A/N: Well, it's here. I'm feeling just a *slight* dip in my motivation due to lack of reviews... hint hint. Not that I'm begging or anything. Oh, no. But be warned in advance that without a noticable increase in the volume of reviews, the next part may take a bit longer. Seeing as I have finals and all, and unless I'm *really* motivated, my physics grade is probably going to take temporary precedence.
:p C'mon, Saravien, the T-Rexaur fight is just classic. I couldn't exactly leave it out, now could I? If it makes you feel better, I mock myself, the T-Rexaur and several other Seiftis chiches in the next chapter of 'The Politically Correct Audit', which should be out day after tomorrow. Check it out. This goes for everyone... my lack of reviews there is even more depressing. ;_; Feed the poor author's ego! Insane reviews quite welcome, thank you very much ^^
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~Hourglass~
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10:25 AM
(He said)
I never knew it was possible to love someone this much. I've loved her, to know it, for two years, from the first time I walked into her class up through the entire length of the Sorceress War. But I've loved her, without knowing it, for all of my life. And I still never thought it would be as wonderful as this.
I heard the roar a split second before the I actually saw the T-Rexaur.
It roared again and swiped at us with its tail. The beast had approached from Quistis' side of the road and the blow caught her squarely in the back, causing her to cry out involuntarily and stumble into me. I then did something I have never done in my life: I growled. Audibly.
She was off balance so I shifted her weight hastily against my left arm and drew Hyperion with my right. A few quick slashes with the sharp blade and the T-Rexaur stepped back warily, not retreating but exercising caution. I swore softly. We *would* have to get a *smart* monster. I didn't even want to begin to guess how many fights it would have had to survive to acquire that kind of cunning.
Quistis righted herself quickly against my arm and took a long step to the left, giving me room and putting me out of range of her chain whip. She didn't uncoil it immediately, though, first touching her fingers to her forehead in a gesture I've seen thousands of times. Overprotective worries about her being too far away instantly crystallized into something far more serious. I knew what *that* meant.
I slashed again at the T-Rexaur to keep it at bay and lunged left. My hand closed over her wrist, jerking it away before she could complete the movement. She stared at me in shock. "What are you-"
The T-Rexaur struck again, taking advantage of our proximity, cutting her off. I hastily cast Blizzaga, the unfamiliar ice magic tingling unpleasantly in my veins. Ice is more Squall's thing. I do fire and holy. Especially holy.
[Speaking of which, do you plan on summoning me at any point in the near future?] Alexander put in crabbily. He liked a good fight as much as I did and hated being left out. Another reason, no doubt, why we're so compatible.
[Just a sec,] I told him and turned towards Quistis, keeping Hyperion up, sharp edge towards the Rexaur. "Don't summon your GF, okay?"
"Why not?" she yelled back, flinging a Blizzara of her own at the marauding monster.
"GFs destroy memories!" I called, taking a swipe at the T-Rexaur as soon as he stepped close enough. "They take up space in your mind, carve pathways through your thoughts, especially when you summon them. That's why you- ugh- forgot." I hastily dodged a bite aimed at my arm.
"You mean I can't summon him *ever*?" Quistis sounded appalled, snapping her whip at the T-Rexaur, then cursing as a lucky bite from the monster caught her off guard.
I drew a Cura from it and cast it on her. For a wild monster it had quite a stockpile; perhaps that was the secret behind its evident longevity. "You can," I assured her, "just wait for the memories to settle a bit more firmly. Hold on," I added, and slashed Hyperion diagonally before me, summoning Alexander.
[Finally,] the GF grumped good-naturedly.
The world blurred around me as he appeared in my stead. I blacked out entirely for the familiar twenty-second eternity, focusing on keeping my mind ordered in its carefully laid patterns, arranged to give Alexander entry and exit room without damaging my memories or anything else. It was a technique that required patience to master, but once learned maintaining it was unconscious most of the time, unless you were actually summoning. Then it was over, Alexander lodged firmly in his little cleared-off space in my head once again.
The T-Rexaur roared, not noticeably harmed.
Just great.
[Let me,] Alexander said, sounding annoyed. [This will take long enough as it is.]
Well, good thing we left plenty of time.
10:27 AM
(She said)
I sighed in relief as the T-Rexaur finally fell to the ground and disintegrated. Normally even a smart, wild one wouldn't be much of a threat, but being unable to summon Quezacotl left me feeling vulnerable in ways I didn't like.
I glanced over to Seifer as I recoiled my whip automatically. He was straightening slowly from a fighting stance, looking tired. I felt a stab of compassion for my former student. Summoning a GF repeatedly, as he'd just done, was extremely draining. I moved over to him, unable to repress a fond smile. Even when he was young, he'd be like that. Always doing all the work. Not because he wanted the spotlight, not because he enjoyed being tired and drained. It's just that protective instinct of his. He's always had it. It's one of his- surprisingly many, I am discovering- endearing traits.
I steady him, reaching for a Cure, but he catches my hand midway through the casting gesture in a grip surprisingly strong. "Don't waste it," he says, straightening away from me. "It won't help fatigue. I'm not that tired anyway. I've... been building up my resistance and compatibility."
I nod, glancing down the road automatically for other stray monsters. He's clearly been training a good deal since his last evaluation. I wish I could have seen him in action on the field test. Maybe.... maybe...
"Hey." His grip on my wrist is gentle now. Somehow he knows what I'm thinking; I can see it in his eyes, the understanding tinged with sadness, the overriding determination. "Next time for sure. Okay?"
I smile. "Okay." I believe in him. I believe he means it. I believe he'll make it in the end. He's too bright a star to burn out. Not him. Never him. He'd never give up.
He smiles back at me. Confidence rises between us, an ability to handle any challenges thrown our way. We set off again, joined hands swinging idly between us. There's something else I want to know from him, and I phrase my words carefully. There's a fine art to getting information- truthful information- out of Seifer. I used to know it quite well. I'm rusty now but practice makes perfect.
"So, Seifer," I bring up casually as we continue on, one-two one-two in step. "Thanks again for restoring my memories. Who would've thought GFs would damage them, ne?" Leaving unspoken the question of how *he* knew, I went right for the big guns. Inwardly I wore a wicked grin; from my outward tone butter wouldn't melt in my mouth. "Just how *did* you bring them back, anyway?"
10:28 AM
(He said)
Oooh boy. She *would* have to ask about that one.
[Looks like she's calling you on it sooner rather than later.]
And I *would* have to get a GF with a sense of humor.
Okay, Almasy, think fast.
Ummm... "Magic." Oh, real smooth there. I sound like a three-year-old. Except- now we know that magic is real. So maybe I can do something with this after all. Think, think... a-hah! "You've heard of a Forget spell, right?" Please say yes, please say yes... she nods! Give the girl a prize! I'm not sunk yet. "Well, what a GF does is similar to that," I continue, trying to keep my explanation- lie- as simple as possible. The last thing I need is to trip over my tongue on this one. Sorceress powers leads to Sorceress' Knight, leads to Time Compression, leads to... no, I did NOT want to solve *that* temporal equation. "So, I just hit you with an extra-powerful triple Esuna." Please let this work...
10:29 AM
(She said)
I mull this over, fighting my instinct to dismiss the explanation outright just because it's Seifer. Instead I search for flaws. The obvious one, of course, is "Why didn't this happen when I've had Esunas cast on me before?"
He's prepared for this question, give him credit for that. "Two reasons," he says without hesitation. "One is that this Esuna was stronger than most, there were three of them, and frankly I'm one of the best casters in Garden." Hardly modest, but true; when he was casting a moment ago his improvement was clear. "Two, what a GF does is tricky. To dispel the effects you have to be in the right frame of mind- you have to *know* you've lost something."
I don't quite know how to react to this. It *seems* plausible, certainly, it all hangs together and there's no contradictions. But I can't seem to shake the niggling feeling that he's not telling me the complete truth.
I look hard at him, trying to divine what his underlying motives could be. I see sincerity, reliability... and underneath the overt emotions, a hint of pleading. Hoping. He wants me to accept this. Not just to save his own skin. There's a deeper reason behind his desire for me to believe him. What? Why? I cast my thoughts back, try to recall anything that might have caused this. I find nothing. I'm worried. Whatever he's kept back... he's always been the protective type, but he's not stupid, he knows I can take care of myself. What could be so... so bad? That he'd never want me to know?
But that's not even the real question, is it? The real question here is whether or not I trust him enough to make that decision for me. Whether or not I trust him to know, because I do not, that this must be kept secret. It's a test of faith. And I've already decided that question.
So, disbelieving of his answer, but with complete faith in the man behind it, I let the issue go. And I smile up at him, showing him my confidence.
He looks surprised for a moment; then his face softens. I feel warm all over, basking in the glow of the sun. This is all so new to me. With the huge amount of information thrown at me over the past half hour I should feel overwhelmed, lost, confused. But instead I feel strong, empowered. Lighter than air. Grounded by his arm around my waist.
We entered Balamb that way.
I was smiling.
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More action, less introspection. I'm not generally very good at action, especially turn-based, so let me know how I can improve. Next chapter: lots more introspection! Wahoo! *happy dance*
Review me, or the evil mutant killer daisy will eat your soul!
(stolen from a poster in my history classroom. the saddest part is, my teacher wrote it. is there a law saying all history teachers have to be wacko?)
Lyaka ^^
:p C'mon, Saravien, the T-Rexaur fight is just classic. I couldn't exactly leave it out, now could I? If it makes you feel better, I mock myself, the T-Rexaur and several other Seiftis chiches in the next chapter of 'The Politically Correct Audit', which should be out day after tomorrow. Check it out. This goes for everyone... my lack of reviews there is even more depressing. ;_; Feed the poor author's ego! Insane reviews quite welcome, thank you very much ^^
---------------
~Hourglass~
---------------
10:25 AM
(He said)
I never knew it was possible to love someone this much. I've loved her, to know it, for two years, from the first time I walked into her class up through the entire length of the Sorceress War. But I've loved her, without knowing it, for all of my life. And I still never thought it would be as wonderful as this.
I heard the roar a split second before the I actually saw the T-Rexaur.
It roared again and swiped at us with its tail. The beast had approached from Quistis' side of the road and the blow caught her squarely in the back, causing her to cry out involuntarily and stumble into me. I then did something I have never done in my life: I growled. Audibly.
She was off balance so I shifted her weight hastily against my left arm and drew Hyperion with my right. A few quick slashes with the sharp blade and the T-Rexaur stepped back warily, not retreating but exercising caution. I swore softly. We *would* have to get a *smart* monster. I didn't even want to begin to guess how many fights it would have had to survive to acquire that kind of cunning.
Quistis righted herself quickly against my arm and took a long step to the left, giving me room and putting me out of range of her chain whip. She didn't uncoil it immediately, though, first touching her fingers to her forehead in a gesture I've seen thousands of times. Overprotective worries about her being too far away instantly crystallized into something far more serious. I knew what *that* meant.
I slashed again at the T-Rexaur to keep it at bay and lunged left. My hand closed over her wrist, jerking it away before she could complete the movement. She stared at me in shock. "What are you-"
The T-Rexaur struck again, taking advantage of our proximity, cutting her off. I hastily cast Blizzaga, the unfamiliar ice magic tingling unpleasantly in my veins. Ice is more Squall's thing. I do fire and holy. Especially holy.
[Speaking of which, do you plan on summoning me at any point in the near future?] Alexander put in crabbily. He liked a good fight as much as I did and hated being left out. Another reason, no doubt, why we're so compatible.
[Just a sec,] I told him and turned towards Quistis, keeping Hyperion up, sharp edge towards the Rexaur. "Don't summon your GF, okay?"
"Why not?" she yelled back, flinging a Blizzara of her own at the marauding monster.
"GFs destroy memories!" I called, taking a swipe at the T-Rexaur as soon as he stepped close enough. "They take up space in your mind, carve pathways through your thoughts, especially when you summon them. That's why you- ugh- forgot." I hastily dodged a bite aimed at my arm.
"You mean I can't summon him *ever*?" Quistis sounded appalled, snapping her whip at the T-Rexaur, then cursing as a lucky bite from the monster caught her off guard.
I drew a Cura from it and cast it on her. For a wild monster it had quite a stockpile; perhaps that was the secret behind its evident longevity. "You can," I assured her, "just wait for the memories to settle a bit more firmly. Hold on," I added, and slashed Hyperion diagonally before me, summoning Alexander.
[Finally,] the GF grumped good-naturedly.
The world blurred around me as he appeared in my stead. I blacked out entirely for the familiar twenty-second eternity, focusing on keeping my mind ordered in its carefully laid patterns, arranged to give Alexander entry and exit room without damaging my memories or anything else. It was a technique that required patience to master, but once learned maintaining it was unconscious most of the time, unless you were actually summoning. Then it was over, Alexander lodged firmly in his little cleared-off space in my head once again.
The T-Rexaur roared, not noticeably harmed.
Just great.
[Let me,] Alexander said, sounding annoyed. [This will take long enough as it is.]
Well, good thing we left plenty of time.
10:27 AM
(She said)
I sighed in relief as the T-Rexaur finally fell to the ground and disintegrated. Normally even a smart, wild one wouldn't be much of a threat, but being unable to summon Quezacotl left me feeling vulnerable in ways I didn't like.
I glanced over to Seifer as I recoiled my whip automatically. He was straightening slowly from a fighting stance, looking tired. I felt a stab of compassion for my former student. Summoning a GF repeatedly, as he'd just done, was extremely draining. I moved over to him, unable to repress a fond smile. Even when he was young, he'd be like that. Always doing all the work. Not because he wanted the spotlight, not because he enjoyed being tired and drained. It's just that protective instinct of his. He's always had it. It's one of his- surprisingly many, I am discovering- endearing traits.
I steady him, reaching for a Cure, but he catches my hand midway through the casting gesture in a grip surprisingly strong. "Don't waste it," he says, straightening away from me. "It won't help fatigue. I'm not that tired anyway. I've... been building up my resistance and compatibility."
I nod, glancing down the road automatically for other stray monsters. He's clearly been training a good deal since his last evaluation. I wish I could have seen him in action on the field test. Maybe.... maybe...
"Hey." His grip on my wrist is gentle now. Somehow he knows what I'm thinking; I can see it in his eyes, the understanding tinged with sadness, the overriding determination. "Next time for sure. Okay?"
I smile. "Okay." I believe in him. I believe he means it. I believe he'll make it in the end. He's too bright a star to burn out. Not him. Never him. He'd never give up.
He smiles back at me. Confidence rises between us, an ability to handle any challenges thrown our way. We set off again, joined hands swinging idly between us. There's something else I want to know from him, and I phrase my words carefully. There's a fine art to getting information- truthful information- out of Seifer. I used to know it quite well. I'm rusty now but practice makes perfect.
"So, Seifer," I bring up casually as we continue on, one-two one-two in step. "Thanks again for restoring my memories. Who would've thought GFs would damage them, ne?" Leaving unspoken the question of how *he* knew, I went right for the big guns. Inwardly I wore a wicked grin; from my outward tone butter wouldn't melt in my mouth. "Just how *did* you bring them back, anyway?"
10:28 AM
(He said)
Oooh boy. She *would* have to ask about that one.
[Looks like she's calling you on it sooner rather than later.]
And I *would* have to get a GF with a sense of humor.
Okay, Almasy, think fast.
Ummm... "Magic." Oh, real smooth there. I sound like a three-year-old. Except- now we know that magic is real. So maybe I can do something with this after all. Think, think... a-hah! "You've heard of a Forget spell, right?" Please say yes, please say yes... she nods! Give the girl a prize! I'm not sunk yet. "Well, what a GF does is similar to that," I continue, trying to keep my explanation- lie- as simple as possible. The last thing I need is to trip over my tongue on this one. Sorceress powers leads to Sorceress' Knight, leads to Time Compression, leads to... no, I did NOT want to solve *that* temporal equation. "So, I just hit you with an extra-powerful triple Esuna." Please let this work...
10:29 AM
(She said)
I mull this over, fighting my instinct to dismiss the explanation outright just because it's Seifer. Instead I search for flaws. The obvious one, of course, is "Why didn't this happen when I've had Esunas cast on me before?"
He's prepared for this question, give him credit for that. "Two reasons," he says without hesitation. "One is that this Esuna was stronger than most, there were three of them, and frankly I'm one of the best casters in Garden." Hardly modest, but true; when he was casting a moment ago his improvement was clear. "Two, what a GF does is tricky. To dispel the effects you have to be in the right frame of mind- you have to *know* you've lost something."
I don't quite know how to react to this. It *seems* plausible, certainly, it all hangs together and there's no contradictions. But I can't seem to shake the niggling feeling that he's not telling me the complete truth.
I look hard at him, trying to divine what his underlying motives could be. I see sincerity, reliability... and underneath the overt emotions, a hint of pleading. Hoping. He wants me to accept this. Not just to save his own skin. There's a deeper reason behind his desire for me to believe him. What? Why? I cast my thoughts back, try to recall anything that might have caused this. I find nothing. I'm worried. Whatever he's kept back... he's always been the protective type, but he's not stupid, he knows I can take care of myself. What could be so... so bad? That he'd never want me to know?
But that's not even the real question, is it? The real question here is whether or not I trust him enough to make that decision for me. Whether or not I trust him to know, because I do not, that this must be kept secret. It's a test of faith. And I've already decided that question.
So, disbelieving of his answer, but with complete faith in the man behind it, I let the issue go. And I smile up at him, showing him my confidence.
He looks surprised for a moment; then his face softens. I feel warm all over, basking in the glow of the sun. This is all so new to me. With the huge amount of information thrown at me over the past half hour I should feel overwhelmed, lost, confused. But instead I feel strong, empowered. Lighter than air. Grounded by his arm around my waist.
We entered Balamb that way.
I was smiling.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More action, less introspection. I'm not generally very good at action, especially turn-based, so let me know how I can improve. Next chapter: lots more introspection! Wahoo! *happy dance*
Review me, or the evil mutant killer daisy will eat your soul!
(stolen from a poster in my history classroom. the saddest part is, my teacher wrote it. is there a law saying all history teachers have to be wacko?)
Lyaka ^^