Familial

[knighted_lion]

Characters: Squall, anyone in the Garden, the Loire family
Progress: On-going
Summary: Squall (re)meets Laguna, and family visits happen
Location: Alfitaria
Date: Probably slightly backdated, since I meant to have this up a couple of days ago
Warnings: None

Comments

I hope you don't mind a cowboy bothering you Squall...

[ladiesmanirvine]

Irvine felt the Garden land as he exited from out of his room and start to head out into the city, he felt a little cooped up in the Garden and needed to stretch his legs. But first he wanted to go out and see if his commander was okay with him going out and around, course wondering if he wanted to unwind with him.

After a while Irvine spotted Squall and without hesitation, wrapped his around his shoulder and asked, "I was hoping to go out into the city and maybe take in some of the culture...then I figured you could use a little loosening up, interested?"

Not in the least~

[knighted_lion]

Not surprisingly, Squall's instinctive reaction to having an arm unceremoniously draped around his shoulders was to do his damnedest to shrug it off. Sure, he knew it was Irvine, but that didn't mean that he was going to tolerate it more than he really had to.

"It depends on what you had in mind."

Sweet

[ladiesmanirvine]

Course his arm was flung off as he answered Squall's question.

"I dunno man, go to a few bars, go see some ladies, hit a few of the hot spots...ya know cruise around, have fun..."

Irvine was wondering if Squall would do it, but figured he knew his commander better than he knew the back of a woman's bra.

[knighted_lion]

The general idea was at least partially tempting. On the other hand, Squall was pretty sure that Rinoa would have wanted to have words with him, if he took part in everything on Irvine's list. Especially that middle point.

"I think I'll pass."

[livelyangel]

Rinoa walked up to him to lay a hand on his arm. She was looking forward to seeing Alfitaria. It was one of the major cities she hadn't explored before. And of course they were going to meet Squall's family.

"Ready for this?"

[knighted_lion]

Ready? Of course he wasn't ready. He wouldn't have been ready if he'd had another year to get used to the idea. But he was as ready as he'd ever be under the circumstances so after a moment of silence he nodded.

"Yeah."

[livelyangel]

[ooc: is it all right if I switch to the thread below for meeting Ellone and Raine?]

[knighted_lion]

((Perfectly alright!))

[waitedinwinhill]

All morning Raine had been in a flutter of activity: getting Brooke and Slai ready for the outing, double checking that everyone's clothes were neatly pressed, hair was laying down. Almost as if she were trying to impress Squall, which was a ridiculous notion. Things had certainly improved between them since he re-arrived. Of course, she wished to herself that she knew him better, but each step was one in the right direction.

Part of her nervous energy had less to do with visiting her son and more to do with stepping foot in the Garden for the visit. Last time she was there, it was in the aftermath of Rinoa's rampage. Being held captive in there and watching Ellone be tortured really didn't help matters in the least.

Steeling herself to put that all aside, she took a deep breath, collected her wits and the baby, and strolled out the door with a warning. "I'm leaving with or without you." Slai scampered to her side and grasped hold of her hand. "I have Slai with me."

[winhillstime]

Ellone had been helping where she could, getting herself and children ready. Her nerves were strained as well, though she was trying to stay calm and think more about the people who were coming and not the bad things associated with the Garden.

Once Raine called for her, she returned to the door, heading out with the girls. "I'm coming!" She'd grown so used to just the four of them that for a minute she forgot Uncle Laguna was there, too. "Want me to hold onto Slai?"

[blue_desperado]

"I'm comin', I'm comin'!" Laguna called from what sounded like a room or two away. Even he wasn't sure what was taking him so long; he certainly hadn't been taking the time to further groom himself. It wasn't that he didn't look presentable -- just ordinary. If he was going to be perfectly honest with himself, he was nervous. Their family had grown by leaps and bounds overnight, or so it seemed to him.

Still. There was nothing to be afraid of, was there? This was supposed to be a happy occasion. Man, but he hoped Squall liked him. He seemed like he might be a hard kid to impress.

"Sorry," he apologized when he finally appeared, running the last few steps to catch up with Raine and Ellone. "Sorry. I'm ready."

((Sorry I'm so late! I missed this getting posted while I was out of town!))

[waitedinwinhill]

Raine eyed her husband and just shook her head. Some things would never change. She adjusted the blankets around the baby just that bit more, to keep the chilly air off her. "If you could, Ellone, that'd be a big help." Shifting Brooke on her shoulder, she picked up the bag of travel necessities and handed it off to Laguna. "Make yourself useful, honey."

Satisfied as much as she would be that they were ready to go, she set out to lead the way, although with each step, her dread grew. Once they were at the entrance, she inquired for Squall, and shot a look over her shoulder at the rest of the family. It was as if to ask, Are we ready for this?