#luxiere

[esamastation]

Shizuroth, part 3

-

There's a restroom on the lowest of the medical floors that's kinda sacred for the SOLDIERs. Well, it's probably sorta sacred for everyone who has to go through the floors for any reason other than because they actually like their job - which is probably everyone other than professor Hojo himself. But it's especially so for the SOLDIERs.

It's the closest restroom to the laboratories. Mainly, the injection laboratory. And so it tends to be the first stop for any SOLDIER immediately post-injection. And as SOLDIER members get injected monthly, they become very familiar with it.

It's not special in any way - actually, it's pretty much identical to about a hundred other restrooms in the Shinra building. There's two urinals, two sinks, three toilet stalls and two fluorescent lights, one of them always broken - the one over the stalls, namely. Whenever it's fixed, it would promptly break again, coincidentally the same time the next SOLDIER came around.

By common, unspoken agreement, lab technicians never use the bathroom and the custodial staff avoid it, so usually the light stays unfixed for months - until someone new comes around, someone who didn't know the standard MO. They learn quickly. Nothing brings the point home quite like seeing an enhanced super SOLDIER lose their shit - sometimes literally.

This particular restroom, or rather The Restroom, has probably seen the worst the SOLDIER program has to offer. Sweat, tears, vomit, panic attacks, blood too - freakouts by the dozen. The SOLDIERs have probably spent more time cleaning the place up than the custodial staff, at this point. It's become something of a sanctuary, with offerings to match - from the not so hidden painkillers, stress toys and the shock blanket in the first stall, to the porn mags and… other things in the second to the third stall.

Third stall is people's favourite. The inside is completely covered in people's writing. Jokes, complaints, dozens of phone numbers boasting different forms of comfort, thousands of curse words, witty one-liners - encouragements. The entirety of LOVELESS is inscribed on the left side wall, with a small line beneath it, saying: goddamnit Genesis.

There's one line in the middle of the door, just at eye level, that's been overwritten and underlined by ten different markers for emphasis.

Whatever doesn't kill you makes you S̴̘̥̠̉̓̏̍T̴͔̎͝R̴̢͓̺̭͔͋́̕Ŏ̷͎̖͔̤̮̑͊̐͝Ņ̶̾̎̀Ǵ̵̠̫͒̍́͠Ë̸̶̬͖̜̤͎̦̻́͋̆̅̃R̴̢͓̺̭͔͋́̕

It's not exactly the best place to recover from having liquid fire injected into your veins, but it is the closest, and if you need to have a private freakout and get it out of the way as quickly as possible, proximity matters.

And that's where SOLDIER Third Class, Luxiere, stumbles post-op with his veins writhing inside him and his brain feeling like it's going to burst out of his skull. He's thinking, first stall. He needs something in his hand to squeeze before it starts cramping. He wants the blanket. He wants to sit somewhere private for just five, ten minutes, before he can trust himself not to wreck the elevator and everything else between him and the hot shower.

He does not want to see SOLDIER First Class Sephiroth hanging around in the Restroom, casually leaning his hip on a sink while he scrolls through his PHS.

The First Class looks up, eyes narrowing, tilting the PHS toward his chest like he's hiding whatever is on the screen.

Luxiere stops, swallows, says, "Sir," and hopes he doesn't throw up on the man's shoes. Or do something stupid, like ask for an autograph or training.

"... At ease," Sephiroth says after a moment, leaving Luxiere teetering at the edge of the door.

If it was literally any other SOLDIER, Luxiere would've thrown a weary salute and stumbled to the stall. Even if it was Genesis or Angeal, he could've done it. He would've been embarrassed, but he wouldn't have minded, he would've known they understood. For fuck's sake, half of the affirmations in the third stall are written in Angeal's hand.

He didn't know Sephiroth ever used the Restroom, though. He didn't think Sephiroth came through Injections. Didn't he get his straight from Hojo? That's what everyone says, no one ever sees him in regular injection wards. Hell, half of the SOLDIERs are convinced Sephiroth probably doesn't even have normal bodily functions, never mind needing the Restroom. What is he doing here?

Sephiroth doesn't even look real. Maybe Luxiere is seeing things? Mako injections can make you hallucinate, right?

… Probably best he didn't put it to a test, just in case. He already isn't sure he can ever look at the man the same way again.

He's still staring. They're both staring. It's awkward.

Finally, slowly, Sephiroth moves to lean against the back wall, and turns his attention back to the PHS, his eyes hard and keen. Whatever he's reading looks important.

Cautiously, Luxiere steps in and the Restroom door closes behind him, leaving him alone with the First Class. He feels like he shouldn't make any noises, but, at the same time…

There're many unspoken rules about the Restroom, and the first one is, you use the stalls for privacy. When there's someone in the stalls, you don't acknowledge them. You let them have their fit in private.

Hanging out by the sinks… that has the opposite significance. A silent request for companionship. And finding Sephiroth by the sinks is so bizarre that Luxiere almost can ignore the burning inside him. Like, fuck. What is he supposed to do here? He should say something. It's Sephiroth, he should…?

"... Injections, sir?" he asks awkwardly.

Sephiroth glances up. "... Mn," he answers. Awkwardly.

"That's… rough," Luxiere offers, mentally going, what do I do, what do I say, what are you supposed to say in situations like this? He should definitely do something. "Sir, are you, uh -?"

"I'm fine," Sephiroth says curtly, like he's not hanging out in the Restroom. He turns his eyes back onto the PHS. "Carry on."

Ah, o-okay then? Luxiere clears his throat and then moves to the first stall, closing the door robotically and grabbing a SOLDIER grade stress ball in each hand. His forearms burn, and there's a panic attack building in his guts, which has nothing to do with the injection.

He can hear the slightest creak of leather, as the other occupant of the Restroom moves. There's the sound of PHS keys being pressed. A slight breath. Weight being shifted. Like the First Class is relaxing, settling in for the long haul.

Fuck.

Sephiroth is hanging around in the Restroom.

Sephiroth is hanging around in the Restroom.

The moment his arms stop convulsing, Luxiere shakily digs out his PHS and sends an SOS to Lazard, with those exact words.

-

Comedy is in the eye of the beholder, as always with SY

[salternateunreality2]

Another canon You Said Forever video: Sky in chapter 22:

Thanks @strayheartless for the previous video ❤️

[keclan]

oh i just know kunsel and luxiere were pulling their hair out when they heard zack had a new shinra grunt bestie

[vctlan]

the uurge to rewrite an old kunsel & luxiere drabble...

[shadowcatgirl09]

I’m playing Crisis Core Reunion and wow; I am in love all over again

[cwarscars]

@vctlan​ // liked for a starter (and i picked barret)

the general is sickened in the presence of his enemies though he could never deny the rouse of war that comes with a fight. the adrenaline to pump red hot through his veins, the spring in his step and involuntary twinge to his lips. truth be told, he loves it. loves a battle. loves one willing to fight.

the leader of AVALANCHE - barry, or whatever his name is can rant and rave as much as he wishes about the planet. heidegger couldn’t give a shit. all that the general cares for is another great and glorious war. another thing to keep him kicking. to keep that blood pumping! oh, the irony that comes from living in death. 

he bridges the gap between them, approaches with menace - heidegger spares no mind for sympathy or empathy.

“considering your passion-” he shrugs “it’s a shame that you’re on the losing side. i think-” he brings a hand to his beard, his smirk a shadow “you would make an excellent SOLDIER - were you not an idiot.”

[gcldfanged]

Dealer's Choice - #

땅콩: My loyal hound sniffed up some pertinent information, I'll have to reward him later ♥ 땅콩: Do you want the good news or the bad news first 땅콩: Too late, I'm picking. Did some digging and on the books, paid vacation leave. She never left, she's part of some hush hush new research project involving everyone's favorite condiment. You get three guesses, starts with a 'J' 요TL 땅콩: Also, I would say trust Luxiere about as far as you can throw him, but you could probably chuck his slimy ass to the moon one-handed. Just... don't underestimate him, ㅇㅋ? He's smarter than he lets on.  땅콩: You'd better still be alive after all this, I owe you dinner. Tea-smoked chicken sound good?

[rottenpumpkin13]

Out Of Context Shit Heard On The SOLDIER Floor #6

Previous: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5

Angeal: No, Genesis, you spaghetti-noodle-spine-having-ass bitch.

Sephiroth: I identify as a tonberry *chases Cloud with a kitchen knife*

Zack: Ra Ra Rasputin *kicks Sephiroth over*

Genesis: Unhand me you cretin *alone, talking to no one*

Angeal: Zack just showed me a picture of the Grinch and said "hear me out"

Lazard: No, Sephiroth, you cannot have a human-sized cat bed in your office "for enrichment"

Cloud: Parkour time *crashes through the air vents*

Sephiroth: I'm the biggest lesbian ally in this department, actually.

Angeal: For the sake of my sanity I'm gonna pretend I didn't just see Zack twerking to One Winged Angel.

Luxiere: I would commit unspeakable atrocities for a crumb of Zack's attention.

Lazard: That stripper pole better be gone when I get back or so help me, Genesis, I will return you to the goddess.

Sephiroth: *does a single pump of sore throat spray* This is enough for sustenance for the day.

Kunsel: Care for a deep-fried cigarette?

Angeal: You look like an AI-generated twink.

Sephiroth: I've grown so tired of Genesis's voice that we now communicate solely through interpretive dance.

Lazard, over the speakers: Whoever heated fish in the break room microwave, please come by my office so I can break your knees.

Zack: Aww, I forgot to feed the Roomba :(

Genesis: I don't know why me and Angeal are being judged. Simulating a birth with a watermelon is a perfectly normal activity for two people.

Kunsel: Hopefully this office party won't end in accidental weed use.

Angeal: WHY IS THERE A FAMILY OF RACCOONS IN THE TRAINING ROOM?

Genesis: I noticed some homosexual subtext in your screams, do you want to talk about that?

Angeal: *sniff sniff* Ooh~ who's barbecuing? OH MY GOD IT'S AN ELECTRIC FIRE.

Roche: Every time I think about chopping my hair short I think "Sephiroth wouldn't want this for me" and the feeling is gone.

Genesis: I made a friend *drags in a skeleton with a Sephiroth wig*

Cloud: *points at Angeal, Genesis and Sephiroth* Pure of heart, dumb of ass, big of tit.

Lazard: I told Zack to use Excel and he started sobbing.

Angeal: WHAT DO YOU HAVE AGAINST SEASONING YOUR GROUND BEEF?

Sephiroth: It's extremely rude to ask someone why they're eating a salad bowl of udon at 8 AM. Mind your business, Zack.

Cloud: Genesis likes Loveless so much because the title resonates with his love life.

Zack: You keep your anxiety pills in a takeaway to-go box? Dude that's so fancy.

Lazard: Why is Sephiroth the only one wearing a shirt??

Angeal: Common sense has chased Zack all his life but he wears wheelies so he's faster

Sephiroth: I personally don't use the peace sign because I haven't had a day of peace since I was 12.

Kunsel: I'm never going out in public with Zack again. A child's balloon popped when it went near his hair.

Angeal: No I'm not giving you an aspirin. Last time I gave you one you crushed it and snorted it like cocaine.

Lazard: An overwhelming majority of you peaked in kindergarten.

Sephiroth: Zack, I'm becoming increasingly concerned by the amount of potatoes in your pants right now.

Zack: This year I want an A/B/O themed birthday party.

Sephiroth: Please don't commit tax fraud, Genesis. You won't thrive in prison.

Genesis: Does anyone have an extra ramen packet to give Sephiroth? The 64 he consumed this morning weren't enough.

Roche: Commander Rhapsodos and his emo fringe is our culture.

Zack: I'm at my fucking limit! I'm about to eat a vegetable!

Genesis: He's a son of a bitch Sephiroth: That implies he has a mother, so I don't see how that's an insult.

Zack: Fuck around and find out *said with a chunk of Genesis' red coat hanging from his pocket*

Cloud: Does anyone have an extra brain cell? I lost my remaining one when Genesis spoke to me this morning.

Sephiroth: Damn.

Kunsel: Zack owes me so much money that if he sold his box of random shit he stole from Angeal, he still couldn't pay me back.

Angeal: Why are you guys playing Queen's Blood in the closet? is this a metaphor?

Genesis: Have you prayed to your Sephiroth cardboard cutout yet today?

Sephiroth: Alert me once Rufus Shinra arrives so that I may greet him adequately *said while building a pipe bomb*

Lazard: It's all fun and games until the timeout cage that I ordered online arrives.

Genesis: I will atone for my sins by becoming a nuisance to the environment.

Cloud: If Zack were a scented candle he'd smell like ADHD and crayons.

Sephiroth, standing on a table: DO NOT. EAT. THE CHEESECAKE. IN THE FRIDGE. It's mine.

Angeal: *with a bucket while it's raining hale* Free ice baby.

Zack: I finally have enough gil to buy a sixteen bouncy castles.

Genesis: Being overcome with the desire to eat pasta and call your mother at 2 AM and wondering if you're having a mental breakdown or are possessed by Sephiroth.

Lazard: I can't fire any of you, but I'm about to start setting things on fire.

[getvalentined]

Differentiating the "Black Robes"

For folks who didn't catch it on their own playthrough or (or watch-through) of FF7 Rebirth, here's a quick breakdown of the apparent nature of the people in black robes seen throughout both this game, and previously in Remake.

This differs from OG canon, where everyone in a black robe was a Sephiroth Copy, but in the FF7R timeline they appear to be broken into three "types."

SPOILERS BELOW — READ AT YOUR OWN RISK

NO NUMBER TATTOO means this is a G-type SOLDIER suffering from degradation. These people are terminally ill. Degradation sets in within five years of enhancement [see Note 1 below], and accelerates very quickly without aggressive treatment.

Known G-type SOLDIERs: Roche, Azul, Rosso, and Shelke Rui. Population: over 100.

A ONE- OR TWO-DIGIT NUMBER TATTOO indicates S-type SOLDIERs in the throes of Reunion. These people are not terminally ill, based on dev comments confirming that S-type SOLDIERs don't degrade, but they have a cellular leash that is being constantly yanked on by Sephiroth/Jenova. Without Reunion taking place, most of them would presumably live long, fairly healthy lives. [See Note 2 below.]

Known S-type SOLDIERs: Zack Fair, Kunsel, Luxiere, and Broden. Population: presumed fewer than 100.

A TATTOO STARTING WITH "SC" confirms these people are successful Sephiroth Copies. Failures do not receive a tattoo. They may or may not be terminally ill, contingent upon which type of SOLDIER they were prior to the procedure to make them into a Copy, and the leash on their own cellular makeup is much stricter, much more direct, and gives them a clearer concept of where to go and what to do.

Known Sephiroth Copies: Roche (successful), Zack Fair (declared failure), and Cloud Strife (declared failure). Population: 4 subjects in total, plus 2 known failures.

Tattoos don't seem to be applied at the time of enhancement, since none of the SOLDIERs in Crisis Core have them, but it's possible that early inductees like Broden were marked when they survived the treatments; this seems likely, as Broden's tattoo is in a slightly different typeface than the tattoos of others in his "type."

I didn't include Sephiroth, Genesis or Angeal under known members of their given types, as they were never normal humans and were not enhanced using one method or the other as teens or young adults. Those who are Jenova babies from birth don't count. I also didn't include two members of DeepGround due to the fact that they canonically cannot actually be G-type SOLDIERs based on the lore of how the two of them were made and how they function in general; they may be G-type on paper, but they are not G-type for the purposes of this analysis.

Lastly, I'll admit that this breakdown may appear to be slightly inconsistent during gameplay, but this seems to be due only to the reuse of models between black robed individuals, presumably to take stress off the dev team. I'm fine with this, obviously, no crunch is good crunch. As far as I can tell it's pretty consistent in full cutscenes, though, so I'm sticking with it until the third game proves me wrong.

—

NOTE 1: The timeframe for degradation is based on Roche suffering from the condition prior to his becoming a Sephiroth Copy, which is visible in the fact that he has a handful of incongruously pale streaks through his hair prior to the procedure; an attempt to cure this is presumably the reason he volunteered to work with Hojo in the first place.

According to the Remake Ultimania, Roche joined SOLDIER after the Nibelheim Incident, so he's only been in the program for five years at the most; this timeframe also allows us to recognize S-type SOLDIERs, as they've been in the program for significantly longer with no known ill effects (e.g.: Kunsel has been in the program since at least 2000, but is mentioned by name and indicated to be at headquarters in Remake, showing that he's still on active duty in 0007; this wouldn't be the case if he were suffering from degradation, so he can't be a G-type.)

NOTE 2: The capacity of S-type SOLDIERs to live fairly normal lives with minimal major health issues is proven by the existence of Broden, who identifies himself as a SOLDIER but was certainly part of Project 0; he and Mildred left home as teenagers and wound up with Shinra, but Mildred doesn't know the name of the project into which he was conscripted, only that it was "top secret."

Combined with the apparent age of both characters in-game, this indicates that Broden took part in the project before SOLDIER was even SOLDIER, putting him as one of its earliest successful operatives, probably enhanced sometime between 1983 and 1985 based on the timeline provided in the First SOLDIER Battle Royale opening cutscene—hence why his number is the lowest shown on a person in a black robe in the entire game. This puts him in his forties at the youngest during the Crisis, and he functions just fine (albeit with some other issues we can assume were caused by the enhancement procedure being imperfect at the time of his enlistment) until Reunion starts to call him toward the end of 0007.

[sentmail]

C O N N E C T I O N S

Kunsel Reis Zantos has come to know a lot of people over his life — passing acquaintances, petty rivalries, best friends, bitter betrayals, distasteful coworkers and people that would forever carve a place into his heart.

His constant search for information would introduce him to people across differing paths of walk, challenging his decisions and morality, making him question if the burden of knowledge is worth the drain on his conscience.

But if given a chance to go back? He'd only dig deeper, fight for a little more time. Repent for his inaction.

— The First Class Trio

Kunsel's relationship with all of them is in passing and strictly professional, but saying he doesn't have a personal bias would be a lie.

Angeal: The one Kunsel looks up to the most, he sees him as the most sensible one and has in fact told Zack he was kinda jealous he got to work with him so much - however, Kunsel kind of doesn't need tutoring nor does he aspire to be First Class like Zack, so their jobs together are limited. Still, he genuinely thinks Angeal has a good head on his shoulders, and he seeks to emulate his capability to lead and teach.

Genesis: When he was a dumb 13 year old kid falling for fluff propaganda pieces, Genesis was actually his favorite. Of course, there's this one saying: don't meet your heroes, kids. Kunsel considers him to be kind of hard to work with, and personally finds him to be not as charming as he believes himself to be. Still, Kunsel knows how to play nice, and he doesn't exactly have a personal gripe against the man. ( At least, not until the desertions. )

Sephiroth: A mystery, but Kunsel's aware there's more to the man than the creepy trash the fanclubs obsess over. ( Yes, he's part of all the fanclubs. ) Sephiroth rarely needs assistance on his assignments, and when he does it's usually other 1-C operatives, so they've never actually worked together - but they've spoken a few times when crossing paths or loitering in Shinra's archives. Mostly about work (or Zack) of course, but with some sprinkles of Kunsel trying his luck getting to know Sephiroth better. Nothing so far, but the boy loves a puzzle.

— Other SOLDIERs

[ REDACTED ] : Kunsel's proper mentor was instead another SOLDIER First Class, her records since expunged from company archives. He was taken under her proverbial wing after proving himself to be observant and persistent, traits that work well in the Intelligence division of SOLDIER. Although Kunsel's easy going on the surface, she helped him temper his thoughts and emotions and was an important part in helping Kunsel learning to compartmentalize his actions from his emotions.

Luxiere: Their relationship was once entirely surface level pleasantries, Kunsel well aware of the rumors of what Luxiere was willing to do or say in order to chase a promotion. However, when Luxiere finally breaks down his barriers and manages to establish a connection with him, having Kunsel share his inner most thoughts and that he was still searching for Zack - Luxiere stabbed him in the back, reporting this in hopes of gaining favor. They are entirely antagonistic, and Kunsel only tolerates Luxiere because it is his job to take care of other SOLDIERs.

Zack — Default: One of Kunsel's closest friends in SOLDIER, he considers himself to be Zack's number one hypeman — he doesn't particularly share Zack's drive to get promoted, but he knows it's important to him and so he'll help him however he can. He's a bit protective and overbearing, even knowing Zack can take care of himself, but he can't help it - he's a meddler and feels responsible for the guy even if Zack eventually outranks him. There's some mixed up feelings in the middle, but Kunsel waves it off as an one sided-crush on his part and never mentions it - why shake up what's already good? He's happy to just be good friends with Zack, and he respects him a lot - being in SOLDIER wouldn't be the same without him.

Zack — @meteorshcts : With a language in common, even if not the same exact dialect, they quickly attached at the hip after Zack joined the program, quick friends of circumstance as Kunsel helped Zack get acclimated with living in a big city on his lonesome. As they went through the trials of SOLDIER together, their bond only grew stronger,relying on each other in and out of combat, being the one person they could share everything with in a program that praised rugged individualism to seek out future 1st Classes. And with Zack's dreams of becoming one, Kunsel was quick to support him - even if he did try to warn him that it would probably be more hassle than it was worth. But… if there was one guy he trusted to handle that rank with some grace it was Zack. They are brothers, even if not by blood, and for a period of time Kunsel couldn't picture his life without Zack — for all the loss and tragedy that surrounded them in SOLDIER, a still hopelessly naive part of him refused to let him even consider that it would ever affect them, that they'd lose each other. Losing Zack was like losing a limb, a family member, and although part of his denial was due to not trusting Shinra's words… most of it was merely that, denial, refusing to accept the possibility of it being true.

Roche — Default: A hassle and a walking liability waiver. They're not close by any means, Roche joining the program after Kunsel had already established himself, but they're "friends" none the less. There's a latent worry on Kunsel's side, aware that the man's growing increasingly unstable, but there's nothing he can do personally when it seems like the Science Department is purposefully setting him free off leash.

Roche — @fourthclone : They were their own triad, once. Friends from different strokes of life that found connection in the hardships of SOLDIER, young dumb teenagers seeking fun, trying to outrun the weight of their responsibilities… But you can only run so far. Time and loss changed them both, shattered dreams and tore away connections that shaped them, leaving their edges jagged and uneven. They don't fit together like they used to — once soft, baby faced and idealistic, naive in their outlooks, they now handle each other like shards of glass, mere fractions of what they once saw in each other; something that cuts, something that stings… but something that needs caring, dealing with. The love is still there, but there's no going back from this - they're not the same people they once were, and no matter how tightly Kunsel clings he can't stop Roche from unraveling. This isn't something he can fix, something he can help with - all he can do is watch. More and more, that's all he feels he can do: take on the burden of seeing, of knowing, but remaining useless.

— Others

Turks: Kunsel feels generally uneasy whenever they're around, a personal bias tainting his interactions with them — but it isn't one without a valid cause. Kunsel might not have an inside view into the depths of their work and the layers under which they operate, but he knows enough to know he should trust them to do their job... no matter what that job is, and who their target is. Still, even with this ruminating in the back of his mind, he does enjoy working with them on occasion, purely in a selfish drive to try and glean their methods. As long as he behaves himself and doesn't warrant a termination, they've got no reason to get in his way. Him and the Turks tend to cross paths a considerable amount, considering his work in intelligence often ends up being taken by the Turks if it gets deemed too confidential. His personal favorite is Rude, mostly because the guy doesn't talk and they're both great at avoiding eye contact, followed by Cissnei because she can behave like a normal human being. Tseng is... Tseng, a figure that lingers in the background of his life and speaks of an unspoken warning: they know, and they're watching you.

Professor Hojo: If only he knew from the start what he comes to learn too late. To Hojo, Kunsel was nothing but another helmeted brute, a number in his ongoing human experimentation with a name that sounded vaguely familiar. To Kunsel? The Professor signified answers to questions he knew ran deeper than surface level platitudes Shinra offered, and his career started as a means to live in his peripheral vision, to shadow after the man — but he could never get close enough, some secrets kept too well. It's funny, in a way, how his life was so affected by the Professor and yet Hojo remains ignorant of his existence.

Cloud — Default: While they're at Shinra, he's a friend of Zack's, and that's plenty enough for Kunsel to be nice to him, even if Kunsel feels like Zack shouldn't goad him on and tell him he's fit for SOLDIER — Kunsel trains a lot of other SOLDIERs, he knows who does and doesn't make a good fit, not to mention that sometimes it's just a matter of mako resistance, and there's nothing you can do about that. After Nibelheim, however... He's a vague familiarity, an image super imposed into memories of his best friend — what few times they've crossed paths at Shinra are buried underneath the sum of their personal trials. He is ultimately neutral, and can be made either ally or foe depending on both of their choices. A kneejerk reaction is to assume Cloud's merely stealing valor, taking Zack's history for his own... but he unfortunately knows things are never that simple.

Cloud — @backwaterheroics : It's complicated. Infuriatingly so. Things would be easier if they both could stick to hating each other, settle in the antagonism of pure animosity, blame each other for a loss neither could be blamed for (and yet, paradoxically, blamed themselves for). Instead, they settle in the muddy greys — they're not friends, they're not enemies, they're not rivals, but they're not nothing. Friends of a friend long gone, they ghost through each other's awareness only by unpleasant chance, parallel lives that swerve into each other for fleeting moments. Still, there's begrudging respect... and maybe a sliver of jealousy on Kunsel's part — he sees in Cloud a violent freedom that he wished he could've followed in, but he was in too deep. A sunk cost fallacy made unable to perceive the traumas that froze him, and he held an attachment to SOLDIER Cloud would never understand, keeping him rooted to where he was. The question of "what if I followed him?" will be one that regretfully simmers in the back of his mind.

Aerith — Default: She's the girl in the slums, a nebulous concept he'd heard gushed about from Zack, his friend thrown in the throes of a relentless crush. They linger as acquaintances only, visiting her once Zack was gone only making the melancholy in his chest worse. The church was Zack's place, Aerith was Zack's friend and crush... and he's still not there. Kunsel feels like an outsider whenever he visits Aerith, feeling especially silly when he once felt threatened that she was taking his best friend away from him, but he meant it when he told her she could call him any time for help, however.

Aerith — @churchflower : She's his rose, his summer rain, a reprieve from a world where in he had to act and orchestrate himself on so many layers he began to forget who he was. It was never meant to grow into this, and he harbored ill guilt for far too long, disappointed in himself for getting attached as he did... but when weeks turned to months turned to years... There came a point where he and Aerith knew each other better than she and Zack ever did. They find solace in each other, and there's a mutual understanding — there's things he doesn't tell her, there's things she doesn't tell him... and they're comfortable with that, trust and love clinging on, even so. With her he can imagine a world outside of Shinra, a life where he isn't wrapped entirely around being an exemplar SOLDIER and with him she saw the sky, slowly pecked away at 23 wishes she once saved for a boy she thought got tired of her. He doesn't know what he'd do if he lost her, too.

[altocat]

Can we have Kunsel and/or Roche for the character asks-? They've haunted my brain as of late

KUNSEL

Sexuality Headcanon: Straight Ally

Gender Headcanon: Male

A ship I have with said character: Lowkey?? I like the idea of Kunsel keeping an eye on Aerith while Zack was "away" and slowly developing unrequited feelings for her. He does what he can to protect her, but she'll never trust him. He just tries to be a good friend, even if she'll never return his feelings.

A BROTP I have with said character: Kunsel/Zack

A NOTP I have with said character: N/A

A random headcanon: Kunsel suffers from some sort of body dysmorphia and has a hard time looking at his own face in a mirror. Thus, the constant helmet. In truth, Kunsel is actually a really attractive guy. He suffers from pretty low self esteem and uses his constant email reminders and training tips as a way to validate his existence.

General Opinion over said character: For a background character, Kunsel is a bro. I love how the fandom has an endless array of different designs for him. I like his and Zack's dynamic and there's actually something tragic about the fact that he's the only one left in Shinra. All the others are just...gone. Survivor's guilt Kunsel needs to be a thing!

ROCHE

Sexuality Headcanon: Extremely gay.

Gender Headcanon: He/Him but occasionally dabbles in gender fluidity

A ship I have with said character: Roche/Luxiere as an occasional fling

A BROTP I have with said character: One-sided Roche occasionally barging in to give Lazard a massive headache.

A NOTP I have with said character: N/a

A random headcanon: Sometimes he just...disappears on the road during a mission. As in he bails and goes riding around instead. He has an EXTREMELY short attention span and honestly is just in love with life and enjoying everything it has to offer. If he's a bit selfish and reckless, so what? He's experiencing the world. That's good enough for him.

General Opinion over said character: This guy was a welcome addition to SOLDIER lore imo. He's so loud and obnoxious and he will NOT leave Cloud alone! He's got a pretty fun personality and I like the whole biker aesthetic. Very cool overall.

[meteorshcts]

i was just going to say that your fly is down.

Zack was on a tear, ranting about the poor conditions of his last mission to anyone who would listen. Today's unfortunate guest of honor was none other than Cissnei. She had won this role by tapping him on the arm to tell him something, interrupting the tale being told to another SOLDIER, Luxiere, and so naturally, he had had to start from the beginning.

Cissnei was the perfect listener, taking in everything he was saying with naught but a well timed sympathetic nod. Zack filled her in on the entire thing before it even occurred to him that she might have something to say to him when she tapped him on the arm. He had apologized and then – “What did you want to say?”

And she told him.

“Oh.” Well. That was humiliating. And now Luxiere was laughing at him, and his fly was still down, and there were people or windows surrounding him so he couldn't even turn away and fix it. “Um. I did that...on purpose.”

[rune-writes]

Hero

Fandom: Final Fantasy VII

Word Count: 1230

Rating: G

Pairing: Zack/Aerith

Summary: Set after losing Angeal in Modeoheim. Zack goes to Aerith's church where he crumbles under the weight of his grief.

Note: written for @zerith-week. Day 3 Prompt: Devotion / alt prompt: Hero

Read on AO3.

~*~*~*~*~

When Zack came into the church that day, Aerith thought they could spend the day outside. He’d been away for the entire week. The kids at Sector 5 said they missed “the big brother with the big sword”. Maybe Zack would indulge them in a game or two. And the sky looked clear; even with the plates, Aerith could tell when rain clouds had gathered. That particular day, the clouds that had hung ominously the entire week had frayed without even one drop of rain. A brief respite, perhaps? All the more reason to enjoy the sun as best they could. But when Zack entered the church with his face cast down and a sluggish gait to his steps, all plans for a date disappeared from Aerith’s mind.

Aerith rose half-way to her feet, his name at the tip of her tongue just waiting to be said, but before she could, Zack looked up and his face split into a smile—if one could call a stiff crook of his lips a smile. It didn’t even reach his eyes, as his smiles often did. “Aerith!” he called in a forced cheerfulness that, coupled with the way his brows drew back and his voice trembled ever so slightly, broke her heart. But Zack reached her nonetheless, feigning vigor and carefreeness, and asked her, “Were you waiting for me?”

Aerith knew grief when she saw it. She’d felt it herself before when her mother passed away; witnessed it not long after when Elmyra received word of her husband’s demise. She was no stranger to it, as was she not a stranger to how she had handled it. It had been precisely like how Zack was trying to hold up now, acting like everything was fine despite the tears she spied welling in his eyes. He blinked them away, saying dust was caught in his eye. And maybe it did. She decided to play along. Zack rewarded her with a laugh, quiet and languid, his eyes cast down once more, before he perked up—or attempted to—and crouched down by the flowerbed. 

Aerith gingerly sat across from him, carefully listening to him talk and muse about SOLDIER and Shinra and training and missions. About someone named Kunsel and Cissnei and Luxiere. How they were out of his favorite sandwich that morning in the cafeteria and he had to settle for some disgusting gray gruel. “Said it was good for stamina,” he went on. “Well, not good if it twists your stomach and locks you in a bathroom for a good hour afterwards. Kunsel said I just have a bad constitution, but I say his stomach is made of steel. Not that it’d mattered to him. He'd gotten the sandwich and not the gruel.”

Aerith figured she should laugh, but Zack’s face was oddly unanimated telling such a funny story that she felt a laugh would be out of place. It was disconcerting seeing him so listless. He’d always been full of energy, his presence like a shining beacon of light as though his soul was composed of nothing but sunlight. Aerith often stole glances at him as they worked at the flowerbed. He didn’t notice; or maybe he didn’t care. She’d offer responses, enough to make him continue talking. Because talking was good. Talking would distract him. She remembered how Elmyra would get her to talk—about flowers or food or her new home or the ribbon she wore. Got her to come to the kitchen and help with the cooking. Anything to distract her, really, because once she got quiet and the memories rushed in, she would plunge into a never ending spiral of self-loathing with only one sentence hammered into her brain: it was her fault her mother had died. 

Zack had gotten quiet. Aerith stole another look. His usually bright blue eyes were dull, like a faraway sky, locked in some distant recollection. Aerith searched for something to say. Then her eyes found the abandoned flower wagon they’d started building halfway before, and she began to ask, “Zack—”

She had barely said anything when Zack took a sudden sharp intake of breath. His eyes flew wild, gasping as though he’d just broken through water. And then he met her gaze, and Aerith saw the raw, unbridled fear, regret, and guilt swimming across those navy orbs, chipping away at the crooked cheerful mask he’d attempted to don and failed to regain. 

“I—” His voice broke. Tears welled and it seemed to take his all to keep them at bay. “I’m sorry,” he managed to say. He stood up. “I’ll make this up to you. I promise.” He backed away and probably meant to rush out, but halfway down the aisle, his legs crumbled under him. Then the sobs came, every rock of his body sent a shattering tremble to Aerith’s heart. Had it felt like this when Elmyra saw her broken self? Wanting to do something but unable to do anything. Knowing full well that whatever she said would not bring back whoever Zack had lost. Her own eyes brimmed with tears. 

Outside, the sun was still out. Aerith could imagine the sky spreading far and wide beyond the plates. Boundless. Endless. 

“Hey, Zack,” she began, fighting against the lump in her throat. “The sky is closer in the city above, right?” She rose to her feet. “Kinda scary, but the flowers might like it… maybe.”

The flowers at her feet swayed in a non-existent wind as though in confirmation, but when Aerith looked back, her attempt at distraction hadn’t ceased Zack’s sobs at all. 

Perhaps it hadn’t been distractions that Zack needed after all. He’d had plenty of it, judging from his ramble. He was seeking a quiet haven, free from prying eyes. Gods knew how many times Aerith had sought it—why she had sought the church all those years ago. And that was what it had become to Zack; what she had become to him, just like how Elmyra had coaxed her out of her little hiding spot in her room and pulled her into her arms. Aerith had never felt safer in all her life. 

Zack’s back shook. Somewhere along the way, it had shrunk, and before her was not the savvy SOLDIER who had crash-landed into her life, but a distraught seventeen-year-old boy who was trying his best to hold his ground while his world fell apart. Aerith moved and wrapped Zack inside her arms, small as they were.

“It’s not your fault, Zack,” she whispered to his ear.

Zack’s breath hitched, his body going taut. For a split second, Aerith thought she’d stepped over a line, but Zack instead grabbed her hands and cried into them. 

Later, she let him sleep on her lap. His eyes were puffy, but his breathing was even. He didn’t stir even when Aerith brushed his bangs back and patted his head. Aerith didn’t know what he had gone through, but she hoped he would tell her someday. With their fingers interlocked over his chest, rising and falling in a steady rhythm, she would like to think that he trusted her that much at least. She would be his rock and haven when all else failed him. 

With that silent vow taking root firmly in her heart, Aerith bent down and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. Zack seemed to smile in his sleep.

~ END ~

[ifobufrens]

Revamped an old oc from 2010, his name is Luxiere (Lux) and he's a shapeshifter, his form is a tux cat lmfaoooo he's a walking cat meme, a goofball

[vctlan]

ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜɪɴɢ... ᴍᴀɢᴅᴀ ʟᴜxɪᴇʀᴇ

If she was trying to be any shade of sympathetic, she was doing a terrible job at it -- the very way she approached the man she'd once swore to idolize and "follow to the ends of the earth" was more fitting of a wild animal than an old friend, a dangerous creature to be contained and left in the past.

"You're making this so much harder on yourself than it has to be, Fair. I'm giving you the easy way out, just turn yourself in and stop running -- if I call this in, they won't be stopping to talk to you."

And yet, even as she speaks on the what ifs, her voice a shade of faux placidity, Luxiere draws her sword as well, a precaution. "Look at you, you're not well -- weren't you in my place once? Wouldn't your life been easier if Angeal or Genesis just listened to you and gave up? I just want to help you." And herself to a promotion.

  @yumetohokori

[myristicisms]

@grieverled | Squall sent;;

That damned smile. It’s such a common feature on the other man’s face, something he knows would look so out of place being absent, but it stirs an uneasy feeling when he catches the way it twitches, as if strained, lilting like a sad dying flower with wilted petals along its edges. For a man known for being as genuine as they came, as honest. Things weren’t as they’d seemed when it came to Zack Fair. Something that only continued to hook at him & his interest as he stares with a deepened furrow notching itself comfortably between his brows.

When he turns to look his way, probably after feeling eerie cold sights on him for far longer than comfortable, Squall breaks the silence with a scoffed sigh, a quiet sound, before he takes a step in, arms coming to a neat fold atop his chest. Chin angling higher, wolf gray eyes flick below, lingering pointedly on the sunny man’s smile before raising again.

“Why do you waste your energy smiling if you don’t mean it?”

To say one has seen First Class SOLDIER Fair without a grin upon his face to some extent would be often seen as a lie, seldom did the man ever allow anyone to see him look anything but lively, ecstatic or giddy to some extent. That was something far easier before reality had finally sunk its claws into the once naïve man. What was there to smile for now? What was the point of SOLDIER, the point of doing much of anything anymore? Easy, those who were less fortunate, who couldn't fight for themselves and those who needed someone to smile for them. It's what he always thought about, even on days where familiar blues faded into lifeless greys and once lively tanned flesh sunk into the hollows of alabaster and crimson, it's all Zack could do, really.

He knows that his smile is bastion of hope to some within Shinra, knows it helps provide comfort to those like Cloud and Luxiere but he'd be dumb to pretend like it didn't also bother others. He's removed from his thoughts once he feels what seems to be a glare upon his frame, can tell he's being scrutinized and for a second shame boils hot within his heart, damn near laces his easy going smile with something self deprecating, he hated feeling like that; Hated knowing someone was observing him, waiting for him to crack and show just how pitiful a man he's become since he lost Angeal. When would he be allowed to have time to himself? To have his freedom back like what the role of a First typically implied?

Mako tinted eyes land upon the other man, eyebrows furrowed slightly as a saddened gleam rests within his turquoise gaze, that smile only softening ever so slightly upon noting the other's gaze. For a second the question leaves him shocked, confused and maybe even angry before he simply drops his smile altogether, some form of hurt evident within his slack expression.

“ Because I do mean it. ” He responds softly, and truly he does, “ I just... Sometimes I can't put my whole heart into it, so I do my best because I know that if I smile, someone else will see it and they'll feel a bit better too, someone has to do it around here and... People rely on me for that. ”