towerofanimus | (no subject)

Characters: Reno, and you
Setting: Floor 76 - The Greenhouse, Jan 8th
Format: Either
Summary: Catch all for post-event things. Fall out goes further than battles won and battles lost.
Warnings: Mentions of a lot of things possibly in the future, tba (At least some blood)

A victory didn't mean they had won. It had taken years and a tower full of horrors for Reno to learn that. Everyone had died who had been involved. So many people that had trusted and fought for something they believed in, wiped out with barely a thought. People that trusted him fell because of he hadn't been good enough. At least, that's what he thought.

For days he had been avoiding people, even going to the hotel floor when he needed to sleep and have it mean something, so that's why he was able to stay out of his room for so long. His current haunt was the greenhouse, finding a strange comfort in the fake but poisonous plants that filled the place. He just, needed time to think, to go over everything in his head to make sure there had been nothing else he could do. But every time he did, he became convinced that there had been, if he had just protected them, some way, they would have made it.

He had failed them, and there was no forgiveness for that.

This day, he's sitting on a bench clear of plants, still wearing the same bloodstained clothes he had worn during the war. Arms wrapped around his middle and finger pulling at his lower lip, he thinks he's alone here. It isn't one of his usual haunts and nobody came here. A trip to the sauna had dealt with most of the dirt from the disaster, but his clothes were permanently stained with the blood of friend, enemy, and himself. It's fitting, metaphorically and literally, that he stayed bloodstained.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[MOST UNAMUSED FACE EVER]

Idiot, its not fatal or critical damage. Take some of the damn potion.

[He is so linefacing it's not funny.]

If you won't take it, I'm not.

[This is a battle of wills, it is.]

I didn't say I wasn't going to. I only said you had to have your half first.

Y'know these things don't work unless you take all of it, El. First aid training, remember?

I haven't forgotten, Reno. But, you see, I've already made preparations. This is an added bonus for me whereas this was probably meant for you.

...What kind?

[He's getting tired, and about ready to relent, judging from the way his shoulders are slumping.]

A healer. The arm won't be 100% for a few weeks, but it won't be broken and the pain will be gone.

[And, because his body language was SOO LOUD]

Look. Will you take some if I take the first half?

[Sighing, a hand trails through her hair.]

If you're sure you'll be fine, I'll take it.

[He... had to let her protect him sometime, didn't he? Protecting her when she seems to do just fine- she complained he didn't see her the way she is.

He had to try for her sake, at least.]

I'm sure, but I think a nip wouldn't kill me either. My arm feels like there are several mini Wuitainese drummers using my bones to practice on.

[The touch earns a slight pressing of her head against his hand, giving an audible, shaky sigh. As much as she would prefer to stay this close, her arm was starting to severely act up and would need to rest. Taking a half-step back, she's returning the sling around her neck, frowning when she can't get the sling properly positioned to put her arm in.]

....Ah...little help please?

[Without speaking, he held the sling in place for her, knowing it's for the best even though he wants to hold her still.]

Elena... [He looks at her when he's done.] Take it first. I'll take the rest, promise. But I'm goin' to try healing much of it as I can with the Cure spell first.

...Tch...

[Its the only pained sound that she'll allow, carefully navigating her arm back into its sling and letting it rest. It eases some of the pain, but not all of it. Exhaling a heavy breath, she carefully readjusted the knot on her shoulder to sit more comfortably against her shoulder-blade before looking back up at Reno.]

All right, but neither of us are going anywhere until that bottle is emptied. I don't want to imagine that you're in the Tower somewhere, by yourself, wounded, where I don't know you are and you're unable to defend yourself. We share. Even. Agreed?

It's going to take a while, Elena. You need to go do your director thing, remember? I promise I'll take it when I'm done. Turk's honor. Nothin's going to get me down here and I'm not going anywhere. I might even go up to the sauna... so, don't worry about me.

[This face is her unamused face. And her worried face. Call it the unamurried face. But she's huffing in resigned agreement.]

I'm holding you to your word, Reno. You do your thinking and relaxing. Recenter yourself. Check the comms from time to time though - I'll leave a message if something comes up.

[And since there's no way she's going to take no for an option, Elena grabs a handful of his sleeve and urges him to follow her back to the bench she originally found him on.]

Have I ever told you I really don't like the taste of a Hi-Potion?

Does anyone?

[Reno rolls his eyes a little, following her and sitting down on the bench.]

You gonna drink some, or complain?

....It tastes like a horrible mix of mouthwash and three day old sweet and sour soup.

[Yes, well, he could roll his eyes all day long but she was going to make him sit down if it was the last thing she did.]

A little of both. Probably at the same time. C'mon. Sit. Spend just a little time with me before you disappear for a while...

All right, all right...

[He leans into her side a little, letting out a long sigh.]

Can't believe it's been a year. ...Feels like ten. [That was a joke. See, his lips are twitching.]

Only ten? I must not be doing my job.

[That was a joke too. And she's smirking for added effect, giving him a little push forward towards the bench.]

But...yeah.....its amazing how fast time passes here...

[Argh! He's already sitting, but now he's also holding his side now, cringing.]

Would you stop that, and take the damn hi-potion.

[Excuse her for losing track where they were. She was busy trying to make sure he sat the fuck down and calmed his tits.]

Oh god, Reno, I'm not trying to kill you... [Huff Huff Huff] You aren't going to let up until I do, aren't you?

[Glaring at her, he grabs the cloth of her shirt and leans in, kissing her aggressively to still her.]

No. Now take the damn potion.

[She's somewhere between a huff and a sigh, eyes halfway through a haughty eyeroll when her shirt is pulled forward and she's kissed into silence.]

.......Yeah. Okay.

[Operation Make Elena Follow Orders: Mission Complete!]