Previously in NWC-
The party rejoins to discuss their findings. As luck would have it, the party found three separate items that seemingly coincide with one another. They begin to clear off the area surround the entrance to find that they were standing on a concrete slab with inscriptions. Satisfied with their findings, The party heads back to camp with CeCe opting to stay behind. Reno manages to anger Luna once more, turning to Medusa and getting a look of disappointment from her...
Not knowing what else to do, Reno decides to begin setting up the campfire for night time. He quickly finishes and begins to wonder where CeCe is. "She said she would be right behind us, didn't she?" Reno glances over in the direction of the ruins. "She'll be fine probably." Deciding not to worry too much about it, Reno decides to take a nap, waking up only after Luna tells Medusa to wake him up to make dinner. The party of three have their food and send Reno to deliver CeCe her portion. Reno carefully takes the food over, slightly disappointed that it's gotten cold. He spots CeCe standing in front of a large concrete pad where they had previously been searching. Mounds of dirt and grass were strung about the outer perimeter of the pad, serving as a reminder of CeCe's wind magic. "There you are! You've been out here for hours!"
"Oh! Has it been that long?!" CeCe turns to look at Reno, a slightly concerned smile on her face. "Sorry! I have a bad habit of getting absorbed in stuff I find interesting!" CeCe quickly jogs over to meet Reno halfway.
"As long as you're alive, I guess it doesn't matter. Here, it got cold." Reno hands over the portion to CeCe, sighing.
"Aww~!" CeCe smiles and takes the food, giving Reno a cutesy look.
Reno shakes his head slightly in confusion. "Fuck you mean 'aww'?"
CeCe bursts out laughing. "You really don't hold back, do you?! I meant it like you didn't have to! If it was going to get cold anyways then you could have just waited for me to come back!" CeCe happily walks over to a nearby pile of stones and sits down, eating her food. "Thanks though! I really appreciate it, Reno!"
Reno walks over and sits on the ground in front of her, looking back at the now cleared concrete pad. "Find anything at least?"
CeCe nods her head excitedly. "I did! I could tell you now and spoil it, or we can wait until tomorrow when everyone else is here. Your choice!"
Reno gives the area one more look before looking back to CeCe and shrugging his shoulders. "I'll just wait. The information isn't going anywhere. Just do me a favor?"
CeCe's eyebrows raise slightly with curiosity. "Oh? I don't see why not. If it's reasonable that is!"
"Make it sound more exciting than it actually is."
CeCe cocks her and frowns slightly. "Make it sound more exciting than it really is? I don't think I understand why. What's the reason?"
Reno shakes his head slightly and sighs. "You have a lot to learn, CeCe. Let me ask you; were you serious about possibly continuing this partnership after we get back?"
CeCe nods her head excitedly. "Yes, actually! I think you guys are super fun! It's nice to have Luna around to have one-on-one girl talk!"
Reno nods his head. "That's right, and Medusa, she's adorable. Right?" Reno's eyes narrow as he glares a hole through CeCe.
Noticing the shift in Reno's behavior, a drop of nervous sweat forms on CeCe's head. "Well, yes. Medusa is in fact very cute."
Reno nods his head again, this time faster and with more enthusiasm. "Yes, yes! That's why you gotta make things sound exciting tomorrow!"
"Huh? I don't think I follow."
Reno groans slightly and pinches the bridge of his nose. "As I said, you really do have a lot to learn. If you make things sound more exciting then Medusa will get more excited. If Medusa gets excited then she'll do her little dance again!" Reno pushes himself off the ground and closes his eyes, extending his arms out and wiggling them like worms. He sways left to right and nods his head with each change of direction.
CeCe breaks out laughing, trying to hide her reddening face. "What are you doing?!" She watches as Reno continues to dance.
"This is the dance Medusa does when she gets super excited! Left, right, left, right, forward, back, left, right…" Reno continues the dance, doing his best to imitate Medusa.
"I can't, I can't! I get it, just please stop!" CeCe continues laughing and trying not to spill her food.
Finally, Reno stops, sitting back down and smirking with confidence. "That's why I need you to make things sound exciting. Do you understand now?"
CeCe grins, brimming with joy. "I'll do my best! You got me hooked on seeing the dance first hand!" She continues to giggle periodically until she's finally finished with her food.
"All done? Sorry it was cold, I guess we could have started a fire here too, huh?" Reno takes the empty dishes from her and stands up, getting ready to leave."
"Leaving already?" CeCe looks up at Reno and tilts her head slightly, slowly twirling a strand of her hair with her index finger.
"You aren't?" Reno looks at CeCe with confusion.
"Not quite yet. There's still something I need to double check before I go, but you can head off if you want!" CeCe smiles slightly, leaning ever so slightly towards Reno.
Thinking to himself, he shrugs his shoulders. "I guess I can stay for a little longer if you're staying too. I didn't tell Luna I was staying out here, so she'll probably yell at me for that too." He sighs as he sits back down on the grass, looking up at the darkening sky.
CeCe looks down at Reno from where she's sitting, thinking. "Tell me about Luna. What is she?"
Reno's eyes glance away for a moment as he plans out his wording. "She's just a floating ball of light. I'm not sure who she is, really."
CeCe's eyes flicker as she lets out a quick huff of air. "You're lying."
Reno turns to face CeCe, his hands in front of him as he takes on a crawling stance. "I am not!" His eyebrows twitch slightly and his breath hitches for a fraction of a second as he looks into CeCe's eyes.
CeCe smiles and puts on a smug look. "You're bad at lying. Just tell me who she is and stop lying. I thought we were partners?"
Reno looks away, unable to maintain eye contact. "Look, I'm not lying just to lie. I made a promise to Luna that I wouldn't tell anyone. She didn't say I couldn't tell anyone that I'm not allowed to tell them, so I hope this is enough." CeCe observes Reno's face. After a couple of seconds he speaks again. "Luna's already getting mad at me all the time. I really can't afford to let her down again. I'm sorry." Reno looks into CeCe's eyes with a slight hint of sadness to them.
CeCe nods her head once and smiles, doing her best to give off an aura of understanding. "I understand, I won't pry anymore. Luna was very cryptic too, so I presume it must have something to do with keeping her identity hidden. Tell you what! As an apology for prying so much in your personal matters, how about I give you a little secret of my own?" CeCe speaks with a slight bit of uncertainty. She isn't entirely certain if Reno is someone to trust, but after seeing him keep Luna's secret she feels much more open to the idea.
"Ehh? A secret? Why would you do that?" Reno shakes his head, unable to grasp CeCe's motives.
"Think of it like an apology and an offer of friendship!" CeCe smiles brightly, clasping her hands in front of her.
"You don't have to apologize for anything. Plus, it wouldn't be much of a friendship if you felt the need to prove anything."
CeCe groans slightly, finally getting slightly irritated with Reno. She manages to hide her growing displeasure and continue to smile. "Fine. I'm telling you for the simple fact that I want to. Whether you choose to listen is on you!" CeCe takes a deep breath in and slowly lets it out, gathering her courage. "CeCe isn't my real name. It's a shortened version of it." CeCe slowly meets Reno's gaze, her heart beating slightly faster.
Reno takes a second, waiting for some sort of punchline. "Okay."
"Okay? That's it?"
Reno senses CeCe's growing irritation that's apparent in her piercing gaze. "Sorry, I meant okay as in I understand."
CeCe sighs, shaking her head. "Now I get why Luna get's mad with you so easily. Reno, just like with Luna I need to keep my identity hidden. I don't know what her reasons are, but if people found out who I am then my life would be as good as over."
Reno takes a couple seconds to process what she just said. "What is with the women here and having life or death secrets?!"
TO BE CONTINUED...