Episode 33
Jun. 22nd, 2009 08:21 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jaded_grin33
“Look, Rude, I don’t know anything to keep my mouth shut about, for sure!” Yuffie assured him, a little frightened of him now. The fact that he was
He observed her from behind the screen of his sunglasses, assessing her sincerity over the pulse and roar of the crowd in
“L…look,” Yuffie stammered, slowly pulling away—but his grip never slackened, never let up. When she reached a certain distance, he pulled her back just as slowly until she was right in the shadow of his broad-shouldered body. “I don’t know anything, you know? And be careful, buddy, I’m the Princess of Wutai! You can’t just go around threatening me!”
Rude’s mouth curved up into something nearly resembling a smile and he purred, “I can do anything that I wish.”
Yuffie stared at him, aghast, speechless for a moment before the indignation rose. But she had enough self-preservation instinct to not push him again.
Finally, after what felt like forever, she asked, “Now what?”
“Now you go back to your useless life and pretend that you never saw me here,” Rude said, and his voice rumbled in her chest, deeper than the pumping bass of the music, felt more than heard. “Buy your toys, play your games, and continue to be the spoiled, ignorant Princess that the world expects.”
He released her so suddenly that the backwards momentum of her resistance made her stumble a few steps. She stared at him, offended and shocked. She had never in her life been so fundamentally insulted, and it stung worse because it was true. She was exactly as he had described and the truth hurt.
Yuffie had spent so long ignoring her own culture and her own familial responsibilities that she’d slowly become a caricature of herself—shallow, two-dimensional, and predictable in her wildness.
Rude simply moved away, the sheer force of him clearing a path before him.
Yuffie watched him go for a moment before she darted after him, shouting, “Hey! You know what? I am a responsible adult, you know!”
Rude paused and Yuffie stopped, too, hanging back at what she considered a safe distance.
One dark brow lifted over the top of his sunglasses and he uttered a short, amused laugh before he simply turned and walked off again.
“I am!” Yuffie shouted, but she didn’t follow him again. Two close calls in one night was more than enough for even her.
“You truly are cruel to him, you know.”
Kadaj was asleep, sprawled out on his side with one delicate hand resting on
“He loves you so,” she sighed, her head propped up on one hand, the large crush of her breasts resting against Kadaj’s tense, muscled back. “And yet you treat him so badly.”
“He don’t lack for nothin’,”
“Merely love,” Mei Li pointed out, and sighed. “I believe that even if you met someone who loved you without reserve, who loved you fully and deeply, you still would reject them. It is simply your way to scorn the gifts that the gods bestow upon you.”
“Yeah, maybe,” he finally said. After a long, heavy pause, he asked, “You think somebody can still love me after I hurt them bad?”
She considered the question, drawing her blood-red talons through Kadaj’s silver hair before she answered, “I think he will always love you, no matter what you do to wound him…just to see if he will stay.”
“That’s not it,” he said, and stared at the ceiling, absently hugging Kadaj close. “That’s not why I do it.”
“Why then?” Mei Li inquired, and let her nails drift down to trace a pattern on the muscle of Kadaj’s bicep.
“You care to fix it?” she asked, and laughed the husky, deep laugh that was natural to her, not the tinkling, little girl laugh that
“You could say that,”
“Well, then…” she thoughtfully said, settling across Kadaj’s sleeping body to nestle her head against the crown of Kadaj’s. “Were I in the position of wooing back my lover’s good will, I would do something meaningful, something special only to them, that shows you have paid attention and want to please them.”
“Special to them, huh?”
“Yes,” Mei Li agreed. “A gesture that will prove to her that she alone holds your heart.”
Mei Li smiled, the pearls of her white teeth barely showing behind the seam of her lips.
“It is not so hard to guess, my
She shifted to slide over Kadaj’s body and pressed her lips to
Opening day.
Reeve lay in his borrowed bed as the bright, early afternoon light flooded the guest room that Genesis had let him borrow. Oddly, he’d been almost disappointed not to find that infuriating man curled up against him—simply because it was much easier to deal with Genesis when he was irritated with him. But, on the bright side, at least he hadn’t been subjected to the man’s aggravating soliloquies all night long…
A soft knock on the door got his attention, Genesis’s voice calling cheerily, “Reeve, darling! Are you awake, dearest? We still have your speech to work on, my love!”
“I’m not your love!” Reeve shouted, inexplicably cross. He tossed the covers back and got out of the bed as Genesis swept into the room in some type of confounding dressing gown. It was an instant headache and Reeve cringed from the explosion of color and large feathers. “Good Gods, man! It looks like a chocobo exploded on you!”
“Oh! Thank you, darling! I do so adore this robe!” Genesis announced, and gestured in a stout maid with a tray. “I’ve breakfast all prepared for us, and pen and paper in hand to write your first and most important speech to the hounds of Midgar!”
Reeve scowled, but the coffee smelled delicious and he simply couldn’t resist. He trudged over to the breakfast table and sat down, Genesis gracefully dropping down next to him and pouring the coffee with dainty, precise hands.
“Well, now, isn’t this cozy?” Genesis asked, and Reeve couldn’t really find an excuse to continue being so ungrateful. For all of his date-raping annoyingness, Genesis had given him a wonderful place to stay, had ensured that he would be appropriately dressed for his opening, and had been nothing but kind to him…date-rape aside.
“Reeve,” Genesis said, settling back with coffee cup held aloft and waving his free hand at the maid to get rid of her. “Darling, honestly, could we please get rid of that awful beard, my love?”
“No, I like it,” he stubbornly said, and was acutely aware of being childish.
Genesis exhaled a weary sigh and said, “Darling, really, it’s hideous! Can we trim it a bit? Shape it, at least? You would look marvelous with a goatee! Quite villainous, actually.”
“I have no desire to look villainous,” Reeve declared.
“Oh, yes, of course not,” Genesis agreed. “No sense looking devastatingly handsome when shoddy and poor will do…”
After a long silence, Reeve indignantly said, “I don’t look shoddy and poor!”
“If you say so, my love,” Genesis said, and made a great show of buttering his scone.
Eventually, Reeve said, “Well, I suppose a trim wouldn’t hurt anything, truly. And Mrs. ShinRa did stress how important my first impression would be. But nothing drastic, mind you!”
“Oh, darling!” Genesis cried, and the smile that curved his lips was vaguely unsettling to Reeve in its wolfishness. “Of course not!”
The next morning
Like any other overly bored and pampered housewife,
Feeling groggy and ashamed, Yazoo managed to get himself ready—dragging himself through the routine of his morning with dull eyes. Every time his mind would even drift to
Sighing,
“Is there anything I can do, Mrs. ShinRa?” he rumbled, holding open the door.
“I’m fine, Rude,” he softly said, and yet he couldn’t seem to stop hugging himself, feeling exposed, as if his very posture showed his guilt. “Are you ready for the Gardening Club this morning?”
He asked it teasingly but it fell flat, negated by the way his lightness refused to cooperate with his mood. Rude, though, didn’t acknowledge it, and
It was in the middle of
Curious, he looked up to see a delivery boy adamantly arguing that he was, in fact, able to come into this very parlor because this was where Mrs. ShinRa was.
Bewildered,
“Delivery for you, ma’am,” the young man said, and ducked briefly out of the door only to reappear with an absolutely enormous bouquet in his arms.
All of the ladies gasped and giggled, awed by the sheer size of it. It was brimming over with roses of all colors and laced with other colorful sprays of flowers that only made it all the more impressive, especially to ladies who knew their flowers.
“Oh my, how striking!” Margaret sighed, taking it from the boy and settling it in the center of their small round table.
“Oh, excuse me,”
“No need, ma’am,” the boy said, touching the brim of his cap. “Tip’s paid for already. You ladies have a nice day!”
“Well, who is it from? Who would send such an expensive gift?”
“Mr. ShinRa, of course!”
“He’s such a romantic!”
“Open the card!” the ladies urged.
Smiling shyly at them,
“
You deserve way better, but I’m glad you settled for me.
Love,
R”
“Oh, how romantic!”
He couldn’t seem to stop blushing, and his heart was pattering in his chest with happiness. Something warm and joyful welled up inside him and he bent forward to hide his secretive, delighted smile in the beautiful blossoms.
“He must love you so,” Margaret sighed, smiling at
Yuffie woke with a groggy groan and flopped over a warm body, only slowly becoming aware that there even was a body beneath her. Bewildered, she looked down and saw a scatter of blond hair and a soft, loose mouth.
“Cloud?” she gasped, utterly shocked. She and the reporter had called it quits months ago under the ugliest of terms—she’d been certain that she would never see him again, especially since she secretly believed that he was only with her because she was the future Empress of Wutai…provided her brothers did her the favor of dying.
Cloud stirred and tried to look at her, made more difficult by the fact that she was splayed over his back.
“Yeah,” he shortly said. “Surprise.”
Yuffie scrambled up off of him and retreated against the headboard, taking in the generic but expensive hotel room and the scattering of bottles over the floor. With a dismayed, unhappy sigh, she raked her fingers through her hair and vaguely asked, “What the hell happened here?”
Cloud shifted and sat up, the sheet covering him from the hips down, revealing his toned body and amazing arms. Yuffie always had been a sucker for a rocking body, and Cloud had a guileless, pretty-boy look she’d fallen for many a time.
“You were flailing around at that bar like an utter moron,” he told her, and snagged a bottle of water off of the nightstand. “I asked you if you were okay and you told me you’d been threatened by a mountain?”
He gave her a quizzical look and shrugged it off, ending with, “Some sort of bullshit like that. Really, Yuffie, if you wanted to get back in my pants, all you had to do was ask.”
“I don’t want back in your pants, you conceited ass!” Yuffie flared, but the mention of the mountain reminded her of Rude and his frightening, threatening words. She fell silent long enough that Cloud gave her a concerned look.
“Hey, is something else going on?” he asked, dropping the asshole bit in favor of true concern.
“I dunno,” she answered. “Maybe. I think someone may be a little more scary than I thought they were.”
She looked over at him and asked, “Hey, you got all kinds of investigative do-dads, right? Think you could look into something for me?”
“Investigative do-dads?” Cloud snorted, but gamely said, “Yeah, I can help you out if you want. Why not, right?
“Oh my god!” Yuffie gasped, and shook him by the shoulders. “If you two are fucking I totally want pictures!”
“What? Stop that!” Cloud demanded, irritated. “We’re not sleeping together, you oversexed imbecile! We have an arrangement! Now, what do you need looked into?”
Disappointed, Yuffie drew back and said, “Yazoo ShinRa’s bodyguard, he’s a little too scary for his line of work, you know what I mean?”
“Not really, I’ve never met him,” Cloud answered, shrugging.
“Take my word for it!” Yuffie snapped, aggravated with him. “Look, you gonna research him for me or what? I want to make sure he isn’t dangerous.”
“Yeah, sure,” Cloud said, smirking. “I’ll get right on it.”
Yuffie stared at him for a long moment before she said, “Oh yeah, I forgot. That is why I stopped seeing you—you’re an asshole!”
“Sticks and stones,” Cloud said, unperturbed.
Yuffie looked over at the clock and sighed, “I gotta get out of here, got a gallery opening to attend tonight and
Cloud perked up, clearly not having heard about it.
“What? Where?” he asked. “For who?”
“For Reeve Tuesti,” she answered, getting out of the bed and casting around for her clothes. “
Cloud grinned and settled back on the bed, saying with a satisfied grin, “Then I will definitely be there.”
“Dream on, Cloud,” she told him, wriggling into her clothes. “You’ll never get in, the show isn’t available to reporters or for pictures until after the gala.”
“Oh, we’ll see,” he said, still smirking. “It just so happens that I have an in.”
Kadaj woke up with Mei Li curled around him and wriggled away from her, irritated to be so snuggly enfolded by the very creature who had usurped his place in Reno’s life.
“Ah, finally awake,” she purred, and pulled back to lay there with her robe closed, at least.
“Where is
“Out,” she answered. “Trying to make up with his lover.”
Kadaj flushed and flounced out of the bed, moving furiously to go shower.
Mei Li followed him, leaning against the bathroom doorway while he stepped into the large, open shower, batting away the fronds of the palms with unusual irritation.
“He is very unkind to you,” she purred, watching him with glittering dark eyes. “I would not stand for it, were I you.”
“You’re not me,” Kadaj reminded her, rapidly cleaning up. “And you’re just saying that stuff so I will leave and get out of your way. Not going to happen!”
Mei Li shrugged a little and said, “Clearly, I don’t need you out of the house to be out of my way. After all, he has brought me here to stay…”
Kadaj scowled at her and furiously dried off, toweling his fine hair dry and pointedly ignoring her.
“It would serve him right were you to simply go,” she went on, pushing at the crack in Kadaj’s resolve. “Surely there are people who love you, truly. There is someone who would welcome you with joy and treat you as the treasure you are.”
“Maybe,” Kadaj admitted, and shoved past her to go dress. “And maybe you’re just working me.”
“I have no reason to,” she told him, inspecting her nails and pursing her lips over some chipped enamel. “I simply like you, Kadaj. And I do not like how
“Yeah, well, you and me both,” the boy replied, yanking clothing on.
“Leave, then,” she urged. “Go to whomever would welcome you and leave
“I can’t,” Kadaj said, slipping his boots on and lacing them quickly. “I can’t. I owe him my life. I can’t leave him.”
He stalked to the door and strapped on the souba, heading for the door without further comment.
“He’s gone to her, you know,” Mei Li called, stopping him in his tracks. When she saw that she had the full of his attention, she added, “He will keep neither of us, I think, when she accepts him fully.”
Kadaj turned, glaring at her but unable to counter.
“He’s gone to her with gifts and apologies,” Mei Li told him, smirking. “Things that he would never dream to do for you or I, simply because we mean nothing to him. And tonight, he attends a gala as her date, to show the world that they are truly lovers. And where will you be then, little Kadaj?”
Kadaj scowled, speechless with fury, and slammed out of
Mei Li smiled and sighed, wishing she had ever been so young and full of fire.
When those slender hands slid around his waist, he bit his lip against a larger smile and closed his eyes. Those strong arms squeezed tight around him, drawing him back into the lean heat of
“I’ll do my best to make it right for you, Cateyes,” the man whispered, his lips tickling
“I promise,”
And that was all that
And here are the fabulous pictures by the fabulous
belatrix_labe ! Thank you, love! They are perfect, as always! (click for larger picture!)
Zack and Kadaj Kiss
Forgive Me
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no subject
Date: 2009-06-22 02:02 pm (UTC)Reno IS being a selfish prick, but at least Yazoo is happy.
I feel for Kadaj *huggles Kadaj*
And I do so love your Cloud.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-24 05:41 pm (UTC)And I don't know what it is with the Jenova's, but relationships REALLY aren't their forte! LOL!
Thanks again! Hope all is well!
no subject
Date: 2009-06-22 03:41 pm (UTC)I´m glad to read that Reno does care, somewhat *sigh* But I guess it isn´t easy for him to arrange himself with that situation, he must be pretty confused if he isn´t used to it...
Hahaha, poor Reeve, he so wants to keep his beard XDDD
Woah, Rude has a sense of humour! That´s probably what Yazoo needs now, she seems so very lost...
OMG!!!! Yeah sure, Mr. Shinra is such a romantic of course!!! *wipes away tears* Oh my...
But awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww *(>.<)* The card was so sweet, and the effect with the different font was nice!
...
..
.
Now I´m waiting for the rude awakening though -_-
“Oh my god!” Yuffie gasped, and shook him by the shoulders. “If you two are fucking I totally want pictures!” - ME TOOO!!!!!
Hehehe, Mei Li´s such a wonderful bitch *snuggles her* Go, convince him, babe!
I so wish that Yazoo and Reno will live happily ever after now, but I just can´t believe it :( *sigh*
Can´t wait for next weeks chapter, so glad you´re back safe and sound!
no subject
Date: 2009-06-24 06:16 pm (UTC)Reno and Yazoo's situation makes me cringe because Reno is just being his usual manipulative self and it simply can't end well.
Glad you liked it, kiddo! Thanks so much!
no subject
Date: 2009-06-22 10:21 pm (UTC)Genesis.. has the same good understated taste in clothes as usual I see but he has a point with Reeve : get rid of that damn beard, its gross !!! :p
I thought Mei Ling was kind of cute in that chapter, snuggling with Kadaj even though I still dont know what to make of her..
Yazoo is happy, I love how he forgot his moral resolutions as soon as he got the flowers, he is so cute :D
And I feel very sorry for Kadaj :(
no subject
Date: 2009-06-24 06:20 pm (UTC)Genesis is a monument to too much personality and I love him to bits! He WILL have his way with Reeve :D
Mei Li DOES actually like Kadaj, because of the very reasons that Reno does - he's sassy, unpredictable, and amusing in his reactions. She is rapidly becoming my favorite OC :D
And poor Yazoo...*sigh* Hope for the best for him!
no subject
Date: 2009-06-23 02:36 am (UTC)Rude was completely harsh with Yuffie and yet, it didn't stick. Off she goes, bouncing on a mattress with Cloud and sticking her nose into Rude's business. Is her brain that pickled? It suits her canon personality perfectly however... even without drugs.
I luuuuuv Reeve's reaction to NOT being jumped by Genesis. He is soooo toasted. He should just let Gen butter him up and eat him! ;}~~~
Kadaj's situation makes me sniffle. It also made me want to pluck Mei Li's ridiculously long fingernails off. I know she's just doing her job but, dy-amn, she doesn't have to enjoy it so much.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-24 06:24 pm (UTC)I figured Yazoo would be a sucker for romance, considering he has zero experience with it :D That vs. you got going on is the truth, and I think I'm already bracing for it!
Rude has Yuffie pegged to a tee and she's fallen into a nasty habit of perpetuating her own stupidity. Yep, I'd say she's that pickled, lol!
Hehe, Reeve is on a Merry Go Round with Genesis, and he has no idea how to get off! I suspect the buttering will be on its way soon ;)
And poor Kadaj...I don't even know what to do about that boy!
no subject
Date: 2009-06-23 07:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-24 06:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-23 08:29 pm (UTC)Mei Li is a bitch but I can't bring myself to dislike her. I think she's awesome in her own way haha.
Genesis and Reeve are being wonderful as usual. One day, Gen will haven driven poor Reeve insane and succeeded in getting into his pants :D
Reno does care after all and he perfectly knows for what kind of things Yazoo falls for. I like them together but somehow I can sense that it's probably not going to be running smoothly sice there's a bunch of people who might interfere...
Good to see you back :) Great chapter, can't wait for next week!
no subject
Date: 2009-06-24 06:36 pm (UTC)I'm really glad you like Mei Li! She's really grown on me! I think I'll keep her around for awhile! As for Reeve and Genesis...does anyone else hear circus music, lol?
Reno is a bastard, and Yazoo is far too innocent, and there is danger on the horizon, but for now all is well!
And thank you so much! It's so good to be back! See you later!
no subject
Date: 2009-06-24 04:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-24 06:37 pm (UTC)Wow...
Date: 2009-06-24 06:39 pm (UTC)Reeeve are awesome and, bit by bit, he's opening his guard to Genesis..Mmmm, this a next hot drawing...
And hey, you give a meaning to Yuffie...and with Cloud, great idea.
I missed Mei Li...she's a so strong presence!
I can't wait to see the gallery opening, and again thank you my love!
Kisses
Re: Wow...
Date: 2009-06-26 01:14 pm (UTC)And Reeve has a boyfriend! Only, he doesn't know it yet, haha!
Yes, now Yuffie has a way into the plot! She's ecstatic, lol! Between her and Cloud, there's bound to be some kind of bananas nonsense!
And thank you for that about Mei Li! I really should expound on her a little, she's become quite popular!
The opening is on its way! And thank you so much, Bela! As always, I adore you!
no subject
Date: 2009-06-24 07:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-26 01:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 07:53 pm (UTC)Yuffie's got balls (or is she retarded?) to want Cloud to investigate Rude. Should be interesting :)
It was nice to see Cloud again though Cloud and Yuffie? I don't think I've EVER come across that combination. So Cloud's not gay? You can tell me, I wont tell nobody, I promise.
I can't wait for Genesis to get Reeve in the sack!
I was wondering how Reno would fix things with Yazoo... Flowers and pearls. Sigh I don't blame Yazoo that would win my heart too. Very sweet
I'm glad that Yazoo has someone to love and who loves him back.
Can't wait for the next episode!
no subject
Date: 2009-06-26 01:20 pm (UTC)Yuffie is a toss-up, maybe she is just a moron with balls? Haha! As for Cloud, yeah, they had a thing, but since Yuffie purportedly "gave up cock" (yeah, right, sister!) Cloud wasn't really expecting to see her again. And I don't know about Cloud yet. I doubt I'll have any straight-up straighties in this story, so no worries!
Haha! Genesis is taking his time with this one! Reeve is going to find himself one wooed and cajoled man!
And I'm glad Reno's idea worked - thanks to Mei Li, he knew what he was supposed to do, and since Yazoo is so new to everything, he fell for it without a thought, bless him.
Thank you so much! And sorry for the screening of comments! I've experienced some journal wank lately and I upped the settings to counter! *noms you for still supporting the Soap after all of this time*
gomen!
Date: 2009-06-26 07:45 am (UTC)eh'hem...anyway...yay! this chapter was sooo cute...
Reno...I promise not to murder you...just hurt you...a little...maybe...you better make it up to her... >.<
lol mountian = rude when yuffie is drunk...
genesis looking like a chocobo! that line made me laugh soooo hard!
phew...back to studying now...9hours of class...eight hours of studying...1 hour of me time...six hours of sleep...
this is going to be a long five weeks T.T
Re: gomen!
Date: 2009-06-26 01:23 pm (UTC)Reno is, of course, very glad that you reconsidered murdering him :D Of course, he will be the first to tell you not to threaten a notorious mobster LOL!
Rude and Yuffie actually turned out better than I had thought, and now she's up on his radar so she'd better watch herself. Of course, she may surprise him, so....
Hehe, Genesis and his outlandish outfits! *pets him* He's just SO himself, haha!
Again, good luck with everything! I'm sorry that it's so hard on you right now, but things will get better soon!
no subject
Date: 2009-06-27 02:40 pm (UTC)Reeve is done for, all he still needs to do is to admit it! Haha Gen is the perfect, charming, flamboyant queer! I love him to bits, darling!
And Reno... *deep sigh* How I wish I could believe that he meant his promises. But I don't. Reno doesn't know what love is, and I don't think he ever will. But at least Yazoo got a little bit of comfort, and hopefully it will help her get through her chores - for now.
Mei Li continues to grow on me, and I can't wait to see where the story will take her.
Kadaj needs love, true love and not that fake shit Tseng is setting him up with. I hope he will see through it in time and that the knight in shining armor will come and snatch him away. *eyes Zack*
Brilliant episode, as always. Sorry for the lateness in my review. *is embarrassed*
no subject
Date: 2009-07-05 01:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-07 09:57 pm (UTC)I have to say, I'm with Yuffie on that one! Oh, and her confrontation with Rude. Yuuummm! She should have known better!
Poor Kadaj. I said it last chapter, and I'm saying it again. And as if his pain isn't bad enough, Mei Li rubbing the salt in the wound is just cruel. Villainess bitch! And that conversation she has with Reno; wow! The woman would make one hell of a shrink. As for Yazoo, I really hope she gets her happy ending, but I don't think it will be so easy.
Poor Reeve. Being led and manipulated, and not even realizing; wonder if he ever will? Wonder if, when/if he does, it will be too late? Wonder how I'll enjoy every minute till then!
no subject
Date: 2009-07-10 02:27 pm (UTC)Kadaj and his relationship with Reno is so complex that it makes my head hurt in a good way :D And Mei Li is certainly no slouch when it comes to manipulation. It's kinda funny that Yazoo has Mei Li to thank for Reno's thoughtful gesture, hehe.
Reeve is just flailing in a sea of WTF?! and it is hilarious to me! So I'll probably just leave him there, hahahahahaha!
no subject
Date: 2013-06-14 09:31 am (UTC)Why the princess of Wutai can be friends with a young reporter?
Hmm... Mei Li seems kinda sad. *pats Mei-Li.*
Did Reno really mean it? Why I doubt about it.. Poor Yazoo. -sighs-