closed 🌠⚡ it's far too easy to miss the beauty in the simple things

[starshower]

Who: Eustace & Tifa Lockhart.
Status: Closed.
Where: Around.
What: It's Tifa's birthday, and she's overworking again, so Eustace takes her away. Event stuff tba.
Warnings: Fluff.

Comments

[starshower]

[That earns a surprised noise out of her, but she falls with him into the flowers anyway, petals flying up as they land in the grass and her head on his chest. A few get caught in their hair, and when she looks at him, she brings a hand up to pluck it away from his ear.

And without ever taking her eyes off him...]

Yeah, much better from here.

[There is a beat that passes, or several if she is judging by her own heart, before she glances up at the sky, no longer able to hold his gaze when she feels her cheeks growing warm.]

You know any of the constellations?

[flamekthunder]

[His own eyes meet hers, and he'll maintain the gaze for long as she is able and his eyes will continue to follow her even when she looks away before they drift upward.]

A few. Had to learn them if I wanted to sail through this world's waters.

...Was a little disconcerting to not find any of the ones I knew from my world.

[starshower]

Yeah. Makes sense. I only know a few.

[Is she trying to distract herself from this weird, nervous feeling in her belly? Maybe... Especially when she can feel his eyes still on her. She does wonder if he can hear the race of her heartbeat, or the catch of her breath.]

There's the horse one... [She searches the sky for it and then points it out to him.] And then the crab.

[flamekthunder]

[He can...but he won't say anything. He thought he would also feel some kind of nervous anticipation, but he feels...strangely calm? It's not that he doesn't feel anything... No, it's the opposite. It's because he feels so happy and at peace with her here that he's able to stay as calm as he is. Excited in a different way.]

Mm...

[A low hum as he confirms them.]

There's one that they call the sea serpent, and another that's a turtle. And the brightest star is the one that leads north.

[starshower]

[She's relieved that he goes along with it, but how long before she can't take it anymore? The urge to look at him is tempting, and she does chance a glance at him through the corner of her eyes, noting how he looks under the white light of the moon...

She swallows and points at the star.]

That one, right? Feel like that's one that exists in all worlds.

[flamekthunder]

There's probably some version of one in every world.

{He turns his head slightly to look at her.]

What kind of constellations did you have in your world?

[flamekthunder]

[He just stares evenly at the guard before holding up the shell with Tifa poking out for a moment.]

We're here to help with the whale situation... However, not long after taking the potion my girlfriend turned into this instead. We were hoping there was someone here who could help change her back.

[starshower]

All kinds, I think... Though, I never really had much of a need to learn them before. Not like here, and even then, I don't really know much about them at all.

[She pauses, pondering a bit, as she stares up at the stars, but every last bit of her focus is turned to him—how he moves, how he breathes, how she can feel him looking at her again.]

There was one that looked like... a bear. A fish. A lion... Sort of like the constellations here. Though... not quite the same.

[starshower]

[The whale looks down at her, and Tifa feels herself shiver under his scrutinizing gaze...

...

And for a moment, she thinks that he is about to deny them, so she quickly speaks up.]

Think there might have been something wrong with the potion, so we just need a healer or a potion-maker's help... if you know where we could find one.

[The whale narrows his eyes, then looks at Eustace. "Not often we hear about that happening around here..." Another suspicious look between them. "But there is a potion shop down the way, turn left at the fork by those blue corals over there and you'll find them."]

[flamekthunder]

[A low hum of understanding at that.]

Want to make your own?

[flamekthunder]

[He can sense the guard's suspicion but remains steadfast.]

Understood, thank you.

[He will also not wait and just swim right past, surprising the guard as it shouts for them to wait, but Eustace just keeps going. They're not being chased, so they must have passed somewhat.]

It's going to be like this everywhere...

[starshower]

My own?

[Her arm slides further around him, holding herself closer, and she finally shifts her gaze to him.]

What do you mean...? Like, draw one out in the stars?

[starshower]

Even in the shop, you think?

[Of course it will be. She'd be a fool to think that it wouldn't, and her little squeak at least says that much.]

... They have every reason to be upset, though.

[flamekthunder]

[Another low hum as he smiles softly at her.]

Constellations are made with stars that remain consistent, but you can make out any shape from any of them.

[starshower]

Then...

[Her gaze lingers before she looks up again.]

Help me find a wolf and a rabbit.

[flamekthunder]

[A quiet laugh at that.]

I thought you would ask for that.

[He glances at her and then looks back up.]

Should it be their faces? Or running or standing...

[flamekthunder]

They do.

[There's a heaviness in his voice at that and he sighs.]

You've probably heard from Cloud all the things we've seen...

[starshower]

Hmm. Let's go with... running together, if we can find them.

[She smiles, burying her face into his shoulder for a moment for a giggle.]

They're quick, so they might be elusive.

[starshower]

Only a little...

[She didn't really ask, but she didn't need to.]

The stories spread pretty quickly too, though.

[flamekthunder]

[There's his own huff of laughter to match hers as he scans the skies.]

Hm... What about over there? Looks like that cluster could form the ears.

[starshower]

Hmm?

[She leans in closer to follow his gaze, her cheek nearly pressed to his now.]

Ah, I think I see it.

[Her voice grows quieter. Softer.]

And if you look carefully, just above it, it looks like there could be four legs, if you connect the stars... [She gestures with her finger pointing up to the sky.] Like that.

[flamekthunder]

[A small nod.]

So you're right, can't really blame them for how they are after everything. Not sure how we can prove on their side, though.

[flamekthunder]

[With her cheek pressed against his, his attention shifts from the stars to her, and he doesn't even look at the stars she's pointing at. Instead his gaze has shifted to her, and he answers in a quiet voice.]

...What do you think the wolf will do once he catches the rabbit?

[starshower]

[How much longer can she distract herself with the stars when her breath flutters the way that it does as his breath tickles her cheek? She stares up at them for a moment more, pretending like she's drawing out the lines herself, but slowly, she lets her gaze drift away and fall back to him, her hand dropping to his chest.]

I don't know a lot about wolves... but I can make a few guesses.

[Her eyes flick to his lips and then back up to meet his gaze, curiosity gleaming in them, her lashes fluttering slightly before they widen almost expectantly.]

[starshower]

Just gotta show them how cute and pitiful I am like this... Maybe they'll feel sorry enough that they'll come around.

[And as they come up to the blue corals, Tifa sticks her head out.]

Think he said this was the way, yeah?