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

Reeve manages self-assured in plenty of siituations. When he feels he has control

[plate_builder]

"I can handle less if it's better for you," Reeve admits, and he sighs. Perhaps this is a bit too intense for a first conversation. Clearly he's gone too far, he can sense it even if he can't see it on Vincent's face. Perhaps he best explain himself. It's not a control thing. It's something else entirely.

"I was involved with a man when I was younger, back when I was in college actually. I made the mistake of letting it last well past when he didn't care about me. Not really. But he seemed to enjoy having someone at his call. When he wanted attention beyond his friends and his parties, there was always me. I wouldn't see him for months on end. The asshole even came to Midgar after..."

He pauses and shakes his head. No. He's not going deeper than that.

"If I wanted something empty and physical I could find that. But relationships require being there, Vincent. That's why I ask it. It was a bad situation for me, it ended less than well, and while I doubt you would ever use a person like that, the feeling of waiting on my tenterhooks for someone, not knowing if I matter... I don't have time for that in my life. I can't do that again. Too much comes across my desk for me to be broken like that again."

Yeah just amusing... rarely does one get awkward Vincent

[emovampboy]

"I'm not like that." He says after Reeve has finished speaking, focusing his eyes on him. "I'm just not used to opening myself up yet... not sure if I ever was.

"But I'm not going to do something like that."

[plate_builder]

"I know," Reeve admits, but he shakes his head. "I know you wouldn't, Vincent. But given everything that I've been through, protecting myself is something I have to do. No matter who is involved. I trust you in a fight. With secrets. With everything. But my heart? That's a bit harder, fondness for you or not."

And he knows Vincent will respect that. All he's asking is to see Vincent sometimes.

[emovampboy]

"Isn't such a thing the reason one dates? To look for compatibility?" He tilts his head just a bit, almost as if not sure.

[plate_builder]

"Yes, it is the point," Reeve chuckles, leaning forward a bit to look a bit closer at Vincent. "Letting me pursue you doesn't necessarily mean you're going to stick around in Edge long enough for me to get you on multiple dates in a short period of time. Or anniversaries."

This is his attempt at an arrangement that makes sense for them both.

[emovampboy]

Reeve finally gets a different look from Vincent, and it's unfortunately pure confusion. He knows the two are talking about the same thing, boundaries and all, but Vincent can't seem to understand what Reeve is trying to say.

Or, maybe there's something else...

He sighs a little, and sets down the glass he's holding and the only partially eaten bagel, giving the man a firm look. His tone is the same, and almost holds a warning; you're pushing too hard.

"I can only do what I can do. I'll be around more, but you have to let me have time."

[plate_builder]

"I know," Reeve answers. "I get that, Vincent. I'm saying I know this won't be a standard relationship. This won't be dinner and a movie, seeing you when I come home from work, going out to dinner at the drop of a hat."

Clearly communication isn't a strong point for either of them. Reeve pushes to his feet and walks a bit away, because he needs to catch his breath. This is going nowhere.

"That's why I ask for some of your time. For you to come and see me. It's about... explaining just what kind of chance I'm hoping to have here. That's what I'm asking for, Vincent. Nothing more. I don't mind a mysterious man in my life. Or a distant one. I just want enough time to make the best of this chance you're giving me. Twelve meetings in a year isn't too much, is it?"

[emovampboy]

Didn't he already say it was alright? That he'd come at least that often, maybe more if he grew used to it? Are their wires crossing? Or just personalities?

Reeve is planned, Vincent is not. It's honestly why there is any sort of draw, he figures; the whole opposites attract thing. Yet it seems to be confusing the situation.

Slowly, Vincent stands. "Let's make this easier... you're worried I won't come more frequently than monthly, for good reason, and I don't want to promise too far ahead. So, let's set a schedule for the next few months. Decide every time we meet if it should be changed.

"This way, you have assurance and I have time to work through things."

[plate_builder]

This definitely comes down to the fact that Reeve is a planner. Worse than that, his life revolves too tightly around those plans, now that the WRO is a part of his life. Then there is Vincent. Who comes and goes freely. Who doesn't bother to leave a note or answer his phone or things like that.

"No," Reeve answers as he looks at Vincent with another soft smile. "Please don't do that. There is an excitement that comes with a man who can show up to sweep you off your feet. Schedule it and there goes the freedom you have, that you need. There goes the mystery. I suppose my only exception is my birthday. If we're together I would ask for that one night so I can take you out to eat somewhere because we shouldn't make the mistake of trusting my cooking. Granted, a day or two of forward notice is useful to make sure I can rearrange things. Otherwise you need to be in town more than one day so I can wiggle out of meetings. Which for you, I would."

[emovampboy]

"Alright..." Vincent seems a bit unsure, but he's not going to push the issue. Especially since there is a strong urge to take off, get away from this situation... like before. Like he did with Lucrecia, though the instinct is more literal here.

Why he's uncomfortable now, when he was so assured last night, he couldn't tell you. Or was acting assured at least.

[plate_builder]

Is he uncomfortable? Reeve can't tell, but it seems like there is something. And it's him.

"I should leave," he says with a sigh. "Sorry, I'm terrible at this. I've never thought about how I would approach you. I've admired you from afar, often literally. I guess I'm at a loss for how to handle myself. How to handle this. Never would I have expected you to agree to this sort of thing. And I've messed it up."

[emovampboy]

"No." Vincent reaches up and toys with the collar of his cloak. "Not messed it up. Just... you seem to understand this better than I do."

[plate_builder]

"I've been around the block a few times," Reeve answers with a shrug. "But I don't want to change you. I just want your time. A chance at your heart."

Which is awkward. "This isn't how I would have told you. It's put me off my balance."

[emovampboy]

"You wouldn't have told me." It's not accusatory, but a fact. "You only said a word because you were drunk, didn't you?"

[plate_builder]

"If I had chosen to act, it would have been an action rather than words," Reeve admits with a shrug. "And you're not wrong. There was no reason to believe speaking would result in anything. And look where talking has gotten me. To a point where you half look like you're going to flee."

Which is perfectly okay and understandable and Reeve will go home and mope. But as it is, he moves a step closer, closing some of the distance. "I wouldn't have said it. Making such a risky admission to a man like you should be something more than words."

[emovampboy]

Well, it was certainly true he felt like running, but he was a bit more disciplined now than in the past. And something Reeve said amused him vaguely.

"Amusing... if you hadn't have been drunk I had actually debated kissing you last night instead."

[plate_builder]

Oh dear. That gives Reeve a moment of pause. Because he could imagine in. That's got a flutter in his heart and he likes it.

"You? Vincent Valentine, cautious and thoughtful and dare I say shy, were considering such a thing? Strange, I can't imagine a window where you would have had a chance before I was given alcohol. What would have prompted that?"

As he asks he's been moving closer, closing the space between them again. He doesn't like having personal conversations with so much space.

[emovampboy]

"I don't know." Vincent keeps an eye on Reeve, but he can at least give a little. "Or, more accurately, I don't know entirely. You just seemed like you needed some sort of assurance."

[plate_builder]

"I admit I would have enjoyed that," Reeve shrugs. "Except it would have been the wrong way around. I'm the experienced one. I'm supposed to seduce you. If anyone should be stealing a kiss, it should be me, shouldn't it?"

At this point he's just about closed the space between them. Close enough for his hand to reach out and rest on a cheek. It's almost amazing how soft Vincent's skin is. And this is probably stupid. Oh well. He's got curative materia on him, he can take care of an instinctive lashing out. One of the rules of Shinra was not to catch a Turk off guard. He was about to break that.

"Aren't spies supposed to steal things?"

With that he leans in to place a light kiss on Vincent's lips. Slow enough, of course, that Vincent has more than ample time to see it coming and push him away.

[emovampboy]

Vincent is ready to point out that kissing someone who is drunk is not exactly appropriate, when he realizes precisely what Reeve is up to - is allowed to realize - and stops.

He doesn't even pull away, or push, or anything Reeve might expect. Just lets it happen, hesitating a moment or so before returning it cautiously.

[plate_builder]

A good starting point, not getting shoved away. Especially since the way they're standing he'd be shoved into the cart which means into the coffee and that would be a horrid loss. Minor compared to the softness of Vincent's lips, but a loss all the same.

Granted Reeve has no intention of letting the kiss linger too long, or get too far. Because if he does, well, he imagines he'd enjoy that too much. The fact that it was returned at all is heartening, and with that comfort he pulls back, unable to help the smile on his lips. He is, though, able to keep himself to only a low chuckle over how surprised he is to have been allowed that.

"Had I been sober, and confident, that is how you would have known. Words seem a bit... lacking when I think about you. There's no proper way to describe how you captivate me, Vincent."

[emovampboy]

There was no reason to push, considering he had, in a way, started things with his comments. And it wasn't like the gesture went so far that it would make him uncomfortable enough to do so, although there is a vague sense of question if that really just happened.

There's also a small raise of the brow at the remark, and as he speaks Vincent folds his arms as he seems to do often enough. "Are you often more action than word when you like someone?"

He says no more, but there's an obvious question he's leaving out: or is it just with me?

[plate_builder]

"Yes," Reeve admits with a chuckle. "For all that I'm a planner and talker with just about everything else, but in some matters, I have to keep myself from overthinking. Which I would. Have."

This whole stumbling conversation is because he's been thinking too much. "That being said, I find the lack of words more acute around you, Vincent."

[emovampboy]

"Huh." Well, it's interesting information at least, and Vincent nods a little. "I suppose I'm difficult to speak with sometimes."

[plate_builder]

"Everyone is difficult to speak with at one point or another," Reeve counters before returning to sit on the edge of his bed. Perhaps he should give Vincent space. But right now, he's enjoying the company while it is available to him. "But you're easier than most people I know. Except for this morning apparently."