Episode 17

[jaded_grin]

FILLER EPISODE!!!! Okay, you've been warned--more plot advancing (sheesh, this is TIRING!) and general POV stuff. Next week should be better, accept my apology for a shoddy episode...

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1                          16                          18

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17

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            Yazoo looked at himself in the full-length mirror and bit his lip, turning slightly to the side. Did this blouse make him look fat? He was almost certain it did. Perhaps he should change into pants instead? Reno had said to wear something comfortable, but that covered all kinds of things. Yes, he definitely looked fat, there was no doubt about it. It bothered him that he’d never noticed before—the blouse was one of his favorites.

            “Honestly!” he huffed, taking it off and throwing it into a basket in his closet. With dismay he looked over his huge walk-in, seeing hundreds of articles of clothing and not a single one to wear.

            He heard Marlene come in and hastily pulled his robe on, opening the door and calling, “Marlene? Could you come in here, please?”

            Marlene came when he called her, looking baffled and a little awed. She had never been allowed into Yazoo’s dressing room before, only in the small accessories closet outside of it.

            “I need your help,” Yazoo said, looking distressed. “I’m going somewhere today and was told to dress comfortably. What do you wear when someone leaves it so open to interpretation?”

            Marlene smiled at Yazoo’s nervous helplessness and said, “Well, I just go by what they usually wear when they’re going casual.”

            Yazoo thought for a moment and said, “Usually worn jeans, an untucked dress shirt, and a pair of running shoes.”

            “Hm,” Marlene looked over Yazoo’s clothing collection without touching anything and said, “I always liked these jeans on you, Mrs. ShinRa—you’ve got a tiny waist and the fit suits you. If I were you I’d wear…this top!”

She pointed at a blouse fashioned as a man’s dress shirt but shaped to echo feminine curves.

“And I’d wear it over this tank top and leave it a little unbuttoned.”

Yazoo blushed and stammered, “I couldn’t leave that showing, Marlene—that camisole is underwear!”

“No one knows that!” Marlene laughed. “The white camisole, this shirt, and those jeans with your snow boots and you will look so casual-chic that Genesis Rhapsodos himself will explode with envy.”

“Oh, Marlene, you’re silly!” Yazoo laughed, but considered the outfit before nodding a little and shooing the girl. “Go on, let me dress! I’ll show you in a moment.”

Marlene rolled her eyes at Yazoo’s excessive modesty but went out anyway.

Yazoo stripped down to his bra, the stealth-corset (as he liked to call it), and the heavy spandex panties he wore when he was feeling particularly paranoid. Usually just specially-made underwear had enough strength to them to keep all of his questionable bits in place, but Yazoo was feeling easily distressed today and wasn’t taking any chances.

The jeans were a pair that he rarely wore because he felt that they were a little too clingy—still, they did fit him well and made a fine show of his round bottom and lithe legs…almost to the point that he took them back off again. Resisting the urge, he pulled on the camisole and shirt before he put on his socks and snow boots. Without looking in the mirror to criticize himself, he opened the door and called Marlene back in.

“Wow, you look great!” the girl said, and fussed with Yazoo’s collar, making sure it was open more to show the hint of cleavage and creamy skin. “Roll the sleeves back a little and let me put your hair up.”

Yazoo obeyed, feeling relieved that someone was here to help him. Marlene pulled his hair up into a studiously messy ponytail high on his head, pulling tendrils down to frame his face with his straight-cut bangs.

“Could you get my choker, please?” Yazoo asked, checking his hair in the mirror and altogether pleased with what he saw. “The plain one with those pearlescent beads.”

“Oh, that’ll ruin it!” Marlene pouted, and refused to go fetch it. “Why do you always cover up your neck anyway? It’s one of your finest assets! Why do you think everyone calls you the Cetran Swan, Mrs. ShinRa?”

Yazoo stared at her in surprise, but gazed at the mirror, thinking. There was no trace of an Adam’s apple, no sign to give him away…

“You’re right,” he said, and heard Marlene sigh in relief. “I won’t wear any jewelry today. Thank you for your help, Marlene. Do you think you could take care of some of my correspondence? I don’t know when I’ll be back.”

“Of course!” Marlene said, smiling. “You have fun! Is Mr. Reno taking you out again?”

Yazoo blushed brightly but Marlene affected not to notice.

“I bet you two had fun last night at the opening,” the girl sighed, dreamy with it. “All of the glitz and glamour…you’re so lucky, Mrs. ShinRa.”

Yazoo smiled at her, remembering when he was young and full of dreams.

“I think I just might be.”

---

            Kadaj woke when Reno’s phone started chirping an alarm.

            “What the fuck?” he groaned, and shifted beneath the man’s lean body. He was pleasantly sore and still tired from last night’s angry, fantastic sex.

            “Turn that shit off!” Reno shouted, his voice muffled against Kadaj’s chest.

            “It’s your phone, asshole!” Kadaj told him, and managed to shove the man off of him.

            Reno rolled with a grunt and flopped one arm over the side of the bed, groping for his phone. He stared at it, groaned tiredly, and shut the alarm off, falling face-first back into the pillows.

            “What’s happening today that you have to get up so early?” Kadaj inquired, yawning and stretching.

            “Nothing, just got a trip planned,” the man mumbled, and heaved himself up to sit, rubbing at his face to wake himself up, his long, disheveled hair spilling down his back. He turned a little and looked over his shoulder at Kadaj. In a serious, flat voice he said, “Fire that fucking farmer today, Kadaj.”

            Kadaj smiled softly and stretched again, sighing, “I’ll do nothing remotely like!”

            He rolled over to look at Reno and purred, “You do whatever it is you do and leave the business to your little Kadaj, yes? He saves you money, so he stays.”

            “I’m fucking serious about this, Cateyes,” Reno warned.

            “So am I,” the boy said, smirking at the irritation on Reno’s face. “Get away from me, you’re ruining my morning.”

            Reno smirked at him and got up, slapping Kadaj hard on the ass to hear him yelp.

            “Fucking sassy little bitch,” he chuckled, and left to go shower.

---

            Ronald ShinRa was the President of a very mighty nation, the commander in chief (in theory) of one of the world’s largest and most powerful armies. Trends in the world rose and fell according to the fickle whims of his people and he had a history of rule that made hereditary rule a bygone conclusion. He had taken capitalism to new heights and had effectively stolen a republic without anyone really caring—because as long as the people of his nation were satiated on consumer goods, gossip, and the illusion of their own superiority they couldn’t give a damn who was running their country.

            And yet, when it came to one very vicious young lady, Ronald ShinRa was not the powerful man he thought he was.

            Elena was a mystery to him, and that mystery kept him fascinated when her temper and mood swings would otherwise have ended their relationship. Her mystery kept her in her place as his mistress, though he sought comfort and contact from others of Reno’s house. He didn’t regret those encounters—he needed affection as any other man, and Elena barely concealed how much she disliked him.

            He had so hoped to help her change, had so hoped that the inside would match the outside in beauty. He had such hope to mold her into someone much like his dear Yazoo—beloved by the people, an icon and a role-model.

            He had hoped to make her his wife.

            He cleared his throat and frowned a little, staring out at the vast metropolis that called itself his own. All of these people, all of these new beginnings, and here he was old and failing, falling, with no one who cared to catch him. He’d considered confiding in Yazoo, but the dear little creature would worry herself ill, and he felt himself the author of too many of her woes to burden her with yet another. He’d known when the arrangement was made all of those years ago that he was getting a boy in place of a girl, that grandchildren would be a medical miracle but something that Yazoo’s parents had planned for. He’d hoped that the illusion would be enough, that Rufus would be seduced to the point that stopping would appear as cowardice and there would be no choice but to settle. And they all would live happily ever after at last.

            But someone had told his son Yazoo’s secret and Rufus—the twit that he was—had proceeded to both disrespect and neglect one of the most beautiful creatures that Ronald had ever had the good fortune to set eyes on. Had he been years younger, he would not have hesitated to take Yazoo for his wife, to allow her the freedom his son did not. But circumstances had left him old and regretful, sad that all of the women in his life were so complex and so unreachable. He thought of Rufus’s mother, kneeling at prayer in a church somewhere, no doubt. He often wished for her sensible advice and her gentle caring. He missed her more now than he had when he was young and ambitious and had no time for a woman’s needs. He wondered if he could visit her, wherever she was. He could tell her what was draining him away and she would not pity him. Compassion, however…she would show him that, and a little of that would be balm to his soul after Elena’s cutting claws.

            He buzzed his secretary and asked her to please locate his ex-wife.

            It would do him good to see her again, especially when time was so short.

---

            Rufus hissed when he woke up, the crashing pain of his head combining with the desert-dry cottony feeling of his mouth to make him one miserable grump.

            “You’re a shit, sir,” Denzel announced, puttering around his room. The boy came to him with a glass of water and two aspirin and said, “Mrs. ShinRa came around to let you know she’d be gone today.”

            “Where?” Rufus croaked, nearly choking when he tried to do it all lying down. He groaned pitifully but had apparently run through Denzel’s reserves of sympathy.

            “Didn’t say, sir. She’s knows you aren’t in the habit of caring,” the boy said. “And your bath is ready when you get up.”

            Rufus winced, wondering if he could convince the youth to carry him to the bath…No, Denzel would likely hit him in the head; the little shit could be vindictive when he was irritated.

            “Mister Reno called to check on you and asked if you’d checked out Mrs. ShinRa’s bodyguard,” the boy went on, straightening Rufus’s room and picking up after him as the man rolled out of bed and stripped. “He said to remind you if you haven’t.”

            “Why did you answer my phone, you shit?” Rufus asked, but he didn’t really care. He only cared that the blessed, blissful peace of the tub was just a room away.

            “He’s told me before that if he takes you for a night and you’re still drunk when I get here that I’m to answer your phone when he calls,” Denzel said, shrugging. “He also said if you ever asked to tell you that you’re a fucking dickhead alcoholic and he just wants to make sure you haven’t died in your sleep.”

            Rufus smirked. Yeah, that sounded like Reno, alright.

            “You know, it escapes me how that man can drink so much and still wake up at the crack of dawn,” Rufus commented, stepping into his perfect bath and settling in with a hearty sigh, the issue of checking up on Rude already out of his mind. “I’ve seen him drink himself into a near coma and pop up just a few hours later, right as rain. I envy him.”

            “You shouldn’t,” Denzel said, his big eyes wide with shock. “Sir, you shouldn’t. Maybe he’s sick or something! Maybe he’s got a problem with his insides! You’re going to be the president some day and you got a really beautiful wife so you’ve done Mister Reno better a few times, I’d say.”

            Rufus scoffed at this but he couldn’t very well tell his help that Yazoo was packing a cock and his marriage was a farce. Everyone who worked in their household knew that all was not well with the young ShinRas. Separate suits, Rufus’s antics, and the rumors of extramarital affairs had rather cast a pall over what appeared to be a storybook marriage.

            “Oh, he also said not to call him today, he’d be busy,” the boy said, almost an afterthought as he straightened up the bathroom and made sure Rufus’s towels were within easy reach.

            Rufus sighed a little again. Yazoo was gone for the day, which meant he couldn’t go and pester him. Just his luck that Reno was out of reach, too—

            The man grinned suddenly, ignoring how it hurt his aching head.

            “What’s so fantastic, sir?” Denzel asked, wary of his sudden good humor.

            “Oh, nothing,” Rufus said, but he practically giggled with glee. “I was just hoping that Yazoo has a very good time today…A very good time, indeed.”

---

            Rude considered what was happening with calm calculation.

            He was a highly intelligent man and had spent the majority of his life as a political force to be reckoned with. In his own country he kept the government in power through the sheer threat of his presence with the understanding that once this mission was complete and the objective achieved, he would take over the reins as was his rightful place. He was no stranger to intrigue, comfortable with deceit, able to predict his enemy’s movements with uncanny precision.

            But the pattern he saw emerging was not consistent with what he knew to be.

            Rude had made a study of Reno out of necessity—it was necessary to Rude to know the man’s tastes, his intentions, his ability to cause harm. It not only was part of his job as Yazoo’s protector, it was part of his overall mission to know who could be a threat to him in the end. He had already discounted Yazoo’s idiot husband. Rufus would not notice the least of things occurring with his wife. He had begun to discount Reno, but his recent behavior was disturbing. Reno had always evinced a well-concealed interest in Yazoo that Rude had always been aware of. The man had never once made an overture, done anything out of line, or even touched Yazoo outside of kissing her hand. Rude had logically put this down to respect for Rufus and an overall disinterest in Yazoo outside of being a beautiful, distracting woman. At first Rude had been concerned when he’d noticed it, but research into Reno’s tastes had left him feeling relatively confident that Reno had little to no sexual interest in Rude’s charge. In fact, it seemed that the world at large was under a false impression of Reno’s sex-life—Rude had spoken with countless of his “lovers” and found that not a single one of them could remember actually having sex with the red-haired man. They’d slept with him, awoken in various states of suggestive undress next to him, but could remember nothing of the assumed act itself.

            Which made Reno a consummate actor on top of being a dangerous mob boss. But that had taken second burner to the knowledge that Reno was not to be worried about on that particular corner of the map…

            But now Rude worried.

            He was missing something.

            Things were dangerous now. If Reno was to manage to seduce Yazoo then everything could be tipped on its side.

            Rude might not be able to accomplish his mission.

            He frowned, brows drawing close and large hands resting lightly on the back of the single chair in his kitchen.

            Then again, Reno was rather famous for destroying everything good in his life one way or another. If he crushed Yazoo’s heart then Rude would win. Rude could step in and finish things because she would want it, then—she would be desperate to make it all stop hurting…

            It rubbed him the wrong way to think of consciously stepping aside and allowing Yazoo to be emotionally harmed, but surely he could not be mistaken about what was happening. Even without a huge piece of the puzzle, surely this would work in his favor in the end? Just a little more patience, and he would have what he’d waited so long for, and he could return to his home victorious.

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            Zack worked harder on the floor than he probably needed to, going to the trouble of sanding it down and matching the new part to the older wood. It was good work, hard work that left him sweaty and his muscles aching, but it also gave him a way to focus himself while his thoughts sorted themselves out.

            He was on thin ice here and he knew it. Reno was dangerous, cunning, and just happened to be his boss, even if Kadaj was the one who had hired him. Zack hadn’t really intended to come to this city and find hostility straight off, but he hadn’t liked Reno’s arrogant attitude or the way he’d treated Kadaj—jerking someone around by their hair wasn’t acceptable in even the most barbaric of countries, and it chafed his genteel country manners to see someone treated worse than an animal. He knew he shouldn’t have gotten involved since Kadaj’s business was his own, but the young man had been so earnest, so very hurt last night…right before he’d left with Reno.

            Zack cursed a little, sanding another plank with unusual intensity.

            He couldn’t blame Kadaj—Reno had pulled a knife, what else was the younger man supposed to do? He’d placated his lover and kept blood from being shed, but it still bothered Zack in his gut. He’d developed a soft spot for Kadaj almost overnight and he didn’t like to see the cunning that matched Reno’s own. Zack didn’t know if Kadaj had slept in his bed last night because he’d truly been too unhappy to stay in Reno’s, or if he’d slept in his bed hoping for a confrontation, hoping for Reno’s jealous attention.

            “Doesn’t matter, Zack,” he breathed, sitting back on his heels. “Don’t get pulled into this again, buddy. Remember Gongaga? Remember how all that fell out?”

            He wiped his sweaty brow and frowned, slapping stain on the wooden board and rubbing it down with a cloth. He tried his hardest not to think of Gongaga, yet here he was—barely two days into a new life and already on some mob boss’s shit list with an eye for said mob boss’s shady little kept boy.

            “Good job, Zack,” he growled, irritated with himself. “Way to fucking go. Get yourself in to the eyeballs and wonder why you’re drowning…”

            He finished the repair and gathered up his tools in a silence that was almost grim. He’d made a fool of himself with his kindness, he always had and this time was no exception. In all likelihood, Kadaj had just been using his bed as a way to goad his lover. Zack had to stop being so trusting, he had to stop thinking the best of people, stop trying to save everyone that life flung in his path—it was a road to miserable failure, that’s what it was. Chasing after Kadaj was just a guarantee that he would end up in a shallow ditch beneath the plate. As much as he wished the sincerity he’d seen from Kadaj was unfeigned, his senses warned him to not believe it…however much he may wish it was true.

---

            Mei Li took her position very seriously.

            Before Tseng had found her, she’d been nothing more than a paid companion, a painted whore living on the good graces of her House and drawing in pennies from older men and wild young ones. Tseng had collected her for his “friend”, now Mei Li’s beloved wairen. She was special, she was unique among her peers because she alone could fully satisfy her Reno’s desires.

            But if Tseng had said, “Do not go to him,” she would certainly never have done so. Above all else, Tseng was the god of Dai Jiao—people lived and died upon his whim, and no fleeting, passionate interest of her lover could secure her a permanent position elsewhere. As much as she enjoyed Reno’s company, she would never forsake the genteel customs of her home, and rather loathed this ugly city and its loud, lazy inhabitants.

            And now he had said, “Watch him,” had subtlety instructed her to kill a stranger if she could.

            And she would, if she had the chance. Because Tseng shifu was just that—Master to her minion.

            She mused on these things as she rubbed lotion into her white skin, still warm from her long, hot bath. Though she was perched naked at the vanity, Tseng did not approach her. Theirs had never been a physical relationship, though he always paid homage to her beauty.

            “He will be gone today,” Tseng murmured, and watched her put up her heavy black hair. “Go and wait for him in his room.”

            “I will do as you wish, Tseng shifu,” she breathed, concentrating on the intricate art of her hair.

            “I will take care of Kadaj,” Tseng said, and his brown eyes glittered with a light that had led to the death of Mei Li’s best friend—where those glittering eyes landed with interest, nothing wholesome ever followed.

            “Tseng shifu,” she murmured, keeping her voice sweet and soft. “If I need you, what should I do?”

            “You may call,” Tseng told her, coming close to stroke her ivory shoulders, her delicate little neck. “Call and I will come. I merely loan you to the wairen, Mei Li—in your heart you belong to me.”

            She looked at him in the mirror, blinking slowly to hide the fear he instilled. How many times had she thanked the Gods that he had never once looked at her with lust in his eyes? How many times had she seen what his taste had led to in time? Nothing Tseng loved ever lived…perhaps such a strong emotion simply could not be borne by the fragile body of a human?

            “Of course I do, master,” she said, and placed a kiss on his hand to hide the emotions weaving their way like a veil over her smooth, painted face.

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1                          16                          18

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Comments

[superkalifragi.livejournal.com]

Heh, Yazoo´s such a woman ^^ But I liked him suffering from cliché, that makes his situation even more apparent.

I think Rufus needs some serious help... (but if I was him I´d first fire Denzel-he´s such an insolent brat. I´d go for an original, well-behaved english James. But then maybe no one else but Denzel will put up with Rufus anyway...). And again I´d almost be sorry for Shinra sen. if only he wasn´t so wallowing in self pity (Btw: I loved your description of how no one cares who rules them as long as their own needs are satisfied - I think there is a certain truth to this for the majority of people).

Heh, and Rude should just steel Yazoo away and then they´ll live happily ever after^^

And I really like your characterisation of Tseng. He´s an intriguing man as you present him here, very powerful and mysterious.

Great chapter, can´t wait to see Yazoo´s and Reno´s trip!!!

[jaded-grin.livejournal.com]

Aw, don't be mad at Denzel, he just repeats what Reno tells him :D Rude definitely has plans for Yazoo, but it may not involve a happily ever after. I'm enjoying developing Tseng a little more, he's quite the intriguing character! Thanks so much for the comment, and I hope you like next weeks! BTW--I have a review for you at FF.net, but I can't leave reviews anymore--I may have to leave it here on LJ.

[f-mystic.livejournal.com]

I love what you've done with Tseng. He's totally different than how I usually picture him, yet I'm addicted to his character and can't wait to find out more about him.

I'm starting to feel sorry for Shinra sr. It's just too sad that he really likes Elena (though he really doesn't because she's not really the person he wants her to be, just the physical manifestation of her), but he's constantly reminded what she really is and that she hates being with him. Sad.

Kadaj needs a therapist. Reno needs an even better therapist. Zack needs to find a church to remodel (no, I'm not seriously suggesting that, but it would do him good to get out of where he is). And Yazoo has enough to worry about hiding his bits and pieces! He doesn't need to be worrying about his clothes making him look fat!

Oh, and in the vein of this being a soap opera, I keep wondering who's going to end up in the hospital in a coma or some such like.

I'm patiently waiting for MORE!!!

[jaded-grin.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! I'm glad you like Tseng! He's actually becoming more sinister than I had at first planned...but then, most of these characters are evolving without asking me first, so I guess that's just the way it is! Don't worry, the drama is coming, it's just hard to do it in such SLOW, SMALL increments that it's making me bananas :D

[merytsetesh.livejournal.com]

Bah, I love your soap! So much intrigue! One minute I'm in a pity fest for Yazoo (and now even Shinra senior), the next I'm cursing Rufus, then utterly confused by the situation with Tseng, Zack, and Rude. Confusion seems to be the primary emotion for this episode.

God, I love Yazoo. I kinda want Rude to sweep him off his feet and carry him off to that mystery country to by his Queen, as creepy as he is. Anything would be better than Rufus. And shame on Reno for going along with Rufus' stupid ass plans!

[jaded-grin.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm glad you're enjoying it! That means I'm doing something right :D Reno has his own reasons for going along with Rufus's plan, and Rude has his own plans but they probably don't involve a happy ending for Yazoo. I hope next week's episode clears up some of the confusion :D

[zilldk.livejournal.com]

Mmm, nice chapter, putting more depth to each character.

What you have going on with Shinra Sr. is pretty interesting, making him seem likeable all of a sudden. Time is short? Some sort of terminal illness or something? Hmm?

I really love your Tseng in this. He's creepy as hell and just plain evil, and in many ways that suits his character really well. He has that smooth, cold look, doesn't he? Not to speak of teh SEX! Yumyum! But in stead of killing Zack off, he should open his eyes and see what a treat he (Zack) could be, hmm? That would be a sexy pairing for sure. But I know - other plans. I'm just letting my (dirty) mind wander... Heh! That's what this is doing to me... STILL loving every bit...

[jaded-grin.livejournal.com]

Hey, good to see you! Guests gone yet? Glad you liked the update, I was a little iffy on it. Something is definitely going on with ShinRa Sr. but I can't say what :D And I'm enjoying Tseng immensely! He's so fun to write--so creepy and possessive and scary! Let your dirty mind wander all you want and be sure to let me know! Who knows, it could spark a plotline!

[ldyavalon.livejournal.com]

God, I'm just loving this, all the pawns are placed :P I'm in love with all the characters, but, my sweet, silly Zack has to be my favourite.

[jaded-grin.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I like Zack, too--he's just too good for this city, even with his shady past. He's a prime example of how being a Good Samaritan can come back to bite you in the ass! Hopefully he'll get some love soon! :D

[neurotoxia.livejournal.com]

Yay, my weekly soap dose :D

I was happy to read some Tseng again. Your characterization of him is awesome, he appears plain evil and creepy. Perfect guy to make your blood run cold.

By now, I'm starting to pity Zack for thinking so much about Kadaj and having to deal with the screwed up minds of Reno and Kadaj.

Rufus is being an asshole as usual and Rude is still hard to read.

[jaded-grin.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much, I'm glad you're still enjoying the soap :D Yes, Tseng is scary, and he's working into the plot more and more. And I feel bad for Zack, too--he's fallen right into something he'd sworn to avoid, and he is so lovable even if he has his secrets. And as for Rude...I just don't know. :D

[white-jenna.livejournal.com]

Is not shoddy episode. :P Poor ShinRa Sr. and wow, did I ever think I'd say that? And, will we recognize the ex-wife? I love the image you paint of Yazoo all chic-casual.

[jaded-grin.livejournal.com]

I'm torn over who the ex-wife will be, but I hope you all like the final pick! And I tried to make Yazoo as close to female as possible, complete with paranoia regarding the fatness-factor of clothing and last-minute panicking over date-time. Glad you liked it! I hope next week will be better (and longer!) :D

[empererpenguin.livejournal.com]

The kneeling in a church line gave me the impresion the exwife was Aeris. My brain works in realy strange ways sometimes.

[jaded-grin.livejournal.com]

I think that's a perfectly plausible and logical impression to get! But the key here is that very few people are anything like we remember them from the game, so Aeirth could be a heroin shooting dominatrix! LOL! I hope you're enjoying it!

[empererpenguin.livejournal.com]

Aerith as a dominatrix, now I want to read that.

[etrix.livejournal.com]

Reread it and it's not really filler because there is stuff happening. All the character stuff is actually helping to build the tension:

ShinRa Sr-is he dying? How will Rufus deal with it if he does? Is Denzel going to give up on Rufus? What happened to Zack in Gongaga? What are Rude's secret plans? Yazoo's getting nervous about what to wear on a trip with Reno-that's not a good thing, it means he's feeling the attraction.

Happy sigh but at the same time nail-biting.

[jaded-grin.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you think the episode was good :D I just get so BORED doing character/plot advancing--I'm a smut writer, that's what I do, all this effort for characterization is a little new to me! All of your questions will be answered in time, hehe! And yes, Yazoo is definitely feeling the pull. *smacks head for falling into R/Y again*

[nivell.livejournal.com]

Tseng, you are one creepy ass. Zack makes me love him even more.

[jaded-grin.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks! Glad you liked it! I'm going to try to work Tseng and Zack into the plot more...and Kadaj, because his temperament is too delicious :D

[sphinxofthenile.livejournal.com]

There it is again, the pity for the President. Now I have to wonder who his ex wife is. Ifalna, maybe?

Zack is too good for his own good, really.

I like Mei Li, I hope we see more of her. Tseng is still creepy as hell and Rude is kind of disturbing too, I wonder what his mission might be.

[jaded-grin.livejournal.com]

It kinda sucks that I'm raising more questions than I'm ever answering, but that keeps the ball rolling :D I'm glad you're still enjoying it! And sweet icon, BTW.

[sphinxofthenile.livejournal.com]

Oh, very much so! :D Just keep the questions coming. And thanks, I stole it from lillypuff, she makes such fabulous ones.

OMG!

[lady-elodie.livejournal.com]

I think I just got something. I got it a few eps ago actually. And I feel so pleased I even logged on.

Rude's a fricken hitman who was meant to ice Yazoo!D:

Minor ideas are Zack's some kind of ex mercenary, Kadaj might be related to Yazoo/royalty/something very important. Mei Li is an assasinating prostitute. Um.. Um... Ok, I'm out of epiphanies.

Your stuff is epicly epic. I whorship you.

Re: OMG!

[jaded-grin.livejournal.com]

Well, I can neither confirm nor deny your revelations, I can only say that it all will become clearer as the plot advances :D Thank you so much for such a nice comment, I'm really happy that you're enjoying the soap and having fun with it--that means I'm doing something right! Thanks again!