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]

Reeve is preparing a protest against this, trying to come up with an excuse to not go along with what is in many ways a truly reasonable idea for his physical and mental health. Except that this now a thing that is happening. Vincent pulling him forward and it's not like he can pull back without damaging his coat, even if he could get away. Nor would he want to in this case. Being this close to Vincent and having the man initiate a kiss is sort of shutting down his brain. Not his body. Sorry, Vincent, you started this, so you have to live with an arm wrapped around Vincent and another reaching up to just get his fingers in Vincent's hair for half a moment.

Nice. And he has no intention of breaking this kiss before Vincent does. He will take this moment for everything it's worth.

[emovampboy]

Vincent doesn't break it for a good moment, allowing those hands before slowly releasing the strap and drawing back a little.

"Think about it?"

[plate_builder]

And here Reeve was supposed to be doing the sweeping off of feet. Just look at him now, standing there for a moment, eyes closed, basking in that. Lovely.

"It would take a few days to arrange. Wherever you're staying has enough shelter for two?"

He'd need food, skip on the coffee probably.

[emovampboy]

"Of course." Difference is, Vincent wasn't trying to woo, so much as keep the man from working to death. Wooing would be impossible with a dead man. So, if he has to use a dirty trick this time...

[plate_builder]

More dirty tricks more often then. And he doesn't feel like it needs to be asked, if Vincent is serious. The man wouldn't suggest something he wasn't serious about.

"Would it be correct to assume you'd need some time to recover from all the hoopla here before you'd welcome a guest?"

[emovampboy]

"I wouldn't need much time." He sets down his empty glass. "I know you will need some time, though. So... I'll spend tonight here, then you can meet me at the outskirts of the Forest in about two weeks?"

[plate_builder]

"I can do that," Reeve agrees. "My guards are going to flip out over letting me trust myself to you for a week, far away from 'civilization'."

And Reeve? He's never been a man with that much experience in the 'wilder' part of the world. This is going to be interesting. He's willing to try something new out if it makes Vincent more comfortable. "I'll call you to confirm. I just don't know exactly where on the outskirts you would want."

[emovampboy]

"I'll leave a map." Vincent then indicates where Reeve keeps his phone. "Worst case, I'll speak with them. Or they can come along and stay in another location nearby... at least until they trust me."

[plate_builder]

"The man who arranged the team for me will assure them that I'm perfectly safe in your hands," Reeve assures Vincent with a smile. With that he finally returns to his neutral corner, meaning the bed. And he finishes his current cup of coffee.

"Are there things I should bring with me? I do not have much experience with being away from places with hotels. Or at the very least, inns."

[emovampboy]

There's obvious curiosity of who Reeve means, but he doesn't focus on it, shaking his head to the question. "Just the usual things. I have bedding and supplies."

[plate_builder]

"Vincent, I have no idea what would constitute 'the usual things'," Reeve reminds him. "The closest I've ever been to traveling as something other than a Shinra delegation was as Cait, and as you may remember he was less than useful for those sorts of things other than carrying supplies."

Truly he doesn't know what he needs. Take pity on the poor man.

[emovampboy]

"Clothes. Toiletries. That's all you really need."

[plate_builder]

"You're managing the food?" Reeve asks. The thing is, after this he's not entirely sure Vincent is ready for someone with his appetites.

[emovampboy]

"If you're worried, bring your own, but I do eat. Just not much in the mornings." He smiles a bit to reassure Reeve.

[plate_builder]

"Well, I think I'll let you make those arrangements. I'll find something to carry my clothes and other things in. Vincent... thank you," Reeve smiles. A soothing week away, there's no harm in that. And he's in for a treat because, really, Reeve hadn't seen the forest at night. He couldn't bare to watch it.

"I want to finish another pastry or two before I head out to feed my cat. Would you like to join me at my apartment?"

[emovampboy]

He nods an ok to making arrangements, but looks a tad amused at the question. "I thought the point was to spend the day together? Not much use splitting up just to meet again."

[plate_builder]

"And I typically find that taking a man back to my apartment on the first date can send a very inappropriate and far too forward message," Reeve says right back, but his smile is purely a playful one. He does grab another pastry. The bagels can go home as fodder for future meals.

[emovampboy]

"I think we already crossed that line." He seems content to let Reeve eat, focusing instead on his juice.

[plate_builder]

"I suppose," Reeve laughs. "I think I just needed to reinforce that I was serious."

He does manage to get his next pastry down before pushing to his feet and looking at his watch.

"There's a chance we're going to run into Yuffie or Cid as we leave. Do you have an opinion about how to address them?"

[emovampboy]

Vincent considers the question, seeing no reason to respond to the serious part. He knows Reeve is serious, just as Reeve knows Vincent is.

"I suppose there's three options..." He holds up his fingers as he speaks. "One is to avoid the questions, two is to lie and say you're seeing me off, or three we could be honest. One or three would be best."

[plate_builder]

"I like honest," Reeve smirks, because he's a touch possessive. "But if it's Yuffie I think one would be a better option. Lest she get ideas."

[emovampboy]

"She'll get ideas regardless. Just have to hope Cid is there to run distraction." He stands, crossing to set his cup down on the cart. "I'm not opposed to truth, either. Cloud and Cid are both aware of my preferences."

[plate_builder]

Wait, what? Reeve stares at Vincent for a long moment. How do they know that? Why do they know that? Why hadn't he so he could have tested the waters? But no prying.

"Alright then. We'll go with honesty. And cross our fingers we don't run into her."

[emovampboy]

Reeve may not speak the questions, but Vincent knows they are there, so he explains.

"Cid asked me one night because of Cloud. Cloud is one of the people I've had a crush on before, and Cid is fairly observant."

[plate_builder]

What. Wait. What? Cid?

"I thought he and Shera..." Reeve fumbles, because he's so very confused. And he doesn't get the whole attraction to Cloud thing most people have. He appreciates the form, but not all of the packaging.