3rd POV:
Nox hummed.
Enough time should have passed by now, that he could start updating his checkpoint again.
He stood up from his bed and belted his sword sheathe around his waist.
Time to get to work then.
First order of business?
Install listening devices in the offices of ever Head of Department, as he should have from the very beginning.
Time to pay Don Corneos storehouses/warehouses another visit and steal some stuff.
...And now that he was sneaking into Shinra again, he may as well gather other intel, besides the Cetra. Who knows? Maybe he was lucky enough to encounter reports of 'anomalous' happenings in the world and it will lead him to the Big Bad. He was slowly starting to get antsy about his gamble that the Big Bad will have an interest in the Cetras and attack them... or her, considering Shinra's fuck up with Ifalna.
Waiting around like this... set him on edge.
The worst part about any war, was the waiting.
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Tseng wrung his hands anxiously. He was sitting at his desk in his office. President Shinra was... really spooked about someone possibly knowing that the reason they had their finger dipped in the Human Trafficking Ring of Sector 4 was to get Subjects for human experimentation.
He was starting to breathe down his neck.
Despite their best efforts, the Turks could not find out any evidence pointing to anyone nor could they find evidence to who could possibly possess the logistical capabilities to wipe out an entire Gang in one night.
It...stung a bit that he had to resort to these tactics, but if there was one thing Veld had taught him, is that the head of the Turks was as easily replaced as a pair of shoes. And of course the rest were barely mentioned. Tseng still had yet to find out what happened to Valentine.
And incompetence from the Turks was tolerated less than any other department. Not that incompetence was tolerated anyway, but there was a certain stigma hanging over the Turks.
'The Turks always get the job done'.
Tseng had some misgiving about that, but President Shinra was prideful enough that he had an interest in ensuring that perception continued. They were 'allowed' some wiggle room in getting the mission done.
There was a reason Hojo giving them the slip and getting Ifalna killed, despite their orders to capture her alive, was never mentioned again. And that was because Aerith lived.
Privately, Tseng knew... or strongly suspected, President Shinra must have torn into Hojo and threatened him with all kinds of torture.
Not that that would move or have any effect on the insane scientist. The only thing that motivated and moved that man was his research and getting answers.
In any case, the point was that Tseng would have to go on the field and plant some evidence to have his scapegoat. Oh, he would still investigate who the real culprit was, our of wounded pride.
But he would have to do so alone and without the resources of most of the Turks. He could also not implicate his friends in this. If anything goes wrong. At least Reno, Rude and Cissnei will be alright.
Tseng released a breath of air and stood up.
Time to get to work.
He already prepared everything quietly, if the case would arise.
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Tseng was tried, but happy with the work he had done. He can now happily report to the President that they found the culprit for the Night of the Red Rivers.
He stepped in the elevator, a scientist already in it looking at his clip board. He had brown hair and brown eyes and a yellow spot on the white lab coat.
''The Executive Suite'' Tseng instructed him. He wanted to drop by his office and drink one cup of coffee before reporting to President Shinra.
It was also a small test to see if the man was legit and not a foe.
The man pushed the button for the 70th floor and Tseng could see that the button for the 65th floor was pushed as well. The Sublevel Laboratory.
The scientist stepped back and indicated with his head at the device. Tseng pulled out his keycard and pushed it through the device and the elevator ride began.
''There is some mustard on your laboratory coat,'' Tseng pointed out.
''Huh?,'' the scientist looked from his notepad and down at his attire. There was indeed a yellow spot on his lab coat.
''Must have been when I grabbed a quick bite,'' the man muttered, then gave a nod to Tseng,''Good thing you pointed it out. Doctor Hojo would have my head for risking contamination of the laboratory.''
''To busy looking at your notepad to pay attention to your surroundings?,'' Tseng chastised him, his tone light however, suggesting a joking disposition.
The man was already back to his notes and hummed absentmindedly.
Not an uncommon sight among the scientists, Tseng noted.
''What is it about?,'' Tseng asked him directly. Trust a scientist to talk too much about their favorite subject that they are passionate about.
''It would be a waste to explain it to you. You wouldn't understand,'' the scientist muttered and lifted one paper to look at the one under it.
''You may be surprised. There is no harm in trying,'' Tsengs tone had an edge to it.
It flew right over the mans head.
''It is about Materia Manufacturing. Recent experimentation suggests that we may very well manufacture Materia that is as good or better the natural formed Materia.
The problem lies in the machinery. For some reason the K-Rate-Algorithm gets destabilized, every time we try to pour more Mako into the process of crystallizing it. We doubt it is the quality of the Monster Materials or that something is wrong with the machinery itself. Which can only mean it is something about the Materia, the natural formed kind that we missed in our equation. (*The Scientist lifts a few more pages*)
Unless... Yes, yes. We can simulate the process of a natural formed Materia with the machinery. It would need some tweaking, but... if we consider the fractal differences between a natural and manufactured one... then if we lower the Mako output by a steady amount, the low intake can approach the fractal of the natural formed one. Maybe.
But what about the K-Rate-Algorithm? The machinery functions on primarily that outcome, that is why the manufacturing is done quickly. To create stable Materia. If we go about that way, then the K-Rate-Algorithm can be destabilized... possible explosion. Greater tweaking of the machinery required...And the pressure differentials... Vacuum induced environment?... But the bernoulli principle...Viscosity...,'' the scientist descended into fervent mutterings, seeing something that promised to give them a scientific break, the pages on the notepad fluttering up and down.
Tseng could follow most of the explanation. The broad principle in how Materia was manufactured was known to him and what the scientist said coincided with that. But once he started spewing scientific jargon and terms he was lost.
''I see,'' Tseng nodded along politely, not that the man seemed to notice.
Ever since Zack helped bring lots of Monster Materials to the Materia Manufacturing branch of the Science Department and proved their worth Scarlet has been annoyed. The fact that they may see a breakthrough now, would annoy her even more. There was sure to be some competition IF they succeed in manufacturing Materia as good as natural one.
When the elevator finally hit the 65 floor, the scientist pushed his keycard through the device again.
''They really need to improve the speed of the elevators,'' the scientist muttered and left still looking at his notepad.
''Remember your mustard stain,'' Tseng reminded him and raised hand back without the man looking back.
The reason Tseng was a little suspicious was because he was a new face. A not entirely uncommon sight in Science Department specifically. Any Scientist 'Grunts' that displeased Hojo tended to disappear. Tseng considered that a waste, since it takes years for some to get educated enough, but President Shinra knew and only requested discretion, thus the matter was out of Tsengs hands.
Frankly Tseng thought that the President allowed the Heads of each Department entirely too much leeway. But far be it for him to dictate how the President should run his company.
At least Tseng saw the scientist make his way to the changing room, before entering the labs.
---
''A rival gang? In Sector 8?,'' Presindent Shinra asked Tseng.
''Yes, Sir,'' Tseng replied.
He could have implicated Don Corneo. But the man had too much reach, an alibi and was too useful in being their eyes down there. Evidence would have proven fake immediately. The gangs in Sector 8 did not have the infrastructure to prove that any evidence was fake.
''I see,'' the President relaxed slightly. Well, if it was just rats fighting for better bread crumbs, then he could ... understand their actions.
''In that case, establish contact with them. We will resume our ... routine immediately,'' President Shinra ordered.
''That... may be easier said then done,'' Tseng pointed out.
''What do you mean?,'' Shinra asked.
''While they had the infrastructure and reach to prepare for the Night of the Red Rivers, afterwards they fell to infighting. It seems their primary concern was to get rid of the competition and no further thought past that was spent. Once they were done, they fractured again, each gang vying for control and thinking they should run the show,'' Tseng explained.
''...Which gang shows the most promise?,'' Shinra asked him with an annoyed huff.
''The Sharks,'' Tseng replied.
''Then go down there and ...ensure that The Sharks can meet our demand. You understand?,'' Shinra asked him.
''Yes, Sir,'' Tseng nodded.
''And about that guy that fought the Black Dragon?,'' Shinra asked him.
''He is still eluding us. But he is one man, the Turks will find him eventually. Only a matter of time,'' Tseng lied smoothly.
''Hmm. He must be very good then, if you still haven't found a single thing about him. Then continue with your efforts. But Tseng, I want the man found sooner rather then later,'' Shinra warned him.
''Understood, Sir,'' Tseng nodded.
''Very good, then you are dismissed,'' Shinra waved him off.
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Well, now it makes sense why Shinra is so desperate to to find the 'Promised Land'.
Electricity generated through Mako Reactors is barely worth it. They are barely better then coal reactors or steam engines or whatever.
It is a waste of Mako for the poor returns it provides.
And Shinra knew about this, of course.
Nox was disguised as a scientist grunt. Now that he already planted the listening device in the laboratory, the only listening device he planned on planting outside of the Heads office, he could spend some time finding out about other stuff then Cetras or Ancients. Hojo spent much more time in the labs then in his office, so Nox would be forced to plant a listening device in both, just in case.
What was it with corporations knowing about the harm something would do, their product most often, and then proceeding to put it into practice or sell it anyway?
C8/ Teflon.
Tobacco.
The Ford Pinto.
Melamine.
Specific Baby Formulas.
Some Medications.
Subpar construction projects.
And so on and so forth.
All for just that little bit of extra money.
No?
Nox cracked his neck and released a sigh. Finally he closed the terminal and moved on to the next task and left the Science Labs, avoiding interacting with anyone too much, thanks to having made several 'rounds'
Maybe he could introduce Nuclear Reactors? But he was no scientist and he only knew the principles of how a nuclear Reactor worked in passing. A team then?
In any case, the only reason why Nuclear Reactors were bad was because of Nuclear Waste.
Fusion Reactors were said, in theory, to provide the best of both worlds. Lots of energy with no nuclear waste. Even if radiation would certainly still be a problem, at least there would be no waste. Which is the most important aspect of this all.
...
Nox stepped into the elevator. For today, he was done and the listening devices were installed. He prepared some for this. Multiple characters/disguises spread out to confuse Shinra.
Just before he left he put several gums in his mouth and began chewing. He was not in the system and for what he planned, the spit would get so contaminated it wouldn't even matter.
He smoothly put the gum on the Handrail belt and let nature do it's course while he left.
---
''Here, give this idiot a Maiden's Kiss,'' Nox said as he stepped into his pharmacy and dropped frog on the counter. Naomi immediately moved to select the remedy.
''Who is this?,'' Astrid asked.
''Judging by the shade of green and that one small yellow spot on his butt, as well as the lighter shade of green on his belly? Evangeline, clearly,'' Nox flatly told her.
''Do you know many frogs?,'' Astrid asked him, trying and failing to suppress a smile.
''Sure. I'm friends with all of them,'' Nox rubbed his shoulder and sat down on his chair.
''Sorry, it took me so long. Here. Where did you find the frog?,'' Naomi asked him while handing the remedy to Astrid who began administering it.
''Found the frog wandering around on my way back. No monsters around, so I don't know who did it to them,'' Nox shrugged.
*Poof*
''Did I really look like a girl?,'' the boy yelled out in affront.
''Truly, you are asking the important questions. You're gonna get far in life. Now scram,'' Nox waved him off and pulled out his PHS.
''But don't I need to pay you for saving me?,'' the boy asked him.
''You are probably so broke you can't even take a loan at the library. Scram,'' Nox waved him away.
The boy slowly stepped to the door and stood there unsure.
Nox waved him off, not looking from his phone.
The boy pointed at the door with both indexes and gave him another questioning look.
''Shooshoo,'' Nox waved him off again.
Finally the child left.
While Nox continued to stare at his PHS, Astrid and Naomi shared a look and both simultaneously rolled their eyes.
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''Ey, yo! What happened to the escalator?,'' Reno complained to the mechanic and got all in his face and pointed the baton at him. The mechanic leaned back a little frightened and held up his hands, letting the screwdriver fall.
Rude pulled Reno back.
''Apologies. But he asked a good question,'' Rude told him.
The mechanic breathed a sigh of relief and picked up the screwdriver again.
''Someone, through stupidity or malice, put their gum on the handrail belt and now the gum got all stuck in the Handrail Drive, Handrail Pressure Belt and the Handrail Tensioning Device,'' the mechanic pointed at the open panel in the exterior where one could see the motor.
''Geez, how much gum is there?,'' Reno complained.
''A lot. I will have to repair and clean both ends. At least it is only one side, so there is that,'' the mechanic sighed.
''But I wanted to use the escalator, yo,'' Reno petulantly complained.
''Well, I can't miracles. That's for sure or I wouldn't be mechanic. Now would I?,'' the mechanic muttered.
''What was that you prick?!,'' Reno got all up in his face again and waved his baton at him.
Rude pulled him back and guided him to the stairs.
''You will just have to use the stairs then, like the rest of us,'' Rude pointed out making Reno scowl.
''Fine. But I will lodge a complaint, yo,'' Reno declared and the two walked away.
The mechanic returned to his work. Eventually he sighed and just took out all the pieces, putting them on a trailing cart. He grabbed scope and began scrapping as much of the dried gum as he could, which was almost all. He cleaned the pieces as well, though he left some on it and then sprayed a solution in the interior of the escalator. Then he began pushing them towards the elevator.
''Where are you going?,'' one of the secretaries asked him.
''The 57th floor. With any luck, I can find the right spare parts in the storage room. Either that or we will need to order some more and repairing it will take some days,'' the mechanic shrugged.
''They look fine to me,'' the secretary pointed out, casting a quick glance at the gears.
''Yup, cleaned them as best as I could. Could even dip them in the same solution I used for the interior of the escalator...If you want customers to lodge complaints about a rhythmical noise on the escalator. These gears move the most. Any wear and tear and small scratch will make themselves noticeable and unfortunately they did sustain some damage,'' the mechanic explained.
''You cleaned out the gum from the rest of the interior? Won't any scratches on the rest make themselves noticeable?,'' she asked him.
''Nope,'' the mechanic popped the p,'' Just these ones. Look, can I do my job or should we continue to play one sided twenty questions. Contrary to you, I have a lot of other shit to do and I do want to get to getting it done.''
''Right,'' she huffed at the small insult, like her own job wasn't difficult or something. Customer Service, aka putting up with entitled people, was HELL.
''See you soon, when I'm back. Hopefully with spare parts,'' he muttered the last sentence and began pushing the cart again.
...
Only floor 59 till seven needed keycards. That didn't mean he was out of the danger of getting caught. There were two cameras in the storage room.
Luckily, there was a blind spot. And in that blind spot? A small ventilation shaft. Too small for a human, but big enough for three listening devices and thin Mako Strands.
This part is why it took him several 'rounds' of the same day. He couldn't see with his Mako Strands, which meant he had to rely on memorization and trial and error. Many a time, even, he ended the day thinking he had succeeded only to find out by checking the PHS that he actually failed.
The ventilation lead to four offices. Palmer, Heidegger, Scarlet and Reeve.
Who the fuck designed this building? It had so many security flaws, if one cared to look carefully.
Whatever.
Don't interrupt your enemies while they are making a mistake - type shit.
Point was that he hit four birds with one stone without even needing to step foot on the last 11 floors.
Actually, no. Whether he succeeded remained to be seen at the end of the day.
...
He did succeed thankfully. He recognized the voices the device picked up, when he listened to his PHS while he was laying in his bed.
So now only Tsengs office and the Presidents office remained.
Those two would give him the most trouble.
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''Here. On the house,'' Tifa put down a Cosmo Canyon in front of him. Nox was eating alone. Sometimes he ate with the others and they told him some stuff. This is how he knew to look for the Shinra HQ Blueprints of the ventilation shafts.
How did they even get their hands on that intel? Probably the Main AVALANCHE Branch helped them.
Anyway.
This time they were here, but he just wanted to eat alone and be left with his thoughts alone to scheme.
''What for?,'' Nox asked Tifa.
''I heard you saved Miguel from the status frog. The people talked and word spread. He is not in the best financial situation, so it was a nice thing you did. Not requesting any payment from him,'' Tifa praised him with a smile.
''Oh, wow. Now that I have the peoples praise I feel truly relieved. Where would my life be without that,'' Nox flatly replied and put some money on the table. The price of a Cosmo Canyon.
''No. Nox, I said-,'' Tifa tried to deny him.
''Do you run a business here or not? No wonder you can't hire anyone and must do everything yourself, when you hand out 1 million free drinks every night,'' Nox chatized.
''I'm not... handing out a million drinks every night,'' Tifa muttered self-consciously. Was she really doing that, thought? Is that how she came across?
Nox took a deep breath.
''I'm obviously being hyperbolic. But you do hand out more free drinks then the usual bartender. I want this business to prosper and that won't happen with you being a people pleaser,'' Nox pointed out.
''I'm not-'' Tifa stopped talking when she saw someone step behind Nox and put her hands over his eyes. She widened her eyes at the fact that... she got the entirely false impression of them being lovers. She didn't expect it from someone who is so ... Nox, Tifa finished lamely, not wanting to insult him even in her head.
''Guess who it is,'' the woman sang.
''There is only one person who has no understanding of personal space. Aerith,'' Nox grabbed her wrist and removed her hands from his eyes.
She stepped besides Tifa and pouted.
''Man, must you always suck the joy out of anything? You were supposed to play along and guess wrongly the first few times,'' Aerith complained, her hands on her hips.
''Want me to entertain you? Go hire a clown,'' Nox shot her down.
''Anyway. Do you mind doing the honors?,'' Aerith pointed at Tifa and waved at her.
''Behold Aerith,'' Nox held out his palm, pointing it at Tifa,''Tifa, a woman who can cook. Tifa, (*he moved his palm over to Aerith*) Aerith, a woman who possess a very green thumb and is a florist.''
''What do you mean I can't cook?!,'' Aerith complained.
''A florist?,'' Tifa widened her eyes after a brief look of confusions and turned her body towards Aerith,'' I thought these were just rumors! You mean you are the one that grows the flowers in Sector 5?''
''What?,'' Aerith turned distracted away from looking at Nox with some anger,''Oh, yes. You should come by some time. I would love to have you over. But for now, let me please return to the important matter.''
''What do you mean I can't cook?''
''You set water on fire,'' Nox reminded her.
''It was one time. Will mom never let me live it down,'' she shook her head and took a seat at the table, sitting herself opposite of Nox. Then she reconsidered and moved over to the wall and patted the free space, indicating for Tifa to sit.
''Come on,'' Aerith encouraged her to sit down. Tifa looked unsure, but Aerith just grabbed her by the hand and gently pulled her down.
''By the way, what was that about calling Tifa a people pleaser?,'' Aerith asked him.
Tifa's eyes sharpened. Yes! She has almost forgotten.
''Yes. What did you mean by that? I'm not a people pleaser,'' Tifa defended herself.
Nox propped his elbow on the table and leaned towards them, while pointing at an older man.
''That guy literally grabbed your boob five days ago and while you did kick the living daylights out of him and kicked him out, you let him back in. (*Aerith who looked about to stand up and give the man a piece of her mind... with her staff in between the legs probably, sat back down and gave Tifa an approving nod*) Not only that, but considering all the work you do in this bar alone, you are probably dead tired and yet you still push yourself to help others during the day your bar's closed. And of course, the free drinks, which admittedly you only hand out to friends or acquaintances, but I have no interest in this place going under. It provides a close place to eat near my home. If it goes under I have to walk a greater distance to the next restaurant or bar,'' Nox finished his points, by slapping his hand on his money and pushing it across the table in front of Tifa.
''I ...well... I need customers,'' Tifa explained lamely.
Aerith and Nox stared at her making Tifa looking down self-consciously.
''Well, I tried,'' Nox shrugged and returned to his meal.
''What? That's it?...Tifa, you and I should hang out some time and do girl stuff and I will beat some sense into you,'' Aerith made some punching gestures.
Tifa smiled shyly.
''I woudn't say no to that. I would be interested in seeing the flowers I heard so much about,'' Tifa agreed, easing herself into the social interaction. Aerith... seemed very friendly and approachable.
''Then it's decided. Let's exchange contact info,'' Aerith pulled out her PHS. Tifa nodded and quickly pulled out her own.
Before Tifa could say anything more, she was called over by a customer.
''I'm sorry, but I have to go. Work calls,'' Tifa explained herself.
''No worries,'' Aerith assured her making Tifa nod appreciatively. Nox cleared his throat before she could stand up. When she looked at him, he indicated with his head at the money.
''I... will put it aside towards Marlenes school funds,'' Tifa slowly agreed and took the money. Nox threw his hands up, clearly in disapproval, but said nothing more.
Tifa waved to both of them and then left them alone.
''What are you doing here? At this hour?,'' Nox immediately asked her.
''I wanted to surprise you, silly. I couldn't stop thinking about you, just... eating all sad and alone at the table. And I was right! Why not just come and eat every night with us. Sure, it would mean walking a greater distance, but if you want you can sleep over. Oh (*Aerith clapped her hands eagerly*) I would love having a sleep over,'' she enthusiastically offered him.
''Please don't do that. I don't want to escort you back every time. Just give me my alone time, woman,'' Nox huffed.
Aerith put her finger on her chin and adopted a thinking pose while humming.
''Nope. You act all mean and stuff, but deep down you are just big teddy bear,'' Aerith pointed out.
''Sure. Let's go with that,'' Nox closed his eyes, while he muttered. He prayed for strength and patience.
''I can't let my teddy bear all alone, nor can I let him feel lonely... Yup, that's decided. You either eat at my house or I will come over every night,'' Aerith presented him with the ultimatum.
''You have no understanding of personal space,'' Nox muttered.
''You're saying that a lot,'' Aerith pointed out.
''If only the message got across. Fine. I'll stop eating here. If nothing else I will save up on money. No sleepovers,'' Nox muttered again.
''But why not? I wanted to do so many things with you. Play board games, tell each other stories, try to draw each other. I want to look back on those memories one days and say 'Hey, remember when...'. Please? It would really mean a lot to me if you would do that,'' Aerith put her hands together in a prayer.
Nox turned his head.
''Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please,'' Aerith quickly began reapting. It wasn't begging, more like pestering, though some could hardly tell the difference. One was meant to invoke pity the other grind down someones stubbornness.
''Have some dignity. If it stops your yammering I will have some sleep overs with you,'' Nox propped his chin on his hand and sighed.
''Yay,'' Aerith celebrated while gently clapping her hands,'' I heard people eat snacks too, so don't worry. I will prepare everything and then we can do it in a few days.''
''Sure.''
Aerith nodded and gently smiled at him. He raised an eyebrow and looked her up and down quickly.
''What?,'' he asked.
''You have been taking care of the Lilacs, how I taught you. No?,'' she asked him.
''Of course.''
She nodded and looked at the rest of the bar while Nox ate and drank his food and drink.
''Do you like women who can cook?,'' she asked him suddenly, feeling a little envious of Tifa.
Nox stopped eating and looked at her briefly.
''I don't particularly care. I was just teasing you,'' he eventually replied.
''But if you had to decide right now? What would you prefer?,'' Aerith asked him.
Nox looked at her in contemplation while tapping his index on the table.
''Making food edible is a good survival skill to have. I suppose I can go the extra mile to make it taste good as well. We can both learn to do that together, if it really bothers you so much. Now stop your whining, Tifa has her strengths and you have yours, remove the weaknesses you can and get comfortable with what you can't change,'' Nox tried to give her some words of comfort.
Aerith gasped and leaned forward with a sly smrik.
''Do you like Tifa? As in, do you LIKE Tifa?,'' Aerith wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. She wondered briefly if her expression revealed anything of her true thoughts.
''Absolutely not. She is timid,'' Nox immediately replied.
''But that is a weakness she can fix. No?,'' Aerith threw his own words against him.
''Sure,'' Nox snorted,''But even so she is not my... (*he frowned*) What business is it of yours, in what type of girls I'm interested?''
''I can be your pal, your matchmaker. I can bring girls, I can. I have a good eye for this stuff, but I need to know your type,'' Aerith played it off.
Nox shook his head.
''Play matchmaker with Tifa. I can deal with my own shit,'' he replied and leaned in his seat.
Aerith pouted.
''Did you go and sell flowers again?,'' Nox asked her, changing the subject.
''Not today. I had to tend to the flowers in front of my house. I tried following your suggestions, but I just can't come up with a better solution,'' Aerith propped her head on her hands and sighed.
Nox looked at her dejected expression... and saw an opportunity to further his mission.
''You dream big... but like everything else, big dreams need to have a solid foundation. Instead of trying to change the way all of Midgars people think, why not just try a smaller group first. Focus only on Sector 5 and when you are done with that group... who knows, maybe you will have created some sort of positive feed back loop or something. There is no harm in trying,'' Nox suggested to her.
Aerith raised her head and looked at him. Finally she smiled.
''Like you do with Astrid and Naomi,'' Aerith pointed out, causing Nox to nod.
''Then I will try that,'' Aerith declared and pumped her fist. Admittedly it was something she tried initially. When she first started selling flowers it was in Sector 5. But she quickly moved on. Maybe Nox was right and she should have spent more time in one place.
''Anyway. I'm done. Let me escort you home,'' Nox told her.
''There is no need. I may not look like it, but I'm plenty strong,'' she patted her biceps while flexing it.
''I know that... Let's go,'' Nox demanded and began leaving, his food and drink already paid of when he ordered.
Aerith rolled her eyes and quickly caught up to him. She waved Tifa goodbye and promised to hang out with her soon.
Hopefully she will have gotten another friend. No offense to Nox, but there are some things a gal simply can't talk about with a boy.
Girl gossip.
''You seem particularly happy,'' Nox noted eventually during their walk.
''Heh, that's because I am,'' Aerith replied.
''Well... good for you,'' Nox concluded the matter. If she didn't want to share the reason he was not gonna pry it.
''I'm glad you agreed to the dinners and the sleep over,'' Aerith thanked him.
''Would you have stopped pestering me, if I didn't?,'' Nox asked her.
She ran a little forwards to stand in front of him and raised her finger.
''Nope. You won't get rid of me that easily,'' she declared boldly and then winked at him.
Nox stared at her briefly and then swallowed. Then he shook his head and walked past her.
''Guess you have every intention of growing on me... like mold,'' Nox called back.
Aerith ran to catch up to him.
''Aaaaaaand you ruined it. We were just having a nice moment. Did you have to go and say that? You're never going to find someone with that attitude,'' Aerith wagged her finger.
Good.
''How tragic,'' Nox replied instead.
''I would certainly think so. Psst,'' Aerith playfully leaned in, her hand cupped besides her mouth to whisper in his ear,''I'm not gonna let it come to that.''
Nox stared at her briefly again and then turned his head.
For a moment Aerith wanted to tease him again, considering the reactions he was giving her. But she decided she had her fill for today.
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In the end, as it sometimes happened throughout his life, some things turned anti climatic.
Nox despaired over how he could get himself into the offices of Tseng and Shinra. The servants/ workers that attended to their needs were few and they both knew them all personally. Getting in would be not be easy, considering that the workers kept very tight watch over their keycards. He COULD disguise himself as one of the workers, but there was no changing his height. And his height was glaringly obvious compared to any of the other workers. And then there was the fact that he would need to get out, IF he actually does manage to go in.
When he took another look at the buildings blueprints, he saw that the ventilation shafts lead outside the building towards the top.
Under normal circumstances one would consider that a security risk.
But A) the ventilation shaft was very high above the ground B) climbing up the wall was near impossible considering the 90 degree incline of the wall as well as the smoothness and C) the radars who watched over the sky for any unidentified flying object that was not authorized to fly over Shinra HQ building and D) some cameras here and there.
All good defense.
Really.
Except, against him.
Sure he could not fly in.
But he could climb, the Mako Strands would aid him in that.
A few tries, a few 'rounds' and badda bing badda bung the task was done and he had bugged all relevant offices, instead of just the conference room.
Like he said. Very anti climatic.
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''I'm surprised your mom will let me sleep here. What with you being a woman and me a man,'' Nox threw the dice and moved his peice.
''And why would she worry?,'' Aerith asked him, only to suddenly gasp and put her hand before her mouth,'' Could it be? You've fallen for my charm and intend to have your vile way with me?''
''Never accuse me of that again,'' Nox flatly told her. He never tolerated that shit in his army he never practiced it, nor did he use it as punishment.
There was just something about rape that made it more vile then any other crime.
''Sorry, too far, I admit,'' Aerith scratched her cheek. She should have said 'wicked way' instead. Now the joke was all ruined.
''But to answer your question, I'm an adult. I can make my own choices,'' Aerith told him and she finally threw the dice herself and moved her own piece.
Nox hummed.
''Fair enough,'' Nox replied. Far be it from him to judge other peoples familial relationships considering his own familial messes. Both this one and the last.
''Say, do you have siblings?,'' Aerith asked Nox.
''No. I'm an only child, like you,'' Nox threw the dice and moved his piece.
''Do you sometimes wish to have a sibling?,'' she asked him.
''No. I'm comfortable being an only child. Why do you ask?,'' Nox replied.
''I wish I had a brother or sister, maybe,'' Aerith lamented.
''Then invent time travel to go back in time and express your wish to your parents. Good luck avoiding any paradoxes and threatening to erase yourself,'' Nox said, presenting her with the absurdity of the wish to her own face.
''I mean... can't I just go back in time till AFTER I have been borne,'' Aerith pointed out.
Nox blinked.
''Excellent argument, can't argue with that,'' he conceded. In his defense, he was tired.
''But yeah, you're right. I guess... I just want a big family,'' she replied.
''You're the woman,'' Nox shot back and laid down on the ground. She still had yet to make her own move.
''Hmm?,'' Aerith inquired.
''Childbearing. When you settle down, one day, you will be one carrying most of the risks. 12 children, 1 child, though I suspect you will have a more concrete number after the first one. I heard giving birth is excruciatingly painful,'' Nox wondered out loud. Obviously the partner should still have some say. They would probably need to strike a compromise.
''Can't be THAT painful,'' Aerith joked,''I never heard of a man wanting to get kicked in the nuts again, but I heard plenty of woman want another child.''
Nox hummed in agreement. She was right. It was...VERY painful. He'd sooner prefer getting burned alive then getting his nuts kicked... A pointless comparison since his nuts would be on fire too, but the point still stands.
Aerith wanted for a brief moment to ask him, how many children he wanted, but she had the feeling she wouldn't like his answer, so she changed the subject.
''Forget the game, it's not as fun as I thought. Can you comb my hair?,'' Aerith requested. She stood up and grabbed the comb, handing it to him. When she untied her ribbon and her hair she took care to hide the White Materia from him. For now she wanted to keep the illusion of normalcy still intact. She stared at his sword resting on the wall next to her door.
She was about to instruct him how to comb her hair without ripping it out, but he got to work before she could do so and was pleasantly surprised.
''You've done this before?,'' Aerith asked receiving a hum.
For his mother before she lost her hair from cancer and whenever he slipped into a disguise.
After all, sometimes, it takes a real man to be best girl.
The two were silent, one focused one his task the other enjoying the gentle care she was receiving. The silence thick, but not awkward. She wondered if that was more what girls were supposed to do to each other and if her and Tifa would ever do this to each other. But in the end she found that she preferred things this way.
''I never had anyone else do this for me, except my mother,'' she confessed eventually.
''No? Why?,'' Nox asked her kindly.
''I guess... I was considered an outcast by the other children,'' Aerith replied, in no small part of her own doing. It took a while till she grasped, she can't blurt out things that she shouldn't be knowing.
''...Children can be crueler than most people, some times,'' Nox commented.
''You speak from experience,'' Aerith noted.
''You've seen my complexion, my color palette. People think I'm an albino. Where I was from people, children, whispered that I'm a bastard, born out of wedlock and that my mother cuckolded my father. They spoke of other things, but the rest didn't bother me really,'' Nox explained.
''You left them, didn't you? To spare them the pain, the whispers,'' Aerith reasoned.
''...''
''I'm sorry. We don't need to talk about that if you don't want to,'' Aerith back tracked.
Perhaps. Or perhaps he could show a side of vulnerability. Quid pro quo, as the saying went. A ripe opportunity to make her think about wanting to share she was a Cetra with him and explain what 'communing and talking to the planet' meant.
''Yes and no. I did leave them for that, but I always knew I could not stay in my village. I was... too small for that village,'' Nox explained softly.
Aerith nodded. She guessed it had something to do with ambition. 'To reach for the stars', to be free, as he said.
''And have you found what you were looking for?,'' Aerith asked him.
''More or less. Now it is just a time of seeing if it yields results,'' Nox replied making Aerith hum.
Finally, Nox was done and Aerith sat on her bed.
''What are you doing down there. Come up, My bed is big enough for the both of us,'' Aerith patted her bed.
''No,'' Nox laid down on the ground.
He was startled when he felt Aerith lay down besides him as well.
''Wha-''
''We can either both share the ground and have a miserable sleep or we can both share the bed. I know there is a sense of chivalry to you and my virtue shall be safeguarded by your hands,'' Aerith sang playfully.
''Get bent,'' Nox scowled.
Aerith stood up and tried prying him from the ground.
Nox sighed and knew she would really do sleep on the ground, so he settled for agreeing. He would just try and sleep on the very edge of the bad or something.
''Eh, eh? Are you embarrassed to be so close to a pretty girl?,'' Aerith teased. Nox tilted his head giving her a completely flat stare.
''Sure. Let's go with that,'' he tiredly replied. He tensed when Aerith put her hand over his chest, particularly his heart and let it rest there.
Aerith hummed a little annoyed. It beat to a completely steady slow rhythm.
''You know, you say all those things and act distant, but sou should really be more honest with yourself,'' Aerith told him.
Nox hummed inquisitively.
She leaned forward to whisper in his ear.
''You can be cool even if you behave like a dork and have friends, you know. I certainly find you the coolest when you tell stories. It's the result of your efforts to travel. That's pretty damn cool.'' Aerith told him. More like a cool emo kid, Aerith jokingly thought. But he wasn't as much emo as one would think.
Nox stared at her and snorted.
''I don't want you to get all old, not having made friends, because you cared more about your image. I'm almost certain you will regret that,'' Aerith tried again more directly.
Nox said nothing. There was no point. She got things figured out all wrong.
''Don't worry, your amazing friend Aerith will be there to beat some sense into that thick skill of yours. Promise,'' Aerith winked.
''You and those noddle arm of yours? Yeah, right,'' Nox scoffed.
''Hey! I may not have Tifa's amazing physique and muscles, but I have my own strengths. Like you said. I just happen to be a good mage. And I will freeze your butt, if you test me,'' Aerith threatened.
''You really have every intention of growing on me like mold, huh?,'' Nox repeated his wrods from a few days past.
Aerith looked at him for a moment. She grabbed his arm and leaned into his face.
''Every intention,'' Aerith replied staring deep into his eyes. Green and red held ground for a while. A battle of wills occurred. Who knows about what, but Nox was the first to look away.
''That's what I thought, mister. You just let Aerith work her magic and before you know it, you will have lots of friends,'' Aerith held up hr finger and winked playfully.
''Do what you want,'' Nox told her softly making Aerith nod with a satisfied grin.
''Tell me another story. And this time make sure it is a happy one!,'' Aerith demanded.
Nox blinked and licked his lips, then he looked up at the ceiling in contemplation.
''I suppose I can tell you the story of Perseus. He had a happy ending...,'' Nox began his tale. Aerith listened closely, carefully, with her hand still on his chest, but despite her best efforts her fleshly curtains slowly fell shut. Nox noticed that she fell asleep halfway through the story, but he carried on till the end anyway.
...
Then he just starred at her.
'Please, don't tell me you were actually moved by her silly declarations,' the voice came. Nox made sure to remain as still as possible, while conversing with it.
'What do you mean?,' he asked it.
'Careful now. If nothing else we promised to be completely unapologetically honest with each other. Hell, drink out of baby's skulls if you REALLY want it, but be honest. I'm the only one who won't abandon you for your sorry state or depravity,' the voice demanded and assured.
'...Fine. I was moved,' Nox admitted.
'For fucks sake. Have we forgotten that Shinra intends to capture her and that you yourself intend to use her as bait for the Big Bad? In both stances she is abandoning us,' the voice hotly replied.
'Now, who is not being honest?,' Nox shot back,'Her dying or getting captured because she is weak is not the same as her letting herself get captured or walking to her death. She won't do that, because it is not in her self interest to do so, even if she may abandon me by some other means.'
'Fucking weakling. To weak to stop people from getting close, to weak to stop yourself from caring about them. To weak to push them away even when you do falter! You're just setting yourself up for tragedy. Do you really think then when she learns about the real you, she still wants to be your friend? Don't make me laugh,' the voice scoffed.
'Florentine and Priscilla never abandoned us,'' Nox pointed out eventually. Game is game and credit where credit was due.
'Of course, they never abandoned you. You were King and they had cozy positions in the government. What's his face... eh, eh, that right hand man of yours you had... Hank! That guy poisoned you immediately when you no longer fit his narrative of a king that will make things better,' the voice pointed out and Nox nodded slowly.
That was true.
'...'
'...'
'...'
'You FUCKING disappointment.
You never learn, do you? No... You never intend to learn. Content to let yourself get burnt over and over again.
Fine. Like always, I will be here, to pick up the pieces when everything around you falls apart. And I will make sure to tell you 'I told you so'.
Gods know, I'm the only one that cares about your well being. I guess, you and I will have to be on the same page and ensure that you keep your 'loved ones'.
How far do you intend to let this relationship between you and Aerith progress?,' the voice asked eventually.
'...'
'You really are a fucking disappointment,' the voice muttered.
'If Priscilla were more stubborn and would have persisted and pestered me, I would have given in with her too. You KNOW that. I don't know if we will ever reach that stage thought. Either way, I will take a gamble and trust she won't abandon me,' Nox declared.
Nox could feel the voice physically shake his head.
'Gambles. We don't take gambles considering our power...
Then I guess we are back in the game, huh? Took you long enough,' the voice sounded giddy.
'Hm?'
'You now have a reason to try and ensure this world doesn't go to utter shit. No. While I would have personally preferred you to simply admit it and take it, I suppose I won't look a gifted horse in the mouth,' the voice chuckled.
'I don't get it,' Nox played dumb.
'I thought we established we would be honest with each other.
...
8 years, the war took. You could have assassinated EVERYONE in 2. Instead you dragged it out. Because it was not enough to kill them and get revenge. You wanted to see them SQUIRM.
It was intoxicating. All the power in the world for you to do with as you please. Countries dancing to your tune, the remaining elitist stewing as you chipped away at the foundation of what made them rich and the idiots revering you as near benevolent divine figure at the end. If only they knew, you did it for the love of the game, for the challenge. It takes more to build then to destroy.
What joy could we have possibly derived from squashing those insignificant complacent ants? With your strength of arms and 'divine foresight' you could have slaughtered the world and danced around the edges of the dangers. IF we wanted.-'
'I also did it partially for the people who stood by me. Florentine and Priscilla and all those Soldiers in my army,' Nox reminded him. If the voice was so insistent about being honest, then they should be honest.
(Frankly only that stayed his hands in going more off the deep end. He was a man that cared about his loved ones more then the world.)
'Sure, I guess. But my point is that you and I, we are kings, conquerors, monarchs. We take simply because we can and it is our right for being the strongest.
It seems you have forgotten that, fixating on the task ROB gave you, but a man can only try to deny what he is for so long, before he needs to snap back to who he is.
I for one, can not wait to see Shinra get dismantled,' the voice chuckled eagerly.
'So what? Go to the meeting board, slaughter everyone inside,' Nox asked the voice.
'Pff. If you want to make things boring. As we are now, only very few would pose an actual challenge to us, especially if you stop hiding those Mako Strands of yours and bring out the full might of what you learnt.
No. Make them SQUIRM and WIGGLE like the pathetic worms they are. And if they ever overstep, out of sheer principle if nothing else instead of the 'danger' they pose, simply pay them a visit and make them realize how futile their struggles have been from the VERY BEGINNING,' Nox could feel the voice physically smirk at that declaration. He smoothly went with his hand over his mouth and relaxed when he felt he was not mirroring the voices antics.
...
...
...
...
...
...
'Fine.'
(A.N.: 8459 words. Hope you enjoyed reading that. Cheers and stay safe out there.)