plate_builder | [Open Post]

"That one you need to convince Reno of." Rufus chuckles, though it's obvious he's joking. "However, who would I be spending time with anyway? It's myself and the Turks. That's it."

“I am talking about them as welll. I try to keep my private life private.”

Frankly, knowing that Turks know is almost maddening. But he will get past that point.

"As if they are allowed up here without reason. They won't interrupt us unless it's important." It seems to be a promise, insofar as he can promise when it comes to other people. "Although I don't know why you're worried if anyone knows about your private life, under a normal circumstance? Are you scared of being judged by others?"

“Under a normal circumstance, I believe my personal life is my business. But this isn’t a normal circumstance,” Reeve reminds him. He is a public figure now, separate from his work with Shinra. Except the connection between them would ruin him. Ruin his work.

And uo the attempts on his life.

"So that's the only reason? Not worried people would judge you for liking other men?" He tilts his head back so he can see Reeve as he answers, knowing this is probably none of his business but curious anyway.

What? The question is enough that Reeve laughs, hugging Rufus to him because it really is that hilarious to consider.

“Rufus, I am openly gay. Just because you didn’t know doesn’t mean it isn’t known.”

Rufus scowls a little at the laugh, still hating to be laughed at apparently, and then frowns more deeply and almost pouts, shifting to sit up and fold his arms a little childishly. "Why would I have known or cared about the sexuality of Shinra personnel when I was a little busy with other things? It's only natural I'd think you were embarassed with how you were speaking."

“Again, I am a private man, though from your comment you are completely right in observing you had little reason to care. As for why now...”

Surely that was something Rufus understood?

“Rufus, you know there have been those speaking against me believing I seek to restore Shinra’s power. How do you think those people would react to me sleeping with you? How would members of Avalanche who have had reasons to mistrust me before? How would it look for the Commissioner of the WRO, a new organization about world unity and global communities and restoration, to be potentially at the whim of a Shinra?”

The pout doesn't leave his face, it may even get deeper, as he seats himself against the arm of the couch so he can look at Reeve directly, not even noticing he's draped his legs over the man's lap in the process.

"I get all that. It's just the way you were talking implied something different. As to why now, well I've had actual time to get to know you. Really, I didn't have much call to in the past. I wasn't even around for four years, and after I came back, Sephiroth was an issue. All I needed to know was you were loyal to the extent you weren't a threat to me, that you knew your stuff, and yes, that the Cait Unit offered us an advantage.

"Since none of that is an issue now, and due to a lot of other things, I can focus on things outside Shinra. Plus, we both agreed that honesty was important if we were to keep talking to each other, so I've learned even more and find you a fascinating man."

"Fascinating?" Reeve chuckles. With Rufus renewing the distance between them he almost wants to close it back up out of principle. Still, it's interesting to understand how the view had changed.

Helps that Reeve has learned a lot more about Rufus too. And he feels like Rufus has an edge on learning.

"How do I fascinate you, Rufus? Are there questions I can answer?"

"Turk files are detailed, as you know, and provide an idea of the character of the person within it. You were listed as being strong-willed, but not likely to turn on anyone within Shinra or even attempt to strike out on your own. Any changes you wanted you pressed for, but were also easily over-ruled on. My father had indicated you were spineless, and that a carrot on a stick was enough for you. Maybe scraps here and there would suffice when you got stubborn.

"For the most part," He crosses his legs now, arms across his chest as he keeps talking. "My father seemed to be correct, the Turk file less so. At least when I took over. Yet you did end up saying you'd had enough, proving that the Turks knew more than my father did, as usual, at least where the will came in. I'd say you've proven it more since you found out I was alive.

"It's fascinating because I can't figure out why you put up with so much bullshit being so smart. Why you bought into the Shinra line about making a better future for so long. That's the largest part of my fascination to begin."

"Interesting file, and clearly not up to date," Reeve observes as he considers Rufus. Strange that his involvement in some of the Turks' misbehavior had not come to be in that little record. Then again, had it been there was the chance that he may not have been used as he had against Avalanche. "The work you set me to with Cait was not my first use of him in anti-Shinra actions, actually. I remember a rather amusing instance of stealing a submarine from Junon. Before this last time that is. I suppose it didn't end up in the records because many of the Turks involved were forced to retire by your father. Must of their analysis was based on the fact that I attempted to work within the system to seek change, but your father was far more wrong than given credit for."

But at least he's being given credit for his actions since the death of the former President. Fact of the matter was that until the end, until Sector Eight, he had... hoped. Had thought he could find some way to get them to do what needed done. Instead there was more talk of the Promised Land. That was when his patience had more than worn out. Should he be honest here? Yes, yes he thinks he should.

"Someone who does not know me would say I bought into the Shinra line. I failed to believe that story within a few months of becoming an executive. From that point on I did what I could to make Midgar better, regardless of what your father desired. If the records had survived you may have found that, through some very creative accounting, money was being whicked away from a few minor departments. I did what I could do, Rufus, even if it meant using your company. I was no more loyal to you or your father than Scarlet or Heidegger. I just didn't wish for the power they coveted. I did what I was able to. Which was never enough."

Perhaps there were just some things he was better at lying about. And since his division rarely needed interaction with the Turks it was far easier to keep things hidden. Who would expect him when he had bought the party line for as long as he had? Frankly, he was expecting to be very seriously punished for it all. That was part of why he had been so distant from his mother. To protect her.

"The Turks have always had their own ways, and always been selective in what they revealed and what they didn't." Rufus leans his head back a little. "I never worried my father would figure out that I wanted to kill him, but I did worry the Turks would. It's why I tried so hard to distract them by working with the earlier incarnation of AVALANCHE.

"Likely, they thought of you as little threat to their mission to protect my father, but considered you a good person who could be left to his own devices within the company. They get a bad rep, but those guys aren't callous and emotionless."

He brings his head back down, looking at Reeve quietly for a few moments as he seems to debate his next words.

"If you didn't like my father, and you found me just the same as him, why did you stay so long after I took over? During the confusion of succession would have been your best chance to leave. Did you still need to do something?"

"I've learned a little of what they were," Reeve admits. Veld had been a reasonable enough teacher to that end. But Reeve didn't push on any of that.

What did he still need to do with Shinra? How silly. Of course there was something to live with, to work for.

"The Board was plowing under the people most vulnerable, most in need, Rufus. How could I live with myself if I abandoned people then, just to save myself?"

He tears himself apart for others.

"You have a messiah complex." He sighs, drawing his legs back as he goes to sit up. "Though I suppose I had the same, thinking the company could somehow defeat Sephiroth or the Weapons. Still, no one would have blamed you if you had left after that moron of a father of mine dropped the plate. Well... Maybe him, I suppose."

"Perhaps I do," Reeve laughs, shaking his head, because in a way he's okay with that. "I need to save as many people as I can, Rufus. Decide whatever you want about my motivations. But I was raised to help people, and at that moment in time, people needed me at Shinra more than anything else. Now they need someone like me helping them the best I can. But... I suppose it's not just them that need me."

Rufus needs him too, know it or not. At least this time he can be pleased with that fact. For once he can help someone and he doesn't think he'll feel guilty about it being fully selfish. Well, instead he can accept the pleasure of that selfishness. Because they're helping each other.

"I don't need your help." He sticks his tongue out, obviously still feeling a bit childish and petulant. "I'm just using you for your looks. Or something like that."

"For my looks?" Reeve asks, moving forward to close the space between them again. Shifting so he can straddle Rufus once more. Leans in to whisper right in his ear too. "I have a feeling you're a bit less shallow than that. But you're right, You don't need my help. But I think we're both better for it. Or was I wrong?"

The question is a challenge as much as the way he says it. They are really getting into challenges today.

"Aren't I that shallow?" He chuckles, wrapping his arms around Reeve's neck a little. "And do you mean better in bed, because yes, that part is true. But I'm still a bastard and still Shinra, Reeve..."

He moves his hands down slowly, running his fingers across Reeve's back where he knows his marks are, before digging just the faintest bit of nail in. Challenge accepted.

"You're deeper than I gave you credit for. How deep is still a question I have to explore."

He could quip about how deep he can get with Rufus, but he is definitely going to resist that. What he isn't doing is taking the bait over the Shinra and bastard thing. Pointless to him. Posturing for position will only figure out who's on top.

"I intend to leave you a lot better in bed," Reeve says, and then he's hissing as he presses back against those nails. Stupid shirt is wasting his time.

Rufus chuckles gently, releasing Reeve's back and grinning at him. "We aren't in bed right now, though. So I suppose you can't show me much of anything, eh?"

"Well then, I suppose that means I should let you up," Reeve whispers, still in Rufus's ear, before he pulls back. If Rufus wants let up, he can be let up.

Rufus does get up, but not in the way Reeve probably expects. With the man having been straddling him, and Rufus leaning against the arm of the couch, the man moving back to let Rufus up instead gives him a nice angle.

Half sitting, Rufus instead of getting up reaches a hand forward to suggestively toy with Reeve's fly, smirking at him. "We could also stay here... You lay back and... well..."

He sticks his tongue out again, but this time he licks his lips. Reeve should get the point, right?

"See," Reeve smiles, shaking his head. "Bedding someone is a state of mind, not a location."

With those lips being licked, though, he does give a small nod to assure him that it's welcome. After all, he has wanted to enjoy those lips more fully. Licks his own lips at that smile. At least he doesn't need to teach Rufus how to talk a man into this. He moves back a bit, intending to give Rufus plenty of room to get himself into a comfortable position.

He laughs a bit, but doesn't respond to those words, instead getting to his knees as he presses Reeve back a bit more, before placing his hands on his knees and pressing them open a little to lean down and repeat his earlier gesture of working the zipper down with his teeth; the man seemed to enjoy it before, after all.

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Sorry it took time... knocked down by migraine... again

It's alright. It was Black Friday. Figured you were getting Goods.

I avoid going out if possible actually. People are scary

I avoid it like the plague

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