Disclaimer- I OWN FINAL FANTASY VIII!!!!!!! If you honestly believe that you're more gullible than I originally thought.
Author's notes- Yes I'm still having computer problems and am lucky to get this chapter out to you. I hope it doesn't seem rushed...it was supposed to be a quik, breif chapter. Also, the next Unsilenced chapter is also in the works, its just lengthier and more complex than this one...
MadHattess-You know, now that I stop to think about it, you're right.
Element6-Haha! Nida is a dork...but that's not really so bad is it? I'm a dork occasionally...
Verdiani-Glad you liked it so much. Glad you're still reviewing. lol
Aratcorien-I was so tempted to make Quistis think that about Amira, but that would be a whole other chapter or two. lol
Sisterly Torment
They watched as the Garden Festival Committee Members rushed around them in an attempt to make last minute adjustments to their booths and banners. A few of them actually seemed frantic. Nida smiled faintly as he watched them.
'Always procrastinating,' He mused. Sitting cross-legged on his display table in front of him, his little sister picked up and bit into another one of his glazed donuts. She chewed for a few seconds and then looked at him quizzically.
"What?" He asked as he fingered his untouched donut.
"So who were those pretty ladies?" She asked in a funny tone of voice.
"Huh?" He looked up at her in feined confusion and then finally bit into his donut.
"Don't huh me, I saw you down there on the dock with them this morning."
He stared at her in disbelief and then laughed nervously. "Ami, those were two of my colleagues. If you want to get technical, those are two of my superiors."
"Oh really now?" she grinned as she took another bite.
"Amira, let's just drop it."
She looked back at him quickly. "Aha! So you do like one of them!" He looked around to be sure no one was listening in. "So is it the brunette or the pretty blonde."
He shoved his donut back in the bag and hid his face in his hands. "Ami..." He groaned.
"What?" She asked innocently. "There's nothing wrong with having a crush on someone. Come on, please tell."
He groaned. "Ami, Quistis and Xu are both very pretty ladies..."
"So you like Quistis?" Her eyes widened. "You mean Quistis as in Quistis Trepe?"
"What? No...I mean yes...just forget I answered," He mumbled.
"Dude that is sooo cool! You could date Quistis Trepe!" She squealed. He looked up at her in dismay.
"Could you shout that just a little bit louder? I don't think she heard it back inside the Garden," He playfully scolded her. She covered her mouth quickly and started laughing. He shook his head and laughed as well.
"Seriously, she was acting so bashful around you. I may only be thirteen, but I could still tell, she is so into you," She playfully slugged him in the shoulder. He rubbed at his eyes as he hid his reddening face. "You think I'm joking don't you," She continued to embarrass him. She paused as she noticed a pair of committee members listening in on their conversation. Neither one of them looked pleased as they stood staring at her. She narrowed her almond shaped eyes at them. "You boys got a problem?" She asked as she dropped what was left of her donut in the bag. Nida looked up quickly to see who she was talking to.
"Instructor Trepe isn't seeing anyone and has yet to announce any interests that she has," The first boy said.
"Uh hello, its called body language," She crossed her arms.
"Ami," Nida said under his breath. "Those are those Trepies that I told you about." She looked back at him and then over to the boys.
"Oh...I gotcha," She grinned. "So you two are part of the mindless cult referred to as treppies. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to shatter your little world." She rolled her eyes and then grinned at her older brother.
"You have no idea what you've just started," He spoke softly as he tossed the bag of uneaten donuts in the trash can behind them.
"You're right," She shrugged and then hopped of the table. "But if it involves any kind of verbal conflict or debate, it sounds like fun."
Nida shook his head as he pulled out a pad of paper and a few sticks of charcoal. He closed his eyes as a cool breeze played with the material of his muscle shirt and hair. A slight tickling sensation traced down from his shoulder towards his elbow. His eyes snapped open as he stared at his giggling little sister.
"You look like you've gotten a lot stronger since the last time I saw you," She said as she traced her finger lightly down to where his wrists were wrapped. He shrugged away from her.
"That tickles," He laughed.
She laughed.
"Strength is always a nice thing to have when there's a chance that you're occupation might leave you fighting for you're life," He grinned.
"You know what would be cool?" She asked as she watched the first of a large crowd of people enter the festival areas.
"What?" He asked as he took went ahead and pulled out a pair of seascape paintings.
"A tattoo."
He looked down at her. "I don't think they look good on girls."
"Not for me," She quickly corrected him. "They use needles to put those things on people. I meant for you."
"Right," He laughed. "Let them poke and jab at me for hours huh."
"I'm serious!"
"Of that I really have no doubt," He shot her a skeptical glance.
She smiled. "Oh hey there's your girl!"
Instinctively looked up and then regretted it as his eyes locked with hers. To his relief, a lady with her husband came up to his booth and interrupted his view. He smiled to the couple and watched as they picked through his paintings.
"Good morning," He greeted them. "Good morning," The lady answered as she held up one of his paintings. "You don't have a price on this one. Would you take ninety gil for it?" Amira nearly choked on the candy she was eating.
"Which one?" Nida asked as he leaned forward to see which one it was. "Yes Ma'am," He answered her. She tilted her head to the side as she scrutinized it. Nida and Amira shot each other hopeful glances as they waited.
-----
From across the walkway, Xu looked through a menagerie of hand crafted quilts as she secretly kept an eye on Quistis. Running her fingers across the material of the one on top, she slowly moved to the next booth. Quistis absently followed her.
"Do you know what would be cute?" Xu asked as she scanned the necklaces and beadwork on the table before her.
"What?" Quistis asked.
"You and Nida snuggled up in one of those quilts."
Quistis' jaw dropped as her face burned bright red. "Xu!"
"What?" Xu laughed as Quistis slapped her lightly on the arm. "After I finally told you what happened, how could you say something like that?"
Xu grinned. "Well you are blushing so you must not be completely opposed to the idea."
Quistis crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at her. "Instead of trying to get me a boyfriend for you to talk about, why don't you just talk about your own?"
Xu crossed her arms and reflected Quistis' stare. "Maybe I did try and talk about him but someone was too busy trying to be a jerk so they ignored me and missed all of it."
"Maybe, just maybe, that someone's friend intentionally kept her away from an interview and thus made her look like a complete fool."
"Oh no, you did that all on you're own," Xu countered. "But," She cast a glance over to Nida's booth and saw Amira pointing and motioning for Quistis to come over. "I have to go."
"Where?" Quistis asked.
"I have to meet Raijin down at the dock in a few minutes."
"Raijin? You mean the Raijin from the disciplinary committee?"
"Yup," Xu answered as she cast the quilt booth another glance. "I tried to tell you."
"I know," Quistis sighed. "It feels like everyone is leaving me behind..."
"And taking their lives a step further," Xu finished for her. Quistis looked at her, a surprised expression on her face. "Irvine told me about the look on your face the first time that you saw Toby. And everyone's noticed your change in attitude since Squall and Rin had Tempest and Selphie announced she was pregnant." Quistis looked towards the ground.
"Don't turn all this into some exaggerated tale."
"I'm not. But look around, the gang's not what they used to be. We're getting older and growing up," She paused at the thought of Seifer and Zell. "Well, most of us anyways. Do me a favor."
Quistis raised as skeptical eyebrow.
"Don't become so wrapped up in your work and professional appearance that you end up old and alone."
Quistis stared at her. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm not playing Quistis. A little romance wouldn't hurt you." Xu watched as Quistis' face took on one of concentration. "Go talk to that treppie quilt girl over there. I bet if you gave her a second of your time, she'd give you a deal." "Get out of here," Quistis playfully pushed Xu away.
"Fine, don't take my advice," Xu said as she turned and walked away. "Call me before the ball and I'll help you with your hair," Xu called out before she disappeared into the crowd. Quistis looked around and then noticed the girl motioning for her to come over. Taking a deep breath, she started walking.
------
Amira looked over at her Nida, who was preoccupied with putting some more gil away in a lock box. She watched as he counted it out and sorted it. "I can't believe that lady paid ninety gil for that painting," She said.
"Why not?" He asked.
"I don't know. That's just a lot of money."
"Yeah," He grinned.
"What?"
"Had she waited ten more minutes I probably would've marked it fifty."
Amira laughed.
He grinned and then slid the box back under his table. For the first time in the last twenty minutes, Amira was quiet. He looked over to see what she was doing and realized she had lured Quistis to his booth. He jumped in surprise and then slowly composed himself.
"Hi there," Amira smiled. "Can we help you find anything?"
Quistis shook her head as she looked over the paintings he had on display. Nida watched silently as her thin fingers lifted yet another canvas. Amira watched him watch her with a smile. His breaths seemed quick and shallow. A loose strand of hair fell into Quistis' face and she tucked it behind her ear without a thought. Nida watched her in a trance. Amira grinned as she watched her older brother and then noticed the two SeeDs over at the next booth. She stood up and walked around the table to help Quistis sort through the paintings, purposely blocking the treppie's views. Both boys looked at her in annoyance. She smiled smugly and then showed Quistis one of her favorite drawings.
"This is one of my favorites," She said.
"She's beautiful," Quistis agreed with her as she studied the woman in the drawing. Amira let her look at the drawing for a moment and took the time to cast Nida a mischievous smile. He paled and mouthed the word no.
"You know, you're really pretty too." There was a suffocating silence that seemed to engulf the four teenagers around her. Amira grinned at the effect she was having on them.
"Thank you," Quistis said quietly.
"I'm sure guys tell you that all the time," Amira continued. Nida stared at her in horror.
"Um," Quistis smiled lightly. "Not as much as you're probably thinking," She cast Amira a glance and then realized she was looking across the table. She followed her gaze to an embarrassed Nida. She looked back down to the drawing and suppressed a grin.
"Hey Ami," Nida tried to get his sister's attention.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" Amira asked as she giddily wrapped her arms around herself.
"No," Quistis answered uneasily.
"Why not?"
"Ami," Nida said.
"A pretty girl like you can't get a boyfriend? Boy the rest of us are in trouble." Quistis turned and looked over at her and laughed lightly. "I'm serious." "I don't have a boyfriend because..." Quistis paused. Everyone hanged on her words, the rest of the crowd around them momentarily disappeared. "I don't know," She nervously laughed it off. "Oh," Amira looked down at the ground. The treppies watched her with glaring eyes. "My brother's a nice person...He would make a good boyfriend."
Quistis stared at her in dismay and seemed at a loss for words. Nida had grown a shade paler and could only bury his face in his hands.
"Ami," His voice was muffled. "Please shut up." Taken aback, Amira quieted.
"No, its alright," Quistis whispered. She paused and looked at the treppies and Amira. "Could you excuse us?" She asked.
"No problem," She said as she winked at an already humiliated Nida.
Quistis watched her leave and sighed. "I was talking to you two," She lowered her tone of voice and put her hands on her hips. Both boys looked away nervously. "Go!" She exclaimed as she pointed away from their table. Nida watched as they stumbled to their feet and hurried away.
"That was kinda their booth," Nida said, still not making eye contact.
"Oh," She laughed. "Oops."
He finally smiled.
"You know," Quistis grinned as she leaned on her elbows on his table. "I think she's right." He forced himself to look up at her face so that his looking down wouldn't seem as if he were looking down her shirt. "You just might make a pretty good boyfriend."
He stared at her in utter shock. His mouth grew dry and his throat seemed to constrict as his breaths became more hastened and shallow. She smiled.
"Yeah, you seem sweet enough."
He managed a smile and then looked away shyly.
"She's your little sister isn't she," Quistis stated.
"Isn't it obvious?" He took a deep breath to try and calm himself.
She smiled and then stood up. He followed her with his eyes. "You'll be at the ball tonight right?"
"Y-Yeah."
"I'll meet you in front of the quad and then we'll go together?"
He nodded bashfully. "I-Is s-seven-thirty alright?"
"Sounds good to me," She smiled as she took a few steps back. "See you tonight. Don't be late." He watched as she turned and began talking to the girl at the quilt booth across from him.
Author's notes- Yes I'm still having computer problems and am lucky to get this chapter out to you. I hope it doesn't seem rushed...it was supposed to be a quik, breif chapter. Also, the next Unsilenced chapter is also in the works, its just lengthier and more complex than this one...
MadHattess-You know, now that I stop to think about it, you're right.
Element6-Haha! Nida is a dork...but that's not really so bad is it? I'm a dork occasionally...
Verdiani-Glad you liked it so much. Glad you're still reviewing. lol
Aratcorien-I was so tempted to make Quistis think that about Amira, but that would be a whole other chapter or two. lol
Sisterly Torment
They watched as the Garden Festival Committee Members rushed around them in an attempt to make last minute adjustments to their booths and banners. A few of them actually seemed frantic. Nida smiled faintly as he watched them.
'Always procrastinating,' He mused. Sitting cross-legged on his display table in front of him, his little sister picked up and bit into another one of his glazed donuts. She chewed for a few seconds and then looked at him quizzically.
"What?" He asked as he fingered his untouched donut.
"So who were those pretty ladies?" She asked in a funny tone of voice.
"Huh?" He looked up at her in feined confusion and then finally bit into his donut.
"Don't huh me, I saw you down there on the dock with them this morning."
He stared at her in disbelief and then laughed nervously. "Ami, those were two of my colleagues. If you want to get technical, those are two of my superiors."
"Oh really now?" she grinned as she took another bite.
"Amira, let's just drop it."
She looked back at him quickly. "Aha! So you do like one of them!" He looked around to be sure no one was listening in. "So is it the brunette or the pretty blonde."
He shoved his donut back in the bag and hid his face in his hands. "Ami..." He groaned.
"What?" She asked innocently. "There's nothing wrong with having a crush on someone. Come on, please tell."
He groaned. "Ami, Quistis and Xu are both very pretty ladies..."
"So you like Quistis?" Her eyes widened. "You mean Quistis as in Quistis Trepe?"
"What? No...I mean yes...just forget I answered," He mumbled.
"Dude that is sooo cool! You could date Quistis Trepe!" She squealed. He looked up at her in dismay.
"Could you shout that just a little bit louder? I don't think she heard it back inside the Garden," He playfully scolded her. She covered her mouth quickly and started laughing. He shook his head and laughed as well.
"Seriously, she was acting so bashful around you. I may only be thirteen, but I could still tell, she is so into you," She playfully slugged him in the shoulder. He rubbed at his eyes as he hid his reddening face. "You think I'm joking don't you," She continued to embarrass him. She paused as she noticed a pair of committee members listening in on their conversation. Neither one of them looked pleased as they stood staring at her. She narrowed her almond shaped eyes at them. "You boys got a problem?" She asked as she dropped what was left of her donut in the bag. Nida looked up quickly to see who she was talking to.
"Instructor Trepe isn't seeing anyone and has yet to announce any interests that she has," The first boy said.
"Uh hello, its called body language," She crossed her arms.
"Ami," Nida said under his breath. "Those are those Trepies that I told you about." She looked back at him and then over to the boys.
"Oh...I gotcha," She grinned. "So you two are part of the mindless cult referred to as treppies. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to shatter your little world." She rolled her eyes and then grinned at her older brother.
"You have no idea what you've just started," He spoke softly as he tossed the bag of uneaten donuts in the trash can behind them.
"You're right," She shrugged and then hopped of the table. "But if it involves any kind of verbal conflict or debate, it sounds like fun."
Nida shook his head as he pulled out a pad of paper and a few sticks of charcoal. He closed his eyes as a cool breeze played with the material of his muscle shirt and hair. A slight tickling sensation traced down from his shoulder towards his elbow. His eyes snapped open as he stared at his giggling little sister.
"You look like you've gotten a lot stronger since the last time I saw you," She said as she traced her finger lightly down to where his wrists were wrapped. He shrugged away from her.
"That tickles," He laughed.
She laughed.
"Strength is always a nice thing to have when there's a chance that you're occupation might leave you fighting for you're life," He grinned.
"You know what would be cool?" She asked as she watched the first of a large crowd of people enter the festival areas.
"What?" He asked as he took went ahead and pulled out a pair of seascape paintings.
"A tattoo."
He looked down at her. "I don't think they look good on girls."
"Not for me," She quickly corrected him. "They use needles to put those things on people. I meant for you."
"Right," He laughed. "Let them poke and jab at me for hours huh."
"I'm serious!"
"Of that I really have no doubt," He shot her a skeptical glance.
She smiled. "Oh hey there's your girl!"
Instinctively looked up and then regretted it as his eyes locked with hers. To his relief, a lady with her husband came up to his booth and interrupted his view. He smiled to the couple and watched as they picked through his paintings.
"Good morning," He greeted them. "Good morning," The lady answered as she held up one of his paintings. "You don't have a price on this one. Would you take ninety gil for it?" Amira nearly choked on the candy she was eating.
"Which one?" Nida asked as he leaned forward to see which one it was. "Yes Ma'am," He answered her. She tilted her head to the side as she scrutinized it. Nida and Amira shot each other hopeful glances as they waited.
-----
From across the walkway, Xu looked through a menagerie of hand crafted quilts as she secretly kept an eye on Quistis. Running her fingers across the material of the one on top, she slowly moved to the next booth. Quistis absently followed her.
"Do you know what would be cute?" Xu asked as she scanned the necklaces and beadwork on the table before her.
"What?" Quistis asked.
"You and Nida snuggled up in one of those quilts."
Quistis' jaw dropped as her face burned bright red. "Xu!"
"What?" Xu laughed as Quistis slapped her lightly on the arm. "After I finally told you what happened, how could you say something like that?"
Xu grinned. "Well you are blushing so you must not be completely opposed to the idea."
Quistis crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at her. "Instead of trying to get me a boyfriend for you to talk about, why don't you just talk about your own?"
Xu crossed her arms and reflected Quistis' stare. "Maybe I did try and talk about him but someone was too busy trying to be a jerk so they ignored me and missed all of it."
"Maybe, just maybe, that someone's friend intentionally kept her away from an interview and thus made her look like a complete fool."
"Oh no, you did that all on you're own," Xu countered. "But," She cast a glance over to Nida's booth and saw Amira pointing and motioning for Quistis to come over. "I have to go."
"Where?" Quistis asked.
"I have to meet Raijin down at the dock in a few minutes."
"Raijin? You mean the Raijin from the disciplinary committee?"
"Yup," Xu answered as she cast the quilt booth another glance. "I tried to tell you."
"I know," Quistis sighed. "It feels like everyone is leaving me behind..."
"And taking their lives a step further," Xu finished for her. Quistis looked at her, a surprised expression on her face. "Irvine told me about the look on your face the first time that you saw Toby. And everyone's noticed your change in attitude since Squall and Rin had Tempest and Selphie announced she was pregnant." Quistis looked towards the ground.
"Don't turn all this into some exaggerated tale."
"I'm not. But look around, the gang's not what they used to be. We're getting older and growing up," She paused at the thought of Seifer and Zell. "Well, most of us anyways. Do me a favor."
Quistis raised as skeptical eyebrow.
"Don't become so wrapped up in your work and professional appearance that you end up old and alone."
Quistis stared at her. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm not playing Quistis. A little romance wouldn't hurt you." Xu watched as Quistis' face took on one of concentration. "Go talk to that treppie quilt girl over there. I bet if you gave her a second of your time, she'd give you a deal." "Get out of here," Quistis playfully pushed Xu away.
"Fine, don't take my advice," Xu said as she turned and walked away. "Call me before the ball and I'll help you with your hair," Xu called out before she disappeared into the crowd. Quistis looked around and then noticed the girl motioning for her to come over. Taking a deep breath, she started walking.
------
Amira looked over at her Nida, who was preoccupied with putting some more gil away in a lock box. She watched as he counted it out and sorted it. "I can't believe that lady paid ninety gil for that painting," She said.
"Why not?" He asked.
"I don't know. That's just a lot of money."
"Yeah," He grinned.
"What?"
"Had she waited ten more minutes I probably would've marked it fifty."
Amira laughed.
He grinned and then slid the box back under his table. For the first time in the last twenty minutes, Amira was quiet. He looked over to see what she was doing and realized she had lured Quistis to his booth. He jumped in surprise and then slowly composed himself.
"Hi there," Amira smiled. "Can we help you find anything?"
Quistis shook her head as she looked over the paintings he had on display. Nida watched silently as her thin fingers lifted yet another canvas. Amira watched him watch her with a smile. His breaths seemed quick and shallow. A loose strand of hair fell into Quistis' face and she tucked it behind her ear without a thought. Nida watched her in a trance. Amira grinned as she watched her older brother and then noticed the two SeeDs over at the next booth. She stood up and walked around the table to help Quistis sort through the paintings, purposely blocking the treppie's views. Both boys looked at her in annoyance. She smiled smugly and then showed Quistis one of her favorite drawings.
"This is one of my favorites," She said.
"She's beautiful," Quistis agreed with her as she studied the woman in the drawing. Amira let her look at the drawing for a moment and took the time to cast Nida a mischievous smile. He paled and mouthed the word no.
"You know, you're really pretty too." There was a suffocating silence that seemed to engulf the four teenagers around her. Amira grinned at the effect she was having on them.
"Thank you," Quistis said quietly.
"I'm sure guys tell you that all the time," Amira continued. Nida stared at her in horror.
"Um," Quistis smiled lightly. "Not as much as you're probably thinking," She cast Amira a glance and then realized she was looking across the table. She followed her gaze to an embarrassed Nida. She looked back down to the drawing and suppressed a grin.
"Hey Ami," Nida tried to get his sister's attention.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" Amira asked as she giddily wrapped her arms around herself.
"No," Quistis answered uneasily.
"Why not?"
"Ami," Nida said.
"A pretty girl like you can't get a boyfriend? Boy the rest of us are in trouble." Quistis turned and looked over at her and laughed lightly. "I'm serious." "I don't have a boyfriend because..." Quistis paused. Everyone hanged on her words, the rest of the crowd around them momentarily disappeared. "I don't know," She nervously laughed it off. "Oh," Amira looked down at the ground. The treppies watched her with glaring eyes. "My brother's a nice person...He would make a good boyfriend."
Quistis stared at her in dismay and seemed at a loss for words. Nida had grown a shade paler and could only bury his face in his hands.
"Ami," His voice was muffled. "Please shut up." Taken aback, Amira quieted.
"No, its alright," Quistis whispered. She paused and looked at the treppies and Amira. "Could you excuse us?" She asked.
"No problem," She said as she winked at an already humiliated Nida.
Quistis watched her leave and sighed. "I was talking to you two," She lowered her tone of voice and put her hands on her hips. Both boys looked away nervously. "Go!" She exclaimed as she pointed away from their table. Nida watched as they stumbled to their feet and hurried away.
"That was kinda their booth," Nida said, still not making eye contact.
"Oh," She laughed. "Oops."
He finally smiled.
"You know," Quistis grinned as she leaned on her elbows on his table. "I think she's right." He forced himself to look up at her face so that his looking down wouldn't seem as if he were looking down her shirt. "You just might make a pretty good boyfriend."
He stared at her in utter shock. His mouth grew dry and his throat seemed to constrict as his breaths became more hastened and shallow. She smiled.
"Yeah, you seem sweet enough."
He managed a smile and then looked away shyly.
"She's your little sister isn't she," Quistis stated.
"Isn't it obvious?" He took a deep breath to try and calm himself.
She smiled and then stood up. He followed her with his eyes. "You'll be at the ball tonight right?"
"Y-Yeah."
"I'll meet you in front of the quad and then we'll go together?"
He nodded bashfully. "I-Is s-seven-thirty alright?"
"Sounds good to me," She smiled as she took a few steps back. "See you tonight. Don't be late." He watched as she turned and began talking to the girl at the quilt booth across from him.