tabularasa_rp | [open] a day in the life of a ghost

For the paint.

[Is that enough explanation? Clearly not, but Cole seems to think otherwise. He also doesn't seem to be getting the message that he's in trouble, though he does get the sense that she's displeased. He glances back at the cabinet at her motioning, but he doesn't quite grasp what she wants him to do, so he just keeps holding onto them.]

[Ren's comment helps it at least sink in that, oh, they're displeased because he's taking the glasses. But-]

It's only a few of them. I didn't think anyone would miss them.

[People aren't usually attached to what they're drinking out of in taverns, at least. Not that he can sense things like that right now.]

[Tifa inhales sharp at that.

Usually, she wouldn't miss them. She might have noticed they were gone but chalked it up to someone being too drunk to realize that they're carrying her property out of the bar after a long night of drinking. They're easily replaceable and not expensive, but...

Not here. Not after what happened to the ones she had before...

The breath she had been holding is exhaled in a sigh, almost defeated in some ways.]

How about you put them back and you can explain once you sit down.

[Then, she looks to Ren.]

You too.

(That's besides the point, Cole.

It affects Tifa and he definitely doesn't like it. Even with the long time they have spent together, he had yet to see her remotely like this.

Easy to say, he isn't fond of things or behaviours that affect his friends. Ren complies easily to the request, after all, it involved both of them.

His gaze, serious and mildly irritated, doesn't leave the cups in Cole's hands, though.)

Edited 2020-08-20 20:31 (UTC)

[...Was he wrong? It's hard to tell. She doesn't seem obviously angry or upset, but she doesn't seem happy, either. Ren isn't very obvious about how he feels either, but that's just how he is, which just adds to the general difficulty of getting a read on him.]

[But with those clear instructions, he only hesitates a moment before setting the glasses back in the cupboard (he leaves the eggs too), and... sit down, she said.]

[He pushes himself up to sit on the nearest empty space on the bar counter. At least he's not putting his feet on it?]

Paint is hard to carry, so I needed something to carry it in. But separate, so the paint stays the right colors.

[Tifa remains standing, arms folded, and shoulders squared high, while she watches the two boys take their seats. She has no idea where she's going with this, but she's had just about enough of things not going right in her bar. Pidgeys making nests on her roof and attacking people who try to enter, random eggs in all sorts of places, chickens with hands for feet hiding in the attic and causing a ruckus... Not to mention the state of the real bar in the slums...

Her emotions are running high, and her patience is thin, and she feels a little bad for snapping at Cole, but someone's gotta do it.]

I get that there's no such thing as money or property here, but... that's still stealing. Whether it's from my bar or Ren's café, it's still... a piece of our home.

[She looks to Ren for help, for at least some acknowledgement or agreement that she's on the right track.]

(Although the idea of actually owning something is very strange due to the whole situation, Ren would have to agree. He can't imagine Sojiro being anything but furious with the cafe being stolen from, it means too much to him and in turn, too much to Ren not to protect the piece of Leblanc that made it through.

While Tifa is visibly annoyed, Ren is his quiet, calm and collected self - just a hint of his true level of concern showing through his expressions and only when he glances towards Tifa to witness her annoyance.)

On top of that, we also put a lot of effort here.

(After all, it's just him and Tifa, working long hours if they can even be called that, waiting in the dark in mental exhaustion that quickly is turned into a smile to whoever comes through that door. The void is harsh enough to not provide a welcoming space...)

It's only fair to be talked to.

[It's not the first time he's been frowned upon for stealing, though it's uncommon since most of the time no one can remember he's the one who did it in the first place. Sometimes it annoys or makes a little more work for people, but he only takes what he needs, to help.]

[This is different than that. They're trying to explain the significance to him, not just demand he stop or chase him away. Like he's a person.]

[A piece of their home... he fidgets with his hands in his lap.]

I didn't think about it that way. This is the only part of your home that's here with you. That makes it more important.

[Even the glasses are a "piece" of that, maybe. In a distant way he can understand that. Having less makes what you do have mean more. Maybe he shouldn't have tried to take the glasses. He still needs to find something he can use, though.]

I won't take anything if it's that important to you. Maybe I can find something in the mountains.

[It's not exactly an apology, but he's already thinking about where to look next. That cave market is dark, but it has a lot of odds and ends. Or maybe Hammerlocke, or the trash around the beach...]

[Tifa tries to hold herself together, hands balling into shaking fists on the table. This is all she has left. Her home, all of it, is gone. No more Sector Seven, no more Seventh Heaven, or even AVALANCHE. Just this dumb bar in this dumb world, and she doesn't know why she's getting so worked up about it, but that's the most infuriating part. It's not even that Cole is rummaging through "her things", but there is always a straw that will eventually break the camel's back.

She laid no claim to this building, but it's still dear to her. So much that it gets more difficult to stand in it with each passing moment.

Tifa exhales, and then slumps into the seat next to Cole, exhaustion coming through her sharpened features.]

This is all I've got, [she admits.] The real bar is gone. [She glances to Ren and Cole, apologetic.] Sorry. I don't know why I got so upset.

[...]

What's the paint even for?

(It's breaking Ren's heart, to say the least, to see Tifa this emotional and upset. He perceives her with such strength and he barely knows half her story, and even when she's talking about what she went through at home, she doesn't show so much emotion as she is now.

He is quick to remove his jacket to put on top of her shoulders, attempting his very best to be comforting through his concern and wrapping an arm around his friend.

Words are not going to fix the situation, not when it's bubbled to the surface and it seems like Tifa needs supporting out of him. Instead of saying anything, he just gives her a look that means to say "it's ok".)

[He watches both of them in a way he doesn't normally, not averting or lowering his gaze at all. She's hurting, maybe more than he was able to tell with his now limited senses. But Ren is helping her. He knows how to help people, as another person.]

[That's good. He wishes he could do more to help, but it's better that they don't need his help.]

You have the bar, but you have your friends, too.

[With that little unintentionally cliche comment, he moves on to her question.]

For Osomatsu. He and his brothers all wear hoodies, in different colors. He misses them, so I want to bring him their colors.

[Tifa doesn't tense up or relax when she feels Ren's coat drape over her, but she does look up at Cole to catch him watching them. A sniffle escapes her, but that's all that does. She has her friends here, it's true, but a lot of them were lost with the bar as well... except she shouldn't be taking it out on anyone, least of all Cole.

Which is why she's willing to hear him out, and she's glad that she is.

With a look over to Ren in silent thanks, Tifa tilts her head.]

Are you going to paint something for him?

(His hold on Tifa doesn't waver, he can stay like this as much as she'd like, a hand on her back when he hears the sniffling... Tifa lost so much and from what he can see, they're all open wounds, maybe too recent to have the time to process and scar. All he can do is support her through it and that's exactly what he plans to do, so when he receives the glance, he only nods at her before moving his sights to Cole.

He can't fault him, not when he thinks it's never of ill will that Cole acts and there's the confirmation of his own thought process coming out of Cole himself. Of course the stealing had kindness underneath it...)

He does miss them terribly... What are the plans for the paint?

[He watches Tifa a moment longer before he tilts his head down, his hat once again concealing his face.]

I hurt you. I didn't know. I'm sorry.

[It's not a direct apology for stealing, but he is sorry for hurting her. The last thing he wants is for his efforts to ease someone's pain to cause someone else to hurt instead.]

I wouldn't know what to paint. I only know what he told me... I don't know what shapes would help. Only colors.

[And he's not exactly a stellar artist, so maybe that's for the best.]

But he knows. He can shape the colors in the way that makes him happiest.

[So, in short, he's just planning to take him the paint and call it a job well done.]

[It's a noble reason. Tifa can't fault him for wanting to help a friend. Heck, she would do just about anything for hers, too. For all of the people here, to make sure that they're all comfortable, and have a tiny piece of home with them.

She smiles at Cole, this one brighter and more genuine.]

You just wanna help your friend, I get it. She really, really does. I think it's a great idea, and I know he'd appreciate it. We all miss the people from home who aren't here.

[Her hand comes to rest on Cole's shoulder for a moment, and she gives it a squeeze.]

As long as it's okay with Ren too, you can take the glasses. [However, there's one stipulation, and she goes full Strict Mom mode again.] But next time, you have to ask first. And make sure to return them when you're done.

(His own thoughts are not too different from Tifa's. It doesn't feel like she needs comforting for the time being, so while the blazer remains on her shoulders, Ren releases her from the embrace now that she feels better.

Now it's his turn to comfort Cole, satisfied with the resolve and the decided smile on his lips confirm it.)

I'm fine with it too.

[open] a day in the life of a ghost

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