"It really hasn't changed," Quistis remarked as she and Seifer stood outside the entrance to Timber.
"Saved from technological expansion by tourists who love it's 'rustic appearance'," Seifer scoffed.
"It's advanced enough," Quistis said, defensively. "But I suppose it is rather behind the times." She tilted her head. "Should save from too much wandering, since there are only a few places this Rueday could hide."
"I guess even the cities stuck in the past have some advantages."
"No one's going to take kindly to that attitude, Seifer," Quistis admonished. "This will be a lot easier if people like us." She shot him a look. "But since when do you like easy stuff?"
"The instructor learns," he taunted. "However, since it's kind of obvious we aren't from around here, and that we're military," he pointedly looked at her visible whip," maybe we should be worried about other things. Like how not to draw attention to ourselves."
Quistis conceded him the point. "What do you suggest?"
"Going in," he grinned sardonically. She smiled in response, and they entered the town of Timber.
Finding the hotel took no time, and getting a room took even less. With a knowing glance at Quistis, Seifer asked for one room, signing them in as Mr. and Mrs. Kramer. She merely nodded and when they reached the room, stopped short.
"Okay, I tolerated one room on the boat, but that had two beds!" Quistis said through gritted teeth.
"Relax." Seifer shrugged. "You can sleep on the floor." He flopped down on the queen-sized bed, and gave her a mocking grin.
With a sigh that told Seifer exactly what she thought of him, Quistis flung off her belt and gloves, then sat in the chair set in the corner of the room. She rested her chin in her hand. "We could have gotten two rooms."
"People would have asked questions, like why we were always together in public places, but slept in different rooms. Why we traveled together," Seifer pulled off his trenchcoat and leaned back on the bed, arms behind his head. "If people inquired anyway. It just makes it safer."
Quistis raised an eyebrow at him. "When did you become so interested in those kinds of details?"
"Taking the exam so often just drilled it into my head, even if I didn't practice it. Besides, what about the nightmares?" Seifer met her gaze with an eyebrow of his own.
"Good point," she sighed. "I'd nearly forgotten."
"So where do we begin to look, oh experienced one?" He pushed himself up on his elbows.
"We don't, until we find a way to blend in," she drew her knees up. "And we have to find a way to do it while still being able to carry our weapons. We can't be caught unawares."
"Well, I'm dressed," Seifer sat up.
"No, you're not," she replied. "Too many people could remember the TV station incident. It was only two years ago."
"Oh," Seifer frowned at the reminder. "So what do we do?"
"We'll have to go out like this, I guess. This place does have a clothing shop. Just get a couple outfits," she rubbed her forehead, a frown marring her face.
"Shopping?" Seifer laughed. "Women will do anything to go shopping."
"Actually, you chauvinist," Quistis stood up and flung her gloves at him. "I hate shopping."
"Bull," he muttered. "All right," he sighed and stood up. He pulled on his coat," Let's go."
* * *
"It wasn't that much," Quistis argued. "Besides, it was just sitting there. You've been a SeeD for a month. Your salary would have been gone on that pair of pants." She dropped her bags on the end of bed, and folded her arms, glaring at Seifer. "Get over it."
"It's the principle of the thing!" Seifer threw his bags down next to hers. "I don't want you paying for my clothes."
"Well it's over and done with!" Quistis turned her back to him and began removing things from her bags. "I just hope that the ruckus you caused at the store won't be remembered."
"I caused?" Seifer snorted. "He threatened to hit me."
"You threatened to cut off his limbs and hang him from the mail hook at the train station!" she retorted. "Like that wouldn't draw any attention!"
"Whatever! He was getting on my nerves."
"So what did he tell you about Rueday?" Quistis wanted to know. "I was paying when you took him outside for a brawl."
"He said he didn't know who this Rueday was." Seifer frowned. "He was lying, I could tell. Something about his eyes."
"It is assuming much that everyone knows who he is," Quistis folded an emerald green long-sleeved knit shirt.
"The cashier didn't know anything either?"
"On the contrary, she was most helpful. She said that he came in to buy new clothes the other day. They were always the same. Black pants, white shirt. Green eyes. Black hair," Quistis caught the disgusted look on Seifer's face, and couldn't help but smile. "He's has a frequent shopper card."
"She didn't want to know why you were so interested?" Seifer ran a hand through his hair.
"Of course she did. I told her that I'd heard of him through a mutual friend and was anxious to meet him," Quistis, finishing with the clothes, sat on the edge of the bed. "He's known to hang out at the club, T-Night."
"So that's our next stop?" Seifer asked. "Which explains the clothes. Did you have to choose such smutty clothes?"
Quistis gave him a look. "You mean, I should act prissy and like a military soldier when I'm at a club? Perhaps I should just walk up to him and tell him exactly why we're here." She shook her head. "How else can I keep our identities a secret, unless it's acting and dressing totally opposite of who I am?"
Sighing, Seifer nodded. "All right. Do you want to shower first or shall I?
* * *
"Quistis?!"
"Don't say a word!" Blue eyes glared at him through a fringe of blonde hair. "I'm not done!"
"Uh, okay," Seifer bit his lip and turned away, stifling his laughter. He went to the window, and leaned his head against it, watching as a street lamp flickered then turned on. People, young people, began to stream across the road toward a brightly lit building. "Is that T-Night?"
"Right across from us?" Her voice came from the bathroom. "Yes, that's the place."
"It's not going to be easy to find him in there."
"No one said being a SeeD was easy." A yelp of pain erupted from the bathroom, followed by a curse.
"Quistis?" Eyes narrowed, he turned toward the bathroom.
"Shut up!"
Well she was obviously fine. Seifer rolled his eyes and sat back on the bed. "Are you done yet?"
"You know, it would probably be less conspicuous if one of us went first, and the other came in later," she responded. "That way it will look like we aren't together, and I can get closer to Rueday."
"In other words, you aren't ready." Seifer sighed and stood up. "Okay, I'm going. See you there."
"I'll find you," she yelled at him as he shut the door.
* * *