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 Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 12:12 pm
[ Stephanii ; Cidolfus ; Hojo : Radiant Garden : ShinRa HQ ]
"So gracious! I'll have some tea, whatever you happen to have," he replied, smiling as he took a seat as offered. Hojo sat in the other chair. "I make a point to try what I can when I visit a new world, Never know what's worth bringing back to the empire."
If the words held any undercurrent, they weren't obvious by any means.
"Not the leader, you say?" he began shortly after Rufus gave the word for his tea. "The world speaks otherwise. Unless the reins of control lie in the hands of someone more discrete or obscured, I was under the impression t'was you who held the highest seat of power in these gardens."
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 11:30 am
[Rufus : Radiant Garden : ShinRa Headquarters]
Rufus pressed the little red button on his desk, "Stephanii, some of our best brew of tea for our guests," the CEO did not wait for a reply, lifting his finger from the switch and smiling at the Ivalician Scientist as he finished his observation, "Indeed, I hold the most capital and force in way of supplies and manpower, but, I'm not who the people look to for their immediate protection. That title lies with the heroes who now spend their time gallivanting across distant lands, fighting heartless and whatever other monsters threatening other worlds. In the meantime, it's up to men like me to stand up and bring a sense of security to the people of this world. It's up to ShinRa to provide peace of mind for the panicking populace."
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 7:22 pm
[ Stephanii ; Cidolfus ; Hojo : Radiant Garden : ShinRa HQ ]
"I'm not sure how you define leaders here, but that sounds quite the same to me," he responded, smiling back at the man. "Capital, supplies, manpower, security, all controlled by your hand and will alone. Particularly if the only one that can provide immediate protection to the residents of this world is you."
Stephanii bustled in at that point, having patiently waited outside the door so as not to interrupt midsentence. She carried in a tray with a steaming kettle and three cups, saucers, and other potential additives. She set it down on a clear spot on Rufus' desk and got to work preparing the glasses without waiting for an order.
"You paint the picture of a leader all the more, I must say, though you seem to deny the title itself," he mused, watching the young woman make his tea before turning his gaze back to Rufus, everything about him at ease. Stephanii shuddered slightly, not from his look, but from an odd chill in the air. "If your tongue speaks true, the people of this world need you decidedly more than any absentee hero. They will look to you."
"When they do, what would you have them see? A stoic man who defers to deserters?" he asked, raising a brow; Stephanii offered him the first cup and saucer, and he accepted. His tenor grew in passion as he spoke. "Or man transcendent, wielding power as naturally as if t'were his birthright? Which will give them the confidence to stand together, united as one glorious people against the forces that might tear this world apart?"
Stephanii placed Rufus' cup in front of him, and then gave Hojo his shortly after the doctor finished.
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 7:51 pm
[Rufus : Radiant Garden : ShinRa Headquarters]
"When that happens," Rufus replied, lifting his cup to his lips and blowing softly, "I will gladly take up the mantle. Until then however, I'm merely explaining the facts of what the people see and believe. No one can call themselves a leader and truly be one unless those he leads see them as such."
With a satisfying click, the cup resumed its rest upon the desk, "So, what brings you to ShinRa, Doctor? Certainly not to debate semantics, I imagine."
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 9:04 pm
[ Stephanii ; Cidolfus ; Hojo : Radiant Garden : ShinRa HQ ]
Stephanii quietly walked out, leaving the tray behind. Cid merely smiled at Rufus' response.
"My personal motivation lies in meeting with the good doctor. His research expedites my own, and so in reverse," he explained, sipping the tea. "Expect a great many things from him, I dare say you won't be disappointed."
"I come before you, however, at a friend's behest," he said, holding the cup gently to its saucer. "Emperor Vayne Solidor of the Archadian Empire, to be precise. Like yourself and the good doctor, the Emperor and I work in tandem for the greater good. Under his leadership, we've brought many a chaotic region to peaceful coexistence since the merger a month ago."
"True to their name, these gardens are quite radiant. But they do have such a tragically scarred history, you know," he continued, with a bit of melancholy to his voice. "There was some concern about the power vacuum and its consequences. However, here I find you with the lion's share, so I'm to measure your soul, as it were."
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 10:06 pm
[Rufus : Radiant Garden : ShinRa Headquarters]
"I see," Rufus picked up his tea and sipped at it. Still a tad hot, but not scalding. The CEO swirled the tea in its cup, staring at the ripples as it settled before raising his eyes once more, settling on the Doctor, "... And?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 10:36 pm
[ Cidolfus ; Hojo : Radiant Garden : ShinRa HQ ]
There was a measure of silence in the room as Cid stared at his tea pensively, taking another small sip before placing it back on the saucer. His contemplation went on for a few more seconds even then.
"Needs sugar," he said, softly but decisively, reaching toward the tray and taking a small spoonful into his cup, swirling it around.
"You have an impressive operation in your hands, Rufus ShinRa," he began suddenly, his eyes still on the tea cup as he stirred, though by no means out of humility. "And there is great potential for growth. The Empire looks forward to seeing you fulfill that potential, such that you can expect an open declaration of friendship, and the benefits that such a declaration entails, in the coming future."
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Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 1:48 pm
[Rufus : Radiant Garden : ShinRa Headquarters]
"Well, you can let your emperor know that he can expect the same courtesy from me. Allies are harder and harder to find in these difficult times. Your emperor seems to understand this as well as I. Please pass on my best regards to him when you return to Arcadia," Rufus smiled and softened his gaze, sipping his tea comfortably.
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Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 7:13 pm
[ Cidolfus ; Hojo : Radiant Garden : ShinRa HQ ]
"With pleasure," he responded, nodding cordially before setting his spoon down, lifting the cup lightly.
"To the future, then," he remarked, toasting. "May its reins know no lesser hands than ours!"
Regardless if they toasted with him, he took a sip in celebration. If, however, they decided to add something, he would have waited and done so when they finished.
Hojo had nothing to add, however; he didn't even look that enthused about toasting to begin with.
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 1:11 pm
[Rufus : Radiant Garden : ShinRa Headquarters]
"To the future," Rufus echoed, toasting to Cidolfus. After taking a drink, he placed his cup back on the desk and continued after running a hand back through his hair, "So, how long are you planning on staying in Radiant Garden? If you require, I can see to it that you're provided adequate housing during your stay."
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 6:18 pm
[ Cidolfus ; Hojo : Radiant Garden : ShinRa HQ ]
"Endless generosity, it seems! Thank you, but it shan't be necessary. When I depart, I'll be regrouping with the nearest fleet," he explained, still smiling as jovially as ever. His cup was nearly dry, but he didn't need any more. "I've merely stopped by to compare notes with the doctor and have this meeting. The small group they sent with me was entirely unnecessary, but they prefer safety over good form, I'm afraid."
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 9:45 pm
[Rufus : Radiant Garden : ShinRa Headquarters]
"Understood, well, it's a shame you couldn't stay longer. I'm sure there's much in Radiant Garden to entertain and satisfy someone of your stature Dr. Cidolfus," Rufus, nodded, looking at Hojo momentarily, before shifting his attention back to Cid, "Then will you be departing shortly after our meeting here? I can have my assistant show you to the hangar. I actually have some things I need to discuss with Dr. Hojo when we've concluded. So neither he nor I will be able to see you off, unfortunately."
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 10:32 pm
[ Cidolfus ; Hojo : Radiant Garden : ShinRa HQ ]
"Of course, I understand," Cidolfus nodded in agreement. "In that case, I may as well be off--"
"Actually," Hojo interrupted, speaking for the first time since they'd even sat down. He matched Rufus' look. "Would it be possible for the girl to bring him back to my lab first? There's one more project I'd like to discuss with him. It's been gathering dust for weeks, I'd completely forgotten."
"Well, I can certainly postpone my departure for a few more minutes," Cid replied, his curiosity piqued before glancing over to Rufus inquisitively. "Shall I wait there, then, or perhaps in the hall outside? Unless this is my cue to depart, of course."
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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 3:34 pm
[Rufus : Radiant Garden : ShinRa Headquarters]
The CEO looked at Hojo silently for a log moment before bowing his head to Cidolfus, "What we have to discuss is of a more sensitive matter, so, my sincerest apologies that I must ask you to step outside for the time being."
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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 4:09 pm
[ Cidolfus ; Hojo : Radiant Garden : ShinRa HQ ]
"Of course!" Cidolfus replied, standing and bowing--just slightly--before making his way toward the door. Without turning around, as he opened the door to walk out, he lifted a hand to wave back. "Au revoir, Mr. ShinRa!"
The door shut solidly, but strangely enough, the chill remained.
Hojo sipped his tea calmly, unperturbed by the private meeting, or Rufus at all for that matter.
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