FF7 Remake Party Banter
In Junon, where you can follow Rude to the underground bar where he appears to play cards/gamble/drink with a small, cynical group. (”Wanna join us, then take the mask off. That’s the rule.”) Rude has, up to the this point, been portrayed as a stoic, tough, no-nonsense foil to Reno’s Professional Chaotic Neutral. If you go back to Junon, go back to the bar and talk to one of the guys, he says: “It just isn’t a party without Rude!” Cloud twitched, eyebrows lifting. “Uh--oh, oh--(ohshitohshit thinking about this too long)--yeah, you know. He’s just so.” Cloud trailed off, coughing loudly into his sleeve. “Um....”
[If Tifa is in your party]
Tifa cut in neat with, “How do you even....describe, Rude. I mean he’s...so..strong-jawed. And stoic....” and then Tifa appeared to actually think about it, “....and calm...a...a nose. And very...aerodynamic. Dark and chiseled, I guess--” [With Barret] “Tifa, what the fuck are you talking about?”
Tifa straightened up a little, feeling a red hot flush creep down her face. “I...” she looked at the man, “that’s what Rude does to me? I mean, this isn’t that kind of party but--”
Cloud stared at her. “What is happening right now?
Barret: We are fucking leaving, is what is happening right now.
[With Yuffie]
“Oh my god, whut?” Yuffie held her sides and dropped her guard entirely, laughing.
Cloud looked between the two women. He pointed at Yuffie. “Is she talking about Rude? See--when did she have time to study him?” Yufffie sat down on a table. “Oh my god, Cloud. You are so stupid.” She fell back onto the table, wiping tears from her eyes. “I don’t get it!”
“Of course you don’t, idiot. You’re an idiot.”
“No but--I mean. Not that it matters--I’m just...concerned. We’re friends. And we. Do...did...have things in common. I--has she...studied him that closely?” Yuffie sat up on the table, looking down at Cloud--who suddenly seemed uncertain. Who was both funny dweeb but also scary big brother--and now this new thing. Uncertainty, his loneliness was suddenly extremely raw. “Aw, Cloud, you worry too much. See, she fights different from you. She’s all up-in-your-ribs and you’re like--slashing and shit. She has to study every person she fights at exactly the moment its happening. It requires intensity and control. The monks where I’m from--same kinda bullshit. So she can take in tiny details and commit them to memory.”
Cloud stared at her quietly but something in his expression eased. “Oh....okay....I. I....huh. So why do you do it from far away?”
Yuffie looked aside and shrugged. “Nothing, or whatever. I just don’t like getting too close when they die. It’s weird after that part. Eeegh. All those pumpkin guts.”