[ Report I ] Hearts and Stars

[plotdeviceturk]

Tseng smiled thinly as he watched the surprisingly large group gathered in one of Shin-Ra's ballrooms, he'd never realized quite how many people considered him family whether they were actually related or not. There was a smattering of brothers and sisters along with their kids, people he couldn't remember seeing but were somehow actually related

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[tasercopter]

She hadn't expected to find herself at a Shin-Ra shindig, especially not one that has to do with Tseng's retirement. Retirement? Who needs it? She's not big on any kind of party that involves speeches and family members, but the purpose of the affair makes it even worse.

But since it was a formal occasion, Reno had decided to wear a dress. It was slinky and black and far from being the world's most modest garment, yet she was still carrying weapons hidden somewhere on her person. (Of course, she doesn't realize that Tseng might think it odd to see her as a female, regardless of what she was wearing.)

She listens to the speech, but afterward, she only has one word for Tseng: "Bullshit."

[plotdeviceturk]

Tseng heaved a sigh, resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. He really didn't think he wanted to know why Reno was in drag at a rather important event.

"Reno, we've been over this. You're better prepared than I was when Veld... stepped down, and things have changed. You aren't going to be ordered to take care of me because I know too much, and if another apocalypse happens you have my number. Rude and Elena will be there for you, as well as the rookies."

He'd been a Turk for over two decades and Director for almost eight years, and at nearly fourty he'd surpassed the usual Turk life expectancy just like Veld had.

"You'll be fine Reno."

[tasercopter]

"I'm not worried about me. Of course I'll do fine." When does she not do fine? Great, even. She has complete confidence in her abilities. And she's always got Rude to get her back.

She shakes her head. "I'm thinking about you. What are you even gonna do now? Besides, this ain't nothing like when Veld left. There's no reason for it. Turks aren't supposed to retire." She folds her arms, stubbornly.

[plotdeviceturk]

"Would you rather be attending a funeral?" Tseng asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'm going to get a hobby and drive my good car all the time. Maybe speak at schools about Wutaiian traditions, I could probably write a book. Come in and harass you during audits."

His mouth lifted in a tiny smile, "You'll have to wear your tie."

[tasercopter]

"No, I don't want to go to any funerals. I didn't mean it like that. But it's not even like you're old." She's not convinced by any of this. "You're gonna get bored, count on it. Driving cars and giving speeches--you really think that stuff will be enough?"

She shakes her head, then waves a hand, unconcerned at the tie comment. "If I didn't have to wear it when I was second-in-command, I don't have to now. I even less have to if I'm the one in charge."

[plotdeviceturk]

"I'm almost forty Reno." Tseng stated, "I'd have been sent off solo to take care of a tonbery infestation months ago if Shin-Ra was still in charge and not the WRO."

He kept his voice quiet and even, drawing attention was't something he wanted for this particular conversation. "I'm not what's best for the Turks going forward, you are."

[tasercopter]

"I know how old you are. It's still not that old. You've got another few years in you, at least." She's not going to retire when she's forty. "And the president wouldn't do that to you. The old one, sure, but not Rufus."

It's not that she doesn't appreciate the compliment, and she's glad Tseng thinks so highly of her, but-- "I still think it's bullshit." It's true that she doesn't want him to leave, but she doesn't think it's the best thing for him, either. "I bet you don't even want to leave."

[plotdeviceturk]

"A few years, yes. I intend to save them for the next apocalypse, there's only so many times I can escape death and I don't think I'll survive the next encounter intact." He finally admitted grimly, avoiding looking at Reno.

When Vincent Valentine wasn't entirely sure you'd survive the most recent brush it meant it was time to seriously consider your options. Tseng didn't want to be little more than a smear of blood and ragged suit fabric in the end.

"I didn't want you to have to learn things with just a letter tucked in the desk with your new pin."

[tasercopter]

She rolls her eyes. "Oh, so something else bad might happen, and that's why you're leaving? Is that really why you want to leave?" She frowns. "I get it. Bad things happened." She sighs. She knows that some of those things had taken a toll on Tseng. They'd taken a toll on everybody, but in some ways on him in particular. She's not completely oblivious to these things.

"I don't want that either. I'm not gonna say anybody should die for a job, but you're looking at it all wrong. You made it through everything, and you're still here. What could even take you down now?" She's being a bit glib, but she doesn't think this is the right decision.

[plotdeviceturk]

"It's not a matter of might it's a matter of when." Tseng said grimly, "This isn't something to discuss out here where anyone can overhear. There's a balcony off the room if you're insistent on having this discussion right now."

He personally didn't want to, he just wanted to set things down and do something completely for himself and give Reno the room to grow.

[tasercopter]

"Yeah, because you can see the future. Like I said: bullshit." Reno's too stubborn to agree that easily. She's not about to give in. "Okay, fine. Let's go."

Maybe it wasn't the best time or place for such a discussion, but that had never stopped her before. It wasn't even a good party, and she wasn't sorry to miss it.

[plotdeviceturk]

Maybe he couldn't see the future, but he also couldn't shoot a lazer out of his forehead. Both rumors had circulated at one point as well as other equally ridiculous ones.

Once outside Tseng leaned against the railing, eyes closed as he listened to the muted sounds of traffic and people far below them. He knew he probably looked older in the different lighting, wearier, the scars more noticeable, like he was beginning to wear thin. He'd be more than content to just stand here in the quiet coolness of the night, the city a mess of fallen stars at their feet.

"...do you remember the last time I took time off for anything other than an injury?" He asked quietly, still not opening his eyes.

[tasercopter]

"No, I don't. None of us have taken time off in a while." There'd been too much to do. At some point, the job had become more than a job, somehow. She couldn't tell exactly when that had happened, the precise moment, but there was no denying that it had happened. No one had ever fired them, and they had never quit, even though they could have.

She had her own scars, but she didn't mind them. Maybe she was even proud of them. They were part of her now. It wasn't that she didn't notice he looked like he needed a break. She noticed more than she let on. "Speaking of that, you could just take a vacation instead. I know you don't do things halfway, but leaving the Turks?" She paused, gazing out over the city herself. "You sure you want to do that?"

[plotdeviceturk]

"It was before we were told to kill Veld." He supplied, and then shook his head.

"If I took a vacation it wouldn't be a vacation, you know that. You or Rufus would be calling me to ask where the paperclips are or what form to fill out or to come fix the copy machine. I'll be there for the important things, like Veld." Though it had probably been a shock to actually see the former Director alive and well after Tseng had shot him. "Though I'd rather you didn't shoot me to make it convincing."