Post by Seifer Almasy on Aug 22, 2012 20:54:48 GMT -5
OOC Note: I dreamed up a pretty ambitious idea for working Seifer into the narrative of the post-Ultimecia FF8 world, and I wrote this audition from that perspective.. If it's overstepping, feel free to slap me and say no! ~~ Kiwi
=-=-=-=
Squall beat me on every playing field, every time...
The harsh, almost grating sound of metal slicing through bone filled Seifer's ears as he heaved a massive backhanded swing, pulling his Gunblade's trigger as Hyperion decimated another monster, leaving a deep gash and sending the corpse flying backward from the course of the explosion. In one fluid, almost graceful motion, he spun back the way he'd came and swung Hyperion high over his head, bringing it straight down to clash through another dog-like creature, extending his free hand and gathering a ball of explosive flame magic, which burst from his palm and fatally scorched a third creature.
Squall became a SeeD, even though I trained my whole life for the honor... It was my leadership that got him into SeeD in the first place!
As the three beasts lay dead, the hissing sound of hydraulics caught Seifer's attention from behind, and he turned to see a heavy, metal door opening and releasing a swarm of nearly a dozen small, galloping monstrosities scurrying toward him at top speed. He twirled Hyperion gracefully in his hand and stepped backward, holding his palm outstretched again as a wave of fire raced through the pack of creatures. Then, leaping high into the air, he drew the Gunblade back behind him.
Squall outfought me four times, and took down the Sorceress I'd sworn to protect... He humiliated me!
The blade swung twice, and two lines of burning fire marked the ground in a cross shape. Around the cross, a swirling vortex of intense flames erupted, singing the ground, filling the air with the smell of burning flesh, and reducing the oncoming creatures to charred husks. Seifer descended gracefully from his jump, cutting the air once with his sword as a gesture of taunting the failed attackers.
Squall won Rinoa's heart... And now he leads the Garden that denied me my place as a Seed... There's no way I can go back there!
His moment of victory was interrupted as the sound of an alarm went off, and two flashing orange lights signaled that the main door of the training center was opening. The doors parted and slid open, revealing three men dressed in scarlet Galbadian military uniforms, helmets obscuring most of their faces.
"Sir... You instructed us to retrieve you after an hour. It's time for your speech in the auditorium, sir."
Turning silently and looking to the soldiers, Gunblade rested point-down and leaning against his leg, Seifer withdrew a handkerchief from his coat and wiped his forehead with it, before picking the carbon-black sword up again and resting it on his shoulder, crossing the floor to his men.
"Thanks... Sometimes I get so fired up in here, I lose track of time. Whatever these things are coming through those portals, they're something else."
"That's exactly why we need you, sir. Please follow us."
Seifer never stopped getting sick of having escorts following him around. If he had Fujin and Raijin at his side, that was one thing -- they were his posse, his devoted friends, who actually projected some kind of character. Having three faceless helmets following him around made him seem weak; like he couldn't protect himself without these guys shadowing him all day. But for the sake of appearances, it helped make him look more important... And he wasn't arguing with that.
As the soldiers led him, one in front and one to either side, Seifer surveyed the halls of Galbadia Garden. The place had been beat up pretty badly during its clash with Balamb Garden, one of the many times Seifer had had to swallow the bitter pill of losing to Squall. But with some time, love, and a huge military budget, the Garden looked back to its former glory. The walls were patched up, the floors shined, Galbadian flags hanging in the corridors -- all a testament to Seifer's charisma and vision.
As he stepped out onto the platform of the Garden auditorium, he felt a rush of satisfaction as he saw the room filled to capacity. There were journalists from the local press, soldiers and officers from the G-Army, important government dignitaries and, most importantly, the black-suited students of Galbadia Garden's first new class since its defeat. It had taken time and blood, but his vision was finally coming true.
Walking to the podium, he recounted the path he'd walked to come to this moment. Unable to swallow his pride and go back to Balamb Garden to put himself under Squall's leadership, he'd fled to Galbadia after the defeat of Ultimecia. For awhile, he'd made ends meet by serving as a mercenary. It kept his skills sharp and made him enough gil to live comfortably, but it was never enough for an ambitious man like Seifer. He wanted more, but he didn't know how to get it.
Until the portals opened.
"Good evening," he began, his voice amplified throughout the room by the several microphones in front of him. He didn't much like the formal tone of speech he was taking on, but you couldn't just give a speech like you would boss your friends around. It required a little more.. refinement. Or at least that's what his speechwriter had told him.
"To see you all here this evening is, quite frankly, inspiring. It shows how far we've come, how much we've accomplished together. As you know, the opening of a number of mysterious portals has put us all in a place of uncertainty. Strange monsters, unusual phenomena, new enemies with unknown agendas... Once again, our world is gravely in danger."
It was a beautiful thing... All their eyes were focused intently on Seifer, as if he were their Messiah. Amazing, he thought, how quickly people could forget the past when they had a vision for the future.
"In the past, Galbadia expanded its power, influence, and resources in order to serve as a guardian of the free world, and played a role in the defense of its people against the Sorceress Adel. For a time, Galbadia fell into darkness and confusion, and lost its way. But that can no longer be the case. A weak, misguided, uncertain Galbadia is no longer an option if our world will ever be safe. If we want to protect ourselves, our homes, our loved ones... Galbadia must rise again!"
There was a wave of applause, a chorus of cheers, and the auditorium seemed to explode with enthusiasm. Although he was doing his best to project a stoic and professional presence, a smirk crept onto Seifer's face as he basked in the adoration of his audience. Did Squall ever see anything like this in Balamb? He doubted it. That fool was probably moping around and brooding away on his little island. Seifer, on the other hand, was standing on front of a cheering crowd, preparing to do something proactive.
"The reopening of Galbadia Garden is a symbol of your great resolve. You have thrown off the shackles, the restraints, the limitations placed on you by a jealous world fearful of your power. You have answered my call, and we will partner together to create the only military force capable of protecting this planet! Galbadia will unite the world under her banner, and we will drive these invaders and their portals from our homes forever... Let us go forward together, fearlessly, for Galbadia, and for the world!!"
Raising both of his hands in the air, Seifer offered a brief wave to the audience, before taking a few subtle steps backward, away from the podium. It was perfect. He had sparked a coup in Galbadia, fired up its people, and had been given his own repaired Garden to command. The people of Galbadia embraced him and made him the leader of their military, trusted him to guide them into the future and battle whatever threatened them.
When Ultimecia threatened the existence of the world, it was Squall who won the victory, took the fame, and became the hero. But where was Squall now, while Seifer stood in the spotlight?
This time, it's my turn to save the world.
=-=-=-=
And there you have it. About 1,400 words of my dream for Seifer's role in the story
If you don't think it will work, just say so, but I think it could be fun to have a sort of "rival Garden" thing going on, with Squall and Seifer butting heads over how to protect the world, each one running a Garden according to their own philosophies.
It also helps continue FF8's theme of having Squall and Seifer be mirror opposites of one another in many ways.
=-=-=-=
Squall beat me on every playing field, every time...
The harsh, almost grating sound of metal slicing through bone filled Seifer's ears as he heaved a massive backhanded swing, pulling his Gunblade's trigger as Hyperion decimated another monster, leaving a deep gash and sending the corpse flying backward from the course of the explosion. In one fluid, almost graceful motion, he spun back the way he'd came and swung Hyperion high over his head, bringing it straight down to clash through another dog-like creature, extending his free hand and gathering a ball of explosive flame magic, which burst from his palm and fatally scorched a third creature.
Squall became a SeeD, even though I trained my whole life for the honor... It was my leadership that got him into SeeD in the first place!
As the three beasts lay dead, the hissing sound of hydraulics caught Seifer's attention from behind, and he turned to see a heavy, metal door opening and releasing a swarm of nearly a dozen small, galloping monstrosities scurrying toward him at top speed. He twirled Hyperion gracefully in his hand and stepped backward, holding his palm outstretched again as a wave of fire raced through the pack of creatures. Then, leaping high into the air, he drew the Gunblade back behind him.
Squall outfought me four times, and took down the Sorceress I'd sworn to protect... He humiliated me!
The blade swung twice, and two lines of burning fire marked the ground in a cross shape. Around the cross, a swirling vortex of intense flames erupted, singing the ground, filling the air with the smell of burning flesh, and reducing the oncoming creatures to charred husks. Seifer descended gracefully from his jump, cutting the air once with his sword as a gesture of taunting the failed attackers.
Squall won Rinoa's heart... And now he leads the Garden that denied me my place as a Seed... There's no way I can go back there!
His moment of victory was interrupted as the sound of an alarm went off, and two flashing orange lights signaled that the main door of the training center was opening. The doors parted and slid open, revealing three men dressed in scarlet Galbadian military uniforms, helmets obscuring most of their faces.
"Sir... You instructed us to retrieve you after an hour. It's time for your speech in the auditorium, sir."
Turning silently and looking to the soldiers, Gunblade rested point-down and leaning against his leg, Seifer withdrew a handkerchief from his coat and wiped his forehead with it, before picking the carbon-black sword up again and resting it on his shoulder, crossing the floor to his men.
"Thanks... Sometimes I get so fired up in here, I lose track of time. Whatever these things are coming through those portals, they're something else."
"That's exactly why we need you, sir. Please follow us."
Seifer never stopped getting sick of having escorts following him around. If he had Fujin and Raijin at his side, that was one thing -- they were his posse, his devoted friends, who actually projected some kind of character. Having three faceless helmets following him around made him seem weak; like he couldn't protect himself without these guys shadowing him all day. But for the sake of appearances, it helped make him look more important... And he wasn't arguing with that.
As the soldiers led him, one in front and one to either side, Seifer surveyed the halls of Galbadia Garden. The place had been beat up pretty badly during its clash with Balamb Garden, one of the many times Seifer had had to swallow the bitter pill of losing to Squall. But with some time, love, and a huge military budget, the Garden looked back to its former glory. The walls were patched up, the floors shined, Galbadian flags hanging in the corridors -- all a testament to Seifer's charisma and vision.
As he stepped out onto the platform of the Garden auditorium, he felt a rush of satisfaction as he saw the room filled to capacity. There were journalists from the local press, soldiers and officers from the G-Army, important government dignitaries and, most importantly, the black-suited students of Galbadia Garden's first new class since its defeat. It had taken time and blood, but his vision was finally coming true.
Walking to the podium, he recounted the path he'd walked to come to this moment. Unable to swallow his pride and go back to Balamb Garden to put himself under Squall's leadership, he'd fled to Galbadia after the defeat of Ultimecia. For awhile, he'd made ends meet by serving as a mercenary. It kept his skills sharp and made him enough gil to live comfortably, but it was never enough for an ambitious man like Seifer. He wanted more, but he didn't know how to get it.
Until the portals opened.
"Good evening," he began, his voice amplified throughout the room by the several microphones in front of him. He didn't much like the formal tone of speech he was taking on, but you couldn't just give a speech like you would boss your friends around. It required a little more.. refinement. Or at least that's what his speechwriter had told him.
"To see you all here this evening is, quite frankly, inspiring. It shows how far we've come, how much we've accomplished together. As you know, the opening of a number of mysterious portals has put us all in a place of uncertainty. Strange monsters, unusual phenomena, new enemies with unknown agendas... Once again, our world is gravely in danger."
It was a beautiful thing... All their eyes were focused intently on Seifer, as if he were their Messiah. Amazing, he thought, how quickly people could forget the past when they had a vision for the future.
"In the past, Galbadia expanded its power, influence, and resources in order to serve as a guardian of the free world, and played a role in the defense of its people against the Sorceress Adel. For a time, Galbadia fell into darkness and confusion, and lost its way. But that can no longer be the case. A weak, misguided, uncertain Galbadia is no longer an option if our world will ever be safe. If we want to protect ourselves, our homes, our loved ones... Galbadia must rise again!"
There was a wave of applause, a chorus of cheers, and the auditorium seemed to explode with enthusiasm. Although he was doing his best to project a stoic and professional presence, a smirk crept onto Seifer's face as he basked in the adoration of his audience. Did Squall ever see anything like this in Balamb? He doubted it. That fool was probably moping around and brooding away on his little island. Seifer, on the other hand, was standing on front of a cheering crowd, preparing to do something proactive.
"The reopening of Galbadia Garden is a symbol of your great resolve. You have thrown off the shackles, the restraints, the limitations placed on you by a jealous world fearful of your power. You have answered my call, and we will partner together to create the only military force capable of protecting this planet! Galbadia will unite the world under her banner, and we will drive these invaders and their portals from our homes forever... Let us go forward together, fearlessly, for Galbadia, and for the world!!"
Raising both of his hands in the air, Seifer offered a brief wave to the audience, before taking a few subtle steps backward, away from the podium. It was perfect. He had sparked a coup in Galbadia, fired up its people, and had been given his own repaired Garden to command. The people of Galbadia embraced him and made him the leader of their military, trusted him to guide them into the future and battle whatever threatened them.
When Ultimecia threatened the existence of the world, it was Squall who won the victory, took the fame, and became the hero. But where was Squall now, while Seifer stood in the spotlight?
This time, it's my turn to save the world.
=-=-=-=
And there you have it. About 1,400 words of my dream for Seifer's role in the story
If you don't think it will work, just say so, but I think it could be fun to have a sort of "rival Garden" thing going on, with Squall and Seifer butting heads over how to protect the world, each one running a Garden according to their own philosophies.It also helps continue FF8's theme of having Squall and Seifer be mirror opposites of one another in many ways.
