Solitaire is not the Blondie
Oh what a lovely nap that was.
Reno lazed himself to the side. One arm was thrown unceremoniously over his face, still grasping the pillow and using it as a shield against the sun. While the comforter was pushed completely away, he was still covered from the waist down in silken sheets that kept the temperature perfect.
Mmm… No, he certainly didn't want to get up.
The redhead indolently grinned to himself. If waking up like this wasn't familiar and comforting, he didn't know what possibly could be. Yet alas, the pulls and lulls of sleep were tugging away, leaving him to bask within full consciousness.
Of course that didn't mean he had to actually get up.
As Reno sat in perfect comfort, he realized that wind chimes could be heard in dull notes. When had those been there? He certainly didn't remember those being there since he first crash landed on the island.
But it was ok. They could stay there. Those useless little clangs were actually soothing.
Softly, the ex-Turk exhaled.
Nothing specific could actually be heard to notify anyone else being present in the shack. That and after his first freak out, he realized the possibilities of anyone actually finding him. The debris from the helicopter was long gone and sunken.
Crimson lace slid gently as Reno rolled onto his back. The pillow in his hand was carelessly removed, the redhead's oddly bright turquoise oculars free to stare up at the ceiling.
Though it was perfectly logical to stay where he was, Reno had always been the antsy type despite his lethargic nature. It really was a combination from hell. But that really was the way his anxiety condition rubbed off on his physical person. 'Irritating' would be the proper description for it.
So with a more audible exhale, sun kissed arms pushed Reno up into a rather half assed sitting position. It was still more like lounging. But damn well good enough.
Idly, he reached a hand behind his head, musing loose strands that tickled his bare lower back. Eventually they rebelled and slipped right through the long prodding fingers.
With a tilt of the head, Reno flicked his visual perspective all over the cabana thinger. Though it was obvious how useless the action was, seeing as he'd already figured that Cloud was probably out planting seeds or some naturist bullshit like that. Either way, Strife was gone and he had the place all to himself.
Sadly, this wasn't Healin and there was obviously no loud stereo to blast or beer to chug down. So apparently he was going to have to amuse himself very manually.
At that bullshit prospect, Reno almost tossed himself carelessly back into the bed, face first.
And to think that his boredom probably wouldn't be alleviated until Cloud returned. God, did that thought make him wanna scowl. Instead he frowned. That is until he realized he could scowl in peace all he wanted. So he did. And it was a scowl of contempt if he must say so himself.
Of course after a few good minutes, he realized how useless this was as a means to create amusement. In fact, this train of thought was absolute killing it and sticking the ex-Turk in quite the pissy mood. A childish, pissy mood at that.
So again, with a deep inhale, he sighed away the needless tension and carefully got up from the bed.
That position was really starting to hurt his shoulder anyhow.
Bare feet touched at the ground, their stability perfect due to actually not being intoxicated for once. That usually was the cause of nearly all the naps he'd ever taken. That or right after a grueling training session.
Again, he mused his hair only slightly while the soft pitter patter of his feet took him into the connected dining area. Sluggishly he would rove his eyes over all the areas of the shack, as if believing an anonymous object of interest would just suddenly pop into view and obtain his curiosity.
Hmm… Chair, floor, table, window, kitchen… Walls…
His eyebrows began to furrow in mild distress.
Cup, cupboard, dish..table..?
…
This sucked utter balls….
Reno huffed in frustration. There really hadn't been much of a point to get up after all. But still, he persisted. Again, he attempted, making aimless circles around any area he could walk on. His search only seemed to make him want to whine.
There was a pen with no paper and a bottle with no water. A pen and a bottle can make a bong, but there was no plant, herb or anything worth burning that he'd even bother with. Much too much work with no reward.
And then, there was that little deck of cards he vaguely remembered seeing before. Frustrated hues had brightened and widened considerably. The deck was neatly tucked next to a few clean plates on the kitchen counter.
Reno made a very quick snag for it and lightly held it to himself with both hands. Decidedly at that very moment, he would treat this amazing gift of cards with pure love and respect.
The redhead was promptly sat down at the table and shuffling away. Solitaire was the name of the game, casino style.
Cloud had taken himself for a nice bath. The shack had grown a tad stuffy, the humidity of the later day had rolled in as the sun was finally making its slow descent into the night.
Still though, the heat was brimming on nearly unbearable as always. Of course it would remain that way until it slipped below the hem of trees. Thankfully, it was nearly there.
Long ago he had finished his habitual tidying up in the shack. Now after a leisure scrubbing, he was leaned back into the same pool of water he had shown Reno earlier that day.
Blonde strands were slicked onto the back of his neck, the breeze cooling it soothingly. And even despite the sun which had burned Reno into crisp bacon, Cloud's pallid skin remained as it always was.
The blue eyed male tipped his head back, lightly dousing the back of his head into the water once more. Pulling his skull free from the pool, he again resumed relaxing against the smooth and chilled boulders.
Water splashed slightly as he moved.
'I should probably go back soon.' His mind grumbled. Though in reality, he figured Reno might sleep for at least another hour. Cloud was not personally aware of the eccentric mans sleeping habits, so assuming wouldn't do harm. Especially since there wasn't anything mandatory that needed to be done.
With this resolve in mind, Cloud sunk himself deeper into the muscle relaxing water and shut his eyes.
There would be plenty of time to be stuck in the same premises as Reno. If anything, he would surely be spending more time in the hot spring more often than not if he wished to keep his sanity and temper.
A swift breeze blew in from the left, seemingly agreeing with Cloud. The blonde ruefully smiled ever so slightly.
Yes, one more hour could only do good. It's to be expected as such.
Soothing liquid covered the blonde from the chin down as he slipped even lower.
…
Queen of hearts on the king of spades.
How. Fucking. Long. Was. He. Going. To. Play. This. Torturous. Game….
Reno moved in to lean on his hand, yet quickly recoiled as the pressure on his wrist sent a shock into his hand and down his forearm. He hissed.
He'd been playing this game for nearly an hour. 15 wins, 7 losses.
It's no fun to play a game that virtually holds no challenge.
It also didn't help that all his movements became so mechanical that he'd already been shooting aimless questions around his mind.
'For God's sake, I'm not even thinking about this stupid game anymore…' bitter thoughts continued rambling within his head.
Reno was getting frustrated, antsy and bored out of his mind.
If it was one thing he grew tired of, it was games he played mindlessly without actually comprehending it. Where was the amusement in that?
Exactly, there was none. He could be sparring with psycho blondie and not even have to think on making the next 5 moves in this solitaire game. It couldn't even be considered multitasking.
Without much thought put into the action, he again moved another card. 5 of clubs onto the 6 of hearts.
Absolute frustration was already brimming. So before he shoved the cards off the table to childishly stomp on them, Reno abruptly stood. The chair backed out with a little more force than necessary. Yet it was left behind as the previous occupant had already slid away from the table altogether.
Briskly he began making his way through the living room that held the large bed and around the corner to see the bathroom door. With a long huff, he moved inside and crouched next to the small cabinet.
Surely enough, Reno was already rummaging through it. A bunch of objects of no particular interest met his cerulean gaze. That is, until he found the aloe he was looking for.
It was strange that irritation made him kind of itch to begin with. But while he was sitting there, spacing out into a desk of cards splayed into his solitaire game, the ex-Turk finally realized that his burnt skin was in need of attention.
Well, at least he had something to do for a few good minutes.
Standing up with the tube in hand, Reno turned himself out the door and towards the edge of the bed in the other room. Rotating about, he softly set himself on the edge while popping the tubes top open. Easily he squeezed a fair amount onto his hand, the chilling substance making his skin thirst even more for some treatment.
An alleviated sigh came out, his forearm being slathered with the lovely salve. His drying skin drank it up for all its worth.
The thing is… There really wasn't jack shit to do on this stupid sand pile in the middle of nowhere.
"I mean really, who the hell can live here for longer than a week?" Reno grumbled to no one but himself.
He was already finding himself heavily displeased. What made it all suck more was that he didn't have a place to call home anymore.
That thought dampened his mood even more, the motion of his hand pausing for a brief moment.
It was bad enough when he was younger; living in slum city with no real place to stay at. From streets, to warehouses and dump filled parks. Even his house with his mother wasn't really a substantial home.
The redhead mused slightly at how in actuality, his mom's place was more like a whore house. But when he did come back, sometimes one of older women brought him something to eat. So they were ok.
Reno personally never had anything against whores. It's a way of life and means of survival. Even he knew that when he was 8 years old.
Absently, he canted his head to the side, rubbing more substance into his neck.
Either way, he'd be pretty lucky if Cloud came back soon. Staring at the pretend walls made from wicker felt awkward. It only made him realize exactly how little material it took to make this bungalow.
That and of course the fleeting memories that would slip into his vision.
He'd rather deal with irritation than the past.
…..; God help me, I updated.
I really.. really gotta thank everyone who reviewed last chapter. It got me to write more until I only had a sad amount of barely 4 pages. Now I have uhh.. 5 plus a half..ish!
My muse ran under the couch it seems.
But hell, I have really awesome reviewers!
So thank you guys very much and I hope you enjoyed this chapter despite not a whole lot happening.
