emovampboy | For Reeve

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

plate_builder

Well, there isn't much ANYONE could do to restrain that young woman, now was there. He sighs and stands, leaving his unfinished coffee behind.

"We both know how impossible she is to hold back."

From:

emovampboy

"True." Vincent nods only minutely, but he's sure Reeve sees it. "Perhaps if we told hed there was lots of materia in an un-inhabited area more often, it would be quieter?"

From:

plate_builder

Oh god, what an idea. Reeve can't help the laughter that rips from him at the very suggestion.

"Oh Vincent, that is positively cruel."

From:

emovampboy

"You keep forgetting I was a Turk once, Reeve." There is just the faintest of smirks on Vincent's lips, almost imperceptable to anyone not looking, "I know how to get people to do things without knowing they are being manipulated...

"Although I don't prefer it except for when necessary."

From:

plate_builder

What, being a Turk did not inherently mean cruelty. Elena was far gentler than anyone would expect.

"Especially not with a friend?"

From:

emovampboy

No, but being a Turk meant you learned how to be that way if necessary, if you didn't come in that way to begin with. You also learned to be tricky, and to prank, again if you had not come in with that ability to begin.

Still, Vincent had never quite been a thing like some of the Turks, which meant Reeve probably didn't need the nod of acknowledgment from the former Turk to the question.

From:

plate_builder

"Then we have to plan something," Reeve admits. "Yuffie can be a very hard woman to deal with for me."

From:

emovampboy

"Just need to think on her level, and she is much easier to deal with." Vincent shrugs slowly. "We will talk tonight if you get back early enough."

From:

plate_builder

"Perhaps she's already thinking on our level, and is better at hiding it," Reeve posits, but he nods.

Yes, that would be lovely. Not that he can say for sure that it will be an early return tonight.

From:

emovampboy

"Yes and no." He won't go into his theories regarding Yuffie unless asked; and not now. They could take some time to explain.

From:

plate_builder

Interesting choices of statement there. Reeve doesn't know what to do with it other than nod and take it as given.

"Well then, I will leave that to you. I, however, need to get going to work."

From:

emovampboy

Vincent nods softly. "Have a good day, then."

From:

plate_builder

He moves to kiss Vincent's forehead and heads for the door.

"I'll see you tonight."

From:

emovampboy

Arrangements would have been made well in advance for Reeve to come to the Ancient's Forest, something they both had already been long aware of, though much of it would have passed between Vincent and Reeve's protection unit; no reason to involve the already-stressed man any further than necessary, and besides, they would be the ones to make the final call on his being able to go - and whether they would tag along or not.

Which meant, by the time arrangements were made, it had likely been at least two to three months in which time Vincent would have stayed away. It also meant that, when the guards brought Reeve along the road leading up to the forest, Vincent would actually be visible for once instead of hiding - part of the agreement - settled on a rock and flipping through a book he had gotten somewhere along the way.

From:

plate_builder

Seeing him is... relieving. It's been so long, and Reeve hasn't dared spend time for himself. And even getting here had taken some time. But there is a tension that melts off of him just from seeing Vincent and Reeve can't help but pick up his stride. The security detail doesn't seem pleased to have Reeve pulling away from them, in fact, they weren't very pleased with this whole situation, but Reeve didn't care. He hitches his bag up higher and moves to smile at Vincent.

"Vincent. IT's been too long."

From:

emovampboy

Vincent seems to have no issue with the looks he is getting, subtle as they are, from Reeve's crew. He knew exactly how they felt about this, even though they had been more than cordial on the phone when making arrangements; just as they knew exactly how little he seemed to care of their lack of trust in him. All that really mattered was Vincent trusted himself, Reeve trusted Vincent, and the two trusted one another. They hadn't helped fight Sephiroth, even if Reeve was not onsite, because they were weak after all.

"Sorry it took a while to set up." He holds out a hand, as if offering to take whatever Reeve might need help with carrying. "You'll be glad to know Tifa helped me find a coffee pot you can use while you are up here, as well as some decent coffee."

From:

plate_builder

Oh come now, if he was going to do all this this whole enjoying nature with Vincent, he had very little intention of offering his pack over. Which he'll regret later, but for right now he has to deal with this. Because he wants to prove he can.

"Tifa is a goddess, but I think I could probably survive without coffee for a while."

Which is a total lie that he can make because he's never had to try.

And now he's ignoring his guards to instead gesture that Vincent lead forward.

From:

emovampboy

If Vincent had truly believed the man could live without caffeine, he never would have asked Tifa to hunt him out a coffee pot before he had left, and paid Cloud to deliver it. No, he knew Reeve well enough to know that caffeine would prove a necessity.

So he says nothing at the comment, though his eyes show a flicker of amusement, before turning to the guards and making a gesture they would know well enough - that Reeve was under his care, and they could go about their business.

"This way." He starts up the path the rock he'd been perched on resided in, speed slow for now to allow Reeve to keep up.

From:

plate_builder

See, Vincent is a very wise man. A very wise man indeed.

The guards seem unwilling to leave, but Reeve just ignores them and moves to Vincent's side to walk with him.

"I've never actually been up this way in person. There was never time. I... would it be alright if at some point we went to the City?"

He wanted to pay his respects to Aerith.

From:

emovampboy

Red eyes glance at Reeve over the question, perhaps reading his intentions, or just because the man is beside him now, before nodding softly. "After we get you settled in for at least a day, we can go there if you wish."

From:

plate_builder

"Thank you," Reeve says, his voice soft and sad. But, more importantly, with a touch more energy in his step. "In fact, thank you for all of this. You've given me a chance I didn't expect to have."

In so many ways.

From:

emovampboy

"I imagine it will be good for you." He says in way of 'you're welcome,' before adding. "However, I should warn you, I don't own a proper bed."

From:

plate_builder

No proper bed. That was going to be hard on Reeve. Still, he could handle it once. He would manage now.

"I was a child, the last time I slept out on the ground. I think I can handle it this time. And if not, well, then I'll deal with that when it comes to it, won't I?"

And the fact was that Reeve didn't want to disappoint Vincent.