melodiesoflife | Everyone gets a shot

Entry tags:

Everyone gets a shot

Who: Reno and You
Where: Around Aqures Ixen, etc.
When: March 1 to...
Summary: Reno reacts to the the loss of the Other Heroes, and Cid's Mognet Letter -- not to mention dealing with everyone else's reactions toward him.
Warnings: Language, surely. No others yet.

The Streets of Aqures Ixen

It had been awful. The death, the sharp pains all through his body, just like in the vision. Except it wasn't three months from now, it was yesterday. Heroes who had done their damnedest to help and do their part, had fought for six months and who had finally made it here -- gone. No warning, no nothing, just gone.

Badou was gone. They'd just found each other again, after all that time, a real face from Atia. And frankly, Reno was sick of the losing game.

He stopped walking, fists clenched. With a frustrated yell, he kicked the nearest wall.

"Cheating"

Reno had had quite a few choice words to write back to Cid after that accusation of rigging the Mognet election. Testimony? Hair? Cid was either a lying sack of shit, or someone had actually planted some very specific evidence to get Reno caught. And on his life as a Turk, Reno had been especially careful. The worst was Cid's threat to open his file on Palitutu's computer and use it against him. What kind of trial system let that sort of history in? Unrelated incidents, only meant to bias people against him, it was hardly just! Reno wasn't one to stomp his feet and whine "it's not fair," but in all honesty, this was ridiculous.

Reno could only think of one person -- or rather, one moogle -- who had had any inkling of his plans. Life was going to get a lot harder for that little four-eyed pipsqueak Reno was so lucky to call his own. In the meantime, it would seem that everyone and their mother was out to make Reno's life harder.

The Pub [Closed to Johnny]

It wasn't hard to understand the volatile feelings in Johnny's note. Reno just hoped the bigwigs got their own copies. Whether or not they could actually do something about it... well... it seemed like something more important to choke on than Mognet, or airships, or hunting T-Rex.

He didn't bother writing back. Johnny wouldn't answer that. He knew where to find the other man, and that was better. Sliding in across from the slumped over half-demon, he ordered another round. By the looks of the table, he had a lot of catching up to do.

Wildcard

[Have another idea? Go for it!]

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[It's not too difficult to go unnoticed, considering how close the houses are and that Ophelia's gotten rather skilled at being sneaky lately. Doesn't take long for a letter to find its way back to Reno, same instructions as before. She is thankful for the cookies and milk, and patient.]

So no likely suspects at this time--even among the new Heroes? Have you encountered Barret yet? Is your suspicion of your moogle founded, or paranoia?

--V

[At this rate, Vincent might end up just sneaking over to do some investigating himself.]

Oh yes -- definitely met Barret. Happy to still be breathing. Doubt he'd do this though, he'd just shoot me.

[If it was Vincent, Reno would be honest.]

Sohma was the only one I told about wanting to get in my own "votes" -- roped him in to help me. I couldn't plant all those in broad daylight, it would be too obvious! So if there's actual evidence against me, I wouldn't be surprised if the fluffy asshole double-crossed me.

I'll do some digging and let you know.

[Ophelia is still a lot less obtrusive than Vincent would be, especially if she removes her scarf and flies around with some other letters on 'delivery' first. She is a pleased and proud little moogle for how skilled she is, being trusted like this.]

.....is there a reason your moogle would double-cross you? For that matter, why were you trusting your moogle that heavily in the first place?

[Shush, nevermind Vincent trusts Ophelia with a lot of things himself. She's got a good track record!]

Edited 2016-03-15 02:28 (UTC)

[A few hours later, there's a knocking at Vincent's front door. Reno was cracking his knuckles, agitated with a dark, quiet anger lurking beneath the surface.]

[He has not had a good day.]

[Ophelia answers it, and lets out a blink and startled kupo at the obviously unhappy Reno. Moving back to let him in, she's gesturing towards the kitchen.

The kitchen table is occupied by a dismantled Death Penalty, and the revolver he uses in Crystallis. Oil and cleaning rags are present, and Vincent at least looks somewhat unsurprised at the angry red-head.]

Sorry.

[He absently patted Ophelia's furry head as he passed, certainly not angry with her. But the dark cloud over him remained as he went to the kitchen, drawn by the sounds of Vincent cleaning his gun. He slid into the chair opposite the other man.]

I feel like such a fuckin' idiot.

[Ophelia shook her fur out a bit after the pat, and swallowed some ire at the gesture because she could see Reno was upset. But she knew it was probably best to make herself scarce, as he headed off to join her own Hero.

Vincent was in process of using a bore and cloth to clean the barrels, and said nothing for the moment. Only when he was satisfied, examining his work, did he look at Reno.]

Your moogle then?

Yup.

[Reno glowered at the gun and the cleaning kit, still boiling inside. Why had Sohma done that? He thought they were on the same page. So much for that.]

[He'd say he was pissed, but he figured it was obvious.]

[Vincent studied him a bit with the reply, noticing the glower. Then returned to his cleaning and let the silence continue. There would be no lecture from him, nor judgement--on the contrary, if anything his brain was moving towards damage control and what to do from this point forward. A turk adapted or died, especially when things didn't go as planned or intel was wrong.

Might let that silence stretch on well until he was reassembling the firearms after a thorough cleaning, if Reno doesn't interrupt it.]

[Silence didn't last long with Reno. It was impossible. It was only a matter of time before Reno would have to say something, or the world would end. Those were the only possibilities.]

[The world didn't end.]

I mean, shit! He knew I hated Mograma an' that shady deal, he knew I wanted a decent candidate for their shitty little issues or whatever -- I mean, so I didn't actually support the candidate he wanted -- but still -- !

[He sputtered, still incredulous.]

He agreed to this fuckin' plan! If he wanted t' play by the fuckin' rules so bad, he coulda' said no! Not set me up...!

[Vincent was good at listening, and he had expected the outburst, from how Reno was behaving. Being sure the other was getting it out, and pondering what was and was not said.]

Moogles are as varied as humans, or others in their personalities. Nor do all of them get along with their assigned charge. Perhaps there is conflict with your moogle you didn't sense or suspect?

[That he and Ophelia worked well, was a pleasant surprise to the darker-gunslinger.]

[Reno growled at the table, but maybe Vincent had a point. He'd never suspected a thing against the bookish Sohma. He'd never thought Sohma was capable of anything sneaky or underhanded. And that's what it was -- even if Sohma thought it was for justice and truth.]

... I dunno, man. Maybe.

... We're probably stuck with the moogles we get assigned, huh?

I haven't looked into it. I suspect if there is unsolvable incompatibility between Hero and Companion there might be recourse.

[If whoever organized things was smart, there would be. Then again, anything involving Heroes of Light seemed haphazardly organized by the natives, at best.]

Provided she agrees, if you like, you may ask Ophelia for help. She had been very helpful to me a number of times, and seems to enjoy it more than her job before being a companion.

[Reno's eyebrows rose. Ophelia had seemed especially fit to work with Vincent. They worked together so flawlessly, he'd just assumed it had always been that smooth. Maybe it had, maybe it hadn't been that way. But maybe getting a moogle's perspective would help.]

Yeah?

[He still wasn't entirely sure about working with Sohma, but at least he could say he tried.]

Might as well, I guess.

[It wasn't flawless, but when push came to shove they had reached understanding. It was a lucky case, as Ophelia had learned to not push on certain things, and what it was okay to. She was clever and shrewd in some ways, which Vincent could respect and work with. Part of him also suspected his companion found his life and story, such as she'd found out, to be like something in her story. He was careful to be sure she did not gain an overly romantic notion of it--she could not be blinded to the reality in favor of a fantasy.

But she was young, and so long as she showed sense and smarts, Vincent would only do so much. Especially as he was grateful they did get along.]

You might also simply talk more to Sohma. Some make the mistake of thinking the moogles are only aids, little more than servants. They have their own lives, their own minds and personalities.

[Even if moogles were little more than a story back on Gaia, it had not been hard for Vincent to grasp that they were a people and society here on Crystallis. They deserved respect and a place as much as humans or tarutaru or anyone else.]

[Reno frowned and scratched his head.]

Yeah, that's the problem. We're way different in mind and personality. He's such a book nerd, it's like he's from another planet.

[That wasn't Reno, at all. Reno was street, Reno was action, Reno did not frequently have the patience and attention span to wax philosophical about literature or some shit like that. And he hated when people seemed to get haughty and lord their education over him like he was an idiot. Like they were better than him.]

[Even if Sohma didn't do it on purpose, Reno had a low threshold. And this latest episode with the ballots was just more evidence that Sohma thought he knew best and would teach Reno a "lesson." Reno didn't appreciate lessons he didn't ask for.]

[He sighed, frustrated again.]

I dunno how to talk to that, yo.

[You DO know Vincent has a day-job at the Library, right Reno? Didn't forget that he is technically a book-nerd himself, as is his moogle. Be glad it's not something they'd take offense over.

As for how to 'deal' with that... Hmm. Vincent himself didn't have much advice beyond what he had ventured already.]

Try talking to other moogles like him? Spencer is a 'book nerd' as you'd put it. Or you could talk to Ophelia if you want, and she's agreeable.

[Ophelia wasn't falling for any of Reno's charms, but she didn't dislike the red-haired turk. He could be amusing.]

[But Vincent still manages to be a gun-toting badass.]

I'll ask Ophelia. See what she thinks about stuff. I think it might be better, getting a moogle's opinion.

So long as you don't interfere with her duties, and she's agreeable, feel free.

[Because Vincent IS protective of his Companion.]

Do you feel better?

[Reno took a deep breath and let it slowly.]

Actually? ... Yeah.

[He nodded.]

Just kinda bein' pissed and getting it off my chest, y'know. Thanks.

[The 'thanks' did bring an eyebrow-raise. It was unexpected, although on reflection it did make sense. Reno had all but barged in and started venting, without any pleasantries. Considering the situation though, it was understandable and Vincent would've rather he vented to him than a total stranger.]

I also find the shooting range at the Hero's school or the Observatory to be good for stress relief.

[At least that's one of the outlets Vincent used. Moving to get up from his post at the table, and bringing the rifle case and gun cleaning kits with him. Reno was welcome to stay or go; no difference to Vincent.]

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Everyone gets a shot

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we can wrap soon & handwave stuff

Definitely

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