#verse; ff7

[optimisticrobin]

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Awareness flooded back to him with a pounding head but he kept his eyes shut and breathing slow in an attempt to maintain the illusion that he was unconscious. The last thing he remembered, he was snooping in an area he really shouldn't have been in. He'd hacked into Shinra's mainframe and had been in the process of downloading some very confidential files that would do AVALANCHE a whole lot of good.

Then there had been a sharp blow to his head and then...nothing.

It seemed he'd gotten sloppy, but by that point he'd been undercover with Public Security for months. Richard Grayson had made quite the name for himself. A model trooper who, for some reason, had passed on the opportunity to join SOLDIER.

Keep calm, Grayson, you knew this was a possibility. Just keep your head and figure out the situation.

Even without moving he could feel the tight bindings digging into his wrists as they secured him to the chair. He might be able to slip out of them, but he wasn't going to try until he was sure he was sure he was alone.

He knew he'd have to open his eyes eventually, but for now, he was just going to listen for footsteps, breathing, or anything else that could signal he wasn't alone. Then he'd figure out how he was going to escape.

[ravusnightblossom]

@ivory-paragon​ said:  While Rufus’s father saw the SOLDIER militants as ‘gifts modified by us from the Gods,’ Rufus saw them as nothing more than experiments for Hojo’s fodder. It was Ravus who was getting recognition on this gala, how First Class SOLDIERS were meant to be highlighted as heroes of their day. With a champagne glass in hand and an arm across his midriff, he raised a half-hearted toast to the young man.

“Let’s hope you live a prosperous life.. for I hear First Class don’t often get that long of a span of it.”

⋞⁘♔⁘⋟     While Ravus recognized the symbolism behind the gathering and the revelry of recognition, it would be a lie to say that he was not counting down the moments until it was over. He was not fond of being the center of attention, nearly as strongly as he loathed the idea of any fuss being made over him. The concept of finances being spent on his regard was not necessarily a concern in this particular case, given who had opted to present the event, but... his introverted mind merely longed to return to his quarters and tuck away for the remainder of the evening. 

Being addressed, he looked to Rufus and nodded once in thanks, even if it was more a backhanded well-wish than a genuine. He was aware of the statistics, but what did it truly matter to him? 

“Indeed,” he said in return, raising his glass, as well. He didn’t drink from it, however. No, Ravus hardly ever consumed alcohol, and even in this case he would desist unless someone pointed it out. “Let us hope. At the very least, even if it is a fleeting period of time, I will do my best to ensure that something worthwhile develops from it.” 

[holyguardian]

Ifalna deserved better.

[holyguardian]

@somnus-lucis-caelum​ | X

While Aerith was full glad to confess her sins through text messages to spare having to look him in the face and own up to, well, harassing some poor stranger, what she didn’t account for was her boyfriend’s sense of humour. He could be so damned serious and on a screen she couldn’t tell what his tone was!

[ TEXT - Som (BFF) ]: N O OOOOOO OO O OOO

That reply came swift. She was beyond horrified that the cashier may have actually witnessed her accidental theft. The whole thing was a disaster.

[ TEXT - Som (BFF) ]: Please tell me they didn’t! I’m a criminal now, I was going to hand over the gil and explain but now it’s like I’ve been caught red-handed. Plus if I ever see that guy in the store again I might go into flight mode and add more onto my theft record!!

[ravusnightblossom]

@firxga​ said:  "So, you made it to First Class." Genesis offered a tight smile to the platinum-haired newcomer. Ravus stood taller and filled out his uniform a lot better, not at all a slender wisp of a man. "By all accounts you are an up and rising star. You must tell me what has inspired you to blaze such a trail through the Soldier division?" The question was asked with a gentle inclination, a stark contrast to the man who so dramatically flourished around to center all attention on himself. 

 ⋞⁘♔⁘⋟    At first he tensed, watching the man in front of him with suspicioun, waiting for some jestful or sarcastic comment. When none came and only a genuine question was spoken, Ravus’ eyes narrowed. As with everything else in the world, he was always wary of something to go afoul, for the other show to drop, so to speak. 

Yet... was it possible that Genesis was merely curious in his inquiry? If so, he supposed he couldn’t fault him for such a thing. 

“Is it not reason enough to desire to be to best?” he asked, simply. “My inspiration is simply but my own motivation. I strive to excel at the peak of my abilities.” That, and that he longed to have as few superiors lording over him as possible. That would never be entirely possible in any division, but First Class was as high as he could manage in his current state.                                                                       

[ravusnightblossom]

@rufusofshinra​

Rufus was said to be the man who had never been seen crying or bleeding. Well, he held up very well on the first one – but he was still only human. And a stray bullet could still make him bleed.

He would have to be more careful when coming face to face with rebels and terrorists. Their aggressions were rising currently.

Nonetheless, Rufus seemed incredibly unfazed by the gash left on his shoulder as he sat in the helicopter. They were understaffed, but the Turks would make do – and seemingly their newest idea had been to sit a SOLDIER with him. One that could not only fight but also treat wounds.

Mustering the white-haired man, Rufus noticed the mismatched eyecolour.

“So, SOLDIER… why did they pick you to do this? A punishment? Or are you really that good with a medikit in a flying chopper?”   

Ravus wasn’t opposed to tending to injuries. He was very good at it, actually. There was something almost therapeutic about aiding in healing wounds. Perhaps he’d picked that up from his sister. This was more her field of expertise than his own, no matter how talented he thought he was. 

At the question, Ravus’ hands stilled and vibrant eyes flicked up to Rufus, his face remaining carefully neutral and devoid of any expression of reaction. He couldn’t quite decipher if the words were meant as a genuine question or a snide remark. 

“Both,” he finally said, almost bluntly, then returned to dressing the wound on the other’s shoulder. 

That was the only downfall of being ordered to this task; he’d rather be out in the field, fighting, taking part in the conflicts alongside his peers. At least this was only a temporary dispatch.