icedark_elf (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
icedark_elf) wrote2009-12-28 10:03 pm
icedark_elf) wrote2009-12-28 10:03 pm
Entry tags:
Fic: Dain af Niohoggr 4/30
Title: Dain af Niohoggr
Author: GW Katrina
Beta: Skeren
Fandom: FFVII: Mercverse
Claim:![[insanejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/ij-community.gif)
mercverse for story_arc
Themeset/Prompt: Thirty Set 01: Paper
Wordcount: 1,526
Ratings: PG-13
Link to Archive Post: Here
Rufus Shinra never did understand why people thought being the prince of the realm was such a desirable thing to be. Obviously they were idiots, but he still didn’t understand it.
Right now, he was dealing with a massive amount of paperwork. Things his father or his father’s advisors should be dealing with, but then, his father was a rather worthless old man when it came to anything besides his own pleasures. So now most of his workload had fallen on the prince. Which only made Rufus wish to set his father on fire. Perhaps he could convince one of his Turks to do so?
Not likely. The younger ones were his, but the eldest set still guarded his father, and because of that he would never make a move that wasn’t totally defendable. Or outside of their presence. Both were required if he was ever to get rid of his father.
Perhaps he should try hiring his cousin of sorts someday? Strife probably disliked the man more than Rufus did. And being immortal did have its perks. The man had dealt with people he considered troubles to the royal line and the country before. And was historically recorded as complaining loudly when he was forced to be regent, finding a new king or queen as quickly as possible.
Later. And only if the man became truly intolerable.
As he was thinking of this, Rufus was absently aware that the leader of his branch of Turks was standing in the doorway, holding a folder. Though he greatly wanted to ignore the man, he was aware that anything that would bring Tseng in outside of his normal routine had to be bad, Rufus didn’t dare. After a long few moments of pretending everything was all right, Rufus looked up. “Yes?”
Moving into the room, Tseng offered the folder to Rufus. “We might have an issue, Sir.”
Fingertip pressing against his temple, a sign of agitation that he just couldn’t train himself out of, Rufus resisted the urge to groan. Why did Tseng always have to be so calm and collected? If there was an ‘issue’, as he put it, then there was probably blood in the streets.
Though he did enjoy the fact that the man was much like himself. He was calm, collected, and ready to deal lethally with threats. Tseng and Rufus were both responsible for an equal number of kills when it came to potential assassinations against Rufus. It was something of a game. One that the other Turks indulged in as well. Reno and Rude were right behind, with Reno one ahead of his partner. It made for some interesting gloating sessions, which the prince had to admit were fun to listen to.
In any case, that was neither here nor now. Now was dealing with the folder that he was taking from Tseng and opening it.
As he read through it, Rufus frowned faintly. It was a conflicting mess of details, which was highly unusual from the man before him. Which just made him worry more. Going through the mishmash of details, he finally set the papers to the side, blue eyes narrowed as he looked at the man. “I’m not sure I like what the implications of this are.”
“No, Sir.” The classically clean lines of Tseng’s face were tighter than normal, and he realized that his Turk was worried.
“What I’m seeing here is that there are people vanishing. Some being found later, very much dead. Some that are missing all together. With the only signs of them leading right to the Deadlands.”
The Deadlands. The one place on the planet where no wars were fought, and no countries tried to claim it.
Not that Rufus was sure if there was anything to be had in that desolate area. Rumor had it that the Deadlands were where the last, great battle of the ancient Angels War had been fought. Not that anyone knew for sure. The only things they did know about the place was that it was as literal as its name. Nothing grew there. People who tried to live there all weakened and died if they didn’t leave when it became obvious. Animals did not live there.
The land was sand and dead earth. Not even insects burrowed in it, and the birds themselves seem to go out of their way to avoid flying over it. Rufus had been there once, and it had a creepy, twisted feeling that seemed to pull at him. Like every other noble before him who had gone to investigate, he had just agreed that the place wasn’t worth bothering over, and left it.
There were some things that no mortal should tangle with. Rufus didn’t admit his limits often, but that was one he didn’t hesitate to voice.
Mages hated the Deadlands. None of their spells seemed to work right, and massive spellwork had to be done just right, with an overabundance of power. The rest of it just seemed to be sucked away.
Nobody knew any answers. Not even his immortal cousin.
Though that was a thought.
“Have you heard anything about what Cloud and his group are doing?” Because he knew the man was investigating. Reno had brought that detail back. Where Tseng was perfectly polished, vanishing into the background of Court with ease, providing the perfect bodyguard for Rufus while surrounded by the irritating nobles, Reno was the opposite. Which was why the man was Tseng’s second. Tseng could deal with the higher levels of society. Reno had the bottom half covered.
How he could find as much as he did, Rufus would never know. And it wasn’t as if the man wasn’t obvious. Tseng melted into the background, silent, deadly. Perfect for his court. Reno was just a lethal, but he was as flamboyant as Tseng was quiet. Where one didn’t work, the other would do perfectly.
Rufus was rather pleased with his Turks, and just as happy that it was the right of each royal to chose their own. Otherwise he would have been forced to deal with his father’s choices, and the man seemed as apathetic towards Rufus as Rufus was towards him.
But he was getting off track. Focusing back on Tseng, he waited for an answer.
“Reno and Rude have informed me that the group is doing their own hunting for details. Dealing with the Wutai faction of the underworld, they are sending out feelers, just as we are. Though they do have better connections through various levels than we do. Part of the reason you hire them as often as you do.” A pause, and his face took on an expression it only did when he was about to talk about that little half-Cetra he had feelings for. The only time Rufus had ever seen his Turk lose his calm was when he realized that Zack Strife had started dating the woman. While not stopping his activities with his so called pack.
“They also seem to have been having some very intense talks with Aeris Gainsborough. It’s possible that she might be able to tell more about what is going on due to her unique heritage.”
Tseng did not want to bring Aeris in. Rufus knew that. He also knew that his father and his pet mage, Hojo, was pushing for it to happen. But they had left it to the Turks, and while the Turks were loyal to King first, then Prince, they were also incredibly loyal to each other. As long as Tseng wished to protect the girl, all the Turks would do their best to help. But if Rufus was to add his wishes to those of his father, Tseng would have no choice.
Rufus was as loyal to his people as they were to him. “It would be best to leave her with them for now. My cousin might have some memory or another triggered by her own abilities.”
There was a subtle relaxation around Tseng, and the blond just smiled faintly at his Turk. The smile was returned.
“Reno and Rude have been making overtures to Tifa Lockhart. She has long time ties to Strife, as well as working with Aeris. She might have access to information that she learned and might reveal by accident.”
Those words got a chuckle from Rufus. “And Reno might be able to drink for free, Rude can make adoring eyes at Ms. Lockhart.” A nod. “While they are doing that, perhaps I should approach my cousin myself. We are family, after all.”
In so many ways. Cloud had been required to remarry into the family more than once, though the current line of ruling Shinras only called him cousin. For most lines, he was a direct paternal line ancestor.
Far too complicated to bother with. He was prince, and would one day be king. As long as that was unchanged, Rufus did not care how Cloud was related to him.
Collecting a phone, he opened the small book of numbers he kept personally.
Cloud Strife was immortal and dangerous. No need to antagonize him.
Dealing with family was such a bother.
Author: GW Katrina
Beta: Skeren
Fandom: FFVII: Mercverse
Claim:
mercverse for story_arcThemeset/Prompt: Thirty Set 01: Paper
Wordcount: 1,526
Ratings: PG-13
Link to Archive Post: Here
Rufus Shinra never did understand why people thought being the prince of the realm was such a desirable thing to be. Obviously they were idiots, but he still didn’t understand it.
Right now, he was dealing with a massive amount of paperwork. Things his father or his father’s advisors should be dealing with, but then, his father was a rather worthless old man when it came to anything besides his own pleasures. So now most of his workload had fallen on the prince. Which only made Rufus wish to set his father on fire. Perhaps he could convince one of his Turks to do so?
Not likely. The younger ones were his, but the eldest set still guarded his father, and because of that he would never make a move that wasn’t totally defendable. Or outside of their presence. Both were required if he was ever to get rid of his father.
Perhaps he should try hiring his cousin of sorts someday? Strife probably disliked the man more than Rufus did. And being immortal did have its perks. The man had dealt with people he considered troubles to the royal line and the country before. And was historically recorded as complaining loudly when he was forced to be regent, finding a new king or queen as quickly as possible.
Later. And only if the man became truly intolerable.
As he was thinking of this, Rufus was absently aware that the leader of his branch of Turks was standing in the doorway, holding a folder. Though he greatly wanted to ignore the man, he was aware that anything that would bring Tseng in outside of his normal routine had to be bad, Rufus didn’t dare. After a long few moments of pretending everything was all right, Rufus looked up. “Yes?”
Moving into the room, Tseng offered the folder to Rufus. “We might have an issue, Sir.”
Fingertip pressing against his temple, a sign of agitation that he just couldn’t train himself out of, Rufus resisted the urge to groan. Why did Tseng always have to be so calm and collected? If there was an ‘issue’, as he put it, then there was probably blood in the streets.
Though he did enjoy the fact that the man was much like himself. He was calm, collected, and ready to deal lethally with threats. Tseng and Rufus were both responsible for an equal number of kills when it came to potential assassinations against Rufus. It was something of a game. One that the other Turks indulged in as well. Reno and Rude were right behind, with Reno one ahead of his partner. It made for some interesting gloating sessions, which the prince had to admit were fun to listen to.
In any case, that was neither here nor now. Now was dealing with the folder that he was taking from Tseng and opening it.
As he read through it, Rufus frowned faintly. It was a conflicting mess of details, which was highly unusual from the man before him. Which just made him worry more. Going through the mishmash of details, he finally set the papers to the side, blue eyes narrowed as he looked at the man. “I’m not sure I like what the implications of this are.”
“No, Sir.” The classically clean lines of Tseng’s face were tighter than normal, and he realized that his Turk was worried.
“What I’m seeing here is that there are people vanishing. Some being found later, very much dead. Some that are missing all together. With the only signs of them leading right to the Deadlands.”
The Deadlands. The one place on the planet where no wars were fought, and no countries tried to claim it.
Not that Rufus was sure if there was anything to be had in that desolate area. Rumor had it that the Deadlands were where the last, great battle of the ancient Angels War had been fought. Not that anyone knew for sure. The only things they did know about the place was that it was as literal as its name. Nothing grew there. People who tried to live there all weakened and died if they didn’t leave when it became obvious. Animals did not live there.
The land was sand and dead earth. Not even insects burrowed in it, and the birds themselves seem to go out of their way to avoid flying over it. Rufus had been there once, and it had a creepy, twisted feeling that seemed to pull at him. Like every other noble before him who had gone to investigate, he had just agreed that the place wasn’t worth bothering over, and left it.
There were some things that no mortal should tangle with. Rufus didn’t admit his limits often, but that was one he didn’t hesitate to voice.
Mages hated the Deadlands. None of their spells seemed to work right, and massive spellwork had to be done just right, with an overabundance of power. The rest of it just seemed to be sucked away.
Nobody knew any answers. Not even his immortal cousin.
Though that was a thought.
“Have you heard anything about what Cloud and his group are doing?” Because he knew the man was investigating. Reno had brought that detail back. Where Tseng was perfectly polished, vanishing into the background of Court with ease, providing the perfect bodyguard for Rufus while surrounded by the irritating nobles, Reno was the opposite. Which was why the man was Tseng’s second. Tseng could deal with the higher levels of society. Reno had the bottom half covered.
How he could find as much as he did, Rufus would never know. And it wasn’t as if the man wasn’t obvious. Tseng melted into the background, silent, deadly. Perfect for his court. Reno was just a lethal, but he was as flamboyant as Tseng was quiet. Where one didn’t work, the other would do perfectly.
Rufus was rather pleased with his Turks, and just as happy that it was the right of each royal to chose their own. Otherwise he would have been forced to deal with his father’s choices, and the man seemed as apathetic towards Rufus as Rufus was towards him.
But he was getting off track. Focusing back on Tseng, he waited for an answer.
“Reno and Rude have informed me that the group is doing their own hunting for details. Dealing with the Wutai faction of the underworld, they are sending out feelers, just as we are. Though they do have better connections through various levels than we do. Part of the reason you hire them as often as you do.” A pause, and his face took on an expression it only did when he was about to talk about that little half-Cetra he had feelings for. The only time Rufus had ever seen his Turk lose his calm was when he realized that Zack Strife had started dating the woman. While not stopping his activities with his so called pack.
“They also seem to have been having some very intense talks with Aeris Gainsborough. It’s possible that she might be able to tell more about what is going on due to her unique heritage.”
Tseng did not want to bring Aeris in. Rufus knew that. He also knew that his father and his pet mage, Hojo, was pushing for it to happen. But they had left it to the Turks, and while the Turks were loyal to King first, then Prince, they were also incredibly loyal to each other. As long as Tseng wished to protect the girl, all the Turks would do their best to help. But if Rufus was to add his wishes to those of his father, Tseng would have no choice.
Rufus was as loyal to his people as they were to him. “It would be best to leave her with them for now. My cousin might have some memory or another triggered by her own abilities.”
There was a subtle relaxation around Tseng, and the blond just smiled faintly at his Turk. The smile was returned.
“Reno and Rude have been making overtures to Tifa Lockhart. She has long time ties to Strife, as well as working with Aeris. She might have access to information that she learned and might reveal by accident.”
Those words got a chuckle from Rufus. “And Reno might be able to drink for free, Rude can make adoring eyes at Ms. Lockhart.” A nod. “While they are doing that, perhaps I should approach my cousin myself. We are family, after all.”
In so many ways. Cloud had been required to remarry into the family more than once, though the current line of ruling Shinras only called him cousin. For most lines, he was a direct paternal line ancestor.
Far too complicated to bother with. He was prince, and would one day be king. As long as that was unchanged, Rufus did not care how Cloud was related to him.
Collecting a phone, he opened the small book of numbers he kept personally.
Cloud Strife was immortal and dangerous. No need to antagonize him.
Dealing with family was such a bother.
no subject
(Anonymous) 2009-12-29 10:38 am (UTC)(link)no subject
no subject
*shakes head* That's not going to end well is it?
*hugs* thanks for another chapter even if I am getting wary about reading them. *wry grins* I hate bad things happening to fun characters even as I torture them myself. *Shrugs* I'm a hypocrit that way, I know.
no subject
Rufus says he had both the ability to write a letter, and people to deliver it. Bwahaha!