A/N: This is a an in depth look at how Faris and Vanille became a couple in ATSHS (Chapter 1-A). My "weekend" for those who are curious are Sunday/Monday. Also, Fang, Lightning, Snow and Lenna are all either mentioned and/or featured. Enjoy!
Faris and Vanille
If Oerba Dia Vanille was described in one word by Faris Scherwiz, 'goddess' would be a bit much to some, yet for the Tycoon native it was the perfect word to describe the redhead from Gran Pulse, the land in talks with Gaia to become one land known as Gran Gaia. Most people at Bodhum High gave the coral haired teen a tough time about this, but in a loving, joking matter Faris laughed at. Oerba Yun Fang sometimes called Faris her sister-in-law for reasons one Snow Villiers made disrespectful and rude remarks on, which Fang succeeded in angering the fucking oaf as it was VERY well known that Snow is homophobic, much to his dismay. Being friends with the most respected Yun clanswoman on the planet gave the Tycoon native dirt on the Dia - and also time to hang out with Vanille to boot! However, Faris was very surprisingly shy about saying how she felt about Vanille to the redhead in question, and even more shy about saying it in public (thank you very much, Snow Villiers). Why that was, sadly, no one will ever know.
Speaking of the redhead, Vanille has been head over heels in love with Faris Scherwiz from the moment they met, but it was the age gap that kept her feelings for the coral haired teen to herself. For those close or at Vanille's age, it was commonly frowned on to remotely crush on anyone who is two years older than themselves. Vanille's crush on Faris was treated no different: it was frowned on because the Tycoon native is two years older than Vanille. Fang, being the older sister and the best observer of the two, saw ZERO issues with Faris and Vanille dating. When they hung out, everyone who saw Faris and Vanille interact with each other felt and still feel that they looked adorable together, that they are meant to be soul mates, a couple. Even Claire 'Lightning' Farron egged the coral haired teen (with the help of Faris' younger sister Lenna) to ask Vanille out on a date more than once, and this was the rare times Snow would allow her to hang out with the Oerba sisters and the Tycoon sisters!
Fang, not one to be defeated by this even though she's struggling with her crush on the older Farron sister (that is in a relationship with the fucking oaf), had to do something to help her close mate - both in and out of Bodhum High - become the girlfriend of her younger sister Vanille.
After all, Faris already has Fang's blessing to date Vanille.
XXX
lt was the summer break before Faris started her final year at Bodhum High alongside Fang, Lightning and Snow, but for Vanille it would be her sophomore year there, and Lenna would be an upperclassman at last. More specifically, early July. Vanille and Lenna had a private chat about Faris, which the younger Tycoon sister found out about Vanille's massive crush on the Tycoon Pirate (Bodhum High's nickname for Faris, one that the older Tycoon sister personally approved of), and Lenna was giggling as a result of the confession - the info was old news to her because Fang and Lenna had secret chats and the latter knew about from the former enough times. Vanille was personally invited to a fireworks display in downtown Bodhum that Faris got two VIP seats at which Lenna would be at a different section of the same event with others, Fang included. Lightning was working at the event as 'junior' security (to help with getting credits for faster promotions with the Guardian Corps).
At first, Vanille was shocked to get the special seating invite from Faris Scherwiz herself - towards the end of the school year, more of the students from Vanille's grade were accepting the fact that the redhead has a massive crush on the Tycoon Pirate, with some of them giving Faris a helping hand with landing the VIP seating for the fireworks display as they felt that Faris was 'The One' for the Oerban native. It took Fang convincing her to hang out with the older Tycoon sister (complete with Lenna's reasoning to not be at the VIP section) by themselves that Vanille FINALLY said yes to Faris' invite. After all, the two have feelings for each other but was beyond afraid to be open about them, let alone to act on it. Although nervous, Vanille found her best summer dress and wore minimal jewelry and her classiest shoes, completely with the intention to rock Faris' world at the fireworks display. Failure was NOT an option for one Oerba Dia Vanille by any means.
Faris would not be disappointed when she sees Vanille.
XXX
The Annual Bodhum Fireworks Display. For a town like Bodhum - not too big but also not too small - they are the host of Cocoon's best and most popular fireworks display for so many years, it was something that everyone was looking forward to seeing. One evening of not having to worry about varying things (although the next day would have them 'returning to their normal schedules of worrying about whatever'). Faris, who rented a car (for a month), arrived at Vanille and Fang's home to pick up the redhead so that they can get to the event at a reasonable time, since the coral haired teen DISLIKED being late to anything. What made Faris stood out was that she was very well dressed and brought FLOWERS for the younger Oerba sister ("Pirate, 'Nille L-O-V-E-S flowers...you should see her face when we pass by the damn florist!" Fang told the older Tycoon sister in a class they shared over the Spring Semester, which the duo couldn't stop laughing at when Faris first heard that, but made a mental note of), something Fang would be floored by soon enough. Once Vanille and Faris saw each other, neither teen could speak for several moments, before Faris realising that they both will be late if they kept staring at each other like this.
Being the gentlewoman, Faris opened the door Vanille would get into the car and made sure that the redhead was seated and buckled up before getting herself into the car. There was a part of Vanille that wondered why Faris rented the car but wisely chose not to ask the Tycoon native that question - it would be this that eventually served as a great piece of wisdom to those they cared about in time. The drive to the venue was one of peace and serenity for Faris, as Vanille would sing her lungs out to whatever song was on the radio and didn't care how off key she was while singing whatever song. It made Faris smile, though: anything Vanille said or did makes the older Tycoon sister laugh and smile, giving Faris more reasons to ask Vanille out on a date. Miraculously, the pair made it to the venue with time to spare, which, being the gentlewoman, Faris made sure that Vanille exited the car safely. Oddly enough, Faris took the extra jacket and placed it over a neaby puddle so that Vanille's outfit wouldn't be ruined, which the redhead felt so touched that the coral haired teen would do that for her.
It took the speed of Lightning's namesake for the duo to find the VIP section - as Claire 'Lightning' Farron herself was in that section and personally escorted the pair to the part that made them the most comfortable. Once in the area the older Farron herself picked for them, Faris took out a secret, but fake, flower and placed it on top of Vanille's left ear, to make her even more beautiful than ever. Vanille's only rely was placing her right cheek on the coral haired teen's left shoulder, to which Faris placed an arm around her shoulders, enjoying this moment in comfortable silence before the fireworks began. To Faris, the setup couldn't have been more perfect than it already was: she had loads of people - family, friends, classmates that wasn't named Snow Villiers... you name it - those who supported her and Vanille as women, as people, as teens very madly in love with each other. A public who sorely disagreed with the direction of the Cocoonian government has been going as of late. It was this night that Vanille and Faris only focused on the moment, simply enjoying each other's company as the fireworks display began. This year's display would be a special one for the duo.
The start of this year's display would be the one that finally gave Faris the courage she needed to win Oerba Dia Vanille's heart.
XXX
The 'oohs' and 'ahhs' of the first set of fireworks were amazing as always, with the pattern of the such varying each year. It was one particular pattern that caught Faris' attention the most - it was one where those who are LGBTQ were honoured and loved as people, something that Fang herself begged the organisers to incorporate into this particular display because she REALLY wanted Faris and Vanille to be a couple and the only way it would be a reality was through Lightning, who worked with the organisers although the older Farron was helping with security. As the final few fireworks of the set went off, a message was made out for Vanille and her eyes to read, for it was a message from none other than Faris Scherwiz who wanted to be more than just friends:
"My dearest Oerba Dia Vanille, I wish I could ask you face to face, but knowing certain people...and my natural fears on the matter, I simply could not do such a thing, but 'here I am' asking you like this, with loads of people watching this alongside us. I know it's a lame excuse, but that's just me in a nutshell. Anyway, I'm just rambling here...might as well get to the point. Ever since I first met you I wanted to be more than just friends with you but your older sister was the big hurdle I had to get over so that I can ask you to be my girlfriend...and oddly enough, it was your older sister Snaggletooth who already had given me her blessing to court you if I fancied the idea a while back, and egged me to ask you out on a date with me. She thinks we look so cute together, and I agree, because you're my goddess, my guiding light, the main reason why I laugh and smile at life when it wants to be a you-know-what to me. So...my dearest Vanille, will you go out with me?"
Vanille kept on staring at that message, ever since it first popped out, and for longer than anyone would have anticipated, especially one of this nature because her crush FINALLY had the courage to ask her out, and NOT just out on a date! With tears of happiness slowly falling from her eyes, Faris was quick to take note of this and even quicker to gently wipe them away. Facing the redhead at last, Faris held her crush close, with Vanille placing her ear to Faris' heart, just to hear the heart beat for the Oerban native. Vanille was so touched that Faris felt the same way for her as Vanille felt for Faris. After taking a few deep breaths, as a means to calm herself down and reply to the Tycoon native's question at long last, Vanille gently grabbed her hands as a means to respond. "My dearest Faris Scherwiz, my Tycoon Pirate...I would love to be your girlfriend...there was a part of me that feared that you would never ask me as I know that you're meant to be my soul mate from the very start. Some have called me out of my mind, but I follow my heart, for it doesn't lie to me. My heart is yours, my dearest Faris." Vanille responded to Faris' public inquiry with a gentle, sincere smile on her face, making Faris Scherwiz the happiest coral haired teenager on the planet at the moment.
The pair sealed the deal with the kiss and enjoyed the remainder of the fireworks display, giving everyone there courage to stand up for what's right and fair - even Lightning, who made a wish of her own that night but in secret, as well as Fang and makng a wish almost identical to Lightning's.
As for Faris and Vanille after the fireworks display, they went to a nearby ice cream shop and shared a banana split sundae that Faris fully paid for. It would be the coming months that Fang finds out from Vanille herself that Faris and Vanille have become a couple since the fireworks display, which after being floored by the revelation, Fang immediately welcomed Faris, and Lenna too because she's Faris' younger sister, to the family.
It would be Faris and Vanille's love for each other that inspired so much to so many people in so many ways over the course of time - with ups and downs along the way for the new couple.
As it should be.
FIN
A/N #2: The next TWO chapters will be VERY short, because they're both letters: one Lightning writes to Snow to break up with him, the other Setzer writes to Lightning to bring moral support upon finding out the mess with Snow.