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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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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."

Rufus gives Reeve a look back that is partly amused and partly an invitation daring Reeve to ask.

"That is a good point but that was business. I have no control over Evan though and he wouldn't listen to me even if I tried to tell him what to do. If he gets in trouble, it's entirely on his own."

Or with Reno's help. Shiva help them all.

Oh, a dare is something Reeve doesn't intend to rise to the level of. Or lower himself to he supposed. And to think, he would have believed that all of this time apart would have gotten him past his impulse to posture and play politics with the other man. Damn but some habits were ingrained too deeply.

"Well, my concerns here and now are the level of trouble you will get into," Reeve answered.

Rufus can't help but feel a small sense of victory. Reeve is a friend and ally but Rufus still likes playing these small games just for fun sometimes.

He knew that he couldn't assure Reeve that he wouldn't get into trouble due to his health but they both knew that when Rufus was determined not much would stop him. "It's not my intention to get into trouble here. I have to learn to survive on my own sometime without the Turks doing everything for me."

And when that was he was not sure. He had no practical, everyday skills everyone else had but he holds a determined notion that it can't be that difficult to figure out.

Reeve didn't want to be playing these games again. He had liked life without it. And now he's got a game he's got to mess with. But learning to survive is interesting, because he doesn't know that Rufus can handle all of this.

This was when Mini returns, a communicator held against his chest. Reeve reached down without looking to scoop it, and Mini up.

"Well, perhaps we should show you some of those steps to taking care of yourself."

Dark Nation's ears are perked up as she watches Mini but she stays where she is, only looking between Reeve and Mini as if asking for an invitation to investigate.

"I would like that. I'm sure I have a lot to learn." Being without his Turks never ended well but so far this was an improvement on the last time they had been separated.

But like before he's determined to survive no matter what he has to do, no matter how unpleasant.

"No," Reeve told the dog rather firmly. Without the internal metal body right now, Reeve didn't know if Mini would survive gnawing.

"We'll start with where there is food. Mini, would you like me to get the bag?"

The doll offered a nod. And Reeve rose, going to get a satchel.

"We might need a stop by the replicator, to get your a cane."

Dark Nation looks at Rufus for confirmation when Reeve says no, settling down when Rufus shakes his head. She lays down on the floor by Rufus's chair, yawning.

"A replicator? And I don't need a cane, I got here by myself." It hadn't been easy but he had still done it. But it was a half-hearted protest, he knew that he needed some help even if he hated to admit it to himself. Reeve had been around Veld and Tseng far too much to know just how stubborn Rufus could be even in the face of overwhelming odds or at risk of harming himself.

Doesn't need a cane? Reeve looks quite incredulous at that.

"We're in a city of ruins, and you're injured. There are places with a good deal of steps, and you're injured. And all of this before the fact that we're not in a safe place, Rufus, not now, and is not likely to be for a while."

Don't be unreasonable or he might have ot find someone else to press the point, Rufus. And Reeve is too tired for that.

Rufus was starting to realize just how well Reeve had learned from Veld and Tseng. As much as he wants to protest he knows Reeve is right and it's just something he's going to have to deal with for now.

"Just nothing as ridiculous as the one I had back home, at least."

He pauses as he finishes his tea, setting the cup down. When he looks at Reeve there is nothing guarded in his expression. "I have every intention of continuing our friendship and partnership as we had back home, Reeve. I have no intention of continuing anything related to my father's legacy here."

Well, Reeve had looked up to Veld, even emulated the man. He'd worked so hard to earn the man's approval when he was young. Tseng had just been beautiful.

"I can guarantee nothing. The Agrii will do what they will do."

And he had to hope it worked for Rufus. Or that it was something at all. But he offered a frown at the reference to the Shinra legacy. Reeve squeezed Mini to him a bit more tightly.

"If you attempted, there would be many people, I expect, who would stop you. With greater ease than Cloud."

"What do you honestly expect me to do, Reeve?" He didn't blame Reeve for not trusting him even at their point in time when Rufus had left their world

"I have no doubt you'll warn others about me so I won't have the chance to do anything anyway," Rufus remarks with a light huff of faint amusement. He fells the exhaustion settle hard suddenly and not just in his body. Even in an entirely new world, he was defined by his past and his father's crimes. He had felt trapped his entire life in one way or another, there was never any escape no matter how many times he tried. Freedom was the one thing he never could afford.

The air feels thick and he knows that he's overdone it again but he just gives Reeve a wry smile, pushing the teacup away lightly.

"The tea was delicious but I should let you get back to work now. And I promise I'll try to get some rest." Which wouldn't be difficult, every part of his body feels like it's weighed down but he tries not to let it show.

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