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Post by Griever on May 28, 2010 13:21:40 GMT -5
about 1 year ago
-Kaile-
"Watch out!"
Apparently, shouting less than two steps away from someone isn't quickly enough for them to get out of the way. Kaile bumped into the girl who he vaguely recognized as a newer student to the Garden, but didn't pause in his rush through the hallway. "Sorry!"
He narrowly slipped between two students on their way to the cafeteria, and had several more near-crashes before half tripping up the stairs leading to the elevator. Once inside, he slammed a hand against the button next to the large "2", fidgeting impatiently as the elevator rose to the second floor. The doors opened, far too slowly for his taste, and Kaile rushed out to promptly trip in an attempt to get around another student. He recovered from the fall almost instantly, continuing his dash down the corridor, and managed to slide into his classroom and reach his seat just as the tone for class to begin echoed through the room. Instructor Aki gave him a disapproving glare, but said nothing about it, instead turning her attention to the rest of the class and straightening.
"As you know, today many of you will be taking the SeeD field exam. Those of you who haven't met the prerequisites are to go to your scheduled classrooms while the others are away. If you are taking the exam, be aware right now-" her gaze fixed pointedly on Kaile for a moment "-that this is not something to be taken lightly. Any combat you encounter is real. While there will be SeeDs present, you must remember to keep your focus at all times and not let your guard down."
"That said, meet in the main entrance hallway in front of the Garden map in two hours. Until then, you are free to do as you want."
Kaile stood along with a majority of the rest of the class, grinning to himself and leaning against his desk to stretch. SeeD field exam, finally! Though he had been a student at the Garden for several years, it was his first time attempting to graduate. It couldn't be that hard, right? Maybe he'd even manage to have fun.
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Post by Griever on May 28, 2010 13:22:06 GMT -5
{~Suoh~}
"Late again."
Fellow SeeD candidate, Suoh Kahre, stated, closing his laptop with an audible snap. He remained seated, showing none of the excitement or enthusiasm of his peers.
He didn't know Kaile all that well, despite them having many of the same classes. Balamb Garden wasn't very large so everyone pretty much knew each other somewhat, but he had never even addressed the other student until recently. It wasn't until today he had found out the other would be his partner for the exam...
Suoh's reaction to that little tidbit was mixed. On one hand, he knew Kaile to be a good fighter. On the other, if Kaile damaged their grade for acting rashly or being unprofessional, Suoh was not going to be very happy about it. Still, he was willing to give Kaile the benefit of the doubt.
If only for lack of any other option.
"You and I will not be performing the same tasks as the others; our role is far more vital. It's crucial you set your mind to the task at hand today, even seemingly insignificant protocol" such as arriving on time "could be the difference between success and failure."
Wow, that was probably the most words Suoh's ever spoken to another student in one sitting...
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Post by Griever on May 28, 2010 13:22:23 GMT -5
-Kaile-
It took the red-haired boy a moment to realize that someone was speaking to him, but upon noticing he turned around, still leaning just as ungracefully across his desk. He recognized the boy vaguely - Suoh Kahre, wasn't it? Kaile didn't know much about the other beyond that he rarely spoke to other students and seemed to always be focused on his work - traits that, in Kaile's opinion, made for a rather uninteresting person, and therefore not someone he would go out of his way to talk to.
Regardless, it seemed he would be taking his exam with the boy, so he would have to get along at least for today. "I know, I know, got to take it seriously. Instructor Aki already covered that. Why don't you try to lighten up a little? This may come as a shock, but you might actually enjoy this."
There wasn't any rule saying they couldn't have fun with it, right?
"Anyway, we've got two hours until we have to meet up for our mission briefing. Gonna go to the cafeteria, what about you?"
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Post by Griever on May 28, 2010 13:22:42 GMT -5
{~Suoh~}
Eccentricity was not a very practical trait in general, so he didn't envy Kaile in the slightest. At least consciously, anyway.
"Considering this exam is the only thing standing between us and another year of classes, I don't feel inclined to risk it for the sake of 'lightening up'."
This wasn't like other field tests and simulations, this was life-changing. Their future as a mercenary hinged on them passing their exams, and Suoh certainly didn't have any intentions of failing it. His attitude towards his lifestyle had yet to fail him, and he wouldn't be turning over any new leaves now of all times.
"This is not a Tuesday stroll through the Training Grounds, you know."
Nor was it a party, as some of their peers seemed to think. It was business, and...perhaps their very lives. But Suoh wasn't here to lecture Kaile.
For a moment, it seemed like he would just stay where he was until it was time to meet, and the thought certainly tempted him. However...the notion of Kaile perhaps not showing up for the briefing was even less appealing than spending the next two hours amongst a gaggle of anxious and excited teenagers, even if only slightly. So, sighing, he tucked his laptop under his arm and rose, brushing back some of the wispy, pale bangs from one cheek.
"I might as well go," he said, adjusting his thin, oval glasses. "If you don't mind."
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Post by Griever on May 28, 2010 13:22:58 GMT -5
-Kaile-
A small grin spread across Kaile's face. Success, he'd managed to get the recluse to do something almost social! "Fine with me." He led the way out of the room and to the cafeteria, where he ordered a sandwich before sitting down at an empty seat with a small group of students, some taking the exam, some not. Kaile removed several cards from a pocket in his uniform, looking through them for a moment before selecting some and beginning a game against the boy across the table.
He promptly lost.
Laughter and Kaile's shouted complaints echoed out from the table, and in frustration, he turned to the blonde that had accompanied him. "Hey, Suoh! You know how to play?" A hand pointing at the cards still spread out on the table indicated what he meant. "Come on, try to beat this guy!"
Being smart, he'd have to be good at cards, right?
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Post by Griever on May 28, 2010 13:23:31 GMT -5
{~Suoh~}
"I don't play cards," Suoh answered neutrally. He was standing near the table, his back against a pillar and his arms crossed lightly over his chest. He hadn't even been paying attention to what was going on until Kaile addressed him, lost in his own thoughts.
Truthfully, Suoh had never bothered to learn how to play Triple Triad. What use did such knowledge have to him? He didn't really...see the point in playing. He had no desire to waste his time on purposeless tasks.
Sure, games like that could teach basic concepts of strategy and planning, but Suoh didn't need a card game to teach him that.
"Why do you bother?" he asked, glancing at Kaile with his sapphire eyes. "It's just wasted time, even if you win you don't gain anything valuable..."
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Post by Griever on May 28, 2010 13:23:46 GMT -5
-Kaile-
The redhead made a face. Serious to a fault, wasn't he? It was something Kaile couldn't understand or even imagine - sure, it was good for their appearance on a mission, but what about life? Even for a SeeD, there was more to life than missions and rigid discipline, right? He thrived on acting on impulse; being so stuffy and boring was wholly unappealing to him.
"Because it's fun," he replied, picking up the cards he hadn't lost and putting them back in the pocket. "Do you even know how to have fun?" Standing, he rummaged through the cards again, before producing a full hand and shoving them into a pocket on Suoh's uniform. He didn't intend to let the other refuse them, regardless of if he wanted them or not. "There. Try it sometime, you might actually like it."
He didn't know if it was possible to change Suoh's attitude at all, but it was worth a try, right? Without giving him a chance to reply, Kaile returned to the table and began another game in an attempt to win back the lost card.
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Post by Griever on May 28, 2010 13:24:09 GMT -5
{~Suoh~}
For...fun?
Suoh watched Kaile, his expression artistically blank. He understood people played for enjoyment, but...it simply wasn't practical to indulge in such pastimes. The time spent pursuing a hobby could be utilized in more useful ways.
Or maybe...his 'hobbies' had to be practical. Perhaps he couldn't find enjoyment in meaningless endeavors.
When Kaile approached him, Suoh tensed, tilting his chin up slightly. It was habit...for a SeeD candidate, Suoh's build was lacking, so he often had to put up with shit from his peers and even superiors (and his standoffish nature was often mistaken for haughtiness, which certainly didn't help his case). It wasn't that he expected such things from Kaile, but it was simply automatic to adapt an air of strength and dignity whenever around others.
Silent, his eyes never left Kaile's as the other slipped the cards in his pocket, but they did seem to darken slightly.
How pretentious, invading his personal space like that. He hated audacious partners.
"I'll be at the meeting site," he stated in a low tone, for only Kaile to hear, and turned to walk out of the cafeteria. He needed to go to his dorm first, anyway.
This was going to be a long day...
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Post by Griever on May 28, 2010 13:24:38 GMT -5
-Kaile-
Kaile waved a hand dismissively in response. He had already begun another game, intending to try to win back the card he had lost. As long as he wasn't late, he couldn't complain, right? It didn't take much to distract him, and before Suoh had even left the cafeteria, Kaile had forgotten all about him and his overly serious attitude.
Not quite two hours later, he left the cafeteria himself, some of his old cards missing and some new cards obtained. After picking up his twin knives from his dorm, he joined the other SeeD candidates in the Garden's main entrance hallway, easily finding Suoh among them - not hard to spot someone who made a deliberate effort to avoid the rest of the students.
"Isn't waiting by yourself boring?" Kaile leaned against the low wall of the hallway as he spoke, completely relaxed despite the knowledge that their exam was about to begin.
Though he didn't doubt that his exam partner would much prefer to remain by himself, rather than have his company...
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Post by Griever on May 28, 2010 13:24:59 GMT -5
{~Suoh~}
"No."
It was quiet, and the quiet wasn't boring to Suoh. He was sitting on the floor against the wall, one leg stretched out. He had a clipboard against the other, his pen moving across the paper to complete some work. He didn't even glance at Kaile when he made his inquiries.
Suoh didn't seem any different, except perhaps slightly pale, his hand almost steady as it moved across the sheet. His expression was calm as ever, but perhaps he didn't have nerves of steel, like he tried to make it seem. Of course, it was natural to have some anxiety before the big test.
"Not everyone enjoys constant company."
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Post by Griever on May 28, 2010 13:25:22 GMT -5
-Kaile-
Kaile wasn't nervous at all. He didn't regard the exam with the same seriousness the other candidates did. To him, it was something fun. An adventure. He didn't have doubts that he'd pass; he didn't even consider that he could fail. Perhaps he was being too relaxed, but it was better than going through the exam a nervous mess.
Looking around, it wasn't difficult to see that very few of the candidates shared Kaile's attitude. Expressions ranged from anxiousness to thinly masked fear, and many of them paced nervously or fidgeted where they sat. The redhead glanced down to Suoh, expecting the same cool composure he always seemed to display, and wasn't surprised when that was what he saw.
"For all that talk about needing to take it seriously, you're pretty relaxed."
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Post by Griever on May 28, 2010 13:25:40 GMT -5
{~Suoh~}
In all actuality, Suoh wasn't nervous about the exam at all; not really, at least. He knew he could do his job well, so as long as he remained focused his success was guaranteed.
"As long as you do your part, we'll be fine," Suoh stated, rising to follow their leader -- Instructor Aki -- towards the garage. When they neared it, he could faintly hear the rain pattering heavily outside. He had hoped it would let up before the mission, but...
~~
A few hours time found them in the great city of Deling, Instructor Aki going over the details of their mission one more time. Their only job -- to retrieve a device of sorts from an abandoned mansion. Easy, right? Supposedly, but Suoh wasn't so naive as to think SeeDs would be brought in for something simple.
The owner of the mansion, who they were given no information on, had apparently disappeared a few years back, leaving behind everything. The device they were given a sketch of -- it seemed to be a large metal ring with a variety of buttons along the inside -- but were not told what its purpose was. They speculated that it was on either the uppermost floor of the mansion or the basement, and they had a half hour to find it and slip into the sewers with it before the Galbadians came to take it for themselves.
Hm...
When they pulled in behind the mansion, Suoh hesitated before he got out of the vehicle. He was still pale and he had hardly said anything the entire trip...not that the later was too unusual. The rain continued to fall but the night was warm, Deling as lively as ever with the sounds of its residents.
He slipped out of the vehicle, feeling the drops fall on him as he moved towards the back of the manor.
He hated it, the rain.
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Post by Griever on May 28, 2010 13:26:01 GMT -5
-Kaile-
Though he had tried to make conversation on the way to Deling, Kaile had given up quite a while before they actually arrived in the city. Not one to take so much quiet well, he kept standing and pacing in the small vehicle they rode in, listening to the sounds of the rain and the splashing of water on the street.
In Kaile's opinion, it took far too long to get to the mansion. He jumped out the moment the doors were opened, not caring that the continuing rain began immediately to soak through his jacket and shirt.
This really didn't seem like much of a mission...
"So all they want us to do is get that thing, huh?" He pointed at a sketch held in one hand as he spoke, then looked up at the mansion. "And they call this an exam?"
He didn't turn to see Instructor Aki shake her head in disapproval as she climbed back into the vehicle. Other groups of students were already making their way in, heading to their designated spots to do their assigned duties, and pocketing the sketch, he joined them.
This was really going to be too easy - what need would there be for a combat specialist here?
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Post by Griever on May 28, 2010 13:26:26 GMT -5
{~Suoh~}
"Don't say that," Suoh snapped, glancing sharply at Kaile. "You can't take everything by what it seems on the outside."
There weren't many groups of SeeDs heading to the mansion -- three, to be exact -- the rest stationed elsewhere to do other things. They were all looking for the item...sort of. The other group that had just went inside where assigned to the top two floors and the entire east wing, and they were assigned to the ground floor, basement, and west wing. The third section would stay outside and perform various tasks in the courtyard.
Suoh suppressed a shudder glancing at the sky. What a horrible, ironic twist...and the rain, too, was mocking him.
"I've been here before..." Suoh commented quietly, following Kaile until they reached the back door. He stopped, taking in a breath.
"No. We'll go in the side and start in the west wing."
Not the basement.
Suoh turned, walking quickly to the other side of the building.
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Post by Griever on May 28, 2010 13:26:42 GMT -5
-Kaile-
Been here before? Kaile's eyebrows raised slightly in curiosity - when? Why? He didn't ask, however; he wouldn't have been able to even if he wanted, because even though Kaile already had his hand on the door, Suoh was heading off to another side of the building. He trotted to catch up, slowing down when he did and shivering slightly from the rain's chill. "Why the west wing first?"
Well, at least if he'd been here before, that would make navigating the place easier...though Kaile still failed to see what about this would require SeeDs to be hired. They didn't even know who had hired them, let alone why they wanted this device. It seemed secretive even for a mission, and it was beginning to annoy Kaile. He felt as though everyone knew something he didn't, and it made him slightly uncomfortable, a feeling he wasn't at all used to.
"So where do you think we should check? I doubt it would be just laying out in the open..."
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