closed 🌠⚡ i will be the one to light up the way

[starshower]

Who: Tifa Lockhart & Eustace.
Status: Closed.
Where: Eltrut.
What: Skull painting, weird gondolas, and maybe event stuff?
Warnings: Awkward adults with awkward feelings.

Comments

[starshower]

[And of course she thinks that he's being serious.]

In what!?

[flamekthunder]

Me joining you.

[starshower]

I—

[She suddenly flushes out of both embarrassment and feeling incredibly self-conscious of everything that comes out of her mouth.]

I didn't say I wasn't interested. I just... you said...

[flamekthunder]

[He just staaaarees at her before there's a quirk of his lips, his chin resting against his hand as he teases her a little more.]

So you really want me to be there?

[starshower]

[She feels like she's going to crack under the pressure of that stare, but she also can't quite bring herself to look away from it.]

Well, I... yeah? I mean, I wouldn't say no to your company if you were...

[flamekthunder]

[He shouldn't be finding this as amusing and...interesting as he does, but he is. He doesn't even know what he's trying to get here teasing her like this. But it is kind of fun to watch her fluster about...

But he'll be nice.]

Then I'll go.

[starshower]

[She visibly lights up at that, that diminished spark in her eyes reigniting more than she means for it to.]

Really—!?

[She sounds way too excited about it, and so she reins it in with a clearing of her throat, but she can't stop biting back a smile.]

Well then, I guess... I'll see you there.

[flamekthunder]

[There is an arch of the brow because that is definitely more than expected. He knew she would be happy, but...

...But it's not a bad feeling, either, and he knowingly smiles a little more.]

I'll have to figure out a costume, though.

[starshower]

For the masquerade?

[She tilts her head a bit.]

Well, I was thinking of doing the same sorta rabbit look for that, too... keep with the theme this year.

[Which means that he should find a way to match, hint hint.]

[flamekthunder]

[...Uh huh.]

So you think I should be a wolf.

[starshower]

[She casts him a half smile.]

You said it. Not me.

[flamekthunder]

[Just eyes her.]

Maybe a hunter would be better.

[starshower]

[She narrows her eyes back at him and sets that skull she's been holding down on the table.]

Is that supposed to mean something?

[flamekthunder]

[Just a shrug.]

Was just thinking what would fit me.

[No other meaning.




Course not.]

[starshower]

[Uh huh...

Now it's her turn to eye him. Dubiously.]

Well, I think just about anything would suit you, so who am I to say no...

[She's just happy that he would be going in the first place, and her subdued smile says as much.]

[flamekthunder]

We'll see. Might have to look around while we're at the festival.

[Or would that be a mistake?]

[starshower]

[Mistake or no—]

Honestly? I think that would be pretty fun... Maybe we'll find some masks there that we could use.

[There's that hopeful, eager gleam in her eyes again.]

[flamekthunder]

[Somehow, he finds he prefers seeing that shine and gleam in her eyes.]

Guess that's another thing we can do while there.

[And he'll finally pick up the remaining skull to finish painting.]

❤️💛 fin.

[starshower]

[She can only smile at that, though this time, she lets it spread until it can't spread anymore, and she bites her lip, a little laugh leaving her, as she picks up her brush again. Really, she shouldn't feel as giddy as she is, her face should not be as red and rosy as it is, and with how fast her heart is racing, she'd be surprised if he didn't hear it, but she can't help any of it. She really hadn't wanted to push him into it—she knows him well enough now to know that this isn't exactly his scene. That the music and the people and the weird drinks that they serve are not up his alley, but the fact that he is considering it at all...

...

And dare she say because she had wished for it?

No, that's probably not it. But she can still be happy about it, right? She'll allow herself that.

For now, she's just happy to be having fun with him painting those skulls, and in the end, they create not only a wolf and a rabbit, but a set of different skulls dressed up as animals. A bear, a bird, a dragon... as well as a few more that she'll put behind the bar as decoration for the month later.

But not before they find themselves in another little paint fight, with Tifa smearing some paint onto his cheek again, ruining the "wolf marks" that she had put there. All with a look of fondness, her eyes sparking with amusement and... something else.

Something that has been simmering within her for some time that is now coming to a slow boil, to the point where she can no longer ignore it. It has her staring at him for a little bit longer each time, turns her cheeks pink whenever he looks at her, and the giggles don't stop for the rest of the night.

It's both terrifying and not at the same time. A good feeling that makes her heart feel light, and like her burdens are gone. The same feeling that she has whenever she is with him, and whenever she manages to make him laugh or smile.

She wouldn't call it that... but she wonders if it's close...]