jikan_rpg | make it easy to be on top of the world (open)

Man, if you think you were shocked, imagine how I felt when I got here.

[he doesn't quite manage another grin, but there's still some amusement on his face. "Shocked" felt like it was an understatement, for both of them, but he can't think of a more appropriate word. He's not even sure one exists.

But he knows how it must have felt. Sephiroth was in Nippon too, after all]

I'm still kind of surprised Rufus was the one to tell you. [but thinking about it, that's who Tseng would have gone to check on first, right? President and all] I thought it'd be Reno.

[...

Zack shifts from foot to foot, as always unable to stand completely still. He looks away for a moment, lips pressed together] But I appreciate it, you know. That you tried. [hearing it from Reno had been one thing, but hearing Tseng say it was . . . something. The good kind of complicated something]

It was difficult for me to process everything when I arrived.

[ It's still overwhelming, dealing with all of the things Rufus shared with him the night he arrived in Nippon, knowing everything he and his Turks go through after Rufus steps into the role of President. He's still working through those things.

Seeing Zack doing well is hard, too... especially knowing that, were they to return to Midgar, he would be faced with reality again. Tseng is glad that he was able to tell Zack he tried to get to him before Shinra... and maybe he'll eventually tell him about the letters he promised he'd deliver, too.

He looks up at the mention of Rufus and Reno. ]

But, why would you be surprised that Rufus gave me the news?

[ Though, he realizes a moment after he asks the question, Zack would have no way of knowing that he and his Turks are devoted to Rufus Shinra and nobody else. ]

He was the first person I found in Nippon the night I arrived. [ He's thankful for that. ] He filled me in on life here in Nippon as well as the events that occur in our own world that I've yet to experience.

[ And that's when it occurs to Tseng-- ]

Ah, I suppose it's also worth mentioning that Rufus is my... [ He pauses, choosing his words carefully. ] partner.

[...........................

He's what now]

Yeah, I think that's worth mentioning.

[despite being caught off-guard, there's some restrained laughter in his voice] Now I'm surprised for a different reason.

[he pauses to give the fingercuff a careful tug, just to check and see if maybe that was the thing that freed them. It stays strong, surprisingly enough. How personal do they have to get, geez] How long has that been going on?

[but Zack doesn't miss the other part about it being difficult. He knows some, like what happens in a few years, thanks to Reno, and some of what's happened recently, little pieces he's gathered from the others. But that's it, and he hasn't had much chance to ask about it all]

What events haven't you experienced?

[ The brief tug on the fingercuff doesn't go unnoticed. Tseng, like Zack, had been thinking that maybe an admission of that magnitude would have successfully freed them... He sighs, wondering what else he'll have to share to free himself, and what Zack will have to share, too. ]

I'll start with your first question. [ Not that he wants to ] We've been together for the better part of four years. It's something neither he nor I spoke of, though I'm sure my Turks had their suspicions.

[ There's the smallest hint of a smile on Tseng's face as he says this. Blink and you'll miss it. ]

And for your second question... [ He pauses, sighing. ] The last thing I recall is Rufus becoming President after his father was killed, so I'm yet to experience the destruction of Midgar and the Geostigma crisis.

[ The difficult part was hearing everything that he hasn't experienced, that he'll experience should he ever find himself back on the Planet, back in Midgar. ]

I am aware of everything that has taken place that Rufus has experienced, however, including almost losing my own life after an encounter with Sephiroth.

[it's the answer to the second question that has him making a face. Aside from Tseng almost being killed, he knew about the rest, at least in the sense that he knows it all happened. And he'd learned about it from the Turks and Rufus, too - which might have been ironic, but that was also how it used to go sometimes, wasn't it? Getting details from Cissnei or Tseng.

But first: he saw that smile, you can't hide that from Zack]

I bet they had their suspicions. [a brief grin, the laugh he'd been holding back bubbling out] I'll keep it to myself. Figure that goes without saying, but.

[onto the rest, though . . . his expression sobers again, and as his hand comes up to rub at his neck he lets out a heavy sigh]

I've heard about some of it. I didn't realize Rufus was ahead of everyone, too.

[...]

I'll ask for details another time, I'd rather be stuck to you all day then this be the reason I hear about what's been going on. [heck you, finger trap] I don't have any shocking dating secrets to exchange, though.

You have no shocking dating secrets? [ He shakes his head ] Maybe one day you'll have a relationship reveal of your own... Though I hope the reveal wouldn't be under similar circumstances.

[ After admitting he sent the Turks to find Zack, and spilling his shocking dating secret about his relationship with Rufus, Tseng thought they should surely be free of the fingercuffs... Hasn't he divulged enough information for a lifetime? ]

Perhaps it's your turn to offer up something I may not know about you.

[ Tseng is happy to ignore the events that have taken place in their own world that they haven't experienced. While it's slightly easier for Tseng to stomach, knowing if he ever returns to Midgar, he'll experience everything... But Zack won't get that opportunity. And it makes the conversation that much more difficult. ]

I don't know if it'll be as exciting as yours. [a laugh] I'm not as private about that stuff as everyone else is.

[the humor is short-lived, though. Trying to think of anything Tseng might not know about him is tough, not just because Tseng probably had a file with every little detail about him somewhere, but because all of the things he can think of to say aren't the same as revealing a relationship.

He tips his head back with a face and scrubs a hand through his hair]

Sephiroth and I got drunk and fought outside of the city, a little after I got here.

Think that might be the only thing I have that isn't talking about what happened.

[ With a smile on his face, he gives Zack a curious look because that's certainly not what he was expecting. Were he talking about Genesis or Angeal, there wouldn't be any shock at all... but Zack? A bit unexpected considering how he normally reacted to Sephiroth pre-Nibelheim incident. ]

Can't say I ever expected to hear you say you got drunk with Sephiroth.

[ He pulls at the fingercuff slightly, closing his eyes for a moment when their fingers still aren't free. ]

[he gives the fingercuff a brief, annoyed glare before sighing. A weak smile twitches onto his face]

You and me both. I thought I'd be angry at him. [even knowing Sephiroth was here and hadn't gone through any of that, Zack didn't think he'd be able to control his temper. Maybe the situation itself helped some]

I've only spoken with him once since my arrival in Nippon. [ He pauses, thinking back to that odd conversation ] He's... the same Sephiroth I recall from his time in SOLDIER, the odd First Class I saw in passing, rarely worked with.

[ But it's difficult to just forget everything that he's experienced, the things that Sephiroth claims he hasn't experienced yet. It's near impossible to forget the way Nibelheim burned, the loss of Zack's life (even though he's standing right here, connected to Tseng with the fingercuff), and then the things Tseng is yet to experience that Rufus shared with him. How does he look this man in the eye, share a drink with him while knowing that he'll eventually have Masamune thrust through his chest. ]

I'll continue to keep my distance. [ He looks down at their hands, gives a small tug at his finger, trying to free it to no avail. ] I can't do much at the moment, after all.

I don't think you have to keep your distance, just be careful if you're keeping an eye on things. [not that he has to say it, but Zack feels like he should anyway. Maybe for some peace of mind, maybe because he knows exactly what would happen if Sephiroth found any of the Turks bringing their work to Jikan, for lack of a better way to put it. Even with the time differences he doesn't doubt someone is still on the clock, more or less.

But mostly, he likes that everyone's getting along, more or less. He'd like it to stay that way]

He's not hard to get along with or anything. The only problem I ever had was - y'know, mission stuff.

[he shrugs, glancing down at their fingers again with a scowl] Is none this working? Seriously?

make it easy to be on top of the world (open)

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