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[general_affairs]

★ RENO
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FF VII COMPILATION

source @ isopods

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[love_and_peace]

[ He's not letting it out. Letting it out is what killed July.

He's tearing up, though. No sniffles, the knot in his throat is gone, but the tears start and don't want to stop. The weight of Reno's arm is welcome, for all that he feels he should shake the comfort off. He doesn't deserve comfort right now.

But maybe it's comfort for Reno, so he lets it stay.

Reno's question gets a frantic kind of laugh out of him, even though he's shaking his head no. ]

Not for this. Not for this.

[general_affairs]

[ Sir not that, the tears. Please only let the tears out. Letting that out would kill him and that would be awful for everyone.

He was only barely used to casual affection with Alexei, and even then, Alexei was more often than not the one to initiate it and take lead until Reno was comfortable enough in the moment. This was different, but still new to him all the same. Given a few more minutes, he'd let himself lean more naturally into it. ]

Good.

[ Vash reminded him of Zack in many ways, and he thought himself a sharp judge of character. He would've had to bully Vash a little if he called himself a bad person for that. ]

There's a story there--not that it changes what happened, but. I'll give you the story if you want it. I wasn't gonna ask you to spill your guts and not let you know who you're dealin' with, after all.

But before I do, ask Cloud and Aerith about it. Then I'll tell you, if you keep what I say to yourself.

[love_and_peace]

[ He definitely needs to talk to Aerith -- and maybe Cloud, too. Maybe about this. Maybe he'll be able to ask them for their view about what happened here. He can't think about those questions right now, but maybe in a few days. Maybe.

He doesn't think Reno's a monster for this, because there was no joy in the man in the video... but that doesn't mean Reno's somebody he can continue to work with, either. He's going to see the destruction of that city every time he looks at Reno, for a long time to come, and it won't be fair to either of them when that changes the way Vash treats him. ]

You do the same please. ...I've never told anyone else what I told you.

[ He's had the memories ripped from his mind and shown to others, but that's not the same thing at all. ]

I'm good at keeping secrets. I won't say anything.

[general_affairs]

[ He'd nod. ]

Yeah, your secret's safe with me.

[ It wasn't something he would take personally; it was a difficult thing to look at, let alone accept. He'd sit in the silence for a bit--it would've been easier to just not show this to Vash. It's not like he needed to know, and the chances of it coming up...ever were slim to none, really. Vash likely never would have known, and he was under contract to keep it under his hood.

He wasn't looking for absolution or a confessional. It just felt like what he needed to do.

He heaved with a short little sigh through his nose. ]

I noticed, but that's fine. Just don't carry that weight by yourself.

[love_and_peace]

[ He'd laugh if it were at all funny, if anything could ever be funny again after what he's seen. ]

So what now?

[general_affairs]

[ He'd pay the other on the back a few times between the shoulder blades, then rustle up to his feet to stand by him. ]

Rude and me would get a beer and just sit somewhere quiet. Whatever happened stayed between us and the drinks.

I'm not gonna get mad at you if you want some alone time though. Typical rules of letting me know you're alright still applies.

[ If Vash wanted to stand, Reno would offer a hand to help him up. If it wasn't taken or Vash needed some time to himself, he wouldn't fuss about it. ]

The rest'll happen a step at a time.

[love_and_peace]

[ When Reno stands Vash will too, and without assistance. The offer's appreciated, but -- right now especially -- unwanted.

The idea of a beer or twelve to wash the memory of all that dust and ash from his throat is much more welcome. He hasn't been drunk in months, not since Armand killed him, and this seems like the perfect time to break that dry spell. ]

Drinks, yeah. Let's get drinks.