Room 429, Thursday Night

[raspberryturk]

Reno	Okay. Hey, Thursday. And Reno wasn't certain if he was supposed to be writing a report for tomorrow or not. And the whole damn world was upside-down. And he'd been spending money on booze as though he still had a paycheck coming in. Maybe now was a good time for him to phone and see if he really did have a paycheck coming in. And then quit.
Tseng	"Tseng," Tseng said into his phone. Normally, he would answer 'Reno,' and ask why Reno's report was late. It was a standard greeting of sorts. Reno's report was usually late. It felt presumptuous, since he was possibly not Reno's boss any longer.
Reno	"Boss." Even if Tseng wasn't his boss, Tseng was going to be called 'boss,' dammit. Force of habit or something, maybe. "How's things?" By 'things,' of course, Reno was referring to ShinRa, the world, and his own state of employment. He'd be happy with any sort of answer, really, because it would be more than he'd had to work on three minutes ago.
Tseng	"'Things' are well," Tseng replied. Perhaps Reno could hear the amused smile. "Those who had Geostigma continue to show no sign of relapsing." Not that he had imagined they would. Aerith was more powerful than that. Kinder, really. "Though Edge is short a monument these days."
Reno	"Edge is a monument, just nobody livin' there wants to admit it. You put up a city made outta the ruins of another one, that's kinda what happens. You look around and go, 'oh yeah, Johnny's bar. They painted over the ShinRa logo from the East wall last week. The one they used to make the roof.' The Midgar Monument was just goin' through the motions, and everyone knows it, zoto." Reno was gonna open the ferret cage and poke at Mako. Hey, stupid. C'mon out. "That all that's up? Rufus ain't had a talk with Rude or the Rookie yet, or anything?"
Tseng	"If you wished to know that, you could have been more specific in your question," Tseng smirked. It was possible that he had missed toying with Reno.
Reno	"Asshole." Reno was grinning. Maybe he missed the banter. And if Tseng didn't want to be an asshole, it wasn't like he could do anything about it over the phone anyhow, right? "Really, no, there any updates on that whole... Uh. Turks thing? 'Cause I kinda threatened the Pres-- I kinda threatened Rufus and then walked out, and I'm sittin' here not knowin' what way is up. This shit sucks, Boss."
Tseng	"You should have called sooner," Tseng said smoothly. "Rude and Elena have both informed Rufus Shinra that they, too, are unsatisfied with their current terms of employment. I believe those conversations were quite different in tone, however." As Reno could well imagine. "Rufus Shinra and I have entered negotiations. It is a slow process. I do not wish to be rushed."
Reno	"S' kinda what I was callin' about," Reno replied, his tone even and confident. He had put a lot of practice into faking that tone. "So far as I'm concerned, there ain't nothin' to negotiate." The ferret gnawing on his thumb was wonderfully calming, really. Thank goodness for Mako. He'd be having conniption fits otherwise.
Tseng	"I see," Tseng said. "So you don't wish to work for Rufus Shinra, under any circumstances."
Reno	"You blame me any?" Heey, Mako. Good little Mako Dumbass. Daddy's gonna wrestle with you now. Attaboy. "I dunno 'bout you, but I was stickin' it out until he bumped off, zoto. And now he ain't gonna bump off. And now he's wantin' to rebuild ShinRa. Rufus 'Rule Through Fear' Shinra. Rufus 'Secretly Paying AVALANCHE To Do His Dirty Work' Shinra? You remember that guy?" Okay Mako, could you maybe honk a little more quietly? No? Ah well. Time to wrestle more.
Tseng	"I haven't forgotten," Tseng said dryly. "I happen to believe that we can come to an agreement, one that will be mutually beneficial. This does not mean that I'm particularly fond of him. Nor am I surprised that you're disinclined. I have told him expressly that he is to accept resignations from all three of you, should you choose to tender them, or there will be no arrangement between him and myself."
Reno	Reno fell quiet for a moment, drawing in a slow breath and looking up at the ceiling as he scooped Mako up into his arms and let the ferret crawl up over the shoulder that wasn't pressing the phone against his ear. "You're negotiatin' your freedom away." For... them?
Tseng	"I wouldn't say that," Tseng said easily. "I assure you, my freedom is still very much alive and well. I admit, it is easier to placate Rufus about his possible loss of three Turks by reassuring him that he will not be abandoned entirely. This does not mean that I intend to resume my old position, by his side." Tseng drummed his fingers on his desk, thinking once more about the future. It couldn't hurt to ask. "Reno. Would you ever consider working for me?"
Reno	"What, you plannin' on makin' a living sellin' encyclopedias out in Corel or somethin'?" Yes, it was a flippant response. And yes, it was accentuated with the hyperactive honking of a ferret while Reno waggled his fingers in the little critter's face. The truth of the matter was, there was something kind of like hope sneaking into his voice, there. "I ain't goin' door-to-door, yo."
Tseng	"Yes," Tseng said. "I was hoping to sell encyclopedias, in Corel."
Reno	"I dunno if anyone would want to buy a set of reference books from a kid talkin' fluent Midgar-slum and wearin' a sloppy suit," Reno mused. "And I ain't puttin' on the tie, yo." Reno sighed. Mako honked. The world continued spinning on its axis. "You plannin' on goin' into business somewhere, or what?"
Tseng	Tseng was silent a few moments before answering. "I was," he admitted. "It was somewhat Rude's idea, I believe. He asked why Rufus Shinra couldn't submit projects for us to bid on. I'm curious as to whether we couldn't accept bids from other interested parties, as well. We do possess rather unparalleled skills."
Reno	"Nobody gets a job done like a Turk gets the job done," Reno agreed, pursing his lips and rifling through his pet supplies. Treat for the ferret. Who's a good little weasel-goose? Huh? Huh? "Projects to bid on? You mean, like, he says 'I got a job for you Turks,' and we say, 'damn, I'd love to, but this Wutai guy is payin' bigger Gil this week?'"
Tseng	"Like that," he agreed. "Except I believe he would have to submit a proper outline of his request, with full disclosure of possible complications. We review the assignment, and we decide to accept or to pass. Perhaps we find it to be distasteful. Perhaps we require more gil. Perhaps we're booked." He was smiling, though Reno couldn't see it. Maybe he could hear it. "I have yet to suggest this. I am curious as to what you three might think. You're under no obligation, I assure you."
Reno	"I don't wanna rebuild ShinRa," Reno said, and that right there was his immediate reaction. No. No ShinRa. No more reactors and no freaking AVALANCHE and none of that shit. No being hunted down for saying no. Leaving alive? Yeah. He was a fan of leaving alive. "I'd do jobs for Rufus if maybe I knew what he was gettin' at. But I don't wanna rebuild ShinRa." There was a silence, then, from Reno's end. Except for the chittering of the ferret as he ate his treat. ... "I don't wanna rebuild ShinRa. But I wanna rebuild Gaia. And I wanna... still be a Turk, yo."
Tseng	"I can't guarantee that it isn't his aim, to rebuild ShinRa," Tseng said. "In fact, I believe that it is. However. Any assignment we receive, we may accept, or we may pass, and I would extend that to each of you, as well. If SOLDIERs First Class can refuse missions, then Turks certainly can."
Reno	Reno had to snort, at that. "SOLDIER. Yeah. Heroes, right there, yo. You ever hear 'em, bitchin' about havin' to get their hands dirty?" Yes. It was a tangent. Reno had to take himself a moment, here. "Pass it off to the Turks. Riiiight." He chewed his lip for a moment. "You manage to swing that kinda deal, then I'm in, zoto." Mako decided to help with the lip chewing. Reno took another moment to dislodge the nippy ferret from his face after a moment of sputtering. The ferret was then relocated to the floor.
Tseng	"Good," Tseng said. "I will keep you informed. In the meantime, be more careful with your ferret."
Reno	"Will do, Boss!" Reno smirked, poked Mako with one foot, and then caught himself grinning. "Don't go an' do nothin' I wouldn't do, yo!" And with that, he hung up. And grinned some more. Still a Turk? Fuck yeah.

[Preplayed with and coded by the remarkable the_merriest! NFI 'cause I'm going to bed, darnit~]