ffvii open post

[lukoi]

AERITH GAINSBOROUGH
JOURNAL: inheritedearth
VOICE: ★★★★★

RENO
JOURNAL: emcharge
VOICE: ★★★★✩

BIGGS
JOURNAL: leafhouse
VOICE: ★★★★★

RUFUS SHINRA
JOURNAL: shinralegacy
VOICE: ★★★✩✩

code credit

Want to play with any of the above? Leave a comment with their name in the header and a prompt or a starter and I'll get back to you! ➝ AUs welcome! Otherwise, all characters are available from various canon points: OG, Advent Children or Remake. ➝ Some memes for ideas: caught in the rain, soulmates, body heat, otherworldly, deserted island, and of course random scenario. Feel free to make up your own! Hell, you can even just text them, they've all got phones. ➝ Other old muses (Cloud, Cid, Yuffie) in need of dusting off are tentatively available for tagging out later on!

Comments

[leafhouse]

You know, I really hate it when you say things like that.

[He pushes himself to his feet, though he finds his legs to be a bit unsteady in the process, but once he regains his balance, he reaches out to offer her a hand up.]

I'm sure as hell glad it did, though. You're a lifesaver.

[This, however, was proof enough that they really needed to get some additional help for the missions to come.]

[kisskissboomboom]

Oops? Sorry...

[ Her face crinkles up as she shoots him an apologetic glance, but is grateful for his hand up all the same. She grasps it, letting his strength help heft her to her feet, even though she sways for a moment before righting herself. ]

I'm really glad it did too. [ She gives the door a speculative look. ] I really hope that worked. But I'm not about to try and look to find out. Should we go?

[leafhouse]

[He waits until she's steady before retracting his hand, nodding as he casts another glance towards the metal doors, now bowed inward from the explosion.]

Better to take this one on faith, I think. Let's get out of here— we got what we needed. No reason to tempt fate.

[He doesn't want to find out if there's another of those mechs anywhere nearby. He starts to retrace the route they'd used for their initial entry, beckoning for Jessie to follow him as he hefts his rifle in front of him to remain on guard.]

[kisskissboomboom]

[ She's got her pistol in her hand, covering his back now as they creep back out the way they'd come. Although as they approach the main entrance, she taps his shoulder to stop him. ]

Side entrance over that way might be safer. Gotta take a few back stairs down to ground level, but that explosion is sure to draw some unwanted attention.

[leafhouse]

[He stops short, immediately nodding in agreement with her suggestion.]

Worth the extra effort to avoid any heat. Let's go.

[He takes a hard right, turning their course away from the main entrance— and not a moment too soon. In the opposite direction, he can hear footsoldiers beginning to mobilize, though fortunately not close enough to cause any serious alarm. As long as they're careful, they'll get out safely.]

[kisskissboomboom]

[ She waves him through an adjoining office towards the back entrance, stopping to slide her slicer tool into the keypad by the door. ]

Keep watch a second, will you? I'll just make sure they can't follow us for a bit.

[leafhouse]

On it.

[She doesn't have to ask twice. He turns her back to her to watch the door behind them, ears straining to pick up on any movement that might be coming their way. It's still distant, but he's not convinced it will stay that way, and as he quickly glances at their surroundings, he takes note of a nearby camera and raises his gun to fire at it, just once, leaving the lens to shatter.

They don't need more attention than they've already gotten, and they don't need anyone to be able to ID them on sight.]

How's it going back there?

[kisskissboomboom]

Almost... just a little more... there!

[ The keypad turns red, now on lockdown, and she shoots him a thumbs up as she bounces back to her feet again. ]

That should buy us some time. Let's go.

[leafhouse]

Nice work!

[Not that he's surprised, but her thumbs-up is met with a broad smile of approval.]

Lead the way— only a matter of time before they figure out what happened and head this way!

[Even so, he's already in motion. No time to waste.]

[kisskissboomboom]

[ She takes the lead this time, keeping low and maneuvering her way through the office corridors until she comes to the side exit and the set of railed stairs that descend the building on the outside. Opening the door, she leans over the railing to peer down below, relieved to find the alley below them still empty and quiet. ]

All clear so far. Book it.

[leafhouse]

[He follows suit, grabbing hold of the same railing and leaning over beside her to get a good view of the area beyond for himself. He nods, confirming, and there's nothing more to be said— they both book it, eager to put as much space between themselves and this place as possible before anything more is said.

It's not until they're a block away from the facility that he ducks into an alleyway to catch his breath, grabbing hold of Jessie's arm to make sure she follows along with him.]

Alright— think we're in the clear. Nobody in pursuit. You doing alright?

[kisskissboomboom]

[ She slumps against the wall beside him, letting her forehead thump against his shoulder as she takes a moment to catch her breath. ]

Well. That was certainly more excitement than I'd been anticipating... Are you alright?

[ She had almost blown him up... ]

[leafhouse]

[He exhales a laugh, one that's just a little bit strained even as he slings an arm around her shoulders, leaning back against the brick wall behind him.]

Think you might have shaved a few years off my life, there, but we got out in one piece. That was some quick thinking.

[Not that he's surprised. Jessie has always been sharp.]

We cut it close, but... still a success.

[kisskissboomboom]

[ Another thud of her forehead against his shoulder before she picks up her head and grins at him, bright and mischievous. ]

So. Is Barrett gonna be proud, or kick our asses for this one?

[leafhouse]

[He huffs a little, shaking his head for a moment.]

I'm going to go with 'a little bit of both.' I recommend we put a drink in front of him before we give him all the details, though.

[kisskissboomboom]

Probably a smart idea. I could use one myself.

So. What was your plan for getting back home? Or are we improvising?

[leafhouse]

Improvising?

[Come on, Jessie, you know him better than that.]

I planned ahead. Pretty simple this time, there's a late train that will take us down to Sector 6— we'll have to walk it the rest of the way, but it's a straight shot back home from there. Considering its destination, security should be light.

[He's no fan of Wall Market's Don, but his status meant that Shinra took a largely hands-off approach in his territory, at least for the time being.]

[kisskissboomboom]

Perfect.

[ She grins and twines her arm with his, tugging him away from the shadowy wall and down the alley in the general direction of the station. ]

Better get a move on in case they try to search the trains or something. The longer they're stuck searching in there for us, the better.

[leafhouse]

[At least he doesn't have to tell her to pick up the pace! They both know damn well what needs to be done. Fortunately, it seems like they're in the clear for now— they'd made enough of a ruckus inside the facility that nobody has made it this far to look for the offenders just yet, giving them a clear shot to the station. Even so, he's careful to keep an eye out as they run, occasionally ducking behind cars or into alleyways and beckoning for Jessie to follow as he does so, just to make sure they don't draw any undue attention.

The station is busy enough as they close in on it— the Sector 6 slums never sleep, and so it makes sense that people would be heading down there at all hours. He drops an arm around her shoulders when one of the guards looks their way, seemingly uninterested once he decides that they're just another couple headed down to Wall Market to get their kicks. Nothing unusual about that— not around these parts.]

Just act casual.

[His voice is low, but he knows she'll pick up on exactly what he means. Jessie's sharp. It'll be easy for them to blend in here.]

[kisskissboomboom]

[ And acting happens to be her specialty.

Giggling as if he'd just whispered something funny to her, she beams up at him even as she winds her arms around his waist, pressing up close against him. As if they're a couple out enjoying the night and having fun. Nothing unusual here in the least - they're hardly the only couple waiting at the station tonight with a destination like that. ]

Of course. Think you can keep up?

[leafhouse]

[It comes to her so naturally that for half a moment, he almost forgets that she's acting— but this is her forte. He and Wedge have seen it a thousand times, although it's struck a certain weary chord in him that he's not sure Wedge has experienced. Still, it means they won't raise a single eyebrow, and he grins down at her before giving her shoulders a squeeze, slowing his walk into an easy stroll towards the platform.]

Don't underestimate me. I may not be a professional, but I might surprise you, sweetheart.

[kisskissboomboom]

Oh? You think so?

[ There's a hint of mischief in her grin that's not entirely feigned as she rests her chin on his shoulder. ]

You still hiding secrets for me to poke at, then?

[leafhouse]

There's a lot more to me than what you've seen the last couple of years, you know.

[Also not entirely feigned— and while he knows Jessie is well-aware of where he comes from and what he'd been up to before joining AVALANCHE, he's aware that he's set a bit of a precedent for himself. He's become known for being the Exasperated One when the situation calls for it.

He smiles easily as he begins to steer her closer to the platform, staying close as they walk, and as a result, they don't draw a single gaze on their way through. Nothing out of the ordinary, just another couple enjoying a night out.]

But, I'll cop to it, you do know a lot.

[AVALANCHE is his family, after all.]

[kisskissboomboom]

[ She hums, laughing, before leaning up to brush her lips against his ear, as if going in for a playful kiss. She lowers her voice but is still having fun teasing him, now that they have roles to play. Her breath whispers teasingly against his skin as she murmurs in his ear. ]

Oh yeah? I'm gonna have to get better at being investigative, then.

[leafhouse]

Yeah? I'd be interested to see that.

[His own voice is low, but not low enough to make either of them conspicuous. Not like they're saying anything that can't be safely overheard, anyway.

He can hear a whistle sounding from somewhere further down the track— their ride will be here soon, thankfully, and once they're actually onboard the train, he'll feel able to relax. Their IDs are solid, and once they're down in Sector Six, they'll have effectively vanished into the crowd.]

So, what do you think, once we get there? [He raises his voice just a little, blending in easily with other couples nearby who are discussing their own plans.] I could treat you to dinner, but there's definitely more exciting stuff to check out in Wall Market than just the food.