Nations- Lovebirds
Title: Lovebirds
Fandom: FF7
Set: Nations
Words: 847
Warning: None but the AUness
Note: What, you didn't think that I forgot Hojo, did you?
Fascinating. Interesting. Advantageous. They were all appropriate words for the information he had been told by one of those who had attended the ceremony in his stead. His paranoia had proven itself to be wise, since if he'd attended his protections could easily have been shredded by the goddess that had decided to bless the… group. Such beings were often known to be vengeful to those who were against something that they were in the process of approving.
His companion, likewise, had not been amid the audience, and he greeted her warmly. She had no love for his king, considering the way he'd thwarted her long held plans, but she, too, was aware of the fact that the day's events did not necessarily have to be a negative development. Especially not in light of the unexpected divergence from what had likely been in the original plans for the ceremony. It left her contingency plans in a better stead by far at the very least.
He dared not mention to her that he had been years in trying to completely ruin her scheming, of course. Not when it might, at last, work to his benefit. Then again, this only changed his plans in method, not so much as in essence. He could, however, leave one while dispensing with the others if it would make his lady happy.
He so very rarely had the urge to please, and he was glad it did not interfere with his personal goals.
"Hojo, what are the schemes being formed in that mind of yours?" The low murmur reached him easily as the blue eyed woman leaned into him, one silvery blond eyebrow arching. She was such a pale thing, but part of that, at least, was well-seasoned age. One would never know she was well into her fifties just by looking at her, no more than they would think that of himself. If he had just met her he would have placed her at no more than half her real age.
"What makes you believe I'm scheming anything at all? When in your presence I have no need to speculate on anything other than gaining a smile from you." They were both aware of the emptiness of the flattery, as genuine as it might be normally.
"No need perhaps, but that doesn't mean you don't do it." She shook her head, and her eyebrows raised slightly. "Tell me what thoughts your errand boy put into your head. I know you have a theory on this magic."
He led her away from the dance floor as the music changed tempo, easily meeting her eyes. "Surely someone as adept at yourself would have far more experience than I ever could. After all, I can't do magic, so how could I possibly have thought of something you haven't?"
At that point she laughed at him, her look turning to viciously sweet as her voice dropped to a croon. "Oh, don't lie to me. You know I'm not afraid to make my way past those barriers of yours to rip the information right out of your mind." She leaned even closer, snugly tucked against his side. "But I have more respect for you than that, can't you give me the same?"
He shivered, and his smile turned softer as he studied her expression, the way her eyes just dared him to defy her in this matter. She was never more glorious than when she was terrifying. One just had to recognize the signs. "If I tell you, you will not be pleased with me."
"You think I'm pleased with you now?" She tossed her head slightly, and her annoyance was yet clearer as the sharpness of a red glow started to show at the edges of her left eye.
"Not in the least. But if I told you my plans then that would take all the surprise out of them. You know I truly hate to spoil my gifts to you." He put as much sincerity into his voice as possible, and he soon found himself both pleased and saddened that the fire left her eyes to fade fully back to the sharp blue that was her normal color.
Her voice, however, was still sharp, and low enough that it was for his ears alone. "You have a respite Hojo. Only for the day." She looked across the room, eyes lighting with something both dark and amused. "After all, my lovely son is doing such a wonderful job in dealing with the other guests that I feel I must find my way to him. I can't very well leave without giving my blessing, now can I? It would be so horribly rude of me."
He followed her gaze to Sephiroth's red eyed slave and chuckled softly, picking up her need to lovingly flex her claws on something she still considered hers. "You're right, of course. Shall I escort you?"
"Oh, I do believe that is something I can agree to."
They shared a sharp edged smile of accord before Jenova went to speak to her son.
Fandom: FF7
Set: Nations
Words: 847
Warning: None but the AUness
Note: What, you didn't think that I forgot Hojo, did you?
Fascinating. Interesting. Advantageous. They were all appropriate words for the information he had been told by one of those who had attended the ceremony in his stead. His paranoia had proven itself to be wise, since if he'd attended his protections could easily have been shredded by the goddess that had decided to bless the… group. Such beings were often known to be vengeful to those who were against something that they were in the process of approving.
His companion, likewise, had not been amid the audience, and he greeted her warmly. She had no love for his king, considering the way he'd thwarted her long held plans, but she, too, was aware of the fact that the day's events did not necessarily have to be a negative development. Especially not in light of the unexpected divergence from what had likely been in the original plans for the ceremony. It left her contingency plans in a better stead by far at the very least.
He dared not mention to her that he had been years in trying to completely ruin her scheming, of course. Not when it might, at last, work to his benefit. Then again, this only changed his plans in method, not so much as in essence. He could, however, leave one while dispensing with the others if it would make his lady happy.
He so very rarely had the urge to please, and he was glad it did not interfere with his personal goals.
"Hojo, what are the schemes being formed in that mind of yours?" The low murmur reached him easily as the blue eyed woman leaned into him, one silvery blond eyebrow arching. She was such a pale thing, but part of that, at least, was well-seasoned age. One would never know she was well into her fifties just by looking at her, no more than they would think that of himself. If he had just met her he would have placed her at no more than half her real age.
"What makes you believe I'm scheming anything at all? When in your presence I have no need to speculate on anything other than gaining a smile from you." They were both aware of the emptiness of the flattery, as genuine as it might be normally.
"No need perhaps, but that doesn't mean you don't do it." She shook her head, and her eyebrows raised slightly. "Tell me what thoughts your errand boy put into your head. I know you have a theory on this magic."
He led her away from the dance floor as the music changed tempo, easily meeting her eyes. "Surely someone as adept at yourself would have far more experience than I ever could. After all, I can't do magic, so how could I possibly have thought of something you haven't?"
At that point she laughed at him, her look turning to viciously sweet as her voice dropped to a croon. "Oh, don't lie to me. You know I'm not afraid to make my way past those barriers of yours to rip the information right out of your mind." She leaned even closer, snugly tucked against his side. "But I have more respect for you than that, can't you give me the same?"
He shivered, and his smile turned softer as he studied her expression, the way her eyes just dared him to defy her in this matter. She was never more glorious than when she was terrifying. One just had to recognize the signs. "If I tell you, you will not be pleased with me."
"You think I'm pleased with you now?" She tossed her head slightly, and her annoyance was yet clearer as the sharpness of a red glow started to show at the edges of her left eye.
"Not in the least. But if I told you my plans then that would take all the surprise out of them. You know I truly hate to spoil my gifts to you." He put as much sincerity into his voice as possible, and he soon found himself both pleased and saddened that the fire left her eyes to fade fully back to the sharp blue that was her normal color.
Her voice, however, was still sharp, and low enough that it was for his ears alone. "You have a respite Hojo. Only for the day." She looked across the room, eyes lighting with something both dark and amused. "After all, my lovely son is doing such a wonderful job in dealing with the other guests that I feel I must find my way to him. I can't very well leave without giving my blessing, now can I? It would be so horribly rude of me."
He followed her gaze to Sephiroth's red eyed slave and chuckled softly, picking up her need to lovingly flex her claws on something she still considered hers. "You're right, of course. Shall I escort you?"
"Oh, I do believe that is something I can agree to."
They shared a sharp edged smile of accord before Jenova went to speak to her son.