Old Habits Die Hard (Open)

[Rika]

Rumble, thats all that remained of the Orphanage where she had stayed when she was younger. Weeds had creeped through the pavement sticking their sickly yellow heads out who grined at her delighted with themselves, splinters of wood were flung across the yard by wind or mabye by a person but she didn't care.

"Huph, prefer it this way. No screaming kids, no one to boss me around and best of all peace" She said, the words rolled off her tongue without her even thinking about it. She at once felt slight regret at her words, this place hadn't been that bad really but what time she had spent here wasn't brilliant. The woman was always worried about something, she never told them but she could tell with the ancient winkles(she wore good anti-aging cream Rika thought) on her forehead and her glazed over eyes that searched for answers that were hiding from her.

The wood moaned under protest as she heaved the heavy oak door out of the way, she had been barely able to find the bedroom and had to find it purely from her memory of the place. Nothing really looked the same but eventually some things slowly came back, even if they were a bit blurred but it was still nice to know that she had something to remember this place for. The room was pretty doom and gloom....pretty much the way it looked the day she came and the day she left, well mabye she spiced it up a little but having a room to herself was a new thing back then to her. The very first thing she did once she had picked a safe pathway across the ruin was head for the window, ah yes, the view of the beach.

"I have to admit, I did have a little bit of fun here" She chuckled leaning on the old window stil looking out, the gentle breeze ruffled her long red hair, she closed her eyes breathing in the deep scent of sea weed that lingered in the breeze.

[Trever Valens]

Trever didn't quite know why he came here. Hell, 1,750 gil worth of transportation and a large back ache later, anyone could wonder why he even bothered. But as his callings beckoned him to his hometown of Timber, now the pull had come from his place of refuge after the death of his beloved mother. In a way he was long passed due to stumble into the Orphenage again. He still had to pay some respect to the place that had let him start his new life.

As Trever approached the ramshackled grounds where he had been nurtured for a brief part of his teen life, he could not help but think of all the people he had met here. All of them had moved on to the path of becoming SeeDs, as he did, but yet he had never reunited with any of them since his father took him back to Balamb. He always figured that all of his old friends were stationed in either Galbadia or Trabia, seeing as he had not seen any of them.

Trever noticed that the door had been opened. When it was or for how long, he could not say. All he knew was that at some point, life had come through this place. Whether it was friendly or not, he could not tell either. Nor did he care at the moment. He figured that whatever had come in, most likely just left without shutting the door behind it. Common error of anyone absent minded in nostalgic thought, such as him now.

He walked into what was now only the foundation of the place that had comforted him in his time of need. The floor boards under him squeaked in protest of his entry, which only invited him into his own fade of rememberence. Trever was not here even half as long as others, but even still, the year he had stayed here was probably the clearest in his life.

Trever remained still for awhile. All he saw was the image of what this place was. Nothing current at this moment even registered.

[Rika]

Rika snapped her eyes open, was that a groan? The place was old by no means, groaning of wood was usual for wood that ha been untreated for years but that must of it in such a short period of time...

"Great, place is home to rats!" She moaned turning around from the window, she had begun to enjoy looking back on the fun times but knowing rats were now running around the place instead of homeless kids just bothered her really. She headed out of the bedroom, pausing at the doorway to look back with different emotions flashing through her mind but her eyes remained soft.

"Alright you balls of fur, come out where ever you are!" She ordered into thin air, like they were all going to line up like soilders and march out of the place. Fat chance! The hard way it was going to be then it seemed, she cracked her knuckles as she began walking towards the main hallway again where the most noise had come from in the beginning. Best to start at the source of the problem she guessed.

"what the hell!" She exclaimed softly looking down below near the main door stood a lad, and from the looks of things he was around her own age. He seemed to be in another world of his own, mabye he too had been an orphan in this place too? His face didn't seem familiar to her but then again she had never really made friends here, best not to mix with the kind you rob off ya know. They didn't care for her so why should she care for them back?

[Trever Valens]

Trever instantly snapped out of his trance as he heard someone speaking to themselves. The voice was of an unfamilar female, surprising to him since he had bedded women across the globe. One would think that was a joke too...but in all fairness, it was only 32% true.

Not even thinking that the voice came from inside the old building, he turned toward the door and took a defensive stance, grasping his gunblade that was secured at his hip. He then creeped up to the front door and peaked out for anyone.

Trever jumped as he heard the soft screech of the girl and spun back around. He looked back and forth before his eyes transfixed on a very beautiful young woman. "Oh. Well then." He cleared his throat as he stood at attension and removed his hand from the hilt of his ginblade. "So...um...come here often?" Trever didn't really know what else to do but make flirtatious small talk at a time like this. Especially when he just bugged out over nothing.

[Rika]

Rika glared as the lad had his hand near his weapon but softened it once his hand was drawn away from it, neitherless she was on the tip of her toes watching his every move. She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at his question.

"This guy for real? Come here often? Of course not...well thats not true either, I do....blah!" She thought stepping out into full view now so she could inspect him in full sight, just from the way he stood she could tell he was cocky through and through.

"Why would I? This place is a ruin, who would want to visit a place where you are sent to cause you would be too much effort to look after? Would you visit a place where you were just another kid, nothing more and nothing less?" She questioned cocking her eyebrow up as she put the question to him, her hands drifted into the pockets of her leather jacket as she leaned against the aged wall to one side of the hallway.

[Trever Valens]

Trever put on his classic smirk. He didn't know if it would ease any of the young woman's tension, but he knew he took some comfort in performing it, oddly enough. His sly expressions usually helped him when handling dangerous women. At the same time, he felt no threat here though, just some unexplainable tension.

As he watched her expression though, he couldn't of felt it more. The heat was probably getting to him. As she looked him over, he couldn't help but take the moment to do so aswell. There was something oddly familar about her but he had trouble remembering where they might have briefly crossed paths. He put the feelings aside as she began speaking to him.

"Hey now, I was just asking. No need to be defensive." Trever said smoothly as he tipped his hat to her. "The names Trever. Trever Valens. And if it makes you feel any better, I was placed here for a part of my life too. Of course, it's the first time I've been here since I left...but I know the feelings you must have." He smiled, trying to act like one of those good friends.

If she knew of this place, she had to be SeeD. He knew they must have at least shared some common ground in that alone. "You've traveled far, I'm guessing? Which parts you come from if you dont mind my askin?" He didnt want to freak her out or anything but he figured light conversation would also help the situation.

[Jonz Nesam]

Jonz sighed as he looked up from his bed.  He was the oldest kid in Edea's Orphanage, not to mention the longest resident.  He would even come here on weekends and holidays.  This was his home, his sanctuary...a place where he felt at ease.  Unfortunately, it was also a common place for Trever to hit on girls.  Jonz grabbed his Gunblade and left.

"Edea, I'm going out for a bit." Jonz said as he passed the main hallway.

"Jonz, child?  Where are you going?  If you're going to start more trouble...I swear..." Edea replied.

"I won't, ma'am.  It's not my fault I cause trouble..." Jonz began to put on a frail voice. "I'm just a poor little orphan boy, with broken upbringings...I can't help it." he joked.

"You little ass, be home by dinner." Edea chuckled.

"Yes ma'am."  Jonz smiled and walked away.

As he passed through the halls he saw Trever talking to a pretty girl.  He'd seen her before but it must've been years ago, after all Jonz knew everyone in the orphanage.

"Hi." Jonz smiled at the girl as he walked up to Trever.  He looked at her and cast Copycat.  "Ooh, Cure.  That's a cool ability, thanks." Jonz winked.  He looked at the girl, wondering what she would do...as well as Trever....

[Rika]

She watched as he plastered a smile across his face trying to be friendly, yulp, she knew it. He was a charmer.

"Hunt, Rika Hunt" She stated tilting her head to one side acknowledging him back, so this guy was Trever ah. The name felt like it should ring a bell but no bells were ringing in her head at that moment so she didn't linger on the matter. She shifted around as he put a question to her.

"Ya, I bounce fro place to place. Didn't settle long enough to call a place home or anythang like that" She answered back, thinking of the gang she used to room with brought up memories of such fun and happyness that she didn't want to think about right at that moment. Out of nowhere another dude comes along.

Wha! How'd you....?" She exclaimed leaning back onto her own two feet looking at the pink haired guy, how the hell did this guy know she knew Cure!

[Trever Valens]

Ah, very formal and well mannered it seemed. She wasn't just any orphan it seemed so perhaps she was leaving out details on her nomadic, place to place, lifestyle. "It's a pleasure Miss. Hunt." He winked at her playfully. "Wouldn't happen to know a Mike Hunt, would you?" He laughed in the middle of his own joke. The purpose was to make her say 'Mike Hunt' on her own but he seemed just as amused hearing himself say it. "I kid."

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Jonz approaching but he paid him no mind until he actually had the nerve to copy one of Rika's skillz. Trever smacked him on the back of the head. "Now is that any way to say hi to a nice young lady, man? No wonder you don't get any pussy. Hell the only woman who likes you is Edea, you fucking mama's boy." He scolded Jonz briefly then turned his attension back to Rika.

"I'm deeply sorry about him, he's lonely and in need of desperate attension." Trever apologized to her for Jonz's rude approach.

[Jonz Nesam]

Jonz blushed at Rika. "I'm a Mime, it's a thing I do. Sorry if it's weird." Jonz blushed again, "If you don't want me to have Cure, I'll undo it...sorry..."

Upon hearing Trever speak, Jonz looked at Trev, raging. Trever had the language of a 12 year old who just leaned how to curse. "Cool, I can't even walk around my own house without you making me look bad, just so you look good in front of girls. I totally love my life." Jonz said sarcastically as he walked through. "Trever, you should probably tell her about your girlfriend Desiree before she starts liking you." Trever was by no means monogamous, as it appeared.

[Rika]

Mike Hunt? Who the hell was he? She was about to word it aloud hoping that it might then come to her who it was before she copped on, very sly Trever!
A Mime! Now that was very interesting, she had never meet on before but it seemed pretty cool that he was able to do it.

"No, its alright. You just sorta frecked me out thats all" She chuckled smiling before Trever slapped him across the head for being rude, it seemed the two were some sort of friends.

"Don't blame him for wanting company, your not exactly the greatest of company" She joked lightly showing she meant no harm before tossed a piece of hair out of her eyes as Jonz started talking about Trever's lovelife.

"No need for worry, this gal ain't falling for him any time soon! I got style" She teased Trever.

[Jonz Nesam]

"Girls with style?  Hehe, okay that's totally out of Trever's demographic." Jonz joked.  Did Trever really try to get her to say Mike Hunt?  So much for manners.  Jonz made an unpleased face at Trever.  As if he were saying; hypocrite.

"So...Rika, I know I've seen you around here before, at least I think I have....were you a resident?" Jonz asked politely.  

Jonz knew everyone who came into the Orphanage, as it's only permanent resident Jonz had seen many come in and come out.  Jonz was never adopted, but in a way; Edea and Cid took him in as their own permanent child.  Though neither Jonz or them would ever admit it.  Jonz used his Mime abilities again to see Rika's power. "Wow, you can do parkour?!  That's so cool!"

[Trever Valens]

((HEY! Posting order Jonz, not cool bro.))

"Yeah, see man. Don't freak out the poor girl, we're trying to conversate. Con-ver-sate. As nice kind individuals do when they meet someone new. Nice kind individuals such as myself who enjoys the company of a fine intelligent woman." Trever smiled at Rika, only for it to soon disappear.

Trever knew she was joking but Jonz took it to a new level. He decided to be the bigger man and not say a word to him on the matter. "I dont have any issues with that. You are who you are and who would I be to change any of that? Contrary to Jonz's accusations, I am a polite man of good suburban upbringing." A suburb in the middle of turmoil at the time, but none the less, his mom taught him right.

Trever saw Jonz, basically what was to him, looking through her lingerie drawer again. So he slapped him in the back of the head. "Will you cut it out? She doesn't need you in her business."

[Rika]

"I was....for a while but then I just went solo, I mean who would want a kid like me anyway" She replied to Jonz staring into the distance for a few seconds before coming back out of the daze, Trever was giving a mighty fine speech on how he was a gentleman and hit Jonz again for using his miming skills to find out she could use Parkour. She didn't react quite as bad as she did the first time he had done it, still it sorta startled her someone could do that...handy.

"Will you cut it out? She doesn't need you in her business."

Rika could only nod slightly at his comment,
"Your going to need Cure soon enough if you keep using your skill, Trever will have some lump forming out of your head with all the slaps you are getting! But he is right, the less you know the better" She said now heading over to the two, they didn't seem to be of any danger to herself so she felt the need to have distance between them was no longer needed.

"What about you guys? Ye don't smell of normal Orphans that are usually in this place?" She questioned flaring her nostels slightly taking in their scents.

[Trever Valens]

"See, man. Exactly. You should listen to the sense this girls got. I got yo back, Ri-Dawg." Trever looked at Rika and gave her a big thumbs up. "He knows it's impolite, so I dont know why he keeps thinkin it's ok to keep using that there x-ray vision he's got." Trever shrugged. "Oh well. Only so much you can teach a kid."

"Psh. Normal orphen? Normal ain't never been in my vocabulary, Miss Hunt." He began with a slight smirk curling onto his face again. "I grew up in Timber, before it got it's independance from Galbadia. A lotta fucked up shit went down. I hadn't known my father...at that time. So I did my best to help mom out in them rough times. A bit after we kicked them Galbadian rats outta our town with the help of SeeD, they set fire to the place....Mom died...and I barely made it out with my own life." He took his hat off and covered his face with his forearm.

He kept telling himelf not to cry repeatedly in his head, but it didn't help much at all. "If it weren't for SeeD...I wouldn't be here." Trever took his arm away, wiping his tears away as he did so, so that no one would see them. "So that's when I dedicated my life to the service and aspired to become a member of SeeD." Trever brought his hat to his chest and stood straight as the soldier knew he could be one day.

"Of course, after mom died...I was put here. I was only here for a year though, and then I was adopted by a SeeD instructor. A man by the name of Cain. He took me under his wing...so to speak."Knowing that might of been a literal statement if she knew him. "And well...here I am. Trever Valens, SeeD Junior Division Trainee in Balamb Garden."