[Rufus thinks, debating on if he should tell Cloud about Geostigma. There'd be no point, since either he prevents the Stigma or he gets it himself and then everything with Kadaj happens.
No.]
A WEAPON attacked Midgar, and the tower specifically, while I was still inside. I've been recovering from that for the last two years, so donations are all I could really afford to do until fairly recently.
[There. No sign of weakness. Anyone would be out of commission after having half the tower dropped on them.]
Ah, no. No. It would seem the Planet has an emergency "kill all humans" button, and when Meteor was summoned, it decided to press it.
[Or something.]
There were several, all of them essentially gigantic monsters capable of wiping out cities and worse. Diamond WEAPON decided to take personal offense to Midgar and attacked it.
[Like the death of the last Cetra. But he’s not about to bring that up with Rufus.]
So…Edge. Somewhere for the Midgar survivors to live, right? …you gonna tell me you didn’t plan to get back into power and run it first opportunity you had?
[Rufus reaches up to pinch the bridge of his nose.]
Yes, actually. Think for even half a second--do you really think the people of Midgar or Edge would let me run so much as a bake sale? The only reason I'm not dead is because there are a handful of people who even know I'm alive in the first place, Cloud.
[…okay, he gets a quiet little chuckle out of Cloud with that one.]
No idea who’d run it, though, if not you.
[And who knows exactly what ‘peacekeeping’ means to whoever that is. Without Shinra, there would be no military - but there sure would be a lot of unemployed troopers with particular skillsets looking for work.]
So I’m one of those handful who know you’re alive. We talk much?
[Cloud finds himself abruptly wanting to know whether Future Cloud ever slept with Rufus, but he’s obviously not gonna ask. Not until he’s had a few more drinks, anyway.]
[At least Tifa’s there. That’s a relief. Still…running the business alone, without Zack, sounds…pretty shitty. And if Barret and the others are off fixing up the world, why isn’t he with them? There’s gotta be all kinds of monsters and whatnot to fight out there, surely they could use his help?
He realizes he’s been quiet a little too long and shakes his head.]
None of that’s gonna happen. We’ll do it right this time. Stop Jenova before it summons Meteor.
[Dammit, Rufus, why did you have to say that right when Cloud was about to finish off his own drink? He half-chokes, but manages to swallow the mouthful with minimal coughing. He really hopes the faint flush he can feel rising to his cheeks isn't visible to Rufus. Fuck.]
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Date: 2023-01-28 06:36 pm (UTC)No.]
A WEAPON attacked Midgar, and the tower specifically, while I was still inside. I've been recovering from that for the last two years, so donations are all I could really afford to do until fairly recently.
[There. No sign of weakness. Anyone would be out of commission after having half the tower dropped on them.]
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Date: 2023-01-28 07:06 pm (UTC)[Sorry, Rufus, this dumbass still knows jack shit.]
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Date: 2023-01-28 07:11 pm (UTC)[Or something.]
There were several, all of them essentially gigantic monsters capable of wiping out cities and worse. Diamond WEAPON decided to take personal offense to Midgar and attacked it.
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Date: 2023-01-28 07:43 pm (UTC)…shit. Guessing the Planet was pissed about the reactors. How the hell did you survive that?
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Date: 2023-01-28 07:46 pm (UTC)[Understandably, but he will point out they only woke up after Meteor was summoned!]
Barely, and only thanks to escape routes my father had built. Everyone was busy evacuating who they could.
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Date: 2023-01-28 08:05 pm (UTC)[Like the death of the last Cetra. But he’s not about to bring that up with Rufus.]
So…Edge. Somewhere for the Midgar survivors to live, right? …you gonna tell me you didn’t plan to get back into power and run it first opportunity you had?
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Date: 2023-01-28 08:24 pm (UTC)Yes, actually. Think for even half a second--do you really think the people of Midgar or Edge would let me run so much as a bake sale? The only reason I'm not dead is because there are a handful of people who even know I'm alive in the first place, Cloud.
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Date: 2023-01-28 09:20 pm (UTC)You should run a bake sale. Show ‘em how innocent and wholesome you are.
[Yeah, he’s sassing, but also—]
Genesis says by his time, you resurfaced to sponsor some kinda peacekeeping organization. Hasn’t happened yet for you?
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Date: 2023-01-28 11:25 pm (UTC)[Sass sass.]
No, it hasn't. It does sound like something I'd consider, though.
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Date: 2023-01-29 12:51 am (UTC)No idea who’d run it, though, if not you.
[And who knows exactly what ‘peacekeeping’ means to whoever that is. Without Shinra, there would be no military - but there sure would be a lot of unemployed troopers with particular skillsets looking for work.]
So I’m one of those handful who know you’re alive. We talk much?
[Cloud finds himself abruptly wanting to know whether Future Cloud ever slept with Rufus, but he’s obviously not gonna ask.
Not until he’s had a few more drinks, anyway.]no subject
Date: 2023-01-29 12:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-01-29 01:55 am (UTC)Huh. …just me?
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Date: 2023-01-29 01:56 am (UTC)[And also Vincent.]
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Date: 2023-01-29 02:31 am (UTC)He realizes he’s been quiet a little too long and shakes his head.]
None of that’s gonna happen. We’ll do it right this time. Stop Jenova before it summons Meteor.
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Date: 2023-01-29 02:38 am (UTC)[He can't even fathom a world without Meteorfall, but still.]
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Date: 2023-01-29 02:48 am (UTC)[He tilts his head, looking at Rufus.]
Who knows, maybe I’ll even convince you to be less of an ass and help out.
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Date: 2023-01-29 02:50 am (UTC)Stranger things have happened. You liking my ass, for one.
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Date: 2023-01-29 02:59 am (UTC)...I said it wasn't bad.
[Sure, Cloud, pretend there's a difference.]
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Date: 2023-01-29 03:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-01-29 03:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-01-29 04:20 am (UTC)[College was wild. Or he's bullshitting.]
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Date: 2023-01-29 04:24 am (UTC)He shrugs.]
The Peacekeeper can give you whatever you want. Gonna put on another show to impress me?
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Date: 2023-01-29 04:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-01-29 04:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-01-29 04:39 pm (UTC)[Shameless.]
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