I asked for a report, not a full sheet of paper with numbers. I'm not so fond of numbers, Mr. Almasy; I think you did not understand what I've said before." Headmaster Cid sighed, continuing after Seifer's silence. "We can get nothing out of this."
Seifer's eyes narrowed. "That's what Xu found this morning when I asked her and other 2 dozen researchers to initiate a search," he noted. "It's been repeated less than 10 times. The same results keep appearing for whatever it is you wanted us to find-"
"-the Bloodstone-"
"Whatever." Seifer neared the window, fingered a piece of the blinds and looked through the glass, only to see a distance covered by velvet blue and a tad twinkling in the sky. "Well. Whatever it is, whatever it does… I sure hope you find it. Sounds important, after all."
"How can I when one of my researchers doesn't even care what he's looking for?" Headmaster Cid scowled as he crumpled the paper in his palms and threw the distorted ball into the trash bin near the door. "We need this, Seifer. And as much as possible we'd like you to help us. The age of rivalry has ended. And it sounds like you don't give a damn at all."
"Who said I was rivaling anything?" Seifer snorted. "And I never said I don't give a damn. I'm simply doing my job. Isn't that what you wanted?"
Headmaster Cid's eyes softened as he glanced at him. It was true. Five years since the war with Ultimecia, Squall now resorted to placing Seifer in the Research Department and as a high-ranking officer in SeeD. Seifer, ever since he was given a job to do, has been doing his job clearly well and without remorse, though it seemed mundane. Cid wanted to take back everything he said, but everyone had to be stern considering the situation. Seifer, on the other hand, understood, but he didn't want to feel like he was being stepped on.
Seifer neared the door, simply wanting to leave. "…And yet you haven't asked critically about that paper," Seifer chuckled. "I do, in fact, know what that paper contained. I wish you asked first."
Cid only looked at him and blinked. "Oh?"
Seifer grinned. "…Those were coordinates."