Training Center

Pivotal to the characterization of Quistis and Squall and their consequent relationship is their meeting in the Secret Area at the Training Center. After the SeeD Graduation Ball and Squall's dance with Rinoa, Quistis meets with Squall on the balcony and tells him to meet her later that night in front of the Training Center. After a battle with a T-Rexaur and trekking through the area itself, Quistis tells Squall that she will no longer be his Instructor but instead a fellow SeeD.
Quistis: Oh well... I, Quistis Trepe, am no longer an instructor as of now! I'm a member of SeeD now, just like you. Who knows, maybe we'll end up working together.
Squall: ...Oh really?
Quistis: Is that all you're going to say?
Squall: If that's how it was decided, you have to abide by it.
Quistis: They told me that I failed as an instructor. Basically, that I lacked leadership qualities. I was a SeeD by the age of 15, got my instructor license at 17... It's only been a year since I got it... I wonder where I went wrong... I did my best... Are you listening?
Squall: Are you done yet...? I don't wanna talk about it. What am I supposed to say about other people's problems?
Quistis: I'm not asking you to say anything. I just want you to listen.
Squall: Then go talk to a wall.
Quistis: Aren't there times when you want to share feelings with someone?
Squall: Everyone has to take care of themselves? I don't want to carry anyone's burden.
Quistis: ...No leadership qualities... Failed instructor... Perhaps they're right...
Cue angst-ridden Quistis introspective fanfics, cue pity for Quistis, and cue rotten tomatoes for Squall. As much as I love Quistis and try to maintain neutrality for Squall (I always dislike the main and poster characters for some reason), she had it coming: she had been flunctuating professionally, and sure - confiding in someone is a very great way to relieve yourself. But Squall? This scene is one of her more prominent mistakes; she should've known better than to confide in a man who seems so antisocial and aloof. Xu or Dr. Kadowaki would've been the better choice to confide in, but then again that wouldn't exactly have as much of an effect, would it? Once again, Quistis is too focused on developing her relationship with him.

Squall also gets a lot of backlash for his attitude in this scene, but there is nothing absolutely and excessively horrid or mean that he does. He knows that he's not the type of person that listens and consoles people and that he's not fit to listen to Quistis' troubles - he doesn't care for other people's problems or burdens, and even proposes that a wall would be a better audience than himself. How would you feel if a superior all of a sudden dished out his life story and insecurities? How would you react but confused? Quistis is at this point completely unraveled by the loss of her position - the one that she has worked so hard for, the one that she probably identifies herself with - and it shows: it is during this scene that we get to see the real Quistis - the one who is not a model for her peers, the one who is not confident in herself, and the one who needs support wherever she can get it.

Anyhow, I think the scene ends rather abruptly; Quistis contemplates that maybe the accusations on her record are actually true, and all fades out. Quistis and Squall go outside the room only to find a mysterious woman getting attacked and save her.

The aftermath of this situation shows much about Quistis' character. Even though Squall, an infatuation of hers for some time, has thoroughly rejected her and shows no signs of feeling sorry for it, Quistis is still able to pull herself together in a short amount of time - together enough to battle wits with Seifer in the Detention Room and follow him all the way to Timber the next morning (not an easy thing I tell you, Seifer is quite difficult). She is still able to resume her role as a guide despite her personal feelings, and she is also still able to look after the whole entire group effectively.

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