Night Before The Storm
Reno: "You woke me up for this?"
Elena: Wasn't this worth waking you up for?
Elena: "Fffft...if Rufus getting all sick and dying isn't worth waking you up, Reno, I'll let the boss know when he wakes up..." *snarky grin*
Reno: Cut the crap Elena.
Elena: Yes, sir.
Elena: Sorry, sir.
Reno: What happened.
Elena: Rufus didn't tell you, did he?
Reno: All I know is that it's jenova/sephiroth manifesting in people and killing them. Organ failure being the endgame.
Reno: I fucking told him to keep it clean and change bandages at least once a day. Stupid fuck.
Elena: Correct. Its called the Geostigma. Rufus has been sick with it for several months now, maybe even a year. The odd thing is...there was a doctor here who was giving him...something. It helped - by a lot. He was able to go to a Masquerade and be on his feet for several hours. He was knocked back on his ass the next day, but the fact was it was helping slow the degradation.
Elena: It gets worse though,
Elena: He has Jenova's head. Its been under his ass the entire time - after I asked him - nearly begged him - to have it moved. You know Rufus, though, he wouldn't budge on the subject.
Elena: Now, the Doctor supplying him with the medication is gone and I'm sure he's nearly out of the pills
Reno: I'm going to fucking strangle the shithead.
Elena: Get in line, Reno. I get first dibs
Reno: I'm going to fucking kill him.
Elena: I WARNED him
Elena: He pushed himself too hard
Elena: I should have MADE him take it easy, but he wouldn't listen!
Reno: No, see. He's got JENOVAS FUCKING HEAD. And there's Sephiroth, the spawn of Sephiroth and fuckall knows what here.
Elena: HE won't have it for long. I'm going to remove it and put it somewhere where nobody will go to look
Reno: burn it.
Reno: Destroy it completely.
Reno: Somehow.
Elena: I'm going to shoot it, burn it, and bury it a mile deep
Elena: Don't worry, Reno. I got this.
Elena: She won't be able to be found by ANYBODY. Not even us
Reno: Lob her over the wall.
Elena: I'll scatter her ashes over it.
Elena: I'm not leaving anything to be salvaged
Elena: You'll be with him while I'm out, right?
Reno: Stranging him.
Elena: Reno...
Elena: Wait until he's awake first so he knows /why/
Reno: I'll just tear him a new one. Bahamut knows he's had it coming.
Reno: I told him no secrets. Fucking asshole.
Elena: I should have told you - I thought he was going to. He told me when I got here. I'm sorry, I should have said something.
Elena: We've got to get him to the clinic asap, I found a nurse to head up the clinic - she worked with the Doctor before he disappeared. I'm sure there's a doctor who can help.
Elena: I'm still trying to find somebody who can figure out what was in those pills Doctor McCoy gave him so we can figure out what was in it, if they were related to the seizure and, if not, how to replicate.
Reno: I'd shoot him full of mako if it'd work.
Elena: Fuck, Reno. Just...fuck.
Elena: The thing is....we tried to find a cure. We got our hands on the experts in the field to research, to try and find /something/. We couldn't find any cure..
Reno: So.. we're screwed. Again...still...whatever.
Elena: No. Not yet.
Elena: We need to find a doctor, a chemist. SOMEBODY who can take a look at those pills.
Reno: ...
Reno: what about Professor Reaper?
Reno: Er, valentine the older.
Elena: Rufus wants to look outside the company first. I didn't agree at first, but when I remembered that we've got people from different worlds...they've got different technology. They may have a better chance.
Elena: I mean, Doctor McCoy was from a totally different world and he was able to slow the progression.
Reno: Reaper studied the lifestream.
Elena: The Lifestream is what caused it.
Elena: Well, Sephiroth's manifestation or whatever that infected the Lifestream caused it
Reno: He's the closest we've got to a fucking expert Elena.
Elena: You don't need to twist my arm, Reno. I've gotten no leads elsewhere.
Reno: He'd probably stab me.
Elena: I could try talking to him.
Elena: He's not a fan, obviously, but I might have a better chance.
Reno: I sorta called him a shiva fucking moomba licking son of a bitch.
Elena: You WHAT?! *facepalm* Reno, how do you expect to have people work with us if you call them a....*groan*
Reno: He called turks slumrunners
Elena: Okay, so maybe he deserved the 'Shiva fucking' comment...but 'Moomba licking'?
Elena: Your mouth is going to get us both in trouble with the locals.
Reno: they probably don't know what moomba is?
Elena: That's not the point.
Elena: I'll talk to Professor Valentine. Words spreads fast - Tifa's little broadcast won't go unnoticed - so hopefully he'll be more willing to assist. We *are* providing housing for him..
Elena: Gaia Reno....you really let into him, didn't you?
Reno: There are a few things I don't let slide.
Reno: Being called a slumrunner's one of them
Elena: No kidding. [Yeah, Laney's never heard the insult before this, lucky girl]
Reno: means you're from the slums, grew up dirty and don't know anything but that. I'm not, never was, sure I can act like one but... I'm not one.
Elena: *have a sympatheic smile* Hey, I know you're not. Tseng, Rude and Rufus knows too. So who cares what that old fart says?
Reno: Trust me he got off easy. Last person who called me that that wasn't joking... well they couldn't even use dental records. Didn't help that it was on a mission gone down the shitter.
Elena: ....ouch. Does my favorite red-head need a hug?
Reno: ...nah.
Elena: M'kay.
Elena: So...now what? You're....are you the Big Boss now until he wakes up?
Elena: Bigger than Director, I mean.
Reno: ...fuck that.
Reno: Y'all can do whatever the hell you want. I'm not taking that one.
Reno: [TECHNICALLY]
Elena: Ya'll? Its just you and me here, Reno.
Reno: No, see. There's a heirarchy of the Directors too.
Reno: Just... just in case.
Elena: Uh-huh...
Reno: and Fuck That.
Elena: If you've got no problem with it, I'll take up some of his responibilities. I've developed a....somewhat decent relationship with the General.
Reno: Rufus is still breathing.
Elena: I'm aware of that. But I don't think he'd be all too pleased if we let slip his current status
Reno: I think everyone'll know by now.
Elena: Fuck...Really, Tifa, she couldn't just call us?
Reno: I think she hates me.
Elena: I think so too
Reno: I'd hate me too.
Elena: She didn't have to go public with it. That's blatant undermining
Elena: Look, we'll have to deal with her later. Right now, we've got a lot of clean-up to worry about.
Reno: What we're good at. Cleaning up the messes every other division makes.
Elena: Yeah, no joke.
Elena: What in Odin's name was she thinking? She's been through enough - something like this shouldn't have been that big of an issue.
Reno: She probably just paniced.
Elena: That's an excuse. Would you have allowed panic to override common sense? I don't think so.
Reno: She hasn't got our training.
Elena: She's from AVALANCHE and been through some interesting events. She should have known better.
Elena: Whatever. What's done is done.
Reno: There's things you control that happen and things you don't. I've panicked.
Elena: You? [She's always kind of looked up to you, Reno. You're the badass/mentor. She's never seen you panic]
Elena: I've never seen you panic before.
Reno: that there is the difference between training and none.
Elena: Mm...good point.
Reno: Hell, I nearly walked one time.
Elena: ....What happened?
Reno: Before your time, let's just say there's a reason we were on a tight leash.
Elena: Oh... I see... Sounds like a lot happened before my time.
Reno: It was a crazy decade.
Elena: I can only imagine.
Elena: And the fun's only just begun.
Reno: Jeez, I can't wait.
Elena: *small smile*
Elena: Its not all bad, though, if that helps any
Reno: I'm going to take a nap.
Elena: Sounds good. I'll probably be crashing soon myself - got work in the morning
Reno: ..someone's got to watch Rufus
Elena: Didn't say I wouldn't be crashing nearby. [and by nearby she means in the same room, in an uncomfortable chair, gun in hand]
Elena: But you've gotta watch him in the morning. I'll be taking care of the head then - once I know he's okay.
Reno: I know, can't do that running on whatever sleep I've gotten here so far. [no, he hadn't been sleeping much if at all back home.]
Elena: ....Always hitting the ground running. [she understands, sleep doesn't come as easy to her either]. There's a room down the hall if you need it.
Reno: Floor's fine.
Elena: C'mon, you won't get much sleep that way.
Reno: [snort] I've slept on worse.
Reno: Don't sleep on broken glass Elena. Really don't do it.
Elena: So what? We've got couches and beds here. You don't have to sleep on the floor
Elena: [laughs] Thanks for the tip
Reno: I'll know if someone comes up the stairs.
Elena: That's why I'm here.
Elena: So you can actually sleep. I'll watch your back.
Reno: I...thanks.
Elena: [smile]
Elena: You're welcome. Now go get some rest.
Reno: [that couch RIGHT THERE]
Elena: [rests her arms on the back of the couch, looking down at him] I'll be just outside, okay?
Reno: [PFFT already asleep, looking old and just a bit worn out.]
Elena: [grins, watching him for a second before taking a nearby blanket and draping it over him. yeah, she's super sweet when he's not teasing her]
Reno: [shift wriggle, SNUGGLING THE BACK OF THE COUCH and pulling the blanket closer.]
Elena: ..... [don't make her giggle with the cuteness, Reno. she doesn't want to wake you. see, she's trying to sneak out without making the floorboards creak]
Elena: ccccrreeeeakk.... [she freezes]
Reno: [SNORT] Lena just walk like a human.
Elena: [red] ....just trying to be nice..
Reno: mnghmn.
Elena: ...... [nevermind Laney, she's sitting at the edge of the couch - she doesn't really want to be left alone right now]
Reno: [eyecrack.] I don't bite.
Elena: [jumps] I thought you were sleeping...
Reno: Light sleeper. [roooll on to back.]
Elena: M'sorry...go back to sleep. I'm just gonna sit here..
Elena: I mean, if you don't mind.
Reno: [sigh] get over here so I can use you as a pillow.
Elena: ...... [okay, so she's 'getting over here' without so much as a peep.] I'm not the best pillow, to be honest..
Reno: Neither's a couch arm. Least you won't hurt my neck as much.
Elena: Yeah, yeah...[don't mind her, she's lifting your head before sitting down, then putting it back in her lap]
Reno: nice and warm... [and back to being asleep]
Elena: ....! [turns a little pink, fingers locking together behind her head, leaning back and gettin' comfortable]
Elena: Mm...hey, Reno? [low voice]
Reno: ...yeah?
Elena: ....nothing, nevermind.
Reno: no no... go on.
Elena: [shiftwiggle] You think....you think we're going to get out of this city?
Reno: Dunno.
Elena: Yeah.... [closes her eyes]
Reno: We've got each other...
Elena: We do, yeah. That's more than what others can say
Elena: I'm no Rude, but I hope that doesn't matter
Reno: [so very very quiet] Partners...
Elena: [little smile] You and me...
Reno: yah...
Elena: No complaints? I am the 'Rookie', remember? [ladeda your hair is reall soft, y'know that?]
Reno: yeah but you're my Rookie. [yes he does, and there's just the slightest humm of contentment at the fact that you're playing with it.]
Elena: Yours? [there's a little sound of amusement at the possessive pronoun, really, man, what kind of conditioner do you use?]
Elena: I thought I just 'the' Rookie.
Reno: Nope. Well... you're ours but since nobody else is here you're all mine.
Elena: Oh? [leans over] Does that work the other way around? That you're mine - my partner?
Reno: Only if you want me.
Elena: ....Like I'd want anybody else? I only want the best. [miss your easily embarassed rookie yet, reno? cause there's a something like a little purr at the end of that]
Reno: I haven't had a complaint in years... [he's tired okay?]
Elena: No, I don't think you would've. A few corrective comments, maybe... [goes back to scratching his head and playing with his hair]
Elena: Put this here, don't put that there. [grin]
Reno: Harder, not so hard... bite, don't bite...
Elena: [smirk] Kinky. And in your dreams.
Reno: they're the good ones.
Elena: And the bad?
Reno: I go through a lot of ice cream.
Elena: Rocky road or tutti frutti?
Reno: Pistachio.
Elena: Eew.
Elena: Whatever floats your boat
Reno: And cookie dough.
Elena: Now that I can get behind.
Reno: yeah... whole box of it.
Elena: .... That bad? [stroke, stroke, stroke the hair]
Reno: got worse after the plate...
Elena: Hmm? What about the plate?
Reno: ...nothin'
Elena: C'mon...we're partners. I'd like to know..
Reno: I dropped it.
Elena: And you didn't have any more plates to use? [hurr...not quite connecting the dots yet] Or was it one of Rufus' favorite plates?
Reno: ...[there's just a swallow.]
Elena: [she saw what you did there] Reno?
Reno: It was part of ShinRa's favorite set.
Elena: ....I'm sorry, I don't....you mean the elder's?
Reno: the company.
Elena: The company's plate.... [aaannddd the light turns on] You....dropped the plate...
Reno: [nod]
Elena: [there's a short silence, hand frozen in hair]
Elena: Shiva's frozen tits, Reno....
Reno: Why do you think you were finally brought on and I wasn't around for the first while?
Elena: I was only told you were injured. I didn't get any details.
Reno: Fighting Cloud and Tifa and that nutter with the gunarm.
Reno: Stalling for time.
Elena: [more silence]
Reno: [snort] Old Man Shinra the idiot thought it was the only way to get rid of them... AVALANCHE... dumbass.
Elena: [head shake] What an idiot....drop the whole plate? Just for a few people?
Reno: They were on the damn stairs...
Elena: I'm sorry...
Elena: [and she's hugging his head - its the only thing she can think of]
Reno: [you're very warm elena.]
Elena: [several layers will do that]
Reno: [it's the damned tie]
Elena: [XD don't eat it]
Elena: It probably doesn't matter, but I don't judge you for it. [she's smoothing his hair back]
Reno: I do enough of it.
Elena: You were just following orders - even if they were dumb and immature and pointless. You shouldn't carry that burden with you...
Reno: I heard their screams Elena.
Elena: [theres an involuntary flinch] I know. And you will for a while... But they'll go away, eventually.
Reno: maybe. I know that I've got to face them eventually...
Elena: They will, I promise. When you do...if you need anything...you can always get me.
Reno: [laugh] I'll be dead when I face 'em. Gotta run the gauntelt of your sins in the end.
Elena: We're both headed for the same place, Red. If I go first, I'll wait for you.
Reno: You'd better.
Elena: I promise. [smile] I won't leave you hanging
Reno: Otherwise I'll come back and haunt you.
Elena: Now that'd be just awful. You going to haunt a dead woman?
Reno: Or and old lady. I'd be naked. All the time
Elena: And that's a punishment...how?
Reno: You'd be OLD.
Elena: And you'd be NAKID. I think the only one being punished would be you - having to look at my old, aged ass.
Reno: I dunno, you wouldn't be able to do anything with me
Elena: Would you REALLY be wanting to jump an old woman's bones?
Elena: I'm sure there are plenty of hot women in hell that'd be more interesting.
Reno: Hell's afraid I'd take over.
Elena: Ha! They should be worried.
Elena: But, think about it, you'd be the Boss..you'd have to give orders and make decisions..
Reno: Yeah, but I'd be in charge of hell
Elena: Guh..you... [musses hair]
Reno: [snuggling your leeeeeg]
Elena: [grins] Comfy?
Reno: mn-hmn.
Elena: Good. I wouldn't want to be a bad pillow...
Elena: [wiggles deeper into the couch]
Reno: Night laney...
Elena: Night Reno...