here he comes [ squall and 3 open threads ]

[awall]

WHO: Squall Leonhart
WHERE: South Village (fountain, then inn, then house 16)
WHEN: Oct. 31st (morning, late morning, early afternoon)
OPEN TO: Any!
WARNINGS: None now!

---

Fountain Foundation / Morning

Water. Again.

At first, Squall could only register that annoyance. He was taken out of his familiar settings again and tossed into water again. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. His actions were mechanical at first, and he refused to think about the consequences of this new setting. He had to swim towards the light. He had to pull himself out of the wet fountain to the cold fall air. He had to search in the backpack for a coat.

But once his immediate survival was secure, he looked around himself with a little more interior trepidation. It didn’t look like a dangerous landscape, but that was about the only good mark. He didn’t have his gunblade or his clothes…or Griever.

It was when he noticed the loss of his necklace that he really paid attention to his magenta clothes. They were far from his normal blacks and greys, and he didn’t like them at all. Nor did he have a good feeling about the device around his wrist that he couldn’t remove.

But with typical determination, he leaned back on his heels, crouched, and stared at the buildings and the cornfield.

Well, Leonheart. What’s it going to be this time? he thought to himself, trying to keep his thoughts away from his friends and family. He had to understand his surroundings. Then he could worry about where they were…and whether he would see them again.

When he noticed someone nearing the fountain, he rose to his feet and made eye contact—he should probably say something, but verbalizing wasn’t his strong suit, even now.

INNformation / Late Morning

An important job for both SeeD and…whatever he was in Traverse Town and Hollow Bastian…was information gathering. A mercenary and a member of a restoration committee could not succeed without having as many details as possible.

Thankfully, the first step for information was not very many steps. He went into the hotel—inn—and looked through the Public Records. Things that had happened, people and what they could do…

It was a lot of information to take in. It reminded him of the SeeD classroom, with lesson after lesson after lesson. Still, it would take him more than one reading to remember this without knowing more context.

He leaned back against the wall and rubbed his forehead. No sign of his comrades. No sign of anyone he had even heard of. Hyne, this is starting all over again.

House Hunting / Early Afternoon

Squall knew he could stay at the Inn, but he didn’t entertain that thought very long. He was prepared to make relationships and form those teams to do good with this village, but it was something completely different to want to live right next door to someone he didn’t know.

A part of him was also drawn to something a little…larger. Nothing would be as large and well designed as Garden, and he didn’t really mind not being in charge of that, but the house in Traverse Town wasn’t big enough. Merlin’s house was a much better base, roomier, and he wanted to find something that could be like that again. He wanted not just a place to sleep, but a place his team could meet.

Not that he had a team, but sooner or later, he would have one. It would be difficult and depressing at first, because he could never replace his friends, but this wasn’t about replacing them. It certainly wasn’t about forgetting them.

He didn’t wander far to choose a house that seemed abandoned, judging from all the dust. Keeping the door open, he started to sort through all the rooms to check for any problems.

Comments

[oorah]

He's not a thing anymore, so Frank doesn't think it necessary to share the story. No one else had seemed all that interested in his former life anyway. Or even this one, if he's being candid. Which he usually is.

Bruno is much friendlier than Frank, closing his eyes as he gets some of those sweet, sweet scratches and leans his hairless body into Squall's leg like he wouldn't mind if the man picked him up.

"Not bad. There's elk and moose, too. Something like bison, though they're a little cute." So he mostly turns to the groffles for dairy, rather than meat.

[awall]

Squall wasn't planning on picking up the dog, but he would still give him plenty of attention scratching his side. He wasn't sure what anyone would think of him being affectionate with this animal, but he was in a new world. He was going to pet the demanding croc-dog.

"Okay, so we have something to eat. Important." There was shelter, there was food, there was clothing. They could survive.

[oorah]

"That's one thing we're not in short supply of here, actually."

It's pretty ideal as far as survival scenarios go, not like he'd say that out loud. He's damn near positive that it's an intential oversight.

[awall]

"Is there something we are in short supply of?"

That would be very important to know. Hawke hadn't said anything terrible in terms of warnings, but he wasn't sure she was the type to take danger too seriously, either.

[oorah]

"Electricity?" he jokes lamely, then shakes his head. He actually had managed to rig his house with some juice for lights and appliances, but most of the houses were powerless. "It's like camping. Forever." If you're into that sort of thing. Frank actually kind of is, honestly.

[awall]

"..."

No electricity would be an adjustment. He was used to advanced worlds, and whatever they might lack in technology, they more than made up for with magic. Squall didn't need paramagic to survive, and he didn't miss it, but he would miss the convenience. SeeD training gave him survival 101--make fires, hunt, camp--but it wasn't the life he wanted.