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

[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?]

[starshower]

Whatever you'd like.

[She gestures to the wide spread of food in front of them, plenty to go around.]

I'd recommend the soup first, though. But the sandwiches are pretty good dipped into it, too.

[flamekthunder]

[Another low thoughtful hum before he reaches for the thermos.]

I'll start with the soup then. You said it was a tomato soup?

[starshower]

Yep.

[Her cheeks are flushed with a more muted excitement as she pours the soup into two bowls she also brought. Tifa Lockhart is nothing if not prepared.]

Went out and got the tomatoes fresh from the market on just yesterday.

[flamekthunder]

That fresh? You didn't have to go out of your way...

[He starts to say, but then he knows she would have even if it wasn't a date and that he would have done the same. So he's smiling all the same.]

[starshower]

Well, except I did.

[And she gives him that knowing look that says you would have done the same, I bet.]

Let me know what you think. Been testing out new recipes and things, and I think this is my best yet.