plate_builder | [Open Post]

No, he would not accept it being dismissed. Reeve never would have done that. He gives Rufus a sad smile.

"So you know, I will think nothing less of you for this, or differently. You're still an asshole. But you're definitely more human."

Somehow it seemed like Rufus kept getting a lot of short ends of straws. But more than that, maybe he respects the man a bit more. But it gives him a moment of realization. He really had been unfair to Rufus. This isn't about his father or his name. This is about him doing something good for the world. And Reeve smiles then.

"The WRO could use a supporter like you, helping to make the world better. In the next months I'm going to be phasing out my direct involvement with the projects in Edge. Jasper will be good to take that over. What I will need, though, is an external consultant on the WRO. I was not involved with the wider politics of the company. I can only cash in so far on working with AVALANCHE. I need to know the people to reach out to, the points to apply leverage against. The WRO is going to be across the world, and having a man with a political mind to help me learn the strings will help."

He laughs a little at Reeve's calling him an asshole, but nods his head a little. "I think you rather enjoy my being an asshole, Reeve. Gives you a sparring partner for that mouth of yours."

He then decides to finish his water off before speaking to Reeve again, smiling a little. "What is it you wish to learn? What not to do?"

Well that's an amusing point, and Reeve nods. "Yes, there is a bit of pleasure in the verbal spar. And you are well equipped there."

But really, the comment makes Reeve shake his head. "You have a wealth of experience, to a degree only Godo might have, and Godo will hardly share. Are you not amused by this plan? Or is your attention only on Edge?"

"I'd make a remark, but it would be in bad taste." Yet he shakes his head a little. "Not just on Edge. Yet I know that no one, yourself included, fully trusts me. So do you really want advice from me?"

"You manage bad taste very well," Reeve chuckles. He should know that. But with the question he nods. Yes, he knows what he's doing.

"I may not take all of it. But I want it."

"Very well. I'll help where I can." Rufus indicates the food. "Whatever is left, think it can go to the Turks? Or do you need it for Edge?"

"They're welcome to it," Reeve admits. "I hope you'll understand that I'm not exactly hungry at this point."

Rufus definitely made the meal a bit of a problem for him. But now that the charged emotions are out of the way he smiles sadly to himself. "Well, Rufus, I suppose you want to get back to the Cait unit. I brought some paperwork to go through so I can stay out of your way while your men eat."

He had already figured Reeve's appetite was gone, since he knew his was, which was why he asked. And he knew the Turks would enjoy something different than what they had been eating for the last long while.

"I suppose you should finish showing me, yes." Slowly, be stands, drawing out his phone to text the Turks to come get what remains of the food. "How long can you remain here?"

"As much time as they need to eat and be ready to transport me," Reeve says thoughtfully. But he isn't too sure Rufus needs his hovering at this point. This is more about motor skills than anything else, right? But he smiles at Rufus.

"IF you need my assistance, I can provide it."

"You're welcome to stay if it gets too late." He puts the phone away, and moves to sit down after getting the equipment for the Cait unit. "I suppose I should just follow your tasks?"

"Your couch is nice, but it's not the greatest on my neck," Reeve counters, but he does get up and moves to sit by Rufus's side again. "That or you can make a game for yourself. Really, it's a suggested list of things for you to work on when I'm not around. I thought you would need practice. I'm not willing to let you take Cait out the apartment until you're more familiar with it."

He pauses before he sits and then thinks. "Should I tell them there is good? I don't think it should get too cold."

"I've already let them know. Someone will come to bring it down shortly." As he puts the headset on again, Rufus smirks at Reeve, and his words seem to imply that despite what has been said he is still going to play games. "And you could always share my bed if you stayed. Teach me something."

Oh, well, Reeve is impressed at that. Truth told, though, he wasn't intending to play games, he was making an active note. He shakes his head and chuckles at the jab.

"Rufus, I don't have casual sex anymore," Reeve reminds him. "Too dangerous, and on top of that, I'm looking for a relationship even if there's no good way to look for it."

He just chuckles lowly, and goes back to controlling the Cait unit, seeming somehow more relaxed now than earlier. "I wouldn't be good dating material I suppose. We'd never know who would catch or receive and would fight about it."

"You would," Reeve assures Rufus. "For someone, when you're ready for that sort of thing. I can't imagine you intend to be the last of your name. Save your attempts to be suave and to woo people for someone you're interested in."

As for the rest, with the growth of things and a lot of things he's dealt with, he finds himself growing less concerned. Barret, yes. The others? Who knows.

He shrugs softly. There are times he wonders about being the last, and letting Shinra fall. Besides that, he would have to adopt, and no one would wish him to raise a child. He truly has no interest in women in such a way, and he wouldn't dream of chaining someone to him merely for an heir; he knows what dismissal and lack of caring is...

Focusing on what he's doing, Rufus only glances up briefly when Rude and Tseng knock and let themselves in quietly to gather up the food. Glancing maybe briefly to make sure there's no trouble brewing between their boss and Reeve.

And here Reeve was assuming that Rufus welcomed attentions in either direction. Still, he senses that he might have said something wrong. He does wait for Tseng and Rude to leave before he speaks again.

"Are you even interested in women?"

Not a question of if Rufus is interested in him. He knows that would be ridiculous.

"No." He doesn't seem offended, just busy trying to pick up various items that might be more difficult than materia, including any papers he's not shooed away from. Those he would be trying to read with the unit, obviously considering it to be a challenge. "Even before... Those incidents, I never had an interest in the girls I met.

"Still, I did try at least once or twice when I was older, thinking maybe my apathy had been due to my father and what had been happening. But I just didn't feel a thing."

Reeve will happily let Rufus pick up just about anything other than architectural sketches, because those need to be kept pristine.

"I never bothered to try. And Scarlet always made it worse," Reeve chuckles, shaking his head. He watches as Rufus reads a supply report. Stays quiet for a while, then he speaks the question he isn't certain is appropriate.

"Are you even the relationship sort, Rufus?"

Perhaps Reeve should poke at Tseng, see if he can't figure out if the man has any leanings in that direction and point him back at Rufus. For Rufus's sake.

"That woman would flirt with anything that had a dick." Vulgar? Yes. Accurate? Completely. She also would sleep with anything that let her, but Reeve would know that.

Setting the report down, Rufus begins to navigate towards what he believes to be a kitchen, considering how to answer. "I don't know. I recall trying once or twice to connect with people more my age, maybe when I was thirteen or fourteen, and was basically told not to. Didn't try after that.

"And I doubt you can call being out with those men as dating."

"You don't have to date men your own age," Reeve dismisses. "Typically I prefer older men, as it is. Tseng I suppose should be considered an exception as he is a bit younger. You don't have to want people from the same age range. And I think you're on your way toward being a good man. You can make some man happy someday."

But no, they weren't dating.

"Someday you'll manage to find someone, and with the kind of man you are, you'll do very well at wooing them. Because you've got that sort of mind," he smiles. "But in the meantime, I'd appreciate if you ceased hitting on me. I am only entertaining serious offers these days. For a relationship."

"It seemed best to try with my own age, logically. They could tell me how normal teens acted, at least." Now in the kitchen, he's attempting to get on the counter, just like a real cat. "I suppose I could stop, but I have to ask... if I were serious with my comments and you were still casual, would I really stand a chance, or are you just trying to be kind?"

If he were still open to such an arrangement and Rufus were seriously trying to get him into bed? Well, that gets a smirk.

"I told you, Rufus, it's not like I could get the attentions elsewhere given what I've been through," Reeve answers, and there is a teasing curl to his lips, almost challenging. "I'd enjoy having power over you in a bed. Or even to be pinned under, looking up at that arrogant curl on your lips. So yes, Rufus, I would entertain you in your bed were I not looking for something more than simply carnal relations."

Would probably take a touch more than a come hither look and verbal sparring, but he would have enjoyed the exchanges once he considered Rufus a bit more seriously.

Rufus glances at Reeve long enough to give him a smile, before looking back to what he can see and do; apparently he is trying to get the drawers open from an angle above. Anything to find all the tricks he can.

"Let me know if you ever need a one off. Maybe I'll give you that power. Yet, since you've said stop, I will unless you bring it up again."

"I will," Reeve shrugs, because what's the harm of agreeing? "If you ever choose to get serious, I can absolutely give you advice."

It can be taken two ways and Reeve doesn't seem to care about correcting that. No point because he knows Rufus wouldn't do it.

I can tell I hope work is going well

Good. I'm off for the weekend

Score!

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