Nightshift 23: General Storage (2nd Floor)

[offduty]

[coming from here.]

It turned out the door was locked, but it was no harder to break this one than it had the closet back there

Comments

[theheirshinra]

Rufus glanced to his side as Schuldig stopped beside him, closer than what Rufus would have ever allowed anyone he didn't know very well. Another measuring look was given to the telepath. Rufus didn't know quite what to make of the German, especially when it came to his liking blonds and the such. When it came to that arena, Rufus merely paid for what he wanted or dealt with the string of people who wanted something from him. On the whole, he was used to being the one who had control and dictated terms. Still, he didn't stop the rare smile that came and went

[k4t4str0ph4l]

Schuldig's grin only grew at Rufus' response. A smile and an attempt at a joke? For a man like Rufus, that was a resounding show of approval - and the knowledge that he rarely made jokes with anyone who wasn't Reno only elevated the significance of the gesture.

His plan to get into Rufus' good graces seemed to be progressing even faster than he could have hoped.

"I take things as they come," he replied languidly, keeping pace with Rufus. "As for being prepared ahead of time - that's more Crawford's area of expertise than mine, but I can generally handle myself well enough even without advance warning."

He surveyed the interior of the storage room (what else could it be?) without much interest. He had a weapon, a cigarette, a bargaining chip, and allies - what more could he possibly want? Well, besides to set most of the staff and the smiley-face shirts on fire."It seems pretty straightforward," he said aloud. "The staff is busy with their experiments tonight, so there aren't as many guards in the usual places." He didn't even try

[at_patera]

So, Schuldig was working his charm faster than Crawford had ever seen him do so before. If Rufus was anything like Crawford (and they seemed to be quite similar, just from the outward observations), then Schuldig was working quite well and quite fast. Exerting more effort into earning one man's trust than he probably ever had before. And while Crawford appreciated it and knew it would come in useful (and besides, he may have formed alliances, but Schuldig tended to seal the deal), it still irked him just the smallest bit. He couldn't say why ...

(Most likely because Schuldig had never once called him 'sir', or been quite so straightforward with information ... but who knew

[offduty]

Rufus's obvious approval of Schuldig might've bothered Reno more under other circumstances, but at this point, he really couldn't get any more annoyed than he already was

[theheirshinra]

"If there had been any of my people, we wouldn't be standing here talking."

Rufus' answer was short and clipped, cold instead of angry as he would have been. His people were his, damn it. It still infuriated him to no end that they had chosen to play their games with Reno, that they had dared to turn his own Turk on him. He hadn't been present for Elena's, and that was most likely a very good thing. Unlike most people, Rufus Shinra didn't rush in with anger burning. His method was more cold and precise like a scalpel. Fools rushed in. And usually died. He leaned down, poking through a few boxes. Some gauze, tape, and burn cream was added into his little bag. Gods only knew when they might need it. An extra tube of the burn cream was tossed to Reno.

"You might need that."

C’mon, boss, haven’t you been waiting for this? I know we’re lacking a bed and all and we’ve got a bit of an audience here, but no time like the present, right?Rufus shook his head, breaking off that line of thought and the variety of emotions it drew