middleofsomewhere | The Will to Fight: Conclusion

The Will to Fight: Conclusion

The battles rage loud and ferocious at the gates of the city and off in the ruined wastelands of Erda, and on the walls a struggle of a different kind occurs. The team who stayed behind at the towers are small but determined as they move stoically across the walls to right the stones that have become misaligned, even as their friends battle not too far away.

The city begins to hum. It's a quiet hum, not loud enough to be heard out where the others are fighting but it vibrates even through stone. The recovering monks assure them that it is done, the wards are back up and no demon will be able to enter the city.

Eventually the battle is won, all three battles. The demons fought back and killed, a major blow to their gate system that will keep them back for hopefully a long time. Those waiting in the caverns return to the city and by the time they get there the illusions are gone. Everyone can see the world for what it really is.

But despite the ruins of their world the people are relieved, the adrenaline of the fight coursing through their veins and the mood is one of hope. They will build again, their people will survive.

All Voidtreckers please return to the Voidtrecker Express. Departure will be in a few hours

It has landed not too far from the city, cloaked to make it unnoticeable to the citizens, for all the good that does. No one has been particularly subtle this last week. People can begin regrouping, packing up the camp and getting any wounded not already healed to the train.

However roughly half an hour later another message appears on their SCA.

Passenger Persephone has requested we remain on system System #86525656412355 for an additional day to further assist the people of Erda. The Voidtrecker Express will depart on the morning of Day Fifteen of the month of Kazoo.

The train remains where it is, so the voidtreckers can use its facilities. There is definitely a lot that can be done to assist those of this world and the citizens will welcome any helping hands.

After an extra day they finally depart, returning to the void once more.

(OOC Note: Once the wards are up any characters who are demonic in nature will not be able to enter the city either!)

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Reno frowned slightly as he glanced away, gaze reaching out far as he looked at the city as a whole. It reminded him of another city, left in ruins, slowly stripped of its parts so that a new city could be born, built piece by piece from scraps of the old. He missed the original. And hated the grunt work he'd done in the new. If only because it hadn't been exciting enough for a Turk like him.

He had done it because orders were orders. And the cause was one he agreed with. Building Shinra's reputation back up was always one tiny step away from his mind. He couldn't let go.

"You know, except that we absolutely will once the day is over. There's only so much that can be done in one day," he said, half muttered, half said to the wind as he continued to look in the opposite direction.

He eventually turned his attention back to Inigo.

"They'll be fine. They have all the time they need to rebuild. You, on the other hand, could probably use a break. Come on."

Brooking no argument, and not giving Inigo the time to object anyway, Reno grabbed the teen by the arm and carefully disarmed him of hammer, nails, and boards. He tossed the tools aside then roped Inigo into walking next to him with an arm around his shoulder.

"So this little place around the corner opened up just enough to help us 'adventurers' get back on our feet before we leave. Got the best smelling little pies and things. Quick and homemade, but cute little thing of a chef. It ain't much, they say, but they want to thank us. Can't deny them their gratitude, now can we?"

The boy sputters as he's suddenly physically being dragged away from the work he was right in the middle of. At least that's not a reaction that's very Reno-specific - even if it had been someone else, Inigo would have sputtered and protested.

Though the fact that Reno is doing it makes it a little extra weird, and therefore a little extra sputter-worthy.

"H-Hey! We'll have plenty of time for that on the train!"

.. okay, so maybe the food on the train may not always be as good, and there's sure to be a whole lot more variety here.. But he could also be helping people out right now, and that has to take first priority! Even if Inigo can't quite help the way he's being dragged along right now, with that arm over his shoulder.

"I want to make sure to lend these people a hand first..!"

Reno only saw it fair that he dragged Inigo away by putting his arm around the kid's shoulder and forcing him to follow along. It was supposed to be a friendly gesture, and even one that Reno would use in his amicable way of his with a familiar face. But maybe it was a little too fitting today. He didn't let Inigo get away.

"Don't worry about it," he said in his smooth voice. "They'll be plenty of time for that later. Come enjoy the smiles with me for a little bit. See what you did for these people and, you know, take care of yourself. It's already been a hard week's worth of work."

He wasn't worried about you, kid, that was your imagination. But all the same...come talk with him for a bit and ease his mind. Never mind the fact that he'd taken a blow that had him on his knees with Inigo present--clearly the kid was more vulnerable than himself and concern for the kid's well-being was higher than his own. Except, you know, not admitting that. Just gonna take care of the kid now. Like a good big brother? Which he wasn't very good at being.

"But--!"

Of course the protests don't stop that easily. Because this whole situation is so weird, for one. Not that Inigo truly thinks Reno is going to drag him off to some backalley and beat him up (.. probably, look it's not entirely 100% sure it won't happen since it's Reno), but he still is entirely unsure why Reno is trying to make him do this right now.

Mostly since he can just never fully guess at the other's intentions. Reno is the bigger mystery Inigo has ever seen.

And if he can't get away, no matter how much he protests, then maybe it's easier to just start questioning that instead.

".. why me?" Please, Reno, there are so many people you could drag off right now!

"Eh? Why not? You look like you need it."

He played it off simple as that. The real reason was more complicated than that. Of course, the last couple of times Reno had been honest with Inigo it had led to one disaster after another. It probably meant he should give up and move on but for whatever reason he couldn't leave the kid alone. Didn't help that they were stuck on a train together. If they had been in Midgar maybe things would have been different... who knew.

Maybe they wouldn't.

Reno drug Inigo around a corner or two before they reached their destination. As advertised, there was a small shop there with a proprietor that was doing their best to ignore all the damages and making delightful little treats for the train passengers and locals alike, attempting to make everyone feel better for all the hard work. They were handing out food and drink at the moment, welcoming everyone that came in through the busted front end--forget the door, there wasn't one. It was easy to just walk right in though and despite the broken wall the rest of the place had been cleaned as best as possible and set up to accommodate guests. It was as cheery as it could be under the circumstances.

It's at this point that Inigo realises he's just not going to get out of this, no matter what he says. The onle way to get out of this would be to put up a fight, and even if he had the actual energy left to do that at this point, Inigo knows it both wouldn't end well - if the last time he fought Reno was any indication of that, anyway - and that'd be pointless. Why fight someone else on the train, especially over something like this.

So he just lets himself be guided right along to the temporary establishment, even guided down to an actual seat if Reno takes him all the way there. Inigo truly is looking like he's playing the perfect part of the reluctant little brother, down to every last inch of him. He just flops down on the seat, first staring a moment at the makeshift table the owner of the establishment put down in front of it before slowly lifting his gaze up towards Reno in a 'you wanted us to come here, so you better grab the food for us' kind of sulky gaze.

Reno read the gaze accordingly and, with a perpetual amused smirk hovering on his lips, the redhead skipped over to 'place an order' so to speak. It was more like ask for a few things, discover they had this but not that, and eventually settle on some items to take back to the table for the two of them to share. He set down an herbal tea in front of Inigo and a less fragrant mug in front of himself. Not that he had any clue what Inigo really liked but tea was supposed to be kinda good for ya, right? Whatever, Reno had no idea, didn't really care. It seemed safe enough.

As for the food, there were a lot of pastries and other bread based foods with a side of cheeses and meats to chose from. There were quite a bit for just two people but again Reno didn't really know what Inigo might want and didn't care so long as the guy ate something. Reno would pick out something after Inigo did (and, later, return whatever the two of them didn't eat for someone else to take).

"See? What I tell ya! Some really nice stuff they got here for it all being last minute and stuff. Go on and try something so I can say I accomplished something for the day."

It's ironic. Because the moment all that food is being put down, Inigo is already reaching out and grabbing one of the pastries as if his life depended on it. Like he's a hungry street kid that hasn't had food for three weeks straight.

Which obviously isn't the case, but look, Inigo is being presented with something sweet. And Reno is nearby. He's going to eat those sweets before the other decides to not let him have some after all. You never know with Reno.

And yet, despite taking that food right away, Inigo says:

"Don't make me sound like a charity case."

You know, with the whole 'so I can say I accomplished something' thing. Even though Inigo definitely looks like a charity case, considering how quickly he snatched that pastry right up.

Well, Reno did like sweets quite a bit. If Inigo didn't snatch it up quickly enough the redhead might have not left any for Inigo if he had decided to pout about it instead. That didn't become the case however and Reno grinned lopsidedly in amusement as he watched Inigo act like a starving slum rat.

He'd seen a lot of kids like that after Meteorfall. There was no way to help them all.

He shook his head. "You look like a charity case. And ain't that what this whole train is about? A bunch of charity casework one place at a time. I'll take the check mark for today as accomplished with this though. Eat up, kiddo."

"I already am!" Inigo says.

.. or, well, maybe more like Inigo mumbles, since that pastry is already half-gone, disappeared into his very much full mouth he is speaking with right now. Good luck decyphering that, Reno.

He frowns, though it's more little kid pouty than actually angry. And once he swallows the huge bite his mouth was full with, he can't help but say: "Would it kill you to say one nice thing about me?"

There was no deciphering that garbage but Reno didn't bother to try. He got the tone of it. Despite the defiant tone though the whole scene caused Reno to laugh. It came out as a small chuckle as he watched Inigo stuff his face, eyes alight with amusement. He had no idea what having a little brother might be like but for half a second he imagined this might be a little like it.

"You're adorable," Reno said without missing a beat when Inigo asked his question. He smiled his lopsided smile and waited for Inigo's reaction. Idly, without looking, he reached out to grab some food for himself and begin to eat it all while keeping his eyes on Inigo, waiting.

Inigo was already halfway through grabbing a new pastry when he suddenly stops, apparently caught off guard by that coming out of Reno's mouth.

His gaze immediately snaps over to the other, not hesitating for a moment before speaking up again, as if he's reacting through pure reflex.

"A normal nice thing!"

Please!! Besides, he's pretty sure that wasn't even a genuine compliment. It's just Reno making fun of him again! That doesn't count!

"Hmm. That one's harder."

Reno said as he put on a contemplative look. No reason not to yank on the kid's chain some more. But after a moment his expression lifted and, talking softly as if he didn't want anyone else to hear him say it, Reno made another comment.

"I guess your combat has improved recently. You've been practicing a lot lately."

Don't think he hadn't noticed. There was very little space available on the train and the training gym was one of his preferred spots. He couldn't help but notice Inigo's training with Roland.

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The Will to Fight: Conclusion

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