(no subject)

[wrnpcs]

Character(s): Headmaster Cid, and the applicant cadets Duo Maxwell, Fuuma Monou, Link, and Nill.

Location: The headmaster's office.

Rating: G

Open/Closed/Finished: Closed to the above.

Summary: This post will contain the trial threads for the above characters' applications (condensed to one post to reduce clutter). Headmaster Cid welcomes the new arrivals to the Final Fantasy VIII world.



[ Every day, it seemed, the Garden grew livelier with the activities of these off-world cadets. A fresh batch had arrived just this weekend, and after some cajoling of the registrar staff, their applications had been processed. Of course, there remained the matter of their interviews. ]

[ With a final slurp of the coffee in his mug, the headmaster righted his sweatervest before opening his office door to the waiting crowd. ]

((ooc: please reply with your character journal or another journal, noting in the subject line which character you are playing. each character will have his or her own individual thread.))

Comments

Kamui

[capnbadtouch.livejournal.com]

[Kamui really doesn't have any of those nervous tics. After all, he's been waiting almost nine months for something to happen. And a really big one too. It's not like he cant feel excitement or impatience... He just refuses to let those things to get to him.

Things will come in their own time. Meanwhile, he has a lot of things to occupy himself with. The sounds of footsteps all around, and some chatter here and there, and well... the smell. Of people, of things, and even coffee elsewhere (guh, the bitter thing).

He pushes off the wall, standing up straight when he hears the doorknob turn. Puts on a charming smile.

As always.]

[wrnpcs]

[ The headmaster's smile isn't charming, but it is quite inviting. ]

You're our second offworlder by the name of "Kamui." You'll have to tell me about what the name means! Step inside, won't you?

[capnbadtouch.livejournal.com]

[He's here? He's here? He's here? So many variations, but they all mean the same thing in the end. Kamui's here.

... Or maybe another Kamui. But that may be unlikely, because the name is a very rare one. No one names their child like that. He needs to make sure it's him, and no one else.

That still doesn't keep him from feeling a little excitement at seeing his (most important person) counterpart though. And maybe a little more. But he knows he has to contain himself, because it's not good. They're not in Tokyo anymore, and so there's nothing that will come from any of their fights. Nothing at all.

Kamui takes a breath to calm himself before following the headmaster. Good thing his sunglasses and height can keep people from seeing his eyes. It wont do if this man's accidentally seen them turn to cat-like slits for a few seconds.]

It depends on how people mean it to be.

[His English, at least, is still decent. With an accent, but that comes with being a foreigner. Why he didn't take a translator is simply due to pride.]

[wrnpcs]

Is that so? Names tend to have single origins in our world. Why don't you tell me a bit more about where you're from?

[ Cid settles himself into his chair and smiles, inviting the applicant to have a seat in the chair across from him. ]

[capnbadtouch.livejournal.com]

[He bows his head a little, before sitting down on that chair.

Explaining the situation at home will be more of a chore than anything else, but he still does it with good grace, stumbling over his "l"'s aside.]

It's different. Modern, but not like this. [He waves a hand around, indicating he means Garden itself.] Our technology is different.

[Kamui's not exactly sure what kind of literary genre could best describe this. Not that he bothers to read fiction books.]

But there are hardly any trees in the cities.

[wrnpcs]

Ahh, very sad, that lack of flora. Is it a peaceful place, despite that?

[capnbadtouch.livejournal.com]

[He shakes his head.] Since spring, there have been earthquakes. But it was before that.

[Or as the news deems fit to call them. He knows the truth. He and a few other select people know what exactly is going on.]

But I haven't been home for a long time.

Duo: Off to an awkward start from the very beginning

[livebymysmile.livejournal.com]

[For someone who was a well trained terrorist, the fact that he had never been able to handle waiting very well had always been somewhat of a problem. Still it had been easy enough to keep himself occupied until whoever was in charge deigned to have time for him.

Granted this meant a large amount of not following orders and poking about the area he'd been lead to as best he could. Sadly it didn't provide very much information as to the where or the why, but it certainly did provide an interesting glimpse into how the world functioned. It's not like he was unfamiliar with being sucked into a new world after all as several of his teachers had adventures in various dimensions all the time. Still it was a great excuse to avoid sitting still, which is really all he'd needed. Of course it was really easy to assume he was just aimlessly pacing about when he wasn't fiddling with whatever nick knacks he could get his hands on.

Then the door started to open and the sound caught his attention, wheeling about to face the door Duo grinned and waved casually with one hand, the other finding refuge in the pocket of his jeans.]

Hey there, was beginning to wonder if you'd forgotten there were people waiting on you pal.

[His tone was amiable and his body language was nonthreatening as he looked the headmaster over. So this was the headmaster of a school that apparently trained mercenaries or something? Looks could be deceiving sure, but he couldn't help but wonder if it was one of those cases of 'Those who can't, teach' more or less.]

You're either the best damned case of not judging a book by it's cover I've ever seen or there's some other reason you're the head honcho here.

[That said, he ambled over and stopped in front of the older man before attempting to peer into the room behind him. There wasn't anything overly interesting or revealing in the room he'd been exploring so maybe, if he was lucky, there was a bunch of stuff in his actual office.]

[wrnpcs]

[ Cid's only reaction to that little jab is a good, full-bodied belly laugh. ]

You only learn the answer to that question if you manage to graduate and become a proper SeeD.

[ He wandered back toward his desk and leaned against it, not bothered in the slightest by the offworlder's curious poking about. ]

[livebymysmile.livejournal.com]

[That's a very telling reaction. There's something about this guy that reminds him of Howard, which is always a good thing.]

You're not bad gramps, I'll give you that much. No info until I've hit SeeD huh? Guess that ain't too bad of a trade.

[Duo continued poking about curiously until he was satisfied and then he plopped down onto the chair placed in front of the desk. Of course, being Duo he couldn't just sit and instead kind of sprawled out. Sitting also didn't turn the motion off either as the teenager was soon toying with the end of his braid absently.]

So, what sorta things do I have to do anyway? Mercenary kinda has a loaded definition to it where I'm from. It's always good to be on the same page in the end, you know?

[Somehow, things seem different here than at his last school. So while he won't be completely open about everything he's done in his short life, he'll be more willing to admit to things than he ever had been before.]

So speechify away, Head guy. I'm sure you've got some sorta pre-set spiel or something after all. Right?

[wrnpcs]

[ He had prepared a "pre-set spiel" for the cadets at the beginning of the term, but to be honest, Cid hasn't had much time for speechifying these days! He doesn't mind, though. Having so many visitors makes him feel rather popular with the youth. ]

I'm afraid I don't have anything prepared, but I will sum up.

SeeD is an organization of independent, expertly trained military personnel. The term "mercenary" does have a bit of a rough ring to it, doesn't it? However, we fully expect each SeeD graduate to be not only an excellent combatant, but also a diplomat and scholar.

[ He taps his temple with a finger, smile ever broad. ]

Those looking merely for "Hired guns" will find they can be bought elsewhere.

[livebymysmile.livejournal.com]

[Awwe. What good was that? If you had a pre-set spiel you should be able to speechify with it at least once! Otherwise it was no fun at all!]

You don't? Too bad gramps, I'd gotten my hopes up and everything! This is a disappointing first impression you've got going on here lemme tell you.

[He finally shut up long enough to listen to the mini speech though, not that he couldn't hear well enough even when he was talking. He listened attentively even when most people are so sure he's too busy running his mouth to hear anything at all. It was part of his survival skills really.]

Diplomat and Scholar as well as a military personnel? You guys sure don't ask for much.

[He grinned though, he genuinely liked this old guy. You don't find too many people with his character after all.]

There's a time and a place where being just a hired gun ain't all that bad, but I do get what you mean gramps. Got a question for you though, what say do SeeD have in their missions? I'm not about to let someone force me into doing stuff that I don't agree with. Make sense?

[G had tried that once or twice and it had always been a disaster more or less. He might have had what some people would call loose morals, but the ones he did have were pretty set in stone.]

You don't seem the sort I gotta worry about though, but a guy can't be too careful.

[wrnpcs]

It's very reassuring to hear that question from you. Your sense of integrity will prove valuable as a SeeD cadet.

[ He opens both arms to his sides in a welcoming gesture. ]

SeeD are encouraged to exercise their own judgment when accepting assignments.

Link (sorry for reposts)

[helmsplitter.livejournal.com]

[Link glances to his left, and then to his right. They're all rather different individuals from himself, and he can't say he's seen clothing quite like theirs before.

As the door opens he turns his attention toward it, standing straight and tall as he can. From what he understands these people are soldiers after all, the man in that office is in charge.

For a collection of moments he doesn't speak, still yet aware of the confusion generated by his Hylian dialect when first he arrived. However with a translator handy, he supposes he should venture a few words]

Good evening, Sir.

[It sounds strange to him, as much is evident as he hears the translation. That such a tool even exists...what a strange place]

[wrnpcs]

[ Cid clearly finds amusement at the young man's wonder. ]

Good evening, yourself. I noticed in your file that you've no last name...Well, that puts me in a bit of a pickle, indeed! Come on in here and let me hear a little more about your experience in our world thus far.

[helmsplitter.livejournal.com]

[A last name...Link only has a moment to turn that about in his mind before he does as told and steps into the office. As with the other areas of the Garden he's seen thus far, he casts a glance around the room.

This eventually ends with his attention settling on the Headmaster again]

It's...not like anything I've seen before.

[The translation's no less strange to his ears, and he taps a hand to it]

I haven't heard your language until today.

[wrnpcs]

Is that so? Ahh, it is not too terribly surprising, I suppose. Many of our newest cadets have difficulties with the language, so we've had to add some classes to the curriculum to bring them up to speed.

[ Cid finds himself a bit distracted...He knows it would be terribly rude, but he does want very much to ask about the ears. ]

[helmsplitter.livejournal.com]

I'm not the only one then?

[That does surprise him somewhat, not having a concept of how diverse those brought here like him might be. It makes Hyrule seem so very small.

It takes him a few moments but he does notice the man seems to be watching something, and he can't help but glance over his shoulder as he tries to figure out what it is]

[wrnpcs]

Oh, oh I do apologize.

[ He's clearly embarrassed to have been caught staring. ]

We have a vast array of cadets this term, many of them not native to our world, but I still haven't seen...well, excuse me, I haven't seen anyone with ears like yours before.

Nill

[mutedfeather.livejournal.com]

[ This place was scary. And not just the regular scary, either. It was clean and sterile, with no one trying to kill anyone else (that she'd seen). But it wasn't her home, and she hadn't seen the Bishop, or Haine, Naoto...anyone. The woman who had shown her here had been nice, but it didn't help much to ease her jitters.

As the door opens Nill moves away from it instinctively. Her wings bristle and her hands fly to her chest, clasping each other nervously.

Be brave, Nill. You can do this. ]

[wrnpcs]

Well, hello there.

[ The face that greets her is lined with wrinkles set deep from much laughter. Behind his small, round glasses are eyes one might even call jolly. He pushes the door open a bit further and ushers her in. ]

Step inside and let's have a chat.

[mutedfeather.livejournal.com]

[ Nill gives him a wary look, shuffling her feet and staring down at the floor. He seems nice enough, and they told her that this was so she could have a home here.

She looks up at Cid and manages a shy smile, nodding as she steps into the office. Nill gives the room a quick once-over, before deciding that it was safe. She lets herself relax a little, trying not to be so nervous.

A chat? It would be a little one sided, but she could give it a try. ]

[wrnpcs]

Would you care for a cup of hot tea? Perhaps a little sip of cocoa?

[ He can tell this one is incredibly nervous, even to the point of fright. Though that doesn't bode well for early completion of the SeeD exam, there isn't a single speck of his heart that could turn the girl away. Her little additions alone would be enough to terrify many of those citizens who are ever-wary of the sorceress threat. ]

Let's see now...I'm afraid your file is shuffled about somewhere on that mess I call a desk! Your name again, if you please...?

[mutedfeather.livejournal.com]

[ Nill's eyes light up at the second offer, and she nods her head eagerly. Her instincts might have told her not to accept something from a stranger, but how could she turn down a treat like cocoa? ]

. . .

[ The girl looks at him curiously. Had no one told him? Nill placed a hand over her mouth and shook her head, before pantomiming writing motions. Her writing skills her far below average, but she could at least write her name. ]

[wrnpcs]

Oh, goodness, that's right. You're our newest applicant without the use of a voice. I knew you'd be coming today, but well, I would lose my head if it weren't attached to my shoulders!

[ He calls over an intercom for an aide to bring in a cup of cocoa, as well as one of the electronic writing pads that have been issued to the other unspeaking cadets. ]

For now, why don't you just use this little notepad here?