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]

As Reeve checks out on the cloak the cat, who had of course been sleeping under a towel on top of the dryer. Annoyed to be displayed she jumps down and moves over to investigate puddles on the floor, before following them to Vincent. She circles with the caution of a cat and then jumps up onto his lap to sniff at his face.

"It will still be a while," Reeve mumbles as he returns to the kitchen to check the water.

Vincent isn't wrong to observe that Reeve stays busy. He hasn't really had a chance to relax in so long that he's lost the ability to really stop. The closest he got was talking the night before.

[emovampboy]

Vincent lets mittens sniff at him, holding still until she seems satisfied, before reaching to pet the spots she seemed to enjoy before, shaking his head at Reeve when he returns.

"I've got no where to go, so don't worry if it takes a while." He looks up, still giving Mittens any attention she wants. "May I ask something, though? Personal I'm nature."

[plate_builder]

The cat definitely enjoys the attention, purring loudly at the attention.

"You're welcome to ask whatever you want," Reeve answers. Look, the water is done. He pours that into the cups and quickly pulls out a spoon to stir it up.

[emovampboy]

Vincent waits until Reeve is grabbing the spoon to speak, not wanting him to burn himself when he asks his question. "Who is Jasper?"

[plate_builder]

Jasper. Reeve maintains calm rather easily. Stirs the drinks and moves to offer one to Vincent before sitting next to him. He's amused to see Mittens so pleased by his presence.

"I went to college with Jasper, engineering. I got him to come to Midgar from Junon. He's taken over managing Edge's development. An advisory role to the people of Edge."

[emovampboy]

Vincent thanks him for the drink, careful of the cat as he blows on it a little, and watching Reeve. "And what else?"

[plate_builder]

Okay then. Reeve sighs and shakes his head.

"We were involved, in college. We were serious. I thought we were serious. When I got the job with Shinra he told me to go after my dreams. He had a job in Junon lined up. We didn't see each other again until a few months ago."

[emovampboy]

"And now he's married." He finishes what doesn't need to be finished, sipping a little at his drink, considering a moment. He knows what he wants to say, but it wouldn't make Reeve feel much better, unless he mitigates that pain a little.

Carefully, he sets his cup down and leans over to Reeve. "There is a positive, Reeve..."

[plate_builder]

"It's more complicated than that," Reeve corrects him. The reason it hurts is more recent than that. "I realized it was the right thing to do then. And I moved on. When he returned, I had almost hoped he was single, but I could live without it. But when I had dinner with him and his wife, I asked how they met and started dating. Which happened several months before I left college. While we were still dating."

He'd been cheated on. And that much had been something he wasn't quite okay with just yet.

[emovampboy]

Vincent frowns, understanding. Lucrecia had been with Hojo, even though she and Vincent had something between them. Maybe if was different, since the poor woman had his wishy-washiness and indecisiveness to deal with, but the pain was the same.

Still, he's going to do what he thought initially, leaning closer to kiss Reeve gently, apologetically. "There's still a positive... I don't cheat."

[plate_builder]

Another kiss. Reeve is again left momentarily breathless at the touch of shock, of the joy to have Vincent initiate something. Then he's left smiling and he nods. Yes, he gets it.

"I wouldn't think you did," Reeve chuckles. "You're kinder than that."

[emovampboy]

"It's not kindness." He draws back a little, Mittens jumping down from having been a little squished. "It's keeping a vow."

[plate_builder]

A vow? Seems a bit much, but Reeve likes the idea of it. He nods and then catches sight of Mittens. Laughs as she walks off with her tail high as if to use it to show her disdain.

"Thank you. I suppose it's a trust thing? I just know I can trust you. I wouldn't need your word to know you'd be honorable."

[emovampboy]

Vincent can be over-dramatic, deal. Yet he is very serious, too, and something like this he's decided needs to be approached with everything he has; he wants no other regrets in this field.

Nothing to say that would help, though, Vincent merely nods at Reeve in an affirmative. Assuring him he's right on that trust.

[plate_builder]

Well there is a smile on Reeve’s lips now. Somehow all of this seems to reassure him. Even this comfortable silence. Smiling he sips at his cider drink and leans back. Maybe this isn’t so bad a day at all.

“I was worried about this party, you know. Because the others sometimes treat me as an outsider. Not Nanaki of course, but Marlene adores him so I could hardly monopolize him. And you? I had resolved to admire from afar. Because, well, I don’t have a good reason other than fear of rejection. So thank you for coming to the party.”

[emovampboy]

"Even with Cloud, they still sometimes forget good people worked for, and we're manipulated by, Shinra." Vincent grabs up his own drink, sipping a little. "Give them some time, though. They'll come around."

[plate_builder]

"I've seen his files from when he was with the military," Reeve admits, smiling to himself. "He was the most adorable and non-threatening grunt I've ever seen in a file. Probably best no one knows that."

Give them some time? And all this time wasn't enough? Reeve sighs and nods. "Yes, I suppose I will. Granted I won't be around as much now. Hard to give them time when I'm distant."

Barret and Cid he might be able to get on his side soon.

[emovampboy]

"Was he?" That was news to Vincent, who would have been well asleep by that time. Interesting to imagine, and fit what Tifa sometimes said about the past him; or implied. "And sometimes, it takes a long time. Let your actions continue to speak to who you are."

[plate_builder]

"I will try," Reeve keeps smiling as he takes another sip. Yes, he can do that. "And don't worry. I have no intention of trying to talk you into working with the WRO. You deserve a lengthy break from all the politics and complications the world provides."

It's as simple as that.

[emovampboy]

"Appreciate it." Vincent takes a long drink, signing contently and reaching up to unconsciously check how far his hair has dried. "Think the rain will keep up all day?"

[plate_builder]

"I would hope not," Reeve admits. Because he expects sooner or later Vincent will want to get back out there. "I wouldn't know how to entertain you."

He realizes he's not the most entertaining man.

[emovampboy]

"Have any playing cards?" Vincent uses the question as a suggestion of sorts. "I think I remember how to play poker, and several kids names like Go Fish."

[plate_builder]

"I can look," Reeve offers, bouncing to his feet. Chances are if there are any, they are ones he has accidentally lifted from Rufus's Turks. He crosses toward his desk to start sorting through odds and ends. "I'll pass on go fish, too simple."

[emovampboy]

So long as he didn't lift any of Reno's naked ladies decks, there would be no issues or questions. Play ing cards aren't unusual to have, and if it's s Shinra deck, even that still makes sense.

"Then we will stick with poker."

[plate_builder]

"Alright then," Reeve agrees as he digs. Finally, under some circuit boards, he finds a deck of cards. And yes, they were Shinra, but a bit newer than they rightfully should be. Not going to try and explain that.

"Do you mind if I deal?"