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WHO: Reeve, Poe Dameron, Rufus Shinra, Open
WHERE: Temba Restoration Coordination  (Yellow 5), The Deep End (Orange 13)
WHAT: Event Fallout for Reeve, His Boss Arriving, Hiding Out at the Bar
WHEN: June 7th to 12th
WARNINGS: CW: Implied past sexual situation in thread with Rufus; Drinking at the Deep End

1. Talking About What Happened Closed to Poe | Evening of the 7th, Reeve's Office
Reeve hadn't really been big on the idea of sticking around in the Waiting Room when they had awoken. His memories of being stuck in Calibrations were not hte greatest, and he had decided he wasn't going to risk sticking around there. He had grabbed Mini up and headed right out, not daring to question, not waning to linger. There were memories and a life to process and he didn't much like it.

It wasn't until later that night that he reached out to Poe with a message. After quite a bit of thought he had known what the truth was. They had to talk. So he'd sent a message, asking for Poe to meet him in his space. They had to figure things out. He had to figure whether Poe might forgive him for what he'd apparently said and done there.

2. Welcome To Temba, Your Timing Sucks Closed to Rufus | Morning of the 8th, Reeve's Office
The meeting hadn't been a bad one, in Reeve's estimation. Poe was a wonderful companion and he quite liked his time with his boyfriend. A nice talk, a lazy morning afterward, and Reeve had been happy to send the other man off in the morning. He had happily watched Poe slip out after morning coffee together, sitting at Reeve's work table in the front room. Reeve hadn't even bothered to put on much more than his long coat that morning, hadn't bothered to make his bed yet, hadn't even begun to work on the final stages of Mini's upgraded form. Instead he'd sat smiling at the table, his hair ruffled, sipping at the final dregs of his coffee as the door closed, not even paying attention to Mini as the doll worked on sorting through papers on the table top, making sure nothing had been lost in the change of the last month.

So Reeve, most definitely, wasn't expecting someone to show up at his door.

3. Just A Little Drink Open To All | Evenings of the 8th through 12th, The Deep End

Well, that was a thing that had most definitely happened. Reeve didn't know what to do with himself with Rufus here. With Cloud nad VIncent he had known what to do, what his place was with his companions and friends. It was enough for Reeve to just, well, fall into a habit he hadn't had in a very long time. Though he supposed it was hardly a habit if he didn't sustain it. Reeve sighed and settled himself at a chair at the bar, sitting down and looking at the counter. So what was the etiquette here, how did one even go about getting alcohol?

"Um, hello?"

Maybe he didn't want to be as alone as he thought.

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Reeve hadn't been looking down, so he hadn't even thought to see Dark Nation. The hound was pushing in before he could stop her, the door opening more to leave him standing there in his coat, and clearly no pants.

Maybe today was not going well. On the table Mini immediately moved back from the edge, concerned that the dog might come from him. Mini's concern bubbled in Reeve's mind and he immediately reached for Dark Nation, setting a hand behind her head to hopefully calm her.

"I suppose pleasant surprise is definitely a term," Reeve observed, clearly realizing the dog would start sniffing at him soon. Great. He didn't know if he had treats. "And I don't imagine she's going to believe I don't have anything for her. Please, uh, come in?"

As soon as the door is opened more Rufus's eyes look Reeve over, noticing the lack of pants but decides not to mention it as he steps inside.

Dark Nation leans against his hand, back tentacle swaying happily. Her nose pushed against the pocket of his coat to see if there were any treats for her but she calms down from the contact and from Rufus joining them as he closes the door behind him.

"Ah, forgive me, I've disturbed you." His gaze moves across the room, smiling a little when he notices Mini but looks back at Reeve. "Don't mind me, I'll give you a moment to get dressed." Because whether it was a good time or not, Rufus knew that eventually, they would have to talk now that he knew Reeve was here.

Mini didn't look certain about Dark Nation still, and Reeve? He just nodded at the idea of getting dressed. Which was when he turned his eyes to the door to his bedroom, beyond the limits of his office. From here he could see the state of his bedroom, of his rumpled bed, of... Oh god, he'd left the ropes visible.

Reeve blanched and quickly fled to his bedroom, closing the door. He was quick, once through, to change. That didn't mean Rufus wouldn't have plenty of time to inspect the office Reeve had made for himself. An office full of tables covered with schematics and notes and maps. Tables covered with plans. Walls with more paper tacked up on them with more drawings and concepts. There was, of course, also a able in the corner, with what was obviously a robotic form, waiting to be covered and set moving. No question what the medium sized form would be, clearly Mini-Cait.

And, after a few minutes, Reeve came out of his room, pants on, shoes on, and a turtle neck as well, his hands trying to smooth down his hair.

"I wasn't aware you were here."

Edited 2021-06-08 01:21 (UTC)

Rufus's gaze followed Reeve, trying not to let his amusement show at seeing the rumpled bedsheets and ropes. It was a surprise but he wasn't going to pry too much-at least, he would make an attempt.

While Reeve dressed, Rufus moved around the office, glancing over plans and maps. It seemed Reeve had been busy during his time here, he definitely hadn't arrived as recently as Rufus has.

"I just arrived yesterday and haven't had the chance to explore very much so far. But you seemed to have been here for some time."

Yesterday. The moment they had returned from Billy's power. Intriguing.

"More than a year here, and many months in another world before this," Reeve answered. So yes, he had been around for the time.

He moved around until he could find a cup and then started a small kettle over a small electric burner.

"Tea? I could give you tea. Uh, I think I have some dried biscuits around that I could maybe offer Dark."

"Tea would be wonderful, thank you. And I'm sure she'll love that." Rufus doesn't wait for Reeve to offer him a seat to make himself comfortable, gesturing for Dark Nation to sit beside him on the floor so she's not sniffing Reeve for a potential treat. She huffs but obendiateny sits beside him, ears perked up and alert.

"More than year? The day before I arrived I had an email from you- at least, it seemed like it was from you. We were going over some finalized budget details for a project in Edge." He watches Reeve's expression carefully, seeing what his reaction would be.

Reeve set the water to heating and then moved to open a tin to fetch out a biscuit.

"Mini, could you clear some space for him to have a cup?" Reeve asked, his back still turned to Rufus. The doll finally rose with the loose, clumsy movement that the doll managed seeing as it didn't have robotics inside it yet.

Once the biscuit was free he tossed it down to Dark Nation and found a seat for himself to consider Rufus, careful and thoughtful. Clearly Rufus had been honest, to say he had arrived so recently.

"This place, places like this, worlds like this, they don't listen to normal rules. When people go home, they don't remember this place, I'm told. Likely true as Cloud never told me of his time here back home."

An e-mail for a project in Edge. That's a damn good question.

"Which project?" he asked. Because there were so many answers in the tenure of his time working with Rufus. "Forgive me, I leave something out. Not everyone from a single world brought here comes from the same time in their history. Seeing you with Dark Nation I almost... Well, I thought you must be from soon around your father's passing."

A gentle way to describe how the former President Shinra had died.

"Cloud? Who else is here?" Rufus tries not to let himself show the tension that instantly sets in. Dark Nation doesn't seem to notice as she jumps up a bit to catch the biscuit in between large fangs, happy with her treat.

"A reasonable assumption." He smiles as Reeve's attempt to be diplomatic about the method of his father's death but doesn't linger on it.

"It was just after the remanents vanished thanks to Cloud and his friends. We were discussing your projects to rebuild the damaged parts of the highways in Edge and improve that infrastructure at the same time. My last email to you was confirming I received the plans and that I was going to review them before we spoke the next day."

"Cloud isn't here anymore. Or Vincent. I started alone, and I guess until this morning I thought I had long since been alone again," Reeve admitted, fingers tapping on the table.

Mini pushed papers with clumsy, rounded arms away from Rufus, making space for a cup. At least Reeve had a timeline, though.

"Cloud, when he came here, was from before the rain. Vincent and I didn't know what to do about the Stigma. I am glad he went home, to be healed and end things. Myself?"

Reeve paused to consider the calendar. He had a rough idea of just when Rufus meant.

"About a year later. A while after the Kalm Festival would have been held that year."

Which of course would be a metric for Rufus to gauge what time of year Reeve was from. He would, of course, have no idea what happened in the time to follow.

"The good news, I suppose, is that the plans go well, and the high way repairs were completed. As for the other work, well, it's just the start of a few impressive projects. And, in other news, Cid even learned of the role you had in funding the Shera's creation, and didn't immediately suggest throttling you."

There were so many questions he wanted to ask Reeve but he wasn't sure that if there would be answers. What happened to his Turks, his younger brother- he doesn't know where to start but instead decides to focus on what answers Reeve does have.

"I'm glad it worked out. I wish I could see those projects for myself and how Edge must have grown in that year." He was sure that Reeve would have accomplished many things in that one year that most men could only dream of doing in a lifetime. It was why he hadn't hesitated to fund those impressive projects to help people.

"Is that so? Well, that is progress," he chuckles, imagining what the reactions would be like from Cloud and the others. If he was going to resist asking more questions from the future he decided to switch topics.

"What are you planning for this world? I doubt you've been sitting idle."

Oh there were many questions he could answer. Not about Rufus's brother, of course, but the Turks to a degree were something he could talk about.

"We've expanded our sights beyond Edge at this point," Reeve admitted with a shrug. "Living up more to the W in the organization name."

Sitting idle. Reeve snorted at the very idea.

"I have been lucky to work with men with experience and skill in far excess of my own. I have been privileged to work with men of true skill. We've done restoration of the power here. I'm mapping the water systems so improve and repair functions there. I've been assisting a gentleman named Cobb in restoring some housing units south of here for people's use."

Rufus sits forward a little, interested as Reeve talks. He has no intention of sitting around either- his body may be healing but he wasn't going to idly pass the days.

"I may not have the money or resources I had before but if there is anything I can do to help, you have but to ask." He's worked with Reeve enough to know that they work fairly well together so he doesn't mind making the offer.

"I would like to see what you've been working on when you have the chance."

What a forward offer, and Reeve found himself looking at the Shinra with a bit of shock.

"Forgive me for saying it, Rufus, but what experience do you have with architectural planning? With surveying vital city systems? With hands on building projects? I mean, if you wish to take the engineering data point and help monitor the power plant, or consider things like that, then by all means, but..."

But what in the world was a privileged young man raised to run a business going to do here? Other than find a way to rekindle the idea of politics, which made Reeve sick to think of. Then he realized his words were perhaps a bit harsh. So he sighed and shook his head.

"Apologies. Things have been... stressful here lately. Someone, likely not our benefactors in coming here, manipulated the very powerful magic of a young man here, and it warped the world, warped our minds for a time. I cannot even begin to explain it, and it left me stressed. Yesterday we finally broke free of it, and I had to have a long talk with an... associate of mine."

The gentleman who had left Reeve ruffled, clearly.

"If you are from when you are, you are likely freshly free of the Stigma. Perhaps our first focus should be giving you a checkup. I can show you to the hospital and we can see if someone is in. If not, I'll take the datapoint temporarily to look you over."

"I certainly don't have the expertise that you do but I didn't sit around as Vice President just looking pretty all day. And despite my current health, you know I can't do the same here."

It would be torture. He had always pushed himself too far while injured and then while sick. He hadn't allowed himself rest even to give himself to be dying of a terrible disease eating at him.

He raises his eyebrows at the mention of an associate, resisting the urge to glance at the bedroom door. But that was Reeve's business, Rufus knew he had spent a long time answering to the old President and Rufus wasn't his boss anymore.

"You almost sound like Veld or Tseng, being practical and reasonable." Rufus had to admit that Reeve was right- his health wasn't what it use to be and he couldn't accomplish as much as he would want. But the defensiveness slips and he allows himself a small smile.

"Alright, I can agree to that. But I'm not going to get better by sitting around all the time."

The raised eyebrow earned a combination of a faint blush and Reeve doing his best to look disapproving of potential speculation.

“I know you can’t sit around. We’ll find you food too, and get you into the hands of the lady, Lauri-something at the gym for regaining strength most likely.”

The kettle started to whistle and Reeve rose to busy himself with that. Though he did chuckle at the reference to the Turks.

“Veld was a mentor of mine when I first joined the company. Tseng was a friend. So I do not have a problem with being practical and reasonable. Tseng and I half learned it together.”

"So that's where you learned it from. I knew when I heard that tone of voice from Veld that no attempt to argue my way out of things wouldn't be successful no matter how many times I tried," he laughs softly, shaking his head as he watches Reeve prepare the tea.

"Thank you, Reeve, I appreciate it. It's frustrating not being able to do the things I used to be able to easily do." Just his short exploration before finding himself at Reeve's had taken a bit out of him but he tries not to show it. Being without his cane made moving around more strenous but it would force him to walk on his own without leaning on anything.

Or anyone.

He had cared for Veld, quite a bit. SO yes, he had done his best to emulate the man. If only had been able to let himself not care like Veld had been able to seem. But it was never in his nature.

"You're still recently out of the chair, yes? Perhaps we'll have to ask the Agrii for something to assist you with walking, until your health is better."

If only they had physical therapy to offer him. Reeve finished the preparation and offered the cup of tea over to Rufus.

"Mini, would you fetch my communication device?"

The doll nodded and moved to carefully walk to the edge of the table. Then looked at Dark Nation.

"Ah yes, a good point," Reeve noted before looking to Rufus. "Dark isn't prone to chewing stuffed animals is she?"

Rufus gratefully takes the tea, taking a cautious sip.

"She's not, she only takes what I give her. She only destroyed Heidegger's office that one time because I 'accidentally' let her off her leash that day." There is only a hint of a smile Rufus hides behind the mug of tea.

"Yes, the Turks have been helping me get around again by myself. Tseng got me this fancy cane that makes me look some distinguished old man. You should have seen it, it was ridiculous."

Dark Nation peers at Mini but she doesn't move, only tilting her head with curiosity.

For all the mature adult he was, even Reeve had to snicker at that memory. He gestured to Mini and the doll hopped down to the floor, toddling toward the wall by the door to Reeve's bedroom. A smaller opening, a bit like a shuttered window, had been cut there and covered with wood. The doll pulled this open and went through it.

"I did see it, Rufus. As I noted, I'm from further into the future, more or less."

"Ah that's right, I forgot. It's still strange to think about." He smiles a little more as he catches Reeve snickering.

He glances at Mini going through the door before looking back at Reeve. "There is a lot I want to ask you about the future but I'm not sure you would have all the answers. How are the Turks doing at least?"

"I would have a good deal of the answers," Reeve countered with a shrug.

Intelligence, after all, was a needed part of the WRO. Though he got his through an unexpected source. No one would think Yuffie capable of it.

"Tseng and Elena make a full recovery from their Northern Crater experiences. All of them are doing well last I checked. Vincent, if you'd consider him such still given he was never actually removed from company payrolls, does less well, but such is life."

The emotion of relief on Rufus's face is genuine, he doesn't bother to hide it. Reeve would know the bond that he had with his Turks especially after Meteorfall. "That is good to hear. And Tseng mentioned he was on the payroll at one point but kept him on. I didn't see any reason to take him off."

He pauses as he considers his next question.

"I'm not sure if you would recognize the name but have you heard of anyone named Evan Townshend before?"

"I haven't actually had a chance to tell Vincent. He probably wouldn't appreciate it."

Evan Townshend. Reeve considered the name before finally shaking his head.

"No, it doesn't ring a bell. Which of course means that it's not someone you've told me about. Which just leaves me more intrigued."

"Ah I'm not surprised we wouldn't have told you about him. Evan isn't exactly that found of anyone from Shinra either."

He's not sure if he should tell Reeve that there is another Shrina running around but for the sake of trust between them he wouldn't at least outright lie if asked.

"He's a friend of Reno's who helped us with some things regarding the remanents before Cloud and his group dealt with them. I hope the fact that you haven't heard of him means that he hasn't gotten into further trouble."

Someone that can't stand Shinra, but is friends with Reno? Reeve gives Rufus a brief look that he knows might well be read as you're hiding something. The thing was he hadn't quite found it in himself to press on it.

"Frankly, Rufus, do you believe you'd tell me if people associated with you got into trouble? You didn't tell me of you sending the Turks north."

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