jikan_rpg | make it easy to be on top of the world (open)

[far be it from Zack to turn down an "experience" - and while it's not what he first thought of when he first entered the shop, he's still pretty intrigued. And why wouldn't he be? It looks like a fun little toy, innocent and harmless - especially compared to some of the other things he's run into and heard about. And because it seems harmless and fun, of course he's going to needle someone into trying it with him.

That someone just so happens to be a certain Turk! And hey, they work together pretty well - or they did, at least - so who says it won't translate over into something simple like this?]

Hey Tseng, check it out - think we can figure out how to get it off?

[ Several minutes ago, Tseng had gotten separated from Rufus and found himself standing in front of a stall in the night market, a shop owner trying to sell him an experience. He listens with no plans to take the man up on his offer, turning to leave when he notices Zack listening to the same spiel a few people over.

He was about to open his mouth, say something to Zack about how ridiculous this all is, when Zack turns to him, excited with a set of the fingercuffs in his hand. ]

Zack, I'm not interested in taking this man up on his--

[ And before Tseng can finish his sentence, Zack has grabbed his hand and shoved his index finger into the other end of the fingercuffs. Were this almost anybody else, Tseng would have been shocked, unbelievably angry... But, this is Zack, and he's one of very few people who can get away with doing something like this to the Turk.

He sighs, thankful that (at the very least) he's not stuck trying to get out of the fingercuffs with somebody like Cloud or, worse, Sephiroth. ]

I suppose we have no choice, now.

[listen, he was confident that they could figure it out! So what if he asked and then didn't actually give Tseng a choice - if it turns out it's harder than he thinks or something else happens, he'll make it up to the Turk, because he doesn't want Tseng to have a bad time. But if this turns out to be fun? He's not gonna feel bad at all.

The sigh does make him grin a little, though it's brief before he schools it back into a less amused expression.

(it doesn't work he's so amused right now)]

My treat. [what a troublemaker] It'll be fun! It won't kill you to do something silly now and then.

Zack, you know me well enough after the time we've spent together to know that something silly may actually kill me.

[ Try as he may, Tseng can't hide the small smile tugging at his lips. He knows Zack is right, but it's... difficult for Tseng to actually let go and relax. It's not something he was truly able to do in Midgar, especially once he started to rise through the ranks of the Turks.

He looks down at their fingers for a moment before looking back up at Zack. ]

It seems that you need to reevaluate what constitutes a treat.

Uh huh. I'm glad your sense of humor hasn't changed.

[but hah, Zack is already winning. Maybe not at figuring out how to get this thing off, but that's just a minor detail. A little fun won't hurt at all, and when it comes to things like this or, at least, things he puts his mind to, he has a surprising amount of patience]

I know exactly what "constitutes a treat", thank you. [he even does the air quotes with his free hand] And this counts. Or it will count eventually! Besides, we'll probably have this figured out before you realize you're having fun.

I'm fairly certain that we will never see eye to eye on fun.

[ He's stuck with Zack for the foreseeable future, finger in the fingercuff, no sign of being freed any time soon. He enjoys Zack's company, he tells himself, thankful that the SOLDIER is standing here, alive, and forcing him into having fun.

This certainly beats the alternative were they back in Midgar, but Tseng keeps those thoughts to himself. ]

Now, before I meet my end due to us having too much fun... [ He did warn Zack that something silly may actually kill him, after all ] Do you have any idea how we get this off of our fingers?

Never say never, man. Anything is possible.

[there will be no mention of what happened back home, thanks, no sad thoughts allowed. Which is usually how Zack functions, because addressing it will never, ever be easy.

Besides, who else can say they got the head of the Turks to participate in something silly like this, even if he maybe kind of didn't give Tseng a choice? No one, that's who]

The guy said we have to work together to figure it out - like, we have to do or say something and it'll come off. [he says, like it'll be easy!]

[ Tseng is quiet for a moment, weighing his options and digesting what Zack just said... And that's when he realizes that this will be next to impossible. ]

And you were given no further information other than we must work together?

[ They're both smart men, surely they can figure this out!! ]

That could mean a number of things.

That's all the info I was given, yup.

[vague information is normal! Even if it shouldn't be, but c'mon, they've worked with less, right? Zack leans over a little to give the toy a closer look, as if that will have the answer to this challenge.

(It doesn't. It looks the same as the top of it)]

Were you here for the flowers? It had to do with secrets and confessing, so maybe it's something like that. [a shrug, like it isn't a big deal] Either that or it's something much worse, like a hug.

[that is not a stifled laugh, no sir]

The flowers? I believe I must have missed that.

[ From what Tseng understands, he's missed quite a bit arriving in Nippon several months after Rufus and his Turks... Including a dick festival from what both Reno and Rufus have told him. However, this is the first he's heard about flowers. And, if that's the ticket to getting out of these fingercuffs... Well... Tseng isn't looking forward to discussing his deepest, darkest secrets with Zack.

The only person who knows those is Rufus and, even then, Rufus doesn't know everything. ]

I've already told you that something silly may actually kill me. Given that, what do you think a hug will do to me? [ He shakes his head ] Hugs are out of the question.

That's probably for the best, I heard it got pretty rough for some people. [and it dawns on him that, were Tseng here when it happened, he might have been one of them] Flowers grew in your hair, and the one of the ways to get rid of them was sharing something. Even I had a few I couldn't get rid of for a while.

[between the Hanahaki and the heat a lot of Nippon had it rough that month. But thinking back on that . . . he kind of hopes that isn't how the fingercuffs work. Not that he wouldn't want to get to know the Turk, but having it forced out is kind of unfair.

But in any case, silly things are better and now he's laughing]

I would think a hug would be easier. Since when are they silly?

I’m not big on hugs.

[ And he leaves it at that. Physical affection has never really been a part of his life, especially after becoming a Turk at a young age. Nobody ever hugged Tseng and he never offered… and he was happy with that.

Plus, nobody needs to get that close to him unless they have reason to.

He sighs, looking down at the finger cuff before looking back up at Zack, eyes narrowing slightly. ]

What, exactly, did you have to share?

[Zack doesn't answer right away. It isn't hesitation so much as it's considering, as the smile that's been on his face from teasing Tseng relaxes into something a little more serious. Just a little, though.

With a sigh he brings the free hand up to run through his hair, then rub the back of his head like he usually does when he's thinking something out. After a moment or two, he lets his hand fall back to his side]

You guys were after us for - what, almost a year? I'd only been here a month at that point, so I admitted to Cloud that I still felt like we were on the run. [there's no accusations in his voice, just a deliberate, matter-of-fact tone. He shrugs a shoulder] You don't just forget something like that overnight.

[he shakes his head a little, breathing out a quiet hah] Other than that, I told Cloud the truth about something he couldn't remember.

[his hand lifts to gesture, as if to say "there you go". The corner of his mouth briefly twitches] For obvious reasons, I was vague about it all.

[ Tseng is quiet as Zack talks, his words taking Tseng back to memories he doesn't want to think about. It feels like it's been forever since Zack was taken from their world, but in reality... it had only been a few months from the last moment Tseng experienced before entering the time loop that brought him to Nippon. ]

I was aware that the two of you had escaped from the Shinra mansion in Nibelheim.

[ They continue to walk, Tseng silent until they've come to an area that's out of the way, somewhere that allows him to maybe have a conversation that he doesn't want too many people overhearing. Given the information Zack admits sharing to get the flowers out of his hair, Tseng has pretty much resigned himself to likely having to do the same to free them from the finger cuffs. He has no idea where Rufus has gone, making a mental note to text him as soon as they're free. ]

Cissnei called me after she ran into you, admitting she let you go. That's when I found out you were one of the two escapees. [ He pauses, looking over at Zack ] I mobilized the Turks to find you, you know. It was my hope that we'd locate you before Shinra did.

[it's different talking about this with Tseng. With Cloud he has to be careful and vague, so that Zack doesn't accidentally say something that ends with his friend remembering something he isn't ready for. With Aerith, she knows the truth. But there's still a carefulness there to avoid as much detail as he can. With Tseng, he doesn't have to be as careful or as vague. There's no need to put up a facade or soften the truth.

He puts his free hand on his hip and sighs out, letting his head hang. The twitch briefly spreads into a faint smile] I heard about that after I got here. Cissnei didn't say anything, but she knew I had to handle a few things first. And after that . . . [he had to get to Midgar, no matter what.

With a deep breath he lifts his head to look at Tseng] That was gonna be my complaint. That you guys were too slow.

I'll make sure the paperwork is done and your complaint is filed properly.

[ The small smile on his lips is gone almost as quickly as it appeared as Tseng shifts from a joke back to their unfortunate reality in their own world. ]

Unfortunately, the Turks weren't given the same amount of funding that the rest of Public Safety received. [ He sighs ] I did as much as I could.

[ And it wasn't enough. It's something he still carries with him, something he's faced with every time he sees another SOLDIER. And he hates that he failed his one friend outside of the Turks. ]

I admit, I was shocked when Rufus told me that you were here and doing quite well.

Man, if you think you were shocked, imagine how I felt when I got here.

[he doesn't quite manage another grin, but there's still some amusement on his face. "Shocked" felt like it was an understatement, for both of them, but he can't think of a more appropriate word. He's not even sure one exists.

But he knows how it must have felt. Sephiroth was in Nippon too, after all]

I'm still kind of surprised Rufus was the one to tell you. [but thinking about it, that's who Tseng would have gone to check on first, right? President and all] I thought it'd be Reno.

[...

Zack shifts from foot to foot, as always unable to stand completely still. He looks away for a moment, lips pressed together] But I appreciate it, you know. That you tried. [hearing it from Reno had been one thing, but hearing Tseng say it was . . . something. The good kind of complicated something]

It was difficult for me to process everything when I arrived.

[ It's still overwhelming, dealing with all of the things Rufus shared with him the night he arrived in Nippon, knowing everything he and his Turks go through after Rufus steps into the role of President. He's still working through those things.

Seeing Zack doing well is hard, too... especially knowing that, were they to return to Midgar, he would be faced with reality again. Tseng is glad that he was able to tell Zack he tried to get to him before Shinra... and maybe he'll eventually tell him about the letters he promised he'd deliver, too.

He looks up at the mention of Rufus and Reno. ]

But, why would you be surprised that Rufus gave me the news?

[ Though, he realizes a moment after he asks the question, Zack would have no way of knowing that he and his Turks are devoted to Rufus Shinra and nobody else. ]

He was the first person I found in Nippon the night I arrived. [ He's thankful for that. ] He filled me in on life here in Nippon as well as the events that occur in our own world that I've yet to experience.

[ And that's when it occurs to Tseng-- ]

Ah, I suppose it's also worth mentioning that Rufus is my... [ He pauses, choosing his words carefully. ] partner.

[...........................

He's what now]

Yeah, I think that's worth mentioning.

[despite being caught off-guard, there's some restrained laughter in his voice] Now I'm surprised for a different reason.

[he pauses to give the fingercuff a careful tug, just to check and see if maybe that was the thing that freed them. It stays strong, surprisingly enough. How personal do they have to get, geez] How long has that been going on?

[but Zack doesn't miss the other part about it being difficult. He knows some, like what happens in a few years, thanks to Reno, and some of what's happened recently, little pieces he's gathered from the others. But that's it, and he hasn't had much chance to ask about it all]

What events haven't you experienced?

[ The brief tug on the fingercuff doesn't go unnoticed. Tseng, like Zack, had been thinking that maybe an admission of that magnitude would have successfully freed them... He sighs, wondering what else he'll have to share to free himself, and what Zack will have to share, too. ]

I'll start with your first question. [ Not that he wants to ] We've been together for the better part of four years. It's something neither he nor I spoke of, though I'm sure my Turks had their suspicions.

[ There's the smallest hint of a smile on Tseng's face as he says this. Blink and you'll miss it. ]

And for your second question... [ He pauses, sighing. ] The last thing I recall is Rufus becoming President after his father was killed, so I'm yet to experience the destruction of Midgar and the Geostigma crisis.

[ The difficult part was hearing everything that he hasn't experienced, that he'll experience should he ever find himself back on the Planet, back in Midgar. ]

I am aware of everything that has taken place that Rufus has experienced, however, including almost losing my own life after an encounter with Sephiroth.

[it's the answer to the second question that has him making a face. Aside from Tseng almost being killed, he knew about the rest, at least in the sense that he knows it all happened. And he'd learned about it from the Turks and Rufus, too - which might have been ironic, but that was also how it used to go sometimes, wasn't it? Getting details from Cissnei or Tseng.

But first: he saw that smile, you can't hide that from Zack]

I bet they had their suspicions. [a brief grin, the laugh he'd been holding back bubbling out] I'll keep it to myself. Figure that goes without saying, but.

[onto the rest, though . . . his expression sobers again, and as his hand comes up to rub at his neck he lets out a heavy sigh]

I've heard about some of it. I didn't realize Rufus was ahead of everyone, too.

[...]

I'll ask for details another time, I'd rather be stuck to you all day then this be the reason I hear about what's been going on. [heck you, finger trap] I don't have any shocking dating secrets to exchange, though.

You have no shocking dating secrets? [ He shakes his head ] Maybe one day you'll have a relationship reveal of your own... Though I hope the reveal wouldn't be under similar circumstances.

[ After admitting he sent the Turks to find Zack, and spilling his shocking dating secret about his relationship with Rufus, Tseng thought they should surely be free of the fingercuffs... Hasn't he divulged enough information for a lifetime? ]

Perhaps it's your turn to offer up something I may not know about you.

[ Tseng is happy to ignore the events that have taken place in their own world that they haven't experienced. While it's slightly easier for Tseng to stomach, knowing if he ever returns to Midgar, he'll experience everything... But Zack won't get that opportunity. And it makes the conversation that much more difficult. ]

I don't know if it'll be as exciting as yours. [a laugh] I'm not as private about that stuff as everyone else is.

[the humor is short-lived, though. Trying to think of anything Tseng might not know about him is tough, not just because Tseng probably had a file with every little detail about him somewhere, but because all of the things he can think of to say aren't the same as revealing a relationship.

He tips his head back with a face and scrubs a hand through his hair]

Sephiroth and I got drunk and fought outside of the city, a little after I got here.

Think that might be the only thing I have that isn't talking about what happened.

[ With a smile on his face, he gives Zack a curious look because that's certainly not what he was expecting. Were he talking about Genesis or Angeal, there wouldn't be any shock at all... but Zack? A bit unexpected considering how he normally reacted to Sephiroth pre-Nibelheim incident. ]

Can't say I ever expected to hear you say you got drunk with Sephiroth.

[ He pulls at the fingercuff slightly, closing his eyes for a moment when their fingers still aren't free. ]

make it easy to be on top of the world (open)

@necessarycruelties

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)