Cloud Strife smiled at the two women as they descended down the stairs. "You both look very nice." He complimented them both. Self-consciously Cloud tried to fix his tux. "I feel like a penguin."
When Cloud saw the large limo out front he was surprised. "Tifa did you send for a limo? Yuffie did you...cause I sure didn't." Cloud was vexed by who sent the limo. Little did any of them know a red headed Turk was very pleased with himself.
Yuffie held her hands up in defense, "For once in my life I am not guilty. I know how hard that is to believe but it's true." She looked at Cloud with that popular puppy dog look that didn't work often.
Tifa nodded in agreement, "Since she's been with me the whole day today, besides she forgot her cell phone here anyway." But the three of them headed towards the door of the bar to see what was going on with the limo deal.
"Maybe it's Rufus!" The ninja chirped, or maybe it was not.
Cloud stared at the car and then back at Yuffie. He shrugged and when he thought about it all of what Yuffie said made perfect sense. Why would she? She mostly relied on other people instead of them relying on her.
Nodding Cloud opened the door for the two women and waited for them to slide into their newly acquired ride. As soon as both were in he slid in behind them and promptly shut the door. They were off to the ball.
"Whoa I never thought that I would fine any other ride more pimped out than Cloud's bike." Yuffie commented looking at all of the goodies in the limo. Glasses, Alcoholic drinks, Soda, snacks, radio, phone, several TVs, fancy lights on the ceiling walls and some chairs. As always in a Turk car there was a hidden weapon supply that the ninja happened upon, by accident.
"Yuffie stop looking around and touching things." Tifa sighed at the ninja's energy. Another boring night with talking with random men that only talked to her chest. 'Stupid chest.' Tifa thought, 'But at least Cloud is here. Looking sharp as well.'
Yuffie didn't like being told to calm down but she did for Tifa's sake. She was slowly becoming as moody as a pregnant woman, not to mention she really couldn't run away from Tifa in stilettos.
Cloud stared out the window and glowered at the buildings that passed them by. "My bike isn't that great." He rolled his eyes at Yuffie and how curious she was. Often he felt she was closer in age to Denzel than himself.
As Yuffie seemed to calm down Cloud was thanking god or whatever celestial entity of greatness that helped with that great feat. He took a glance at Tifa and felt bad that she had feelings for him that he couldn't return. It wasn't his fault though... no it was.
Cloud saw the Shinra building slam into view and soon the driver stopped at the door, placed the limo in park, and left so he could open their door.
The ninja yawned still bored and Tifa replied with her own yawn. Yuffie's yawns where extremely contagious, along with her illnesses. As soon as the door opened the Princess was the first one out of the car with the help of the limo driver.
She met the flashing and roaring of the press and fans, there was red carpet on the ground. Yuffie smiled at the thought of Rufus rolling down this in a monster wheelchair. Carefully the ninja made her way down after shaking some hands and signing some stuff, while grinning all the way.
With Yuffie distracting the main attention of the media Tifa and Cloud managed to slip out without being blinded as much. Tifa lightly grabbed Cloud's arm so he didn't look awkward to the surging media and fans.
Cloud rolled his eyes at Yuffie's behavior. She always indulged the fans, but secretly Cloud thought it was more about indulging herself really. Watching the small ninja continue on down the carpet Cloud sighed. He never did like the attention, but he couldn't deny them.
A small girl with light brown hair and deep brown eyes stared at him expectantly, "Cloud?" She obviously wanted THE Cloud Strife for something, and even though he wanted to say no... her pleading brown eyes stopped on even the slightest idea of doing so.
"Hi, what's your name?" He said with a sort of forced smile. Cloud didn't smile often and so doing so was a chore.
The small girl grinned and her smile even reached her eyes. "Leanna. Can I have your autograph?" Holding out a small pad of paper shaped like a chocobo and a blue pen.
Grabbing the paper and pen Cloud quickly scrawled 'for my dear fan Leanna, Cloud Strife.' Handing it back to her he smiled again. "There you go."
The little girl smiled and seemed to chew on her bottom lip. "Cloud, can I have a hug? Please?" Again it made it for him to refuse with her desperate adorable brown eyes.
"All right." Cloud kneeled down and hugged the girl. She returned back to her mom and Cloud rejoined Tifa as they both made it inside without further interruptions. If only it was that easy to make Tifa happy.
Yuffie had just looked back at Cloud when he hugged that girl, so she had to yell something at him. "Aww CLOUD! That was sooo cute! You should do that more you big chocobo brute!" She flicked her tongue out at him before disappearing inside.
Tifa enjoyed a small laugh as Cloud hugged that small girl, Tifa knew that the ninja was going to go online as soon as she can looking for that picture then pinning it to Tifa's pillow. Just to make her grin.
The brunette held her hand out to Cloud, "Come on let's go inside before you start hugging everyone." She grinned thinking that Cloud might be more of a huge teddy chocobo bear.
Cloud glared at Yuffie and held the door for Tifa as the two of them entered the Shinra building. "I will not hug everyone!" He said defensively.
As the three of them entered it still looked like the same old Shinra building. However, as the continued their path the room opened up into a large and extravagant ballroom.
"Yeah right!" The ninja chirped back when Cloud entered with Tifa.
"Everyone..." Yuffie whispered looking serious this time, "Prepared to be bombarded with crusty dry old and young men and women that just want to be your.... "Buddy."" She even included the finger motion. On they went into the extravagant ballroom.
Yuffie peeled off as soon as she saw Elena and Tsneg to chat with them, leaving Tifa and Cloud alone. The only thing those two where talking about was Cloud and Tifa and if they could make it.
Cloud rolled his eyes at Yuffie. She thought he was so predictable, and in some ways he was... but he would not hug anyone else. "Great." The sarcasm was thick in his voice. Why couldn't he have just stayed home?
Tifa on the other hand was torn between talking with some of her own friends or keeping Cloud company. "Well.. Cloud? What do you want to do?" She asked hoping for help on her decision.
"I'll be over at the bar. You can talk to your friends if you want." He didn't want her to feel obligated to hang around with him.
Reno stood at the back out of view and as he saw Tifa he smirked brilliantly. She looked lovely and he would be damned if he didn't get a dance with her. Heaven or hell he reminded himself... he wasn't going home alone.
Before Tifa could move another step Yuffie reappeared and was grabbing her arm. "Tifa! Where's Vinny? I thought he would be here! Also I want to you meet a couple of my friends from Wutai! They're the nice ones." The ninja chirped as she tugged Tifa towards her friends grinning.
Tifa sighed giving in. "I don't know where he is or where he might be. But I'll gladly meet your friends. Female I hope."
"Yup, yup!" Yuffie answered as some of her female friends came over to talk with them.
Like Reno, Vincent Valentine was keeping out of sight, but after the mention of his name from Yuffie he came out of hiding. Not dressed in his usual crimson slightly tattered cape and black attire Vincent felt a little foolish. However, his features refused to betray him. Dressed in a black tux with red tie Vincent Valentine looked very handsome, but also a bit awkward.
His blood red eyes fell on Yuffie and knew the small ninja would never give up in her search for him. So he decided to walk over his shoes making rather loud noises as they hit the linoleum of the floor. It was simply easier to just go into the open and find Yuffie than have her find him. Inevitably he would be spotted by her and the forced to dance.
Continuing his watch Reno smiled as he saw Valentine walk over to the women. Knowing all the while that he should be finding Rufus to see if his boss needed to see him. Walking down a few halls finally he found the grand door that led to his boss' office. Looking as fantastic as ever Rufus Shinra wore a crisp impeccably clean and freshly ironed stark white suit. "Ah Reno. Is all going well? Everyone enjoying themselves?"
Reno nodded as he spoke, "Yeah, everyone is having a good time." It was a lie. So far Reno was having a miserable time.
"Stop lying. I know you want to get off duty and you will be once I make my announcement and this event actually starts." Smiling wide at the red head he continued. "Don't worry, if I had anything to say about it I would get Lockheart to dance with you if all it took was a snap of my fingers."
Reno sighed, "Life doesn't work that way though boss."
Rufus nodded, "I know, but if anyone deserves this is you. You drink a lot, believe me... I know. So it makes perfect sense that you want a bar maid. I support that. After all, Cloud isn't exactly being his normal knight-in-shining-armor self." Straightening his tie he added, "You may not be a knight, but you're a Turk and that has to be close I suppose. Alright, done. Let's get going."
Reno as he walked out muttered so no one would hear him, "I hope you're right."
"Hello Vinny! I'm surprised that you ditched your claw!" Yuffie commented on after giving him a hug. "So how did Rufus drag you in on this one? I had Tifa drag me in this horrible dress and heels." She tugged at her clothing.
"Oh Yuffie, you look nice in it for once. Last time you appeared in your warrior outfit Rufus had a heart attack. Or close to it." Tifa revisited the memory of the last ball, two years ago. Oh how foolish the ninja was back then, some of the fool in her did fade, but not enough at times.
"But Tifa! I just returned from a mission with Reeve! I had no time to change let alone a dress and makeup." Yuffie countered back pouting, "Besides you don't gauge Vincent's eyes out when he didn't even appear." She quickly stuck her tongue out at Tifa, Tifa was tempted to try and grab the ninja's tongue but that wouldn't be good in such a public place.
When Tifa didn't retort Yuffie felt proud of herself. "Payback for the makeup. Hey look! It's Blondie!" The princesses pointed to the stage as the lights started to dim.
Vincent left the women to their talk after simply stating, "It would have been a hindrance if I tried to wear it." Often he grew tired of their banter.
Rufus spoke and the entire room was blanketed completely in silence. "Welcome all to the twenty fifth annual Shinra ball. We hope you all enjoy yourselves while you are hear and will donate to the Rebuild Midgar fund. Relax and do please dance... what is a ball without dancing?" The lights went up again as Rufus descended the stairs with Reno in tow.
"It would be a real ball if this was just an awesome rave where I can dance with anyone I want free of all the prying eyes and lighten their load a bit too. So then I wouldn't have to do lame dance moves." The princess wined quietly. She knew everyone was ignoring her.
"Oh Yuffie. You never seem to change." Tifa sighed watching Rufus come towards them. Yippe freakin doo. She growled in her head.
"Is that good or bad?" The ninja asked her slightly sulky female friend. She was the only female sulker among a growing amount of male sulkers.
"So Vincent any luck on whatever you where looking for?" Yuffie admitted to herself that she once again forgot something important but just couldn't remember.
Vincent made no comment on Yuffie's dancing. Honestly there was no reasoning wit her so it was best to let her think she was right. Vincent watched Rufus as he casually strolled toward them. Vincent watched him like a hawk.
Rufus smiled a dazzling, charming, and irresistible smile. "Hello, how are all of you this evening? Hopefully you are enjoying yourselves."
Even if someone was shooting daggers at him Rufus Shinra would be nothing short of a well groomed polite rich charming business owner. It didn't matter if someone hated his guts, he seemed capable of swaying them to like him.
Yuffie jumped on the opportunity of picking Rufus's pockets. "Hey Rufus! I've gotten rusty at dancing. Want to help me out here?" She grinned fluttering her eyes and giving him a small puppy dog look. Being a princess of a re-empowered country also helps with her persuasions.
Tifa had to grin, Yuffie had everything yet wanted everything else. One weird child. A waiter passed by and Tifa grabbed a glass and one of the small treats on board. "So Vincent anything you wish to talk to be about?" Tifa asked as the ninja tried to sweeten up Rufus just to annoy him once more.