towerofanimus | And then I woke up with a better focus, my goal clear in the midst of the fog

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And then I woke up with a better focus, my goal clear in the midst of the fog

Characters: Elena and you!
Setting: Various! See prompts below.
Format: Either/Or
Summary: After spending a few weeks on her dead planet, Elena has finally returned to Tower. Clearly she needs to find out what has happened during her absence, as well as let those close to her know she’s returned, and start looking into a few things that were mentioned to her before her leave.
Warnings: None to speak of at this point.

[Notes slipped under recipient doors]
R,
Floor 100 at 0700h. Will be here until you arrive.
~E

S,
Just checking in; just got back. Meeting with Reno first, but then I’ll be on the 4th floor. Should be there around 11h. Come by when you’re free after this time – I’d like to get an update on the going on’s. Bring Xion if you can.
~E

X,
Just got back to the Tower after a short absence and would like to check in with you. I’m meeting with Reno first, but then I’ll be on the 4th floor around 11h. Would like a debrief from you and Shion on any recent incidents.
~E

[Prompt A – Floor 100 | Early Morning]

[Returns to the Tower always start the same way – with that uncomfortable paralysis that forced you to stare up at the ceiling above you, leaving you bored if you didn’t panic. Which Elena didn’t do, given the numerous times she’d been through the process. Once able to move, she checks on the time before writing several short notes, slipping them under the door of the recipients, then moving onwards to nearly the topmost part of the Tower.

It doesn’t take Elena long to get to the floor, though the trip was only partially paid attention to, her mind slipping back to the weeks on her dead planet. It’s what drove her to this floor. To remember what Gaia had been like before its destruction. And Elena is not left wanting when she steps onto the floor.

Walls change and shift, molding into the familiar setting of Healin Lodge. The wall of windows that overlooked the drive up to the building, properly shaded to allow just the right amount of sunlight. The couch that stretched beneath the large, framed ShinRa logo. The small coffee table with a pair of half-filled mugs. Despite herself, Elena bends over, reaching out to pick up the cup, only to watch the image flicker with her hand in the middle. Which, in turn, earned a very disappointed, if not heartbroken, expression.]

[Prompt B – Floor 4 | Mid-Morning to Early Afternoon]

[With the temperature in the Tower getting to uncomfortable levels of cold, Elena opts to not engage in too much activity that would cause her to lose body head. And seeing that coffee wasn't an option, she’s at the lounge, curled up under pile of pillows, a physics book she borrowed from the library on her way back down atop the mass in her lap. That’s what would explain the confused and perplexed look on her face as she slowly works her way through the very difficult read.]

[Prompt C – Floor 19 | Mid-Afternoon to Early Evening]

[So that physics book she got was way beyond her understanding on the subject, but Elena is determined to grasp the concept. There had been comments made to her before her little absence that had made her curious and, instead of going to the source first, she wanted to brush up her understandings first.

So she’s in the 19th floor library, a couple of books tucked under her arm: Introduction to Organic Chemistry, Introduction to Biochemistry, and Introduction to Analytical Chemistry. And she’s still searching for even more books.]

[Prompt D - Floor 77 | Late Evening - Closed to Reno]

[She had told Reno to come to the sauna floor later that evening after she took care of several other items that she needed to address. Like starting her collection of educational materials that would help her get a better grasp of the situation in the Tower. Maybe find a way to help put together the bits and pieces of information she had picked up and try to make sense of it all. And given the headache that she felt coming on near the end of the day, it was going to take some time.

Elena doesn't bother with the gender specific rooms, checking the unisex room to see if there was anybody already there before slipping into the unusually large room. Even wrapped in a towel - though really she had to question whether the towel was <i>meant</i> to be barely larger than a washcloth - she felt exposed. Vulnerable. The locker with her name on it was a nice bonus, locking up her clothes and firearm from possible theft. But that meant any potential danger would have to be fought hand-to-hand and she very much did not like the idea of having to do so half naked.

Sitting back on one of the benches along the wall, she poured water over the burning hot rocks, increasing the steam in the room, and waited. When Reno finally does show up, he might hear a soft, almost reverent tune being hummed in the room.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The lounge is always a nice place to be, especially with the air growing uncomfortably chilly and the couches being so snug and pleasant. In any case, going about his business is still kind of awkward with his new worker unit following him close, even if his collar is chipped and is supposedly very helpful. It's just so weird trying to get stuff done when the guy is looming over his shoulder...at least when he naps, he doesn't have to see him staring.]

[But today there is a distraction! Rick approaches Elena with surprising enthusiasm.]

Uh--h-hi, Elena! [The smile on his face is warm but hesitant, hands are tucked in his pockets and he rocks anxiously on his heels.] Are, um...a-a-are you b-b-busy?

[She's really struggling with the details in her book, lines forming in her forehead and eyes giving the book such a deadly glare it was a surprise it didn't burst into flames. Which made Rick's appearance a very much welcomed change. Perhaps a break in her studies would help her get a clear head and allow her a chance to decompress.]

Hello, Rick. Long time no see. [The fact that he's smiling at her was a good thing. She had a bit of a nasty habit of freaking the poor guy out.] No, not necessarily. What's up?

[Ah, yes--the same expression she was giving that sewing machine when they first met. Rick knows it well. Perhaps he can help with this, too?]

Oh, uh...j-just m-making sure y-you're d-d-doing o-okay. [A genuine concern! Elena had been really shaken up about Reno the last time they talked; hopefully their discussion hadn't caused any unnecessary strife between them. Reno seemed to be doing well enough, anyways, but he's kind of hard to read.] ...Can I a-ask...what's the b-b-book a-about?

[Elena's got many faces for many reasons. Many being used for various situations. But that face was reserved for only when she was really feeling frustrated. It was actually a bit of a shame Rick didn't catch her on her more positive and energetic days.]

I'm fine, really. Just getting re-oriented to the Tower after an unexpected absence. [In every sense of the word. Last time the Tower wasn't quite as cold, her mind not as filled with curiosity on numerous subjects well past her pay-grade. Motioning for him to sit near her, at whatever distance he was comfortable with, she closed the book and turned it towards him. The cover read: Chemistry for Dummies.]

Trying to refresh my schooling before I hit the bigger concepts.

[Rick takes the invitation to sit, but that first statement elicits some concern from him. He'd run into someone else who had just returned from an "unexpected absence" yesterday, and the poor hobbit could barely hold himself together. Hearing that Elena's also visited her ruined world is very worrying!]

[Also that book might as well be written in Greek. He hasn't even looked inside the cover and already Rick knows it's going to be completely over his head. The blonde man nods, somewhat numbly.]

...Y-You...w-w-went home? [A quick glance is passed over his glasses, laced with concern.] Are, uh...a-are you s-sure you're o-okay?

[Now this was nice. The fact that he wasn't so terrified of her that he couldn't sit near her. For all her bluster, Elena didn't often have the scary, intimidating effect. And the fact that she'd actually scared him silly on accident made her wary on how she carried herself in his presence.

At his question, she gives a little nod, lowering the book to rest atop one of her many pillows.]

Mmm hmm. Not the first time, either. [Oh. That's a look she wasn't expecting. And she honestly looks surprised, if not a little flattered.] ....I'm about as okay as I can. I mean, it isn't easy to go back to your home planet and see it destroyed to hell... [Nor was it easy to walk through the remains of cities and wonder if the dust you were walking on was made of bones.] I try not to dwell on it too much... But enough about me, how have you been?

[Why be surprised? The wife of his friend deserves as much of his concern as everyone else, if not more! Though knowing that this isn't the first time she's been to her destroyed home is equal parts distressing and reassuring; he's not convinced that this is something anyone can recover from, even after multiple visits, but she wants to move on and that's fine, too. At least he hopes it is.]

Ah...w-well! I th--think. [He bashfully scratches the back of his head.] R-Reno's k-k-kept me b-busy.

Being well is better than being not well. Especially here.

[The idea of having somebody actually worry over her is an unusual concept - even with the little family she's acquired. She's still in the mode of worrying over others, which makes any sort of action or reaction that is tied to concern over her well-being surprising. Elena is a Turk, first and foremost. And she doesn't give herself time to dwell on things like being on a dead planet or any of the events that led up to her arrival.]

I've heard there's been a lot of activity as of late. Thank you for helping keep him busy - even if it seems the other way around.

[Rick seems happy enough to hear about this until he thinks about it a little more, and then he becomes rather confused.]

...K-Keeping him b-busy? [Speaking of unusual concepts--Reno always seems to be doing something, whenever Rick has run into him at least.] I m-mean...I h-hope I'm n-not d-d-distracting him t-too m-much.

Yes. [Her head gave a little nod, brushing a few stray strands of blonde behind her ear.] You being around Reno helps keep his mind busy with other things whenever there is something going on.

[Like her being absent.]

And I wouldn't worry. If you were distracting him too much, I'm sure he'd let you know.

[He chuckles bashfully, turning the slightest hint of pink. Him? Helpful? Elena, even your subtle flattery is far too much for the blonde man, he has no idea how to handle this. Humor, maybe? Will that help him feel less embarrassed?]

Ah, well...f-from the t-t-training h-he's p-putting me th--through...I-I'm a-afraid of w-what he'd d-do to p-p-punish me for s-s-something.

[Oh Rick, you are just too much. If such flattery will turn you pink, beware. Beware.]

Punish you? Why on Gaia's name would he punish you??

[There are many things that will make Rick turn pink; flattery is just one of the nicer ones! Insinuating that he has been or is about to be punished is another.]

I--I d-don't know? [He blinks in confusion and slight panic.] Why? H-Have--i-i-is s-s-something wrong? What?

Woah, easy Rick. I didn't say anything is wrong. [And the fact that she doesn't dare go into his personal bubble lest he break out into even worst stammers is hard. But she manages, somehow.] He must work you pretty hard when he trains you, huh?

[Calming down...admittedly, if Elena had tried to hug him or something similar, it might actually help him out. It's the more aggressive gestures which trap him that really set him off.]

...Y-Yeah. [He tries for a nervous chuckle, a bit more strained.] It's...I-I sh--should've s-s-started this a l-long time a-a-ago. I-I'm just h-happy that he's h-helping m-me.

[And if she knew, she would offer a friendly hand on his shoulder, comforting and protective. But she's not about to take that risk.]

He can be pretty tough. One time, he and I were training....I got beat so bad I had to spend the night in the infirmary. [Not that she's trying to scare him or anything.] What he does in training is always for a purpose. And its never too late to start training. I'm sure, under his wing, you'll become very strong.

[Rick is at first quite shocked.]

--H-He s-s-sent you to--b-but y-you're his--w-w-why w-w-would--!

[Training, yes, but that seems very severe for a couple! It's not like he and Codi would ever--]

[...]

[...He's just not going to complete that thought out loud.]

[Sorry, Rick, but she's just gonna chuckle.]

We weren't married back on Gaia and this was back when I was still a rookie. Its pretty common practice to take our training very seriously. Injuries can sometimes happen. We just...happened to get a little over-zealous.

Besides, I doubt he'd go that far with you and the other recruits. Not unless they asked for that level of severity, at least.

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And then I woke up with a better focus, my goal clear in the midst of the fog

Floor 4

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1/3 apologizing ahead of time for this

2/3

3/3 gomen gomen gomen

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