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

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.

[emovampboy]

"You said he needs a different cut, but nothing about a buzz cut." He's off the bed quickly, moving to the bathroom and letting Reeve wake up a little.

[plate_builder]

"I dreamt of him coming after me with that monstrous weapon of his because I had Cait buzz his hair," Reeve admits with a groan as he stares at the coffee pot. He's got water in it, the filter, the grounds. If only it would brew faster. "Thank you for offering me a bed last night. I'll be out of your hair once I get some coffee in me. I suppose I should summon my car."

[emovampboy]

Vincent only takes a few moments in the bathroom, out before Reeve knows it and moving to wash up, speaking as he does.

"I meant what I said."

[plate_builder]

Wait, what?

Reeve looks up from the coffee pot, turning his head quickly and his head hurts so bad at the motion. His head hurts, his mouth feels like sandpaper, and what did Vincent say?

"Could you repeat that?"

[emovampboy]

"What you think was a dream." He reaches past Reeve intentionally, leaning into him slightly as he grabs a band towel. "I meant it."

He keeps a trained, serious eye on Reeve. He had meant what he said, and had time to consider overnight if the course of action he'd suggested the night before was a mistake. Determined it wasn't.

And since Reeve seemed to be intent to ignore it, or forgot, he was bringing it up again.

[plate_builder]

Oh. Oh dear. That actually... Reeve just stands there, a touch stunned. Perhaps more than he had been when he was drunk. This was really a thing. Vincent had really...

With wide eyes he stares at Vincent, trying to process this for a moment. And then he smiles. So it wasn't a dream. Vincent leaning over him, touching his brow lightly, saying soft words he wouldn't believe.

"And here I do remember telling you that I wouldn't want you to hold anything I said while I was drunk against me. It's not kind to joke with a man my age, Vincent. Old men don't have strong hearts. They break so easily."

[emovampboy]

"Do you think I'm that cruel?" He draws back a way, but doesn't break eye contact. "I was very clear that I'm not sure, which means you have all the facts."

[plate_builder]

"I don't," Reeve admits. His head is killing him, but Vincent had asked him about what a suave Reeve was like. Maybe he can at least show Vincent that.

He reaches up, brushing a stray hair back, tucking it over Vincent's ear.

"I think you're a man who weighs his decisions carefully. And somehow I expect you spent a lot of time thinking about this. Which means I'll do my best to live up to the degree of thought you placed in this."

No looking a gift chocobo in the mouth. Good way to lose a nose. "I'm going to take a quick shower, we're going to abandon this pot of terrible coffee, and I'm going to take you to a place I go some mornings. We'll talk, both sober this time."

[emovampboy]

"I was sober last night." Vincent corrects Reeve a little, but doesn't pull away from Reeve when he reaches up to brush his hair back.

[plate_builder]

"I wasn't," Reeve reminds him. "Thus we weren't both..."

No, he will not quibble. He laughs and shakes his head. But hey, the fact that the guy isn't jerking away from the smallest touch is probably a good sign. So he keeps smiling.

"Vincent, so you know, I wasn't kidding. You're stunning. And you don't give yourself enough credit for your value."

[emovampboy]

Both what? Aware of what they were saying? Vincent had already gathered, by Reeve's words, that he was an honest drunk. What he said was just the truth he knew.

What he said now seemed more of the same, though this time it wasn't liquor induced. Yet with little response, he merely nods at Reeve and moves back enough that the man can do what he needs