dilettante | — closed psl directory

( truly far from being terribly modest, reira could be quite boastful about certain aspects of herself. as long as it worked in her favor of course but reeve would soon find out that while she was aware of her positive qualities such as her appearance and singing talents, she didn't quite boast about them that much.

for now though she smiled with her own little spoon dangling from her lips, swallowing down the treat before she pulled it away and began to turn towards the gelato once more. she began to scoop up a bit before she stopped—

she wasn't sure when it happened but the more time she spent with him the more safe and comfortable she felt around him. despite not being a woman with a purpose like he wanted, she secretly hoped that even if he did reject her, he'd at least be her friend. so with a soft smile, she turned towards him and held the spoon out towards his lips once more before speaking. )

It would be nice, but you can do it after I feed you one more time okay?

( and when his lips parted for her, she placed the spoon against them and allowed him to take another bite of the gelato. it was as if she read his mind, or maybe she was just too excited to catch another taste of him on her spoon. )

[ He feels less shy now that he's already had a bite. Reeve takes another and grins around the richness of Kalm cherry gelato, its tang settling. Somehow, the flavor matches Reira. After he swallows, he lifts one brow in playful appraisal. ]

So feeding me is just becoming a thing for you then, I see. Didn't know you took directors for pets.

[ He glances away, dabbing at his lips with a napkin our of habit. sharing food has made him more giddy than he cares to admit. ]

What's your favorite icecream flavor?

[ Because right now, all he wants is to learn more about her. ]

( there's a strange calmness in the air between them now that they've spent more time together, promising to hang out after dinner. little by little they're crossing boundaries that even friends wouldn't tread upon but there was no more fear or hesitation in her heart. she stopped overthinking and worrying over what he thought of her and just let herself be. somewhere among the piles of paper filled with fortunes was a little piece of advice telling her to do just that—

and so she did. she smiled at him, pulling the spoon away and setting it back down onto the plate of the gelato as she looked at him so sweetly and yet so playfully. oh what she'd give to truly have him as a pet, all to herself. )

Only the cute ones and you're the only one who fits the bill.

( there's a soft smile on her face as she leaned her elbow on the table, chin resting on the palm of her hand as she looked at him. )

Ice cream? Maybe chocolate....but I don't really indulge in many sweets these days. That's why I got so excited you let me order two desserts because this day as been so sweet, I just wanted to make it a bit more sweeter. What about you?

Careful. That kind of compliment might go straight to my head.

[ Reeve ducks his head slightly as a sheepish laugh escapes him. The candlelight flickers off his cheekbones, catching the faint color rising to his ears. He doesn’t meet Reira’s eyes at first because he’s trying to keep whatever feeling she’s stirred in him from showing too much. ]

I like chocolate too. Rocky road probably, to be specific. It’s hard to find unless you go to a specialty shop, but there’s one in Shinra Tower that’s popular with staff.

[ The evening meanders forward, their conversations easy. When the last of the dessert is gone, Reeve finds that the date has only deepened his comfort with her. Without any awkward lulls, he’s happy to keep going.

Midgar feels different with Reira beside him, like it’s more alive. After a quick drive to Sector 6, the scent of street food hits the air and blinking signs come into view. Reeve’s pace slows as they approach what looks to be a game center. Rows and rows of crane games, each one brimming with plush prizes, beckon to them. His hand drifts toward Reira’s, brushing it lightly but not taking it as he gestures with a nod toward the games. ]

Go on, pick one. I’ve got a good feeling about my luck tonight.

[ His grin is somehow both modest and confident at the same time. ]

( everything about this man was far too cute and precious for someone like reira to truly handle. it was all so new for her— to go on a date with someone and actually have her words and actions be reciprocated. all of it made her feel wanted and as she watched him she couldn't help but wonder if this was normal. was it like this for everyone else who fell in love with the right people? no fears, no worries, no obsession keeping them prisoner over a person who could care less about them?

before she could truly wonder about that though, she listened to his words and remained close, eating away at their dessert and chatting it up. soon though, like a sweeping dream they were off to enjoy the rest of their date like reeve had promised—

another thing to fill her heart with desire and pure unbridled happiness. )

Oh this is all so amazing and fun!

( once they were in sector 6 and walking about, she remained close to him but not quite touching him. they seemed just a bit too dressed up given the more carefree nature of the area but she was far from turning her nose up at it. instead she was nearly bouncing from machine to machine as the sparkling lights filled up her eyes with wonder. she looked at everything and anything before the subtle brush of his hand kept her firm in her place for once. )

Okay you've got it, win me the best plush around here and I might just kiss your cheek~

( an incentive to truly get him going, but maybe she just needed an outlet for all of her energy. eventually though she came across a machine that had a bunch of cat plushies in them, pink and blue, holding hands like a cute couple.

immediately she knew she wanted him to try at this one. )

How about this one? They look so sweet and cute....

[ Reeve steps forward with a mock look of determination, shedding his suit's jacket and rolling up the sleeves of his dress shirt just slightly like he's preparing for a far more serious endeavor. The claw machine hums softly under the fluorescent lights, its glass case filled with a kaleidoscope of pastel plush toys. He glances at them once, then at Layla, and something boyish flashes in his expression. His hand fishes some gil from his wallet and feeds it into the slot with a satisfying clink. ]

Duly noted. I'll win, no problem, in that case.

[ He grips the joystick, leaning down a little to get a better view of the cats. ]

They are cute, aren't they? The pink one even looks like you, a little bit.

[ With care, he nudges the claw into position, brow furrowed, tracking the line of the prize from both angles like he's plotting a tactical op. ]

How's the claw now? I want to hit the blue one's back leg from the right.

( the moment he began to move forward, taking off his jacket and rolling up his sleeves, reira was left absolutely in a daze. she stared at him just a bit, a soft blush filling up her face as she looked at him and took in all of his details— from just how strong his arms looked, to the way the fabric of his shirt rolled onto his skin, it all just served to make her fall harder for him. soon though she snapped back to reality as he looked at her and she smiled at him gently, tongue briefly rolling between her lips as she turned her attention towards the claw machine.

soon she was pressing her hands against the glass, looking inward as she watched and giggled a bit at his movements. )

Does it? Maybe I should let you keep it so you can keep it as a reminder of our date.

( soon though she was circling around the machine, keeping an eye before speaking. )

Move it just a bit to the right and you should be able to snatch it up! Come on Reeve you can do this, you've got this!

( don't mind her as she curled her hands into fists and jumped around a bit like a little kid, growing more and more excited by this game of chance. )

We could maybe slip some magnets in their paws. They're locked together now, but maybe it'd be better if we could each keep one. It'd be a shame if I won them here and you came away with nothing to take home, right?

[ There's a playfulness in his tone as he suggests it, stepping slightly aside to recalibrate his aim. By now, Reeve's jacket is draped over his shoulder. He looks... different like this. Not Shinra's Executive Director of Urban Planning, but a man leaning over a claw machine in the halo-glow of flickering bulbs, focused with the kind of precision usually reserved for city schematics or field surveys. With only the formality of his necktie holding him back to his title, the rolled sleeves of his dress shirt thoughtlessly display the slope of his forearms. Broad and sinewed, as he settles over the joystick. His skin is lightly flushed from the heat of the early summer air.

Reeve watches the alignment of the claw through the glass as Reira circles around, her voice bright with excitement. Following her instruction, he taps the button— once, twice— until the claw descends. It grips the plush pair of cats with a tinny sound and drags them across the bed of plastic gems and pastel fluff. They land against the prize chute's ledge with a wobble, caught at the edge like someone's breath held in suspense. Reeve readies another couple of coins. ]

I think I want the pink one after all.

[ He says it after some thought, and drops his next gil into the slot to continue. ]

( his words were so simple yet with each one of them there was a strong level of hope embedded deep within them. she could imagine now how they could split them up and put magnets on them, touching when they reunited. she truly was a hopeless romantic no matter how abysmal her own love life had been for such a long time. as he went on though, she simply nodded at his words and kept silent for now. it felt like if she said anything or did anything else, this precious moment would be ruined and she'd be left with nothing more than a memory to look back on in the future.

so she focused and concentrated, watching the claw machine recalibrate and move, with idle glances towards reeve here and there. he truly was a sight for sore eyes, eyes that were parched for something new and exciting to fill the void with. he was becoming everything she could ever want—

but before she realized, the plush was already tumbling down towards the prize chute and fell down. they were just inanimate toys and yet reira couldn't help but look down into the machine, already coming up with a cute love story for them. she'd tell reeve her thoughts but for now she lifted her gaze up to look at him and just how jovial he seemed.

it was endearing, and she couldn't help but smile at him gently. there was far more to this man than just an employee of shinra. he was someone she wanted to one day hold and cherish, she was sure of that. )

Then I get to keep the blue one. We'll stick magnets in their paws and it can be our little secret.

( why invite the rest of the world into what they were slowly building after all? as the gil dropped into the machine, she went back to position to keep an eye out. this time the moogles caught her eye. )

Jings— only one try?

[ For the moment that the cat toys tumble down, Reeve doesn’t watch his mouth and sounds like the other cat they’re both far too familiar with. He only realizes it after the accented slang is out of him, and like a boardroom kneejerk response to cover and brush past it, he kneels to free the cats from the chute.

Reeve holds both cat toys out to her, balanced in his palms like an offering. The machine hums expectantly behind him, its mechanical prompt urging him to go again. One hand returns to the joystick, casual now, like he hadn’t just revealed more of himself than intended. ]

Anything else catching your eye?

[ While following her line of sight— ]

The fat chocobo?

[ He assumes she’s looking at that one, rather than the moogle beside it. ]

( the accent came rumbling like a familiar and warm reminder of the friend she had made before— but instead of recognizing it as reeve being somehow connected to cait sith [as in he controlled the animatronic], reira took it as a sign that her friend cait sith had truly conspired to help bring them together. so she didn't comment on it, instead looking at him and wondering just how long he had been speaking to the animatronic for. it seemed like he had asked about the fortune because he had gotten one from her friend. she made a mental note to thank him later, but for now she looked down as he bent down to grab the toy and held it out to her.

she grabbed it and smiled, deciding she'd pull them apart later so they could get their preferred color; in this case blue for her, pink for him. )

Fat chocobo?

( though that did interrupt her train of thought. she immediately looked at the machine and began to laugh. )

Well I was eyeing the moogle but I'll take the fat chocobo if you can get it. We better hurry though, I want to play some arcade games before I have to start heading back you know?

[ Reeve focuses on the remaining turns, eyebrows knitting together with anticipation as the claw dips and lifts the moogle’s hind leg. His fortune about being lucky today had turned out to be true— only one other try after the initial attempt, and another toy for Reira makes its way down the chute. ]

Easy. Crazy really, I’ve never had this easy a time with them. You must be a good luck charm to me.

[ He retrieves the moogle from the machine now, carrying it on her behalf so she doesn’t have to. ]

— closed psl directory

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