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]

"Sent him looking for you two," Tifa explains, a touch of annoyance in her voice. "I would expect it from you, Vincent, but Reeve? Given you situation I would expect you to know better."

"Now Tifa," Reeve says, putting up placating hands as the woman approaches, ready to get in his face for not being concerned with his own safety, "I was perfectly safe. Vincent was with me the whole time. You, however, seem to be having a hard time keeping the guests in order. How about I see about dealing with Cid and getting Cait settled down? Vincent, can you stop those two from arm wrestling?"

He doesn't even wait for a response, just goes right over to pluck the bottle out of Cid's protesting hands, chiding him about how he knows Shera expects them to return Cid to her in prime condition. Which this does not count as. As for Tifa, she looks about ready to lecture Reeve over the fact that she doesn't need their help. But with a sigh she instead looks to Vincent. "Can you just... do something about Yuffie? I'm going to see if any of our friends here managed to remember to rent rooms or if they just assumed I'd be putting them up."

[emovampboy]

Vincent is ready to take the blame for their wandering off, but it seemed Reeve had it more than handled. Sometimes, he really could make an excellent politician. Or maybe a hostage negotiator. Might need that with Cid.

At Tifa's question though, he looks over to where the girl is excitedly yelling "one more! I'll win this time, I swear!" while Barrett looks far too happy with himself over this.

He nods. "I'll see what I can do."

And he has this horrible feeling he's going to end up with a ninja stuck to him regardless of what approach he takes to this. Better secure his materia.

[plate_builder]

"Thank you," Tifa smiles before heading over to join Reeve in talking Cid down. And possibly denying him the right to fly home tonight. The old man would definitely suggest it. Between the two of them it will take some effort to talk Cid down. However that isn't Vincent's problem right now. Instead he gets Yuffie.

"Hey Vinny, help me bring this old guy down a peg!" she says when she sees him approach, already throwing the entirety of her weight onto Barret's arm to try and pin it. Worse for her, it's his robotic arm. She doesn't have a chance.

[emovampboy]

"No." Such a simple response will probably enrage the girl, but he doesn't mind, leaning forward to gently pull her hand away from the metal arm. "It's time for everyone to leave so the birthday girl can sleep. Ok?"

Nevermind it's still a bit too early, at least this has a chance to work by making Barrett think about the only thing that matters more than whatever is in his drink-addled mind; Marlene.

Indeed, he's pleased enough when Barrett seems to catch the hint, and further encouraged when Marlene, having heard the comment comes over to beg her daddy to come sit with her before bed.

[plate_builder]

With Barret's attention elsewhere, that frees Yuffie up to turn all of her attention on Vincent. Perhaps this was not the best deployment of resources after all, but Tifa never was a tactician.

"Sooooo," the energetic girl says, drawing the word out far too long, "where did you and Mister Meow Meow go?"

[emovampboy]

Mister Meow Meow? He raises a brow to that one. Yes, the man had built a cat, that originally had a moogle attached and now didn't, but how did that lead to such a weird nickname? At least his own, vampire, made sense. Did Reeve meow sometime and the girl had heard it or something? Or just a drunken nickname? Weird.

Sighing, he moves to offer the girl a hand up. "To walk. Now, come, let's get you somewhere you can sleep this off."

[plate_builder]

“Oh yeah. Totally a walk,” Yuffie giggles. And no she isn’t taking your hand, Vincent. Not yet. “You seducing him to the dark side of all the vampire was ways?”

Barret rolls his eyes at that and then gets led away by Marlene. No one here to save you, Vincent. Not that he can’t handle himself against her.

What is this conversation?

[emovampboy]

"Why would I seduce Reeve?" Yeah, the girl was just drunk as hell. Not very becoming for a ninja.

Just Yuffie. Don’t worry. He has a hero.

[plate_builder]

“For his blood. Duh. Since the beautiful young woman wasn’t foolish enough to go off with you. I see through your tricks!” She says triumphantly, because clearly she has seen his ploy. “Not going with you.”

“How about with us?” Reeve asks as he returns. And look, he has Cid with him, the man’s arm around his shoulder as he hums some drinking song. “Tifa’s asked me to give you two and Nanaki a lift to the inn. Barret is staying on a cot here to be with Marlene.”

The look he gives Vincent is an apologetic one. Sorry, he’ll need help.

Hahaha

[emovampboy]

So he was right. This girl. He's actually about ready to lift her up and take her where she's staying, ignoring the rant, when Reeve comes over. Thank goodness.

He moves over to offer to grab Cid, indicating Yuffie with his head as if to tell Reeve he can handle the girl. "We can save some of the rant from Ms. Harker that way."

Re: Hahaha

[plate_builder]

“But I’m having fun,” Yuffie protests.

“I have a fire materia I can pay you with,” Reeve offers. She doesn’t need to know it’s brand new. Yuffie cheers at that and leta Reeve pull her to her feet. “I’ll have my car come around.”

“Ooooh Mister Bigshot,” Yuffie grins.

“Mister Going to Get Skinned by Your Father for ‘Letting’ You Drink, actually,” Reeve corrects as he helps her toward the door.

[emovampboy]

He watches the exchange, careful to keep Cid upright as he does, and shakes his head. Poor Marlene. He doubts this is how she wanted the end of her birthday to be like; expected maybe, but not wanted.

"Is it large enough to fit all of us, Reeve?"

[plate_builder]

“I can ride up front and you three can have the back,” Reeve offers. “My men have a second car just in case.”

“I get front. Leaving a beautiful young girl like me in the back with these two? Nope,” Yuffie protests.

[emovampboy]

"Yuffie. I'm not interested in little girls. And Cid has Shera. You're perfectly safe." She's not going to listen, of course, but he'll say it because he can, keeping an eye out for the car.

[plate_builder]

“Not little,” Yuffie protests and Reeve chuckles at that.

“You are to him,” Reeve remind her. “But you can sit up front. I think Vincent can probably handle me annoying him for a bit longer.”

They round a corner down the street and to Vincent’s trained senses this would clearly not be just another corner. One man sits on a stoop, a lit cigarette between his fingers but the ashes aren’t flicked out randomly like a real smoker might have. Instead they all seem to have fallen, as if the thing hasn’t really been smoked. Further down the street is a luxury car with tinted window and nearby a woman watching them intently.

“My team. Driver and final guard in the car.”

[emovampboy]

Red eyes scan the security detail quickly: gauging strength, intention, skill, before flicking back to the car. He knows better than to ask questions.

"You'll have to help me get Cid in the car. He's about unconscious now."

[plate_builder]

He is free to judge. Reeve has made do with the best that he can get. As he approaches he mumbles a greeting in Wutain and the guards move from watch mode to a touch more attentive. Not as good as Turks of course.

“Yuffie, get in front,” Reeve dismisses her as he moves to help Cid. The third guard climbs out of the car to help them get the unconscious Cid loaded.

[emovampboy]

Vincent makes sure Cid is settled against a window, so he isn't resting on either Vincent or Reeve, and then indicates Reeve to get in next.

"I'll give Shera a call while we are on the way to the hotel."

[plate_builder]

“Kind if you,” Reeve says as he climbs in after Cid. A dismissive gesture gets his guard to leave for the second vehicle. Once in he buckles Cid up and gets himself buckled. Even squeezes to make sure Vincent has plenty of room. No doubt there man will want such.

[emovampboy]

Vincent isn't worried so much about space, used to small amounts, both due to his choice and not his choice. Still, he gives Reeve an appreciative nod.

"Do you know if Cid had an actual room, or do we have to see if the hotel has one open?"

[plate_builder]

"I have his key," Reeve says, patting his pocket. "Do you already have one? Cid said he had two beds. You could stay with him."

Reeve himself will just be content to go back to his place. He's not going to spend money to save himself time.

[emovampboy]

"I have a room." He figures that's all that needs to be said, since Reeve can easily put together that Vincent planned ahead for this.

[plate_builder]

"At least someone planned well," Reeve shrugs. With that, though, he's quiet for the rest of the rather brief drive to the inn. Once they arrive it's a matter of getting Cid unloaded from the vehicle, mostly because Yuffie bounces out of the vehicle the moment she gets the chance and bolts inside. He'll have to trust that she can take care of herself.

"He's on the second floor. Room 2-F," Reeve says to Vincent. He's going to need a touch of help.

[emovampboy]

Being on the outside of the car meant Vincent was already moving to grab for Cid as soon as Reeve shifted him, a much easier thing for him than others. "You lead, I'll carry."

[plate_builder]

Simple enough. With the two of them it takes almost no time to get Cid up to his room, and while Reeve does have to let most of the man's weight rest on Vincent when he moves away to unlock the door and push it open, he handles this well enough. Once inside he helps manhandle Cid to the nearest bed and lets him tip over to fall onto it. After that he strips the man's boots, coat and goggles. The rest Cid can do when he wakes. Then he drops the key down on a nearby nightstand and looks to Vincent.

"Well then, thank you for your assistance. I hope you have a good night."