#Trial Genome [Kuja]

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@ofgeneticperfection cont from here

A small laugh fell from his lips before he could stop it, tail wagging a little behind him. "Please- he didn't deem it worth putting me under a knife. I was brought in when the labs and almost immediately shunted off to be someone else's problems." Kuja rolled his eyes. Not that he didn't still come back to the labs for occasional testing, and check ups in general. "I would rather work under someone else, than him. Did you not have any otger options?"

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"Then I suppose I can look at it. See what I can do- No. No I won't." Kuja quickly cut off his musing to shake his head. "He already has far too much on his plate, I will not ask him to do that as well. It's unfair to me, but that's my problem. Not his to worry about."

"it shouldn't show what it's for, just the company or whatever name they have." lucia answers, idly scrolling through his phone by the time kuja is looking over. "maybe you need him to fight for you, that sounds unfair."

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@a-regal-witch cont from here

Kuja hadn't planned on keeping Hilda around- scare her, perhaps. Make it easier to dump her somewhere and move on with the airship. But, she wasn't a delicate being like the rest of the royals; she was strong willed and willing to put up a fight. It both intrigued him, and annoyed him. She was a thorn, in the grand scheme of things. One he couldn't just pluck out- it needed careful maneuvering.

Leaving her in his palace wasn't the plan, or the ideal place, but then. He couldn't exactly bring her to Treno either. There were people who would recognize her instantly, no matter what he could try to cover it up. So, to keep his own plans from falling apart should she be able to outwit him, he'd simply locked her away, and made sure she couldn't.

Oh he'd bragged about them, complained about his own problems to his captive audience as theatrically as his emotions needed to get them out. And yet, he never heard from any of the mages that Hilda had complained about it. Never gotten annoyed that he'd ranted and raved. Here she was, ever the noble, welcoming him home and admitting that she was thinking about him.

His ego beamed at that, but his mind was confused. She clearly feared him, Kuja assumed she probably hated him, honestly. Not that she showed any signs of that, but if he was bested the was she had been, he would probably hate the person who had done it as well.

"Thinking about me?" He made his way over, eyeing the shelves. He didn't like walking- the ground was dirty, and it was a chore to wait for his things to be cleaned. But Kuja made sure the palace was spotless, so he could avoid a mess. "I'm flattered... Do any of these books catch your interest? I know you don't know Terran, but I could see if I could find time to write out basics, so you might read one or two." And so he could remove anything on Genomes that might be found in the library- he'd taken a few from Garland to help him understand and create the Black Mages.

"The outside world... Is the same as always. Those Burmecian rats are focused on their battles, the Alexandrian Queen is in love with her yearly play..." It wasn't any sort of answer. No explanation on what was going on in the one place that Hilda wanted to know about. Kuja didn't see a point in travelling to Lindblum at all right now, so he really didn't have an answer for her either. He simply shrugged, shifting a little in his stance as he stopped a little away from her, crossing his arms. "Is there anything specific, that you have been thinking?"

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Starter for @a-regal-witch

Kuja was furious, when he returned to the desert palace. Garland had attacked Alexandria, and then he had been the one harmed in the attack. The man hadn't even cared- like he was a discardable toy that had been broken, he'd been tossed aside. As if he was worthless. Him.

Like a cat licking his wounds he'd retreated to his room, snapping at any of the black mages that tried to come near him or offer help. As if he needed any support as he let his white robes fall from his shoulders, tail lashing with his anger as he hung it up and fell into the bed, pulling the blankets over his torso.

With his back to the door he didn't hear it open, only bared his teeth in frustration. "I thought I told you all to leave me be." He snarled, looking over his shoulder and pausing. Kuja wasn't met with a black mage, but with... Hilda. He had assumed that with him weakened she would take the chance to escape and run off. It was clear enough that the black mages wouldn't be able to stop him, and in his weakened state, he didn't have a high chance to do so either.

"Did you come to gloat before you run off?" He asked, tail curling around his waist. Hilda had seen it before, of course, when they worked together on projects. Kuja was still very aware it wasn't normal, and tried to hide the shameful appendage every time they did things without seeming to realize. "I cannot stop you, and clearly you're far more capable and competent than those puppets out there." Despite the biting words, Kuja only sat back against the pillows, watching her. Was she here for revenge, perhaps, he wondered, or did she think it proper to tell him she was leaving? His tail twitched slightly despite himself as he stared.

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Starter for @umbral-stigmata-unbound

Kuja was never one to follow the rules- the moment he was sent into deepground and tossed aside he'd been a problem to anyone that tried to come near him. Although he did eventually start to follow the strict rules that were laid out, his own ego led him to toe the line more often than not. Which was a headache for anyone that got involved with the mage for more than a few minutes.

Not all of it was Kuja's fault exactly- being turned into a test subject as a young teen and losing your entire future for someone else's crazed theories would make anyone bitter. Adding in his ego with how skilled he was with magic, and it bundled into a complete pain that annoyed most every staff who tried to deal with him.

Half the time he would just seemingly disappear from the area he was supposed to be in. Kuja may be marked as dramatic and flamboyant, but he knew very well how to blend into a crowd and slip through with barely any notice. Which is what led him to running into a very interesting person while exploring.

Aurelia, he remembered. Mako infused eyes were the dead give away, along with her dual toned hair. It made him wonder if she dyed it, or if that was due to her testing. He lifted off the ground, still slightly unsure on floating but still made his way over, leaning over her shoulder.

"What are you doing today, my fiery friend?" He hummed, half expecting her to swing at him for his sudden closeness and ready to move if she did- it wasn't the first time he'd done this to other members and earned a panicked punch.

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"You're the one who said I can't burn it to the ground." As if Kuja hasnt tried it already

"gods, i hate this fucking company."

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Starter for @umbral-stigmata-unbound [Reno]

Blue eyes stared evenly. There was silence at first, as the two stared each other down. Eventually, Kuja broke the silence as he moved forward, a low hum falling from his lips as he paced around him. "Is this what Rufus is going to have protecting him today while I'm on the side lines?"

Kuja slowly circled the red head once more, gaze judging as he looked him up and down. Pale lips curled into a smirk, as he stopped in front of the Turk, one nailed finger coming to rest on Reno's chest. "Keep it in your head, red, that if something happens to him while I have my day off, I'm holding you accountable for this." He said. "And I can do far worse than light the edges of your coat on fire, you know."

Kuja was a cocky bastard- that was the first description that Reno had been given about him. He'd been assigned as a bodyguard to the president, and then been moved to Rufus' security once the blonde had taken over. Something he had insisted would be happening whether the man had the Turks or not.

He had the magic skills to back it up, but out in the public eye, he wasn't exactly the best person to be around- especially with the long silver tail he usually had behind him. Even if Kuja usually curled it up and out of sight, a slight glance of it and the public would lose their mind. Which was why he was being told he was being put on standby for now.

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Starter for @moldbreakcr

A long silver tail wagged back and forth from the couch, the first sign that could be seen of the Genome. He was laying across the couch, legs crossed on one arm of the couch and book resting against the other as he read through it. He heard the door open and close, but didn't react much to it, simply pursing his lips as the red head came around to the front of the couch.

"Whatever you have to say, I do not care." He said flatly, turning the page and not looking up from his book. "I will not be giving any sort of apologies for being rude- Rufus is the president, and he should be respected."

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Still love the fact that Rufus, at 15, had an 11 year old kid put into his care and basically said "yeah Im a dad now"

@whitexdove

Rufus basically just

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At first, Kuja had been furious that he'd been asked to watch over Cloud and his group. What kind of threat did someone who hadn't even made SOLDIER really pose to Rufus? He had Kuja, and the Turks guarding him, as well as being surrounded by staff most of the time. It didn't make sense to the Genome why he was sent to watch the blonde and not just deal with him.

Now, seeing the blank, mindless wya he cut through the enemies he faced... It sent a cold chill through his body, and all the way to the tip of his tail. Cloud may not have made SOLDIER, but whatever he had gone through was still enough to make him very dangerous. Seeing him fight it was clear why they might see him as a threat now. Even still he couldn't tear his gaze away- something didn't seem right, this time.

When watching Cloud fight, he didn't act as mindless as this. It was like he wasn't even aware of his actions. It was something Kuja hadn't heard mentioned at all from any past run ins with the mercenary and he found himself moving closer despite the danger, as if Kuja could maybe see what exactly had the blonde so out of it by looking at him.

@hiislegacy

OPEN RP | Muse: Cloud

There were always moments where he would completely lose track of time, or forget exactly where and what he had been doing. One of these was those moments, and his head felt incredibly painful with one of those massive headaches. The ringing in his ears did not stop, and his limbs felt like weights were dragging them down. Yet, somehow he kept moving them, walking forward as he now realized where he was walking towards.

There lay a fallen person, scrambling back and away from him, fear in their expression. He raised his arms up, blade shining as the fire around him continued to rise, uncaring as he brought it down to silence their cries. Blood splattered all over himself, and flecks of it getting onto his face, but he didn't mind.

It was a strange feeling to not care, mind numb from all that he was causing, and almost so detached. There was simply the mission, and to do whatever he was told, for Reunion's sake. For Sephiroth. Cloud wanted to find him. Needed to hear his words, and whatever praises that could be granted. All in the hopes that he was enough for the famed hero, and if not, he would prove to him!

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Kuja in both 7 and 9 verses will do a cats ekekekekek (video example here)

VII - Rufus (@whitexdove) taught him how to do it. Kuja does it sometimes when hes annoyed with people and most of them have learned from Rufus throwing a punch to not go near anyone making that sound because they will end up injured or worse. Those that dont know will often be thrown across the room by a spell.

IX - The black mages arent gonna go near him when he's angry, they're not stupid they know better. But that tiny ekekek noise coming from around the corner is odd and they do not know what its coming from so they go and.... Are generally launched very far. Most of them do not get back up again. If they see him making that sound theres like a 50% chance they will go near him because a lot of them have witnessed him do this and leave very quickly. The other half make the mistake of seeing if he needs something.

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Reno nicknaming Kuja, Kitten or Kitty cat

Petnames | Accepting

never call me that again | meh | idk how to feel about it | i'm ok with it | i like it | i love it | please call me that all the time

Growling does not help his case here as he glares at Reno. Even with his tail curled up and out of sight it's easy to imagine how badly the silver appendage wants to lash back and forth as he bares his teeth. "I am not. A feline. Watch yourself, Red." He's absolutely not pouting.

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I still stand by the headcanon that Genomes are more... Animal like? Depending? Is the best way to put it I suppose. But not all of them are the exact same. Some are different than others. Some are combinations. Just a few I think there are:

Cat-like: They can purr, growl, and even make yowling noises,. Their pupils change with the light around them, they nap constantly (most sleep for the same amount as cats, between 13-18 hours). They're pretty territorial about the people they like, not so much about objects. Their tails flick with emotion more like a cat so it's important to pay attention to body language, and they will puff up.

Dog-like: They don't purr like their cat counterparts, but they growl/bare their teeth, and tend to be more territorial about their things, over people. Their tails wag/tuck with their emotions, and can sometime puff up a bit. They tilt their heads to noises without noticing, their colour perception is like a dog as well (not many colours visible)

Monkey-like: Their tails are prehensile being the biggest point for them. Unlike their counterparts they have way better control. It's a mix of a bunch of different monkeys. They curl it around themselves and cuddle it/groom it for soothing (squirrel monkey), raise it up against their backs (japanese macaques) when threatening/agitated. They will also wring their tails when they wrap it around themselves during stressful times (ringtail lemur).

Kuja, for me, is a mixture of all of these. His tail does move with his emotions like the cat-like Genome, and sometimes even wags when he's excited. He can purr, growl, bare his teeth, and yowl, and will tilt his head a little with noises, although he has trained himself mostly to not do this as it is embarrassing. He will not purr around anyone randomly, only very specific people or reasons. His tail isn't strong when it comes to being prehensile but it's mostly because he didn't strengthen it in that aspect. He does curl it around himself, and will fiddle with it when stressed out. Kuja doesn't like to mess up his fur, but he pets/scratches at his tail to try and sooth himself and get the fur smoothed out.

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Kuja lowered his hand at the lack of a reaction, humming softly as he studied Ton. "Well- even then, you as a being are useful, are you not?" He didn't answer the question aimed at him, gaze focusing on the knife. "If there is no pawn to use, there is nothing on the battlefield to be played. Having you alone makes you useful. That has value. Why do you not think you have any?"

@soulsfractured

Continued from here

He ignored the poking, expression passive even as the other's sharp nail dug in.

"In your case, sure," he shrugged casually. "But pretty sure I'm only useful in the 'we need more pawns for the chessboard' sort of way."

Not that he was the weakest of the lot. And he had his 'little trick', of course.

He was, at the end of the day, still disposable, though.

It didn't bother him. There wasn't much that could bother him, these days.

Which begged the question...

"Why do you care, anyway," he droned out, lazily tinkering with a spare knife.

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"You accidentally make one microwave explode and now you aren't allowed to use one. I think second chances should be given."

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The funniest thing, I think, is the idea of a 13 year old Kuja being told he's going to be the bodyguard to Rufus Shinra. And Rufus is not told that his new bodyguard is this tiny teenager, and having no idea what to even do with this child.

Im also not going to let go of the headcanon that Kuja has, more than once, accidentally called Rufus Dad before. Because that is hilarious to me.