Feb Much thanks to Sweet Cherry Kisses who is just about my only reader.... And if you're seeing this and you're not her why don't you review and say so? T_T ::cries:: ::moves on:: =)
One thing about the comments -- I do like Rinoa! and try to tease everybody the same. No, the others weren't trying to push her and Squall together; she's the only one doing that. Vash's joke was more about her father, and he's been sort of too preoccupied with Selphie to even notice she likes Squall or much else. :D
Ch 9 class reunion
"Sure. I don't mind doing nothing around while they're all out there." She idly pulled a stray thread from the hem of her arm warmer. "Right, parking myself right here is the best I'm good for. Humph." She dropped the thread on the rug and picked at the fray.
It was going to be a long evening.
"What was it Vash said, he had to tell the ones he loved to stay away. But what about the people I care about? I want to protect them too...." A thought occurred and she sat up straight. "Maybe that's the only reason Squall wanted me to wait safely? Maybe?" She frowned while thinking about him. "He also called me a poser."
As she was sitting one observer checked her position through the outside window and dutifully meddled with the mansion's control panel -- Caraway's personal soldier activating the mansion's security system into lock-down. The electronic ping got her attention. Rinoa grinned. "Maybe he was right. I shouldn't try to be one of them; I ought to be myself."
She quickly went to the indoors control panel. Beep be beep. "One two three four five as a security code? It's the kind of thing idiots use on their luggage." ((Da author– this quote is about Spaceballs. Hello rebelling princess, all hail Princess Vespa! Haha. )) Slyly escaping her own home brought back a lot of memories. "And this isn't about sneaking out of the house for dates anymore." A minute later she winked behind the back of the security guard and trotted on her way.
The Odine Bangle was still in a pocket pouch. She had made up her mind to go ahead with it.
Then the bright girl worked her charisma on the elaborate government center just as well as she'd done at Garden. "You know what, Selphie was right about them having experience... but I've spent a lot of years preparing too." She did slide through checks at the campus gate back in Balamb Garden and at their exclusive graduates-only event, no? Her abilities were enviable. Although, "You WILL like me" was less cunning.
She went inside the government branch and made her way through the area nicknamed the 'palace'. According to the security she fast-talked by using her father's name, this was it. This chamber ahead was one of the Sorceress's abode.
The girl took a deep breath, and...
Rinoa approached cautiously through the white silken room. Thirty feet in front of her, Edea looked every bit as splendid and intimidating as a live myth, seated upon a throne as if awaiting court. The woman shortened her raven hair by safely singeing the ends, morphed the head ornamentation to a more suitable decorative arrangement, and brushed swirls of purple and gold near her eyes and temples. All this was done without Edea using her hands....
Still the teenager pressed on. "Um, hello? I mean, greetings, your majesty. This is for you. That is, I've come to pay my respects, because of my father the general, um, and..." A sight made her trail off with eyes wide.
The woman of spectacular supernatural powers had not so much as budged an inch, save for the flow of her wispy garments in the breeze. But a mental command had summoned her personal guard from the chamber beyond.
Oh dear god. It was HIM. He who she just about fell for a year ago last summer, who talked about being a champion SeeD. Who had dropped out of touch since then only to turn up on international television. He who was supposed to be deceased after an execution.
"Rinoa. It's good to see you."
The voice made her knees weak. "(Seifer. He's here! He's alive.)" She struggled to say something. The two faced each other across a pristine expanse with the Sorceress's throne in between. Without thinking she ran forward, which put herself in the middle.
"So you've discarded Timber like so much rubbish and given up on those silly, childish friends of yours," he stated with self-assurance.
She briefly shook her head in confusion and gestured for him to go on.
"Zone, Wedge, and the rest of that no good cell."
"(That's right, he already knew everything about my life with the Owls but hardly anything about what happened since the SeeDs came.)"
"You've come to your senses about the 'misguided rebels'," he scorned, "and come to pay homage to the true dominance of this world."
His tone was a purr more flawless than she'd ever heard it. Lips curled into a sharp smile as he beamed fondly at her.
"(Oh! He's facing the sorceress so he has to watch how he acts. He's helping me make up a cover!)" She thought about it quickly. "(What if he's been safe because he pretends to be loyal to the Sorceress? Then my Odine Bangle could be just the chance he's been waiting for. ...I'm going to do it. Hold on, Seifer!)"
Rinoa turned to the older magician and made a clumsy, ill-modeled bow. "That's right. A-as a token of respect, I've brought this gift."
Seifer circled around her, so slowly she heard every distinct step, so close she felt the material of his pale coat brush the back of her bare legs. A shiver sank through her. Never in her life had she held fear of the man, no matter what effect his temper had had on anyone else. But the thought that he, of all people, might hurt her... it came to her now.
He stood before her an arm's length away, no more. The Hyperion shone in his hand, held at rest and pointed loosely downwards. After circling her his back was to the Great Witch so he became free to make some private expression of recognition. Any second now he'd show some personal signal, and she'd go present the charmed bracelet, so then he could attack with his Hyperion gunblade.... Just maybe, together, they could...
"She's lying," he announced coldly. Rinoa gasped. He'd had his chance, and the silent reunion of emotions she'd been looking for was as far away as tropical sunshine from arctic midnight. "This girl is a traitor to your glorious destiny. But... it might not be best to dispose of her yet. We might find a use for her."
Within his depths, was he asking for mercy on her behalf or setting up a more painful intent? At this moment he was impossible to read, or feel.
"I already have found a use." The Sorceress rose and moved forward, not so much walking as gliding.
"Little freedom fighter, you shall live to see one of your most devout and painstaking wishes come true." Rinoa backed away, dumbfounded by this contradiction. The Sorceress's adorned face remained neutral like a ceramic mask and without menace. "Then all the rest of your dreams shall be annihilated."
* * * * * * * *
Next is Bondage Children -- and before you get the ideas it's about the circle of mind control. Loss of free will. Hint - - this time around Edea will NOT do something as simple as Iguion statues.
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