Silken Deception

"And you may win this war that's coming, But would you tolerate the peace?" Independent Lazard Deusericus RP Blog Multiverse, AU, and Cross-Over Friendly Written by Schala, Art by Landofdoom. Tracked Tag: SilkenDeception

[silkendeception]

A Kiss of Winter

Continued from here

@calamitysshatteredson​

The low rumble of laughter was a sound that he reserved only for those he was comfortable around, those who knew him; that was as rare a sound as it was an indulgence, and Sephiroth rather liked it.  It was telling, however, that he hadn’t noticed the mistletoe hanging above them, having been too occupied to find a private space, private moment…

And even then it seemed tentative.  Careful, something to keep safe beneath a barrier of some kind because in these beginning stages it seemed so very fragile.  “You may.”  And subtle though it was, his gloved fingers did brush against the chain on Lazard’s coat, one catching.  Pulling, slightly; urging, inviting.  Maybe, just a little, challenging.

His breath hitched at that touch, surprising him with its location. He wasn't the only one emboldened by this night – by the wine and the secrecy and the fledgling fling between them. Newly minted director and commander both, drawn together by equal parts attraction and fate. “So gracious,” he murmured, a smirk sliding around his lips as he closed the distance between them.

The kiss started light but hardly stayed that way as they each vied for dominance. That Sephiroth would even let him control the kiss piqued his interest, drove him to take a bit more. Hands sliding up along the tailored lines of the SOLDIER's dress uniform, he dared to taste the sweetness of lingering wine and chocolate straight from those plush lips.

[xaksu]

↠ @silkendeception 

      Heavy footsteps approached the sliding door to the director’s office. It needed authorization before it would open of course, but Zack allowed himself one last sigh before pushing in the code to let him in– shoulders hunched and a look on his face not too different than the one a child would wear when caught with his hand in the cookie jar. 

     “ you wanted to see me, sir? “

     Calls like this to Lazard’s office weren’t unusual– but this time the call he’d received didn’t sound too great. Something about how Fair had let his emotions get the best of him on the previous mission. Again, not unusual. Lazard sounded more concerned than normal this time though. So maybe something else was up. Maybe Fair had snuck his last cookie out of the jar and Lazard was finally making him pay for it. 

[silkendeception]

Watching over the CC surveillance, he took note of both expression and posture as he prepared for their discussion. After a few years as director, Lazard felt confident enough at reading people simply via their body language.

“I did, Zack,” he answered, waiting for the young SOLDIER to approach his desk report spread before him across the marble. “While I certainly appreciate your enthusiasm,” he started off carefully, trying to strike that perfect even balance, “there are times when restraint is required. And when your compatriots bring forward their concerns, I have to act as mediator.”

Turning the papers around, Lazard drove straight to the point, “Both Sebastian and Essai noted that you acted recklessly while defending the caravan through the swamp land. I understand that Malboros are particularly tricky opponents but that should put you on the defensive.” With his eyes set on @dimidiumseras the director prompted, “Care to explain?”

[director-scarlet]

My new OTP

Squeentendo.

[silkendeception]

{Given that Square and Enix both started on Nintendo consoles and had several collaborations previously, this is actually an old new OTP.}

[calamitysshatteredson]

[From here, because Tumblr and formatting and screaming forever into the void.]

“More difficult–?!”  He’d started to demand, to become truly angry; but it was something more in Lazard’s expression that stopped him, quieted his likely to be ranting words.  Then that suggestion followed…

And then that choice.  Sephiroth felt as though he’d stopped breathing.  He knew, beyond any sort of doubt, that it was so very possible that he was living within their last moment together, understanding the light touch could just as easily have been a good-bye.  Was, depending… but he wasn’t eager to make that choice.

Drawing a breath, swallowing, he remained silent.  He was watching, paying attention to every possible nuance in the blond’s expression; so much was like nothing he’d ever truly seen from the man before.  There was a gulf opening up before them, and sides to choose before the distance between them became too great.

His world was already steadily falling to pieces, crumbling around him.  Nearly everyone he’d trusted, loved, somehow standing against him… or were likely to be before much longer.  He knew, even then, that to pick the path of desperation was like willingly drinking poison.

So he didn’t.  Instead, he chose the path he never would have before; the path that he wanted.  Duty be damned.  What is honor when you can’t believe in what you serve, Angeal?  “Then I choose to stand by you.”

[silkendeception]

He never truly feared Sephiroth, despite all the reasons why he should. At least not until that normally even voice became a rough bark and he almost backed down. But he had his own brand of courage to cling to as he watched the flames in those bright green eyes flared before cooling once more. And he waited through the interminable ticks of the clock, waited as Sephiroth worked his way to his own decision.

And when he made that statement, only then did Lazard feel as though he could breathe again. Could actually let the mask fall and shatter as he clutched that hand, his own trembling slightly. “Gods, Sephiroth, I've been waiting for you,” the blond confessed, that tight anxiety working its way out of him in fits and starts. Like a man in a confessional, the words poured all out of him, completely antithetical to his normal restraint. “I never should've let Genesis be the one to speak to you. I kept trying time and again to give you and Angeal the chance to talk but you kept refusing and then it was too late. And this right now, this was my last ditch effort.”

He could see the confusion there, in parted lips and restricted pupils, and Lazard wasn't sure he could ever properly answer all the on-coming questions, but he would try. Obstacles and difficulties didn't amount to anything in the face of worthy goal, right? “I'll start at the beginning – because Shinra has been lying to you from the very beginning.” With a wry half-smirk and a clear note of self-deprecation in his voice, he amended, “And... I suppose that as a Shinra myself, I've been lying to you from the start as well.”

[sumsatis]

(( i’d be lying if i said i didn’t want to draw a really grumpy sephiroth in an ugly christmas sweater. so it’s gonna happen when i go on my christmas sweater spree. ))

[calamitysshatteredson]

((Please allow me to provide you with some minor inspiration.))

[sumsatis]

(( ohmygod i love it. ))

[calamitysshatteredson]

((I do kind of like Zack’s sweater better, though.))

[silkendeception]

{Sir, sir, excuse me, sir, but those are my photos you are linking to. I mean, I know we run that blog together as a joint effort but please highlight the fact that those are my action figures in the tiny ugly sweaters I bought with my money.}

[silkendeception]

A Wing and A Prayer

[illecebrcus]

He was spotted, and so he remained still in the hope that he had not been spotted in the end. It was futile, of course. The way @silkendeception stared at him when their eyes met…

But where Yazoo expected hostility, he was met with something else. Something he, with his limited experiences with people, did not have a word or frame of reference for. Since there was no hostility, the Remnant ventured closer, encouraged by the words. “I hadn’t meant to disturb you,” he replied once close enough to be heard well without raising his voice. “This was a spot I often returned to.”

‘Was’ meaning that he was unlikely to return to it again now that someone had spotted him and knew where it was. His gaze continued to be drawn to the wings again and again; he could not stop looking at them. He had never seen wings like that before. His wing was a pitiful mess compared to them; Sephiroth’s wing had been beautiful in a sinister sort of way.

“Are you a brother, as well?” No, he couldn’t have been a brother. He didn’t have the eyes.

[silkendeception]

He kept a close watch on the @childofcalamity, his curiosity slowly winning out over his caution. His wings though remained ever ready to take flight if need be, subtly twitching with the nervous urge. “Trust me, I only came out here because it's remote. Wouldn't do to let these out in the city.” He faced enough prejudice as it was given his current appearance – he didn't want to raise any further suspicions.

But those hauntingly familiar green eyes remained trained on his wings, white feathers puffed up defensively. “You don't seem to be upset by them though?” He'd heard enough of monsters and angels to last a lifetime. Lazard refused to ascribe to either camp, simply considering himself nothing more than a man with a chronic condition and an occasional pair of unilateral wings.

“A brother?” He repeated back, equally confused and bemused by the term. He was fine with one overly complicated dysfunctional family to be drafted into another, thank you. “I'm not exactly sure how your family tree grows or where my place in it would be.” Probably a cousin once removed or so if his mental genealogy of the Ancients/Jenova Project proved correct.

[silkendeception]

Renovated Branding

[tsarofshinra-deactivated2016012]

       He listened intently to him spanning on about the meaningless,        he really didn’t care to hear about the exact flaunt the young        Director wanted to add to his extravaganza. It was an office for        a meaningless part of the company. 

       Alexander really did not see the point of the presentation, and        he made it abundantly clear with the looks, the sighs and the        rolls of the eyes he continued to push on through the commentary. 

   “ As only an extension funded by Shinra,       SOLDIER is its own para-military,      even classed as mercenaries only merely               hired by this conglomerate.       Your change in colours are meaningless to me,      if I wished for you to match a colour scheme,      I’d never have allowed you to invent a logo.                               So go.                    do what you do best.      Make your office look as daft as you,                       as long as you do your job,                                               I don’t care. ”

[silkendeception]

He had an inkling that the @tsarofshinra was none too enthused with his presentation after the first eyeroll, but he continued on without a second thought. Oh, yes, let the man suffer through a few moments of his time for once. Lazard was owed at least that much.

But then he opened his mouth and it took every ounce of the young executive's restraint not to visibly bristle, all of his ire immediately turning inwards. The fucking nerve of the man to disregard all of his careful planning, perfected down to the smallest detail. He engineered his rise to the goddamn Shinra board by age 22 and he shouldn't have to put up with this patronizing bullshit.

Not that Lazard would ever say such things or even let such language slip past his lips... while on company time. Oh no, much better to spend that time finding clever ways to siphon off some more funds for whenever he managed to work out a proper revenge. The only outward expression of his intense irritation was a soft click of his tongue. “I suppose I'll take that as your tacit approval for the renovation then,” he replied, vowing to ignore the casual incivility tossed his way and instead take the high road. “Shall I just pass along the necessary paperwork to your secretary then?”

[silkendeception]

Dog Whistle

[sanguinesaint]

    ( Stop handling out my number, Tuesti. ) 

    That the look of mild annoyance was to flash across suave countenance once the full content of the message was listened to was to be expected. Only to a rare few people was this number given, and perhaps I had half expected the privacy to be kept. Despite having been informed of both the call and the man possibly making it earlier, the sudden flash of resentment still could not be helped.   

    Even when the cautionary ‘Please, do not give this number to Yuffie’ may have been intended as a cruel joke at first, the gravity of those words, however, was not made any less. As such, for me, to be reminded once more of how this affair could have been differently arranged only served to worsen that tiny itch at the back of my head. Hence, this became the reason both brows were ushered closer together even for as briefly as it was, in turn, added a twist to the normally stoic complexion. I flipped the phone lid back with a soft sigh. 

                ( Reeve had also said it was important. )

    It was precisely for that reason that the call was listened to, and information on Lazard Deusericus gathered. After all, thirty years could bring so many changes to the Lazard I knew as a boy. Beyond the slight annoyance directed at the W.R.O. commissioner, to hear that name again and his voice now admittedly brought me a strange sense of wonder as well. 

    Still, that had not been the reason why rather than returning a call, a personal visit to his home in Edge was to be made instead the next time he heard back from me. The small apartment without a balcony could have easily been mistaken for mine or any other’s in the town. By the window, I awaited, both arms loosely crossing athwart chest and still in fast reaching for the triple barrels. Only when he had fully closed the door behind him and turned would I break the silence. 

        “Lazard Deusericus,          I understand that there’s a matter          you wish to discuss.” 

[silkendeception]

Reeve warned him that the... well, mercenary probably wasn't the best term but the only one that came to mind... could be quite unorthodox in a number of ways. Including but not limited to breaking into apartments unexpectedly. Which would almost be comical given the limited amount of ways it could be done (he scale the outer walls and slip in through the window or merely waltz in and ride the elevator up?) if it didn't set off a few mental alarm bells at first. For a flash of a moment, the materia bangle hidden away illuminates under his long sleeves, but it fades as he keeps his fight or flight instincts in check.

“Mr. Valentine,” he greets in kind, voice a bit tight from the lingering adrenaline. “Not how I expected to make your acquaintance. I suppose I should be a good host and offer you something to drink?” Even with the faux polite tone, a hint of snark still slips in.

“Or would you simply prefer to get to business? I'm sure that you are very busy after all.” With the urgency of the task at hand tugging at him, Lazard would much rather get moving. However, the @sanguinesaint is offering a favor and he has no plans of pressing his luck.

[silkendeception]

♪

Signing Meme - “The Way Things Are” by Stefan Marks

He hears Cloud stir in the sidecar, head rolling listlessly as he curls into a new position. And with a bit of apprehension, he realizes that this is his first time completely alone with the young man. Zack’s been the one leading the charge on their sojourn to Banora and he suddenly feels unequipped to handle the situation.

But he thinks back to the long nights in the hospital, when his mother looked just as vulnerable in her bed as the young man beside him. And even before then, all the times she tried to comfort him up when the hunger burned in the pit of his stomach and his tears ran dry.

Settling on the bike, he moves in close enough to drape the larger wing over Cloud. It isn’t until the feathers are curled around the blond that he realizes just how protective the gesture is. He doesn’t know any lullabies, or at least can’t remember any just then, so what rises up instead in one of the many tunes he heard down in the slum coffee houses and on the street corners that stuck with him years later.

“There’s a panic down inside meThat my life is passing byAnd I feel it might alreadybe too late.

I know it’s just a feelingBut that feeling got me thinkingI just can’t seem to find a way to turn.

It’s as if I expected something better.Something different,Something much more,Something not the way things are…”

And he knows it isn’t the most comforting thing, but the words don’t seem to concern Cloud in the least. Just the sounds seem to soothe him well enough and even if he remains self-conscious about the high pitch of his singing voice, Lazard continues anyway.

“It was a sunny day all day long.And there’s a full moon in the sky.

If my life is really overSo be it.Because my life begins againTomorrow morning…”

[silkendeception]

Held Accountable

[bastardiized-blog]

[He’s already sour. Even though he does feel a little guilty for it, he’s still very much agitated that he’s been the one left to handle this temporary hire. It’s Kyrie’s house, for crying out loud, and Leslie’s better with people. But out of everyone, they left it to him today?

Come on with that.

Still, he finds himself attempting to spruce up the parts of the house that aren’t ‘decorated for the aesthetic,’ namely the furniture in the back room covered in pounds upon pounds of Kyrie’s laundry, all to settle that little anxious domestic itch. ‘Company shouldn’t be greeted by a messy house,’ and with Evan having spent most of his young life trying his damnedest to keep a good house for his never-resting mother, the opinion hasn’t really died off.

At least when customers come in, they never see this side of the deal. Granted, this accountant shouldn’t need to leave the main room, but Evan concedes to himself that he’d still be doing this regardless. It helps his nerves, whatever other reason he tells himself. And he definitely needs that chill pill.

Not like it lasts for long. Once that knock sounds, he sighs to himself and moves to answer it real slow, figuring it’d have to be the accountant. It’s about that time, at least. …If it’s anyone else, oh well.

Putting on his ‘business face,’ the young detective gets himself in order before opening the heavy old door.]

Nice to see you. You must be Mr. … Deusericus? [Even now, after all the practice he put into trying to say that, it still sounds funny on his tongue. Probably said it wrong. Awkwardly, he fidgets with his hat, already screwing up the whole mood they try to keep for this place.]

[silkendeception]

He checks his watch several times between the knock and when the door eventually opens. Even without the fast-paced schedule of Shinra, Lazard naturally prefers a punctual schedule. At hearing his name – albeit incorrectly pronounced – he glances up and then pauses before his correction.

It's not quite like looking back in time, but there something startlingly familiar about the young man before him. It's mainly the nose and that sharp chin, but the hair and even the eyes make him think back to Rufus as a freshly minted VP.

But he keeps his opinion firmly to himself before finally offering back with carefully enunciation, “It's Deusericus, but yes, nice to meet you as well.” He offers his hand, white glove covering up cracking skin. “And just Lazard is fine. You must be Evan Townshend. Miss Canaan said to expect you.”

Glancing inside, the house has the feel of being just tidied with a faint aroma of citrus-scented cleaners hanging in the air. “Just point me in the direction of the books and I should be able to handle it myself,” Lazard requests as he steps inside, keeping his coat on for the moment. Now a little closer, he continues sneaking little glances at Evan, the @bastardiized suspicions sinking deeper into his stomach.  

[schalakitty]

I am super happy to announce that my Final Fantasy shadow box will be auctioned off live on air during Desert Bus 9! I put so much love into this project, especially the 950 piece shadowbox featuring my interpretations of the original 7 summons.

You can learn more about this lot of Final Fantasy goodness over at the official DesertBus.Org listing.

[silkendeception]

{If you are at all curious about my art, here is my favorite piece so far and I’m so happy to have it going to benefit the amazing charity event, Desert Bus.}

[silkendeception]

{So hopefully I will actually do replies and memes and not replay parts of CC looking for very specific lines to screencap? Because you know that I am forever a giant dork over this game PS- there will be a post with said screencaps at some point.}

[illecebrcus]

sephiroth, cosmos pirate

someone shop an eyepatch on him

[calamitysshatteredson]

((I don’t know what’s more frustrating: the fact that I can so clearly picture this Sephiroth/Captain Harlock mashup, or the fact that I lack the skills to draw it.))

[illecebrcus]

COULD SOMEONE WITH SKILL IN THE ART DEPARTMENT (STICK FIGURES WOULD BE FINE, NOTHING FANCY) PLEASE DRAW THIS FOR US.

[chocobobutt]

GIVE ME A MINUTE

[chocobobutt]

ENJOY

[illecebrcus]

-whispers- it’s beautiful

[silkendeception]

{I went full Harlock for my Photoshop manip}

[illecebrcus]

…they may not be monsters, but they’re still aliens.

and it really does depend on your interpretation of a monster. some people probably see aliens as monsters.

[silkendeception]

{I’d actually classify them as summons/espers/eidolons to a certain extent. You have to remember that in FFVII, summons are beings born from memories (as magic itself is drawn from memories), perhaps even cultural concepts of deities as we see with Leviathan in Wutai. When Kadaj first appears in the AC prequel novel, They Kids Are Alright, he exhibits attributes that fit more with summons (able to take on form based on people’s memories, to move faster than possible, and even some level of healing or at least being able to block pain) than any other type of being. When further divided into three in AC, the remnants lost some of those abilities - instead gaining a degree of independence while still being roughly insync. Think of summons which are in fact multiple entities treated as a single unit - the Magus Sisters of FFX are a comparative example.

Anyway, that’s just my little theory on the situation. They are still partially alien since they have Jenova cells as a fundamental part of their make-up but they are something other than physical beings made of flesh and blood as well.}

[talktoten-a-deactivated20240813]

What do you think of my characterisation?

[silkendeception]

talktoten:

[illecebrcus]

sephiroth’s favorite thing to do: make shish kabobs out of people he hates

[calamitysshatteredson]

((Or feels indifference towards, or likes, or just sees moving around and thinks, “You know what would make this person look better?  Impalement.”  Maybe it’s just a compulsion.))

[illecebrcus]

i’d say something like ‘you can’t just impale everyone’ but that’d probably get me impaled.

[calamitysshatteredson]

((Are we not, all of us, just a little bit impaled by Sephiroth right now?))

[silkendeception]

{Is this a sex thing or...?}

[silkendeception]

Character Information Sheet

Repost with the information of your muse, including headcanons, etc. If you fail to achieve some of the facts, add some other of your own! When you’re done, tag other people to do the same!


tagged by: @calamitysshatteredson and @notcompensatingforanything

Since I usually do these for Canon!Lazard, I’ll be doing this one for Degraded!Lazard.

» NAME: Lazard Deusericus. (Occasionally considers going by his birth name, Lazard Delacroix) 
» AGE: 33 
» BIRTHDAY: [ μ ] – εуλ 1975/09/09 
» SPECIES: Human - A-type Copy » GENDER: Male 
» SEX: Male » ORIENTATION: Grey-Romantic Bisexual with masculine preferences. (Currently trending towards demisexual for a variety of reasons) » PROFESSION: Freelancer with specialties in accounting and business consulting


PHYSICAL ASPECTS
 » HAIR: Pale silver » EYES: Dark grey with a very clear ring in the center of the iris » SKIN: Pale and ashen. Has clear cracking, scaling, and flaking and a predisposition towards dyshidrotic vesicles. 
» HEIGHT: 6′2″ » WEIGHT: 170 lbs, give or take depending on how well he’s been eating lately


FAMILY 
» SIBLINGS: Rufus Shinra, half-brother. Evan Townshend, unbeknownst half-brother » PARENTS: Mother: Talia Delacroix, Absent Father: President Shinra » GRANDPARENTS: Deceased at this time. 
» OTHER RELATIVES: Probably has family in Junon on his mother’s sides but doesn’t know them. » ANY PETS?: None (yet)

SKILLS
 » PHYSICAL PROWESS: Almost all Jenova enhancements have been canceled out by his Degradation, though he managed to retain some level of enhanced hearing, taste, and smell. Can summon his wings if required but prefers to keep them hidden and can fly, though he is not very graceful. Previously learned how to handle standard issue Shinra handguns and basic self-defense skills. 
» ABILITIES: Quite well-versed with materia and does exhibit some level of enhanced magic usage but only uses magic in emergency defense. Otherwise, he is skilled in accounting, business/technical writing, time management... and, in less legal things, he is very good at forgery and embezzlement though he has sworn off the last one after his change of heart. Would probably forge a document for what he believes in a good cause though. Unrelated, but he has a nice singing voice but very rarely sings for a number of reasons. » HOBBIES: Loves to read, especially drama and mysteries. Is prone to episode binging TV episodes if allowed.


TRAITS
 —— POSITIVE —— Very observant, excellent critical thinking skills, well-mannered, dedicated, still retains some charisma despite his changed appearance

—— NEGATIVE —— Can be very biased, prone to making assumptions, self-deprecating, closes himself off, still defaults to lying or omitting things if it benefits him


LIKES
 » COLORS: Navy, purple, and white » SMELLS: Lavender and musk, cinnamon, fresh linen » FOOD: For sweets, caramel everything. For savory, pot roast, rich stews, and pastas (especially lasagna). Also has a fondness for Wutai cuisine.  » DRINKS: Tries to drink mostly water, tends to drink tea at breakfast, occasionally indulges in lattes. 
» ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES?: Wine. Particularly mulled wine and sangria.


OTHER DETAILS 
» SMOKES?: No 
» DRUGS?: No » DRIVER LICENSE?: Yes, but doesn’t have a car currently 
» EVER BEEN ARRESTED?: Has been wanted for arrest but never arrested. With the fall of Shinra, seems like the charges against him have been dropped or at least the statute of limitations has passed.

{I certainly don’t have 15 people to tag but how about some recent people I’ve RPed with - @childofcalamity  @bastardiized @essentiallyroyal @ripthemoff and @tsarofshinra }