ShinRa Calamity

directorlazard:

Lazard couldn’t quite help a startled laugh, recognizing the quote. “Well, thank you. If there are any communications you want me to send out, or people you’d like to see, I’ll make arrangements. For the moment, I’m more inclined to get the doctor’s take on how things are progressing. The world hasn’t ended yet, so something has to be going right. One can hope, at least.”

He could see the blankly distant look on his brother’s face, and could hardly blame him for it. As soon as they were alone again, he’d test out Rufus’ willingness to discuss the immediate and most glaring difficulty of his hopefully temporary blindness. It had to be terrifying, was all he could think, and he wasn’t sure how he could help - only that he wanted to.

He’d do what he could to do right by the younger man, and just… hope it was enough.

Rufus supposed he was glad to hear Lazard laugh. It gave him a brief feeling of normality. “Your welcome, Lazard.” It took him a moment. “I wouldn’t mind getting in touch with some of your men. Or perhaps Veld if you could manage it. I’d like to know how were doing in the field. Surely something must be left of Midgar……”

But the last Rufus had seen of Midgar had been rubble and ash. If that was to be his last sight of the city, of the world…. It seemed a dim future.

A dim future which he intended to change— blind or not.

“Yes…… I suppose I should have a doctor take a look.” A brief illusive smile crossed his face. The sort of thing that surely concealed his mind’s turmoil. Softly the Blond added a reassuring tone to his previous monotone. “Never know…. maybe I’ve always been blind.”

Whatever reassuring statement he had meant to make. Had skewed into a morbid joke.

Source: apathetic-ruler

FIFTY SHADES OF TSENG: Can women be Shinra SOLDIERs?

risingoflights:

Thank you so much for your thoughtful response. It’s always fascinating to hear more of someone’s head canon. Especially when they better understand/have given more thought to a character than I. I also think it’s fine to write about characters with problematic views/have characters with problematic views, and to reflect real world problems/attitudes in fiction.

I think you did a really good job describing subconscious misogyny. I once heard misogyny compared to smog. It’s mostly invisible, it surrounds you, and constantly breathing it in/being surrounded by it can impact you. Which isn’t to say that sexism isn’t wrong/it’s not anyone’s fault that they’re sexist, rather that sexism can be so engrained in culture that you don’t notice it and that can shape attitudes.

Like the riddle about the doctor.

A father and son are in a horrible accident. The father dies instantly and the son is rushed in for surgery. The doctor comes but says, “I can’t operate on him. He’s my son.”

How is that possible?

The answer is the doctor is his mother. This riddle stumps a lot of people, myself included (and I am a woman and a feminist). When I heard the riddle my first response was to say ‘he had two dads?” and then to be confused when asked for the other possibility. Most people I’ve asked guessed two dads before guessing mother, even if they did get the answer.

I really like you explanation of Hojo’s attitudes. It makes perfect sense and it’s very true. Sexism isn’t just outward hatred of women, it’s bias. Thinking about Elfe, I had thought why would you bother making a  little girl into a super soldier if women are less suitable for combat, but regardless of what Hojo thinks of women Elfe must have been chosen because she was exceptional. Out of any survivors at Kalm something about her must have stood out and that made her ideal to Hojo as a test subject. I can also see your logic as to why gender wouldn’t matter when it came to subjects as much as when it came to SOLDIERS.

Although my question remains what would Hojo have done with Elfe if she had been a success and her memories wiped in such a way that would make her amenable to serving Shinra. I feel President Shinra would want to use her, although Veld complicates things in that regard.

Anyway, I think it’s interesting to consider sexism in the world of FFVII and with Shinra.

 Considering the board:

 Heidegger: As I mentioned I tend to see Heidegger as sexist, even though that doesn’t have any basis in canon either.

 Scarlet: I think Scarlet probably has internalized misogyny and dislikes women as well, although she might hate most people almost equally and just hold women to a higher standard.

 Palmer: I have no idea about Palmer, the Space Program seems to be equal opportunity.

 Reeve: He might have some chivalrous notions, but is probably fair-minded.

 Lazard: I have no idea about Lazard.

 Veld: I don’t think he’s sexist because the Turks are equal opportunity. (My head canon also includes female Turks going back to when Vincent was still a Turk, the first female Turk being Gun and Elena’s mother)

 Rufus Shinra: Not sexist, more “I don’t think I’m better than you because you’re a girl. I know I’m better than you because I’m me.”

 President Shinra: Racist, homophobic, possibly misogynistic, but I’m not sure if he’s outright sexist since there are equal opportunity positions within the company. Although he might have a ‘men are inherently better, some women are exceptional” mentality. I’m not sure.

 I’d like to have your opinion on the board. If anyone else wants to chime in on this feel free. And I hope we can discuss sexism in fictional characters and writing sexism/other isms without fear of being attacked for saying something inadvertantly offensive. Although I do appreciate being enlightened because if I accidentally say anything problematic it’s probably due to innocent lack of education.

As stated, the collective body of tumblr probably knows more than us, although I know a quite bit of feminist theory from Uni which is probably why I’m keen to have this sort of discussion. It’s interesting. 

Please attach ‘imo’ to everything I’m saying here. ;)

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Source: fuckyeahfinalfantasy7help

The Ivory Tyrant: Sick

moralmisconduct:

Hojo hated company functions, but in his position, one never turned down an opportunity to network. After a few glasses of wine, even the tightest wallets could loosen… and the most unlikely of projects became easier to pitch.

After-parties, however, were another matter entirely. After-parties were loud, exuberant, and altogether useless. Hojo avoided them wherever possible, but couldn’t escape every time - tonight, for instance, when Shinra slapped a meaty hand down on his shoulder and all but steered him into one of the smaller streets of Midgar, all the inebriated cooperate figureheads in tow.

Luckily, it never took long for the scientist’s presence to be forgotten. Fifteen minutes later, he had broken free and was headed back to HQ, mind already preoccupied with the schedule of the following morning…

…until he rounded a corner into something solid, and experienced a fleeting second of warmth before cold, sticky fluid soaked through his thin shirt and pasted it onto the skin beneath.

It took a moment to realise what had happened, and another few moments of fighting the compulsion to yell, before he could speak.

“Vice President,” he said finally, through clenched teeth. Because that’s who it was, and Leviathan be damned, the boy’s clothes were still immaculately white while Hojo’s were ruined. One of Rufus’ hands clung to his arm, and Hojo wrenched it away, giving the young man a shove backward in the process. “Aren’t you a bit too young to be drunk?”

Admittedly it was funny for a few brief moments. Watching the scientist fight back rage at the scarlet liquid smeared across his shirt. Perhaps in his illness the youth was even less inclined to give a damn about what the old scientist thought. But alas the humor wore of as he was shoved back most abruptly and with his mind spinning took a moment longer then normal to steady himself and another moment still to stop his head spinning. No wonder he was now being accused of drunkenness!

Still his wits were about him enough to slide out a snide remark as icy eyes glared down the Professor. “I’d of thought a scientist like yourself would be more observational….” As if on cue a sharp coughing emerged from the youth. However Rufus was far less prepared for the feeling of phlegm clogging his throat as his lungs contracted in a most painful manner. Taking a moment to lean against the wall. Attempting to recover his posture from the fit.

As the damn cough finally stopped. The blond managed to finish his thought. “It’s a cold Professor, quite frankly not all of us have time to get inebriated.” However he did conceal the growing thought that with the shortness of breath, feverish nature, the exhaustion and the headaches that Rufus was in fact wondering if he was developing pneumonia.

But dealing with his health could wait even if he was seeing doubles of Hojo’s glasses….

Certainly he looked a little peaky. Even for his normally pale complexion.

Source: apathetic-ruler

Q:'X' where 'sleep with' is mother doting over her son as he falls asleep, telling him bed time stories, singing lullabies, and running a hand through his hair to ward off nightmares.

lostwhitequeen

As a very small child, yes…. she had fallen asleep at his side on occasion. Times had changed… the only thing that invaded his bed these days was a 200 pound panther.

But then again…. he had grown a little old for stories and songs.

[Lilith…… stop picking on your poor inevitably single son…..]

Pokemon Egg Delivery!

gunsmokeprincess:

apathetic-ruler:

Time to pay dear old Rufus a visit with a gift from the Pokemon ranch some dimensions away. Crisis just came strolling into his office, a big smile plastered on her face, pulling a large aquarium on wheels behind her. Hell, she was almost skipping into the room. Grinning from ear to ear, she gestured towards the tank and its contents. A beautiful silver egg as large as three feet, floating listlessly within the confines of its water container.

“This is yours to have Rufus. It’s a Pokemon egg, which will hatch into a Pokemon in the next few days. It’s low maintenance; all you have to do is leave it inside of its tank, keep the water levels high and you’ll have a new friend to spend time with you in no time flat.”

Rufus blinked for a moment at the tank and egg. He had expected an egg…. not something that large. He attempted to act natural as he destroyed the entire decorum balance of the room by simply pushing the couch over to make room for the massive tank. The table soon followed suit along with the paperwork it was holding.

His sleeves rolled up now. “Yea… Just put it there.”

He brushed his blond hair out of his face.

The President sighed. “You’ve done something sadistic with this egg haven’t you?”

Yet he looked curiously at it.

Large pets always had suited him.

What was—?

Was Rufus rearranging the his office to make room for his new Pokemon companion? Huh. That was…pretty generous of him. Crisis had half expected him to ask her to bring it somewhere else while he did whatever he was doing in this room of his. It brought a smile to her face that he honestly cared, but then he had t say something snarky. Jerk. And she’d hauled this thing all the way to Healin all by herself, too! Walking to boot!

Ah, well. It was Rufus and she couldn’t really let it get under her skin. He was probably just teasing her. Probably. Maybe. Hopefully.

“Did not! The egg came this way! It’s just going to turn out…big.”

Pretty big, considering she knew what was going to hatch from this egg. No way she was telling him. Best to let him see for himself. The colours, she was told, were all wrong, but she had a feeling this shiny new Pokemon would be just right for Rufus. “But I know they’ll adore you when they meet you. I mean…I like you. Dark Nation likes you. Statistically speaking, your new pet will like you, too.”

Rufus sighed as the room was finally reorganized. The decorum once again looking like he had planned to have a giant tank in the room from day one. A little smile. The sort of thing where you couldn’t tell what was going on in that clock work mind of his. Of course— the egotistical bastard who was known for treating people like dirt was in fact fond of most animals. Typical really.

Alright…. so maybe he could be nice to people once you got past the ice age and the brick wall as well as the palace army.

He was just complicated?

A little smile “So you found the largest, most impractical egg and thought it suited me perfectly?”

He couldn’t help but tease as he dumped another bucket of water in the tank. He held out a still full bucket toward her. Completely deadpan. “Perhaps you’d like a drink?”

Source: apathetic-ruler

ShinRa Calamity

directorlazard:

apathetic-ruler:

A small nod. Acknowledging that he heard Lazard. Letting the Doctor examine him. It seemed from what he understood— that his eyes had received chemical damage. It was yet unclear how severe or if it was recoverable. They said they would run more in-depth tests once him and Lazard finished speaking. “Thank you…” Rufus softly expressed. “I’d be glad to have news. I don’t enjoy being left in the dark.”

After all…. he was in the dark literally as well as figuratively.

So somehow the only thing he could think of to keep himself sane was small talk. Thus he asked the pointless question. Perhaps it was silly to just want Lazard to stay and talk to him whilst the world burned. But he was allowed a little selfishness. “How are you… what have you been doing since we last met?

“Ah, well, end-of-the world scenarios aside, life has been rather mundane. The men and I settled in Wutai - we have an understanding with the Emperor - and there are a few individuals I think you’d remember, even if recently was the first time they’d all really been back in uniform. Solidarity, I suppose… Veld may have spoken with Tseng about your rescue, but I’m afraid aside from brief ‘things are going as best as they can’ assurances to each other we haven’t really spoken. He has his men to worry about and well…”

He squeezed his hand gently. “… I had a good reason to stay here.”

A little nod. Tired eyes not quite looking in the direction of Lazard. They seemed hollow, perhaps it was just the fact that he wasn’t taking well to a sightless world. Rufus focused on the words. Trying to drive is attention to anything but the nagging lack of visuals. “Good… so long as the Director is aware. I’m sure he’ll focus his energies on the matters at hand.”

He was glad to confirm that his voice sounded professional. It wasn’t nearly so frail as his aching chest. Rufus found himself sliding away from the squeeze. Even now… as insecure as he felt. Weakness didn’t suit him. Even as he knew that physically he was in fact weak, mentally he was already beginning to force himself to move past the damage.

But what if your sight doesn’t come back?

The thought lingered. He found an answer. Then you learn to live without it. It was a reality he pretended to be ready to face. Mentally screaming that someone would forget protocol and duties to remember that he was effectively crippled and unsure of his future. But it was stupid for him to linger. Sorrow didn’t fix anything… So he echoed Lazard’s little phrase. “Thank you for your hard work.”

Source: apathetic-ruler

Sick

Clearly the young Vice President had just attended one of those corporate parties… the kind where drunkenness seems the only way to understand the stupidity which occurs. Who knew old white men could be so rambunctious? The after-party of course was something that would have turned— quite speedily into a ruckus and roar where the rich indulged far more then just booze. Oh the things the rich got away with…

So it was a wonder to say the man was quite sober— except for a very high fever which had led the young blond wandering about a dubious section of Midgar in a state of confusion. He had already wandered both parties in such a state— being sick and sleepless from a combination of University finals and being Vice President. Perhaps the thick air of the chosen place of after party had him not…. entirely…. well? 

So it was as he stepped out the doors and was greeted by the thick street air with an un-touched glass of punch. Rufus made a turn and slammed into and unintentionally grabbed onto the first thing he could. Which was of course the head of the science department.

Who was now….. quite against him and covered in ruby coloured punch.

He mentally uttered ‘F%$#’