The Lion Sleeps Tonight

[gunbladescar]

I am exhausted. I've spent the past two days, scouting this entire place out. Zell was right. I couldn't get the crystal to work at all, but it was worth trying. I do have a new idea, but I can't do it by myself. And it definitely requires more planning

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[themonsterhere]

Despite having been on the island for a good few weeks, Kiden was still in the habit of sleeping rough. She knew of the Compound's existence, of course, and would occasionally crash there; more often than not, however, she'd take a nap in the tall grass or under a tree, and then wake up eighteen hours later, disorientated and confused.

Today was such a day. Grumbling to herself, Kiden got to her feet, raked her fingers through her unkempt hair, and idly began wandering down the path. She was dully aware of being hungry, and so decided to head in the general direction of food, but didn't pay much attention to where she was going.

When she came across somebody, Kiden shoved her hands into her pockets and yawned enthusiastically.

“Hey, baby,” she said, “What's up?”

[gunbladescar]

"Baby?" I repeat incredulously. I close my eyes and rub my forehead between my index finger and thumb. I'm too tired for this.

"Name's Squall," I say after a moment, turning to face her. "Squall Leonhart." You know the drill. It's lionheart not Leon heart.

[themonsterhere]

“Yeah. Y'know, general colloquial term,” Kiden said, trying not to grin. “Nothing too serious.”

With that, Kiden decided that she was bored of standing, and flopped down on the ground. She hugged her knees against her chest, and squinted up at him.

“Squall, huh. Cool name. Think I like that even more,” Kiden said, and then extended a hand, “Kiden Nixon. Hey.”

[gunbladescar]

I watch her flop down on the ground and hug her knees to her chest. She reminds me of a blond Selphie or a female Zell.

Kiden Nixon. It has a beat to it, but it's no Leonhart. Not her fault though, we don't get to name ourselves.

"Hey," I say. Conversation is awkward for me. So I stand there, staring at the cottage, thinking about everything that isn't going well.

[themonsterhere]

The fact that he wasn't much of a talker barely even registered to Kiden. She was more than used to dealing with the brick-wall type, and had the unfortunate gift of being able to ramble on for hours on end.

“You do this a lot? Come to the middle of nowhere, throw things on the ground and then stare at 'em?” Kiden asked, leaning back against her hands, “What's that all about?”

[gunbladescar]

Definitely Yuffie or Zell. Or maybe even Quistis. If she starts saying what I'm thinking before I say it, then Quistis.

"No," I say in a monotone. "It's a new habit. Just started doing it about ... five minutes ago."

[themonsterhere]

“You might want to kick that habit. Seems kind of, uh, pointless. Or is this one of those things that's supposed to work, but doesn't?” Kiden asked, peering down at whatever it was on the ground, “'cause I know all about that. You new here? You look new. I think. Dunno. Don't know if I've been here long enough to say who is and isn't new.”

[gunbladescar]

"It is pointless. It was supposed to work. I've been here a couple of days," I reply, answering her questions in order.

"How long have you been here?" I ask, not really interested in the answer.

[themonsterhere]

Kiden had spent her first few days on the island watching her watch, intently counting down each and every second, though she wasn't sure what she was waiting for. Not to disappear, certainly. Once she grew bored of that, she stopped counting the days, and didn't pay much attention to the night/day divide.

“Couple of weeks, maybe. Doesn't matter, after a while. Anyway, welcome to the magical island. The magical island that doesn't like magic. Still not sure what the fuck's going on with that,” Kiden said, shrugging, “What you trying to do?”

[gunbladescar]

I hope I don't get to the point where I stop counting days. I'm just too tired to count at the moment, but I'm making a note here and now that I will keep up with time from here on out.

"Yeah," I agree. I don't know what's up with that either. "It's a cottage. I was going to get some sleep. I guess not now."

[themonsterhere]

“That's a cottage?” Kiden asked, raising an eyebrow. As far as she knew, a cottage was a fair bit bigger, but as a high school drop-out, she probably shouldn't be correcting anyone's logic. Besides, there was the thing with the different worlds, which could go some way to explain things. “Alright. I can work with that. I guess someone already told you about the free shelter? Not that it's the best. I mean, I fell asleep in the grass about two days ago, and just woke up now.”

[gunbladescar]

"Two days ago?" I repeat not believing her one bit. Come on. Pull the other leg.

"The free shelter is too crowded. I can't sleep in there. And anyway, I don't plan on staying." Though so far my plans for leaving weren't coming to fruition.

[themonsterhere]

“Yup, two days. I mean, I woke up once or twice, but only for, like, ten minutes. Or to pee,” Kiden explained. While she had always been momentously lazy, Kiden was beginning to think that the amount of sleep she required was something to do with very much being an ex-mutant. Back home, she'd stay awake for months, but here, she was always out like a light.

“You don't plan on staying, huh? Is that like a passive-aggressive way to tell me to fuck off?” she asked, grinning despite her wording.

[gunbladescar]

I could be very passive-aggressive. It was true. Instead of telling people off, I usually just went with a well placed 'Whatever' or a shrug which meant the same thing. If worse came to worse, I'd just be blunt with them. However, that's not what I had meant in this case. Not that I wanted the company exactly, but not that I didn't.

"No. That's me saying I plan on getting back home. You don't want to go home?"

[themonsterhere]

“Oh. You don't plan on staying, as in on the island? Not as in right here. Got it,” Kiden said, nodding. She'd heard of plenty of people with a similar attitude, determined to leave the island, even though hoards of people before them had failed to do so. Considering that he was brand new and shiny, she saw no need to trample all over any hope he might be clinging to. Not that he seemed like the most hopeful of guys, but whatever. There was no need to be a bitch.

“Not really. Wouldn't say no, if someone offered, but it's not exactly on the top of my to-do list,” Kiden said, nonchalantly, like she didn't miss her powers one bit. “I lived in a box. Before I turned up, I had a pimp pointing a gun at my head. Nothing I can't deal with, but this island ain't all bad. But if you're going home, send me a postcard.”

[gunbladescar]

I smile when she says to send a postcard. If it were at all possible when I get home, I think I just might.

"Why were you living in a box?" I ask. "And a pimp?"