The Lion All Snuggly In His Den

[gunbladescar]

I wake up feeling... insulated, cozy even. It's that warm feeling of being tucked in when it's cold outside. I'm probably losing it. It's not easy sleeping with fractured ribs. I can't find a comfortable place to lie. When I eventually do doze off, it's not for long. Luckily, there's not much else to do... until I come up with a new plan

Comments

[spirited_hero]

[gunbladescar]

So add pro number three for sleeping in my clothes. Since I'd become leader at Garden, people tended to just walk into my room, with or without knocking. I felt more naked wearing the footed pajamas than I would have had Zell actually walked in on me nude. I want to cover myself, but there's nothing.

What is he wearing though? "What's going on?" I demand, unsure if he has the answers, but directing the question at him all the same.

[spirited_hero]

[gunbladescar]

"So do you," I reply. It's a valid retort, but it still doesn't make up for how ridiculous I feel. I revert back into cool, casual mode. Also Known As 'Whatever' mode.

My clothes must be around here somewhere. I decide to ignore Zell and his comments about snow. One thing at a time.

[spirited_hero]

[gunbladescar]

I sigh at his comment. I had been trying to ignore his presence altogether, but Zell Dincht is the kind of guy who lets you forget he's around.

I level him with an icy glare of death and then reply, "You want to him an image burned in your brain of me in my pajamas?"

His second comment is worse than the first and definitely not worth giving a response. I just roll my eyes and go back to my search. I finally find my clothes, neatly folded, under the cot. Well next to the cot, but they were hidden by the blanket when I'd jumped up in surprise.

"I'm getting changed now," I say, acknowledging his presence again. "Did you want to stay and watch?" I give him a look that definitely says GET OUT, but wait for his reply.

[spirited_hero]

[gunbladescar]

"What's that?" I ask, pointing at Seifer's jacket once I'm dressed. Is he here?

I'd glance around the hut, or cabin as it is now, but it's too small for a person to be hiding. And that leaves us with a mystery jacket.

[spirited_hero]

[gunbladescar]

"Is it?" I ask. It's not really just some jacket to me. This one was worn by Seifer. If it were Irvine's jacket lying there, I wouldn't say it was just some jacket either.

"Messing with you how?" And now it seems is going to take a page out of my book and be vague. Vague and evasive.

[spirited_hero]

[gunbladescar]

That would have been a sight. I'm almost sorry to have missed it. Almost. To have seen it, I would have had to have been here sooner. And a big NO THANKS to that offer.

I look out the window at the snow. It's even down to the beach. Last time it snowed, we were all reminiscing about our orphan pasts.

[spirited_hero]

[gunbladescar]

A gift from the fairies is right, too. At least given what I had woken up in. Another big NO THANKS to anymore gifts like that, fairies. If you're listening.

I wonder what they're all doing. Is there a doppelganger in my place? Or has time stopped? Maybe time passes differently here. Slower. Or faster. Maybe if--when we leave here, we'll be old men and everyone else will still be young. That would be about the level luck that I've had.

[spirited_hero]

[gunbladescar]

If we were back home, I would have had a plan of attack. I would have
listed off orders. But a feeling of malaise had settled on the past couple of days since our failed mission. I was having trouble thinking of anything to do. It was hard to fight a force you didn't understand. At least back home, there was the illusion of movement in the Garden. Here, it was all inertia. Inertia and the inability to do anything anyway. No magic. No Garden. No Rinoa.

If only I could get that damn crystal working. Snow certainly couldn't help with that. "Whatever," is all I say. It's not as sharp as it usually sounds. A bit more resigned.