Who: Vincent Valentine, Irvine Kinneas, Terra Branford, Selphie Tilmitt, Ward Zabac.
Where: Vincent's Office, 3rd Floor of Balamb Garden.
Why: Squall's missing, so like, where is he?
Date of Log:  August 19, 2000.



For various reasons, Vincent has called Irvine, Selphie and Terra to the office he works out of just off this lobby. That same one, Irvine, that he first found out... The News. The request to attend was labeled as fairly urgent, and though others might have been called, they have yet to appear, or have been otherwise occupied with just-as-vital tasks for the future welfare of Garden ..... <tm>. Vincent seems calm again - between the recent revelations, the sludge monster, and Lucrecia's welfare, this is something short of a miracle. Well then again, maybe he's got ample practice. To other extent, he's recovered from the steam bath off dragon's breath meeting ice wall fairly well - as he is seated now, it is difficult to say how his further injuries are doing.

Well, well, well, if it isn't Garden's cuuuuuuuuutest couple entering the scene on the Third floor. And according to the rumors, the recently -engaged- couple. However, glancing at Selphie's hand will reveal no ring. There is one strange switch between them, however, the necklace that Irvine -never- removes is not around his neck anymore. Indeed, Selphie is now wearing it. But, certainly that's not in lieu of any ring. Sheesh.
Irvine, of course, came as soon as summoned, though he was originally a little irritated by it. He and Selphie were kinda... in the middle of something at the time *cough*. It was dampened easily enough as he thought about it on the way up. This most likely is a discussion about the still missing Squall. Sadly the Commander's disappearance was swept under the rug while everyone dealt with the sludge creature. So, with Selphie at his side as he exits the elevator, he looks around for Vincent, and then heads in that general direction.

Terra isn't quite as completely bundled up as her desc indicates - however, she is wearing the parka, although it's open (underneath? a plain white undershirt) Similarly, no earmuffs. She's just wearing the parka for comfort reasons; it's nice to be able to cuddle into your clothing when it's chilly, which is very often now. She had needed the comfort anyway, taking the elevator up - as Selphie might recall. *ahem* Either way, she had crouched down to retie her shoelaces when the elevator ding'ed and spat out its occupants, who get a glance and a smile. Then, she as well heads towards the dreaded gunman - or at least, the one with darker hair. (Two longhaired guys with guns... what a coincidence.)

Luckily enough, Selphie's not a horndog like her boyto -- boyfriend, and quickly got over the fact that they were 'interrupted.' Besides, what's one interrupted kiss? Tch. Easy to start again. Besides, this must be important! Maybe it's about Squall! Selphie trots beside the cowboy, idly wondering if perhaps he was on vacation. How she got around without knowing that Squall was 'missing' is yet to be figured out -- she might have even been told, but with recouperating and all... She sorta-kinda forgot a good number of thngs that she was told about the same time. Oops. Waving happily to Terra -- no, she doesn't remember the elevator incident -- the brunette simply falls back a little, letting Irvine lead. She's never been in Vincent's office before! Yay!

It's not much of one, though it's ample enough to hold a small gathering of people such as this. An office that is. Besides the standard desk-chair-terminal, there's a filing cabinet for actual paper work, a few things for writing a plant that was probably standard for the room itself - a little like his room, the place ill defines Vincent as a person. When everyone enters, Vincent isn't doing anything, and thus has only to turn his attention away from the plant where it had fallen upon for idle contemplation. "Good evening." the gunman states quietly. There is a brief offer of seating by a gesture from his hand, before he continues, "I have summoned you here to touch upon one of the remaining situations Garden is currently under." he pauses a moment, studying each person in turn. "You may have noticed Squall's continued absence, and guessed it is not from recent events in the lower levels." Or in Irvine's case, already knew, but Vincent doesn't single the man out. "Word has been received that Squall Leonhart was recently captured by Kefka. Unfortunately, we are not certain if the commander is in Kefka's hands soley, or in the Shinra building itself." There. It's out, and Vincent pauses to allow for reactions.

Having his duster and chaps back, finally, Irvine glances at Terra like she's nuts to be walking around in all those clothes. The downed and lined duster is enough to keep him warm. But, that's him. Reaching down for Selphie's hand, he reaches up with the other hand to tug at his ponytail. Indeed, as previously mentioned, this gunman already knew of Squall's disappearance and who supposedly had him, and as ordered, he hadn't breathed a word of it to anyone. Now, however, it's all on the table, and thusly he asks, "Do we have any contacts in or near the ShinRa building?" He isn't reeling from the news, after all, having already absorbed it and accepted it. So, that leaves him to ponder ways to get the Commander back.

Terra's not as insulated as Irvine, though! Sniffle. She's just skin and bones. At the mention of this, erm, tidbit, her eyes bug out and she says, struggling fairly visibly to keep herself from shrieking, "We have to get him back, as soon as we can." She knows exactly what Kefka can do to people, having experienced it herself. While perhaps Squall could recover with somewhat more speed than she did from having a slave-crown mounted on his head, it still would not be good for him to recieve said slave crown in the first place. "If there's anything at all I can-" She stops, at hearing Irvine's words. Contacts? He's worried about 'contacts'?

It may be a serious meeting, but Selphie can't help but send a smile and a quiet wave to the Stoic One. At least she didn't yell 'Vincey!' And at the offer of a seat, the girl would much rather stand -- too fidgety to sit. Head cocking to the side as Vincent speaks, she doesn't even glance to Irvine or so much as acknowledge him as her hand is taken; it's routine, now. Of course, as the black-haired man continues, her free hand moves to clover her mouth, muffling an "Ohmygoodness!" She doesn't even look to Terra, or Irvine, just stares at Vincent. The cowboy's cool response is noted in the back of her mind, but for now, she just waits until she can get a word in edgewise. "--It's always -something-! That stupid jerk always keeps us from being able to just blow his butt -up-!" Grr. Oh, yeah -- poor Squall.

"Yes, and no. There are some contacts in Midgar, but I am not certain how informative they can be." Vincent answers Irvine, first, before turning his attention to Terra. "Yes, I am aware of the urgency. We have already had to delay to secure matters here..." is he implying that he knew this /before/ the sludge incident? Regardless, he continues, "And infiltrating Shinra will be no light matter. If that is where Kefka has taken him." Though he glances toward Selphie, he lets her comment of Kefka's longevity ride, rather than add to it. Duly noted, however, and he probably couldn't agree more on a personal level. To Terra, he now asks, "Would you have any information on Kefka's behavior that would indicate he'd take Squall elsewhere?"

Terra shakes her head at that. "No.. he...." She takes a deep breath, lets it out. Must give assessment of that filthy maniac's mind and motives and actions without bias, so that they can get Squall out sooner than later. "He usually does not operate on his own. Whenever he travelled, it was always accompanied by at least several soldiers, usually with an entire unit with him as well - most likely, he's going to remain holed up in the Shinra building, since he... Enjoys being in places like that. Large cities." More people for him to do things to. Her hands clench, unclench, and she takes another deep breath.

Irvine isn't prone to hysterics, well, so long as the problem doesn't rest around Selphie's welfare. So yes, he's asking about contacts. What better way to find out if the Commander is, in fact, in the ShinRa building? It'd be silly to send two teams out to get him, in his mind, if one is only going on a wild goose chase. However, he does glance at Terra as she explains, not saying anything until after she's finished. "Seems our only option is to infiltrate the ShinRa building, whether we like it or not. Unless by some miracle they let him go." The last part is said somewhat sardonically. The cowboy doesn't believe they'd just let him out scott free for a second. He doesn't comment in any way about knowing this ahead of time. Better that he doesn't.

As she stated earlier to Irvine, solving mysteries isn't Selphie's forte. Blowing shite up is, however, and obviously, she's slightly out of her league. A SeeD she may be, but that just means she's good at what she does -- follow orders. A brief flicker of a book she once read surfaces to mind, and she gets a fleeting idea, which she's quick to share -- though doesn't think it out in her head beforehand. "--Uhm, maybe we could have someone get captured and plant a bug-thingee on them, and find out stuff that... way." Pausing, she oh's, adding, "Or maybe they'd kill them and we'd be minus one person." Blink. Smiling sheepishly, she actually takes a step back. "--Nevermind." Grr. She just wants to blow that evile clown man up.

Vincent nods in acknowledgement to Terra's information. "Then finding what we can of Midgar will be to our advantage." he notes to the situation. "As we have heard no ransom for Squall's welfare, I am concerned for his condition. It would not be in Shinra's advantage to kill him outright." he glances at Selphie again, "As by himself, he would be an invaluable bargaining chip. However, it is not impossible that Kefka has managed to hide the commander's presence from the other executives in the corporation." he finishes with the tone of absolute certainty.

Terra says, "He's good at keeping secrets." Her voice gets a little... toneless as she makes herself not get too involved in this, letting it just be facts and information instead of her own (very, very, very very very strong) feelings on the matter. Which amount to 'Kefka must die'. "I think it's part of the way he is. He acts like such a capering fool so that he will be discounted, but underneath that he never stops scheming and plotting... He ruined large portions of the world on what appears to have been a whim." Her eyes close, and her head hangs forward slightly.

Kefka is most definately a wild card. Irvine remembers watching the insane clown run -toward- his sniper bullet, still horrified to think anyone's that mad. So it's feasible that he's got Squall sequestered somewhere, and that thought really doesn't ease this gunman's mind. Thusly, he's already considering it a done deal that someone's gonna go after the absent Commander. "Would he keep him at Balamb then? If he really wanted to keep him from the other executives, that is." How he knew Kefka has or had him at Balamb is anyone's (save for Vincent's) guess.

Selphie listens, quietly. In an idle, distracted gesture, she idly moves the hand that holds Irvine's like a pendulum. Nose wrinkled in thought, she looks in the direction of the desk, thought doesn't really -see- it. Hrm. So this guy's crazy, okay -- knew that. Scheming? Okay, duly noted. The girl is pulled out of her spiraling thought-process, by Irvine's comment. "--Wait, what?" And as soon as she asks, the meaning sinks in. Looking up to him, she doesn't look any less thoughtful. "Well... He -was- hangin' out there." And it's a good idea, she thinks. SeeD would have to go to Balamb to get him, and... well, refer to the -last- time.

Vincent hms, "The island?" A pause, for consideration. "It is possible." He looks once more to Terra, who is, as far as can be told, Garden's resident expert on mad clowns. "But I believe most of his facilities would be in Midgar, if his intention is to keep Squall's presence a secret for his own means." Matter of fact, even if there's something in Vincent's tone to indicate that he knows very well what those means would be.

Terra says, "He probably - although I cannot say for certain - would have retreated to Midgar in order to interrogate Squall." Her lips curve up slightly in a rueful smile. "I'm sure Squall would not have given any important information, but his methods are..." Faint shudder. "Unpleasant at best.." After that, she falls silent, not wanting to talk more than she must about his happy clowniness.

Glancing down at Selphie with a light smile, Irvine squeezes her hand in a, 'I haven't forgotten you, Darlin', sort of gesture. He gets serious rather quickly, however, looking back toward Vincent with a nod. It does seem more logical. Still... they don't -know- and that's the real kicker. Why isn't ShinRa holding him for ransom or something? Well, the most obvious answer would be: They don't know they -have- him. "I hate to say it, but we probably ought to do something, Kefka's had plenty of time with him already." Not that he blames anyone, things at Garden were a little out of hand, after all.

Okay, change tactics. Rather than think hard about a subject that she will likely -not- gain any ground on, Selphie's thoughts flit to Squall. Squallie! The poor thing! That evile, mean, and... evile, clown guy must be doing horrid and unspeakable things to him! Tch, that totally -sucks-. Worry, worry, fret, fre-- "--Hey!" If anyone's talking, she'll interrupt, blinking widely. "--How the heck did Mr. Clownhead get him, anyway?" He wouldn't have come -here- just to kidnap Squall, because that would... be silly. o_o

The elevator dings, and not long after at the door stands Garden's mountain of a man, former Galbadian soldier Ward Zabac. He stops at the door and looks around for a moment before he steps in, harpoon slung over his back as always. He looks around for a moment before drawing a small but thick notebook and pen from his pockets and scribbling on it the words 'I want to help Squall.' He looks up and silently shows it to Vincent, although notably he doesn't ask to hear the rest of what briefing has already passed. Of course someone can tell him if they like, but he won't beg for it if planning is already underway -- but in any case, Ward stands quietly a step or two inside the door, holding the notebook up quietly, before he finally lowers it and flips a page to hold it at the ready.

Vincent shakes his head. For the first time, he focuses on Selphie's question to answer it, as opposed to just noting. "Squall had attempted to scout Balamb Isle for reasons he did not divulge. The morning he left marks a gunboat checked out in his name, but not returned..." he trails away on noting Ward's entrance, and the words on the pad are quickly read. "Good evening." Though he hasn't had a lot of encounter with Ward (mainly passing by in the halls and all), he knows the man's face and name from reports. That Ward is here for himself or for Laguna's absence.... well, anyway, Vincent doesn't contest it. "Terra." he turns to the woman, "I will need to confer with you in detail for information on Kefka." he looks to Irvine and Selphie, "We will need an infiltration team that Shinra may not expect, Selphie. Irvine, I will need you to help Selphie organize. But I am afraid that I will not be able to send you on this mission." Then finally, to Ward. "Add in anything you have to offer on the situation. We believe that Squall is currently being held in Midgar by Kefka, possibly without the knowledge of the rest of the executives, to summarize the situation."

Though he is a bit disappointed at not being allowed to go... not to mentioned slightly worried about Selphie going, Irvine understands. He's tried twice now to kill Kefka, and at least once Kefka -saw- him. His presence would only endanger the mission. He glances down at Selphie then. And from this point forward, as the player goes to sleep, becomes backdrop. Night!