A Turk & a Noble?

[marquisofthesky.livejournal.com]

Characters: Marquis Halim Ondore IV & Reno
Progress: In-progress
Summary: Promising to visit a somber friend within the dark city of Treno, Ondore finally gets a chance to fulfill that little promise in hopes of cheering poor Reno up.
Location: Treno
Date: March 8, 1804
Warnings: Reno's bad language! None


Walking along the cobblestone streets of this permanently night city, Marquis Halim Ondore truly felt on edge. Perhaps traveling alone to Treno was not a wise idea considering all the looters and bandits that reign within this city but a promise was a promise and Reno promised Ondore it wasn’t too bad here. However, considering he already magically lost a few gil from his wallet, Halim wasn’t very impressed with this accursed city already.

Briskly making his way towards the nearest inn, the stately Marquis still looked quite dashing even though he was doing his best to blend in with the native folks. Dressed in a long, tailored black coat and more modern attire unlike most Gaians, Ondore still stuck out like a sore thumb. Many of the people of this world were quite petite or just short and stocky, words that act as antonyms when describing Halim.

Speaking with the innkeeper briefly with a few cordial ‘Hellos’, Ondore wanted for Reno to appear within the lobby.

Comments

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

Jogging down the stairs, Reno wore black pants, an oversized black sweater and his boots. He had a habit of wearing Rude's sunglasses on his head and keeping his goggles around his neck now, though he was sure that if Rude ever came back to Gaia he'd make a point of hiding the sunglasses so Rude wouldn't call him a sap. He cared deeply for his best friend who had sort of become more but he wasn't going to show just how sentimental he could get. Especially not to a guy like Rude who was only sentimental when it really came to it.

His hair was tied back still, and Reno smiled as he spotted Halim, making sure to keep the fakeness of his happiness hidden, and pretend like everything was okay. "Halim! You didn't have to come so soon, I'm okay now. Really."

[marquisofthesky.livejournal.com]

Spotting the redhead from the stairs, two things came into mind once the young man walked down. One thing was the oddly placed dark sunglasses perched upon Reno's mop of a mane. It was an honest and cute display of affection but Halim couldn't help but frown at it. Reno obviously missed his partner-in-crime so much that the lad began to wear Rude's accessories as apart of his everyday attire.

The second thing that Halm noticed was that painfully fake grin upon the youth's face. Honestly, if Reno thought he could lie to this old fox then he had another thing coming. The Marquis has seen better poker faces than that in his lifetime so he wasn't very impressed with Reno's.

"Is that so?" Halim asked with an arched brow as he humored Reno with a light smirk. "Anrtin." Shaking his head slightly at Reno, the Marquis approached with a bigger smile growing upon his lips. "I take it that all is well with you and your other companions, correct?"

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

"Anrtrin? The heck...?" Reno shook his head slightly, with a small laugh. A lot of people in Gaia were Sky People with their own languages and while everyone seemed to speak common, there were clearly other languages, ones he didn't know and wouldn't ever bother learning, mostly because he didn't see the point. It was easier to just speak to those who understood common and it was better than messing up someone's language and insulting them.

When Reno stood at Halim's level, he realised that even when he wasn't slouching he wasn't as tall as the Marquis. Reno was tall, sure enough, but Halim was just a bit taller. Shoving his hands in his pockets, Reno nodded towards the stairs. "Elena's okay, but I haven't spoken to her in person, so I figure she'll be pretty cut up about everything when she gets here. The president is busy, so I just tend to keep guard, like I'm supposed to, and not bother him."

Sighing softly, he turned for the stairs, leading Halim up to the room he'd hired out for this. "How're things with you, anyway? I really appreciate this, y'know. You didn't have to come meet me, but..."

[marquisofthesky.livejournal.com]

Smiling at Reno's mild confusion, Halim decided to be nice and give a quick translation. "You're a liar, Reno. I can tell that much..." He said with a rather kind smile. Honestly worried about the redhead but the elderly Marquis decided not speak of things here within the public. This matter would be best settled in private away from the prying eyes and listening ears of a few too many bystanders.

"The president?" It took Halim a moment to remember that Reno and the rest of the Turks did not work for President Loire but rather for President Rufus Shinra instead. Meeting only Tseng, the Director of the Turks, once after a dismal meeting with the high council, Halim honestly was curious about this group of seemingly loyal men and their fierce but silent leader. Rufus seemed to be more of a 'business man' than actual delegate, something that Halim wasn't sure whether he liked or not.

"Unfortunate news like this shall be difficult for young lady to cope with but I am sure she shall be fine." He replied once he followed up the stairs. Nearly sighing aloud, the Marquis just laughed as he walked past Reno. "Honestly now! I told you I would come to visit you and that I do with a great smile upon my face. I do not think of this as a chore but rather as a much needed vacation from the troubles of the world." He smiled as he patted Reno lightly upon the shoulder.

Climbing up to the next landing, Halim allows Reno to lead towards the room. It perplexed him at first as to why the man insisted in staying at the local inn but Halim decided not to persist too much. He figured that the Turks had a location or hideout here in Treno, a place of business that also act as a residence for them but such a place was probably unfitting for a royal.

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

There wasn't a particular base, but there was the hideout for the gang he spent most of his time in now, and considering he was the only Turk working Treno now he was considerably exhausted. Elena was jetting off all over doing much-needed research for power sources to bring light and life to Treno, Tseng was supposed to be working with the President and he and Rude had been taking down gang leaders and assuming the roles of the bosses. It was hard work, but it'd been fun. He'd enjoyed it almost as much as normal Turk work and at least here there were no plates to be dropped.

Thinking upon that last part, Reno visibly flinched at his own thoughts. The Sector 7 plate incident was something he never talked about. Even if he pretended not to care when he'd done it, and how he'd acted like it was perfectly great to be doing it, he still hadn't wanted to crush so many people. However, Reno was an assassin. He knew that people would die by his hands and he'd have to live with it. Thus, he never brought it up. Ever.

As they headed into the room he'd rented out, as the one he had been sharing with Rude had been trashed, Reno slumped down into a chair at the table after fetching a bottle of some sort of amber liquid and two clean glasses. Pouring a drink for himself and Halim, Reno smiled up at him. "How was your trip? The gangs around here ain't as bad as they used to be, thanks to me and Rude mostly, but there're still some real creeps out there."

[marquisofthesky.livejournal.com]

Considering how the Marquis tend to associate with sky pirates and fugitive captains, Reno's work, as assassin wouldn't surprise him too much. However, the Sector 7 incident might raise an eyebrow but Halim honestly plot to do much worse than Reno has done within the skies of Rabanstre. Challenging Vayne so close to the royal capital was a grievous error, one that Halim wasn't entirely in fault for since Vayne threatened to kill them all using the Bahamut. There was no chance to retreat, so the battle had to be waged there. If it wasn't for both the Paling and Lady Ashe's interference, all of Rabanstre would have been nothing but ruins.

Prying his thoughts away from whatever still plagued him regarding Ivalice, Vayne and that Faram forsaken council, Halim offered the redhead his undivided attention once he began to speak. The youth was fond of liquor, a trait they both share in different quantities. Although, Halim wasn’t going to shun a much needed drink or two today.

“My voyage here was rather peaceful yet highly productive for I’ve finally finished my second novel while traveling by airship.” He replied with such a proud grin. Sitting at the table, he reached to pick up a glass for himself so he could try this amber brew of nameless alcohol. “As for my journey in Treno so far, I do admit…I’m not too fond of it.” Halim said with a sigh. “Some cad already tried to rob me blind but fortunately I’m quite quick with hands.” Though the ruffian did get about 300 or so gil off the poor Marquis.

“Although, I was quite surprised to see how lovely such a city is despite its notorious reputation. I trust that Rude and you did your best to clean up the streets here.”

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

"Yeah? Well, I'll figure out who tried to rob ya and deal with him." He didn't like the idea of anyone doing anything to his friends, but in the city he was pretty much running it was completely unacceptable and Reno would deal with whoever had done it in the worst way possible. If he wasn't dead by morning he'd wish he was. Reno was unforgiving, thanks to his training, and while he was one of the rare Turks to be offered the chance to enter the elite, he was still as good as the others. Better even. He was Director material, he just tended to prefer to play second fiddle to Tseng's genius mind.

Settling back in his seat, the redhead winced as a set of claws suddenly sank into his thigh. Puss had dove from the top of a cabinet to land on his lap and Reno sighed, scooping the animal up and sitting him on the table with a frown. "Treno's a mess still, but I'm working on it. I'd do a better job if I wasn't always covered in claw marks."

He loved the grumpy cat but it got tiring to deal with being attacked, especially in the middle of the night when he wanted to sleep and not have to pet the feline for hours on end.

[marquisofthesky.livejournal.com]

Chuckling softly at Reno's creed to find the thief, Halim sure hoped that the Turk wouldn't do anything too hasty on his behalf. "Worry not, Reno. Such a man shall eventually face punishment for living such a shameless life by Faram's hands." Taking a sip of his glass, the Marquis' eyes lit up once he saw something leap down to Reno's lap. It was a cat, a ginger-furred feline that matched too perfectly with Reno's hair. The cat had adorable white paws, which made it look as if it was wearing little white boots and a darling little face.

"Ah, it seems you have a friend." Halim commented idly as he tried to lure the feline over. The two of them seemed to share another quality; they are both fond of animals. "I doubt he means to cause you so much difficulty." He chuckled once his fingers began to scratch one of those fuzzy ginger ears.

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

Reno rubbed pale hands against his thighs to sooth the stinging of the claws. "He's a nasty little guy but I can't help wanting him around." He chuckled softly and sipped his drink, returning to rubbing away the sting on his legs from where claws had sank into his flesh to keep Puss balanced on his lap.

"His name's Puss, which is better than what I called my cat at home. His name was just Cat." Folding his arms on the table, Reno rested his chin down and watched Puss prowl, and a smile crossed the redhead's face as the feline decided not to attack Halim but to enjoy the attention. The Turk would have been very irritated with his animal companion if he attacked Halim, because the Marquis was nothing but helpful and kind to come and visit him.

Wrinkling his nose, he propped his chin up on a hand. "Sorry I don't have a better place for us to talk... or anything to really say. I just... it's hard, so I don't really know what to say..."

[marquisofthesky.livejournal.com]

"Puss? That is a more creative name than merely calling it 'Cat'." Halim chuckled as he rubbed the feline's ears gently. Watching the amorous ginger-furred feline with a faint smile, Halim offered Reno a slight frown once the redhead started to speak. The young man was moping now, clearly showing the truths beneath that painfully fake cheerful display he shown downstairs within the lobby. Reno was finally being a tad honest in his demeanor but still seemed incapable of forming any words regarding the loss of his comrade and friend.

"Why are you apologizing, Reno? You must think of me as superficial to care about such minuet things during your moment of grief. I care not what we say or do as long as I know you do not mind my company."

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

"'Course I don't mind you, Halim. You're a pal. It's all those other people I'm fuckin' sick of..." He winced then, at his own bad language in front of Halim. He knew the man was royalty and that he prefered people speak cleanly and with manners. Reno was okay with manners but swearing kind of slipped out when he was frustrated. He wasn't as bad as some people could be but he got foul at times.

Settling back in his chair and drawing one knee up, Reno emptied his glass in one swallow, hardly flinching at the sting and filling his glass again, taking a long sip. "So, how're things with you, anyway? Politics have always been way over my head..."