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]

Well, there is that. Reeve reaches past Vincent to lock the door before moving to head up the flight of stairs.

"There are only two apartments here, so nothing above me. The woman who lives on the first floor is older and keeps asking when I'm going to bring a charming young woman home. She reminds me faintly of my mother," he says as he mounts the stairs quickly up to a door.

Once the door is unlocked and he steps in to find that the kitten has not ruined the apartment. Which isn't surprising. For all that he calls Mittens a kitten, she's well into young adulthood developmentally. In fact, she's stretched out on his drafting table, where she knows she doesn't belong. Looks up briefly and sees him, offering a pathetic sort of 'Why didn't feed me, I'm dying here' mewl.

[emovampboy]

A charming young woman? That could tell Vincent much about the woman on the first floor, including that she could be a busybody; a good and bad thing all at once. He even idly wonders what will happen if Reeve brings him home too often.

Looking at the cat, he seems vaguely amused at the look and the mewl. Cats have never been dumb, and they know how to play humans, and this one is certainly playing in her way.

[plate_builder]

Reeve will happily encourage any line of thought that might get Vincent considering coming home with him often. As it is he puts the box of coffee down and moves to scratch her behind the ears.

"You're fine," he says warmly to the tuxedo cat and then moves off to the kitchenette area further away. Most of the main room is filled with items clearly for work. There are a whole three tables and desks covered with paperwork, sketches and deployment reports. It's on the large side for a studio apartment, but still rather cramped for many people. Reeve doesn't seem to notice as he starts digging into a cabinet for Mitten's food.

"There's a chair at both of the desks, and you can of course sit on the bed if you want to sit. I'll just get Mittens her food and then change."

[emovampboy]

"Alright." Even if Reeves says that, it isn't likely Vincent will sit. In fact, he has found himself a place by the door to watch Reeve move about, though his eyes flicker to the full tables. So much paper.

He'll even stay there, against the wall, until Reeve wanders off to change. Only then does he move to kneel down and try to coax the cat away from following his master, a soft click of his tongue and the movement of his real hand calling her attention to him.

[plate_builder]

Mittens had lost interest in Reeve rather quickly once food was there, but it turns out she isn't the sort to wolf it down either. After a few dainty nibbles she turns her attention to the man trying to catch her attention. Well, no reason not to investigate. She's a brave cat and he is a new strange thing in her home, so he's definitely going to get a bit of sniffing from her before she starts rubbing against his hand.

Quick and easy to meet her standards of approval, especially if she gets scratched behind the ear. No doubt Vincent will have himself marked as a lovely attention-giver well before Reeve comes back out of the bathroom in a fresh suit, sans any form of coat.

"Getting along are we?" he asks as he reaches into a cabinet to get out a travel mug. That's going to need some of the coffee.

[emovampboy]

He seems to know well how to handle a four-legged furball, searching out all the spots Mittens seems to like and focusing on them. He'll even plop down and draw her to his lap if allowed, giving her a place to crash out on as he adorns her with attention.

He barely even looks at Reeve when he comes out, occupied with the small thing he's found to love on, though eventually speaking as he sees Reeve filling the cup. "Already tired?"

[plate_builder]

"I usually have had three cups by this point," Reeve counters. He's far too busy for his own good. But he smiles to see Vincent there, sitting on the floor with a cat in his lap, spoiling her with attention.

"She's going to like you more than she does me if you keep that up," Reeve says, and there is fondness in his voice, no doubt about that.

[emovampboy]

"You still feed her." It's said as if it matters to a cat, but Vincent does carefully lift her and settle her back on the floor before standing. "This will be your third cup now."

He had been keeping track in the hotel.

[plate_builder]

"Yes, but the start, not the finish," Reeve counters, even if Vincent is right. "And I've usually been up a good number of hours longer. And not plied with alcohol to cause me to..."

For some reason his eyes flick lightly to where a different Cait Sith doll is immobile on his bed.

"Well, anyway, I'm ready to give you the supposedly grand tour here."

[emovampboy]

Vincent's eyes follow Reeve's, catching the doll, but doesn't ask the meaning to it and his sudden silence. He instead holds out his clawed hand, as if indicating Reeve is welcome to begin the tour. What little of it there will be.

[plate_builder]

Very little indeed, as from where Reeve's standing you can see everything but into the bathroom and closet.

"That's my bed. The kitchenette that is impressive and just used for coffee and Mitten's food. Or, you know, reheating whatever other people force on me."

Because he's a wretched cook, but he can pull off mildly-edible at times. The more interesting thing is the three work stations. "First desk for drafting, but I'm sure you've seen those. This one..." he reaches over to touch the one covered with paperwork, and is actually a desk proper with drawers and a filing cabinet in reach. "Is the official desk of the Commissioner of the WRO. We're almost done with construction of the new building location, at which point I'll likely move out of Edge. The table..." which is clearly covered in a myriad of parts, "is where I work on the Cait units."

[emovampboy]

Vincent nods gently, tilting his head towards a small bookshelf tucked off to one side. "And those? Work?"

[plate_builder]

"Pleasure," Reeve smiles as he looks at the eclectic collection of history, science and political books mixed with no small number of detective novels. "I have little enough time to indulge in other hobbies these days. So I spare a bit of time. I try to read a chapter a week of... something. Anything really."

[emovampboy]

"A good idea." Was there anything more to ask about in the apartment? It all seemed fairly straight foward to Vincent.

[plate_builder]

Not really. Reeve clearly lives a very meager, and cluttered, life.

"I don't want to take up too much space," he explains after a moment. "More than my fair share. There are families that need it more. So I make do with what I have."

He's actually going to miss it.

[emovampboy]

"Just make sure it's the space you need." He means it in the sense that Reeve may need more space, simply due to his position, just isn't saying it outright. "Before we leave, should we get something to eat while up at your relaxation spot?"

[plate_builder]

And his intended office and the residential suite that has been set aside for him in the plans include more space.

"Is there any food in particular I could tempt you with? Otherwise I'm content to drag the bagels along with us."

Truly he is a man of simple pleasures in some things.

[emovampboy]

"Bagels are fine." Reeve likes simple pleasures, Vincent likes simplicity in general; hard to believe given his outfit and mood. Yet, at least in food, he would eat most anything. "Do we need to take anything more with us?"

[plate_builder]

Yes, his outfit is far from simple.

"Other than water? Not really," Reeve admits. He'll probably need to call a car, actually. "Are you okay with riding with my team?"

[emovampboy]

"I have no complaints." Or, in other words, yes.

[plate_builder]

No doubt they are hovering given what Vincent said. So Reeve just gets his phone out and sends a quick request for the car to meet him. There is almost an immediate response saying it is here.

“Damn hovering...” Reeve smiles.

[emovampboy]

"You'll find it is a good thing sometimes." Vincent leans down to pet Mittens as she passes, before looking at Reeve. "If you put some water in a bag, I'll carry it. The bagels too."

[plate_builder]

“Right,” Reeve answers before heading to the kitchenette. A number of bottled waters go into a bag followed by some wrapped up bagels and shmear because he hates them plain himself. But he doesn’t offer the bag to Vincent.

“If something we’re to happen,” he explains, you are quicker and a better fighter. I would rather your hands be free.”

[emovampboy]

Vincent has the urge to protest, since he's also the stronger of the two and thus would not find carrying several bottles of water an issue, but finds Reeve has a point.

There's no reason to suspect anything will happen, but on the chance something does happen, it is only sensible to allow the man with better reflexes the ability to move; though he'd be backed by three others at this point.

So Vincent nods, moving to the door to open it for Reeve.

[plate_builder]

Reeve may be a business man, but he has the strength for this much with no issue.

“Thank you for not arguing,” Reeve says softly as he heads for the door to head out again. “I am a touch more capable than I look.”