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]

"He really needs a haircut," Reeve pronounces. That's it. That's what he's got. "Boy needs better hair."

Because frankly, Cloud is not anyone Reeve would appreciate. Maybe his muscles, tangentially. But Cloud only has one of the qualifications Reeve looks for, and it's not as good in some ways to be dangerous because you're overly muscled.

[emovampboy]

"Is that so?" That question is answered, he supposes, though it was never truly posed. Either way, a part of him can agree, while another part knows Cloud's probably stuck with that hair for eternity; seriously, you can not get that hair without it being natural.

[plate_builder]

Not true. One could get a buzz-cut. Just a note there.

"That is so," Reeve agrees, because it's easier than thinking of a whole new sentence. He lays there, though, still watching Vincent. Intently. Like he's trying to see through the sheltering barrier of red cloth to see the whole of his face. But that's not possible. He'll have to content himself with what he sees. Which is a lot of hair.

"Beautiful hair," he notes aloud. Very beautiful hair. Hopefully Vincent takes good care of it.

Cloud + Buzzcut = Does not Compute

[emovampboy]

Vincent just watches back, almost unblinking, and seeming as if he might have decided to go silent again. Which he has, to a point, considering the man in front of him.

Honestly, Reeve is very easy to read right now, not that he wasn't easy enough to read before. But it's much easier now, and there's a side even Vincent hadn't quite caught onto being revealed.

No, not Reeve liking men. One could speculate that, if they paid attention to the man and speculated, but his seeming interest in Vincent was a little different; curious, considering the two had a good rapport so far as understanding the entertainment of ShinRa.

And Reeve got Vincent's silence, even if he didn't always like it. Which was more than could be said for Yuffie or Barrett. The two seemed unable to deal with silence.

There's just a simple question to be answered here, and Vincent decides he may as well ask it.

"Reeve, are you interested in me? Or just drunk talking?"

Not even remotely, but Reeve would be amused to send a Cait to try.

[plate_builder]

"It makes you uncomfortable," Reeve observes, an oddly sober thought amid the slight haze in his mind. "Told you, would stay if you didn't hold me against me. I can go. I'll go."

Things being awkward between colleagues is always a problem, and this is making it that. Or so Reeve has decided. Which means he's pushing himself up, a touch clumsy, but definitely a set course of action here.

Hah! Poor Cait...

[emovampboy]

Where did he get such an idea? Vincent is fairly sure the most he has shown is the occasional touch of amusement, which means he's moving quickly to place a hand against Reeve's chest to gently push him back down.

"Who said I was uncomfortable. I'm curious."

Re: Hah! Poor Cait...

[plate_builder]

Doesn't take much to topple Reeve back on the bed, and yes, there is toppling. The man is not the greatest at holding his liquor, no matter how he would try and deny it. So he flops back against the bed and looks up at Vincent, just looks up at him. His eyes are wide, and he looks like he doesn't mind the position he's in, looking up at Vincent.

How does he answer this? Sadly there is not enough thought to go into a whole thing about how yes, he does find Vincent both attractive and quite appealing. That the age difference doesn't bother him at all. How he understands that given what they are, as friends and sort of colleagues, he apologizes for the forwardness he has presented, even if it was from a strange angle. As it is...

"Why?"

Yeah, great conversation there.

[emovampboy]

Good question. Curiosity seems a bit of a cruel reason, at least on its own, for Vincent to ask Reeve such a thing. It is a large part, if he's honest, but usually his curiosity for such things is low. So why, indeed?

"Hm..." The tone shows he's thinking about it seriously now, not moving from his position or trying to stop Reeve from moving, either. Just watching with red eyes, before answering, a hint of confusion in his voice. "I'm not entirely sure... I just want to know."

[plate_builder]

Oh, well, that's enough for him. Strange.

"Interested," Reeve admits with a shrug, still watching Vincent. And he had warned Vincent that he was going to say stupid things. "I can go now."

Because he's definitely aware of how many straight men feel about being in close proximity to him once they learn that. Like Reeve is going to molest them or something. Idiots.

Icons! And may someday go back to Rufus

[emovampboy]

Vincent is't so stupid as to think such things. He knows humans are good or they are bad. What gender they radiate towards has nothing to do with it. He knows it very well, considering he himself has never been purely about gender; something Reeve can't know if he doesn't say a word of it.

Yet it's his turn, now, to give a single word question. "Why?"

I am confused by the seoncd part of that comment

[plate_builder]

Really? All of this, and that's what Vincent has to say? Reeve sighs. Drunk man trying to be cohesive, okay, he'll try. But it's going to be simple.

"You're stunning," Reeve says, counting his first point off on a finger. "Smart. Could break my neck. Older than me. Mature. Charming. Cautious."

Looks like he counted some fingers twice, but he seems content to leave it there.

Basically, slow on that account

[emovampboy]

"Caution is something you like?" This seems to be all he catches, or at least acknowledges.

Ah, Understandable. Reeve isn't helping over there much. He's a pain

[plate_builder]

Why should that be strange? He's a cautious man. Having someone who just goes and does stupid, reckless things for the fact that they are stupid or reckless would be... well, silly. Beyond silly.

He finally moves to sit back up and look at Vincent, seeming a touch more composed than even a moment before. This conversation isn't sobering him up, but it is getting him to think a bit more carefully.

"Caution is good. World needs it more."

Yeah. Gotta be in a mood to brain him too

[emovampboy]

He doesn't know why it's weird, either, but he really didn't expect Reeve to like that quality, or he's somewhat used to people finding him less cautious and more stick-up-his-ass boring.

It seems accepted though, and he seems to consider his next move.

True enough

[plate_builder]

Just be careful not to use that turn of phrase around Reeve, Vincent. He might think there is a proposition happening. However, with Vincent just considering, there isn't much for Reeve to do. He takes it as a dismissal and shrugs before laying back down on the bed. If he isn't being kicked out then he's staying and he can accept that fact. He's very comfortable here, after all, and he can look at a beautiful creature while he's here. A perk. Enjoy it while he can. He knows it won't last.

[emovampboy]

After considering a while, Vincent decides to sit down beside Reeve on the bed. He doesn't have much of an answer still, but he feels he can offer Reeve at least something.

"It doesn't bother me."

[plate_builder]

Oh. Well that earns him a genuine smile from Reeve. Doesn't mean sober-Reeve will much care. He's going to feel awkward anyway.

"Okay," Reeve answers. "Because bothered or not doesn't change it."

Just means he may not hate himself as much in the morning.

[emovampboy]

"I'm aware." He keeps an eye on Reeve, his thoughts probably hard to read as always.

Why is he concerned about this? About Reeve and his interest in him? He's certainly not drink like the other man, so he has no worry his mind isn't straight.

Which means, logically, be has some of his own interest.

"Reeve..."

[plate_builder]

Hard to read? No, Vincent's just about impossible to read. So Reeve doesn't bother trying most of the time. He takes the silences in stride when he can. Talks when he can't.

"Still awake," Reeve answers, because he can't imagine the conversation is going further. Just thinks Vincent is checking to see if he must entertain Reeve any longer. If this is entertaining.

[emovampboy]

The entertaining part is over. He's seen drunk Reeve, found a few things he didn't know, but he isn't cruel enough to play games.

So he reaches over and touches Reeve on the forehead gently. "I don't dislike you, and I don't know if I like you in such a way, but if you want to try something when you're sober to see..."

He will leave it there. Let Reeve decide how to take it.

System Error: Your Reeve Tuesti unit is rebooting.

[plate_builder]

The touch is light, very light, and Reeve leans into it. How can he not? But then Vincent is talking and Reeve has to pull back to pay attention. The man has no idea how distracting he is. Of course the words themselves leave Reeve just... staring. Staring up at Vincent for a long time. This is a lot for him to process in this state. And there is clear denial on his face.

"I'm dreaming," Reeve decides after a long moment. Because he can't think of any other justification. "You're a very nice dream."

Oops. XD

[emovampboy]

"Go to sleep, and ask when you're awake and not drunk." Vincent stands, removing his cloak as he returns to his own bed. "Find out if you're dreaming in the morning."

[plate_builder]

"'Kay," Reeve agrees, and tired as he is, he falls off into sleep soon after. At least, for Vincent's sake, Reeve doesn't snore. He does, though, But this is nice too. No matter how terrible the bed is, he sleeps until the early hours of the morning. Then his watch starts annoying him just after five in the morning. It's then that a very groggy Reeve rises, groaning because yes, his head hurts. Takes him a few minutes to figure out where he is. Right. Inn. Vincent. Drinking. He doesn't remember too much more other than a lovely dream. Which he dismisses out of hand.

"Coffee," he grumbles to himself. He should also head back to his place and shower.

[emovampboy]

Vincent sleeps as well, although far more lightly than Reeve. In fact, the man may wonder if he slept at all when Vincent responds to the remark.

"Alcove near the bathroom has coffee." He sits, reaching for his cloak. "Are you alright?"

[plate_builder]

What? Oh. Right, Vincent is here. Reeve nods and pushes to his feet.

"Thank you," Reeve says softly as he gets up and heads for the alcove. "I apologize again for anything awkward I may have said last night. My mouth can run away with me. I think I suggested buzz-cutting Cloud's hair. I'm not certain. He'd probably kill me."

Coffee. He finds the alcove and sighs in relief as he sees the pot. Yes, he's going to brew this up.