Fanfic - FFVII - Seeds of the Garden [Provisional - Aka. The Wutai Soap Opera Saga] - Part 1

[sanctum_c]

raaj told me of some amusing head-canon a while back for Reno; that he learned Wutainese from watching Wutai soap-operas. And this grew out from that idea over numerous conversations, how Reno found the program, and how the other Turks end up getting drawn into the madness. This is ultimately going to be in three sections to canon-splice into both Final Fantasy VII and Advent Children (this is much later). Currently there are some obvious place-holder names in the fic which will be corrected both in the next fic (when Reno learns the correct character names) and if its a reference too far...


Reno was bored. Reno was often bored, but usually it wasn't combined with a long hospital stay and a distinct inability to move. He was at least in a private room which meant he wouldn't be disturbed by any other patients. But it did mean that once he stopped being entertained by the selection of glossy magazines he had managed to snag on the way in, there was precious little to do. Aside from watching the TV suspended from the corner of his room opposite the bed.

But even TV was boring him. Most normal programming was cancelled as Shinra ran extended and economically truthful shows on Avalanche's origins, the history of Sector Seven, and a slew of jingoistic programming about Rufus Shinra's ascension to power. Reno was not in the mood. Not least as he was all too uncomfortably aware of his own part in the massacre the news programs had changed tone on. Just after the plate had fallen, newsreaders had enthusiastically claimed that no one was injured in the incident, though that had rapidly given way to a new claim; no civilians were injured. Anyone who died on the upper or lower plates had been a Avalanche sympathiser and thus brought it all on themselves.

Reno scowled and channel surfed higher. Normally he never got this high; the networks usually boasted numerous soap operas which despite some gentle mocking from his co-workers he never tired of watching. The intricate interplay of personal emotions, people not talking to each other properly, or in some extreme cases getting themselves into a fight with a dubiously rubber monster simply enthralled the Turk. Not this time. Instead he found himself in number ranges he just never got to.

Regional specific programming began to appear; Kalm and Junon were too close to really differ TV wise, so the first changed programming he saw was from Costa del Sol. He stared at the presenters, sat behind a desk on a beach... At least that's what it looked like. Sadly they too were solemnly reciting the same tired points about the disaster in Midgar and the terrorists still on the loose. It might have been amusing to stay to see if they would deviate from what felt suspiciously set scripts with regards to Rufus, but he was already far too bored.

He hopped up the channels some more. The Gold Saucer seemed to have its own station he now discovered; a looping infomercial trailer for the facilities of the entertainment complex. Well, he assumed that was how it normally worked anyway. Instead the sound was toned down, the colours faded and obscured by a translucent black square over the images with a caption of how sorry the staff were for the loss of President Shinra, a well known patron of the park. Reno was suspicious. He didn't think he'd ever seen the man set foot in that play-park, and suspected it'd be the man's idea of hell. That said, he did have a taste for the garish as Reno had been part of the protection detail more often then he would have liked when Shinra insisted on sampling Honey Bee Inn.

Reno sighed and clicked up again, now finding some really odd channels. Cartoon figures swiped swords at each other in a Wutai bar, the slouching tanned man catching the other's sword with his shoe before swiping at the man with the glasses and the pony-tail. It was distractingly entertaining to see the two of them charge around the bar, slicing and cutting at things, the younger girl in the pink kimono rushing around to free the two of them from prison to do... something. As far as Reno could tell anyway. Wutainese was not something he'd ever put much effort into learning, but the images were neat. All too quickly the program ended and was instead replaced by a news broadcast. And depressingly as far as he could tell this was once again about Midgar and Rufus. At least Wutai didn't deem it fit to completely reorder it's schedules.

Reno selected another channel and paused, watching as a Wutai man spoke earnestly and passionately to a Wutai woman who was facing away from him. He eventually said something that caused her to turn and reach a hesitating hand out for him. The man pulled her into his arms with a flourish and the two hugged tightly before leaning together into a kiss. Reno frowned as the camera cut-away. Was this some social thing over there? No matter; the scene hadn't ended, just been reframed. The couple from before was represented as a shadow on the wall beside a sliding door through which a man could be seen in shadow watching.

He was glowering, angry and holding a short sword in one hand. Abruptly another hand touched his shoulder and he span in panic. Another Wutai woman covered his mouth and muttered something to him. The man stayed angry, but his expression softened slightly. With a jerk of his head he indicated the kissing couple in the next room, and the woman's eyes widened as she caught sight of them. She began crying quietly as the man grimaced and stalked away. A dramatic beat flared up as the screen cut to black and Wutai lettering started scrolling up the screen accompanied by a song.

Wow. Reno let out the breath he hadn't been aware he was holding. That had been enthralling. Sure he had no idea who anyone was or what they were doing, though the former had always been true when he got into a soap (did anyone really start from episode one anyway?). He kept an eye on the screen as the credits rolled and left the channel as a succession of adverts played. He wasn't totally shocked to see no more of the drama - instead the channel began showing a cooking show. No matter. Reno glanced at his watch. He'd have to remember to tune in the same time tomorrow for the next part. And see if...

He frowned then. He'd caught no names, though that depended if any had been mentioned in the deluge of foreign language. Well, the confessing guy could be 'Squall' for now, and his new girlfriend could be 'Rinoa' (he could switch in the real names when he found them out). The angry man he denoted 'Seifer' for now, with his crying accomplice named 'Quistis'. He flipped through the channels a bit further, but eventually worked his way back down to channel 114 and started wondering about TV schedules. Now he really wanted to know what they had been saying.


Two days later, Rude got a chance to visit him again, bringing a blonde woman in a black suit with him. Reno paid them little mind, his gaze locked on the TV screen. Rude fidgeted awkwardly after a minute as Reno glanced away from the screen to a book now thick with bookmarks. Apparently satisfied with the word, Reno stared back at the screen.

"Reno?"

"Wait a minute, it's nearly over."

Rude pulled his sunglasses down a fraction and peered over them at the human drama unfolding on-screen. His gaze flicked to his companion who glanced between Reno, his books and the screen. Rude grimaced slightly, not entirely happy with the new recruit's introduction to her colleague. A dramatic beat played causing Reno to suck in a new breath. "That can't be good..." he murmured.

"What isn't?" Rude's companion spoke up.

Reno didn't move his eyes from the screen. "Squall just found out that Seifer used to date Rinoa. And then he found the note that Quistis left for him..." He blinked and turned to the stranger. "Sorry, who are you?"

"Reno. This is Elena. She's taken over Cissnei's duties."

Confusion ran across Reno's face. "What happened to Cissnei?"

Rude shrugged.

"But she's not dead, right?"

"As far as Tseng knows anyway."

"Huh." The red-haired Turk turned his attention to Elena. "So you're the newest addition?"

"I am."

"Good, just- Wait." Reno's gaze had been drawn by the TV. "Is that another episode?!"

Elena's gaze followed his to the TV screen where a similar song to the one that had accompanied the closing credits was starting up. In amongst the intercutting images, she saw the presumably denoted Squall, Seifer, Quistis and Rinoa.

"Reno-" Rude began.

"Look, can't it just wait one more episode? I need to know how this is going to resolve."

Rude sighed and rolled his eyes at Elena. She smiled back and settled into the visitor's chair beside Reno's bed as Rude folded his arms and watched the moving pictures with a cynical expression.

"Which one's Squall?" Elena asked after a moment. "Him?"

"Not him, the one other one. There! That guy on the left."

"So is the other one Seifer?"

"What? No, that's Laguna. I have this odd sense that he's Squall's father."

"Ohhhhh. Which one's Seifer?"

"He's not in this scene. That's Rinoa though. Laguna used to date her mother I think."

"What?! You mean he's dating his sister?"

"No! But I think Quistis is trying to convince Squall of that."

"And she wants to be with Squall?"

"Now you're catching on."

The trio lapsed into silence until Rude eventually spoke up. "Who's the girl in yellow?"

"Her? I've been calling her Selphie. Why do you- Oh! Oh, Rude. Seen someone you like by chance?"

Rude didn't dignify the comment with a response and continued to try and watch the TV impassively.

"If you're interested, she's currently with some guy in a cowboy hat. But I'm not sure it's going to last as he's kind of a playboy..."

Comments

[raaj]

I almost feel bad for Reno being repeatedly confronted with the aftermath of what he did except you know, he did it. Company orders or no.

But then we get to the lighter side! Soap opera. I actually was very amused to see the FF8 cast names being used for the soap opera, at least by Reno (also, I just typed "Seifer" for "Reno" and was wondering what was wrong with my brain, they're nothing alike. Then I remembered talking with the Reno roleplayer about how Reno feels like he has a weird rivalry with Cloud while Cloud doesn't give a toss and Reno, well, has done horrible things under orders, so I guess they're a bit similar that way), and it reminded me of the date play names evoking FF4. So for me that worked just fine--not sure what general reaction would be, but it is abundantly clear that these aren't the actual VII characters, just silly coincidental "like" roles, so it's not confusing.

I like Rude's little reaction to Reno being so, well...rude, unhappy about the impression he's making on Elena. Though I think she'd be a bit more critical of the soap opera? Given her attitude to Reno and Rude gossiping in Gongaga. I can see her warming up to it, it just seems like at first not so much.

[sanctum_c]

Heh - yeah, almost feel bad for Reno. He might come across as not being regretful or sad, but just not wanting reminders of what he did...

Haha - at first I was just going to use the FFVIII cast as placeholders while I got the scene written, but then I realised it was oddly easy to switch focus slightly and make some of the FFVIII story/character-basis into the soap opera itself.

Interesting point about Reno and Seifer there. I can kind of see the weird rivalry actually - and yeah Cloud simply does not care; and from that its similar enough to Squall/Seifer. Interesting...

Good that the temp names work - for the next part Elena and Rude are going to hang onto those names while Reno has learned the actual character/actor names (tempting to use the AC cast for that).

Glad I got Rude sounding right as well, and hmm... yeah Elena should be a bit more critical of the soap opera - at least initially...

Thanks as always for the feedback.