[cloud is on the same boat when it comes to parties. he isn't made for all this fancy showboating and putting up appearances for the sake of conforming to someone who is richer and more powerful. cloud doesn't need to do any of those things, because he's arrived to the party with rufus, who is—in fact—the reason for this party. inauguration as the new president of shinra, and all the fanfare and ass kissing that follows it.]
[it's been in the works for a few weeks now, and cloud is, honestly? disenchanted with the whole idea.]
[when he had first met rufus, he had seemed like a complete douchebag who thought throwing his money around meant anything, but over time... well, cloud thinks it was just being vulnerable over the terrible breakup he had just gone through (no closure, no replies to his messages, nothing), that rufus shinra began to be a friend. and slowly, cloud fell for that young idealism and a vision for a better midgar—something not so cruel and not so much at the cost of the lives of many. but in the past few weeks, when rufus had inherited the throne, he had changed. similarly to his father, the power had gotten to his head.]
[and cloud just felt like he couldn't even get to rufus at all anymore.]
[not to mention that there were news of sephiroth having returned to work for the shinra company. tseng had mentioned it, and rufus finally fessed up a few hours before the party, as they were heading up on the elevator. it doesn't feel great, knowing that his ex(?) would likely be at the party, too, and — well, it's been five years, and he still gets a twist in his stomach when he thinks about sephiroth.]
[he's seeking reprieve at the bar, trying to have a polite conversation with someone who thinks that getting through the boyfriend will get her a chance at an interview with rufus. he wishes he were at tifa's bar instead. the woman's eyes divert from him though, at someone over his shoulder, so cloud takes that chance to finish the rest of his drink and ask for another. thinking none of this has to do with him, until his name cuts through, abruptly, so familiar, and his heart aches.]
[the blond turns back and he just... stares. the look on his face unfathomable, but there's definitely emotion stirring in his eyes, in the way his jaw tightens.]
...Sephiroth.
[the woman is frantic, squealing about getting to meet the great sephiroth! definitely not reading the room.]
don't draw attention to it
[it's been in the works for a few weeks now, and cloud is, honestly? disenchanted with the whole idea.]
[when he had first met rufus, he had seemed like a complete douchebag who thought throwing his money around meant anything, but over time... well, cloud thinks it was just being vulnerable over the terrible breakup he had just gone through (no closure, no replies to his messages, nothing), that rufus shinra began to be a friend. and slowly, cloud fell for that young idealism and a vision for a better midgar—something not so cruel and not so much at the cost of the lives of many. but in the past few weeks, when rufus had inherited the throne, he had changed. similarly to his father, the power had gotten to his head.]
[and cloud just felt like he couldn't even get to rufus at all anymore.]
[not to mention that there were news of sephiroth having returned to work for the shinra company. tseng had mentioned it, and rufus finally fessed up a few hours before the party, as they were heading up on the elevator. it doesn't feel great, knowing that his ex(?) would likely be at the party, too, and — well, it's been five years, and he still gets a twist in his stomach when he thinks about sephiroth.]
[he's seeking reprieve at the bar, trying to have a polite conversation with someone who thinks that getting through the boyfriend will get her a chance at an interview with rufus. he wishes he were at tifa's bar instead. the woman's eyes divert from him though, at someone over his shoulder, so cloud takes that chance to finish the rest of his drink and ask for another. thinking none of this has to do with him, until his name cuts through, abruptly, so familiar, and his heart aches.]
[the blond turns back and he just... stares. the look on his face unfathomable, but there's definitely emotion stirring in his eyes, in the way his jaw tightens.]
...Sephiroth.
[the woman is frantic, squealing about getting to meet the great sephiroth! definitely not reading the room.]