HEY EVERYONE!
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Thanatos: Don't worry. She seems to be attacking the sweets too soon
Reyavie: Shut up. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
Eris: HO HO HO
Reyavie: (gives weird look) You…have been spending way too much time with Tanathos
Bellona: Reyavie doesn't own anything in this story except for original characters. Try to sue her and I'll make you my lunch…or dinner
Thanatos: She knows how to speak?
Reyavie: Sure. She's born of my imagination and I want her to speak
Eris: You confuse me……
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SL's Crew: We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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Welcome to the fortieth-seventh chapter of Second Life. Enjoy everyone!
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- "So you want us to take their places?" – Ariadne raised her eyes from the map and nodded sternly. Bryant gave her appraising look while he seemed to think about her words.
Both were sitting in Aria's office, the room given to her after her return to the Garden barely three doors away from the control room. Perfect in case of an emergency. The shelves were already supporting different types of files and books, pictures and small mementos Ariadne had collected over her missions.
According to Lara Aria managed to transform any place into a mix of common room, study and market place. Which only meant, in polite terms, that Aria's idea of organization was very weird.
Especially because it seemed to follow a strange kind of organization that only Ariadne understood but, in the minute something was needed, she would have it quickly on her hands and ready to be used. The only exception to that rule was the desk whose contents, presently, had been pulled aside to allow a large map to be placed.
Notes and scribbles filled every possible free space, all written in the round handwriting of the former Earthling, showing that either she had been bored to death or she had found a lot of different ways for the same end…just with different ways for all of them to get sent to the infirmary in a less than perfect physical shape.
Eliza and Stephanie seemed to have given up in trying to understand the symbols drawn, allowing their attention to focus on the two arguing parties. If Ariadne's job wasn't easy Bryant was, apparently, managing to make it even harder as every comment and direction the sea green eyed girl made had to have a reason, a plausible explanation behind it.
Stef had already lost count of the times she had been ready to stand up and hit the instructor with all the strength she could muster. How Aria could deal with him was a mystery for the Galbadian. The fact that Eliza was shifting between silent bouts of laughter and short periods of sleep wasn't helping at all.
– "They do not have other way to receive them" – Declared Ariadne taking Stef out of her thoughts and waking Eliza at the same time.
– "And about passwords?" – Continued the former instructor steadily – "One of you is found and next thing we know we will have the whole city after you."
– "All the passwords are placed on the local mainframe" – Explained Aria with a vague hint of tiredness in her voice.
They had been at it for almost four hours. It seemed a miracle that both were still standing, still arguing and not at each other's throats. Eliza winced as Bryant once again began questioning her friend before leaning gently to her side.
– "Just how is Aria able to deal with the guy?" – She whispered to Stef, strangely discreet.
– "I have no clue at all" – Was the blonde's answer that seemed to be trying to burn a hole through the instructor's head – "Must be long term exposure. But if this continues I am going to have a fit."
The slightest smile on Ariadne's lips told her that her friend had listened to, at least, the last part. But that was a fleeting moment before she began once more to explain another detail of her plan only to...both spies stopped as yells began echoing into the room. Really loud shouts. Ariadne sat on her chair and hit her head on the desk.
– "Not again" – She muttered distinctively – "I won't be able to stand this right now." – The screaming was approaching, enough for a female and a male voice to be distinguished.
– "What…" - Bryant pointed at the closed door from where the sounds were coming – "Is that?"
– "Two idiots" – Answered Stephanie plainly turning her eyes to Ariadne – "Now can I kill them?" – Said girl hiding her head on her hands while muttering something that sounded too much like "why do I only have to deal with morons?"
Bryant's light blue eyes seemed almost amused, something that would not help if Aria managed to look away from the fascinating piece of table her eyes were locked with time enough to see it. And just then the door opened…
- "Why don't you go look for another fucking bitch to follow lapdog?" – Sasha was at the entrance, silver eyes flashing in anger, expression frozen in a deep scowl.
– "Why would I need to search if I have found one already?" – Drawled Seifer lazily – "But forgive me, this lapdog has better taste."
He was wearing the student uniform opposing the fully graduated Seed uniform that Sasha was using. Just as her he didn't seem happy and annoyance flowed from him in waves. Those kinds of encounters were already usual in the routine of the Garden which explained just why Stephanie wanted to kill them, Alex had actually lost his temper and Lara had been found yelling at both.
And they weren't the only ones ready to do such things. Just the ones with guts to interfere. Eliza was the only one who seemed unaffected. More like amused as if she knew something the others didn't. Ariadne had chosen to ignore them each time they came near her. The glare she sent when they did seemed to be enough to make them quieten.
– "Yeah – Hissed Sasha – "I believe that you do. You seem to have no problems is choosing your women. Go find the one suited for your whorish tastes then you fucking bastard." – They didn't seem to notice their audience or the way Stef was getting ready to intervene only to halt when she saw a very familiar emerald hue take its place on Ariadne's eyes.
A very smug smile twisted her lips as she watched her friend stand up silently and walk to the quarrelling duo. Seifer was in the middle of biting some comment back with Sasha yelling something at the exact same time when…
- "Enough!" – Aria hadn't even bothered in raising her tone of voice.
The anger that was showing in the single word was enough.
Silence filled the small office as both looked at the obviously enraged Ariadne. She was glaring at them both, all her attitude demanding for them to keep their mouths shut.
– "Follow me" – A direct order. One thing Ariadne had failed yet to do as a lieutenant but one made in a way that dared them to disagree so she could make all the threats her tone promised real. Calmly she walked out of the room and, with a single look, waited by the door for them to leave as well. They did so without a word but glaring at each other all the time. Stephanie grinned a very Eliza-like grin as she rose from her chair.
– "This I have to see" – She cocked her head to her friend seeing a matching smile. – "You coming?" – Eliza jumped from her chair.
– "You think I'm stupid enough to miss this?" – She asked back.
Bryant gave them a look but followed without comments. Ariadne stalked down the hallway droved by her own lack of patience. After so long playing the mental games her mentor was so fond of her mind had finally snapped.
– "What are you going to do?" – Aria didn't answer the older guardian's answer as she finally found what she had been looking for. She stopped in the middle of a hallway, pressed a couple of buttons and activated the door that open aside with barely a sound.
– "Get in" – As the two in question were still glaring they entered without looking and, as soon as they did, Aria closed the door behind them and locked it.
Minotaur began laughing as if there was no tomorrow in her mind, his amusement overwhelming their connection. Sacred sighed. It took almost thirty seconds, during which Ariadne remained completely still, for Sasha and Seifer notice something very important. She had locked them, alone, in a broom closet.
– "Aria! Get me out!"
– "Beckerman! What do you think you are doing?" – The screams began drawing attention to the scene but the girl ignored her audience with experienced ease.
– "Silence" – The spell was cast calmly making all the shouts from inside cease. Aria stood with her arm raised for a moment while appreciating the quiet around her.
– "Now that I have your undivided attention" – She finally began making sure her voice was strong enough to be heard across the closed door – "I'll have to communicate to you that everyone in this Garden is sick and tired of your bloody discussions not to mention the Hyne-forsaken type of flirting you've found to drive us all crazy" – Some scattered chuckles were heard.
– "So you are going to stay in there until both of you finally get a fucking clue and fess up. I don't care if you're staying there a week, a month or whatever but this will end before I let you out" – Ariadne turned to her spectators, emerald eyes flashing dangerously while turning from one student to the other.
– "The first one to open that bloody door without my command" – She said in an eerily serene tone – "Will get TG cleaning duties until he, or she, fucking graduates and detention with me until T-Rex become herbivorous, gravity turns upside down and Vinzer comes back to life and confesses he was an inbred piece of shit. Understood?"
Even more silence as her threat got through. If Minotaur needed to breathe he would have suffocated by then. In the completely abnormal silence Aria turned around coolly and walked the way back to her office. As soon as she did so the spell was broken and laughter echoed through the hallways.
– "Hyne damnit" – Mumbled Stephanie after regaining her breathing, a hand searching for the support of the wall – "She's really good in that."
– "What do you think is going to happen when they get free?" – Asked Eliza watching as slowly everyone went on their way. The story would run the Garden in a heartbeat.
– "If they are smart they will keep quiet" – Stef smirked – "And very far away from Aria. Let's go find Lara and Alex. They are going to love this. Oh…" - She stopped, turning her golden-brown eyes to Bryant that was standing behind her
– "I wouldn't go after Aria right now instructor" – Slight sarcasm filled the title – "She's annoyed enough" – Her arms crossed in threatening movement that no one would be able to ignore even coming from a seventeen year old.
– "And not only her" – Eliza's features were much more serious than usual, her light green eyes carrying a treacherous glint. – "Get one thing in your head instructor. Aria is the one that knows better the risks of what we'll attempt. She's the one who has more doubts, the one who has thought of every single risk that we could be drawn into, the one who is more concerned over our safety, not hers. She would do this alone if she could and we would allow it. So do us all a favour and stop doubting her capabilities. Aria's a great Seed and none of us will allow anyone to say otherwise" – She stopped looking at him with barely hidden disgust
– "Especially someone that's supposed to be her guide and adviser." – It was in these very rare moments that Stephanie loved Eliza's mothering instincts. Who would expect the constantly cheerful girl to be so fiercely protective of her own? And so scary? Stef was very happy she wasn't the one on the wrong side of 'Liza's glare.
She blinked when her friend grabbed her arm and began dragging her down the hallway without another look to the instructor, a bright smile replacing her scowl. In seconds they had reached one of inner communications system and Stephanie watched, too dumbfounded to do anything else, as Eliza activated the link.
– "Lara and Alex" – Her voice echoed through the Garden – "Stop whatever you're doing and get your asses down at the cafeteria or I'm going to look for you and drag you there" – Stef smacked her forehead.
– "Screw the war" – She muttered with an exasperated look to her friend – "I am not going to survive them enough time to worry with it." – Eliza raised an eyebrow when she noticed the glance she was receiving.
– "What?" – Stephanie smacked her forehead again.
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My POV
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Well that was certainly amusing. I wonder just how long will it take for them to agree that they are bloody pining for one another because they really are. Anyone on the outside can see that.
They are both just too bloody stubborn to let go of the grudges they have against each other.
Sasha can't really forget all that happened in Galbadia by his hand. She doesn't forgive those things easily and even knowing that, in last analysis, it wasn't his fault her heart still can't let go of that hatred.
I suppose that conflicting emotions are the reason for the, at least, three or so arguments they have each day.
About Seifer…guilt is the main problem with the guy. That and the clueless trait he seems to have. So having her constantly reminding him of what happened is not a good way to go. Basically if they don't solve this by themselves I will have to really interfere
…verbal trashing anyone?
I normally wouldn't have blown up like that. I'm sure that the moment Aunt Chris hears about what happen she will not be happy. And this will be one hell of an understatement. Meaning that either she will lock me up in the med lab, because she knows I would work even if confined to my room, or she will just rage at Sasha, Seifer and the old man.
I would prefer the second, thank you very much. I had enough of being enclosed. If I do I will continue to think and to think more at this stage will not be good. My poor brain just can't take any more consequences, any more ways to try not to hurt these people that are under my command.
Hyne, I hate that word. Command. I can't command my own body sometimes what the hell made the group think that I can handle this?
Oh wait. Forgot for a moment. They didn't think. They just planned the best way to make my life miserable. Blasted friends that should know better. Damn. I guess I better find a place to hide a bit right now. I need to sleep so I can deal with the fit the two idiots are going to present me with.
Oh joy…
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Interlude: Balamb Garden
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Quistis finished reading the report that had been brought for her with a small sigh. That kind of work was daily, the problems constantly arriving from different sources, her patience slowly edging away and her concern only increasing.
No news had arrived from Galbadia, there was no sign or news of the missing Garden anywhere for a whole month and it seemed too much like the proverbial calm before the storm. But this storm no one knew when it would strike.
Or what consequences it would bring. That was why the instructor was both dreading and hoping the beginning of hostilities.
– "You are worrying yourself far too much Quistis" – The voice in her mind was, definitively, far too knowing sometimes. She had learned to ignore it in those particular moments.
– "What do you want me to do Levia?" – The Seed asked back tiredly – "It is like we are all at the edge of a cliff and we don't know whether we are going to be pushed or not."
– "But worrying yourself to death isn't going to change a thing is it?" – The water guardian sent back gently and then a soft touch of amusement made itself feel.
– "But maybe that package will" – She continued – "I wasn't aware you had blood family mistress" – Quistis frowned with the comment trying to understand what in Hyne's name her guardian was talking about.
In the middle of the confusion of packages someone, that she could guess to have been Selphie, had dropped on her desk she couldn't find whatever Leviathan wanted her to find.
– "The large brown one with the mark of Winhil" – Informed the guardian after a while.
– "You could have already said that Levia" – Commented Quistis with an annoyed tinge in her tone.
– "And miss you destroying your desk?" – The smile in the link was almost palpable.
If Quistis wasn't so used to the people she had to deal with she would have probably snapped at the guardian. Fortunately for the guardian's mental state the instructor was very used to those types of attitudes.
Calmly Quistis grabbed the small package and frowned when she saw the handwriting. Round and fluent. She knew it well, had seen it several times. Her heart began pounding in her ears as she read the name of the sender.
Scylla Trepe.
Quistis only knew one Scylla, even as much as that one hated the name she had been given…and Trepe…
- "Aria" – She whispered.
Relief flooded her mind with only the sight of that name. All her calm went out the window as Quistis ripped the crude paper open to find a single black memory disk. There was no letter, no message, no nothing.
– "Maybe if you watched what the disk has?" – Suggested Leviathan as if it was obvious – "You are not expecting for it not to be from Ariadne are you mistress? How many persons do you think she has told her middle name?" – Quistis nodded absently as she watched the disk.
– "I hope you are right" – Her free hand grasped her communicator and pressed several buttons at the same time.
– "Heya Quisty" – Selphie
– "Something wrong Quistis?" – Rinoa
– "Hach hapennig……" – Zell…and a round of coughing as background.
– "Dear Hyne. Are you alright?" – Sara
– "You rang dear instructor?" – Irvine.
– "Yes Quistis?" – Squall.
– "These are my friends" – Quistis thought calmly in veiled despair.
– "And your sister has a hero complex besides the sarcastic trait and I won't begin on her friends" – Added her guardian – "Just how did you save Gaea again?"
– "Aria sent a package" – That simple sentence originated various answers. From what Quistis could distinguish there were shouts of joy, another choking sound and comments like "finally" and "about time". Then it was Squall's voice over all the others, as always calm and assured.
– "Meeting in the conference room. Ten minutes" – And his line went dead.
– "Gee…doesn't he sound happy?"
– "Selphie using sarcasm?" – Quistis raised an eyebrow.
– "I think that was Squall sounding happy" – Commented Irvine – "Have you forgotten how he sounds when he's angry? We'll continue this later."
– "See you in ten ok?" – Interrupted Rinoa before shutting her line as well.
– "Can you wait just a bit for Zell?" – Asked Sara's voice from Zell's line – "I think he needs to drink something before…"
- "He throws up" – Completed Irvine – "A good idea. Selphie? Meet me on the elevator."
– "Be right there Irvy" - Came the Trabian's answer – "Hey Quisty. Do you want me to warn Matron and the Headmaster?" – The older girl couldn't believe she had forgotten about that.
– "I'll take care of it Selphie" – She answered grabbing her Save-the-queen and the memory disk – "You make sure no word of this gets out."
– "On it ma'am" – Replied Selphie appearing to be more cheerful than the previous days. That only meant that she hadn't sung in the hallways and glomped unsuspecting people. She just skipped through the hallways with a smaller grin on her features and glomped Irvine.
Quistis was already dreading the reaction to whatever was on the memory disk but suddenly understood that it didn't matter. Whatever piece of hope that small object could give was much more important than anything. Besides it was somewhat strange to see Selphie so subdued…or as subdued as she could get.
– "I think you should move mistress" – Suggested Leviathan – "Unless you want all your companions beating at your door. Or beating it down would be far more likely." – A small smile twisted Quistis's lips.
Indeed they would. Because as much as they tried to keep themselves acting as they normally would there was no one that wasn't waiting for the information she had on her hands.
– "You better be alright sister" – With that thought the Seed left her office. She had people to warn.
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I'm done! And no, I'm not attacking the sweets (gives look to all). Anyways I'm expecting some reviews to this chapter even being X-mas almost Eve. So be nice everyone and tell me what you think of this. Comments, suggestions and randomness are welcome.
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Next chapter: Images from far away. News arrive at last!
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See ya all next week
Reyavie