plate_builder | Open Post

[A vast world more than a cam show. And Reeve blushes, not knowing he's giving in to Reno's prediction by turning off the call and dumping his phone into a desk drawer like it's a venomous snake he needs to get away from.]

That man is insane.

[ as it turns out, it's not the vid chat that gets him in trouble, it's Reno cackling like a fucking hyena in his office. of course by the time Tseng comes to see just what, pray tell, is so funny that isn't him doing his work he's already straightened up and scooted nice and close to his desk to hide the evidence. he just makes some shit up to get out of trouble and then strolls off to the bathroom a few minutes later to take care of the little issue.

you'd think getting it out of his system would solve the issue, but nope. that only riles him up more, honestly. Reeve thinks they're talking again, he's going to show him what price that comes with. six o'clock sharp, Tseng leaves for his business (but not before questioning why on earth Reno's still there, he just says he has some stuff to finish up) and as soon as he's gone he takes the elevator to Reeve's floor. his secretary's still there, so Reeve must still be, too. he stops in at the main office to greet her, she offers to page Reeve and let him know Reno's there, Reno says no need. then she says she actually had some folders to take into his office— perfect. ]

Oh, no, honey. I got it. I'll take 'em to him. Sit down, relax!

[ just. snatching the folders out of her hand before she can get a word in edgewise and heading on over to knock on Reeve's office door before he lets himself in, smiling ear to ear. fake-sweet, but also completely evil. ]

Hiya, boss. Brought your evening proposals.

[ oh god call security ]

[And here, all these hours and reports later, Reeve had almost completely forgotten that the Turk had been... strange that day. When the door first opened he hadn't bothered to look up, expecting his secretary to come in and deliver his evening coffee and the reports from the sub-department heads. Instead he hears Reno's voice and his head snaps up, his eyes wide with shock.]

R-reno. What are you doing here?

[ ah, yes. that's the reaction he was hoping for. that is just a straight-up cheshire grin, all teeth, a little bit crazy, not to be trusted. he doesn't even mean for it to be, he's just really that delighted. just walking up to his desk and leaning down to place the folders down in front of him. ]

Like I said, I'm bringing you the proposals. A "thank you" would be nice.

T-thank you.

[Reeve is very much not looking at Reno, but there is definite red crawling up his neck and cheeks at Reno's proximity. Mostly because absolutely remembers what happened earlier.]

You are free to go.

Oh, am I dismissed? After I stayed late and came all the way down here just for you? You're cold, man. At least offer me a drink.

[ he's an exec there's no way he doesn't have a bottle of good shit somewhere in here, seriously. also yeah he hasn't moved away or stood up straight yet. still just leaning forward with one hand on his desk. ]

I do not keep anything but water and coffee in my office.

[Reeve absolutely doesn't fit the rules of other executives. But with Reno so close Reeve pushes his chair away from the desk, trying to put some space between them.]

IF you desire drink, go raid Scarlet's office.

For real? God, you just get worse every time I talk to you. Why do I like you so much, huh? Tell me that.

[ perfect. that's about what he was hoping for. then he just hops up and sits on the edge of his desk when he backs away from it, leaning forward that way instead. ]

[Uh... Reno, you just sat on the files you just brought in. Clearly this was a miscalculation.]

Because I send you muffin baskets and know which men and women in the building should be directed to you for attention.

[ fuck yo files. pay attention to him. ]

That makes it sound like I'm just using you for perks! That's not really me, is it...?

[The files are just paper, Reno. Cannot be fucked. And he's staring at them.]

No, you're... you're not just doing that.

[He always feels like he's on thin ice with Reno.]

I suppose you should really answer the question for yourself.

Yeah, well, I was wondering what you think. Guess maybe that's running a big risk, considering what I already know you think about me.

[ you! thought! he! forgot!! it's fine, he isn't angry anymore. he took it to heart. like, way to heart. and yeah, the look on his face doesn't exactly spell "fear for your life" but it also doesn't say "you're off the hook," either. thin ice is apt. ]

What I think is... I like you because you're easy to like.

[Reeve... winces. Because of course he does. He did in fact offend Reno. He definitely deserves this treatment. Well, would deserve some other form of treatment. This one is weirder.]

I try to be a likable person. I thought we'd gone over that.

Yeah, we did. But that's before I had the time to sit around and think about why I didn't want to just let you be right. Besides that I hate fuckers that get to say I told you so.

[ scooting right to the edge of that desk... like he might just go for Reeve's lap. he's got a clear shot to jump right on him, honestly. but if he wanted it to be a big surprise, he wouldn't make it obvious what he's thinking about doing. ]

Reno, I... I don't know what it is you want. And I have a lot of work to get to. Please, it would be better if you let me get to it.

[Still blushing, still looking nervous.]

You really have no intention of listening to me, do you?

No, 'course I don't. Am I making you nervous? You don't think I'm gonna hurt you, do you? C'mon, man.

[ i mean.... there's a possibility. nobody sneaks into someone's office after hours and intimidates them in their own space just for fun, right right? (wrong; it's Reno that does that). ]

You wouldn't hurt me, because you wouldn't want to explain to Tseng why you did so.

[And he probably wouldn't want the punishment that went into it. Not that Reeve can imagine what punishments Tseng would offer the man.]

Yes. You are making me nervous, but not for that concern.

Tch... take answering to Tseng out of the picture for a second, if you can get your thirst for the guy in check long enough. Still think I'd hurt you?

[ honestly at this point this is apropos of nothing anymore, he's just curious. whatever, he's got time to get off track. and Reeve's not going anywhere until he's quite finished. ]

[Actually, Reeve does think he's going to go somewhere, which is to reach for his phone. He's going to call Tseng, have him remove his subordinate from Reeve's desk.]

This is silly, Reno. I have work to do. Say whatever you came to say so I can get to it?

[ oh, no you don't, pal. Reno's hand snaps out, lightning quick, and grabs hold of Reeve's wrist. he's a small thing, smaller even than Reeve, but he's got the strength not only to stop him but to wrench his arm up and then back as he stands and moves closer to him, looming over his chair. it's rough, but it won't break his arm. if he doesn't struggle. ]

I asked you a question—answer it. You think I'd hurt you if I could do it with impunity? You think I'm the sort of person that lashes out at random, just for fun? Do you?

No. You would not be a Turk if you were like that. You'd be a dog on a chain. Shinra is more refined in their application of pressure through the Turks.

[There are other people to be the rabid dogs that bite when it wasn't commanded.]

Which is why I know you will let me go.

I'm not letting go of shit.

[ and he doesn't, in fact, let go of Reeves arm. he uses it practically as a handlebar to yank him along, rolling his chair back into the opposite wall behind him, so he's got nowhere to go. ]

You don't know anything about pressure. You've got it really easy here. When you feel something, you get to just feel it. Whatever you want, whenever you want. Spoiled brat.

I know about application of pressure, Reno. If you think I don't, then you maintain a very narrow view of the world and pressure. And you've little to no understanding of how I function in my personal life, beyond what I like from the men and women in my bed. And even that you have only as heresay.

[Getting back to that pressure thing, Reeve reaches out, pressing his fingers into a pressure point just behind Reno's thumb. If he applied force, the pain should make Reno's thumb jerk away. Which he doesn't do. But he knows Reno should know it.]

I have hundreds of thousands of lives on my shoulders every day. And most people fail to respect that. Pressure is what I eat and breathe and I have nothing that frees me from it. There are times I believe I should have stayed a farm boy.

Is that right.

[ oh, he knows. and he's got half a mind to grab Reeve's other wrist, too, but he doesn't do that, either. just maintains his grip and sits right down on Reeve's lap. straddling him, but not really close enough to be way too close. more like perched across his knees, resting his weight mostly on his own two feet. ]

Let me tell you what I feel, farm boy. I feel you don't exactly appreciate the risk it is for me to feel anything, ever, and mistook it for some kind of shortage in my wiring. I feel you should get your facts straight. I feel like I'm fucking sick and tired of hearing you call me "Turk" so god damn much. So, I feel like it's high time you stopped ascribing everything I do or don't do to my job and started looking at me like a person, and since you can't seem to get out of your own business-brain long enough to manage it, I felt I'd come and help you out with that. Don't answer me. Just nod if you're listening.

[Reeve goes from cool and collected, or feigning it, to shocked and staring at Reno with red in his cheeks as the man moves into his lap. This isn't okay.]

No. You don't command me. And you sure treat me like a suit more than you treat me like a person. Don't you bring your attitude here, into my office, and presume to order me around with implications of violence.

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