Parenthood'z Nightmare

Chapter VIII - The Decorating Dilemma

"Things have to change." Sephiroth rightly stated as he emptied his office, making room for Alice's intrusion. "But are you sure neon pink is necessary?"

Cissnei, sat on the sofa, glared up from the colour sheet of bright pinks. "Of course! She's a little girl coming home from hospital; she deserves a princess's bedroom!"

"And Princesses like neon pink?"

She pouted. "And what colour would you choose?"

"Isn't the blue suitable?"

"No! It's a bit hospital-y isn't it?"

Sephiroth shrugged and continued moving boxes. "She's the child of Soldier's, not a King, I'll settle for the purple."

Cissnei looked down at the colour they'd outlined earlier. "Pale lilac? With polka-dot wallpaper!" She gasped.

Sephiroth laid the last of the heavy boxes down. "Fine," he paused and thought, "if I choose the paint and paper you can choose her toys."

Cissnei raised an eyebrow and sank back into the sofa. "You think I can be bought so easily?"

"And her bed." He bargained. Cissnei squealed and leapt up. "I have a budget on the table."

The 'budget' was a cheap, tin safe. Once overflowing the notes and coins had since dwindled into a puddle Cissnei readily frowned at. "This is it?"

Sephiroth folded his arms as she emptied the pittance.

"But I had such great plans!"

"Then spend your own money."

"You know I don't get paid until my Turk-ship's official!"

Yes, an orphan's lot Sephiroth knew all too well, how did Shinra keep its workers so desperate to rely on the company? Money. Or rather, the lack of. Free lunches, apartments and company clothing... free because until, as Cissnei had stated, until your assessments and training was completed nothing was to be earned other than a reputation, and, as working outside the company was prohibited, that left a person, left with nothing but their life, enslaved and reliant on a power-hungry, hated system... what of those who didn't make the grade? The Honey Bee Inn was full of the failures outcast by Shinra, and Sephiroth shuddered to think of what may happen to Cissnei should she fail her final training sessions.

He didn't reply as she emptied the tin. "I'll buy toys and ornaments and cute toys and the cutest bed covers—!"

"No." Sephiroth interrupted.

Cissnei gawped at him. "Excuse me?"

"I said no. She's a small child who lived in a box until recently; she'll be satisfied with a bed to sleep in and won't recognise anything else!" Out the corner of his eye he observed Posie leant against the wall, her arms folded as she shook her head.

"But I've never bought anything like this before!"

"And you still won't."

"Sephiroth." Posie plainly reprimanded.

"I never got to buy toys or have a room of my own to paint or cute toys or cute clothes! I had a Shinra uniform, a gun and a bedsit I'm not allowed to change!"

"Come on, let her do it!" Posie prompted as he scolded his mind. 'We know what that's like.'

"I know." He frowned at her.

"So you'll let me do it?"

Posie grinned. "Don't you want Alice to be happy?"

"Yes."