all that jazz

theme 26: passing notes

Reno—

Rude is brooding.

What do I do?

—Elena.

'Laney—

How can you tell that he's brooding?

—Reno.

Reno—

There is a great big emo cloud that I believe is suffocating me even as I write. I'd like him to stop.

Plus, he's not one to be surrounded by purple.

… I believe he does not like that colour.

—Elena.

'Lena—

Again: how do you know that?

—Reno.

Reno—

… we went shopping together – choosing the wall colours of my bedroom. Stuff like that.

Sorry you weren't invited.

We bought sundaes. Why did you never tell me that he is an absolute addict to the flavour of peppermint?

—Elena.

Elena—

Quite honestly, I didn't know.

Although, no wonder there's something off about your room… it's the colour! It's hideous.

—Reno.

Reno—

Because tacky khaki is the way to go? No way am I changing the wall-colour just because it brings out a sparkle to your eyes. I think sky blue is just peachy.

And um, can we get back on topic?

How do we stop Rude from brooding?

"Oh, hi, Rude!"

"Yeah, hi, Rude."

"… hi. Is there something the matter?" The bald Turk raised an eyebrow, slightly unsure of the atmosphere.

"No! No, of course not, why… why would something be the matter?" Jumpy and wide-eyed, Elena spoke quickly, trying to stuff the sheet of paper down the table, and failing exceptionally.

"Aside from the fact that you've been conversing with Reno via paper-airplanes, giving me covert glances, trying to act natural and yet, somehow, retaining the aura of a guilty person who hasn't yet been discovered, or abducted to jail for their crimes?" Dry, he asked.

"… yes. Beside that, Rude." Wringing her hands, another telltale sign of something not right, her cheeks flared, heating in embarrassment. She could never lie to her friends.

And the crumpled paper aeroplane fell to the fall, with all its scribbles, passengers that would most likely drown with the paper.

Pausing, Rude slowly picked the paper up, scanning the notes, his face becoming more and more intriguing.

"… huh."

Whoosh!

Another paper plane (Reno-styled, with a stamp of a chocobo added) flew, narrowly missing the shiny headed Turk's ear.

You're screwed, aren't you?

Said paper plane was promptly torn into shreds.

Reno pouted.

"Brooding, am I? A dark purple cloud that suffocates people with an overbearing presence, is it?" Only Reno noticed the amusement – the trace amusement – in Rude's voice that Elena clearly did not notice.

"Um…"

"Elena." A smile twitched on Rude's (otherwise) immobile face. "You could have asked."

"Who? Reno? 'Cause apparently, he didn't even know you had emotions."

"Oi!"

A sigh. A slight shake of the head.

One's a gossip queen and worrywart extraordinaire; the other's an absolutely kleptomaniac liar.

Was there any reason why they make such a ridiculous trio without the straight man?

"You could have asked me."