masochisticsadist:

“Don’t you think that’s a little taxing on my brain—to remember those huge titles?” the purple-haired woman acquiesces, canting her head to the left and letting thick tresses caress the side of her head, folding her arms and placing her right hand on her chin. “Well, General~” she enunciates with a purr, walking lithe fingers down her throat. “Just be happy I remembered bits and pieces of it—I meet tons of people a day, thousands even~ I’d say you’re quite special~!”

Though she ends up frowning at that last claim and squints her eyes. “I remember you telling me about directions and whatnot, but pfffft, I just went home after that~ So I really didn’t go anywhere! This place. It’s. Confusing.” That last word comes out like it leaves a sour taste on her tongue and she instantly abhors it. Placing a hand on her waist, she goes back to smirking, long and hard. “I am capable of finding places by myself, being by myself—it’s all pie to me, Briii~gaaa~diiier but I’m not adverse to company~ Do I look like a stone wall to you~ Noooo, I’m an ENFP that likes competent people, extraverted intuition with introverted feeling, and if I haven’t tried to lop your pretty little head off that tells you something, riiiiiight~?”

Cracking a slightly twisted smile, she looks at him throughout the bottom of striking, electric green eyes and snorts. “Though I do think I deserve an apology~!”

He simply smiled and nodded initially, taking a moment to let his silver-blue hues absorb the image of her flowing purple mane, letting it’s natural beauty intrigue and fascinate him briefly before returning his focus to her eyes.

“Well I am grateful to have made even the slightest impression on such an important and beautiful young woman then.” he said, bowing to take her hand and kiss the back of it as he had done in the past.

Her admission to not complying with his suggestion of an entertaining evening in Nautilus surprised him slightly.

“Nautilus didn’t entice you at all? Well then I’m afraid we may not have anything to offer that might capture your interest.” he said, keeping a friendly smile but scratching his neck in embarassment as a bead of sweat rolled down the side of his chiseled jaw.

She smirked and told him of how she spent her time, both alone and with company, but she didn’t make it particularly easy for him to infer which environment she enjoyed more.

“It sounds as if you are usually alone in your travels then? Yet you allow those worthy enough to hold such exquisite company to join you occasionally.” he spoke his assessment aloud. His words were flattering but only because as an important figure in this region he constantly found himself telling people what they wanted to hear and lifting their moods. Personally he found her company rather unpleasant. Her arrogant attitude and inappropriate nature created an air that left a poor taste in his mouth while her unusual manner of talking gave him the urge to rub his temples in frustration as he continued to decipher her meanings.

He would not have risen to this rank in a political environment if he was incapable of convincing disgusting people that they held his respect and adoration however and he wore a warm expression that reflected this.

“ENFP? I don’t believe I am familiar with this term.” he said, folding his arms and brow furrowing as he attempted to recall it’s meaning. “And you would take my head if otherwise? Well I must be sure to stay in your good graces mustn’t I?” he let a deep, heart-warming chuckle escape his lips as he wore a larger smile. Her comfortable approach to violence made her seem more strange than threatening to the man, depending on how much truth lay in her words she either just a very odd but harmless girl or a psychotic criminal.

He gave a bow of acceptance at her demand for an apology. Her twisted, almost reptilian expression here just irked him further. Her use of the word “deserve” also increased his disgust for having to bow to one such as her, although his expression remained steadfast in it’s polite, friendly nature. This bow was not a sign of his inferiority to her, although he felt sure that notion would give her pleasure, and meant nothing to him, just another showing of his excellent manners.

He wore a more serious expression as he slowly dropped to one knee, his lack of care about staining his uniform upon the ground intended to strengthen the sincerity of the act as he bowed his head, one hand on his knee the other crossing his chest horizontally in salute.

“Well then please accept my deepest apology, it was foolish of me to make assumptions about your desires and I sincerely regret my abandonment of you and my failure to improve your evening in the slightest, it was a show of terribly poor manners on my part.”

masochisticsadist:

“Still calling me that, huh?” she announces with a haughty smirk, throwing her head back and closing resplendent eyes of malachite, humming to herself. “Ah~ Well if it isn’t the ol’—” Her memory seems to be failing her right now so she plays it off, opening heavy-lashed lids and cracking a sly smile. “—What are you again? Hahah, a Commander I think? Maybe a General? Kekeke, well if it isn’t you~ Last I remember, you left me in the middle of freakin’ nowhere in some bright and shiny place, ta~?”

“That is correct, I am honestly surprised that you remembered both my titles. I am Brigadier General Cid raines, Commander of the Cavalry fleet. He didn’t let her disrespect bother him, it was refreshing compared to the standard military greetings and banter .

“I believe I provided you with direction and recommendation to see you through an evening’s entertainment in the illustrious Nautilus district if memory serves. Forgive me if I misjudged but you did not strike me as the kind to enjoy the company of one such as I. As I said, you also appear to be strong and capable enough to not need to keep the company of a stranger unless you wish it.” he said with a humble bow of his head. Unsure whether she wished for an apology from him or not.

Cid Raines saw himself as a kind and respectful man. So he couldn’t help but feel guilty when he almost cursed upon hearing the news.

Jihl Nabaat was alive and well.

He had little quarrel with the woman herself, though her methods were ruthless, she was a fine leader, he held endless respect and admiration for her after seeing her climb so high at such a young age through her amazing intellect, skill, and ability to manipulate others, which while immoral was also strangely impressive.

No, this was not a man cursing the fact that an enemy still lived, this was a man cursing an obstacle on the road to his ideal future.

She out-ranked him considerably, while he would want the forces to focus on the colonisation of Pulse and protecting Cocoon, he could not be certain of what her plans for the future was. She knew he had opposed the fal’Cie and that his rebellion was turned into a fabrication planned by the fal’Cie themselves. She would likely know that in his dying moments he showed his true intentions, throwing everything he had to stop the fal’Cie plot. She would likely look down on him, see him as a traitor. Seeing as she was now the highest ranking surviving officer, she could even strip him of his military title.

All these thoughts and more continued to race through his head as he stood at attention outside her new office. He had managed to secure an audience with her, which was a start.

This discussion would be crucial. The Cavalry still held the same ideals as Cid, but his coin-flipping under the fal’Cie’s manipulation had robbed him of a lot of trust and reputation.

He suspected Jihl would likely be on the same boat, there would be few people willing to support the old way of thinking after what had happened to Cocoon. If she attempted to restore the old Sanctum it would likely result in the force tearing in two, her authority gaining her one half, the Cavalry and a large influx of members following the disaster on the other.

That was not a suitable course of action, he tried to think of angles he could take, arguments he could invent with this woman to result in a full strength military force with a united purpose, but due to his limited interaction with this woman in the past, it was hard to predict how this meeting would pan out in any capacity.

bladeofvalhalla:

His amusement would instantaneously be redirected back to himself through the apathetic gaze of this ex-sergeant. The lateral of partially gloved hands would lower only to settle upon its corresponding hip. When speaking once more, the militaristic persona decided to come out and play, if one would imagine it to be in such a fashion. “You’ve got the Cavalry, sure. You’ve got the Sanctum, alright. But what about the flanks of another offensive? Are you absolutely sure that your quadrants of soldiers are ready for something after such a devastating revolt? Can they really handle being bulldozed through once again?”

The officer’s expression became more serious as the woman seemed incessant in her desire to discuss serious strategy and politics than anything remotely casual.

“You know fine well the answer to that ex-sergeant.” he said, bowing his head and sorrow as he walked idly to the side.

“It is a constant uphill battle and the forces are in decline. We lose more men than we gain in volunteers. Attempting to colonise Pulse is a nightmare-ish feat. We are now focusing on strengthening defense and security of Cocoon and existing Pulse settlements than trying to take new land. The casualties are too great. I would not utter these next words if it weren’t you with which I spoke, but I fear we are simply stalling for time. Tensions are high, the people are angry with the Fal’Cie and being forced to lose their homes on Cocoon. Monsters, civil unrest, halts in medical andd technological research. The risks and problems continue to pile up before us. Something is bound to give, be it weeks, months or years from now.”

bladeofvalhalla:

“Then what’s that make you, Raines? Can’t exactly say that I’ve seen you bouncing around from place to place, doing this and doing that.” The liquid diamond, personified, of her voice would show a husk of boredom already with his attempt at getting a rise from her. So much, that her arms would make their ways into a fold across her chest. 

“I have the remnants of the Cavalry and the Sanctum forces to organise. We may be spread thin when dealing with a world as huge as Pulse but we are doing all we can to help make Pulse habitable for those who chose to leave Cocoon and create a smooth transition for them.” he said, idly walking to the side and gesturing out with his hand as he made his eloquent speech. Shooting her a glance of amusement as he saw her take her familiar arms-folded, defiant stance.

bladeofvalhalla:

cidxiii2:

The commander just let out a hearty chuckle at the stoic response from the gunblader.

“How so? As far as I know you have no military duties or planets to save. Perhaps you have settled down and spend your hours engaged in a hobby, knitting perhaps?” he jested

Piercing and cold, crystalline-blue eyes would burrow within the other’s own light stare. Her expression still buckled, the annoyance was clear. 

“Knitting, huh? ..Right. Whatever helps you sleep better, Raines. Answer this though: How can I be slacking in the slightest form or fashion, when you yourself just stated that I have no duties? If I have no duties, there’s no way that I can slack. Or am I wrong?” Her head rose almost in a form of superiority, but it was merely to emphasize her remark. 

He felt a strange sense of accomplishment in being able to lure more than one word out of the woman’s ample, rosy lips. He ignored the annoyance, she had never been particularly cheerful when they conversed anyway.

“Well then you slack off from your contribution to your life’s very purpose, whatever that may be. If your duty no longer calls then surely finding some other ambition or use for your talents is better than doing nothing?”

bladeofvalhalla:

cidxiii2:

bladeofvalhalla:

OOC: Absolutely nothing to do.. just fantastic. 

“Slacking off ex-sergeant?”

A scowl of pure disdain for the mere utter of such words curved the porcelain doll-like expression of this soldier. “Hardly..” 

The commander just let out a hearty chuckle at the stoic response from the gunblader.

“How so? As far as I know you have no military duties or planets to save. Perhaps you have settled down and spend your hours engaged in a hobby, knitting perhaps?” he jested

bladeofvalhalla:

OOC: Absolutely nothing to do.. just fantastic. 

“Slacking off ex-sergeant?”

“I believe it is high time for some shore leave. Are any of this land’s fair citizens available for some company?”

tifalockheartpuncheshard:

Tifa turned to look at where his room was, and remember that so she wouldn’t get lost if she need it. When she walk into her room, her eyes widen, she could not believe how big this room was. She felt quite bad taking this room and should have stay in one of room with the crew, but she was here now and she didn’t want to let Cid know what she shouldn’t have taken the room.  She turned to Cid and smiled, “This is amazing, thank you very much!” She put her bag down on the bed and turned back to him. “There is one thing…Is there a phone around here somewhere. If it’s not to much trouble, I would like to call my dad before I head to bed.” She wanted to tell him what has happened so far and she wanted to hear his voice. Even though she wasn’t gone for that long, she still missed him.

He gave another simple bow and gestured to the desk, there was a landline phone provided, the white base sitting on the desk , plugged in to the wall with the handset sitting in it.

“I will adjourn, enjoy your stay.” he said with another bow, leaning in to shut the door and heading down the corridor, unlocking his own room and stepping inside.

He let out a sigh once he was inside, he never felt he could completely relax until he was alone in his quarters, finally able to stop keeping up appearances for the day. He groaned, loosening his jacket so that he could remove it.

“Well that was an interesting day..” he mumbled to himself, going to remove his garment. After spending so much time in the heated areas of the ship and training with Tifa. He felt he needed a shower. He would discard his layers of clothing before moving to the bathroom, giving himself a quick wash in the shower. He sighed as he stepped out, drying himself off and gazing at himself in the mirror for a moment. Noting how strong his body had become since his days a soldier. He became lost in his thoughts for a moment, comparing the man he was now to the person he always dreamed he could become.

He shook the thoughts off quickly however and quickly finished cleaning himself up, shaving, brushing teeth, mouth-wash before shutting off the lights, sliding underneath the covers and drifting off into the sweet, relaxing bliss of sleep.