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]

[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...]

[flamekthunder]

[There's a slight look of surprise, but...

He hums a little in thought.]

Suppose it's true... People can date before officially committing.

[starshower]

We don't have to do anything like that, you know...

[Her hands curl protectively around her bowl.]

I'm happy with the way things are, if that's what you prefer.

[flamekthunder]

[...What he prefers, huh. He stares at her for a moment before he asks in a steady voice—]

And what would you prefer? Without my opinion.

[starshower]

[A good question...

His voice being so calm and steady doesn't help the nervous fluttering in her stomach. If anything, she's pretty sure that it makes it worse, which is absolutely ridiculous.]

I... think I'd like it if we did...

[flamekthunder]

[A low hum as he leans in closer, his voice lowering.]

Think I'd like that, too.

[And then even quieter against her ear.]

You as my "girlfriend," I mean.

[He says it with a light grin and he doesn't show it, but... Even he feels a strange flutter at that.]

[starshower]

[That sends a shiver through her, up and then back down her spine, and a warmth settles in the pit of her stomach at hearing that, and she distracts herself by taking her spoon between her fingers and giving her soup an idle stir, though she is paying attention to anything but that right now. Especially given how close he is.]

Alright then...

[She lets out a slow, steadying breath and turns her gaze to his through her lashes.]

Guess that's settled. Suppose it has been a while since Winterstide and all.

[flamekthunder]

[There's just a moment before he slowly responds, his voice no longer teasing but a touch more serious instead.]

It's more than that.

[starshower]

[...?

Her eyes widen just a touch in question.]

Hm? What do you mean?

[flamekthunder]

One of the reasons why I hesitated before... Was because I knew that if I were to go into a relationship, it wouldn't be taken lightly. I don't want something superficial or without any meaning—ambiguous.

Of course...I might not have been so clear about that, but you should know that I am committed to this relationship and to you. That was the decision I made when I accepted what was developing between us.

[Not just her feelings, but his own.]

[starshower]

Oh.

[She hadn't expected him to go that deep, so there's just a surprised look in her eyes as she glances back down at her soup, trying to hide the colour creeping back into her cheeks.

She's not quite sure what to say to that. It's not as if she hasn't thought the same, but it's a lot to take in, having someone say these sorts of things to you for the first time. Especially when she's never had that before. Everything else had been so superficial up until she met him, compliments thrown around in an attempt to woo her and not because they actually meant anything.

But this...?

This is real.

And a bit overwhelming.]

I... want you to know that I think so, too. That I feel that way. I know that we're from different worlds and all, but... I want to make it work. However we can.