fandomhigh | The School Campus, Saturday Noon

The School Campus, Saturday Noon

It was as if the Nothing had heard Principal Winchester's and Belle's announcement that morning. It smashed harder into the forcefield, which flickered but held its ground. Then it smashed into it again, and this time the flicker gave an inch of ground.

Soon, the forcefield was flickering constantly, sometimes budging, sometimes not, but one thing was clear: the Nothing was closing in, and whether it be five, ten, or fifteen minutes, campus was not going to hold.

It was time to move.

[[ ocd up and open! ]]

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...

Damn. This wasn't good.

"Come on, let's go!" he called to Rinoa. He didn't expect that to work, but it was at least a start to the conversation.

Rinoa turned slowly, examining the boy with what felt like new eyes.

"Go?" she asked.

Edited 2011-12-10 20:19 (UTC)

"Inside," Squall told her. "Everyone who could be rescued has been, and the forcefield won't hold much longer. You've succeeded. It's time to be finished, now."

"You expect me to hide?" the Sorceress asked coolly. "I am not afraid."

He didn't understand. How could he? He had never been this alive.

"NOT hide," Squall countered. "Strategically withdraw. This Whatever is too powerful, and you need to rest."

"You haven't the least idea what I need," she said, turning away from him again. "I am well past such considerations. Go inside, then. You are relieved of your duties as Knight. I have little need of those, either."

"You CAN'T relieve me of my duties," Squall retorted. "I am your Knight, and I always will be. And now is when you need me the most."

She was so far gone. She didn't want to come back. Squall didn't even CARE that she was mad with power; right now, he just didn't want her to be vanished by the emptiness. And if she didn't come, then he would stand here with her, until the end. He wouldn't let it come to that, though.

He held out a hand, and beckoned to her. "Come," he insisted.

"You understand nothing," she said. It was all she needed to say. It was more words than he should merit. "I would sooner remove my arms than lock myself away again."

The Nothing could not destroy her. Was he serious? He wished for her to be a girl again, and run inside like a scared mouse.

Sorceresses did not run.

"Rinoa, please," Squall insisted. He'd had the message from the other him, the other world, where Rinoa held out against the darkness but wasn't strong enough to keep it back forever. If she stayed here, she was lost.

"I'm not asking you to lock yourself away. Just come, now."

At his feet, Angelo whined and thumped her tail nervously.

Rinoa raised her arms over her head and dropped them. White lights arced overhead, shattering the growing darkness. Only for a moment.

She had more Holy. She always had more Holy.

"Go inside," she said, her voice eerily calm. "I would not have you harmed."

Perhaps some part of her still felt their bond, then. As she raised her hands again, she heard a familiar whimper. Her arms did not falter. If he imagined such, it was his vision at fault.

"Take the dog," she added.

"I go with you, or not at all," Squall told her. He stepped closer, reaching for her arm.

Angelo barked urgently. They were running out of time!

"Your choice," she said. If he would not save himself, if he wished to martyr himself here, that was no longer her concern.

The convenient part of having wings was moments like this one, when she needed both hands for magic, and someone was trying to touch her. She turned one wing back, aiming a soft thump for his torso. Just enough to knock him away from her.

She was busy.

Edited 2011-12-10 23:40 (UTC)

Squall was thrown back, and considered his options as he got to his feet. She was probably immune to Sleep right now, but if he could sneak up behind her and get her in a sleeper hold...

Angelo rushed forward, barking worriedly, and tugged on the bottom of Rinoa's duster. She whimpered, and then barked more insistently.

The insistent tugging interrupted her mid-spell, and she turned, glowing white eyes looking disdainfully at --

At --

Sant'Angelo di Roma, Best Trained Rescue Puppy Dog Ever, was gazing up at her owner, happy to have finally gotten her attention. She barked, once, and set to thumping her tail.

"Angelo," Rinoa said. Her voice held a mild rebuke, and it was her voice, more so than it had been for several minutes at least.

Angelo responded by clamping her mouth gently onto Rinoa's sleeve, and whining. It was time to go now. Please?

Squall walked up behind Angelo, and held his hand out to Rinoa again. His eyes were also begging for her to come, but they weren't nearly as adorable as Angelo's. "Good dog."

So this was some kind of a lure? No. She could resist. She could swallow up the Rinoa part of her instead of the Sorceress. She --

At that moment, a loud creak signaled that what precious little time they had was running short.

"This conversation isn't over," she said. She refused to take his hand. But she did allow Angelo to lead her towards the doors, as her wings folded carefully behind her.

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The School Campus, Saturday Noon

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