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At
an Arm's Length
A Final Fantasy VIII Story
by
Aligator
Chapter 4 - Plotting and Scheming
Edea grinned to herself as she walked to the quarters she and Cid shared. Selphie is a fount of information – and a sneak to boot – especially when she is doing something in the name of helping a friend.
Some things never changed. An individual’s basic character stayed constant. Edea believed this; specifically, she believed this about her children. In so many ways, they proved the truth of her hypothesis. Especially, the two who were closest to her. But then again. . . Irvine actually remembers those days.
Although Selphie was now grown up – and, at times, still acted like a ten year old who had inhaled too many Pixy Sticks – she was and always had been intuitive about sensing when things were “off” with people she considered friends. And once she discovered something she could do to help them. . . watch out.
Shy as a child, Irvine had always stayed just outside of Selphie’s perpetual whirlwind ready to catch her when she crashed – quiet and true. Now the frivolity of the self-proclaimed ladies’ man was betrayed by the way he sometimes looked at his “best friend” and the fact he was a frequent coconspirator in her plots.
It’s as if they have grown even more into themselves, she thought as she unlocked the door and stepped into her living room. She paused to rearrange some pillows before she sat down and leaned back into the loveseat. Her children.
Brave little Quistis who tried so hard to not be a bother, who tried to be all things to all people. . . except with the one person who consistently saw through her façade. And then, mostly because he wouldn’t let her get away with it.
Seifer. He was the main reason Edea clung so fervently to her belief. He hadn’t gotten along with most of the other children in the orphanage. In fact, he got along with exactly two people – Irvine (but everyone got along with Irvine) and Quistis.
Somewhere along the way, he named himself her protector – not that she needed it – and became her chief confidant and closest friend. He was so concerned about his standing with her that he went out of his way to protect her friends from the bigger kids. That, of course, didn’t stop him from tormenting Squall and making Zell cry, but she partially suspected Seifer did that because he knew Quistis would break up the conflict.
She rubbed her eyes tiredly. Anyone who could care so much about someone else has good in them.
He started acting out more after Quistis had been adopted.
“What a mistake. . .” she unconsciously said aloud.
The room’s overhead light flipped on. “What’s a mistake?” asked Cid.
Edea shifted slightly to make room for him, as he sat beside her. “Letting those people adopt Quistis.”
Cid grasped his wife’s hand. “Listen. We can’t play this game. You don’t have the ability to change the past, or the ability to see the future. Even if you did, it wouldn’t be smart to start tinkering with those things.”
“I know.”
“I know you know,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze. “But that’s why Ellone doesn’t give us specifics with her readings. Things have to happen the way they happen. And I know that means that we’ll do what we have to do – not knowing the future – because that is the way it was supposed to happen all along.”
The former sorceress, still beautiful after so many years, turned suddenly and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“What was that for?”
“For staying true to me and to yourself,” she replied softly.
*****
After the dishes were cleared from dinner, Cid and Edea retired back to the living room and curled up on the couch together.
“You’re plotting and scheming,” he whispered teasingly into the crook of her neck.
She chuckled softly, “But it’s for the greater good.”
At this he shifted her around to face him. “So what’s the plan?”
“Quistis and Irvine checked in from new Galbadia Garden earlier today, so they’ll be back here by Friday. Selphie really wanted to do something, so I talked her down from the huge blowout she was already planning in her mind to a girls-only ‘shopping and lunch out’ day on Saturday.”
“How’d you do that?” he asked, with a hint of incredulity in his voice.
“She asked for my opinion, and I told her that Quistis may have been trying to avoid all that,” she answered. “Don’t look so surprised! Selphie can be very considerate when she stops to think.”
“There has to be something else to this story. . .”
“Well, there is, but you’ll approve.” Pausing for effect, she continued, “This spring, during their annual leave, I’m taking Quistis, Selphie and Irvine to the orphanage. Selphie is helping with the arrangements because, right now, it is top secret.”
He burst out laughing, “I knew it. . . you’re going to put her to work.”
“She loves this stuff – especially the ‘you can’t tell anyone especially Quistis and Irvine’ part,” she giggled. “You know she’ll cave in and tell Irvine, but he can keep a secret. Anyway, we’ll stop for one night in Esthar, pick up Ellone, stay at the orphanage for two days and spend another two days with her in Esthar on the way back.”
“What about Squall’n’Rinoa and Zell?”
“I think they’d really be a distraction, in this case. I’ll take them another time, but this time, they’re your department,” she said with finality.
Cid pulled her up and into his arms, leading her to their bedroom. “I think we have a plan, then.”
Smiling softly at his impetuousness, she whispered, half to herself, “Now we have a plan.”
To be continued. .
.
Next week: Chapter 5 – The Girls' Day Out
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