caughtinanetwork | First promise; Video transmission

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First promise; Video transmission

[When the feed turns on, the video shows a soaked, annoyed Rinoa. She looks something akin to a half-drowned, blue rat as she pushes back her hair. Her attempts only lead it to fall back into place, so she frowns as she grabs it and wrings it out to the side.]

One sec...

[As the water drains from her strands, her eyes dart back to the device. Now it has her full attention.]

I'm not really sure what to make of all of this. I can't decide if this is a bad prank or if the Sorceress did something to us. Who'd have thought that she'd send us to an underwater city... place in retribution? I mean, who does that?

Right. [With her hair sufficiently wrung, she tosses it over her shoulder.] My name's Rinoa. I was with my friends when we attacked a certain sorceress. I thought we had won, but... I think I fell over or something. Then I woke up here. So if anyone has seen or heard of Squall, Zell, Irvine, Quistis, or Selphie, could you maybe let me know? I'd appreciate it.

[She pauses, her brow puckered before she decides to add something.] If mentioned friends are here... would you guys meet me by this fountain thing and tell me what's going on?

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[Squall leads Rinoa back to his apartment and as he unlocks the door, a chocobo chick's peep can be heard as Tempest hops onto the coffee table to look at the newcomer. It's a small place, good enough for one person.

Very Squall.

He gestures over to a door.]

Bathroom's in there.

[Rinoa's looking around, poking her head around corners. The cheep catches her attention, and her heart warms a little as she spies the chick on the table. She smiles and walks over to it and gives it a scratch on top of its head.]

Aren't you a cutie?

[Her gaze follows Squall's gesture, and she nods to him as she takes only one of the bags with her to the bathroom. As she walks inside, she sets it down, and sighs in relief when she sees the shower.

As she goes to close the door, though, a sly smile curls her lips as she peers around the edge of the door.]

No peeking now.

[With a giggle she quickly shuts the door. A minute later, the shower turns on.]

[Uh huh. Okay. Rinoa's already shut the door when Squall utters his reply.]

...whatever.

[All he can do is wait for her, so he sits down on the couch and grabs a book he borrowed from the library off the table and starts reading. Tempest hops from the table to Squall's arm as he reaches over and up to her owner's shoulder to see what he's up to.

Alas, being a chocobo chick, she cannot read and instead just tilts her head to one side and stares at the pages, unable to understand the meaning behind what she's looking at.]

[Rinoa didn't need to hear it; she could easily guess what he said. She's still giggling when she gets into the shower.

One long, refreshing shower later, Rinoa's out and does the usual sort of thing: get dry, get dressed, brush out her hair with her fingers (she needs to invest in basic bathroom things next), and hang up her towel and wet clothes.

When she's finished, she steps out, hitting the bathroom light with her elbow. Her feet take her into the living room, where she spots Squall reading. Smiling, she walks over to him and peers over the top of his book, being her usual nosy self and wondering what he's reading.]

[It's not a very exciting book, sadly. A non fiction history type book. Or so he was told. It's a history about a world that isn't their own. For all he knows, it could be fiction posing as history. When Rinoa looks down, he looks up at her. She looks much better now.]

Is there anything you want to do?

[He's free all day, really.]

[It's amazing what a shower can do for a person. Rinoa felt much better, too. She's still bummed out about Angelo, and overall she's still a little confused, but she'll get by. She's always fought and survived better with others at her side.]

Food. And a tour! Since you've been such a good guide to me in the past. [Oh yeah, there's some sarcasm in there. But she's also smiling at the memory because, despite some irritating moments, overall it was a good time.]

[Okay, but if this tour sucks, don't blame him. Squall closes the book and places it back on the table, gently shooing the chocobo chick off his shoulder.]

What do you want to eat?

[He remembers the first restaurant he visited in Vatheon. It was a cake shop that Selphie had insisted he go into.]

[She's almost hoping it does suck. Then she can tease him about it later. S'how she operates.

She holds her hand out to the chick, wondering how shy it was. It's also adorable and she can't help but want to play with it a little.]

Something warm. After being soaked for so long, I could use a bit of warming up.

[Well, that was helpful and not at all vague! Squall ponders the next course of action while his pet happily hops onto Rinoa's hand.]

Let's go out then and if you see something you want, let me know.

[Hey now, IT RULED OUT CAKE AND ICE CREAM, RIGHT?

Rinoa smiles widely and gently cups the chick with both hands. She coos a little as one finger gently rubs over the chick's head.]

You're a sweet little one, aren't you? I bet even Squall turned into a big pile of mush when he first saw you.

[Hiding a teasing smile, she looks up at him and nods.]

Sounds good. Maybe a place with some good soup and hot sandwiches. [There. Less vague!]

[He frowns as Rinoa talks to Tempest. He did not turn into a pile of mush, thank you very much!]

There's a place down the street then.

[Opening the door, he expects her to follow him.]

[Rinoa rolls her eyes congenially before setting the chick down. She gives it another scratch and then spins around, giving Squall a mock salute before she follows after him.]

And what place would this be?

It's a café.

[The kind where they use fresh ingredients only and everything is made to order. It is indeed, a short walk and Squall opens the door for Rinoa. The scent of bread being freshly baked can be smelled immediately.

But such details are lost on him. To Squall, it's a place that's close to his apartment that has edible food and that's good enough for him.]

[Rinoa inhales deeply, enjoying the scent and the delicious food that was no doubt in store for her.

She immediately runs up to the counter, hands on the edge as she stands on her tiptoes to look at the menu. She's like a kid in a candy shop, although she's really freaking hungry so it could be simply that she's about to eat that's exciting her.]

[Rinoa's the one who's hungry, so Squall will let her order first. He glances up at the menu to see if there's anything different he wants to try.

...nah, he'll just get his usual soup, sandwich and coffee.]

[You're so predictable, Squall. It's almost kind of charming.]

Okay. Big thing of potato soup and a turkey sandwich, please!

[Then remembering, she lifts up her hand with the mark on it. Once the clerk leaves to put in her order, Rinoa turns to Squall curiously.]

What are you getting?

Vegetable soup and a roast beef sandwich.

[It's both his order and the answer to Rinoa's question. Squall is nothing if not efficient.

And now Rinoa can watch the way he has to turn around to show his tattoo.

It's kind of awkward, but after doing this nearly every day he's used to it by now.]

[Rinoa can't help but peer around him to get a look at his tattoo. Her brow puckers in thought as she pulls away, not wanting to look too curious or invasive.

Once their orders are in, she shakes her head in wonder.]

Wow. Whoever or whatever decides the location of these marks did not think yours through too well.

[Squall doesn't really care if she wants to get a look at the tattoo - every foreigner has one, after all.]

It could be worse.

[It could be in the middle of his back or on his leg and that's way more troublesome than just turning around.]

[True. It could be on his rearend or something.

...And that thought just has her bursting into laughter.]

...

[HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND YOU SOMETIMES, RINOA.]

What's so funny?

[Admit it, Squall. It's why you even remotely like her.]

S-Sorry. I just - tattoo locations and I -

[She calms down, realizing that explaining this train of thought to Squall might not be a good idea.]

N - Nevermind. Just a funny thought.

[Nope...maybe.

He just gives her a funny look for a minute.]

...whatever.

[And he says it just as their food is ready!]

You're better off not knowing.

[She eagerly reaches out and takes the food from the cashier. She motions for Squall to follow her once he gets his food and hurries over to an empty table.]

[He's going to take her word for it because he probably doesn't want to know. Getting his own food, he follows her to a table.]

We have to find you a place to stay after this.

First promise; Video transmission

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