Underground, Above Ground, Looking Fine Either Way

[plate_builder]

WHO: Reeve Tuesti, Network Post, OTA logs (and closed starters)
WHERE: Network; Outside of the TRC building; Rufus's House; Closed Starter in Mine
WHAT: Reeve Offering Hair Cuts, checking in on Rufus, reprimanding Mini in the Mines (backdated to tunnel crawling day)
WHEN: Mostly August
WARNINGS: Yelling at Mini for flipping someone off, Reeve having scissors near people's heads?


1. Network Video

Good day all. As you can see, I've hauled myself away from the mines work due to... Well, degrees of issue with the enclosed spaces.

[A lie. A simple lie. Mini had been becoming a bit argumentative in the worst ways and Reeve had chosen to take the feline away from the source of his agitation. Especially since it seemed the people that had been working in and out of the area were doing quite well now that the map was completed.]

I have been working on final refinement of the mines map from the exploration. I can send anyone pictures of the maps I've made, but I'd like to make it a more useful one and was wondering if anyone with Comms might lend me their time for an afternoon to polish something for use on all communicators.

Beyond that...

[Reeve holds up scissors, a comb, and an actual electric razor]

I spent a it of my replicator rations this month on grooming supplies, and have converted the razor to run on the power supply here. While I'm not the best hair dresser, my mother and I used to do each other's trims when I was small. I'm happy to either offer these tools for use for people wanting them, or to have people come and ask for a trim. Mostly, my eyes are blurring so much from this map that I need something to take breaks with.

So, anyone for a trim? I don't promise they'll be fashionable, but your hair will be short and provided it's not overly curly, even. Just show up at the Restoration Coordination building.


2. Okay But Hair Cuts | Temba Restoration Coordination Building | OTA

True to his word, the door to the Restoration Committee building was open wide, allowing in fresh air and sun. Near the front of the very busy room filled with tables and desks and charts and drawings is... Well, it's a single chair. A simple one clearly able to be moved. Next to it a bag that clearly had the materials Reeve was showing off on the network. And next to the main table of the room is Reeve, hair freshly cut, rubbing at his eyes as he took a break from looking at a rather large spread of papers that included all of his notes on the mapping of the mines. They were giving him a headache, with how needlessly twisted the place was. They did it on purpose, just to offend him. Of course they didn't, but it felt like that.

With a sigh he looked up and, catching sight of someone in the doorway, he smiled.

"Good afternoon."


3. Language Young Man | Mines | Closed to Felwinter [Backdated to Mines Exploration]

Mini hadn't been the only one worried when he had settled into crawling through the hole to the mystery further into the mines. But Reeve himself took a deep breath and leaned against a wall, eyes closed, mind linked to that of his companion. He saw through Mini's eyes and listened through the construct's mental tirade and discovery. And when all was said and done and the Ghost and feline returned, Reeve scooped the feline up into his arms and moved away from the others.

"That Felspring is eh real sensible type," Mini observed, and Reeve ignored the comment.

"You and I have to have a little talk," he said when he thought they were closer to being alone. "I can't believe you did that to Cobb."

"'Ey! He started it! Treaten us like we wasn't important. Ain't right, ah'm a livin thing too," Mini grumbled, not as quiet as Reeve might want him to. But surely no one was listening to hear his complaint, right?


4. Checking In On You | Rufus's House | Closed to Rufus

If there was one thing that Reeve knew how to do, it was fret. Free of his previous explorations and with the finally finished and repainted cane in hand, Reeve had made his way to where he knew Rufus had chosen to settle. In his pocket there was a strip of dried baconshroom because he thought perhaps Dark might enjoy not only the taste, but the toughness which might be a bit closer to jerky. It was the best offering he could bring for the hound.

With Mini (properly chided about proper language in polite company) at his side, Reeve began the trek to the restored homes and from there, the one in which Rufus was living. With a raised hand he knocked crisply on the door. Time to see if the boss was in.

Comments

[sinistral]

Perhaps someday when his hair got to the length of being truly annoying, he would seek Reeve out with the intention of remedying it. But not today.

He considered the man sitting opposite him, coffee in hand, smile on face. What a strange encounter for the Soldier; it was very nearly friendly. "It seems to have served you well."

first thing that came to mind was 'but that is not this day'

[plate_builder]

Well, that was a day Reeve would be available to him. Especially if there was bribery in the form of plums. What could he say, he liked the things?

"It has served me well since I have gotten better at pairing it with the philosophy that 'the path of suffering is littered with the rocks of good intentions'."

Or, in words from a world that had the concept of eternal damnation: the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Soon!!

[sinistral]

"There are similar adages where I'm from." They all amounted to much the same thing, and were all worthy of at least something in caution. Or perhaps that was simply his own paranoia speaking.

He considered his companion for a moment, carefully. "And the good intention of map making now has you here, not in the mine. Should I caution you to look for other rocks in that road?"

[plate_builder]

Reeve snorted in amusement at the very idea that this was one of those good intentions he would trip over.

"I needed out of the mines, and Cobb did a lot to offend Mini, so it was better I came back here. Sooner or later I will be able to lure Tony here for help with digitizing this, he'll flirt, I'll feel awkward given our history, then we'll both move on and get the work done. It's fine."

[sinistral]

Ah. The heart of it, and not what he'd thought. Though to be fair, he didn't have much interaction with Cobb inside the mine itself; the man seemed willing to trust that the Soldier knew how to do his job of protecting others. Then again, it was probably pretty obvious to just about anyone that he had some kind of military-adjacent background.

"Do you want someone here as a buffer?" he asked. It wouldn't be the first time, and he had no intention of prying into whatever was between Reeve and Tony. And while he categorized Tony's flirting as mostly harmless (and pointless when directed toward himself), that didn't mean others were comfortable with it.

[plate_builder]

Yes, Cobb had been... less than stellar to the non-biologicals in their party. And Mini had taken quite a lot of umbrage at that. Reeve had not been able to blame his companion.

But he did smile at the suggestion that Soldat might offer that company. Though the smile came with a negative shake of his head.

"I'm a big boy who can handle my complicated history with Mister Stark all on my own."

[sinistral]

That didn't surprise him to hear, given that the man could be gruff. It wasn't an excuse, but he thought that maybe it explained a little bit why Reeve was here.

He shrugged though; the refusal didn't bother him. "You know how to contact me if you change your mind."

[plate_builder]

"I expect I do," Reeve agreed with a smile before sipping his coffee again. "And I am certain I shall. I can always use more friends."

[sinistral]

"Or someone to do the heavy lifting," he replied immediately. It might not be evident that it was an attempt at a joke considering that, well, sometimes that was why people needed him. But there it was.

[plate_builder]

The heavy lifting. Reeve chuckled. Yes, he looked like he could do that.

"You have a good sense of humor. I appreciate that."

[sinistral]

"Sometimes." He shrugged, taking a long sip of his coffee to buy time while he tried to decide how much he'd say.

"Realistically, my primary skillset is not in high demand." Nor did he particularly enjoy killing people. "But as my physical capabilities exceed that of normal people, I can be of some use in that capacity."

[plate_builder]

This man was so very, very like Cloud in some ways, wasn't he? The former SOLDIER's skillset was also in killing things, his physical capabilities had been enhanced thanks to the mako treatments, and not being good at socializing too.

"There is always work to be had for someone who is strong. Trust me, I'd find a use."

[sinistral]

"When you find that use, I will be ready." And hopefully that use wouldn't be fraught with violence, though no one could guarantee what this place might bring. Or how long they would stay here; the fact that they hadn't left the planet in some time did make him suspicious.

[plate_builder]

"I expect you will," Reeve answered, resisting the urge to make a comment that wouldn't be... well, it would amuse him and probably Tony but he doubted it would amuse Soldat.

"I will try to be ready myself."

[sinistral]

"As much as one can anticipate anything in this place." Which was the kicker sometimes: they had no way of knowing what the Agrii had up their sleeves. One could only try to be ready for anything.

[plate_builder]

"I've learned to stop expecting, and just prepare just in case," Reeve admitted with a shrug. "We haven't been... No, I'm not finishing that sentence. Yuffie would say I would bring it down upon me."

[sinistral]

A faint smile answered the way Reeve cut himself off. Best not to court the potential negative consequences by giving voice to them; he agreed wholeheartedly.

"Perhaps that's why we get along. It has long been my practice to keep my skills sharp. I don't trust letting myself slip."

[plate_builder]

Oh yes, especially when his negative consequence was a meteor. He'll pass.

"I lived a long time in a very cutthroat line of work, where someone with my powers might well be hunted. I've learned to be cautious."

[sinistral]

Yeah, not fun. But great for angst lbr.

He regarded Reeve carefully at that admission though. "In your scenario, I am the hunter. I rarely failed a mission."

[plate_builder]

Usually good for the wiping out of a species.

"Dangerous as well. What did they tell you, when you were recruited?"

[sinistral]

"I wasn't recruited." A pause, as he tried to decide what to say. Thankfully they weren't in Calibrations where the story might be given against his will. "I was. Made."

[plate_builder]

Ah, that made some sense. Even more like Cloud. How to handle this tactfully?

"Did you wish to be a part of whatever program this was?"

[sinistral]

Most people didn't bother with tact; even a clumsy was more than he usually received.

"No. I was... captured. Experimented on. Modified. Conditioned. Made into what they wanted."

[plate_builder]

Hey, he was a former executive, and now a high level politician in his world, more or less. Tact was a necessary survival skill.

"I see. I am sorry to hear about that. I hope whoever did that to you suffered.

[sinistral]

"Not enough." Because HYDRA would never be completely vanquished; the task was too large for him alone. And too far out of reach of him here.

"But that's out of reach here. It doesn't matter." Not strictly the truth; what he was mattered, because he could be triggered. But the fewer people who knew about that, the better.