towerofanimus | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Characters: Reno
Setting: The days following the evil league meeting
Format: either
Summary: Dealing with the aftermath and general "wtf reno" catch all.
Warnings: It's Reno

All around the Tower: Various places

Reno was going about his business, almost a bit too normal, though he did look confused once in a while, pausing and looking around. Of course, he was keeping his eye out for Xion to talk with her about what happened, but so far, he hadn't seen her... he wanted her to know he was all right, that nothing bad had happened, just some torture and a death. It seemed like the best thing to do, considering the circumstances.

And the fact he couldn't find her, or Elena for that matter (hadn't Ganondorf said something about a blond friend?) that had him just a bit worried. Nothing was wrong, right? They'd both escaped, so she... should have been somewhere he could find her, at least. Right?

.

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"Sort of tortured you?! And then killed you?!" Elena was livid. It was bad enough that they were all stuck in this tower that had people in charge that liked to do horrible things to the people inside it. But to know that there was danger even amongst the trapped individuals only emphasized the struggle to survive.

She stayed quiet, listening to his excuses, but it doesn't stop the knots in her stomach from tightening and the itchy trigger finger. Neither does it soften the furious look on her face. With Tseng, Rusty, Rude and all the others gone, he was all she had left. And she would be damned if she let anything happen to him. Especially anything that involved that man. "What in Gaia's name made you think that taking him on alone would be a good idea? If you knew he was that tough, you should have had back-up. Something! Anything!"

Oh no - that look. The one that normally shut her up, think back to her actions. And she had over the past week, seeing that there wasn't that much she could do in her current condition. Which is why she's able to hold his gaze, her mouth a straight line in utmost seriousness. "I'm sure I heard something, but that's not the point. It's my job as a Turk to keep aware of the movements of major players. Furthermore, You were acting alone – you know how dangerous that is! And, in case you haven't heard yet, they're all gone. Rude. Rusty. Tseng. All of them..."

Elena paused, giving him a moment to let the news sink it. It had been hard news to accept – she had gone from room to room, trying to find them with no success. They were, in fact, the last two of original Turks left in the Tower. Little hands reached out, hesitating before touching at the white of his shirt, head craning upwards to look at him. "We'll figure that out later. But, firstly, I need you to stop doing things on your own and tell me what you're doing from now own. You're taking too many risks and I don't like it."

"Elena." Reno snapped, a little bit too sharply. "I know they're gone, but I'm not acting alone. Zelda and Gandalf are aware of what I'm doing. And it was better this way." His angry look remained, focused on her, though that was a little bit more difficult now that she was tiny.

"If I had backup, he would have found me out sooner. He's dangerous, and sinister, and he could easily have the population of the Tower under his control. I felt any risk was worth keeping an eye on him in order to protect the rest of them. So what if I got tortured and died. It wasn't that much worse than other things I've been put through here. Unless this guy leaves the Tower there's always going to be that danger of full on war between the inmates. Look..." Now his expression melted into something like helplessness, even a bit of sadness thrown in, too. "I got a lot to make up for, Elena. This is my way of doin' it."

Elena visibly flinched, his tone and volume overwhelming to her smaller size, but kept her attention focused on him. "Oh really? Then where the hell were they when you were being attacked? Hmm?"

Arms folded over her chest, mouth scowling up at him. Okay, so there was a little bit of logic behind why he was being so careless with his own life. But on the other hand, he was still risking his life - even if a person was brought back after each death. Giving an audible sigh, she leaned back against the opening.

"While I agree, he needs to be watched, I don't agree what you're doing. You're taking on a great deal of risk all by yourself and he-."

She stopped, surprised by the shift in tone. Hard lines softened and she was damning her small size, otherwise she would have hugged him. Anything to get that heartbreaking look of his face.

"If that's how it is, then at least let me help you. You don't have to be in this by yourself. And I don't think you're considering how the people around you are being affected by watching everything that happens to you. Do you think Xion and Shion like seeing you hurt?"

There was just an edge of defeat in his voice. Not about the situation, but with her. "Being unmasked was a surprise. I didn't have any warning about it. At least, not that it was going to happen that way. I was expecting something to test my loyalty, but- this, with Xion and you." If it was possible, he drooped just a bit more. "It's not something that can be helped, they're bound to see people get hurt in this place. If not me and Ganondorf, then someone else and Jason, or Ruana or whatever she calls herself. This place is set up to be the worst kind of life."

T-this was news. Not the part about Xion being used to try and call Reno out. But she had no clue that she had been used as well. That made her feel sick to her stomach.

"....I had no idea. I knew that after I got mini-ed that I was trapped in a crystal. I didn't know that he..."

Well, that thoroughly explained why he had scolded her for attending the event. Had she not been there - well, it still wouldn't have stopped what had happened, but she'd at least not been used as a pawn in a game she accidentally fell into and made six inches tall.

"I'm very well aware of that. The horrors that our 'hosts' put us through, we can expect it. But I'm talking about the danger that you're purposely participating in. Willingly."

Stepping forward, she carefully pulled herself up and out of her ball, standing haphazardly on the lip of the ball.

"Give a girl a lift?"

Holding out a hand for her to climb up on, he sighed. "I got a question for you, Elena. Did you ever think it wasn't gonna be dangerous in the Turks?"

She's careful when she climbs on the offered hand, eying the long fall if she were to slip. Once safely seated in his palm, legs hanging off one side of his hand, she grinned and shook her head slightly.

"Of course not - don't forget I've been watching you all since I was a teenager. I knew danger was part of the job when I signed up. But there's a difference between a job being dangerous and being self-sacrificing. Weren't you the one who told me that a pro isn't someone who sacrifices themselves for a job - that's just a fool?"

"Yeah, but when you come back the next day after dyin', why not?" He slowly brought his hand in closer and held it up to his shoulder. It'd probably be a more stable ride up there. "I sure as hell don't intend on sacrificing myself for these assholes. Dying just... don't have that kind of hold anymore."

"...."

Elena frowns slightly, not quite sure how to answer his question. Yes, it did help that death was not a permanent state here, but the effect of dying over and over had to have a negative impact on a persons's psyche.

"Thanks." Her voice is lower, softer even, as she moves from hand to shoulder. It was, by far, and easier and safer lace to be when being carried around by Shion and Xion.

"But you are. While its admirable that you're willing to die for a good cause, that type of experience can't be good for you. How many more times will you have to die before something breaks? What good will you be then?"

He put on that low, stern tone again. "I'm not going to end up like..." but he let the rest of his breath out in a huff. They were different people, but the same basic core. "I have you guys. I'm determined that these people aren't going to break me. So what if there's pain. I've dealt with pain, and it isn't like we actually die. For all I know it's just me passing out and going to a hospital."

"End up like...?"

Little arms spread out as she balanced on his shoulder, moving closer to his face. "That's what I have been trying to beat into that hard skull of yours - that you don't have to do this on your own. The kids aren't ready for this type of work, but I am. I can deal with a hell of a lot of pain if I have to. So if you don't plan to let me help you, then I'm afraid I'll have to force my way into your plans. And that, as we've seen, doesn't always end well."

Stopping at just beside his ear, she reached over and gave him a little smack on his cheek. "Now, for Gaia's sake, stop being so stubborn. You've been through enough. Let me have a turn at helping you - especially with the Tower's most dangerous person. Two Turks are better than one."

"You're not a child... but if you start on this with me, you'll end up with more scars." That was one thing he had hoped to spare her, leaving her in the background. "You haven't really dealt with the ones you have..."

She frowned at his avoidance of her question, but let it go. For now. She'd find a way to get him to spill, one way or another.

"And if I don't start, you'll end up with more as well."

That was a bit of a low blow, even if there was some validity to it. Yes, she'd been avoiding thinking about them and what had happened by keeping herself busy. And she was fine with that - it meant that she didn't have to go into that terrifying black part of her mind. She didn't want to go there and be forced to remember, to experience what happened. If she had it her way, it'd be left buried and forgotten.

"Those aren't my priority right now - surviving is. When and if I find the time, then I'll deal with them. So let me help you - what's another scar atop of those?"

"It isn't as simple as that. Sometimes those kinda scars have a habit of coming back at the wrong time. I've seen it too many times to a good Turk. IF you think you can handle it, fine." Reno would have shrugged, except she was on his shoulder. "But that part of the mission's over with anyway. I've been found out... so we're stuck without being able to spy on him. Any ideas?"

"....I think this is a conversation that should be saved for another day, Reno." Her voice is a little lower, strained with conflicting thoughts and feelings. He had been the first to see them, save Tseng since he was forced to watch them be made, and she wasn't sure how she felt about his knowing the full extent of the damage. Pushing the thoughts to the side, her voice picked up again. "But, yes, I can."

"Well, using me as the new spy is out - he easily identified me as a Turk and, well, you know how the rest turned out. I'm thinking that, for now, we regroup and reassess the situation. Look over what resources we have and build a plan from there."

"Sounds like we need to get a meeting with Zelda and Gandalf." He let the other be, he'd made his point and anything more would have just been cruel. "Now, worry about something else for the moment? How about getting you fixed? I don't exactly have any mallets handy..."

"Yes, we do." Because she was more than eager to meet the pair who were supposed to be supporting his efforts and, well, weren't. "Somewhere quiet and secluded - maybe the storage room on the 40th floor?"

And she's more than thankful that he doesn't press the issue. "Ah, yes. The pressing issue of my even shorter stature. Do you have - wait, mallets? Why in the world would you need a mallet? I was thinking more of using an Esuna, if you had one."

"What? Ya never heard the legend that the only remedy for mini was being hit by a mallet?" Reno was teasing, of course, but he set off slowly, in his smooth walking gait. "I think Cloud's got an Esuna, but I haven't talked to him recently..."

Trying to fight the grin that, of course, could not be stopped, she shot him a mock-angry look. "Is that so? Must explain how you got so tall - kinda had a negative effect on your brain, though."

Teasing is good, yes. Standing on his shoulder wasn't easy, but she was at least able to use the collar of his shirt to keep upright.

"Really? I'll have to reach out to him and see. I'm sure its been a while since he had a good laugh anyway."

If he could give her a dark look, he definitely tried, but all she probably saw was him scrunching up his nose. "Nothin' wrong with my brain that wasn't wrong with I joined up with the biggest wingnuts on the eastern continent."

That wasn't saying much, unfortunately. "Maybe I should put ya down on a terminal. I could find him quicker if I feathered it. You could look over stuff on the network."

And she'll just give a short laugh at what little of his angry face she could see, rubbing his cheek lightly. "Oh shut up, you know you're not any more crazy than the rest of us. You know I'm just messing with you."

There's a little pause, a nodding of the head. "That sounds like a good idea - I know there are a lot of terminals in the library. I'll see if I can catch his attention that way while you check his normal haunts."

Edited 2012-10-12 16:32 (UTC)

"Yeah, I'll take ya down there. Shion might be around to keep an eye on you." Yes, yes he did just say a turklet would be keeping an eye on her. It was the safer option with her being this tiny-esque. "Anything else ya want me to do before I drop you down there?"

Was that a little 'harumph' sound coming from her? It was already bad enough that she had to depend on him, Shion, and Xion to get around, but to be babysat? The humiliations did not seem to ever cease. "No, its okay, we don't have to bother Shion. I doubt anything will happen while we look for Cloud." A short pause later. "I think that's it for now. Just keep yourself available for me in case something comes up."

Snort! He held back laughter at the cute way she harumphed when she was tiny. "Sure thing, but I really think ya should be with someone just in case someone else decides you're an interesting looking bug and decides to squash you." Reno was teasing again.

She's nothing but a grumpy frown, half tempted to pull on his ear as punishment. "Because we all know that bugs have blonde hair, wear a suit, and are this good looking. Besides, I sure as hell don't plan to get caught back in a glass case again. Damn thing was cramped..."