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

[She answered as expected, and he just smiles as he nudges her a little in return without moving.

But... ...Hm?]

Why was that?

Oh.

[She's a little surprised by his question, and she has to pause to think of how to answer.]

The reactors would've made the place pretty hard to live in for anything normal. Plus, I wouldn't wanna eat fish that'd been swimming around in those waters anyway. Never know what was in them.

Never mind that the river was pretty dangerous. I used to train there, but the current was strong enough to carry someone away if they fell in and weren't careful.

[He frowns at that.]

So you lost your natural resources...? Did you have to buy from outside then?

We didn't really lose them... There were still some things outside the village, but they'd have to travel pretty far to get it.

[Hence why she loves taking advantage of so much of the resources here.]

My dad used to go out hunting with a bunch of the other men from the village, and he'd be gone for most of the day sometimes.

And all because of this Mako... I assume your village didn't have much of a choice when they made the reactor there.

Not really. Everyone was excited at the time, though. They said it would bring revenue into town, but in the end...?

[She stops herself and shakes her head.]

Sorry, not exactly the best birthday lunch conversation, is it?

[—Ah. Shit.

Eustace is also realizing how the topic has changed and gives her a troubled, apologetic look.]

No, I was also asking questions... Sorry.

[She reaches out for his hand and takes it.]

No, it's fine! You didn't know, and... it's fair to ask questions. I mean, why would a place lose a lot of its resources? It's just that everything that came after was... you know...

[He'll gently squeeze her hand and nod in understanding.]

Yeah... Still, this is meant to be a day celebrating you. I just want you to have good memories, not think about it...

[Less good ones.]

This is a good memory, right here!

[And she will also lean in to press a kiss to his cheek.]

No one's ever dragged me away from work to take me to some deserted island with bunnies for a picnic before.

[He still feels a little bad...but a small smile does form at that kiss.]

I'd hope not...and no one else will be able to, either.

And why's that? Are you going to be keeping me here where no one can find me?

Tempting.

[A wolfish grin.]

But I meant more...that no one should be allowed to.

[He then leans in a little closer.]

Boyfriend privilege only.

Ahh.

[She leans in, meeting him a little closer in turn, and she meets his gaze, holds it despite the very strong urge to fold under that rapture.]

You're right. Anyone else would've had their ass kicked.

[How much longer can she hold it when continues to move until there's only a small gap of sunlight between them?]

Good. Though maybe even that is too generous...

[Not much longer, because now she is tempted to stare down at his lips until they are too close to one another, and she raises her brows at him instead, a small huff of air escaping and leaving her a touch breathless.]

Well, I can only do so much. Up to you to protect your bounty.

Bounty?

[A light smirk.]

Seems a bit too crass... Prefer to think of you as my "treasure" instead.

[That answer takes her by surprise, and for a moment, all Tifa can do is stare at him, her eyes holding his, her cheeks flushing ever so slightly...

Before she throws her arm around his shoulder and kisses him fully on the lips. Pieces of her sandwich fall out from between the bread slices and onto the blanket, but she doesn't mind so much as she leans into him, her weight pressing close, a smile on her own lips as she seeks out his.

And only when she parts with a shy laugh does she whisper.]

Sorry. That might be one of the sweetest things anyone's said to me.

[He had a feeling she would like what he said, but he did not expect that she would fling herself towards him to kiss him like that. His arm rises in surprise to catch her, and it takes him a moment before he properly receives and returns that kiss.

It does feel...a little embarrassing to admit, but it's true, isn't it? She's become something he cares for a lot, something precious. Not really someone he "hunted" for but someone he found and discovered to be more valuable than could ever be measured. Someone he would never want to lose...

Well. There's only one word for that, isn't there? A word that's likely existed from the start but difficult to really admit or accept... But a word that had to exist for him to get this far.

A word that almost escapes him as he looks at her but manages to keep it in for now.]

Then you've been around stupid people. But works in my favor, I guess.

[His lips brush against hers as he speaks in a low voice.]

You can't let anyone else say it, either.

[She presses closer when he accepts that kiss, her arm reaching back so that she can set her sandwich safely down on her plate beside her before it gets ruined any further, and so that she can properly wrap her arms around him. Maybe it's silly to get a little emotional over something like that, but how often can she say that anyone has done something like this for her, or said something like that to her? And more than that, the thought of anyone else saying so but him...? It only makes her want to hear him say it more.]

Don't worry. I won't.

[It's murmured softly against his lips, her heart beating so quickly that she needs to pause for a breath.]

I treasure you too, you know...

[She doesn't get the chance to say it much, and she thinks that she should.]

[There's a low hum, a light smile, and rather than words he answers with another kiss. This time, however, his hand will be cupping her cheek, pulling her in closer for a deeper kiss than before. It seems each time he feels he could just keep going on, a different kind of hunger and thirst for her taste always growing each time.

But in an act of self restraint, he won't push it much more than, only parting when they need to breathe as his eyes continue to stare down at her with that heavier, darker look that could only mean so many things.]

...Getting a little carried away too early.

[A small, light grin, hinting at their distraction from the lunch.]

If we're not careful the rabbits might steal the food.

[The sound she makes is a pleased little thing, a hum of her approval as he takes the kiss deeper, drawing her in closer. It feels nice to be able to do this again without having to worry too much about the insignias that still brand them, the burn being far less bothersome than it had been the last times they were together. She feels lighter and freer, and maybe it's also the way the air smells so much clearer out here, with the flowers and the ocean, as well as the food beside them...

Ah, right, speaking of the food...

She pulls back from him with a sheepish, apologetic smile.]

Right, sorry. Sometimes I can't help myself...

[Her gaze rests on his lips again for a moment before she's sitting back a little further, but still close enough that they're touching, and she sees a bit of movement in the corner of her eyes, and lowers her voice to a whisper when there's a rabbit right next to her, its nose twitching as it sniffs at the food.]

I think you were onto something...

[There's just an amused grin at that before he glances over to the rabbit.]

I heard them rustling.

[He then glances at her.]

If you want to leave them something you can... Just be prepared for the consequences.

It's just one...

[Tifa leans over and grabs a carrot from the container of vegetables that he prepared but doesn't hand it to the rabbit just yet. It does, however, hop slowly onto the blanket, staring up at her, curious.]

And I don't think I've got much of a choice now?

For now.

[Said in an ominous voice. But he still smiles anyway, amused.]

And no, you don't.

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