Rufus Shinra Reno is still asleep

Cloud Strife pries himself out of Reno's arms and wonders why the guy has to hold him so damned tight. Although not that he minds

<Reno> zzzzzzzz"

Cloud Strife dresses quietly and pokes his head outside the tent... checking the weather

Cloud Strife says, "Another hot and miserable day"

Cloud Strife steps outside and stretches.... Then closes up the tent

Rufus Shinra turns his head slightly

Cloud Strife hears his stomach growl and sighs... wishing he had put on at least a little weight after he killed Sephiroth

Rufus Shinra watches the sun rise. Turns around and looks at Cloud, his arms folded

Cloud Strife lowers his gaze... no longer able to glare down Rufus

Rufus Shinra turns back around

Cloud Strife says, "The whole top floors of the tower were Vaporized... how da hell did he survive"

Cloud Strife shakes his head

<Man> why do you think we are afraid of him?"

Cloud Strife says, "I thought it was funny when I fell from the reactor to the church and survived"

Cloud Strife says, "But we barely managed to even hold off the weapons let alone destroy them... And here he is surviving being vaporized.... With just a missing eye...."

<Man> No one knows ... and no one really wants to ask"

Rufus Shinra the man walks off

Cloud Strife walks over to Rufus... and tries to keep a steady gaze

Rufus Shinra slides his eye to look at Cloud

Cloud Strife shudders slightly but manages to hold Rufus' gaze

Rufus Shinra keeps his arms folded

Cloud Strife says, "How did you survive?"

Rufus Shinra says, "Survive?"

Cloud Strife says, "Weapon vaporized your office... and the floor below it..."

Rufus Shinra says, "yes ... I know that"

Cloud Strife says, "How did you live through that?"

Rufus Shinra just looks at him

Cloud Strife drops his gaze to the ground....

Rufus Shinra turns to actually face him

Cloud Strife says, "All you have is a scar.... You should be singular atoms floating on the breeze...."

Rufus Shinra says, "so you say"

Cloud Strife says, "Unless you are more powerful than any of us has thought"

Cloud Strife continues to look at the ground...

Rufus Shinra says, "The scar was made from shrapnel ... tearing across my face"

Cloud Strife says, "but how did you not get vaporized?"

Rufus Shinra shrugs

Cloud Strife says, "I had barrier spells and potions coming out the bazoo... you just got wholloped with no time to prepare"

Rufus Shinra says, "yes"

Cloud Strife shakes his head and takes a step back... as he is now very uncomfortable with Rufus' presence

Rufus Shinra sees Cloud understand fully why they fear... and worship... him

Cloud Strife says, "Why do I have to be here?"

Rufus Shinra says, "Because you are here"

Cloud Strife says, "That's not a very good reason..."

Rufus Shinra says, "It is the only reason there is"

Cloud Strife says, "..."

Cloud Strife sighs. Would attack Rufus again... but realizes he doesn't even have the heart to get angry anymore

Rufus Shinra eyes him

Cloud Strife takes another step back.... Hating how he feels like a piece of meat before Rufus....

Rufus Shinra turns his gaze back to the pit

Cloud Strife says, "Im nothing now... I don't have any more spirit than any of the others"

Rufus Shinra does not speak...

Cloud Strife shakes his head

Cloud Strife says, "No... Can't talk like that.... Can't get depressed... I have to look out for Reno now... if anything happens to him..."

Rufus Shinra slides his eye to look at Cloud again

Cloud Strife says, "..."

Rufus Shinra says, "You seem to have an opinion of what happened ... you like the others think I should be dead...."

Rufus Shinra flicks his hair back

Cloud Strife says, "Well... I don't understand how you could have survived. Well did you die? And this is all just some horrible nightmare?"

Rufus Shinra says, "This is no dream"

Cloud Strife says, "Darn... well its all been to real anyway. And I still hate myself"

Rufus Shinra blinks his eye

Cloud Strife stretches a bit and listens to his back crack

Cloud Strife says, "You seem alive.... But are you really dead?"

Cloud Strife takes the chance to poke Rufus....

Rufus Shinra his eye crackles with power. Just stands there. His insides seem dead ... they probably are...

Cloud Strife backs off again

Rufus Shinra says, "What do you think?"

Cloud Strife says, "Well... we all know your inside is dead. Maybe the rest of you is just too stupid or too stubborn to be dead with it"

Rufus Shinra says, "I am not stupid"

Cloud Strife says, "I mean... you don't seem to sleep or eat... although you do have lust.... "

Rufus Shinra says, "yes. I know"

Rufus Shinra flicks his hair back

Cloud Strife says, "So what are you?"

Rufus Shinra says, "What do you think?"

Cloud Strife says, "No clue"

Rufus Shinra Turns away from his again

Cloud Strife says, "You're just an empty heartless... man... all you have is lust.... And a few other things... you're just like your old man"

Rufus Shinra shakes his head

Rufus Shinra says, "I am not like the old man"

Cloud Strife says, "sure sure"

Rufus Shinra turns back to him

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

Cloud Strife says, "You don't care who has to die to get done what you want"

Rufus Shinra says, "you do not seem to understand"

Cloud Strife says, "I care. I've finally found someone to care about.... And lord knows if he's gonna make it"

Rufus Shinra says, "The strong will survive"

Rufus Shinra turns back to the pit

Cloud Strife growls. Wants to just slam Rufus into the pit.... But can't bring death upon Reno

Rufus Shinra gazes over it

Cloud Strife says, "You're a murderer"

Rufus Shinra suddenly turns around and starts walking

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

Cloud Strife says, "Cuz a lot of people have died..."

Rufus Shinra says, "people die ... it is the way of things"

Cloud Strife says, "Cuz Reno might..."

Rufus Shinra stalks off to the structure that seems almost completed. Stands there

Cloud Strife follows Rufus... annoyed that he just walked away from the conversation

Cloud Strife says, "Aren't you listening?"

Rufus Shinra says, "I am listening. I am not like the old man...."

Cloud Strife says, "Reno.... Dead.... You know what that means to me?"

Rufus Shinra gives directions to the workers

Rufus Shinra says, "what?"

Cloud Strife says, "You don't understand love do you"

Cloud Strife wishes he had the ultima weapon...but its safely stowed in Costa....

Rufus Shinra says, "why would I?"

Cloud Strife growls again

Cloud Strife says, "I am short tempered... You're ignorance of emotions is angering me"

Rufus Shinra says, "Why?"

Cloud Strife says, "Because... Why bother, There's nothing I can do about it anyway"

Rufus Shinra cocks his head to one side

Rufus Shinra says, "hmmm"

Cloud Strife says, "except sit back... and watch it happen.... Reno... He's not dead yet... stop acting this way..."

Rufus Shinra Turns back and watches the people work

Cloud Strife looks at the structure

Aeris Gainsborough walks over to Cloud

Aeris Gainsborough says, "Cloud ... come with me please"

Cloud Strife says, "alright..."

Aeris Gainsborough takes him off to the trees

Aeris Gainsborough sits down

Aeris Gainsborough says, ".... Did you hear any of what me and Tifa were talking about last night?"

Cloud Strife says, "No... I was spending time with Reno. Who knows how much longer..."

Cloud Strife chokes slightly thinking about it

Aeris Gainsborough says, "Well... Rufus is a Cetra born with Jenova ... did you know what Jenova did when she infected the Cetra?"

Cloud Strife says, "I really don't give a damn what he is.... He's causing me misery"

Rufus Shinra people walk by with their work

Aeris Gainsborough says, "I know ... Jenova turned the infected Cetra into monsters ... wiping them out"

Cloud Strife nods

Aeris Gainsborough says, "but he was not infected ... he was born fused with Jenova...."

Cloud Strife says, "He's still a monster"

Aeris Gainsborough says, "I know ... that's not what I mean ... Tifa was pointing out the battle inside... And the power. When you fought Sephiroth you were just fighting Jenova power...."

Rufus Shinra stands, watching the work

Cloud Strife says, "Yeah yeah, I know. I can't beat this guy"

Aeris Gainsborough says, "And it's all ShinRa's fault"

Cloud Strife says, "I didn't even beat Sephiroth.... Just dumb luck"

Aeris Gainsborough says, "You didn't?"

Cloud Strife says, "How could I have? Look at how weak I am"

Aeris Gainsborough says, "You are not weak"

Aeris Gainsborough looks over at Rufus

Cloud Strife says, "Hrmph"

Aeris Gainsborough says, "just looking at him, how strong do you think he is?"

Cloud Strife says, "Im weak. He looks like a pansy from here"

Aeris Gainsborough nods

Aeris Gainsborough says, "and yet he is stronger then the 'great' Sephiroth"

Cloud Strife plays with his gauntlets

Cloud Strife says, "I only bested sephiroth cuz of dumb luck... nothing more. I'm just some idiot kid. Who got lucky"

Aeris Gainsborough says, "But, you did it more then once!"

Cloud Strife says, "It was the luck plus materia...."

Cloud Strife shakes his head