Who:  Squall Leonhart, Irvine Kinneas, Issei
Where:  Garden Infirmary, Balamb Town.
Why:  Oh, clearing the air after the Seifer incident.
Date of Log:  October 6th, 2000.



Getting Squall to carry Seifer down the mountain wouldn't have taken much. However, getting him to walk down the mountain with a body much bigger than he is would be the trick. Not that he doesn't want to, but more of he's barely in any condition to walk, much less carry someone, no matter his strength junction. Somehow you all get down in safety, you get past the Galabadian Knights and to your home team as it were. Then began the fuss and flare. Sadly you were forgotten for a time as Squall and Seifer, Seifer more than Squall truth be told, become the center of attention, but it all works out in the end and you are allowed to get your things and go home.
That was two days ago. Yon TP goddess says you passed, so the day after you arrived there was actually a party thrown in your honor. A small one, but all SeeDs get a ball, and so do you. Squall doesn't come to the party, but that's now his fault. He's actually stolen away by the Garden staff and isn't seen again. Gossip says he's in the healing hall and being more of a pain about things that Seifer ever had been. In part this is true. Squall's being kept for Psychological evalutation and help for he wouldn't let anyone get near him the first day, and after a visit from Sigurd he finally got a physical examination and was found to be fine. His mental state is what they are keeping him more. Seem to feel he needs help. Of course Squall doesn't agree and is making things difficult for his would be healers.
So you will find him in a small room, Seifer in the one right next door, and the young man is sitting at the head of the bed sulking up a storm. He's wearing only a pair of baggy light gray sweat pants and a large gray t-shirt with the Garden logo over the heart. Nope, doesn't look at all happy slouching there, knees drawn up and arms resting on knees, leaving hands dangling there before him. The right hand has on it a silver ring, but this is his only jewelry.

Even if Seifer were a bit unwieldy, Irvine would have cast Float a few times to help Squall get him down the Mountain. He was probably distracted more then once by whatever leapt at the group of teens in an attempt to make them dinner, but when he thought of it, or if prompted by either Squall or Issei, he'd do it. And the moment Seifer becomes the center of attention, the gunman easily slips off somewhere to be alone, and to think for awhile. What, you think he -wants- the attention? Hell no. After that experience, all he really wanted was to sit and think, er not think as it were, and eventually go home.
The fact that he passed shocks the hell out of him. Literally. But, that's something Squall wouldn't have seen. The party, however small it is, barely registers. He's there, but more in body then in mind. Badb is pleased, to say the least, but Irvine's not really sure how he feels. It's going to be an acquired taste, being SeeD. Actually, he's more been wondering about Seifer and Squall lately. Are they ok? What in the world happened to them? Rumors abound, and eventually lead him here, to the Infirmary. He peeks in, having heard from someone that the golden boy was sulking over here. "Squall?" No duster still, it was ruined along with most of the rest of what he was wearing the day Seifer smacked him in Dollet. But, he's in a pair of his dark jeans, one of his usual vests, and still wears the tribal necklace and that Galbadian Holy Cross.
      
Why would it shock you? The one you should be shocked about is Issei. ;) You got the pair of you past the monsters, to the mountain, and there remained level headed enough to get everyone out. Issei couldn't have done it alone. Not at all. (Not that this was what Seifer had planned, for Issei's little idea threw that right out the window, but hey...) Squall looks up as you appear in the doorway, glowering up through his messy hair. Sure it normally looks mussed, but right now it's a fright. He hasn't been able to bath more than once since getting back and is starting to feel it. The room doesn't have anything in it that could be used to kill himself, which means that it's pretty damn empty and the teen is bored out of his mind. Why won't they believe he's not one interest in killing himself? He doesn't! Hell, he died up on the mountain and was trapped in his body for a while. Why would he want to die again? u\u
Anyway, he glowers at you, but when recognition hits, Squall looks away. You do get to see his expression soften a little though, so it's not you he was thinking was walking through that door. "What?" There is a harsh edge to the word, but it's not meant to be directed towards you. And as if to show that he doesn't mean it, Squall sits up, pulling his legs into tailor fashion, hands resting limply in lap.

Well, they -did- go against orders, running up there without any SeeD escort, and so on and so on. So, for that reason, Irvine had considered passing the test a moot point. Doesn't that make you feel good, Squall? He did it for you, and partially for Seifer too, not because he was out to pass any stinking test. Just don't try pointing that out to him, he's used to being perceived as a selfish bastage and doesn't mind that label one bit. The fact that Issei passed also relieved him. They'd done it, they really had. Still, it's gonna take some getting used to. But, now to Squall. Cornflower blue eyes glance over the other teen briefly, taking in the dishelved look. He ponders a joke, but bites it back. Golden boy isn't too keen on them sometimes, one can never tell. "Rumor had it you were in here." Squall doesn't -look- injured or anything, Irvine didn't think he was injured up on the Mountain either, just... shocked, yeah, in shock or something. But then, he supposes he would have been too if he'd been snatched up and tortured by Seifer-Demon. "How long they gonna keep you?"

Lips purse and it's almost like the young man smiles ruefully, but the effect is fleeting and he lowers his head to partially hide it as well. "No point in hovering in the doorway." He says softly, putting off answering for a moment. Whether or not you come in, and no there isn't a chair for you to sit in, Squall sighs and shrugs. It's more of merely rolling his shoulders than anything else. "Until they figure out I'm really not going to kill myself." These words bring forth a weary sigh and he lifts his hands to drag them back through his hair. Beyond being mussed the teen looks fine. The glaze of shock and the horror from before is gone. Sure it lingers a little in his eyes, but that's easily over looked. "For some reason they seem to feel that because the demon cut me up, beat me to death, and then brought me back would make me want to kill myself all over again." Why is he telling you? Because damn it, he needs to voice it to someone who's not going to simper and pat him and tell him it will all work out in the end. Squall was badly hurt yes, but he wasn't broken. Geez. Just give the boy a while to deal with it all and things will truly be all right in the end.

Walking in finally, Irvine stops hovering in the doorway and leans against the wall instead, hands partially shoved into the pockets of his jeans. He caught the change, the slight smile, even if rueful. But, he doesn't say anything, or even grin about it. Hating it when other people point out these little changes to him, he's loathe to do it to anyone else. So, Squall can go ahead and think the redhead missed it entirely. An eyebrow lifts at the explanation. Nope, no simpering, no patpats and certainly no 'oh it'll all be ok' poopooing of the whole thing. Just a reddish eyebrow arching into the brim of his hat. "So how long do you gotta be in here without attempting to kill yourself before they'll finally let you out?" He really can't see Squall doing it. He doesn't know everything that went on, save for the little tidbits the golden boy just let out. That and psychological mumbo jumbo is for the birds, in his opinion. (No offense there Badb.) This place isn't horridly well guarded, if Squall wanted to kill himself, he woulda done it by now... not to mention he had plenty of opportunities to throw himself at the critters they encountered on the Mountain.

Hell, if he had wanted to die he would have gotten down the mountain and then insulted some of those Holy Knights that were wandering around. Getting one self killed isn't all that difficult when you really mean it. Especially not in this world. "I've no idea." Squall admits softly, turning his head, lifting his face some, to be able to look back at you. "Did you pass?" No one told him, just as they won't tell him anything more than Seifer's fine. He doesn't believe a lick of that knowing in part how the blonde thinks, but... "Can you tell me anything about Seifer? They won't tell me shit about anything." A hand motions in a vague manner to those people outside of this room. You know, Doc Kadowaki and her horde of wanna be medical staff. Pausing for a moment he offers a little before you can answer, "I... don't really remember much of what happened up on the mountain after the demon start beating on me." Not surprising that. He was barely able to function as it was.

"Yeah, I passed, Issei did too," Irvine says, feeling really odd again mentioning that. Surreal. "They coulda at least told you that, what they think keeping you in a vaccuum's gonna 'save' you?" Silliness, all of it. Irvine actually leans aside, glancing out the door to see who all is out there right now. Thinking of sneaking Squall out so the poor boy can -breathe-? Sorta... maybe. Looking back, he frowns slightly, though it's not at Squall, or really even meant for him. "You don't remember?" For a moment he wonders how much to tell, then mentally kicks himself before Badb can do it for him. Golden boy survived a rather harrowing experience, telling him what happened after isn't going to hurt him further. He hopes, anyway. "I dunno how Seifer is now, I stopped here first." That and he hadn't found out if they're even letting anyone in to see Seifer. "But Issei did something funky to him on the Mountain, an empathic thing," how descriptive, but the redhead doesn't know the correct terms, not being empathic himself, "took him down with it, nearly got himself killed in the process. You... well, you nearly killed Seifer digging out whatever demon object was inside of him. Nothing was stopping you from it either." He does finally grin then, though it's lopsided. "I should know, you nearly slugged me when I tried to."

Squall nods slightly when you say you passed. Good. You should have passed after all of that shit. There is a little brightening of his eyes with that information, as it's important to most Garden cadets. Passing the testing to become SeeD is the goal after all. Then you ask about not remembering, and the young man shakes his head. "Not much. He kept hitting me in the head, so I think that's why." Good reason for it too. All unintentionally Squall lifts a hand to the area over his heart and absently brushes his thumb over that spot. He doesn't seem aware that he's doing it, but his own action makes him shiver slightly. That you continue pulls him out of his thoughts and the teen focuses on you once more, listening. "Must have been a limit break of some sort." Every one has a different set after all, so who can tell. Mentioning he dug out the item brings Squall to frown and cant his head at you. "I... kinda remember that. What was it? What happened to it?" Clearly Seifer survived the whole gory process, so that side of things has been taken care of. Now.. what about the demon? Watching you, he goes about that absent action on his chest.

It takes a lot to resist the urge to shiver as Irvine remembers that strange sliver. "Not sure what it was, some peice of metal, like a broken dagger or knife or something. I wrapped it up and took it down the mountain with us." He'd eventually had to tuck it into his pocket, talk about being paranoid all the way down. Anytime he felt it while walking or moving or doing whatever they had been to get down, he'd gotten panicky and pulled it out again to make sure it was still wrapped up. "I don't know where it is now, when we got back to Dollet, I gave it to...." he pauses. Who had he given it too anyway? In all the chaos and the questions being lobbed at the group, and the fervor over Seifer... he'd just handed it to someone. Was it Sigurd? Bael? "...I don't remember." There had been a slight temptation to plunge it into one of the Holy Knights they passed, but that was fleeting, and he won't mention that either. >.>

Drawing in a deep breath only to sigh it out moments later in a gust of air, Squall hunches his shoulders and drops both hands into his lap once more. "I wonder if it came out of that holy item the knights were looking for." Yeah, he's probably said that before, but ah well. "Seifer said there was an accident. Maybe the item was what kept the thing safe, and then once freed the demon dropped it into the ocean so that it couldn't be bound anymore." Makes sense to him even though he's running off limited information. Given what little in the way of clues he has that seems to add up. How Seifer managed to get it shoved into his chest Squall doesn't know, but maybe he can sneak out of here at night to be able to ask. Hmmm. Yeah, and maybe pigs will be able to fly as well. u.u Suddenly Squall is frowning at you, head leaned to one side. "How did you get in here? They haven't let anyone see me since I got tucked away." Well, since Sigurd managed to calm him down enough to get him drugged and then looked over.

Canting his head to the side, Irvine listens to Squall's theories on whatever that thing was. He shrugs, seeing as demonology isn't his forte. "Dunno, the Galbadians don't know what half their 'holy relics' really are. Their Garden is still dedicated to the 'pagan' Guardian Forces, you should see it." But, we all know how the gunman feels about his former home country. "It's a possibility, though I dunno what they intend to do with the silly thing now that it's out of Seifer." He's just glad he doesn't have to hold it or transport it anywhere else now. He did his part, let someone else handle it now. One hand drifts out of his pocket, reaching up to brush long bangs from his face, tossing his head slightly at the same time. "How'd I get in?" He can't help but grin again, shrugging, "I just walked right in and asked where you were." Maybe they thought someone else who'd been up there could get through to the golden boy. As if he needed it.
      
You just asked and walked in? Lovely. :P Squall grunts at that and shifts himself just enough to where he can flop down on his side. Not because he's tired, but more because he's just damn bored. Maybe because he's tired of being in bed. "Figures. Won't let me out, but now anyone else who wants to can come in." Delicate features are scrunched up to make a yuck face. Hell, they don't even give good food here. He wants to go down to Balamb and get something decent to eat. None of this cafeteria food crap. "I hope they bury it in yards of cement and we never have to see it again." That's what he feels about the sliver of metal, and he's pretty sure you agree about it. Then again anyone sane would tend to. "Do you know which room Seifer is in?" Not like they told him that either. If he can find out there is going to be a midnight trip to speak to the blonde. Squall feels they have a lot to talk about, and not just about the demon. "Has anyone said anything about him?" Yeah, the teen is worried.

Irvine shakes his head, reaching up to adjust the hat again after that. "Nope, just rumors, I dunno if they'll let me in to see him... they gave me a hard enough look after I asked where you were." No, it wasn't -that- easy. The redhead was just giving Squall a hard time. "They had to make sure I had nothing on me you could use to hurt yourself with first." Yeah, no sneaking a cake in to the golden boy with a chisel and saw in it. Sorry. He rubs at one blue eye with the heel of his palm. It's amazing that he's still feeling weary after that, it's been a couple of days and he's spent plenty of time sleeping, whenever he could. It's not all physical though, some of it's mental. So he'll just eventually get over it. As for what room Seifer's in. Hmmm. He shakes his head again, "But, I could probably sneak over and find out for you if you wanted."

There is another face made at you. jerk. Shouldn't tease him like that. All the same there was no malice at all behind it, no anger. Squall just did it because he felt he should. Hearing that they gave you the once over, the teen just sighs in a grump manner and mutters something to himself. Just a few swears so not worth typing out. They even locked Ifrit away so he doesn't have access to any spells while in here. Sure as soon as he gets out of this room that stops, but it's not fun to have to deal with. Ifrit isn't much pleased about it either, but it's not like they could pull the GF out of the young man. As you offer to go looking Squall lifts his head from the bed to be able to look at you better. "...." Pausing before saying anything he nods. "Please?" The word doesn't come out easily, but it's very important to him so he asks. Hell, not like he can have much dignity or pride in this place anyway.

Nodding, no teasing, no bravado or 'you can thank me later' or anything. For once. Irvine ventures out of the little room for a moment. Putting on that boyish charm of his for one of the nurses, he spends about five minutes or so talking to her, and eventually manages to coax out the location of Seifer's room. Sometimes, it's just too damn easy. However, he spends a few minutes after that just talking to the girl. She's kinda cute after all and... oh yeah, need to go tell Squall. Breaking off the conversation when it finally gets to a safe point to do that without making it look like he's trying to get away, he drifts back into Squall's room to take up his leaning perch against the wall again. "You're not gonna believe this. He's right next door." He jerks a thumb to the left.
      
By the time you are done flirting and wot, Squall is leaning against the window frame looking out at the world he's not allowed to be a part of right now. The floor is chill on his bare feet, but that is ignored right now in favor of looking out at the sunshine. What he wouldn't give to go spend time in his garden today. The roses need to be clipped before the rainy season starts or they will be all out of control by the time the season ends. Hugging himself, the teen rubs absently at his upper arms, pushing at the fabric of his shirt with absent fingers, brow pressed to glass. Well, until you get back. Squall blinks and looks over to you, straightening from the pane. Really? He doesn't ask, but his whole stance asks that and he looks to the wall where you are motioning. Yes he believes you, but really now. Just didn't expect it to be that easy. "Thanks." Squall means it too. Arms are shifted so that one loosely is wrapped about his waist, while the other hand brushes again at the spot over his heart. The scar will be one he's not going to be used to for a long while. Out of no where he then says, following the strange line of his thoughts, "I remembered something. About the orphanage. ...I didn't believe you before." It's kinda, sorta an apology.
      
This is unexpected. Irvine watches you by the window, and finally realizes that strange motion over the scar that the redhead isn't aware even exists. He hadn't seen it on the Mountain, and he hadn't asked anyone what had been done to you by the demon. Not his business, if you ever feel like bringing it up, that's different. (Well, if you ever remember any of it.) But, he'd actually considered your memories of the Orphanage to be rather eaten, probably irretrievable. He knows the truth, and that's what mattered to him. "What did you remember?" He's curious, since the only other one who seemed to recall anything was Seifer, and the two had never really had an opportunity to have any heart to hearts about their former residence. Not while they were so busy bandying back and forth with their insults and innuendos and vague threats. Rooming with Seifer was... interesting. Anyway, Irvine's started entertaining thoughts of getting you out of here again. Seeing you on the inside looking out bothers him. It couldn't hurt to let you out, come on, what's the deal?

"You and Selphie." The words are quiet ones and he looks back to the window as if he didn't want to face you while saying it. "It's... just a flash, and she was upset about something, but I can't discount it anymore. The place seemed familiar even though I can't remember any of it." That he can't remember is starting to bother him, for it means that there are years upon years of time he's lost. Just what else has he forgotten? Anything important? "I don't know why I don't remember anything else." Normally his memory is a good one, for he's able to repeat the manuals of SeeD and such, but before about the age of ten there isn't much of anything. Feelings, losses, but no actual memories beyond a flash of an image or a sensation. As for the scar it's not something he plans on bringing up, for all he's constantly reminding himself of the thing. The fact the demon marked him with the crosssword hits a little too close to home and scares him on quite a few levels. Now he knows Seifer really does want him, for the demon wouldn't have done any of this otherwise. The problem remains is how is he going to deal with it all.

Now -there's- a name Irvine hasn't heard in eons. "Sefie?" Childhood nicknames stick, even into young adulthood. He'd heard she was around here somewhere, but hadn't actually run into her yet. There's a lotta Cadets at Garden, though, for all he knows he has actually talked to her... er, possibly even hit on her, without realizing it. Still, he recognized Squall, and Seifer. Even Zell. So he'd like to think he'd recognize the girl he'd played WAR with and built sand trains alongside, even today. "Huh. She was kinda excitable... when we were little." Little does he know that hasn't changed much. >.> He rubs at his chin for a moment, getting lost in his own memories for a second or two. Just that one name suddenly stirred up a lot of them. But, looking up suddenly, he asks quietly, "You wanna sneak outta here? Just for a little while or something?"

Squall is startled with your offer and looks at you with a jerk of the head, eyes somewhat wide. Lips part and he holds there for a moment before merely nodding. Oh yes, he would LOVE to get out of here. Pushing from the window the young man pads across the floor on bare feet to stand before you. His current attire shows only too well just how slender he is. Seifer is a handsom man, tall and buff and all of that, but sadly Squall is pretty. Too short, too fragile of appearance to be able to be anything else. I suppose at least he doesn't look as femmy as you do, even with your size and build. >.>; Looking up at you, he is frowning softly, but in a thoughtful manner. Just what does he have to do to get out of this damn place? He wants a shower and a meal, and to just not be inside for a long while. "How? I need a shower and a chance to get clothes from my room." There are other things he wants, but those two take priority at the moment. Things like his gunblade and his pendant, and his jacket (which very much needs a dry cleaning. u.u)...

Hey, Irvine can't help it that someone gave him the Adonis-like, effeminate looks. But, looking down at you, he doesn't notice the prettiness of the gunblade expert in front of him. Sorry, but he's got a thing for girls and that's not likely to change. (Unless someone starts playing with their empathy gifts. >.>) So, since you're not a girl, you're not worth ogling. Mostly he's doing another once over for any injuries, or just anything that seems off. No, you appear to be ok. Kinda fragile looking, but he knows you most definately are anything but that. So, with that, he glances toward the window again, rubbing at his chin in concideration. "Well... if you want to get to your room." He looks over his shoulder, then pushes away from the wall to see who's out there right now. If it's just that nurse... well, it'd just be too easy.

Sorry, but Squall doesn't want to be oggled. Not by anyone, and that doesn't have anything at all to do with his sexual preverences. If you did start to oggle the two of you wouldn't be having hte conversations you do for he'd go hide in a corner or something. It's just better for both of you that things are as they are. Seifer and Issei are the closet keepers. Squall is incredibly picky about his romatic interests now that he knows such things are possible, and you are not on the damn short list inside of his head. Doubt you ever will be either. n.n Looking to the hall as you do, the teen sighs quietly. "They have my junction trapped. Otherwise I'd just jump out the damn window." Distracting the nurse isn't something he'd think of, not being the type that flirts with anyone, so you are going to have to come up with that idea on your own. Then again you normally do so it shouldn't be any trouble. "Can you cast something? If we go down the halls there is a lot more chance we'll be caught." He's still thinking about going out the window obviously.

Irvine would probably be relieved to know that, actually. Well, if he cared in the first place. Any guy who gets a crush on him just gets an odd look from him. So long as no one tries to take it to another level, he just shrugs it off. He's still looking out for a second, watching to make sure it's just the nurse in there, and that no one else is suddenly gonna come walking through. But, glancing back he blinks, "Junction trapped? How'd they do that?" The very idea of having Badb separated from him makes him shudder. She's such a part of his life now that... yuck. "Is that why you can't leave here?" Eh? What's this? "Cast something? Probably, but what?" All he's got are Air elemental stuff and a few status changers, oh and Float too. Nothing he thinks would really work to get them out of here. He's still of a mind to just distract the nurse and let Squall sneak out.
      
Squall shrugs, motioning a little as he spreads his hands. "I don't know what you have, Irvine." So how's he going to know what you can and can't cast? Ifrit doesn't allow him telepathy you know. "I also have no idea how they did it. Makes sense that they can since they teach us to use the things." All the same it's a trick no one told Golden Boy about, so he can't explain it to you now. "I just want out." Lips are thined as he shuts his mouth and looks up at you through his bangs. There is a determination there and an impatience. If you can't help now he's going to get out on his own somehow. Just probably won't be today. He doesn't question whether or not this is a good thing for you to help. You did just make SeeD after all. It won't cost you that, but it might get you in trouble.

Irvine is used to getting into trouble. So, he'll risk it. He doesn't agree with them cooping the golden boy up in here, no matter that it's not his decision or even his business to worry about it. A good little automaton he will never quite be. Shaking his head, he says, "I don't have anything that'd help, unless you want me to cast confuse on the poor nurse out there... I have a better idea. Just watch and wait a sec and sneak out while I have her distracted." How he's gonna distract her isn't elaborated on, but he's fairly certain you can guess. He's got a reputation to maintain, after all. So, assuming Squall agrees to it, he wanders out to start chatting with the nurse again.
      
Delicate features shift to confusion, all expressed through frown, but Squall doesn't complain or attempt to stop you. Instead he gives a little nod, and then waits there for a few minutes to give you time to do whatever it is that you are planning on. Then he peeks out the doorway. Blue-gray eyes sweep around the room, and should you have the woman distracted the teen doesn't waste a moment of time with what you are doing and heads for the door. With his feet bare there is little to no sound as he crosses the tiles. Yay! Jail break! He wants to stop and take a peek in one Seifer, and that desire is clear on his face as he passes the room in question, but he doesn't so much as pause. That might cost him the time he needs to get out of this damn place. u.u

Yes, the coast is clear, Squall. The nurse has that really sappy starry eyed look on her face. Irvine's turned the charm notch up a few degrees beyond normal and has her practically hanging onto his every word. He doesn't look at you either, though surely he catches your movements via peripheral vision, just making sure he's concentrating on the nurse, keeping her attention totally on him so you can make your getaway. It's definately working, she's not looking anywhere else in the infirmary right now, and certainly doesn't realize you're sneaking out and around and slipping out the door. Well, it's the infirmary's fault for leaving a young nurse in charge, one who's vunerable to a cute face and a few flowery words.
      
At the moment Squall isn't at all protesting the flowery words you seem to easily be able to form in your efforts of seduction. So long as you don't love her and leave her like the othes he's not going to feel guilty about it. Once into the hall, he doesn't wait for you as he knows his time is limited. Squall heads straight for his room, making sure to take an out of the way route so that he avoids as many people as possible. It's important with the way the gossip is going around about him the last couple of days. He simply doesn't need to be caught in a crowd who is asking him a million questions. So... to his room he goes, leaving the door unlocked for you, and gets his clothing out before jumping into the shower. Gotta get off the filth before he scratches himself raw! Should you think to check his room the teen is in his bathroom pulling on his clothes. Showers don't need to take long you know. Don't worry, the door is mostly closed so you don't get to see anything.

No, he doesn't need to take long, but hey, this actually got kinda fun somewhere during the conversation. However, Irvine finally draws the little charm dance to a close, after finding out what she's doing tomorrow night. Sorry, Squall, some things the gunman can't quite help. Who knows if he'll play the love her and leave her game though. (But statistically it's predictable.) Drifting out of the infirmary, he glances around. You're no where to be seen, so he figures you made a beeline for your room. Good, the prisoner has escaped. He takes his time getting over to the dorms and finding your room, with the door unlocked. He knocks anyway, just in case. Well, more for the benefit of two Cadets walking by who then inform him that Squall's not been in his room for a few days. Irvine smiles and thanks them, making like he's gonna walk away, then turns as soon as they're far enough away and walks in. So, unless you're already done by the time he gets there, he'll be standing there waiting for you.

Not quite done by the time you get there, it's only a minute or two before the bathroom door is opened and the escapee in question emerges. Squall is wearing a deep blue button down shirt and a pair of gray slacks of all things. Yes, he's trying to throw people off by wearing things he normally doesn't. Looks good on him though. Having been in the process of toweling at his hair, the teen stops as he sees you and nods. "My gunblade isn't here." He sulks a little at you, tossing the towel back into the bathroom. There is a bit of hair combing, but he doesn't at all spend much time on it. Moving around you he sits on the edge of the bed to be able to pull on an older set of boots he found in his closet. "I don't plan on trying for it today as I'm going to kill something with my hands and eat it raw if we don't get something else, but..." Trailing off the teen assumes you will understand and leaves it at that. His eyes are fire backed, showing that Ifrit is free and active. Probably pissed too, so that might explain a little of Squall's current mood. "I'll buy you dinner in Balamb if you want to go along." The best he can do to be social.

"Dunno what they did with it," Irvine replies in regards to the gunblade. In the chaos after all that stuff, the cowboy drew inward, not really wanting to talk to anyone, especially since the only time anyone approached him was to question him further about what happened on the Mountain. Curse him for having the better memory of the group, and for having been concious the whole time. So, he just didn't pay attention to the little details, like who picked up Squall's stuff and where they put the gunblade. Oooh, but at the mention of dinner at Balamb, he perks up. "Sure, sounds fine to me." How can he turn that down, after all? Yeah, he understands, empathic he is not, but he picks up on body language fairly well and tends to be empathetic with people who need it. Otherwise, he just stands there, leaning against the wall as you get dressed and comb out your hair in that sort of manner.

It's strange for the teen to feel anything at all for you. Of course Irvine would probably leap to the wrong conclusions about just what Squall feels, but that isn't for me to decide. ;) No, the young man feels a kinship with you, not any sexual attraction. It's just that he's denied his own feelings for so long that realizing he trusts you is an odd thing indeed. Before there had been only Seifer in his memories. Now there is you, Zell, and a little girl named Selphie. He's got a family and has no idea what to do about it. Since you agree, he nods, finds some money since they took his wallet too, and stuffs it into a pocket. Dressed like this, suspendors and all, he looks more respectable teen than the sulking goth wannabe. "I know a way to bypass the front gate. We'll have to pass through the training grounds though." This doesn't much worry him, but he wanted to warn you. From beneath the bed a plain one handed sword is pulled out. He's been using it to help Issei in training, but it will serve as a weapon for defense until he can get his gunblade back.

No, unless Squall starts acting sexual weird around him, Irvine won't think he's feeling that way toward him. Golden boy is family to the gunman too, as are the others from the orphanage. So unless Squall starts really overtly flirting with Irvine (which is not to say he'd even really notice then, he is comfortable with what he is, after all, and what his sexual orientation is), there shouldn't be any problems with that. Anyway, if Squall ever ventures to ask, he'll find out about Quistis too. Bossy Quisty. Tch. Mmm, training grounds. "Sure, lemme grab my shotgun though." He could get by with spells, but would rather not. A decisive shot to the head can end a conflict a heckovalot quicker then experimenting to see which spell is more effective. And with that, he walks out, checking first to make sure the hallway is relatively empty, before dashing off to his own room.

Waiting for you isn't easy since he knows there will be people looking for him soon enough, but Squall some how manages and is there still when you return. Your rooms are closer now that you've gotten to move into the Seed Hall to be sure. A side effect is that you don't have to live with Seifer either. Good, eh? Anyway, Squall nods when you return and leads you through another backway to the training grounds. Get the feeling he does this a lot? Well, not from the healing hall, but he's taken this route to the grounds for many years and so knows it well. You get a short trip through the jungles there, and over a fence (Squall actually ducks under the thing since his legs are smaller.) and into a place people don't normally go. There is a hole in one of the walls there which is more than big enough for the two of you to slip through. Squall goes first, then waits as he's done this so many times it's as effortless as breathing. Nope, does appear to be anything wrong with him does there? Once outside the young man breaths a sigh of relief at being free. Too bad you have to walk to Balamb and can't rent a car.

Nothing wrong with walking. Well, only when you have to actually keep yourself in check so those who aren't as fast (i.e. Squall) can keep up with you. It's kinda interesting, the obstacle course one has to go through to get out the 'secret' way. Irvine actually didn't know about this, but he's sure to remember it now. He has to do a few things differently, being a little taller and not as slender as the golden boy, but it doesn't hold him up. Mimicking you, he doesn't sigh, just inhales. The outdoors is always so much nicer then being cooped up inside. But, he spent most of his time with his foster parents out on the plains of Galbadia. Walking alongside you toward Balamb, you'll probably have to remind him a few times not to go so fast.

Yeah, he's slow when it comes to walking. Deal. u.u Squall has so many other advantages that he had to have at least one really annoying thing, right? Well, okay, so there are far more than one really annoying things about him, but we shant list those now, eh? Okay, walking. "Kinneas..." He grumps at you every now and again, when you've forgotten and started wandering off. Doesn't help that you have that strength junction as well. Within four paces you've gone far beyond the teen, and since he knows there is no point in trying to keep up he doesn't. Just calls you on the fact he's been left behind.. again. In this manner the two of you reach Balamb city. "Preference on place?" Squall asks, pausing at the front gates. He's rather happy to be out of that healing hall and here, but it doesn't much show. The teen simply frowns a little less than he normally does.

And every time you grumble and remind him to quit it, Irvine does slow himself down again. It's just hard not to go as fast as is actually possible for him. You and your short legs. Hrmph. Upon reaching Balamb, however, Irvine mentions a little place around the corner from the hotel. He tried it once on a whim, and it was fairly cool and pretty fast too (for, after all, the jailbird only has so much time before they both get into trouble for him being gone). Other then that, he really doesn't care. It's good to be home again, after the time spent in Dollet. It was cool, but it woulda been more interesting if everyone hadn't been there to drag Seifer back by his lapels.

Whatever you suggest is fine with Squall and it's to that place you go. Just don't flirt with the staff because he really doesn't want to have to watch it. After sitting down and ordering, the teen fiddles with the spoon resting in his coffee cup and says out of no where, "I can see why they didn't want people going up to that mountain." Not with the healing pool and the alter and all of that rot. If Zell were here the two of you could probably learn something about it, but he isn't and so you are going to have to do the research on your own. "Although with how powerful that pool is I wonder why it's not used." Wouldn't that make sense? Open a healing center there and take care of thousands? Of course there is sure to be a reason it's not used and really not known about, but the player doesn't know what it is.

Aw, no flirting? Come on, you're no fun, Squally. Lucky for you, he's only been here a few times and isn't that familiar with the people who run the little resturant. So, no flirting or anything, except for a hello and brief banter with the waitress when she takes down orders. After that, he just pays attention to what you're saying. "It was a little harrowing getting up there, so yeah, I can see why." Coffee, the panacea, preferrably without contaminants such as cream or sugar, he has his own and takes a drink of it, no matter that it's still rather hot. He's probably burned his taste buds off by now anyway. "It's probably not used for a reason, like it being hard to get up there for one, and for another, if the demon was attracted to that area, what else might be?" Demonology isn't his forte, nor is anything to do with that pool up there, but common sense says this much to him at least.

Good ideas all. Hmmm. With one elbow resting on the table, Squall rubs absently at his nose as he taps the fingers of his other hand against his coffee cup. The silver of his family ring glints a little in the light. Normally it's hidden away beneath gloves, so not noticeable. "But monsters can be cleaned out. You and Issei got up and then got us down the mountain, so it couldn't take all that much to remove that problem. No, I think there is something else and it has nothing to do with the demon." He believes the demon knew it was a place of power and so went there. Or there could be something else about it. Squall just don't know. u.u After saying this he sips a little at his light brown coffee and lets his eyes wander the room. Thoughts flirt this way and that, but for once he's not brooding about anything. Too damn emotionally tired to brood. Ifrit has found it most refreshing. "What happened to all of us? The orphanage..." Since he doens't know and all.

"Yeah, we got in and out, but it wasn't easy," Irvine says, and he's not about to leave Squall with any notions of it being so. Still, that's neither here nor there, because if someone put enough time and effort into it, they probably could clear a path up that mountain. Would they -want- to is the real question. He shrugs finally, "I dunno really. Not gonna worry about it." Not unless it effects anyone he cares about or something. He relaxes in his seat, eyes half-lidding for a moment. This has been a nice chance to wind down, with all the excitement of the last few days, he hasn't bothered to, cause something else would just happen to get him wired again. Hmm? Oh, the orphanage crew. He shrugs, "I don't know what happened to everyone. Most of us got adopted. Zell and Quisty and Sefie, they went first of course. After I got adopted, I dunno where you and Seifer went." Though -everyone- seemed to end up at Garden later. Weird.

Since he doesn't know what to say about the mountain the young man says nothing at all. Answers will either come later, or they won't, but sitting here at this table isn't going to bring any so there isn't any point in hashing it all out. Propping his chin in a hand, drinking slowly from his coffee, Squall has to pause and stare at you for a moment as you mention Quisty. "Quistis?" He stares at you stupidly for a moment and then starts to frown all over again. The blonde who's been panting after him for a couple of years now is someone he grew up with in that orphanage? Oy. Nothing more is asked about her as he doesn't have much to comment. She's still panting and he's still avoiding. What else is there? "I... don't think we went anywhere, Irvine." The words come out slowly as he tries to puzzle through a few things. "Sigurd says we came to Garden with Cid, so I get the feeling we weren't adopted at all." Nope, just raised by a group of people who teach children how to kill. And people wonder why they are so screwed up.

Irvine has no problem with dropping the Mountain subject. He'd really like to start putting all that behind him now and move forward. Seifer's back, he doesn't have to share a room with him anymore, Squall's relatively ok (or so it seems) and he and Issei made SeeD status. Life is good, let's leave it there. Or not. At the uttering of Quistis' name, he looks up and lifts an eyebrow, "You know her? Heard she's an Instructor, though I never had her for any classes. Bossy Quisty." He chuckles, nursing the coffee cup again, though the smile fades as you mention not going anywhere. Yeah, really, that suddenly explains quite a bit to him. He at least had someone to call mother, father. Somewhere to go home to that was, well, not Garden. "I never knew..." Well, what else can he say about that? "You were always quiet, I remember that. We had to prod you into playing with the rest of us."

Talking about Quistis makes Squall sigh and he shifts in his seat. Legs are streched out in a way that doesn't get in yours, and he rests back into the chair instead of hunching forward. "Quistis was an instructor before she got it taken away for lusting after me and playing favorites." He just shakes his head over the whole mess and looks away from the table. "She never seemed to understand I wasn't interested." Pausing there the teen has to smirk slightly for he's going to assume you think it's because he doesn't like girls. Actually he does. Squall just didn't want to date anyone, or anything, at the time.. and still really doesn't. "She likes to cling." Which is kind of a warning in a way. The woman just doesn't give up. Squall keeps hoping she gets a clue and moves on. ...to anyone else.

So long as it's not Irvine, all he has of Quistis are memories of her being quite the bossy one, trying to tell the other, younger kids what to do. Irvine put up with her then, because he was (and still is) the youngest of the orphanage crew. Today, however, clingy women are -not- his thing, not for someone who prefers a one night stand to any sort of meaningful relationship. So he winces at the mention of her being stripped of the instructor role, "Damn, that's weird. Glad I never had her for a class." Coming from Irvine, sexual deviant extraodinaire, that's an insult. No, no ponderances about Squall liking girls. Zell he wondered about merely for yucking at the idea of sex. What teenage male doesn't think about it?
      
Really! What male doesn't? And that has nothing to do with age. Squall shrugs a little, sipping at the remains of his coffee before saying anything else. The two are seated at a table, doesn't matter where in the place, waiting for their food to arrive. The gunblade expert is wearing something strange.. at least for him anyway. gray slacks, a button down blue shirt and suspendors no less! He actually looks respectable. More or less anyway. In fact it the colors go well with his coloring as well, making eyes more blue than gray, but that's not why he wore them. Who'd expect him in this attire? He is playing escapee today after all. "She wasn't a bad instructor at all. At least not with the others. There were just a few of us she couldn't remain neutral about. They say it was because of her poor leadership skills, which I suppose does apply. She was a follower, not a leader and it showed even in class." For all she was good at trying to boss people around.

"Did she remember you at all?" Irvine asks, wondering if maybe, just -maybe-, that's why she persued Squall so hard. It's a theory, but then, everyone but Seifer so far seems to have memory lapses about the orphanage. Quietly, he considers finding Selphie, wherever she is. Maybe later. These reunions can get taxing, especially if one doesn't remember the other. Sitting across from Squall, he looks typical, except that he's in dark jeans and a vest today, no chaps or duster. Hasn't had a chance to replace either yet and the ones he'd worn in Dollet were utterly destroyed. Around his throat are the two necklaces he never seems to remove anymore, the tribal beads and the Galbadian Holy Cross. No threat of Knights showing up here, after all. He hopes.

There is a shake in the negative of a tousled brown head to Irvine's question. "I don't think so. She came to Garden some years ago and got her SeeD testing done at fifteen. She never seemed to know me, at least not in the way you did." Of course it could have just been the fact he looked very different then the little boy she remembered and simply didn't place him. Who can say. Squall to is missing parts of his attire and I don't just mean the clothes. His necklace is missing as is his Gunblade. In it's place is the sword he would use when he and Issei practiced. Better that weapon than none at all. The teen feels naked without his normal stuff, but is dealing since he has no other choice. "She didn't start being a pain until a little over a year and a half ago." He shrugs again having no idea why she does the things she does. Then again he doesn't know why anyone would want to spend time with him. Not even Irvine who shares a table with him now. "You'll know her when you see her. She's about the most attractive woman in Garden."

Poor Irvy and Squall.. Without their favorite items of attire! Irvine's clothes burnt to a crisp, Squall's now blood-stained and water-damaged and confescated by the healers.. So it might be a lil' bit of a suprise when cadet Nishikiori walks in wearing.. exactly the same thing he always wears, undamaged. o.o; How many of those outfits does he /have/!? Well, in all honesty, he has three. Three exact copies. Two, now that one is a pile of ashes! Why? Because, you never know when you'll need a spare. n.nb His jacket has been left unbuttoned, hanging open and pushed aside with hands buried in his pockets as he walks into the resturant with a big of a hang-dog look on his face. UnHappy, in a very major sense. Good thing he doesn't project things empathicly, eh? He could be a real downer. The cadet shuffles in and glances about for a place to sit, when he spots the cowboy and Looney-Toons over there, and paints on a personable smile. Might as well say hello. Heading over, Issei keeps a respectable, I'm-Not-Eaves-Dropping distane from the table as he says "Hey guys. .. I see they finally let you out, eh Squall?" Well, it's a reasonable assumption, you know..

Irvine is surprised he hadn't seen Quistis yet then, if that were the case. Then again, clingy women aren't that attractive to him, no matter how pretty they actually are. They're -scary- and must be run from at all costs. As for why he sits across from Squall? Well part of it is that charm factor. Irvine can turn his on and off, and it's generally limited to women, golden boy, however, can't and it just radiates from him no matter how much he would rather be left alone. The other part of it is the past they share. The redhead has a real tendency to cling to memories, and Squall is a memory sitting right across from him. About to ask something else of golden boy (Looney Tunes! How appropriate! Hee) the gunman is rather startled by Issei's sudden presence. Cornflower blue eyes blink a couple of times and finally, his lips quirk to the left in a half smile. "Hey, Issei." Hmmmm. Squall been let out? Oh yes, yes. Er... Irvine had -nothing- to do with him going AWOL. Nope. Not a thing. "What's up?"

Looney Toons? Sneefle! Good thing Issei arrived when he did for the conversation at the table was about to come to a screeching halt. Not because there is a problem but just because the two ran out of things to say. Sadly yes, he radiates a charisma that just makes people want to stand around and bask in it. He doens't know this of course and certainly doesn't want it, but supposes he should be glad they don't pet and compliment him all of the time because of it. Things could be worse. Looking over as Issei enters, the young man had noticed the hang-dogged look and frowned because of it. Because of this he isn't surprise as Issei comes over, and actually says not a word at first as he slides from one chair to another so that the other can sit if he wants. It's as good of an invitation as you are going to get. "No, I escaped." He says in all honesty. Of course since he said it so simply and plainly it's got to be a joke, right? "What's with the long face? You passed your SeeD test." Which you did. Irvine brought the word of the TP mistress herself.

Escaped? o.O Oh. Well.. Uh.. OKay. Whatever works! "Here's hoping you don't get caught." Issei says with a light smile before dropping greatfully into the offered chair. Oooh, thank you. Nice chair. Comfy chair. Silver eyes turn to Irvine as the cowboy asks his question, and Issei shrugs up his shoulders. "Not much.. The duty roster has been suspiciously clear of my name and so Erato is exacting her penance from me over the fighting.. Been spending most of my time outside Garden, down by the waterfront.. Avoiding this girl I met at the SeeD ball.." Avoiding? u.u; She's cute, too. Blond, blue eyed, tight outfit, sweet smile, and way too willing. Issei had to beat the harlot off with a stick! Well.. he would have had to, if he hadn't slipped out early. n.nb His rational? Not his type. u.u Eh? Long face? Issei blinks at Squall and then smiles slightly, though his eyes betray just how phoney it is. "Long face? Nothin's wrong. I sent a letter home, telling everybody about the promotion.. My dad'll be thrilled, I'm sure. And my mom will be worried, and my sister will sigh and swoon and wonder when I'm coming home.. And Sakura.." Sigh. His voice trails off as he seems to start talking more to himself then to anyone else, and the moment he realizes it, he blinks and shakes it off, painting on that smile again. n.nb "It was nice to see Dollet again. Nice to be back, too.. I'm promoted, finally out of the cadet grunt work.. What could be wrong?" How about the fact that he doesn't /want/ to be a SeeD, that some /girl/ is making his life miserable, and that he finally got to go HOME and didn't even get to see any of his family and friends.. not that he wanted to. He avoided it like the plague.. And then he had to come back /here/. Oh joy. Sigh.

Must suck to be Issei then. Irvine just wasn't quite mentally present at the 'party'. Shock, that's good word for it, but then, he hadn't been sleeping well. Maybe snatching a few hours here and there if he was lucky after the whole Mountain thing. He listens quietly as Issei lists off the things he should be happy for, but obviously isn't. The cowboy isn't empathic, but he can tell that Issei's being phoney about the whole thing. So what's this? Are neither of them happy to be SeeD? Er, not paticularly. Irvine actually is glad he passed, it's just getting used to it, and also unwinding after the mission, that'll take some time. He has no one to write home about it though. There was a brief temptation to somehow sneak back to the graves of his foster parents, tell them he made it, but it was shoved aside. Galbadia's a country he never hopes to set foot in again, ever. "Shoulda sent her my way," the cowboy quips toward the other newly made SeeD at the mention of some chick hitting on him. Not that Irvine would have known what to do that night, he was running on autopilot. What a concept, no? And, thinking about it suddenly, the redhead realizes he's tired. Really tired and rubs at one eye with the heel of his palm. "So, why don't you tell us what's really bugging you then?" No, he's not fooled, Issei. Then again, if you decide not to tell, he probably won't push the issue either.

Oh he will be caught, but mostly for the fact that after this he's going back to turn himself in. The boy just needed to get out for a while, and there is someone he wants to talk to in the healing hall and if he's in it that will make said talk that much easier to go about.. so this little bit of hookey is only temporary. Much needed after two days, but temporary all the same. Pulling over his pretty much empty coffee mug so that Issei has an open space before him, Squall looks down into it for a moment to find only a bit of dregs at the bottom. Siiiigh. He honestly is listening to the babble, and parts of it make him arch his brows at Issei, but he lifts a hand to flag down the waitress. More coffee. "Give Irvine her name." he comments blandly after the waitress recognizes his need and nods to show she understands. Turning back to the conversation Squall gives Irvine the eye for the fact they said the same thing, says nothing more until the other is done yabbering. Thanks for the life story, Issei. Oy. The gunblade expert chuckles as Irvine gets to the point, but only does that. Be surprised folks as it is actually a pleasant sound and his eyes smile some. For a moment there Squall wasn't even frowning! *gasp* Anyway, Issei is spared time he might need to think as the waitress and an aid carry over the meal Irvine and he ordered as well as refils for the coffee. Once plates are in place she asks if Issei wants something and will take his order.

Oh, was he rambling? u.u; Issei tends to do that, you know.. Just jabber on and on about nothing and everything until finally he just eventually runs out of steam and so he has to /stop/ talking to catch his breath or something along those lines *deeeeeeeeeeep inhale!*. Ahem. Her? Oh. The chick. "Her name was .... Yvonne, or something like that. Blond, blue eyes, and an outfit about two sizes too small." And none of it sounds very appealing to Issei. x.x Nope, not his type at all. He smirks at the double comment about sending her Irvy's way, and nods his head. "Next time she tracks me down, I'll do that." Maybe it'll get it through her thick skull that he's not interested. >.<;; Leaning in, elbows go on the table and head is rested in his hands, and Issei ponders the table top for awhile before the waitress comes up to refill coffee and get his order. Issei does indeed order something - just a small something, and a coffee of his own - and then turns his cobalt eyes to Irvine as he gives the issue one more push. Eh.. Might as well say /something/.. "I just.. .. Dollet is my home. I haven't been there since before I left for Trabia to join Garden. It's been a very, very long time.. and I guess I was kind of disappointed I didn't see anyone I knew." He shrugs his shoulders up. It's a half truth, but a truth. Still, not even half of why he's so down. But it's all you guys are gettin' out of him!

Irvine shoots Squall a look as the two of them say basically the same thing at almost the same time. He grins, can't help it. That was -too- funny. Yes, the gunman is a slut with far too many notches on his belt, but at least he's not in denial over it. He even takes pride in it, if that's something a person can be proud of. Ah, but, food. It definately smells good and even tired Irvine knows he's hungry, and most definately for something other then the cafeteria food. Though he's not quite looking at Issei, seemingly paying attention to the recently set down dinner, he is listening, realizing that's probably not all that's bugging Issei. But, hey, he's not gonna pry. Everyone's got their secrets and the cowboy is still counting himself lucky he never quite had to explain his fear of those Holy Knights to anyone. "Yvonne. Sounds like my type." Two sizes too small? Yum. Wonder how it'd look on his floor, which needs to be consecrated now that he's got a new room. The name sounds slightly familiar though, and after a bite of food to chew on, he glances up randomly toward the ceiling to think about it. Has he already had her? Tch, for such a good memory, he sure does forget the names of his lovers fairly quickly. But, anyway, looking back at Issei, he shrugs, "We didn't spend much time in town anyway. Who were you looking for?"

You are a little too predictable, Irvine. So much so that even Squall is getting to where he can figure you out without even having to really think about it. This is a scary thing you know. Since he too now has food, there is a while of arranging plate, silverware, and starting to get himself fed that allows Issei to babble to his heart's content. Like Irvine the teen isn't inclined to pry and so you are let off easy. Well, that and he doesn't like to talk with his mouth ful and he seems to be inhaling his meal. They didn't allow him anything decent in the healing hall as they thought he might be inclined to kill himself over what happened on the mountain. A silly notion for Squall doesn't at all want to die and wouldn't suicide over that anyway, but ah well. It means he's not had solid food for nearly three days now and he's starved. "You heard anything about Seifer?" Which gives Issei a mean of turning the coversation away from something he clearly isn't all that eager to talk about.

A slight smirk passes over Issei's lips as he looks at Irvine, glancing away only to nod in thanks to the waitress who brings over his coffee in leiu of the meal which is still being prepared. "Cute, breathing, and without dillusions of commitment is pretty much 'your type', isn't it, Irvine?" Hey, the guy has a rep! Might as well own up to it. It's not like Issei says these things maliciously, which is evident in his tone and expression. After blowing a moment on his coffee, Issei lifts it to his lips and takes a brief sip, brow furrowing at the mention of Seifer. As he swallows, he shakes his head and places the cup back down. "No, I haven't.. Isn't he in the healers hall?" A brow is arched as eyes dart from Squall to Irvine, and back again. "Did.. anyone see what they did with him?"

There's nothing wrong with being predictable. Just means one is reliable too... waitaminute. Nevermind. So Irvine's predictable when it comes to women. Someday, one of them is probably going to rope him in and won't he be surprised then. But, that's not something foreseeable. Not at the rate he's going. So, for that reason, Irvine merely grins at Issei's comment. Does he -really- need to respond to that? Not really, but he does anyway, "Preferrably with breasts larger then mothballs too." Ok, ok, that's the extent of him getting vulgar, the player swears. Unless you two egg him on. >.< Eating a little slower then Squall, the cowboy glances up as the he asks about Seifer. What's that about predictable again? No comments about it though, just returning to his meal. Sometimes, Irvine really feels like he knows too much and hates it when he can't just reveal that vast array of little secrets and skeletons people have let him look at in the closets of their memories. Not his place though. Let Hansi be the gossip, instead. Besides, Issei just distracted him by asking that, looking up with a solicitous gaze, all humor gone. "What do you mean? What they did to him?" He took the question wrong, thinking Issei knows something he and Squall don't.

Hey, no one ever said Squall wasn't predictable! He is in fact very much so and has gone through effort to become that way. After all he had to practice his lines of 'Go away.' didn't he? Pausing to chew and swallow his mouthful, the teen snrots softly and replies, "Would we be asking if we knew anything?" Because they don't. Squall was even in the room right next door and doesn't know a damn thing about what's been going on with Seifer. Nor the demon inhabited sliver of metal. Poor boy is totally in the dark and wants to know! "He's in the healing hall, but that's the only information we have." Now if Squall hadn't been in one of those rooms there as well he might know more, but he was and so he doesn't. After saying this he goes back to eating. Let's hope he doesn't lick the plate too.

Playing the part of the disgusted woman at the table (teehee) Issei rolls his eyes and mutters 'typical male' under his breath at Irvine's comment, not even realizing that bit of Enju slipping through. It's just such a natural thing, he doesn't even notice when he does it. The moment passes quickly, and Issei is back in the drivers seat, looking thoughtful about the Seifer situation. Eh? What does he mean? "I just mean.. Well.. they obviously did /something/ to him. I haven't seen him since they hauled him off the transport and I got shuffled off." There is a pause as he peers curiously at Irvine, as if reading something off the man's face for a moment.. and then makes a slightly accusitory statement. "... You know something.. Spill." C'mon, out with it cowboy! You can't hide from an empath! Inquiring minds want to know! "What did they do to Seifer?"

Oh, is that it? Irvine seems slightly disappointed for a moment that Issei didn't know anything. Then, he blinks. "What?" Yes, he knows something, he knows a -lot- of things, but not about what they did to Seifer. Damn Empaths. More then likely he'd latched onto Irvine's thoughts over the Squall and Seifer thing and you'll have to torture him near to death before he talks about that, sorry Issei. One area where the cowboy is more reliable then predictable is his stance on keeping his mouth clamped shut and zipped tightly. He's not a gossip. "I don't know anything about what they did to him, Issei, hell, I don't even remember who I handed that demon holding metal peice to." He did give it to someone right? Now he's getting paranoid. Who did he give it to? o.o Someone's going to be checking his older pair of jeans when he gets back to his room.

Let's just hope the thing didn't crawl off on its own. Ew. As you two trade questions the teen beside you polishes off his meal and looks down at his empty plate somewhat in surprise. Damn, he WAS hungry, wasn't he? Giving it a faint frown, Squall pushes it out of the way and finally gets around to tending to his coffee. Into the mug goes a lot of cream and sugar. "We don't know, Issei. I was in the room next to him for two days and even I don't have any idea what condition he's in. I'm asking because all I get told is fine, and I can't remember what happened after the demon beat my head to a bloody pulp." Pausing he looks to the other with raised eyebrows. The thing is he is totally serious about the beating his head in. The demon did kill Squall, but the location didn't allow him to pass on. Then he got healed to the point no one could know what happened just be looking. Once turning dark to a much lighter shade, Squall sips at the sugar laden stuff.

Peering suspiciously at the now paranoid cowboy, Issei decides not to press it, for he can tell the guy isn't lying about not knowing about Seifer.. so then what it is he's hiding? o.O Curious Issei wants to knooooow! Oh well. Sigh. Eh, Squall doesn't know what he did after he was.. 'killed'? Issei looks to his fellow SeeD (wow, that just sounds weird. o.O) and tilts his head off to the side, for a moment quiet and thoughtful before, "Do you.. want to know?" Hey, he could understand if the guy didn't.. but if he /does/, well, no point in keeping it from him how utterly insane he was up there. o.o; "Hm.. They guarding his door or anything.. Either of you know if they ever leave him alone in there? If I could get close enough.. I might be able to atleast tell you his emotional condition without going in, but.." He shrugs up his shoulders. "That doesn't give much information, I know. Still, could tell you if he's alright or not."

If Irvine either can't find that demon holding sliver or remember who he gave the silly thing to, or worse yet, if he asks Bael and Hansi and Sigurd and he -didn't- give it to anyone... well, the cowboy is going to be -severely- paranoid sleeping in his room. Even now, just the thought of not knowing where it is bugs the hell out of him. He's the one with the memory here, so not remembering something is bad. Losing his appetite now, he picks at what's left on his plate, which isn't much, but still. He usually finishes whatever he eats. "I filled Squall in on some of it, at least the stuff on the Mountain while you and I were there," he says idly toward Issei. He doesn't know much other then that anyway. "All I got out of the nurse in the infirmary was that he's ok. And no visitors." Well, at least none they'll know about, anyway. "If she's all that's still here, I could distract her again if either of you wanna get in there to talk to him."
      
Squall shakes his head to show it's okay. "Like Irvine said he told me what you guys saw and I think I can figure the rest out myself. I just don't like that I can't remember." Although he can understand why he can't remember. More than understand and he's marveling at the sheer power in that place to trap souls as it does. If it didn't he'd be pushing up daisies. Scary idea that. Flame backed eyes shifting to Irvine, Ifrit is junctioned obviously, Squall shakes his head again. "Don't bother. I'm going to turn myself in after this meal so I should be close to him anyway. I'll try to sneak in tonight and see what condition he's in." And yes, Issei, he was totally serious about having broken out. Pausing a moment he smirks faintly over his coffee cup at the pair of you and adds, "We should split up after this. I don't want either of you in trouble for my having gone AWOL." There is no mention of Irvine having broken him out, for the less people who know, the more likely it is that Irvine will get off scott free.

Issei nods his head to Squall as the man says he's going to turn himself in, and though Issei may not find it to be the best and brightest of ideas, well.. If that's what Squall wants to do, then what's what he'll do. Having no idea of Irvine's part in all this, Issei just drinks his coffee and lets his gaze wander about as he thinks, wondering just what's up with Seifer.. .. gah, he hopes his lil'.. mind-mucking didn't /really/ screw the guy up and reduce him to some.. drooling puddle of goo or something. O.O;; Issei never quite considered the possibility of /that/ happening, and the thought brings traces of alarm to his eyes which quickly vanish once he notices them. No, they probably just have him for observation, wondering what that demon thingy did to him or something.. or maybe he's just recovering! That was alot to go through, after all... Seems the conversation has died once again, eh?

Irvine will deal with it if his involvement is revealed. But, he certainly doesn't want to make it easy to find out about either. Pushing his plate aside to pay attention to his cooling coffee, to finish it off, he shoots Squall a look. 'Thanks.' He rather prefers not to think about Squall pushing off his mortal coil and joining the bleeding choir in visiville. Or becoming an Ex-Parrot. So, he's been rather quiet about all of that. He's lost people he cares deeply for, and though he is still deciding at what level Squall is 'family', it would still hurt if the golden boy ever kicked the bucket. And yep, conversation is officially in its death throes now. Not even Irvine's got much to say at the moment.

Having finished his meal, and apparently the conversation as well, Squall places his cup down and moves to stand from his chair. "I'm heading back. You two should wait a while so you won't get pulled into the trouble I'm likely to draw." See, he's looking out for the two of you. n.nV a pocket is dug around in and cash pulled out. The teen then nods to the two of you before wandering off to find the waitress. She's bringing ISsei's food and once that's dropped off at the table she and Squall see about getting the bill paid. Don't worry, Issei, he's buying for you as well. There are no real goodbyes as he isn't good at them and is sure to be seeing you two sometime later. Right now he's going to wander back to Garden and deal with getting screamed at for a while. The joys of being the Golden Boy.

Issei watches as Squall heads out and smiles in thanks to the waitress who bring his food, which it digs into with considerably less enthusiasm then Squall displayed, though perhaps a little more then Irvine is giving. He's hungry, but he's not /that/ hungry. "Ya know, after meeting him, I kind of had Squall pegged as .. I dunno. Something different.. But he's an alright guy." Issei says with a nod at the end to punctuate, having obviously come to this decision after much thought. n.nb "And now that he's gone.." Silvery blue eyes dart up from the meal before him to look at the cowboy across from him, and half a grin spreads over his lips. "Spill it. Whatever it is you've been hiding since Dollet. And don't try and tell me it's nothing, because I know there's something, and I figure you either don't want to talk about it infront of Squall or you don't wanna talk about it, period. And if the latter is the case, I won't mention it again.. but if not.." He's curious and he wants to know noooooow!! TELL! >.<;

Irvine nods at the mention of Squall. "He's always been like that, since we were really little." Since he grew up with the golden boy, in the early years, he feels nothing wrong with imparting this little bit of information on him, lifting the mug to his lips for another sip of the lukewarm coffee. However, he nearly spit it out as you start in on the interrogation. Forcing himself to swallow, he coughs afterward, lifting a fist to his mouth as he tries to get it under control. "The heck *cough* did that *cough* come from, eh?" A few more hacks and wheezes and finally he can breathe again. As if he wasn't being totally obvious anyway about all this. Clearing his throat, he adds, "Not my business to discuss it, honestly. I hear a lotta stuff, Issei, I don't repeat it."
      
"Where?" Issei rolls his eyes dramaticly and sighs, leaning back in his chair. "Okay, first off, I'm an empath. I can tell when you're hiding something, even if I can't tell /what/ you're hiding. Second, I'm curious. And third.. Well.. third.. is.." Furrowing his brow, Issei tries to think up a third thing.. and then just shakes his head, pushing back a bit of his straight black hair. "Forget third. I'll think up third later. Consentrate on first and second." n.nb That's the plan! "Come on.. Not even a little hint?" ... You know.. with his eyes all wide like that, that smile, the pleading look.. if he grew his hair out, he could easily pass for a woman. o.O; After a moment of this, Issei sighs and hangs his head briefly, then picks up one of the strips of chicken from his plate. "And after all we've been through together." he mutters, as a joke. .. depite how.. scary it is.. coming out of that face, with that soft voice.. o.o;;;; This kid needs an injection of testosterone.

Hey, Irvine isn't exactly totally masculine with those effeminate, Adonis-like looks. But, in both build and personality he's definately the stereotypical teenage male. So, as much as Issei may look girlish and even somewhat act girlish, he's still a guy and the cowboy isn't fooled. And being that he's a guy, Irvine's not interested. And don't even think of using that empathy on him. >.> He sighs though, and it's certain that he's about to give in anyway and tell what he knows, and the Empath can probably tell by the indecisiveness wafting off the gunman emotionally. "Look, whatever I say, goes no further then between you and me, Issei." He hesitates again, seeing as he's gonna feel really damn guilty for talking, but at the same time, he really hates being a confidant sometimes with no one to talk to himself. So... "I swear though, if I hear this going around Garden, I will personally give you a shotgun enema." Well, ok, he wouldn't go that far, but he'd be pretty damn angry if he felt his trust had been betrayed.

A shotgun enema? The mere thought of that makes Issei grimace and mutter "That's some wild imagry you got there, Irv." Still, now that Irvine is going to be spilling whatever juicy tid-bit Issei hasn't been made aware of yet, the chicken strip is dropped and the former cadet leans in, elbows on the table and head in his hands, looking all too eager to hear. "I swear on.." Eh.. What can he swear on? ... OH! "I swear on the soul of Enju, Genbu rest her, that I won't spread this around at all." A quick cross over the heart and girl-scout sign (again, reminants of Enju which Irvy prolly won't get anyhow, since there are no girl-scouts in this world) seals the pact before Issei resumes his 'tellmetellmetellme!' position of waiting.

Irvine has no idea who Enju is, or how sincere Issei's being, but the enema threat is good enough. And, he can't quite help but quip, "I've got a healthy imagination." But, yes, he's going to spill it. Damn he doesn't want to, but it's eating at him. "When Squall and I went out to check the orphanage, we ran into Seifer, and he said some stuff that sorta shocked me. There's a bit of a love triangle going on around him, and Squall and Sigurd." Grabbing the coffee mug again, Irvine pauses and tries to chase off the feeling like he's acting like one of his blonde bimbo gossip mongering girlfriends.

And just watch the whole ball.. /stop/. /Dead/. At first there is confusion, but when the words 'love triangle' get out, Issei's eyes start to widen.. He had no idea Squall had a girlfrie- ... .... Did Irvine just say... .. Sigurd? ... A love triangle between.. "Squall... Seifer.... and... Sigurd..?" All color drains from the boys face and the shock hits him so hard, his head very nearly falls between the two hands that had been propping it up. Issei slowly straightens, expression.. troubled and disturbed and.. yeah, shocked. Lots and lots of shock in there. "And... you're.. You're sure?" Maybe.. he's just speculating? Yeah, that must be it! After all.. people don't /do/ these kinds of things! They.. they just.. /don't/! No longer hungry - not that he could force anything into his twisted and knotted stomach now anyhow - Issei pushes his plate away to the side, eyes fixing on the now empty space of table top infront of him. "But.. they're.. .. that's... how..." Just give him a little while. He'll either process it, or die of a brain anurism.

Well, you asked Issei. Irvine was privately a little shocked too, but hey, he heard it with his own two ears and Squall didn't deny any of it. "I heard it, I was there, Issei." Take that as you will, the cowboy isn't real sure how he feels about it now. So long as none of them are hurting anyone, what does he care? Then again, he's not exactly anyone to be judging the situation anyway, seeing as he's broken a number of hearts at Garden already, so what if they're female, that's not the issue. "Seifer full out called Sigurd a pedophile, trying to get Squall riled. Didn't work though, and Squall didn't deny anything." He didn't -confirm- it, at least not verbally. The look on his face was more then enough. "On the way back to town, before Seifer grabbed him, he told me there's been a lotta tension between him and Seifer. He thinks Seifer's bisexual at least, just won't admit it. There, does that satisfy your curiousity?"

Bi.. what? .. Sorry, but you're talking to someone who was raised in a farming community and has stayed about as far away from anything remotely sexual since he hit puberty and discovered how confusing it could get.. Someone who has been denying his own inclinations in this area and knows very well what Seifer must feel.. even though he's unwilling to comprihend that fact right now. And, perhaps most importantly, this is a guy who up until this very moment assumed he was the only person in the whole world who felt anything remotely like that.. and who has /always/ believed it to be /wrong/. So.. he's not having an easy time wrapping his brain around this one, and is currently wishing to anyone who will listen for time to go back so he can /not/ ask what Irvine was hiding. He takes it back!! He didn't want to know!! Slowly, Issei lifts his hands and presses his face to them, then brushes them up to comb his fingers back through his hair and evenly exhale a breath he was unaware he'd been holding. "I.. he.. .. God.. Are you-" He cuts himself off from asking a question he realizes too late was already answered, and shakes his head. "Does it..? .. Yeah.. uh.. yeah.." And he doesn't wanna know any more! Let this be a lesson to you, Issei: Curiousity killed more then just that damn cat.

Irvine hardly expected Issei to react like that. Over the rim of his cup he glances at the other newly made SeeD as he sips at the coffee. It's cold now, but he doesn't care. It's a distraction. If he were empathic, well, who knows what sort of things he'd be assaulted with, but otherwise, he's just guaging Issei's physical responses. He's not taking it well, looks like the cat is being strangled by the question. Shouldn't have been so curious, no? "Issei... are you ok?" He most definately doesn't -look- ok. "You know, if you tell me anything it won't go past me." Oh, like this didn't? Well, it was sort of a special case. You're looking at someone who's slowly becoming Garden's resident counsellor, without meaning to.

You know.. he could. He could tell Irvine, and ... Irvine obviously doesn't think badly of Squall for.. for.. whatever is going on with him! He could tell Irvine, and .. that would be it. He would have told someone, /besides/ Sakura, who thinks he's just a big dope carrying over emotions from a previous life, when he knows he's not. But telling would mean admitting, and that's just not something Issei can do right now, even to himself. Mind-blown or not, the boy is still in deep denial. Is he okay? .. "Yeah." No. No he's not okay! "And.. there's.. nothing. It's nothing. I'm fine." Such a bad liar. He really should work on that if he wants to be a merc. .. not that he does, but.. anyhow. u.u; Straightening, Issei shakes his head as if to shake off whatever's in it, clouding his brain, and then flashes a patheticly weak smile to the cowboy. "Just shocked I guess, that's all. It's.. I mean.. I didn't know.. people.. did.. that.. kind of thing.." Again, his gaze wanders, and ends up just back on the table, as if it was something horribly interesting.

Irvine is already starting to form opinions about Issei. Is all of Garden in the closet? Eesh. Then again, there are a few who've made the cowboy laugh by telling him he's overcompensating. As if. "You know, Issei, for SeeD, you a damn horrid liar." It's said with a wry half-smile, trying to keep his tone light. Yeah, he knows you're not being fully honest in this. Sure, he could just be shocked about it, Irvine comes from an entirely different background, after all. "You almost sound like a first year Cadet out at Galbadia Garden who's been in a monastary all his life." The cowboy knew a kid like that, befriended him amongst the cruel assholes he had to train with there. The kid didn't last, leaving after a paticularly nasty scrap crippled him. Sad story, but he thinks of it suddenly, wondering about that kid. "Well, it's not something they talk about. I wouldn't even have known it except it kinda got tossed in Squall's face while I was standing there."

Elbows still on the table, Issei rubs his face in his hands as if that would straighten him out and bring some color back to his cheeks, which it doesn't, of course. So, he just puts his forehead against the balls of his hands and.. sighs. "I'm a damn horrid SeeD, period." he comments in a low voice, near a whisper but not quite. "I wasn't cut out for this job and everyone knows it. Everyone /here/ anyhow.. Me included." He didn't want it, he's not very good at it.. he could be better, but he doesn't really put in the effort considering he, ya know, /hates/ it and everything.. "I.. I guess I can see why they don't talk about it.. I mean.. Sigurd.. Who knows what they'd do to him for.. for.." Grimace. "You know.." He doesn't even wanna /say/ it. x.x;; "And Seifer... ... poor Seifer.." That last bit does indeed dip below a whisper.. Damn.. he knows, and he can't even say he does. He knows /exactly/ how it must feel for him.. And lemme tell ya, it SUCKS. Big time.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on here. Irvine sits up. "Issei, come on, where'd this come from?" Sheesh, if he knew the empath was gonna act like -this- he would have continued to refuse to tell him. He only knows Issei so well, however, and now inwardly curses himself for not realizing the effect this would have. It -is- kind of a leery subject. Just because Irvine has no problem talking about sex and sexuality doesn't mean everyone else feels the same. "You damn well did fine on the Mountain, you -earned- your rank, so stop it. Stop telling me you're not cut out for this." Then again, how the hell Garden manages to keep going with all the head cases they have for Cadets and SeeDs is really a wonder. He sits back again, kinda roughly, rough enough to 'mmph' involuntarily. "Now are you just gonna tell me what's eating at you or do I have to hold you down and force it out of you?"

A small but harsh smirk crosses Issei's lips, though it won't be visable as long as he keeps his head down.. still, it almost conveys itself audibly through his tone. "Thanks for the flattery, Irv, but you're not my type." No, he likes 'em a little taller, with dark blond, short hair and blue eyes. The lovable goof type. u.u;;; "Earned it by almost getting myself killed, almost killing Seifer.. But then again, that's what this job is about, right? Death. Killing things.." And that goes over real well with Issei. Flood gates are opened more suddenly then the boy is comfortable with, and right now he's just trying to close them back up as quickly as possible before Irvine /does/ hold him down and force it out of him. o.o;; And no, that doesn't sound appealing, so get your mind out of the gutter! "It's nothing." Oh yeah, that's abundently clear. "I'm just.. moody. It'll pass." Just as soon as he can forget that there are other people in Garden who feel the same way he does, and he's now promoted from Killer In Training to Killer. Life is good. >.<;;

Irvine blinks at that first comment. "Christ, I didn't mean it that way." Issei's not his type either, he prefers women. So, there goes any ideas about tackling the empath somewhere and forcing him to talk. The coffee is consumed again, though this time he finishes it off and puts the mug back down. Ok, enough weirdness for one night. If Issei's not gonna talk, then Irvine's just gonna drop it all together... if he can get himself to do that. Betcha you'll be much more careful before asking the gunman to 'spill it' again aren't you, Issei? The gunman -hates- seeing someone else distressed, however, especially if he thinks somehow he caused it. >.< "Issei, I didn't know you felt that way about Garden, why did you come here?" He's got family he said, he didn't have to be here. Irvine has nothing. No one. Few choices.

The reaction from Irvine draws Issei's gaze up and for a moment he looks a little confused.. and then, the smirk returns and he closes his eyes. "It was a joke, Irvine. A bad one, apparently." Shifting from both hands to just one, Issei puts his hand on his cheek and just stares off to the side somewhere, watching people move around and looking generally miserable. Why did he come here..? "Because they transfered me from Trabia?" he quips, knowing that's not what Irvine ment.. And for once, he just doesn't care if somebody knows, and simply shrugs. The lie he told Bael and everyone else, about wanting to be here, no longer seems to matter. Not at the moment, anyhow. Come tomorrow, he'll probably wish he'd never said what he's about to. "I didn't have a choice. My father was a soldier in Dollet's army. .. heh. Dollet's army. There's a joke. He lost a leg and had to retire.. not in battle - in a /training/ manuver. Some idiot shot him or.. something. I don't know. No one ever really told me exactly what happened." He shrugs up his shoulders and fixes his eyes back on the table. "He didn't want me to join the military, though.. He wanted bigger, better things for his son. And I resisted every suggest he made about Garden, up until the day I found a reason to want to leave Dollet for good." So there. It's out now. Somebody knows the wuss is here because he ran away. Feel free to laugh hartily and walk out to spread the news. u.u;

Irvine isn't like that, but it's easy to see why Issei would think he would. He gives a semi-exasperated 'oh come on' sort of look to the empath at both of the first remarks, the bad joke and 'trabia transfer' ones. To the point, Issei, to the point! And, finally, he gets the real reason why he's here. "So you're here because your father pushed." Good God that's a shocker to Irvine, who had to -fight- with his parents to be allowed to go to Galbadia Garden. Talk about the two being complete opposites here, in fact, frighteningly so. Opposite reasons to be at Garden, opposite sexualities, etc, etc. He has to fight back the urge to ask why Issei didn't just say no, go somewhere else, escape from it. Being rather independant, independant enough to flee the nightmare that is Holy Knight training, he sometimes forgets others aren't so, and are chained to emotions and traditions he can only vaguely fathom or understand. You got lucky, Issei, this isn't someone who's going to make fun of you for your reasons to be here. "I can't even begin to imagine what that's like. I really can't. If you resisted so long, why'd you suddenly do it?"

Thank god he didn't decide to open up to Seifer, eh? ;) The fact that Irvine decides against pouring salt into the newly re-opened wound is muchly appricated, and makes Issei a little more willing to go on, fill in /some/ of the details if not all.. No, he's not gunna spill his life's story to the cowboy tonight, but.. maybe it'll be nice to get a few of the smaller bits off his chest for once. "For the most stupid reason in the world, trust me." He digs the ball of his hand into one of his eyes in an effort to snuff out any moisture before it has the chance to gather and form into something more offensive to the poor boy who's trying to keep it all together, "A woman." True enough. Enju sure is a woman, and she is very much the reason he left.. if by an obscure relation. "I had to get away.. From her, from everything.. I couldn't deal with any of it. You live your whole life thinking you're something only to find out in an instant that .. maybe you're not. And then people expect you to just.. /accept/ it. Embrace it, even. Like not being your own person anymore is something you should be /proud/ of." He smirks bitterly and moves his hand up to brush back some hair from his face, then drops back against the back of his chair. "I know it doesn't make any sense, and I.. I really don't want to clarify.. but.. I had to get away from her. And.. my father was pushing me to join Garden, so.. it seemed like the perfect escape." There is a pause before his eyes dart up to Irvine's with a sudden imploring seriousness. "Don't tell this to anyone, please.. It may not seem like alot to you but.. it's alot to me, and if people go prying.. Just please, keep this between us."

"I doubt anyone will ask me, but if it's that important to you, yeah. I won't breathe a word," Irvine replies simply enough. Chalk up another skeleton the cowboy's been allowed to glimpse part of. Another secret to take with him to the grave. "So long as you don't breathe a word of what I've revealed to you tonight to anyone, I broke a confidence to tell you that." And that's going to bother him tonight too, keep him from sleeping. Irvine -doesn't- gossip, and he doesn't tell people's private secrets. Tonight he made an exception and he's regretting it, even if it got Issei to open up a little bit. Rising to his feet, he grabs at the shotgun holster that's been strung over the back of the chair and shoulders it. "I'm gonna head back to Garden though, 'less you want me to wait for you."

Issei nods his head to the terms of their agreement and sighs softly. "And Irvine? .. I'm sorry. I wouldn't have... I mean.. If I'd known.." Siiigh. "I'm sorry." That'll do, he supposes. He watches the cowboy get up and looks down at his cold coffee and untouched plate of food, thinking he should pay Squall back for it, considering he took exactly one bite before he gave up on it. And do think, there are children starving in third-world countries in another dimention. u.u; "No, it's okay. I think the little woman and I are going to go find some place to dip our mutual feet into the water. Goodnight, Irvine." Walk safely! .. or something. o.o;

"Good night, Issei," Irvine says simply, reaching up to tip his hat in that customary greeting/farewell. And then he's heading out the door on his way back to Garden. Not that it'll take him long. Without having to wait for any slowpokes, he can cruise along at his own damn pace, which he'll end up doing anyway, cause he'll be thinking and that'll get him brooding and that'll just get him moving faster and the next thing he'll know, there's Garden. Feh.