5th Mission [Dream]

[tasercopter]

[It's a wonderful day in the dystopian, post-apocalyptic city of Edge. The sun is shining, and the extensive damage caused by monster attacks has all been repaired, the debris cleared away. In the distance, the hulking, toxic ruins of what was once the great metropolis of Midgar look almost poignant rather than depressing

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[brands]

[Oh my god.

It is remarkably unfortunate for Reno that Fang has wandered in as one of the audience members for this beautiful event. She'd got the sense that Red was a thug, not some soppy romantic.

Well, might as well enjoy it. Making fun of her, that is, not the wedding. She begins to clap, slowly, but loud enough to be heard.]

Well, ain't this just beautiful! Brings a tear to my eye.

[tasercopter]

[No, she's not a soppy romantic! She's a complete and total thug. This is some kind of frame-up job. It's the Queen's fault. Planting things in her head.

Reno turns at the sound of the unexpected voice, startled out of her eye-gazing reverie. She's surprised to see Fang there. Wait, what's going on?]

Yeah, well-- [Think fast, Reno.] No, it isn't. [She snorts.]

Friend of yours, Reno? [Rufus clearly doesn't appreciate the interruption.]

[brands]

Good comeback, Red.

[Fang glances over to the guy in the white suit. Looks like a stiff to her.] Yeah, we're great friends. A couple of regular bosom buddies. I'm here to congratulate the happy couple.

[tasercopter]

You're not supposed to be here. I didn't invite you. I don't see why I gotta come up with comebacks in-- [The middle of my wedding, she was about to say, but she breaks off.]

Whatever this is. [What is even happening? Reno drops dream-Kitty's hands, as dream-Kitty looks on, her eyes widening.] We're not a happy couple.

[Rufus doesn't seem impressed by either Fang or Reno.] Can you please finish your business so we can get on with this?

Yes, sir--I mean-- When I'm ready.

[aureation]

[This dream feels different―there is no crushing feeling of the world ending, nothing dark behind it. It's lighter, something she knows from the moment she finds herself standing in it. Her eyes take a moment to adjust to the surroundings, taking in every detail―]

[Looking down at her hand, it seems she already has a bright pink cocktail in hand. From what she can tell it's a wedding, but it's not her dream (there are no girls in masks or bloodied hands pounding against at door), but when she catches the glimpse of red hair.]

[From the moment she realizes it, she begins laughing. Reno's getting married, she thinks. To Kitty, no less. It's certainly a sight to see and Gabrielle makes that apparent in the way she can barely contain herself from laughter.]

[tasercopter]

[Reno turns at the sound of badly stifled laughter, surprised--then scowling. Suddenly, everything seems wrong. Edge--Rufus--this whole--everything. It's especially wrong for Gabrielle to be here. She's not from Gaia at all, but from someplace called America.]

Hey, what are you doing here? What's so funny? [Reno quickly drops Kitty's hands.]

[aureation]

[It takes a moment for Gabrielle to stop herself, even going so far as to wipe the tears brimming from her eyes. She gives a quick sigh, placing her free hand over her stomach. ]

I'm sorry Reno, but... I didn't expect something like this coming from you.

[tasercopter]

It's not like I want to be here! [Dream-Kitty stares at her accusingly at this, while Rufus makes an impatient tsk noise. Ugh, what's happening? Why are there flowers? And the President would never agree to something like this, would he?] I don't even know what's going on. I'd rather be on a mission or something.

[At her words, there's a subtle shift in the air. It grows a few degrees colder, and the blue of the sky turns grayer. The ruins in the distance seem at once both darker and taller.]

[urbanwonderland]

[Oh, the color of the sky-- it's got to be-- no. It's not Midar, her city hung between heaven and earth. But it is Gaia. She'd swear to it.
Then again, Reeve would also swear she's never owned any garment quite this purple. Or this long. Or this-- traditional. But it's a very nice fit!

Just as she's wondering if this dream could be Rude's (Reno wouldn't have a dream about some sort of fancy dress festival, surely) and if so, where the tall woman is in the throng-- she spots Rufus Shinra. In his natural habitat-- standing on a dais.
Well, she doesn't so much "spot" him as discover she's standing a few steps back and to his right. He looks a bit older, but still cool as ice and twice as smooth in his immaculate white suit. It does seem to be some sort of ceremony after all, but there are so many details that it's taken her this long to realize--

Reno is getting married. To "Kitty". And what's with the skyline? She gives Reno a wave and a stage whisper.]

I would never have had you pegged for a traditionalist, Reno!

[tasercopter]

[It seems quite natural to her that Reeve is there--after all, it's Reeve, and Reeve is everywhere, these days. Who'd have thought, a few years ago, that one day she'd have her own fucking army? Reno doesn't think it odd that Reeve, a man in her world, is a woman here; in the midst of the dream, it makes sense.]

I dunno, it's not like it's normal to marry girls. Or kitty-girls. And I got the only one. So that's real untraditional, if you ask me. [Reno sounds almost proud.]

[Rufus narrows his eyes at Reeve and Reno. He is trying to give a speech here, people.]

[urbanwonderland]

[Reeve notices Rufus' displeasure, but ignores it for the moment. She's too amused.]

Well, yes, I can see your point-- but this wedding, it's quite traditional! It's also a wedding, which I didn't exactly think was your style. I always figured you for happily single! Not that I want to ruin your big day!

Your bride looks lovely.
[Rufus' displeasure is now palpable. She gives him an apologetic nod.]

[tasercopter]

[Reno rolls her eyes, as if Reeve has missed something obvious.] Since I'm marrying Kitty, Rude, and Rufus, it's not like I'm tying myself down to one person. [For now Rude is standing there too, dressed in a tuxedo, and suddenly it's Tseng who's officiating. The dark-haired Turk's expression is coolly neutral, as usual. Rufus gives him a meaningful look, appealing to him wordlessly, but Tseng's unchanging expression seems to say, I'm not getting you out of this.]

Anyway, you're one to talk, you're marrying Vincent Valentine.

[And then, standing beside Reeve, there is a most unusual person, dressed in a scarlet cape that matches his eyes, his face framed by long, dark hair. His left arm gleams in the sunlight, as it's made of metal.]

[typeright]

( Hohohoho.

Hohohohohoho!

There's totally a suppressed laugh, and Jules waves at Reno. )

You look very dashing, Reno.

1/2

[tasercopter]

Course I do. I always look fucking fantastic.

2/2

[tasercopter]

[Hey, wait a second... Something ain't right.]

What're you doing here?

[typeright]

It's a wedding. I'd hardly turn down an invitation.

( And she was definitely invited, right, Reno? Right?

Don't crush her dream, man. She loves weddings. Of course, she isn't usually sipping cosmopolitans in the middle of them, or talking to one of the brides during the ceremony. Whatever, it's a dream, she'll do what she wants. )

[persical]

[she didn't really expect the next wedding she attended to be her own. Steve and Monica's, maybe. But they were both safe at home.]

[and here she finds herself standing at the far end of the aisle, watching Reno hold her double's hands and gaze lovingly?? into her eyes, just around the time when the man presiding says the whole speak now or forever hold your peace bit--]

I'm only seventeen!

[what she doesn't realize is that this is a dream, and she looks like herself again.]

[tasercopter]

Huh? [The dream pauses at this outburst, interrupted by Reno's confusion. She turns toward the blond girl, without letting go of dream-Kitty's hands. She doesn't recognize Claire in her actual form.]

Good for you. Look, kid, I'm kinda busy here.

[persical]

[she puts her hands on her hips.]

I'm very flattered, but I'm not sure my parents would approve.

[tasercopter]

Flattered? Parents? [This isn't some kind of weird Remnant, is it? No, that doesn't seem right.] What the hell are you talking about? I don't know who you are, but if you're crazy, I'm gonna have to throw you out.