DISCLAIMER
I do not own- in any way, shape, or form- any of the characters in Final Fantasy VIII. They belong to Squaresoft. I'm not making any money, so don't come looking for me, Agent Smith.
A/N- This first chapter came to me this morning. I meant it to be a kind of crossbreeding of the opening segments of the Austin Powers movies and the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Once More... With Feeling." R and R!
INTRO
[FADE IN… The opening notes of a Sinatra song begin to play. We see a mustached bartender smiling, deftly twirling bottles, making drinks.]
They call you lady luck
but there is room for doubt
at times you have a very unladylike way of running out...
[CLOSE UP on bottle in his hand as he tosses it in the air.]
[SWITCH TO two raised champagne flutes clinked together.]
You're on this date with me…
The pickin's have been lush...
[The camera angles down to show Squall Leonhart and Rinoa Heartilly- dressed tastefully- smiling lovingly at each other, drawing the flutes to their lips.]
And yet before this evening is over
you might give me the brush…
[Squall gently brushes his hand over Rinoa's.]
[PAN TO another booth just a short distance away, where Irvine Kinneas and Selphie Tilmitt are leaned across a table, their hands in each other's. They are gazing romantically in each other's eyes, until a tall, slender blonde in a tight dress walks by the table, and Irvine's eyes coolly follow her retreating form.]
You might forget your manners
you might refuse to stay…
[ZOOM OUT and we see Zell Dincht- wearing a tux jacket and his denim shorts- plop down beside Irvine with a platter of hot dogs. He already has his mouth full, and he smiles at the couple.]
and so the best that I can do…
[Zell's face contorts, and he gives a rough, choking heave.]
Is pray!
[SWITCH TO several couples dancing, the ladies' flowing skirts whirling around as if in a dream. They slowly, magically move either to the left or right, revealing Seifer Almasy and Quistis Trepe- dressed in a tux and cream-colored gown, respectively- sashaying to the music.]
Luck be a lady tonight...
[They turn their heads and smile at the camera, then turn their attention back to each other.]
Luck be a lady tonight
luck, if you've ever been a lady to begin with...
[Seifer extends his arm and Quistis twirls away, then back in. Seifer dips her.]
Luck, be a lady tonight...
[PAN LEFT to the stage, where Nida is standing at a microphone, in front of a band, one hand in the pocket of his dress pants, the fingers of his other hand snapping to the beat. The voice is unmistakeably Sinatra, but Nida mouths the words perfectly.]
Luck, let a gentleman see how nice a dame you can be...
[He looks to his left at someone or something out of view.]
I know the way you've treated other guys you've been with
Luck, be a lady with me...
[PAN SLIGHTLY RIGHT to Xu, who is resplendent in a short, powder blue gown. Nida moves over, and she takes his place in front of the microphone, her hands up- palms out- in front of her chest. She moves them in circles.]
A lady doesn't leave her escort
It isn't fair, it isn't nice
A lady doesn't wander all over the room
and blow on some other guy's dice...
[Xu winks michievously, and Nida chuckles, leaning in to the microphone. He begins to sing.]
Let's keep this party polite...
[He nods playfully toward Xu, who giggles.]
Never get out of my sight...
Stick with me, baby, I'm the fella you came in with
Luck, be a lady tonight...
[ZOOM OUT, and we see Squall and Rinoa and Irvine and Selphie taking the floor to dance near Seifer and Quistis. Zell comes onto the floor, as well, by himself, and sticks his arms out as if holding a lady. He dances with classy abandon.]
Luck, let a gentleman see...
[Suddenly, Pigtail Girl slides into Zell's embrace. Zell jumps, startled, but Pigtail Girl takes the lead and begins to twirl them around.]
Just how nice... how nice a... a dame you can be
I know the way you've treated other guys you've been with
Hey, Luck, be a lady with me...
[We watch everyone dance happily for a few moments.]
A lady doesn't leave her escort
It isn't fair, and it's not nice
A lady doesn't wander all over the room
and blow on some other guy's dice...
[PAN FAR RIGHT, to Cid and Edea dancing- by far the most skilled and fluid dancers in the crowd. They are alone. Cid is mouthing the words, his head back, gazing lovingly at Edea through his spectacles. She is smiling up at him.]
So let's keep the party polite
Never get out of my sight
Stick with me, baby, I'm the guy that you came in with
Luck, be a lady...
[Edea throws her head back and laughs.]
Luck be a lady...
Luck, be a laaadyyy...
[Cid dips Edea very low and leans over her, crooning, his lips inches from hers.]
Tonight!
[Edea places a hand to his face and plants a loving kiss on his lips.]
[CUT OUT.]
A/N- This first chapter came to me this morning. I meant it to be a kind of crossbreeding of the opening segments of the Austin Powers movies and the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Once More... With Feeling." R and R!
INTRO
[FADE IN… The opening notes of a Sinatra song begin to play. We see a mustached bartender smiling, deftly twirling bottles, making drinks.]
They call you lady luck
but there is room for doubt
at times you have a very unladylike way of running out...
[CLOSE UP on bottle in his hand as he tosses it in the air.]
[SWITCH TO two raised champagne flutes clinked together.]
You're on this date with me…
The pickin's have been lush...
[The camera angles down to show Squall Leonhart and Rinoa Heartilly- dressed tastefully- smiling lovingly at each other, drawing the flutes to their lips.]
And yet before this evening is over
you might give me the brush…
[Squall gently brushes his hand over Rinoa's.]
[PAN TO another booth just a short distance away, where Irvine Kinneas and Selphie Tilmitt are leaned across a table, their hands in each other's. They are gazing romantically in each other's eyes, until a tall, slender blonde in a tight dress walks by the table, and Irvine's eyes coolly follow her retreating form.]
You might forget your manners
you might refuse to stay…
[ZOOM OUT and we see Zell Dincht- wearing a tux jacket and his denim shorts- plop down beside Irvine with a platter of hot dogs. He already has his mouth full, and he smiles at the couple.]
and so the best that I can do…
[Zell's face contorts, and he gives a rough, choking heave.]
Is pray!
[SWITCH TO several couples dancing, the ladies' flowing skirts whirling around as if in a dream. They slowly, magically move either to the left or right, revealing Seifer Almasy and Quistis Trepe- dressed in a tux and cream-colored gown, respectively- sashaying to the music.]
Luck be a lady tonight...
[They turn their heads and smile at the camera, then turn their attention back to each other.]
Luck be a lady tonight
luck, if you've ever been a lady to begin with...
[Seifer extends his arm and Quistis twirls away, then back in. Seifer dips her.]
Luck, be a lady tonight...
[PAN LEFT to the stage, where Nida is standing at a microphone, in front of a band, one hand in the pocket of his dress pants, the fingers of his other hand snapping to the beat. The voice is unmistakeably Sinatra, but Nida mouths the words perfectly.]
Luck, let a gentleman see how nice a dame you can be...
[He looks to his left at someone or something out of view.]
I know the way you've treated other guys you've been with
Luck, be a lady with me...
[PAN SLIGHTLY RIGHT to Xu, who is resplendent in a short, powder blue gown. Nida moves over, and she takes his place in front of the microphone, her hands up- palms out- in front of her chest. She moves them in circles.]
A lady doesn't leave her escort
It isn't fair, it isn't nice
A lady doesn't wander all over the room
and blow on some other guy's dice...
[Xu winks michievously, and Nida chuckles, leaning in to the microphone. He begins to sing.]
Let's keep this party polite...
[He nods playfully toward Xu, who giggles.]
Never get out of my sight...
Stick with me, baby, I'm the fella you came in with
Luck, be a lady tonight...
[ZOOM OUT, and we see Squall and Rinoa and Irvine and Selphie taking the floor to dance near Seifer and Quistis. Zell comes onto the floor, as well, by himself, and sticks his arms out as if holding a lady. He dances with classy abandon.]
Luck, let a gentleman see...
[Suddenly, Pigtail Girl slides into Zell's embrace. Zell jumps, startled, but Pigtail Girl takes the lead and begins to twirl them around.]
Just how nice... how nice a... a dame you can be
I know the way you've treated other guys you've been with
Hey, Luck, be a lady with me...
[We watch everyone dance happily for a few moments.]
A lady doesn't leave her escort
It isn't fair, and it's not nice
A lady doesn't wander all over the room
and blow on some other guy's dice...
[PAN FAR RIGHT, to Cid and Edea dancing- by far the most skilled and fluid dancers in the crowd. They are alone. Cid is mouthing the words, his head back, gazing lovingly at Edea through his spectacles. She is smiling up at him.]
So let's keep the party polite
Never get out of my sight
Stick with me, baby, I'm the guy that you came in with
Luck, be a lady...
[Edea throws her head back and laughs.]
Luck be a lady...
Luck, be a laaadyyy...
[Cid dips Edea very low and leans over her, crooning, his lips inches from hers.]
Tonight!
[Edea places a hand to his face and plants a loving kiss on his lips.]
[CUT OUT.]