Reflections of Reno Chapter 1
Another Day's Drudgery
By Christina Bruno
"Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson
Reno opened his eyes. At first all he saw was a blur, however within a few
moments he saw strands of his burgundy hair hanging over his eyes. He brought
his hand to his forehead, swiping the strands back aloofly. Reno let out a soft
sigh and turned to look upon the nameless woman that lay beside him.
He cared nothing for her. He reached out his hand to touch her hair. He wondered if it was a bad dye job. Did she intend to be blond? Or did she prefer to have her hair be white? He lifted a few tresses in his hands and all he could see were her jet-black roots.
Reno did not want to wake her, in fear of what she might say. Perhaps she would never leave. He hated women like that. He shook his head, and turned his body so his feet were at the side of the bed. Reno rolled his head slightly; he was satisfied when he heard several cracks. It meant that he was alive. He gently set his feet down on the carpeting; he felt its soft stitching between his toes. He slowly stood up and felt the sun christen his face through the windows. They were taller than him. They took up the entire suite. The sun's glare was a killer in the morning, but there were no shades to stop it.
Reno squinted as he approached the window, to look out on the horizon. It was amazing what a couple of years and no Mako energy could do to a once ghost town like Corel. Everyone and their mother was using coal and other fossil fuels to fuel their fires, Corel was making millions. They used their profits to build. At first, it started out as cheap hotels. People would stay in Corel, instead of paying Gold Saucer's High Price for accommodations. However, Corel saw that they were making more money on the hotels than on their coal. A few of the hotels began to put Casino's in their lobbies. They used real gil, none of that GP bullshit. The people loved it. They came from far and wide just to win. After a while, people began to settle there. Businesses, Casinos, Monstrous Hotels, and even Strip Clubs were built on the sand that once was rejected by the entire planet. The people of Corel no longer desired that deserted life, now they favored flamboyance.
They weren't alone. After the Shinra fell everyone wanted to celebrate his or her vindication. In Corel, they did it in style. If you had a suite here, you were more than important. You were a Gambling Guru.
That's exactly what the former Turk had become, a gambler. After the fall, the Turks went their own separate ways. Reno knew better than to invest his money in Midgar banks. He kept his money scattered around the planet. Even he, an employee, did not trust the Shinra. He also kept minor investments in his pockets. At first, he stayed in Wutai drinking away some of it. It was obvious the boy had been in a deep depression. But he had decided leave Wutai after he saw the other Turks had gotten on their feet.
That was how he winded up here. Reno wanted to live the remainder of his life only living for himself. He wanted to indulge, and he had more than his share of pleasures. The hotel adored him. He was one of their most preferred customers. He would win most of the time, and the amount of money that he put out kept them in business.
He went over to the table, and poured a glass of scotch. He downed it quickly, thinking that this was life as it was intended for him. Besides, what else could he have possibly done? He was a Turk, and each city had its own government. There was no other place for him on this planet. Sometimes, he would hop on the monorail to Gold Saucer and play a few rounds at Battle Square nostalgically. But that was it for him. What's past is past.
Reno approached the door. He was clad in his boxers, but he had no shame. He turned the knob slowly. On the floor lay the paper. He took it in his hands, skipping the headlines. They were always meaningless. He went straight to the gossip column. He snickered a bit as he looked at the face mid column. The paper always had the blonde's face there; "Christine" was one of the paper's most revered reporters. Elena, you always did talk too much…
Reno tossed the paper to the side, grumbling. He was never ashamed of who he was. He began to see the indecent woman turn in her sleep. This was his cue to walk into the bathroom, and get into the shower. So she could leave discreetly and unnoticed.
Reno slipped into the suite's luxurious bathroom. He could bathe any way he preferred in here. There was a Jacuzzi, a shower, and just a plain bathtub. He could wash himself in either one of them. He usually used the shower the Jacuzzi and the tub were saved for fun and fornication. The man slipped off his boxers, and opened the door to the shower turning to knob. He waited until the shower was steaming hot and condensation clouded the vanity's mirrors.
He took in a deep breath, entering the shower and closing the door gently shut. He sighed as the water passed over his bare body, comforting him. He reached for the shampoo, and lathered his hair. He took the bar of complimentary soap and ran it over his physique making sure he was spotless.
When he was done, he got into the hotel robe and put it on. He peaked his head out of the door to check if the harlot was and indeed she was. Reno stepped back into the bathroom, and ran his hand over the clouded mirror. He looked upon his face. It was the face of someone more experienced. He thought of it as a face that was omniscient on the subject of life. Others just saw it as a face that was older.
He took some hair gel in his hands, and spiked his hair. He rose a brow noticing that he hadn't shaved in a while. He looked quite rustic these days. He shrugged, taking some soap. He lathered it up and took the razor in his hand. When he was through, he felt a violent string on his face. He had more than a few cuts on his face. It served him right, for attempting to shave without shaving foam.
He took some complimentary after-shave, and tossed it on his face. He jumped back for the throbbing was too intense to bear.
"…Fuck…" He muttered, shaking off the pain. He figured it would pass, eventually.
He stepped out of the bathroom, keeping his hands far away from his face. He opened his draws and glanced down at his clothes. He took his usual white button down shirt, and deep navy jeans. He took a pair of silk, sapphire boxers as well. He slowly dressed himself, when it occurred to him that he had omitted the process of brushing his teeth. He shrugged, continuing, booze kills all germs anyway.
Reno approached the door to his room and cracked it open. He inhaled, and stepped outside. He was ready to commence another day's drudgery.