Bunnied in the shower. Again.
I swear I will write about Cloud's Pack/the Seventh Heaven crew. Really. I will. Just not at the moment. But... at least I'm done establishing the mercverse!Destroyers? I've got nothing.
This happens before the bit with Sarah.
No one came to chapel, so it was the perfect place to think. Luc supposed the only reason the Crown even kept the place intact was for his benefit. Taking holy orders was the only way Luc had seen to escape. As the adopted son of the Head of Scientific Research just enough weight and attention was given to his cause. It would be best to placate a kept mage--no questions asked as to how Hojo had found a mage--even if as a cleric he was supposed to only study magic that would be for the benefit of others. So much for the elemental offensive magic that Hojo insisted he study.
He'd never go back to the labs. Sarah, also gathered up by Hojo for her particular gifts, was found to be called to a similar vocation. She went along with him, and there was nothing that Hojo could do.
Kneeling in front of a statue of Saint Ajora, flanked by the Twelve, who would know that Luc wasn't praying? No one came to chapel, so no one would find out. His plans had all come together in the hours that he spent here, kneeling in front of a saint seen as a threat to an empire while he was supposed to be praying for the safety of the Crown.
The chapel's door creaked open behind him. Reflexively, Luc gathered the energy needed for an offensive spell. The slight breeze of a growing wind spell disturbed the candles on the altar--why would a chapel be warded? A bishop would only know white magic. He just as quickly let the energy go as he saw his visitor was the Shinra scion. A quick spin back towards Saint Ajora's altar, a genuflection, a sign of the rood, and he faced the younger Shinra again, bowing.
"I wanted to seek your council, bishop." Was Rufus's voice always so controlled? It reminded Luc of that Turk, Tseng, or any Turk with enough training, really. Rufus stepped forward, stopping near one of the Twelve. "Are you free?"
Sarah would be meeting him soon, but maintaining their ties with Shinra until the last possible moment was absolutely necessary. She understood that. She would understand. "Of course, highness."
"You know, bishop, that my family holdings in the Company equal--"
It would be safest to answer with a cliché. "My lord, please remember that you must render unto Yudora what is Yudora's, and unto God what is--"
"I'm aware of the scripture, thank you, bishop." Rufus's voice kept the same tone of tight control. "I'm... just concerned that something unforeseen--God forbid--will happen to His Majesty my father. He hasn't been feeling well of late, and dynastic questions are always raised whenever a monarch becomes ill."
"His Highness has been trained to take over his family's obligations and Company holdings, I'm sure."
"I'm still concerned. There are factions that would take advantage of such a situation, you see. I want to know that I can depend on your support should a situation of that magnitude arise. The recognition of the Church could be of help to me."
Of the Church, and certainly not of the bishop-mage and his "gifted" assistant. "I will support what is just, and the lawful successor." The language was couched, of course, but hopefully to the point where Rufus would accept it.
"It's expected, of course. Thank you for your time, bishop." Rufus knelt for a blessing.
As Luc performed a perfunctory sign of the rood, he realized which of the Twelve Rufus had chosen to stay by. Not one of the statues, but instead the column that represented Germonik. Germonik, who betrayed his master for the sake of the empire. So now he had rival faction. Luc was pleased that he'd managed to obtain a Silverberg.
This happens before the bit with Sarah.
No one came to chapel, so it was the perfect place to think. Luc supposed the only reason the Crown even kept the place intact was for his benefit. Taking holy orders was the only way Luc had seen to escape. As the adopted son of the Head of Scientific Research just enough weight and attention was given to his cause. It would be best to placate a kept mage--no questions asked as to how Hojo had found a mage--even if as a cleric he was supposed to only study magic that would be for the benefit of others. So much for the elemental offensive magic that Hojo insisted he study.
He'd never go back to the labs. Sarah, also gathered up by Hojo for her particular gifts, was found to be called to a similar vocation. She went along with him, and there was nothing that Hojo could do.
Kneeling in front of a statue of Saint Ajora, flanked by the Twelve, who would know that Luc wasn't praying? No one came to chapel, so no one would find out. His plans had all come together in the hours that he spent here, kneeling in front of a saint seen as a threat to an empire while he was supposed to be praying for the safety of the Crown.
The chapel's door creaked open behind him. Reflexively, Luc gathered the energy needed for an offensive spell. The slight breeze of a growing wind spell disturbed the candles on the altar--why would a chapel be warded? A bishop would only know white magic. He just as quickly let the energy go as he saw his visitor was the Shinra scion. A quick spin back towards Saint Ajora's altar, a genuflection, a sign of the rood, and he faced the younger Shinra again, bowing.
"I wanted to seek your council, bishop." Was Rufus's voice always so controlled? It reminded Luc of that Turk, Tseng, or any Turk with enough training, really. Rufus stepped forward, stopping near one of the Twelve. "Are you free?"
Sarah would be meeting him soon, but maintaining their ties with Shinra until the last possible moment was absolutely necessary. She understood that. She would understand. "Of course, highness."
"You know, bishop, that my family holdings in the Company equal--"
It would be safest to answer with a cliché. "My lord, please remember that you must render unto Yudora what is Yudora's, and unto God what is--"
"I'm aware of the scripture, thank you, bishop." Rufus's voice kept the same tone of tight control. "I'm... just concerned that something unforeseen--God forbid--will happen to His Majesty my father. He hasn't been feeling well of late, and dynastic questions are always raised whenever a monarch becomes ill."
"His Highness has been trained to take over his family's obligations and Company holdings, I'm sure."
"I'm still concerned. There are factions that would take advantage of such a situation, you see. I want to know that I can depend on your support should a situation of that magnitude arise. The recognition of the Church could be of help to me."
Of the Church, and certainly not of the bishop-mage and his "gifted" assistant. "I will support what is just, and the lawful successor." The language was couched, of course, but hopefully to the point where Rufus would accept it.
"It's expected, of course. Thank you for your time, bishop." Rufus knelt for a blessing.
As Luc performed a perfunctory sign of the rood, he realized which of the Twelve Rufus had chosen to stay by. Not one of the statues, but instead the column that represented Germonik. Germonik, who betrayed his master for the sake of the empire. So now he had rival faction. Luc was pleased that he'd managed to obtain a Silverberg.