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]

Now there is a matter that clear needs addressed quickly. Reeve twists and sets his pad aside, reaching for Vincent at the same time. He opts to lay a light hand on his leg, something that can be construed as nothing but comforting.

“I can assure you that none of us see you like that. Doubly so for Cloud, Nanaki and Aeris, who were also ‘projects’ for Hojo. You are a person to us. The only ‘freak’ among observers like us is Yuffie, and she does it more, I expect, because of what you wear. As our group are just about the only ones who know the truth about you, it shouldn’t weigh too heavy on your mind.”

[emovampboy]

"Yuffie is just special." He glances to Reeve with a grateful look, before looking back to the ceiling. "However, you know as well as I do that what is true and what we see are different things sometimes. So, I've barely entertained a thought for... desire."

[plate_builder]

“Well, now you have time to entertain such thoughts. And, I hope, the cause to,” Reeve responds. But he is cautious as he speaks. Sure, Vincent thanked him, but he doesn’t know the man well yet, or if the next thing he intends to say will go over well.

“Would... it make you feel better to know you aren’t the only one who hasn’t entertained the thought in a while? Shinra just about devoured me toward the end. I never had the time or care for anything really. And then... well, after we boarded the Highwind that changed for me. Later in the evening when most had gone to bed, this was maybe a few days after we acquired the ship, Cid had anchored the Highwind so that everyone could rest. But you were you and I was dealing with the insomnia I had so much of at the time. I came upon you, standing in the bridge, bathed in the pale light of the moon. And I found myself thinking again.”

Hope thanksgiving has been good!

[emovampboy]

"Did you? Just from seeing me in the moonlight?" Vincent finally looks back to Reeve, curious. "And barely knowing me."

Re: Hope thanksgiving has been good!

[plate_builder]

“We has been traveling together for a time by then,” Reeve counters. “I was the one that no one knew, Vincent.”

Quiet and distant didn’t mean unknown.

[emovampboy]

"What had you learned about me? Aside from I was often alone."

[plate_builder]

Truly? They are doing this? Fine. Reeve can answer the question

“You care for those you see as weaker than you. You cannot hide your protective nature even as you try to retain distance. You think before you act with an insistence on that that left me thinking you were poorly served by a decision you thought you had reasoned through to the end and found yourself wrong.”

[emovampboy]

"All that from me barely speaking and just watching me? You're pretty good at reading others." Vincent shifts to lean onto his knees with his elbows, looking at Reeve. "Had you read the others too?"

[plate_builder]

“I was a ShinRa executive, Vincent, and had been for years. To survive at that level you need to learn to read people. Add in my investment in other people and it was something I could manage. And as no one wanted involved with me too much, so I could watch more easily.”

Could he read the others too? Reeve nods at that one. He knew more about them than they had realized.

“Some of them I had dossiers on,” Reeve admits.

[emovampboy]

"Hm." He watches Reeve a bit, thinking of what might be best to say next. "It must be difficult, and useful all in one. It's sort of strange that I, as a Turk, couldn't read Lucrecia well enough to understand what was going on with her."

[plate_builder]

“It wasn’t fully a talent your department recruited for,” Reeve counters. Who knows what good would have come from them worth more holding that skill.

[emovampboy]

"Depended on the persons they recruited." He remarks. "The Turks were more than just brute force, even if they spent much of their time in such a capacity. They were also information gatherers and handled covert operations. You don't just hire brawn for that."

[plate_builder]

“Not everyone is good at knowing people,” Reeve shrugs. “I am. And I think you don’t give yourself credit, Vincent. Welcome back to the world, Vincent. Having sexual thoughts is something you are allowed to do. Not having them is okay as well. The only issue is if you have them and choose to be ashamed of them.”

[emovampboy]

"I'm... Not really embarrassed by them." He frowns just faintly. "I just haven't had them in a long time."

[plate_builder]

“And if you need time to process them, you have that. If you want assistance that is also yours. And if you just want to know how to provoke unintended noises from me you are free to ask or experiment.”

This is all turning out differently than he expected. Frankly he hadn’t anticipated addressing these specifics for a while. Everything is moving sort of fast and he doesn’t think he minds.

[emovampboy]

Vincent is unusual, so perhaps the fact things are moving at an unexpected pace can be attributed to that. Or perhaps it's because it seems that the both of them are trying to determine more than a few things before Vincent returns to the forest and Reeve to business?

It could even just be that Vincent hasn't had such curiosity in a long time, and so he's acting on it, much like a child would; or a man who had slept for a long time and ignored much of his humanity for longer.

Either way, he nods at Reeve. "Although, I had only been trying to get your attention, not find out any secrets, when I tugged your hair."

[plate_builder]

"My name can also serve to get my attention," Reeve laughs, shaking his head. Yes, he seems pleased himself just to see Vincent trying. And even if it was a mistake, it was nice to see Vincent connecting with something.

"I suppose it also spares me having to explain later."

[emovampboy]

"Indeed." Vincent looks down at his clawed hand. "At least I won't have to be so worried if I accidentally scratch you sometime."

[plate_builder]

"I fear the greater concern there would be accidentally scratching me when we're around other people," Reeve chuckles, shaking his head. He's usually good at holding back when it happens accidentally. Too bad Vincent had keyed him up with pulling his hair. "But I suppose that's enough of that particular conversation right now. There's a nice Mideel-style restaurant in town now. Serves a variety of curries and the like. What would you say to that for dinner?"

Yes, he is clearly trying to distract Vincent from the topic at hand, for both their sakes. This is clearly something they should put off discussing in more depth for a while. Perhaps indefinitely.

Oh, Reeve, Vincent doesn't mind...

[emovampboy]

"That's fine with me. Warm food is good when it's wet out." Distract if he wants, Vincent's already been made aware of that secret, and he has a mind that remembers these things. "My clothes should hopefully be dry by now."

Reeve wants to pursue this man and multiple references to his 'forwardness' has slowed Reeve down

[plate_builder]

"They should," Reeve agrees. "I'll check the cape again. You're free to head into the bathroom to check the rest of your clothes."

As for him, he gets up and crosses to the closet. Best he get a suit out.

Hehe... You should see how I've written Vin in the past

[emovampboy]

Vincent stands, going to check his clothes and change into them if they've dried enough, careful to set aside the clothes Reeve lent him and bring them out when he's done.

Re: Hehe... You should see how I've written Vin in the past

[plate_builder]

Reeve changes quickly once Vincent slips into the bathroom. Well, fast enough to ensure he manages to get his pants on. The shirt is still a work in progress by the time Vincent returns, but he is getting his shirt buttoned up by the time Vincent slips back out. Didn't get it faster, sorry, but he had to get the cape out and make sure it wasn't ruined.

"Seems it dried enough."

[emovampboy]

Vincent doesn't seem to mind that Reeve isn't fully dressed, though it's a bit amusing even with him having to check on the cape. Vincent does have the more labor intensive outfit, after all.

He does nod though, laying the borrowed clothes on the bed. "Alright."

I have to wonder about your past Vin writing

[plate_builder]

"After dinner is there someone I should have my car take you?" Reeve asks as he keeps up the process of buttoning up his shirt. He'll have to get a tie and coat too. At this point he can't help it. He's too used to suits to avoid this stuff.