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]

The offer would have been made regardless. Vincent may have a complex about himself and what he's done wrong, but he was still the type of person to help. And security or not, when one was tired, they were tired.

Plus, there might have been a part of him not wanting to go back to silence just yet.

"Then at least let me offer you a drink."

[plate_builder]

"Well that I won't say no to, provided it isn't caffeinated coffee," Reeve smirks at the man. "I do want to get sleep sometime tonight."

He can tell that Vincent is reaching out, not that he much understands why. Still, he's going to accept it. Seems like Vincent could use some attention tonight. Spending all that time in the quiet of a forest must be maddening, even to someone like him.

[emovampboy]

"There's water or liquor." He's managed to shut the door to Cid's door quietly, and starts moving towards his room. "Not sure we want the latter. May still have to clean up a Yuffie mess."

[plate_builder]

"You have liquor in your room?" Reeve asks, a mused at that. Probably provided by the minibar or something. Still, he's a touch amused. "I suppose as the oldest members of AVALANCHE we need to set a good example and not be drunkards."

Granted they are the oldest only when one discounts Nanaki due to the comparative level of maturity per his own species and the fact that Reeve has approximately three months on Barret.

[emovampboy]

"Hotel provided." He shrugs softly, and then glances to Reeve. "I don't think I can get drunk, however."

[plate_builder]

"Have you tried? I almost feel that if anyone deserves a night of alcohol, it's you. Not that I'm suggesting you do so. Still, I feel like I might rescue a sip or two of whatever is in your room."

Because he doesn't have any pressing issues in the morning, which means for once he can spare himself a minor relaxation. "But if that bothers you, I'll take water. Lead on?"

[emovampboy]

"Not since Chaos." He moves to a door that's just a few down from Cid's, using a card to get in. "You're welcome to have what you'd like. Should warn your team first, though."

[plate_builder]

"Of course," Reeve agrees. His phone is already out and he texts them an update of where he is, who he's with, and what he's doing. Once they're in the room he immediately moves to take one of a set of chairs, focused on the quick conversation. Then, with a sigh of annoyance, he raises the phone to take a quick picture of Vincent. "Apparently they're concerned that if you do something to me they'll need to describe you to the authorities. I'm sending a picture to provide them some comfort. I miss having privacy."

He'd rather not touch on the subject of Chaos. The things done to Vincent were not the most cheerful nightcap talk.

[emovampboy]

"Tall, red-eyed weirdo... to quote Yuffie." He himself is moving to unlock the liquor cabinet, rambling off what is in there so Reeve can choose what he likes.

[plate_builder]

"As you only have an inch in height on me, I would hardly consider you tall," Reeve corrects. He ponders the offerings and smirks when he hears what he wants. "Bourbon please. No ice required. No doubt the stuff is highly watered down as it is."

With his message sent Reeve settles more comfortably into the chair, crossing one leg over the other while he looks at Vincent. He leaves out so much. Like scarlet clad. Or the gleam of the metal on his arm. The leather pants that could stand to be tighter. The fashion disaster that is a cape and cowl. The unruly hair. The graceful line of his cheekbones when you get the chance to see them...

Reeve chuckles to himself in amusement. "No, I wouldn't call you a weirdo at all. Just a product of the life you have lived."

[emovampboy]

"Compared to Yuffie, I'm tall." He grabs the bourbon, not bothering to let on that he's aware Reeve is staring. Hard.

It's rather amusing, if he thinks on it, that Reeve stares. Usually, staring at Vincent is a fearful thing. People think he's dangerous. Very few look more clearly, even in their small group.

He could probably count those who had on one hand, and Yuffie didn't count since most times she was trying to figure out how to steal from him.

Finding a glass, Vincent pours the contents of bottle he found into it, moving to hand it to Reeve before taking a seat nearby. That nearby is the bed is pure coincidence.

[plate_builder]

Staring? Hardly. That would be rude, and Ruvie had not raised a rude man. She never would have stood for it. So that was most definitely not staring. In fact, by the time Vincent is returning to him, he isn't even looking at the other man, but rather at the glass. That gets a smile from him and he accepts it with a grateful nod before taking a sip. Yep, just as terrible as he expected.

"Compared to Yuffie, Nanaki is tall," Reeve dismisses. "She's a child. You should not take her words to heart. If you want someone's to nitpick over, go with Barret's. They tend to be more colorful."

Another sip as he looks at the bed. Just the briefest flick of the eyes. Wonders if it's any more comfortable than his own. He's really got to see about replacing the old thing, it's rock hard really. However that would be a luxury that he really would prefer not trying to justify in his already guilty mind. The gil he'd spent on his new coat was just too much. One indulgence at a time.

"You could diminish the 'weirdo' vibe if you're concerned. Less of the..."

He gestures at Vincent's clothing because really, there's not a good way to describe that and still be a tactful friend. "That isn't exactly in vogue these days."

[emovampboy]

"She doesn't bother me." Vincent shrugs a little, implying he really isn't bothered by her words, before indicating the glass. "It alright?"

[plate_builder]

"It's horrid," Reeve answers with brutal honesty. "Which is better than I expected to be frank. I can't tempt you with some? To spare me the taste?"

Even as he says it he raises the glass in another long sip, because yes, he is at least enjoying the experience here. He hasn't taken a moment to unwind in a while. It's normally decaffeinate and work. Better now that he has the WRO and people to delegate to. The early days were hell. He's surprised he survived them.

"If you don't care for what she says or not, then at least don't use her words. Go with... unique. Yes. You're a very unique man, Vincent. Which is probably a positive change in some ways. There was only so much one could do to make a Turk's suit look unique, and most of them involved how slovenly Reno was."

[emovampboy]

"Would it really help with the taste?" There's an edge of amusement in his tone. "Or just give you less?

"And we were discussing how to describe me to your guard. Unique doesn't work well as a descriptor."

[plate_builder]

"Less," Reeve smiles, and he shakes his head as he sips at the bourbon again. "And a correction is needed here. You were discussing how to describe yourself, per Yuffie. I just took a picture. No description needed with a picture. Worth a thousand words and all."

Yet another sip and he leans back in the chair, in part to give him an excuse to let his eyes look toward a painting on the wall behind and above Vincent. Not staring, see?

[plate_builder]

"Less," Reeve smiles, and he shakes his head as he sips at the bourbon again. "And a correction is needed here. You were discussing how to describe yourself, per Yuffie. I just took a picture. No description needed with a picture. Worth a thousand words and all."

Yet another sip and he leans back in the chair, in part to give him an excuse to let his eyes look toward a painting on the wall behind and above Vincent. Not staring, see?

[emovampboy]

"Hm." No need to argue the point, since they were both correct. Instead, he offers his hand. "Hand the bourbon here."

[plate_builder]

"It's terrible," Reeve warns before passing the glass over. Look at that, only half full. But they can probably deal with that problem. He hesitates for a moment, though, pulling the glass back before Vincent can take it to steal just one more sip before finally holding it out with the intention of letting it go. "Never let Tifa know I drank this swill. She would be on my case for drinking something so subpar. At least the company improves the flavor to the point where it's almost as good as a sip of something good while alone."

Was that a compliment? Perhaps.

[emovampboy]

"Our secret." He promises, taking the glass when it's finally open to him to do so, and taking a swallow. Giving a moment for the fluid to settle, he hands the cup back to Reeve. "I've had worse, but this is rather bad."

[plate_builder]

"Worse than this?"

That revelation gets Reeve's eyes back on Vincent's, and a shake of his head. But he only keeps eye contact for a moment. Those are eyes a guy could get lost in.

"My pity to you, Vincent. My pity to us both," and with that he drowns the last of the cup. Vile. But hey, he's going to assume that Vincent poured all he had in here because really, getting up for a refill would just mean inflicting more of this on himself.

[emovampboy]

"Turk moonshine." That is all he will give, since honestly the Turks got paid well enough to buy good stuff. Some just enjoyed making hooch. "Want to try something else from the cabinet? Or had enough?"

[plate_builder]

"That was a thing?" Now there is a story he would adore hearing. As it is he shakes his head and raises an eyebrow before nodding. "If you are offering to pay the minibar tab, then yes, I could be convinced to have another. Perhaps not much more than that. I prefer not to get past tipsy. I remember my college days well enough to know better than to approach true drunkenness."

No Rufus tonight.. But look, Vincent!

[emovampboy]

"Turks aren't all boring." He stands, grabbing the glass from Reeve and moving to refill it. "What happens when you're drunk?"

It's alright, Rufus clearly needs mopey time. Hi Vinny!

[plate_builder]

"None of the Turks I knew would count as boring," Reeve assures Vincent. "You never worked with Reno. If you don't have more bourbon I'll take scotch."

His eyes follow Vincent again, watching the swirl of his cape. Does the man ever take it off? Then he returns his attention to the painting.

"To put it politely, I was known to get... appreciative of other party-goers."

Reasonable then that he wouldn't want to drink too much now. He does have to go back with his guard detail and there is a woman among them. How terrible would it be if he was going home and made one of his employees uncomfortable? Truly not good. Of course the easy assumption here would be that he flirted with female guests, but honestly? Not his thing. He was lucky to be let down gently the last time he made comments about a Turk while in his cups. Ho guarantee of the same here.