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]

"You would be included," Reeve reminded Vincent. "I'm talking about during the crisis with Sephiroth. I was useful in Midgar. My aptitude with materia was hardly needed for the battles you all fought, I am unaccustomed enough to 'roughing it' as it were, and I hardly have comparable stamina to any of you. I am mostly chastising myself for foolish thoughts."

[emovampboy]

"You know," Vincent is obviously considering as he speaks. "Fighting Sephiroth was never about skill, or stamina. Cid, Aeris, even myself, weren't exactly in our best shape... but we managed because we had to."

[plate_builder]

"Cid was capable of impressive feats of combat," Reeve countered. "And even not in your best shape, your body is still that of a fit and active 27 year old. Aeris I might give you."

He still argues that he would have held them back. Only reason Barret didn't, and Reeve was only slightly younger than him, was because Barrett had clearly been fit his whole life.

[emovampboy]

"If you had the will, you would have been fine." Vincent drinks from his water, watching Reeve. "Also, a good Cure spell is never misplaced."

[plate_builder]

"True enough," Reeve agreed with a smile. "Not to mention my access to materia was a bit impressive as an executive."

[emovampboy]

"Also true." He goes back to eating, content he won this argument well enough for his preferences.

[plate_builder]

An interesting definition of won. But from there Reeve kept their conversation light for dinner, when he didn't choose to be silent instead. No point to constantly forcing Vincent to talk. They were both just as comfortable with a bit of silence. Once the meal was finished Reeve leaned back in his seat and smiled.

"Thank you for today, Vincent."

[emovampboy]

It was enough of a win for him, anyway. Yet he does appreciate the light conversation, or lack of it at times, as well as the food and company.

"Why are you thanking me?"

[plate_builder]

Really? Reeve shook his head.

"For seeking this chance with me. For not minding that the rain ruined my earlier plans and meant you had to stay in my small apartment for a time. For joining me for dinner. For your company. Because I appreciate all of this, and you deserve to know that. By no means do I intend this to be the end of the day if I can captivate you for even a moment longer, but you still deserve to know you've made my day better than I could have imagined."

[emovampboy]

"It isn't like it was difficult for me." Vincent notes. "But thank you, and you're welcome, I suppose."

[plate_builder]

"Perhaps not, but you did spare me a few tedious meetings, a lunch of a terrible liverwurst sandwich, and a number of phone calls," Reeve countered. "Which is a gift you cannot imagine the value of."

Of course he's going to have to see if he can't get anything from Vincent on what the other man might like to do. He intended to steal as much of Vincent's time as he could.

[emovampboy]

"It kind of sounds like you need more breaks, and less work." Vincent notes. "Do you get much time in the day to yourself?"

[plate_builder]

"Well, I get...." Well, he was going to claim breakfasts, but no, he's worked through those. Through every meal.

"I suppose I don't have much consistent time to myself. Maybe an hour or two a day, outside of sleep."

[emovampboy]

"You really are a work-a-holic."

[plate_builder]

"My work is all I have," Reeve shrugged. Hopefully that would change to a degree.

Which meant his agreement to go away with vincent for a while was truly a strange thing.

[emovampboy]

"Mm." Vincent settles back in his chair, watching Reeve. "Come back to my hotel again tonight. Keeps you away from work a night longer."

[plate_builder]

"Without the alcohol this time," Reeve agreed, smiling. "I'd rather remember our conversations."

[emovampboy]

Vincent nods, returning to his water for a moment. "We could go by your place to get the cards, too."

[plate_builder]

"You enjoyed my poor skills that much?" Reeve asked, either not getting or choosing not to get the implication. In this case it's the former. "Ah the waiter. Speaking of that, time for the bet to play out."

[emovampboy]

"It's something innocent to do." Is that a hint of amusement hidden in Vincent's voice? Hard to say as he reaches to where he keeps his Gil, right near where he would keep his bullets and gun, though further up so the cloak covers the weapon.

[plate_builder]

"And we need that?" Reeve asked, shaking his head. But he nods and stays silent while the payment is given. After that he gets to his feet. "We can fetch those cards then."

[emovampboy]

"We might." Vincent muses, paying out the bill and leaving a decent tip before standing as well. "It will also be good to check on Mittens and to let you get a change of clothes."

[plate_builder]

"I'll need a change of clothes?" Reeve asks, a smirk curling at his lips. "Is that an invitation to use the second bed for another night?"

Not that he will complain.

[emovampboy]

"Keeps you from working." Vincent explains, before moving just close enough to Reeve that only he can hear his next words. "Or you could use mine."

Attempting to cause a heart-attack? Possibly. But definitely looking to make him awkward and ruffled.

[plate_builder]

Wait... what?

No, Reeve is not awkward and ruffled, he is full on gaping at that. What was just said? His face is actually a touch red.

"Keeps me from working," he parroted back before nodding. "Shall we head out then?"