[action]

[burntglory]

["...if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact myself or a SeeD."]

[Seifer isn't pleased after he skims his letter and rereads everything twice. Was this a joke? This had to be the worst joke ever. Considering where he had just been and what he had done? And now he was back here of all places

Comments

[whiplashings]

[Quistis spots that familiar grey trench coat.. and for the first time in quite a while, she actually feels relief upon catching sight of it. Which is amazing in itself, considering all the things that he had done to them in the past.

But that doesn't matter at the moment. Because seeing Seifer back means that Squall could be back, as well.

Nonetheless, she approaches him, a stack of papers in her arms.]

Where have you been, Seifer?

[whiplashings]

If you're not aware, some people actually learn from experiences and grow as a person.

[burntglory]

[Ouch. Seifer sets his jaw at that remark and the muscle in his cheek flexes. He fixes her with a glare, silent.]

[whiplashings]

[Oh, yes-- Quistis knows she struck a nerve. But she doesn't exactly feel great about it either. Nonetheless, she crosses her arms.]

Now, are you going to answer my question or not? I don't have all day to argue with you.

[burntglory]

I shouldn't have to tell you. [He really just doesn't want to say it aloud.] You should know.

[whiplashings]

[She detects that small change in his tone, and spots it as the closest thing to defeat that Seifer would ever admit to. Once again, her eyes sweep over him; judging by how haggard he looks, she can only assume that he had only gotten out of battle. And judging by his hostility, it was one where he hadn't come out the victor.

Quistis has a hunch or two of what Seifer could be alluding to, but upon realizing this would be the most she could draw out from him, she gives a small sigh before heading toward the elevator, a silent signal for him to join her.]

[burntglory]

[Seifer sets his jaw all the more, blue eyes glancing after her. He's torn on following her and turning away but eventually gives in and slowly stalks after her, the torn edges of his trench coat flaring behind him and the papers in his hand crumpling as his grip tightens.

For once he's quiet. There's no scathing remarks, there's no cynicism or sarcasm. He's not mocking her or trying to get under her skin with petty insults in the attempt to rile her up.

For once Seifer shuts up and does as he's told.]

[whiplashings]

[Patiently, Quistis stares ahead as she waits for the elevator doors to slide open. Upon doing so, she silently enters the compartment and presses the 3F button, swiping her keycard for authorization to enter. She waits for Seifer to enter as well before she presses for the doors to close.

The silence between them is stiff, completely uncomfortable, but she has no plans to make small talk with him.]

[burntglory]

[Nor does he.

Instead Seifer stands off to the side with Hyperion's tip rested on the ground, his jaw tightly set and his eyes set and glaring at the blurred reflection of himself in the metal doors.

There are no words for how uncomfortable it is to stand next to her in that boxcar as it rides upwards to the 3F. Seifer's ready to hit the Emergency Stop button and somehow force the damn elevator back down to the 1F. But he keeps himself at bay, his posture rigid, hardly proud.]

[whiplashings]

[Quistis tries to simply stare ahead-- but she can't help but peer at him through the corner of her eye, taking in his appearance, the obvious tension in his shoulders as he stands next to her. This wasn't exactly the most pleasant experience for her, either; her posture was stiffer than usual, hands curled around the stack of papers she had been holding. When the elevator finally lets out a light 'ding!' to signal their arrival, it takes everything for Quistis to refrain from letting out a sigh of relief as the doors slide open to let them out.

Without looking back, she makes the first move to step out of the box car, already heading towards Cid's office.]

[burntglory]

[Seifer finds himself hesitating for a split second once she moves out of the elevator onto the floor. Reflexively his fingers squeeze his gunblade's grip and he forces himself to move one foot in front of the other, forces himself to move after her. Seifer glares at the back of her head the entire time, unconsciously noting how she's still wearing that ridiculous clip in her blond hair to keep it pinned up in an elegant style.

Why is he noticing this? Something as useless and pointless as her hair clip, what the fuck. No, Seifer should be noticing that nothing's changed about the 3F, and that they're drawing nearer and nearer to the Headmaster's office.

Even the Faculty members standing nearby snap to attention at the sight of Quistis and the man who silently follows, his glare fixing on them.

This is it-- just on the other side of those doors is the Headmaster, the one and only father figure in his entire life. The man he'd gone and betrayed.]

[whiplashings]

[When they finally arrive to Cid's door, Quistis turns to finally address Seifer.]

Wait here. I'll talk to him first.

[Her hand reaches forward to knock on the wooden door gently.]

[burntglory]

Why bother? He already knows I'm here, says so on the letter.

[Impatiently he waves the paper at her.]

[whiplashings]

Just because he's aware of your presence in the school doesn't mean you have the right to barge into his office.

[burntglory]

Says who? You?

[whiplashings]

Yes, me. Now stay here and wait.