axnewxera

[axnewxera]

"I'd like to conduct a thorough investigation into why we've lost so much money this quarter on our supply crates getting smashed and looted across the planet."

[axnewxera]

// My growing collection of Rufie-poo 🤍

[axnewxera]

// I'm having a lot of fun with posting these headcanon posts sooooooo

I have some thoughts on the "We're not so different, you and I" of Cloud Strife and Rufus Shinra!

Obviously this is my own headcanon and interpretation, so I don't expect other people to follow this if they have a different take, but it will definitely influence my portrayal of Rufus!

I think Cloud and Rufus are, at least at first, a sort of reflection of each other, in the sense that they are both who the other one WANTS to be.

Cloud is canonically a caring person with genuine heart and compassion who pretends to be an emotionless badass. He is insecure and traumatized, so he hides behind this facade that he doesn't care so nothing has the opportunity to emotionally harm him.

Rufus, on the other hand, is something of an emotionless badass after a lifetime of being groomed and molded by his father into the heir of a harsh dictatorship. Yet he has Darkstar by his side at all times, and he clearly has an attachment to his pet. He forms and builds genuine relationships and connections with the Turks (or, well, Elena doesn't seem to like him too much yet... but she's new, she'll come around!).

He wants to have a vulnerable, emotional side and actively seeks to forge those bonds despite not really needing to. His father was incredibly successful and powerful, and had no obvious emotional ties to speak of. Yet Rufus's relationships and closeness with people seems to be kept down-low and almost confidential. He only shows his emotions behind closed doors, to people he absolutely trusts. But, I don't get the sense he's trying to close himself off to protect himself from getting hurt. I think it's very much the opposite - he doesn't want to become his father and have nothing of value to live for, so he's trying to slowly open himself up, a step at a time, to avoid a lifetime of hurt.

It's interesting that they both end up leaning more toward the empathetic, compassionate side of their personalities more, as Cloud slowly lets his walls down and learns to lean on people more, and Rufus slowly starts learning the error of his company's ways and tries to redeem himself and make things right.

I think the reason the two of them have such a friendly, playful, flirty dynamic between them is because they see those positive traits that they idealize for themselves in each other. There's a level of comfort and even wish fulfillment there for both of them when they interact.

[axnewxera]

// I was rewatching some Rebirth cutscenes and realized something cool about Rufus and Tseng!

I was watching this scene, after Glenn makes his big televised declaration of war and Viceroy Sarruf fails to show up on the broadcast.

Rufus is watching with his whole entourage of directors and Tseng. The directors start asking questions about Sarruf and Glenn. Tseng briefly looks to Rufus before he answers any questions, and Rufus gives him subtle cues on whether he should give out the information or not before he answers.

When Scarlet questions who Sarruf is, Tseng looks to Rufus, who sighs and closes his eyes before Tseng denies having any information on him. When she questions Glenn's past, Tseng looks to Rufus, who gives a very slight nod in the foreground of the camera shot before Tseng starts giving out what information he has on Glenn.

I highly doubt I'm the first person to ever notice this or call it out, but I do want to dive into it a little bit and what it means for Rufus.

The man is in a room full of directors. These are all the big corporate bosses of Shinra. All of them technically outrank Tseng.

Yet Tseng knows more than all of them, and knows to follow Rufus's lead on just how much to let on.

I LOVE this implication that Tseng is, for all intents and purposes, Rufus's most trusted ally and arguably his number two man. President Shinra mainly leaned on his directors and gave them all the power, while Rufus does this with the Turks instead.

I've gone on in the past about my take on Rufus and his relationship with the Turks as a whole, but this just cements that in my mind and supports my headcanon completely. Rufus and the Turks are all their own party of "Power of Friendship" anime protagonists in their point of view and I absolutely love it.

[axnewxera]

// WHO'S READY TO ROLEPLAY???

I'm feeling the muse haaaaard lately and I wanna play again!

[axnewxera]

// A few months ago, my sister and I went to an orchestra concert of music from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. We cosplayed as Rufus and Aerith for the event.

I mentioned before on my blog that this was happening, we bought the tickets MONTHS in advance, but I just realized I never posted pics of my cosplay here. Whoops.

[axnewxera]

this dude just came outta nowhere and acted like he thought he was the main character

[axnewxera]

[axnewxera]

Rufus stayed silent for a moment, his gaze not leaving Lucia's eyes as he pulled out his phone and brought it up to his ear. "Tseng, get some milk. And sour candy."

"Disappeared and you didn't even come back with the milk."

[axnewxera]

@therapardalis

Continued from here!

"Well, you'd be the first," he chuckled. "What's new?"

[axnewxera]

"You overestimate my reliance on you, my friend," Rufus said coolly, reaching up to slick his hair back quickly. "That said, I want a sandwich." He cracked a small grin.

"And if I leave you'll want to ask me at least fifty different things within the hour, if not more." There's the faintest hint of a smile on his lips as he signs the page and sets it aside. "Sorry, sir, that doesn't scare me."

[axnewxera]

[axnewxera]

@svnnykit

Continued from here!

"True enough. This dad has people to get the milk for him. Lucky you."

[axnewxera]

@soulsfractured

Continued from here!

"...You're fired."

[axnewxera]

Do you think that like how penguins huddle to protect their young and vulnerable members. The goofball Turks protect Rufus this way.

Only exception is that a goofball with wings could easily pick him up and take him away if they let their guard down.

the rufball protection squad

[axnewxera]

// I'M BACK BABY

I vanished into the Lifestream for a little bit there. Sorry about that. Summer is always a crazy time for me, and I've been busier than usual this fall. I genuinely miss Rufus, this blog, and this community, so I would like to make a comeback and dive back in!

It's been a LOOOOOONG time since I've posted anything though, so I'm not really sure how to move forward. I'm thinking of wiping the slate clean with the mutuals I've played with before, starting new threads/scenes, but honoring what came before. Doing a time skip of sorts so we don't have to remember every DETAIL of our previous stuff, but we can still honor the history and chemistry we've built in the previous stuff and build upon it.

And, of course, new people are always welcome to RP with me as well! If you're interested in plotting a thing, please reach out to me! I'm looking forward to playing Rufus again and seeing what new heights I can bring this muse to!

[axnewxera]

"Miss me?"