[When Tifa received word that Juzo was moving out of the Inn, she was both happy for him for finding a new place and a little sad that he would be leaving. Having someone around there was nice, even if it was usually them passing in the halls of the Inn every now and then. She'd found ways to keep herself busy, so she was there less and less the longer she spent in this world, but it was always a happy surprise when she did happen upon him.
And hearing about this new consulting agency he's opened has her curious. As a fellow businessowner, or used-to-be, she's all in for supporting those who choose to go that route, even if the most she can do right now is check out his new digs and offer any words of wisdom she might be able to pass on. Although she's fully aware a bar and a consulting agency are two very different things...
When she finally finds the old warehouse in the late morning, the office is situated above, there's a knock on its door, her muffled voice coming through the cracks.]
Juzo? It's Tifa.
[In her hands, she's carrying a small white pot, and springing from the dirt are several stalks of orchids courtesy of Don't Stop Be-Leafing.]
[ He hasn’t even advertised his new business – at least, not apart from dropping a line to a few people that he felt should know he’s moving out of the inn. To hear a knock on his door so soon after getting settled is a bit of a surprise.
But then Tifa calls to him and he realizes with some amusement that, oh yeah, he has friends here. People who might just want to pay him a visit. ]
Door’s open.
[ He’s currently busy fussing over a pot of coffee – this is very serious business. ]
[Hey, only the most serious businesses care about the quality of their coffee!
The door is opened slowly and Tifa pokes her head in at first to spot him, and when she finds his back hunched over what she assumes is a pot of coffee, just from the smell, she passes through the threshold, letting the door shut behind her.]
Brought you something. A little housewarming gift.
[She takes it upon herself to set the little pot of orchids on the corner of his desk, making sure that they're on the side that will see the most sun.]
Don't know much about flowers yet, but they're nice to look at.
[ When she mentions bringing him something, he turns away from his coffee for a moment to see what it is. Flowers are certainly not what he expected. Even in a building crawling with ivy, in a place where nature and man-made architecture coincide more often than not, it’s really weird to see something so green and alive sitting in his office. ]
I hope they came with instructions.
[ Meaning, he knows less about flowers than Tifa does. Still, he ought to say something, right? ]
I mean… thanks. You didn’t have to get me anything.
[It deserves some celebration, even if it is in the small form of a flowerpot. It's as much as she can afford right now, but she wasn't going to let this slide so easily.]
I was told they don't need a lot of water, but make sure they see as much sun as they can.
[Not watering a plant? Unheard of, but this is what she was told! Now for the most important part:]
And make sure you talk to her plenty. They have feelings, you know.
[ He gives a small shrug as he turns back around to finish with his coffee - it may not be obvious with his massive frame in the way, but Juzo takes his coffee making very seriously. He doesn't just throw grounds in a coffee maker and go - he does that fancy pour-over stuff and everything. ]
Feels like I'm stepping back into a pair of comfortable shoes. It's just doin' what I've always done.
[Tifa says it so matter-of-factly that she hardly realizes her tone until after she's said it, as if this is common knowledge. The thought had come so naturally to her when she was with Aerith that she hadn't thought twice about whether someone else might find it even a little silly when she brought it up, and hearing herself after, she can only laugh.]
They're living things just like we are. I'm sure they get lonely sometimes, too.
[Part of this is just from knowing what the Cetra are capable of... Communing with the Planet and all that. It only makes sense!]
Singing feels like too much to ask, so talking is a pretty good compromise.
[ Having a living plant in his office is weird enough, please don’t ask him to sing! Sure, in some of the nicer parts of town back home, there are trees and grass and even gardens, but he lives in the middle of the concrete jungle that is the slums. People don’t bring him flowers, they just bring him problems. ]
Couldn’t carry a tune if it had handles, but I guess I can carry a conversation.
[There's an air of pride around her as she pushes herself away from the desk.]
She's got all kinds of things. And if you ever have questions about these little guys or any other plants you might like, then she's the girl to call. Name's Aerith.
[She strolls across the room to take a look around, casually scanning whatever there is around the office, stopping when she arrives at Juzo's side, peering around him at the coffee.]
Where I'm from, only place any flowers would grow was where she lived.
Not a whole lotta greenery where I come from, either.
[ The slums are just kind of Like That.
Regarding his office, there’s not much of note. It’s pretty barren apart from the kitchenette and the larger pieces of furniture, easy to detach from if he needs to.
She appears at his side, and he turns his barrel in her direction. ]
Want a cup? It’s a lot better than the sludge they called coffee back home.
[She isn't much of a drinker, but she is never one to say no to a good cup when it's offered, and the smell is as enticing as the warmth and comfort she looks forward to when she does. Tifa even takes it upon herself to pick out a cup that she holds between her hands, waiting for him to pour.]
So, a consulting business, huh? [She starts again, noting just how barren the place is. It could use a little bit of decorating, but she is the last person to ask about that.] What kind of consulting do you do?
[ Once Tifa has plucked up her choice of cup from the counter top, he turns to fill it - not too high, in case she wants to add anything. ]
If you want cream, it’s in the fridge. Sugar’s on the counter.
[ So saying, he fishes up a cup for himself and fills it. No such additions for him - he’ll take it black, but he makes a point to have those kinds things around for clients. ]
Heh. That’s just a fancy way of sayin’ I’m a gun for hire. I’ll take any kind of job, long as the pay is good.
[Just sugar for her, and Tifa helps herself to a couple of small spoonfuls before lifting the cup to her lips, taking a sniff of it first to savour its bitterly sweet smell. It's been a while...
She kind of figured that was where he was going with it—he's skilled at it, so why not take advantage of what he's good at? Reminds her a little of when she and Cloud ran around the slums looking for work—to get his name out and spread the news.]
[ With his own cup of coffee in-hand, he moves over to one of the couches, the springs creaking as his weight settles on one of the cushions. With his free hand, he motions for her to join him - either next to or across the coffee table from him on the other couch, makes no difference. ]
It’s pretty hard for someone like me to make an honest living otherwise. But I’m good at what I do, and it’s fulfilling - if annoying sometimes.
[ He tends to work for free more often than not. Not great for keeping up with the rent, but it soothes his soul some to be of help to others. ]
[Tifa will take the spot right next to Juzo, slumping onto the cushion and easily making herself comfortable beside him. She takes her first sip of the coffee then, humming contentedly to herself.]
You think so? I think you could find anything here no problem, long as you're good at it.
[Whatever the people back home thought of him, she has enough faith that it won't extend fully to Camelot. But! She isn't saying that to undermine his choice in profession! If anything, she just wants to hear more about what he did before this.]
What's the most annoying thing you've had to deal with on the job?
This place is the exception, rather than the rule. Back home, many folks don’t take kindly to the Extended, never mind an Over-Extended like me.
[ He leans back in his seat, bringing his cup to his mouth for another sip. It must take some practice, tipping the liquid into his mouth like he does, but he does it easy as anything. ]
Hm. Anything that takes me down into the sewers isn’t high on my list of likes. Me’n water don’t get along, not to mention how nasty it is.
[The poor guy. She remembers his reaction to the water when her familiar had splashed around with him, and that was clean water. Sewer water is a whole other story... and one she's unfortunately all too familiar with. She can't imagine what that must be like, getting into the grooves of the metal...
Eugh.]
Were all of you sensitive to water?
[Sounds like a bit of an oversight on their part.]
It’s not like they ask me to go there, specifically, but sometimes that’s just where the job takes me.
[ A surprising number of criminals and other unsavory types like to take to the sewers, either as an escape route or as a straight-up lair. He hates it.
There’s a bit of a pause there. He gets the full implication of her question, but coming up with a satisfactory answer is another matter. ]
I’m not sensitive, I just… no one’s ever told me I can’t get wet, but that doesn’t mean I wanna take any chances.
[ Which is to say, he’s paranoid about his head rusting. He’s been splashed and worse before with no adverse effects. ]
[It's understandable, and she can't say she blames him for not wanting to take the risk. You wouldn't dip a sword in water and not make sure that it was completely dried off, right? His head is no different from that.]
I get that. But I still think maybe it's something they should've thought about when they were building everything.
[Tifa sips on her coffee. Does she even have a place to be saying those kinds of things? Especially when it's true? Jobs like that take people all over the place, and if they're going to turn people into mercenaries or weapons, then why not make sure they've prepared them for anything?
Anyway...!]
So, was it because you were chasing some criminal that lead you down there?
I don’t think the higher-ups had splashin’ around in the sewers in mind when they built me.
[ In fact, if they had their way, Juzo would be a pile of scrap, like so many of his fellow Gun Slave Units. No one put any thought into what it would be like to live day-to-day with a gun for a head because they were no longer supposed to exist after the war. ]
Usually is. If they don’t stumble in there tryin’ to escape, then they’ve got a “lair” or some other BS down there. I remember some guy calling it the “Blood Kingdom”.
[How edgy. Criminals like to think they're so clever, no matter what universe they're in, don't they?]
Blood Kingdom? In the sewers?
[Tifa snorts into her cup of coffee before drowning a mocking laugh with a sip. She's not a judgmental person usually, but she does have to judge a little bit for that.]
Gotta wonder what made him think that. All that I find in the sewers in Midgar are sahagins and wererats... No one smart goes down there if they can help it.
The guy had big ol’ extensions on his ears, used for gathering intel during the war. Found him hangin’ upside-down off a pipe like some kinda bat dude. He probably thought he was being cool.
[ Says the master of trying to be cool. People in glass houses, Juzo. ]
Not sure what a sahagin is, but wererats don’t sound fun.
[That sounds like anything but cool... Just sounds like a nuisance.]
Sahagin are like... [She pauses to mull it over. How does one explain sahagin besides them being—] Fish... men? Fish that can stand and walk on two legs. They're a little more aggressive than the wererats, but they're mostly what you'd find if you wander too far below the slums.
... But easier to take care of than whoever that guy is, I'd bet. You got him, didn't you?
[ Admittedly, her description puts him in mind of some kind of reverse mermaid - fish on top with a pair of human legs - which is at once terrifying and hilarious. He's not going to question it, however, so he's just going to live with that mental image. ]
After gettin' doused with sewer water, sure. Those bat ears didn't take kindly to my firing off a concussive weapon underwater.
[ He might have temporarily deafened the guy. ]
Guy was kidnapping orphans and the whole bunch of them screamed and ran when I sprung 'em free.
[That sounds more terrifying than what the sahagin actually look like, so enjoy that mental image, Juzo.]
Kidnapping orphans?
[The twists just keep coming, and they're getting weirder and weirder. Never mind that the guy had bat ears or that he was hanging from the ceiling like he was one.
Her fingers grip the cup tighter, and she swallows past the growing lump in her throat, washing her worry down with coffee. She isn't even sure why it's there if Juzo was able to free them.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
action, early august
And hearing about this new consulting agency he's opened has her curious. As a fellow businessowner, or used-to-be, she's all in for supporting those who choose to go that route, even if the most she can do right now is check out his new digs and offer any words of wisdom she might be able to pass on. Although she's fully aware a bar and a consulting agency are two very different things...
When she finally finds the old warehouse in the late morning, the office is situated above, there's a knock on its door, her muffled voice coming through the cracks.]
Juzo? It's Tifa.
[In her hands, she's carrying a small white pot, and springing from the dirt are several stalks of orchids courtesy of Don't Stop Be-Leafing.]
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But then Tifa calls to him and he realizes with some amusement that, oh yeah, he has friends here. People who might just want to pay him a visit. ]
Door’s open.
[ He’s currently busy fussing over a pot of coffee – this is very serious business. ]
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The door is opened slowly and Tifa pokes her head in at first to spot him, and when she finds his back hunched over what she assumes is a pot of coffee, just from the smell, she passes through the threshold, letting the door shut behind her.]
Brought you something. A little housewarming gift.
[She takes it upon herself to set the little pot of orchids on the corner of his desk, making sure that they're on the side that will see the most sun.]
Don't know much about flowers yet, but they're nice to look at.
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I hope they came with instructions.
[ Meaning, he knows less about flowers than Tifa does. Still, he ought to say something, right? ]
I mean… thanks. You didn’t have to get me anything.
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[It deserves some celebration, even if it is in the small form of a flowerpot. It's as much as she can afford right now, but she wasn't going to let this slide so easily.]
I was told they don't need a lot of water, but make sure they see as much sun as they can.
[Not watering a plant? Unheard of, but this is what she was told! Now for the most important part:]
And make sure you talk to her plenty. They have feelings, you know.
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Feels like I'm stepping back into a pair of comfortable shoes. It's just doin' what I've always done.
[ No need to celebrate that! ]
... You want me to talk to the plant.
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[Tifa says it so matter-of-factly that she hardly realizes her tone until after she's said it, as if this is common knowledge. The thought had come so naturally to her when she was with Aerith that she hadn't thought twice about whether someone else might find it even a little silly when she brought it up, and hearing herself after, she can only laugh.]
They're living things just like we are. I'm sure they get lonely sometimes, too.
[Part of this is just from knowing what the Cetra are capable of... Communing with the Planet and all that. It only makes sense!]
Singing feels like too much to ask, so talking is a pretty good compromise.
[Or is she wrong about the singing??? 😏]
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Couldn’t carry a tune if it had handles, but I guess I can carry a conversation.
[ A one-way conversation. With a pot of flowers.
Yeah, why not? ]
Where’d you come by those, anyhow?
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[There's an air of pride around her as she pushes herself away from the desk.]
She's got all kinds of things. And if you ever have questions about these little guys or any other plants you might like, then she's the girl to call. Name's Aerith.
[She strolls across the room to take a look around, casually scanning whatever there is around the office, stopping when she arrives at Juzo's side, peering around him at the coffee.]
Where I'm from, only place any flowers would grow was where she lived.
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[ The slums are just kind of Like That.
Regarding his office, there’s not much of note. It’s pretty barren apart from the kitchenette and the larger pieces of furniture, easy to detach from if he needs to.
She appears at his side, and he turns his barrel in her direction. ]
Want a cup? It’s a lot better than the sludge they called coffee back home.
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[She isn't much of a drinker, but she is never one to say no to a good cup when it's offered, and the smell is as enticing as the warmth and comfort she looks forward to when she does. Tifa even takes it upon herself to pick out a cup that she holds between her hands, waiting for him to pour.]
So, a consulting business, huh? [She starts again, noting just how barren the place is. It could use a little bit of decorating, but she is the last person to ask about that.] What kind of consulting do you do?
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If you want cream, it’s in the fridge. Sugar’s on the counter.
[ So saying, he fishes up a cup for himself and fills it. No such additions for him - he’ll take it black, but he makes a point to have those kinds things around for clients. ]
Heh. That’s just a fancy way of sayin’ I’m a gun for hire. I’ll take any kind of job, long as the pay is good.
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She kind of figured that was where he was going with it—he's skilled at it, so why not take advantage of what he's good at? Reminds her a little of when she and Cloud ran around the slums looking for work—to get his name out and spread the news.]
So, you did a lot of that back home then?
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[ With his own cup of coffee in-hand, he moves over to one of the couches, the springs creaking as his weight settles on one of the cushions. With his free hand, he motions for her to join him - either next to or across the coffee table from him on the other couch, makes no difference. ]
It’s pretty hard for someone like me to make an honest living otherwise. But I’m good at what I do, and it’s fulfilling - if annoying sometimes.
[ He tends to work for free more often than not. Not great for keeping up with the rent, but it soothes his soul some to be of help to others. ]
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You think so? I think you could find anything here no problem, long as you're good at it.
[Whatever the people back home thought of him, she has enough faith that it won't extend fully to Camelot. But! She isn't saying that to undermine his choice in profession! If anything, she just wants to hear more about what he did before this.]
What's the most annoying thing you've had to deal with on the job?
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[ He leans back in his seat, bringing his cup to his mouth for another sip. It must take some practice, tipping the liquid into his mouth like he does, but he does it easy as anything. ]
Hm. Anything that takes me down into the sewers isn’t high on my list of likes. Me’n water don’t get along, not to mention how nasty it is.
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[The poor guy. She remembers his reaction to the water when her familiar had splashed around with him, and that was clean water. Sewer water is a whole other story... and one she's unfortunately all too familiar with. She can't imagine what that must be like, getting into the grooves of the metal...
Eugh.]
Were all of you sensitive to water?
[Sounds like a bit of an oversight on their part.]
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[ A surprising number of criminals and other unsavory types like to take to the sewers, either as an escape route or as a straight-up lair. He hates it.
There’s a bit of a pause there. He gets the full implication of her question, but coming up with a satisfactory answer is another matter. ]
I’m not sensitive, I just… no one’s ever told me I can’t get wet, but that doesn’t mean I wanna take any chances.
[ Which is to say, he’s paranoid about his head rusting. He’s been splashed and worse before with no adverse effects. ]
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I get that. But I still think maybe it's something they should've thought about when they were building everything.
[Tifa sips on her coffee. Does she even have a place to be saying those kinds of things? Especially when it's true? Jobs like that take people all over the place, and if they're going to turn people into mercenaries or weapons, then why not make sure they've prepared them for anything?
Anyway...!]
So, was it because you were chasing some criminal that lead you down there?
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[ In fact, if they had their way, Juzo would be a pile of scrap, like so many of his fellow Gun Slave Units. No one put any thought into what it would be like to live day-to-day with a gun for a head because they were no longer supposed to exist after the war. ]
Usually is. If they don’t stumble in there tryin’ to escape, then they’ve got a “lair” or some other BS down there. I remember some guy calling it the “Blood Kingdom”.
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Blood Kingdom? In the sewers?
[Tifa snorts into her cup of coffee before drowning a mocking laugh with a sip. She's not a judgmental person usually, but she does have to judge a little bit for that.]
Gotta wonder what made him think that. All that I find in the sewers in Midgar are sahagins and wererats... No one smart goes down there if they can help it.
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[ Says the master of trying to be cool. People in glass houses, Juzo. ]
Not sure what a sahagin is, but wererats don’t sound fun.
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Sahagin are like... [She pauses to mull it over. How does one explain sahagin besides them being—] Fish... men? Fish that can stand and walk on two legs. They're a little more aggressive than the wererats, but they're mostly what you'd find if you wander too far below the slums.
... But easier to take care of than whoever that guy is, I'd bet. You got him, didn't you?
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After gettin' doused with sewer water, sure. Those bat ears didn't take kindly to my firing off a concussive weapon underwater.
[ He might have temporarily deafened the guy. ]
Guy was kidnapping orphans and the whole bunch of them screamed and ran when I sprung 'em free.
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Kidnapping orphans?
[The twists just keep coming, and they're getting weirder and weirder. Never mind that the guy had bat ears or that he was hanging from the ceiling like he was one.
Her fingers grip the cup tighter, and she swallows past the growing lump in her throat, washing her worry down with coffee. She isn't even sure why it's there if Juzo was able to free them.]
What was he planning on doing with them...?
[She has a hunch, and it makes her stomach turn.]
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