Chapter 12

Interview in Laguna's world

Rinoa stepped off of the angry steaming train behind her and walked amongst the other people on the train station platform. It was a hot humid sort of day and the dust hung in the air like a golden fog. A motley crew of cameramen appeared behind her, jostling their equipment and bickering with each other.

            "I can't believe they sent me you lot. You know, I was quite happy to write up my interviews and post them back!" Rinoa said annoyed by their childish behaviour both off and on the train.

            "Aww Rin you're just sore because you couldn't go in the presidents bit again." Remarked the tallest member of the camera crew. Rinoa blew air out of her cheeks in exasperation.

            "Mitch?" Rinoa said, putting her hand onto her hip in an annoyance. 

            "Yeah?"

            "Shut up!" Rinoa said smiling. "Look, I don't know why I have been teamed up with you for this interview, but if you want to stay, you're going to have to do things my way, and that means doing what I tell you." Rinoa said leading the way toward the exit. There were no complaints, but a few worried glances were exchanged with smiles.  The crew followed her happily through the busy station, talking absentmindedly to one another.

            "Rin, where are we staying?" Mitch asked suddenly as they stepped off the busy platform. He seemed to be the leader of the camera gang and was obviously nominated to ask all the questions.

            "I've booked you rooms in a hotel not far from the palace." Rinoa answered. 

            "Oh" Mitch replied dropping his stuff onto the floor as they waited for a taxi.

            Rinoa gazed unseeingly at the traffic going past them; she hadn't been to this part of the train station before, so everything was new again. When she had been collected the first time, she had exited with all the first class travellers, on the far side of where she sat now. But somehow by looking at the station from a new angle, she began to appreciate it more. It was a gateway to two different worlds. In a simple way, it could even represent her and Squall's lives, so different, yet so the same.

            "Rin, a taxi just pulled up." Mitch said prodding her in the arm. Rinoa scowled and rubbed the mistreated limb. Staggering back up onto her weary feet, Rinoa grabbed her bag and threw it into the bright yellow car. After handing over some shamefully crumpled notes with a blush, they set off into the loud noisy street.

            A solitary man who stood alone in the bustle of the surrounding crowds, observed the departing taxi. His eyes gleamed in the bright sunlight and he shielded them slightly with his hand.

            Taking out a bottle of cold clear water, he gulped it back and let it run over his chin and onto his shirt. Raising his hand he wiped it away roughly and threw the empty bottle into a nearby hedge.

            After flagging down a taxi he began his way in the direction of the president's palace.

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            Rinoa's ride back to the palace was far from peaceful, she was hoping to prepare something to say to Squall, in case she should be left alone with him for any reason. But the unruly men in the car were constantly interrupting her mind.

            "Would you just shut up?" Rinoa screamed finally after ten minutes of unbreakable chatter.

            "Hey Rin lighten up! We know you love us really, although you hide it well." Mitch said winking. The blonde man next to him burst into Laughter making Rinoa smile.

            "I'm sorry, I've been terribly rude. I'm glad to have you here really, it's just that I've got a lot on my mind." Rinoa said, tilting her head back onto the headrest behind her and rubbing her temples.

            "How long does it take to get there anyway?" The blonde man asked.

            Rinoa stopped her gaze out of the window and looked at him, a tag on his jacket reminded her of his name. 'Fendz'

            "It's takes about half an hours tops." Rinoa answered. The blonde man with the tag nodded and stared at his watch.

            The noise inside the car had taken the other extreme now, and Rinoa sat in the silence feeling bad about telling them to be quiet. But the peace was broken a few seconds later by Fendz telling them all how his mother had acquired a rare type of rose plant. Rinoa's guilt instantly melted away.

            The sight of the palace was a welcome one, as they drove through the gates and onto the gravel outside.

Laguna appeared to be outside smelling flowers, accompanied by a gang of bodyguards and servants. Rinoa imagined that he was the only man in the world who could go around smelling flowers without people assuming that he was strange.

            The arrival of Rinoa's taxi sent him into an excitable mood and he rushed over to great them, hopping from one foot to the other.

            "Rinoa! I am so glad you are back; I was really worried. Squall got in touch then?" He asked wrapping his arm around her and pulling her in through the main doors. Rinoa looked worried. What exactly had he meant by 'in touch'?

            "Err….yeah." Rinoa answered as her bags were brought in and taken away. Her small camera crew waited in the entrance seemingly awestruck.

            "Good, good, and who are these people?" Laguna asked smiling.

            "These are my cameramen. I was wondering if it was not too much trouble that they could film our interview?" Rinoa asked nervously.

            "Film it? Well of course they can!" Laguna said throwing his arms up and everywhere in his exuberance. Rinoa smiled relived. "Where are they staying?" He asked suddenly.

            "I've got rooms for us at the hotel just down the road." Rinoa answered impressed by her organisation skills. Laguna frowned.

            "You mean your staying with them instead of here?" He asked down heartened. 

            "Only for one night, so we can compare notes and things." Rinoa informed him. "But after, if you would only be so kind as to let me stay here again, I would be very grateful."

            "Of course! I would hear of nothing else." Laguna said smiling. Rinoa sighed, that was one problem solved.

            "Rinny!" Cried a high female voice.

            "Ellone who are you?" Rinoa asked hugging her warmly. Ellone beamed.

            "I'm fine. I'm so sorry about your aunt Rin." She said squeezing Rinoa's hand. Rinoa smiled.

            "Thankyou." She replied. Ellone stood observing her, while her father filled Rinoa in on what she had missed out, which hadn't been very much.

            A few minutes past, in which Laguna became very involved in his speech to Rinoa. Ellone had to admit that Rinoa did have stamina for his topic jumping ramblings.  

            As Ellone stood on her own she became aware of an open door further up the corridor. The figure that had just appeared outside of it took a sharp turn and darted into a side room. Ellone frowned. What was Squall doing? 

            "Rinoa, do you want to do your interview now?" Laguna asked. Rinoa blushed.

            "Well, if it's not too much trouble." She said, not wanting to inconvince them. Laguna shook his head.

            "No trouble at all." He said showing her the way with his outstretched arm. "If you just want to set up in there, and I will be right with you."

            Rinoa looked to where his hand indicated and nodded.

            "Ok, guys follow me." She said waving on the camera crew. They darted forward and followed her into the room.

            "Squall!" Rinoa said surprised as she entered the designated room.   

            "Yes?" He said staring at her. Rinoa shivered, he was doing the creepy stare thing again. "I'm interviewing your father in here." Rinoa informed him, realising how foolish it sounded, but it was the only thing that had come to mind. 

            "So?" He retorted.

            "Well, you looked busy. I didn't want to disturb you." She said quietly. Rinoa felt her cheeks flush up. Great, now she sounded as though she cared about him.

            "I'm so glad you think about my comfort Rin." He said smirking. Rinoa rolled her eyes and made sure he saw her do it. "But didn't you want to interview me too?" He asked, putting his unread newspaper down. Rinoa sighed.

            "Yes, I did." She said looking at the floor. "But that was before I found out how much of an bastard you really are!" She added spitefully, gloating from her attack. Squall smiled. Rinoa looked at him confused and then became aware of a presence behind her.

            "Err… hi, Ellone." Rinoa stuttered. Ellone raised an eyebrow.

            "Father said that you might want to interview me too, but I see I am interrupting." She said smiling. Rinoa shot a warning glare at Squall. "But if he…" She continued pointing at Squall, who in turn, pretended to look offended. "Has been able to conceal the truth that he is indeed a bastard for so long, then our drama teacher shouldn't have flunked him." Ellone said sticking her tongue out at Squall.  

            Rinoa watched the two in fascination, she had no siblings of her own, and found the arguments between them interesting.

            Ellone looked happy in the belief that she had won the argument, until something hit her on the head.

            "Heey!" She screamed, picking up the object that turned out to be a pen lid and throwing it back with precision. Squall leaped off the desk where he rested with energy and took a handful of paperclips from a pot.

            Ellone screamed and ran behind Rinoa, seconds later, before Rinoa could complain they were showered with paperclips.

            "Right." Rinoa said scrambling around on the floor collecting the clips. "You are dead Mister."

            "Oh no, I'm scared." Squall said, waving his hands around in a stupid manner. Ellone grabbed a pot of pens from a cupboard that Rinoa was sure wasn't there a minute ago, and threw them over Squall.

            Mitch and his gang retreated into a corner. After a period of shock Mitch had an idea and smirked. Fendz agreed readily and the camera was switched on without anybody knowing. 

            "Ellone your in trouble now!" Squall warned. Ellone shrieked, and did her best to get away in time before Squall caught her. But his arm pulled her back and he tripped her onto the floor and commenced tickling. 

            "Stop…. stop it!…Squall!…get off…. Rotten…brother." She screamed through laughing. "Rinoa help me!"

            Rinoa looked around her quickly, her excitement making her temporarily blind to her surroundings. A jug of water stood on the side and in her hast she tipped it over Squall. Most however, landed on Ellone, much to Squall's amusement.    

            "Rinny!" She screamed, her hair sprayed around her face. Her clothes were soaking and she roughly pushed Squall off of her. "Oh I see, on his team now are we? Right." She said storming to the other side of the room where two cushions lay.  "Time to feel some pain!"

            Squall who seemed to have had expert training in pillow fighting managed to get one off of her with little trouble. Rinoa dodged Ellone's slice at her head and dived under the desk laughing.

            Squall and Ellone continued to pound each other until a familiar click of the door handle was heard. Ellone managed to catch Squall off guard thanks to the interruption and he stumbled.

            "What in the hell is going on in here?" Quistis asked as she took what she thought a controlling step into the room. She was answered by a thud in the head from Squall's thrown cushion.

            "Pillow fight!" Laguna cried from behind her. Slowly he produced a red and gold pillow from behind his back. "Can I join in?"

            It didn't take long for Laguna to find himself joining Rinoa under the desk for safety. Squall and Ellone were still involved in the fight and appeared to be attacking Quistis who was doing a good job at holding her own.   

            Rinoa became aware that Mitch and his gang were still in the room, and even more embarrassing the camera was rolling. Rinoa wasn't sure how much they had caught and she blushed crimson.

            Laguna looked fairly happy with his new situation. It appeared to Rinoa that this sort of thing must happen regularly.  

            "So how about that interview?" Laguna suggested as they hid under the desk. Rinoa's mouth dropped open.

            "You serious?" She asked shocked. Sure she wanted her interview to be different but this was ridiculous.

            "Sure, I want them to see the real me right?" Laguna answered. Rinoa still looked shocked.

            "This can't happen everyday surely?" She asked incredulously.

            "You would be surprised." Laguna answered. Rinoa raised her eyebrows.

            "Well ok." She said mentioning for the camera to come closer. Mitch adgusted the lense to focus on the two under the desk, and Fendz climbed on top to hold the microphone over them.

            "This is Miss Rinoa Heartilly reporting for Galbadia news international. You join me today under the presidents desk where a domestic pillow fight war has broken out over head."

Commands of 'bash Quistis!' were heard screamed from Ellone at this point.

            "President Laguna, I have been sent in questions from the nation as well as my own. Please tell me, do you wear boxers or briefs?"

The room filled with silence while Laguna considered his answer.

            "Is that really a question? I haven't been asked that before. Oh well for the nation's humour I wear boxers!" He replied blushing. Rinoa blushed also and the pillow fight continued, although it was two girls on Squall now.

            "Sorry Sir about that one. But number two…hotdogs or pizza?" Rinoa asked pulling a face at her question card, were they all like this? Laguna found it amusing however.

            "That's easy, pizza!" Laguna answered. A call of 'boo' and 'hiss' was heard from the now resting pillow fighters. The camera quickly did a shot of the gang before Quistis was pushed into a closet and locked in.

            "Ok, you are about to be kicked out of a plane onto a desert island. Unfortunately for you, you are going to remain there for the rest of your life. You have somehow salvaged 1gil and there is a shop that sells anything in the world (excluding things that will get you off the island) at 1gil. What one item would you buy?" Rinoa finished her question with a heavy breath. "Yikes what a mouthful!"

            "Well…. think it would have to be a quad bike." Laguna answered seriously. The room filled with silence as everyone looked at Laguna in disbelief.  Rinoa rolled her eyes.

            "I've had enough of these questions. Is everyone done destroying each other?" When no one replied she continued. "Thankyou." She said climbing out from under the desk and sitting in a chair. "Much better."

            "I hear you are building a new theme park, can you tell us about it?" Rinoa asked holding the microphone to him. Laguna snatched it.

            "Yeah! 'Land of the Laguna'! It's going to have these massive rides and all kids go free! And fast food restaurants and kids eat free there too! Until they explode! And ice ream machines! I can't wait." Laguna said excitedly. 

            "Some people say that you are quite childlike yourself. Care to shed some light?" Rinoa asked, now making up this interview as she went along.

            "Well I guess that comes from not having any authority." This statement clicked some memories of Squall's speech in her mind, how he had said that he could do anything he wanted, and that no one cared. "My late wife used to keep me in check though." Laguna finished. Rinoa smiled.

            "And how have your children coped growing up without a mother?" Rinoa asked. The feeling in the room was now one of seriousness in contrast to the craziness that had occurred moments before.

            "They were at a very young age when their mother died. I hoped at least that that might have not affected them too much. I can't deny that it hasn't been very difficult, but I hope they don't resent having only one parent even though I was hardly that." Laguna answered. Rinoa found his answer a little jumbled, but it got through.

            The rest of the interview continued with Rinoa asking whatever she could think of, and Laguna doing his best to answer. After a while, Quistis was finally let out of the cupboard when Squall remembered that she was still in there, and she punched his arm before taking her place along the wall with the other spectators.

            "Laguna I want to thank you for this interview, I hope that maybe we could do another in the future involving your family too." Rinoa said hopefully. Laguna smiled.

            "Sure, sure. Whenever you decide is convenient." He said helpfully. Rinoa smiled.

            "This has been Rinoa Heartilly for Galbadia international, broadcasting from Esthar one of the strangest interviews ever. Thank you and goodnight." She said remembering that it would be played in the evening back home. 

            The camera switched off and everyone fell about laughing. Rinoa hugged Laguna and smiled.

            "That's going to be a head turner Rin, you'll be famous. Although I doubt it will be in a good way. Your boss will kill you." Mitch said putting away his camera.

            "Was it that bad?" Rinoa asked bashfully. Mitch laughed.

            "Well it was unusual, lets give it that. Although I'm not sure the boss will see it that way." Fendz said as he packed his microphone into the bag along with the camera.

            "Oh hyne, oh hyne. Im gonna be fired. This was my first Interview as well…" Rinoa said walking out.

            The occupants of the room watched her leave in silence.

            "I thought it was good." Quistis said quietly. Nobody made any sound until Squall was hit on the head with another cushion.

            "Right, Ellone." He threatened, picking her up and throwing her into Quistis's closet and locking it.     

     "So…who's for Ice cream?" Laguna asked into the confused atmosphere of the room. Squall scoffed and walked out, leaving the door swinging behind him. "I guess not Squall then."

A/N: Well that was the strangest chapter I've ever written, and I've written strange things before….well I'm not sure on other interviews yet, maybe a bit more of Squall vs Rinoa I think.

Thankyou to: The Angel of the Lion, Angelwingedprincess, Charlie Girl, Lady Yevon, Cute Mooglez, Lionheart, Summoner Ceres, Angelprinczess29, Griever Lionhart, Anime Otaku Ettain, Steel Magnolia, Shattered Sword, RPG Hui, Jabberwocky, Sammy-Chan, Bouncer.