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Post by *~Nikkole~* on Sept 26, 2006 4:22:52 GMT
she laid her cards down. ''straight flush...'' she looked back up at him. ''i win.'' she stated.... but didn't brag. ''you wanna shuffle this time??'' moving right on ahead. poor kid.... never stood a chance. aw... but he'll get over it. he's got a lot more on his mind than a silly card game.... i hope he picks a new game
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Sept 26, 2006 4:25:27 GMT
Reno sighed, but effected a half-smile. "Naw, you shuffle. You seem to be pretty good with your hands." He gave her a significant look to accompany that observation as he forked over some coins and waited for her to deal. Sheesh, I'm starting to get bored... Who woulda pictured me, in a spaceship with the hottest chick ever... just sitting around, BS-ing and playing cards? I should just tell the girl I want her and have done with it... but that's the fastest way to get slapped, I find.
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Post by *~Nikkole~* on Sept 26, 2006 4:27:41 GMT
she chuckled. ''street rat love. you can't find anyone better... '' she shuffled the cards and tossed them back and forth in a showy manor. ''have to make a living somehow.... and i don't.'' she dealed out the cards and looked directly at him. ''believe in stealing....''
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Sept 26, 2006 4:30:29 GMT
Reno smirked in return. Yeah... and I bet you have a bridge to sell me, too. Whatever. Only one other way a girl like her could make a living onm the streets of Midgar... a way I'd prefer to not think about. He studied his hand. Much better, this one... But it could still go either way.
He offered up four coins this time, to try bluffing her from the get-go.
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Post by *~Nikkole~* on Sept 26, 2006 4:33:58 GMT
she looked at her cards. darn... not as good as the last time. oh well. she set out five again... ''i know what your thinking.... tried it. hated it. good luck in gettin' it.'' she grinned playfully at him. this guys a riot.... i'm gonna have fun with this one.
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Sept 26, 2006 4:46:15 GMT
Reno wasn't sure how to react to that remark. He matched Nikky's coins without a word. Sheesh... she doesn't look like she's any older than, what, seventeen? Nineteen? Probably older than she looks... But all the same, what kind of life sets up a kid to have to do that?
Maybe a life kind of like mine... parents couldn't afford me, shipped me out to train with all the other "Shinra brats". Good thing I was a good fighter, or G** knows where I'd be now. Some of the other kids didn't make it... Maybe that's why I have a soft spot for kids...
He grinned at her again, so she wouldn't think he was looking down on her for what she'd been. "Everybody's gotta do what they gotta do. Most people, they do stuff they don't like much, making a living and all. Look at me-- I'm a Shinra stooge. The beating people up part is fun... the bad PR I often find myself a recipient of is not." He raised her two. "Glad you found something else to do, anyway... what do you do, exactly?"
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Post by *~Nikkole~* on Sept 26, 2006 13:54:15 GMT
she nodded and folded. ''i traded and sold with in my group.... not much really. we just travelled around, taking care of each other. but then...'' she sighed. ''we got seperated after our leader, was murdered.... *she seemed saddened. codell was her best... and most loved friend. ''we had to scatter. since then well...'' she grinned again. ''been tryin' to find work.... its hard when you're as picky as i am.'' she shuffled the cards again. ''what one are we on now?? three??'' she seemed to get a little more distant, rushing off the topic.... she'd admit it, but not out loud, that it was a sensitive spot.... a weak point. she just hoped reno would move on to something else. she looked up and smiled rather weakly.
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Post by Squall on Sept 26, 2006 17:01:21 GMT
Squall stretched headed towards the thingpit, Guess i should get going, theres other ways for the others to get to Junon... Squall sat down in his chair and tapped something into the control panel. * beepidy beep beep* There was a dull hum/roar and the ship began to shudder slowly. " Sit tight guys!" * Wooshes off towards Junon*
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Sept 26, 2006 18:33:36 GMT
Reno braced himself as the ship took off and relaxed as it leveled off at cruising speed. "Fourth hand, actually. Score's at two to one." She'll have to win both the next hands to beat me. If I get the next hand, this game's in the bag. "Hate to think what kinda work I'd have to take if I got put out of commission. I've been doing bodyguard/security work since... well, since I can remember, practically." That wasn't entirely true, but the few memories he had of his so-called childhood weren't worth repeating. The first noteworthy memory he had was Elena, about fourteen at the time, bawling him out for talking out of turn during training orientation. Was she ever not a stiff? "I'd probably wind up being a waiter or some stupid s**t like that. Not that there's anything wrong with being a waiter, but it's not exactly my idea of a good time... unless I was working at, say, a gentleman's club or something like that... But I'm sure jobs like that are pretty hard to find."
****
Ami relaxed in her cabin, preparing to get her first decent sleep in weeks. She'd been on the road too long for someone her age...
What's going to happen if or when I go back home? Will my family --my adopted family-- even recognize me? How can I prove Jenova's never going to bother us again? What will they think of Squall? They'll like him, sure, but Dad was never too hot on the idea of me dating... I'm beginning to be less scared of fighting the Sins than of confronting them.
She lay down. My birthday is in two days... I wonder what they'll be doing. Wonder if they'll do anything. I wonder... if they even miss me at all. I'm actually starting to miss them, a little.
Her thoughts continued on this thread until she finally dozed off.
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Post by Squall on Sept 26, 2006 18:51:05 GMT
Squall put the ship in auto pilot and paced up and down... Freak waves and a creature in the sea... Sounds like another sin? *sits and rest chin on his fist* If it controls water then we gotta keep luts out the way? *Stands up and paces again* What about Ami? She lost a lot of her old ways when she lost her jesomething cells?... *Sighs* Leaving me and the chronies... oh and the new girl... *sighs some more* I liked having Ami by my side... Felt like i had something worth fighting for, I could look after her... * Goes for some food*
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Sept 26, 2006 19:14:42 GMT
Ami was having some pretty psychadelic dreams. She was dreaming about a rather unremarkable afternoon she had at age five, playing in a sandbox at the village park, with two teenagers a few feet away, having some kind of quarrel.
"For the love of G**, you're such a jealous p***k!"
"You said you were going to the library to study. I drove by and your car wasn't there."
"I biked over there! Everything in this d**n town is within walking distance! Why don't you trust me?"
"I can't help it... I trust you, I just don't trust all the other boys in town..."
"I CAN say no if someone makes a pass at me, you know..."
Her brothers, ages eight through fourteen, were solemnly watching the bickering lovebirds.
Kadaj snorted. "Girls. Never worth the trouble."
Yazoo shrugged. "I think the girl has a point. The guy's practially stalking her. What's he so worked up for?"
"At least he's got a girlfriend to get worked up over," Loz grumbled.
Yazoo rolled his eyes. "Please, do NOT start bellyaching about Hannah again. And for the love of G**, do not start crying here in front of G** and everybody."
Too late. The waterworks were already in motion. Yazoo sighed. "Well, so much for a peaceful evening. Let's get back to the house."
Ami collected her toys as the boys came over to get her. "Crybaby," she muttered under her breath.
"Come on, cut him some slack," Kadaj reprimanded. "He was only fourteen at the time, and Hannah was his first crush."
Ami did a double take. She didn't remember him saying that before. "I never said it to his face," she argued, her voice suddenly sounding a lotolder than five. "Maybe he would have grown out of it if someone had."
Kadaj shrugged, also suddenly sounding older. "We can talk about all that some other time. Right now, I have a small warning for you. Sorry to interrupt your nap, but dreams are the only venue of communication we have left now."
Ami looked at her kiddie outfit, a pink frilly dress. "I would have preferred a telegram. Good grief, I look ridiculous."
Kadaj shook his head incredulously. "This is important. I know you're curious about this Rinoa you keep hearing about, but you have to be careful. That curiosity could easily become jealousy in the hands of Leviathan."
"Of who?"
"The Sin you're about to help fight. And you'll be fighting him in your own strength, so be extra cautious. Whatever you do, avoid bringing her up to Squall for any reason. If he starts talking about her, cut him off. Don't think about her at all-- and if all else fails, just remember to show a little respect for the dead."
Ami nodded her understanding.
She woke up a split second later. Aw, man... I'm still drop-dead tired, but there's no way I'll be able to get back to sleep now... She headed out of the cabin and met Squall in the corridor. "Fancy meeting you here."
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Post by Squall on Sept 26, 2006 19:22:12 GMT
"hey" Squall said happily, " Just gonna get something to eat you want anything?" Squall kissed her on the cheek, " Were gonna arrive at junon soon..." Is she gonna fight too? What if she gets hurt? " ...When we have some free time Ill teach you how to use magic?" Squall smiled at her, dont think im calling you weak or anything!... Ahh stop digging a hole! Im turning into Reno!
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Sept 26, 2006 19:39:47 GMT
Ami nodded. "Still a mite hungry, I suppose. I better eat now... don't know if free time will be something we'll have the luxury of anytime soon. This thing we're going up against sounds like a bruiser."
So, this thing is Jealousy... Well, if Squall could fight Lust for me, I can fight Jealousy for him. Blast it, Kadaj, I wouldn't have thought about Rinoa anymore if you hadn't brought it up. Just forget it. Think about something else. "I heard Reno saying Junon's not a bad vacation spot. We should do something fun while we're here." Not working. Start thinking about your family again. That'll take your mind off things... "I'm just starting to think, maybe I should call my parents or something, let them know I'm all right. It's been nearly a month since they heard from me."
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Post by Squall on Sept 26, 2006 19:44:01 GMT
Family? ... Guess I never thought of her having a family, being a shinra... Yea. Squall nodded, " Theres no communication available on this ship Im afraid... Hey when we beat this whatever it is we can take a nice vacation and you can phone home?" Squall looked at her for a moment, somethings up... Should I ask her? ... I dont wanna make it worse... *Puts his arm around her* "Cmon lets get some grub"
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Sept 26, 2006 19:55:15 GMT
She smiled. "A vacation sounds great. I could definitely use one." Her thoughts about this mysterious Rinoa girl finally started to evaporate, but one persisted. Respect for the dead... what exactly did he mean by that?
She snuggled back into Squall's arm. If Lana could see me now... my adopted sister. Hope she's still walking the dog regularly... she was the only one who found out I was running away before I left. She was at a sleepover and came home early to find me on my cycle, which I hadn't ridden in nearly a year. She knew what I was up to, but she didn't tell Mom and Dad anything-- she knew what it meant to me, and she knew they wouldn't understand. They tried to understand so hard, but... maybe it'll be easier now. I don't have any more secrets --voices in my head and whatnot-- to hide from them. She kissed Squall's cheek in return and put an arm around him, feeling warm inside. Lana always thought I was a prude. She'd die if she knew about this. She giggled quietly at the idea.
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