Summer Solstice

[lifemods]

Summer Solstice Fair

The sun is shining, the Mognet is working again, and the summer solstice fair is here! The WRO hopes to makes this an annual thing, but this is the first year they're doing it. Everything you could ever want from a fair is here and open to the public.

*Fair Rides: Ferris wheels, a mini rollercoaster, that thing that looks like an octopus and spins around--the WRO spared no expense to make sure everyone would have fun here today. There's even a gravity ride that takes you up to the top of a pole and then drops you!

*Food: So much food. So much unhealthy food. Funnel cakes, hot dogs, burgers, ice cream, you name it. And it's all fairly cheap too, since the WRO promised to pay for half of what the merchants sell!

*Carnival Games: And most of them aren't even rigged! The Gold Saucer donated games for the fair and there are so many games. There's your standard shooting games, some basketball games, a dunk tank, hoop tosses, you name it. A few are rigged, though, so buy beware! There's also a few card tables set up in a tent for those who like their games a little less wild.

*Speed Dating: ...yeah, the WRO has no idea. This came with the Gold Saucer stuff, along with a Cait Sith and Moogle mascot pair that will coax anyone they can into sitting down and participating.

*Job Fair: With the influx of new arrivals, both native and Streamers, some employers see a golden opportunity to get some jobs filled! In one corner of the fair is another, mini-fair fill with tables and presentations on various workplaces: the WRO, ShinRa Tech, the volunteer emergency services of Edge, and the Highwind Air Taxi Service, just to name a few. Anyone of working age is welcome to wander in and have a look around.

Of course, the fair is taking up the entire center of Edge, so there's lots more to see and do!

[[Feel free to make your own top levels! Welcome to Edge of Life!]]

Comments

[fearedheir]

Food + Wandering (OTA)

[Rufus Shinra is once again in his incognito get up--jeans, a normal grey jacket, and a t-shirt with his hair lying naturally (read: all in his face). There's someone trailing him discreetly, and he has his gun, so he's perfectly safe.

He also happens to have two black couerl kits, each a few months old, on leashes today. A day or two of fun before their training begins in earnest, even if that means he gets dragged over to the food a lot because the girls are curious.]

Private Gazebo (Open to ShinRa employees + canonmates only)

[Look, Rufus burns easily. If he's not wandering the fair incognito, he's probably been ferried away to a private gazebo to cool down and keep from getting burned or too hot.

The kits are at his feet, either sleeping or playing.]

Gazebo :V

[notachocobo]

[Okay so, he'd asked Vincent to talk to Rufus. To deal with the ShinRa side of things but Cloud couldn't help but want to talk to him as well. It was less about business, so to speak, and more about personal concerns that Cloud had about all of this.

Not that he'd go into all of them but..well..he would try.

Approaching the gazebo, Cloud was without sword for once so hey look! He's not here as a threat! Even if he could hurt people with his bare hands. The blonde stopped short of the gazebo itself, glancing at the kittens then to Rufus himself.]

Can we talk?

[fearedheir]

[One of the kits looks up when Cloud comes in and goes over to sniff his boot before growling, hackles raised. Rufus murmurs a quiet word in Wutaian; she backs off and curls up at Rufus's feet, tentacle flicking unhappily. She doesn't like Cloud's scent.

Her sister just goes over to demand attention from Cloud]

What is it?

[notachocobo]

[Glancing down at the kit that decided it wanted his attention, Cloud hesitated a moment before slowly kneeling down and holding a gloved hand out to the small creature.]

Vincent and I were discussing things and we're both worried that whatever is going on in Mideel could bring back people that...

[He frowns momentarily.]

..People that don't need to set foot in Edge again. Do you know anything new about what's going on?

[fearedheir]

No, and I have asked.

[Rufus gently nudges the kits apart before they get to shredding each other]

There has been no signs of Sephiroth or anyone that might cause us problems whatsoever. But why ask me? I'm sure Reeve would tell you.

[notachocobo]

Because I want to know what your plan is if he does come through.

[Reeve may have been in charge of overseeing what was going on in Mideel but Rufus was still the president of ShinRa.]

Food!

[backwatertrooper]

[Cloud's attacking a rather large ice cream cone with determination when something black comes close to his feet - he steps away reflexively, but the half-melted piece he'd been intending to catch drops down on the ground instead, and Cloud stops and stares when the black thing stops as well to take advantage of the unexpected treat.

And is also joined by another.]

... couerls? [Blinking, he looks from the kits and then up, following their leashes to their... owner apparently. Cloud's pretty sure most people doesn't keep couerls as pets. He could only think of one person, really...]

[fearedheir]

[...a younger Cloud Strife. Interesting. Rufus wonders if he's recognized.]

Exotic, I know, but I love them. They're not my first kits.

[backwatertrooper]

Aren't they... difficult..? [Trailing off, Cloud frowned. Glanced from the coeurls up at the man and... Oh. No wonder he'd seemed vaguely familiar, even if the clothes and the hair is different and he is, of course, older.]

Um... Mr. Shinra.

[Cloud straightens up a little, reflexively, considering up until a short while ago Cloud was actually employed by the company. And while he's a bit more wary, now, considering what his older self told him what happened to him and Zack at Hojo's hands, and Hojo was ShinRa... that's all, really.]

[fearedheir]

[Some people look around at the mention of "Shinra". Rufus smiles a little and shake his head.]

Not Shinra, Gerad. I get that a lot, don't worry.

[His words say one thing, but his eyes flash dark and Elena, his Turk of the now, shifts ever so slightly closer. The hint is clear: play along.]

[backwatertrooper]

[Hard to miss any of that, and Cloud narrows his eyes, staring for a moment. Then he nods slowly, alert to the brief attention of the crowd as much as to the Turk who let herself be seen for a moment.

Because what else could she be?]

... right. Sorry.

[Not as if he's going to say anything else, really. And, glancing around and then down, uncertain what now, Cloud's gaze is drawn to the coeurl kits again.]

... what're their names?

[That's safe, at least.]

[paidmuchbetter]

Tseng has been in and out of the gazebo all throughout the fair, wandering the grounds to look for threats, checking on the hiring process, and keeping an eye on Rufus when he has the spare time. Now, later in the evening, he's finally taken a seat, allowing himself a moment or respite before he inevitably gets up to do something or other.

One of the kits is asleep in his lap as he strokes between her ears, and for once looks at peace. Who knew small animals could put even the most uptight at ease. Not to say Tseng wasn't remaining vigilant.

"How has the fair been for you, sir?" He asked casually, eyes never actually making it to Rufus, but instead continuing to slowly scan the area beyond the gazebo.

[fearedheir]

Seeing Tseng with the kit is, honestly, adorable. Rufus has the other one sleeping on his lap.

"So far? Only one person recognized me and it was that younger Cloud Strife I mentioned." He glanced down at his kit. "...Elena brought Zack Fair to the gazebo, earlier. The one that died here."

[paidmuchbetter]

Tseng stiffened at the mention of Zack, but only slightly so. He refused to be seen compromised.

"Is that so? And how did he seem?"

[fearedheir]

Rufus still caught it. "Happy, though he doesn't know what's going on any more than we do. I offered him a job with us, should he find he needs one."

[paidmuchbetter]

"What would you have him doing?" Tseng asked, trying to play the question off as casual, though he was very invested in Rufus' answer. Zack wasn't exactly Turk material, at least not as they used to be. Now, though, perhaps.

foooooooood

[darkbreak]

[If this is your idea of incognito, Rufus, you might need to up your game. At least for those that have seen you dressed like that a couple of days ago.

Riku might not be approaching him, but it's not hard to miss the blonde or his kits. In fact, there seems to be a couple of kids running up to him to coo loudly at the couerls. It's enough to grab Riku's attention from the sidelines (where he has some funnel cake no less) as he cranes his neck to see beyond the crowd with a quiet smile on his face.

He's got a rather indifferent opinion about the man, but damn. Those kits are adorable.]

[fearedheir]

--no, no, you shouldn't pet them. They're young, and they may hurt you on accident.

[Rufus does not quite know what to do about all these children, and his couerls are spooked]

Please, leave them alone.

[darkbreak]

[Huh, this must be karma or something. The great, powerful and fearless president of ShinRa, who can't even deal with kids.

Sorry, Rufus, but this little clone is rather amused by the scene. But he has a point. No one wants a clawed up kid.

Coming toward him, Riku's presence and appearance seems to make the crowd disperse as some of the older kids in the group nudge or direct the younger ones away with a stern frown on their faces. A common reaction to him that he's trying to ignore.

Once the kids are gone though, he kneels down a few feet away from the couerls. They are cute. Deadly, but cute. Hopefully they'll calm down some now.

As for their owner, there's a tiny hint of a shit-eating grin on his face and a rather dry tone.]

You handled that well.

[fearedheir]

[The kits stay right by Rufus for now, tails and tentacles flicking.

Rufus rolls his eyes]

I don't like children.

[darkbreak]

[Hmm, maybe a little bit of food will entice them? Riku breaks off some of his cake and holds it out towards them. It can't be terribly healthy for them, but this stuff isn't healthy for anyone.]

Then why come to these things at all? Kids are attracted to events like these.

[Especially when there are cute animals involved.]

Zeeboh!

[exturkishdelight]

Vincent saw Cloud leaving the Gazebo area. He had a feeling that Cloud wouldn't be patient and would go and speak with Rufus directly. Not that he wouldn't speak with the president directly.

He waits some minutes before approaching, silent. Vincent wasn't as non threatening as Cloud was. His gun was very obviously strapped to his leg and he wasn't sorry for it either. Vincent held trust for no one outside of AVALANCHE and that had been hard won.

"President Shinra."

Though, that was still a thing.

"I'm sure Cloud has filled you in on our intentions."

[fearedheir]

"Is all of AVALANCHE going to invade my supposedly private space now?" Rufus was not in a good mood after talking to Cloud, needless to say. His couerls press closer when they sense that and eye Vincent warily. "Yes, he has."

[exturkishdelight]

"I'm not AVALANCHE."

His tone was almost annoyed. He never considered himself to be part of that rather.. rag tag group of misfits. Never mind that he was the most ill fitted to any group, social, political or otherwise.

"The WRO may view me as a potential threat to their progress. I would like to get a closer look. How much clearance do you have within the WRO?"

[fearedheir]

Rufus snorted. Keep telling yourself that, Valentine.

"My clearance is none of your business and extends to personal employees only, I'm afraid."