FF7 Meta: The Banora Shrine

[Original Tumblr post] So, this was just looking at the Shrine/Statue of the Goddess in the Banoran Underground, as well as the tree and the Goddess Materia - and how massive it is. Of course, being this is a videogame, take it with a grain of salt. But here's my estimates:

I play Genesis as about 5'10-5'11 with two inch heels, so I can make the following guesses:

• Genesis (with boots) ~ 6 ft
• Statue of Minerva ~ 18 ft
• Ancient tree = 45 ft
• Goddess materia (in tree) = 18 ft

Now, mind you, the view remains skewed so it’s hard to be sure of the perspective… but I imagine those are in the right ballpark, which is stunning and often overlooked.

FF7 Headcanon: Veld and Codeswitching

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This is a headcanon I’ve had a long time about Veld, accents, and code-switching.

Code-switching is where someone changes the way they talk to fit the situation they’re in, sometimes even in the middle of the same conversation. You hear it a lot with multilingual people where they may mix languages a few words at a time as they go. This also covers people who may speak one language while they’re in “professional” situations and whatever their mother language is at home, or slipping into certain speech patterns when they see family or old friends.

I picture Kalm as having a sort of southern accent (speaking as an American in the states, for specifics), a “lazy” sort of drawl where a lot of g’s get dropped of -ing words and everything gets a little softened around the edges. Little things like “gonna” or “woulda” and contractions that make the rest of the world squint and suspect they’re being put on. Born and raised there, I picture that as how Veld talked for the first half of his life.

Then came the Turks, a dangerous job where a young father got one hell of a scare when someone figured out where he was from just by his accent. Nothing came of it, but he taught himself fast to drop it on the clock. By the time he’s Director of the Turks, very few people indeed know he ever had an accent, his words are clear and perfectly crisp.

It’s very rare that he lapses back into it after the bombing. If he relaxes enough off the clock around someone who has him feeling nostalgic or very comfortable, it comes back some. Catch him off guard enough, or if he’s out of it, and you’ll also hear hints. There was a little of it unaddressed in THIS ficlet, but I actively mention it in my giftfic Wildcard (that desperately needs another two chapters, oi) but I thought it might be interesting just to put it out here.

FF7 Prompt Fill: Never Have I Ever... given my friend a porn star

[Original Tumblr post] For the prompt: Never have I ever…given my best friend a Porn star for their birthday.

There was a long, long pause before Rude pointedly cleared his throat. Reno smirked, more wry than anything approaching sheepish, and took a shot.

---

Reno hadn’t had a lot of things, growing up. Flat out hadn’t been able to afford it, and he moved around too much to really be able to hold on to stuff after his brother died. He had some little things - just enough to tuck into a duffle, really - that he’d kept over the years, but having things just wasn’t something he did until he joined the Turks. Even once he did, while he saved and splurged on a few things now and then, his favorite indulgences were experiences. And that included whenever he gifted people, like taking Tseng out to a nice restaurant or going to a movie with the guys.

And when his partner’s birthday rolled around, he always wanted to do something nice for him. Rude was… he was more than just a friend, he was like family. The best friend and then some. After breaking up with the AVALANCHE chick, he’d been pretty down. So Reno decided he’d do something about that.

He got a call about four hours after he knew Rude would have gotten his ‘surprise’ so he figured things must’ve gone pretty good. “Heeeey, partner. Happy birthday, yo!”

There was a heavy sigh on the other end, the kind that usually came with his partner rubbing his face.

“Wait, it was a happy birthday, right? Tam was always real popular -”

“Reno,” Rude interrupted firmly. “Next year, just take me for paintball or something.”

FF7 Prompt Fill: Never Have I Ever... stolen Veld's coffee

[Original Tumblr post] Never have I ever STOLEN VELD"S COFFEE!

Reeve snorted at that, fully expecting that no one would have dared, and arched a brow as Vincent poured himself a shot, saluting his old partner while Reno snickered.

---

The problem with morning shift was, quite frankly, that it happened in the morning. And Veld was something of a morning person, but four am was just… not happening, not without a hefty mug of black coffee to get him through. Midgar was only marginally better than Junon, just as cold and dreary without being damp, and he slumped at his desk in hope of reviving some before he had to get up.

He barely noticed when Vincent came over, head down on the desk in mute protest to it all, grunting as his hair was ruffled.

“… this is battery acid.”

Veld tilted his head, peering up at him through his bangs and making an indignant sound to see his partner giving his mug a displeased look. “That’s mine.”

“I am very disappointed, you usually have better taste.” Vincent took another drink anyway.

“Well go get your own, mooch!” Veld sat up, grabbing at the mug and grumbling when Vincent shifted out of reach. “I need that.”

“I’ve been up for forty hours, Veld,” Vincent informed him dryly. “And I have to follow Gast around in three hours. I’ll pour you some more of this before I go but if I don’t get something in my system now we are going to have problems.”

There were a lot of problems that were conjured up with that. Given they’d be working together later, he decided to let it go.

When he tried it later, though, Veld beat him off with a stack of reports.

FF7 Prompt Fill: Never Have I Ever... set a fellow Turk on fire

[Original Tumblr post] Prompt: Never have I ever set a fellow turk ON FIRE!

There was a pause after that one, most eyes flicking a little nervously to their director. Veld was just amused. “You have to know I probably have the paperwork for it.”

“Okay but is that on purpose or ever?” Nunchaku asked. “That’s a very important distinction.”

“Ever,” Gun said firmly.

“Well alright then.” Legend leaned in to pour a shot first, offering the bottle to Rude, who poured himself and Reno a drink. Nunchaku muttered, pouring himself one.

They all had a moment, watching the director toss a shot back with a little smirk.

Reno tapped the bottle, grinning. “On purpose?”

“Vincent Valentine was a great man,” Veld said mildly. “He was also a slave driver and a brat. I don’t need to tell you that by the time you partner with someone for five years, things happen.”

“Yeah I bet.” Reno shook his head, grinning. He’d have to get that story later.

FF7 Prompt Fill: Never Have I Ever... crossdressed to get information

[Original Tumblr post] Prompt: Never have I ever cross dressed to get information out of a mob boss.

The look Cloud gave Barret was positively acidic as he leaned in to grab his shot glass, freezing as Rude snorted and passed Reno a bottle to refill his own. The Turk smirked, winking. “What, you think that’s new or somethin? Pretty face ain’t just your thing.”

“I don’t want to hear about it,” Cloud muttered, giving him a wary look.

“You sure? Cause it was pretty great, broke up a trafficking ring. Fried a guy’s balls. Good times.” His grin went even wider as every man there shuddered and shifted on their barstool.

“You’re shameless,” Tifa chided.

“’m multitalented,” he defended, waggling his brows.

“A’right that’s disturbin’ - next,” Cid waved them on.

FF7 Prompt Fill: Never Have I Ever... given my boss' wife my partner's black silk thong

[Original Tumblr post] Prompt: Never have I ever given my bosses wife a black silk thong that belonged to my partner.

(Reminder that the person who asking has to take a shot if no one has done it.)

---

There was a very long pause after that one and Vincent had to look at Reno. “How drunk are you?”

“Hey, you’re a pretty boy, I’m just curious, man.” Reno grinned, shameless, and pat Tseng on the back as he choked a little.

“… are you implying I would have… with… Mrs. Shinra?” Veld stared at him a long moment, shaking his head. “Drink up, brat.”

“Fair ‘nuff.” Reno snickered, taking a shot.

FF7 Prompt Fill: Never Have I Ever... stuffed a cactuar in my friends locker

[Original Tumblr post] Prompt: never have I ever stuffed a cactuar in my friends locker

There was a long moment of silence where the SOLDIERs looked at each other, then at their director. Lazard waited patiently, sighing when Zack sheepishly poured himself a shot.

---

It had not actually been a planned prank. There had been a mission where he had to get somebody’s pet back for them, and since the cactaur was pretty tame Zack ended up alright getting it. The problem was tracking them down, and he couldn’t just walk around with it, the little thing kept squirming and getting increasingly restless. He’d meant to just stuff it in his own locker, not Kunsel’s, but they were right by each other and he’d been distracted when his phone went off with another mission summons. Since there were air vents and he just needed a minute to make a call to explain why he couldn’t come immediately.

Kunsel’s alarmed shout had him running back. Thank god he’d been wearing a helmet, but he ended up spending the next half hour helping his friend get needles out of his arm.

FF7 Headcanon: Veld and Vincent's ages

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Anon asked: What do you think Veld and Vincent's ages are in FF7. It says in Wiki Vincent was born around 50 years before ff7 But it also says he spends 30 of them in the coffin. And the opinion is that he was 27 when he went into the coffin....This hurts my brain. Nobody gives us any hint to velds age at all. Just that he's the TURK director and has been around awhile. So thoughts?

---

I want to warn you of two things before we get into this. One, the Compilation contradicts itself often, not in the least because the OG dates are different from what every other part of canon says. Two, the Final Fantasy Wiki must be taken with a grain of salt because it’s trying to mesh inconsistent canon, and you have a lot of people who don’t cross-check editing things. It’s a good resource, just go into it with the understanding that it’s flawed material from the get-go.

Now.

Vincent’s birthday (as one of the members of the main party in the OG) was actually given in canon as October 13, 1950. So having that already, I can give you his chronological ages with the (as of this moment) “updated” dates of when things occur:

• CC (2000/0000) - 50
• OG (0007-0008) - 57/58
• AC (0009) - 59
• DoC (0010) - 60

Here’s where things start getting complicated, of course, because he died before any of that. I really don’t remember off the top of my head where the number 27 is, but that’s what I’ve always heard, yes. So we’ll go with that, that he’s lived 27 years… that’s 1977, 30 year nap until you meet him in OG, when he starts having life experience again. So mentally and emotionally, Vincent is the following ages:

• OG - 27
• AC - 29
• DoC - 30

Which makes him “younger” than Barret (35 in OG) and Cid (33 in OG) out of the original party. Given he was a Turk, he’s an “old” 27, but still 27.

Another fun fact! Assuming that Vincent was born in 1950, as canon states, and died at age 27 - math then says it was sometime in 1977 - and Lucrecia was pregnant at that time… Sephiroth was born either in 1977 or 1978. Angeal and Genesis were born then or earlier. Genesis is said to be older than Angeal and I believe it’s heavily implied that Project G got going before S.

Now, back to our Turks, more specifically Veld. Fact is, there’s no date given for Veld as far as I know, and I’ve peered around some. So what we’re going off of is that he was a peer of Vincent’s, and that comes from translation of a word used in BC when Veld and Vincent meet up again that has implied they were partners. Not a lot to go on, but fandom has run with it and it makes sense.

That scene is what I’ve based my age of Veld on - I put him slightly younger than Vincent. Generally, I see Veld written as the older and definitely the senior Turk, but I think if Vincent had been used to following Veld’s lead, he would have gone with him. Remember, at the time Vincent was still very broken up and emotional for all that he emotes like a brick wall. If Veld had been his mentor or even an authority figure, I think he would have fallen back in step because it was comfortable, it would be the first hint of familiarity and safety that he’d had since things had started going wrong back then. (I doubt he knew how much time had passed until Veld came, looking much older, anyway.)

Mind you, a man who is content to sulk for 30 years in a coffin might just be stubborn enough to go back to it regardless, but Veld meant enough to him that he got out to help him so until presented with concrete fact, I’m going with Veld as a little younger. At most, two years, I don’t see a big gap between them and they were both presumably at least teenagers when they were hired on to ShinRa so there you go.

So, with those reasons based on dynamics alone - again, I can’t help you with canon there, I really can’t - and maybe also the fact that Veld is still running around as an operative himself despite considerable bodily trauma sustained in his younger years (re Kalm Bombing, plus whatever you want call that explosion that gave him the scar) I put him, at most, as two years younger than Vincent. Which would give you a birth year of 1952, and the following statistics:

• CC (2000/0000) - 48
• OG (0007-0008) - 55/56
• AC (0009) - 57
• DoC (0010) - 58

There’s also a benchmark that Veld’s daughter, Felicia/Elfe, is at least a teenager when you see her in BC, which is during Sephiroth’s time as a First Class - and Veld could definitely be old enough to have been the father of a kid that old, with this age set, so I continue to go with it.

So that’s my take on Vincent and headcanon into Veld.

FF7 Prompt Fill: Misery Loves Company (Hojo & Veld)

[Tumblr post] From the Sickfic Prompts list, Misery Loves Company - (character) is under the weather and not up for much, but really appreciates having someone there. Even if that someone is sick too.

Anon asked: Misery Loves Company with Hojo and Veld?

This took a LOT of thinking, anon. A lot. Because they are angry bitter old men later on who barely tolerate being sick and have a hell of a time tolerating anyone else. But lucky you, I was talking to risingoflights and he offered a take on it I could run with, so here you go, some awkward feels between two once-friends, just off kilter enough to fall back on a kinder past. Or at least finding each other the least intolerable of options. XD

---

It could be argued that it was something of an ego thing, of the boss refusing to be seen at anything less than their best. Veld, certainly, fell into that camp. Perhaps for him part of it was ingrained from when he was an active operative himself and couldn’t afford to be off his game on the job. If someone had managed to get him to talk about it, he might have said that was still the case, moreso even.

There weren’t a lot of people he ever would have even let broach the subject and get more than a glare, however tired it may have been. And damned but he was tired, which is what got him into the mess. Over stressed, under rested, too long hours, some more physically demanding work and being that time of year when people were all boxed in and passing bugs around like party favors. Not normally a problem for him, but statistically it had to happen.

There was some probably inappropriate amusement in seeing he wasn’t the only one suffering on the trip, though. He recognized the faint squint Hojo had going on behind his glasses, the slightest glassiness to his eyes. Whatever it was obviously wasn’t enough that he’d call off either, but then, the professor was his own breed of stubborn anyway. Obstinate wouldn’t be a far cry either. But it also made his company somewhat safer than the other executives, because even if they both knew what was up, it wasn’t like one was more vulnerable than the other. And if you couldn’t have the advantage, a level playing field was the next best thing.

Hojo glanced at him briefly, momentarily irritated with having someone else there before recognition hit and a small smile flit over his lips. “It’s not like you to go hiding away.”

“Oh is that what we’re doing?” Veld asked, amused. He hadn’t planned to say anything, but the topic was somewhat entertaining. “Here I thought it was avoiding loud people.”

“Fair.” Hojo shrugged slightly, arching a brow when Veld cleared his thoat, the sound a little harsher than usual. “I don’t suppose you’ve taken anything for that.”

Veld’s chuckle rumbled slightly in his chest, voice just a note lower, not quite hoarse but enough to tell something wasn’t right if you knew him. “Were you going to make a suggestion?”

“Would you take it even if I did?” Hojo arched a brow, turning a little to look at him.

“Maybe.” Probably not, but ‘probably not’ was still a maybe. Veld shrugged; he never liked taking something for anything, honestly, and didn’t generally need to. He wasn’t expecting this to be an exception.

Hojo snorted, tilting his head in lieu of a shake that probably would have hurt. “You’re not particularly convincing.”

“Wasn’t trying for it.” The view off the back of the ship was nice, even if it was a little cooler back there. It was a good sign that the temperature still felt like it should, though; no fever. “Just looking for a little peace before we’re all stuffed in a meeting room.”

Hojo nodded, not bothering to say anything. They watched the waves a little longer, the silence surprisingly companionable given respective discomfort. There was something to be said for the simplicity of knowing where you stood with someone. One less thing to worry about.

The captain announced they were coming back to Junon over the speakers, getting a faint wince from the professor as they both moved away from the rail. “Well that’s that, then.”

“So it is.” Veld stretched a little, rolling his shoulders, one catching in the annoying imbalance to the other’s unnatural smoothness. A sigh caught in his chest and he turned, coughing briefly against a gloved fist before getting ready to go.

“Veld.” Hojo was watching him with a vague frown, arching a brow. “Try something better than a suppressant. They’re worthless.”

The advice made him smile faintly. “Thought you weren’t that kind of doctor.”

“I don’t need to be to have more sense than you about minding one’s health,” Hojo retorted evenly, getting his coat and shrugging into it. “Do as you like.”

Veld almost had something to say to that, but let it go. Regardless of motivation, it was decent advice. Maybe once he was off the clock.

FF7 Headcanon: Random Headcanon, Veld

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Veld insists on hardcopy of all paperwork unless it’s specifically something that they can’t afford to have that kind of record of (things also get digitized, after) and he has absolutely meticulous records. It’s a leftover habit from when he was new in the department and some crashes on early systems losing important files.

It may also have something to do with the fact that it’s a lot harder for people to vanish or be vanished with a solid paper trail, but no one asks him about that.

FF7 Headcanon: Chaos and Cait Sith

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evil-robot-cat asked: How do you think Cait Sith and Chaos interact? <3

This has a little to do with the fact that I headcanon Reeve is an Inspire (as per the early drafts of his character) and Cait is therefore alive.

Chaos, given his position, is very aware of the souls of all living things. And the fact that this seeming toy has one was a source of endless fascination. He finds Cait an odd mix of annoying (when he’s being hyper and over-the-top-cheery) and endearing (when he’s more serious or just low key) - I picture in any situation where he gets close to Reeve, he’d also become more invested in Cait. One because obviously Cait is pretty much Reeve’s baby, but the second reason is because Cait has a special awareness of Reeve and is a spectacular tattler on how Reeve’s doing.

Regardless of which way Cait’s leaning, there’s a somewhat reluctant fondness that has the Weapon humoring most of his whimsy, to Vincent’s endless astonishment.

FF7 Headcanon: Romance, Vincent

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Romantic headcanon, hmm?

Vincent is definitely romantic, but while he’s certainly capable of big gestures, for his tastes it’s all about the little things, remembering someone’s likes, bringing a favorite food or trinket or movie, playing a song or going somewhere they like. Before the events in Nibelheim, his top two favorite things to do/have done were sharing a meal and giving/receiving a massage.

He manages men better than women in some ways, though (additional headcanon, he’s bi.) Backstory headcanon: his mother is Wutain and there are very specific, very special ways one goes about courting that he was taught with gifting and etiquette. It was, however, aimed about courting a woman so guess when all that “you must do this” impulse rears up and he gets a little less smooth about things? Grandmother Valentine had very specific old school ideas she shared about how to treat a lady, too.