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]

"Hm." He plays it out a bit more, giving a pause between the sound and his next question to let Reeve know he's giving him a hard time; wondering why it is he feels safe enough to do so around the man. "Was it just you, or did you head out with a group to do it?"

[plate_builder]

"Not a group, but I wasn't alone," Reeve answers, smiling to himself. Oh yes, it was so much more naughty than Vincent thought.

[emovampboy]

"I see..." He gets it, and his glance at Reeve indicates he would love to ask more, but won't.

[plate_builder]

"It was a very eventful evening," Reeve allows with a smile. "But one I know could be improved on."

[emovampboy]

Is that an offer, or just a remark? It certainly sounds more like the former, and yet he won't ask this time, focus diverted to getting them past a rougher area of ground.

Once beyond it though, he does ask a question.

"You were the wild sort for sure when you were younger, weren't you?"

[plate_builder]

Ah, now there was a comment that led him to chuckle.

"Indeed. In some ways, I was much in line with what one would have expected of a Shinra executive."

[emovampboy]

"...I may have to get you drunk again, as I don't think you'd tell me all of them sober."

[plate_builder]

"You are not incorrect," Reeve admits with a shrug, jumping lightly over a root in their path. "But I do many things when not entirely sober that are questionable in the eyes of others. Such as flirting with former Turks."

[emovampboy]

"That particular questionable action worked out." He keeps an eye out in case
Reeve slips or tumbles with the jump, before indicating a path up ahead. "Head right up here. It's the easiest of the ascending paths."

[plate_builder]

Yes, it had. Against all odds. Reeve had been quite shocked by his own courage. For now, though, he was just happy that it had worked well.

"Another night we could try a more difficult one. But yes, easier works now," he suggests, heading up the turn when suggested.

[emovampboy]

"No use wearing you out the first night." It's said innocently enough, but given the current discussion, Vincent will be fine if it's taken in a completely different way.

[plate_builder]

Oh, it's taken a whole other way, and he laughs. His mind is horrible, he knows it. But he's still amused.

"So kind on my legs," Reeve offers back as he heads up the hill.

[emovampboy]

"Hm." He expected that laugh a little, so doesn't respond with much more on the topic. "Do you know any constellations, Reeve? From before you became city bound."

[plate_builder]

"Yes," Reeve answers with a smile. "I was a farm boy, you see. My father didn't just use the calendar to let him know when it was time to plant, but the moon and it's phases, and even the stars. He was very traditional."

He wondered if he could still find them, still name them. He hasn't tried in so long.

[emovampboy]

"Maybe you can help me find a few I'm unsure of then." He smiles, adding. "We're almost there."

[plate_builder]

Perhaps he could. Reeve would be delighted to try.

"I would be surprised if I could, if you have any real awareness of them. Cid would be a better person to ask."

[emovampboy]

"No Cid here." He notes, then adds. "We'll see how well we do."

[plate_builder]

"We should do well," Reeve smiles as he continues forward with eagerness.

[emovampboy]

Vincent just gives Reeve a slow nod of agreement, before pulling away to go ahead, easily hopping up a small step created by the landscape, turning to offer Reeve a hand as he indicates a few more steps ahead.

"Up these, and we'll be there."

[plate_builder]

Whenever the man offers a hand, Reeve happily takes it, even though he doesn't always need the help. It's just the touch. The contact. The affection in the offer.

"I'm happy to manage it."

[emovampboy]

It's somehow become natural for Vincent to offer assistance to Reeve, perhaps desiring the same contact without quite realizing or admitting it, though he would not be offended if it was not accepted.

Either way, he'll lead Reeve up the steps to an open area of the forest, not covered at all by trees and indeed overlooking parts of the rest of the forest, indicating gently for Reeve to look up.

The sky will be very much as promised, full of stars whose reflections are untouched by light.

[plate_builder]

Oh, looking up will come. But first Reeve looks out on the forest from the vantage point there are at, his breath catching in his throat. How was this possible?

"It's so beautiful."

[emovampboy]

Vincent lets Reeve enjoy the view, setting his stuff down and giving thr man a moment of silence, before coming to stand next to him.

"This is the best time to be here. It's always quiet and serene."

[plate_builder]

Quiet and serene until Vincent spoke. Reeve chuckled and moved so he was almost pressed up against Vincent. But not quite touching, of course. Then his eyes cast skyward and he breathed a pleased sigh.

"This is more beautiful than I could have imagined."

[emovampboy]

"I know everyone thinks I'm just being anti-social, but there's a reason I stay here." Never mind the fact that sometimes he was just being anti-social, so used to his own company as he was by now. "Should we set things up so you can view without craning your neck?"