"Then get going," she said, nettled, and stepping out and heading down the street. "I don't need a chaperone." Or a guide. Finding people who could use things like this was easier than finding anything else in Edge.
Ino didn't really know what she was walking into with the bag over her shoulder full of things to give to people.
If she'd been being honest then Ino might have admitted that she was--off-balance? Not scared, or concerned or anything because that was stupid and Reno would surely be quick to point out that it was stupid, but because she simply didn't know what to expect.
Proud. Of course they'd be proud, right? They'd survived when—when Midgar had wound up looking like that. Luck, she thought, casting a glance over the way the ruins lay, but less luck and more determination once things had settled into... well.
At least, this time, she wasn't walking into the areas not knowing what she'd find.
Without really thinking about it, Ino's feet turned down a street that would take her to the worst off of the places that she'd found on her exploration. They could use the most help--and how arrogant was that, to decide who could use her help the most when everyone in Edge could use the things her bag carried?--and Ino had never conceded to cowardice.
She didn't want to go and see them again. Her feet kept moving.
Pride and stubbornness, Reno had said. How could they have anything but when they were still alive? With hollow cheeks, sunken eyes, and limbs that were far far too painfully thin. Too cold. Not enough blankets. Not enough food. Starving and freezing and still clinging to life because life was something they weren't ready to give up. How could she not admire that?
Ino lifted her shoulders, raised her chin, and set her jaw stubbornly. If they were going to make things difficult for her, then she'd deal.
Trust was something that wouldn't come easily--not to her, she suspected, for all that she didn't look like she'd ever worked for ShinRa. But she was well fed and in good health, both of which were things that weren't the most common around Edge. That would make her stick out anyway. She couldn't hide that.
Ino wished, for a second, that she'd gone with Reno. The kids already knew him. Trusted what he brought with him. They'd probably have been warier with a stranger there, but still...
But looking at the eyes of the adults in the streets, Ino thought, again, that she was better off here. She didn't want to deal with the kids. It was--weird--enough with the fact that she kept walking, and kept seeing more people, and... there were always more people. She wasn't even sure how to go about handing the stuff out. Just walk up to someone? Offer them something?
It was uncomfortable, feeling small like that. Ino didn't really care for it. Not at all.
'Worst off' in Edge was really something that... was complicated. All of Edge was bad off, but walking and exploring had given her a better idea of how bad it was in places, which areas were the most desperate. Reno probably wouldn't have wanted her venturing into these areas all on her own--she knew, now, that he was as much of a liar as she was when it came to telling the situation out straight.
The buildings got more decrepit. Shabbier. They hadn't been put up with the care that some of the ones in the better sections of Edge had been. No time, she guessed, just gotten up in a rush as winter had approached. And the people here looked more worn down. Desperate. Pinched.
no subject
Ino didn't really know what she was walking into with the bag over her shoulder full of things to give to people.
If she'd been being honest then Ino might have admitted that she was--off-balance? Not scared, or concerned or anything because that was stupid and Reno would surely be quick to point out that it was stupid, but because she simply didn't know what to expect.
Proud. Of course they'd be proud, right? They'd survived when—when Midgar had wound up looking like that. Luck, she thought, casting a glance over the way the ruins lay, but less luck and more determination once things had settled into... well.
At least, this time, she wasn't walking into the areas not knowing what she'd find.
Without really thinking about it, Ino's feet turned down a street that would take her to the worst off of the places that she'd found on her exploration. They could use the most help--and how arrogant was that, to decide who could use her help the most when everyone in Edge could use the things her bag carried?--and Ino had never conceded to cowardice.
She didn't want to go and see them again. Her feet kept moving.
Pride and stubbornness, Reno had said. How could they have anything but when they were still alive? With hollow cheeks, sunken eyes, and limbs that were far far too painfully thin. Too cold. Not enough blankets. Not enough food. Starving and freezing and still clinging to life because life was something they weren't ready to give up. How could she not admire that?
Ino lifted her shoulders, raised her chin, and set her jaw stubbornly. If they were going to make things difficult for her, then she'd deal.
Trust was something that wouldn't come easily--not to her, she suspected, for all that she didn't look like she'd ever worked for ShinRa. But she was well fed and in good health, both of which were things that weren't the most common around Edge. That would make her stick out anyway. She couldn't hide that.
Ino wished, for a second, that she'd gone with Reno. The kids already knew him. Trusted what he brought with him. They'd probably have been warier with a stranger there, but still...
But looking at the eyes of the adults in the streets, Ino thought, again, that she was better off here. She didn't want to deal with the kids. It was--weird--enough with the fact that she kept walking, and kept seeing more people, and... there were always more people. She wasn't even sure how to go about handing the stuff out. Just walk up to someone? Offer them something?
It was uncomfortable, feeling small like that. Ino didn't really care for it. Not at all.
'Worst off' in Edge was really something that... was complicated. All of Edge was bad off, but walking and exploring had given her a better idea of how bad it was in places, which areas were the most desperate. Reno probably wouldn't have wanted her venturing into these areas all on her own--she knew, now, that he was as much of a liar as she was when it came to telling the situation out straight.
The buildings got more decrepit. Shabbier. They hadn't been put up with the care that some of the ones in the better sections of Edge had been. No time, she guessed, just gotten up in a rush as winter had approached. And the people here looked more worn down. Desperate. Pinched.