milliways_bar | (no subject)

Somewhere on the planet called Gaia, an unsuspecting but probably really friggin' deserving son of a bitch is getting killed and there might just be a lot of blood. Maybe even some guts spilling out, washing the landscape and scenery in dull red before the planet's guiding force rises up to call that sorry poor fuck back home. The Lifestream picks up around the bastard, engulfing him in a wash of green and blue and white light. Absorbing everything the guy is and was, taking all his memories with it to share, redistribute. It's a handy way of making sure no one who dies ain't ever gone for good and somewhere on the planet called Gaia, a family -- however small -- will come to know that one of its members won't ever be there any more. Somewhere else on Gaia a murderer's wiping blood and guts off his weapon, his hands, his suit, cleaning things up, congratulating himself on a job well done. Maybe even his partner's there patting him on the back, and then they go out for a drink and make a toast: To The Job.

It's happening somewhere, but today -- no matter how much he wishes he was -- Reno ain't involved with that kind of fun. Nope. As much as he yearns for the thrill of a good assignment, they don't really do that shit very much any more. All this planetary rebuilding and babysitting the boss for hours are fine for a friggin' moron, but he's a Turk. All his life, he's trained to do the shit Turks do. This nice-guy crap's a real disappointment.

Faced with all that, what's left for a guy but to head to a bar and drink? Shit, it sounded like a good idea to him, especially when he fingered that butter knife in his pocket and thought about this place at the next door he opened. That's how come his skinny butt's glued to a bar stool, his second bottle of Wutai Pale Ale in his hand and a third sitting there waiting. When he drinks, he doesn't waste time.

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"Suit yourself." From the little he knows about Kate, that's what she's gonna do with or without his permission. What she doesn't know is there ain't too many people on this or any other world who've ever accused him of being a good or decent guy. Handing out money without more immediate payback ain't his M.O. and he talks big about investments now paying off in the future, but he's sure if he gives her anything at all, he can kiss it goodbye.

He figures money's only as good as the shit it buys a guy, though, so he draws out his wallet and counts out a decent amount, hands it to her. She'll be able to stay a night at an okay place and even get herself something to eat. Hey, he can be nice when he sets his mind to it.

"Just one word of advice. If you see any monsters, do yourself a favor and run the other way." The smile on his face ain't nothing but smug now.

"Have fun in Midgar. If you need help getting back, you know where to find me."

If he's there, that is.

She almost doesn't expect him to pull out a wallet and hand her some folded bills that don't look like any kind of money she's ever seen before. But true to her word, when she gets back to the bar she'll ask the bar itself (herself?) to put Reno's drinks on her tab until the score's even.

For now, she carefully pockets the cash and blinks in surprise at the word monsters.

"Monsters attack your city often?"

She sure knows hot to pick them, doesn't she?

Too late to worry about it now. If she's survived about a month on the island despite the black smoke and the Others, she can survive a day here.

"I'm not bad at running." She grins, and it goes lopsided instantly. "But I'll call you if I need you."

"Monsters? Shit, they like traveling in packs. Twos and threes and fours. You'll recognize 'em when you see 'em."

Call it a little parting gift for her, but she'll figure it out. "Mostly they stay on the outskirts unless someone summons 'em in." But a look around doesn't show anything real bad. "Heart of the city's pretty safe. Have fun, and whatever you do, stay away from guys like me."

Smirking, he stuffs his right hand into his pocket and saunters off. Nope, she ain't his responsibility.

Not even a little.

But he does hold his hand up to his ear in that universal sign for call me as he walks off.