Lost & Found
by PhantomChajo
~1~
Even though it was approaching the beginning of spring, the air still held the chill bite of the past winter. No one had completely abandoned their heavy coats, scarves and hats for clothing more appropriate for warmer weather, they just didn't bundle up as much. Patches of frost and snow still clung tenaciously to the ground, especially in areas where the sunlight infrequently visited. At the moment though in the center of the city, the sun shown down heating the pavement to a pleasant temperature. All the roads leading to the center had been blockaded, traffic detoured around thus taking longer to reach one's destination though sometimes it did shorten it. And where vehicles once traversed unchallenged tents now claimed the roadway with large generators were chugging away to produce electricity for said tents at strategic points around the outer circle.
Most but not all of the tents sported the Shin-Ra logo in some form or fashion. The most popular area was the mess tents where free lunches and drinks were being served. The medical tent was somewhat popular with the free health checks and inoculations being offered as well as the blood drive in progress. Children tended to flock towards the two parked Shin-Ra helicopters on display while teens, male and female alike, ogled the blue-suited hotties standing guard on the helicopters and several more important tents. Everyone else smiled or nodded politely to the roaming TURKs as they surreptitiously patrolled the event. It those who didn't want to be noticed by said blue-suited individuals that stood out like a sore pecker in a whore house, that were silently and stealthily marked as potential troublemakers. The more experienced ones double checking the lesser experienced ones picks. For every obvious TURK there was one that wasn't seen. Those wearing everyday normal street clothes mingling with the crowds.
From within one of the tents, Reeve let out a sigh and dropped his hand allowing the flap to close once more. "Really Rufus do you have to have so many of your people out there?" the older man asked as he turned around. Though wearing a suite of similar color blue, the style and cut was obviously different. Tilting his head to the side slightly, he studied the younger man for several moments before his eyes shifted to the youth sitting next to him. It was undeniable that the two were related, even though the younger had a softer look to him compared to the elder.
The older of the two blonds sat back, crossing his leg over his knee and propping his chin on a fist as he did. He studied the older man in return for several moments before shifting so that his hands were now clasp across his lap. "The reasons are many fold, but overall it has kept any unrest at a minimum, has it not? Families unafraid of letting their children out of their sight. Teens behaving themselves for a change instead of getting into trouble as teens are known to do. And those that are looking for employment are being courted by companies large and small."
Reeve rolled his eyes as he sat down once more across from Rufus. "You mean Shin-Ra is courting the people once more."
"Hardly Reeve," Rufus replied. "We have almost every department at max in regards to staffing. Those areas that are not fully staffed are rather particular about who is accepted for what position and I've learned," he ignored the soft snort, "to trust the department heads and their choice of requirements." He lifted a hand and waved in the general direction of the recruiting tents. "What you see out there are independent companies."
The older man was still not completely convinced about it all, but he wisely kept his mouth shut for the moment. He accepted the cup of tea offered to him by Tseng, sat back and sipped the herbal drink. There were several hours left before the two of them were scheduled to make an appearance, give a speech and do the drawing for charity raffles going on. He huffed softly at the thought of Rufus Shinra and charity in the same sentence.
Rufus arched a blond eyebrow in silent question at Reeve's huff and received a shake of the head in return.
"Sir?"
"Yes Titus?" Rufus replied back.
"May I go outside now?" the young man asked sliding back away from the table slightly, the plate in front of him held only crumbs.
Rufus tilted his head to the side glancing at Tseng a moment. "Tseng?"
The Wutain TURK in turned to check the status of the event. With a practiced eye he could tell that there were no security concerns at this moment. Turning back to the director he nodded.
"You may go Titus, but be back here in 90 minutes. I would prefer you here instead of trying to make your way back though the crowds."
The youth smiled brightly. "Thank you sir," he said before standing up and giving a polite bow to his brother as well as Reeve. "Mr. Tuesti, it was a pleasure to meet you and if I don't see you before you leave, have a pleasant day." AS he turned to go, he snapped his fingers and a dark shadow stood up from the corner of the tent. The shadow turned out to be a large mongrel dog that was exceptionally well behaved and obedient. "Come. Stay close to me Silly," he said as the tent flap closed behind him.
"Silly?" Reeve asked as he turned back to Rufus.
"It is the name Titus choose," Rufus said with a shrug.
"Where did he get that beast?" Reeve asked with a chuckle. He silently swore that the last time he'd seen a four footed friendly creature that big was when he last talked to Naniki.
The blond accepted the cup of coffee and took a sip before answering. "Reno found him as a pup a few years back. Thought Titus needed cheering up at the time and took it to him. Needless to say," he shrugged again not needing to finish the sentence. "What he lacks on the outside, he more then makes up with his loyalty and dedication to Titus."
Reeve nodded in understanding. "Even though felines are my preference, have you had any thought on breeding that monster? If the qualities of the sire can be passed to the offspring...Size and loyalty to its owner. Very desirable in guard beasts."
"Silly belongs to Titus and it is his choice on whether or not to allow the mutt to play stud to any bitch offered him," Rufus said with a slight curl to his lips. "Besides, there are several highly qualified and reputable breeders in a range of beasts. From guard to companionship. Titus has not expressed any desire to enter that field."
The older man nodded again. "Well if he does, I'd like to see the pups before they are gone."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"The speech, Shachou," Tseng said setting a folder along with a pen on the table in front of Rufus.
-
Across the way at mess tents, a group of teens and adults had claimed one table for themselves. There was laughter intermingled with general conversations. The group seemed mismatched even though all but one wore jackets with the same design painted across the back. The oldest sat at the very end of the table, his battered and much abused wheelchair pulled up as close as possible as he sat with chin propped on his hand. Next to him on his left sat a woman of roughly the same age and next to her sat a young child of barely 10 years. Across from those two sat a couple, the young woman quite obviously pregnant the young man fawning over the mother to be. Scattered down the benches on either side were a mix of teens between 13 and 17 years of age. The oddball was the person sitting at the opposite end of the wheelchair bound man.
A few tables away but within direct view, a large dark skinned man sat. A stocking cap covered his head, pulled low over his forehead. A battered pair of shades perched on his face covering eyes that continued to scan the gathered people before returning to the one table. He reached up to scratch at the scraggly beard that covered the lower half of his face. Rude couldn't wait to get done with this assignment so he could shave the irritating hair off. Ever so often he would lift the cup and 'take a sip'. In truth he was reporting in. "No change, target has not moved since arriving."
The individual in question wore an great coat made of some dark material with a high fur-lined collar. A pair of old style glasses perched on their face, the lenses nearly black and the sides shielded and their hair was hanging loosely about their face. From the roots, dark reddish colored hair for several inches before it turned black. Sitting hunched over nursing a bottle of water and a silver-headed cane was propped against the table next to the person.
"Scratch that, we have movement," Rude muttered into the cup.
The group seemed to be gathering up trash and preparing to depart. Most of the teens had already vanished into the crowds, the younger couple were slowly strolling out of the tent together. The wheelchair bound man rolled himself back as the child scrambled around the table to claim a seat in his lap. The person at the opposite end slowly got this their feet, using the cane as temporary support.
Rude was in a perfect location as the older woman walked by him to deposit the trash into the bin before turning around so he heard what she was saying and it was easily relayed.
"We got 20 minutes to get Jamie over to the med tent for the appointment with the doctor there. With the way you two meander we might get there on time..." the rest trailed off as they disappeared from the tent.