Sanctuary

A fanfic by Iridal

The Welcome Ceremony

There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember: and there is pansies, that's for thoughts.

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark - by William Shakespeare

The next day passed quickly for the excited young temp. Although Aislinn realized that Rufus was bringing along with him scores of aides and personal assistants - a category in which she was more than likely lumped - the thought of being at such a prestigious event thrilled her. She spent her day off packing and doing various errands, all the while thinking of the sites and ceremonies she finally would be able to witness first-hand.

After all, living your life in hiding doesn't leave one much opportunity to travel...

She pushed that thought aside. She would be able to visit Junon, and the other continent, even if is was on business. One must take the opportunities as they arise, or they may slip away forever, she thought. That's something I must learn to do.

When the day of departure dawned, Aislinn was already up and ready. Skipping down the steps of her apartment building with suitcase in hand, she hailed a taxi to take her to the Shinra building. It wouldn't do to be late for Rufus...

The muted thudding sound from the rotors of the helicopter gradually intruded into Rufus' thoughts as they flew to Junon. It was a subtle reminder of what today meant. He would be officially inaugurated as President of the vast Shinra empire, thus forever clinching the life his father had laid out for him so many years ago - the immoral life of the leader of the biggest, most corrupt corporation on the face of the planet. Wouldn't Mother be proud? he thought cynically.

However, it was his mother he had to thank for assuring that he would never be like his father. From her example and patient teaching, he learned grace, dignity, and culture. He learned literature, the arts, and the finer things in life. And, witnessing first-hand her emotional devastation at having a husband set aside his 'beloved wife' for those who were younger and prettier, Rufus learned that allowing himself to love opened himself up to pain.

He had never once forgotten those lessons.

Tearing his thoughts forcefully from the path they were straying, he glanced over at his companions on this trip. Heidigger and Palmer were discussing the upcoming ceremony, the gruff voice and annoying giggle audible even over the engine. Scarlett was sitting in the co-pilot's seat and trying her best to cozy up to Reno, succeeding immensely only in making the infamous lady-killer nauseous.

Aislinn sat next to him, her expression alternating between a faintly pained wince at the shear annoyingness of Palmer and nervously biting her lower lip as she glanced at the redheaded Turk who was piloting the helicopter.

Rufus almost felt a sudden wave of sympathy for her. His departmental heads were trying even in the best of circumstances, and Reno was not known for his sobriety. A lesser person would have fainted dead away a while ago.

"Is everything alright, Ms. Corliss?"

The young woman apprehensively turned to Rufus as a faint embarrassed blush stained her cheeks. "I-I'm quite fine," she stammered out, suddenly aware that his question had drawn the attention of Heidigger and Palmer as well. She waited until the conversation across from them resumed, then tentatively spoke. "Um...Rufus? What will be my duties once we arrive?"

A good question indeed. He had first asked her because he was impressed with her skills and pleased with her hard work. Now however, he was beginning to become aware of a nagging little feeling hidden away in the back of his mind that the fact of her being pleasant company might have somehow entered his into choice.

"You will be required to transcribe any meetings I need to attend and take notes when I do inspect each the Reactors," he told her. "And, of course, you will be expected to accompany me when there are any formal celebrations." He was careful to school his face into a look of indifference, as if he was just reciting another one of her duties that came with the job.

"Oh...alright...I guess." Aislinn had a slightly confused look; that had sounded suspiciously like she was to be his date or something...

"Yo, Prez!" Reno called over the whir of the helicopter blades. "We're about to land!"

Looking out the window, Rufus saw the clouds part to reveal Junon port and the array of troops in formation, both eagerly awaiting him to arrive and be officially sworn in. All thoughts other than that were swept from his mind as the sleek copter landed on the cleared airstrip.

Long after the helicopter had landed and each of the occupants was whisked away to rest before the big ceremony, Aislinn sat in the small, cramped room that she had been escorted to. A tentative knock came to her door just before it opened, admitting an eager-looking young blond woman in a pressed blue suit. A Turk, by the looks of it.

"Excuse me...Ms. Corliss?" The blond gave a stiff looking smile. "My name is Elena of the Turks, ma'am. I was sent by President Rufus to request that you attend him at the Inaugural ceremony and the dinner following it."

Aislinn blinked in astonishment. "Attend him? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well...I..." The professional demeanor of the young Turk dropped as she gave the young woman a slightly helpless look. "I really don't know." Her tone of voice betrayed the fact that she was just as new to this all as Aislinn was. "Just stand there and look...nice...I guess. Rufus did mention that you were to change into something more formal, with the occasion and all."

"Ah, I...see..."

So, after taking another few moments to change into a nice, demure-looking dress, she followed Elena silently down the seemingly endless maze of corridors to where Rufus and his entourage were waiting. The door opened, and she was directed to a balcony overlooking Upper Junon. Hiding in the background near the four grinning Turks as they stood guard, she watched the ceremony.

Rufus stood there, with Heidigger and Palmer and the other top execs, receiving the cheers and adulation of the crowds below while a somber-looking Reeve swore him in. Aislinn couldn't help but smile - he looked so proud standing there taking his oath of office. It was as if he was absolutely confident that he could change the world single-handedly.

An honorable goal, to say the least.

The oath finished, the crowds erupted in cheers...and Rufus glanced in her direction, where she was surrounded in a sea of blue suits.

He smiled.

After the crowds had calmed down, the entire troop of top Shinra employees sauntered off to the main banquet hall for a celebratory dinner in honor of the inauguration.

It was a private little affair - only about a fifty people or so, and all of them close to the president. Aislinn found herself tables away from the smugly grinning Rufus. He was at the head table, surrounded by his departmental heads and toadies, while she was way out in Timbuktu watching Reno and Rude race each other into drunken oblivion.

It's to be expected though, she thought with a brief sigh. I'm just his temporary secretary...I'm surprised I'm even here at all.

"You might find tomorrow's agenda much more relaxing and enjoyable."

She looked up to see Tseng glance briefly at her as he reached for his virtually untouched glass of wine. Hardly anyone at the table had spoken to her, and the edges of his mouth turned up ever so slightly at her questioning look but refused to clarify.

Elena, however, did not have the need to be overly mysterious. "Well, tomorrow we don't really have anything we need to do until the afternoon, so we can all kick back and relax." She grinned eagerly. "Then there's the parade and Rufus will inspect the troops, and after that we take a boat ride over to Costa del Sol."

Reno, who had throw back more shots of whiskey than Aislinn cared to count, gave his fellow Turk a long-suffering look. "Elena...you're talkin' too much again. Why don'cha use your mouth to do somethin' more fun than yappin' all the time."

"Like w-" she began, then noticed his lewd smirk and stopped. "OH! Why don't you take your electro rod and shove it, Reno!!"

His smirk widened as his eyes took on an impish look. "Love to! Where shall I shove it, babe?"

Elena turned an interesting shade of red and looked to Tseng for support. Not finding any from that avenue, so settled instead for bickering with the plastered Reno while the other three looked on in amusement. The night wasn't quite so boring anymore...