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Greetings all 'He Rows'.

As you probably know, we're approaching our final days here in the Spaceport, and our rendezvous to the Agrii portal point is coming soon. I am hoping that at this point most people have managed to put together their major purchases, both personal and for either the Agrii ship, our ships, or for your spaces back in Temba or Sh'Ka.

To that end I realize that people may also have some lingering resources for trade here, and it is to that end I now reach out.

I've been spending any time not acquiring gear for the Agrii repairs on a specific pair of projects. The first is just an announcement. I bought a few small machines, a hydraulic brick press and a medium sized device for mixing concrete or mortar for joins. But that's beyond the point beyond announcing that will be available soon.

No, what I'm looking to acquire is more important than that.

I wish to repair the roads in Temba. Those holes need dealt with, and our lives could benefit from them being smoothed out over time. The ultimate goal would be to try and get them automated on the latter task of the rough roads, but the former will be hard labor once we get back. But...

I'm short. I've been working long hours to build up what trade credit I can and goods and anything else, but I'm worried I'll be short of buying what is needed before we leave. If anyone is willing to donate any remains of credits, trade goods, or even just work help before we leave, I would owe you dearly. And I would find a way to repay you.

Please, I'm already not going to be able to afford this beautiful machine that would be able to use concrete to basically PRINT buildings (you can't understand how beautiful this thing is, how customizable the software, how nuanced its ability to work in internal structure needs like water and power lines, it's beautiful), but together we might be able to fix the roads, and that's a safety matter for just about everyone.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mini can't go without me, due to spacial constraints in our bond.

And ah would be more than a wee bit happy ta make ya feel some pain if ya go this route

[Okay, Mini apparently had strong opinions. As for the rest... Reeve shakes his head, even with those hands on it.]

My value, Richie, is in my use to other people. I can't solve problems here. I can't build useful machines. I can make sure the roads are safe and the buildings don't collapse. Or that those that will are handled safely. This is what I can do. This is how I can help. I need to help. I don't...

I owe the universe as a whole, Richie. I've done so much damage in my life.

No. No!

[ His thumbs brush over Reeve's cheekbones before resting on his shoulders. ]

That is not your value. That is not your value to me. Do you hear me?

[ His eyes burn behind his glasses. ] You've done bad shit in your life. So have I. So have a lot of people who came here.That's not what defines you. That's not what defines any of us. You don't owe us your body and life because you hurt people. You are more than what you've done. You are so much more than that. And I don't need you to do a fucking thing in order to care about you.

I didn't do bad things, Richie. I nearly contributed to the death of my entire world. It wasn't a small thing. There is so much balance to make up for. I bled out the soul of my planet. So yes, I do have to work hard to deserve what I have when so much of my life took from others, took from the planet. I have to make up for who I was and what I did.

[Even being the most moral man in Shinra didn't make him less of a man with the planet's blood on his hands. He did horrible things.]

And you I know you'll be my friend whether I do this or not. But I'm not doing it to have your friendship. I'm doing it to be able to live with myself.

It will never be enough.

[ It's a harsh truth he had to face himself, but it's the truth all the same. ]

The universe isn't going to forgive you. There is nothing to balance because the person you're trying to prove yourself to is the one person who will never let you off the hook.

[ He pokes Reeve between the eyes. ]

Working harder isn't going to fix this, Reeve.

[Richie isn't wrong. And Reeve knows it. But that doesn't make it easier.]

I need to be able to wake up in the morning and not loathe myself, Richie. To feel like there is meaning to the fact that I am here. That I am a net positive on someone's life for a change.

Are you kidding? You're a fucking gross positive to me!

[Richie can't believe this is a conversation they're having.]

You know why I like having you in my room? Because it's the first time since Eddie left that I wake up warm and next to someone I care about. The first time I've been the person taking care of someone instead of being taken care of. I come back to my room and there's something to look forward to. Something there other than memories and silence.

[One hand goes back to his cheek to make sure Reeve looks at him.]

You make me laugh and make me want to punch a tree. And the sex is great but even if we stopped that, I would still want you around me all the time because you make my life better. You just being you.

Big fucking net positive.

[This was really not what Reeve was expecting. And he doesn't know what to take all of it as. Because... Because it feels like he's breaking his word.]

I am glad to be such a touchstone for you, but I'm... I'm also afraid at these words, Richie. I promised I'd never try to be a replacement for your Eddie, and you make it sound like... like I am. I didn't mean to fail you in that one promise.

You're not. You could never do that.

[ He drops his hands to his lap and looks to the floor. ]

I love Eddie. Even now, I love him, just like I imagine you still love Poe. I'll always love him and I'll always miss him. But... You're you. You're not replacing anything. You can't touch Eddie where I keep him.

You...just have your own space.

[That wasn't what this was supposed to be. Having a space in Richie's heart. Giving Richie one in his own. This wasn't supposed to happen.]

I shouldn't. Richie, I shouldn't have a place. That's... If he shows up tomorrow then all I've done is harm to you. This wasn't supposed to be emotional because I don't want you hurt.

I...hurt before, Reeve. I always hurt. Now...finally, I don't. Not as much. Not every day and every time I am alone.

[ He waves a hand as though to dismiss his own pain. ]

I'm not... We have an arrangement. I don't expect anything to change or for you to... [ He clears his throat. ] If Poe came back, I know this would be over, and that is fine. I'm not asking you for anything.

I just want you to know that you make my life better. Not because you're fixing roads or staying up till 4am working on things. Sort of despite that, actually. You... just being you. It makes my life so much better.

[Would it, though? If Poe came back? Reeve is less sure of that now than he was at the start.]

He and I were together only about six months, Richie. You and I have been at this for what is rapidly approaching a year.

[So he's not sure he would. And he thinks Poe would understand that. As he said when this started, he'd come to terms with losing Poe, and the man was a touchstone in his heart that could not be replaced. But that didn't mean he would walk away from Richie.]

[ Richie almost hurts his neck spinning to look at Reeve. Now that is a surprise. A real fucking surprise. And he has no idea what to say for a long moment.

Congratulations, Reeve. You rendered Richie speechless. ]

Are... Reeve...

[ Seriously, congratulations. ]

Poe is so much hotter than me...

Are you suggesting the only value in a person is in their appearance?

[Because Reeve doesn't buy that at all. He's known breathtakingly beautiful people who have caused immeasurable harm.]

NO! No, I'm... Jesus.

[ He rubs at his eyes under his glasses. ]

I'm just... I didn't expect...that. Honestly, I didn't expect you to want to sleep with me either. I don't expect... much. I guess. With me.

I-

Ah fer cryin' out loud! [Apparently Mini was done with this dancing around.] There ain't a one ah seen ya two together that ain't gone and thought you two was more than that. Jus' stop gabbin' and accept it already.

[And Reeve was, of course, just left staring at Mini.]

[ Richie was staring at Mini as well. Until, finally, looking back at Reeve with a sheepish smile.]

Uh. Maybe we need to reevaluate our arrangement a little?

I- Just-

Tony and York been pokin' at it, and yah know they're right. Blind. Both of ya are blind fools!

[Exasperated Mini throws his arms into the air, tail lashing with irritation, before heading to the door and doing a catly form of opening it and stalking out. Which won't help him much given his link to Reeve, but it's still showy. And leaves Reeve shaking his head. What a mess.]

I think he feels we might. And others as well. He's right. Every time Tony hears me reference our arrangement he looks like he wants to hit me upside the head. But I fear that he forgets that, save for my relationship with Poe, our arrangement has been the longest lasting 'thing' I have been involved in that didn't involve the other person cheating on me.

[ Wow. Richie has been getting off easy over here. He winces in sympathy and reaches over to take Reeve's hand. ]

Fuck them. Okay? Forget what Tony or York or Mini said. They're not the ones who are in this. That's just you and me.

[ He breathes in and out. ]

Aside from Eddie, yeah. This is the longest thing I've been part of either. And don't worry, I am not the cheating type, I swear. Just... What do you want? No others. Just you. Do you want things to change?

What do I want?

[Reeve doesn't know. How are you supposed to know your own heart? That's a complication.]

Honestly, I find that the Cait Sith line always knew my heart better than I did. A matter of the magic of working with souls I suppose. I don't know that... I don't know that I want change. But it still makes me nervous and uncertain of how to describe you. I like what we've had, the closeness. The... the reason to come back and sleep at night. The person telling me I'm an idiot but not doing it as part of myself.

[ Richie nods even though he's not 100% sure where to go with this. ]

So. What if... What if we take off the 'just friends' restriction, huh? We don't have to make the call now, but we can maybe do some...real dates? Tell other people we are 'figuring it out'? It's really, profoundly, none of the their business. But I mean. If...If that sounds good, we could maybe start there? Check in after a bit and see if we keep it going?

[They could start there. Reeve considers it very seriously and then hold out his hand for Richie's.]

I would like to try that, if you would.

[ Richie beams ear to ear as he takes Reeve's hand. And then presses a kiss to the top of it and a second, sloppier one to his cheek. ]

Yeah. I think we can try it. But just for fun, we should keep telling York and Tony that we're just friends. They'll get so frustrated.

[It would get them frustrated. Reeve has to chuckle.]

You have to be the one to bribe Mini to not spoil your fun. But for now...

[Geez, don't be so heartwarming, dear. Let Reeve pull you to your feet.]

Come on. I know a lovely little restaurant in the heavy machinery area. I'm buying you lunch.

Hey... One thing, first.

[ He cradles Reeve's jaw and leads him in for a short and pretty gentle kiss. ]

Date insurance. Makes sure that at least the start of it is good.

[Oh. That's... Nice. Reeve is pleased from it. Because that is the best thing, to feel someone cares enough for that sort of kiss.]

I have never left someone disappointed with dates. Even hastily thrown together ones.

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