maskormenacelogs

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rufus shinra | n/a

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WHO: Rufus Shinra and various others
WHERE: Nonah and Maurtia Falls
WHEN: 27th-28th
WHAT: dinner, walk of no shame, etc etc
WARNINGS: will edit as necessary

closed to sephiroth.

There were several protests about the plans he had made for this evening but that wasn't going to stop him even though the Turks were not being unreasonable in their misgivings. If he and Sephiroth were going to work together then he would have to put aside his personal feelings about future events for now. He couldn't do anything to change that happened so he just had to move forward. He had to focus on what was happening on this planet and right now he wanted to remain on friendly terms with Sephiroth while he could and keep a distant eye on what he may be doing.

It had also occurred to him that he knew so little about Sephiroth that wasn't included in Hojo's research notes and his official Shinra files. He had been surprised both times they had met in person so he was curious to learn more about him.

That afternoon he had sent a message suggesting that they should meet that evening and go out for a casual, non-work related dinner. Rufus thought that they could both use a night off anyway from their respective subordinates. So they had arranged that Rufus would pick him up that evening and they would have a night out just the two of them. At exactly 8, a black car pulled up outside the house and Rufus opens the back door for Sephiroth, a smirk on his lips.

"Glad you decided to join me tonight, Sephiroth."

closed to tifa.

It's only a walk of shame if you actually feel shame and Rufus certainly didn't when he stepped out of Reno's apartment early in the morning. It had been a long night- it had started with an actual training session that had relocated to Reno's apartment for a 'test' of Rufus's control over the electricity he could generate at his whim.

He still had woken up early so he could return to his apartment to change before work so he didn't show up at the office in wrinkled clothes. He has just closed the door behind him as he stepped out of the apartment as he turned around to see Tifa standing there in the doorway of the apartment next door.

Well.

This was interesting.

"Miss Lockhart, what a pleasant surprise," he smiles as he pulls on his coat. He's not going to ask how much she might have heard since he can already guess the answer.

wildcard.

[feel free to start something of your own or contact me at

illuminations for a starter]

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"Mr. President." Sephiroth nodded at Rufus after he slid into the back of the car next to the other man.

"Your dinner invitation could not have come at a better time. Zack's antics were quickly fraying the last bit of my patience." Sephiroth settled fully into the seat as the driver pulled into traffic. He wasn't at all surprised Rufus had ordered a car service instead of driving, in fact he didn't even know if the blond could drive, and it was nice to not have to worry about the details.

Rufus laughs at that, not surprised. "Fair does seem to have a lot of energy so I'm glad I'm able to give you a bit of a break tonight. The Turks are back at home as well so it's just us."

Rufus on his own could only mean good things. "And I know just the place to go. Nothing formal tonight." Rufus himself was dressed in what passed for casual himself-white slacks and a back button-up shirt. No coat since it was warm, even that late in the evening.

Sephiroth was dressed similarly, but he had a leather jacket on as well. It wasn't his typical long duster, Angeal hadn't let him leave the house while wearing it, but it was close enough.

"I'm looking forward to it." He wasn't the best at small talk, but he was capable enough to keep the conversation going until they arrived at their destination.

"How have you settled in? It's been a bit hectic at our house since Angeal moved in."

"It's been an adjustment but not an entirely unwelcome one, actually. I've actually learned how to things I've never had to do before. I actually did the dishes the other day."

He's not going to see how well it went, the point was that he tried even if Tseng had just done it again all over once Rufus was done. He paused when the car slowed down and rolled down the window to reveal that they were at a drive-thru.

"I'm going to introduce you to a local delicacy Reno showed me." If Sephiroth was going to go insane and try to murder them all later, at least Rufus did his part to prevent that by giving him chicken nuggets.

Sephiroth kept his expression blank, but internally he was questioning Rufus's use of the word 'delicacy'. It wasn't surprising the President didn't know about fast food, but it was surprising that Rufus liked it.

Still, he gave his order to Rufus -the biggest burger combo on the menu and an order of nuggets- and sat back while the driver pulled through.

"Are we eating in the back of the car, or are we going somewhere else?"

"We're going to Reno's apartment. He's out for the evening and said I could stay over since I gave Tseng and Rude the night off." He hadn't exactly told Reno that he was inviting Sephiroth over but they both agreed on the fact that they should befriend Sephiroth for now.

He put in both their orders, ordering himself an order of chicken nuggets and fries. He takes out the credit card Tseng had given him- he may have experience in managing corporate funds on paper but he had never actually paid for anything for himself in person like this before tonight. But he manages to figure it out and he rolls the window up once they have their food. "We'll have his apartment for the rest of the night since I doubt he's going to be home before morning."

"You're not living with your Turks?"

He'd expected that the President would have them around almost constantly, and that the Turks would be reluctant to let Rufus out of their sight.

"I had assumed you would all be together."

"I live with Tseng and Rude. Reno just likes having his own place for his other...hobbies." Rufus was enjoying being able to have more independence for the first time in his entire life. He knew that he was still being watched through the tracker on his phone but at least there wasn't a Turk just one step behind him all the time.

The car stopped in front of the apartment building and the driver opened the door for him. Rufus leads the way upstairs, letting them in as he turns on the lights. It's not anything fancy but he at least had Reno clear things out of the way. "Make yourself at home. Reno won't be home until morning so the apartment is ours for the night," he comments as he grabs them plates and forks before joining him in the living room.

She's had a like time to get used to Reno, as a neighbor. It's not a surprise, when he's got guests over, that don't give a damn about how thin the walls are. She's fine with it. It's not like she hasn't had to deal with such things before.

Actually, the reason she came out was because she thought it was Reno, either seeing out his guest, or leaving himself. She'd planned to offer him breakfast. But there's an unexpected face instead. More unexpected when he greets her.

"You know my name?" Well if course, he probably does. What a silly question. Reno probably told him. But then why the familiar tone and phrasing? He's definitely put her at a disadvantage.

"Of course I do. Why wouldn't I?" He raises his eyebrows at the question, confused. Perhaps she is from an earlier point in time as well but he could find that out easily enough.

He smiles politely as he finishes putting on his coat, taking a moment to straighten the cuffs as if he was actually going anywhere and not just wearing wrinkled clothes from the day before.

He could just be straightforward and ask what she remembered from back home. Or he could find out in a way that would little doubt as to what she remembered and make a point at the same time.

"How are the children doing?"

Well, at least they're both confused. He's talking as if they should, at least, be polite acquaintances, not as if the last time she lays eyes on him, he'd been shooting at Cloud, then flying off dramatically into the night.

And then he really confuses her? Children? Does he mean Marlene? But then who else? No, she needs a straight answer here.

"What are you talking about?"

"The children you have with Cloud? I forget the girl's name but I believe the boy's name is Denzel. I've never had a chance to meet them personally yet but perhaps in the future that will change."

He doubted that was going to ever happen, he was not very fond of children. Her reaction tells him what he needed to know, however, and now he decides that he'll have a little fun while he can. His expression shifts to that of surprise, his eyes widening a little.

"Oh- you must not know yet. Forgive me, it can be confusing to keep it straight with who is from what point in time. You seem to have come from a point that is in my past."

She feels dizzy, with how much that is to process. Not that they're from different parts of time. That she can grasp rather well. Aerith has done a bang up job prepping her for that, and then everything at the beach with Sephiroth, Rude, and Cloud. It's the kids, and less prominent, that Rufus is from the future. Which future? What future involves her having children, with Cloud?

"You should come inside," she said it steadily, only looking a little unsettled. She pushes her for wider, the scent of college bacon drifting out. "We need to talk. I'll feed you."

This could be a trap. He could smell the bacon though so if this was a trap, at least he would get bacon from it.

"Thank you, Miss Lockhart, that would be lovely." He doesn't hesitate to take her offer as he stepped into her apartment. "What is the last thing you remembered before arriving here?"

He had a feeling she would rather get down to business instead of wasting time on small talk. "It seems you've may have missed out on a lot of time."

A trap, sure. From a girl who didn't even know he was even there, until five minutes ago. Not everyone's a villain in disguise, Rufus.

She closes the door, and leads him the short distance to her kitchen. It's likely set up identically to Reno's apartment, so there's little chance of him getting lost. She starts plating up food, the moment she's back by the stove. And there's plenty of it.

"Maybe we should start with your side of things, and go from there." Because the last thing she remembers, might not actually coincide exactly, with what might be in his timeline.

"Breakfast is only so long, after all." She puts down a plate in front of him, with eggs, bacon, hash browns, and buttered toast. It's not fancy, but Tifa knows her way around the kitchen.

Old habits die hard.

The food smells delicious and even though he just had toast with coffee at Reno's, he cannot resist bacon and eggs. He picks up a fork as he considers her request. It seems there is a significant gap in history between the two of them so he's going to carefully gauge where to start.

"Let's see here- for me it's been two years since Meteorfall, roughly two years after I become president. Some remains of Sephiroth came back but have been defeated and returned to the Lifestream." He doubts she'll have any memories of that but it's a place to start for now.

There's always room for more at Tifa's table. And she's pouring him another cup of coffee, while he rattles off everything. "Meteorfall?"

He's right, she's got nothing of that in her history. But it's a lot to unpack, so her brain latches into the first bit. She can get to the rest in a minute.

"Sephiroth's attempt to wipe out all life on the planet. He summons Meteor from the sky- it was stopped but Midgar is still in ruins." He's not going to sugarcoat the truth, he's sure that she doesn't need him to be delicate about it.

"Do you remember Sector 7 and my father's death?"

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Oh hai Mr President Sir

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OMG the drive thru. I love you

Rufus knows how to keep it classy

Re: Rufus knows how to keep it classy

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