[Open] But you won't see me fall apart

[shinra_dog]

WHO: Reno and YOU!
WHEN: Throughout the month of January, excepting the Enemy Within event
WHERE: Throughout Aqures Ixen; prompts below


The Hospital

"Wh... what do you mean, he's gone?"

"Well, he crystallized, kupo. He was taken to the hospital yesterday. But if you're Reno -- well, he had a letter for you -- "

Reno stood numb as the moogle explained and fetched the envelope for him. He remained numb throughout the day. At some point he must have left the house, though he didn't remember exactly how he got from there to anywhere. Grit was gone. First Kyo, and now... And Rufus had just arrived, too. Reno didn't know how he felt, except very confused and very, very lost. The time he spent at the hospital doubled as he watched over the two men, hoping someday he'd get to talk to them again. The boy he'd loved a world away, and the man who'd loved him without any hope of mutual affection. Reno felt as though he'd been robbed. So he did the only thing he could: remain in patient vigil, over them and over Yuki, waiting.

Palitutu's Lab

Reno continued to try his damnedest to crack Palitutu's passwords and finally get at what she'd hidden on her computer. He was making progress, he knew, slowly but surely. Still, it frustrated him that he hadn't broken it yet. He wanted to know what Palitutu was working on, what she knew, why she'd done what she had -- and he wanted to know now. Her knowledge about the crystals and the heroes could prove invaluable to everyone here; and, perhaps for selfish reasons, Reno hoped what he found could help reverse the crystallization process for heroes already trapped.

He sighed and rubbed his eyes, the burning sensation telling him he was long due for a break away from this screen.

The Pub...s...

If it wasn't one place, it was another. Old habits died hard, especially when circumstances acted as a catalyst. Whatever progress Reno had made against drinking as coping, it was slowly eroding -- as others guilty of the same probably noticed. Not that they'd likely stop each other. Things were easier to handle, or avoid, with a cigarette in one hand and a drink in the other.

B-04

Eventually, Reno would make his way "home." He had to. With Rufus in the city, he couldn't very well continue to stay with Yuffie and Vincent, leaving Rufus potentially vulnerable. He especially couldn't leave Rufus alone with Tifa. It just seemed to be asking for trouble. People would be able to find him more frequently at his home assignment, either in his room or around the premises. Tifa would be nearly impossible to avoid; Alice probably had forgotten everything about the strange redhead now slipping about the place. The women were hardly the most awkward of circumstances, though, as Reno attempted to make sharing a bedroom with Rufus as comfortable as humanly possible for them both.

Comments

hospital

[chondriosome]

Aya had her reasons for wanting to check out the hospital, and she had been meaning to get around to it since she heard about what could be found here. Though she didn't know what she was expecting when she actually got there, save for a whole lot of unfamiliar, unmoving faces. It was rather unsettling, actually.

During her perusal, she stops when she notices another actual moving person among the throng of those that weren't moving at all. Taking a few steps backwards, Aya glances between the crystallized form of a person and the redheaded man standing over them.

"Did you know them?" She then pauses, realizing that she might've been intruding on someone's sense of privacy. "I'm sorry. I hope I'm not interrupting anything..."

[shinra_dog]

"Hm?" Reno looked up with some surprise. He'd heard Aya's footsteps -- had grown accustomed to hearing plenty come and go throughout the day. Most didn't stop.

"Um..." He glanced back down at Grit's unmoving, rather translucent, body. "He was... a good friend." Perhaps one of the best friends Reno had had in Aqures Ixen, despite barely knowing the man. But that was what was special about Grit. He'd treated Reno just like the man he'd known in "Ariel," and things just fell into place as if they'd known each other for ages.

"You visiting someone too?" he asked. "Or need help finding someone?"

Reno generally knew where a good number of the crystallized heroes were laid now. And, not that he wished pain on her, but he was sort of hoping she wasn't just a tourist.

[chondriosome]

"Oh." She glances at the crystallized form again, frowning. "I'm sorry to hear about that."

Losing friends is hard, even though Aya is used to drifting apart from people. In her line of work, it's hard to get too attached to anyone, so a part of her envies him for having someone like that here.

She shakes her head. "Not really, no. I thought I'd just scope the place out. See if there's anyone here that I might know." She pauses. "There isn't. At least, I don't think there is."

Which is a good thing, as far as she is concerned. And not just because she's new.

now in the right place

[charming_jerk]

One of the pubs Reno happens to pick is one Johnny is playing in that night, off in a corner where the acoustics are good. He'd been learning to play a lot more local tunes, which seemed to get him more work and less attempted punches on the streets. It was hardly his favorite stuff to play, but a guy's got to eat.

When he's ready to take a break, he spots Reno sitting alone and comes over to join him, ordering a drink for himself and one more of whatever Reno's having. He can tell something's up with Reno, but he's not sure what.

"Hey. How's it goin'?"

[shinra_dog]

Reno looked up with slightly bleary eyes and tried to smile. "Hey." Even just sitting with Johnny, his shoulders began to relax a little. "I was hopin' I'd find you here."

And he was. Though he changed the taverns he visited frequently, both for a fresh environment and to keep people from getting too used to him, he was also keeping an eye out for Johnny at each one. He supposed he could have gone to the man's home, but... well, he wasn't sure if that was too intimate. And if Johnny wasn't home, but that woman Jack was? How awkward that would have been.

"I really wanted t' talk. Are you doing anything after, um -- " He gestured vaguely over to the corner and Johnny's guitar. "This? Here? Tonight?"

[charming_jerk]

Johnny looks a little concerned, with Reno looking sort of rough. But he shakes his head. If if he did have plans, they'd be canceled now.

"Nah, just have to finish up my set 'n then I'm done around eleven. That okay? We need to go somewhere else?"

Lab FTW

[damn_juicebox]

Rukia had been looking forward to the possibility of a custom job for a long time now. She'd first received notification that they were working on such a job near the beginning of the month, and would she please report to the lab at her earliest convenience.

That wound up being after her return from Mysidia, since she'd spent the first half of the month there. Now, belatedly (and still reeling a little from the meeting with the sage), she stepped into the lab grasping the confirmation letter in her hand. There was no telling just what this job would allow her to do, or if it would even change her body back into spiritual matter.

She glanced around, unsure which researcher she was supposed to meet with, then stopped when she spotted a familiar head of scarlet hair. "Reno. Greetings." Ah, but he looked awfully absorbed in his work. Should she leave him to it?

:D

[shinra_dog]

Reno looked up sharply at the familiar voice. "Hm? Oh -- Rukia." He stretched and rose, realizing how long he'd been hunched over that desk by how stiff he suddenly felt.

"What's up?" He noticed the paper in her hand. "What's that?"

He needed a break, anyway. And he liked Rukia. Spending some time chatting with her would be refreshing.

[damn_juicebox]

"A letter I received concerning a custom job specifically for me," she said, handing it to Reno so he could look at it for himself. "Apparently they think they've found a way for me to function fully as a shinigami."

Rukia folded her arms, obviously looking satisfied with herself as well as the situation.

"There is much I could do with access to my previous abilities. Although it does raise the question as to whether or not I would dwell here as a soul or continue as a mortal..." she remarked, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.

Well, she would find out soon enough. "What about you? I wasn't aware you worked here as a researcher. Learn anything interesting?"

Pub

[thegreatninja]

Yuffie was annoyed by the time she had finally found Reno. He had been coming over less and less and ironically she missed him and was now annoyed. When she finally spots him her palms are on her hips and her lips are formed into a scowl.

"This is where you've been?" It looked as if she might start arguing with him but instead she just sat down at the bar and waved to the bartender. "Get me something strong."

She was happy when the bartender didn't ask her what her age was. "Reno? Why the hell are you here?" She knew why she wanted to drink.

Re: Pub

[shinra_dog]

"I thought it was obvious?" Reno lifted his glass. "I'm drinking. It's what people tend t' do in bars."

The way it looked now, he'd been drinking for quite a while and was now moving on to the tricky goal of imbibing just enough to lose touch with the feelings in his chest while still being able to make it home by himself. It was a very, very thin line between that and utterly sloshed. And he intended to discover its intricacies -- scientifically, of course.

Pub

[thegreatninja]

Yuffie raised an eyebrow as the soft chime of glass against wood met her ear. She turns and looks down at the drink that the bar tender placed in front of her. She takes it in her hand and shots it back quickly. She then makes a face and coughs slightly, she isn't used to whiskey.

"Another." Her voice was weak but the bartender agreed.

The ninja princess turned towards Reno. "Just wait for me to catch up at least." Fuck asking questions since Reno didn't seem keen to answer she's just going to get really drunk too. She's old enough to drink anyway.

B-04

[playing_hearts]

Alice hadn't forgotten about him, but she had begun to wonder if he'd moved out. How curious....

She steps out into the hallway when he's passing by the kitchen. She only looks him over for a second before she frowns. He looks exhausted. Not tired so much as run down. And she's bad at ignoring that sort of thing.

"Tea or coffee?"

Re: B-04

[shinra_dog]

Reno startled somewhat, glancing up sharply. His features relaxed as he noticed who it was.

"Coffee," he sighed with a tired smile, thankful for the offer. He supposed it was beyond time he got to properly know Alice, besides just the girl's name.

"Thanks."

Re: B-04

[playing_hearts]

"Sure. You go and have a seat, I'll get it ready."

She returns the smile and heads back into the kitchen. Living with Julius back in the Country of Hearts had given her a lot of practice brewing coffee. And having slowly worked her way up to something that satisfied even the harshest critic, Alice is pretty confident in her brewing skills. After a moment, she calls back to him.

"Are you hungry? I could make you something else too."

Mother hen mode is go.

B-04

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud honestly didn't stop by the house as often as he felt he should. He tended to worry that he was bothering Tifa or the other residents when he did stop by unannounced. Some days he did manage to shove his teen anxiety aside and make the effort to stop by, today with a gift for Tifa in particular but for the house in general.

He knocked on the door, not sure who was home but as long as someone was he'd at least be able to leave the item he picked up at the market.

Re: B-04

[shinra_dog]

Reno took a quick peek, then opened the door. "Cloud? Everything okay?" He was a little surprised, but he realized in hindsight he probably shouldn't be. Tifa lived here, after all. She and Cloud probably visited frequently enough, and he would have naturally been ignorant since he hadn't stayed here in so long.

Hospital // Before Event

[shinrasfinest]

There are reasons why Sephiroth doesn't visit the Hospital as much as perhaps he should; poor excuse that they might be considering his various duties between Aqures and Esdham had him back in the City more often than he used to be when on duty.

After all, what point could there be in standing between the crystalline forms of Genesis and Angeal, but to sink lower into the self-pity he'd been more than a little prone to in recent months. Those two, that had arrived first when he'd arrived, whom there might well have been a chance for redemption for the great personal betrayal they had dealt him; if only he hadn't been so stubborn as to refuse them.

At the same time, even as they stood there unmoving they offered something of a pointed reminder with regards to the man he had been. It had recently been suggested to him that he should attempt, perhaps, to revisit those values he'd once held dearer and it's that logic that brought Sephiroth to the large room where all the crystal-Heroes were kept, for a visit long overdue.

What he hadn't expected, was to catch Reno in the same room at that time. Sephiroth paused, just a couple of paces into the doorway as his eyes crept over the red-haired turk. Almost silently asking what he were doing there too.

[shinra_dog]

Reno stood on instinct, feeling uneasy at Sephiroth's gaze. He'd never seen the other man here before -- either because Sephiroth was in Esdham, or... well, Reno assumed he just didn't come, even when he was in the city.

But he did come. And he was here now.

"... Sephiroth..." Reno stared at him for what seemed like an eternity, though it was probably only a few seconds. Finally, he frowned. It wasn't hostile. Just sad.

"I'm sorry about Angeal," he said finally, looking over at the crystallized figures from Gaia. "I was hoping he'd stay longer this time..."

He was hoping Angeal had managed to defeat whatever this process was and was truly fixed, for good. Obviously he was wrong. Only two months out, and then here Angeal was again -- solid as a statue.

B-04

[ruinedempire]

When Reno returned to their shared bedroom, Rufus looked up from the paper he was working on and turned to face Reno, his eyebrow raising a little at the Turk's state. He looked... upset, tired, more so than usual at least. There was definitely a strain in their relationship since the little reveal and Rufus honestly wasn't very pleased about it.

But he just wanted to continue on ignoring it. Wasn't it easier that way?

"Reno." Rufus acknowledged as he walked inside. "Any noteworthy changes out there?" He didn't really expect anything, but he wanted to get business out first.

[shinra_dog]

"Calamity's moving again, right on schedule," Reno replied flatly. He took off his assassin's coat and threw it over his own desk chair before flopping into his bed. The sound of his voice brought K-chan out of hiding and scrambling up onto the mattress as well. The kitten set right to work rubbing its face against Reno's head and biting his hair with a purr that sounded only too thankful for the "protection" against the strange new blonde fellow who mysteriously wouldn't leave.

Reno stared at the ceiling. Then he stared at Rufus' back with his periphery. Finally, he gave in to the internal registry that maybe Yuffie, of all people, had made some good points and he should act on them -- not that he'd ever tell her so directly.

"Hey." He propped himself up and looked at Rufus intently.

Hospital

[needsteaplz]

"Reno?" Saori thought she saw him pass by. It was not hard to miss a guy with red hair like that.

It just so happened she planned to visit that specific wing in the hospital that day. The number of Heroes she knew in that wing grew. It had started with Laguna, the goofy guy she first met and lover, and now her closest housemate Ventus was there too.

"If you're here...I'm sorry." In all honesty, it's not rocket science to figure out why someone was in this wing.

Re: Hospital

[shinra_dog]

Reno looked up. Saori. He offered her a sympathetic smile.

"Yeah," he answered. "You too. Seems like most people gotta know someone here by now... if only 'cause there's so many of 'em."

It was a sad situation, really. Sad that all of these heroes, brought here by no choice of their own, were then trapped in crystal here indefinitely -- for what? For dying? Maybe. Sometimes, for no reason at all. And the number kept growing, without any guarantee that any of them would return to life.

"You okay?" he asked.

Hospital (Before the Event) So late! Sorry!

[ninjainviolet]

Sheena had become a regular fixture in the hospital as she still visited every day. She didn't know what it would accomplish, but if Zelos ever woke up, it might be a good idea if there was a familiar face to greet him.

This time, there was a familiar face greeting her when she entered, and one quick glance at Reno told her why he was there without him having to say a word. And perhaps of their unique relationship, she had an idea of just how much pain he might be in over losing someone else because of this place.

Approaching him, she wrapped her arms about him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Reno, I'm sorry."

Re: Hospital (Before the Event) So late! Sorry!

[shinra_dog]

Reno looked up with some surprise, and suddenly there were arms and hugs and a ninja around his middle. Instinctively he hugged her too and rubbed her back.

"Hey, hey," he murmured soothingly. He hadn't seen her around before, but that didn't mean much, he realized. They could easily have come at different times. And there were enough heroes here that he really couldn't be surprised anymore who came to visit. Everyone probably knew someone, unless they were new -- and even that wasn't a guarantee. After all, he knew people who had been crystallized before he'd even arrived.

"Thanks." He smiled softly. "You visitin' someone, too?"