On the other side of the phone, there was a sharp inhale. Then silence. She breathed out, "oh," and there was a rustle of clothes as if she sat down or sank down. "Hello."
On the other side of the phone, very faintly, there was a man's voice: "You alright, babe?"
"Yes," she said breathlessly as if she'd just run a hundred miles. It was unclear to whom she spoke. "Oh. I just--... I just... need a moment."
"Just give me a moment. Don't say anything." Again, it was unclear to whom she spoke. "God," she sighed. "Okay, okay. I'm ok. Let me think. We've been through this before, haven't we?"
She laughed nervously at first, and then laughed warmly at the absurdity of the situation. "You really are the most lively SOLDIER. Right, mmm. White Lounge. Katana records every conversation. If he's calling, then he wants me to convince you. I don't know the circumstances or the mission. But I do know that the president will be in the White Lounge. Or he'll go there. Rufus Shinra... there's a reason why he was locked up and transported during the Crisis Core period. He's got the business sense of his father and the wits and tongue of the @lostwhitequeen. You might think you know him from the media but you don't. If you go there because I say so, he'll make you offers that you will acc-hey, don't press your ear against the phone! You're squashing my fingers!"
"Sorry," came the voice of Genesis' Rhapsodos. The microphone picked up his whisper excellently now. "Just who is it?"
"Shush. My point is... what do /you/ need? Is this what you need? You already heard what Katana had to say, and you can and can't imagine what the President will say. That's why you turn to me. I'm saying... nothing. This is about you.
“Don't think about what I want. Or what Katana or the Company wants. Don't think about the world needs. No heroics. Be selfish. This world is overwhelming, and you got out once. If you step in...? This time, you may not be able to get out again. With our line of work, you might get out only in a body bag. I'm not saying that worst-case scenario will happen. Maybe everything will be fine. Maybe everything will be great. But... if you step in, don't do it for anyone but yourself, ok?
“Don't think tactics, think strategy. Think of your master's slogan. The first part. Right now, don't ask for time because then Katana will follow you. Decide now, and enforce it. If you don't decide, the Company will decide for you. Think of third options. Think of yourself mostly. And after all that thinking... follow your heart. Now I'm clicking you away before you can answer--it’s to protect your privacy."
There were protests on the other side of the line, but Cissnei continued to talk:
"Thank you," she said on a tone people only use when they are smiling and mean it, "-for calling."
Cissnei cut the connection.
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