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]

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?

[flamekthunder]

That you should consider fishing as a way to take a break every once in a while.

[And now her fish is gutted and he motions for her to bring the strips she chosen over closer so he can show her how to tie the fish onto it.]

[starshower]

[She'll hold them out to him, never once taking her eyes away.]

Maybe you should consider coming by more often to take me fishing. This was a lot of fun... Bet it'd be even more fun out on the open water.

[flamekthunder]

You'd be willing to take a long enough break?

[Now he's teasing her as he starts stringing one fish. It's not really too hard, so if she wanted to try she could.]

[starshower]

If it was with you, then I might consider a longer break, yeah.

[Of course she would... if he came to visit, or stole her away onto his boat again like he did today.]

Couple days, even.

[flamekthunder]

[A low hum.]

Think I could work something then.

[And it's no time at all before the fish are strung up and he stands.]

For now, let's hang these and we can try to catch a few more before we need to hang back.

[starshower]

[Brushing herself off, she stands with him.]

A few more, huh? Best two out of three?