video | un: bossturk

[necessarycruelties]

Backdated to Mid-June - First half action open for Rufus, Reno, and Rude, second half network for anybody else who wants to reply!

[ Tseng's first night in Nippon did not go at all as he initially thought after leaving the orientation provided to him upon his arrival. He spent the first few hours walking around Tokyo, trying to get the layout of the land, take in as much as he possibly could before retiring to his assigned housing for the night... He didn't expect to run into Rufus Shinra. And that chance encounter changed everything.

They spent the night together, getting reacquainted, relaxing, and Rufus telling him everything he has yet to experience in their own world. The things Rufus told him sounded positively ridiculous, but he knows Rufus wouldn't lie to him... It was overwhelming and will likely take Tseng a while to process.

He wakes mid-morning, pulling on the pajama pants he was given the night before and a t-shirt, and leaves Rufus asleep before heading downstairs to bring some coffee and breakfast back up to their room. He quietly descends the stairs and sees the Turks. ]

Reno. Rude.

[ He offers a small smile and a nod as he passes by, disappearing into the kitchen. ]

----

[ Once he's back upstairs and settled on the bed, he pulls out his magi-comm, studying the device before turning it on. It's certainly no smartphone, but it will suffice. ]

I'm looking for a few individuals and was told this is the best and quickest way possible to get their attention. [ He looks over at Rufus, who is off-screen, briefly ] If you know Zack Fair or Aerith Gainsborough, please tell them I'm looking for them and would love to talk.

Comments

[Action]

[tightbod_bigrod]

[Life hadn't been bad. He had Rude. They had Rufus. More than that, Rufus was okay - he wasn't sick anymore, something that almost seemed impossible back home. There were a lot of positives they were working with here. The main thing they were missing was their full crew.

Sure, someone could say they were missing 'their home' or whatever. Reno didn't have zero attachment to it, but most of what they knew had already blown up and they could rebuild wherever they wanted. Might as well be here.

And they'd done well considering there were three of them plus some extra SOLDIERs - most of whom had quit and one of whom could become a planet destroyer. So he was relaxed in the kitchen with Rude, where they hadn't yet gotten a memo about Tseng's arrival.

He almost didn't react when Tseng walked in and acknowledged them. Not because he expected Tseng to be on this world, but it was so familiar to being back at home that it didn't click instantly that Tseng had arrived.]

Boss.

[And he sipped his drink.

It was a few seconds later when he had an epiphany. Tseng? He slowly glanced over to make sure he wasn't having mid-morning drunken hallucinations.

Well. That was Tseng all right. The perplexed expression on his face said enough about what he was feeling - of all the Turks he probably showed his emotions the most plainly.]

Wait–

[He eyed Tseng.]

You have pajamas?

[Tseng wore stuff other than suits?!]

[Action]

[necessarycruelties]

[ Opening up one of the cabinets, Tseng begins his search for two coffee mugs and some way to brew a pot of coffee. He finds a chrome coffee pot and bag of coffee grounds, fills the pot with with water and a few scoops of coffee, and sets it down on the stove, lighting the burner before turning his attention back to the search for mugs. While he's looking for the mugs, he finds a frying pan and plates. He's fairly certain most of this stuff hasn't been touched by the three men currently in the house.

It's at this point that it catches up with Reno that Tseng is here and Tseng can't help the smile on his face at the realization and following question. ]

The pajamas were loaned to me.

[ Looking in the small refrigerator now, Tseng finds some eggs and a loaf of bread before returning to the stove to cook breakfast for himself and Rufus. He looks over his shoulder at Reno from where he stands at the stove. ]

Did you think I slept in a suit?

[Action]

[tightbod_bigrod]

I thought you had a day suit and a night suit.

[He watched Tseng go about his business and it seemed like he was already settling in well enough. Leave it to the boss to get caught up quickly. He wondered who he'd talked to thus far and how long it had taken him to get to their new headquarters.

But however it happened, he was here now, and Reno felt a sense of relief. That just left Elena, their not so new newbie. They were almost whole. Well, besides the other Turks, but they'd been doing their own stuff for a while, much as Reno would like everyone to be back together like the old days.]

You know how to use that thing?

[necessarycruelties]

It can't be too difficult to use. I'm sure I can figure it out.

[ Tseng is still dealing with everything Rufus shared with him the night before regarding their futures. It was... a lot, to say the least. So, the lighthearted conversation with Reno is welcomed even though he knows they have more serious things to discuss at some point, things Rufus said would be better coming from Reno or Rude than from himself.

He cracks the eggs into the frying pan before turning back around to look at Reno, small smile still on his face. ]

A day suit and a night suit? [ A pause ] I only came here with the suit I was wearing, so I'll have to invest in a new night suit.

[tightbod_bigrod]

We got some mansions so I guess getting a suit wouldn't be a problem.

[Never mind that they didn't adequately furnish said mansions. But they had the buildings. That was good, right?]

We should all get big wardrobes! Why the fuck not? We can do anything we want here. Hardly gotta worry about shit.

[And he was taking it... fairly well. He'd always been the most laidback in style, and did the best adjusting to interacting with regular people after the fall of Midgar. With their problems gone he saw no reason not to take full advantage of their new freedom.

But, there was one thing. He narrowed his eyes at Tseng, examining him closely. He knew this wasn't Tseng when he was really young for sure, but he didn't seem as aged as he remembered him. They'd been through a lot, and all of their faces had gotten a little worn over time.]

Say, boss...? What's the last thing you remember?

un: afairguy

[fairlyheroic]

[well. There's a face Zack both expected and didn't expect to see. Say a guy will show up sooner or later and it'll come true. Though with Rufus and the Turks here, he really shouldn't have doubted that it was a "when", not "if"]

Well, that depends. Information like that isn't free, you know!

[of course he's going to be a smartass about it]

[necessarycruelties]

[ Knowing Zack was here and thriving did little to ease the pain, that much he told Rufus the night before, but Tseng wasn't prepared for how difficult it would be to see that smiling face and hear that smartass reply. It's rough, knowing Zack's fate, thinking back to how he had to put his friendship with the SOLDIER aside for Shinra, for the mission.

Rufus reaches over and squeezes his leg and Tseng glances to the side briefly before turning his attention back to his magi-comm. He puts his carefully constructed mask on, the one he wears in front of everybody so they see nothing but Tseng the Turk, and smiles at the screen. ]

What are the rates for information like that, then?

[fairlyheroic]

[with everyone else, they more or less looked the same from the last time he saw them. But with Tseng, the longer hair sticks out. It makes it a little harder to forget that he lost five years on top of everything else. He pauses as Tseng glances away, head tilting]

For you? I'd have to think about it.

[being a smartass can only last so long, though. He quirks a faint smile]

It's been a while, right? It's good to see you.

[necessarycruelties]

It's been quite a while, Zack.

[ He thinks back to five years ago, to the last time he saw Zack, and it's something he doesn't want to think about. He remembers quite clearly Hojo ordering Zack and Cloud to be taken to the Shinra Mansion, and he remembers ordering his subordinates to prepare for incoming test subjects. He was deeply unhappy having to do that to somebody he considered a friend, but Veld's first lesson sat in the forefront of his mind: the mission takes priority over his own feelings.

Tseng can't help the small smile on his face, either, a slight crack in the usual Turk mask he wears most days. ]

How have you been adjusting to life in Nippon?

[Video] un: masamune

[silversoldier]

[ Sephiroth isn't an expressive person but somehow his displeasure is clear. It's in the sharpness of his gaze if nothing else. ]

What do you want with Aerith?

[ The lack of pleasantries could be considered a clue from anyone else, but it can be hard to tell what is just Sephiroth being socially dense. ]

[Video]

[necessarycruelties]

[ Knowing both Zack and Aerith were in Nippon, Tseng wasn't surprised when Zack replied to his request despite how difficult it was seeing his smiling face. What catches him off guard, completely blindsiding him, is seeing Sephiroth. He shoots a look to the man sitting in bed next to him and, if looks could kill, Rufus Shinra would be dead at his side right now. After everything he shared the night before, this is one detail he failed to mention.

Tseng wipes the emotion from his face before he turns the magi-comm camera on. He has absolutely no intention of letting the crazed SOLDIER see anything but the Turk that everybody else gets to see. ]

She’s an old friend. I’d like to speak with her, see how she’s doing.

[Video]

[silversoldier]

You don't have any friends, Tseng.

[ Anyone else would be too polite to say such a thing, but this is Sephiroth and he knows all too well that Tseng is a fellow workaholic whose only real connections lie within the company. ]

[necessarycruelties]

[ Looks like nothing has changed as far as Sephiroth is concerned. His reply makes Tseng think back to the Sephiroth he knew years ago, the aloof SOLDIER that worked alongside Zack and the Turks, before his descent into madness. Tseng doesn't know what Sephiroth has experienced, how much he's been through before finding himself in Nippon, something he'll have to ask Rufus about. Something Rufus should have told him last night.

Rufus seems to be enjoying himself, though, sitting next to Tseng and stifling a laugh at Sephiroth's question, doing his damnedest to not make a sound. Tseng simply takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly, before responding. ]

And you have just as many friends as I do, Sephiroth. Why are you concerned with why I'd like to see Aerith?

video; un: exsoldierboy

[sultanofsquat]

[ Shit. They're multiplying. ...is his kneejerk reaction to seeing this jackass' face. The last time he saw him, he was effectively taunting him and the others beneath a collapsing plate. 'Condemned', huh... ]

...

[ And still, he sighs, an edge of frustration in his breath as he schools his features before finally answering, turning the camera on to record. There he is, Tseng. ]

This is public. They'll see it soon enough.

[necessarycruelties]

[ Another individual Rufus conveniently left out of their discussion the night before. Tseng obviously knew Aerith and Zack were in Nippon, knew about his Turks, too, but Rufus failed to mention Sephiroth and, apparently, Cloud Strife. And he wonders, briefly how much this Cloud knows, how much or how little of what Rufus told him he's experienced.

Before turning his camera on and responding to Cloud, Tseng gives Rufus another Look, clearly not pleased that he's, again, caught off guard. ]

Yours is a face I wasn't expecting to see.

[sultanofsquat]

Lookit that. Something in common.

[ Cloud is, meanwhile, back home on the outskirts of Neo Midgar, back at his apartment with Zack. He's settled in for the night, which is why he doesn't have that hefty Buster Sword in view on his back, or the uniform on for that matter. Just a comfortable yet plain-fitting robe better suited for the location. But it wasn't just Aerith's words he needed to recall and listen to.

It was that fateful night Rufus invited him for dinner. It wasn't just a "let's laugh and be merry" kind of occasion. Certainly not between Cloud and the President's lot. And yet...

"Don't make me regret this," he told the most 'powerful' man in the world over a glass of whiskey. ]

Guessing you just got here.

[necessarycruelties]

I arrived yesterday.

[ Not the biggest fan of Cloud Strife and his lot, Tseng knows that things are different here, that he wouldn't be having this conversation were they back in Midgar. Tseng and his Turks had spent the last week trying to actively kill Cloud Strife and his friends, so it's difficult putting that behind him and acting like things are fine.

Because, as Tseng sees it, they're far from that.

Rufus told him so much of what happens in the years he hasn't experienced, though, how they owe Cloud and his friends so much. Before Tseng responded to Cloud, Rufus mentioned they'd had dinner - steak and whiskey - and have come to some sort of cordial understanding.

He sighs, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. ]

From what I understand, you've settled in quite nicely here.

[Text] un: flowergirl

[ancientflower]

Sorry. Aerith can't be reached right now, she's off not being kidnapped! Please leave a message after the beep.

Beeeeeeep.

[Text]

[necessarycruelties]

[ While it doesn't have quite the same effect as an actual voicemail or an out of office email, Tseng is going to humor her. For a bit. ]

Aerith. When you're done not being kidnapped, I would appreciate if you give me a call or send me a message.

[ancientflower]

Why?

What do you want, Tseng?

... Beep.

[necessarycruelties]

[ After his conversation with Rufus, Tseng truthfully just wants to see that Aerith is doing well. So, he leaves another message after the beep. ]

I have no ulterior motives. I simply wanted to see if you were doing well, maybe purchase some flowers if you have any.

action;

[ambitiousblond]

[Rufus woke up to an empty bedroom in the morning, peering around as he puts together the pieces of what happened last night. It had all seemed so real but he saw no sign of Tseng as he sits up to look around the room.

Perhaps he really is losing it- last night felt so real as if Tseng was really there. If he reaches out to touch the spot next to him on the bed, it almost feels warm as if he had just gotten up and was just getting ready for the day in the next room.

Laying around in bed isn't going to make last night anymore real if he did just imagine it all, he's not going to give himself the chance to get sentimental that he misses Tseng. There are things to do and sitting around in bed wasn't going to change that.

But he had only started to push back the blankets when the door opened and there was Tseng holding coffee and a plate of food as if it was just another morning. There is no denying the relief that floods through him and he smiles, patting the spot next to him on the bed for Tseng.]

Breakfast in bed - this must be a really special occasion.

action;

[necessarycruelties]

I would have been back sooner had I not run into Reno and Rude.

[ Tseng had spent longer than intended in the kitchen, having only gone down there to sneak breakfast back upstairs, not expecting to run into both Reno and Rude. But, he's glad he saw them, enjoyed the conversation they had while he familiarized himself with the kitchen and its odd appliances.

Taking a seat next to Rufus, he hands him one of the coffee mugs and the plate of eggs and toast. ]

It's not much. [ He hands Rufus a fork ] I'll have to familiarize myself with those appliances a little more before taking on anything more complicated.

action;

[ambitiousblond]

[Rufus knows he didn't have a chance to go over who was here in Nippon aside from Reno, Rude, Aerith, and Zack but the food is a distraction especially when his stomach growls.

Any thought of telling Tseng about that is placed aside as he's handed food and coffee. The coffee is set aside for the moment as he takes a bite of the toast.]

Still delicious, as always. [Rufus pauses between bites to give Tseng a kiss on the cheek in thanks.] They must have been surprised to see you just come out to make breakfast.

action;

[necessarycruelties]

They were.

[ He can't help but smile at the kiss on the cheek, reminded of the times Tseng stayed the night during his house arrest when Rufus would do this exact thing. It's familiar, comforting to Tseng that, despite what they've both been through and what he hasn't experienced, they can seemingly pick up where they left off as far as their own affairs are concerned.

Tseng takes the plate from Rufus and gets a bite of the eggs before handing it back to him. He hadn't had the opportunity to eat while he was downstairs, most of his time being occupied talking with Reno and Rude. ]

I believe Reno was most caught off guard by the fact that I'm wearing pajamas and not my suit.