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]

[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.

[flamekthunder]

[He gives a low hum in agreement, and after bringing the bowl closer to take a taste...]

It's good.

[And he's a little surprised.]

It seems thicker than most I've had before.

[And has a flavor to it he can't quite place...]

[starshower]

[She watches him expectantly, again like she is waiting for him to give his verdict on a gift she's given him. And in a way, she kind of is... This is Tifa Lockhart's version of a gift, which is why she's beaming with pride and affection when he finally does give it. And she'll go in for her first spoonful too.]

Is that a good thing?

[flamekthunder]

[A low hum as he takes the bread to dip into it next, pleased by the combination when he takes the bite.]

Think it gives a better flavor to it. It's also closer to how they made it back in my village.

[starshower]

Oh? How was it different?

[She glances down to the bowl, and then back at him, the gears slowly turning in her head.]

[flamekthunder]

Was thick like this...maybe a little thicker. They also used different herbs, but I can't really remember what they were....

[Not too surprising since he was only a young boy then. But then he remembers.]

Peppers... There was a certain kind of pepper that managed to grow there and they would add some to give the soup some heat to it.

[starshower]

Peppers, huh...?

[She eyes her soup thoughtfully.]

Do you like it a little spicy?

[flamekthunder]

[A low hum in confirmation.]

Suppose I'm more partial to it. Not that this is bad, of course.

[Going to be quick to make that clear!! He likes this just as well!!]

[starshower]

[She giggles at that—she didn't take any offense. She knew what he meant!]

Well, next time, I can try grounding up some peppers into the soup...

[A shy dip of her chin.]

For you.

[flamekthunder]

[He looks at her for a moment before his gaze softens and then turns a little mischievous.]

Just for me?

[starshower]

Yeah? Why not?

[She laughs, hiding behind her soup.]

Wouldn't hurt to give it a try. It might not be exact, but I think I could manage to make something good. You're my...

[She pauses, her face turning a deep crimson, and she mumbles into her bowl.]

Boyfriend, after all...

[flamekthunder]

[She may have mumbled it, but she knows how his hearing is. So there's a slight look of surprise as the word rings through his mind...

He might have thought and recognized it by now, but... Hearing it...

He's going to set the bowl down and lean in a little closer.]

What was that?

[starshower]

[She's not sure if she regrets saying that out loud or not. Should she not have!? It's not like they were giving each other titles or anything, but she just assumed—]

I... was that... is that okay?

[flamekthunder]

[Oh he's not letting her go that easily.]

What was? Not sure I heard you right the first time.

[starshower]

[She's still quiet as she says it, but loud enough that she can hear herself this time.]

Boyfriend...

[And then she hastily adds:]

I don't know—I'm sorry if that makes me presumptuous...!

[flamekthunder]

It's not.

[He just smiles a little more when he sees her trying to retract it.]

Just...wanted to hear you say it again.

[starshower]

[She relaxes a little with a sigh of relief, and with one more slow sip of her soup, she sets the bowl down.]

I'm sorry. I just... I wasn't sure what we were, or if we were giving it any... labels?

[She frowns, her brow furrowing. She doesn’t like that word very much...]