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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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"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.

All he can do is sigh as he rises. Rufus doesn't even get it.

"I have lived the majority of my life afraid of the name Shinra, Rufus. Add in the fact that you know more of my secrets than just about any man alive, and my nerves get worked up more. I'm happy here, I've made things for myself here. And unfortunately, your family's name has been bandied about here, with discussions of what the Shinra Company, including myself did to our world. So you'll forgive me if I'm tense over your presence. I'm afraid for you. I'm also a touch afraid of you as I have ever been."

Fear. Was it right to fear Rufus? Oh, Reeve thought so. But that was a matter of worlds.

"I know you aren't your father, I know there isn't even a Hojo for you to give me over to for the magic I carry in me, but fear is easier to work through back home where I know I have people like Cloud and Tifa and Vincent to back me up."

Rufus is taken aback for a moment, expressing his surprise by raising his eyebrows. Certainly, as the most powerful man on the planet, he had wrecked a great deal of damage and put Reeve through a lot, his father had done worse before. And Rufus knew it was his responsibility to deal with those consequences

He also catches when Reeve mentions the magic in him. He knew that if Reeve had said those words in front of the former President he would be paying Hojo a one-way visit. But that's something that's filed away for the moment.

He's not sure what to say for once, an apology wouldn't be even close to sufficient to try to make amends for the past. Apologizing was easy and mere words, he had to prove he wanted to continue to make amends. "So what do we do here then? I know the trust was never absolute back home, you were always guarded even when we were working in the middle of the night just the two of us alone."

He doesn't take his eyes off of Reeve's. "I don't begrudge you what you have here, out of everyone you're probably the only one from Shinra who deserves the chance to make your own life somewhere new."

"Here?" Reeve asked, tilting his head. "Here I live up to the promises I gave to Tseng and Veld, to give you a chance. To help you. And to make sure you stay safe so if one of your Turks shows up, they don't feel the need to kick my ass when I don't have sufficient materia to defend myself."

HE only has the two. And he might give one to Rufus for his own sake. But that's for later. But when Rufus suggests that Reeve deserved to make his life new somewhere else, he has to laugh, sharp and bitter.

"I let your father kill the world with my stupid research and designs. I don't deserve a life somewhere new. I have too many sins to account for."

"Don't we all? Some more than others."

Rufus stifles a laugh at the mention of Veld and Tseng. He's sure that Veld would be more than happy to let Rufus fend for himself for the most part to just see what he does and teach him a lesson about survival. Veld had tossed him into the deep end to figure things out for himself more than once when he was younger, sometimes literally. Tseng is at least fond of Reeve so he had that going for him.

"I'll make sure to tell them that any trouble I get into is entirely my fault. I know Tseng would understand and won't blame you." Because trouble would inevidentaly follow Rufus, whether by his own doing or not.

Tseng. Reeve can't help the briefly wistful look on his face. Yes, he missed the man, quite a bit. But didn't think he much cared to stay something about it.

"Well, it is what it is I suppose," Reeve said, rising to his feet and heading for the door. "Alright then. Come along, we're going to start with food. You deserve to know where it's easiest to eat."

Rufus carefully stands, steadying himself on the table for just a moment before following Reeve. Dark Nation runs ahead, pushing past Reeve a little to head out of the door first.

"That would be nice, I'm starving." He's going to miss Rude's cooking or the greasy take-out dinners Reno snuck in under Tseng's nose that were from some shady place but were always delicious. On the bright side, it probably won't be as bad as the 'healthy' diet Tseng had him on to improve his health.

Dark Nation stays just ahead of them, alert as watches where Reeve goes.

Oh there was no chance it would be as healthy as Tseng would micromanage it to be. But he offered his arm to Rufus, for a moment. He didn't know if the man would accept it or not.

"I know it might be a blow to your pride, but I hope you will let me help you."

Rufus looks at the arm Reeve offers for a moment, hesitating. He hates leaning on others, especially literally but after a moment he accepts the help and takes Reeve's arm.

"Only because it's you, Reeve." It wasn't easy to allow someone to see him this vulnerable but he decides that he can trust Reeve not to use it as a weapon against him.

"I'm well aware," Reeve answered, starting forward. "And I know that you wouldn't think to use this against me."

A double statement after all. Use it against me and I'll use what I know against you. Their friendship, in some ways, was based in what they knew of each other, and how they could work together to achieve things.

Rufus laughs softly, walking beside Reeve. He tries not to lean on Reeve too much but the wariness pulls at him despite his best attempts. So he decides to distract himself with a lighter subject.

"No, I wouldn't. But if you think this means I won't tell your friends about the time you kidnapped me you're very wrong," he chuckles. He felt a bit bad later on that Reeve discovering in the worst way that he had the president's son in his trunk. "It was our first joint venture and it almost succeeded."

Kidnapped? Reeve sputtered in indignation, but didn't push the man away.

"It was neither a joint venture nor a kidnapping! They had my brand new car in impound for a week! Do you know how many meetings I missed!?"

Reeve couldn't help but growl over that.

"At the time I thought it was the most brilliant idea I've ever had, I just didn't account for the fact that Veld was smarter than a 15-year-old." Rufus smiles wryly, trying to lean on Reeve too much as they walk.

He has to accept that he really might need a cane right now, walking too much on his own after 2 years in a wheelchair and bed rest had been hard on him despite his best attempts. "Not exactly the best introduction, I admit."

Rufus has to inwardly laugh at what an old man he sounds like with that last comment, rolling his eyes at himself. He's getting sentimental in his old age.

"Veld is often smarter than just about everyone around him," Reeve answered, his voice contemplative. Perhaps even a bit... fond? Approving? Hard to tell. Reeve tried hard to hide things. His background, his magic, his accent, and so much about himself. Too bad Rufus probably knew better.

"Introduction? I barely got to say two words before I was being cuffed."

"If it's any consolation Reno said later he felt bad about how rough he was."

He picked up on the tone of Reeve's voice at the mention of Veld but doesn't comment on it. He knew enough of how Reeve most likely felt by now. "Anyway, what kind of food is available here? I'm going to have to learn to find supplies for myself eventually."

Yes, it had been NO comfort that the one who had cuffed him had practically been a child as well.

"I would believe that if he didn't make jokes about it again in the future. Repeatedly."

But Reno was definitely the sort to make jokes.

"There is a diner. A group of people work there on rotation to cook as I understand it. They are supplied from the greenhouse primarily. I fear we need hunters to bring in more meat though."

"Is there a lack of wildlife in the area or a scarcity of anyone with the necessary skills?" Not that Rufus could really be of much use in terms of hunting right now despite his skill with a gun. He was unarmed, knew exactly zero about hunting for food, and even he could admit that trekking through a forest in his current condition wasn't the best idea.

"But for larger prey, perhaps Dark Nation could be of some use? She's taken out large monsters before without very much difficulty."

"Skills I believe," Reeve answered. But he wasn't exactly certain. Food was not part of his work here. His attention was more on shelter.

Still, the idea of Dark Nation as a hunter was an intriguing one for him. Not one that he knew how to make suggestions about.

"Perhaps she can. But she'd have to work with someone else for now."

"I can teach someone how to work with her until I can join." Rufus watches Dark Nation ahead, scouting for any potential threats that could emerge.

Once they reach the diner Rufus lets Reeve open the door since letting go of Reeve's arm wasn't a good idea at this time. There is no question of if Dark Nation is coming in or not, she doesn't give them a chance to protest before pushing her way in.

Yes, but would the hound at all allow for such things? Would she want to be away from her companion? From her charge?

Reeve opens the door and stands aside for the hound, frowning at her.

"Can you make sure she doesn't get into the food?" he wonders aloud before heading to the counter where he sees trays of food, and pots, have been laid out.

"Seems like soup again. It's common. But they're making new complex things lately."

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