[Open Post]

[plate_builder]

Does it need to be said? You can find this poor civil engineer in any sort of situation you want. Put up a starter and let it run free. No Scarlets welcome, though. He can't stand them.

Comments

[afterlaborday]

"Hard to get hold of Cloud." It's a bit of a joke, even as Rufus gets up to get a large tip for the cleaning person.

[plate_builder]

"You're not wrong," Reeve says with a sigh. "But... But what about me."

[afterlaborday]

There's no immediate answer, the blond seemingly more concerned with handling the business side of things; tips and orders to the staff, showing them out and shutting the door tightly behind them.

He doesn't even respond as he turns, moving over to where Reeve is still sitting and looking down at him to try and catch his eyes, his own reflecting back both the look of a Shinra whose only concern is with his next step, and a deeper emotion only Reeve has probably ever seen.

"I would not risk contacting you and giving those brats someone else I cared for to go after."

[plate_builder]

His heart aches, at both sides of the statement. Aches because he was kept from his lover at such an important time. At the same time, he ached for the idea of being used against the other man.

"You're a good man. But I hate that I wasn't here for you."

[afterlaborday]

"There are more important things than the 'now' with these situations, even if people always say it the best policy to live in the now." Slowly, he shakes his head at Reeve. "I didn't want to risk a 'what if...' that was possible for a moment that could go horribly wrong."

[plate_builder]

"It's often worthless to live in the now. You need to plan for the future," Reeve counters thoughtfully.

I'll post as Vin whenever he comes back to my head lol

[afterlaborday]

"Exactly." Rufus leans over Reeve, smiling. "Protecting you was protecting the future."

[plate_builder]

Was it? Reeve looks flustered to hear that from Rufus. How could he say that with a metaphorically straight face?

"You really see me as that?"

[afterlaborday]

Rufus has to hold back a laugh at Reeve's face, wondering which one is truly younger in this relationship again, though he knows that it's less youth vs age and more that Reeve has an easier time being honest about certain things.

Maybe Rufus' lack of showing the same honesty as often and as well is even part of the reason for the look?

"In a few ways, you are, yes."

[plate_builder]

Honesty was a policy that Reeve tended to prefer. And finding a way to finally put his desire to do good into play was worth it.

"Thank you, Rufus," Reeve smiles, his voice soft and fond. He moves to Rufus, pulling the man into his arms.

[afterlaborday]

Rufus smiles, wrapping his arms around Reeve's neck, joking. "Are we dancing now?"

[plate_builder]

"Do you want to? I've been known to shuffle around a bit."

[afterlaborday]

"Just shuffle? Never learned slow dancing?" Rufus seems honestly curious, smiling at Reeve.

[plate_builder]

"Oh, I did," Reeve said. Everyone on their level had. But... "I never had much cause for using it."

[afterlaborday]

"Lucky you." He laughs a little, since he himself had occasionally had to play nice and dance with some of the ladies at the various Shinra events; mostly when he couldn't find a way out of them. "So I lead, then?"

[plate_builder]

"I wasn't an heir. I was just me," Reeve points out. But yes, if they're going to dance...

"By all means, lead on."

[afterlaborday]

"True." Rufus shifts to place his hands where he needs to in order to lead, smirking at Reeve. "At least I won't step on your feet?"

[plate_builder]

"So you say," Reeve laughs, ready to follow happily.

[afterlaborday]

"I'm not that bad of a dancer." Rufus sticks his tongue out at Reeve, though he's obviously not all that upset, beginning to dance to whatever beat he's feeling right now. "The last time I stepped on feet, they deserved it."

[plate_builder]

"Well, how would I know how good or poor of a dancer you are? We hardly had any formal celebrations in your tenure in the office," Reeve points out. And before that, well, Rufus had been young.

He follows along, carefully, more worried about his own grace than that of Rufus. But it turned out he still remembered the steps.

"Oh? Whose?"

[afterlaborday]

"I don't think celebrations in that situation would have been appropriate. The parade at Junon was bad enough." He makes sure not to pull any weird moves, so as not to throw Reeve off, even as he chuckles. "Oh, no one big..."

But he will go into a few people whose feet he kindly stepped on and why. A few times it was even to be a gentleman with some of the lechers bothering the ladies.

[plate_builder]

No, they wouldn't have. But a lot of people had celebrated Rufus's father's death.

Reeve listens to the explanations and he bursts out laughing. Oh yes, Rufus was good at what he did.

"You're trouble, Mister Shinra. I fear I should care for my heart."

[afterlaborday]

Rufus hadn't exactly not celebrated his father's death, he just had enough class not to turn it into a spectacle. And the brains to know there was much more to focus on if he didn't want to die.

"I've been trouble since we met. Are you just now noticing?"

[plate_builder]

Sometimes class was in the spectacle. Not often. But sometimes.

"I suppose I'm not as sharp as I thought."

[afterlaborday]

"Reno must be rubbing off on you." He smiles, stopping the dance. "There. No crushed feet."