Who:  Irvine Kinneas, Issei, Squal Leonhart, Bael, Sigurd, Hansi.
Where: Dollet City, Orphanage Ruins.
Why:  Part 1 of bringing Seifer home.
Date of Log: September 24th, 2000.





Well, Hyne was apparently kind. The trip to Balamb City was free of monster visitation, and the subsequent trip through the tunnel was long and boring, taking a full day to cross the underwater gap to the mountains near Dollet City. The trip to the city proper was remarkably uneventful, and you got a lovely look at the Dolletian landscape. Dollet is barren landscape, and it's little wonder that their primary exports involve the sea-products and artistry. After all, they need what few, hardy vegetables they can grow here, though their cattle trade thrives as well. The diet is akin to the coastal Russian, but the waters they're banked on warm, so they have a wonderful, thriving business with fishy delicacies. A small and open-minded country, this place hosts people from the lands of the Four Gods, Galbadia, Balamb, and even refugees from Midgar. IT's little wonder that it's so often been the subject of military invasion; the Dolletians are notorious soft, which is why they have such strong ties to Balamb. Balamb fights, Dollet supports with things that they cannot get on their isle, and everyone's happy... And that is Dollet in a nutshell, rattled of to you in one form or another by Xu on the trip here.

In the end, the party finds themselves in the Compass Square, heart of the city. The hotel is right here, and that's why. Rooms were acquired, equipment handed out. This, after all, is where Seifer was last seen. To the north east of the square is the chasm and the mountain that Seifer is supposedly retreating to. To the north west is where the roads for are, and where they've been struck. And so the south is the coastline-on it, a lighthouse where the 'demon' has also been seen. And now it's up to the cadets to find a course of action, and bounce it off Sigurd. Lucky them, huh? Isn't testing for your SeeD rank /great/?

Uneventful. That's fine with Irvine, though Badb's been anxiously present in the back of his mind the entire time. The Guardian Force is quite excited to be able to get out for something other then practice, training, or the random brawl the redhead gets into. This is -exciting- to her, even if not quite so to her chosen. Irvine has half listened to Xu's barrage of information. Some of it he already knows, other bits he tucks away into that memory of his. He gets unusually quiet too, often lost in thought, separating himself from the others as often as allowed/possible. Badb doesn't seem to mind this, seeing as she's been chirping at him in anticipation so much. She knows he's anxious about the idea of meeting up with his worst nightmare, but even so, she more then expects him to deal with it if it happens.
Upon arriving in Dollet, Irvine takes more then enough time to view the surroundings whenever possible. He's been through here before, but that was while he was on the run, and also over two years prior. It's a little more interesting now that he's not fourteen and running scared. He considers the sightings, wondering where to go first. So as soon as everyone's gathered and it's time to start this hunt, or at least get into the planning stages, the redhead comes up to Issei, brushing fingers through his bangs to get them out of his face even though Badb's quirks keep shifting them right back into his eyes. "Got a number of sightings to check out. Split up or keep together?" It's a good start at least, negotiating with the other Cadet. It -is- up to them after all.

While Xu prattles on and on about Dollet after they've arrived in the city, Issei kind of.. zones out, instead turning to one of the windows in the transport and quietly watching the familiar landscape whiz by.. How little everything seems to have changed since he left home.. That thought brings a quiet smile to the young man's lips, for really, he couldn't think of anything he'd like to change about it. It's not perfect, but it's home. Far more so then Trabia or Balamb or any other Garden ever could be. It's not until they actually begin to reach the center of Dollet City that the cadet hangs back from the window.. and actually seem to avoid it entirly, aside from a few fleeting glances, as if he was afraid of what he might see outside it.. or who might see /inside/. u.u; He shuffles from the transport into the hotel as quickly as possible once they arrive, and patiently awaits the handing out of his equipment, double-checking to insure his sai are both secured at his sides. The young man looks up as his fellow cadet approaches, and considers the question at hand.. "I suppose we should split up. Cover more ground.. Choose which sightings to investigate first and then meet back here to exchange information once we're done. Sound good to you?" He seems.. unsure, and a bit nervous, but none of it has anything to do with the mission at hand. He doesn't want to be here, damnit! And if he'd known this assignment would take him back to Dollet, he would have said a firm /no/ and to hell with the chance to graduate into SeeD-dom.

Catching up on sleep is how Squall passes the travel time. Sorry, but being entertainment for other people isn't high on his list of things to want to do during the day. So, he's his normal jerk of a self and just finds a quiet seat and dozes about the whole damn trip to Dollet. It also allows him to avoid talking to people.. Two birds with one stone. n.nV Well, he sleeps when Xu isnt' talking anyway. Really, there can't be more to tell, so after the information hits repeat, the teen is slouched in his chair and out like a light. Hey, he is a good soldier and thus has learned that ability to be able to catch sleep anywhere and anytime one is able.
Once in the city proper the young man is very much awake and watches everything he can. Squall remains quiet, more or less in the background, takes his supplies, and allows Irvine to pick direction as he was told to do. There is no mention of his having the spell Life, for it's not something he talks about. No reason as to why, but he doesn't. Just another thing for himself I suppose. Squall doesn't take anything that can't be kept on a pouch on his top most belt, for he wants to be able to have freedom of movement in case he's needed. There is a glance to Irvine as the cowboy talks to Issei, and he listens. Where are you going to go, Irvine?

Bael has entirely too much energy. It's almost sickening. Once the calming environs of the Garden are a speck in the distance, something lights in eyes that have bled from inhuman lilac to a more natural ice blue over the course of an hour, and lends them a wary animation as he absorbs everything done and said in his presence. It won't all be filed away or anything, but it's as though he's coming to life afresh..although he's never come across to anyone as being 'dead', in the way certain followers of the often underappreciated path of the stoic introvert have been. The stillness of him is deceptive, as is his silence unless someone addresses him directly. He doesn't so much avoid talking to people as wait to be addressed, but he'll prove to be one of the chattier members of the group. A loud, contented sigh escapes him as he steps off the transport and lapses into the casually predatory loping stride that tends to serve where most people just..well..walk. It's subtle, but suggests a subtle transition to 'all-business' mode as eloquently as his sudden tendency to place -everyone- on a last-name basis, as opposed to those whose first names he doesn't care to learn. Issei suffers from his attention most often, but never directly. It's just enough to -know- he's watching, that his assessment of the cadet has begun before they can even embark upon their search effort. The cadet's troubled expression isn't missed, but Bael refrains from querying for now. His attention is snared by the cadets' discussion, and he's less subtle about it than Squall, so they -both- have the oh-so comforting knowledge that they're being observed with that unsettlingly steady, alien gaze.

The last resort, really, is what Sigurd is, so he isn't really worried about the subtleties of planning. This isn't his show, and he is simply here to observe. That, and to watch out for anything that would be unusual. There are several things, of course. From the contemplative looks from some of the team members, to how some completely transform out of Garden's range. It's amazing, that, but something he keeps more for his personal records... if to have a private chat with Cid, latter. While the man is a good administrator... his thoughts on how students grow and need attention is somewhat skewed. It's part of why they're out here, really, though he feels some of the blame comes to himself. He was at Garden when it began, after all.... he could have done something.
But now seems to be the time away from that, even as he continues to observe and innately grade the cadets' progress. The SeeDs he's not worried about, but more of how this will go... and the Knights that had been rumored to be in the area. He doesn't like that prospect... but then, he doesn't like Galbadia much on a whole. Far too much like a certain other country that hedges on the edge of his memory -- even at the thought of it, Cerebrus awakens, only to pace and keep that gate of time locked away, far off from the owner to see. That one eye blinks at it, the droning of Xu's briefing nearly putting him to sleep, before they arrive. Well... on with the show... for now, he's simply the audience, waiting to see what's next.

If Bael is the second most talkative person on the transport to Dollet.. Hansi definitely nudges in for Numero Uno. Point of fact, in the course of the lengthly travel no small number of 'Shut the Hell Up @$$hole!' are flung in his direction from a variety of sources, and you can bet he's keeping score. Endless are his random commentaries on the easiness of Dollet girl's virtue, the 'wussiness' of the local governmental body, and above all.. his quest to find the perfect 'fat roll' or whatever that is. One would only be SO lucky that he would catch sleep during the ride.. which, sadly he doesn't. He figures he'll get sleep enough during the mission itself. Afterall.. His role in this is support, and, like Sigurd, here for the 'Oh @#$' Factor. By the time the troupe actually arrives at the Hotel.. the running question may well be 'What good IS this Punk anyway?' To which Hansi answers upon arriving in the field. Upon exiting the Hotel and meeting up the the rest of you.. slung over his shoulders, cruciform, is 'WifeBeater'. His trusted Flamberge. The thing is damn near bigger than HE is. The massive weapon angles slightly to the left.. handle angling up slightly with a dark raven finding a perch on the tip of the pommel. A lig cigarette lazily issues forth a smokey trail that curls within his inky bangs. Hey! He's in the field now! Smoking's allowed! "Alright guys.. just a friendly reminder, for those who haven't worked with me before yo." Glancing especially to the new kids, "I'm unit coordinator for this lil' shindig. If you guys find yerselves in heaps of trouble just think REAL loud. My Guardian Force will pick up the distress and I'll spread a mental communique to the rest of us. Beyond that.. you'll never even know I was here." wiggling his eyebrows. Promptly then wandering back towards the entrance of the Hotel.. watching to see which direction the Cadets go first with a small touch of amusement.

Considering Issei wordlessly for a few minutes, Irvine finally nods in agreement. If he were aware of the other Cadet's thoughts, he would wholeheartedly agree, having accepted this before knowing there was such a high chance of running into Holy Knights. His hands are in the pockets of his duster, one fist closed over the Galbadian Holy Cross found in the right one. Over his shoulder a holster holding the Midgar made shotgun and the two types of ammo he's learned how to create when he has access to their materials. "Fine with me. I'd like to take the lighthouse, if possible." That had intrigued him, to learn Seifer had been seen there. And so he assumes there is something there to attract the blonde wonder's attention. It could be that whatever he wanted was already found, but it's worth checking out. Besides, he's really hoping Galbadia's already been there or has no interest in it. Well, he's hoping anyway.
Squall is relatively ignored, seeing as having a SeeD watching him is the least of his worries. Yes, he's being tested, and yes he'll do his best to pass, but Irvine has never been one to stress abnormally over things. Well, except for his own personal phobia but that's different, dammit. It's not meant to be an insult to Squall, because he's got to handle this on his own. That means relying on Stoic-boy as little as possible. An odd way to teach teamwork, but he's not gonna question it. Nope, that priveledge has to be earned. Glancing at Hansi, he lifts a reddish colored eyebrow. Er, ok. Only a nudge from the Crow gets him to just accept that and move on. Badb wants this started, dammit. Assuming that Issei agrees, he would then glance toward Sigurd for final approval.

And don't think Issei wasn't pulled a few times rudely from his revelry on the ride over to glare at Hansi for whatever new insult the bastard has spoken about his homeland. But, the cadet isn't going to get into it. He's just going to keep in mind the deal he's made.. and of course, any time he thinks about it, Erato launches into a tedious lecture about how she ought to leave him alone on this mission just for that little deal. Even his /mother/ wasn't as bad as this watery bint. The constant watching from Bael doesn't quite go over well either, but for now, Issei is doing his best to ignore it. Think loud, eh Hansi? << Remember our little deal. >> he 'thinks' as 'loud' as he can, recalling some of his experience with communicating with telepaths from Enju's life-time spent with several of them. As Irvine agrees to the plan, for a moment Issei looks as if he has something to add.. but his eyes flicker first to Sigurd, then to Squall, and finally back to Irvine.. and he apparently decides against it. After a small silence, he finally speaks up again, "Alright, I'll check out the roadway to the north west, talk to people around and see if anyone knows anything.. We'll meet back here when we've finished." Might as well save the Mountains for later, when they can head up as a group.. Cobalt eyes follow the cowboy's to look to Sigurd for final approval of the plan, the cadet's hands coming up to rest on the handles of the sai at his hips.

being ignored is Squall's life goal, so please ignore away! *.* Not only does he want to be left along (Or so the idiot believes), he is also good at ignoring others, and Hansi is ignored with the best of his ability at the moment. Sorry, was someone talking there? Instead he just waits patiently, fingers of one gloved hand drumming quietly on the hilt of his gunblade. The thing is still sheathed and will remain so until its needed. No point in having a bare blade out where there are potentally a bunch of civilians about... unless he needs it anyway. So, nothing to see here... nothing to see, move along.. Squall's being boring. n.nV When Irvine heads out, the teen will follow, but unless directly spoken to he says nothing. Every now and again he winces a little thanks to getting mentally kicked, but his conversations with Ifrit remain unspoken for the time being.

As Issei declares his intention, Bael turns from following Hansi's departure with a sloppy 'two-finger-to-the-temple' salute and the grin that accompanied it in order to take up a place behind the cadet. Whether or not he looms intentionally or out of a subconscious leaning has never really been determined. Queries into the matter are always met with the same grin, that shows the barest flash of teeth that rumor claims he's torn out chunks of people with. He's never hostile about it. There doesn't seem to be a hostile bone in his body. Malicious, yes, but always gleefully so. Bael is one happy dude. He doesn't need sheaths for his weapons, as they adorn his forearms and shield his hands, the matching set of mithrine bracers with their blocky knuckleguards, whose weight he seems oblivious to as he crosses his arms over his chest and awaits his charge's final decision to move out. He does feel a little guilty for being so unhelpful. He could say -something- at least, to indicate that he's not just following Issei and waiting for him to screw up. Or something. But he perceives this as a sink-or-swim challenge, and it wouldn't do to afflict the young man with unneeded water wings.

Oh, the wish for some of that wonderful tea the doctor has to make those headaches go away. Sigurd doesn't have the time for it now -- he's got to watch and observe, and though Issei's pause does bring a rising of eyebrows, to the point that even the one hidden behind the eyepatch is seen. But he doesn't say a thing, only shutting off those emotional pathways that seem to be constantly assaulted by pure teen angst(tm). No wonder he seems grim most of the time -- anyone else would too, if they had to listen to it all day. However, there is no weapon drawn by the time the plan comes out... much like other instructors, he'll be waiting for a signal from the group if he is needed; he's only here to see if they figure it out for themselves.

Hansi, unlike the rest of the party which prepares itself, seems to unwind. With his obligatory 'I'm doin stuff too!' speech.. he hunkers down at the foot of the hotel.. sitting down with his legs lazily splayed before him. The massive sword WifeBeater is propped up beside him with a faint metallic *CHINK*.. the Raven, precariously settled on the end of the handle, hardly stirs. He then busies himself with his cigarette.. puffing away like a chimney. Aaaah.. this is the life. Getting paid to hang out and smoke. And people wonder WHY he puts up with Der Furher Cid? Sure.. Sigurd here might have him send the 'Regroup' message mentally to all the troops.. but.. He thinks this'll be a cake walk. Sure.. the Cadets might screw up.. but Squall? Bael? They may collectively have serious issues mentally.. but what SeeD doesn't? They're, frankly, the toughest hombres he's ever laid eyes upon. Ain't nuthin on Hyne's green World that they can't smear and paint up and down Dollet's streets. As such.. he feels his supplimentary role is superfluous at best. Hence.. the smoking. He just has to wait for one of 'em to drag that obnoxious Seifer back so he can step on his head appropriately. At Issei's sudden mental intonation.. The Raven suddenly perks it's head towards him.. Hansi, after a moment, thusly glances in his direction too.. a whimsical smirk plays over his lips as he lets forth a volume of smoke like some sort of Dragon <<You bet kid. And remember, yo. 45 degree angle.>> Giving the kid yet another knowing wink.

The agreement made, though Sigurd doesn't seem to acknowledge it, in Irvine's perspective, he glances once at Issei, nodding again at the agreement to regroup here after the first locations are searched. Better to work their way inward separately and together attempt to find him where it's rumored Seifer is holing up. Assuming Squall is following, he starts off at a pace a bit faster then his usual one. Time to get this over with. Badb flits and flutters in the back of his mind, spreading and ruffling black feathered wings before assuming her other form. It startles him, as she has only ever appeared to him mentally as the Crow, except during his test at the Fire Cave. But, the winged battle maiden has assumed her true form, far too anticipatory of possible upcoming tests. Real battle. The Crow-maiden is thirsty. Luckily, the redhead has a decent sense of direction also, and actually does head in the right direction toward the lighthouse. (What a way to get off on the wrong foot otherwise would have been.) The shotgun stays holstered also, at least until he and Squall are outside the city.

The cowboy heads off at a good clip, but you are interupted soon by a somewhat rough voice that can only be Squall, "You want to move fast then get a damn car." He does have a trait about being a slow poke, Irvine, and so can't at all keep up with you with your long legs and all. Sorry, just the way he is. Sure Squall is walking, but even his best clip is getting him left in the dirt. Ass kicker he may be, but sprinter he just ain't. Thankfully there is a place to rent a car, or motorcycle just before you get out of town. The light house is quite a ways from the town, and this young man does NOT at all plan to walk, or in his case it would damn well be run if he tried to keep up with Irvine, all the way down to the orphanage. Can we please rent something? Squall will even pay for it. Honest! The teen is frowning of course, speaking as little as he has to in this, but damn it.. he can't run worth shit and knows it.

Thing is, Irvine's not exactly into driving a car. Actually, he can't. Horses and chocobos are the extent of his knowledge for travel other then on foot. He'd forgotten that Squall doesn't have any gifts of Speed. Well, actually he didn't know it in the first place. Badb sniffs derisively somewhere in the background, still very anxious to get to this. She had expected him to use her Speed to get there in relatively good time. But, unfortunately for her, her Chosen is going to have to accomodate the slower Squall. He shrugs his shoulders and replies, "You get to drive." There you go, Squall. No arguments, just that you get to drive the dreaded vehicle.

Fine with him. Squall rents something fast, gets the keys, and then peels out of the garage like there was death on his heels. Sigurd has seen this before. Quiet Squall, who likes to hide in the background and glowers at people a lot... likes to go very, very fast. Hey, he's seventeen! Teenage male + car = Need to go REALLY fast *.* Poor Irvine, hope you put on your seat belt. Once out of town, and heading in the general direction of where you need to go, the young man asks, "Directions?" Hopefully you know exactly where, as he doesn't. Sure he knows generals, as that's where he's heading now, but not exacts. Maybe there will be a few Galbadians on the road, in the way... *.*

Dammit, don't even -think- about the dreaded Galbadians. (Nevermind the fact that he's Galbadian in origin himself.) Irvine does know where he's going. However, he usually tracks direction for himself, half by feel and half by the skies. Night is even doable, seeing as his foster father had taught him once how to get around by looking at them. But, during the day it's easier. However, half the time Irvine's got his eyes squeezed shut from the reckless driving. It's mighty tempting just to get out and sprint. But not that tempting. He'd have to jump. At the prompt for directions, the cowboy steels himself and glances out the windows to get his bearings. It's harder when you're actually in a vehicle to do this sort of thing, though. Gesturing this way, then that, he hopes he's relatively correct. "God, just don't kill us before we get there, Squall." Eeesh.

Actually he doesn't drive recklessly... just dman fast. >.> "I won't." He says in a totally bland voice as the young man takes the road at speeds he most certainly shouldn't. However it does have the merit of getting you there long before you expect it to, even if there was one close call on the way. Some poor cow nearly got hit. Squall merely widened his eyes a little and swirved out of the way, correcting his course easily. Little does poor Irvine know that the teen often goes out driving obstical courses alone. >.> None of the instructors knew about that however, because it was sure to get his privliages revoked. one can really blame it on Seifer, for it was his dare that stared it all some years ago, but we shouldn't go any further into that. Other than probably scaring poor Irvine half to death, Squall slows down as teh light house comes into view, and follows the road around until it won't go any further. Whether or not this leads directly to the orphanage the player doesn't know, but the teen gets as close as he possibly can. Nothing is said to Irvine as the car is stopped and Squall climbs out, pocketing the keys. Now don't you wish you got to drive, cowboy?

No. After that harrowing experience, Irvine will have -no- inclination to get into a car again, not even to learn how to drive the damn thing. Yes, he has to look away and grab for an 'oh shit' handle somewhere as the cow is nearly hit. He almost says a little prayer to a God he doesn't believe in before he catches himself and swallows it. And, when it finally comes to an end, he gets out and has to lean against the door for a second as the adrenaline cycles through his system. But, he's alive and in one peice. So soon enough he pushes away from his leaning spot and reaches back in the window to grab the shotgun holster, removing said shotgun, just in case. No comments toward Squall either. Seems the cowboy's not in the mood to be social at all. Lucky for Golden Boy.

Getting out of the vehicle, one can notice the sounds that the grindy little engine makes. Mind you, 'fast' for a magically-run vehicle isn't too bad--but still, you were a good hour on the road.... and the enginers are loud and tend to make alot of noise. But with the lack of noise, one can notice--other sounds. The lap of the waves, the call of seagul, the clanging of armor and imperiously ordering voices...

Wait a minute! Voices? Yes, voices. The lighthouse and the ruins of the orphanage that at least Irvine should remember is not empty. A line of white steeds, each bearing a rank and insignia of the Galbadian Holy Cross are roped to a collumn, and inside the house there is banging and clanging and orders of, "Search everywhere!" "He has to have hidden them here!" "Dammit, nothing but garbage!"

You are /not/ alone. However, over thier yelling and breaking of things, they have not noticed the noise of the cars of the slam of doors, though the horses have spooked a little.

Squall frowns as he notes those horses and the symbols that they wear. Well, this is to say that he frowns even more deeply than is his normal. He hadn't expected the knights to be out here trashing some place. Not at all. Instead the teen had assumed they would be more towards the mountains, or at the places where Seifer was his most destructive. Of course the player could have totally forgotten that the light house was one of those spots... so there you are. With a glance to Irvine, the young man soon returns his storm colored gaze to the animals. "Your show." He says in his soft, harsh voice, leaving everything up to the gunman. After all, Squall was ordered to not get in Irvine's way, and to only provide backup if it were needed. Also in not knowing where Irvine came from, or that he is frightened of the knights.. how can Squall know to help out? If he did know the teen would have taken the lead, and test be damned, but he doesn't and so there you are. As he's done before on thsi trip, he waits for Irvine's lead.

'Fuck' Irvine mouths, to himself, straightening up again with the shotgun resting against a shoulder with a casualness that belies just how quickly he can wield and fire the damn thing. After that car ride, he doesn't even have the ability to be shocked. So, instead, he just gets this look of defeat on his face. He's recognized the horses, and the insignias on them. After all, had he not run, he'd probably have one just like them by now. He -had- to choose the spot where his worst nightmares were searching at the same time. Just his damn luck. Badb even seems a bit alarmed, after all, who better then she knows the torment the Galbadians foisted upon her Chosen years ago. Glancing at Squall, Irvine suddenly realizes that this little secret of his is something he's gonna have to reveal, like it or not. "Squall, if they recognize me, we're likely to have trouble." He moves around the car before saying this, keeping his voice hushed. But whatever Stoic-boy replies with, the gunman's going to head in there anyway, somehow. These idiots have no idea what to even look for as they don't know Seifer from adam, and these surroundings are familiar to Irvine. Besides, when he ran he was fourteen, he's done a fair bit of growing since then. If he's lucky, these knights are never knew him.

Nope! Not a soul among the knights recognize him. A cadre of five in all--one senior knight, with gilding on his armor in elaborate patterns to indicate his rank as a High Holy Knight, with two knights, and thier squires--one of which Irvine might remember from years ago, but who won't remember him unless prodded. Young, stupid, but thick of muscle, simply named Teln. He's currently breaking into old, rotted cupboards with his gloved fist, and generally treating evrything like it was merely trash. Which it is--but for some, that trash holds memories.

But they're pretty intent on what they're doing, and probably won't notice the pair until it's too late to really do anything except yell at them and tell them to bugger off. After all, there are holy artifacts at stake!

Brows arch as Irvine chooses to tell him some of this. Even as little as it is, the young man lifts his chin so that he can look up into those cornflower blue eyes and hold there for a time. What Squall sees in Irvine's eyes isn't something he expresses at all - if he saw anything at all. Instead the teen cants his head to the side for a brief second and then nods. He accepts this at face value and doesn't even ask any questions about it. To be honest he doesn't care about why Irvine would be having trouble with Galbadian Knights, but he does know that the other teen came from Galbadia Garden so it must not have been as nice as parting as Irvine had been suggesting.
Stepping back a pace Squall smoothly pulls his gunblade rfom its sheath and rests the blunt edge of it against his right shoulder. Metal rings against metal for a moment as the thing slides free of its housing. Perhaps it's somewhat imitating the Cowboy, but this is a habit formed long before irvine came to Garden. Since Irvine says there might be trouble he wants to be ready for it. Leather covered fingers flex around the hilt in a slightly restless fashion. The young man might be used to waiting for combat to begin, but that doesn't mean he has to like the waiting. However, this is Irvine's play and so he remains second strong. "Lead on." Is all he says for now. Squall will go about his job of backup. Too bad he's not tall enough to loom over people.

Regardless of the Knight's actions, Irvine starts into the familiarness of this place. He wonders if Squall recalls any of it, but immediately surmises that no, he can't. Sadly, Stoic-boy seems to have forgotten this part of his life. Not the cowboy, however, who has most of his memories intact. He frowns at the destruction, yes many of these things have sentimental value to him, but he's not going to challenge them. He knows how Holy Knights are, and the fact that there is a higher rank among them means it is probably better to finish business here and be on his way. He searches each face as it becomes a possibility, looking for anything familiar, and thankfully doesn't find it. Perhaps his luck will hold up. Teln sparks something... deja vu, but not outright remembrance. Something about him being a dumb ox not fit for being a Kn-- oh yeah. Him. Oiy.
If/When yelled at, Irvine pauses, reaching up to tip his hat, resisting the urge to respond with any gestures from his days in Galbadia. (He's not going to make recognizing him easy, after all.) "SeeD dispatched from Balamb on contract with Dollet. We're here to search, nothing more. We'll leave when we're through." How he manages to keep his voice steady is beyond him. Later he'll wonder about it, right now he's doing everything possible to keep his heart from leaping out of his throat.

"Hey!"

Oh, look. You've been spotted. And by Teln, no less, who's beady, piggish little eyes bore into the cowboy with a glower. This gives all the knights and thier squires pause. Teln grunts in an oh-so intelligent fashion, and looks to his knight, who in turns look to the Knight Lord there, who's simply standing in the doorway that leads to the beach beyond the house. But his attention was already drawn to the pair in the window. Obvious heathens, just from the way they're dressed, he sumises, and dismisses thier claim all together.

"Stay out of our way," He say tersely. "The demon has made off with holy relics from Deling City, and they must be found. Do not interfere with us." In other words, go find yourself some other place to search, cowboy and ... whatever the hell you are back there with the lion-motif. =.=;

Stay out of your way? I don't think so. "You get in our way and you will be breaking your treaty with Dollet. We have right of way according to the Dollet government." Squall's voice is calm, and it is firm, but it is also loud enough to be heard and he speaks with authority. Whether or not he has official authority doesn't matter. He did in fact listen to what Xu had to say and remembered her comments about the Galbadians just in case this sort of thing happened. There is no threat to his tone, but there is a threat unspoken there all the same. You don't have a leg to stand on if you choose to contest this. "If we encounter the.. demon.. we will return all items found to their appropriate owners." Which means Squall doesn't believe that Seifer went and stole anything that was holy to anyone. All the same he will return anything he finds that appears to have been.
Pausing for a moment, the teen's almost frighteningly calm red backed eyes, for he's junctioned at the moment and therefor the flames of Ifrit show through over the blue-gray, sweep around the room. "Be sure to note the damage done." This is said more quietly to Irvine, but all the same is said only so that the knights can hear it. Dollet isn't your country to be trashing, assholes, and Squall is going to make sure someone knows about it.

Knowing how fanatical the Galbadians are when it comes to their goddamned precious relics, Irvine frowns, considering how to handle this. No, he's not leaving without searching the area first, though the more these Knights search, the more evidence they might be destroying. If only such things were easy, but, no one said life was. Badb is huffing again in the background. Though she knows what orders Irvine was given, she'd prefer to whoop on them and get it over with. Luckily, Squall speaks up, or unluckily as the case may be, as the cowboy knows he's supposed to be handling this. Or something like that. He nods to the shorter man, having already been noting the damage with a growing, seething anger. However, a confrontation with the Knights is something they're supposed to attempt to avoid. So, delving in to tap that knowledge he's tried so hard to forget, he switches to the Galbadian dialect and accent speaking mostly to the Lord Knight, "Forgive our intrusion, your Grace, I know you are searching to see that the rightful Relics of the Lord are returned to their proper place, but we do need to search for this spawn of Hell also, and we will humbly be on our way afterwards, with the grace of God." See? He's a good God fearing worshipper... but not really. That took alot, and it was so difficult to resist grinding his teeth as he let the words out.

Of course it's thier country! You /all/ used to be thier country, don't you know? The Great Galbadian empire! From Trabia (which is now a waste-land due to war) across the rough steppes of Galbadia, the forest of Timber, all the way down to the rugged country of Dollet and the paradise that was Balamb Isle. ALL were part of thier holy empire, till they turned to dark, pagan rituals!

But the Knight Lord pauses and /looks/ at Irvine--and then his bright, blue eyes sharply narrow. "Do you think you can fool me, boy, with your forked Balambian tongue? You've got to be a heathen sorceror to be a SeeD!" Duh, boy. Irvy, you've just stepped into something, and just made everything that much harder. Not only are you a pagan, you're a pretending, decietful pagan who mocks the ways of the lord! =.=

Teln moves to advance, and then ays, "You'll search when we're done here," he growls. "And then we'll see who reaches the hell spawn first--us to destroy it, or you pagans to recruit it." He chops the air with his mailed hand, and then cries, "Back to work!" Ooops?

Edits Teln moves to advance, but stops as his lord says, "You'll search when we're done here," growling fiercely. "And then we'll see who reaches the hell spawn first--us to destroy it, or you pagans to recruit it." He chops the air with his mailed hand, and then cries, "Back to work!" Ooops?

Squall quietly clears this throat as the back to work is said, "This isn't your country anymore to terrorize. We have the right of way and you are merely here acting like common street thugs. I suggest you leave the area." Seems mightly confident for all that there are only two of them, eh? Then again the teen does have his fair share of pride and he has been the golden boy of Garden for a long while now. "We are willing to work with you, but you have no weight or authority to throw around here, and I will not be intimidated by you." Yeah, he's suppose to allow Irvine to do things, but clearly he didn't listen about that part too well. Of course it doesn't help that Ifrit is burning behind his eyes at the moment, very much wanting a fight. Squall hasn't gotten to stomp on anything for weeks now. The fire spirit was getting really, really damn bored. While he might be more patient than Seifer's Salamander, he does most certainly have his limits.
Now, it should be stated that the gunblade remains on the shoulder, and the teen doesn't move from his spot, but there is a threat beneath his words. Adults should never send out power laiden teen-agers to do diplomacy. Oy.

Mocking the ways of the lord? They have no idea... wouldn't they flip to know he's been using that Holy Cross as a worry stone. Rolling his eyes, Irvine can't help but sigh now. He tried not to, really, but it's rather exasperating how Holy Knights aren't well known for listening to reason, or taking stock in threats either. They have the might and power of the Lord, after all, and believe they should own the whole world, regardless of whether or not they do. In sync with Squall, the cowboy shakes his head, a weary sound to his voice as he switches back to the trader's tongue and to Squall's threatening note tacks on, "I'm sorry, but we're searching now. It might also be noted that destroying possible evidence isn't exactly a good idea. It won't help you find anything any quicker. It'd doubtful any relics were left here." Mmm, insult to injury now. At least this time Irvine thinks he knows what the reaction will be. Why Seifer has Galbadian relics is beyond the gunman's understanding anyway, and he wonders privately if this is just an excuse they're using to search Dollet indiscriminately.

Well, there you are! The Galbadians all huff and grunt and one reaches for his sword--but the Knight Lord stays his hand. "Stand down, Kildare." He begins to advance from his place in the ruined doorway, and crosses the floor quietly. A steel-jacketed foot comes down on a stuffed chicobo, long forgotten--didn't that belong to Zell? Have some ridiculous name like 'Featherduster', but inevitably became 'Fester' to a four year old?--and eventually stands before the pair of SeeDS--or at lesat, the SeeD and the Cadet.

"Listen," he ays, voice rumbling like a storm on the horizon, "I don't want any trouble with you pagans. I just want to do my job and get back to the roads, as is my duty. But there is a temple to be blessed and we cannot do it without the artifact that's been stolen from us."

Maybe there /is/ some credence to the rumor. The do seem to be looking for smoething--if violently--and they are a bit torn up about it. THis close, however, one might see that the knight carries not a sword, but a wicked, heavy mace, and the symbol on his breastplate is a serpent wrapped around a cross. The symbol of the order of witchhunters--who drove the pagan Hyne-worshippers from the Holy Lands. And guess who just volunteered to be witches? But he lifts a hand, and motions to the others. "We will cross pathes again," he says simply. "And then, we will make Dollet safe for the God loving men and women that we are sworn to protect."

A glance over his shoulder. "To your horses!"

And that, as they say, is that. Of course, this most likely means that they intend to hunt you down and kill you as pagan sorcerors later, when they regroup and reequip.

Did you expect some grandstanding to happen at this? Squall says nothing and in fact doesn't even move from his spot as the high ranking knight comes out of the orphanage to deliver his little speach. As the teen isn't standing in the doorway and is in fact not blocking anyone from leaving... he merely stands there and watches the goings on. The threats gain no reaction, not even a faint frown, for he doesn't believe that Galbadia will be able to so that ever again. He does think about it however, and a lot. Squall thinks about how the next time the two meet he will kill that knight if he at all can. There are too many painful deaths lurking in the Knight's statement and attire. Hunting people down and killing them is wrong. Especially when all they did was happen to worship a different god. He's not going to take any abuse from the others mind you, but neither is he going to stop them if they pass without trouble. Verbal insults are totally ignored.

Eyes widening just a little when he reconizes that Witch-hunter symbol, Irvine suddenly loses the ability to remain cool about this. It's a good thing they -are- leaving. Not that the cowboy has any doubts he'll cross their paths again if they get their way. He'll just have to make sure he's totally unavailable, which means getting this done, pronto, and getting the hell out of here. He does take an involuntary step back as the Lord Knight comes forward. God, they wanted to turn him into that? Blind worshippers of a Diety that can't possibly exist? But, he's not going to say this aloud, merely narrow cornflower blue eyes at the other, the discomfort quickly giving way to the rage he's had to bite back for years. His trigger finger twitches, even though it's not actually on the trigger. (Thankfully there.) Listening to the diatribe regarding them, and 'meeting again. Quietly, mostly to himself though there is always the possibility that the Lord Knight might hear him, he switches to the Galbadian high tongue, you know, that language usually shared by Priests and Holy Knights for the scriptures, saying a single word, which would translate to 'Heretic', if Squall understands these things and is standing close enough to catch it. Somebody's pissed. Eesh.

Irvine gets quite the odd look, and Squall is completely ignored. Utterly, totally just... bleh. Not caring one whit about you, sorry, boy. But they go to get on thier horses, mount up, and ride away. Just like that, you're alone with the sound of the sea and the cry of seagulls and the remainders of what used to be your home, once upon a time.

The knights have left it a tatter. Had they not been interrupted sooner, they would have set the feild alight to try and burn down the flowers to find anything that might've been buried out there. However, cups, rotted furniture, and other items are strewn around the broken house that was, once upon a time, the pair's home. So what do you do now?

No, the young man doesn't speak the Galbadian tongue. At least not the one Irvine uses to voice his anger, and it only earns the cowboy something of a strange look. A glance of those fire lighted eyes before Squall's attention shifts elsewhere. The gunblade is quietly sheathed as Squall turns his back on the knights as they ride away, and the teen moves into a place that used to be his home. There are few memories of it left, but enough to where something is triggered deep inside of his heart as he spots that little stuffed animal there on the floor. Slowly the young man leans over and picks it up, straightening as he holds it in a hand, staring down at it. A boy with bright hair had this. Squall doesn't know how he knows that, but he does. Frowning now with something akin to pain, he struggles with emotions that haven't at all faded even if his memories have been taken away. Gently he brushes at a spot where the stuffing is peeking through a hole. "Seifer wouldn't steal anything." He murmurs almost more to himself than to you, Irvine, soon sighing out a breath at his own lack of answers. "Angel one moment, demon another..." There is a little shake of the head, making brown bangs sway, and the teen falls silent.

Watching the Knights ride away, Irvine can't help but spit at the ground in their general direction. He mutters something else, but it's not coherant to anyone but himself. The rage is still there, after all, and he has to put a lid on it, there are things to be done here. Keeping the gun shouldered, he walks in after Squall does, cornflower blue eyes falling on that stuffed animal as it is picked up. Idly he comments, "That was Zell's. Fester... or something like that." There are other memories here too. At least, memories that the cowboy can recall. He walks past Squall, out toward the beach area, replying, "And no, I don't see Seifer being a theif either." After all, the blonde wonder had never taken anything from him, not that he really had anything Seifer would want, but still. The most he did was toss his things into his bedroom if he left them in the shared area.
Stepping out from the ruins to the stairs leading down, the breeze catches his bangs, real air sweeping them into his face for once, rather then Badb's quirk. It feels good, and sends a tidal wave of pleasant and funny remembrances back to the cowboy, even in the destructive aftermath of the Knights. "I know why he came back here, Squall. We grew up here, all of us."

Fester? Startlement sweeps over Squall's features as Irvine walks past and says the things he does. The young man opens his mouth in an automatic attempt to deny the fact that he knows anything about this place at all... but nothing comes out. He does know this place somehow. It lurks in the back of his mind, flirting with emotion, giving just enough to leave the teen wondering at his own sanity. Ifrit remains very quiet indeed, for he knows who caused the loss of those memories. Squall meanwhile forces himself to close his mouth, and dampens his lips as he turns himself to be able to keep his gaze on Irvine. Slowly steps are taken, one another another, and the teen forces himself to follow the Cowboy out to where that wind tugs at hair and clothing. "I grew up in Garden." He denies quietly. It's the truth as well, for all that you did both indeed spend time in this space when you were small. Squall didn't grow up here. He grew up in Garden. It's where his only memories are, and since they are all he has they are something he clings to. The stuffed animal is still held in hand, but seems to be forgotten all the same. "This was in those files." Irvine doesn't know about those, but Squall choose not to look through them. "There was a shipment to Garden on a day Seifer, Issei, and I were on duty. A box from Dollet contained files with our names on them. This has to be how Seifer knew about it." For he assumes Seifer didn't know about it before, or he would have looked before now. "He's trying to find his family." Trying to find the place he believes he belongs.

"You grew up here first, well, you were here before Garden, anyway. I was too, and so was Seifer," Irvine replies to the denial as he hears it. He knows the truth, but explaining that he's right to someone who's reluctant to believe it, not to mention has no memory of it, is probably nigh impossible. Or so the cowboy believes. He turns slightly to look at the other teen, a reddish eyebrow lifting at the mention of boxes from Dollet. "Squall, just because you don't remember doesn't mean Seifer doesn't." Then again, he'd never asked. His repetoire of conversations with the blonde wonder consisted mostly of insults and overt threats of anniliation or severe beatings, etc etc. After a pause he says, "But it would explain how he learned the exact location of this place." Irvine wouldn't have known to come here, after all, his memories are not -that- precise. He didn't even know what it was until arriving. He has to agree with the idea that Seifer is searching for his origins, reaching up to rub at his chin with his free hand. "Question is, what did he find here, and will he come back. This was all the family we had, before, Matron was mother to us, and now it's only a ruin." Made worse by those damned Knights.

And, if on cue, there's a soft rush of air, as if beaten by by visable wings. Like the gulls just got to be the size of wyverns, beating the air with fury and clamor. And the temperature just picked up a few degrees. In the ruined building, you can't quite see the light show outside, but it dims quietly--and then there's a soft *thump* of some weight hitting the earth outside.

Should one chose to investigate, the prodigial son of Balamb Garden can be found, on one knee, soaked with sweat. Seifer Almasy has definately seen better days. Striped the waist, his slacks tattered and dirty, he smells, oddly, of green growing with a tangy undercurrent of the scent of ash. And he's not even clean shaven! Seems he's gone to pot. But apparently, the young cadet is trying to recover from a long--journey? Who knows. But regardless, the one you've been looking for it there, nearly ready to collapse.

Squall shakes his head slightly as you say that Seifer probably remembered. Strangely there is no arguement about his having lived here too. "If Seifer had known about this he would have come here before." Which is true. The Blonde only came here after reading those files... which gives Squall another idea. Lifting his eyes to Irvine, the fire is gone and in its place is a pair of haunted blue-gray orbs. "He came here first, then moved on. I don't know what the file said though. If we knew that we'd probably be able to know where Seifer went to afterwards." Why does he believe that Seifer came here first? Because Seifer went into Konan and then traveled towards Dollet along the western road. That information was learned by the teen for he went into Konan's capitol city of Eiyou and asked some questions shortly after Seifer had left. He didn't follow any further than that, but he did indeed ask around.
Anything else he would have said remains unspoken as the air temperature rises and that rush of air brushes over Squall. He goes silent and he holds still for a second before dropping poor Fester and heading outside. Of course he's going to investigate. The teen's eyes widen at Seifer's condition, but regardless of it he moves over slowly, quietly, to where Seifer kneels down and says, "Seifer?" Yes Irvine is suppose to bring the teen back, but all Squall wants to do is talk to him. His tone is gentle, lacking in the roughness that so normally colors it. No attempt to touch is made, for that isn't Squall's way, but he gets within arms reach and cants his head to the side.

Well. Hello. Badb perks rather suddenly, prodding her Chosen rapidly more then just the ocean breezes plucking at Irvine's duster, clothing, hair, etc. now. But, he's already turning his gaze back to the inside of the Orphanage. The rush of wind wasn't ocean and wasn't Badb and that got his attention first. Entering soon after Squall, Irvine actually hangs back. The condition Seifer seems to be in lends creedance to him being exhausted. And the gunman doesn't consider that a threat at the moment. Besides, he's curious to know what Seifer will say or do once he realizes who is here with him. Something is very -very- wrong about this, though. The scent in the air, the sudden rise in temperature. And then, he recalls conversations about 'possession' and the demon/angel, which means at any second Seifer might not be -Seifer- anymore. Guess it was a good thing he'd listened to Xu's otherwise boring diatribes. "Squall... just be careful," he advises, lowering the gun now just in case. Badb frills in the background, just as wary as her Chosen, a Haste spell in the making should anything untoward happen soon.

"Fuck," he young man says succinctly. Well, looky-here. The jade eyes--backlit by fires that are probably not Salamander's--of the young man lift to find Squall's face--and then promptly groans. "Hyne's Holy Light and Nine Hells," he breathes. "Of ALL the people--shouldn't Cid know better then to send you, Leonhart?" The jibe is weak, the venom lacking potency. But there it is. He pushes back to his feet quietly, takng two steps back, eyes moving from SeeD to Cadet. "You too, Kinneas? Christ, this the--hey. Aren't you a cadet still?" THere's a brief moment of confusion crossing his face--you know, this does seem pretty Seifery... but then he just laughs, bitter enough to cuddle milk with hte sound alone. "I'm to be a test, then? Lordy, Cid must thnik I'm something /special/." But as the pair did get in close, he nods once to Irvy. Yes, please, keep your distance. He doesn't want either of you near. But he looks over the place a moment, and then says, "I don't know why you ran off the knights, but I guess I ought to be thankful." Notice he doesn't /thank/ anybody. "However, I don't suggest persuing me, either. CAdets won't be able to take Him, and I dno't feel like getting my ass hauled back by striplings." So there. -/-; But for all of Seifer's bluster, there's an undercurrent of something... wrong. Perhaps it's the slight taste of fear in his voice, or the apprhensive cast to his eyes. Regardless, he's not all there right now..

Holding his ground as Seifer rises, the teen doesn't bother to go for his gunblade, or anything else for that matter. He watches Seifer instead and a faint smirk tugs at his lips. "I'm not here to try anything." He replies calmly, quietly, and is back to the normal quality of his voice which means it's somewhat harsh. Seifer always did bring out the worst in Squall. It's the truth as well. he's only here as backup. Not that he's been playing only backup very well, but that is suppose to be his official job. The young man listens to the fear in the words just as he listens to the words themselves, and all Squall can do fro a time is cant his head to the otherside as he regards his messy rival. "So you enjoy looking like total shit, being possessed, and on the run?" Hey, he does happen to know some of Seifer's buttons. "You look like someone ran you over and then used you as a stoop rug for a month in the rainy season. Just how is this better than what you had before?" Um, sorry Irvine, but if you want to act you'd better do something. Squall's getting a little out of hand here. The tone isn't snide, but it isn't exactly pleasant either.

Yeah, it's Seifer all right. Irvine's lips twist to the left in a smug half smile. Yep, you're special all right, blonde boy, as well as right about the test/Cadet situation. The cowboy doesn't seem to think he needs to voice this though, it's rather obvious to begin with. He doesn't bother getting insulted either. This is so typical of Seifer, and the gunman has gotten used to the jibes, comments, insults, etc. The only thing he didn't include was a threat, well, besides the vague mention of 'Him', whoever that is.
Nearly wincing at Squall's words, the gunman -does- step forward, "That's enough, Squall, back off." This is said for a number of reasons. For one, Irvine doesn't like him being that close to Seifer when this 'possession' could rather easily take over and thwack the Golden Boy up the side of his head. Two, Irvine is aware of some of Seifer's buttons also, having been his roommate up until the blonde boy fled and insulting him isn't going to get him to agree to come along peacefully. (As if the redhead really believed any of this was going to be that easy, no way.) Three, he's supposed to be the one doing this for his test. And all of his reasons are in about that order, importance-wise. To Seifer, he sighs, "Seifer, we have to bring you back. There isn't a choice in the matter."

"Aww.. Don't like being called outta Sigurd's bed? And here, I figured you had enough class to /not/ degenrate into some pedophile's bitch, Squally. Or you come to your senses and decided to me /mine/ instead?" Yeah. Irvy. Please step in. Seifer's eyes get a glint that they've never really held before--a sheer maliciousness that the blonde has never been capable before. At least, not like this. But even as his face twists, he jerks back, almost spasmodically. A low, animal growl escapes his throat, and he presses a hand over his chest, where a new scar lays, near his heart. "Fuck. Don't /start/ with me, Squall! I can't... I can't /deal/ with this--with /you/." Squall knows the truth of it. Why he left. What happened. So, of course, while's in a near constant contest of wills, he doesn't want to be distracted by his rival. He just grits his teeth, and then turns his attention to Irvine. At least, Irvine he doesn't loathe. "Listen," he rasps flatly, "I don't have long, before I'm going to have to sleep, and He's going to take over. I'll tell you this right now--don't go up the mountain. Don't follow me." A pause, as he tries to gather obviously scattered thoughts. "I don't know what else to tell you, 'cept that he took the precious 'relic' of the Galbadian's and dropped it out to sea. They ain't gettin' it back."

The combination of Irvine's tone and the struggle of Seifer as he fights his possessor actually reins Squall in. The insults of Sigurd didn't bother him at all, and neither did the idea that he came here to be Seifer's... but that struggle, the pain in Seifer's eyes.. that brings the teen to lower his gaze in a surprisingly submissive fashion and step back several paces from the Blonde. No apology is made, but the action itself should be one. He didn't mean to start anything. Honest. but as stated before Seifer always brings out the worst in him. Too many years of being the brunt of the Blonde's need for dominance. You are allowed to do as you will, Irvine. Squall won't say anything more and will in fact play good until such a time as he's needed to fight. Yep, somehow the boy got a clue and realized that his getting involved would only make this worse. Of course he doesn't at all plan to stay away from the mountain, but... then again neither does any of the rest of the group.

You know, Irvine didn't need to know most of this. Sordid love affairs just -aren't- on the list of things the redhead wants or needs to know anything about. Just ignore the fact that he likes pretty girls in his own bed, and he's a happy boy. So, deciding not to pay any mind to the jibes going on between Squall and Seifer (though he is momentarily glad Squall did back off without argument), he concentrates on 'Him', whatever the hell that is. "What is 'He', Seifer. How long does he possess you? We can't just leave you out here, we're going to bring you back. It is not a choice." As an afterthought, with a touch of emotion, (for the redhead has been having a lot of oddball defense mechanisms being triggered in regards to the blonde wonder lately and he -did- notice the scar, and wince as Seifer jerks under some alien influence), "We wouldn't leave you to that fate. Help us help you. Please." Of course, he assumes this is something Seifer doesn't want. The gunman can't imagine him -wanting- this, at least. Seifer's always been a neat freak, a man so utterly in control of himself, and now look at him. Reduced to shambles, clothing in tatters, no longer in control of himself or his actions. He'll chuckle at the fact that the Galbadian relic is in the ocean later, for now his attention and concern is only on blonde boy.

"Heh," the voice is grating and rough, but there it is. A small laugh, as the man drops into a decidedly feline crouch. "If I knew what 'he' was, I'd tell you. I... I just know he's... He's like a GF, only worse. He doesn't patron you, he controls you. And he's wounded Salamander, and I can't remember anything for shit anymore..." Which is why he doesn't seem to care about his appearance. He doesn't remember being a neat freak. He remember being really angry at Squall, though, for it feeds the thing inside, and he remember what a pissant Irvine was with his women, and he remembers... Well, you get the idea. But he grits his teeth again, jerking slightly as he keeps a lid on whatever it is lurking behind his eyes. "I just know there was an accident--and there he was with me, and I could't get rid of him." A small shrug of his shoulders. But he grins, almost maniacally, as he laughs at Irvine's last statement. "Help me? Oh, stow your bullshit. You don't want to help me. You want your rank. He doesn't want to help me. He wants to pretend he's got a family who beats the shit out of him, and a lover he can crawl to for comfort when it doesn't go his way. You don't want to help me. You wanna make me into something I'm not." He's probably not making any sense, but Seifer isn't the most well of folks here right now. But he staggers back--and from the scar over his heart, a red glow emanates, and then spreads out over his shoulders likea cloak of crimson light. Within moments, it bursts into flames without ever harming his skin--and then he just sort of.. blanks out and flees to the ...sky? o.O;

Welcome to the twilight zone, Balambians, and enjoy your stay.

The angry, supposedly hurtful words bring Squall to sigh quietly. He's still not looking at either of you... until Seifer bursts into flams. That certainly gets the young man's attention, and he blinks up to watch the Blonde rise into the sky. Well.. fuck. Don't see that every day, do you? Now frowning deeply, Squall rolls his shoulders in an effort to relax a little and watches his rival head off to where ever it is that he is going. The frown remains there and probably will for some time, but the only other sign of his being upset is that his fingers drum on the hilt of his gunblade. "The mountain." This is all he says. Squall can only assume Seifer gave the warning as a means to try and get help. So what if that wasn't at all what the Blonde meant. This is how Squall is taking it. Yes, Seifer is family, and he IS going to try and help. Doesn't matter if he gets beaten on. Then again Seifer's always hurt him in one form or another, so this shouldn't be new. With a toss of the head, Squall says nothing more and heads for the car. Time to head for the mountain. Here's to hoping that Issei is able to bring a possessed SeeD cadet down. o.O;

So much for appealing to any emotional side of Seifer. Irvine frowns a bit at the accusations. Some of it is truth in part, though most of it isn't. The redhead, for all the posturing he's done toward the blonde in the past, actually meant what he said for once. Seifer is a part of his past, however much the bully he was back then. Of course, he's not given a chance to respond to any of it. Lifting an arm to shield himself from the sudden burst of flame, though it's not needed and appears only to be a defensive knee-jerk reaction, he gasps as Seifer suddenly zips upward like one of the bottle rockets Zell used to light off in the middle of the night when all of them were supposed to be in bed asleep. "Fuck," is all he can say after that. Yeah. Looks like they're going to the mountain. As if that warning would hold any of them back. Realizing Squall's darted off, Irvine suddenly zips forward, using his speed for a moment to get to the car before the gunblade expert does. No, he isn't sure he wants to ride back with the Golden Boy, but in his state of mind, he'd just exhaust himself getting back to the city on foot and that energy is best saved for confronting Seifer later.

Oh, don't worry.. Squall isn't going to leave you behind. He's brooding up a storm at the moment, but that doesn't mean he's forgotten about you and the fact he's responsible for your welfare. Thanks to your speed, getting to the car before the teen is easy. he can't run worth shit, and wasn't even running anyway. Keys are dug out of that pocket as he opens the door and climbs inside. Well, there is a minute taken to remove the gunbelt and tuck it into the back seat, but this is neither here nor there. You try driving with a weapon at your side that is pretty much as big as you are. >.>; Anyway, Squall really doesn't have anything to say. He does however really hope that those knights are on the road. Running them down sounds really good about how.
This leaves a mostly silent drive back. Mostly in that some time before getting to the mountain, as it is a good hour plus drive to the city of Dollet lone, Squall actually says something without being prompted. "It has to do with that wound on his chest." Who 'his' is should be fairly obvious. No, Squall doesn't know for certain, but he believes he does. "If it's not a GF, then what could it be?" Maybe he's talking outloud? The conversation seems to jump a little here and there. "How could something hurt Salamander?" There is a glance to you. Do you know?

Being no expert in possession, no Irvine has no idea, except what he knows already at the mission debriefing, and his own common sense. Somehow he manages to reholster the shotgun too, holding it against his shoulder still as if it were still freed from the cloth confines. To be honest, the idea of Salamander being hurt really bothers him, and equally disturbs Badb, who prefers to think of herself as relatively safe from such things. He had seen the wound also, "Could something have gotten into him physically through that?" Badb just melded with the redhead, or as best he could describe it, she needed no opening like that to junction with him. Bright blue eyes glance back at you and he shrugs, just as uncertain about this as you are. "I know theology, Squall, not demonology. I'm as lost as you are." Of course, he's making assumptions about it being a demon. But, hadn't someone mentioned that at some point? Out of conjecture then too, but still, it still seems like a feasible explanation.

Lips purse as you reply, but Squall keeps his eyes on the road. It does happen to have a cow or two on it and the young man doesn't feel like crashing into anything. Not even one of those annoying knights. "I wonder if we could get him down if it's some kind of object we could dig out of his flesh." Kind of a gory idea perhaps, but this is a student of Garden that is talking here. Squall knew going into this that it was impossible for everyone to get out of this unwounded, and so has no trouble in the thought of holding Seifer down and doing a little impromtu 'field surgery'. Then another idea occurs and he risks a glance to you since the road seems cow free at the moment. "Kill him if you have to. It doesn't matter. I can bring him back." Sometimes it's handy having that Life spell, eh? Better that Seifer die and be brought back, then to have to deal with possession. This just doesn't sound pleasant at all. The teen's thoughts run to that again, brooding over things heavily until Ifrit gives him yet another of those mental kicks. By now people probably think Squall has some nervous disorder that makes him wince and twitch all of the time.

Closing his eyes, Irvine somehow manages to relax on the drive back. This is only because he doesn't see whatever kind of driving Squall is doing. What he doesn't see, he can't flinch at or be afraid of. In this case. The idea of pulling something out of Seifer doesn't bother Irvine either, being just as much a product of the violence prone system that is Garden. "If that's what it'll take, guess that's what we'll have to do." He doesn't relish the thought of doing it, but he's got a feeling he probably wouldn't, seeing as he doesn't have the know how to do it without removing something that'd be, you know, vital. One blue eye squints open to look at Squall at the mention of killing him. Oh. Should he even ask about this? Yes. "How you gonna do that?" Badb's spell gifts are mostly air and a few status changes. He's heard of some folks having access to life magicks, and this is what drives him to ask.

Squall shrugs a little as you ask, for he had expected you to. Everyone who hears about it for the first time asks about that little ability. "I have the spell Life." He makes it sound like this is an every day thing to. You kno.. I can brush my teeth, dress myself, drive a car, raise people from the dead. Can't everyone? "So if it takes killing him to hold him down don't stress over it. So long as I can get to the body before the week is out I can bring him back." Anything over that time and everyone is shit out of luck. Only Aerith back in Midgar even stands a chance of bringing back anyone who's been dead longer than a week. "The only question I have is did Seifer warn us away from the mountain to tell us where to go, or did the possessor do it to lure us into a trap?" Now he also wonders if that is where Issei and that side of things was going. To be honest Squall didn't pay all that much attention.

Irvine closes his eyes again, releasing a little sigh. Hmm, well, at least Squall's given him another advantage, seeing as he's rather loathe to the idea of killing Seifer. But, if that's what it takes, at least there is an out. "I don't want to kill him." That wasn't meant to be spoken aloud, but it was. The idea of it was bothering him since the objections were raised back at the debreifing. "Mmm, well, even if it's not a trap, better to treat it like it is one. I don't know what he was trying to do by telling us. It could have been a cry for help, whatever that thing is controlling him, I'm sure it doesn't want him telling us anything we could use against it." Better safe then sorry, after all. It'll be interesting to meet up with Issei back in Dollet and hear what he found, hopefully more then they did at the orphanage.

There is another shrug from Squall and he says quietly, "I don't want to either." It's not like he knows that you didn't mean to speak that bit outloud. The teen is merely responding to things... when he's not swirving around some obstical on the road while going at high speeds. Yes, the two are in a rented car heading towards the mountains that Issei was suppose to be checking out (And actually happens to have been ICly checking out for hours at this point in time...), going at speeds that one really shouldn't drive at. however Squall is something of a speed freak when he gets behind the wheel and there you have it. He likes going fast. *.* *ahem* Sorry, teen-age male moment there. >.>; Annnyway, he's driving and the two are talking about Seifer. Kinda. Mostly Squall is using outloud and poor Irvine seems to be trying to keep up with the disjoined set of phrases.

Irvine only half understands what Squall is asking, answering them to the best of his ability. Still, the questions raised to bother him. Seeing Seifer like that -really- bothers him. Part of him wonders who he was really looking at, man or demon. After Squall's final statement, he doesn't have anything more to really say, and thusly falls silent. Badb, actually subdued after the revelation that Salamander was hurt, has fluttered back into her Crow form, delving back to slumber for a time. The excitement seems to have ended for now and she needs as much time to consider this as her Chosen does. Squall's driving goes unnoticed for now, the gunman keeping his eyes shut. The occasional swerve or jerking motion might get his attention, but not for long. He's learning to deal with it, even if he doesn't like it. Quietly, he finally comments, "I felt sorry for him. Wouldn't he hate to know that."

A side long glance to Irvine as that quiet bit is said. Oh yes, Seifer would absolutely hate that. Squall has no doubts there. If there is one thing he's seen Seifer attempt to do time and time and time again it's stand on his own and do everything himself. Of course Squall doesn't realize he makes the same foolish mistake, but that's different, right? "I've felt sorry for Seifer for a very long time now." Why he's saying this Squall really doesn't know, but there you are. He's a lot of reasons for feeling sorry for Seifer, and nearly all of them have sprung up over the last couple of months. Everything was fine until he started dating Sigurd.. and started figuring out the things that were really going on, but he had been clueless to before. A LOT of things. It was scary even how much he'd missed until that point. "He thinks Garden is trying to make him something he isn't, something he doesn't want to be when he's no damn idea what he really wants or how to get it." Sure Seifer says he knows, but Squall doesn't believe he does. Now, this is only Squall's opinion, so whether or not any of it is true remains to be seen.

"Do any of us really know who or what we are though?" Irvine replies in the same quiet tone. For him the answer to that question is easy. No. Outwardly he lets everyone think he's a womanizing jerk whose only concern is what girl's in his bed that night. It beats facing up to the fact that he has no idea what else he is, if anything. Badb does tend to help with these things, acting as a mentor and a guide, even if she's not meaning to. But, he's still very much a teenager, and still stuck in that adolescent uncertainty. No true parents, not even knowing what his real last name is, well, none of that helps much either. It's no wonder Seifer came back here, seeking. Even Sephiroth said that the blonde was looking for something. No, he doesn't know what he is any better then Squall or Irvine do. Yep, it appears that in the lull of the drive (if you want to refer to it that way with Golden Boy driving), it appears the gunman has gotten thoughtful somewhat, and he seems to trust Squall enough to voice it aloud.

And you get no reply to that either. Squall doesn't know any better than any one else apparently. It's something that he and Sigurd had talked about on more than on occasion. Too bad Seifer would never believe the two talk more than they do anything else. The teen needs someone to be able to talk to, someone to be able to trust. Someone who doesn't push for answers like everyone else seems to. Sigurd allows him to ask or give informtion only when he's ready to and not before. It's done wonders for his dealing with others, even if that isn't clear yet. Probably won't be for some yet either. However it is what allows Squall to talk to Irvine now. "Seifer believes he does." This said after another of those long silences. Seifer was always ready to make sure everyone knew that he never had any doubts. This was of course a lie, but the Blonde would have people believing otherwise. Maybe it's too late for anything to change between the two, but Squall is realizing just how badly Seifer lies to himself. Then sitting a little straighter in his seat, hands on the wheel, the young man has a thought. Yeah, so it doesn't happen often. Give the boy a break. "What if that holy item that the ..whatever it is dropped into the sea was the thing that held it before it possessed Seifer... and it dropped it into the ocean to make sure it wasn't bound again?" Can you say he's just making up things as he goes along? I knew you could.

Irvine doesn't prompt Squall for any answers either. Mostly because he has this habit of returning information with information and if the Golden Boy doesn't give him any, he doesn't have to give any in return either. "Seifer's more lost then we are, I think." At least Irvine would like to think that. At least he doesn't lie to himself like that inwardly. But does the blonde? Who knows. This is awful lot of thinking, and thusly Irvine finally opens his eyes, leaning to the right to watch the landscape go by out the window. Eventually he rests his forehead against the glass, even if the ride is a little bumpy. The idea of a Galbadian holy relic having once contained a demon is both amusing and frightening. Cornflower blue eyes flick toward Squall without actually moving his head. "It wouldn't shock me, Galbadians have no idea what half the shit they have really is. Most of their religion is built off pagan relics and ideas. You should see their Garden. It still has some of the original sculptures there."

Most everyone else likes to corner the poor boy and attempt to make him social. Very few seem to realize that if they are patient and careful he will start seeking out those he likes for companionship all on his own. The idiot is only starting to figure out that he doesn't like being alone... alone like he's been telling himself he's wanted to be for years now. Yes, Seifer's lost. What a good way to describe it. A frighteningly correct way. "Seifer was abused as a child. I don't know where, or in what ways, but it's clear to me he was." Only after Sigurd pointed it out, but that doesn't get mentioned aloud. There is a lot more Squall feels about this, but very little of it actually gets said. "Because of that he thinks he has to hurt the things he loves." A little shrug, for Squall is one of the things Seifer loves. Or loved at one time. Squall doesn't know what the other feels anymore. He didn't understand what was going until it was probably too late, and then his attempts at fixing things only make them worse. The teen is lousy when it comes to dealing with Seifer. "I think it's put some strange ideas in his head about what he thinks he needs to be." However he doesn't know anywhere near everything about seifer and the Blonde's problems so some of this is guessing.

Well, Irvine's fairly well in the dark on the relationship between Squall and Seifer, for as long as he can remember (and that's a lot actually) the two have been at one another's throats. Well, usually Seifer started it and Squall would never back down from it either. And that's the extent of what he knows. "Makes sense," the gunman responds idly. About the abuse that is. Since most of his abuse was heaped on him at Galbadia, he can't quite imagine having someone who's supposed to love and take care of you abuse you instead.
Irvine goes back to looking outside as Squall goes on with the explanation, being unobtrusive and falling into that empathetic mode without realizing it. He's never really talked with the golden boy, except when the redhead had irritated him somehow. Wait. Hold on, hurts the things he loves? That blue gaze is sent back toward Squall, the comments made back at the orphanage, and this explanation combined suddenly turning on that little lightbulb above Irvine's head. Though he's relatively comfortable enough with his own sexuality not to bother being worried about someone else's... it's still just too close to home for him. Seifer's his roommate, after all. "Oh." Hmm. Ok. "Not everything, he loves abusing me well enough. I think it's just because he hates me. But yeah, he wants to be a knight. Not like, in the armor or anything, but, he wants to be something to someone. I've seen it, kinda, when he lets his guard down. Not that he does often." No humor in his voice at it, just another idle type of comment.

Squall's lips thin a little, but it might be missed that he's actually smirking. "You were the one who said we grew up together." This is in reply to what Irvine said about Seifer not hurting everything just because he loves it. hell, cowboy, but what if Seifer remembered you in some manner and assumed you were family too? The brown head tilts to the side as Squall actually slows down the car thanks to it getting to a more populated area. "Seifer is at odds with himself I think. He wants to be something better, but doesn't know how. He wants to have friends but doesn't know how, wants to love and be loved.. and again has no idea as to how he's suppose to get these things. The only thing he knows is that the people who care about you hurt you, so he hurts. Then when people don't hurt back, because the rest of us aren't that screwed up, he assumes they don't give a rats ass and treats them accordingly. There are a lot of forms of love, Irvine." A pause and Squall actually does smirk this time. He is thinking of some slight against Irvine, but chooses to allow it to remain only inside of his head. "How was I suppose to know that by his breaking my bones he wanted a friend? Everything I had been taught said you didn't hurt the people you cared about. It's like we just kept missing no matter what we tried."

If it has to do with how he treats women, well probably better left unspoken. (As yes the paralells are there and he has noticed them, even if he won't admit to them just yet.) Irvine watches as Squall probably says more to him then the gunman has ever come out of the Golden Boy's mouth previously. He does remember the old days at the Orphanage, but even then, Seifer seemed to concentrate more on Squall then the others. (Except for Zell, but the cry baby -always- asked for it.) And, believe it or not, Irvine was actually sorta quiet back then too, shy. Not closed off or stand-offish, just shy. Sefie was the only one who actually broke him out of that eventually and the two were nearly inseparable. So to think of Seifer considering to be family, and thusly according the redhead his own personal, loving amount of blonde boy abuse, didn't occur to him, and still hasn't.
"God that's fucked up," Irvine finally admits, reaching up to brush his fingers through his bangs and sweep them away from his eyes. He's not denying the truth he hears in Squall's words, it makes sense. But... it's so -screwy- to realize someone actually thinks that way. "Squall... don't answer this if you don't want but, why did he run?" From what he heard back at the orphanage. And what's been talked about so far, well, he's starting to think perhaps the golden boy knows. Immediately after he asks however, he thinks better of it and shakes his head, "Nevermind, forget I asked. Not my business."

You are answered at first by a large sigh for this is all very much fucked up. "I don't know for sure, but I think it's partially my fault." Of course he believes it's his fault. Squall was one of the last people to talk to Seifer before the blonde ran off. So it all has to be his fault, right? He said partially because Sigurd keeps telling him not to believe it was entirely his. Actually Sigurd said it wasn't his fault in anyway, but Squall can't accept that. The words are hard to find, but if you are patient the teen actually manages to get some of them out. "I think Seifer is Bi sexual, meaning he likes both men and women, but for some reason he's got it in his head that a man wanting another man is wrong. So wrong he denies that aspect of himself until it hurt." There is a pause as he alters the direction of the car to avoid something. A gentle version of the drastic swirves he's pulled in the past. As the teen continues his tone is almost distracted. It's easier to explain it when it feels like he's talking to himself. "Seifer would never talk about it once I figured some of it out, but I think he liked girls one hell of a lot more than he ever wanted another man sexually, which made that whole desire all the worse for him to deal with. Then of course it didn't help that he wanted me and I didn't have one damn clue. Then once I did figure it out I couldn't think of him as anything more than a brother. The last time we talked I made a lousy attempt at talking to him about thing, got rebuked, insulted, and he was gone the next day." So it has to be his fault.

Irvine knows the meaning of bisexual, and even has a few male friends who are of that paticular sexuality. He just never thought of Seifer being that way. "He hid it well." What else can he say about it? He's not uncomfortable about the sexual aspect of it, just glad the blonde wasn't attracted to the redhead. Er, he thinks. Right. Don't think about abuse and love. Everyone's free to be whatever they wanted, so long as they didn't try pulling Irvine into it. Next subject. Quiet for a long moment as the gunman absorbs this explanation. "I don't think it's your fault. How were you supposed to know anyway? It's not like you can suddenly have feelings for someone out of the blue like that." He doesn't realize he's echoing what Sigurd's probably been telling Squall, he's just telling it like he thinks it is. He wouldn't have blamed himself for that. But, then again, how many hearts has he broken so far? Of course he wouldn't.

Squall goes quiet again for a long while. You are very much echoing Sigurd's words, but Squall actually does know that Seifer is in fact Squallsexual. Explaining how he knows is something he couldn't even begin to do. All the same it's just one of those things he knows, and something he feels guilty about. "He didn't hide it at all well, Irvine." The teen snorts. "Seifer just didn't want..." Trailing off the young man merely shrugs. No, there isn't any point in explaining that. Another thing he doesn't bother to try and explain is that Squall thought about giving Seifer what he wanted, but had to agree with Sigurd in that would have only made things far worse. It would have been false in more than just emotional ways, and would have ended up with a great deal of hurting on all sides. "And what would you know about caring about someone, Irvine?" Is asked in a near emotionless voice. "You running around after Seifer like this is the closest I've seen you give a damn about anyone." Again the girls around commented on, but he thinks about it loud enough.

Irvine merely winces at the comment. Forehead back against the window, he doesn't reply. He can't. Wounded, the cornflower eyes can't look at the other teen, looking out the window instead, though it's a real temptation to put the hat back on so he can envelope himself back into the cowboy image. It's where he always retreats when someone's psychologically gotten a shot in on him when he's actually emerged from his shell to be... more himself, the real kid beneath the flamboyant, frivolous exterior. The fact that Squall's right is what really hurts more then anything. Nothing further about Seifer either. He's learned more about the blonde then he thinks he needed to know today, though it certainly changes his mind on how he feels about his roommate. It's always harder to feel animosity toward someone when you start thinking of them in human terms.
"We've all got things were hiding," he says mostly to himself. Is he even commenting on Squall's well placed, cutting remark? Hard to say, and it's the last thing he'll say for the rest of the ride back. You got him, Squall, you really did.

"I don't think one of the things you are hiding is closet bi sexuality, Irvine, so would you stop acting like either Seifer or I has any interest in getting into your pants?" Yes he did notice how you seemed to squirm each and every time that subject was brought up. Sorry, but you don't happen to be his type. Actually it's more of the teen is monogomous than anything else, but there you are. He allows you silence for a while and then adds in a more gentle tone, "Maybe." Of course Squall doens't believe he's hiding anything. Isn't he a duffus? "More than anything else I worry about what happens to Seifer after we get him back." Eyes out on the road ahead, the words are so softly spoken that it's clear the young man cares a great deal. Inside of that sullen shell, behind that glower, he really does care. "We'll get him free of that possession, and we'll make sure he's not taken by the knights, but what happens afterwards? When he's back where he doesn't want to be, thinking he's a total failure and that everything we try and do will be pitty?" It's a host of questions he doesn't have an answer for.

As said earlier, Irvine doesn't say anything more, but instead of for the rest of the ride, it's just for a damn long while. He's off somewhere else, but the distance in his eyes, and if he heard what you'd just said, well, it doesn't seem to register. He actually did hear it, but his automatic response would have been a rather vehement 'fuck you' and that probably wouldn't have gone over very well, so he swallows it and opts for silence, wallowing in his wounded pride. He does care about Seifer, and also about Squall, and about a lot of people that he won't allow himself give a damn about outwardly. His actions always get the better of him though, because for all the attempts he makes to be alone, without needing anyone, he keeps doing things for other people anyway. Like watching out for Issei, who he hardly knew from adam. Defending Seifer when it wasn't even necessary, the blonde wasn't there to hear it or see someone walking into his room. And then, this. "I don't know," he finally replies, his voice actually hoarse temporarily till he clears his throat. Reaching up to rub at one eye with the heel of his palm, he sighs, "Jump off that cliff when we get to it, Squall. God knows I have no idea what I'll do when he's back in that room." But he'll try, even if he has to trip over himself to finally get it right.

But he doesn't want to jump the bridge when you get to it! The young man wants an answer and he wants one now! Right NOW! Damn it... how can he figure things out ahead of time if he doesn't have anything worth brooding over now? Ifrit would actually be glad if he didn't have a chance to brood, but that's like asking for Hell to freeze over, so there you are. Squall actually grips the steering wheel so tightly in his frustration that it cracks in protest. Baring his teeth briefly at the sound, the teen forces himself to relax and shifts his hands to another spot. There isn't any obvious damage without leaning over for a look at the wheel, but he did indeed crack the poor thing. Don't worry. it's no where near enough to make him lose control of the car. This said Squall finds he's nothing else to comment on and so falls silent. Yes indeed, Irvine, it's going to be a long and very quiet ride to the mountains from here on out. Unless you ask something the teen is going to say nothing at all.

When has Irvine ever been impatient on things? Well, rarely ever. So his answer, though it obviously vexed Squall, was rather typical for him. And seeing as those comments still sting, he's not exactly feeling social either at the moment, nor does he have any further comments or questions. He heard that *crack* and glanced at the steering wheel. The fact that you're strong enough to do that makes him lift an eyebrow, remembering when you grabbed his hand to look at the holy symbol in his fingers. Eesh. Poor steering wheel. Reminder, don't piss off Squall enough to make him want to do that to you, cowboy. Right. Eventually he sits up again, dropping the hat back atop his head, adjusting it slightly.
Then, out of the blue, a thought occurs to him, "Squall, what was that you said about that relic? Do you think whatever it is that it dropped it like that because it felt threatened by it?" Even if the demon didn't come from the thing, maybe it got rid of it cause somehow it can cause harm. God, Galbadians are stupid. Well, the ones who take stock in that religion. We're back to theorizing again. Passes the time at least.

You startle Squall with the question, but after a sidelong glance your way he thinks about it. "Don't know." he admits. "There are two possible things. One what ever it is came out of the item and it dropped it in the ocean to make sure no one got it and locked it away again, or it was picking up on Seifer's spitefulness and threw it out there just to piss some people off. I'm inclined to think it was trying to get rid of it for the first reason. The problem would be in not only finding it, but how to get it off the damn ocean floor." To bad Squall doesn't know about Sephiroth. The SOLDIER could easily go looking for it and retrieve it. He doesn't need to breath and isn't much effected by the pressure while he's phased. However, Squall doesn't and so he's convinced the thing is well and truly gone.

Irvine knows Sephiroth and even knows the man can get to things most people can't. He abruptly chuckles when he thinks about it suddenly (though it's kinda odd that he suddenly does that out of the blue for no apparent reason), wondering how those Holy Knights would feel if they knew the notsodead General had snuck into their own strongholds to get his personal items. However, he's not so sure the man can get something off the bottom of the ocean floor. Shifting the holstered gun a bit, moving it to rest against the opposite shoulder, he falls back into a thoughtful stance. Yeah, whatever it was, it's probably lost to them. "Wish we knew what it was, and if there was anything like it anywhere else. Actually, if I knew -what- it was, well, I might know where another was." But this is all stuff he probably wouldn't have time for anyway. He shrugs, admitting this aloud too, "Not that we'd be able to do it right away anyway. Just curious about it now."