Final Fantasy Meta

For the past month or so I've been researching source material for FF8, getting intimately acquainted with what is canon and what is not -- just trying to get my facts straight, is all, for my Selphie Manifesto/Frankenfic. It's really interesting, comparing fandom norms with what Square has to say!¹

Mostly, I've been trying to make sense of the whole Garden business.

Did you know that Galbadia Garden does not train SeeDs? Balamb is the only Garden that conducts SeeD field exams. Once you've made SeeD, you're stationed at Balamb until you're deployed for whatever mission.

The FF Wiki says that Irvine studied and graduated as a sharpshooter and firearms expert from Galbadia.² The graduating part is worth questioning -- was it recent? Why was he hanging around G-Garden? As an expert, would he be kept around as a sort of retainer, possibly even groomed for instructorship? Galbadia's training program is based on weapons technology -- mainly, firearms -- and has an alumni program that helps graduates enlist in militaries all over, which personally reminds me of the US military and how you can potentially sign as an officer if you have your degree.

Could that have been an option for Irvine?

Which leads me to the following question: Why does Irvine continue travelling with Squall and company after the assassination attempt? Did he have no immediate missions? Is he considered a free agent? Did he put any military plans on hold so he could tag along with the people from his childhood?

What do you think? What do you think Mr. Kinneas's deal is?

---

¹ In light of FF4: Interlude and the whole After Years business, I realize that maybe I shouldn't take their word for gold, but that's an entirely different story, one that might include a stand-up comedy skit.

² I only ran across this in the Story section of Irvine's FF wiki page. It's not mentioned again. It makes me wish there was a full translation of the Ultimania guide!