Mei Song
"Oh, thank you!" Mei looked exuberent at Syrus's offer, her search for assistance finally reaching its end as she promptly followed the flame-haired male's lead. "Right behind you, sir!" She performed a mock salute and a smile that could melt butter before she allowed him to guide them onwards into the Garden.
Honestly, the complex was hardly what Mei expected of the military academy at all. She had heard of the unique structure before; each section of the Garden was separated in rings, with adjoining corridors that led to the centre of the building like spokes of a wheel. The ground was also bridged over a large expanse of clear blue water that stemmed from majestic-looking aquatic statues that decorated the vicinity. Mei strongly suspected that the designer for the Garden's structure had been largely influenced by the coastal environment of Balamb Town.
Mei came to a sudden halt as she came across a large directory detailing what each section of the Garden actually was, and how to get there. "Ooh, this looks interesting. Can you-?" It took a moment for Mei to halt her questions as she realized that the redhead was missing from her sight. "Oh no...not again...", she moaned aloud, her eyes quickly scanning over the dozen heads of students that emerged around her. Fortunately, she caught a signature flash of red that told her that the boy was somewhere near the elevator at the centre of the Garden, and Mei was quick to take pursuit.
"Phew." Mei wiped beads of sweat from her forehead in a slightly exaggerated pose as she stepped beside the boy in the elevator, waiting for the doors to slide shut and lift them upwards. A finger twirled the tendrils of her hair idly as she dared to shoot the male a curious glance out of the corner of her eye. His expression was somber and serious, as if he was thinking about many things at once, and judging by his stiff, tense body posture, it was clear that those things were causing him a lot of inner turmoil. So, Mei bit her tongue. She would keep quiet and let him work things out. For now.
The elevator clanged to a stop, and the door slid open to reveal a hallway. Nothing unexpected here, Mei mused, silently following the boy's footsteps as he led her to one of the office doors and rapped his knuckles on the door. After this moment, Mei just couldn't find it in herself to remain quiet anymore. "You know, I don't even know your name!" She sounded slightly appalled with herself as she forced the boy to meet her gaze head on by stepping into his field of vision. "I've been forcing you to cart me around, and I don't even know the first thing about my rescuer." She offered him a bright, playful smile. "Hopefully, you will give me that at the very least."
Asa Fiore
Checking into the Galbadia Hotel ranked as one of Ace's first priorities upon arriving at Deling City.
Stepping up to the reception desk, skin mottled with blood, sweat and dirt, Ace took a quiet note of amusement in the way the receptionist gaped at her appearance. "Rough day at the office," Ace offered in way of explanation, running a hand through her messy tousled hair casually as she glanced over at the clock. It was pretty late, but she could manage a few drinks before calling it a night. "I have a reservation in advance. Ace Fiore?"
"Huh? Oh...oh!" The receptionist looked through her logbook furtively, spotting her name with an audible squeak as she bowed humbly. "My apologies, sir! Here's your room key." She rummaged for something under her desk before presenting her with a worn-looking silver key. "Please...uh, have a nice stay!"
She's new, Ace inwardly remarked with a tilt of her head as she pocketed the room key for safe-keeping. Ace never really stayed in one place long enough to take notice of trivial matters like the turnover of employees and such. In fact, there was a reason why she always specifically asked for a different room whenever she was based in Deling. Familiarity was...dangerous.
"I'm heading downstairs. Have a good night," Ace gave her a dismissive nod before heading straight for the bar downstairs, her intentions of getting inebriated all too dire at this point.
The bar itself was fairly crowded with Galbadian soldiers, as was to be expected after a long hard mission. Some of them were already slouched over the tables, rows of bottles standing testament to their wills as drool trickled from their slacked mouths. Others were a little too energetic, their eyes watching lecherously at the poor waitresses that tried not to stumble over a fallen stool or wayward limb. For such a refined looking establishment, the army didn't half make it look sleazy.
Ace was perched on a stool away from the debacle, nursing her own bottle green beverage in her hands. She took a long swig of her favoured beer, sighing as the cool frothy liquid slid down her throat. Normally, she was one for moderation when it came to alcohol. Drinking too much could cause her to lose her inhibitions, which was risky for someone like her, who couldn't risk even one slip in her act. However, after the day she'd endured, Asa ventured to let herself go, just for one night.
She wanted to drown in her sorrows, and she reckoned she was at least entitled to that.
"L-Lieutenant..." A familiar-sounding slur reached her ears, and she turned her head slightly to watch in annoyance as one of her surviving soldiers approached her. Oh, great. She really wasn't in the mood for a living reminder of her failures. "I didn't figure you'd be down here with us..."
"Yeah, well. I fancied a drink," Ace's response was flat, taking another sip of her beer as she looked away disdainfully. "You should get back to those other goons."
"But I wanted to talk to you, sir," the soldier hiccuped defiantly, swaying slightly on the spot as he grabbed a spare stool for support. "On that tower, sir. You were really amazing..."
"Not in the mood, soldier," Ace's words were cutting, her hazel eyes lighting up slightly in anger. "I came here to drink, not to banter with some lout..."
"But you really were, Lieutenant sir!" The soldier yelled back defiantly, which gave Ace the sneaking suspicion that the drunkard hadn't listened to a word she said. "Like when that punk-ass kid got you into a chokehold and you just grappled out of it like a pro! And man, the moves you were making when you fought that reaper guy..."
"..." Asa let out a tired groan. She had already relived the events on that damned tower enough times on the gunship without this idiot to remind her of them. "Screw this, I'm finishing my drink in my room...", she scowled, reaching the end of her tether as she got up with her bottle in her hand.
"What? Aw sir, don't be like that, I-" The soldier cut off suddenly, his face turning an interesting shade of green as his eyes glazed over. "Ugh...I'm gonna..."
On this particular occasion, Ace was more than a little thankful that she had sharp reflexes. She took a quick step back just as the soldier started to heave and spew all over the floor, her nose wrinkling in disgust. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see one of the waitresses watching on in pure horror at the mess she would have to clean up later.
Oh, the joys of the Galbadian Army...
She excused herself promptly and slipped away back upstairs and away from the emerging chaos that inevitably followed.
Eventually, Asa managed to retire to her hotel room, the silence both welcoming and suffocating to her senses as she closed the door with a soft click. Finally, she was completely alone with her own thoughts, with no soldier or SeeD to disturb her.
She set aside her bag and kicked off her boots, flexing her toes on the soft, royal blue carpet. So much happened today.
She padded over to the window, bottle in hand, her eyes casting over the busy nightlife that buzzed around the city. Today, she had failed her objective, and lost the lives of the men in her care. Today, a whole city had been completely decimated on a whim, and all because the Galbadians didn't like to lose.
The lives that had been lost. The stories that would never be told. Out there, Ace would shrug them off, keep up the cool and distant act and just say 'That's the nature of war'. That's the mantra she would live by. But here, in the sanctuary of these four walls, Asa would drink in their honour.
"This is on you, Fett..." Her lips tugged into a wistful smile before drinking the remaining dregs of her beer, and allowing her exhausted body to hit the mattress..
Swiftly, she fell asleep to the soft hum of traffic and the comforting smell of clean linen.