plate_builder | [Open Post]

Bland life depended on how you defined bland. He'd spent his life basically a prisoner to the company, to trying to outdo his father, but he'd seen and learned a great deal, had stories to tell... so not bland, but definitely not what Reeve, or anyone, might consider normal.

"And what would I do, exactly? I'm not the most popular man on the planet, Reeve."

"Go fishing?" Reeve suggests. "Hunting perhaps? A picnic with the Turks. Learn to ride a chocobo. Something that isn't this place."

He gestures quietly to the room around them. "You've traded one cage for another. I wonder if you've really had any of the pleasures of life beyond the simple one of sex. I'm not sure I've ever heard you really laugh."

He chuckles a bit at the suggestions, giving Reeve an amused look. "The Turks on a picnic. That certainly won't leave any room for mischief from Reno.

"But I don't think it would be such a good idea at this time. Perhaps when things settle down."

"Perhaps," Reeve agrees. When they do, he might insist. "I realize this could get me the silent treatment again, but I suddenly find myself worrying for you. Do you at least have a video player and things to watch? You've got to have something to do unwind."

And Reeve would know that better than anyone.

"Really? You, of all people ask that?" Yet he's shaking his head a little bit. "The Turks bring me books, and sometimes Reno and Rude will come up and we play cards."

"Perhaps I'm in a good position to realize it in another person," Reeve points out. Yes, he's amused you, but it's still something he worries about. With that, though, he smirks.

"I'm certain Reno cheats."

"When he can."Rufus agrees. "Yet I'm rather good at catching him. Especially when he tries to do strip poker."

That makes sense and Reeve shakes his head. "Please tell me you don't play strip poker."

Because it's breaking his head to even consider Turks really entertaining Reno's demand for strip poker.

He laughs a bit, leaning on his hand to watch Reeve closely as he speaks. "I allowed it once, and Reno found out I know his tricks, lost miserably and hasn't been allowed to try again.

"Would you like to try some time?"

Really? Reeve raises an eyebrow. Now there is a question he really wants to ask. Should he?

"Why do you do that?" Reeve asks, and his is a bit more serious here. "I don't remember you being this... flirtatious at Shinra. And yet I don't think there had been a single instance I've visited here that there hasn't been a double entendre."

And Reeve knows it isn't about him.

"It's fun, honestly." It doesn't seem a flippant response, is partially serious truly, but he knows there's a bit more to the question. "And could you imagine me doing this around Shinra? Wouldn't have made anyone look up to me in fear, or with any sort of respect."

"So are you implying this is the real Rufus Shinra, or am I just a particularly amusing target because you never expected me to be comfortable with such things?" Reeve asks. Again, he's serious. Does Rufus throw sexuality around as a new weapon now that wealth and authority aren't there at his command?

"Hm..." He glances away, though Reeve might recognize it as considering the question and not ignoring it. It's a very good question, after all, and is owed a proper response.

No, he's not throwing it around as power. If he had wanted to do that, he would have tried to find a way to keep from being contained away from the Turks for almost six months; he might have been able to use it at least against one of the two captors he had.

And he wouldn't do this to just everyone. Not even Reeve, not to get a response and throw him off balance. Or, maybe he did the first time, but since then?

Blue eyes turned back to Reeve, his smile more relaxed than usual. "The first time I did it to you, I suppose I did want to see your response. Now, it's just kind of fun."

As he continues to speak, Reeve will notice Rufus begins to swish the water in his bottle almost playfully, watching the contents only half-heartedly. "Honestly, I've never flirted just for the hell of it, except maybe with Reno, and that doesn't quite count.

"And before you ask, the one time I tried with Tseng, he looked at me like I'd grown a second head." A chuckle. "Which I guess means he's not interested in me."

"I expect he gives everyone that look," Reeve sighs. But really, that's a nice smile. Reeve has to hand it to the man, he's got a great smile. And charm. Things his father had never possessed.

"At least I can provide you amusement."

Strange, should it sting to hear that it's just fun? Reeve quashes that thought and takes another bite. He needs to think of another question. Except he can't.

"You don't seem so glad." He sets the bottle down, and goes back to eating as well, watching Reeve for a moment, before deciding he does want to ask a question. "What of you, Reeve? I admit I didn't expect you to keep up with my commentary, but you seem to know your way."

"I've been around the block more than a few times," Reeve says, and there is absolute confidence in what he says like that. "I was a bit of a... free spirit in college. And my early days with Shinra. More often than not my partners appreciated such language and I grew adept with it."

He has more than a bit of experience with that, truly. But he still looks a bit forlorn. "In fact, Jasper was one of my partners back then. But times change, as you well know. You got freer with it. I have not."

"Mm, I see. Sorry to hear that. However, perhaps it will ultimately be for the best." Rufus stands to get a little bit more of the food Reeve brought. "Though now I'm curious even more. Did they only appreciate your tongue?"

Really? Reeve raises an eyebrow at that. "Are you asking whether I'm all bark? I'm not, Rufus, though I reserve biting only for when I'm asked. And I've got other talents with my tongue."

He's almost amused at the question, and he would thank Rufus for that question. "I've had nearly a decade to build my skills."

"Only that long?" He glances at Reeve as he sits back down. "Didn't you say you roamed free in college? Are you not much older than I am?"

"I guess I'm not going to get away with playing myself off as younger than I am," Reeve sighs. But is clearly overly dramatic. Look at how put upon he is. "I am a decade older than you. And I've been aware of my sexuality and seeking partners since college. So three fifths of your life. I have plenty of experience to speak of. Granted less of that achieved in recent years between a number of factors before and after Meteorfall."

Mostly he's just tired. He's too busy for flings these days, mostly in that he can't see himself making time to try and seduce someone.

"Huh..." It's all be says, but it didn't seem like all he could.

"It seems I've managed to render Rufus Shinra speechless. I'll put that on my resume," Reeve muses as he finishes his own bottle of water. "Of course it's more complicated these days, in light of someone trying to kill me. My preferences were not exactly a secret. I could not seek anyone at this point without quite a serious bit of vetting, and no one would put up with such a thing. The exception would be people associated with the charities I work with or the WRO, but that would be an ethical issue with me having authority over them."

There had been a faint hope that... But no. He gives a bemused little shrug. He has been rendered celibate not only by his work schedule but also by the fact that his life might actually depend on it.

"It won't count for much in this day and age." He retorts, before chuckling a little at Reeve and giving him a devilish look. "You could always ask me, or maybe Reno. I'm sure he wouldn't say no. Might get Rude to join in too."

No, it would not count. But now Reeve is just staring at Rufus, caught up in the other thing that was said.

"I would not desire Reno anywhere near me in such a situation," Reeve points out curtly. Nor is Rude really his type. Really, he's not going to touch the other one. No doubt that is a larger joke than the suggestion of Reno.

"Ok, I get no to Reno, and he'd naturally drag Rude along into any insanity, but no direct 'no' on me? Worried a younger man would be better than you, or just tired of my harassment already?"

Will do it tomorrow after work tomorrow

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

hahaha forgot his age, oh well, make it deliberate

XD it's okay. Kind of works

no subject

no subject

no subject

Reeve, stop... He will totally keep this shit up xD