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]

Should we just... leave it there?

[She looks between the fish and him, her eyes going wide as she sees that tug on his line.]

Wait, already!? I didn't scare off all the other fish with that?

[flamekthunder]

If you can grab it, otherwise not much else we can do it now.

[He says while pulling at the rod...]

Stand back!

[And there won't be much more warning than that before he has fling up the rod. He won't lose it like Tifa, but a fish about the same size as hers is flapping wildly on the hook, and he's quickly grabbing the line to pull the fish in while stepping back..]

[starshower]

Oh my god, you did it!

[Some of the rabbits are now gathered around to watch, their noses and whiskers twitching, several of them standing up on their hind legs, curious about what's going on.]

And you didn't go flinging it into the air like I did.

[flamekthunder]

[He quietly laughs at that as he continues to hold it on the line and turning around so that they're facing her fish still kind of flopping sadly.]

Now that's over, grab yours. We can set them out and catch more if you want.

[starshower]

[This poor fish... She does get up and goes over to grab it, allowing it to flop as she grips it around its tail with both hands, lest it slip out from them.]

These two not enough for dinner?

[flamekthunder]

I think they are, but wasn't sure how much you'd want.

[starshower]

Well. We could always go back out fishing properly later. Maybe on your boat? Catch some bigger fish that'll last us a couple more days.

[A glance at the water.]

But... maybe one or two more from here?

[flamekthunder]

[He nods as he finds a suitable round rock.]

Sure. Let's take care of these first.

[And with a large branch he's already prepared for this, he clubs both fish, knocking them out completely if not already killing them. He then looks at Tifa.]

Think you can get your hook out or need me to?

[starshower]

[She shouldn't feel terrible about watching him smack those fish... She cooks them all the time? Though she can't help but wince anyway as she approaches and kneels beside him.]

I think I can get it. Shouldn't be too hard, right?

[Carefully, she takes the fish from him and tugs on the line just a little.]

Surprised it didn't come out on its own when I yanked it out of the water...

[And she'll start trying to work it out.]

... But my very first real catch. Feels pretty good.

[flamekthunder]

The hook is decided to stick on pretty deep, so it wouldn't be easy to get it loose on their own.

[He's able to get his hook out easy enough, and he'll go ahead and start gutting the fish, careful to do it in a spot where he can clean it off later so it doesn't disturb the rabbits too much.]

But you did real well—besides losing your pole.

[A wry grin at that.]

[starshower]

[A hand falls to her cocked hip.]

I still caught it, that's what matters.

[A tilt of her head at him before she goes back to wiggling the hook out. Damn, he made them pretty good.]

So is that your score? "Real well, but lost the pole?"

[flamekthunder]

Do you want a real score? Letter or number?

[starshower]

Hmm...

[She drops down to the grass beside him and leans closer.]

Number of kisses.

[flamekthunder]

{There's a sharp raise of his brows in surprise before a smirk starts to form.]

Hmm... Well if that's the case...

[He leans in and just kisses her deeply on the lips.]

That's for the catch and not losing the fish.

[And then a kiss on her nose.]

That's for landing it.

[starshower]

[If she were not holding this dang fish right now, she would have thrown her arms around him and dragged him into the flowers, so all she can do is tip her head and accept the kiss, sighing softly into it as she playfully nips at his lip.

And then scrunches her nose when he kisses it.]

... Is that a deduction for making it fly?

[flamekthunder]

Yes.

[A small chuckle.]

So if you want a better score, don't lose the pole next time.

[starshower]

[Even if she already knew the answer, her brows go up and she leans back.]

... I wonder what the grand prize is for a perfect score then, because that was already pretty good.

[flamekthunder]

Hmm... You'll just have to try and find out.

] A wolfish smirk before he suddenly raises the fish in his hand.]

Now, do you want to gut the fish or want me to?

[Yes he broke the mood on purpose—but then again they are holding half dead fish.]

[starshower]

[She never did forget about that dead fish in their hands... but at him bringing their attention back to it, she gives him a sheepish smile and raises her fish in turn.]

Think you might be better at that.

[flamekthunder]

Then think you can find the longest strand of stripped bark I made earlier? Arm's length should be fine.

[He takes her fish as he speaks.]

We'll use it to hang and carry the fish later.

[starshower]

I think I can manage that.

[She leans over to press a kiss to his cheek first before she gets up to sift through the bark, measuring several pieces together before she picks the longest one and brings it back. A few bunnies follow after her.]

How lucky am I to have a boyfriend who knows all this stuff?

[flamekthunder]

[A wry grin as he uses his (cleaned!) knife to slice and gut one fish, only doing the minimum needed before working on the other.]

In a place like this, it should be more common knowledge.

[starshower]

[She kneels down beside him again to watch his hands work.]

You'd think, wouldn't you? I guess I haven't really had the need to learn. Not when there are so many people out there who are better at it than I am. I just cook the fish that everyone catches. Never occurred to me to catch it myself.

[Her smile brightens.]

But it really does make you feel accomplished.

[flamekthunder]

It does.

[A small nod.]

And it's a good thing to do to relax, even if you don't catch anything. Easy to do on the ship, too.

[A pointed look.]

[starshower]

[She narrows her eyes at him, but her smile never fades.]

And what's that look for?