towerofanimus | That which does not kill me better leave me incapable of returning fire or hiring council.

Entry tags:

That which does not kill me better leave me incapable of returning fire or hiring council.

Characters: Elena and YOU
Setting: All around the tower
Format: Can do whatever
Summary: Elena has been on her dead, broken planet for several weeks and suddenly finds herself back in the Tower. Its not really easy to decide which of the two locals was better.
Warnings: TBD

[Posted Notices]

X/S – You two better have been behaving while I’ve been gone. Come see me in the cafeteria at 4pm today. - E

R – You were right about the silence. - E

H – Item is almost at 100%. Perhaps a training session or two will push it over. Interested? - E

[Around the Tower|| Afternoon]

Clean. Clean felt so good. She had forgotten just how good clean could feel. Her trip to her dead, barren planet had reminded her of what horrible loss that they had narrowly escaped – and not once, but twice. If it hadn’t been Meteorfall, it could have surely been the Geostigma. That slow, painful death could have (would have) killed off the rest of the people living on the injured planet, the infliction from the Lifestream its last attempt to purge the world of Jenova’s cells. If you believed the hype from those...

Thoughts came to a screeching halt, an instinctive and natural reaction to prevent the thought or even reference to unpleasant thoughts. Instead, she moved to the Tower and those within it. It was necessary to meet up with several people, with one in particular under the guise of everyday activity. If Reno were to have found out that she had partnered with Cloud to keep an eye on him. It was all purely for his own good, especially if he was really brainwashed, which was something she also had to confirm was still true.

Not only that, but she had to check in with Shion and Xion to make sure they were still doing well. With her being absent, she was curious how their training had been progressing so she could jump in and assist where Reno needed the help. Then then there was Hei and Sou – two men with potential to be good assets against the demons of the tower. Demons like Ganon.

So many thoughts, so many questions, so many contingencies. It’s easy to understand how Elena could easily get wrapped up in her own mind, as she walked slowly – if not aimlessly – through the tower’s halls.

[Cafeteria|| Evening; 4pm]

Hunger came slowly. Having gone several days without, she hadn’t realized the severity of her appetite until she passed by the cafeteria and her stomach all but roared at her. Scowling down with mild-embarrassment at the offending organ, she patted her stomach sympathetically before looking back in. The room was unusually empty – as were the halls. Was there something going on she wasn’t aware of yet?

She’s utterly disappointed when she finds out that the only thing to eat are those dry, bland nutrition bars, picking up a good handful and heading over to an empty table next to the window. It’s clear by the look on her face that she’s utterly miserable as she chews through the first two bars, creating a carefully folded and stacked pile of wrappers on the table. Gaia, what she wouldn’t give for a nice, thick filet mignon with a port wine glaze, sautéed asparagus and wild rice, accompanied by a nice glass of red zinfandel on the side. Her stomach grumbled up at her, the mental image of the meal not coordinating with the cardboard flavoring of the bar, thus upsetting taste buds and stomach alike.

“...I know, but it’s all we have right now,” she murmured to herself, leaning back against her seat and staring out the window. Clouds moved lazily, her eyes slowly following as she got more comfortable, right left resting across left knee and arms folding lightly across her chest, and allowed her energy to return.

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The hand made a token search for the bottle, then gave up and just pulled into the blanket nest. A muffled sigh heaved through the nest, and the blankets shifted. Even the hair disappeared for a moment.

"What do you want, Cloud?"

Apparently he didn't realize it was Elena just yet.

Not much left, that was a good thing. Not that it mattered given the number of bottles that sat empty nearby. He'd obviously been at this for quite some time. Which only beg to question what had happened while she was gone.

Honey-colored eyes blinked before looking down at the nest, a look of something between surprise, irritation and amusement flashing across her face. Putting a hand on her hip, she wiggled the bottle to force the audible sloshing sound of liquid against glass.

"Cloud isn't here. And just how many have you drunk today?"

"Not enough." The voice turned irritated, and the hand emerged again to grab around for the bottle again. Or her wrist. Either one would do. "Come on, Elena, cut me a break. I just had the most fucked up month. Shion and Xion probably hate me. You've been gone. I want to get shitfaced."

"I might beg to differ..."

Out came the hand again, his fingers curling around the neck of the bottle, pinning her hand to the drink as well. Her head tilted slightly to one side, the irritation ebbing. Truth be told, it did neither of them any good to both be irked. Instead, she took a step forward, pushing the bottle into his chest. Using her free hand, she lifted a few folds of the blanket to peek in at him.

"....So long as you don't mind me sharing a drink with you. And you have to tell me what happened."

Tugging at her, he tried pulling her down to join him. "Elena... I don't want to think about it right now... can we talk about it later?"

But he didn't say no to her having a drink, or talking with her, or just being. Those memories were still too fresh and raw to face just yet.

"You've been gone a while..."

The pull of his hand brought her closer still, just barely standing above his lap. Cheeks flushed a faint pink, eyes snapping up to the empty room around them to ensure their utter and complete privacy.

Lowering her voice, she leaned over, trying to best figure out how to sit in the chair with him before giving up and just sitting on his lap. "Okay, okay. We'll talk later..."

Wrapping her arm around what she guessed was his head, she pulled at the blankets that covered his head. She had to look at him, to make sure that there wasn't a hair out of place, that there weren't any new scars. When she'd left him, she was nearly 100% sure that something was off and that that no-good-orange-headed-demon-man was behind it. And she had been partnering with Cloud to try and figure it out and find a way to save him. Then the Tower spit her out, threw her on the dead void that was her planet.

Ever since arriving there had been only one thing she'd wanted to to: to see his face.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I woke up and realized that I wasn't in the Tower anymore... I tried to find ways to get back home sooner but..." Little shoulders shrugged.

Some of the blankets fell away as Reno shifted to make her more comfortable, becoming less of a nest and more of a blanket pile.

"Get back home... You realize what you're sayin', Elena?" That was what he focused on. Not the hell that was returning to the dead planet, or the silence that accompanied it. "The Tower's home now..."

Grabbing one of the blankets, he offered it to her, already warmed. "Tower's home." Sighing, he straightened up and bit and looked up at her.

Ah, there he was. Bedraggled, but alive. And looking a little more...coherent than previously. Or was that just that she was seeing a little more clearly after her stint in solitary confinement. Sitting atop both thighs, she shifted with him to ensure she didn't squish anything vital or sat on a mysteriously placed bottle.

"....I..ah....What I meant was..." It really was an odd thing to focus on, given that she hadn't quite given what she was saying and what she had felt a word. On the desolate husk of her home planet she had struggled and fought and searched for a way to get back to....to him. To Xion and Shion. To her family. "Home is where your head rests."

Taking the offered blanket, she wrapped it loosely around her shoulders before returning her arm around his shoulders. Eyes lowered to the loose folds of black slacks, the color keeping its hold on her cheeks, before turning her attention back to him. "But I think another saying is 'Home is where your heart is'. So home can be wherever we want it to be. Right?"

A tiny smile appeared, just for her. It was the first one he had in a long time. If only she knew how relieved he was that she was back in the Tower, someone he could rely on even when he didn't want it.

"So your home is here, huh?"

He was half drunk, messy haired and definitely not in the best of moods, but... "No time like the present then. Elena, let's get married. You know, before one of us gets sucked back into meteor world. Or something worse."

Edited 2012-12-27 18:38 (UTC)

Now that was a look she hadn't seen in a long time. Even before arriving in the Tower, smiles were a rarity. There were none to be had with Rufus being as sick as he was, and even when smiles were deserved - hey, death had been avoided and they all knew they were glad to see each other - there was no time to relax. Not that there was time here either. Hence making that small smile a treasure in and of itself, earning an equally small smile from her.

"Well, yeah. I guess it is, isn't - "

Words stop and, for the briefest of moments, Elena doesn't seem to even breathe. All functions of the body were on temporary hold as her brain did its damnedest to fully comprehend what was just said. Her mouth moves, trying to form words that don't come, before stopping. Her heart is on the point of either exploding or breaking, she can't quite tell which yet.

"....R-Reno. Do you even know what you're asking? I mean, do you really want to be with....with somebody like...do you really want to get married to me of all people?"

During that pause, everything, every doubt and "the hell are you doing, Reno" thought came up. Suddenly, fear surged and he sunk a bit into the blankets.

Her reaction wasn't the most encouraging, either, making him wonder-

"Yeah, I do. We're happy, right? I mean, you are aren't ya? Life's short and when did we get another chance to, you know... do that kinda stuff." He was starting to babble a bit, trying to stall her answer.

What was he doing? That was ridiculous. "...Maybe it was a stupid idea."

Her breathing is a little irregular, but at least she's breathing again. Never mind that there's a little awkward tremble in her chest - scratch that, it was more like a thundering hammer that threatened to break her ribs. She had to speak and speak soon otherwise...

"I am! I'm happy. Despite this place and everything in it, I'm happy. With you. With the kids."

Fingers tighten around his shoulder, her free hand lightly pressing against his cheek as she leant forward and pressed her forehead against his. "We didn't get any chances - we might not get another." And she presses her lips softly, quickly, against his. "So....yes. Lets get married and enjoy it while we can."

Whatever he had been expecting, the yes blew away everything else, and he just sat there, letting her kiss him until it finally processed and he kissed her back.

Now that it was asked and answered, that was when he started trembling a bit. "We're probably crazy, but since when is that news..." He couldn't stop grinning now, squishing her in his arms. "The kids... oh yeah! The kids... we got to tell them."

His delayed reaction, unlike hers, was much more entertaining. She laughed lightly as he, like she, finally processed what the hell just happened and kissed her. Arms curled tighter around him, feeling the slight tremor running through him that all but mirrored her own.

"We're Turks, Reno. We're the craziest of the crazies." Making a little noise from over-squishing, she returned the favor to the best of her abilities. "Of course we will. In time. Can we....for now...just say here for a little while longer?"

Laughing because he felt like he would burst if he didn't, he nodded. "We can stay all day if you want. This is perfect." He got very comfortable, and placed his head on her shoulder and finally calmed down. "Ya want some berry wine, babe? It feels like this deserves a drink or something."

It was amazing how much she could change his mood just by being there, he had really missed it when she was gone. Why did the bad things only happen when she wasn't around?

"'Course, I'm gonna leave the planning to you... remember when I tried to throw that party for Rude?"

This day was just getting better and better. For the first few days back, when she hadn't seen hide nor hair of him, she had thought he was gone. Or worse, he was avoiding her - angry because she had disappeared without saying anything. But now, not only had she seen him smile and made him laugh, they were....together. And that's all that really mattered.

"Wine? Wine! Yes, I think this deserves a celebratory drink!"

Without hesitating, she reached around behind her, fingers knocking over two empty bottles before finding a heavier container and brought it around. Presenting it to him, a hand holding it up by the neck, the other making a slow circle around where a label would have been, she offered a playful grin.

"I present to you, sir, a vintage bottle of Tower Berry wine. Aged several months in our home-made casks until the makers were out of previous casks and broke it open for a party."

Working the cork with her fingers, she laughed again, looking down at him. If she hadn't known any better, they were back in Edge and there was no trouble or strife. It was easy to forget where she was when he was with her.

"Do I ever... I don't want to know what made you think that the cake was appropriate. And those streamers..." She shook her head, still wiggling the cork free. "If you're all right with it, I think something small would be nice. Just with those we trust..."

He tried to keep a straight face, but it failed and he laughed again. "That wasn't my fault... I'm gonna blame the party shop for that."

Taking the bottle from her, he popped the lid off and held it for her to take again. It was a bottle of the sweet berry wine he had made last summer, with a tiny bit of mint mixed in.

He had never been to Edge. That city didn't even exist for him. It was more like those moments when the Turks were all together in the headquarters having downtime. Teasing and drinks were his favorite memories. Being with Elena made him forget everything that had happened.

Lifting a hand, he trailed her nose with a finger. "Not a bad brew, huh? Yeah. Small's good. Not many people I want around."

"You still bought it, though. But the look on Rude's face was totally worth it. I even got it on camera!"

Having no success with the bottle, Elena was more than happy to have him take it from her and open it, hands eagerly taking the returned drink between them. Taking the first drink, she paused, breathing in the aromatics of the wine before swallowing.

Eyes went immediately to the finger at her nose, going cross-eyed momentarily before trying to nip at the digit. "Its very good, yes. I like the bit of the mint - it isn't too overwhelming."

Offering the bottle back to him for a taste, blonde hair bobbed with a nod. "I can think of no more than three or four that should, but we can make that list a little late. And since I'm sure the Tower isn't exactly equipped with much for a proper ceremony, I'll find creative work-arounds."

He took a sip from it, relaxing with a sigh, and laughing when she went cross-eyed. It was a cute look on her.

"Creative work-arounds... huh. Who're you gonna get to do the ceremony?" It was a good question. "Lots of things we haven't thought about."

He almost suggested skipping a ceremony, but he wasn't going to rob her of the excitement of planning it. That was half the fun, or something like that. "The kids will probably strike on us if they don't get a part."

Wiggling her nose post touch, she rubbed the tip with the back of her hand. It was one of the few places that she was quite sensitive.

"That is our specialty, isn't it?" She, in return, pressed her finger lightly into his cheek. "I have no idea who we can ask to help. I'll have to get a notebook to put everything together and make sure that all the bases are covered."

Taking the bottle again, she took another good swig. Oh yes, the ideas were coming to her - both big and small. Yes, she would keep things small. Simple. "Oh god, they would probably not talk to us for months. I'm sure we can think of something for them - like a bridesmaid and groomsman! What do you think?"

"Yeah... I'll ask Shion to be my best man. I think that'll help him straighten things out." Poking her nose again, he snickered. He still loved teasing her, more than anything.

"How about I plan the honeymoon?" Said with a wink and what could only be described as a leer, leave it to Reno to come up with the most romantic one in the Tower.

"Awww! I think he'd love that!" And a heartbeat later. "Wait, straighten things out? What do you mean by that?"

Oh god, there was that finger on her nose again and she's batting at his hand, giving an audible squeak in protest.

"H-honeymoon?" Nope. Elena did not turn another three shades redder. No she did not. "Sure, you can't but... Do you think its safe enough to have one? Who'll watch the kids while we're away? Cloud?"

The way she sounded, and blushed, he just started laughing helplessly, possibly fueled by the fact he didn't want to answer that about Shion.

"Elena, ya sound like we got a family already. They're safe enough on their own... but... actually yeah, I might ask Cloud to keep an eye on 'em." If he could find the blond terrorist. Everything was messed up because of the cold, including his routine. "How far could we go in this place?

Its hard to have a serious look on her face when he's busy laughing, the sound encouraging him to join him. There was no stopping the inevitable laughter, arms pulling his head tightly against her chest. However, she was making a mental note to press the issue about Shion in the near future.

"...I do?" It made sense, after all. Reno was...Reno. He was part of the world she lost, even if he was from a different one. And now, he was part of her new world. And the kids were...the kids. "You did take them in, didn't you? They're part of the team, so of course they're family. You sure Cloud won't mind?"

Lips press lightly against his forehead, using the touch to give herself a few moments to think. "You know the Tower better than I do. How about you surprise me?"

"Yeah, you do... kinda cute in a way." Reno was almost purring, starting to nuzzle her in the more awkward places. "I guess I can think of something for us, babe. It won't be Costa del Sol or Icicle Inn... but yeah, I think I can work it. Cloud won't mind. Even if he did he probably wouldn't say anything."

They had a lot of things to do for the road ahead of them. It was a brand new start, making a home in the Tower. Monsters, insane admins, it was still better than the future he had heard about from Cloud, her, and the others that had come and gone. They could make a great one together.

That which does not kill me better leave me incapable of returning fire or hiring council.

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