onepassingnight | [ Report I ] Hearts and Stars

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[ Report I ] Hearts and Stars

Tseng smiled thinly as he watched the surprisingly large group gathered in one of Shin-Ra's ballrooms, he'd never realized quite how many people considered him family whether they were actually related or not. There was a smattering of brothers and sisters along with their kids, people he couldn't remember seeing but were somehow actually related to him and had come to congratulate him. Turks were there, of course, new ones who were just beginning to learn how to tie their ties and old ones who'd retired before his time.

He'd given a speech; speaking of loyalty and camaraderie, that they'd only need to call and he'd put his tie back on and be out the door for them. Once a Turk, always a Turk and he'd never abandon them or the tiny group of relatives he'd recently been informed of still having.

He knew he should talk to them, approach them and say something but he didn't know a thing about any of them these days. Family had been the company for nearly twenty years now, and while blood was thicker than water he'd shed an awful lot of it alongside the Turks.

It was awkward.

[OOC: Tseng's dreaming of his retirement party, and there's newly discovered family in attendance.]

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Genesis made her way over to the refreshments, requesting only some water and picking up a plate of whatever dessert was on the table. Shin-Ra gatherings were always so boring, even in her dreams, apparently. At least she was wearing a lovely dress, she supposed.

The party wouldn't really pick up until more of the family left and it was just Turks left, stories got passed around along with bottles and a freshly opened pack of playing cards sprawled on a table they would drag in from another room.

"Just water? I figured you'd take advantage of the company footing a bill." He said, taking a few cookies.

"Alcohol does nothing for me," Genesis replied. "The mako burns it out of my system before I can feel even the slightest of buzzes. It makes drinking it quite boring. I'll be content with the water."

She sipped it and looked up at Tseng. "Since when do Turks retire?"

"Mn, it makes me wonder why anyone joins the program willingly." He mused, "Though it's probably for the best that you have trouble with that. I recall one maker having a special sort that isn't processed as quickly by mako, I believe it involves running it through a materia array. It's not easy to get ahold of though, it... tends to have extreme effects on non-SOLDIER."

He recalled having to go through cadet barracks in search of it after a Third had started selling it off by the vial.

"Turks retire quite regularly, we just don't tend to be alive when it happens."

Genesis gave a mock gasp, a hand flying to her mouth. "Oh my~! Did Tseng just tell a joke? And here I thought Turks were incapable of a sense of humor!"

Other than Reno's brand, anyway. She chose not to comment on the special alcohol though, she had never tried it nor did she even want to. She may miss the effects of liquor, but it was hardly something to really want anyway.

"How sad. It had gotten to the point that you call any sort of leaving the company 'retirement.' Then again, give the way you are acting now despite this being your own party, I am starting to wonder if it's even worth the trouble."

"Just because most of the company doesn't have the mental facilities to understand our jokes doesn't mean we don't make them." He replied, "We generally avoid resorting to crude slapstick."

He sighed, looking at the crowded room. "I'm not entirely fond of large parties like this. I...wasn't expecting much of anyone outside of the Turks to come at all."

"And this is why you dream of large parties, because you don't like them," Genesis simply deadpanned, sipping her water.

"I didn't expect so many people to show up, to be honest. I thought it would just be Turks who'd... care." He said the last word slowly, as if uncomfortable with the implications that he had this many people who counted him as a part of their family in one way or another.

Genesis huffed a soft laugh, an amuse smile on her face. "Well, I certainly didn't expect sentimentality to come from you. But I suppose I can see why the Turks regard you with something deeper than just mere loyalty."

It took her awhile to find out, but she knew of those letters he was suppose to have given Zack before shit hit the fan. It only added to her guilt of what she had caused.

Tseng gave her a bemeaused look, "People don't seem to expect a good number of things to come from me, do they?" He let them make their assumptions about him and carefully played the role he'd decided upon to the public and even those who considered him a close friend.

Lukewarm at best, he had rarely shared anything personal without being asked; not that many had.

"We're Turks, it's not something we expect anyone outside of our own to understand. Like SOLDIER we have our own ideals and values that differ from the rest of the military."

"No, they don't," Genesis answered bluntly. "But what do you expect? You are an incredibly passive person and no one knows the inside of a Turk's life other than what is seen. And what people see is certainly not pretty."

Which is probably why SOLDIERs already got more applicants by default.

With a sigh, she put her water down and curled an arm around his, "Come. I think you and I need a much quieter place to talk. And I'm sure you've been wanting to leave since the moment you arrived."

And if Tseng's dream version of Midgar was accurate, there was a very good coffee shop just down the one on LOVELESS Avenue.

It was indeed a very good coffee shop, and entierly used to seeing Turks in and out of it's chairs both on business matters and personal ones. The staff was well tipped to leave them alone unless signaled and had taken to carrying some of their favorites.

"So long as we don't see smoke I doubt we'll be missed too terribly." He agreed, "We can always pretend we were in the restroom when we turn back up." There was a quirk to his lips at that, it was a standard line to feed people and rarely failed.

"I can't promise to be interesting company though."

"I doubt anyone would believe we were in the restroom for that long," Genesis chuckled in amusement as they stepped outside. Her heels clicked on the ground as they walked, her hand briefly opening her clutch (http://www.merx2go.com/products/handbags_dazzling/05230_02lp.jpg) to pull out the long chain it was attached to and let it rest on her shoulder.

"Mm, I'm sure you will be. Promises or no."

The streets were quiet, more than it had ever actually been in reality. If it had been there certainly would have been more than a few odd looks and people crossing to the other side; a Turk and a SOLDIER walking down the street together had never meant anything good for anyone.

"You'd be amazed at what people will believe about others." He frowned lightly, "Things they would find out about with a bit of research or simply asked."

"Mm, I agree," Genesis said. "Many forget that, but you must admit, you Turks don't exactly give off a very sociable face."

Eventually, they reached the coffee shop. She hadn't had coffee from here in a long time. She wished another had been built in Edge. She would risk going there just for a taste.

He held the door for her, the open door letting the sound of some quiet jazz recording filter out.

"We're not supposed to, we're the boogeymen parents tell their children about to keep them in line. Few people sign up to be a Turk, those that do already know one or more of us. We're invited." He explained.

The invitation could be turned down, but the alternative was generally worse than becoming one of ShinRa's boogeymen.

"Yes, I know," Genesis replied, stepping into the coffee shop and immediately perusing the menu. "It wasn't a secret within the company just how one becomes a Turk."

She pointed to the iced caramel and ordered that, along with an apple scone. She reached into her clutch to pull out the gil for the barista.

"Mm, it's been awhile since I have been here. Too bad Midgar is all ruins now," She commented off-handedly, earning an odd look from the barista but she only smiled disarmingly at him.

"They're in Edge as well." Tseng shrugged, "Tier Two North, near the edge."

He himself ordered a black coffee and a sandwich, giving the barista a cold look when asked if he was sure he didn't want tea.

"Don't worry about paying." he said, waving a hand idly.

"Yes, except I am hardly going to show myself there," Genesis scoffed lightly. She stopped digging into her purse for her wallet when Tseng waved his hand. "Well, aren't you just a gentlemen today."

She closed her clutch and set it back onto her shoulder.

"Some of us have to be, it's easier to be polite and helpful." He shrugged, leading the way towards a table tucked in a corner with two mismatched but comfortable chairs and a slightly tacky lamp rising from the floor.

"Ladies first."

"Easier?" Genesis raised a brow, deadpanning as she sat down. "What, trying to get information from me already?"

"No, easier to be a part of polite society." He replied, settling in himself. "People are always quick to assume I'm going to shoot them between the eyes, so by being polite I throw them off balance enough to be left alone."

"And why do you prefer to be alone?" Genesis asked, crossing her legs and leaning on the table with her elbows, chin in hands.

"You have to ask?" Tseng replied, he thought it would be somewhat obvious.

"It's easier than being looked at like some sort of unwanted intruder all the time." he said softly.

"Yes, I do," She said easily. She wanted to hear the answer from his own lips, not just from what is assumed.

"Hm. Welcome to my world. At least you can try and disguise yourself. My eyes give me away no matter what I do."

[ Report I ] Hearts and Stars

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Aw, they're bonding. Maybe.

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