animus_network | oo1 [ video ]

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oo1 [ video ]

[While he usually uses audio settings back home, this time he's going to use video. It might help if someone recognizes him, and not just by voice. Which is why everyone can see that he opted not to use the white jumpsuit (because who really would?), and instead used the clothes that he had found in the trunk. Thank god they gave him brushes, too, or his hair would be a mess.]

This connects to the network, yes? This is Tseng, Director of the Department for Administrative Research. ID Number 46952. [There's no confirmation after that, of course, and his eyes narrow.]

After awaking in room 03-04, I found the letter stating that Gaia had been destroyed. Unbelievable, of course, and whoever has decided to play this kind of prank can be assured that their pay will be docked.

[The collar, too, is a nice touch; just enough that it's annoying, and such a garish color.] I'm more concerned with someone touching my things, and somehow knowing what to pack in that trunk. They also left me without a lighter, if there is anyone willing to lend me one for a moment.

Any and all information from a reliable, spoken source, would be appreciated.

[End transmission.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It takes Rusty a while to get over the shock of seeing Tseng alive]

It's not a prank, sorry.

[His tone is it's usual seriousness, and scars coming out from beneath his shirt are different from the ones he had back on Gaia.]

I can debrief you in the cafeteria, I was going to head there myself and you should eat as soon as possible.

[Oh, what the hell. Turns out Martial Arts was right. A very different Reno, to be sure.]

...All right. I'll be there in fifteen minutes.

It's down on the first floor.

[there's a nod, and he's gone.]

[Reno is always relatively easy to find by his hair alone, and he's very calmly sitting at a table in a corner with a bagel and tea. He's wearing a tie properly though his jacket's on the back of his chair.]

[He doesn't need to respond to that; he'd see him soon, in any case. When he arrives in the cafeteria, it's easy to find him. No one else had red hair like that.

Except for the other Reno, apparently. But this one was wearing a tie. Looks like the world really did come to an end. When he got to the table, he took a seat across from him.]

What is going on?

[Oh, it has. Reno had gained a few levels of serious and leadership in the time since he'd last seen Gaia.]

That depends on who you ask.

[His tone is mild, like he's talking about office politics or the weather instead of the end of the world.]

Gaia is gone, along with a number of other worlds. This tower and I'm sure a few other places, are playing rescue. It gets... confused though. People can appear here in more than one incarnation, like me and Sparky.

Differences in time and even experiences occur, I spent nearly a year aboard a ship that was doing the same as this tower. Mind you, Captain Redd did a far better job of it than the morons in charge here.

[He sighs, one of the few signs of how stressed he is.]

We should be relatively safe from what was destroying the universe though, those of us aboard the Elegante took care of it.

[He probably sounds a bit like Vincent... and Director-y]

[He sounds odd. Very odd. It's not comforting, but at least he's able to get the information out without having to pull any teeth. Literally or figuratively.]

What is the Elegante?

It was the ship I spent nearly a year on before coming here.

[a pause as he considers Tseng for a minute, Vincent not remembering him when he was here briefly had him cautious about even telling Tseng he'd been there too, but...]

I'm not the person I was on Gaia, Tseng. A lot has happened since I left.

[He would have noticed if Reno was gone for a year, but he doesn't need to say anything about that right now. This is about finding out information, not just satisfying his curiosity.]

Such as?

[Reno took his time to take a drink of his tea.]

I died. Twice.

[He steeples his fingers together.]

I also buried both you and Rude, after fighting for the future of the universe and swimming a few miles while nearly dying from bloodloss.

[It's the truth.]

[That sounded interesting. Very interesting, actually, and while Tseng wasn't sure what the entire story was, or if he'd ever know it, he was keeping internal notes. He could focus more on the dying twice part, or he could move the conversation along.

If they were indeed stuck here, then they would have plenty of time to delve into those topics.]

Cloud Strife was unavailable to save the world again? [He needed something to eat and drink.] What was the cause of death?

[There's a brief moment of confusion at the 'again' part, he hadn't actually experienced that part of events.]

He wasn't available, though we had Spooky and Veld on hand.

[there was a grin at that, something of his old self cracking through.]

Oh, and Sephiroth but the one here doesn't remember. Like you.

[Spooky and Veld. That got him to give a hint of a smile. Veld would have approved.]

I'm sure they were appreciated. [Sephiroth. He can feel the scar throb just at the name; not that it's anything more then a normal scar, but the name brings up the memory of cold steel going through him.]

Like me. I'm afraid there are some discrepancies in our memories. [He glances to the kitchen.]

Is there anything I need to know before eating?

Yeah, I figured. Spooky was here, but... he didn't remember either.

[He's gotten used to it, more or less. Though it's still an odd hollow feeling when it crops up.]

You have to eat the oatmeal first, there aren't any rules here and the people in charge are worse than the Science Department in what they do to people.

[Oatmeal? Could be worse.] Give me a moment, then.

[So long as the oatmeal isn't poisoned, or worse. He wasn't in the mood to deal with that. Coming back later, he has a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of tea for later.]

The smell is much like something from the mess hall. [He takes a bite. Yeah, it tastes worse then it, too. Swallowing, he dabbed at his mouth with a napkin.]

What have they done to people so far?

Never ater there if I could help it.

[There's a tiny grin at that, something of a joke he'd had running.]

Let's see... there was the death tournament, insomnia, some sort of... contest between the jackasses running the joint that involved Science Department level fucking with people from what I've gathered, everyone's abilities going haywire, no food for a month... and that's all I've seen.

There isn't even a bar.

[He contains a grimace, taking another bite.] I suppose it could be worse.

[He means the food.] Dealing with some psychotics, and the chance of death every day. It is fairly reminiscent of points in the past, and I am not such a fan.

[The look he does give Reno is a mixture of amusement and annoyance.] Is there any alcohol in this place?

Dying isn't as much of a problem as it was back on Gaia.

[There was a sigh at that.]

You don't stay dead, no matter what happens or how you die. Even if there shouldn't be anything left to bring back, you still come back.

[It was twisted in ways that even Hojo couldn't possibly achieve.

There was a small grin at the question, and he pulled a bottle with a handmade label with 'ShinRa's Finest' written on it.]

Me and Sparky've been making it. Better than nothing which is what there was.

And people come to this place even if they're dead. Like First Class SOLDIER Zack Fair.

[Unsure if he needs to finish the oatmeal or not, he goes to take a sip from his cup of tea. At the sight of the bottle, he couldn't help but give a genuine laugh at that. He should have known.]

Much better then nothing. I am impressed.

[He'll just reach out to take, if that's okay, wanting to inspect the label.]

...What happened to you? What was it that had you become director? This is not an insult, but despite all we had been through, you had never changed this much.

[A sigh. He knew he'd have to explain better at some point.]

The last thing I did back on Gaia was drop the plate. I personally haven't been through anything that happened back there after that point. Instead I spent nearly six months with Vince and Veld as the only people I knew from Gaia. Sure you were there but... we had a bit of an arguement after the first time I died.

[Rude hadn't been there to be the voice of calm reason to keep him from making stupid descisions. Hell he hadn't even seen the man alive until recently.]

I know the most about how these places work and what's going on outside of it. Sparky isn't ready to be Director and I doubt any of the others want it.

[He didn't have anything waiting for him back on Gaia.]

I'm not the guy you knew anymore, I'm not afraid of the responsibility involved or having to make the hard descisions.

[Frowning, he looked down into his cup of tea for a moment. It wasn't the kind he usually liked; there were no tea leaves floating around in it, and the bag couldn't steep long enough to be anything other then dirty water.

While he would never admit it, there was a part of him that felt all of this was too much. He still felt like he hadn't slept in days; he'd come here straight from being tortured, to saving the president, to now being in this ridiculous tower. Yes, he'd "woken up" in his room, but it wasn't the same thing.]

No. He's not ready to be director. At the point we're from, I would not wish him to become it.

[You could be, he thought, knowing that this Reno had, in fact, become it. It still did not sit right with him, though. No.]

What was the argument about?

You never telling anyone what you're up to, the plate and the ball of inefficent that was. You and I never teaming up. It didn't help that I was drunk off my ass and had just died. We didn't talk for a bit then I broke your nose and it was better.

[You're not Rude, Tseng and neither was Vincent. He'd felt like you couldn't trust him, that no matter how hard he'd ever work he would never be good enough.]

... I get it now though. You had to keep the lot of us safe, and while you still could've told me what you were planning I get it.

[Sometimes having people know can fuck things up.]

[He didn't really trust anyone. Not after everything that had happened with Veld. Trust was not an easy thing to come by, in their world.]

Something as easy as a broken nose seems to fix things, doesn't it? [He took another sip of tea, putting the mug down.]

As you may have noticed, teaming up with someone was never an easy thing for me to do. You worked more effectively with other people then with me.

[He spun the mug around slowly.] That does not mean you were never good enough. Validation might not be something you even want, right now, but I do need you to understand that, if we're to work together, here.

[There's a small laugh and a shrug.]

I'm over it Tseng. Shit like that isn't what really matters, impressing people isn't what being a Turk is about and neither is life. Too much ego gets in the way of being able to do what needs doing.

Don't worry about taking the reigns, I've got things pretty handled.

[He raises an eyebrow at that.]

You have things handled? I'm sorry, but while you may have been director back in your home, I am mine in my own.

Which is to say, while your input would be helpful, I will be handling things from this day forward.

This isn't Gaia Tseng.

[There's a bite of angry venom at that, have you been paying a note of attention to anything?]

But fine. You want to deal with the bullshit and madness this place has to throw at you? You want to deal with the fact that everyone here is about five minutes from descending in to total madness and slaughter? You want to watch everyone lose their Shiva-damn mind when there's nothing you can do to help? You want to try to give the rest of us hope when there's none?

Fine.

Just say the word Tseng and I'll just walk away. I'll walk away and never look back because I don't have a reason to stay other than that they're Turks and they need someone who knows what the fuck is going on to be Director.

[He's angry, so angry Tseng.]

Just say the word and I won't bother any of you again. I know... I know I'm not who any of you want around anyway. I'm not... the person any of you think I am.

[the next part is quiet, barely breathed out.]

I'm not your Reno.

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[offline] ffffff i am so sorry about this mess of renodramas you've been thrown in to.