Janine smelled the coffee before she rounded the corner of the 2nd floor hall, but it wasn't enough of a warning. Not that morning; the morning from hell.
Corner turned-– and coffee everywhere; staining her uniform, burning the skin of her left hand, and raising her temper to an even higher degree. Especially with the vocalized "Goddammit!" from the tall, muscular blonde with the facial scar and the menacing green eyes.
The man glared at her the same as she glared at him. His black silk shirt was soaked, as was the front of his black slacks and the report in his hand.
"Pull your head out of your ass!" he barked.
Shaking the hot coffee from her hand, Janine rubbed it onto her uniform skirt as her brown eyes darkened to the black of Hell's most shadowed corner. In fact, she practically felt her spiked black hair bristle. "If you'd pulled your head out a little faster, we wouldn't be in this situation, now would we?" She looked down at her soiled uniform. "Dammit. First impressions are officially shot to hell." Janine once more lifted her gaze. The man worked on shaking the coffee from his report and his other arm and hand. "Now that I've helped clear your tunnel vision, can you tell me where Quistis Trepe's office is?"
"So that you can put your head back up your ass?" He scoffed, easily holding her annoyed gaze. "What happened to SeeD survival skills?" Pushing his now-empty coffee mug into her hand, he commanded, "Get me a refill while you're looking. Black. Hot," and then stepped past.
Janine looked down at the coffee mug slack-jawed - 'Death is answering 'no'' brought a scoff - and then turned to watch with narrowed eyes as the man strode away. She arched an eyebrow, a smirk overpowering the irritation. Nice ass. Then the frown returned. Too bad he is one.
Looking again to her soiled uniform, Janine uttered a few choice phrases of authority and needed cranial-ectomies as her glare darkened. And the morning of hell continues. She hesitated to wonder what else could go wrong. After all, she didn't want to tempt the fates... Hell. I'll just spit in their eye. Makes life more interesting anyway. She shook her head and lifted her gaze to an examination of the many doors on each side of the hall. Finally, she shrugged and stepped to the first door, coffee mug still in hand. Yeah. I'll get you your coffee.
When Hyne's ass blew sparks.
Janine had made it halfway down the hall before she found Head Instructor Quistis Trepe's office on the right. Taking in a deep breath, she visibly straightened her posture before tapping on the office door, opening it, and stepping inside. Quistis Trepe was a slender blonde with blue eyes and a somewhat smug expression. Great. Just great. But Janine wanted this position. Badly. And she was willing to put up with assholes and smug princesses both to get it.
"Quistis Trepe? I'm Janine Larabie, Ma'am. I'm here for the Instructor position."
Quistis stood from behind her desk and accepted Janine's hand, returning a firm handshake that instantly raised Janine's respect-level. "Janine." Then Quistis motioned to the front of Janine's uniform, eyebrow raised. "What happened to your uniform?"
Janine waved it away. "A case of mistaken right-of-way."
Quistis' eyebrow twitched as she sat back in her chair. "Oh?"
"I would have changed, but I didn't want to be late."
"I appreciate it." Quistis' gaze momentarily focused on the mug held tightly in Janine's hand, but she didn't comment. Setting the mug onto the floor by the front-right foot of the chair, Janine's gaze continued to focus on Quistis' face. Quistis had lowered her gaze to a report pulled from a stack of papers on her right. She opened it and scanned the information within. "Impressive. Perfect score on your Field Exam. High honors in all your classes... Hm. Gunblade expert. Squall and Seifer will love that."
"Will I be able to meet them?" Janine asked, probably a little too eagerly, but she had heard a lot of things about both men and looked forward to the opportunity to cross blades with them. Gunbladers. Damn good gunbladers. The best of the best.
She practically felt giddy.
Quistis looked up. "Squall will want to meet whomever I choose for the position, yes." She examined Janine a moment before setting aside the report and leaning forward on the desk. "Why should I give it to you?"
"Because I'm hell on heels when it comes to Battle Theory. And because I want it," Janine informed simply.
Quistis acknowledged the statement with a slight nod and then lifted another collection of reports and records. "Why you over these?"
Janine looked to the fistful of records and momentarily clenched her jaw before focusing again on Quistis. "I've wanted to be an Instructor at Balamb Garden since I became a candidate, Ma'am. I worked my ass off at Trabia as a SeeD and Instructor both, doing everything I could to get pluses in my record that would make it possible." Janine leaned a bit forward. "You should hire me because I am what you need."
Quistis regarded Janine while slowly lowering the other records to the desk. Then she stood and presented her hand. "Congratulations. You have it."
Standing, Janine smiled brightly as she firmly shook Quistis' hand. "Thank you, Ma'am. You won't regret this."
Quistis' lips twitched slightly as she released Janine's hand. "Oh I'll make sure of that. Now, go down to the security division for your I.D. and passcode to the Network."
Janine saluted. "Yes, Ma'am."
"And don't forget Seifer's mug," Quistis added, motioning to the mug at the leg of the chair.
Janine's smile vanished. "Pardon?"
"The mug. 'Death is answering 'no.'' It's Seifer's." Quistis smirked and crossed her arms. "Mistaken right-of-way? That's Seifer."
I plowed over the Head of Network Security?! Janine rolled her eyes. Shit!
Quistis sat and retrieved a few papers. "Welcome aboard."
Janine gathered the mug as she said "Thank you" and then turned to exit the office and close the door behind her. After performing a small circle of a celebratory dance and sounding a squeal, she composed herself, straightened her coffee-stained uniform, and headed back the way she'd come, tightening her hold on the coffee mug. 'Death is answering 'no',' huh? She smirked. We'll see about that.
« † »
CLUNK
Seifer's gaze focused on an empty mug. He looked up– and leaned back into his chair, arms crossed. The black-haired, brown-eyed, tight-ass'd SeeD from before stood there, arms crossed, lips tilted slightly upward, and eyes bright with a ‘What are you going to do now?' expression. He smirked. Hot damn.
Gesturing to his mug with a slight lift of his chin, he innocently offered, "Forget something?"
"No." She leaned slightly forward. "Will it be painful?"
Seifer raised an eyebrow.
"Death," she prompted. "Now that I've said 'no', will it be painful?"
Seifer's smirk returned. "Pain is the life of a SeeD. If you can't take it, run home to mommy."
She rolled her eyes. "Oh brother. 'Pain is the life--' Hell. Even my baby brother could come up with something better than that."
Eyebrow twitching, the thought Button pusher vaguely drifted through his mind as he stood and picked up the mug. He presented it to her again. "Great. Bring him in. In the meantime... I like it hot."
"You probably like it wet, too." Then she turned and walked casually out.
Seifer stared after her in actual shock before irritation flared and he frowned and firmly set the mug down to follow after her. He caught up to her in the hall outside Ahndra's office, catching the black-haired SeeD by the arm to turn her to face him.
"Name. Rank. Position," he ordered stiffly.
Obviously unimpressed, she informed "Janine Larabie. Rank 20. Instructor of Battle Theory." She pulled her arm free. "Female. Human... Anything else?"
"Disrespectful. Smart-ass."
Janine Larabie crossed her arms. "You really shouldn't label yourself that way in front of your grunts. It's not healthy for morale."
Seifer minutely scoffed - Damn. - as he mirrored her stance. "I.D."
"That's your job, not mine." Larabie presented him a Trabia I.D.. "Quistis just hired me to fill in for her. I need an I.D., a passcode, and quarters."
Slowly accepting the I.D., Seifer tapped it lightly against the palm of his hand as he continued to regard her with his infamous hard stare. She held it without a problem. Hm. Then he smirked and turned to step back for his office. "This way."
Larabie followed.
Seifer waited by his office door for her to pass into his - musk - office. Then he ordered her to "Sit" and closed the door.
Larabie sat down and crossed her legs.
An eyebrow twitched as his gaze traveled up the tone and smooth calves to where her skirt stopped mid-thigh. Shapely. Tone. Athletic. Nice. Seifer went around to sit at his desk and turned his monitor more toward him. "Security clearance will be the same, until notification from Commander Squall. Passcode is assigned by me. As are quarters."
"Damn. And here I thought I was only here to not bring you your coffee."
Definitely a smart ass. "You can not do that later." Garden needs a little more life in its veins... Seifer finished entering the information and then faced her. He presented her back her Trabia I.D. "This is valid until the end of today only. Another will be delivered to your quarters via secure delivery. Activate it via the control panel in your quarters." He noticed her intense scrutiny of his lips and raised an eyebrow. "Problem?"
"Not yet." She smirked. "I'll give it five minutes."
Seifer's lips twitched. He stood and went around his desk toward the door. "Follow me."
"Noo problem."
Seifer exited his office and headed toward the elevator. "Regal. New I.D. on file. See my desk monitor," he ordered as he passed a petite brunette sitting at a far desk.
She looked over her shoulder and bolted to her feet. "Y-Yes, sir." She headed toward his office.
"She's a bit of a rabbit, isn't she?" Larabie observed, watching Regal hurry the way they'd just come.
A lip twitched. "Best damned cracker-hacker in the Network."
Larabie moved to stand beside him and again watched his face and lips. "Really. Hm."
Seifer sent her a hard stare. She again held it. Unflinching, like Ahndra. He smirked and looked away. Note to self: pull file of Janine Larabie.
They stepped onto the elevator and Seifer pressed the appropriate button. Once the elevator began its journey to the main floor, Seifer again noticed her intense sidelong scrutiny. He filed it away and let it slide. The elevator stopped on the main floor. Seifer exited and strode forward, making his way to the dorms. Larabie followed close beside him, again sending him intense sidelong scrutinies. As if she watched something.
"Question?" he prompted.
"Yeah. Why are you still here?"
Seifer raised an eyebrow and met her sidelong glance. "Meaning?"
"Give me a dorm number. I can find my way there."
Seifer stopped and faced her. "Like Quistis' office?"
One side of her lips tilted upward. "My fault. Couldn't read my writing." She lifted her left hand, still red from the hot coffee, and showed the palm and the now-smudged office number. "Coffee doesn't help. Speaking of which..." She crossed her arms, motioning to Seifer's change of clothes with a slight lift of head. "I smelled you coming, but it didn't register. Not exactly the best way to meet Head of Network Security, huh?" She smirked. "So I'll try to pull my head out faster next time. After all, you probably have enough to pull out of your ass."
Seifer regarded her with his usual intensity, hands on hips and one leg slightly forward as he filed reactions and expressions and tone of voice. Hm.
"So... Room?" Larabie pressed.
Tossing a key in the air the same moment he turned back the way he came, he heard the catch and the adjustment of it within her hand.
"Oh. By the way," she called after him. "It's a tight ass."
Seifer didn't turn, but he smirked.
« † »
Janine opened the door, immediately smiling down at the petite brunette seen earlier that day. "Let me guess: Passcode and I.D. delivery?"
The brunette shyly smiled and offered forward a sealed package. "You might want to check it. I'll change it if it's wrong."
"Sure." Janine took the package and presented her other hand. "Janine Larabie."
The brunette accepted the shake. "Sally Regal. Welcome to Balamb."
"Thank you." Janine stepped back and motioned into the room. "Come on in. I'll check everything and activate it now. That way you don't have to come back."
"It's not a problem," Sally offered as she entered. "If you're busy..."
Janine made her way to her computer and sat. "Just getting se-–"
"You use a gunblade?" Sally exclaimed.
Glancing up to watch the petite brunette in the mirror on the wall above the desk, Janine smirked and swivelled around in her chair. The gunblade case had been left open on the bed. "Nice, huh?"
The gunblade wasn't as big as Squall Leonhart's was reported to be, mainly because Janine had wanted something lighter and faster. But she liked the idea of having imagery on the blade. So, etched into the frosted charcoal metal were flames climbing from the base of the blade near the pommel to the tip.
Sally looked down at the gunblade with open mouth and wide eyes. "It's gorgeous!"
"Thanks. Designed it myself. I call it 'Vengeance'. Took a year. Built it, too. Now that was a damn fun thing to do." Janine pulled the gunblade from the case. "I've upgraded it here and there, but I'm really hooked on the style. I've seen pictures of all Commander Squall's... But I think I like the idea of sticking with one. Why change if it works?"
Janine put the blade away and shut the case, sending Sally a sidelong examination as she asked "What's your specialty?"
"Duel." And the girl flushed.
Janine arched an eyebrow. "Huh. Never woulda thought. No offense."
Sally shook her head while sending Janine a timid smile. "No offense. I didn't even know until Zell told me."
"Dincht? Damn. He's the best–- Sally Regal?" Janine pointed. "'Quicksilver' and 'Hell Strike'! Of course!" Janine smiled wide, laughing as she gave Sally's hand another shake. "Damn! Those moves in Combat King were righteous!"
Sally flushed darker. "Thanks."
Janine released Sally's hand and motioned to her as she again took up the package, gaze never leaving Sally's face. "You think you and Dincht could help me come up with a sweet move for my gunblade? I've been wanting to learn another Limit Break but can't come up with anything. It's annoying the hell out of me." Janine retrieved the I.D. from the package while occasionally glancing toward Sally.
"I could ask, but you should probably talk to Commander Squall or Sub-Lt. Commander Seifer for that. Shouldn't you?"
Janine shrugged. "They're probably busy." She finished checking the information on the I.D. and then looked fully up. "Thanks, Sally. This looks fine. I'll try the passcode, activate it, and let you know if I have problems."
"Okay." Sally headed out, pausing at the door. "Isn't that a motion detector?" she asked, motioning to a small piece of technology fastened to the outer side of the door.
Janine nodded as she came to stand beside Sally. "Sure is. Damn. You know your shit."
Sally met Janine's gaze. "Was that approved?"
"Sure was. Commander Squall. I brought it with me from Trabia. Modified it myself."
"Additional security?"
"Nah," Janine said, chuckling. "Security in the Network is tighter than my favorite leather skirt. This is so I know someone's knocking."
Sally looked confused. "I don't understand."
"Oh. Right." Smirking, Janine reached up to the area behind her right ear, loosened something, and then held out her hand. It was a piece of technology little larger than her smallest fingernail. "This helps, too. I'm deaf."