caughtinanetwork | 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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

Oh yeah, that would help. But the rent is free, right?

Right. You just have to find a place you like. Some people live by themselves, others with roommates.

[It's a simple choice, but for her, it's more than that. She hasn't lived by herself in-

Actually, she's never lived alone. Even during her time with Caraway, she hadn't been alone, not technically. The more she thinks about it, the more nervous she gets, and it shows in the way she tightly grips her soup cup.]

Um... do you know if Selphie has a roommate or not?

She does.

[A guy who likes her, apparently. But Squall doesn't add that part. It's neither of their business.]

One person, decent guy. They live in a house not too far from here.

[He does think that Rinoa would do better in a house and with housemates.]

Unless others have moved in that I don't know about, there should be room for another person. You'll have to ask them if you can move in though.

[Darn it, Squall, that's pertinent information in Rinoa's mind 8| ]

Decent guy, huh? I'll have to get to know him, then. [Now she's very curious.]

I'll ask Selphie, then, when I see her.

[And then, because it's Squall and she cannot help herself...]

Of course, until then I just might have to crash at your place... [Her tone is light and her smile gives away her teasing intentions, but nonetheless, she's hoping for a reaction.]

You can also get a hotel room.

[That's actually what he did for a few days. It wasn't so bad, though Squall disliked feeling like there was a lack of privacy, what with maids going in every day to tidy it up. He's used to staying at inns for one night and being out the door as soon as checkout time arrives.]

My place is designed for one person. But if you want to sleep on the couch, go ahead.

[She rolls her eyes.]

I was kidding, Squall. [As funny as it might sound, she had a feeling they'd drive each other insane in a day or so.]

I'll look into a hotel room. Those are always fun, at least since Irvine and Zell won't be around to cause trouble. [Those two were always such a nightmare when they stayed at hotels.]

[He can't tell with you. He takes a bite of his food.]

That's one good thing about this place.

[Sharing space with them is an exercise in patience.]

I miss them, though. It's not quite as lively without them.

[She opens up her soup and brings it to her lips and takes a gulp. Yes it's not ladylike but she doesn't care, she's hungry.]

[Luckily for Rinoa, Squall doesn't care very much about ladylike behavior.]

No, it's not.

[This is his roundabout way of saying "I miss them too."]

[She smiles over her cup of soup, that mysterious little smile she always wears when she catches on to what he's implying.]

Well, I showed up, didn't I? Maybe they'll be coming next.

[And then a thought strikes her, and her smile falls.]

Or... some other people from home might come. [Like her father, or Sorceress Edea, or... Seifer.]

First promise; Video transmission

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