[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]

At least Reeve acknowledges that it wasn't Rufus who dropped the Sector 7 plate. A lot of people had never been able to understand that he had no input into that decision, and rather thought it to be one of his father's stupidest acts; not only because of the repercussions it was bound to bring, but precisely because it was a waste of life, all in an attempt to take out some small group of rebels who could have been hunted down in other ways.

He also understands, somewhat, Reeve's frustration over the lack of ShinRa moving in to assist the people. For a company who claimed to be making peoples lives better, they hadn't bothered to do anything for the affected Sectors, merely continued on as is. Even if he could not be blamed entirely for the first bit after the collapse, he was still not in charge then, there was the fact Rufus could have done more once his father had been slain. But he had other things on his mind then.

So it's perhaps this which causes him to take in a deep breath, letting his voice slide back to its usual calm and powerful tone, before he speaks again. "No, I didn't. I understand that."

[plate_builder]

"You didn't bring down the plate, but afterward, you decided to instead focus our time, our resources, our power into another bad idea," Reeve says, glaring at him. "You didn't have to put money toward Heidegger and Scarlet at that point. You could have brought it back. You could have helped people. But instead you left on a fool's errand and I stayed behind and got to see how people were hurt. Ruined. Broken."

And they looked at him with open hands, asking for money, asking for support, asking for something. And he couldn't do anything. His budget had been cut. All his energy had to go into maintaining what was functioning. It had hurt. And now, Edge. NOW he was putting money toward the people. And it was going in the most stupid manner possible.

"I can't forgive you, Rufus, because I can't trust you," Reeve sighs after a moment. He shakes his head and sits back down on the couch. "I've got no reason to believe you want to help people. None. I can't see the grand scheme here. I don't have a way to monitor what you're doing. All I know is that it's getting in the way of my work, and I finally have a chance to help people. Which was why I joined ShinRa. I wanted to help people."

Instead they'd just left him broken.

[afterlaborday]

It might surprise Reeve when Rufus doesn't respond to his remarks. Usually, the man would latch onto the idealistic words and turn them back at a person, trying to make himself feel superior and the other inferior. Yet that isn't his goal, much as Reeve might think it would be. No, he's being honest.

One could remain a fool only so long, before they either died or changed their ways. His father had never changed, had always remained a fool of a man, but Rufus was different. He'd had time, and support. Those who had been given the worst assignments, whose hands would never be clean, had stayed beside him even when they could have left. And for every fault they had, the Turks did have compassion and loyalty.

Loyalty brought them back to him. Compassion, shown now for many years, though not in so dire of circumstances, kept him alive. Its lessons had finally been learned, even if they were not complete. Perhaps his words were wrong. Or perhaps it was just his past?

Yes. The past. Words. Words were useless here. Yet he kept trying to use them. Words were all Rufus knew, the only power he had of his own if his name was stripped away. Actions supposedly spoke louder, but what action should he take? Reeve would not trust him, would not forgive or forget all he had done, but at the minimum... At the minimum...?

Rufus scowls, a childish look of one who has been reprimanded crossing his face, before he stands, movements obviously painful to him and the steps he takes towards Reeve shuffling and without threat.

"At the minimum," Thought turned to word, Rufus manages to kneel before Reeve. "I will do as I said, and beg you to at least give me a chance."

[plate_builder]

What... Reeve watches in a combination of shock and something almost like horror as he looks at Rufus. The man is clearly more than just injured. He's...

Geostigma. Another victim. Perhaps the only one who deserved it. Still, Reeve felt bad for that alone. His own mother had died from the disease, he'd seen the suffering, and it made him feel... awkward. Like he wanted to help the man.

Then it gets worse. Rufus moves to him, and while Reeve doesn't feel remotely threatened, he's shocked to watch the man kneel.

"I..." How did you respond to this? "God, get up off of the floor. You look like you're hurting yourself. Do you have medication you're supposed to be taking?"

He should get Reno. Or Rude. The Turks should put this guy back in his chair.

... I'm going to quote "The Turks should put this guy back in his chair" randomly

[afterlaborday]

Neither Reno or Rude would come in, even had Reeve called. They'd been ordered to remain outside unless absolutely needed, and even if he was in a great deal of pain, Rufus still retained enough strength - or perhaps stubbornness - that he would be fully able to get back to his chair.

Not that he wanted to at this moment, as it would defeat the point and make this all look like a stunt. Not that he didn't doubt such an idea would cross Reeve's mind, but anyone who knew Rufus one bit would quickly realize he bowed to no one, let alone a man who had been several ranks below him. And especially not for any length of time.

[plate_builder]

Seriously, was he going to just be quiet? That wasn't creepy, at all.

"Get up," Reeve says, pushing to his feet and moving to haul Rufus to his. "Geez, if your Turks were to come in I think they might just shoot me because they assumed I hurt you. Get back in your chair."

[afterlaborday]

"They'd know better." He manages to laugh out, despite wincing at having to get off the floor, using Reeve momentarily for support as he struggles with balance. "They're too well trained, after all. And they know me."

He's careful, shifting aside his coat slowly to reveal he's carrying a gun, before letting it drop down again to hide the metallic weapon. "I'm not fool enough to go around without protection. I'm well aware what others think of me, Reeve.

"Besides, if I wanted you dead or hurt, I wouldn't have brought you here with me in this shape."

[plate_builder]

"I know that," Reeve sighed. He ignored the gun, he had been the first to make sure the other knew he was armed. "Have you found a physician?"

If anyone could throw the money into fighting this illness, it was this man. Not that Reeve cared if he lived. Just that he hoped other people would benefit. "Because someone should be looking after all of this."

[afterlaborday]

"I've had a few look me over," Carefully, he seats himself in the chair again, letting out a relieved sigh as soon as he's settled, before continuing. "But there isn't a great deal that can be done. I'm sure you know, but this isn't an ordinary disease. It's more parasitical in nature.

"Honestly, it's a surprise I'm alive at this point in time, but I suppose I'm just too much of an asshole to die."

[plate_builder]

"Hits the old harder," Reeve says, his voice barely a whisper. His mother had died almost immediately from it. It... Hurt.

More than hurt. She didn't deserve that. But no one deserved that death exactly.

[afterlaborday]

There's no response to that, if Rufus even heard it, though it is highly unlikely he didn't. Just as it's unlikely he doesn't know of Reeve's mother. After all, he still had his Turks, and they still knew exactly what they were doing. He just didn't think Reeve wanted any sympathy he might offer.

Rufus instead gives it a moment, not wanting to interrupt the other man's thoughts, and focuses on shifting himself to a far more comfortable position.

"I'll talk to the men I have, tell them to listen to your orders so far as Edge goes. You can continue to distrust me."

[plate_builder]

"Time builds trust. When people aren't screwed over," Reeve noted. He stands and looks around. "Do you have any pain medication? Looks like you need it?"

People in pain make him uncomfortable. Reeve was always a helper. At least he knows for right now that he's going to have more power to design and work this.

[afterlaborday]

"I know." The tone is somehow both frustrated and relieved. Even such a small agreement is enough for now, and he cranes his head slightly to indicate a different door than the one Reeve entered. "On the dresser by the bed. There's probably a partial bottle of water there too."

[plate_builder]

This isn't something he should do, but... It won't take any time or harm for him to do this for Rufus. Reeve is back on his feet and he rushes toward the bedroom. He is through the door and scoops up the bottle and the water. Looks around to see if there was anything else that should be taken. And once he's certain there isn't, he turns around toward the door. But he pauses. Looks around and sees the construction of the room. It's all meant to allow someone with a wheelchair to get around easily.

That chair wasn't a prop.

With a sigh Reeve moves back to Rufus, handing over the water as he works to open the pill bottle himself. "How many?"

[afterlaborday]

Rufus says nothing as Reeve disappears into the room, not even caring if he takes his time to search it. He'd find nothing, anyway, aside from reports put together by the Turks about the status of the planet, the towns, Geostigma. No indication of anything aside from the truth in the words being given him.

He doesn't even bother to hide himself when Reeve emerges from the room, head propped in his hand and an exhausted look on his face. This was more movement than he had been used to for a while, and so he only takes the bottle from Reeve with a nod of his head. "Just one. Although if you wish to rid me from this world, give me a few more. They're pretty powerful."

So he can't help it, that little tendency of his, the smirk that crawls to his face as he makes light of the situation; though the same can't be said for it reaching his eyes.

[plate_builder]

"When did you become so fatalistic?"

No, he doesn't really want to know. He instead focuses on fishing out a single pill. Which he passes over before setting the bottle aside. "So, why did you have me brought here? Just to keep me from sending others to find you?"

[afterlaborday]

The question earns another small smirk, even as Rufus takes the offered pill to swallow, washing it down with some of the water before responding with the raise of a brow. "Haven't I already said? I wish to work with you."

[plate_builder]

"Why?"

It doesn't make sense. Last time they did work together, it really wasn't cooperative. "No, don't answer. I just don't understand. There were other people you could ask."

Makes no sense to him. But he'll take the chance to help people.

[afterlaborday]

"Who? Cloud and his group? They dislike me even more actively than you do." His look is incredulous, as if the question is foolish and the answer entirely too clear. "The answer is the same for anyone else I might have asked, as well.

"Logically, knowing Shinra as you do, you were the best choice to ask. If I'm lying, it's easy to call those from AVALANCHE to get rid of me, but if I'm not, they might listen to you at least a little more than they would me."

[plate_builder]

"Only Vincent considers listening to me."

But Reeve isn't going into that. No reason to get his own insecurities involved here. But, perhaps he can try listening for right now.

"Honestly, if using you and your resources helps people, I won't hesitate to do it, Rufus."

[afterlaborday]

He has a response to that, too, but knows when to be quiet on a matter. Right now happens to be one of those times, and he only nods again at Reeve. "That's fine. I'll give you a few numbers to call. One for the contractors I have in Edge, another to reach me, and one more for Tseng in case I don't answer. Acceptable?"

[plate_builder]

The name of the lead Turks does make Reeve scowl briefly. He's not a fan of them or their work. But he supposes it's better than Reno. Who, back when he had been with the company, pulled a number of pranks on Reeve. Including ink in his coffee.

[afterlaborday]

The scowl only brings amusement to Rufus' face, and gently he tilts his head to the side. "I would offer one of the others, but - well - Tseng is probably the one you'll spend less time on the phone with, if only because he's succinct and to the point. The other three, you already know."

He'd had his own time dealing with calls from all four members of the elite squad. Reno was great if you wanted to make someone hang up quickly, Rude could make them quite uncomfortable and Elena was very good when you had a tough guy on the phone, but for business matters, Tseng was the best option, and this was business in its own way. Still, if Reeve isn't anxious to speak with the Turks...

"You may also come here and speak with me personally. I have no intention of disappearing."

[plate_builder]

"I have no intention of returning," he notes.

That water bottle is looking rather... empty. Reeve stands and moves to the kitchenette looking area and pulls down a glass. Tells himself that it's just because he doesn't like people suffering. Any people. Even this man.

"Here," he says as he hands it over. "I'll talk to Tseng if I must."

[afterlaborday]

He again keeps his mouth shut regarding what Reeve says, what he does, moving to tuck the bottle gently between his leg and the arm of the wheelchair so he can easily take the glass from Reeve when it's offered. "I'll give you the numbers when you're ready, then. I imagine you are anxious to be out of this place."