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]

I did think it a little strange... But I never would have guessed back then.

[There's something a little rueful about his expression at that.]

Kind of strange to think about it now...

[starshower]

Strange to think what?

[She nudges his side.]

... That I might've had a small crush on you back then?

[flamekthunder]

A little bit.

[He nudges her right back.]

Not sure what you would have seen in me.

[starshower]

No?

[Her fingers slide between his, tightening their grip, and she mulls it over for a moment, silent, allowing the waves to fill that gap.]

I think I see plenty. Saw, even.

[flamekthunder]

Like what?

[He smiles a little teasingly down at her as he leans in closer.]

What did you already like about me back then?

[starshower]

[Why does he always ask the questions that embarrass her the most!!!]

I don't know.

[It's always hard to put a finger on those types of things. She was simply drawn to him in so many ways that she can't quite explain or put into words, but she'll try anyway...]

Besides the fact that you had a cute dog? [She grins playfully at him before the smile softens.] Think the first thing that caught my attention was that you were always honest, no matter what. It was like... a breath of fresh air. You didn't treat me differently from everyone else...

[flamekthunder]

[Because he finds her cute when she's embarrassed.

But that answer catches him a little by surprise.]

...What do you mean?

[starshower]

[Her smile droops a little.]

Ever since I was a girl, so many of the boys in the village used to try to impress me. They'd tell me how they were going to marry me one day, or that they'd become a man worthy of my attention... and so off to the big city they went to try and become stronger.

[With the exception of Cloud. He was different. Their relationship was different from all the other ones.]

Everyone felt so sorry for me all the time, too. Ever since my mom died, some of the other families in the village coddled me. Told me I was just a silly girl with my delusions—not that they said that, but they sure implied it. They lied to me about some things thinking that I believed them and... worst part is, I didn't even question them.

[A shake of her head. She's getting a little off track.]

Anyway. Even when I went to Midgar, people treated me differently. Especially at the bar. I was just the pretty bartender who got decent tips, and I could always hear guys talking about me.

... I never liked it.

[flamekthunder]

[There's a slight frown that forms at that. Similar prejudices existed in his world like any other, but he had also grown up in am environment where gender had no meaning and he knew countless strong women who were respected like anyone else. He himself doesn't think or approve of such thinking, either.

And especially knowing how strong and hardworking she is, he is quite displeased learning she went through that.]

...You shouldn't have been treated like that.

[starshower]

Yeah, I know.

[She wishes that she could say that it ever stops, but it really doesn't.]

I guess... maybe that's part of why I liked spending time with you so much. It was nice... just being able to be normal, and have a normal friendship with someone who didn't have all the same worries as me, and didn't treat me like I was... I don't know, different?

[Pretty? Though, she doesn't really think of herself that way.]

[flamekthunder]

[Somehow that doesn't really make him feel...good. For him to be one of the few where she can feel normal, not treated differently...]

You won't have to worry about that changing at least.

[starshower]

Mm. I know.

[She gives a small nod, and he'll feel her squeeze his hand in gratitude.]

Everything else just kind of came after, I guess. But that was the first thing I realized.

[flamekthunder]

So nothing about my looks or personality?

[A small tease as he tries to move them away from that point, mostly to lighten things a bit.]

[starshower]

[And she is grateful. Not exactly a happy topic...]

Well, of course those were factors, silly. I think you're quite handsome, and a mystery...

[flamekthunder]

[Yeah okay he can't deny that he's not a bad looking guy.]

Mystery?

[starshower]

When we first met...

[She casts him a teasing grin, a giggle escaping her.]

I couldn't help but wanna get to know you more past the broody, quiet guy with the soft ears.

[flamekthunder]

[A light snort at that.]

Sounds like you just wanted to get into trouble.

[starshower]

I'll have you know I'm really good at staying out of trouble.

[With that, she looks around the beach, noting how far they've gotten from the main part of the festival.]

Speaking of, you're not looking to cause any trouble all the way out here, are you?

[flamekthunder]

[He quietly smiles at that before turning his attention to the beach.]

...Hmm, not much farther I think. Heard there was something out here that I thought you might find fun to do.

[starshower]

Oh, you did?

[Now she's intrigued, and maybe a little bashful that he had been so thoughtful about it because—]

Honestly? I think anything with you would be fun... for the record.

[flamekthunder]

Good to know you're so easy to please.

[Just a small tease. No, he would still put in effort to make sure it's something she likes.]

But...there you can start to see it.

[And sure enough, she'll see something glittering on the sand.]

[starshower]

[She stares up ahead, squinting, before she sees it.]

What is that!?

[He'll feel a small tug on his hand as she pulls him along gently to get a little closer.]

[flamekthunder]

[He holds back the laugh as he follows alongside her.]

Not sure if you heard, but the sea serpents are looking for special shells. I heard this was a good location for it.

[And while there are a few people, it's not really that crowded.]

[starshower]

[Her eyes light up upon seeing some of them jutting out of the sand, and while there are only a couple at their feet, she lifts her dress so that she can kneel down and gently dig it out anyway.]

Shells? No, I haven't heard... but do you know what for?

[flamekthunder]

The serpents seem to like them... But I hear they are also used for jeweleries and accessories.

[He'll bend down to pick up a smaller one that's not too hard to get.]

Thought you could make something out of it.