plate_builder | [Open Post]

Provided Rufus isn't removing Cait from the apartment or about to interrogate Reeve about the specifics of the contents of the box that for now is on a shelf above his drafting table, Reeve is okay.

"I can't help but think the man has no interest in the handsome sex," Reeve sighs, and he manages to sound very forlorn. However it doesn't last on his face. "A shame. He really is a loss. And if I were to 'join you' then dinner would get cold."

Such troublesome investigations can wait until later, when Reeve isn't in the room to see him. If Rufus even bothers to try to harass the man by prying where he shouldn't. Rufus even had his morals and limits.

"No, I think Tseng is just difficult." Removing the headset and finding a spot for the controls, he tilts his head. "Dinner? Is that what was in the other bags?"

"Yes," Reeve answers, and then he takes a breath because he's prepared for this. "As much as I hate to say it, Reno was right. Elena too I suppose. I am a bit difficult at times, and foolish. I did not give you the credit you deserved. Your concern for me was warranted, and my behavior was based on... circumstances that I should not have laid at your feet. This partnership of ours is clearly not going to be for a short period of time. You have become an invaluable, if silent, partner for the WRO and the work going on in Edge and you deserve more respect for what you're doing. But I am having difficulty in seeing you as the person you are rather than the man you were."

The more he had thought about it, the more he had realized it. Nearly dying changes people, and Rufus would be no exception. The Turks themselves seemed a bit different when it came right down to it. What was more, Reeve may have had a touch of a talking to from Veld, and that is a man he had plenty of reasons to respect.

"I don't know you, Rufus. That makes this partnership difficult. You may believe I invest myself too much in the people around me, but I feel that knowing people gives life meaning. If I don't know the people I'm working toward, I lose some of what motivates me. And I should extend that same treatment to people I'm working with. At least those that will give me the time of day, so to speak. And thus... dinner. I find it difficult to know a man through work alone, so I figured something a bit less focused on the world outside of here might be good for me knowing you. Though I admit the Halloween thing helped a bit. Very popular by the way."

It's a winding way to apologize, almost as long as the tirade which brought it on, but logical. Both men are talkers, but neither good listeners, and in many ways that causes problems. Add in distrust, and it's a disaster waiting to happen time and again. Honestly, sometimes Reno and his bluntness would be easier, but will never happen with these two.

Understanding this, Rufus sort of chuckles softly at Reeve, or maybe at himself.

"I suppose me caring about someone aside from myself is difficult to accept. Plus, I'm as stubborn and bull-headed as you are, mm?"

"The Turks seem resolved to believe that you care about people other than yourself. I suppose I needed another voice to believe that," Reeve admits. "And you may not be the only one to have called me bull-headed recently. In fact, you're the third."

That admission has him momentarily quiet, a bit upset as he thinks back to one of those. From Rufus and Veld he can take it in the spirit it was given. It was the third that gives him a moment of pause. Then he shakes his head.

"The food will get cold. I don't know all you can eat, I won't be offended if you don't want any of it. Promise I didn't cook it."

Rufus had also technically called himself bull-headed, so there was that." He starts to move towards the kitchen area, but doesn't stop talking. "What voice did you need to hear?"

No reason not to be blunt as Rufus has already received a message from the man.

"Veld," he answers simply. He owed the man as much as the man owed him, so it was pretty par. "He told me I was an idiot. Which on top of Reno and you and Elena and... Well, his is a bit firmer of a voice."

Ah, Veld. The man was smart, reasonable, and important to the Turks. He also should have been dead long ago, and so far as the former president knew before his death at Sephiroth's sword, was. Really, helping him stay alive all those years ago had many reasons, and it was likely Veld knew them all. He also knew about what happened after the fall of Shinra, had assisted the Turks in locating their missing president. He certainly would know much about the blond.

As to a firmer voice, Rufus chuckles. "Kind of like a father, yes?"

"Yes," Reeve agrees. With that he moves to pick up one of the plates, disposable, and starts to fill it with roasted potatoes and some slices of well cooked glazed ham. "I suppose he would be like that."

Reeve has very little point of reference. His own father was no more there for him than Rufus's father had been for him. In his own case it was because of a death in the family.

"I know the Turks consider him as such." Rufus looks at the food, somewhat amused at the choices. It may be true Reeve didn't cook it, but it seems like something of a home-cooked meal. "Did you consider this meal for a long time? It seems very hearty."

Carefully, Rufus rises and begins to grab some things for himself. He may avoid too much meat, but seems content with whatever vegetables and other like foods the WRO man has ordered.

"I made my mind up the day before I arranged to meet you," Reeve admits. There are complications related to that, and it motivated him to really go through it. "And it's the sort of stuff I like."

There are a nice set of vegetable sides. Reeve likes ham, but most of the rest is vegetables or starches. Lovely.

"Is that so? Fortunately, I like a good deal of it as well." After gathering a good amount of food, Rufus sets the plate on the table and moves to the fridge to get something to drink, turning to Reeve as he does. "What would you like?"

"Water," Reeve answers. "I know you have that. And wine would hardly be appropriate."

Because Reeve knows what he's like when he drinks. It would only serve to amuse Rufus. "Unless you happen to keep sparkling cider. Frankly, I didn't know what you would drink, so I failed to bring anything. This itself seemed like a great enough risk."

"I don't drink anything so tame as wine." He's pulling out a bottle of water for the both of them, and closing the fridge door. "Haven't had much of anything but water since getting the Stigma, either.

"And why would bringing food be a risk? Worried I'd start a food fight If I didn't get my way?"

"Wine isn't to my taste either. Bourbon."

Alone more often than not.

"I was more concerned that you would not be amused by the purpose behind the food. Or perhaps that you might see this as a ploy to achieve some other end."

Like seducing Rufus. Which even with his heart a bit broken, he wouldn't do. Not his style.

"Vodka here, usually." He sets the bottles down on the table, and looks at Reeve with some slight amusement in his eyes. "Really? You are generally considered a good boy, Reeve. What ploy might you have that asking wouldn't get you?"

"If I am considered a 'good-boy' in that way, then I am definitely seen incorrectly," Reeve chuckles to himself. But that will probably give Rufus all the wrong ideas? No, he somehow doubts that. Rufus himself admitted that he used sex as a means to get what he wants. And he's already getting what he wants from Reeve. Sex is clearly not included, which should be a relief.

"Why would I even ask?" Reeve questions with a smile. Lonely but he'll be fine with that.

With that he gets a nice mouthful of green beans. Lovely.

"Oh, so you're the pushy kind, are you?" He smirks a little, but leaves it there, finding silverware and sitting to eat a little bit. "However, I am curious what you think you will learn speaking with me like this, as compared to our usual conversations."

"To see you as something other than the heir of Shinra, and President of the same company," Reeve points out softly. "And yes, I am. Within reasonable boundaries. My partners are happy to have me in that role."

Here he takes a sip and he then turns his attention to Rufus more seriously. "I'm to learn to see you as just... Rufus."

Rufus so isn't going to ask on that last bit, not right now at least. Amusing as it is for Reeve to be this confident, and seeming to make remarks, there are serious things to be discussed; playing flirty games could always been done later if there was a want or reason.

"And how do you wish to learn that?" Rufus can't help keeping a smirk on his face as he speaks. "Twenty questions?"

Twenty questions. Yes, Rufus, you get a full-bellied laugh for that one. How ridiculous would they be doing such a thing. And yet, it's not a truly foolish idea.

"If there is no better way, then I may resort to that. But my hope was a more natural conversation that doesn't involve reconstruction efforts or the WRO. Any other topic would be game."

"Tseng?" Low blow, and he knows it, but truly doesn't want to help it. Yet he does seem to understand, speaking again as he opens his water to take a drink. "There isn't a great deal either of us have in common, aside from those, and mystery novels.

"Anything else I could say, I don't want to."

"If you wish," Reeve smirks. Because he knows it's a short topic. "I was infatuated with him. I asked him out once, at a company function. I was shot down. Is that really the question you'd ask. How it must make me think of you. But we don't know that we have no other things in common. But if you don't wish to talk to me, you can see if you can eat and play with my robot at the same time. This is an experiment, and if you disapprove, I will not repeat it in the future."

Definitely feels shut out here.

"You actually asked him?" Reeve had hinted at it before, if Rufus remembered correctly, but the blond seems honestly surprised that it might be true. Even he wouldn't risk it. "And it isn't that I don't wish to talk with you, and more that I don't believe you would want to hear about my past; which is effectively the best way to learn someone, isn't it?"

"Yes, I did. He was kind when he said no," Reeve admits with a shrug. "You can ask him if you want. I am sure he would tell you if you did. And I would listen to what you would be willing to share."

Which he expects is little to nothing. "Or we can talk about books. How you came to Healen. Anyhing. I will play twenty questions if I have to. Question for question."

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