This Isn't What It Looks Like (OPEN)

[Deleted]

The beer bottle still cold with condensation, slippery and wet, slipped from between his long fingers onto the table. It was one beer, solitary in its consumption and not nearly enough to render him incapacitated. But he had empty ones around him, ones he had poured in locations unpleasant for others ( a few seats, a plant a few paces over, and one into an obnoxious woman's handbag). Reno didn't do drunk unless it was in his own home (most of the time). It was too dangerous for him to be caught out in the wilds of the world defenceless against evil. He preferred to keep his wits about him.

That wouldn't stop him pretending to not be drunk - which meant he would look as though he had one too many. He was good at it too. Years of practice meant he had honed that particular skin to a refined point. He had gotten information this way more than once: it was quick, painless and easy. Of course, he had almost been beaten to death because of this too but hey, you had to live a little right? Besides, it was rather relaxing to act this way. Not that Reno was ever tense about anything. Unless it was a highly important mission. or Rude looked like he might actually kill him. Occasionally his own death was a genuine concern. One never could be too sure about someone else's reactions.

"Shhhhh," he said to no one in particular when a guy walked by. He got a weird look for that. Meh. He had squinty eyes anyway. Probably meant he had a squinty brain too. Ugh. Why was no one in this place any fun? If things didn't liven up soon he'd have to make it interesting himself and that usually meant beating up a poor patron of this fine establishment. Sucks to be them.

[Deleted]

Jovial Prince of Thieves

His previous attempts at wooing a particular lady in red proved to be quite useless. It had been exhausting and the work even more so. He had come in from Costa del Sol, looking for answers he could not quite find when he spoke the questions clearly. He wanted to find a way to help his friends and family, but there was no way he could be so reckless as to really open his mouth about not being from here. They seemed pretty advanced, and were well on their way to being a superpower, but he felt that he would be put up in a dungeon somewhere if they find out he was some off-worlder. They were pretty aggressive from what he has seen. Huge weapons and a really hard working attitude, it put them in the runnings with Lindblum.

The thief decided to continue on his way and try to find some source of information. What better place to catch a creeping word and a drink?! The bar. It was the best place to pass around information without being pinned as the informant or taken too seriously when you said something off colored after a few drinks. Though the boy looked young, that was not going to stop him from getting what he earned. He earned the damn coin in this world and he would use it! He would march into the bar and take in the familiar scents. Now this was more like it. A bit of a relaxed environment to try and find what he needed!

When he entered the bar he had clothing that stood out a bit less than his bright, blue garbs build for his lifestyle in Lindblum. Instead he wore a drab colored pair of brown, loose pants that were pieced together by a matching brown vest. In the stead of his wild collection of belts, from his waist hung a sash from where his holster dangled. Beneath the vest he wore a white, sleeveless teeshirt and looked like a worker from the docks, even the smell of sea salt in his blonde hair gave that away. A big giveaway that he was an outsider: his tail, was hidden away down in his pants, wrapped around his waist.

The young man pulled himself to sit the stool and laid coin on the counter. The server looked at him funny, but the boy gave a sneer. "I can take my coin elsewhere...." Which was enough to get him his drink, luckily. He really had no way to prove his bluff on this world.

Before sitting down completely he paused. The stool was wet. He shifted his weight and settled on a dryer seat.

Thief. Light. Genome.

WORDS: 449

NOTES: Share a story with me?

Made by Queen Kassy of Cheyenne; Edited by OuRex Draco

[Deleted]

he was mourning the loss of good fun. No one really liked his particular brand of eloquent sobriety, or appreciated the fact he required near constant attention to keep himself from going insane. (No he wasn't going to take comments on whether he was there already, or had yet to fully reach that particular destination). Reno would gladly argue all his dogs were barking - quite literally - before turning the whole thing around on his would be attacker and confusing their little minds into mush. He was too clever for his own good most of the time.

Bored and with nothing to do made for a dangerous combination where Reno was involved. He could find trouble with a paper bag! imagine then, what he could do with a room full of drunks - or those on their way! The chaos would be disasterous. But oh so beautiful. He could see it now: bar fighting, blood pumping, fists flighing, windows breaking - and a few bodies too. He'd duck out before it got too serious and giggle from the street knowing someone was going to the hospital. That was the plan until a small blond walked in. He looked different. He looked cute. And he looked like a good thing to wind up.

Reno got up, faked a stumble but acted like he hadn't stumbled at all and made his way over to the seat next to the new guy. "You look like jail bait," he slurred just on the word 'jail', pronouncing it much softer than it was wont to be. The redhead grinned cheekily and winked. "Cheers," he said, tipping a beer bottle he no longer had. He looked at his hand in confusion.

"Anotha!" he raised his hand to the bar man who slammed one down before him and then demanded payment. "I told ya. I get it at the end," and he waved him off. "Don't worry about him," he said. "Just doessssn't like kiidds," he said. He wasn't entirely sure the guy was underage - nor did he care. He was just looking to get a rise out of him. He looked squishy so he was going to prod him to see if he would burst.

[Deleted]

Jovial Prince of Thieves

If not for the fact the boy barely washed, leaving his face smudged and sometimes an odd smell coming off of him form constant, manual labor, he could easily pass off as a young lady were he to dawn the proper clothing. His face was round and only had creases from where his eyes pinched up in laughter. His hair was soft and quite long. It was a surprise considering his care was at the most minimum when it came to the sandy locks. The ponytail itself reached down to the top of his shoulder blades, and would likely be at shoulder length if left loose. His age was difficult to discern with the addition to his height being far below the average.

Inside is hidden place his tail would tighten and stiffen at the stressing of the word jail. Perhaps the term was not the same for Reno as it was for the young Genome. Given his line of work the accusation was more than enough to ring caution in the boy's ears. At the man's closeness, he neither objected nor leaned away, but he did utter a nervous chuckle. This guy was either drunk, or an idiot. Probably both, but it was not as if the thief thought anything wrong with either case.

"Cheers," Zidane offered with a chuckle. "Winding down?" It had been a long day for him in any case.

The man seemed pretty out of it the way he spoke and leaned in, but Zidane remained observant. You could not pickpocket a pickpocket. Very few people were capable of catching him off-guard, and this guy lacked the particular assets that often distracted him from keeping his eyes on the actions of others. His blue eyes shifted around the room and his body's actions were a subtle taste of caution, but he also seemed to have an air of cheer to him.

"Is that so?" He questioned at the mention of kids. "I don't mind 'em, brats sometimes but they're more honest than adults." He offered.

He was not too aware the man was calling him a kid. After all his ego fervently denied his brother's claims of him being the youngest and most annoying, though the latter was more of a noncommittal ignorance. He was young, sure, but he was an adult, by any means. When he got his drink he laughed and clasped his hands around the glass. The thief held up the glass in an attempt to push back the man, put some sort of barrier between them until he was a bit more understanding of who this guy was.

"Cheers right?" He offered now that he had a drink. "I mean at the end of a long day, someone ha to stay conscious." he teased, seeing as the guy seemed to have had one drink too many.

Thief. Light. Genome.

WORDS: 475

NOTES: So it's a game you want?

Made by Queen Kassy of Cheyenne; Edited by OuRex Draco

[Deleted]

The boy was a bit grubby around the edges: dirt smudged all over the place, grim curled over fingers and general dinginess. He probably looked like Reno on a bad day. Reno never kept himself looking beautiful and slick. His own shirt was hanging out, the bottom button wasn't in the right hole and his jacket sleeves were hanging over his slender hands. Tseng had long since given up attempting to improve his appearance (Verdot had given up long before that!). His usefulness was greater than the desire to clean him up - which was a good thing too, because Reno positively hated ties. Ties made him feel like he was choking to death and to be perfectly reasonable, they were weapons in themselves. Do you have any idea how many people he had killed with their own ties? No, Reno didn't either but he knew it was double figures. Reno was not about to become counted in that particular statistic.

The kid clearly didn't appreciate being called jail bait, or maybe didn't understand what he meant. Reno wasn't entirely sure if the young thing next to him (who was clearly pretty beneath all the dirt and mud). He didn't take offence though - there was no defensiveness or even offensiveness. The guy was choosing to ignore the comment altogether. And here he was hoping he could make him blush. Reno often said and did things to make Rude blush - it was quite a challenge but he got all choked up and adjusted his tie when he was uncomfortable. It was kinda cute - not that he was ever gonna tell the big guy that! Reno didn't find anything cute: officially.

Reno snorted and proceeded to lie. "My boss has been riiiding so hard," then he winked and added with a cheeky grin laced with lamentation. "And not even in a gooood way. Ugh, yo!" he chattered. "He kept goin' ooooon and ooon and on," he complained. Tseng had heard far worse said about him - to his face! Reno's depravity knew no bounds and he was proud of it. He wasn't afraid of Tseng! Which wasn't entirely true (Tseng had hiring and firing capabilities which meant he was authorised to kill Reno at any given moment provided he had a good reason. Reno provided those on a regular basis).

Reno snorted. "Not too sure 'bout that," he said. "Clearly you've neva met a kid from the shlums," Reno crossed his eyes a little. "Ssssluummss," he said then grinned as though he had achieved something.

"Naahhh," he crooned, waving his arms. "Who wantsth to be consh, conshush...consus...conshus...That!" he said pointing a finger at the kid. "You know what I mean," he said because he didn't have anything intelligent to say (and if he did, he wasn't going to). Reno was about coming across as unintelligent as possible.

[Deleted]

Jovial Prince of Thieves

The man definitely seemed to have just gotten off a hard day and his mouth was already on the bad side of his boss' ear. His brows arched a bit, the thief always quite animated when he expressed himself. It was ever hard to tell if he was lying, but those that knew him were sure that anytime he opened his mouth there was going to be some story or straight out lie he went to pull out from beneath his tail just to impress a passing cutie. He took a drink from his cup, clearly unfazed by the strong drink, no if anything relaxed by it.

The harsh burn that now drilled through his chest cleared his senses and drew a haze over his head that helped open his clogged ears from those sea bound vessels and his need to climb to the top of the world just to inspect what hung below the clouds. His gloved hands gripped the glass with expert skill. It definitely was not his first time in a bar, nor would to be his last if he could help it. The wet glass was kept in place by the worn, cotton covers, cuffs matching the muddy leather vest he had loosely slung over his shoulders. His baggy pants only added to his visual height, making it difficult to discern just where his knees were as his legs hung off the seat and heeled boots gripped the foot bars. The barstool was pushed back enough to allow him to lean forward and rest his elbows on the edge of the bartop.

He felt the itch of his tail craving to come out. It took a great deal of conscious effort to hold that fifth limb in place as he was used to leaving it hanging down toward the ground. It meant he could not let his guard down. It was as if he was afraid someone would pinch his purse and what bit of gil he had earned just to eat. Being away from home was hard. You did not know the streets nor what was the easiest pocket. Even still he let a smile draw on his smooth features. It was a charming smile, one perfectly suited to a kid, as ever adult as he may claim himself to be, and was assured on many levels he was.

He laughed out at Reno's accusations. "I understand that feeling, my boss is pretty quick with a fist

The boy felt himself locked in an ironic moment passè. The way Reno worded things was really strange. Maybe it was payback for the way he talked to any lady that managed to draw his attention? Well maybe he would think twice next time when it came to talking to a lady when drinking... or not. Reno's last words were bit hard to understand but he got the gist of what he wanted to say. Maybe the man really had no experience in what it meant to work from the ground up? He seemed to wear clothing that those folk in the cushy jobs around here wore. He took another sip before he set down the glass once more.

"Actually I grew up in the slums and on the streets." He admitted, but did not quite mention just where these slums were. "I don't remember how long it was, all I remember was waking up one day, crying. My Boss took me in. Worked me like a dog." There was a bit of silence until the ice in the glass slinked down in a clink. "But I don't cry no more." He laughed out.

Zidane seemed a cheerful sort. Not much got him down or got on his nerves, though physical harassment and verbal assault did set him off, after all a slum kid had to stand up for himself. He reached up to brush back his bangs and laugh. This guy was pretty funny. He did not seem so bad, but the kid was raised in a band of crooks. Not bad usually constituted managing not to break your bro's bones rough housing, and sometimes broken bones happened anyway.

"By the way, name's Zidane. You could say I'm recovering from work and an even bigger let down." Who knew that the lady in red was such a tough cookie?

Thief. Light. Genome.

WORDS: 722

NOTES: Are you hitting on me? Can't be sure so I'll worry about my drink.

Made by Queen Kassy of Cheyenne; Edited by OuRex Draco

[Deleted]

As yet, Reno hadn't asked or did anything which warranted an untruth. He wasn't looking to catch anyone out or play any games. He simply wanted to mess someone about a bit, but not necessarily having the conviction to go 'all the way with it'. He hadn't the energy or the inclincation to be complicated today. Most people were easy to wind up anyhow, and without much effort. In his youth, Reno had found he had a natural talent for pissing people off, and spent most of his adult life keeping a hold of that particular skill. It was useful. Some enemies told you exactly what you wanted or needed to hear just to shut you up. Oh many a plan had been thwarted because of his reverse charm. (and yes, he was pretty darn proud of it!).

"You let your boss beat your ass?" Reno asked incredulously. He made it sound like it was the worse thing in the world. However, should Tseng decide a damn good hiding was what Reno required then who was he to deny it? (After a long chase and a lot of hiding, of course, Reno would eventually have to come out and present himself to Tseng in his office but if that meant keeping his life then it was something he would gladly do). He didn't do humiliation of course, not upon his person: you'd never get him to agree to that. He really would die first. Reno did have his pride.

Ohhh well then. "You don' look like a shlum raat," Reno slurred and condescended. If he was one then he was tricky too. Reno should know, he had been one himself once upon a time. He might wear a fancy suit but it was only because his boss forced him to (and even then he was wearing it badly). He wanted nothing more than to take it off. He'd rather prance about naked and proclaim he was as gay as a rainbow in spring and kept lambs for pets. "You're tooo...happee," he decided. Reno hadn't met someone from the slums who was. Only that was a lie too wasn't it? Aerith had been happy. Reno had been angry a lot longer than sector 7 (the first time, not the second).

"I never cry," he stated blandly, and forced his eyes to fill up. He gave a small sniff and then looked indignant about it.

"Awwwww," he crooned. "That sucks, yo," He said. "I know what that's like. It's a real kick to the teeth, yo," he commiserated. Then, as though he was remembering Zidane had introduced himself he patted his chest. "Reno, yo," and nodded like it was an answer to a question. He kept his greenish eyes fixed on Zidane's grubby face. The kid was cute. And apparently a handful.

[Deleted]

Jovial Prince of Thieves

Laughed when Reno called him out on it. If he knew the boss he would probably understand that man was not one to be messed with. Not only was Boss' size intimidating, but that belly hid the fact his punches could burn welts into your skin. He always seemed clumsy in battle, always tripping, but he would use that weight and hard head of his against you when you would least expect it. In a way he fought like a proper thief. Dirty, underhanded tactics became a distinct flavor that Zidane fondly emulated. After all who would expect a little guy like him to pull out such a bag of tricks when his Trance went off? Boss always told him to practice even if he decided to skip off along by himself.

There was a double standard joke in there somewhere between Reno and Zidane. The thief had quite the knack for getting into trouble, but even greater skill getting out of it. He was not one so easily provoked unless pride came into play. It was very different from dignity. After leaving life in the streets and having to, sometimes, stoop eating from the refuse bin, you learned to put your dignity on hold for survival. If he was embroiled with a great amount of dignity he would have likely starved or gone without a home for a long time.

Having to share a hideout with several others left sleeping spots limited, especially during harsh, wintry nights. Heating was not provided to a space considered uninhabited.

In the end it left Zidane with a different perspective. He was not easily angered, or bothered, but the temptation to twist a situation into his favor was always there. Even now, unconsciously, he preferred to stay on a more intimate level until he understood his surroundings. He spent at least two days here now and already had the costal city of Costa del Sol down pact! He grinned at his comment about being a slum rat. Now only if he man saw his tail. The thief raised his head and brushed his thumb under his nose.

"If I acted gloomy all the time, who'd hire me?" he knew some real slum rats. They looked the part of crook, not him. he was a dashing rogue, full of the pomp and elegance the theater taught him to lie with.

The lie was just to cover the truth of his nature. He lied, cheated and stole, but even if he did, it was not the case of who Zidane really was. He was a good-natured kid that really could not stand seeing people being stepped on. He felt that if everyone just lent a hand, maybe they would not be forced to live in a system that the poor got poorer and the rich grew richer. He was a romantic in that sense. He pushed back his bangs and smirked at Reno.

"Plus there isn't really much time to go around being sad. Gotta live on right?" Sure he got sad sometimes, even depressed, but when you were a living, feeling being were these not just natural responses to the hard times?

Sure he pouted plenty, always one to want his way. It made him a perfect candidate for Tantalus if ever one saw! But when a feeling of helplessness overwhelmed you, in a world you knew you could not control but tried to change any way... sometimes it drew out desperation. It happened to everyone at least once, right? Maybe. He laughed out again as Reno seemed to just go on. At least he introduced himself back.

"You come here often?" Though it seemed a casual ice breaker, Zidane was pretty curious how this place worked and was not getting alone with the constant road blocks culling his chances at gathering useful information. "To be honest I only just got here." He laughed out.

Thief. Light. Genome.

WORDS: 651

NOTES: So a Genome and a Turk walk into a bar...

Made by Queen Kassy of Cheyenne; Edited by OuRex Draco

[Deleted]

Reno grinned with the Zidane laughed about him commenting on allowing his boss to beat him up. Reno's world was probably very different from the matted blond's. He did as he was told, when he was told (but not without a lot of grumbling) and he was rewarding by not dying and getting paid. The Turks didn't really do 'beating up' the employees. They just shot them. That was it. A bullet slicing through the head like butter, grey matter splattering whatever was unfortunate enough to be behind the poor bugger. The body would drop to the floor and the clean up crew would be in, erasing all evidence. It would be like it never happened in a couple of hours. The only time there was torture between the Turks was when there was either treason or training.

"You look like someone who can handle himself," he stated, looking the kid up and down. Yeah, he was scrappy all right. Whatever mess he had gotten himself into it was either long or it was recent, or both. Reno wasn't sure what his story was just yet but it was more interesting than pretending to talk to himself. Or being stared at by other patrons. Mostly he was being ignored that which was rather dull. it was a dive bar after all. If he had been in Seventh Heaven he'd have been on his best behaviour. Not only could the owner kick his ass, keeping her sweet was also the best tactical decision ever. The rest of Avalanche greatly disliked the Turks, barring Vincent, who didn't really count because he was as reliable as a pin cushion. Would he show up? was he around? They might listen to him but he didn't have those big eyes or huge boobs to sweeten the deal. Now Tifa? She had a sweet way about her. She could get the others to move, to listen, to agree. It wasn't the only reason either. Reno actually liked her. Also there was Rude. Rude thought she was the best thing ever, the poor sod.

"Yeah," he said. "You jusht gotta expel all da bad stuff, yo," he said, nodding exaggeratedly. "What's life if it's no fun?" he asked. "Gotta take risks, oderwise you ain't gonna get nowheres," he imparted his words of wisdom with a swig from the bottle. He set it down on the sticky bar a little too hard and he frowned at it as though he didn't understand why. He gave the bottle a little flick.

Reno shrugged. "Sometimes," which was, not a lot. He was pretty busy doiing actual work, or avoiiding actual work by doing other work instead. "Where you from? Midgard?" he asked curiously.

[Deleted]

Jovial Prince of Thieves

Zidane knew better than to touch the sticky counter. He was leaning on the edge, with impeccable balance, but it was not as if the sticky had bothered him much. It was honestly a more familiar layer of muck and grim back home. It also helped that he practically rolled around in vile swamp water and other unspeakable caves covered in mounds of Crystal knew what, but he knew and swore never to speak of what he stood ankle deep in when trying to tame wild Gargants. That was always sworn to be an unspoken terror they all suffered. So he was pretty okay when he was stuck to a bit of spilled booze or found some old nutshells in his boots. A little dirt never killed anyone.

He chuckled at Reno, who seemed like a pretty agreeable fellow. Zidane was pretty peaceful, considering his roots. If he could help it he would avoid a fight, but sometimes avoiding a fight would only bring bigger problems for other people as he had a habit of passing the buck in a blame game. He was more fortunate when his bluffs worked, but that left a trail of enemies often miles long, and him utterly oblivious. If he did not have to force his way through, it made a job all the easier, but that did not mean he was a push over. He was raised to be tough and never forgot to practice. He finished off his glass and set it down. Leaning back he would pull his leg up onto the stool and rest it on the surface where he would allow his right hand to lean against it.

He had no idea what this place was, as far as he knew it was another world. He was only familiar with Junon and Costa del Sol at this point, so any other place was just a blank spot on the face of a counterfeit gil coin. It did not take him long to curl a lie around the only truth he knew. He was a thief and capable of running his mouth, building fantastical stories out of the crap he found in his pockets.

An old peppermint candy? Well did you know he got that from the Queen herself? Not really, but he could sure as hell make it seem true.

Raised in the theater he had a natural manner that exaggerated his motions, truly someone who cried out for attention and demanded all eyes sit on his form. What thief would want that when sneaking about was easier? Because it was easier to fool a human's natural sense for wonder than cure their natural sense to exclude outsiders. So when the thief decided to answer Reno's question, the biggest truthful lie ever came out of his mouth. It seemed exaggerated, but it also felt like he had a strong memory concerning it.

"Well I don't know where I was born, kinda woke up one day in the Boss' arms. We travel around a lot to get work, cause there's like a lot of us. He's a good guy, always takin' care of orphans. So...where ever we put our shit down is home I guess. Been working in Costa del Sol for about a day, and Junon another. Gotta say I think the port cities are my favorite place. I'd live there if we weren't always on the move." He let out a soft laugh and called the barkeep for another drink.

He rubbed the back of his head and seemed to sighed.

"Though I like traveling. Every day you see a new place, you know? Meet new people." He was always fond of these memories. "It's too bad though. I found something really interestin' in Junon, but... I came short...." He had been really curious, really hopeful.

Maybe it was something that could help his homeworld.

Thief. Light. Genome.

WORDS: 647

NOTES: I'm not from this planet.

Made by Queen Kassy of Cheyenne; Edited by OuRex Draco

[Deleted]

Reno cared little about the counter covered in long forgotten beer. The sticky wood was tacky and his jacket was sticking to it. Reno hated his suit and had a penchant for ruining them. He had many many spare suits simply because he hated washing them and of course, he never ironed them. Despite being a member of an elite organisation, Reno's appearance was a sloppy one and he didn't care if it became worse. He could crawl through mud and the only reason he'd change was because Tseng would wrinkle his nose and get that look in his eye, the one that said Reno would be in trouble if he didn't get his sh!t together right the hell now. He played with the bar idly, his long fingers tapping off of the counter as he looked at the young blond.

He was studying Zidane though he just looked a bit bleary. His eyes may be loose and relaxed but his mind was sharp and working as hard as ever. Reno was constantly ticking over. His head was hardly ever idle though he did like to portray an image of lazy coolness. He didn't want people to think he was working hard. He didn't want people to know he was actually pretty darn clever. His intelligence was high even if his common sense was low. But he understood people who worked the streets and he was deciding whether or not Zidane was telling the truth when he said he knew street rats. He probably did. He had that coy easiness you got when you were living on the edge. Reno kept an easy smirk on his face.

He was acting, wasn't he? there was something exaggerated about him. Reno couldn't quite tell if it was a fake quality of he was just playing up his natural movements. He blinked lazily instead of narrowing his eyes for that would have been a hostile movement and reno didn't want Zidane to think he was thinking about him. Unless it was a about sex. Reno preferred everyone to think he was thinking about sex all the time (he wasn't, but it was indeed quite a bit of his mental processing). But Reno didn't think he was lying as such. It didn't seem like he was. Zidane was either very good at it, or using most of the truth whilst keeping something back. Maybe. Once upon a time he could have hauled someone like this into the office and interrogated them until they squealed. Nowadays he had to work in a more subtle manner. He usually did anyway. He made such a terrible mess during interrogations and that made his bosses a bit narky.

Hm. Big scale if they were moving around like that. Of course had Midgar still been around you could have said those gangs were big scale too. That city was huge and an awful lot like a maze. It was the Turks' job to memorise every possible passage in that winding labyrinth. Reno had been a better at it than the others having spent so much time there. He was best at sector 6, 7 and 8 but also the top plate sections too. He even knew the little offshoot jagging out from Loveless Lane (Gaia he hated that section) which just made him want to melt his brain. Reno hated that Goddess crap. Sure, if the Goddess existed, that was fine, but the whole Genesis groupie tribute stuff made him want to be sick. Reno made a face like he wanted to be.

"But Junon's boooorrring. Ain't nuffin eva happins in Juffa," he said, waving a hand dismissively. He slurped down on his beer and knocked it over when it was finished. He signalled to the bar tender for another with a floppy hand and a barest of glances. He knew he got an eye roll for that. The barkeep was used to him by now. This little dive saw all sorts: he was practically being polite. Some of them thought bar tenders were there to be groped or attacked. reno didn't think that was very sporting. He might like to chat Tifa up for fun, They both knew it wasn't serious. He liked to just mess with her and she knew it. Besides, he couldn't do that to Rude. Rude was his homey, his buddy, his bestie. There ain't no way he was going to break his heart. "Costa Del Sol's nice for a tan," he said. "And shtealing," he added. "And pilferin jewll...jewell...jwellrey," he scrunched his nose before letting out a big grin. "And ogling girls! he exclaimed, arm stretching up and out. "Whit?!" he snapped obnoxiously to a couple who looked at him like they wanted a go.

"Some people," Reno said. "JUNON?! Wha's intereshtin in Junon," Reno slurred incredulously. "Were ye lookin for a blackhole or summit?" Reno asked. "Cuz you'd find it there," Reno said in a sure manner.

[Deleted]

Jovial Prince of Thieves The thief seemed to tick at Reno's mention of ladies. The mention of jewels and stealing were not even reacted to, why? Because it was either common knowledge that such a fancy vacation spot was riff for thieving, or he had already done some himself! The latter was actually not the case, for once. His crystal clear eyes were intoxicated by the sight of half naked bodies! The boy always thought about girls, and one in particular was his favorite, but where he was from wearing as much clothing as possible was certainly how things were. The more clothing you wore, the richer and more well off people thought you to be. Only thugs and hoodlums ran around with their slip showing or without a shirt entirely! So to see a place where ladies and men were laid out for the eyes to drink the boy drank away. He swayed the attention of ladies from their lovers and partook in their purses to buy them drinks with their own gil! He was suave, but it was luck that provided him with work at the docks. He was raised on a Theater Ship, so when the hands were looking for a man with skill and strength to carry his own weight, or more, in crates, the boy had no problem. Though he looked small, his strength was nothing to laugh at. It was almost abnormal, but his skill set were valuable for a criminal. He could earn some gil and find more about this world. He would put aside his carnal desires and set out on a voyage. Not that he had many carnal desires now a days. It was like falling in love really put a damper on that spirit to really attract someone of the opposite sex to you! Sure flirting was fun, but it was because of his love of attention! Even as he thought about it his cheek curled back, pulling his lip into a perverse smile at Reno's mention of ogling ladies. Now seeing was something that could set the imagination on fire! If he could bring his beloved here, perhaps he could talk her into wearing the designs of these natives. B-bikinis! They have become his new favorite fashion! At Reno's mention of a blackhole the thief scoffed and waved off his drinking partner with protest. "I found a devil in red. She was pretty hot, but what she had was even cooler. Airships man. I wanted to ride her airship." Though that did sound a bit sketchy, he actually meant it literally. Where he was from, promising ladies a ride in an airship was the equivalent of asking to take a girl out in your fancy, smoking motorbike on this Gaia! It was cool! He had never seen a completely metal airship before. He wanted to fly it, steal it, something! "I was sooo into it, but this chick was harder to crack than a diamond with a damn rock!" he sunk down onto the counter. "She had this blond hair that was like threads of gold and her dress was like a sheet of rubies..." He sulked. He wanted to ride that damn airship, find more about it. He wanted to find more about all the neat machines in Junon. These worlds were really advanced and it left him wondering the sort of treasures they had. It was for his family and friends after all. This world really seemed full of treasures.

►TAGS: Reno~!

►NOTES: Booty!

►SKILLS USED: N/A

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE; EDITED BY OUREX DRACO

[Deleted]

Huh. What do you know. Kid's normal: he's as horny as hell. he was doing just fine after all. No need to worry. Hormones were raging here and wasn't that the way it was supposed to be. What age was the kid anyways? Sixteen? Seventeen? If that. He looked pretty young but Reno knew better than anyone looks could be deceiving. And knowledge could be too, yo! Rude looked like a decent guy, nothing odd there at all: then you discovered he adored making things go boom. ok so it was true he was also a gentleman - don't let the Turk suit fool ya, but that was neither here nor there. He might be Reno's best friend but the guy would punch him in the face (or try to - Reno usually always managed to dodge it) if he was annoyed enough. That was pretty common actually. Ah well, the big guy loved him anyways.

Yes he did.

"You need to get sooooooome," Reno crooned in fake delight. He may have attempted to pinch Zidane's dewy cheek (you know, youthful dew not actual dew because the kid's not exactly showing himself at his best) and was grinning insanely. Come to think of it, it had been a little while since Reno himself had seen any action. He had been a bit busy what with the world being such a weird place right now. Rufus was keeping him pretty busy and Reeve kept wanting to fly covertly. (It was a testament to his skills no one knew Reeve was often getting shipped from place to place by a Turk of all things unholy and undignified, and not one of his precious little do gooders who had never thought to do any good in the first place. Now it's all 'oohh got to save the planet from the nasty people'. Wankers.) It wasn't a difficult a task for someone as experienced or as skilled as Reno. He knew what he was doing and could do it well. In fact, he could do everything well if he wanted to. There was just no fun in that at all.

Devil...in...red? Please tell him that wasn't Scarlet. He hated Scarlet. Scarlet was...ugh. Yuck. Did he just call Scarlet hot?! Now Reno was seriously worried for his mental health. Scarlet may indeed be...attractive...but she was also insane, which meant Reno wasn't attracted to her at all. Her chest was too big for her body - something he'd never thought he'd think at all! And that laugh...probably where he got the devil idea from. If Reno knew what the hell the devil was. Sounded like Scarlet. He was getting a good impression right now. "Name wouldn't happ'in' to be S...Scharlet by any chansssse?" Reno slurred. "She's a boot," he commented.

The tensions between Scarlet and the Turks had always been high but especially so when she voted for their termination from the company. It had been quite a surprising turn around from Rufus who plead their case, choosing to save them despite having originally wanted them out of the way. Turns out he had realised their usefulness after all and in doing so, the Turks began to realise the potential Rufus had. The President was a curmudgeony old man on a power trip. He couldn't handle the company effectively. Rufus was running the show long before he officially took over. And he didn't use the Turks as show pieces or as body guards until he had to. When the company went south, the Turks opted to save his life and now he gave them a job. It wasn't like they had much to do but the appreciated being kept on. Well Reno did anyway. Loyalty wasn't something he had originally expected to have for that blond.

Definitely Scarlet. "She's twubble Kiddo," he commented. "Like...hot mess trubble," he added hinting he perhaps had an involvement with her (which he did, just not of this nature. Of all the Turks he probably pissed her off the most hahaha). "Diamonds are harder than rock dufus," reno commented rather late. "And she's psycho," like...proper. UP there with Hojo. Ugh guy could still give him the creeps and he was dead.

[Deleted]

Jovial Prince of Thieves Was a hot-blooded male, that much he was. His intrigue with the opposite sex was fine proof that the youth was growing, but there were also the complex mysteries of the animal known as Zidane. His taste in women sometimes seemed quite normal, but there were event horizons where he would turn his eyes toward a questionable figure that did not boast in the qualities most men chased after. Zidane rarely took to girls his own age, fancying older women. If a girl was his age and had caught his fancy in the past, he likely took more to their bust size, but the strange conversations younger girls brought up drove him off. Sure Zidane was not the best at attentively focusing on his partner in conversation, his mind often drifting off to the more questionable occasions of passing ladies. It was a simple fact that he hated useless conversation. A conversation, he felt, had to lead to something. Be it a story or drinking, but a tale was not meant to loop in a circle and drive its listener mad. This was often the case with younger women who told stories of lost rings, or watching the sun raise. What was the point? Did the story even have meaning? Did it make someone laugh, or were you just making words? Zidane loved sun raises. He loved hearing the kids playing out in the early day. The clatter of workers heading out and the first hammer of the day, driving a nail into the wood! It told him that his world was alive! But what did simply telling him you enjoyed something for? Just to tell? It was empty. The dramatic boy loved a show. Everything had to be an event, even drinking! It was not uncommon for him to strike up a tale, encourage drunk gambling or break into song. At Reno's slurred words the boy blushed. Needed -- some? Sure Zidane thought about it a lot. He always thought about girls, and he even quite fancied one in particular he would like the chance to woo every day and see in those exposing outfits from Costa del Sol, but he has never been that far before with another person. He was mostly talk, and that suited the theatric mess of a kid just fine. He was satiated with dancing about a woman with his lines and showing off to his older brothers that he could take a girl right from under their noises, but it always ended the same. As they rode on the airship it began. All of that chasing and flirting became a useless device that forced a woman to grow complacent. They simply grew used to his antics and bade his games good sport! They laughed and began to ask things he honestly had no answers to. They asked where he was from and what could he do with his tail. It made him feel out of place. At the time his home was where his family was, his brothers. Why did they want to know about his tail? It was was his, what did it matter? Honestly he was scared. He was scared that if they got to know him more, than he would have to look in on himself and face the reality that he hid from. He hated being him. He hated being the only one in the troupe with a tail. He hated being the youngest. He hated not knowing who he was. How could he let people get to know him when he, himself, knew nothing?! Often times his games only got him to that stage. He would eventually just walk them home, steal every last gil that remained on their person, and head back home to gloat about something he was too scared to let happen. These events brought him to question things. The very plays he took part in became examples of contradiction. He wanted to make love, but how could you when there was no love to be had? He wanted to be a hero! But what place did a thief have among men who fought Dragons. What place did he have among men who selflessly fought for their countries and even died for them? How could they expect him to follow the example of these great epics? How could they ask him to reach the impossible? But he was stubborn. He wanted to become a hero. He wanted to fall in love. He wanted, most of all, to understand the world outside of the expectations everyone held on him. He hated it. Reno's word caused him to blush because he realized he had someone like that. Someone who he loved, someone who saw him as a hero... but most of all: someone who expected of him nothing more than to be himself. He brushed off Reno's lengthy slur of needing any kind of booty that was not hers, with a wave and sneer, brushing it off in a boastful manner as if he had enough if it to last him a lifetime. His head raised up and his shoulders shrugged in a nonchalant manner. Yeah, if anyone who did not know him well enough, certainly would have a hard time calling bullshit on that. But he was sure as hell not going to lose face in front of Reno. The guy seemed set on milking him for some sort of weakness, but no way he was going to lose on his turf: in a bar! Ha! As if! He has spend countless nights cold and semi-conscious on the floors of pubs across his world! This one was his next mark! When Reno mentioned a name, he tried to think back. Had the woman even looked twice at him? Oh she had no choice, he was all in her face. But damn he was too taken by the power of her, um ... more notable assets (not to mention really nice Airships) he does not remember catching a name. Maybe.He knew better than to correct a drunk rant, but no matter. When his second drink came he took a sip, but made sure to keep an eye on Reno as he spoke. It was not as if he did not trust the man, but it was good manners to look at your drinking buddy a they ranted, unless they were to piss-faced to raise their heads. The thief's blue eyes peered over best he could as he downed a good half of his drink before setting the glass down with a clink. The ice clattered as he shifted in his seat. His tail was getting uncomfortable, but he would live. He has hidden it longer on some heists. A kid with a tail kinda stood out among a group. His boot hooked into the seat as he adjusted his poster. He was precariously balanced on the edge of the stool for a while and still seemed sober enough to manage his childish position. Zidane put his left hand to rest on his thigh as he turned to face Reno on the mention of the woman's shady mental state. "Aww, come on, you're exaggerating." What lady could be that bad? Sure being turned down so harshly really bore in his pride, but he always had really obscure priorities. "What, did she dump you?" Why else would Reno be so vindictive about it? Bad relationships did kinda leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. Zidane could not help but laugh and motion his hand. "I don't know about you, but I had her eating out of my hand. I was this close to getting a ride." Man that still sounded fishy, but the young thief was oblivious.

►TAGS: Next~!

►NOTES: Comparing Notes on Ladie

►SKILLS USED: N/A

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE; EDITED BY OUREX DRACO

[Deleted]

Ohhh dear was he embarrassing someone? Reno smirked openly for all to see, amusement filling him up like a bucket full of water during a storm. There was something pleasing about watching the thought processes of others. There was always a moment you could see them reach the conclusion you had drawn five minutes ago. It was always interesting to see whether that realisation brought surprise, shock, intrigued acceptance or horror and disgust. The latter was always funny because people's eyes tended to bulge out of their heads when shocked but true faces were made when someone was rejecting something on an emotional and moral level. Then there were people like Tseng and Rude - their faces were so impassive it was a challenge to make them feel anything at all.

"I'm a boob man myself," he admitted, but really the whole package was a delightful affair. However, as always, something usually stuck out as more appealing than the rest but it didn't necessarily have to be a nice chest. Not daring to admit to anyone that yes, the obvious physical features attracted Reno to no end, he also had to like their eyes. Eyes were conduits to the soul. What a load of crap. Honestly. He just liked pretty eyes. Was that so bad? (If he was being really honest he liked a good chest, but not one which was too full for his liking. If they were, they kinda got in the way or messed up his plans somehow).

"Awwwwww!" Reno cooed, prodding Zidane's cheek softly with a finger. "That sho darn cute yo!" he said. "Somewun been tolds it's nwauty to look?" he asked. Kid was blushing all red and embarrassed like. Reno could tell it wasn't anger because his eyes were too soft for that and his body language was that of someone who was not squirming. Rude would be squirming. If Reno could get the big guy to squirm or take of his glasses he knew he had won. That wasn't necessarily a good thing but Reno did try his best to make it so. Sometimes he would make it a challenge: buy him XX if he so much as twithces. Oh the amount of beers he had been duped out of because Rude wouldn't own up he had moved involuntarily due to being uncomfortable. Rude couldn't hide from the truth forever, yo!

Might be why he got a crate load of beer a month later and the threat if he wasn't good he'd blow it up whilst Reno was drinking it.

Oh Gaia date Scarlet?? Reno blinked at Zidane for a moment. Did he sound like a jilted lover? Ugh he might be sick. Honestly. Vomit. Everywhere. "Noooo," Reno said in a digusting-I'm-going-to-deny-that-but-you-might-be-right manner and a shake of the head. "That, is, ridicu...ricidul..." he paused, frowning. "stoopid," he concluded. "Shcarlet jussst borrowed summit she neva return'd," he explained airily, awkwardly. He really did want this conversation to stop now. Who wanted to have a conversation about Scarlet being a past love? Oh he pitied the poor bugger who had that story to tell. Actually, that poor bugger wouldn't be alive. Scarlet was obviously a spider masquerading in human form, just waiting to scale walls, have sex and lay some eggs.

"What kinda ride?" Reno asked smirking again but really? eating out of his hand? Reno wasn't sure about that. Scarlet was cold, calculating...even if the kid had the charm the size of meteor Scarlet would still be thinking of herself. She did nothing for no one, even ShinRa. Sometimes it felt like ShinRa was employed by her. Woman thought she could use and abuse the Turks too. That so wasn't what they were there for.