A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan next week.

[provenworth]

Characters: Elena (provenworth ) and YOU!
Setting: Around the tower!
Format: Whatcha see is whatcha get, but I'll match yours. Anything goes!
Summary: Elena is taking some action items to prepare for the wedding and gets caught up looking at pretty pictures!
Warnings: None, except cute.


[Posting #1 | Anonymous]

Wanted: A tailor who can create and modify clothing. Discretion is needed. Please visit the Aquarium this afternoon at 3pm for further details.

[Because, to be honest, she was feeling a little more girly than she would ever admit and, while she could never see herself actually wearing an actual dress, she did have something in mind.]



[Posting #2]

H - Need to chat with you as well. Let's meet in the kitchen at 11am. - E

C - Need to talk to you. Please see me on the 19th floor at 2pm.- E



[Floor 22 | The Art Gallery]

The art gallery floor had been one she'd not taken time to visit, not finding great value in it or its contents. However after several passes during her time in the tower, she found her curiosity piquing. Of course, there was no way she could have stopped this accidental visit, especially when a painting of the city of Midgar seemed to grace a spot near the front, pulling her attention - and eventually her body - in. Feet took her slowly through the gallery, looking at all the various pieces of art, stopping at one or two that caught her interest further.

It was somewhat embarrassing how easily she had been pulled in, the landscapes and portraits of, what she could easily guess were, other places and times curious and mind-boggling. She's careful not to wander too far, she did have other things on her agenda and with Rufus in the building, she was being kept busy. Very busy.

Comments

boop boop de oop

[midgarhorizon]

Why was it so hard finding that babe, anyway? Reno had been up and down the Tower looking for her in all the obvious places, when he stepped on the art gallery. This place freaked him out a bit after he found that one painting of Midgar being hit by Meteor in disturbing detail, but he'd risk it if he could find her.

It was rather surprising finding her here, regardless. Well, good. After that aborted attempt at showing her his new fashion style and running into Rufus instead, he really wanted to show her today. Hair pulled back and nicely done, with his suit pressed again. It was starting to get annoying using an iron that wanted to burn him than iron the damn cloth.

"Hey, Elena." He called, adjusting his tie a bit. "There you are, I've been lookin' all over for ya, babe. I wanted to get your opinion."

/fans self

[provenworth]

When he arrives, Elena is not exactly looking the professional herself what with her nose almost pressed up against one of the paintings. She's looking hard-core into one of the paintings, utterly amazed how all those tiny little brush strokes that she swore were nothing but dots created such a beautiful illustration. She's gone so far as to hold her hands behind her back to keep herself from actually touching the painting.

His timing couldn't be more perfect, though, her eyes starting to ache from the strain of trying to take apart the painting and look at the complexity of colors and movements the paintbrush had to have taken. She doesn't look at him just yet, her back stretching to return her to a full standing position. "Hey. Been a while, I take it Rufus has kept you busy?"

After blinking her eyes a few times to return the moisture to them, she finally turns towards him, mouth open to speak, and freezes mid turn with her jaw still open. She could easily count the number of times she'd actually seen him in his uniform properly, though that number easily escaped her at the moment as she slowly, and appreciatively, looked him over.

Breath that she didn't realize she was holding came out in short sputtering sounds, and there was no way she could stop the immediate blush that spread across her face. He was...damn! She understood now why he didn't wear his suit properly. He was a lady killer when he cleaned up. And, what only made the pink turn even redder, was the instant remembrance of their conversation about him wearing a tie for her.

Hands moved immediately to press over her mouth, fingertips barely touching her nose, as she turned to face him fully. "R-Reno....you look..." Her steps are slow, even shy, to close the gap between them. "Ah! You look... D-did you actually iron your suit?"

[midgarhorizon]

He expected the reaction, but not the extent of it. It was kind of embarrassing how red her cheeks got, honestly. Grinning a bit, he rubbed the back of his head and nodded. "Yeah, I did. I was thinking this'd be good for the wedding, y'know... but if it's too overwhelming I could... do like I usually do and wrinkle my suit up."

Maybe she had something there, judging by the mild embarrassment only someone who knew him really well would pick up on.

"Ya really like it that much?"

Was it possible, just a bit, that Reno was somewhat shy about his looks? Maybe even something he himself didn't fully realize. Picking at his collar was more a reflex of discomfort with the idea of making people react like this than actual physical discomfort. He would rather have people underestimate him before going into battle than be intimidated. It was the way he worked.

Trying to find something to do with his hands, he just shoved them into his pockets, magnifying the cool aspect without realizing it. Otherwise he'd just fidget.

[provenworth]

The blush is almost insufferable and, later, she would think back with mortification just how silly she looked, jaw agape and staring at him like he had two heads. But in her mind it was a justified reaction to the fact that he was in his suit in the properly defined code. With a tie. She wanted to burn the image of him just like that into her mind for easy – and constant – reference.

"N-no! It's not overwhelming! You look amazing. I mean, I've rarely – maybe never, but I can’t exactly remember – seeing you dressed so... I always swore that your suit was a size too big, but it's fitting you so nice, I never would have guessed..." She has to stop speaking for a minute, all but having to gasp for air for all the nervous rambling. "I think it'd be perfect for the wedding. You'd be the best looking man in the room."

Having closed the distance between them to less than three feet, fingers playing nervously with each other in front of her while taking another long, approving inspection with a slight head tilt to the side. It was an unusual question he posed, one that in the past would likely not have come up. And, in a small part of her mind, the idea that maybe he was a little self-conscious? Oh god, the thought that he actually was sensitive about his looks was just too much to handle right now. She already had to manage his debonair style and that was proving to be a challenge.

"Do I like it?"

Hands reached out and one moving to curl around his waist while the other played at the fabric of his tie, giving him a gentle pull towards her, a small, mischievous smile forming. It was the culmination of the fact that he was dressed in proper uniform, which in turn was sexy in its very own right, looking a mixture of awkward and suave, that inadvertently tried to lull out a secret side that she had kept quiet for many, many years. "I love it."

[midgarhorizon]

Suddenly, his smile grew mischievous, moving closer to her and wrapping one arm around her shoulders. His free hand reached up, and his long fingers caressed her cheek. Chuckling at the heat he could feel on her face, he shook his head.

"I knew it! Ever since that rumor about you, I just knew you liked men in uniforms. That's the real reason why ya joined the Turks, isn't it?" He was teasing her, of course, but as usual he had a kernel of seriousness inside it. "You're going all googly-eyed."

Floor 22

[divinitysoiled]

Hellscapes had drawn her in to this gallery, giving her memories of home and the loss of it. The pictures had changed as she walked through, until she started reaching worlds she had never seen before. Fascinated, Catarina kept walking through until- whump. She bumped into Elena, her hands instantly coming out to wrap around the woman to keep her upright.

"Ah, do look where you're going."

[provenworth]

Having gone through plenty of pictures of her home work, Elena had turned a corner only to find a series of pictures that had caused her to turn pale. Images of Northern Crater and the horrors that had occurred there in terrifying detail - how had they captured the intricate details of how her body had been twisted had almost caused her to retch - had pushed her onward, causing her to bump into the unfortunate person in her path.

"A-ah oh!" If it wasn't for the woman's fast reaction, Elena would have indeed fallen over. However two arms wrap around her and keep her from falling over, and help keep her from injuring her pride. Turning to look up at the woman, she offered an apologetic look. "I'm so sorry, I was trying to find a way out. Are you all right?

[divinitysoiled]

"I am well." Hm. This was certainly a lovely woman she had in her arms. Catarina lifted one hand, lightly stroking Elena's arm. "And yourself? You look... distracted."

[provenworth]

When she can finally see through the curtain of blonde, Elena can't help but flush slightly. She'd seen some very attractive women before - back in ShinRa's hayday Rufus had a good number of them on his arm. This was was...usually attractive. ".....O-okay..."

The soft stroking on her arm pulls her attention away from the ethereal appearance of her accidental crash victim, causing the hairs to partially raise up with the beginning breakouts of goosebumps. "I....I'm all right. I just..." Ah, wait. She couldn't let her know about the portraits. "Realized I was running late and had to get going."

[divinitysoiled]

Oh ho? This was interesting. She rather liked that look on this woman's face. "Late for what, may I ask?" Catarina's hand drifted up, pushing the blonde hair out of Elena's face.

Floor 22 hey, sugar /eyebrow waggle

[flared]

Axel was out and about doing his usual rounds of checking out random floors of the Tower and with his Assassin at his side to keep him company he happened upon the twenty second floor and quite the interesting set up. Not what he was expecting from a terrible Tower, to be honest, but then again, what was he really expecting in the first place?

With the lesser Nobody floating on ahead to examine some of the portraits on its own he rounded a corner and stood not too far from where Elena was. For the time being, he remained unaware of her presence... though his Assassin was quite curious, flying in a few feet closer to have a peek at her.

OMG YOU

[provenworth]

The pictures and portraits of all the different worlds were utterly fascinating, given that each looked as foreign as the last. Past the images of Midgar and Edge, she found all the rest to look unusual, if even uninhabitable. But she gave each their due time to review.

She had bee so engrossed that she hadn't picked up the footsteps of the newest attendant to the the art gallery, or the floating Nobody that hovered nearby. In fact, she was so distracted that she only noticed it when she turned and nearly ran into creature, emitting a surprised sound, drawing her firearm and keeping the floating Nobody in her sights.

"W-Who the hell are you?!"

Don't be like that, sweetcheeks.

[flared]

Axel was caught up in staring at a particularly strange painting when suddenly he heard the surprised sound behind him and turned in time to see his Assassin spreading its arms wide, ready to defend itself if Elena attacked.

"Hey, knock it off," he called out to the Nobody which promptly withdrew from her and zipped quickly back over to his side. "Idiot."

( ＾∇＾)

[provenworth]

Elena was on full alert, watching the movement of the little creature as it spread its arms in what she could only assume was a hostile maneuver. Honey colored eyes narrowed, watching its every movement in the awkward stalemate until a voice broke the uncomfortable silence.

When the creature does move away, her attention follows with it, and she has to blink a few times to confirm what she's seeing. "....Reno? What did you do to your hair?"

[flared]

"Huh?" Axel raised a brow at that question. Ah. Right. The whole thing with Reno. He was going to have to get used to this whole having-a-twin thing, wasn't he. His Assassin curiously glanced between the two of them and hissed a question in a language only Axel would understand. He sighed and shook his head at it to which the Assassin floated off and around a corner to disappear for a moment.

"Sorry," he said, turning to Elena. "Put the gun away, huh?"

[savedbyasong]

Shion was looking for Elena and he quickly checked the art gallery doubting she would be here. So of course it was where he found her.

"Hi Elena!"

akjhfkjah OH GOD SHION

[provenworth]

And when he does find her, Elena stops, looking like a deer in the headlights, face pale. She had been trying to get out of the art gallery, the twists and turns deceiving, having come across images that she was more than eager to forget.

"S-Shion! What are - I mean... Hey, what brings you here...?"

sobs forever

[savedbyasong]

"Oh..." Shion stopped, he had only come to check some details with her, but this was the first time he had met with her without Reno since she had returned...

Did she know he had killed her future husband... Probably, Shion didn't see any reason why he wouldn't and he had been distracted by the wedding so hadn't actually processed the fact that Elena was probably furious with him.

And so she should be, no crime will be worse than yours. He looked down and stared at his hands.

oh shit shion. shion, baby, sthap. i'm sobbing

[provenworth]

".....Oh?"

That was a rather odd response to her question. One that helped turn her mind away from graphic images that flitted across her mind's eye. It would be smart of her to keep Shion away from those pictures - what was contained in them were secrets that only a handful were aware of and kept properly to themselves.

Moving closer, a little frown formed when his eyes moved to look at his hands. Again, not a good sign. There was no way that he knew about what happened in the Crater - or about what had happened between her and Sephiroth. Just the memory of it caused the center of her chest to ache, a hand absentmindedly reaching up to touch the small space beneath her ribcage.

Realizing that she was betraying her thoughts, she moved the same hand to curl lightly around Shion's shoulders, her head cocked to one side to look at his profile. "What's with the face? Something happen?"

[savedbyasong]

Shion quickly shook his head, "No, everything's fine." He blinked at her, "I'm sorry. About disturbing you... and..." He studied his hands again, but he couldn't leave it, now he had realised he had never spoken to her about it he felt guilty all over again.

"And for what I did..."

19th floor

[atouchofstrife]

[ He was trying to track down Sephiroth. Well, that is what he was telling himself though in all honesty Cloud was trying to avoid the former General. He didn't want him to realize that Cloud can read him, not yet anyways.

So after a few minutes of staring at the note, he did head to the floor to wait for Elena. ]

19th floor

[provenworth]

[When he does arrive, Elena is busy staring at a string of books, mouthing the titles as she moves from one to the rest, holding a notebook protectively beneath her arm. At the sound of his footsteps against the the ground, her head turns, giving an acknowledging nod to the former ex-SOLIDER.]

Thanks for coming. Things going all right?

19th floor

[atouchofstrife]

They're going.

[ He shrugged. Sephiroth had one of the most routine scheduled life in the Tower that he had ever seen, not that Cloud was in the habit of following every single person ever. But he had a feeling that it was only a front to the rapidly dwindling patience the former General had left in him. ]

How's the wedding plans?

19th floor

[provenworth]

They're going. [Little shoulders shrugged as well, patting the notebook with her free hand.] Still a few things to work through, though I'm not quite sure how I should be behaving, to be honest.

[Because the ideas of a Turks getting married was unusual to say the least. And, while there was a bit of happiness with what was going on, there was that double edged blade of the dangers that lived in the Tower that made what would have been a happy event in Edge into something much less so.]

That's actually why I wanted to meet with you. I want to ask you something, but before I do I want your thoughts on the whole thing. I mean, this is the Tower after all...

19th floor

[atouchofstrife]

Just be yourself. It's gonna be your day after all.

[ Her's and Reno's although usually the groom was suppose to stand around looking ten shades like a sea-sick chocobo while all the bride's family stood around making sure he didn't go running for the nearest exit. Turk or not, Cloud always thought a marriage was mainly for the bride's dreams. ]

I think that you two will be okay married. I'm not too sure what the Tower will do, but I think that they aren't too sure either. It almost feels like they haven't a clue about marriage, unlike torture.