Log~
Who: Reno and Rufus (clockedoutearly and watchingurclock)
What: Reno gets mildly chewed out
Where: ShinRa Tower
When: Shortly after this thread
Why: why not?
Contrary to what he'd implied, Reno did have a fairly good idea of why Rufus wanted to see him - and why he'd set the time at 5 to start with. Of course, he'd never been satisfied with always following the rules and if he were right this little conversation wouldn't be all that painful to have to set through. He'd done his job, after all. Couldn't really knock him down a peg for that, right?
Not that chewing him out usually had that effect. But really, that was neither here nor there. And if he looked a little too upbeat for a man who might be getting chewed out as he let himself into Rufus' office, well there could be any number of reasons for that.
"You wanted t' see me?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
Rufus eyed Reno's slinking in distaste, irritation more or less lending to his current criticism of the man. He knew Reno had to realize why he was being called in, and his nonchalant attitude screamed the message that he had no respect for Rufus' authority.
Or so it seemed to the blond man.
At any other time, he would have gotten to the point. Now, he wanted to see how long it would take before Reno started to squirm.
Steepling his hands just underneath his chin, Rufus waited.
Ha. So Rufus was going to play that game again. Well, two could play at that, and if Rufus was willing to wait, either he wasn't too angry yet or wanted to see how much he was going to squirm first. And if that was the case, he may as well make himself comfortable, dropping lazily into one of the chairs facing Rufus' desk in one of his usual sprawls.
It wasn't that he had no respect for Rufus' authority, it was simply that what he'd done had helped in the long run - he'd counted himself lucky to get away from Sephiroth with nothing more than the wounds he'd gotten (even if once again it had been his mouth to get him into the situation).
"Pretty sure I know what for, too."
Rufus' right eye twitched, rising irritation surged to the forefront at the way Reno disregarded his displeasured state. From the decadent way the redhead had sprawled, Rufus wasn't too sure Reno understood why he'd been so angry about being temporarily decommissioned.
"Why don't you tell me then?" He intoned lowly.
True, he didn't know the exact reason that Rufus was a bit miffed about getting knocked out (if Rufus had ever brought up any reasons, Reno had since forgotten them) but he knew enough to know that that was most likely to be the cause all the same. After all, Rufus hadn't seemed to have any complaints about his costume.
"'Sabout my little stunt at th' party, right? Somethin' somethin' not in control of th' situation?"
"You look too lightly upon such an act," Rufus started, more than a hint of warning in his voice that he was not happy with the way the events had played out. While he understood Reno's actions the first time something of this nature had occurred, that was through excessive necessity. Rufus wouldn't have left for safety otherwise.
This situation had been infinitely different.
"You left me defenseless, senseless to any danger I may defend myself against." The words became more angry as Rufus said them, the idea that Reno thought him that weak somehow affecting his composure more than he would like or notice.
"Yeah, because runnin' into Sephiroth was such a great alternative," Reno retorted. "Yes, I took a risk. But most things probably ain't too interested in somethin' that can't fight back."
Not... that he had any idea of what had been out there in the first place, but it had kept Rufus safe. Admittedly he could have used Sleep instead, but that probably would have had the same overall effect. At least as far as him getting chewed out went.
"I do not care if it was Sephiroth, Jenova, or the Kadaj and his gangs. I would prefer facing adversaries head on." He'd done the same against Kadaj when Reno and Rude had been brought down, faced the other with nothing but his words and his presence in a wheelchair.
"I will not be brought low to play dead while others around me fight!" How could he expect his Turks to respect him if he couldn't even stand up and strike back when a teenaged girl did?
"Fine," Reno grumbled. "Next time I won't an' you c'n deal with 'em yourself. 'Sides, I kept you safe. Would've even 'f it meant me dyin'."
He'd hoped (correctly) that it wouldn't come to that, but if it had he wouldn't have hesitated in lying his life down for Rufus. Any Turk would've done the same if they had to; they were expendable. Rufus wasn't.
Rufus grew silent at those words, his two natures fighting each other and rending him silent. While Reno was correct, that Turks were paid to die for his protection, the crux of the matter was, he didn't want Reno to die. For him.
The practical side in Rufus pointed out that if Reno didn't die to protect his life, there wouldn't be a life for the ShinRa corporation or the Turks afterwards.
Rufus shifted back, wrists moving down to rest on the chair arms, the leather on his chair creaking quietly as he watched Reno.
True to form, it wasn't long before a grin split Reno's face. Either the sight of a speechless Rufus was amusing or (more likely) he was about to go haring off on a slightly different topic.
"I ain't plannin' on dyin' though," he commented. "Not f'r somethin' as simple as a bunch 'f random ass monsters an' one pyschopathic ex-General." There was far too much to get out of life. When (not if, because sooner or later he'd go down) It was gonna be on his own terms, and for something that what was worth leaving Rufus behind.
The events of the past weekend hadn't counted, obviously.
"Of course not. Because the former General Sephiroth isn't much of a challenge," Rufus remarked sardonically, some small measure of good humor restored after Reno's words.
"However, I would rather avoid such situations in the future. There are other methods of entertainment to be obtained. There is no need to seek out trouble."
It's unclear whether Rufus also meant other situations that may be brewed in the Brawl network.
"I don't usually go lookin' f'r that kind 'f trouble," Reno answered with a grin. Sure, he had a slight problem with running his mouth overtime, but that wasn't the same as actually going out and picking fights. "Least, not anymore."
A pause and then he continued. "Unless you ask me to, that is."
gotmako: Rufus smirked, though it could honestly be linked more closely to a smile than a full blown smirk. Indeed, Reno would go out looking for trouble if Rufus wished it. And that kind of power always made Rufus feel gratified.
"Good. The food was inadequate besides."
It was his job to, wasn't it? To do what Rufus and Tseng asked him to? He might complain about it from time to time (read: a whole lot) but in the end he did actually get things done.
"You mean it wasn't up t' your usual standards."
"Not nearly. Though with time, I'm sure they'll learn to improve upon it." Hopefully. Rufus can't imagine surviving on such fares. "Either way, I believe I'm in the mood to dine out tonight."
Reno: "That mood include me?" Reno asked. "Or were you plannin' t' leave me behind?"
Hopefully it wouldn't be the latter.
"What do you think, Reno?" This was, by far, the most interesting part of the conversation. While Rufus was tempted to ask if Reno would be on the menu, he had far more class than that.
"I'm thinkin' you're gonna want t' have someone t' talk to," Reno answered with a grin. "'Sides, you'll probably get a kick out 'f knowing I can still 'dress up' t' your standards."
"A very compelling argument." For Rufus would more than enjoy watching Reno don some forced shield of civility. Just watching the redhead roam around parading as an upperclass member, all perfect and lined up would make Rufus long to rip that facade off of him.
Preferably in the privacy of his bedroom.
"Perhaps. If you ensure that you won't ruin my evening with witless pranks."
Well, to be perfectly honest, he had half-considered the idea of doing just that, at least to an extent. Someone had to keep Rufus amused, right? But on the other hand that wouldn't be entirely conducive to getting Rufus to take him along the next time.
"Kind 'f a steep price, yo. But I might be able t' manage it."
"Oh? I guess you do possess a little self-control then. Interesting." Rufus rose from his seat, eying Reno for a moment or two before gathering up any files he may need for home. He still had some work to do, but it could wait until after dinner.
Or other enjoyable activities.
"'Sthere when I need it," he answered, waiting until Rufus had gathered up everything he was going to need before picking himself up out of the chair. Admittedly it wasn't all that often that he needed to call up what little self-control he actually had, but it was still there, lurking underneath everything else.
And for something like this, he'd definitely make the effort.
If only Reno did exercise it more, half their arguments and fights might have been eliminated altogether.
"More of a convenience for you than for me, Reno," Rufus said as he walked past, a small stack of folders and documents in hand. Nodding at the Turk standing outside his door, he Rufus headed for the elevator.
Very true. But would either of them have been truly happy without the arguments and fights?
"You wouldn't have me any other way," Reno answered, falling in step behind Rufus. If he did, no doubt he would have tried much harder to change him over the past years.
Rufus made a noncommittal sound and entered the elevator when it arrived, his Turks flanked behind him.
"Be sure you keep it that way," Rufus remarked in warning halfway down, an amused quirk tilting his lips as he watched Reno out of the corner of his eye.
"I plan to."
He very much enjoyed actually having a job, after all. And with the things he'd learned it wasn't likely that he'd be around very long after he left this one.
What: Reno gets mildly chewed out
Where: ShinRa Tower
When: Shortly after this thread
Why: why not?
Contrary to what he'd implied, Reno did have a fairly good idea of why Rufus wanted to see him - and why he'd set the time at 5 to start with. Of course, he'd never been satisfied with always following the rules and if he were right this little conversation wouldn't be all that painful to have to set through. He'd done his job, after all. Couldn't really knock him down a peg for that, right?
Not that chewing him out usually had that effect. But really, that was neither here nor there. And if he looked a little too upbeat for a man who might be getting chewed out as he let himself into Rufus' office, well there could be any number of reasons for that.
"You wanted t' see me?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
Rufus eyed Reno's slinking in distaste, irritation more or less lending to his current criticism of the man. He knew Reno had to realize why he was being called in, and his nonchalant attitude screamed the message that he had no respect for Rufus' authority.
Or so it seemed to the blond man.
At any other time, he would have gotten to the point. Now, he wanted to see how long it would take before Reno started to squirm.
Steepling his hands just underneath his chin, Rufus waited.
Ha. So Rufus was going to play that game again. Well, two could play at that, and if Rufus was willing to wait, either he wasn't too angry yet or wanted to see how much he was going to squirm first. And if that was the case, he may as well make himself comfortable, dropping lazily into one of the chairs facing Rufus' desk in one of his usual sprawls.
It wasn't that he had no respect for Rufus' authority, it was simply that what he'd done had helped in the long run - he'd counted himself lucky to get away from Sephiroth with nothing more than the wounds he'd gotten (even if once again it had been his mouth to get him into the situation).
"Pretty sure I know what for, too."
Rufus' right eye twitched, rising irritation surged to the forefront at the way Reno disregarded his displeasured state. From the decadent way the redhead had sprawled, Rufus wasn't too sure Reno understood why he'd been so angry about being temporarily decommissioned.
"Why don't you tell me then?" He intoned lowly.
True, he didn't know the exact reason that Rufus was a bit miffed about getting knocked out (if Rufus had ever brought up any reasons, Reno had since forgotten them) but he knew enough to know that that was most likely to be the cause all the same. After all, Rufus hadn't seemed to have any complaints about his costume.
"'Sabout my little stunt at th' party, right? Somethin' somethin' not in control of th' situation?"
"You look too lightly upon such an act," Rufus started, more than a hint of warning in his voice that he was not happy with the way the events had played out. While he understood Reno's actions the first time something of this nature had occurred, that was through excessive necessity. Rufus wouldn't have left for safety otherwise.
This situation had been infinitely different.
"You left me defenseless, senseless to any danger I may defend myself against." The words became more angry as Rufus said them, the idea that Reno thought him that weak somehow affecting his composure more than he would like or notice.
"Yeah, because runnin' into Sephiroth was such a great alternative," Reno retorted. "Yes, I took a risk. But most things probably ain't too interested in somethin' that can't fight back."
Not... that he had any idea of what had been out there in the first place, but it had kept Rufus safe. Admittedly he could have used Sleep instead, but that probably would have had the same overall effect. At least as far as him getting chewed out went.
"I do not care if it was Sephiroth, Jenova, or the Kadaj and his gangs. I would prefer facing adversaries head on." He'd done the same against Kadaj when Reno and Rude had been brought down, faced the other with nothing but his words and his presence in a wheelchair.
"I will not be brought low to play dead while others around me fight!" How could he expect his Turks to respect him if he couldn't even stand up and strike back when a teenaged girl did?
"Fine," Reno grumbled. "Next time I won't an' you c'n deal with 'em yourself. 'Sides, I kept you safe. Would've even 'f it meant me dyin'."
He'd hoped (correctly) that it wouldn't come to that, but if it had he wouldn't have hesitated in lying his life down for Rufus. Any Turk would've done the same if they had to; they were expendable. Rufus wasn't.
Rufus grew silent at those words, his two natures fighting each other and rending him silent. While Reno was correct, that Turks were paid to die for his protection, the crux of the matter was, he didn't want Reno to die. For him.
The practical side in Rufus pointed out that if Reno didn't die to protect his life, there wouldn't be a life for the ShinRa corporation or the Turks afterwards.
Rufus shifted back, wrists moving down to rest on the chair arms, the leather on his chair creaking quietly as he watched Reno.
True to form, it wasn't long before a grin split Reno's face. Either the sight of a speechless Rufus was amusing or (more likely) he was about to go haring off on a slightly different topic.
"I ain't plannin' on dyin' though," he commented. "Not f'r somethin' as simple as a bunch 'f random ass monsters an' one pyschopathic ex-General." There was far too much to get out of life. When (not if, because sooner or later he'd go down) It was gonna be on his own terms, and for something that what was worth leaving Rufus behind.
The events of the past weekend hadn't counted, obviously.
"Of course not. Because the former General Sephiroth isn't much of a challenge," Rufus remarked sardonically, some small measure of good humor restored after Reno's words.
"However, I would rather avoid such situations in the future. There are other methods of entertainment to be obtained. There is no need to seek out trouble."
It's unclear whether Rufus also meant other situations that may be brewed in the Brawl network.
"I don't usually go lookin' f'r that kind 'f trouble," Reno answered with a grin. Sure, he had a slight problem with running his mouth overtime, but that wasn't the same as actually going out and picking fights. "Least, not anymore."
A pause and then he continued. "Unless you ask me to, that is."
gotmako: Rufus smirked, though it could honestly be linked more closely to a smile than a full blown smirk. Indeed, Reno would go out looking for trouble if Rufus wished it. And that kind of power always made Rufus feel gratified.
"Good. The food was inadequate besides."
It was his job to, wasn't it? To do what Rufus and Tseng asked him to? He might complain about it from time to time (read: a whole lot) but in the end he did actually get things done.
"You mean it wasn't up t' your usual standards."
"Not nearly. Though with time, I'm sure they'll learn to improve upon it." Hopefully. Rufus can't imagine surviving on such fares. "Either way, I believe I'm in the mood to dine out tonight."
Reno: "That mood include me?" Reno asked. "Or were you plannin' t' leave me behind?"
Hopefully it wouldn't be the latter.
"What do you think, Reno?" This was, by far, the most interesting part of the conversation. While Rufus was tempted to ask if Reno would be on the menu, he had far more class than that.
"I'm thinkin' you're gonna want t' have someone t' talk to," Reno answered with a grin. "'Sides, you'll probably get a kick out 'f knowing I can still 'dress up' t' your standards."
"A very compelling argument." For Rufus would more than enjoy watching Reno don some forced shield of civility. Just watching the redhead roam around parading as an upperclass member, all perfect and lined up would make Rufus long to rip that facade off of him.
Preferably in the privacy of his bedroom.
"Perhaps. If you ensure that you won't ruin my evening with witless pranks."
Well, to be perfectly honest, he had half-considered the idea of doing just that, at least to an extent. Someone had to keep Rufus amused, right? But on the other hand that wouldn't be entirely conducive to getting Rufus to take him along the next time.
"Kind 'f a steep price, yo. But I might be able t' manage it."
"Oh? I guess you do possess a little self-control then. Interesting." Rufus rose from his seat, eying Reno for a moment or two before gathering up any files he may need for home. He still had some work to do, but it could wait until after dinner.
Or other enjoyable activities.
"'Sthere when I need it," he answered, waiting until Rufus had gathered up everything he was going to need before picking himself up out of the chair. Admittedly it wasn't all that often that he needed to call up what little self-control he actually had, but it was still there, lurking underneath everything else.
And for something like this, he'd definitely make the effort.
If only Reno did exercise it more, half their arguments and fights might have been eliminated altogether.
"More of a convenience for you than for me, Reno," Rufus said as he walked past, a small stack of folders and documents in hand. Nodding at the Turk standing outside his door, he Rufus headed for the elevator.
Very true. But would either of them have been truly happy without the arguments and fights?
"You wouldn't have me any other way," Reno answered, falling in step behind Rufus. If he did, no doubt he would have tried much harder to change him over the past years.
Rufus made a noncommittal sound and entered the elevator when it arrived, his Turks flanked behind him.
"Be sure you keep it that way," Rufus remarked in warning halfway down, an amused quirk tilting his lips as he watched Reno out of the corner of his eye.
"I plan to."
He very much enjoyed actually having a job, after all. And with the things he'd learned it wasn't likely that he'd be around very long after he left this one.