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insusurro2020-05-19 01:47 pm
- [ event ],
- [ open ],
- [ whispers ],
- aerith [ asha ],
- aerith [ riddle ],
- andrea [ yan ],
- angeal [ ariel ],
- cid [ ariel ],
- cloud [ peach ],
- cor [ asha ],
- elena [ liz ],
- regis [ ariel ],
- reno [ abby ],
- rikku [ iola ],
- rude [ peach ],
- rude [ yan ],
- rufus [ hebe ],
- sephiroth [ bird ],
- sephiroth [ cat ],
- sephiroth [ nyan ],
- sephiroth [ sten ],
- shelke [ dalrint ],
- squall [ peach ],
- tifa [ ash ],
- tifa [ asha ],
- tseng [ mil ],
- veld [ hebe ],
- weiss [ shikki ],
- zack [ asha ]
ARRIVAL.
π ππ πππ π ππππ ππππ ππ ππππ πππ π you moved under your own power. The shadows that dwelt in the corners of your vision vanished, the world is bright and the shackles of destiny fall from your liberated limbs.
You're free.
But before you can take that next step, before you can alter your fate, a terrible howling fills your ears. It's an ill wind full of malice, one that rips you off of your feet and back, back, back from this chance to seize your destiny. The shadows coalesce into a single entity, its hands locking around your throat. It cannot let this stand.
You think that maybe this is the end. The world goes dark as it rushes past you, this is the end.
Except you wake to the feeling of rain on your skin.
The cliffs around you bare the scars of a fierce battle. Before you, a massive city faces the sea. Behind you, greenery sprawls for miles. Midgar has never looked so beautiful, but it has also never looked so unlike itself. The Sister Ray points proudly towards the sea. A bustling city crawls out from its shadow, looking wealthier and more robust than the slums ever did. You don't have long to ponder this.
Because you aren't alone. Others are coming to, looking just as confused and uncertain as you do. Some are battleworn and bloody, as if they were pulled from a fierce battle. Others appear to be in perfect health, as if they were simply pulled from a long slumber, though no less confused and lost. The howling that filled your slowly begins to fade, and as it does, the rain begins to clear.
ππππππ is within a few hours walking distance. ππππ lies not much further in the opposite direction. There is no presence urging you to walk to one or the other, no voice from on high telling you what path your feet should walk. Underneath this infinite blue sky the choice to go - or to stay - is entirely yours.
ππππ ππππ πππ ππ ππππ ππ?
no subject
[ Zack withdraws his hand eventually. It goes straight to the back of his neck, ruffling the spiky expanse there. He's not sure what to do with Rufus. Is this a fighting situation? The guy doesn't seem volatile. And he's already killed way too many people he's shared a helping hand with. He's fucking tired of it.
Zack isn't like Rufus. His eyes are open, plain to see the passive plea in them. Don't make this bloodier than it has to be. Please.
He speaks carefully: ]
I'm not tryin' to do anything here but survive.
no subject
[He meant it. SOLDIER had been one of the worst things his father had created and he was determined that nothing like that would ever happen again. It hadn't been easy for the Turks to find the remains of Jenova but it had been worth it to hopefully put an end to all of that.
History wouldn't repeat itself if he had anything to say about it.
He doubted Zack would trust him and for good reason but he would still be honest with him even if his expression was more guarded.]
Shinra isn't going to come after you. You're free to go where you like.
no subject
And the way this guy talks... ]
You say it like your word means somethin'.
[ Zack takes a step closer. Not to be intimidatingβmaybe a little bit to be intimidatingβmainly to make it plain as pie that he's not going to be taking dodgy runaround answers from this one. ]
Who are you?
no subject
He owed Zack that much.]
I'm not asking for your trust.
[So there was no hiding it then. He would always be the Shinra empire, for better or worse.]
I'm President Rufus Shinra.
no subject
Rufus Shinra. President Rufus Shinra. Kunsel's texts come back to him quickly. ]
Guess they let you come back from that 'business trip' after all. Here I thought that was just a clever way of saying you were... y'know.
[ He does that click-click with his tongue. Dead. ]
... How long have I been gone for?
[ He doesn't know if Rufus would know a thing like that. He's barely even asking anyone but himself. ]
no subject
Those who knew what he had done assumed that Rufus would have been executed if he wasn't the only legitimate heir to the Shinra empire. Rufus knew his father wouldn't have hesitated if there wasn't another suitable option.]
I was under house arrest for trying to kill my father. I nearly was executed, though so that's not an unreasonable assumption.
[And he's not sorry for the attempt. He only regretted he had failed.]
You've been gone for roughly seven years, Mr. Fair.
no subject
[ Zack has no idea who he is trying to console here. Obviously he knows nothing about Rufus Shinra β nothing important, anyway. He'd offer a hug, but Rufus doesn't look quite like the hugging type. ]
Seven years...
[ He gazes up at the stars. Funny how they seem the same, even now, where nothing beyond the heavens makes any sense at all. But then, how's that any different than before? ]
Guess I got a lotta lost time to make up for.
no subject
[Rufus wasn't going to mourn the old man. He waved his hand dismissively to brush aside the subject of his father. He didn't want to raise that ghost here.
If Zack was standing in front of him alive and seemingly well, who knew who else could be resurrected. He wanted the future for himself and he wasn't going to let it be tainted by his father's influence.]
A lot happened in those years. The Shinra you know is entirely gone now.
no subject
Still. The idea of Shinra just being... gone? That doesn't even register. Doesn't make sense.
He should say something a little bit more substantial. Instead he goes for: ]
So does that mean I don't gotta call you Mr. President?
no subject
[He would build his new empire stone by stone but it wasn't going to be anything like what his father envisioned. The days of SOLDIERS, Jenova experiments carried about second rate scientists in secret labs, and using the life energy of the Planet were gone..]
But no, you don't have to refer me to as President anymore if you prefer. I offer you my help if needed but that's all. You have no obligation to me.
no subject
He should.... Right? Maybe without Rufus Shinra, nobody will be there to chase him anymore. Maybe it'll be... better if he's gone? Not just for his sake, but for Cloud, for Aerith... for all the other people Shinra's hurt over the years. He could just end that nightmare now, he's already reaching for the hilt of his Buster Sword and...
Fuck no. He can't do it. And he knows he's going to regret it later, he just knows. ]
... That's not exactly reassuring. I'd...
[ He lowers his hands, holds them out harmlessly. Every instinct he has is screaming BAD IDEA BAD IDEA BAD IDEA. ]
Thank you, for the offer. But if you really wanna do something for me then, just... please leave us alone.
no subject
I know you don't trust me but I give you my word that I will do everything I can to ensure you're left alone. Aerith is safe from us as well.
[He just hoped that no one like Scarlet or Hojo had managed to find their way here. He would deal with them if they did.]
no subject
[ His rage surprises him. It just explodes out of him. Adrenaline hits him so hard it leaves him shaking. His vision turns blood, blood red, his fists clenched and trembling. ]
After everything, you'd... You'd better keep to your word. Or else I'll...
[ No, he's not going to say it. They're standing in a field full of blood and carnage. Rufus can very plainly see what became of his father's armies. If he wants to make those same mistakes again... ]
I don't know what your word is worth usually, Rufus, but now it's worth your life. Remember that.
no subject
I know I could never completely atone for what my father and I have done, what we allowed to happen not just to the planet but to you and so many others. But I'm going to try anyway.
[HIs expression was serious, he knew Zack would kill him if he felt it was necessary.]
My offer still stands. If anyone from Shinra does go after you or your friends I will deal with it. I won't allow the past to repeat itself.
no subject
[ He's lying. Of course. He doesn't have Rufus's number and doesn't want it anyway.
Maybe he'll call if he has any erotic dreams about Turks in his bed though.It doesn't matter what either of them say in this space between worlds, as far as he's concerned. He's just going to keep doing what he's been doing and survive.He takes a step away, turns his back to the president. He lifts his hand in a flippant little wave and says before he stalks away, muttering: ]
Good luck with your empire. Here's to hopin' you don't make all the same mistakes again.
no subject
Of course.
[He's not going to point out that he doesn't have a working cell phone and Zack doesn't even have his number. He was sure that Zack didn't need a phone to be able to track Rufus down some way. He needs to figure out who is here and how he can keep rogue elements like Scarlet or Hojo in line if he had to. It wasn't going to be easy.]
Thank you, Zack.
[He made no move to stop him, only watching as he walked away. They had failed Zack once and Rufus couldn't let that happen again.]