Mooglenet Archives

[This makes her sit up straight and take notice. If it's Rinoa asking, that means it has something to do with Sorceress stuff.]

I'm listening.

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[It's about this time when Ellone arrives at the door. She told Rinoa she'd go get Marlene and she knows Tifa well enough to know that the woman will likely need a little persuading to let the girl go. So the big sister has arrived and is now knocking on the door, hoping this will go well.]

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alittletoosmart.livejournal.com

[Well that's fairly awful timing. Onion Knight wants to be involved in this discussion but he can always ask later and he doesn't want the conversation to be interrupted too much.]

I can get it. Should I ask them to come back later?

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[Tifa nods.] Yeah, go on.

So what is it, Marlene?

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Rinoa talked with this lady named Matoya. The lady thinks that she can send people home, but she needs help to do it. Sorceress help. She and Ellone are going too, and they want me to help.

[And now Marlene braces for the inevitable no.]

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[Ellone has the best timing. As soon as Onion Knight turns up, she'll smile.]

I need to talk to Marlene and Tifa. Are they here?

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[What. What.]

They... what? They want you to help them? How?

[She's a bit too astonished to say no just yet. Give it a minute. It'll come.]

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It's got something to do with our Sorceress powers. I don't really know how yet, but it'll help people go home if they want to. She says they can't do it without me!

Please Tifa? Can I go?

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[She frowns.]

Who says that? Rinoa?

Marlene... I can't let you put yourself in any danger, even if it will help people go home. I don't know what this is, but if it involves Sorceress powers, then it's dangerous. And you're not going anywhere that puts you at risk.

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[after finally convincing Onion Knight that it's okay to let her in, Ellone comes into the very center of the conversation, tucking a chunk of hair behind her left ear.]

She won't be alone. And her knight can come, too. I'm sure Rinoa's bringing Squall.

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But Tifa!! I'll be fine, I promise! Onion Knight can come too! Rinoa said that she'd look after me, Ellone will too, right?

[She looked from Tifa to Ellone with wide eyes.]

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[Upon seeing Ellone, Tifa's eyes widen and she immediately stands up and places herself between Ellone and Marlene.]

Ellone. What are you doing here?

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[Ellone nods at Marlene's question. It hurts that Tifa feels the need to protect Marlene against her, but she can't say she really blames the other woman. So she just stops on the other side of the room and holds her hands up. She's not here to fight.]

I just came to talk.

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[No. Nonononono. This wasn't going well at all. Huffing, Marlene moved around to the side.]

I wanna go! I want to help save people! What good are these stupid powers from the bad lady if I can't help?

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Marlene...

[She sighs, shaking her head. But she's still suspicious of Ellone.]

You came to talk? Or did you come to take my child away?

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Tifa...

[Sob, caught.]

I'm not taking her unless she wants to go. It's a joint effort to help people. She won't even have to do a lot. Rinoa and I are doing most of it. Marlene will be fine.

[Clearly, she needs to start coming over just to hang out and get to know Tifa a little more. All this Sorceress stuff is starting to make EVERYONE suspicious.]

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But I really wanna go! [She stomps her foot.]

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[Tifa bites her lip, looking at Marlene.]

Marlene, can you sit down for a moment? You're not rushing out of the house until I know that you'll be safe, understand?

[She moves back and takes a seat herself, indicating for Ellone to do the same. Maybe they all need to calm down.]

Ellone. Can't you and Rinoa do... whatever it is you're trying to do? Why involve Marlene?

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[Ellone waits until Tifa's settled before she takes a seat, too, more out of politeness than anything else.]

We haven't talked out the details yet, but... we need Marlene because she's got the same kind of abilities that Rinoa has.

[She pauses for a second, pushing hair behind her ear as she tries to think about how to explain this.]

Do you remember... when there was that big issue with time a while back, where all the Sky People noticed days repeating, but the people native to Gaia didn't? And I had to straighten things up? Rinoa helped me then because it was a matter of... just dealing with Gaia. What we're trying to do now affects more than just Gaia, so we'll need that extra bit of help to make this work.

[If Tifa doesn't believe anything else, she can believe this:] I'd never ask if it wasn't important.

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[The littlest sorceress huffed, plopping herself down onto a chair. She just wanted Tifa to say yes already!]

Please, Tifa? Rinoa and Ellone and Onion Knight will take care of me!

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I remember. [She bites her lip. It's true. She doesn't believe Ellone would ask if it wasn't important.] Can you promise me that Marlene will be safe?

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[Ellone nods seriously.] I'll make sure of it. And like I said, her knight can come, too. It's this sort of thing that a knight's supposed to help with.

[She takes a deep breath.] And after all this is over, I'll come back just to visit. Maybe next time, Raine and Uncle Laguna can come with the kids. I know Marlene would adore Slai.

[Both girls would be horrible influences for each other, but Ellone knows they'd have fun.]

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[Marlene's not going to interject anymore, because this is ultimately Tifa's decision. But she does perk up at the mention of a visit. With Raine, and Laguna! Plus, she'd love to meet Slai.]

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Maybe. [She's not sounding too enthusiastic at this point. That seems like a faraway prospect.]

Where will you be going? And how long for?

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