A harbinger of despair? [active]

[nogoodpeople.livejournal.com]

Characters: Tseng and Reno
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: Sephiroth's arrival has both Turks a little on edge
Location: Turk HQ
Date: the same day as Sephiroth's arrival
Warnings: Tensions running high (again)

Of all things Tseng wasn't looking to have to deal with, the appearance of Sephiroth hadn't been one of them. The fact that he appeared to be sane was a slight relief, but it was regrettably counteracted by the fact that by all appearances he seemed to be a singularly unlovely mood. That in turn meant that Tseng himself got slowly more irritated by his actions even as he buried the feelings under that mask of his. Didn't the man realize that this was no longer the world he knew? Couldn't he listen to what Tseng had been insinuating? Or was he going to proceed to be thoroughly maddening and not both to listen, despite the fact that it would be in his best interest to do so for a change.

Needless to say, by the time he final set the phone down (slightly harder than he might have otherwise) and turned it off there was a brand new line of tension across his shoulders and what looking like the beginnings of a frown on his face. Of all the things....

Comments

[nogoodpeople.livejournal.com]

"I'll bring it up the next time I have a chance," Tseng answered. If they were going to have regular (or even semi-regular) outings they might as well have Cissnei in on it. Otherwise it wouldn't truly be a Turks' night out.

Although now that he thought about it, he did miss those days. It had been hard to find somewhere to fit it in, these last few months, even without the threat of the remnants looming large overhead. But they deserved a good break after the latest turn of events, and if that break could turn into something of tradition, so much the better. "I'm sure we can spare the gil for it now and again."

[turks-reno.livejournal.com]

"Sounds like a plan," he insisted as the cider traveled down his throat again. Delicious. Gah, he loved the stuff. Alcohol, in most forms, was a wonderful thing. "I was thinking, you know..." He lowered his glass, staring into the amber liquid.

"Next Turk to come in, we drag out for drinks. I think alcohol has a bonding ... thing... to it. Who knows? Maybe they'll stick around." Maybe. And if not? Oh, they'll have alcohol in them - it'd help them get over the loss. He smiled a little again, then drained the rest of the glass, sliding over some more gil for refills. One was given to him right away, the other would await Tseng's finishing. "Even if they don't stick around, it's a good excuse to have some quality bonding time, yeah?"

[nogoodpeople.livejournal.com]

"We'll have to wait for another one to come in."

Not, of course, that he had any problem with either waiting or treating the next Turk to arrival to a night on the town. It was simply that it might well be an event that happened far in the future. But no matter. He knew it and he knew Reno knew it and that was all he was going to think about it today. "But yes, it's a good excuse."

[turks-reno.livejournal.com]

Oh, he knew. He knew that it could as short as a day, or as long as months before he saw any of his comrades again. Besides Cissnei and Tseng, at least. But it was who he was - the type to always hope for the best. He'd never mention the worst, though he'd likely already worked out what to do in those situations. He likely had contingency plans for contingency plans rolling around in his head, actually.

But it was heartening to hope for the best. To offer plans for those moments. To pretend that it's the only possibility.

"Ciss's birthday's coming up soon, by the way." No, Tseng doesn't have to ask - Reno's read everyone's personnel files, save for the two people currently above him in command. Even old ones. "I was thinking we should get her a cake or something. Cupcakes instead? Something like that."

[nogoodpeople.livejournal.com]

It would have been nice if Tseng could have done similarly. Pretend that all would be well and that they'd see the rest of their number arrive in short order. But even when he wanted to believe he'd couldn't help but be far too realistic about the problem at hand. Yes, it was possible that they might arrive the next day, but it was far more likely that it would be weeks, or months, before they next saw someone from their own world. And even then, there was little guarantee that it would be one of their own.

But best not to dwell on that fact. It would only end up being highly depressing.

"Cupcakes would be easier to make," Tseng answered with a shrug. Not to mention they would probably make matters feel less properly formal and wasn't that the sort of thing you wanted for something like this?