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

[flamekthunder]

No, but that doesn't matter. You shouldn't be working today, either.

[Or at least this hard. There's a not so subtle frown as he looks at her disheveled appearance. It might not be so bad that it couldn't be shown to customers, but it's enough to make him displeased about it.]

You're off the clock.

[starshower]

[One of the crewmates sweeps in to take over at the bar when she motions to them, because with the way Eustace is staring at her, she has a feeling she'd have a hard time arguing her way out of this one. Except that won't stop her...]

But the day's barely started, and I...

[A strand of hair blows in her face, and she sheepishly tucks it behind her ear.]

What time is it?

[Except that the day has long since passed, breakfast and then lunch, and she hasn't even taken a break to fix her hair.]

[flamekthunder]

Tifa. It's already mid-afternoon.

[Just a sharp look.]

When did you... [No.] Have you taken a break?

[Except he already can guess the answer to that.]

[starshower]

Oh, I...

[She knows he knows the answer to that, but she answers anyway, her voice growing quiet with shame.]

... No. Lost track of time again. Things are finally starting to pick up again around here.

[flamekthunder]

You...

[Oh he has a very strong urge to speak his mind, but remembering where they are he just sighs, roughly runs a hand through his hair...]

Change of plans.

[He's just going to suddenly grab Tifa and sling her over his shoulder—]

[starshower]

Huh—?

[But she cries out when he picks her up and lifts her over his shoulder as people turn their heads to watch this unfold.]

Eustace, what are you doing? What plans!?

[flamekthunder]

Kidnapping.

[That's all he says before he just walks on out while calling out to one of the wide eyed staff.]

Someone else take over, she won't be back for a while.

[Those who at least recognize Eustace start to whistle and make suggestive cheers that he pays no mind to.]

[starshower]

This isn't exactly what I had in mind...!

[She gives him a light punch on the shoulder before she drapes herself over, hanging there as she shoots a look at those crewmates, frowning at them while she's carried off.]

And where exactly are you kidnapping me to!?

[flamekthunder]

Hmm... That's for me to know and you to find out.

[A wolfish smirk before there's a burst of magic as he activates his ring and they disappear from the deck and reappear on his boat.]

[starshower]

[That... sure is the teleportation magic, and she closes her eyes when she feels that pull, and then that push has her opening her eyes just in time to see... the floor of a boat?

She peers up in surprise, a little winded.]

... Your boat? Why?

[flamekthunder]

[It's only then that he sets her back on the ground.]

Didn't you hear me? I'm kidnapping you.

[With a light smirk he walks over to where the ropes tied the boat to the dock and starts to remove them.]

[starshower]

[She's a little disoriented, and does a spin on the spot before her eyes follow him across the deck. As she does, she runs a hand over her hair to smooth it out... before she gives up and pulls it right out of the ponytail she's had it in, letting it fall loose over her shoulders and back.]

You could've gone about it differently, you know. Saved me some of the embarrassment of having some of my crew watch me get carried off?

[Though she doesn't seem all that annoyed about it at all, and she's stifling a grin.]

[flamekthunder]

I'm pretty sure you told me to just take you one time.

[Did she? Maybe, maybe not—

The sound of the ropes hitting the deck is a loud thud before he raises the sail.]

And it's a good reminder to them that I'm a Corsair.

[As if on cue, there's a flap of the sheet as the wind catches and he moves to raise the anchor.]

[starshower]

Ah, right. The big bad wolf Corsair who's come to steal the bartender. Pretty sure I read a book about that once.

[She watches as that sail unfurls and catches the wind, and honestly, that breeze is refreshing and cool on her skin that she closes her eyes against it, sighing in relief as it hits her warm, flushed cheeks.]

You seem to have somewhere in mind.

[flamekthunder]

Given the kinds of books in that store we went to, I don't doubt it.

[Another light tease as the boat begins to move with the wind and the current away from the dock.]

And I do. Do you even know what today is?

[starshower]

[She'd have been a little more distracted by the sudden rush of heat in her face if he didn't bring up the day.]

Today? Is...?

[Clearly, she's lost track and has no idea, and is digging in her apron for her shellphone.]

[flamekthunder]

[Should he tell her.... He'll wait to see if she can figure it out and leans over the wheel as he watches her.]

Honestly not sure if I should be surprised or not that you didn't notice.

[starshower]

I feel like I'm missing something here and you're just being coy about it...

[She narrows her eyes at him before she finally manages to find her phone, and when she turns it on to check the date...

...

....

May third.]

It's...? Eustace, it's my birthday?

[Except she looks more upset about it than anything because—]

I can't believe I forgot...

[flamekthunder]

[He's actually a little surprised to see her looking upset and he steps away from where he is to walk up to her.]

You did look busy.

[starshower]

I... don't know... Was I?

[She reaches out for his hand as he wanders over to her, and she takes them both in hers.]

I guess I was. I've been trying to make things seem so much more normal that I maybe I buried myself in work again...

[flamekthunder]

...Seems to be a bad habit of yours.

[A light poke to the head.]

But I can be the same, so I understand. I never remember own birthday, but that's more that I don't really care as much about it.

[starshower]

I'm... sorry.

[Her expression droops, but there is a little tick up at the corners of her lips, a subtle smile forming.]

Is that why you came by the ship?

[flamekthunder]

Don't be.

[Another little poke.]

But it is. I was going to go about this differently, but... Didn't expect to see you overworking yourself.

[starshower]

[She scrunches her face at that poke.]

Wait...

[Oh, now she feels even worse about this...!]

Did you have plans? I didn't ruin them, did I?

[flamekthunder]

Not really. I just would have properly invited you out instead of just taking you.

But maybe you prefer it this way?