Room 421, Thursday Evening

[angelo_wings]

This wasn't how Rinoa had hoped her birthday would go. She was usually spoiled enough to make a huge fuss of it, to hint for gifts or insist on a party. She didn't want a party, this year. She was hoping no one realized it was her birthday; then she wouldn't have to smile and laugh and play along.

Her shields were better, thanks to both Sookie and Professor Skywalker, but the lack of sleep was getting to her. Everything was turning a bit gray and colorless. And the rest ... the rest, she was trying her hardest not to think about. There didn't seem to be a solution, yet.

There was a card on her desk, and she recognized the handwriting as being her father's. She didn't open it yet. She wasn't all that interested in whatever he had to say. Probably just a card with money stuck inside.

Rinoa stretched out on her bed and tried to read. Angelo whuffed a few times before curling up by her feet.

(door and post both open)

Comments

[angelo_wings]

"Always," she answered, snuggling in. He was safe. He could be an anchor-point, if nothing else could. She hoped.

"I've been so scared," she admitted. "And ... and I was so sure you would ... go to Quistis or ..."

Or worse that she couldn't say out loud, yet.

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

It would be okay to trust Quistis, too, but Squall wasn't going to press that point just now.

"You don't have to face her alone," he told Rinoa. "I'm always here for you."

[angelo_wings]

Rinoa straightened up, reluctantly.

"We ... need to seriously consider our options here," she said, as calmly as she could manage. "All our options. There ... there might be a time when ..."

She cleared her throat. "When all the options we have left are bad."

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

Squall shrugged. "Even if the options are bad, there are still options."

[angelo_wings]

Okay, he was going to be logical about this. Good.

"Then we'll need to decide when ... when it's gone too far," she said. "If it gets to that point, I might ........ there might come a point where it's either, I lose myself, or ... or I get sealed."

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

Well, he wasn't going to be logical about THAT. "No, you won't! We'll find another way!" He'd carried her halfway across the world. He'd jumped after her into outer space. He'd FIND a way to get to Ultimecia.

[angelo_wings]

"I'd rather that than turn into a monster!" she insisted. "What if she uses me to start another war? What if I watch her kill all of you and I can't even stop it!?"

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

"I won't let that happen," Squall insisted. That was the end of it, and there wasn't going to be any more discussion on the matter. "She won't use you."

[angelo_wings]

"She did before," Rinoa reminded him. "It's better than the alternative, Squall. It wouldn't have to be permanent."

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

She was right. Dammit, she was right. "Only as a last resort," he told her. "One we won't need to use. We're going to beat her before then."