Tseng (your_right_hand) wrote in chaosunraveled, @ 2010-01-13 19:27:00 |
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Entry tags: | rating: pg-13, reno, setting: emptiness, tseng |
Loyalty is a form of reliance
Who: Reno, Tseng
When: Backdated to Slip Day
Where: A bar
Rating: PG13
Warnings: Language?
Summary: Tseng is doing some prodding into Reno's recent activities.
Tseng: *Still mildly disorientated, but had enough sense by now to take off the WRO jacket. The bar is empty. Curious.* ...You have been missing for almost three years. Though I gather time runs differently here?
Reno: *almost absent-mindedly wanders to the bar and starts pouring himself a drink* I've been here six, seven months. Something like that. Stopped counting days a while ago. Didn't seem worth it after Rufus' time scale didn't match mine, and even less worth it now that yours is totally different from either of those. *A brief pause as he sets the bottle back in its place* You want something?
Tseng: *Oh, what the hell* Whiskey. *Follows Reno to the counter, and sits down on a stool. His tone is conversational.* There is tension between you two.
Reno: *He pours another glass and slides it to Tseng before grabbing his own and finding a stool for himself* Understatement of the fucking year.
Tseng: *Takes a deeper swig than what is necessary or good for him, and feels the burn as an indication he is still very much alive.* Then, elaborate.
Reno: *Swallows a mouthful of his own* Knew you were gonna say that. Hah, probably easier to get it out of me than to get it out of him, huh? *He sets the cup back down on the counter* Well let's see. Life sucks around here. Sucked worse before he showed up, but that's a different point. A while ago, I met a girl. I liked her--so sue me. We got serious. *A glance at Tseng, anticipating a thought* Yeah, I know, that's as weird for me to say as it is for you to hear. *He picks up the glass again* Anyway, Rufus found out. Told me to leave her. I said no. He thought about killing me for it, and then kissed me instead. I wasn't really planning on telling you that, but I don't seem to be able to keep my mouth shut today, so there's the story. *He raises the glass but pauses before it gets to his lips* Did I forget to say she's on the other side? ... yeah, that too. *Downs a significant portion of the glass*
Tseng: *sits still, and silent, for a while, watching Reno down his glass like a drowning man. Mind is still reeling, straight from one turbulent time into another, to find two ghosts and their score of personal complications. Exhales sharply through his nose - a laugh of sorts - and returns to his own poison* You certainly picked a good time to get -serious-, Reno.
Reno: *can't help but chuckle a bit at that, darkly* Was there a better one? I think I missed it.
Tseng: *drinks some more, distracted. There are important things at stake here - but the process of extracting information from someone who knows the process needs to be more delicate* What sort of woman is she?
Reno: Heh. You know I'm really bad at describing people, right? *He gives Tseng a mildly incredulous look, then shrugs* Alright. Um. Pretty, funny, smart... dangerous if she wanted to be. I keep thinking she would be a good Turk, you know, if that actually meant anything here. And if she and Rufus didn't kind of want to rip each other's throats out. *smirks* Which probably isn't selling you on the idea that she isn't using me somehow, but give me some credit, huh?
Tseng: *Mildly amused; fascinating to see how attractions work. Reno seems to be describing some female version of himself, while Tseng has always been more interested in the...hm. Opposites.* I'm not going to question your judgement, but allow me to sum up the situation. You are romantically involved with someone of the enemy party, and Rufus has gone to *a smile, more bitter than he intended* ...desperate measures to keep you. Judging by your awkwardness around each other, you haven't yet found a way to salvage the situation.
Reno: *Notices the amusement, but doesn't comment on it, his mouth occupied by another sip of his drink* That about covers it. *A quiet sigh* I have no idea what the fuck to do. It's not like I'm leaving him, you know? Nothing's changed, not really, but I don't think he gets that. *Another sip, and the glass is empty. He gets up to grab the bottle again* And if he's actually interested in me like that, it's the first I've heard about it.
Tseng: Tell me something. *tops up his own drink, but leaves it standing* Take Rufus out of the pictue for now - does this woman mean more to you than this war?
Reno: *He laughs* -Easy- question. This "war" doesn't mean a damn thing to me.
Tseng: *Leans back a fraction and raises an eyebrow* unfortunately, you are not the only one fighting the war. It would have occured to you, that even if -she- felt genuinely for you, it is possible for someone else to manipulate your feelings to their advantage. *pauses* I hope you haven't made this love affair of yours public.
Reno: *He looks up from refilling his glass to give Tseng an incredulous look* I'm not an idiot. And she's not, either. *He returns to his seat, taking the bottle with him this time and setting it where he and Tseng would both be able to reach it easily should the need arise* Some people know I was seeing her at some point, but that was before it was anywhere near serious and by now they all assume it's over with. The only other person who knows, or at least suspects, other than us and Rufus is Ryuzaki... who I really wish didn't know anything, but he seems to be keeping his mouth shut, at least.
Tseng: *Tseng's eyes narrow slightly, frown line on a usually impassive face barely visible, but -there-* I admit to not yet knowing anything substantial about this world, or this conflict, but if this is indeed a war and lives -are- at stake, then it must be taken seriously. Your own views on the war hardly matters - a side has been chosen for you; you are the member of a team. A team, as you know, is only as strong as its weakest member. If you don't want to jeopardise the safety of your entire team, Reno, then you must fight as if you believe in whatever clash of ideals began this war. *Another pause; Tseng's eyes never leave Reno* I believe Veld gave us this speech nearly a decade ago.
Reno: *stares back, his expression equal parts recognition, understanding, and defiance* Yeah. He did. *There's a brief pause where he just looks at Tseng, and when he speaks again, his tone holds a distinct hint of annoyance* But you know what the stupid thing is? This -isn't- a war, and lives -aren't- at stake. Ever heard of a war where the sides have been told -not- to kill each other? Just sit around and wait for "trials" that happen once every who knows how long and still don't involve killing each other? Sure there are people that go along with the idea. There's one moron on the other side who'd probably be pretty happy to shoot any of us over here. It's not like I don't watch my back. But honest, however long I've been here, and I've had more people on my own side try to mess with me than anyone who's supposed to being trying to mess with me. This is a -war-? ...yeah, right.
TBC...