Quantum Leap [Suikoden, Jeane/Viki, PG]

[lurk-stiltzkin.livejournal.com]

Title: Quantum Leap
Author: lurk_stiltzkin 
Rating: PG
Warning: Spoilers for Suikoden I - V, and Suikogaiden
Word Count: 1485
Prompt: 12^th – Suikoden (any), Jeane/Viki: recognition – “I know I’ve seen you before somewhere…”

There was this ditzy girl that Lazlo brought in, a teleporter magician, he said. Supposed to be quite good at her job, only the thing to be cautious was her sneezes and errors that might send you to God knows where.

Beneath her feet, Jeane could feel the tides that rocked the ship, the waves that will form the history, shaping the stars of destiny. In front of her, a raven, longhaired girl blinked innocently, something like recognition dawning on her. “Jeane? Is that you?”

She cocked her head to the side. “Yes?”

“Phew~! I was so worried I might end up somewhere I didn’t know this time, but I’m so glad you’re here. They said you’re in the battle forces now! That’s so cool! The last thing I remembered was Hugo saying we’ve defeated the evil magician and we’re celebrating and eating and dancing and packing away the stuffs and I was taking a sip of a red, fruity drink--”

“I’m so sorry,” Jeane said, feeling the need to cut her off. “Do I know you?” The question was genuine. So many of her shop’s visitors had used this exact same pick up line, and each one of them eventually was too dazed or love-struck to do almost anything except stare and drool at her.

“Of course! I’m Viki! You know, the teleport magician? I send you anywhere you want to go with my magic?” She said hopefully.

“Have we met?”

“Oh you know, during that time with Tir Mcdohl and Riou and the last time was Hugo? You always had this shop where you display the pretty rune crystals and affix the runes on people.”

“Yes, that’s me.” She smiled sweetly at the smaller girl, not knowing whether or not she proved to be dangerous. “But where is the exact location? City or perhaps, country?”

“It was the Toran Liberation and Dunan Unification and the Second Fire Bringer War, Jeane! How could you forget?”

“I didn’t forget, my dear Viki,” Jeane said patiently. “How could I forget if I never have these memories in the first place? First things first: what is the Toran?”

Somewhere in the cabin beneath them, Ted sneezed.

-

“Like wise, I told you not too bring that Rune magician along, Prince!” Lyon warned. “She’s assisted Godwin before, what made you think that she won’t do it again?”

The Prince smiled sheepishly, ducked his head and looked at his strategist from the corner of his eyes.

Lucretia flipped her fan and sighed. “Now Lyon, she might be—“

The walls of Ceras castle have ears, Viki concluded. The prince, Lyon and Lucretia’s conversation could be heard so loudly from that Rune shop. Behind the counter, she could see the proprietor’s curvy figure even from the distance away.

“Hello, Viki. It sure has been a while, you’re still as cute as ever.”

--Who was suddenly standing beside her, all smiles and dangerous curves and cleavage greeting her. “Aaaaaaaahhh---”

Jeane silenced her with a finger on her lips, wagging her other index finger at Viki. “Now, now, you’re gonna disturb the others.”

“Je-jeane! Hi! I dunno, I still felt like it was yesterday, tehehe. You’re still so pretty.”

“Thank you, my dear.” The taller woman removed her finger, and pushed her long hair from her shoulder. “So what made you join the cause?”

“Err? Um, just temporary food and shelter, I guess. Until I find the way back…home.” Viki answered, not really sure with her own replies. “What about you?”

Jeane wasn’t paying attention, she was poking her staff at the pile of junk behind them, and with a swing, the piles fell and revealed Oboro and his Mr. Mouse.

“Heard enough, Mr. Detective?” Jeane smiled dangerously at him. “You can go back and tell your client or in your case, Lucretia, that if the Prince trusted me, I will serve him greatly during his war. Hussy or not, he will have no regrets.”

Oboro dusted his pants and shirt, stood up and grinned. “Of course.”

Viki was pretty sure she actually heard him gulping.

-

Scarlet Moon Empire’s weather has been accommodating enough to wear an even skimpier outfit.

They even have a launderer this time around, and her shop was so conveniently located upstairs. Her role this time was minor, and the boy Leknaat had sent over for help has very dangerous eyes and a keen observation. However, Jeane caught sight of that raven long hair when she stepped into the basement, saw the largish mirror beside Viki, who was busy reciting teleportation spells, as if she has never done this a thousand times before.

“We meet again, Viki.”

The teleporter blinked, once, twice and thrice at her. When no other responses came, aside from ‘huh?’, Jeane tried to refresh her memory. “It’s me, Jeane. The rune mistress, remember?”

“Oh, oh, right! Hello, I’m Viki, nice to meet you!” she said, extending both her hands and shook Jeane’s energetically.

“Sure, nice to meet you again.”

The smile didn’t left Viki’s face. “… have we met? Oh right, when I went upstairs to see Mcdohl and buy some things, I think I might have seen you!”

This time, it was Jeane’s turn to slap her forehead.

-

“How long has it been, Sir Georg?”

“Twelve years, I think.”

“I think it was ten or thirteen, but whatever you decide.” Lorelai said from behind them.

Killey cut in. “Ever since Falena.”

Georg Prime eyed the treasure hunters, feeling the years settling between them. “We meet again.”

Retso wiped his nose and sniffled. “If-if Shun Min was here, she would have been happy to meet all of you. But I lost to Hai Yo and--”

“Now, now Retso, she died for a cause and we better honor her memories. I’m sure she’s watching us from somewhere and have this big, sweet smile on her face.”

Lorelai sniggered. “Seems like the years had turned Deathblow Georg into such a softie.”

“So scary now with the scythe, Lorelai?” Georg teased. “You used to be such a cute dominatrix with that whip and saying big words of treasure hunting even when you’re barely fourteen.”

“I was fifteen at the time, thank you very much,” she bristled. “Have you guys seen that…you know, at the store? The Rune shop’s owner?”

“The Rune Mistress,” Killed volunteered.

“Hasn’t changed a bit,” Retso said.

“Still such a hot beauty,” Georg muttered.

“Why, thank you, Sir Georg.” A lilting, husky voice said from behind them. “Now, to have a visit from old comrades would have been nice. But I see no one have volunteered, for the special exception of dear old Viki here.”

The former members of Dawn army gulped involuntarily, turning around to look at the newcomer. Behind Jeane, a round, raven haired head bobbed to the side, revealing their teleporter. “Hi! It’s Killey and Lorelai!”

“Ugh, not you.” Lorelai gritted her teeth. “I’ve had enough of your bad spells for a lifetime.”

Killey blinked at her and stepped backward.

“Hello, Viki.” Georg greeted.

The teleporter blinked, once, twice and thrice at the former Queen’s Knight. “Huh?”

“It’s me, Georg. Georg Prime? We met at Falena? And this is Retso, our former chef?”

“Huh?”

Jeane turned to look at him. “I could explain the memory lapse to you, but I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t believe me.”

“Ha. Ha. HA.”

“I’m SO not surprised,” Lorelai commented.

-

Small(er) Viki narrowed her eyes at the silver haired woman that was walking towards them, the big(ger) Viki and herself, all smiles and skimpy sheer…clothes. Dress. Whatever.

This is like living a nightmare, she thought, watching as Jeane sat herself next to her, pushing the wavy silver hair out of her shoulder. That blond Harmonian spy was even having this fake memory relapse when they met, but Viki could see the fear and caution swirling beneath his friendly facet, a dog fleeing with his tail between his legs. Deny all communications and sever all ties for self-preservation.

“I presume this explains many things,” the rune mistress started, fingering her staff, watching Futch petting his white dragon, all the while stealing a look at the group of women.

“If only I have any idea what you’re talking about,” small Viki replied, raising her eyebrows a notch.

“You understood exactly,” Jeane said, lowering her face, and Viki could see the men around them fixated their eyes somewhere beneath her neck line. “everything.”

“I wish not,” Viki said, “I don’t know anything, and I don’t want to know anything.”

“You’re a clever girl,” Jeane concluded, rising from her seat. “I’m glad we’re able to understand each other. See you later, Viki.”

“I hope not,” small Viki muttered under her breath.

“Bye bye, Jeane! Catch you later!” The bigger Viki waved. “Isn’t it nice to make friends?”

The smaller of the two looked up to glare at the other. “Don’t. Ever. Call. Her. A Friend.”