Reno's (& Elena's) place, Edge, Gaia, Saturday Early Evening

[intraspective]

It was kinda funny how she was getting used to being cold.

Not that she'd complain to Reno about it—what the hell was he going to do? Give her another blanket? As if she was going to let him do that when he was the one that was painfully thin and had to feel it more—or anything but, still. She was pretty sure she hadn't been properly warm since getting to Edge and that? That was totally not cool.

Ino was glad, at least, that it wasn't too windy right now. Drafts were demon-things. She tucked the blanket she was using around her feet more securely and went back to her reading, on the couch, while Reno played with Mako. (Or, well, Mako waged war or something and Reno didn't seem to mind. Ino wasn't paying that much attention to them, honestly; her book was pretty good.)

As far as she was concerned they could totally do this for a little while longer before going to look for fun. Mako wasn't tired yet. Ino was cold and didn't feel like moving.

Which, of course, was when someone knocked on the door.

Ino turned the page in her book. "You get it, yo," she told Reno impishly. "Rookie is lazy."

[For the one she's talkin' to! NFB due to distance.]

Comments

[raspberryturk]

See Reno. See Reno grin.

See Reno grin while finally locating the letter, and then reading it aloud.

... Mostly because Reno was kind of shitty at reading, and he had to read it aloud for any of it to sink in. So sue him.

Either way, at the end of it? He was totally giving her his 'awwwwww' face.

"See? I feel cared about or some shit," he shared. "Now, let's see what's in here, yo."

And right back in he went, pausing for a moment to scoop Mako from the floor to deposit into the box, tapeball and all. Funtimes, with a weasel in a box.

[intraspective]

And by the end of it, Ino was totally pink and hiding in her book. Oh man, her letters were way too rambly to be read aloud.

"Don't let Mako at the booze," she said absently, still pink and hiding.

Yes, she'd gotten him booze. Shut up. A bottle of rum and one of vodka.

Most of the box was taken up with chemical heating pads, though. She had promised to be sending lots of those after all. Besides those, and the booze, she'd added several bottles of gummy vitamins (if he was feeding them to kids, then she had to buy them, right?) and two cases of multi-flavoured ration bars from her world.

What? They were definitely more nutritious than most things around here. The fruit ones tasted pretty good, even!

And, okay, there was a jangly ball with bells in it for Mako. Shut up.

She was just going to go and--be pink some more. Ino hated everything. She wasn't supposed to be around when he got his package.

[raspberryturk]

Guess who found the jangly bell? Mako found the jangly bell! BEST TOY EVER!

The booze was safe, since Ino had been smart enough to send a distraction for the ferret, yes.

"So, now that we got this stuff," Reno mused, pulling out the booze and setting it up high on a shelf that Mako couldn't get at, "comes the fun part, zoto."

[intraspective]

Ino couldn't help the snickers when Mako found his toy. It was pretty--obvious--when he did. Bells were like that.

"What's the fun part?" Ino asked, caught off guard. Her plans had been pretty much 'book, reading, blanket'.

[raspberryturk]

Reno's head disappeared into the box for a moment, and when that shock of red hair surfaced again, it was accompanied by the rest of Reno, with an armload of chemical heating pads and a container of gummy vitamins.

"Duh, Rookie. These ain't doin' nobody any good sittin' in a box, yoto."

[intraspective]

"We're going out?"

That... hadn't been the plan. Yet. But Ino supposed that, if they were going out then, really, this was a pretty good reason to go.

"To the kids and stuff, then?" Ino wasn't sure where he'd been going. There were a lot of people that could use this stuff.

[raspberryturk]

"Mostly the kids," Reno agreed, poking around the room for a bag to stick this stuff into. "It's shitty out there for everyone, but you notice it most with the kids, yo."

A pause.

"Anyhow, most of the adults are too damn proud to accept help from a Turk, yo. The kids'll give you less shit for puttin' food an' heat in their hands."

[intraspective]

She scooped a bag off the floor as she got up to go fish things out of the box.

Ino glanced at him. "Are people going to give you trouble for this?" A thought occurred to her. "Me too? 'Cause I'm with you?"

[raspberryturk]

Reno shrugged.

"I ain't gonna bother changin' outta the suit, yo. The kids know me to see me in it, an' the adults know me by my eyes, zoto. If you ain't got a problem with splittin' off, I guess we could take the neighborhood in opposite directions, yo. Adults get cold too, after all."

[intraspective]

That? That was going to get a frown.

"You think I got an issue being 'round you if there's going to be trouble?"

[raspberryturk]

Reno gave his head a shake at that.

"That ain't it, Rookie. I don't want trouble." He shrugged. "I just wanna get out there, warm up some hungry, cold kids, an' it'd be nice if maybe some people our age could keep warm, too."

[intraspective]

"Fine," she said shortly. "I'll hand things out to adults then."

Was it stupid to feel like he was getting rid of her? It probably was. Ino was allowed to be stupid sometimes.

[raspberryturk]

The weird thing was, getting rid of Ino really wasn't Reno's intention at all. He furrowed his eyebrows a little at her short response, and then shook his head a bit, heading for the door.

Mako was happy in the box. He could stay there for a while.

"C'mon, Rookie. I think you just gotta see what it is we're handin' 'em to. You can follow me to help with the kids, if you want."

It was one thing to look. It was another thing entirely to actually stop and speak to these people. Reno had lived like that, once. He understood perfectly the pride that kept those people from accepting handouts from ShinRa.

[intraspective]

She stuffed a few more things into her bag and followed him.

Ino had... no conception, no way of understanding any of this, really. She was spoilt, in a way--all her family was alive, she'd always had a roof over her head, heat when it was cold, food on her table--and while she had pride, it wasn't the pride of someone who'd had to survive odds that she could rattle off like a textbook but didn't really get.

Numbers and charts were a lot different than people. Ino had gotten some of that on Wednesday.

Now... was looking like she was going to get more of it. If she'd been a coward, she would have found some sort of an excuse to not go. Ino had never been a coward though.

And, of course, once he'd given her the option of going to see the kids... Ino was suddenly absolutely sure that she really really didn't want to see them. Bad enough exploring through the worst off areas of town on her own. Actually talking to them? Kids? Who were still--kids.

"No no," she said quickly. "I think I'd rather see the adults after all, now that you mention it. Brilliant idea, really, hitting all ages. Genius, even."

Ino, you're babbling.

[raspberryturk]

Reno gave her a bit of a sideways look, and then he gave his shoulders a shrug.

"They're gonna be stubborn. They're gonna tell you to keep yer fuckin' handouts, an' they don't need 'em. They're proud. But they're lyin'. They need it every bit as much as the kids I'm gonna be handin' this shit to do, zoto. If it comes down to it, just leave the goods on the sidewalk an' walk away."

He shrugged again, holding the door open for her.

"It'll be gone the second you look the other way, yo."

[intraspective]

"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.

[intraspective]

But still alive.

Ino ignored the way that made her heart twist--what was wrong with her?--and went to go and talk to the first person she saw.

The next few hours--Reno had probably not expected her to take as long as she had--proved to be a learning experience.

She got yelled at. She got called names that she hadn't ever had applied to her before. She got people trying to hit her (in that, they didn't really succeed because, well, Ino might have been tiny but she was trained and the people she was talking to weren't).

Ino persevered, though.

Even as her temper rose steadily, almost on par with the weird feeling of accomplishment she got whenever one of them finally conceded that she wasn't--doing this out of pity or some such thing.

Why would I pity you? she'd demanded of one livid man twice her age. You're alive. You're still here. What the hell is there to pity when you're that strong?

She'd won that round. Won being a paltry thing when a victory on her part meant that the 'loser' would get to be warm. Get to have vitamins.

The parents were easier and harder to deal with all at once. She didn't know what would possess anyone to have babies in Edge. But all the same, they were there, mothers and fathers with young children--not even old enough to walk in some cases. Babes in arm, mothers-to-be with big bellies and hollow faces, fathers carrying children who didn't have their mothers anymore. People her age who weren't children in any sense of the word, taking care of their little siblings whether they were siblings by blood or not.

Easier to get those people to take things. When it wasn't for them. When it was for the people in their care. Then they could sacrifice a little more of their pride. Ino grew steadily paler even as she wrapped her temper around her in defense.

Why? Her voice had been sharp-edged while dealing with a narrowed eyed girl who had to be a year younger than she was. Why? You look around and ask that? If you won't take it for yourself then what about them?

Her head hurt. She kept getting the stupid urge to cry. Ino hid in her temper. It was easy to get angry at people who didn't want her help. Who didn't want it even for the people in their care.

Who didn't want it for free because free always came with catches. Free couldn't be trusted.

A few times Ino wound up bargaining with particularly stubborn people. Trinkets. Bits of jewelry. Scrounged up Gil. All of that was paid to her for the heating pads. For the vitamins.

Ino would cave; take what they offered, and then when they went to leave, sneak it back into their pockets and things. She didn't need it. If it took them a while to figure out what she'd done—well, they already had what she could offer them. Ino would call that a job well done.

With more hard blinking. She wasn't going to cry.

Some of them stayed to talk with her for a little. Asking for news about how things were going—and she didn't know how to answer them.

[intraspective]

She could only repeat what little she'd picked up from Reno about the WRO's efforts--bits and pieces of life stories swirled around in her head as they moved on and she went on to her next person. Her next little battle.

Distantly Ino wondered, as she watched a mother pull her child away, both of them holding heating pads, if this was crueler than having just let them handle the winter as they had been. Was giving a little bit of hope worse than letting them struggle without it?

Ino didn't know. There weren't answers to how long it would take to get things on track, have things better, have people be able to live. Maybe hope was cruel. Maybe it wasn't.

She went on.

All too soon her bag was empty and Ino knew she should be heading back to Reno's apartment. He'd no doubt go looking for her if she was too late. Already it had been a few hours--Ino had no idea how long he'd spent dealing with the kids, he might already be looking for her if he'd gotten it over with quickly--but she didn't turn around and head for his place quite yet.

Her fingers itched to heal and yet she didn't quite dare. People here didn't trust materia or magic. Her potions they'd take and her potions she was more than willing to give away.

But she didn't dare use her chakra here. It wasn't magic the way they thought but... it was better to be careful about it. Careful didn't stop her heart from twisting uncomfortably as she kept walking.

And walking.

It was night. It was dangerous out. Ino knew that. Knew she was supposed to have gone back, turned around and went back to the relative safety of Reno's place, but she didn't want to go back. Every step she took gave her a better understanding of just how many people there were in Edge--more than several times her home she thought, feeling sick; Konoha wasn't a small village by any means--and just what they dealt with on a daily basis.

The lack of light meant she couldn't see the details as well. Ino was glad for that. For this trip, she didn't want everything remembered in the detail she normally used. Bad enough with the silhouettes and the sounds. Bad enough.

Ino wasn't sure where she'd wound up, all of the streets blended together, especially at night, for all that she could still tell where Reno's place was (if she wanted to go back, all she had to do was walk in that direction). It was the work of seconds to climb up a building, one that looked so lopsided, so unstable, that she wasn't sure how it was still standing, and to sit on the roof carefully. Silently. She could feel the muted presences of people inside. Ino hoped they had blankets but wasn't going lie and think they did for sure.

Wrapping her arms around her knees, Ino thought. Blue eyes staring over the sprawl of Edge and giving away nothing of what, exactly, she was brooding about.

It was hard to be cheerful knowing that more people than her home had were living here and dying even as she thought.

After a while, far too long—Reno was going to kill her—Ino got to her feet and began the walk back to his apartment.

[raspberryturk]

Reno hadn't expected Ino back right away. Reno knew what these streets were capable of, knew exactly how the people of Edge could chew away at bits of your soul and then hock it back out again, until you felt like you were pieced together with spit and bubblegum.

He could be patient.

Patience, this evening, meant sitting outside of the building he lived in, staking out a spot on the curb with his EMR in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

Patience meant that, by the time Ino made it back, there was a small pile of cigarette butts underfoot, and an unopened bottle of vodka sitting beside him on the curb. He had a notion that she might appreciate a mouthful, after whatever it was that she'd seen out there.

"It ain't Sector Eight," he said as he noticed her approach. The cigarette stayed in his mouth as he lifted the bottle toward her. "But it might as well be, Rookie."

[intraspective]

Ino didn't even try for a smile as she ignored the bottle and sat down next to him. If it had been anyone else, she might have leaned. With Reno she didn't.

That was her own bit of pride, really. Rookie.

"Turk's turf," she echoed, idly fussing with her sleeves. Something to do. "I think you'd offend almost the entire population sayin' that."

Anti-ShinRa was putting it lightly, really. It was just sort of words to her at the moment. Ino was tired. She was... something. Muted.

[raspberryturk]

Reno considered that for a moment, and then shrugged, setting the bottle down between them. He didn't need it right now. Not if she didn't.

"I probably would, Ino. But this is the closest I got anymore. Somethin's gotta be."

[intraspective]

Ino had the awful feeling that booze would lead to her either crying or to her finding everything hilarious and neither were things she wanted to deal with right now.

"I know," she said quietly. "It's just..."

Huge. Complicated. So different.

[raspberryturk]

"Welcome to Edge," he sighed, glancing sideways to look at her. And then he shrugged and reached to sling an arm over her shoulder.

It was a Reno thing. This was Rookie treatment, like it or not, Ino.

"Keep it in mind when you go hang out with your SOLDIER friend, zoto. Playin' in Midgar's all fun and games, unless you know what's waitin' around the corner."

That husk over there was Reno's home.

This wasn't. And if there was even an edge of jealousy in his voice when he spoke to Ino about Midgar, it was because he wasn't even trying particularly hard to hide it right now.

[intraspective]

He'd moved first. She could deal with the contact. Lean into it, even. She was tense, not relaxing, her stomach in knots.

Fun and games until you knew what was coming.

"I'll keep it in mind," Ino answered, sighing. "Reno..."

She lapsed into silence, not sure where to go with her thought. It might hurt, probably would. He'd say no, not possible. And she didn't want to bring up thoughts of what Midgar was going to turn into. Not when tomorrow meant--facing Zack and having to say nothing. She was sharing a room with him.

So she took a different route. "Tell me 'bout your Midgar?" she asked quietly. Ino didn't know what good it would do, if he did, but... it felt okay, to ask that.

[raspberryturk]

Reno's lips quirked slightly at that, and he let go of a sigh.

"Lots to say about my Midgar," he noted. "Was a city built on the backs of smaller cities. Forgot too many people on the underside, but was proud. Fuckin' strong. Took a rock bigger'n the moon and a monster the size of Junon to tear it apart, anyhow."

He shrugged.

"It was home. Whaddaya wanna know about it?"