ya gotta wanna be a battering ram

[headandhand]

WHO: The entire dang city.
WHAT: Dualis Days, a week-long summer celebration.
WHERE: Central Square Park and the rest of the city.
WHEN: June 17-23.
WARNINGS: Terrorist violence, likely some blood and injuries. Please warn in individual threads!

June 17; Central Square Park.

Every year for as far back as anyone can remember, the start of summer is heralded by the week-long festival known as Dualis Days. This celebration officially kicks off at midday in the middle of Central Square Park with a commencement speech by the current mayor. This year marks Marcelina Dubanowski's third term as mayor of Dualis; she is an average-sized, middle-aged human-presenting woman with blonde hair styled in a short bob and a plastic, toothy smile that never seems to turn entirely off.

"Welcome, one and all!" she begins, with the practiced cadence of someone who is quite comfortable with public speaking. She invites all citizens, new and old, to spend the next week indulging in festivities in all districts of the city and getting to know their neighbors a little better. This is a joyous time of celebration, and the crowd responds with enthusiastic applause as the mayor finishes her speech and introduces this year's parade marshall, Peshtigo Tengfei.

Tengfei blows a whistle six times to signal the start of the parade - and this is where the celebration goes sideways.

A loud explosion tears through the air, and it's followed by panicked screams and the sharp screech of microphone feedback. A bomb has gone off at the platform where the mayor was standing, collapsing the wood and tearing it to splinters and dust. Chaos erupts in the gathered crowd, and as the people shift in all directions to get clear of any possible additional bombs, a loud siren cuts through the cacophony, calling attention to the sudden crackle of video feed present on all television screens throughout the city, including those set up in the park to broadcast the mayor's speech for those standing far from the stage. The picture is plain, a black background and bold white block letters filling the screen:

WAKE UP
WAKE UP
DON'T BELIEVE THE LIES

The final image is an anatomical graphic of a human heart, displayed for about three seconds, and then the feed goes black again.

Confused murmurs sweep through the crowd as citizens resume tending to the injured and evacuating the area until official first responders arrive.

June 17-23; aftermath around the city.

Dualis Days continues as scheduled, though Mayor Dubanowski is unable to enjoy the festival, as she is spending the week in the hospital recovering from her injuries. A team of Iterations guard her door - no visitors allowed - but the news media frequently report updates on her condition. Nothing to worry about, folks! Return to your celebrations, and don't mind the increased visible presence of the Hand as Iterations are stationed every few blocks throughout the city. It's only for your protection, after all.

Comments

[firacrux]

Seifer lashing any time he felt emotionally cornered wasn't unusual, now wasn't any different. Of course Squall didn't see, no one had ever seen, no one had ever understood. Which frustrated him, and made him lash more, which only confused more, in a vicious and self-fulfilling cycle. Weakness was unacceptable, weakness was death, and the only assurance against certain death was to become strong enough to stay alive. So he pushed, it helped that Squall always rose to his challenge, so he pushed ever harder to stay on top, forcing Squall to keep up with him all the way.

And it had worked. Squall had survived probably the worst war in 17 years. They all had. They may not have been friends, but they were always there for each other. Uniquely capable of reading one another and getting under the other's skin. It was a companionship of sorts. One that denied labels, but was infinitely important to them all the same.

He wasn't sure which part was worse. The words themselves, the dawning realization in Squall's tone, the resentful bile that churned in Seifer's guts at the dawning of it all marking that all this time Squall hadn't noticed. He'd been over this with Rinoa. Once explosively, once much more sedately but no less emotionally over exhaustion and a cup of tea. It didn't make it easier to swallow.

Nor could he. Because at the back of his mind there was still that nagging, clawing doubt. The uncertainty of whether or not it was even true. And if it was, the guilt over such weakness of mind that it could happen at all. While he'd come to reconcile some of it after the visions presented to him in the Iteration, that nagging remained that he didn't fully believe it was all her. Not with the delight he felt. Not with the exhilaration. How could that be fabricated?

Warring with the conflicting emotions left Seifer looking ill, positively gray, or even green, as he struggled to come up with a good counter. Words failed him. Excuses failed him. He couldn't meet Squall's gaze, wouldn't be able to tolerate the look of pity or disgust he was sure was there. Instead just backed up a few steps, ready now to flee. Look, Squall, a parade, don't those just always bring fantastic memories to the fore? "It doesn't matter," He snapped, deflecting. Anger was easier to deal with than the turmoil he felt. "There's no going back."

Not for him.

[silentnarration]

If Seifer looked, he'd just see concern, confusion, and... guilt? Seifer's reaction to his words was all the confirmation Squall really needed. Ultimecia messed with his mind. Squall didn't know how much. A lot of it still felt like Seifer. That was the insidious part.

He took a step forward with his hand half reaching out. He stopped himself before he got too far.

It mattered. This changed everything. But what the hell was he supposed to say?

"No, there's not," he agreed quietly. He almost wanted to apologize but it felt hollow even in his head so he didn't. "But we can go forward." There had to be a path forward.

"I can't go back and change anything. The past can't be changed." Another pause. "But we're here now. There's no Garden. No duty. No sorceress. We can-"

There were so many hopeful things he wanted to say that he could almost pass for Rinoa. It'd be comical in any other conversation.

[firacrux]

And if he did look and see those emotions he'd know even less how to handle them than the pity or disgust. At least with those he could be defensive and outraged. This just left him reeling in even more confusion and uncertainty.

At the motion his eyes snapped to Squall, the scowl darkening into definite threat. Don't try to touch a cornered, snarling animal Squall. That never ends well.

At least he understood. They couldn't change anything. What was the point in even trying? Forward, hah. Seifer just huffed a "Tch" at that. Forward for Squall, yes, nowhere for Seifer. So he was running far away to another world where maybe he could try to start over. Maybe with fewer memories of what a monster he really was.

But... Squall just had to be insufferably sensible didn't he? Even so it was a surprise coming out of him. Usually he'd expect silence, not something that could almost be construed as an attempt at reassurance. Squall, king of never saying a word of what he thought, had an optimistic streak. Who knew?

Seifer deadpanned at him a while. Still clearly on edge, yet he could find no flaw or anything to lash out at him for over those words. He was right, they were far away, a thing he'd greatly come to enjoy over the last several months.

"You've changed." Rinoa's been a good influence on him.

[silentnarration]

Yeah, not approaching seemed a better plan for now. He can't believe he just justified for himself a reason to stay in this city though. A city that could very well be worse than home. But none of that history was here. He could handle it. Stay a while for Seifer's sake (provided he found a way home before that). Rinoa would understand. He just hoped she wasn't too worried.

He didn't expect Seifer's observation though and that surprised some tension out of him. He rubbed at his arm.

"I know. I was about to sound like Rinoa." Mild fond annoyance. He sighed quietly and tried to reset his thoughts. "I don't know what I can do yet, Seifer, but I want to try. You're my friend." If they weren't quite it before, they can be now. "I want to help."

[firacrux]

At least now he has a goal and a task to distract himself in between finding a way back? Since, at least right now, Seifer was dead set on not returning. This would be Squall's only chance. Although he was right, it was a lot easier to start to sort things without the constant threat of those familiar things over their heads. No Garden. No Galbadia. No other responsibilities getting in the way. Just time to think.

"Yeah, yeah you were," A faint smirk. It was... actually kind of nice to see that despite all the shit they've been through he thinks there might have been an overall positive change for Squall. That's reassuring, at least. Now he just has to go his own way far away so he won't ruin it by existing himself. Although he freezes at the word, brows knit in confusion once more.

Friends. Squall considered them friends? What? "What?" Wanting to help, being called friend by Rinoa wasn't that striking, but to hear it from Squall? Now he doesn't know what to say again. Evidently they both have a really odd view of what counts as a friendship.

[silentnarration]

A distraction was good because Squall would be climbing walls by the end of the week otherwise. He didn't take sitting around and waiting very well.

He looked faintly embarrassed by Seifer's agreement and awkwardly ran a hand through his hair on the side of his head, eyes flicking to the side. Despite everything, he appreciated that his friends, especially Rinoa, drew this side of him back to the surface. He may have underestimated how embarrassing it could be confessing this though.

"You heard me."

[firacrux]

Squall just needs help learning how to make his own distractions. That's where Seifer comes in, he's the master of finding ways to entertain himself. Not always without consequence. Although, that might also be part of the fun.

At least Seifer wasn't the only one incredibly uncomfortable by this conversation. This emotional roller coaster was really throwing him off-kilter. He wasn't ready for this, not even a little. At least with Squall being weird too he felt less self conscious in the face of Squall being self conscious. Funny how things worked.

"Nah, I don't think I did. I'm gonna need you to say that again." Is it because he's being an asshole or he genuinely thinks he misheard? The world will never know.

Or maybe it's both.

[silentnarration]

Squall knows how to entertain himself. He fights T-rexaurs! And train... and play Triple Triad... He has a lot of hobbies, really.

Squall frowned, clearly asking the same question in his head too. He sighed after a moment and leveled a steady gaze at Seifer.

"We're friends, so I have your back now."

[firacrux]

He's going to have a hard time finding an outlet for... honestly all of those. Might be able to teach some people to play Triple Triad with him, but beyond that? Good luck, Leonhart. Maybe it's time to invest in some new hobbies.

"Just like that?"

He almost felt cheated that it was that easy. All he had to do, and suddenly they're friends? What the hell, Squall?

[silentnarration]

Wouldn't be the first time he got thrown into the deep end of experiencing things.

He nodded in response. It didn't have to be complicated, Seifer.

[firacrux]

True, very true. Unfortunate as that is.

Yes it does! It's very complicated! "You don't make sense." He huffs, part annoyed part relieved. Should have expected that dealing with Squall would be more simple than he made it out to be. Squall had always been reliable, and not one to take offense. Or even take things personally. Though, honestly, he should maybe take a few things personally now and again.

[silentnarration]

Squall crosses his arms and looks away. "Neither do you." There's no heat to the words though. The weight of whatever was hanging over them seems to be gone. It's bizarre how easy some things could be when he opens up, even if that act alone is difficult.

There's still a lot to deal with between them but it's a start.

He's figuring out what to do now when an announcement blares that the festival kickoff is starting in thirty minutes and that people should make their way to the park in the center of Dualis.

Sounds like the place to go.

[firacrux]

The act is difficult, and Seifer knows it all too well. Which is part of why he's willing to ease off seeing this side of Squall. He's not accustomed to anything beyond Squall's being closed off and hostile, so to see him honest and earnest... It's a shock. But more than that it means something.

And Seifer just can't ignore that no matter how much an asshole he is. They've by no means really cleared the air, but it's a start. A small foot in the door and that's a hell of a lot further than Seifer had ever expected. Especially on a first meeting!

At the sound he lifts his head, shooting Squall one final look then offering a shrug. They should go check things out.