Not anymore.
Who: Veld and Tseng
When: Day 64, a continuation of the conversation which happens in Veld's office, which we finished in AIM because we're awesomely LAZY. :D
Location: Veld's office, Gongaga
Rating: G
Summary: I'm not a kid, you're not my superior, and things are far from what they used to be.
Continued...
Tseng: I was told to fill you in on any matter you might be curious in, whether in regards to Sephiroth, Shinra and the state of the world, or the circumstances of your... re-employment. If you have any questions at all, Veld...I will answer them to the best of my ability.
Veld: I saw that Aerith is alive again.
Tseng: ...I don't have any details in that department. My relations with her ended when I delivered her to Shinra.
Veld: You never explained that course of action to me, you realise.
Tseng: She was needed by Shinra and I had delayed her capture long enough; it's as simple as that. I'm not going to make up excuses for what I did. Nor do I expect acceptance or forgiveness for it. But things were the way they were and those are the facts.
Veld: Okay, turn the idiot off and start using the rest of your body to think. You don't need to make excuses. Be better from now on. Unless you lot invented a time machine while I was away, that's all you CAN do.
Or you can be emo about it and I can smack you.
Tseng: [Very, very, very mild frown line] I'm not being regretful or emo. You just have to understand....why I needed to limit future interactions with Aerith.
Veld: Yeah. I understand completely. Bury the woman you love twice and come back to me kid. It's too short to not have.
Tseng: [Frown line deepens] I'll let her do what she feels will even the score between us, but I don't think she wants more to do with me besides that.
Veld: [Laughs] Keep thinking that, but don't make yourself crazy avoiding her.
Tseng: [Raises his voice slightly] I won't. But she's no longer a concern of Shinra's and hence no longer a concern of mine. I won't go out of my way to be in her presence.
Veld: Bad liar, kid.
Tseng: [Exasperated] What do you want from me, sir?
Veld: I see a lot of my mistakes in you Tseng. And I suppose like most people want for those they respect, I don't want those mistakes to repeat. Find something that makes you happy and hold onto it.
Tseng: [Oh, that makes him laugh] Something that makes me happy? [Steps a little closer, eyes flashing] I am doing what I can to survive, so forgive me if happiness doesn't exactly sit at the top of my list of priorities.
Veld: Then what's the point of surviving? [I'm hardly scared. I WAS you 10 years ago.]
[Shrugs] Maybe it's old age, Tseng, that allows you time to regret. You can ignore it. But those of us who spend our whole lives fighting. Sooner or later you ask yourself what for.
But you're not me, Tseng. Despite the similarities. [And Aerith is going to pester the shit out of you, and I'm going to let her]
Tseng: You're right - I'm not you, and I gave up trying to be you a long time ago. I'm content with having nothing - no wife, family, love affairs or illegitimate children. It just means I have nothing to lose.
Veld: Well, do me one favor. Ask yourself what the point is sometime. Because I don't believe you when you say you're content. But, I could be wrong.
Tseng: I am a Turk of Shinra, and I will serve Shinra until I die. That is all I need.
Veld: Keep telling yourself that, Tseng. Maybe you'll believe it.
Tseng: I'm not who I was. You'll do well to remember that, no matter how good your intentions may be.
Veld: You came into my office to talk, need I remind you? And for your own sake, kid. I'll forget that you just threatened me.
Tseng: [Breathes in, and breathes out] Yes. I was distracted, and I apologise for that. [Puts down the files he brought] These are for you study at your leisure...and any insight you can gain from them would be appreciated. We know you were...close to Sephiroth once, and everyone else who could claim such a thing is now dead or missing.
Veld: [picks them up] ... yes. Rufus informed me. I will do what I can, but at this juncture, I can't really promise results.
Tseng: Any attempt would be better than nothing. [Sighs, and moves to leave] That's all I need to say for the time being. If you require anything else, you have my number. [Walks to the door, and pauses with a hand on the knob] And Veld...
Veld: [Looks up, is not expecting anything warm or friendly at this point]
Tseng: I'm not one of your 'kids' anymore. So please, keep the lectures to yourself in future.
Veld: I'll act as I see fit, Tseng. I suggest you avoid conversations if you're not up to them. [Pulls file up to read it]
When: Day 64, a continuation of the conversation which happens in Veld's office, which we finished in AIM because we're awesomely LAZY. :D
Location: Veld's office, Gongaga
Rating: G
Summary: I'm not a kid, you're not my superior, and things are far from what they used to be.
Continued...
Tseng: I was told to fill you in on any matter you might be curious in, whether in regards to Sephiroth, Shinra and the state of the world, or the circumstances of your... re-employment. If you have any questions at all, Veld...I will answer them to the best of my ability.
Veld: I saw that Aerith is alive again.
Tseng: ...I don't have any details in that department. My relations with her ended when I delivered her to Shinra.
Veld: You never explained that course of action to me, you realise.
Tseng: She was needed by Shinra and I had delayed her capture long enough; it's as simple as that. I'm not going to make up excuses for what I did. Nor do I expect acceptance or forgiveness for it. But things were the way they were and those are the facts.
Veld: Okay, turn the idiot off and start using the rest of your body to think. You don't need to make excuses. Be better from now on. Unless you lot invented a time machine while I was away, that's all you CAN do.
Or you can be emo about it and I can smack you.
Tseng: [Very, very, very mild frown line] I'm not being regretful or emo. You just have to understand....why I needed to limit future interactions with Aerith.
Veld: Yeah. I understand completely. Bury the woman you love twice and come back to me kid. It's too short to not have.
Tseng: [Frown line deepens] I'll let her do what she feels will even the score between us, but I don't think she wants more to do with me besides that.
Veld: [Laughs] Keep thinking that, but don't make yourself crazy avoiding her.
Tseng: [Raises his voice slightly] I won't. But she's no longer a concern of Shinra's and hence no longer a concern of mine. I won't go out of my way to be in her presence.
Veld: Bad liar, kid.
Tseng: [Exasperated] What do you want from me, sir?
Veld: I see a lot of my mistakes in you Tseng. And I suppose like most people want for those they respect, I don't want those mistakes to repeat. Find something that makes you happy and hold onto it.
Tseng: [Oh, that makes him laugh] Something that makes me happy? [Steps a little closer, eyes flashing] I am doing what I can to survive, so forgive me if happiness doesn't exactly sit at the top of my list of priorities.
Veld: Then what's the point of surviving? [I'm hardly scared. I WAS you 10 years ago.]
[Shrugs] Maybe it's old age, Tseng, that allows you time to regret. You can ignore it. But those of us who spend our whole lives fighting. Sooner or later you ask yourself what for.
But you're not me, Tseng. Despite the similarities. [And Aerith is going to pester the shit out of you, and I'm going to let her]
Tseng: You're right - I'm not you, and I gave up trying to be you a long time ago. I'm content with having nothing - no wife, family, love affairs or illegitimate children. It just means I have nothing to lose.
Veld: Well, do me one favor. Ask yourself what the point is sometime. Because I don't believe you when you say you're content. But, I could be wrong.
Tseng: I am a Turk of Shinra, and I will serve Shinra until I die. That is all I need.
Veld: Keep telling yourself that, Tseng. Maybe you'll believe it.
Tseng: I'm not who I was. You'll do well to remember that, no matter how good your intentions may be.
Veld: You came into my office to talk, need I remind you? And for your own sake, kid. I'll forget that you just threatened me.
Tseng: [Breathes in, and breathes out] Yes. I was distracted, and I apologise for that. [Puts down the files he brought] These are for you study at your leisure...and any insight you can gain from them would be appreciated. We know you were...close to Sephiroth once, and everyone else who could claim such a thing is now dead or missing.
Veld: [picks them up] ... yes. Rufus informed me. I will do what I can, but at this juncture, I can't really promise results.
Tseng: Any attempt would be better than nothing. [Sighs, and moves to leave] That's all I need to say for the time being. If you require anything else, you have my number. [Walks to the door, and pauses with a hand on the knob] And Veld...
Veld: [Looks up, is not expecting anything warm or friendly at this point]
Tseng: I'm not one of your 'kids' anymore. So please, keep the lectures to yourself in future.
Veld: I'll act as I see fit, Tseng. I suggest you avoid conversations if you're not up to them. [Pulls file up to read it]