2nd mission ☆ good with kids (?)

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

[Reno's sitting in a public park in the middle of Edge, dressed in her uniform, but decidedly off duty. That is, her superiors would probably prefer she be off duty when spending her time this way, as she's sitting sprawled on a park bench, eating french fries. Or fried potato strips, as the case may be in a world with no France.

She's not alone. There are quite a few people with her. Young people, aging in range from toddlers to teenagers nearing adulthood. Most of them are dressed in clothes that show signs of wear and tear; many of them look tired and hungry, their faces drawn: some of the numerous homeless of Edge. The majority of lost their homes and families to Meteor or Geostigma or one of the other recent disasters.

They may not be well-fed, but they're eating now, as Reno has distributed burgers and fries to all of them, and is leaning back and chatting with them in a personable manner. These kids and her have some things in common.]

I didn't have any family when I was your age either, and look how I turned out. [How can the world even contain all this amazing?] It ain't such a big deal. It makes you stronger, and the strong survive. You can make your own family, if you want. [She laughs as one of the kids asks for another burger in response to this and hands one over. He's got his priorities straight.] Yeah, you can have some more. Here you go.

[Another kid asks another question.] Sure, I can show you how to use the EMR later, not a problem. We'll have some fun. [She pats the Electro-Mag Rod she's got with her (as usual). Children + high voltage weapons = a great idea! She draws the line at guns, though. She enjoys talking to the kids, teasing them and laughing at their jokes. They're less annoying than most adults.

It really isn't bad, having no family, but sometimes she wonders if anybody related to her survived everything that happened to the Planet recently. She only has vague memories of her biological family, but she is famous, so maybe they'd remember and recognize her. With so much upheaval lately, it's hard to tell where everyone ended up, or when you might meet someone unexpected.]


[[OOC: Family event! Feel free to show up as an orphan, a Turk (the only people Reno does consider something like a family), or even a long-lost family member. Or just bother Reno; that's cool, too.]]

Comments

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[This is a new side of Reno. It's a rare side of Ami, carrying a few more lunches, too. She stays at the edge of the crowd of children, and lets Reno spot her first before saying anything or going further.

She isn't sure how she'll be received, after this long. She isn't sure how she feels, after this long. Shouldn't sisters have kept looking for each other, even if the planet was damaged? Even in so many emergencies and battles? She keeps her face impassively serious, but the question is foremost in her mind.

Does Reno even realize who she is, after this long?]

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

[Reno catches sight of the young woman at the edge of the crowd, but she doesn't really think anything of her, at first. However, when she remains there for a while, staring, Reno frowns.

There's something about her, but what? Reno gestures toward her, pointing at her with a french fry.]

Hey. You. Come here. [Her tone is still light and easy, but there's a note of authority in it. She is a Turk, and this is her city.

Although the french fry really ruins the effect.]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[So she doesn't know. Ami supposes that's no reason to be disappointed, and so she isn't. She does, however, take issue with that tone.]

I don't come just because I'm called for. What is it you want?

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

Well, you could. [Because that's a logical response.]

I wanna talk to you.

[She's still got that french fry in her hand. She realizes this, glances down at it, then puts it in her mouth and eats it.] So c'mere.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[That's a little better at least, and Ami is... curious; if Reno didn't know, why call her over? She made her way through the crowd of children, though, handing out the food with her as she went. Eventually, empty bag in hand, she stood in front of the children's other benefactress.]

Is there something important you wanted to talk with me about?

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

Do you want any fries? [Reno holds some out, fortunately still in their wrapping.

Though hopefully that's not the reason she called Ami over there.]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

You called me over here for that? [Ami puts a hand on her hip, not quite irritated, but certainly skeptical.]

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

Do you want 'em or not? [That's right, she's going to be annoying about this. You didn't answer her question.]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[For her answer, Ami quirks an eyebrow... and then helps herself to a couple fries.]

[plotdeviceturk.livejournal.com]

[If one of the silent kids near the edge of the group looks eerily familiar, it's because it's Tseng. When he was about twelve.]

Make our own family?

[He's careful when he talks, he knows that even now it's not always good to be wutiian and his accent is noticeable. Grown ups remember the war still.]

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

[He does look familiar. Very much so. She blinks. It's like a tiny Tseng.

That's... weird. Really weird. Well, she'll go with it for now.

The Wutiian thing doesn't bother her. Why would it?]

That's right. If you don't got one you were born with, you get to pick your own, unlike the people who have to deal with whoever they randomly turned out to be related to.

I know people with families like that, and they can get stuck with some real assholes.

[plotdeviceturk.livejournal.com]

[He has the most serious face ever.]

Who your parents are isn't random, and you can just leave if they're that bad.

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

[Way to be overly serious, mysteriously Tsenglike kid. That makes him seem even more eerily like Tseng. Also, don't disagree with Reno, she knows best.]

Okay, yeah, it's genetics, but you can't pick that kind of family, that's what I meant.

You'd think that, but it's not so easy for those poor suckers. They feel attached or obligated or something like that. Or else they've got nowhere to go.

[plotdeviceturk.livejournal.com]

There's always somewhere to go.

[He will disagree forever, he's ten.]

Having people care about you isn't a bad thing, even if you don't like them very much.

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

[Yeah, she remembers that there's a downside to kids, this being one of them: the smartassery.]

You and me know that, but other people don't, that's my point.

Maybe. But you can get some people you like to care about you, if you know what you're doing.

[plotdeviceturk.livejournal.com]

I don't really like anyone more than anyone else, I don't hate them either though. I'm...

[He frowns, looking for the word in Common. ]

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

So you're just indifferent to everybody?

[That's odd, especially for kid.]

if they have korean bbq they can have french fries too XD

[auncyenhalig.livejournal.com]

Don't give him that! [ from when she said it, it's obvious what she means is--the rod. Not the burgers. Even if those are unhealthy, they're certainly a lot healthier than what the kids have been getting, aka next to nothing.

She doesn't think they need high voltage in their diets, though, and she turns to the kid, explaining: ] It's not a toy, it can really hurt someone.

Ha ha, that is an excellent point!

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

[She turns toward Aerith with a roll of her eyes.]

I didn't say I was gonna give it to him, did I? They're not stupid. They know what it is. It's a hard life, they should know how to protect themselves.

[Kids think weapons are cool. It's a known fact.

Reno belatedly considers the fact that she is talking to Aerith, who is--well, dead. Not the weirdest thing she's seen, though, not by a long shot.] What're you doing here? [Her tone is more curious than accusatory.]

[auncyenhalig.livejournal.com]

There are other ways to protect yourself, too. And how are they supposed to learn self-defense with a weapon they don't have? Rods are more practical. [ Aerith is a bit biased, too. ]

Hmmm? I saw the kids. [ She smiles at them, waving hi briefly to some of the littler ones. Not much more reason needed for her to want to pop in. ] And I saw you, too. Such a ni~ce look for you... Did something happen? [ ARE YOU UNDERCOVER why do you look so convincingly like a girl... ]

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

Yeah, sure--but they can get one. Or something like it. There's plenty of ruins around. You can find lots of stuff you can use to hit things. This is a rod, it's just got some extra features. [Like the ability to electrocute things, an important and excellent distinction, in her mind.]

There's always lots of kids around here. [She shrugs, trying to look casual. It's not like she's trying to help them out or anything.]

Huh? [She looks down at herself. Did she lose her mind and put on the regulation tie this morning? Nope, her collar is sensibly unbuttoned, as usual. She's looking good, it's true, but when does she not?] I always look this nice.

[auncyenhalig.livejournal.com]

A little short, don't you think? [ 'Stop being so picky!' ]

...Reno... [ Aerith rolls her eyes a bit. Not to say that Reno normally looks much worse, but the difference is obvious. So she thinks 'he' is trying to get her to say something in front of the kids. But when she thinks a little more about what else was said... ] Oh, so...you knew you'd find kids here, huh? [ She smiles a bit. Yeah, suuuure you're not trying to help them out. ]

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

Short? My rod? No way. Look. [She holds it up to demonstrate.] It's cool.

[As far as Reno's concerned, she looks the same as always, so she's got no idea what Aerith's going on about.] Nah, it's not like I was looking for them--it's just-- [She sums up with a hand wave that doesn't really explain much at all. She doesn't want to seem like she was being nice.] You know. [She pauses, looking Aerith over thoughtfully.

Hmm, how to bring this up. Reno decides to go for the most tactful route (but not really).]

Uh, no offense--but are you a ghost?

[auncyenhalig.livejournal.com]

[ Shooting him a look. That... just happened for her, so it's still a touchy subject and she's not happy that just got brought up in front of kids. ] And you're a girl, [ she returns, clasping her hands behind her back. ] I think we're even for surprises.

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

[Why are you mad, Aerith? Kids love ghosts, didn't you know?]

Uh, hardly a surprise. I was born a girl. [Yes, people have told her of this mythical male Reno, but she hasn't seen him, so she is the One True Reno until further notice.]

Right, kids? [She turns to her young friends for support. A number of them are the kind of kids who think Turks are cool, so they've got her back on this one.]

So, what's it like?