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

[silentnarration]

He's doing a good job ruining his day already!

Squall sees the dodge but barely has enough freedom of movement to stop, let alone turn. He charges past Seifer, manages to stop short of falling flat on his face before he whips around and runs at his rival again.

He rears back to swing a high kick, which is just going to end with him falling hard on his side regardless of a hit. He's mad. Not fighting smart.

[firacrux]

Mission success!

Seifer let out a "tsk" even as he moved to dodge this one as well. He has full range of motion, and is still in excellent shape after all that wilderness living he's just done. Really, a fight now was pointless, even more so with Squall restrained as he is. There wasn't ever a chance.

"You're doin' a great job of provin' my point, Leonhart." Seifer reprimanded. "Flail around until you land on your ass like an idiot. What happened to your tactical planning skills?" Because this was a piss poor example of them. But hey, if he did fall over, Seifer would just move over to sit on him. That should do the trick in keeping him in place!

[silentnarration]

Seifer has always been physically stronger. It's part of the reason why Squall keeps rising to his challenges. There's something to chase. None of that applies here though. Squall trashes the moment Seifer's weight effectively keeps him from getting up.

"Get off me!" He keeps shouting and kicking for a minute before the fight just goes out of him. He thumps the back of his head against the pavement, breathing hard and with some difficulty with Seifer still sitting on him.

He couldn't care less about his image or tactical skills right now. He'll regret losing his temper later, letting himself get bested by Seifer because of a tantrum. And for what? He shuts his eyes and does his best to gather himself.

"... stop telling me not to fight." He sounds tired. Anger fizzled out for now. "It doesn't sound like you."

[firacrux]

All that thrashing just has Seifer laughing. They're getting some pretty amusing looks right about now, yet no one seems especially inclined to help Squall up. Idly, while he's down there and flailing like an idiot, Seifer plucks at a few buckles to start removing his excessive belts. He's had his fun, he'll help now.

"Nope," Definitely not getting off of him until he's sure Squall's done trying to fight him.

"I ain't tellin' you not to fight," Seifer corrects. "I'm tellin' you you don't know what to fight yet."

In other words, Seifer's telling him to sit back and observe. Try to figure out their situation before pulling a him and jumping in half cocked. Take it from the expert in bad decision making: It never works.

[silentnarration]

That isn't too surprising when he's been trying to get help unsuccessfully the past couple hours. Having someone start tugging at the belts is novel though and it's enough of an incentive to go still quicker.

He's feeling better. No less humiliated but he's gotten a lot of the frustration out. He huffs (as well as he can with someone bigger than him sitting on him).

"Fine... you're right." The most reluctant of admissions, but it's not like things could get any weirder today. He keeps looking to the side though. No need to watch Seifer gloat over any of this. "Why are you taking this so calmly?"

[firacrux]

Good man. With Squall behaving himself somewhat Seifer will continue freeing him of his belts. At least enough to get his arms free so he can get the rest of the damned things off by himself. Eventually he'll let him up, once he's satisfied Squall's definitely chilled out.

Enjoy being crushed under a fat ass, Squall.

"You're damn right I am," Seifer crowed, positively oozing arrogance. What a smug asshole. As for the question he shrugged. "Just got outta another kidnapping science experiment. What's one more?" Frankly his life has just gone from bad to worse to weirder to weirdest. There comes a point where you just run out of steam for screaming.

[silentnarration]

To be fair, there are a lot of belts to get through. The moment his hands are free, Squall is going to take a moment to cover his face and just lie there for a minute. This has been an unnecessarily long morning.

He's not making a fuss anymore so once Seifer lets him up (with a helpful shove on Squall's end because damn he is heavy), he's going to get up and struggle with the rest of the belt harness. There are so many on him, it's ridiculous. He might need help with the ones buckled behind him too.

He stills at the explanation and just stares at Seifer in disbelief. It makes sense but to get kidnapped twice?

"What do you mean another?" A pause. "How long have you been away from home?"

[firacrux]

Which means he'll probably have to let him up, since he was likely sitting on a fair few. Ah well, lose his comfy seat. What a tragedy! Seifer can only imagine it's been a stressful day, doesn't mean he's not going to pick on Squall for it though.

Eventually he did let him up, he just wanted to savor his rare victory just a little longer. The shoving earned a chuckle with him skittering away a couple steps to discourage Squall from resuming his fight.

Yep. Seifer would be wearing that same expression were the roles reversed. "I dunno, 'bout seven months give or take? At least this time I didn't have to craw my ass outta an unnecessarily deep fountain in the middle of fuckin' winter." He had had a lot of complaints that day. And freezing. So much freezing.

[silentnarration]

At least Seifer being a total jerk wasn't a new development. Seifer's chuckling earned another scowl but Squall didn't pursue it further.

He frowned at the explanation before resuming his task. God these buckles were stupid. He liked his belts but not like this. Eventually he would find a few sweet spots that allowed him to just remove more of the belts by dramatic loops. It gave him some time to think too. Seven months in the other place meant this one was more than capable of keeping to their promise of a whole year. More importantly though...

"Do you know how you got here from there?"

[firacrux]

Seifer being a jerk is just par for the course. Totally normal and not indicative of his being a pod person.

"Turn around." He'll help work off the ones on his back. How had this happened anyway? Hilarious whatever it was.

"No idea. Far as I knew I was goin' somewhere else." He was a little hesitant to say where, or admit that entirely. Couldn't hurt, he wasn't going home either way.

[silentnarration]

Good, because Squall was fairly sure Seifer wasn't a pod person anymore. Seifer had a way of riling him up that should be hard to replicate. He did eye Seifer suspiciously before he turned around though. Almost all the way free now.

"... somewhere else?" Of course Squall was going to latch on to that.

[firacrux]

In the end it was annoyance that proved his identity! Victory. No more shenanigans for the moment. Just unbuckling the disaster that is Squall's wardrobe.

"Somewhere else," He repeats more firmly, watching Squall warily. "I ain't going back." He's learned there are opportunities he can't have back home. Choices. A life of his own. Freedom from the shit they'd all been thrust into without their knowledge. He's given his pound of flesh, their world can fuck off now.

[silentnarration]

It helped that he was turned away now because that... sure was a bombshell. Squall frowned and had to wonder why he felt upset. It wasn't like they were close friends. Their entire childhood was built on this rivalry and Squall had been determined to see Seifer only as a challenge to grow stronger.

There was just no denying that the other had been a constant in his life, even if the war drove a deeper wedge into that. Things were different. Controlled or not, Seifer was used and was now a wanted man.

Of course he wouldn't want to go back.

Even though Squall would have given him a place still. After kicking his ass for all the trouble he caused of course.

"You found a good place to go?" he said eventually. A lot more sullen but not questioning Seifer's decision either.

[firacrux]

They were rivals, constants, but not friends. Seifer anticipated no love lost between them. Some regret maybe over how things went, sure, but that's about all. Nothing left to repair for all the bridges burned.

Controlled or not he'd made some stupid decisions about things he was ill prepared to face. And now he only had fallout to look forward to.

Where would he go?

"Don't sound so glum," He chides. "Now you can ignore any jobs to go after me with a clear conscience. I won't be anywhere to be found." He's skipping the question for now, choosing instead to answer Squall's tone. "Look after Fujin and Raijin for me. None of that shit was their fault."

It's his only regret, having to leave them behind.

[silentnarration]

Were any of them really prepared for that shitshow though?

Squall turned his head at the chiding, frowning.

"I don't need your help clearing my conscience." Just a tad irate. That won't make him feel better. He turned back forward, waiting for the buckles at the back to be undone so he could finally let the entire belt-harness slip off him. It landed with a dull thud. The weight of this many belts was no joke.

His tone was quiet but determined when he turned back around and his attempt at covering up his complicated feelings manifested as more surliness. His eyes gave him away too with the way they wavered and looked to the side.

"I'll look out for them." That much he could do. Was willing to do. "They always have a place in Garden if they want it." A pause before he finally looked at Seifer again. Far more open and honest than the Squall Seifer grew up with. Beyond their fights anyway. "And so do you. I don't care what anyone else says."

[firacrux]

Maybe they would have been had Cid bothered to better prepare them.

He shrugs. Take it or leave it, Squall, the offer's there. But he does smirk. "'Course not." Like Squall ever needed help not giving a shit. Nah, it was usually the contrary. With the last buckles taken care of he stepped back to further facilitate the rather satisfying thump of Squall's too many belts to the ground.

Surly. Yeah, that's the Squall he knows. Surly and indifferent. Much better that way. Although, there did seem to be something off. The eyes, some of the posture, didn't mesh with the usual level of confidence he carried with his indifference. Did Squall actually care? The hell?

Seifer nodded, satisfied. It's all he wants, assurance that they'll be okay. "I'm sure they'd appreciate it." Garden's the only home they ever knew as well. As for the next, he just snorts in disbelief. "Sure, make it easier to shoot me in the back or sell me off to Galbadia to smooth over relations? Fuck that." He's not volunteering as their ritual sacrifice, thanks. Squall being open is weird. Stop it. Now it's his turn to stare at Squall like he's the pod person.

[silentnarration]

Surprise! Squall leveled up in the feelings, friendship, and caring department. It's horrible and nice all at once. This was uncharted territory. What would friendship with Seifer even look or feel like? He couldn't picture it. Either way Squall suddenly had a reason to stick around this city. It'd be the last time he got to spend with his rival.

"I protect my own," he said simply. That was just how it worked! Garden was his responsibility now and Seifer would always be considered part of that-- why was Seifer staring at him?

He twitched and folded his arms, feeling awkward as he stared back with a weak scowl. "What?"

[firacrux]

It's pretty damn weird seeing Squall actually act like he might give a shit. Stop it, Squall, it's freaking Seifer out. Squall's supposed to be the uncaring, indifferent wall. And yet here he is visibly upset, even if it's low-key, that Seifer won't be going home.

"Nice sentiment, 'cept I ain't your own." Enemies, remember? "Not like it'd matter anyway once Galbadia starts makin' enough noise on the subject." Squall could refuse to do anything, didn't stop Galbadia from trying. Or Esthar, or hell Trabia maybe. Not that he was responsible for those missiles.

He smirked a little, now that Squall's finally realized he's being given the stare. "Someone swap your brain out for a while? This isn't like you." The whole giving a shit thing.

[silentnarration]

Squall frowned deeper. Should he explain? It was clear now they both changed in certain ways. He sighed and shrugged.

"I think this was always there. I just stopped expressing it." Because caring was scary. Still was. Another deep breath. He was thinking too hard again, trying to find the words.

"The war's over. We're not enemies anymore. But I'm not going to change your mind. I think I understand why you don't want to come home. We don't know what's going to happen in the future. Maybe we'll have to stand on different sides again." He finally looked up at Seifer seriously. "I just think Garden won't feel the same without you."

[firacrux]

It might help lessen the confusion at the very least. They've both been through a lot, and missed so much of each other's change. After Seifer left Garden their lives went on very different paths.

Seifer frowned, leaning back on a heel and folding his arms. It's a good point, he's still waiting for Squall to elaborate further. "You realize what I did, right? What I did to you?" And just like that, water under the bridge? It's too easy, way too damned easy. Nothing is allowed to be that easy surely Squall understands. Rinoa was like that too, ready and willing to forgive. It was hard, far more emotional than either of them were especially ready to handle. And yet...

And yet is it really that hard to believe Squall would be much the same? No, not really, just frustrating. No one's as angry with him as he is with himself and it's driving him up the damned wall. Finally appearing have concluded some quarrel within himself Seifer ran a hand back through his hair, gripping a fist full to help him think. "I'm tired of bein' a fucking tool, Leonhart.... and not that kind don't you fuckin' laugh." He's trying to be honest here it's hard. "Garden would just be putting me right back there. Doing someone else's dirty work."

[silentnarration]

He wasn't ready for this. He didn't leave the party expecting to wake up in this weird city where he threw a tantrum at Seifer and was now having this conversation. Deep down he knew if they ever met again that this was something they had to deal with, he just thought he'd have a bit more time to prepare.

Funny how life continued to screw with them even away from home.

That said, he didn't laugh. Seifer got a bit of an eye roll but it passed as quickly as it came.

"My dirty work. If you came back," he said with a shrug. Cid was back but it really didn't mean anything. The man meant well but he still abandoned them when they needed him most. Squall didn't want to be commander but he'll shoulder that responsibility because Garden was his home. He sighed, looking downwards with a hand on his hip.

"I know there's no going back for us in Garden." It sucked, especially now that they finally had the chance to do it right. "And I'll never forget what you did to me. It'll probably haunt me for a long time." He held Seifer's gaze steadily with just a flicker of emotions before looking away again. "But I don't hate you for it." He shrugged, folding his arms again. "I tried. I was angry that everyone kept pushing their problems on me but it made me who I am now."

Another breath. "I learned my friends are more important. We weren't... I wouldn't let you get close but you made me who I am too, Seifer."

[firacrux]

Could they ever truly be ready for this conversation? That said, Seifer would have much rather waited for a time when they weren't standing in the middle of the street to have this talk. Although the ample escape routes were comforting, the openness and publicity wasn't. He kept his voice low, grateful it didn't appear anyone around them really gave a damn about a couple weirdos arguing in the street. Not now that Squall wasn't a hilarious belt mummy, anyway.

For some reason, life just couldn't cut them a break.

"No, still someone else's dirty work. You just take the contract, you don't start the war." Unless Squall planned on changing that. So, he wasn't wrong, it was still someone else's quarrel. Also, after all of this, there's a high probability that he'd break Cid's nose on principle. For everything that happened, everything they were put through, he felt he deserved that much.

He shook his head in agreement. There really wasn't. Even if he did come back, the student body would remember him as the leader in that attack by G-Garden, those wounds wouldn't heal so easily. Although as Squall continued he looked away, even paled like he might be feeling ill. The shame, grief, and guilt couldn't be truly disguised no matter how hard he tried to keep his features neutral. It would haunt him too. He didn't want to admit it, didn't feel it was his place to bemoan the subject as Squall was the one who suffered, but it still tore at him. The self-loathing for his crimes ran deep. Especially for that one.

"You should." He muttered quietly. Hate he'd understand. Not... whatever the hell this is. He folded his own arms over his chest, defensively. Trying to hold everything in. Between Rinoa, and now Squall, Seifer still didn't really know how to come to terms with any of this. Without their anger, without their wrath, he just felt adrift and lost.

He just snorted, and shook his head slowly. "Sure had to beat it into that thick fuckin' head of yours." But it worked, didn't it. Squall was strong. A survivor. That's the important part. In their world of uncertainty, with only themselves to rely on, you had to be strong. Ready for anything, and vicious. It was the only way.

[silentnarration]

Squall had no better place for them right now aside from the dorms he was trying and failing to get to. He didn't lower his voice on purpose either. He'd been ignored when he was yelling earlier anyway. The 'fight' earned them some looks but onlookers had wandered off already.

He shrugged and nodded to concede the point. It wasn't something he wanted to argue right now anyway. Garden's hands weren't going to be all that clean when they became key in starting or ending new wars. His eyes widened, softened, and grew concerned at how pale Seifer turned. Guilt? Seifer gloated back then, took so much pleasure from his pain. This reaction was almost unreal. This whole conversation was. He didn't know what to do with Seifer's desire to be hated. He couldn't change how he felt. Seifer was part of home. And they were both horribly misguided. He couldn't hate that. Unlike the warden that took over from Seifer after.

"Oh, was that what you were trying to do?" He huffed and ducked his head. It was his usual monotone but there was lightness underlining it. Humor? "I thought you just liked picking on me."

[firacrux]

And that would pose the problem of limited escape routes. Unlike Nida, Seifer wasn't adept at flinging himself out windows. He'd much rather this opportune place to escape if need be. Which, with the turn the conversation was taking, the need was also ever growing. He really wasn't comfortable talking about this. At all.

Things had been complicated then. There was a lot going on that Seifer still didn't entirely understand. About the situation, about himself, about the whole Hyne-damned mess of it all. Honestly he didn't want to get in it. Had only barely begun to scratch the surface of it after the whole ordeal as it was. Now wasn't the time.

The look he shot back was harsher than he intended, a brief spark of fury and annoyance before looking away again. Once more, Squall never got it. He never understood. Because he, like everyone else, couldn't be bothered to pay attention. And here Seifer had hoped better of him. "You said you felt like you could take on the world, and you did. You're fuckin' welcome."

Asshole. Although despite his ire there was a faint twitch of a smirk at another thought. "...Even if you are fun to fuck with." Okay he does like picking on him. Just... that didn't translate to what happened at D-District.

[silentnarration]

That anger sobered him quickly. All Squall could do was frown back at him in confusion. He really didn't get it. All he knew was the side that Seifer showed him over the years. The only one in Garden who never gave up pestering him, who kept pushing and goading, who watched out for him in his own way. The one Squall could go to when things felt too difficult and he just needed to get it out with a fight. They were never friends, they never shared their thoughts, but they understood each other in a way no one else did back then.

Did he fail at seeing all the signs? Seifer's reaction. What he saw in the past. Seifer not reacting to Edea belittling him...

"She was controlling you..." He didn't know. He thought it was Seifer fulfilling his dream. Going too far overboard because that was just how Seifer was. He was always out there going after what he wanted. Squall thought if he just waited Seifer would come home and... what? Go back to normal? It was easy for Squall to forgive, he didn't really consider how it'd be for Seifer when everyone else wouldn't.