insusurro | Rufus & (Jeff) Sephiroth [closed]

Rufus & (Jeff) Sephiroth [closed]

He had only told whatever Turk that was on duty that he wanted to oversee some projects he was working on concerning Edge's development before heading out that afternoon. Which wasn't entirely a lie- he wanted to see what needed to be done and if there was any indication that there may be anyone else suffering from Geostigma. He still needed to have that conversation with Tseng but it wasn't something he was looking forward to doing. It had been difficult enough the first time.

He had only brought a minimal escort despite the situation since he didn't want to attract a great deal of attention while he was out of the Shinra Building today. He had even left Dark Nation back in his office since right now he didn't need her trying t maul anyone today. His next stop would be Sector 8 to make sure that Cloud had settled into one of the residential buildings Shinra owned there.

But he never makes it to Sector 8. He's checking his phone when he walks out to his car waiting for him off a quiet street in Edge to avoid attention, looking up only to see the bodies of his guards lying in pools of blood. And then his eyes settled on Sephiroth.

His phone is instantly dropped on the ground where the screen shatters but his attention is entirely on Sephiroth as he pulls his gun. Fighting Cloud was one thing, facing down Sephiroth was something else. He wasn't going to back down though and he raises the weapon. If he's going to die, he's going to try to make Sephiroth work for it.

"What a pleasant surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

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In all honesty Sephiroth hadn't meant to kill the guards. He descended from the sky like some sort of avenging angel and forgot how fragile human bodies can be. One of them still might be alive at least. Maybe. He didn't bother to check. Ah well.

His main focus having come into view, he brandishes the masamune towards the man especially as he draws his own weapon. Mostly defensive, if he wanted to strike and kill Rufus he would have done so already.

"You and I are going to have a little chat," he says though the smile that accompanies his words is more predatory than genuine. "Privately. I suggest you put away your weapon. I know how much you'd hate to stain that jacket of yours with your own blood."

"Forgive me if I don't exactly trust you considering you killed two of my Turks." Granted Sephiroth hasn't killed him yet when he has the chance to but Rufus doesn't lower his gun. "I may not be able to defeat you but that doesn't mean I can't make your day worse."

Rufus doesn't lower his gun but he doesn't fire either. His phone was broken, there would be no calling for the Turks so he was on his own for the moment. He just had to stay alive right now. And he is curious as to what Sephiroth would want with him. He could keep him talking as long as he could with the hope that the tracking device in the phone isn't broken along with the rest of it.

"Alright, let's talk."

"I'll grant you the one, but the other came after me. What he did warranted death." And he was highly drugged at the time and not thinking straight at all. He still would have sliced Tseng open regardless though. So it doesn't really matter.

As a small sign of good faith, Sephiroth lowers his blade a little. He's certain he'd still be quick enough to out maneuver Rufus even without being completely on the defensive. He watched the Shinra President long enough to make sure he was mostly alone when he went to make his move.

"I want to know what the Turks are planning. I know you are going to come after me at some point. I simply wonder how many will I have to strike down before it stops?"

Rufus doesn't lower his gun right away. It would be so easy to just squeeze the trigger and even though he wouldn't be able to kill Sephiroth, there was a chance that he could at least hurt him. But Sephiroth would just end up killing him and even Rufus wasn't going get himself killed when it would gain him nothing for the moment other than revenge.

He lowers the gun just slightly but kept his finger on the trigger. He laughs coldly at Sephiroth's question, shaking his head. "Do you expect me to divulge that information so easily? I'm not my father, I'm not going to cower in fear and spill my guts."

It wasn't that he wasn't afraid. He was. He just wasn't going to let that fear get the best of him. "Do you have an alternative in mind then?"

Sephiroth actually wouldn't kill Rufus, wound him a little maybe. For a few reasons one of which he's sure it'd annoy the man more if he simply left him alive.

He has a rather smug expression playing when Rufus speaks. "No. I'd be disappointed if you did. You are many things, Rufus, but your father you are not." Whether that's a compliment not is left up in the air.

Sephiroth actually didn't like either of them to be completely honest. Then again he barely liked anyone to begin with.

"An exchange of information then? Surely you have your own questions that only I can answer. As clever as your Turks are, and as much as you pride yourself at being on top, you are not all knowing."

He takes a step towards Sephiroth, interested in this proposal. It didn't matter how close he was to the other man when Sephiroth could close that gap between them in a blink of an eye anyway. But he had to make a point to show that he wasn't going to be easily intimidated.

He may not be a SOLDIER, he may not be a Turk, but he was a Shinra. There was power in that.

"What kind of information do you have that I don't then?" He's going to have to play this very carefully, offering just enough information to keep Sephiroth interested while protecting his Turks, his company, and the interests of the planet. He would do everything he could to prevent another Meteorfall.

"I have to consider if what you have is worth what I may have in return."

Go on Rufus, step in closer. Sephiroth eyes his movements but seems unbothered by it. It's all a show anyway and he'll give him some credit for playing the part so well. No wonder he's managed to survive so long.

"That depends on when you are from. There is no point in offering what you have already experienced. Unless you have a specific question in mind."

Mostly he's curious because there are so many others from vastly different points in time. He does, however, have some information he may be willing to share ... He's just not sure if he wants to play that card yet. It depends on what Rufus already knows and if Sephiroth can offer something simpler instead -- something about meteror or geostigma perhaps.

Rufus is quiet for a moment as he considers the offer. He wants to find Jenova if it's around but he has to be careful finding out what Sephiroth knows if that thing exists here.

"What do you intend to do with your time now? It doesn't seem as if you've tried to summon Meteor again yet but I doubt you will just decide to take up gardening now." He would never be able to trust Sephiroth but he wanted to try to get a sense of what his priorities would be now. He realized that he knew little about Sephiroth aside from what is in the official records at Shinra, he made a note to seek out Zack Fair to see what he could find out.

"Neither of us are suited to idle pursuits, Sephiroth."

Sephiroth almost laughs but instead remains rather steady and unchanging in his expression. So Rufus is worried. Good. He should be. As should the rest of the planet but ...

Ah, well. Things are a bit different now. He does not need to know this, however.

"You needn't worry, my future plans do not involve the destruction of the planet," as far as he's aware anyway. If what Zack's told him is correct about altering time -- his goals got a little more interesting.

"Right now I simply wish to learn what is holding us in this place. As I'm sure you want to know all the same. Destroying the planet would do little for me here. Now. Your turn. Again I ask: What are your Turks planning?"

"It seems our goals align on this at least though I'm sure our motivations differ. This world seems to be a different version of the ones we came from before waking up on the cliffs. How and why we were brought here remains a mystery for now."

One he didn't particularly like. Even if he and Sephiroth had a common interest right now, he doubted that this was an offer to work together. "I'm not going to tell you what my Turks are planning anything about current operations. I don't think you need me to tell you that they consider you a threat against the interests of the company, however."

Which was an understatement. But something tells him that Sephiroth is being honest about not having incentive to destroy the planet for now. He would have to find out what that was so he could ensure it remained that way.

Well, at least that information lines up with what he knows -- not that he expects Rufus to willingly give him anymore than that. While he has no issue with their goals aligning, he's right in thinking that this is not an offer to work together. Especially not after what happened. Recently and in the past. He has no desire to be anywhere near Shinra unless it is to destroy it all.

The general aura of smugness which surrounds him seems to increase at the remark about him being a threat. He releases a breath of air that almost sounds like a huff and a laugh rolled up into one.

"Then I'll give you a warning. If any of them come after me again, I will hunt down each and every last one of you. And it will hardly be pleasant for anyone involved." Stay out of his way, Rufus and he'll stay out of yours.

Rufus knows he should try to keep himself controlled but Sephiroth's warning makes him clutch his shotgun tighter. He should walk away. Sephiroth didn't seem as if he was going to kill him since this was just a warning.

He should walk away.

But he had lost so much because of Sepiroth over the last two years. He had lived with constant nightmares of those green eyes and silver hair as Geostigma ate away at him. He wanted to see Sephiroth suffer for all of it, he wanted to make him hurt but he couldn't do anything about it and that was so ungodly frustrating his hand was slightly shaking.

"I suggest you take up gardening because the moment I think you're a threat not just to the Turks and Shinra but to the planet I will have you destroyed." And with that, he raised his gun and aimed for a spot above Sephiroth's shoulder before firing. It wasn't enough, he doubted Sephiroth would be afraid but he had to make his point.

Sephiroth in no way liked being shot at, but he didn't move either until after the gun went off. He lunges forward with the sole purpose of bringing the sharp blade of the masamune up to Rufu's neck. Close enough that if he moves the blade may slice into that pretty skin of his. Close enough just to make his own point.

Even if Rufus moves back or dodges away, it doesn't matter -- he's not trying to kill him either way. Just make a reminder that he can.

"Let us get one thing straight, Rufus. No matter how great your wealth or power, you can never kill me. Even if you managed by some small chance to strike me down, I will never end. Not here --" Well, he's not completely certain about that part. He's not connected to the lifestream here so maybe he would completely disappear this time around, but he's not going to tell Rufus that. "Not back where we came from. Only one person can stop me, and that person is not you or any of your turks. And even then, I will never be just a memory."

He really should back down and walk away but he doesn't move. Rufus doesn't lower the gun even when suddenly the blade of the sword was right against his neck. All it would take is a slight movement and there would be no time to save him from bleeding out. But he only tilts his head up, daring Sephiroth to press closer.

"I don't have to be the one to kill you but I'll be alive to see it happen just as I was the first time." So go ahead, Sephiroth. What are you going to do, stab him? He dares you. "I'll always be the one to survive you."

He's not going to slice open the neck of the person who is trying really hard to dare him to do so. He seriously wants to and it is taking every ounce of self restraint not to just plunge the blade forward. He locks his stance, holding the weapon steady without moving. He's not going to give in almost irresistible urge leave Rufus bleeding out in the streets.

"No you won't. Even if you manage to survive a bit longer -- one day you'll grow old and join the planet. You cannot escape death. You'll merge with the lifestream and disappear forever."

"Don't underestimate me. I'll do whatever I have to." Sephiroth was right though. Even though Shinra's legacy would endure, he himself would one day die. But he was going to do what he could to protect the planet during the time he had left.

And that may not be a long time as he leaned forward until he could feel just a hint of pressure of the blade on his neck. He felt blood rushing in his ears but he kept his eyes on Sephiroth's.

"Stay away from my Turks and find something to occupy your time that won't make it necessary for me to have to deal with you again."

The only reason Sephiroth gives way in the slightest sense is that he would not be able to explain it if Rufus somehow managed to slice himself open. He's dangerously close to and keeps leaning forward. Boldness is a straight he can respect, but this borderlines on childish stupidity.

"Tseng came after me not the other way around. I would not have gone after any of your other Turks without a reason. If you do not want any more to fall then I suggest the rest cease any further attempts."

Because he knows that this is going to be an eternal game until there are no more left. Which is also why he's slightly tempted to just murder them all and be done with it.

"Then don't give them a reason. Don't give me a reason." Rufus doesn't move away but he doesn't move forward. The hint of pressure is enough to keep the adrenaline pulsing through his blood. The rush is addicting and he feels alive- this was the rush he kept chasing after he woke up cured of Geostigma.

But he was treading very close to the edge and he would not cross that fine line when he had nothing to gain.

"You have a deal." For now. There were some things Rufus could never forgive but there was nothing he could do about it with a blade to his neck.

"Good," saying that he fully steps away, lowing the masamune with his movements. It would have been just so easy to slit Rufus' throat and be done with it.

He doesn't even want to think about why he's not. He shoves all those thoughts to the side. He didn't exactly get what he wanted out of this conversation, but at least if the Turks do hunt him down again ... well. He gave them all a warning.

"I appreciate our little chat. It was much more beneficial than anything dealing with your father."

Rufus snorts with disdain. "I can't imagine that the two of you had a productive conversation before you stabbed him." He was aware of what a coward his father really was behind the facade of bravado and bluster.

He stays where he is, letting Sephiroth be the first to step back as he lets out a quiet breath. He's not sure if there is any mark on his throat but he's not going to reach up to check until he's alone.

He lowers the gun to the ground finally. "Make the most of this chance, Sephiroth."

"No need to be upset just because you missed it, Rufus," he shoots back completely aware of how much he didn't like his father. In that they shared a common ground. Sephiroth absolutely despises Hojo but that's a story for another day.

And not something he's going to chat about with Rufus of all people.

"You just make sure to hold up your end of the deal."

He stretches out with a hand allowing the large black wing to manifest before he jumps up to take off in what's probably the most dramatic way possible.

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Rufus & (Jeff) Sephiroth [closed]

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