STRIPES: THE RADIO PLAY

::Music for this scene: Soft Classical music playing in the background. If you can find any Orchestra-only Phil Collins tracks, those will work great!::

::Tifa Strife steps out of the elevator and pads across the plush blue carpet of her husband's office. Cloud is arguing with Cid again::

CLOUD: "I don't care! I said it before and I'll say it again! This company will NOT employ another scientist!"

CID: "God @#$%ing dammit, Strife! Shera's working her ass off trying to find a way to power the new rocket without mako! We need people to help her out!"

CLOUD: ::sits back:: ::groans:: ::exhasperated:: "Cid, I'm sorry, but you're going to -have- to get some outside help on this. The only reason I let this company even have a space exploration program was to get little kids off the street and into the space museum."

CID: ::snarls and puts his hands on the edge of Cloud's desk, furious:: "$%^&! Ya paranoid little prick! We need a science department anyway to find out new ways to generate the @#$%in' power! We're gunna run outta coal pretty soon here, Cloud!"

CLOUD: ::dangerously quiet:: "Get your hands off my desk, you...you...you foul-mouthed...thing! Or you can kiss your little rocket goodbye and be a ticket salesman for the airline!"

CID: ::straightens and tugs at his tie:: {Here I am, straightning and tugging at my tie. Ah hate this thing almost as much as Ah hate wearing this ugly green suit, but ah always have to wear it in the presence of his majesty, King Cloud... What the hell's going through the little $%^&'s mind? He always preaches about they could never resemble the @#$%ing ShinRa in any way, but he's kept even the department color schemes the same! @#$%in' MORON! I ve never really been against the God-damned ShinRa in the God-damned first place. It was only when they tampered with my God-damned rocket that got me God-damned pissed off. I don't think ah can God-damned keep this up much God-damned longer.}

CLOUD: ::pretentious, expectant tone:: "Mr. Highwind? I SAID get your hands off my desk."

CID: ::clenched teeth:: "Yes, sir." ::turns and stomps out to the elevator in a huff:: ::in a low voice, to Tifa:: "I wish ya had the guts to go and tell Cloud how @#$%ing stupid he was acting."

TIFA: "I...I'm sorry, Cid...I can't."

CID: "Pshh...You're the only person here with enough pull with him to do anything, but do you ever do anything? No. Yer jest as @#$%ing guilty as he is, miss."

TIFA: "Cid..."

TIFA: ::pained sigh:: {Believe me, Cid, I wish I had the power you think I have. I would never have let this...monstrosity of a company ever be. But I dare not suggest a thing...no. Whenever I do, he always mentions -her-.} ::angrily:: {HER.} ::girly voice:: {Aeris had been so glowing, kind and warm. Aeris had never said anything to make him angry. Aeris had never been butch or domineering....} ::cynical:: {...his thoughts are always on her...whether to keep me in line or not. It shouldn't matter. Aeris is dead. -I- am Cloud's wife. ::assertive:: It shouldn't matter at all whether or not I'm butch or didn't giggle like a schoolgirl all the damn time...} ::sigh:: {Then why does it? ::pouty noise as she looks at herself:: Pink...of all the colors in existance for my dress to be. Pink. My blazer is pink. My shoes are pink. My lipstick and eyeshadow and rouge are all...PINK!! Why am I wearing pink?! I hate pink. Is it for Cloud? Cloud...is Cloud really worth all this?} ::clear throat:: ::heel sound, walking to Cloud's desk::

CLOUD: ::plays with pencil sharpener:: ::ad lib pencil-sharpener-playing with words::

TIFA: ::clears throat again::

CLOUD: ::startled:: "OH! Hi, honey! How's work today? I've just been converting these complicated rate figures into--"

TIFA: ::unimpressed:: "...into stick figures of you and me?" :slams clipboard down:: "You are such a CHILD!" ::stomps off::

CLOUD: ::neutered:: "H-hey, Tifa? TIFA?! Where are you going?! Tifa?! TIFA!!"