Rinoa: Relationships

Squall Leonhart
Rinoa and Squall clash at first, but with an opening scene like that, who couldn't guess they'd be together? It's almost like they're made for each other (well, since it's a game, they sorta were, but.. you know what I mean! >_<)
"Stay close to me." That's basically where Rinoa's unlikely love for Squall began to develop. In Deling City, after Squall (and Irvine..) save her from nasty statues turned alive called Igiuons, Squall says this to her, and she recalls later on that that was when she fell for him (he forgot, of course.. the fiend :P) Before that, Rinoa regarded him as a pretty cold person, and she fought with him a LOT, basically because the two were complete opposites (Rinoa being so loving, emotional, and open, and Squall being.. well, the total opposite!). Rinoa just couldn't understand how he could be so cold. And I think Squall thought she was just too touchy feely.. But maybe in an intriguing kind of way? ^_~ Rinoa started subtly flirting with the guy (first with "Take me for a tour of the Garden!", then asking Zell to make a copy of his ring.. and in plenty of small other ways ^^;) but it took a coma and a sorceress to eventually bring them together (more about this can be found at Brush With Fate ^_~).
But really, as far as their relationship goes.. They bring out the best qualities in each other, and complement each other perfectly. They go together like light and dark, sort of. Rinoa changes Squall's life forever - she shows him how to love, and brings him out of his stage of paranoia to trust in anyone. He finds her interesting or intriguing, as she's completely different from him. And Squall provides Rinoa with the extra support she needs to be at her best - the kind of support she hadn't had since her childhood. Squall's like the right hand to Rinoa's left, or vice versa; they just belong together because they complement each other so perfectly.
And this if of course completely useless commentary, but.. If these two ever got married, and had kids, the kids'd be pretty damn good looking. And have really, really clean hair - like Squall's! And I can imagine they'd fight a lot (Rinoa and Squall, I mean, not the kids ^^;) because they might not agree all the time.. but they'd still love each other of course.. ^_^

Seifer Almasy
The summer before the action of the game begins to take place, Rinoa was involved with Seifer - although what actualy happened between them is kept a heavily guarded secret. >| She says she didn't really know how she felt, and was unsure if they were really in a relationship or not. She was "in love", but I don't really think the kind between her and Squall (actually, I think most would call the way she felt for Seifer infatuation of some sort, and not love ^_^; because she gets over her feelings for him pretty quickly). She feels sorry for him and misses him after they all think he was executed, but as soon as he sides with Sorceress Edea and she falls for Squall it's pretty obvious that anything between them was over. It's hideously obvious that it's over after Seifer throws her to Sorceress Adel. >P
Depending on who you talk to you're going to get lots of different interpretations of Rinoa and Seifer - I wrote a short article on mine here if you're interested. I was trying to keep this fairly objective, so I kept my opinion elsewhere. *^^*

Zone & Watts
Yes, Rinoa's fellow Forest Owl teammates. They all act like very good friends, and tease Rinoa and stuff. ^_- Rinoa is kind of like the Forest Owl's mascot, and they hold her in what seems like a high respect - they call her Princess, give her her own nicely furnished room - but, ahh, I dunno ^^; that could just be because Rinoa's so spoiled (and to the Forest Owls, she must be, because they all seem especially afraid to disturb her at one point ^^;; so they make Squall go and do it). Zone gets VERY protective of Rinoa; and threatens to beat the crap out of Squall at the thought of anything happening to her. It reminds me somewhat of a brother/sister relationship, the two seem to bicker but really they do care, and Zone is always looking out for little Rinoa. ^^ After he finds out she's fallen into a coma, all hell breaks loose. O_o;; "YOU SON OF A BITCH!!! What did I say!!!? What did I say, HUH!!!? I told you to take care of her!!! That nothin' better happen to her!!! Scumbag! You pathetic, lyin' scumbag!" Eeesh, now that's love. O_O
The three all seem like they're really good friends (otherwise, why would they have dared to tease Rinoa to her face? ;)) but I think maybe Rinoa gets exasperated at them; or at least at Zone. ^^ He "gets" frequent stomach pains (but I think he fakes it) to excuse himself from working, and Rinoa always puts her hands on her hips and shakes her head disgustedly. It's kinda funny. ;) I think that Zone and Watts are a little afraid of Rinoa's attitude though. ^^;;

Zell Dincht
Rinoa and Zell are REALLY good friends. ^_^ She asks him for favors like getting Squall's ring for her and such (even though he picks THE worst time in the world to ask Squall for it.. >_<), and he offers to even make a copy of it for her! Because of this he's also the first to suspect her little "crush" on Squall ^^ but Rinoa denies it.. Several times in the game they can be found conversing about the object of their affections though. ^^;; They have similarities in their personalities, and this makes them get along well.. Both really emotional, although in different ways. ^_^ It's just very cute how well they click!

Selphie Tilmitt
Again, Selphie and Rinoa don't really interact much but I can see them being really good friends for some reason. But then, I'm sure Selphie is friends with most of the people she meets, so.. ^_- Anyway, their personalities have a few of the same qualities (but Rinoa isn't as.. hyper, as Selphie-chan :)) or something. I can see them being really close friends.

Irvine Kinneas
Rinoa and Irvine get along, but not like the best of friends. The kink in their relationship is on the Irvine side though.. I think because of the way he is (throughout the game he hits on Selphie AND Quistis, and even tries to hit on Rinoa.. ^^;;) he treats her more like.. a cream puff on a plate than a person part of the time, and she sees this. "Come on..! Stop trying to act so cool!" She can see straight through his cool, "trying-to-impress-girls" attitude. :) And they do get along, but not wonderfully at first. But we do have to thank Irvine, because otherwise Rinoa would've been Igiuon meat or have fallen to her death off of Garden if he hadn't convinced Squall to save her both times. :P He's a total playboy, but he's still a pretty nice guy. *^^*

Quistis Trepe
Quistis and Rinoa don't really get to much friendly interaction. >| I guess maybe it's like a "rivaly" thing, since Quistis had these feelings for Squall and Rinoa liked him at the same time. And consider the fight in Deling City with the sorceress assasination mission. O_o;; Since their views are very different (Quistis being more of a logical thinker, Rinoa following her heart), it causes them to misunderstand each other. But I do think they could get along myself. Although maybe Quistis is too serious for Rinoa's liking as a close friend?

Timber citizens
Lol. ^^;; Well, Rinoa's known around Timber for her work with the Forest Owls, and most of the time people are fairly friendly to her because of this position. When Rinoa gets in trouble, the people of Timber are most often willing to lend help. ^^ There's also this random guy who gives Rinoa a potion every time he talks to her, and starts studdering.. I think maybe he's attracted. ^_^;; It seems people like her there. Except for this drunk guy at the pub, who blames the resistance for all his problems, but.. Go figure. Consider the source. ¬¬

General Carway & Julia Heartilly
Rinoa's parents. See Scars of the Past for information on Rinoa's family life.

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