closed 🌠⚡ tell me i'm the one you want...

[starshower]

Who: Tifa Lockhart & Eustace.
Status: Closed.
Where: Ocard flower gardens.
What: Eustace and Tifa finally go on their first date.
Warnings: Dunno yet :D


[After talking about it and all the planning and the anticipation, one would think that all that preparedness would leave her feeling at ease about the whole thing, but now that the day is finally here... not even Tifa had expected herself to be as nervous as she was. It's not as if they haven't spent any time together before this, or hadn't been quite as close, but there's just something about it being a date now—officially, all of those times she's invited him to the bar or when she's visited his home on Nogard don't count—that has every nerve of hers on end.

Not in a bad way, but she is willing this to be as perfect as it can be and prays that nothing will go wrong. She hasn't forgotten what Ocard was like last year, and she hopes that the dragons are kind enough to leave the two of them alone to enjoy their picnic in the gardens in peace. That, and her excitement is buzzing, all of that pent up anticipation coming out of her in hastened footsteps and red cheeks by the time she finally does manage to find him.

She whirls around a tall hedge of rose bushes when she spots him, her dark, strawberry-printed dress flaring out around her as she clutches her small picnic basket close. Her heart leaps into her throat like this is the very first time that she's seeing him.]

Sorry...

[She wanders over with a sheepish smile, her face flushed with embarrassment, her eyes flitting to him and noting just how handsome he looks...]

This place is so big, I think I got a little lost.

Comments

[flamekthunder]

[After torturing himself with that text post.............. Eustace has managed to come up with what he thinks should be a decent plan of attack for the day. He and Tifa had already discussed having a picnic and the gardens and while he let Tifa make most of the decisions for the meal, he did provide his input as well and tried to get a feel as to what other things she might like while also recalling the various activities they've done in the past. Really...when he thinks about it...a lot of them would sound a lot like dates to anyone else...

But this time it would be the real deal and as he stands at the waiting spot, he releases a low exhale. It's rare for him to be nervous, and he's been with Tifa long enough to not be nervous around her. But he can't help but want for today to go well. First date...it's not something he should put a lot of meaning to, but even if he didn't, he's certain Tifa would. So for her sake, he really wants to pull this off as well as he can. So while he may not be carrying Flamek, he is going to at least have his handgun on him tucked at his side and hidden beneath his long trench coat. Surely she would understand—

Hearing her footsteps, he looks over at her and immediately can't help but soften his gaze.]

It's fine, I wasn't waiting for too long.

[Just long enough to have a few things prepared, anyway.]

Here, I'll take the basket.

[starshower]

Long enough that you got all this ready without me.

[She gestures to the blanket and the things that he's brought before handing over the basket. There's a bottle of wine nestled in there that gives it some significant weight for a picnic basket, and remembering it again as she hoists it into his hands has her cheeks turning pink. Or maybe they already were. Who even knows anymore.

But now that she's free of it, she looks him over.]

... You look... really nice.

[flamekthunder]

[Oh—it wasn't difficult for him to take, but it is a lot heavier than he expected, a brow raising before he sets it down. But her compliment makes him stiffen for a moment before he clears his throat, feeling a mix of relief and embarrassment. Since they were going to be outdoors for the day he didn't dress up overly nice or anything like that, but he may have taken a little more time than usual to choose out his outfit. He didn't think it was particularly outstanding, but he knew it was at least in style and nice looking.

So it was good to hear that she seemed to approve.]

Thanks...you, too—I mean you look nice.

[.....

WELL THAT COULD HAVE COME OUT BETTER.]

[starshower]

[She knew what he meant, but she giggles anyway as she averts her gaze and awkwardly glances around.]

Thanks. Took me forever to pick out the dress.

[Though she's grown quite fond of it, even if she wasn't sure about it at first.

With that, she kicks off her shoes and goes to step onto the blanket.]

... May I?

[It all looks so perfect!!!]

[flamekthunder]

[He's still trying to catch his wits, so there's another clumsy moment before he nods.]

You can sit wherever you want.

[Let's just pretend the spot he had chosen had some nice flowering trees to offer some shade and had a nice view of the garden.]

[starshower]

[Honestly, the view from anywhere would be lovely. The trees and the climbing roses are beautiful, and even in the distance, she can see the tall Ocard mountains stretching to the sky like a painted backdrop. It couldn't be more perfect.

Still, she sits down carefully anyway, making sure not to wrinkle or fold her dress too much before the day has even started.

And she'll start spilling everything to avoid any lulls in the conversation—]

So, I brought some soup and sandwiches, fruits and vegetables, and some dessert. There's a bottle of wine and some cups in there, too. No glass—didn't wanna risk breaking it.

[flamekthunder]

[His eyes widen a but when she starts explaining, but he'll slowly open the lid to look at the contents in some awe.]

You really went all out, huh?

[starshower]

Well, I didn't want us to not have enough... Better to have too much than too little, yeah?

[Her hands fold shyly on her lap as he opens the lid.]

That, and... I wanted to make sure everything was perfect.

[flamekthunder]

[His gaze softens a bit as he sits down next to her, shoulder touching hers as he leans in close.]

I think just being with you is perfect enough.

[starshower]

[Mister Smooth Talker over here making her blush.]

Oh, that's—you, too.

[She nudges her shoulder against his and reaches into the basket to start taking out the containers, the bottle of wine coming first.]

I, um... brought my best bottle.

[flamekthunder]

Oh? I think I heard you talk about it before... What was it again?

[He'll help by taking things as she removed them to set them on the blanket.]

[starshower]

It's a red wine. Made from the vineyards on Latrommi.

[She turns the bottle over in her hands before she sets it down.]

It might be a little sweet, or so I've heard. Haven't actually tried it myself yet so I figured why not do it now?

[flamekthunder]

Should be fine. Been a while since I had a wine now that I think about it...

[He looks at it curiously and he'll grab the cups to take them out for her.]

[starshower]

[She takes a corkscrew from the basket and twirls it into the top, giving him an appreciative, bashful smile.]

Really? Even when we were together? I mean... when we were drinking together.

[flamekthunder]

Maybe sometimes... Hasn't it been mostly whiskeys and beers?

[Maybe there was some wine with meals... Maybe... Wait there was the time he made dinner for her so there was that.]

[starshower]

Mostly, yeah.

[She pours some wine into the cup for him, and then for herself, handing him his.]

But I hope you like it. I know sweeter isn't usually up your alley?

[flamekthunder]

As long as it's not made of sugar, I don't mind sweets in general.

[A somewhat amused grin as he takes the cup.]

So I'm sure it'll be fine.

[He'll then hold his cup up towards hers.]

[starshower]

If you say so.

[And she lifts hers to his, though she doesn't quite "clink" them together yet.]

To... our first real date.

[She lets her eyes drop to the cup.]

[flamekthunder]

[He watches her for a moment, noticing her shy looking away.]

To our first real date.

[And he'll just lightly tap her cup with his before taking a sip. It is sweet, but not in an unpleasant way.]

The wine's good.

[starshower]

[The clack of plastic cups doesn't quite have the same ring to it, but it's his words that make her heart warm and fluttery instead. She goes for a sip as well, carefully at first to get a decent but small taste, and she smacks her lips quietly as the sweetness goes down.]

Oh, that is pretty good! They said you can taste the Latrommi sunshine in it, but I don't know about that.

[flamekthunder]

Definitely an exaggeration... But it does have a rich flavor, so I think it's a good choice.

[A light smile at her before he takes another sip while glancing at the basket.]

So what's the rest?

[starshower]

[Nailed the wine in one. There's something pleasing about that, and she has to chew on her lip to stop her smiling from spreading any further as she tops it off with another sip.]

Ah, right.

[She sets the cup down and excitedly starts to rifle through the basket, pulling things out one by one like she's handing him gifts at Winterstide. She worked hard on the food!!]

I brought some fresh fruits and vegetables, these canteens of homemade tomato soup, some breads I made for dipping, and sandwiches. A variety of them, because I wasn't sure what we would both be feeling like on the day of. Oh, and—

[She presses a finger to her lips.]

Some dessert for later.

[flamekthunder]

[He's quickly setting down each item as they come, careful to not knock anything over, but wow she really did make a lot—]

...Starting to think I should have brought a small table...

But now you're making me wonder what's so special about the dessert.

[starshower]

Oh, don't set your expectations too high. It's nothing special...

[Well, it's special because she made it for the occasion, but nothing special in that she's just being humble about it—]

Just another first attempt at something.

[flamekthunder]

Hmmm...

[A low hum as he looks at her, knowing she's being her usual humble self.]

I'm sure it'll be good, whatever it is. But until then... What should I try first?

[Soup? Sandwich?]