towerofanimus | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Characters: Reno, recruitment candidates!, Elena, Shion
Setting: Floor 82, Tower Exploring, Dorm Floor 5 empty room
Format: Whatever you're comfortable with.
Summary: The Turks have been busy, and it's time to recruit members for Operation Last Resort.

Warnings: To be yet announced!

Floor 82: Masquerade Ball

Reno had set up camp on the Masquerade floor today, his own mask firmly planted on his face. He had business here, and it was time to start putting plans in motion.

To those he had spoken to previously, people he had gotten to know a little and tested, letters and notes had gone to each one of them, to meet him here at specific times. The anonymousness of the black mask suited him, and he didn't dare take it off while he was on the floor- he'd found out the effects the hard way.

It was recruiting day, and he knew just the kinds of questions to ask the candidates when he unmasked them. Sure, it wasn't the regular method of recruitment, just having an interview, but it was short and sweet; they didn't have the time for lengthy handshakes anymore. It seemed fairly reliable, too, and Reno figured he'd just have to learn how to trust a bit more.

---

Exploring with Shion

It's been a while since Reno really got to explore the Tower. So far, he had come across some pretty interesting floors, and barely remembered whizzing pass others. This time, he took Shion with him, leaving it up to the kid whether or not to take the note. They needed to spend some "quality" time together, and he was taking it easy with him, knowing he still had some healing up to do. Man, healing up the long way sucked, and Reno didn't blame Shion for not wanting to stay in bed. The Turk wasn't the best of influences.

---

Dorm 5, empty room

Reno was laying on one of the best relaxed, most of his uniform dropped by the side the second he'd gone into the room. One arm rested on his stomach, the other draped haphazardly across his forehead, and he stared up at the ceiling. His hair still felt pretty weird so short, but he could live with it. There were a lot of things he had to live with these days, like not being able to spend as much time with Elena out in the open as he liked.

Elena, Xion, and Shion. They were bright spots in the Tower these days. The ones he wanted to keep close and protect as fiercely as he had wanted to protect the other Turks back home; maybe even more so. Being in the Tower... it had a way of changing people, and that thought led one to another. Rude had said once that Reno had changed, though he had denied it at the time. He had been still too young, too unready to really see what life would dish out to them all.

Slowly, he raised the arm that partially covered his vision, and looked at his hand closely. They seemed the same... but they were a lot more bloody than they used to be, even if the blood was invisible.

"Heh... Rude was right." He spoke quietly, after a long period of silence, flexing each finger one at a time but not really focusing on them. "I've changed."

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"Rude said that?" That earned a little surprised look on her face, an eyebrow lifting. Rude was by far the most silent of the group, which made the words he said have all the greater impact. It did nothing to salve her curiosity when his expression shifted, his discomfort obvious, but she doesn't push. For now. "...You can always tell me later."

Shifting on the bed to give him the best angle for his arms, she turned toward him knee resting up on the bed, stretching the pleats of her skirt. Hands reached out to touch at the exposed arm in front of her, fingers drawing lazy circles on his skin.

"Could say the same to you, Red." There's an amused smirk pulling at her mouth, a red herring to keep his attention and mood positive. While she wanted to tell him she was rather miserable not being able to see him more often, to have a few minutes of his time each day, they had a job to do and she was going to follow orders. "Yeah, trying to track this little snot-nosed brat has kept me moving around so much, I swear I've lost a few pounds. What about you? Anybody recognize you in that silly getup?"

Edited 2013-10-17 17:54 (UTC)

Geez, Elena, cut right to what he doesn't want to talk about. Reno sighed, bumping his head against the pillow. Might as well just come right out instead of beating around.

"Ganondorf knows I'm back. I tried pulling one of my disguises on him, but he grew suspicious way too soon and unmasked me. Hasn't done anything... yet. But he did sorta laugh at me."

Things didn't seem to be going too well for either of them, which made him really want to forget about it all for a few minutes. He waved at the parts he had already taken off, making a face. "I'm wondering why I still wear the damn thing, other than I got nothing else much. Shion's been wearing my clothes." And his tailoring skills really weren't up to the task, either. There were more important things to deal with, too, like stealing away time with Elena.

His hand reached out to pull on one of her blond locks, a mischievous smile starting to form. Ganondorf and clothes were the last things he really wanted to talk about, to share with her just now, when they were being intimate like this. So little time to themselves anymore... "Tell me somethin', sweetheart, d'ya think we made a mistake? Y'know... the ribbons and everything. How do you feel?"

Well its not like she knows that its a tender subject, she's just making conversation. Though, all he has to say is 'Ganondorf' and 'knows' in the same sentence and everything else doesn't quite matter. There's a concerned frown on her face, a scowl starting to form.

"I guess we're going to have to be extra careful, then. He's smart, that one, and I'm sure he's already put two and two together about us. Though I doubt we're even a blip on his radar."

But that was a risk, treating Ganon as a lesser threat than he could be. Granted, the Tower's slow countdown before destruction was probably pulling all great minds away from internal wars to focus on how to stop the ticking clock. Eyes moved to the clothes on the floor when his hand motions to them, giving a little smirk.

"I feel your pain, Red, I do. I don't have to tell you how many times I'm having to look behind me when going up stairs. I miss my suit so, so much." An eyebrow lifts slightly when he mentions Shion. "You mean he can actually fit in it? Gaia, that boy has grown. Maybe if I can find some fabric, I can make you another?" Because while she isn't an expert seamstress, she can manage some things and maybe she can piece-meal something that looks like their uniform.

Fingers in her hair earn her attention, honey-colored eyes moving to the offending digits as they pull, her head rolling forward in response to the movement, rocking back to expose a little smirk. Her hand lifts from his arm to repeat the movement, grabbing a cropped section of his hair and giving a delicate tug. Its perfect placement for, when he asks, she can give his forehead a flick of her fingers.

"What kind of question is that? Don't tell me you're having second thoughts, handsome." Her body turns more to face him, hands flat against the mattress to keep her balance as she leans over, her nose hovering an inch from his, purposefully locking eyes. "What I feel is...that I'm one of the luckier women in all the Tower. I get to have somebody in my life that is important and precious to me, who I can love and fight along side and protect. I don't regret a single thing we've done."

Which can then only lead her to the next question, her expression softening, almost nervous.

"Why do you ask? Do you think we made a mistake?"

The tug she gave him went unremarked, though he did cross his eyes at her a tiny bit as he listened. Her voice could send him to sleep, melodic and soothing even when she was worried. Seeing that look on her face sent a pang of regret at his question through his chest. Her heart could break so easily if he said the wrong thing, or made the wrong move. A moment passed, his own expression mirroring hers as he thought about what he wanted to tell her. Choosing words was so hard sometimes.

His eyes slid closed as he exhaled, his hand reaching out to grab her and pull her on top of him. Arms wrapped around her waist, and he cradled her against him. "El... we did something I never thought we could. I don't regret that, but I'm worried what's gonna happen if one of us gets lost again. Just from the circumstances... we only have months left to live. I don't want to waste 'em if there's somethin' else you'd rather be doing." The sound of his voice vibrated through his chest, low and soft. Elena, the kids, and the family. It was hard not to worry about them all the time, even when he wasn't around as much. It was strange how he didn't try to reassure her, or deny that was what it was. "Last year, I fell in love for the first time, with you. And I guess it scares me..."

The prolonged silence was touch more unnerving than she would have liked, but she does nothing to break it. The man would speak when he was ready to and who was she to rush him? Instead she lets her eyes slowly drift shut in the quiet, brushing the tip of her nose against his in a feathery Icicle Inn kiss. When he pulls her atop him, she makes a little 'oop' noise, fabric of her shirt pinching between then, pulling tightly around her side, skirt spreading across the back of her thighs. It doesn't take much movement to get comfortable, to ensure nothing would bruise or ache during a prolonged stay in that position.

"We knew that was an issue when we walked into this, remember? And its not like its much different than if we had been on Gaia. Our lives were constantly at risk and our tomorrows weren't a guarantee."

Hands rest against the flat of his chest, serving as a protective barrier to prevent her chin from digging uncomfortably into his skin. Stretched out atop him, knees straddling his leg, she could absorb his warmth, pads of her fingers that were normally cooler to the touch finally acclimating to his internal body temperature.

"Now that's just nonsense, where else would I do? What else would I rather be doing than exactly what I'm doing now?"

Her head rolls to one side, cheek pressing against the top of her hand, freeing up the other to reach up and lightly brush at the side of his cheek. Fingertips brush against bright red tattoos, following the line with a light touch of nail. Its his heat and his touch and his smell, creating an intoxicating cocktail and she's breathing a humming breath before speaking. Her voice is almost ethereal, a softly spoken whisper

"Falling in love is one of the scariest things to do, because you can never be certain that someone will catch you." There's a heartbeat of a pause, head shifting upward so eyes can look up at him. "I'll always be there to catch you, even if I end up falling while doing so."

Edited 2013-10-21 19:26 (UTC)

Her words were more frightening than when he had confessed his own feelings. That there could be some time where she wasn't here again, some time where he would fall and she wouldn't be there terrified him. Taking a sudden breath in, it caught in his throat for a second. These were dangerous feelings, fear wasn't something he needed to deal with, and with an effort that left his throat feeling raw, he pushed them away. Internalizing things instead of letting them out again.

They wouldn't get the best of him. Elena needed him. Time skipped, and his hand traced the lines of her cheek, over her lips. His knuckles brushed against the skin around her eye, wandering into hair to tangle in the soft strands. Against her fingers, the skin tingled with what felt like sparks, and he nuzzled into her hand.

"El..."

It sounded like he was pleading with her, asking her not to affect him this way. Not to ever hurt or abandon or betray. Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to her forehead, eyes fully open and a smile for her. "Don't you think it's time we knew more 'bout each other?"

Words were never really Elena's forte, often coming out in a rambling mess when caught off guard in in some very sad attempt to be a sassy smartass. Even when it comes to emotions and feelings - things quite unnecessary to discuss as a Turk - she struggles to find the proper wording. But, every once in a while, Elena is able to come out with some rather powerful statements. Like the one she breathed into the quiet space between them, cheeks flushing a soft shade of pink.

However she doesn't look away, instead owning her statement and watching his response carefully behind her gentle expression. Through a curtain of lashes she watched the movement of his throat, felt his chest heave beneath her, then fingers against her face drew her attention away. The affectionate caress earning a little smile, eyes drifting partially shut as it drew closer to her eyes. Her own fingers continue their ministrations, brushing up to the tip of his nose, drawing a line up the forehead and down to his temple.

"....Mmmm?" The broken first name, pressing of his lips on her forehead, earns a little nuzzle of her head against her hand, a little contented wiggle of her whole body, and she's looking back up at him, his smile dazzling. "Ah....Of course. I mean, I know you pretty well already, but sure. How about...your very first job ever. Before the Turks. What did you do?"

His first job ever. Those were memories he hadn't thought about in years, something he had left behind a long time ago. They were sort of fuzzy, but with a little practice they became clear again.

Reno's arms settled around her comfortably, lips pursed in thought. If she kept wiggling like that, she was going to get a surprise. The question helped distract him. "You've been to Junon with me before, so y'know how high it gets along the walls. It's kinda silly, but the company paid me a few gil to bring my father lunch every day on school break." Okay, it sounded a little corny, but it hadn't been just any job. He watched her expression with a little smirk, like he knew what she'd think of that, and continued. "He worked as an architect, but he did stuff in the field, too. So it was easier for me to climb up the scaffolding than it was him to come down. Taught me how to get up and down, and I got real good at it."

Squeezing her, he settled down into the pillow an centimeter and nudged her. "Say... Elena, would ya like to know somethin' better than that? Y'know how you always keep callin' me Red? 'S what he called me... 'cuz of my name. Now, you got to tell me something, like why'd you switch to martial arts instead of guns?" Suddenly, he snapped his fingers as a thought crossed his mind. "Oh! I know! What were ya like as a kid?"

Edited 2013-10-22 22:00 (UTC)

Her stray hand returned to its mate, creating that protective barrier again for her chin, honey-colored eyes watching his with a silent excitement, listening eager to his story. She nods at the appropriate moment, grinning at the mental image of a younger version of himself climbing up and down scaffolding.

"Well, that sure explains a lot." She'd always wondered where he'd gotten that rather useful skill. "That's a really cute story, Reno. Now that I think on it, this is the first time you've ever mentioned your dad."

At his question to hear something 'better', her head gives an empathic nod, chin digging into the meat of the back of her palms. The pain is hardly noticed, eyes widening at the revelation. It earns a little chuckle too, fingers parting against his skin, allowing her to sneak a quick kiss against the exposed skin.

"...Nn?"

His questioning brought her head up, and there's an unusual look on her face. Something...hesitating, a touch angry, hinting at an old jealousy. Its gone the minute he talked about her as a kid, as if it was never even there. Giving an audible sigh, she glances up at the wall above their heads, making an audible 'tsk' sound.

"Me as a kid? Hell...there isn't much to tell. You know my dad was a teacher at the ShinRa Military Academy and lets just say he liked to bring work home. He liked to be really strict with our schedules and demanded nothing but straight A's through school. Gun, she..." There's another moment or two of that look, a grimace forming. "She ate that shit up and became his little prodigy. I, on the other hand, rebelled when I got older."

Edited 2013-10-23 21:00 (UTC)

"Yeah, I know. I used to take his lessons." The revelation was a little unexpected, but it had been in his file that he'd attended the Academy before being recruited for the Turks, though he's pretty sure Elena didn't know that unless Future Self had told her. The hell they'd gone through during Meteor and just after, and everything Cloud, Siira, and Elena told him had pretty much confirmed it hadn't let up any time soon, so chance was really low. They never really got to talk about things like that, even back when the Turks had been in Shinra's good graces.

"I admit, I kinda found her a bit too serious for me. She was a complete straight man, teasing her never really got anywhere until ya had to tell her the whole joke, and that just ruined it. But I didn't really wanna hear about her, I wanted stories of Lil' El." He lifted her chin up with a finger, grinning at her with an impish twist to his mouth. "Ever set your house on fire?"

"Did you really? I don't remember him complaining about a rowdy redhead..."

Because, really, her father hadn't mentioned what she was sure was the accurate depiction of what Reno had to be as a student. Granted, seeing Reno as a student was enough of a challenge, but she managed it. She would have done a proper briefing and review of each of her teammate's files if, when she had been brought on, shit hadn't been so crazy she didn't have a chance to.

"Yea, she was a hard-ass." And its all she was going to say on the matter of her sister, ending the statement with an audible harumph. That was a shadow she would be happy to stay away from. Long fingers lifted her chin, earning a curious look that burst into laughter.

"'Lil' El'?" Another snicker. "No, I didn't. Caused a fire in the home ec room when I was a freshman in high school, but I'm sure it was sabotage. I don't burn cakes." Oh, but if he wanted personal revelations, she had a good one that she's kept very close to the chest. "Here's something you might not know about me. When I was five my mother signed me up for ballet and I continued with it right until I joined the Turks. I would have kept up with it if we weren't always on the move."

"Yeah... well, I went in knowing I'd have to keep my head on in that class. It was required for some bullshit reason for what I was goin' for. I took my studies seriously, y'know, just... not anything else." This was an uncomfortable discussion for him. The time he spent in the Academy wasn't filled with happy memories, and it had eventually led to the method in which he had recruited into the Turks. He didn't have many regrets, but a lot of them were back there. "I had a ton of elite emblems when I was done with school, but y'know, I don't think the Dean liked me too much, because I never got to be in the elites."

Reno reached up and brushed some hair out of his face that had fallen into his face, tickling his nose and making it wiggle. "So, you can bake, you're just horrible at fire extinguishers? Remind me not to ask ya for any cookies." Mostly teasing.

"You dance?" The question had a happy grin to go with it, and surprise as well, since he didn't think anyone else on the team danced. One of his deepest, darkest secrets about fighting was the beat he held in his head, and that beat was based on the dances he used to learn in school. "I used to dance... still do, kinda. Aww, c'mon you should have told me that ages ago. I could have taught ya all sorts of moves knowing that. Remember that time before we got married, when I kinda dropped ya to the mat? How d'ya think I got so fast, babe? Next time we train, show me some. We can figure out how to give ya a special flair."

Shifting underneath her, he spread his legs out but kept her cradling against him. The man was always restless, even when he was comfortable and had to keep from being still for too long. He was enjoying her weight on top of him too much to roll over or anything. Besides, her chocobo squeak was adorable and he promised himself to cause her to make it as much as possible.

"Sorry, Reno. I just...you as a student? I can't see you being the good student. Don't tell me you made straight A's." Granted, most of the Turks graduated from the Academy - at least so she supposed. Reno and Gun did. So did she. It'd make sense, after all, to pull them right after they got all the best training ShinRa could provide. At the mention of elite emblems, she made a bit of a sour face. "Tons? Shit, you make my measly five sound so pathetic."

She doesn't even bat an eye at his joke, though she does give him a short raspberry. She was a damn decent baker, not that she ever had the opportunity - back on Gaia or here - to make anything. There'd been that one time they could have made a bake for Rude for his birthday but then Rufus got sick with the Geostigma and the idea was sacked.

"Y-Yeah, I do... I didn't think to bring it up..." Because she had honestly thought she was the only one who had. She's got her hands flat on the mattress at his sides, lifting her entire body up in a plank position. "Are you shitting me? In what style? I thought there was something I recognized, but I couldn't put my finger on it."

Giving an audible huff she's lowering herself back down against his chest, legs pressed together between his, mindful to keep any uncomfortable pressure of any...vitals. Fingers jab at his side in a mock-angry attack, mouth pressed into a thin line.

"Shiva's tits, man, if I had known I would've said something. And who says I don't have flair?? Huh???"

The poke tickled, causing him to laugh and wiggle away from her fingers, forgetting to respond. It seemed she had discovered one of his deepest, darkest secrets. His ticklish spot. Which might be somewhat to his disadvantage in her current position...

"I studied a lot of 'em, ball room, swing, y'know, the flashy ones. And I said. You still got Academy style written all over ya. You should relax more, just do what comes naturally, don't focus so much on what you're supposed to do. I think you'd really open up if ya tried somethin' like that."

Arms wrapped around her waist, a knowing grin on his face. Like he knew some sort of secret that she didn't yet.

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let me know if this is ok!

perfection!

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Ooh, I like that icon!

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