all that jazz
theme 23: fair trade
"This is my final offer." Elena gave a firm nod, eyes hard. "This is the only compromise that I'm willing to give. Do you accept?"
Reno and Rude quietly discussed this in hushed whispers. It was a hard decision to make, especially since Elena's bags were packed and hanging by the door. If they accepted, they may be richly rewarded. If they refused, well, Tseng may just have their heads.
"Guys! C'mon. Just say yes! Tseng wants me to get a first-hand experience of what a Turk should do. That, unofficially, also includes living with them. If you want," Elena pouted, desperate and changing her policy, "it can be temporary. I – I just need an idea. And living with you guys is the best way to do that."
"Hmm." Rude considered this, cursing his soft spot for her. "How long would this be?"
Crap. Reno noted, eyes widening perceptively. Rude's caving.
"Mm… a month? Maybe two?" Elena guessed, looking distastefully round their apartment. "I'll clean for free?"
"Done!" Reno slammed his fist on the table, sealing the deal and shocking Rude. "You're in forever. Rude, go and get the vacuum cleaner and tidy up the spare bed. I always knew that we needed it for something."
Taking, a rather stunned, Elena's hand, he leaned in and murmured: "Thank you. Rude is such a pig to live with. You have no idea that all this mess is caused because of him."
"… really?" Rude arched an eyebrow, not amused. "Huh. I guess that makes you, Reno, off the Jacuzzi and television for two months. Straight. Starting now."
"Oh dammit!" Reno creased his forehead, remembering a bunch of stuff that he generally ignored. All involving Rude and his Rules. "There was a really good show on today—"
"No." And that, Rude was quite satisfied to say, was that.
"Okay, 'Lena. Careful what you say around Rude, since he's a tyrant when things comes to his stuff. You get strikes and warnings and redemption and stuff if you adhere to his rules, but, just don't I that I didn't warn you."
Elena, however, wasn't listening. "You have a Jacuzzi?" Her ears perked up.
"Tis right this way." A perfect gentleman, Rude led her towards the luxuries of the apartment; the original terms forgotten, the changed terms accepted.