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Entry tags:
Fanfiction: "Snapshots"
Title: "Snapshots" (2,534 words) [AO3]
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Final Fantasy VIII
Rating/Warnings: General Audiences / Mention of Death, Reminiscence of Deceased
Characters: Rinoa Heartilly, Laguna Loire
Summary: At least once in every conversation with Rinoa, Laguna brought up Julia. But the Julia he knew was not her mother; Laguna's Julia was nothing more than a snapshot, an idol, a sliver of a whole and vibrant woman.
(Written for a fic prompt on Tumblr: "Chocolate" + "In the snow")
"He never really wanted it, to begin with." Rinoa moved aside to let Laguna sit down. "You two still have a lot to learn about each other."
Laguna considered the bench for a moment, then crouched beside it instead, gathering a pile of snow in front of him. "Easier said than done, when one of us doesn't wanna talk." He reached the concrete below the snow, packed together the little mound he'd created, then reached out to scrape up some more. "How'd you manage to get into his good graces? Maybe you could give me a few pointers."
"Oh, it was mostly just persistence." And a bit of flirting, she added to herself, and a whole lot of arguing … "We were also pretty much stuck together after he was assigned to Timber, so we didn't have much choice to not talk to each other."
"I bet the fact that you're cute and outgoing didn't hurt, either." As he realized what he said, Laguna's ears turned red. "Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound creepy! It's just, you're a nice young lady, and I'm sure Squall finds you attract – um, nice – did I already say nice? – I mean, good … to … look at?"
Rinoa laughed. "It's okay, I understand. Thank you for the compliment."
"So gracious, too!" He glanced up at her, an absentminded smile on his face. "You remind me a lot of your mother."
There it was. At least once in every conversation with Rinoa, Laguna brought up Julia. Rinoa knew he meant no harm; he was likely grasping for common ground, for something to talk about. Still, the way he mentioned her, as if he had known her for years, instead of having been an awkward early fan of hers, chafed the tender spot in Rinoa's heart her mother had left behind. The Julia Laguna knew was not her mother; Laguna's Julia was nothing more than a snapshot, an idol, a sliver of a whole and vibrant woman.
Nevertheless, Rinoa tried to keep smiling. "Thank you," she said quietly.
"You have her eyes. Very expressive."
That was a lie. Or, at least, a misremembered detail. As much as she hated to admit it, Rinoa knew she had her father's eyes. Julia's eyes had been rounder than hers, but just as expressive as Laguna had mentioned. Rinoa made a noncommittal sound and shifted on the bench. She didn't want to leave Laguna talking to himself, but she desperately hoped he would move on to another subject.
No such luck.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Final Fantasy VIII
Rating/Warnings: General Audiences / Mention of Death, Reminiscence of Deceased
Characters: Rinoa Heartilly, Laguna Loire
Summary: At least once in every conversation with Rinoa, Laguna brought up Julia. But the Julia he knew was not her mother; Laguna's Julia was nothing more than a snapshot, an idol, a sliver of a whole and vibrant woman.
(Written for a fic prompt on Tumblr: "Chocolate" + "In the snow")
"He never really wanted it, to begin with." Rinoa moved aside to let Laguna sit down. "You two still have a lot to learn about each other."
Laguna considered the bench for a moment, then crouched beside it instead, gathering a pile of snow in front of him. "Easier said than done, when one of us doesn't wanna talk." He reached the concrete below the snow, packed together the little mound he'd created, then reached out to scrape up some more. "How'd you manage to get into his good graces? Maybe you could give me a few pointers."
"Oh, it was mostly just persistence." And a bit of flirting, she added to herself, and a whole lot of arguing … "We were also pretty much stuck together after he was assigned to Timber, so we didn't have much choice to not talk to each other."
"I bet the fact that you're cute and outgoing didn't hurt, either." As he realized what he said, Laguna's ears turned red. "Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound creepy! It's just, you're a nice young lady, and I'm sure Squall finds you attract – um, nice – did I already say nice? – I mean, good … to … look at?"
Rinoa laughed. "It's okay, I understand. Thank you for the compliment."
"So gracious, too!" He glanced up at her, an absentminded smile on his face. "You remind me a lot of your mother."
There it was. At least once in every conversation with Rinoa, Laguna brought up Julia. Rinoa knew he meant no harm; he was likely grasping for common ground, for something to talk about. Still, the way he mentioned her, as if he had known her for years, instead of having been an awkward early fan of hers, chafed the tender spot in Rinoa's heart her mother had left behind. The Julia Laguna knew was not her mother; Laguna's Julia was nothing more than a snapshot, an idol, a sliver of a whole and vibrant woman.
Nevertheless, Rinoa tried to keep smiling. "Thank you," she said quietly.
"You have her eyes. Very expressive."
That was a lie. Or, at least, a misremembered detail. As much as she hated to admit it, Rinoa knew she had her father's eyes. Julia's eyes had been rounder than hers, but just as expressive as Laguna had mentioned. Rinoa made a noncommittal sound and shifted on the bench. She didn't want to leave Laguna talking to himself, but she desperately hoped he would move on to another subject.
No such luck.