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Characters: Cloud Strife, Reno & Scarlet
Progress: Complete
Summary: Plans to relocate to Lindblum are on the way, if they can just not pick fights with each other.
Location: Treno (outside) -> Lindblum
Date: Jan 22, 1803
Warnings: Reno & Scarlet will probably use profanity.

Cloud waited outside of Treno at the assigned time for departure. Now that Fenrir and the Prod Clod were altered to run on this 'mist' substance, it seemed like a better idea to continue with relocating to Lindblum. The network posts were only marginally helpful, so he was hoping that the city itself would provide better answers. If not, then he would have to find a different way of getting himself back home.

Crossing his arms over his chest, he leaned neutrally against the refined Fenrir and waited for Scarlet. He had arrived early and there was no point in wandering around Treno anymore. Someone had already tried to steal his gil off of him the one time he had wandered around the city, and he had been forced to administer a small amount of SOLDIER-type punishment. He was not interested in the pubs or bars either, so he waited silently.

He figured that Scarlet would show on time; she seemed like an on-time all-the-time kind of lady, even if it was in the sleezy kind of way. Besides, she was apparently bringing a Turk along. Well, at least the trip would be entertaining with Reno along, if nothing else.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There had been a few moments throughout the trip that Scarlet had wanted to throttle Reno and have a cigarette, preferably in that order, but she withheld and forced them both to endure the trip. The eight hours felt like years, in Scarlet's opinion, and she was certain the redhead felt the same way by the time they'd reached their destination.

The moment Fenrir came to a stop, Scarlet snapped for Reno to do the same (ignoring the fact that the Turk would have anyway), before opening up the hatch. Slipping out two cigarettes, she tossed one over towards Reno before lighting hers and moving to stand outside.

She felt herself relax as she took her first drag of the stick. It was so comforting to feel the smoke filling her lungs and to know that the nicotine was back to doing what it should be doing. Glancing back over her shoulder, she smirked subtly at the Turk. "Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?"

Reno was tired. Not just tired, exhausted. Riding around in cramped quarters with a she-devil was bound to take the piss out of anyone. His ass and legs ached, his mouth was dry, and Reno was hoping he’d be out of here before the smell of oil and Scarlet’s perfume made him sick. The longer the drive carried on, the more Reno’s annoyance grew and the more Reno found himself wanting to light something on fire. Preferably something blonde.

Lucky for Reno, he had two choices, and one made itself more appealing by screeching at him.

Lindblum’s tall spires breaking over the horizon cowed his mounting annoyance. Reno’s rage diminished as more and more of Lindblum filled his vision, until all he could think about was how glad he’d be to get out of this stupid thing and getting stone cold hammered. Well, maybe he’d take a leak first, THEN he’d definitely go booze his ass off.

The thought faltered once he was out of the cockpit and staring up at Lindblum. What kind of fairy tale bullshit was this? Would this place even have a bar? That rat bastard monkey boy Zidane had the nerve to tell him cigarettes were produced here? He was going to hurt something, and hurt something good if this city turned out to be as squeaky clean as it looked on the outside.

He caught the cigarette wordlessly, his face a window to his inner thoughts as he stared up at the city.

FUCK

He ignored the both of them and wandered off behind the nearest tree. Trails of cigarette smoke leaked out behind it, as well as the sounds of a man relieving himself.

Cloud watched Scarlet emerge first and then Reno climbed down from the Prod Clod. It appeared that they had both survived the trip at least, and they weren't yelling at each other. That was helpful, he thought. He wasn't certain what he would have done if Reno had done a Turk-job on Scarlet and tried to dump the body. At least it wouldn't be him killing her this time.

Dismounting Fenrir, he looked up at the long stone path that would lead them to the city proper. That was quite the walk, but he doubted that they wanted individuals in large machines roaring up there. He also wasn't certain if they would allow a machine like the Prod Clod up there, given the size and weapons on the large beast of a machine.

He reached down and popped the sword-storage compartment in his motorcycle and picked out the base sword. He slung it back into the leather sheathe against his back and allowed its weight to settle comfortably. He doubted that he would need the entire First Tsurugi, so he left the remaining swords in their respective compartments and tucked them away again.

Glancing to Scarlet, he gestured with his chin towards the city. "Looks like they prefer airships to ground travel."

There was a hint of amusement in her eyes as Reno all but stormed by her. Shaking her head softly, Scarlet retrieved her heels before making her way down to the ground. The sight of the city was hardly impressive, it looked far too de-evolved for her liking, and just knowing that she'd have to walk the entire way.

"So fuckin' typical," She muttered while coming to stand beside Cloud. She'd have to leave the Prod Clod behind, and that was something Scarlet wasn't terribly fond about. "Nothing has been easy since coming here. Stupid planet."

Walking out behind the tree, Reno was thankfully zipped up, Reno’s mood had sobered enough so as not to display the raging storm of curses firing through his head. Eyes on the large castle, he frowned and shook his head before his gaze dropped to the two standing side-by-side.

That was just creepy. Really fuckin’ creepy.

He moseyed by the two, taking a moment to eye Cloud’s sword and actually laugh out loud, before he started up the winding path up to the city. His legs were still aching, but it felt good to stretch them, even if it was by walking up this impossibly huge staircase.

He stopped and glanced over his shoulder at them, and lifted a hand as if to wave. He flipped them off instead.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Cloud couldn't say that the city looked all that feasible to him either. This place clearly did not receive a lot of ground traffic with a ramp combined staircase like that. It would be easy to tackle with Fenrir, and he was not looking to leave the motorcycle outside either.

The laughter barely drew his attention, just that it had come from Reno. There was clearly a Reno-only joke going on. It wasn't worth comment or questioning.

He glanced to Scarlet when it appeared that Reno's middle finger was all that she was going to get in the way of thanks for the lift. "Classy," he murmured sarcastically and then put Fenrir into neutral and began to push the machine after Reno. A fine end to a long day, apparently.

Scarlet rolled her eyes for a second time at Reno's signs of affections, but gave no such retort. He'd served his purpose, and that was fine with her. Pulling out a small device from her thigh strap, Scarlet pressed the button and watched in satisfaction as the Prod Clod automatically shut itself and shifted into defensive stand-by. Anyone attempting to gain access would be met with a surprise, that was for sure.

"He's served his purpose for now," She shrugged off Cloud's sarcastic comment before beginning to make her way up after Cloud and Reno.