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

[emovampboy]

Vincent waits for Reeve to settle before getting in the car himself, sitting beside the man and watching as Abigail gets in; apparently the one who drew the shortest straw.

"You said this place is about a half hour away?"

[plate_builder]

“Depends on how safely Burgen is driving,” Reeve agrees and, hungry as he is, he pulls out a bagel. Might as well.

[emovampboy]

Vincent gives Reeve a curious look at that comment. Is he talking "safe" in the Cloud, Barrett or Cid sense, because each of those three have severe issues; though at least Cloud and Cid mostly bothered to drive. Barrett took his eyes off the road far too often.

[plate_builder]

“He speeds,” Abigail supplies. Figures their guest might not get it.

“Once we are out of Edge that is. We wouldn’t risk people.”

[emovampboy]

So, Cloud then. He can deal with that, and nods a little at Abigail in thanks for the heads up.

Folding his arm across his chest, Vincent then leans back to watch out the windows while Reeve eats. He hadn't paid a great deal of attention to the city when he came the evening before, so he may as well take it in now.

[plate_builder]

Most of the city is under construction so not really a concern to be thought on. Reeve himself is rather quiet. He has seen the city enough. Within time they are out of it entirely and on the road out of Edge and toward Kalm in general. If it could even be called a road.

“Was there more life around Midgar in your day?” Reeve asks, genuinely curious.

[emovampboy]

"A little." Vincent acknowledges. He recalls far more greenery, at least, before the Mako plants began to draw away the energy they needed to survive. "Some of the areas have always been barren, of course, but trees grew well in most areas."

[plate_builder]

“I have had a few attempts to grow things here. Edge still can’t really support it.”

Which is a shame. The place is gray and there is little to break that up.

[emovampboy]

"I imagine the planet is focused on its largest injuries right now." Meaning anything where Sephiroth and Meteor caused destruction, such as the Northern Cave. "Give it a few years, time to replenish, things should begin to grow again."

[plate_builder]

“Perhaps,” Reeve agrees. But he could still wish for some color. “At the very least I might see if some colorful fabrics can get brought to Edge.”

[emovampboy]

"Yuffie or Nanaki would be best for helping there." Vincent offers. "Although I would not allow Yuffie to do the decorating. Her outfit is a bit worse than mine."

[plate_builder]

“Not decoration. Clothes. They help affect how we see ourselves. And the people of Edge are always in gray.”

They need bright and hopeful colors.

[emovampboy]

Oh, that's what he meant. For some reason, Vincent was thinking of banners or something else to brighten up the metallic look for the city. Clothing would certainly be much simpler to get people on board with.

"I suppose... That would be helpful to morale as well."

[plate_builder]

Reeve chuckles. Somehow he should not have been shocked to hear that from Vincent. The man doesn’t put much thought into clothing. For now, he smiles out through the window and mentally starts to plan for that. So he is quiet for the rest of the drive until the car stops at the base of a hill. Well, the slopes side of a cliff.

“Shall we?”

[emovampboy]

He might feel just a little embarrassed, but it would be hard to tell with his stoic face. If it wasn't for the fact his eyes dart off momentarily when Reeve chuckles, it would be impossible to tell.

Which makes him content to remain quiet, watching everything as they go along, before finally analyzing where they stop the best he can.

It looks peaceful enough, out of the way enough, that there should be no one but them around. Makes it understandable why Reeve would enjoy it to begin with, and if the view he mentioned is anywhere near decent, that would explain the rest.

Nodding slowly, Vincent gets out of the car and turns to take the bag with the water from Reeve until he can get out of the car at least.

[plate_builder]

The man does relinquish the bag temporarily to get out, and then he nods to Abigail. She knows well enough to stay back a good distance normally. Today, with Vincent, there won't be any need for him at all, so she can stay by the car. With that he turns to start leading Vincent up the hill. No doubt the man can manage it faster, he's far more fit, but Reeve will take the path he knows.

[emovampboy]

Vincent seems content to take the long way, at least, since the short way would probably require using some of his super-human skill. And leave Reeve behind, which is very much not the intention.

It doesn't mean he won't easily keep pace with him, of course, walking only the barest bit behind Reeve as he leads them up, finding some conversation as he does.

"How did you find such an out of the way place, anyway?"

[plate_builder]

"We broke down near here once," Reeve answers. "I'm not as useful for changing tires apparently. Ridiculous. So I was given the task to climb this hill and watch the road."

It had been a bit tedious. Since then he had come to enjoy the hike, given the look at the end.

[emovampboy]

"Tires aren't an easy thing to change." It's matter of fact, and whether it means Vincent has issues with it or not is open to debate. "Not a bad idea to send you to higher ground, either. A good scout is important."

[plate_builder]

"I'm an engineer, I know the process," Reeve points out gently. But yes, he can understand why they did it even if he didn't agree. But soon they are cresting the hill and yes, from here the city of Edge is visible. Spires and scaffolding etched like lines against the shadow of Midgar, and they glint in the light. It's nice.

"I like it here. It's... beautiful in a strange way. Of course being me, I tend to find this sort of thing beautiful."

[emovampboy]

Process and execution are two separate things, aren't they? Like before, when Reeve was being more perverted than suave; completely different. And just as unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

Vincent's eyes scan the view instead as they arrive high enough for it to present itself. His eyes aren't as trained as Reeve's in this matter, but he can see in the mix of built and un-built buildings a form coming into shape.

"It flows. An up and down rhythm, like the Lifestream." Tilting his head, he continues. "It looks like care has been taken that nothing is more, nor less, important to the skyline."

[plate_builder]

That wasn't perverted. He can be truly perverted. Vincent has no idea.

"Life from death. Creation from destruction," Reeve agrees. Order from Chaos. That's just what life is. And he likes it. But he smirks and shakes his head at Vincent. "It's more than that, a bit more complicated. There will be taller buildings, things important to the skyline together. My own hand over Edge has become very light. I selected an old friend to take over in guiding the city. My responsibilities are elsewhere. But I know that there will be good from this."

OR so he believes.

[emovampboy]

Vincent would very much like to find out, eventually.

"Key word, together. I can't see you letting one building become a centerpiece, like the ShinRa building was." Moving, Vincent sits near the edge, dangling his legs over as he does so and indicating Reeve to take a seat nearby. "If you did allow one, I could see a hospital. Something hopeful."

[plate_builder]

"Perhaps you shouldn't come see the WRO HQ then," Reeve chuckles. It's large, because large is what is needed. But there isn't anything else around to argue for space or attention. Reeve moves after a while to sit with Vincent, though he does hesitate for half a moment.

"Again, it's not me that decides anymore. Edge needs to guide itself some, and I passed the task over to a friend of mine. He's very good at what he does, and he will help them."

His words are followed by an ominous rumble of thunder and Reeve turns his eyes skyward, as if annoyed by the clouds filling the sky.

"Sounds like the weather wants to make me sound dramatic. I'm normally not."

[emovampboy]

He smiles a bit behind his cloak again, amused at Reeve's comment. "Is the HQ so bad?"

His own eyes shift, however, taking in the quick-moving clouds, noting the obvious. "These weren't so laden with rain just a time ago."