1st POV: Nox:
''Sir? You called for us?'' Hm. If the President called for someone it could be literally anyone. Male. At least one. No idea how many others there were.
''I wanted to be informed about the Ancient. The 'Promised Land' project still ranks as a low priority, but with the war in Wutai having ended a few years ago and us spending the current and past time since then with pacifying the few remaining dissidents we may pick up the project again. Probably soon.
Did you make any headway in getting her to cooperate with our demands?Do you still have eyes on her? Is she still in Midgar? I do NOT want a repeat of Hojos mess up again.'' The President growled.
Oh? So Ifalna did have immense value to them since she was a Cetra and Hojo personally fucked something up and got her killed. Otherwise why would he get the sole blame on this.
''She is still in her usual place. Aware that she can't leave Midgar and that we have eyes on her. In so far she is complying. But in regards to getting her to comply further to lead us to the Promised Land I have to disappoint you.
We have however not resorted to threats. We feared that would be counterproductive with your orders.
Should we start issuing threats, Sir?'' A Turk most likely going by what I heard.
''No. Like I said, the Promised Land is a low priority right now. Continue to try persuading her to comply with our demands. However if you don't get her to comply through diplomacy by the time the final ingrate opposing us has been silenced then you will resort to threats as well.
Very well. If the situation hasn't changed enough to be made a mention then you may return to your duties then. Dismissed.''
''Understood, Sir.''
The sound of multiple foot steps could be heard.
''Secretary, you may call in the other Head Members now-''
Stella chirped in my other ear and I removed the PHS from my ear.
''What is it, Stella,'' I asked her.
She gave me an indignant chirp and a foot stomp and at once I understood what she was trying to convey.
''Man, you are one greedy girl for my attention. Fine, Let's run around and fight some monsters,'' I pocketed my PHS and and stood up from the meadow patting the dirt off my pants.
She huffed trying to make her thoughts known.
''Yeah, yeah. I know. This is OUR time. Come then. Let us enjoy OUR time,'' I told her and climbed up on her back.
Most of the time the board meetings were boring and of no use to me anyway. They were just reporting to President Shinra about the state of affairs currently.
Still, having memorized the time when meeting usually take place, I did hear of a scheme every now and then without needing to listen in on my PHS 24/7 for any activity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st POV: Aerith:
''Tadaaaa! So, what do you think?,'' I asked him opening the doors at the entrance of the church.I ran a little to the middle of the church and spread my arms out, watching him step in.
''Hm. Though dilapidated, it seems like a tranquil place,'' Nox replied looking around. For a moment I had the impression that he wanted to say something else, but that moment passed by quickly.
''And of course, the flowers I told you about,'' I turned around and walked the rest of the way all the way to the dais of the church.
''These ones don't need as much tending as the flowers back home. I guess it has to do something with the soil here,'' I played the situation off a bit.
I heard humming and turned around. Nox took a seat on the bench in the first row and crossed his arms looking at me.
''Do you know what these flowers symbolize?,'' I asked him.
''I'm no florist. Tell me,'' he replied.
I turned back around and clasped my hands into a prayer.
''They symbolize Reunion,'' I told him. He hummed again.
''You hum a lot,'' I called him out on it.
''Deal with it,'' he replied instantly.
I chuckled and then went silent. For a while we sat in a comfortable silence, me praying and trying to listen to the voices and Nox sitting doing who knows what. I don't have eyes in the back of my head.
''Midgar, full of flowers, Wallet, full of money,'' I quoted to him eventually.
''...Yeah, let's talk about the second part of your dream a bit,'' he muttered making me giggle. Then I shook my head and turned back around to see him.
''Those are not my words. A friend of mine told them to me,'' I pointed up at the hole in the ceiling,''He fell from the upper plate and landed on the flowers. When he saw them, he immediately proposed to sell them.''
''Hm. You took those words and made it your own dream, I guess,'' he commented, sounding approving. Surely, he was thinking back to our first conversation and what I told him. Though I don't know what exactly made him sound approving of what I said or what I did.
''Yup. Do you have a dream?,'' I asked him.
''Yes. To be strong,'' he replied.
''But why? Do you want to be a hero? Or do you want power just for powers sake? Or is it a 'Might makes right' situation?,'' I asked him and stood up to turn fully towards him. I clasped my hands behind my back a little nervous. I remember another guy who wanted to be a hero.
He unsheathed his sword and held it aloft in the air. A small shiver went down my back for some reason, even if I knew that he had no intention of harming me. The sword just seemed ...alien, I guess.
''The world is a complicated and dangerous place. What should be is often not the case.
Money may motivate some people. A cause may motivate others. Love and a desire to protect your loved ones motivate the rest. And where does that motivation lead to? Action. But action without the power to back it up leads nowhere. So I decided to skip one step and go to the conclusion of the matter. Power, power talks. Power makes the world go round.
What motivates me to use that power, can always come later. But when my motivation does come, I am already primed to take action instead of suffering some sort of hurt, as is unfortunately often the case.
I mean, just look at Shinra. They don't own the world because they are morally superior. They own it because they had the strength to take it. Morals and anything else came afterwards,'' Nox explained and then closed his eyes, shook his head and sheathed his sword again.
I smiled at him.
''What?,'' he asked me after he opened his eyes.
''You're a good person,'' I complimented him.
''How do you figure?,'' he raised and eyebrow and leaned his back on the bench, arms resting on the rail of the bench.
''You're not abusing your power to harm others,'' I told him.
''Maybe that just means I don't consider myself powerful enough,'' he challenged playfully with a narrow of his eyes.
I shook my head.
''Woman's intuition,'' I answered him.
''Ah. Well, how can I argue in the face of such impeccable logic,'' he shrugged making me giggle and let his head hang back.
''That's right, mister. Sometimes you shouldn't argue with a woman for she knows best,'' I replied with mocking seriousness.
''Sometimes,'' Nox reminded me and lifted his head back up.
''Sometimes,'' I easily agreed with him. It was like a gut instinct. I saw Zack display it often enough when he fought monsters in the slums that I knew it was a thing. And I didn't question it. They say man can only have five sense, but there are those who say they are six. Hard to argue against when that sixth sense proved itself often enough, even if not all the time. Maybe woman's intuition could be like that too.
''...''
?!
But... normally the flowers in the church only want to be tended by me.
''...''
Try? Ok, got it.
''Hey, Nox. Come here for a second,'' I instructed him. He stood on the bench for a bit, looking contemplative, but then he pushed himself off the bench and strode over.
I moved my pink dress so it would be trapped between my legs and preserve my modesty when I crouched down to look at the flowers. Nox moved to stand beside me.
''Do you want me to show you how to tend to flowers?,'' I offered him.
''I guess?...Say, is there something special about this church?,'' he asked me.
''Not really. Why?,'' I lied. He didn't look like he believed me an starred at the flowers for a while with... with suspicion. I guess. He had a good poker face when he wanted.
''Hmm. Alright, show me,'' he agreed finally.
''Like I said, these flowers don't need much tending to. Just rip out the weed. Here, I'll show you,'' I proceeded to show him what weed to rip out and how to do that without harming the flowers roots. He removed his gloves and began repeating my motions.
I clapped my hands gently when he followed my instructions. He looked a little unsure.
''It seems you have a green thumb as well,'' I commented.
''Don't patronize me. I can learn, but you will always be more knowledgeable about this then me. My talents lie somewhere else,'' he shook his head.
I pursed my lips. Just take the compliment, will you?
A few minutes passed with us tending to the flowers. More I then him, since his lack of confidence in ripping out the weed made him work slower. But while I was working I was looking at Nox to see why the flowers would let him tend to them.
What was the planet trying to tell me? Mom, If only I was a full Cetra like you, I would hear the voices more clearly.
''Well, this is it. Want to come back to my home with me? I want to pick some flowers and go to the top plate to sell them again,'' I explained to him.
''Sure. It's Sunday after all,'' Nox explained.
''What does that have to do with anything?,'' I asked him as we started making our way back.
''I restocked my inventory in the pharmacy. And I have two workers/disciples I can push the work to. All I really need to do is teach them how to concoct potions and bring the monster parts, the selling, the boring part, they can do themselves. While we do have Sundays open, I believe it is good for any student to have a day off, to let knowledge settle,'' he explained.
''Oh? You find selling boring, but you are willing to come with me to sell flowers. Do you wish to tell me something?,'' I teased him.
He rolled his eyes and didn't otherwise dignify my question with another answer.
''I find it boring, but I can put up with it,'' Nox replied making me pout.
Come on. React to my teasing!
''Hmm. So, that means that we won't be able to hang out as much on Mondays till Fridays,'' I muttered a little sad. And here I was hoping me and my friend could go on many adventures together.
''Not always. I don't close that late and the rest of the day is spent brewing and teaching them. Once they are done with their tutelage I can leave the shop completely in their hands. We can hang out then,'' he explained.
Hmm. Oh! I know. I can always visit him and hang out with him then. Assuming he isn't selling, he is probably off fighting monsters. We can hang out then. And then I can go sell my flowers while he is teaching his students.
I was not gonna tell him that. I wanted to surprise him with my visit.
''How long will this tutelage take, till they are done, that is?,'' I asked him instead. He shrugged.
''Depends a little on them. For me it took six months. Since I have two of them, I can't be entirely sure it will take this long too,'' he answered.
''You know, is it really alright for you to just shove your responsibilities on them? Especially once they are done learning their trade, because then you can essentially leave the store to them as long as you want. Aren't you their boss? Aren't you slacking off, mister? Shouldn't you set an example to your workers,'' I chastised him.
''What else am I paying them for? It's usually how these things work. If anything, I'm doing more then the average manager. Point is, I will do my work, but if I need to take care of a personal matter or otherwise I can have the option to just leave them to it and go take care of my stuff,'' he explained.
Ah. Got it. I decided to try teasing him again.
''Well, that is very greedy of you, mister. You essentially want to have your cake and eat it too,'' I told him wagging my finger.
''So? Anything in moderation is good. On the opposite, anything in excess is a vice, even a virtue,'' he waved off my remark.
''What? I fully disagree. How can kindness be a vice?,'' I asked him with a frown.
''Kindness is not a vice. Kindness in excess is a vice. Imagine the whole world just giving and giving and giving and giving some more. Everyone would burn themselves out and you'd need to ask yourself if they are even humans at that point. For what is a human without his individuality? When to be kind and when not to, is entirely left up to the individuals own judgement.
Likewise, imagine if the whole world would just take, take, take. No one would create anything new and eventually the things that do exist will break down. And so on and so forth,'' he explained.
''Hmm. I disagree. Otherwise that would justify some pretty heinous activities or crimes, because they are a 'balancing act'. And I doubt you would go around raping or killing people for that reason,'' I told him with a shake of my head.
''You are right of course. No philosophy or worldview is entirely correct. And that is an entirely valid criticism to make. What about you? What worldview do you adhere to?,'' he asked me.
''I'm surprised you so quickly admitted the faults of your own philosophy. I don't know, I expected most people to ... not do that,'' I told him.
''Faith not tested is brittle. I WANT people to disagree with each other,'' Nox immediately replied.
''I don't. Disagreements can lead to war,'' I shook my head.
''Fair. You still haven't answered my question in regards to your worldview,'' he reminded me.
''I... don't know. I never really thought about it. I guess... I just want people to live happy lives and for there to be no more war... I don't know. It's silly,'' I murmured a little shy. I had other concerns on my mind then to wonder about philosophy.
''It's not,'' he assured me.
I stopped on the walkway. The people passed us by, some even greeted me knowing me as a passing acquaintance. Nox stopped too and turned to look back at me.
''You think so?,'' I asked him.
''I know so. I don't like people preaching gospel or telling you what to think and do. They can barely get their shit in their own life together and these people want to lecture OTHER'S? Don't make me laugh.
It seems to me you made up your own mind. Of course, to me it sounds more like a goal then a philosophy, because the question is- how do you get people there? But either way, it is a valid worldview or desire to have,'' he explained his expression even more serious then usual. Grave seriousness, I jokingly dubbed this expression.
I clasped my hands in a prayer, gave a quick prayer and then smiled at him.
''What?... Don't make this weird. Come on. The flowers won't sell themselves,'' he turned around and began walking again. I ran a little to catch up to him and began walking by his side.
''Thank you, for the encouraging words,'' I told him and leaned a little forward while walking to look at his face.
''Sure,'' he shrugged, clearly not knowing what I was thanking him for.
That is fine.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st POV: Nox:
Well, that went better then expected. Now keep this up for a few weeks and she may very well open up. Aerith I mean. Hmm, unfortunately I already tried. To be upfront about her Cetra heritage. She closes up and doesn't say much and our 'relationship' gets strained.
Fair enough. I can work with that and meanwhile work on other projects.
Now, let's see where Shinra ACTUALLY keeps it's secrets. And not the bits and pieces of puzzles scattered around.
---
''No... NO. Astrid, what the hell are you doing?,'' I quickly intervened and removed the glass of distilled solution from the flame.
''I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I just... It won't happen again. Please, don't throw me out. I will do better. I will,'' she desperately assured me.
I raised an eyebrow to the older woman. Naomi just shrugged, before returning her attention to her own potion making.
''Right. Is it something personal?,'' I asked her and safely disposed of the failed mixture.
''What? No. No. It's just. I'm a little tired. A good nights rest will have me back in a jiffy,'' Astrid rubbed her face.
''And WHY are you tired? You know that you need to be mentally here, during potion making. A good night's sleep is important and yet you claim to be tired.
So. What. Is. Wrong?,'' I asked her slowly.
She looked uncertain for a bit and then shook her head.
''Very well. Go home,'' I instructed her, casting a quick glance to Naomi to see if she was doing alright.
''No! Please, I will do better. Don't trow me out. Please,'' for a moment she looked like she was about to throw herself at my feet with her pleas.
''I'm not throwing you out. But tired as you are, you are worthless to me. In fact, more then worthless. You are a danger. You nearly blew us and the shop apart. So go home and sleep and come back tomorrow. Or insist that you can continue today and THEN I will fire you,'' I explained to her slowly.
''I...I understand. I'm sorry. I will do better,'' Astrid nodded and slowly, unsurely, made her way back out of the brewing room. I waved her off and she finally left.
''Alright, Naomi. Spill. What is wrong with her?,'' I asked Naomi instead. The two of them must have a closer relationship with each other then I have with them, what with me being distant.
''I don't know either. We talk about a lot of things. But... I noticed she doesn't really talk about her family that much. Kind of evades the subject, as a matter of fact. I think she doesn't really get along with them. Aside from that I don't know what else could be wrong with her,'' Naomi shook her head, a touch of concern on her face.
I hummed. Yeah, noooooo. I dealt with this situation often enough to have an idea of what could be wrong.
''Will you help her?,'' the older woman asked me.
''Yes,'' I replied immediately.
...
''Why do you look so surprised or shocked?,'' I asked her seeing Naomi's expression.
''I thought you wouldn't care, what with you being so distant,'' Naomi explained.
''I don't like wasting resources. And I already invested a lot in your schooling. I want my investments to make returns. If something ails her, then she can't do that now, can she?,'' I explained to her.
She looked at me for a while, before shaking her head exasperated and smiling a fond knowing smile. I head an inkling on what she was thinking, but I didn't care. Let her live with her delusions, especially if it serves me well.
''Very well, then best you help her quickly or she will slow down our operations. Like I said, we talk, but not THAT much. I suspect the only thing that could over some insight to what plagues her is the matter of her family, but she doesn't talk about them at all. So if you do go, you could try looking into that first,'' Naomi suggested.
''Don't try to tell me, how to run my business. Also, I see you are done with your potion, pack everything and go home yourself,'' I turned away and began walking out. Anything we didn't make during our lessons, I will just have to make myself when I'm done with this all, during the night. To restock our inventory for tomorrow.
''I wouldn't dream of presuming such. Good luck out there,'' she called out to me, before the door closed behind me.
---
I wanted to go to snoop around Shinra... but oh well.
Following after Astrid was...a pain. She did go to her home, as instructed by me and then I had the luck to wait around till nighttime. Assuming she wouldn't do anything today that revealed more, I would have to sneak into her home and install a listening device or put a tracker on her.
Just when I was about to call it quits for tonight and return to the shop to make the potions for tomorrow, she exited her home.
Bingo.
...
Well, not really. It depended on where she went. She could very well go to 7th Heaven or the market or somewhere else.
I began following her, sneaking high above the ground and on the roof of these rundown buildings. Some effort had to be made not to stumble over the uneven roof and make noise, but otherwise I followed her just as well.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I peered over the edge of the roof. Astrid was in some secluded alley in Sector 4. The most crime infested Sector out of the eight. What was she doing here?
She looked around apprehensively, clutching something near her waist. I couldn't see that object up till now. It was small, almost purse like. Money, most likely. But for what? 'Protection money', 'Blackmail', etc?
I'll just have to wait and see.
I didn't have to wait for long. A man came out from around the corner entering the alley too. Astrid looked afraid now, instead of just apprehensive.
''Hello there, pretty doll,'' the mans eyes leered at her and she visibly swallowed her disgust.
''I brought the money you requested. Now let my sister go,'' Astrid demanded.
''Eeeeeh? Your sister? Girl, what about the rest of your family? That money is too little for all of them,'' the man drawled in his high pitched voice.
''I know. I will bring the rest of the money for the others as well. But for now I just want my sister back,'' Astrid clenched her jaw as she replied.
Hm. A necessary sacrifice. The world is unkind to both man and woman, but woman suffer rape more then men. Does she have a brother too, as a matter of fact.
''Mmm. I don't know. You have to understand where I'm coming from. My parents raised me with the belief that nothing is more important then family. Seeing you just split your family apart like that. Tsk, tsk, tsk. I don't think I can stand by, while you do that. No deal. Your family comes as a package,'' the man gravely shook his head. Hm. Good actor. Nearly. But the context around him makes it clear, he doesn't actually believe what he is saying.
''Then why didn't you tell me that over the phone? Fine, give me the money and I'll come back with more later,'' Astrid scowled, holding out her hand.
''Ah, I don't know about that. This Sector is not all that safe. You already risked so much by walking around with this money here. It is a wonder it wasn't stolen from you or worse. I think I'll hold onto it for you,'' the man spoke with concern.
Mhm. And when she brings the next batch of money? He would have conveniently not remembered the money she already brought. Say, she needs to pay 1000 and right now she brought 200. Next time she brings 800, he will say she is missing 200 and then, if she is smart, she will bring 1000 and so the man made 2000 of her. And EVEN then this man will come up with something, an excuse, to continue to make her pay more and more.
This right there, is why one should NEVER engage with a blackmailer. Go for the nuclear option and kill them or call their bluff, otherwise they will take and take and take till one has nothing left to give.
Astrid clenched her fist by her side.
''Hey now, pretty doll. Don't make that face at me. I'm just expressing my values as a family man here. Honestly you should be the one ashamed. Tsk. Running away from home like this and moving to another Sector without taking your family with you.
But then again. I heard you got yourself into a good position. Working for some pharmacist and being his disciple, eh? Even pays you a pretty Gil too, I'm sure you'll have the rest of the money gathered in no time,'' the man tried pacifying her, as if he was the wronged party here.
Heh. 'Rest of the money', sure buddy.
''I had every intention of moving them to my place, but then you got involved. My folks were good people, we never took a loan. So, why the fuck are you bothering us?,'' Astrid growled at him.
''Careful, pretty doll. We have our reasons, but I assure you we mean no harm. Then again, if you really think we are so terrible, you can always stop dealing with us. We can put your sister and brother to work. Both are pretty things and Don Corneo is always looking for more workers. Even your mother is still a pretty lady, even in her age. And I'm sure you father can be put to work somewhere,'' the man shrugged after talking with a leisure tone. The implications self evident in this context.
Astrid balled her fists so hard they trembled for a bit.
''I will bring you the rest of the money,'' she spat.
Oh, you stupid girl. I sighed softly. Love kind of makes reason leave the building. Many times I have seen that, both from enemies and allies alike.
...
Will I really overthrow a human trafficking ring or whatever this was? Or should I just save Astrids people so that she can return back to work?
...
...
...
...
Astrid is working for me. She is my people. My worker. My resource. That anyone would think to lay hands on what is MINE.
'Careful now. You're sounding too attached to the thing now. But I agree. Until she betrays us, as everyone is eventually wont to do, she can enjoy our protection from afar. For that is what it means for a subject to offer their services to us. Shall we hunt then, brother?'
My heart began pounding in my ears.
There can only ever be one verdict for their transgression.
I brought a government down, made a country shake and brought it to it's knees.
This? This small crime syndicate or whatever they were, would be NOTHING. A childs play. No one would even know it was me.
I set my checkpoint down.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd POV:
The first thing Nox did was follow the man to his hideout. Then he killed himself and followed Astrid back home, sneaking once more across the rooftops of the buildings. It was a good thing he did that, because he had to quietly dispose of a few men who wanted to do her harm.
And then?
Well.
They weren't monsters.
And he only got better at hunting people since last time.
It really was childs play.
He returned to the hideout, after being 100% sure that Astrid returned back home safely and set another checkpoint.
Then he entered the hideout.
Suffice to say that he got everything he could from them, calling them out on their lies, revealing and cross-refferrencing intel that he received from them till he was satisfied that he had the truth. Then he went to the next hideout and repeated the process.
And again.
And again.
He found out who the leaders were.
He found out where the victims where. They were being kept in a secure location in a shipping container. Even better, since he could open the container and leave. Assuming they weren't shackled which he could easily check and then kill himself. And if they were? He would cast a weak Sleep on them with a Materia.
He found evidence.
And when he was finally, finally, satisfied with everything he gathered, he returned back to his starting point, with none the wiser that he spent hours, days, interrogating everyone.
He returned to his condo, hid his sword under the mattress and set the final checkpoint. He won't be updating it in a while, to be sure that nothing slipped past him and that there was now suspicion on him. And he could always return back to the Black Materia in case it would get stolen.
(It was stolen. So he took it with him on his person next time. Better then the sword since it was more inconspicuous, but it did raise the question of who could sense the Black Materia while it was hidden and it's presence masked. A mystery for another time.)
He packed a black cloak in his backpack as well as a black mask and a dagger. He equipped the Black Materia in one of his pockets and then left the building.
Then he set about his task and in one night killed everyone in Sector 4 that had their finger dipped in this human trafficking ring. If the others in the upper plate and other Sectors that benefited from that were smart, they would see the writing on the wall and let the matter drop. Or not. Not like they have anything to pin on him and hunt him down.
After killing them all, he laid all the evidence on the leaders desk for the authorities to see. A warning and a reasoning in one. 'Let the matter drop or you will be next and I killed them because of this motive.'
Finally he let the victims out, luckily they were unshackled so he watched from afar as they tentatively exited the containers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
''Did you rest well?,'' Nox asked Astrid the moment she came into the shop.
''Huh? Uh, uh,y-yeah. I did,'' she replied unsure how to address him. Her parents called her and explained everything. Thought it will be a while till she can get to seeing them, since they are being asked questions by the police.
She suspected. She knew that Nox probably knew that she suspected. Nox probably knew that she knew that he suspected her to suspect him. And so on.
They both knew that they wouldn't be addressing the elephant in the room.
''I'll take your word for it. Later, we'll pick up where we left off. I hope this time you will be mentally present. I don't appreciate having my time wasted. Anyway, It is good that you are here. Help Naomi in selling potions, I'll go gather some monster parts again,'' he left without much fanfare. His sword and the Black Materia back at his hip.
Astrid took her position next to Naomi.
''Do you know what happened in Sector 4?,'' Astrid asked her eventually. She wanted to see if she wasn't completely unwarranted in her suspicions. It was not like any customer came in. Naomi frowned in confusion.
''No. What happened in Sector 4?,'' the older woman asked her.
''My folks called me first thing in the morning. Some nasty people heard I got it good here, what with working for Nox. But my parents couldn't yet move from Sector 4 to my home, since it was too small and I was hoping to buy or rent a bigger place.
Fat load of good saving me did. Those same nasty people took my folk hostage and demanded ransom and I kept paying them.
Anyway. Last night the entire human trafficking ring was wiped out and all the victims were let out. All that remained of the criminals were corpses and blood leaking everywhere. Shinra Troops are still investigating, but there should be news today, sooner or later talking about that.
What I wanted to ask is...
Do you think-?,'' Naomi interrupted Astrid explanation and stopped her from asking any questions by laying her hand gently on her forearm and squeezing it gently.
''It took me a while to understand, but Nox was hurt deeply by someone. Since then it is difficult for him to let people close. My husband was much the same, before he finally let people in.
Nox cares about us in his own way. Don't look at what he says, but what he does. You understand, young lady?,'' Naomi asked her.
''...''
''Do you weep for those people?,'' Naomi asked her.
''Hell no,'' Astrid immediately replied, looking affronted.
''Then I ask again. Do you understand, young lady?,'' Naomi asked her again, gently, patiently. She didn't want to pressure the younger girl into anything.
''...Our boss is pretty competent. No?,'' Astrid smirked at the older woman making her chuckle.
''He is. That he is,'' Naomi agreed easily.
---
''Tifa, give me the house special,'' Nox ordered after entering the 7th Heaven. She gave him a polite smile and a nod.
Once he got his order he sought a place in the corner and began eating.
''Hey, Tifa. Increase the volume a little, will you?,'' one of the customers called out and pointed at the TV. She nodded and did just so.
''The Head of Shinra Security had this to say to the events in the Sector 4 Slums,'' the image moved from the reporter to Heidegger who was holding a press conference.
''Now, I know what some of you are thinking. We were too brutal, too bloody. Some have dubbed it the 'Night of the Red Rivers'.
But I ask you, good people of Midgar, what then of what the criminals in Sector 4 were doing. It was a human trafficking ring spanning wide and far and you expected us to react any way else? Last night was proof of our efforts to bring about an end to that human trafficking ring and we delivered. The criminal rate in that Sector already shows to have lessened. Ghahahahaha.
No. No. We are aware that the people in the slums do not think much about us, but rest assured that Shinra cares about everyone of its citizen and this was proof of our stance in regards to that. We will continue to work for the betterment and security of all of Midgars citizens. Thank you,'' the image moved back from Heidegger to the reporter.
Nox turned out the rest of what they were going to say. He noted the reaction of the people in 7th Heaven. Aside from Tifa looking green and pained the rest were rather indifferent or celebratory.
Nox hummed.
So that is how they want to spin it. A publicity stunt in Shinra's favor. Meh, Nox mentally shrugged. Suits him just as well.
At least he had his worker back in her right state of mind so that she can continue to learn.
(A.N.: 6028 words. Hope you enjoyed reading that. Cheers.)