Who: Seifer and Quistis (and Ser Barristan) What: Seifer arriving at Garden for the weekend Where: Balamb Garden Station When: Friday, Late Afternoon Warnings: Probably language
Dark eyes stared out through the window of the train car, focusing on any and all movement visible in the light of the setting autumn sun. The town had disappeared long ago, and the patchwork design of farms and fields were becoming little more than a recent memory. Forests and meadows danced alongside the tracks, the last golden remnants of the day's glow filtering through reddened leaves and in between increasingly barren trees. It was either too early or too late for whatever wildlife normally wandered in the area, the only real life the occasional blur of a squirrel or badger. Too quickly gone, and too far away to follow after.
He knew the path by now, despite the fact that he'd never walked it himself. He'd taken the trip so many times over the span of his life, knew the sounds and smells, that he might have actually been able to do it on his own. Sometimes he was tempted, those first fleeting seconds after disembarking, wanting to dash off into the unknown. But then The Alpha would call, and he would follow. As always. As it was meant to be.
The dog arched back to sniff at figure on the seat beside him, nose poking against the expanse of skin at The Alpha's wrist, exposed between the expanse of jacket sleeve and glove. There was no fur, at least not there, so new layers were added once the weather grew colder. Strange. The smells were old, stale, from what seemed to be an eternity ago. The concept of actual time was lost on him. A year could be forever, or yesterday. All he knew was that the new, fresh, familiar smell stayed underneath, and that the hand that fed him still existed somewhere under the dark leather of that glove.
Seifer Almasy raised that hand, using it to gently scratch at the fluffy fur along the dog's neck before Ser Barristan turned to look back out the window once more, tail swaying slightly against the train seat and the man's leg. The scratches continued for a little while after, before Seifer stretched both arms up above his head, arching his back and releasing a wide yawn. The ride was long, the seating too short for his long legs. He had the aisle at least, giving him a little more space while the pooch took his favored spot next to the window. Green eyes followed the first pair of dark brown to see how far along in their journey they were, and Barry's head moved slightly to sniff and lick at the side of his owner's face now that it was in such close proximity.
"Stoppit," Seifer half sighed and half laughed, dropping his hand firmly, but gently, against the dog's shoulder. Ser Barristan complied.
"Garden Station. Please account for your belongings and remain seated until the train comes to a full stop." The automated announcement was practically branded into Seifer's mind, not that he listened. As soon as the train began to slow he was on his feet, reaching up to the shelf above his seat to grab for his dufflebag. Ser Barristan had already dropped to the floor, shaking the stiffness out of his body and fur once he traveled to the aisle, then looked back expectantly as the train brakes screeched.
"Go on," Seifer waved his hand out, and the dog trotted the familiar line down the aisle, past the other train riders still collecting themselves from their seats, and into the back of the section of the car itself that separated the entryway from the seating. A glance through the long windows of the exit drew his gaze to an all-too-familiar figure already standing on the platform, and instantly that tail was going again. The smell of The Alpha was approaching from behind him, and when the doors opened the dog looked back with a small whine, waiting for the go ahead. Once he got it, all four paws were bounding out, tongue lolling excitedly and collar jingling as he aimed straight for The Alpha Female.