For Reeve

[emovampboy]

When it came to use of his phone, Vincent was very much like Cloud. He left it on, received messages and listened to or read them, but quite rarely responded. The few times he did respond tended to be if he deemed an actual answer to be required, or when from time to time Marlene got hold of Cloud or Tifa's phone and contacted him. Since it was so rare for her to do so, he always took it as a good thing to answer.

Which meant he had answered when she called him a few days after a message from Tifa asking him to come to a party for the girl, which he had ignored; his first mistake. Once answered, the girl had spent several minutes speaking to him, until suddenly springing the question of if he were coming to her party and making it quite impossible for him to really say no without seeming like a total heel, and so he agreed to go; his second mistake. And then he had made his third mistake - actually going.

At first, it really wouldn't have seemed to have been a bad idea. He knew everyone who was invited, how they acted around one another, and that Tifa would keep the whole group from going completely crazy over the course of the night, but he had not expected having to assist in breaking up one of Cloud and Barrett's squabbles when the woman had to leave for a short time to fetch something, and honestly he was glad that Reeve was invited and could help diffuse the situation with; especially when Yuffie and a very unhelpful Cid decided it would be a great idea to bet on who would win if they actually took to fistacuffs over whatever stupid thing it was this time which set them off.

All of this had left him rather done with company, and as soon as Tifa was back to be the adult in the situation, he'd snuck outside for some relative peace and quiet.

Comments

[plate_builder]

Be more easily reached then, Vincent. It had been hard enough to convince those he could reach that he was in danger. The scars had helped.

“A financial supporter of mine. Who prefers to keep their affiliation with a former Shinra employee and their potential future military quiet. Strange as it may seem, people do not trust me, Vincent. That is why I need the others so badly. My name still immediately invokes my former title.”

And that seems to pain the man, from how he sighs. “The first time I didn’t expect it. They had sabotaged my car. I was driving back from a meeting with one of the outlying towns that sprang up after the fall of Midgar. One of my first WRO recruitment efforts. I broke down near a den of Kalm Fangs. That probably wasn’t intended. The men and women who came after, when I was drained and my leg badly hurt, that was the bad part. I couldn’t believe people would want me dead. I’ve gotten used to it now.”

[emovampboy]

There was a difference between ignoring general reaching out and an attack, something Reeve would have found if he had called for that incident. Vincent was not as unconcerned with the people he worked
with as he often let on, after all.

He also wasn't sure he liked the response, and less because Reeve wouldn't give a name - he understood that - but the last part.

"Used to it?" His arms folded a little, and if Reeve hated being stared at, it was really too bad; Vincent was staring. "Have there been further attempts on your life?"

[plate_builder]

"As I said, I have a security detail now," Reeve reminds the man. And no, he doesn't hate being stared at. He meets Vincent's eyes easily, clearly not even remotely bothered by the way he's being looked at. The closest thing to being bothered he is happens to be his faint annoyance at having to look up at Vincent. Tall people make it hard to be righteous.

"There are those who believe I am trying to revive the company. How do you think people react? Unlike yours, my name is remembered as associated with ShinRa. I'm not to be trusted. But I will help them, no matter what."

[emovampboy]

That doesn't seem to put Vincent at any more ease, and so he just remains watching Reeve as he speaks, before finally closing his eyes. "What sort of security?"

[plate_builder]

"A three man team, not including my driver because apparently driving myself is a danger. Who knew?" Reeve says, and he crosses his arms over his chest at the question. "All armed at all times. That is in addition to me carrying more offensive materia at all times and learning to shoot myself."

If he had realized Vincent would get this testy over all of it, he might have said something earlier.

"I have it handled. You don't have to be worried about me."

But the fact that someone is actually brings a faint smile to his lips.

[emovampboy]

He doesn't have much response to that, since it sounds as if Reeve has indeed done his work, though he may do a little recon on that security later; no reason to not be cautious, right?

Though he does have a further question. "Where are they tonight?"

[plate_builder]

"Waiting, two blocks away at a meeting point. With my car," Reeve explains. "It was determined that with AVALANCHE I would be safe. And I didn't feel a need to pick them up before walking with you because I doubt you'd intentionally allow me to come to harm. What's more, I doubt you'd have invited me to walk with you had you known."

Vincent is a quiet, private man. Add a few guards to the mix and Reeve would not have been invited. Given his desire for a bit more mature company, and perhaps a bit his fascination with the frequently absent man, he hadn't wished to lose the chance.

[emovampboy]

He doesn't say it, but Vincent's look clearly indicates that he would definitely not allow Reeve to come to harm if he could help it. But not invite him to walk?

"Even had I known, I wouldn't ask you to just hide out."

[plate_builder]

"Well, I thank you for that. Shall we resume that walk, or are you self-conscious now?" Reeve asks, a touch of amusement in his voice. Please, don't hold back on your avoiding people for his sake.

Though Reeve is impressed by how much conversation he had managed to get out of Vincent.

[emovampboy]

Self-conscious? He didn't have a reason to be, since he wasn't saying or doing anything to be self-conscious about. Which means he just turns to continue the walk.

Unfortunately, his questions answered, he also doesn't have a great deal more to say. The usual topics that one might discuss, as well as more personal ones, seem to be out of the way at this point.

Though if he considers long enough, maybe he'll find a conversation? Or Reeve will? Or they'll just walk in silence for a while. It's really all the same to him.

[plate_builder]

Walking in silence works for Reeve right now. He even seems a touch pleased to have the chance. Strangely enough he's found that always been watched over by dedicated guards makes for a life where you just want some space from them. And it turned out that his, let's go with allies, were hardly suited to being company. Still, for all that he doesn't mind the silence, he still can't keep quiet that long. He has so much he wants to know. Apparently he really does need to ask Vincent a question.

"If I had called... what would you have done?"

[emovampboy]

It took him this long to ask? He's rather surprised at that, having expected it much sooner. Yet he's glad it took a moment, as his response is more measured this way.

"Come and offered security for a time."

[plate_builder]

Would he really have done that? Perhaps it would have been that simple.

"I wouldn't have known that," Reeve answers. "You're distant from everyone. I could not imagine to be an exception to that. Even our conversation now continues to catch me off guard."

[emovampboy]

"Not an exception." He corrects this. "I would protect any one of you if you needed it."

[plate_builder]

"No one else would need it," Reeve answers, the words immediate. And even a touch sharp. There Vincent has accidentally hit a nerve. That Reeve is the vulnerable one. Everyone else can fight, save the children. Reeve has to rely entirely on magic. The last member of their 'group' that was true of died to save the world. And he knows he can't compare to her. After a moment he shakes his head.

"Sorry. That shouldn't have been sharp. I've had a number of disagreements regarding the matter. And was laughed at by Barret for needing the assistance before I had to turn to someone else for help lining up a protective detail while the WRO trains up suitable members."

[emovampboy]

"Barrett needs more help than he lets on." Why else would he turn to Cloud so often? It surely wasn't only because Cloud was more popular with the ladies. "Sneak attacks can also put down the strongest fighters."

[plate_builder]

If Cloud is more popular with the ladies, someone should tell Cloud that. He hasn't seemed to notice. Yet what Vincent says isn't entirely wrong. Doesn't make Reeve feel any better.

"I'm also supposed to be one of the smarter ones of this group. Highly educated, and having spend a long time in a company where backstabbing was the order of the day. I didn't see it coming. I was naive to think help would be welcomed."

No, he's beyond this. Went through all of this with that 'benefactor' of his. He'll put it aside. He takes a deep breath and calms himself slowly.

"I'm sorry. I doubt you wanted something like this when I came outside. I should have left you be."

[emovampboy]

Vincent just shrugs, as if it doesn't bother him that Reeve is griping. He's quite aware of the feeling behind it, has felt it before himself.

"I'm not bothered."

If he had been, Vincent could have suggested going back, or not even invited Reeve along to begin with. He could also tell him to call security and take off himself if he was so inclined.

[plate_builder]

Strange, really. He expected... a different reaction really.

"You never fail to surprise me, Mister Valentine," Reeve admits after a long moment. "The others are easy enough to read. You? I never know what to expect you to do. How you'd react."

[emovampboy]

That remark brings just the faintest of smirks to Vincent's face, hidden he hopes behind the collar of his cloak. Reeve isn't the only one who doesn't know how the quiet man is going to react; from time to time, Vincent manages to surprise himself.

"We should head back soon." The smirk has by now fled, and Vincent has turned back towards 7th Heaven. "By now, at least Tifa will wonder where we are."

[plate_builder]

Yes, the smirk is hidden enough for Reeve not to notice. Probably for the best. If he knew Vincent was amused by this, he would be quite confused.

"Nanaki would as well," Reeve points out. Nanaki just wouldn't point it out, like Tifa would. "And no doubt if Tifa noticed she's asked, and that means Yuffie will have come up with some silly idea that perhaps you've gone full vampire and have lured me out to drink my blood or something."

[emovampboy]

"Aren't vampires usually supposed to prey on beautiful young women?" It's not meant as an insult, and his next words show this.
"Which means she would more likely complain I'm not bleeding the right person."

[plate_builder]

Now that earns a full laugh from Reeve, one that leaves him shaking a bit in his mirth.

"My assumption would be that vampires prey on whoever they can get alone. I can't imagine the blood of a 'beautiful young woman' tastes different. And compared to you, I am young."

Won't claim beautiful and definitely not a woman but he's definitely amused. "Besides, she's definitely too young for you."

[emovampboy]

"Mm." That acknowledgement seems to be related to Yuffie being too young, and though he doesn't elaborate, hopefully Reeve realizes he would have no interest in her even were she older; just too much trouble.

He doesn't even seem offended at that reminder of how old he is. He's well aware. Though if he were offended and had such a personality, he would point out that both Cid and Reeve looked older than he did.

[plate_builder]

Looks aren't everything, and not everyone has ethereally good ones, either. Granted, what Vincent had to go through to maintain them was horrible to even imagine. And Reeve has the good taste to not even think along those lines.

What he does notice is that Vincent has gone back to a quieter stance, and he'll respect that. Leave the man to lead them back to the raucous noise of their companions. No doubt Marlene will be expecting them for cake or something.