|
|
Post by DezzyBee on Jul 2, 2014 3:19:16 GMT
The hooded figure slinked through the streets, moving from shadow to shadow in his hooded jacket and black pants. This particular person didn't typically wander down into the slum, however today was a special day. As he maneuvered through the piles of junk and rubber he found himself wondering how it had gotten so bad. Midgar had once been glorious, but under the plate now it was disgusting and vile. Not that he really had any way to change that now. The damage had been done, and as today marked nothing that was damaged could be undone.
He slipped quietly into the church, wandering through the side to a small graveyard. Few of the stones were actually kept up, but in the far back there was a small-ish one with a worn out name that was actually clean and looked well-loved. He placed a large bouquet of roses on the grave, pulling back his hood without looking to see if anyone was around. It had been years since her death, but he still made a point to come often and see her.. while he didn't feel like talking to a stone did any good, it still... made him feel better some how to actually pay homeage at the grave. Today though... today was special... today marked 15 years she had been dead... and that was something worth talking about. "Hello, mom," he whispered, kneeling down.
|
|
|
|
Post by ThePaleGhost on Jul 2, 2014 3:40:18 GMT
Another day, another scar.
The young woman sighed, wrapping her black ladies trench coat tightly around her whilst the white dress she was clad in swayed in the breeze slightly, a small brown worn out basket rested within her elbow as she walked soundlessly through the slums. It was customary for her to do this every week, she followed her routine near religiously. Her gentle yet slightly puffy eyes focused on their surroundings and it had been clear that the young woman had been crying quite some time ago though the effects and traces would soon be transparent to those who looked upon her and a fresh scar had taken its home on her cheek.
The night had been quite a drizzling one at that but the hood on her jacket was neglected, besides, beneath this plate rain hardly ever came through. With a soft sigh, she found herself nearing a still stable church though priests had given up on it long ago... what hope was there for the world this day and age? Like a ghost in the night, she quietly made her way inside. Walking down the aisle, she made her way to entrance where the graveyard lie and respectfully remained as quiet as she could be.
She approached each grave with care, bending down and greeting each stone by the name engraved before emptying the dying flowers and replacing each vase with fresh water and a single flower, the dead ones from before looking exactly alike which indicated that she came here often. "Gifts from Banora," she spoke kindly as if they were actual people before placing down a white and purple apple on each one - an old traditional custom practiced in her homeland, though unfortunately for her, the graves of her parents were back home.
At each grave you would find a particular vase with a dead flower in it, an apple core wrapped in a silk napkin, and each stone taken care of as best as it could.
The young woman visited each grave - except one.
Though upon reaching the last one, she stopped and paused... seeing that it was already occupied. |
|
|
|
Post by DezzyBee on Jul 2, 2014 3:54:03 GMT
Rufus didn't know what to say. It had been years since his mother had taken her own life after discovering ANOTHER of his father's illicit affairs and bastard children. He had been the one to find her, heartbroken and bleeding out on the floor, and it was a sight he never would forget. After that he swore he'd never cry and he would do anything it took to prevent from anyone making him bleed. thus far he had kept up well with that promise to himself, and to her... and he also swore to make his father suffer for his sins some day... it seemed like those days were growing nearer.
So lost in his thoughts was he that he didn't notice the other person visiting graves nearby. He simply stared blankly and miserably at the stone, letting what little rain that reached this area soak his blond hair. He could remember bits and pieces of his mother clearly- her rich laughter whenever he made a funny observation of the obvious, the way she held him at night whenever it stormed... the warmth in her voice whenever she sang him to sleep... but he could feel it any more... any emotion that the memories had once elicited was long gone, and he felt that was sullying her memory more than anything. He no longer missed her like he used to, at least not as deeply... he had long since stopped having nightmares of her death, and no longer kept awake during storms hoping she would protect him from them... it was pointless to want the dead to come back to life, especially when they had taken themselves out of the world voluntarily. "Dammit... 15 years and I still haven't made that asshole pay for what was done to you," he cursed, punching the ground angrily. He just wanted some sort of closure- some satisfaction that his father suffered the same pain as his beloved mother did.
|
|
|
|
Post by ThePaleGhost on Jul 2, 2014 4:12:30 GMT
Deciding not to interrupt, Kyrie kept her head bowed respectfully and used her thoughts to occupy her for a time, that is... until she heard it. That voice. Her breath caught in her throat as she stood stiff, though despite everything she knew now was no time to be having arguments and looking at the scene before her, her heart couldn't help but sink... So he had his own loses, did he? In a sense it was comforting, and the sight itself... made her see him as more... human.
Not wanting to disturb him, though in a sense she was doing him a favor as she knew what was about to come. She cleared her throat softly before crouching down, allowing the young man to still have his moment. "Good evening, Mrs Shinra..." she smiled kindly, imagining a beautiful woman looking back at her as she spoke, beginning to tidy the stone up a bit and refiling the flower along with placing down an apple "I see you finished the apple... You must like them just like everyone else here."
What she was saying may seemed like nonsense, but in her heart it gave her that small light of hope and for once, she decided to allow Rufus a break... this really wasn't them time. She remained smiling at the stone. "Well, aren't you lucky to have your son visit you... You must be very proud..." she spoke in a hushed tone, but it was one of gentle kindness as she reached over and wiped a few flecks of dirt off the stone. The truth was, Kyrie had always known of the tombstone of the late Mrs Shinra, she spent every week here keeping everyone company when she could... |
|
|
|
Post by DezzyBee on Jul 2, 2014 4:28:07 GMT
Rufus simply glanced at Kyrie. So she was the one leaving the apples? It never bothered Rufus... honestly he thought it was a sweet gesture. He listened to her talk and gave a small smile. So someone else was giving his mother some company. That soothed his heart a bit. He always imagined dying and never having anyone you knew or cared about come see you... felt like it must me lonely. He tried to get here as often as he could, but it wasn't always possible.
"She was always the strongest person I knew... Just wasn't strong enough to get past a broken heart when my father decided he'd rather be with his mistresses instead of his wife," he growled, readjusting the roses to perfection. He didn't like anyone seeing him vulnerable like this; even his bodyguards were still sleeping at the HQ right about now. Only a few knew where this grave was and what it meant to him. He wasn't sure how he felt about Kyrie seeing him like this. He rubbed his eyes a bit, wiping away a tear in the process. "I'm NOTHING like my father... I will NEVER be like him..."
|
|
|
|
Post by ThePaleGhost on Jul 2, 2014 4:47:59 GMT
Kyrie said nothing, only listened as Rufus told his little story, her gaze solemnly focusing on the grave before her. So now she knew why, she had spent many of her days sitting in front of each stone, speaking to them as if they were still alive and wondering how each had passed... The story itself caused her heart to weep. Letting her walls down, she spoke once he was finished, her voice desolate and quiet. "I never knew my mother... she died after I was born, the loss itself grieved my father greatly... and even though she wasn't around, I felt her with me... even looking at her picture was enough for me to feel her love," she bowed her head in seldom thought as she spoke softly before continuing "... When she died, my father gave up all his dreams just so he could raise me, he was once a 1st Class SOLDIER that worked for your father... He told my father that he either had a choice... put me up for adoption... or lose his job and be stripped of all his titles, earnings, and respect... He allowed my father and his daughter to be gil-less... It caused great stress for my father that he soon got sick from working so hard to feed us both, some days he went without food so that I could eat... in his weakened state, he was killed..."
A shuddering breath escaped her once she had finished speaking, having no idea why she had said so much... maybe she thought it would help him to know she knew how he felt to loss someone so dear... and perhaps, after all this time... maybe she wanted him to know the real reason behind her hatred. "My father's legacy lives on in me... that's why I joined SOLDIER, he gave up everything for me... this is my way of paying him back..." she whispered in a heart felt manner before raising her head and keeping it held high.
She felt his next words sting slightly, a frown forming on her pale features as guilt consumed her heart and for the first time ever, she looked over at him slow enough to miss him wiping his eyes, not with rage, but with compassion. "I know... Rufus..." she hushed, hesitantly reaching over to him and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder as she patted it lightly "... I know... You have so much more to you than he does... You don't need to explain yourself to me..." |
|
|
|
Post by DezzyBee on Jul 2, 2014 13:15:13 GMT
Rufus shook his head sadly. Never in a million years did he think that he'd be sharing such a vulnerable moment with this woman. After all the fighting, all the back-and-forth of trying to figure out why she hated him, he now understood why... and that made him even angrier. He glanced at the beautiful woman, just trying to figure out what to say to that. There were no words. To lose a parent you loved changed your life forever, but to work for the man that fucked your father over? That had to be a form of slow, cruel torture. "He always said that paying people that can't do their job fully was a waste of gil... even the highest execs have shit for retirement plans. They might eat well now, but if something ever happens at they grow useless to the company, he's personally made sure they can't survive without us..."
It was a selfish look on things... money was power though, in this world. If you didn't have money, you couldn't survive, as his father had told him many times... he couldn't disagree, but there were much better ways to lead people and make it more profitable to everyone in the process. Rufus wished to lead with fear; in the long run that was much more powerful. People could always find other sources of money, food and housing."Help me..." he said quietly before looking to the sky. "Dezzy and I have come up with a few possible plans to take the asshole out. They won't be easy, and most of them are pretty intricate... but I can use all the help I can get right now. I have few truly on my side... but I'll make it worth your while if you decide to help..."
He stood up, looking down at the grave with a solemn look. "15 years ago I swore I'd make him suffer for what he put her through. She suffered a lot at the end as one by one she found out about his mistresses, bastard children, and all of the other greedy shit that he did. She loved him, for whatever reason... it tore her apart. I want him to feel every once of that pain as I tear his world apart," the growl in his voice slowly grew louder.
|
|
|
|
Post by ThePaleGhost on Jul 2, 2014 13:28:13 GMT
Kyrie looked on as he spoke, her heavy weary and heavy, she shook her head as if disappointed. "That's just it... My father served his time, he was free to leave... but that bastard decided just because he had power, he could do what he liked..." she groaned with disgust, her fingertips brushing along the winged necklace around her neck. People's outlook on money these days beyond repelled her.
The next words to come from his mouth shocked her, though not too much... As much as she felt sorry for him due to all that had been done, she couldn't agree to something like this, it would be going against her father's dreams. She was SOLDIER, how could she possibly take part in something like this? Not just that, but what would her father - bless his soul - think of her if she did? Reluctantly, she shook her head, gazing over at him sadly. "I'm sorry, but I can't..." she hated saying it so she looked away, but Kyrie had more to her than just killing... She had the belief that no matter how cruel, no one deserved to die "...It goes against everything I believe in... albeit he took so much away from my father and I, getting rid of him won't solve the problem... it makes you no better."
The words even stung her for saying them. The moment was beginning to make her feel uncomfortable as she eventually stood. "I admire your cause, Rufus... but I cannot take part in it, I can only wish you luck..." she sighed, looking down at him... He looked so desperate... "I'm afraid I don't care about trivial things like money... I can get by, like I always do..."
And with that, she finally turned away from him, unsure if walking away would benefit the situation but she did anyway. She could never convince her heart to do something like this and since everything that had happened lately, she didn't even know what she wanted anymore. |
|
|
|
Post by DezzyBee on Jul 2, 2014 13:38:29 GMT
Rufus sighed and nodded, not really expecting anything different. He just wished she would help. He had too few allies that knew his pain. "I understand. Things will get better, I promise you," he stood up, dusting off his coat and staring at his mother's grave for a moment. For him, there was no backing down or copping out. He had to put his plans in motion as soon as he could if they were to be a success. "Kyrie..."
He turned to look at her. "Thank you. For not killing me. And for understanding," he spoked quietly as he walked past her. He looked down at her and smiled. "You really did look beautiful at the ball the other night. Nothing that I said was a lie. I just wanted you to know that..." he leant down and placed a quick soft kiss on her cheek before heading back into the church.
|
|
|
|
Post by ThePaleGhost on Jul 2, 2014 13:59:59 GMT
She didn't want to admit it, but it hurt to turn him down and to make matters worse he was actually being kind to her - she didn't deserve this. And to make matters worse, she felt his soft lips brush against her skin before walking into the church. For a while Kyrie just stood there, an unbearable look on her pale features as she could feel her eyes quivering in their sockets... All these conflicting emotions, she didn't know what to do or how to cope with them, she promised herself never again!
But now, it was all becoming too much for her... She shook her head as if trying to shake out all her thoughts, unaware of the thick tears running down her cheeks. "Daddy... what do I do?" she whispered to herself and then, at that moment, it was as if a thread keeping her mind together was on the verge of snapping. She held her head in her hands, seeming quite tired as she wondered why this was happening... Why now? Why her? Looking to the side, she watched as the tall blonde retreated into the church. "I must be out of my mind," she muttered before walking after him, she got as far as standing in the center of the flowers before speaking his name.
"Why? Why me? Of all the people you--" she bit her lip, preventing herself from saying it as she changed the subject, she steadied herself before taking a breath "Why ask me to help you? A SOLDIER of all people, why do this to me?" Her words sounded near desperate as the tired look on her pale features made its appearance, she was just... so tired. Tired of the lies, the drama, the pretending... But alone is what she had, alone was what protected her. "I mean, Gods, Rufus... I would help you if I could but this? Isn't this taking it too far?"
|
|
|
|
Post by DezzyBee on Jul 3, 2014 2:50:02 GMT
Rufus blinked at her outburst before tilting his head ever so slightly. "You ask why, but the question is why not? Our company functions because of SOLDIER. Without the loyalty of the members of SOLDIER, Shinra Inc. is next to nothing. As to why you in particular... I don't know Kyrie... remember the other night when I told you there was something different about you? something genuine and special? That was no lie. Even if I didn't realize it was you under the mask, it still applies now. You ARE different from most women in this world. I don't know many that would wander from grave to grave and speak with them as if they were living people..." he sighed, sitting down in a pew and staring at the circle of flowers in the middle. It always amazed him that flowers grew here, and that someone took REALLY good care of them. "I don't expect anyone to help me in this. Dezzy has already pledged her allegiance in exchange for her freedom... freedom from experiments, freedom from being locked in a cage all because of something she has no control over..."
It was true. Their agreement was simple, she helped him and he freed her. "I'm not... I'm not used to asking for help, or even needing it. It's easier to do things by yourself than to have to have people do it for you. But I've tried taking the company from my father by myself and it's proven futile every time... so this time I'm going in with a team at my back, and I'm taking whoever I can get that has a reason to hate him just as much as I do..." he looked back at her, a sad look in his eyes. "And quite frankly... no one as beautiful as you should ever have a reason to cry out of anything but happiness."
|
|
|
|
Post by ThePaleGhost on Jul 3, 2014 14:04:05 GMT
Kyrie sighed as she stood there, her arms crossed with her gaze fixated on him... she didn't know why but he looked so... pitiful, to the point where she felt sorry for him but in her head she kept thinking was this right? Quietly she made her way over to him, crouching down opposite him as she looked up at his downward face. "And you're sure this is what you want?" she asked, concerned though she didn't know why she cared so much, this was a foolish cause but if she didn't help him, who would?
His last words triggered a slight leap in her chest as she shifted uncomfortably, though words themselves were meaningless. "Beauty has nothing to do with it, because of this company there are those suffering worse than I, we're suppose to be here to make their lives easier not to rob them of their freedom. I mean, look at the slums... Look at these people that live beneath the plate, no one even knows they exist, we have warm beds and food in our stomachs while they struggle to survive a day," she sighed, shaking her head disdainfully.
After that, she remained silent, it took her a while to gather her thoughts before she spoke again. "Very well, Rufus... I'll help you, but promise you won't screw this up and become like your father, the last thing this world needs is another him walking around sucking the oxygen from infants mouths," she said that last part in a disgusted tone before loosening up, reaching up to flick his forehead in hopes to lighten the mood "and don't kiss me like that again, it's rude without permission." |
|
|
|
Post by DezzyBee on Jul 3, 2014 17:35:30 GMT
Rufus looked up at her. "What's not to want? I take over the company, I call the shots and I can make the difference that my father never did... my mother spent her life in these slums, I know how the people down here are treated and I wouldn't want to see anyone treated like she was..." he sighed and leaned back, looking up to the hole in the ceiling. "I know it seems like I'm nothing more than my father's son, but until people give me a chance they'll never really know. I can't make promises when I don't even know what the future holds. For all I know he'll have me killed long before I get the chance to get anywhere near killing him..."
"But I can promise to try. I swear on my mother's early grave that I will do everything in my power to not be like him, and to make this a better place..."
|
|
|
|
Post by ThePaleGhost on Jul 3, 2014 22:09:34 GMT
Kyrie let out a silent sigh as the Presiden't son spoke, he sounded determined which was to be expected of someone of his age... Despite him being older, she also had a good head on her shoulders though something was telling her that this would not go well, she didn't know what it was but she feared the consequences - obviously not her own as she never cared much for herself, but it truly was difficult... To give up the dream her father had for her? Or would he want her to stand up for those that needed her? She didn't know... She just... didn't know...
Looking at him in his desperation, there was a part of her that just wanted to hug him and tell him that it would all be alright, no matter how much she felt uncomfortable with the affections he held for her in his heart - she figured it to be just a silly crush anyway. She knew this wasn't the correct approach. With a hardened expression, she looked at him... Feeling somewhat more realistic than the blonde male. She shook her head before speaking.
"If you're going to do this, Rufus, you need to change your act..." she began, her inner SOLDIER coming out "You cannot worry about every single intricate detail, you need to be a man and take each problem as it comes, not wallow in self pity like you're doing now." She stood tall, looking down at him, one could call it tough love or maybe it was because her life as SOLDIER had shaped her into someone strong.
"Forget the cause! Do this for yourself, not your mother, because she is now free of him whilst you're still here unhappy... If you believe you can do better then prove it! Don't say, DO!!" she spoke proudly, her back straight as her gaze burned into him and his very soul "Believe me who believes... in you." |
|
|
|
Post by DezzyBee on Jul 3, 2014 22:35:48 GMT
Part of him was shocked to hear her words, but another part of him was a bit uplifted. So far he had only been met with pessimism and downright rejection from the people he had asked for help. Even Dezzy hadn't had any faith in him or the small team he had built up so far, all of her confidence was in her technology and many back up plans. "Just five minutes ago you were refusing to help me... now you're encouraging me," he chuckled and shook his head, standing up. "I'm not wallowing in self pity. I'm wallowing in pity for the man who created me yet hasn't even given a damn... the fact that all this is happening under his own damn nose and he either doesn't know about it or doesn't care is very sad, is it not?"
President Shinra thus far had said nothing about some of the strange happenings around the headquarters, nor did he mention anything out of the ordinary that were little sparks and hints of Rufus's plan. Either the man was that dense or that confident that Rufus couldn't do anything to him.
|
|
