onepassingnight | 2nd mission ☆ good with kids (?)

[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.]]

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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.

[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?

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.]

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

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

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

[Reno smiles at this.] I saw you watching from way over there. You look familiar. You got a name?

[She was watching for a reason- But she can't say that, and admit that she's put so much time and effort and work into finding someone who may not be interested in their meeting at all.]

Mizuno. [She glances carefully for any sign of recognition.]

Mizuno Ami.

[Reno frowns. There's something familiar about that, too.]

Mizuno, huh? I've heard that name before. [She does recognize it, but she doesn't give much away as she speaks again, in either words or expression.] So what do you want, Mizuno Ami?

[She decides to speak the simple truth as the most direct way to her goal for this meeting.]

I wanted to meet you.

Meet me, huh? [Now she's got a strong suspicion about what's going on here, but she's not going to give away what she's thinking.] Why's that?

[Well, she didn't come here just to back out, right? And it's not like Reno can really know on her own; Ami needs to say it.]

I came because you and I, we're related by blood.

You're crazy. [She frowns. It's a sore point with her. Even though there is something really familiar about Ami. But she doesn't want to admit it, so she folds her arms over her chest.] I don't have any relatives.

[Really, Reno? Well now she's irritated at the slight to her intelligence in figuring this out.]

Why not try a blood test before saying that? [Because she's right.]

[Reno's never had any family except the Turks, and she doesn't want one. Maybe this is sheer stubbornness on her part. In fact, it probably is.]

A blood test? [Well, ShinRa can do that, no problem, but she doesn't agree to it just yet.] Ha ha, very funny. [She smiles, as if it's all a joke, but she doesn't think that. No, now she's going to get up and walk away from the kids, because this isn't exactly a discussion she wants to have in front of them. She leaves the remaining burgers and fries behind, so it's not like the kids are complaining. She gestures for Ami to follow.]

So, if what you're saying is true, and I'm not saying that it is, where've you been all this time?

[More than a joke, it's a sharp point that she has confidence in the outcome of any such test. She wouldn't be here if she wasn't sure. And she is very sure; she's done her research.

Ami follows, already smiling with innate smugness as she scents Reno paying attention now, just as the remark was intended to do.]

I should be the one asking you that. [This retort comes from the lonely girl she'd deny being, who's seen too many people turn their backs.]

I looked for you.

Yeah, right. Nobody looked for me. So why should I believe that? [She frowns. If someone was looking for her, they'd have found her. She's the world-famous Reno of the Turks. But none of her blood family gave a shit about her the way the Turks did.]

Where I've been is here. [She waves at Edge, and the wreck of the destroyed city of Midgar beyond the limits of the newer city.]

[The problem with that theory is that Ami is here now. The other problem is that she won't keep pushing forever, not where she's becoming more and more certain she's not wanted.]

I didn't know until now. [She's retreating already, keeping it strictly neutral for now.] So when I come to greet you, be more hospitable.

Hey, I just--you know, when someone suddenly comes up to you claiming something like that... [She frowns.] How am I supposed to know what to say?

I'm not exactly a hospitable person, and I've never had any family.

[She sighs.] So, hi.

[That opens up one, deceptively simple, question.]

Did you grow up wanting one?

2nd mission ☆ good with kids (?)

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