Laguna Loire really was the polar opposite of his estranged son. While Squall was aloof, guarded, and cool. Laguna was extroverted, warm, friendly, and outgoing. Selphie once told Rinoa that Sir Laguna was like a tidal wave. You just couldn't help but get caught up in his wake, wherever he went and whoever he was with. When the president of Esthar and his niece, daughter really, caught sight of the raven haired beauty, Rinoa was quickly caught up in a sea of hugs and affection. Truly one would be hard pressed to say it felt like she ever left.<br/><br/><br/>“Rinoa you look more alike your mother every time I see you. I don't think you have ever looked more beautiful. Oh! And your working? No way. Come on. You have to join us for dinner. Psst. Have you seen Squall yet? I think I saw him earlier but he must have had something very important to do because he left the ballroom and went back outside.”<br/><br/><br/>“Uncle Laguna please. Give her some time. Of course she will catch up with Squall. We all will. But oh my Hyne, Rinoa, forgive me for acting like a teenage girl again but it really is great to see you. I haven't had girl time in soooo long. Quisty is here. She arrived with Squall earlier. It's hard to miss her with that dress she has on. I'm sure Selphie is here too. We have to set aside some time later, ok? “<br/><br/><br/>“Rinoa.” Came a third voice, a much deeper one. A voice Rinoa likely hasn't heard in quite some time. Flanked by his own entourage, Fury Caraway, four star General and supreme commander of the Galbadian military stepped forward. Ellone looked concerned for Rinoa’s sake and gave her a look that said so. Laguna, recovering quickly to the general's entrance, simply smiled and extended his hand to the man.<br/><br/><br/>“Fury. It's good to see you. Been a while. How have you been?”<br/><br/><br/>“Loire.” Returned the general in a rough tone. A sharp rebuttal of, ‘not long enough’ not leaving his lips though surely he thought it the way he considered Laguna’s offered hand before finally shaking it.<br/><br/><br/>Meanwhile our brooding hero watched in stunned silence as Rinoa swept into the room like a breath of fresh air. Her light shining so brightly that all eyes… were on her. Squall shook his head as he could hardly believe it, though inwardly he couldn't help but believe it because that's just who Rinoa was. His SeeD training was all for naught as he was so enthralled in watching her that he failed to notice the presence of two cleverly disguised Rank A SeeD’s posing as a waiter and a waitress in rich white uniforms adorned with the hotel's insignia in gold lettering and black bow ties.<br/><br/><br/>The blonde haired one with the tattoo was the first to break the spell on the commander. “Yo man. Its Rinoa. Like Rinoa is here. How great is this? We're all together again.”<br/><br/><br/>“Zell, what are… Its commander when we're on duty. How many times do we have to go over this and who is… Selphie? What are you two doing here? You're supposed to be working the room and sticking close to the VIP tables.”<br/><br/><br/>“Youbigstupidhead. OhmyHyneSquall. Getoverthereandtalktoher.” Began an exuberant Selphie who once again forgot that breathing is indeed a real thing.<br/><br/><br/>“Selphie please. You need to calm… Whaaa.” Squall was cut off abruptly as he was shoved, literally, from his hiding place and needed to stumble to regain his balance otherwise he was about to have a really embarrassing moment. The five foot four Trabian firecracker had shoved him so hard he had no choice now but to go and greet Rinoa. Everyone had just seen his little stumbling act, much to the chagrin of Zell and Selphie who were cackling wildly. Zell throwing up fistbumps and Selphie shouting ‘Go, Squall, Go.’<br/><br/><br/>Selphie’s voice was indeed so loud that Laguna, Ellone and Caraway stopped their awkward exchange, all heads panning around slowly and in unison like out of s comedy skit to fall on none other than a very peeved Squall Leonhart. His seventeen year old self would have simply taken off. This was too many eyes all on a person with some very deep social anxiety issues.<br/><br/><br/>‘That was then however, and this is now’ resonated Shiva’s melodic voice in his head. Steeling himself with a resolute determination he found her soft chocolate brown eyes and simply walked towards her, never once breaking eye contact, as if she was the only person in the room who mattered.<br/><br/><br/>Laguna, Ellone, Caraway, a suddenly interested Quistis, a whooping pair of Zell and Selphie, and countless others faded from his existence as Squall approached his great former love and dipped his head ever so slightly. Time was moving at an absolute crawl as it seemed they existed now inside of a bubble, their own private world, even with dozens and dozens of eyes upon them.<br/><br/><br/>A shout of ‘Look it's them’ from somewhere across the room could not break Squall's will as his soft, but deeply husky voice reached her ears at long last. It had been, after all, four long years since he spoke to her.<br/><br/><br/>“Rinoa.”<br/><br/><br/><a class="username" data-user-id="48" data-username="@Elle" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/48/">@Elle</a>