themognet | News Broadcast + Private Action

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[canon: rufus shinra]

News Broadcast + Private Action

[Anyone able to get power to their televisions or radios are treated to a special news bulletin around noon on the 16th]

We have received reports that former President of ShinRa Electric Power Company and current CEO of ShinRa Tech Rufus Shinra collapsed on the way to his helicopter after a meeting in a Costa del Sol hotel today. No one knows where he was rushed to, but our sources say it was not to any public hospital. Could someone have planned this, or is Rufus Shinra just the latest victim in the rash of collapsed citizens plaguing the Planet? More at eleven.

[And if you're a ShinRa employee or otherwise familiar with Rufus at all, you will find him in his Edge apartment, one of the few buildings with fully functioning AC. He has it on full blast as his doctors said it might have been heat exhaustion combined with stress from his work lately.

Rufus is pretty sure that's bullshit, as what he vaguely remembers about being passed out is too much like when he was sick with the stigma to be simply exhaustion. But if it makes them stop nagging, whatever.]

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[Rude had been back at the ShinRa offices when Rufus had collapsed, but as soon as he heard that Rufus was back in Edge, he headed over to check in on him.

It was awhile before he was allowed in to see him. Time in which he spent pacing the living room. While he doesn't doubt the possibility of it being something far more sinister, he's fairly certain it's either exhaustion or what happened to himself a few days ago, when he'd fainted a few times. There's another possibility, one he refuses to give any weight to. Geostigma was cured. It couldn't be that.

When he's finally let in, he stands silently by the side of Rufus's bed while he waits for the doctors to clear out.]

[Two doctors are dragging it out. Rufus spots Rude and nods his head towards them. Handle them, please.]

[Elena had been listening to a local broadcast, downing a room-temperature bottle of water, when the news broke. It wasn't unusual to hear a report about Rufus engaging in his normal business, but when the word 'collapsed' hit her ears, she's choking.

Hadn't they talked recently about his working long hours? Elena, not really in a position to chastise the man, had voiced her concern and then let the matter drop. Clearly she was going to have to have words with his secretary about overbooking his schedule - that is if Tseng didn't beat her to it.

Like the other Turks, Elena is very aware of where the would have taken the President. So she makes a beeline straight to his complex, silent save for her footsteps. She gives a series of knocks, sounded to a particular rhythm that denoted it was a Turk at the door, the key to the apartment in hand in case there was no response and she had to let herself in.]

[Rufus's secretary opens the door, nods, and then turns to announce who's at the door. She was clearly just about to leave; she steps aside to let Elena in before heading out.

Rufus is in his bedroom, his couerls curled up beside him.]

[Lips press into a nearly invisible line at the sight of the woman. Sure, there was no evidence that the secretary had anything to do with the President's collapse. And while she's nearly positive it was because of his own sense of work ethic, she can't forget coming across Rude who had himself fainted.

Elena just wanted to punish somebody for causing normally healthy men collapse for no reason. It would at least help release the tight knot of worry in her chest

Making sure the door was properly locked behind her, the secretary vacant of the apartment, Elena makes her way to the doorway into his bedroom. Its there she stops, arms crossing over her chest, giving him an expression that is exasperated, relieved, and worried.

But she doesn't dare say the words that are resonating loudly in her head.

I told you so.]

You know, one of these days you're going to give us all an aneurysm. [And she gives a soft sigh, arms unfolding.] How are you feeling?

Edited 2016-08-17 16:56 (UTC)

[As if Rufus doesn't know what she's thinking. He gestures that she can come in further, shifting so he's sitting up more]

And one day you all will give me a heart attack, so turnabout is fair play. I feel fine, if tired. It wasn't from the heat.

Perhaps one day, despite our best efforts. Though here I thought your base-jumping would have covered anything we could think of.

[She's joking of course, though only just. Because seeing him free-falling from the half-built structure had taken at least 5 years off the Turks each. Granted permission, she enters the room, standing to one side of the bed.]

You sure? Costa is already several degrees hotter than here. [And wearing all those layers can't be helping.] What's your schedule been like of late? Still putting in hours that puts even Tseng to shame?

[Well, someone was going to nag at him for his hours. Might as well be the baby Turk. Rufus just shakes his head]

The hours I keep are irrelevant. I wouldn't have visions if it was simply heat exhaustion, Elena.

[A snarky comment about how his hours are relevant is on the tip of her tongue, but are quickly forgotten.]

Visions? [She's frowning a little now.] What sort of visions?

Ones that are far too reminiscent of the last time I was sick.

[The stigma]

[That was a punch to her stomach and she goes a little pale. She'd never even considered it, really. Wouldn't consider it. Because she couldn't imagine having a resurgence appear and what that would do to the population. To him.]

Are you experiencing any sort of flare ups? [A small notebook is pulled from the inside of her jacket, flipped open to a page, and she's taking notes. Elena may sound professional, but she's visibly concerned. Worry lines forming in her forehead.] Anything specific in the visions?

[Like him. Or them.]

Relax, Elena. The doctors checked for signs of the stigma several times. It hasn't returned.

[Iseul, the braver couerl, stands up and goes to sit at the edge of the bed closest to Elena, meowing.]

I can't describe them, just that they weren't pleasant.

[Rude gives a firm nod before walking around the bed to tap the two doctors on the shoulders. He glowers at them when they turn to face him, and continues to do so as they shuffle out of the room.

Once they're alone, he turns to face Rufus again, this time with concern written all over his face.]

Are you okay, sir?

Well, I'm not dying, as much as it pains the doctors to say.

What happened?

[In other words, did you collapse from exhaustion, or either of the possibilities that the news report had suggested.]

[For now. She doesn't say the words, but they echo loudly in her head.]

Sorry, sir. Its just...first I find Rude passed out on the street and now you? I think a little concern is warranted.

[Hardly one to deny any affection to the couerls, Elena reaches over to give Iseul an affectionate scratch behind the ears.]

I hope this is just a one-time occurrence. How long do the doctors have you on bedrest?

That depends. What happened to you the last time you fainted?

[Yeah, Rufus knows about that.]

Just a day. Better safe than sorry, after all, and I believe they think they'll get paid more if they seem to be doing something beneficial to my health.

[Iseul is the worst guard couerl, but she loves pets so she's happy with this arrangement.]

Leave it to a doctor to try to squeeze every last gil out of a simple diagnosis.

[Iseul is the best guard couerl for letting Elena spoil her with attention and affection.]

Is there anything that you need me to get for you? Any tasks that you'd like me to complete on your behalf?

[Because she's going to do her damnedest to make sure that he actually, you know, rests.]

[Rufus gestures vaguely, resting a hand on his other couerl's head and petting her so she doesn't get jealous]

Try to stop anyone from doing something absurd for my birthday this year? Specifically Reno.

I think that's doable.

[Elena can't help but give a little grin.]

I'm sure Reno'll be disappointed, but I can convince him that instead he can take lead in planning something for Tseng's birthday.

That would require anyone to know when his birthday is. Maybe give him the reigns over the holiday party, if everyone wants one.

Ah... [Her mouth opens, hand non-petting hand lifting for a second. Then her mouth shuts, hand lowering.] You have a point. I think I saw the date blacked out in his file.

[She's giving a slow, hesitant nod.]

I suspect that Reno would end up making it mandatory if given the reigns. But if it keeps him clear of causing any shenanigans for your birthday...

[Worth it? Maybe.]

No, he'd just ensure there's quality eggnog, and I am frankly okay with that.

You and me both. I wish he'd share his source, I never seem to be able to find it anywhere.

[And she gives the couerl a final scratch.]

Is that all you need from me, sir?

[Because she's mindful that though his incident was not heat related, it was important that she not add to his stress level. And being there could likely cause him to think about work, and the work not getting done, and increase said stress level.]

Hand me my laptop, please.

[That is clear across the room. He's going to do work while on bedrest]

....

[Elena doesn't approve of the request or what it entailed. And had she had a bit more clout she would have said so. But her first duty was to the President and whatever his orders were. Even if she disagreed.]

Of course.

[Said laptop is retrieved and brought over to him, extended with both hands to ensure it was not dropped on either man or couerl.]

Thank you.

[Rufus opens it, gently shoving Keiko's head out of the way when she tries to block the keyboard]

I know my limits, Elena. There's no need to worry.

You're welcome.

[She gives a little nod.]

I'm sure you do, sir. But I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't.

Technically, the job description is more like wetworks than worrier.

[Type type type]

Then again, that was a few years ago now.

[Rufus's way of saying he knows, understands, and maybe even appreciates it]

I think that falls under 'additional duties as required' in the job description.

[A corner of her mouth quirks up into a hint of a smile, picking up the subtle message. One had to learn to read between the lines when it came to Rufus and she had a steep learning curve compared to the others.]

By the way, I'm picking up some takeout later. Do you want me to bring you something as well?

Edited 2016-08-19 00:47 (UTC)

I wouldn't say no.

[He smiles a bit]

Thank you, Elena.

My pleasure, sir.

[She gives Iseul a final scratch and a nudge towards Rufus before heading out. She's halfway out the door before leaning back into the room.]

I'll be back around at about 5:30 with probably Wutainese. Should I get you your usual?

Edited 2016-08-19 10:54 (UTC)

[He looks down and adjusts his tie. Of course Rufus knew. He expected no less of him.]

Some punk wrote "ShinRa Sucks!" on the back of my head.

[It was true, and nothing else had happened that time. But when Elena had found him... that was a different story.]

And the time before that?

[He turns to face the window. Talking about this is too difficult for him to do it while facing Rufus.]

I watched the rival loan shark's lackey shoot my mother point blank mere feet away from me.

[And he'd been so terrified at the time that he hadn't been able to do anything to stop it. Rude takes a deep breath and walls closer to the window, covertly peeking through the blinds to make certain no one had figured out where Rufus was in hopes of getting a story. The coast is clear an he takes a deep breath before turning to face him again.]

[Rufus takes a moment to stare at Rude in shock while his back is turned;he knows, more or less, where his Turks came from but he's never heard anyone talk about it and it's shocking to hear Rude of all people be so blunt about it. When Rude turns back around, Rufus has schooled his expression into one mostly of mild surprise]

I see. It seems whatever is causing this string of faintings likes to make the victims relive their trauma.

[The only indication that Rufus, too, saw something he'd have rather not]

[There wasn't any point in beating around the bush about it with Rufus. He knew that it was better to say it straight out than to make Rufus work for it.

Besides, he trusted the man more than anyone. Well, other than Reno. Even with his big mouth, he knew Reno wouldn't let it slip to anyone, and neither would Rufus. He didn't think Tseng or Elena would either, but he wasn't as close to them as he was to Reno. Personal life aside.]

Trauma.

[He repeats, then pauses. He may not know every little detail of Rufus's life, but he knows well enough that if there's anything more traumatic than facing the loss of a loved one, it was facing one's own impending death.

If whatever was behind these faintings was making them experience the most traumatic thing in their life, it left only one conclusion to come to. Geostigma. That's what Rufus had to have experienced when he fainted.]

It was cured.

[It's all he says about the matter. A reminder to them both that Rufus wasn't - couldn't be suffering from it again.]

[...of course. Everyone always assumes it's the stigma. Rufus waves Rude's reassurances aside.]

Yes, yes, I know. Trust me, I know better than anyone what that feels like and the doctors even ran their tests. It isn't the stigma.

[It doesn't even occur to him that Rude thinks that's what he saw when he passed out. It was miserable, yes, but hardly traumatic for Rufus.

At least, compared to other things.]

That's not-

[He stops and purses his lips. Okay, maybe he had been a little - more than a little - worried about the possibility of it resurfacing, but it wasn't what he'd meant.]

[That gets him to look over at Rude, actually surprised]

It wasn't? What did you mean, then?

What you saw.

[He won't push to know what it was Rufus saw even if he really wants to know. Just because he shared his own, doesn't mean Rufus owes him anything in return. Besides, he had needed to say it out loud, to someone who would care, but not try to coddle him over it either. And he can't say he wouldn't be able to keep from getting overly concerned over Rufus's trauma.]

...oh. No, it wasn't that at all. Hard to see something you felt, anyway.

[Rude nods.]

You feeling better?

[It had taken him awhile after each of the times he fainted to really feel fully with it again. But he'd also been out for long periods of time each time. Too long to keep seeing the same thing over and over.]

Well enough to work, though the doctors insisted on bedrest.

["Well enough to work" means different things for Rufus than for other people, though. He compares it to how he felt with the stigma; if he feels that bad, he won't work.

He never feels that bad.]

Yes please. And one of the fish dishes for the couerls--I am not spoiling them, it's to save my own dinner.

Of course not. [Elena can't help but grin. Because, really, who was she to say othewise?] Consider it done. I'll see you later this afternoon, then.

[He could offer to get him some of his work to let him doit from bed, but he's not going to enable him. He needs his rest. Rude was fairly certain that if he hadn't kept trying to push himself after the first time, he wold have stopped with fainting only once.

It's not going to be his fault if Rufus faints again.]

Hm. A day off won't kill you, sir.

And working after fainting won't either. I'd rather have something to do, anyway.

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News Broadcast + Private Action

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the baby turk omg

RUFUS IS LIKE TWENTY SEVEN she's the baby

OMG LIKE THOSE 5-ISH YEARS MEAN SO MUCH she may be the baby but she'll fight you

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Edited because late night tags with vodka makes you forget details

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