A Secluded Area of the Preserve, Wednesday Evening

[intraspective]

When Reno had said they could go out for tea, Ino had kinda figured he'd meant some place like the Perk, or even Caritas if 'tea' meant 'booze' (and knowing Reno, she'd guessed that it might've meant that).

So when she'd wound up in the preserve with him, Ino absolutely, positively, had to be a brat:

"Don't think the trees serve tea, yo."

[For Reno, yoto!]

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[intraspective]

"Be a bit of a pain, yeah," Ino conceded. "Nice of you to make the offer--I just... don't know. If my future were a canvas it'd be blank right 'bout now."

So she thought.

[raspberryturk]

"If I were the kinda guy who was good at metaphor, here's where I'd say somethin' witty about paint," Reno decided, smirking faintly. "You got a year left, anyhow. Take it easy, look over your options. A year don't seem like too long if you already been here for a few, but for all you know, it'll all pull together for you just before grad, yo."

[intraspective]

She sighed and didn't bother arguing with him about that. Ino didn't really believe it would but that was--something for her to figure out.

"You really mean that offer?" she asked quietly. "If I don't--wanna go back?"

[raspberryturk]

"Wouldn't make it if I didn't mean it," Reno pointed out. "Like I said, Rookie. Much as Tseng's pissed at me right now, I'm his second. I got the authority to bring in new Turks, yo. Especially if he ain't gonna get off his ass an' do it himself, zoto."

[intraspective]

She wrinkled her nose up thoughtfully.

"Think I'd get pretty bored of wearin' all black," she said slowly. "But the job... that I wouldn't mind."

It was pretty much tailor made to her, really.

[raspberryturk]

"Hey," Reno snorted, "don't knock the uniforms, yo."

A pause.

"We've had 'em in blue before too, yo."

That made all the difference in the world.

[intraspective]

"Still borin'," she said, arching an eyebrow. "Ain't customization allowed?"

This was Ino avoiding her issues again, yeah.

[raspberryturk]

Yeah, but Reno figured he'd pushed them hard enough all at once, and could probably stand to give her a break for just a moment.

"Do I look like I'm gonna kick your ass for not wearin' the uniform right?"

[intraspective]

"How 'bout pink buttons?" she asked, smirking slightly. "Ribbon and lace on the cuffs. A big floppy bow instead of a tie. It'd be cute."

She could probably make it look absolutely adorable with a bit of work. Ino was good at rocking the cute thing.

[raspberryturk]

"Monsters ain't gonna laugh themselves to death," Reno pointed out, smoothly.

He was trying to picture it.

He wasn't a monster, which meant that it was totally possible that he could laugh himself to death, of course.

[intraspective]

"I'd still be able to fight," she replied, amused. "I'm not so stupid as all of that."

[raspberryturk]

"Well, I hope you ain't," Reno replied, still grinning. "I like to tell myself that my Rookies are smarter'n that, yo."

[intraspective]

"Definitely smarter than that," Ino answered. "Though I doubt I'd get away with it, huh?"

[raspberryturk]

"I'm drawin' my line at the lacy bits," Reno agreed. "If you can find pink buttons in Edge, you're welcome to 'em."

After all, it was as though anybody would see the buttons provided she zipped up her jacket.

[intraspective]

"What 'bout the floppy bow instead of the tie?" she persisted, smiling. "Or, I suppose I could wear a different colour dress shirt under the jacket."

[raspberryturk]

"Tell you what, Rookie. You coordinate your uniform to your heart's content, an' if I laugh at you, then you probably went overboard, zoto."

A tried and true method. Really.

[intraspective]

"Would that mean that if Tseng had a problem with it, I could point to you and say 'Reno said it was okay'?"

[raspberryturk]

"I think he'd figure that much out on his own, zoto," Reno snorted. "It's Tseng's business to know his Turks, yo. He's an ass, but he's sharp like a friggin' thumbtack."

Which drove Reno to complete consternation on more than one occasion. So, naturally, Reno had to return the favor.

[intraspective]

"Mmm." Which wasn't much of a response. "Seems hard to imagine," Ino said slowly. "That whole--transfer idea."

And apparently she was going to leap frog her points tonight.

[raspberryturk]

Hey, Reno was made to leapfrog his points. Just ask poor Rude, who had to keep up with him on particularly ADHD days.

"Well, the option's always open," Reno replied. "If you ever decide to take that route, yo."

[intraspective]

Her lips twitched.

"Even if me an' Zack're still together?"

Two Gaias... that would be a hard juggle.

[raspberryturk]

Reno bit the inside of his cheek for a moment, mulling that one over.

Wow. He'd just invited her to join the Turks in a world where Zack was dead. That would go over wonderfully if she ever got it in her head to look him up.

"Well, I ain't gonna try to break you apart," he said, diplomatically.

Because Reno was such a diplomat.

[intraspective]

"You'd fail," she assured him. "'Less you got a man better than Zack hidden somewhere."

And even then, well, she was very very attached to Zack.

[raspberryturk]

And now? Now Reno had to go and grin his biggest, most jack-assed smile.

"Rude's always lookin'," he offered, reaching sideways with one finger to poke Ino in the ribs.

Yes, he was kidding.

Mostly.