Rufus Shinra stands there polishing his shotgun. Watches the others walk out and pauses, blinking, when he sees Cloud

Cloud Strife looks at Rufus....

Cloud Strife says, "So you finally killed him?"

Barret Wallace growls seeing Rufus

Cloud Strife gives Barret another one of those looks

Rufus Shinra says, "Cloud, amazing, you're here"

Barret Wallace blinks again

Rufus Shinra puts his shotgun away and calls Dark Nation over to him

Rufus Shinra says, "It seems I am President now"

Rufus Shinra grins

Barret Wallace says, "*whispers to Cloud* you know him?"

Rufus Shinra says, "and since you are all hear I can let you hear my inauguration speech"

Cloud Strife nods

Barret Wallace says, "how?"

Cloud Strife says, "I know him... although I don't know if he is still the same Rufus I knew... "

Barret Wallace says, "meaning?"

Cloud Strife says, "It was two years ago... I was taken captive... he was my.... Solace"

Rufus Shinra says, "Father tried to control the world with money which was fine for him"

Barret Wallace says, "solace?"

Cloud Strife says, "you wouldn't understand... and I prefer not to talk about it"

Rufus Shinra says, "I on the other hand do things differently"

Rufus Shinra walks to each person, eventually stopping before Cloud

Rufus Shinra says, "I'm going to control the world by fear... there is no reason to waste good money on them"

Rufus Shinra flicks back his hair

Cloud Strife watches Rufus quietly

Barret Wallace says, "*murmuring* great... just what we need...."

Red XIII shakes his head a little

Aeris Gainsborough sighs

Rufus Shinra has finished

Cloud Strife says, "Barret... Tifa... Red... Take Aeris to safety please"

Barret Wallace says, "ok Cloud"

Barret Wallace takes Aeris out of there

Red XIII helps

Aeris Gainsborough leaves with the others

Tifa Lockheart looks at Cloud... and shrugs... then follows Aeris Barret and Red

Rufus Shinra watches Cloud

Cloud Strife says, "Have you changed?"

Rufus Shinra says, "What do you mean?"

Cloud Strife frowns

Cloud Strife says, "I don't know what I mean. So did you kill him?"

Rufus Shinra grins slyly

Rufus Shinra says, "with the mess going on downstairs and me already here.... How could I resist?"

Cloud Strife says, "Well you got your wish... and I seemingly ended up here to see it"

Rufus Shinra says, "yes... because you joined AVALANCHE"

Cloud Strife says, "But... Im guessing we are enemies now...."

Rufus Shinra flicks his hair back

Rufus Shinra says, "hmm"

Cloud Strife scuffs his foot on the ground

Rufus Shinra says, "It seems, since AVALANCE is a terrorist group bent on destroying ShinRa ... which I now control. But ... you do owe me..."

Cloud Strife says, "how do you want me to repay you then?"

Rufus Shinra says, "I'm not sure yet. Do you have a suitable payment?"

Barret Wallace Turns to Tifa

Cloud Strife says, "Depends on what you want"

Tifa Lockheart looks at Barret

Tifa Lockheart says, "Suppose cloud is getting beat up?"

Barret Wallace says, "That kid's only Prez cause his old man got whacked. I have no idea"

Red XIII listens to them

Aeris Gainsborough says, "I hope not Tifa"

Tifa Lockheart says, "What did he mean by Solace and stuff though?"

Rufus Shinra flicks his hair back again

Barret Wallace says, "I have no idea. He said I wouldn't understand. But, why the hell would Rufus have freed him two years ago? That makes no damn sense"

Rufus Shinra looks at Cloud

Tifa Lockheart says, "No clue... unless they were friends or something"

Cloud Strife looks back at Rufus

Cloud Strife sighs

Aeris Gainsborough says, "Friends?"

Cloud Strife says, "What did he do to you... when you let me go?"

Barret Wallace says, "Friends with the Vice President of the ShinRa Corporation?"

Rufus Shinra looks at Cloud some more, his eyes telling all. As if he was fully broken down and mashed until his heart and soul was nothing but black dust...

Barret Wallace says, "that makes no damn sense"

Tifa Lockheart says, "Well he is a human being... isn't he... allowed to have friends isn't he?"

Barret Wallace says, "yeah, but with RUFUS SHINRA?"

Cloud Strife shakes his head sadly

Barret Wallace says, "Damn, that kid is scary then his father"

Tifa Lockheart says, "Well Cloud was friends with Sephiroth as well... perhaps he just picks up weirdoes"

Barret Wallace says, "I guess"

Barret Wallace scratches the back of his head

Cloud Strife says, "So what do you want from me?"

Rufus Shinra says, "I do not know"

Barret Wallace pauses

Barret Wallace says, "hey Tifa..."

Cloud Strife says, "Do anything you like... I owe you like I said.... I owe you big time"

Barret Wallace says, "did you hear what Cloud first said to him?"

Tifa Lockheart says, "I was too busy being in shock.... What did he say?"

Rufus Shinra says, "Big time.... Now why do you say that?"

Barret Wallace says, "Finally killed him, huh?"

Cloud Strife says, "I'm assuming you got all hell when you let me go"

Rufus Shinra says, "hmm, you could say that. I spent the last two years very far away from here... up north"

Cloud Strife says, "I suppose you hate me now...."

Rufus Shinra says, "why do you say that?"

Tifa Lockheart shrugs

Barret Wallace says, "Damn it... "

Cloud Strife looks at Rufus

Barret Wallace says, "Assassination"

Tifa Lockheart says, "You think they were in on it together? Cloud didn't seem surprised"

Barret Wallace thinks about that

Barret Wallace says, "Wait a damn minute ... he's your friend and now you're saying he's a ShinRa spy? No wonder he doesn't give a damn about the planet! I should have known!"

Barret Wallace slams his fist on a table

Barret Wallace says, "When he was just in it for the money! Let's get going, there is no way I'm waiting for him"

Barret Wallace stalks off for the elevator

Rufus Shinra waits for him to speak

Tifa Lockheart says, "I don't know what to think"

Tifa Lockheart follows Barret

Cloud Strife sighs

Red XIII follows

Aeris Gainsborough follows

Barret Wallace punches the down button

Cloud Strife says, "What to do... what to say?"

Rufus Shinra folds his arms

Cloud Strife rubs the back of his head

Rufus Shinra watches Cloud, his eyes not blinking

Cloud Strife says, "Are you totally dead inside now?"

Rufus Shinra sighs. Flicks his hair back again

Cloud Strife says, "You seem to be"

Cloud Strife frowns

Cloud Strife says, "The look in your eyes... your speech... your posture"

Cloud Strife sighs

Cloud Strife says, "Perhaps I should leave..."

Rufus Shinra says, "perhaps..."

Cloud Strife says, "So who killed all of these people? Did you go on a killing spree?"

Rufus Shinra says, "I'm not sure ... I heard a rumor that it was Sephiroth"

Cloud Strife says, "Sephiroth is alive?"

Rufus Shinra says, "so it seems"

Rufus Shinra flicks his hair back

Cloud Strife says, "What was he doing here?"

Rufus Shinra says, "I am not sure. Cloud, I do not like killing sprees ... that's what brought me hear in the first place"

Cloud Strife puts his hand out to Rufus

Cloud Strife says, "I still owe you"

Rufus Shinra takes the hand

Rufus Shinra says, "yes, I know"

Cloud Strife says, "I've thought about you...."

Rufus Shinra says, "really?"

Cloud Strife says, "Yes, especially since I knew you would be taking the flak for my escape"

Rufus Shinra says, "you have occupied my thoughts as well"

Cloud Strife says, "I hope they were good thoughts"

Rufus Shinra nods

Rufus Shinra says, "yes"

Cloud Strife says, "Why did you come here?"

Rufus Shinra says, "Because of what my father did and blamed on you and your friends"

Cloud Strife says, "The plate...."

Cloud Strife says, "Well he is dead now... You made it painful I hope?"

Rufus Shinra says, "yes, he is"

Rufus Shinra takes out his shotgun. Grins a little, kissing the thing. Puts the shotgun away

Cloud Strife sighs again

Rufus Shinra says, "you sigh...."

Cloud Strife wants to wrap his arms around Rufus and kiss him... but doesnt think it appropriate

Rufus Shinra watches Cloud

Cloud Strife shifts uncomfortably on his feet

Rufus Shinra says, "what did you think of my speech any way?"

Cloud Strife says, "You sound like you mean business"

Rufus Shinra says, "yes, I do"

Cloud Strife says, "Well what do we do now?"

Rufus Shinra flicks his hair back

Rufus Shinra says, "don't know"

Cloud Strife says, "I don't want to owe you twice... by asking you to let me go again"

Rufus Shinra says, "oh really?"

Cloud Strife says, "Ask me for anything.... And it's yours... I owe you... my life..."

Rufus Shinra looks at him

Rufus Shinra says, "I am not sure what I want"

Cloud Strife reaches up slowly and caresses Rufus' cheek

Rufus Shinra cups his hand over Cloud's

Cloud Strife says, "I remember... a little more than 2 years ago... crying as you left in your chopper.... Knowing you would be punished...."

Rufus Shinra says, "really?"

Cloud Strife says, "Yes..."

Cloud Strife smiles faintly...

Cloud Strife says, "I loved you I think... I don't really know... "

Rufus Shinra sighs a little

Rufus Shinra says, "no one has ever really cared enough about me before"

Cloud Strife says, "Your mother did.... Didn't she?"

Rufus Shinra says, "yes ... some what, but I was never around her enough. Father always drug me off with him. Mom has not seen me in years though"

Cloud Strife says, "Why don't you visit her?"

Rufus Shinra says, "I've always been to busy... and to far away. I never have the time"

Cloud Strife looks into Rufus' eyes... searching... much as he did 2 years ago

Cloud Strife hangs his head

Cloud Strife says, "Perhaps I should go... I don't want to fight... "

Cloud Strife takes his hand away from Rufus's face

Rufus Shinra says, "I do not like to fight either"

Cloud Strife says, "I'm glad we got to see each other again... but I wish it had been under better terms"

Rufus Shinra nods

Cloud Strife says, "I don't really want to be an enemy for you. But I don't think you could care about me... not from what Ive seen in your eyes..."

Rufus Shinra says, "oh?"

Cloud Strife says, "you look so empty... Is there anything left of your emotions?"

Rufus Shinra stares blankly at him and sighs

Cloud Strife says, "It seems it got worse for you after you let me go"

Rufus Shinra flicks his hair back

Cloud Strife says, "May I have one last kiss? I'm sure we won't see each other again"

Rufus Shinra says, "yes, but I do think we will see each other again"

Rufus Shinra reaches for him

Cloud Strife says, "Probably not under good terms though"

Rufus Shinra says, "after all, we both have to find Sephiroth"

Cloud Strife presses into Rufus' arms

Rufus Shinra holds him and takes a hold of his mouth, kissing him passionately

Cloud Strife holds tight... not wanting to let go... but knowing he has to

Rufus Shinra doesn't seem willing to let go either, but has to leave

Cloud Strife pulls away

Cloud Strife says, "Safe journeys to you.... I must go.... I still owe you.... Remember that"

Rufus Shinra lets him go and nods

Rufus Shinra says, "yes"

Cloud Strife turns and hurries away before he starts crying again

Rufus Shinra gets in his chopper and flies off

Cloud Strife works his way out of the building and searches for his friends.... Not knowing they aren't totally trusting anymore...