Reno (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
midgarhorizon) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
towerofanimus2013-10-01 05:53 am
midgarhorizon) wrote in towerofanimus2013-10-01 05:53 am
(no subject)
Characters: Reno, (see prompts) and OPEN
Setting: Floor 38, a lounge floor
Format: Either
Summary: He'd been complacent for far too long. It was time to act, to prepare and plan and scope out opportunities.
Warnings: Language, character instability, intolerable levels of cuteness, also Reno being somewhat crude and a jackass.
Standing in front of the large windows that made up the walls of Floor 38, Reno adjusted one of the gloves that came with the uniform he had found in his trunk. The fit was perfect. The uniform, immaculate, and every snap, button, and zipper was in perfect military order. The only additions he made was the shell tied to a bright green ribbon, underneath the shirt. The familiar red and black headpiece covered his now extremely short hair- something he had taken care of at his first convenience-, masking his face in a way the bandanas alone hadn't managed. The sun was out, chasing away the dark week they had spent trapped in 5-14. For the first time in a long time, he felt like a Turk.
Waking up this morning, he could barely wait before the sleep paralysis lifted- lasting longer than he had ever endured before. It seemed to stretch on for another week before he got the feeling back in his limbs and sit up. It was like a breath of fresh air, being clean and uninjured, but instinctively he had scrambled around for the EMR on his belt and held it tightly before he could relax. There was some disorientation during those first few minutes, as well. The last thing he remembered had been intense, horrible pain, far beyond his threshold, then nothing. Dying had seemed almost a relief in retrospect, but the claustrophobia he had started feeling in 5-14 started to surge again, and he reached for his trunk to change his clothes and go somewhere a little more open.
That was when he found the uniform, stashed neatly as you please inside.
He almost yelled when he saw it, feeling the hair on the back of his head stand up. It was the mask of a Raven, one of Fuhito's own elite soldiers. Memories of pitched battles and blood flashed across his vision. Swearing creatively, mostly involving the various body parts of summoned deities, he wanted to tear it, to rip it to shreds, to burn it into ashes until there was nothing left. The Tower was playing another game on him. Reaching inside to tear the uniform up, he stretched the fabric between his palms.
Then he paused.
Staring at the uniform, he lowered it again.
An AVALANCHE uniform, huh?
The idea slowly made its way through his head, and a soft chuckle escaped. It wouldn't be the first time he went undercover... but, ironic, he would wear the uniform of the organization that had been his sworn enemies for over six years, for a sense of anonymity. It was strangely fitting, in a way. Here he was, about to initiate a rebellion of his own against those who caused so much pain and suffering; might as well look the part. He wasn't stupid enough to think the world only worked in black and white; good guys and bad guys.
A small part of him wondered what his fellow Turks would think of him now, wearing this thing. Rude would probably say he was either crazy, or a genius. It was no wonder Reno felt those two things were more hand in hand than it seemed. The line itself was very thin, and Minerva knew how many people had been in Shinra that fit the description. Including him.
He was going to settle for crazy.
Shortly after donning the black uniform, he had left notes on various name plates, leaving different times to meet him in the 38 lounge. It was going to be a busy day, he could already tell. That was why he had brought up some food from the cafeteria. He wasn't expecting to get back to the dorm room any time soon. The fuck if he let the Tower get him down. This was better than being caged. He needed to set out feelers, get a good sense of the Tower.
Reno tapped at the glass of the window, watching the reflection, feeling... strangely calm for the horror he had just gone through. The feeling wasn't unfamiliar. He'd had it many times; an after effect of similar situations he had been in. The last time... when was the last time? Oh yeah. Sector 7. It was that same calm feeling he had in the aftermath, as Midgar's entire horizon was changed forever. That time, it had ended in the deaths of thousands of innocents. This time, he hoped to save them.
Elena
This note is left fairly early in the morning, as soon as he leaves his room
E - @ 3
8
Any H
-R
Shion
This is a note stuck on either Shion, his trunk, or his bed. There's no name, but it should be pretty obvious because only Reno would leave a note on Shion himself.
S - @ 3
8
1100h
Reno figured it'd be best to give Shion some time to breathe, but he didn't expect the kid to wait to find him.
Xion
This one is stuck to Xion's name on the nameplate.
X - @ 3
8
1200h
-R
justabignobody
This note is attached to Riku's door.
Riku
Floor 38. Today. Any time you can.
Prompt 5 - Open
The other times, where he wasn't meeting with someone, Reno walked around the lounge, sometimes going to the floor above or below depending on where his feet took him, holding what looked to be a notepad (swiped from Shion, in fact), jotting down things from time to time. The headgear effectively masked his face, preventing most people from recognizing him. Should anyone walk by, though, he's more than willing to say "Hey" or otherwise engage them in conversation. Intelligence wasn't going to just come to him, after all. Good luck trying to get that visor off to see his face.
Setting: Floor 38, a lounge floor
Format: Either
Summary: He'd been complacent for far too long. It was time to act, to prepare and plan and scope out opportunities.
Warnings: Language, character instability, intolerable levels of cuteness, also Reno being somewhat crude and a jackass.
Standing in front of the large windows that made up the walls of Floor 38, Reno adjusted one of the gloves that came with the uniform he had found in his trunk. The fit was perfect. The uniform, immaculate, and every snap, button, and zipper was in perfect military order. The only additions he made was the shell tied to a bright green ribbon, underneath the shirt. The familiar red and black headpiece covered his now extremely short hair- something he had taken care of at his first convenience-, masking his face in a way the bandanas alone hadn't managed. The sun was out, chasing away the dark week they had spent trapped in 5-14. For the first time in a long time, he felt like a Turk.
Waking up this morning, he could barely wait before the sleep paralysis lifted- lasting longer than he had ever endured before. It seemed to stretch on for another week before he got the feeling back in his limbs and sit up. It was like a breath of fresh air, being clean and uninjured, but instinctively he had scrambled around for the EMR on his belt and held it tightly before he could relax. There was some disorientation during those first few minutes, as well. The last thing he remembered had been intense, horrible pain, far beyond his threshold, then nothing. Dying had seemed almost a relief in retrospect, but the claustrophobia he had started feeling in 5-14 started to surge again, and he reached for his trunk to change his clothes and go somewhere a little more open.
That was when he found the uniform, stashed neatly as you please inside.
He almost yelled when he saw it, feeling the hair on the back of his head stand up. It was the mask of a Raven, one of Fuhito's own elite soldiers. Memories of pitched battles and blood flashed across his vision. Swearing creatively, mostly involving the various body parts of summoned deities, he wanted to tear it, to rip it to shreds, to burn it into ashes until there was nothing left. The Tower was playing another game on him. Reaching inside to tear the uniform up, he stretched the fabric between his palms.
Then he paused.
Staring at the uniform, he lowered it again.
An AVALANCHE uniform, huh?
The idea slowly made its way through his head, and a soft chuckle escaped. It wouldn't be the first time he went undercover... but, ironic, he would wear the uniform of the organization that had been his sworn enemies for over six years, for a sense of anonymity. It was strangely fitting, in a way. Here he was, about to initiate a rebellion of his own against those who caused so much pain and suffering; might as well look the part. He wasn't stupid enough to think the world only worked in black and white; good guys and bad guys.
A small part of him wondered what his fellow Turks would think of him now, wearing this thing. Rude would probably say he was either crazy, or a genius. It was no wonder Reno felt those two things were more hand in hand than it seemed. The line itself was very thin, and Minerva knew how many people had been in Shinra that fit the description. Including him.
He was going to settle for crazy.
Shortly after donning the black uniform, he had left notes on various name plates, leaving different times to meet him in the 38 lounge. It was going to be a busy day, he could already tell. That was why he had brought up some food from the cafeteria. He wasn't expecting to get back to the dorm room any time soon. The fuck if he let the Tower get him down. This was better than being caged. He needed to set out feelers, get a good sense of the Tower.
Reno tapped at the glass of the window, watching the reflection, feeling... strangely calm for the horror he had just gone through. The feeling wasn't unfamiliar. He'd had it many times; an after effect of similar situations he had been in. The last time... when was the last time? Oh yeah. Sector 7. It was that same calm feeling he had in the aftermath, as Midgar's entire horizon was changed forever. That time, it had ended in the deaths of thousands of innocents. This time, he hoped to save them.
Elena
This note is left fairly early in the morning, as soon as he leaves his room
E - @ 3
8
Any H
-R
Shion
This is a note stuck on either Shion, his trunk, or his bed. There's no name, but it should be pretty obvious because only Reno would leave a note on Shion himself.
S - @ 3
8
1100h
Reno figured it'd be best to give Shion some time to breathe, but he didn't expect the kid to wait to find him.
Xion
This one is stuck to Xion's name on the nameplate.
X - @ 3
8
1200h
-R
justabignobodyThis note is attached to Riku's door.
Riku
Floor 38. Today. Any time you can.
Prompt 5 - Open
The other times, where he wasn't meeting with someone, Reno walked around the lounge, sometimes going to the floor above or below depending on where his feet took him, holding what looked to be a notepad (swiped from Shion, in fact), jotting down things from time to time. The headgear effectively masked his face, preventing most people from recognizing him. Should anyone walk by, though, he's more than willing to say "Hey" or otherwise engage them in conversation. Intelligence wasn't going to just come to him, after all. Good luck trying to get that visor off to see his face.
no subject
"I was wondering just what was going on over there. Granted, I had my own hands full trying to keep Shion calm but - well - that didn't end to well." Losing the ability to use one of her arms and then, later, her voice hadn't done anything to calm the boy. And then everything just went to hell after that. It was an incident she was more than willing to forget. "Only if you feel the details are important enough to share. It sounded like you all were going through hell."
Paying attention to what he was saying was a touch difficult, what with the feeling of leather rubbing along her skin. Elena's not an idiot and knows exactly what he was doing. She hated leather. Period. The thoughts and connections that came with it deeply imbedded. But if he was going to be in this getup, she ought to at least try and get through being touched by it. Hell, it might prove a useful resistance in the near future.
"Well...." She hasn't gotten into too much trouble, no. Just...made some interesting new friends. What are negative luck stats anyway? "I've not had too much happen on my end yet, save for two rather interesting encounters my first day. I ran into Ganon in the hallways; I don't think he totally believed my act, but who knows? We didn't say much to each other. Sephiroth, however..."
That had been the embarrassing elevator ride from hell.
"He didn't buy my teenage schoolgirl routine either. I noticed that he had a chemistry book in his hand. I'm inclined to think he's working on something; I'm just not sure what. And I don't think its wise that we tail him to find out either. That didn't work well last time and I'm not eager to get run through again."
no subject
But this is a terrifying expression, though, just thinking about that hell of 5-14. Just the set of his mouth spoke of bloodthirsty murderous intention, teeth slightly clenched. "Let's just say, one asshole is going to get working over of his life. Fucker got me injured by playing around with the phantoms, he got Xion injured by the phantoms. Then he opened his fat yap and got us all killed. Xion killed. You better believe I'm goin' to enjoy that."
Van had been easily the greatest agitator in that room, and it was with no small satisfaction he remembered clearly kicking Van where it hurt most; even savored it now after all that pain of being hauled through the air and smashed to a pulp against the other bodies. That would be one of the first things they did as a team; hunt that bastard down.
At the mention of Ganondorf and Sephiroth, the leather on skin rubbing stopped, releasing her finger and straightening his posture out into his normal slouch. Great, now he had a totally new reason to be upset. Not responding right away, he thought quickly before deciding to be slightly irritated. "Elena, up till now I've managed to keep a low profile, and I don't think either of 'em realize I'm back in the Tower. If Ganondorf sniffs around you, he's gonna pick up me. As for Sephiroth, he's more of a mixed bag. I don't like the idea he's up to something, but we don't have to follow him. Someone's got to know something, just got to go on reconnaisance. Long as he isn't building a megabomb."
Though, there was no way in hell he was going to trust her with a mission like that after that snafu with the record tapes. He hadn't much time getting over that when she told him, before he was catapulted back to the remains of Gaia and allowed to drift. He was still sure as hell sore over it, but kept telling himself it had been one of the whims of the Tower. It was better left to someone else, who Sephiroth didn't know had a connection to the Turks. Just who they'd send on that mission, he didn't know, but that would come with time and careful planning.
"You stay away from him." Even though he knew forbidding her was a lost cause. Some way or another she would get it in her head it was necessary for whatever reason, but... was that a jealous boyfriend speaking? He'd deny it forever that it bothered him. Sure, they were married, but it was starting to feel like something to be kept secret, hidden, only for those moments where they were utterly, completely alone. Out here on the other side, it was dangerous advertising that...
Turk parents are the best parents
She wasn't going tell him not to go after him. In fact, the very idea of returning the favor sounded...oddly delightful. She did so much like the color red and it was a pretty color against her fair complexion. The movement of leather stopped, earning a raised eyebrow. When it became clear the cause, her jaw set itself firmly, teeth nearly biting into her tongue.
"I didn't seek them out, Reno." She almost sounds insulted, both hands withdrawing to wrap loosely around opposite biceps. As if he were saying that her actions - inadvertent and unavoidable - was putting him at risk. Which, on the list of things she had every intention of not doing, that was at the very top. "It was by accident that we crossed paths. For all I know maybe they did buy the getup. I'm not stupid enough to go chasing after either of them and I sure as hell don't want to get caught on the same floor as them. If it helps, both seemed pretty uninterested in me."
Tapping the toe of her shoe against the ground, eyes moved to the doorway into the lounge, body rocking back to put just a little extra space between them. The fact that he had been given this uniform meant there was a good opportunity available. It didn't look right for she - who was still identifiable to many - to be standing so close to him - who was hardly recognizable at all. But, even if it made sense, it still felt...weird. Like they were supposed to play strangers for the majority of the time with pockets of actually being able to be themselves in the safety and security behind locked doors.
That didn't sit too well with her, now that she thought about it. Surely there was going to be some sort of strain on their relationship - or was that the worried, insecure spouse talking in her ear? They came into this knowing there was going to be trials and struggles. This was surely going to be one of them. Feet kept her moving, turning slowly to face away from him, letting the gap grow. They'd been lucky to not be seen so far; luck that would surely run out soon.
"You don't have to tell me twice." Even if he hadn't all out ordered her to avoid the man, she had plenty of intentions to keep her distance. As curious as she was about just what Sephiroth was up to, what was in that book that he found so fascinating, she had no inclination to chase after him for the information. Not when he had given her that look. The one that promised a good deal of pain if she got in his way again. "But we do need somebody who can keep an eye on him, just in case."
no subject
"You leave that to me. I've got a plan. Or will have one soon." Frowning, he didn't move to stop her from drifting away, shoving both hands inside his pockets. " I don't give a shit what stands in my way. I'm going to recruit people, starting today. I already got someone in mind. But let me figure out what to do about Sephiroth. If ya want, I'll leave the task of finding out where that guy is staying to you, and make contact with Xion's friends. They weren't too pleased with the asshole either, so they might help ya out there."
It sucked being the leader. He hated having to pretend to know everything at every moment, and make plans instantly for every occasion. It made him wonder how the hell Veld and Tseng did it. Reno had never gotten that training... he had been up for it, and started it, but never had the time to finish it. All he could do was his best, and use them for his examples, but inside it felt like he was just mimicking the surface instead of operating the inside machinery.
Watching her slightly form in front of him drifting away though, just taking all of her in at once, it made his heart ache a little. If they weren't careful, their luck would run out when that countdown did. Either they would die, or they would return to their own universes. Places where they weren't quite the same, where his Elena would be two years younger than this one and more inexperienced. Where he felt guilty even glancing at her as more than a friend. Guilty for taking advantage of the mentor student relationship they had left off. His own universe. Hah. Just a place in which time and distance counted and they were kept apart by circumstance and practicality.
Sometimes, Reno wished he wasn't so damned practical.
"Elena... ...sorry. Sometimes I forget you aren't the rookie I left behind. ...guess I should trust in you more."
no subject
Each step that took her further seemed heavier, slower than the last. She turns slightly, looking at him over her shoulder. But it was important to maintain the images - though only one other person in the whole Tower might recognize Reno's uniform. And that person was certainly not in a position to want to dig too deeply - at least she hoped not.
"That sounds like a good idea. I'll keep an eye out as well for any potential recruits. In the meantime, I'll be sure to get a bead on the idiot who dared to hurt you and Xion." For the briefest of seconds her expression was cruel, calculating; promising of very uncomfortable and painful things for her intended target. And then in a flash its gone, replaced with a look of indifference. "I'll find him quicker than it takes to finish a Chocobo race at the Golden Saucer."
Passing behind the back of a chair, she stopped and turned to face him, hands resting against the fabric of the seat. Hair brushed against her cheek when her head tilted, corner of her mouth pulled into a grin. He had been right, last time they'd become so wrapped up in just trying to survive and deal with the horrors the Tower threw their way that they both had forgotten who they were. What they could do, given the right resources. The challenges that lay ahead were numerous and ominous and she couldn't wait to get started.
"Yes you should, but its all right. I'll admit I've forgotten who I was as well. So just...give me a chance to show you what I can do. You'll see." The grin pulls a bit more. "But in the meantime, I think its best that I get moving and start my investigation. Since, you know, its not a very smart idea to be all alone with a big, bad stranger."
Have the most over-dramatic wink before she turns with just enough speed to cause the edge of her skirt to float an inch higher on the thigh. A hand stays at the small of her back, close to her weapon, the other giving a wave as she heads for the door. "Stay out of trouble, handsome. I'll be in contact."
o/
"Good luck." Carefully neutral, already fitting into the parts they would play, he waited until she had left completely before a huge lopsided grin broke out. He meant it, too; they would all need good luck with them to survive the upcoming months, but there was no reason to focus solely on work.
Nobody else had a woman as fine as she, and damned if he wasn't going to enjoy it once in a while, for as long as it lasted.