towerofanimus | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Characters: Anybody that wishes to go to the Ragnarok meeting
Date: Jan 20th, Morning
Setting: Hidden Floor
Format: Either or.
Summary: It's time to regroup, establish new ties, and form a plan
Warning: TBA, but check comment headings just in case!

It may have been word of mouth. It could have been one of the many notes Reno left on doors or on beds (and in some cases, foreheads) of those he knew to be members or trusted. Or it could have been just as simple as a friend grabbing another for a 'walk.' The notes read, "Meeting. Morning, Jan 20th." There is no location, or any hint of any; Reno suspects most people will get the idea to go there, simply because it wasn't mentioned. It isn't supposed to exist, after all.

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[The door is unlocked and opens to a dark room, unkempt by normal standards and a wreck by Rick's, smelling faintly of stale clothes and cold soup, nibbled at but abandoned. The resident responsible for this is a lump curled up under the covers of a corner bed, staring blankly at the wall on the opposite side of the room. His glasses are in one hand hanging limply off the mattress, as if he considered putting them on and getting up, but lacked the energy to do so and gave up halfway.]

[Rick's eyes drift towards the entrance and he squints at the bright light coming in, but otherwise doesn't react to the blurry figure walking inside.]

[Sigh. Reno closed the door behind him and sat on the bed by Rick.]

Beating yourself up, huh?

[On the nose as usual. Rick gives a prolonged, heavy sigh, but doesn't move or otherwise respond.]

[Patting what Reno thought was Rick's leg, he shifts to lean on his elbows braced against knees.]

Y'know... about a year, maybe a year, four months... Ganondorf did the same thing to me. I heard about what happened.

[That manages to get something out of him. Rick's voice is hesitant, raspy from disuse.]

...I-It's n-n-not...h-him.

What is it?

[With flagrant disregard for how cliche this is: ]

...It's m-me. [He curls up tighter, hiding his face behind his arms.] E-Everything I s-s-said...that w-was me.

What'd you say?

...We d-d-don't h-have enough t-time. W-We c-can't...can't w-win.

So?

[Rick blinks, somewhat confused.]

...I-I...I've t-told e-e-everyone there w-would be. I l-lied t-to them.

How can ya lie when you don't know either way, Rick? You were just bein' honest of what you think. I don't think we can win either.

[He shakes his head, or about as well as he can while lying on his side.]

B-But I w-wasn't. I s-said...I m-mean I...I-I j-just w-w-wanted them to be h-happy...

You got your own feelings, Rick. Ganondorf's not above usin' them against you.

[His tone takes on a slightly bitter edge. Even a year later, and the memories of Xion in the crystal haunt him.]

[There is a very long pause.]

...I...t-t-trusted him...

[Someone else is also sounding a little grumpy. Even though most of him is hiding under the covers, Rick's blue eyes are narrowed, glaring with a surprising amount of venom at the opposite wall.]

[Now that's confusing as all hell.]

Can't imagine why anyone would.

[Now it's Rick's turn to be confused.]

...B-But...he w-was...the m-meetings! And...the e-e-elevators, and...r-research, r-r-right? I thought...h-he was b-being h-h-helpful.

[Reno starts laughing, mirthlessly.]

Ganondorf, after all he's done?! Ya think it wasn't for his own gain and benefit? I've been in the man's mind, Rick. I probably know him better than anybody in the Tower. I tried talkin' to the Doc about him being on the research team, but I was shut down. Didn't anyone tell ya he ruined my wedding to threaten us all?

[Rick flushes deep red, promptly hides his face halfway under the sheets and quietly shakes his head.]

[Pulling the sheets off Rick, Reno's face is angry.]

Pull yourself together, Rick.

[It's as if harsher words have never been spoken. Rick flinches, freezes mid-breath and averts his eyes to the floor. There's an apology somewhere clattering around in his throat, but he's far too frightened to risk letting it out.]

[Something softens a little in Reno's expression.]

He's done that to a lot of people. Don't mope over it. I bet half the Tower understands.

[The apology manages to find its way to the surface.]

...S-S-Sorry...

[...but not much else.]

[Okay, Reno doesn't seem to be getting through to him... so he does the next best thing.]

Rick, get up and stop feelin' sorry for yourself. It wasn't your fault and you stink. Go take a shower, you'll feel better. Then I want ya ready for a training session at the track.

[Rick is afraid enough to follow his direction, but when he's halfway upright he actually thinks and then becomes extremely concerned.]

--B-But--it's a-a-ah--a-almost n-night...