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]

"But can you be yourself at home? And relaxed?" Simple enough question, but not always easy to answer.

[plate_builder]

A very difficult question, and he looks very seriously at Vincent, head tilted curiously to the side.

"You think I'd be better relaxed in your presence?"

[emovampboy]

"Maybe. You already seem to be."

[plate_builder]

"That's the alcohol," Reeve argues. Granted he was rather calm around Vincent earlier, compared to other people he had met. "Thank you for concern. I should go. Before I drink more or say something stupid."

Like he already has.

[emovampboy]

"Would it help if I drank with you?" He's not sure why he's being so insistent, except maybe a sense that Reeve needs rest; or curiosity.

Seeing a different side of the man, he admits to himself, is rather interesting.

[plate_builder]

"Thought you can't get drunk," Reeve counters, but look at him, smiling at Vincent anyway. "I'll say something stupid. Promise to ignore it."

Maybe then he'll allow himself to be convinced by Vincent. Maybe. If Vincent is going to remember his idiocy forever, then Reeve at least wants a promise that things won't be held against him for being spoken.

And that gets a thought in his head that makes him chuckle. If anything that he says could be held against him, could he just say Vincent's name? Oh dear, that's a terrible one.

[emovampboy]

"I don't know if I can." He corrects gently, before cocking his head at the chuckle. "What's funny?"

Does he need to say he won't tattle? Reeve should know by now he is good at secrets.

[plate_builder]

These are secrets that should be kept from Vincent, so really, that isn't good enough.

"Your name," Reeve says, but it's not his name but rather what he is thinking about that name. "Fine. I will. Call my people. Shush, okay?"

He keeps leaning against his weight against the window ledge as he pulls his phone out again. They won't believe it if he just texts it. A quick dial and there's a brief conversation. Reeve swears he's just going to stay in this room, and if that changes he will call their boss. Thank you. Yes, they really can go. He wishes them a good night and advises them he will reach out in the morning, but likely not before six. Then he tucks his phone away and shrugs at Vincent.

"Happy?"

Besides, if he pisses Vincent off he can go to Cid's room.

[emovampboy]

"My... name...?" Count him confused, but he keeps silent while Reeve makes his call before nodding a bit to the question. He supposes he is happy. Except.. "What's funny about my name?"

[plate_builder]

"Wouldn't be funny to you," Reeve promises. "Stupid alcohol thoughts. You pouring another?"

The sill seems stupid right now if he's staying. Might as well get comfortable. As he crosses to the bed he gets his coat off and moves toward the closet-like alcove. He selects a hanger and puts his coat on it. Apparently the man is a very tidy one. That done he moves toward the nearer bed, unbuttoning his shirt sleeves and he rolls those sleeves up once that is done. There. More relaxed. He lets himself flop down onto the bed with that. "You're an odd man, Vincent."

[emovampboy]

Vincent turns to find a bit more liquor for Reeve, though he grabs another glass for himself, almost as if he's trying to make sure Reeve doesn't feel like he's the only one involved.

Once done pouring, he brings one glass to Reeve and settles himself on the bed across from him. "You keep saying so."

[plate_builder]

"Do I?" Reeve asks. Because frankly, he doesn't think he has. But he will take Vincent's word for it he supposes. "Sorry. Long night."

Longer life. He accepts his glass and sits back up to take a sip before fumbling to get his boots off. Once that is done he pulls his legs up on the bed with him and just takes a moment to look at Vincent. Really looks at him. Yes, he's staring. He will own that now.

"You intrigue. I am intrigued. Intriguing. You ask questions no one else has cared to. Like you care about answers. About people behind answers."

[emovampboy]

He's said it without actually saying it. Most people do, and Vincent admits he is probably quite a strange fellow, but not for the reasons Reeve is saying.

Admittedly, those reasons need a bit of translation with the man rambling as he is. At least he's not fully incoherent.

"I imagine others ask as well."

[plate_builder]

"Not much," Reeve shrugs. Not questions that matter. Questions about him. They want to know what he's doing, but not how. Vincent seems to care about the latter for some reason. He takes another sip and sighs. This is a mess, and he's a mess. He doesn't care, though.

"You're invested. Turks I knew weren't so invested. 'Cept in Rufus."

[emovampboy]

"It seems like much happened with the Turks while I was asleep. To change things. Still," he shrugs. "I know I was considered too nice sometimes."

[plate_builder]

"Reno regularly spiked company party drinks. Not always with alcohol," Reeve points out. And that goes without pointing out all that he knew the Turks did for Rufus. What it was implied they did. Vincent was one of them, no matter when he was part of that number, and it was not a pretty division. "But you are nice. For a Turk. For Avalanche for that matter."

Nice and distant. Reeve sighs. How impossible this man is. Does he even know that? Dark, brooding and nice? The guy must have had all the ladies after him. What another terrible thought. Then he looks to Vincent again, tilting his head on the bed to just look at the man.

"Did you know Veld?" Reeve asks, because now he's curious. By his math the head of the Turks prior to Tseng would had to have at least known Vincent. Maybe they didn't overlap much, but surely some?

[emovampboy]

"Some." He doesn't really want to discuss that time, so he leaves it at that. He is tempted to say something about how the members of AVALANCHE are all nice people; just understandably cautious.

But he opts against it as he drinks from his cup. Reeve would know, and he's just venting a little, anyway. Vincent did basically offer to let him, too.

Problem is, Vincent realises he's run into his usual problem; running out of questions. At least appropriate ones.

[plate_builder]

"He's alive," Reeve offers softly, turning his attention to Vincent to watch his reaction closely. In fact, Reeve knows for a fact many Turks beyond those with Rufus are. They helped evacuate sections of Midgar that AVALANCHE couldn't. "Lined up my guards. Helped at least. They're probably okay guards then."

He could respect the man, had a lot in common with Veld, if he was honest. But really, he can tell he's gone too far now, bringing up things Vincent didn't want to talk about. He had said he'd probably say something stupid and not to hold it against him. No doubt he'd making Vincent feel awkward. Sorry about that.

"Sorry," he apologizes anyway. Just to be safe.

Using some Dirge here heh... you know, that the idiot Vincent was there

[emovampboy]

"I'm not surprised." It seems to be his way of saying things are alright. Honestly, he had seen some things when the evacuation was taking place, and 'ignored' them. "But if he suggested your security, I'm relieved. He's a good judge of strength."

I found some info on Veld and that from the FF wiki and yeah, they were supposed to be the same time

[plate_builder]

Well, there's that at least. Reeve looks genuinely pleased that Vincent accepts his guards as sufficient. Not like the other in the group would be a good judge of a proper guard detail. No, that's Vincent only.

"Good. Don't wanna die. Too much to see and do before I die."

Yeah. I guess that explains he and Yuffie not in ending cut scenes of 7 according to some

[emovampboy]

"Anything particular you want to see or dp?" At least Reeve has given him another question.

Pains of being optional characters in a pre-rendered world

[plate_builder]

"Your smile," Reeve chuckles to himself, shaking his head. But the fact is that it's an honest thing. Something he would really like. Sober he'd say it would be for Vincent's own sake. But really? He thinks it would be wonderful.

Yup. Haha

[emovampboy]

Again, Vincent raises a brow. First he says something about beauty, and then mentions a smile. These are things one might say to a woman, right? Or really, anyone they have some interest in, and Reeve had implied he did some picking up in the past when drunk.

Vincent supposes his curiosity about that period of time is getting answered. Yet he can't help but wonder...

"Please tell me this isn't how you used to pick people up."

Gods did it feel weird to say something like that.

[plate_builder]

Well yes it's weird, because Reeve was making implications there, and didn't realize he'd said enough to have that be seen as more than a joke.

"Told you, I was suave. Charming. Could sweep people off feet. This isn't even C level game. Out of practice. Between working too hard and realizing all the best men were straight, stopped staying in practice."

Sure, he likely could have found someone if he searched enough, but someone who respected his work ethic and fit his tastes would just take too much time which he barely had back then.

[emovampboy]

Most people probably would not have taken the remarks made and put them together the way Vincent did, but with conversation they had been having, his time as a Turk, and the fact he seemed to watch Reeve closely, Vincent had no problems putting those words together into a guess of their link.

He even had a suspicion, based on his awareness of the stares Reeve often tried to conceal, that not all of this was just drunken commentary.

"At least this is not your A-game."