open ✨ life can be harsh, it can be bitter.

[starshower]

Who: Tifa Lockhart feat. Cloud Strife & YOU
What: September catch-all. Tifa tries to find something else she enjoys outside of Heavenly Blanc, and drags Cloud along for the ride.
Where: Where the threads happen
When: When the threads happen
Content Warnings: N/A

𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦. 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘧𝘧, 𝘭𝘦𝘵 '𝘦𝘮 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘦. 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚍 & 𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚊 ★ 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚌𝚘𝚘𝚙 ★ 𝚋𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎 ★ 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚍 ★ ♫

Comments

[activatingcombatmode]

[Now that safe little smile is making him grin stupidly. Just a second ago they were talking about something so serious. Now the topic of Aerith just lightens the mood right up.]

Yeah, we do go way back. I met her back when we were younger.

[She was about sixteen and Zack was just a few years older. But the memory of all that and the lost time in between makes Zack's grin falter just a bit.]

I guess you could say we were ... dating at the time.

[But why does Zack look so unsure about that now??]

She wanted to make some cash so I told her the best way to do that would be with her flowers. Not a lot of people see flowers all that often in the slums and what not. So we made her a few carts to try out... She was so fussy about it all the time.

[forwearemany]

Sushi is common throughout intragalactic space, though the fish species used are often different.

(Alien. People eat alien fish in the Mass Effect galaxy.)

[forethinking]

(His mouth opens to tell her but she was quicker and instead of an answer, she gets a low chuckle. There may be and hopefully, she will never get the full picture. There's too much at stake and not only for him.)

Cloud-san gave you a flower. (And unfortunately for Tifa, he remembers exactly what she felt. Sorry, time to awaken to your true self, Tifa.)

You like him.

[memorate]

[ So he's an expert at cooking... camp cooking, to be precise. It quickly dawns on Cloud that he's the one out of his depth here, and he's suddenly more anxious about Blue critiquing his meat skewer. He seems to be enjoying it so far, at least... ]

If you're as good as you say you are, then how 'bout you make some of these mushrooms for us next time? We can consider it a fair payment.

[ Wasn't the skewer on the house?? ]

[memorate]

[ Between the two of them, Tifa probably works out with more traditional equipment, but he'll let the lady speak for herself. As for him, he used to train the same way everyone else did in Shinra... ]

Virtual Reality. Doubt you'll come across anything like that, but simulated combat was the most effective way to learn for a SOLDIER.

[memorate]

Chicken coop? That might work...

[ Cloud is no builder by any means, so it doesn't occur to him to take the reigns for such an idea, but he can certainly get behind it. He never wants to deal with these creepy egg-blasters ever again, and it sounds like everyone else is just about sick of them, too.

But before he can think about the idea any further, Parsee reminds him that he still has an order to complete. ]

--o-oh, right. No, you sit down and wait for your food. I don't wanna hear another word about pebble eating.

[memorate]

[ Cloud remembers a time they both promised him a date, but perhaps it's for the best he's out of the equation here. If he's feeling the pressure just from making sushi, he's not sure he'd be able to handle trying to keep things entertaining. ]

Not hard at all. Just gotta know what you're doing.

[ He doesn't know what he's doing.

But sure enough, after two attempts and quiet concentration from Cloud, he delivers Tifa a half-decently rolled up sushi. For something that has the same name as what Aerith is having, it sure looks a little bit different in presentation...! ]

[starshower]

[That warms Tifa's heart, washing away the ache and anger that she feels anytime she thinks about home. It's something light, happy, linked to home and even if it isn't her memory, she feels connected to it now somehow, thanks to this new link between her and Zack.

She had gathered as much about what the two of them meant to each other, but having that confirmation seals the deal.]

Of course she was. Gotta make sure they're just right if you wanna make the business work.

[Is Tifa giving him lessons now? Perhaps.]

Did you guys manage to sell any? I would've bought a ton if I'd been working at Seventh Heaven then.

[starshower]

[Tifa's eyes widen at the same time her face grows hot and red. Of all of the memories for him to see, it had to be that one. It could have been any other, but it was that. The flower had meant more to her than even perhaps he could see, or anyone. She had put it into a glass with some water, wanting to keep it alive for as long as she could, and that same night, looked up its meaning.

But that doesn't mean—]

W-We're... Cloud and I are... just friends.

[Here she goes again with that, but that's all they are. Their relationship stretches no further than long-time friends, but that doesn't address how she feels about it.]

I... That flower symbolizes reunion. I thought it was a sweet gesture, that's all.

[forethinking]

Two things can be right.

(A simple statement. Ren lets her take her time to digest the fact that he knows and while crystal clear for all who sees them together, Ren shouldn't be aware of it the way he is. He has a receipt!

Tapping his nails on the nearest surface, he allows his eyes to analyze her expression for a moment. Is she in denial or unaware?

Regardless,)

I remember what you felt. (He reminds her.) That isn't it.

[starshower]

That's a great idea, Cloud! But... how about we take that up the mountain to a fire?

[The skewer was on the house, but Tifa likes Cloud's idea, except with a fun twist to it.]

Instead of staying cooped up down here, I think it'd be way more fun if we got him to cook us some of these mushrooms over a fire on top of Mount Silver. Might as well do something with them before they grow out of control, right? Maybe we could invite everyone else, too.

[She claps her hands.]

It'd be fun!

[starshower]

[While Virtual Reality is great and all, Tifa is a little different... and has some doubts about something so advanced showing up in a place like this, let alone working.]

I'm a little more old-fashioned. The usual exercise equipment, though if we can get some virtual reality going, that'd be a pretty neat way to train... we did some of that at Shinra's headquarters.

[She remembers it being pretty effective in a number of ways!]

If people wanted to try getting into it, that'd be a good first step.

gonna start pushing this to a wrap!

[starshower]

[Meanwhile, Tifa's turning up the grill as she gets lost in her own ideas of what the chicken coop might look like. Maybe it'll be a big one with different levels for them to perch on, with soft little cushioned beds. Maybe some lights, if she can fit them...

Her fingers turn the knob on the grill just a little too much, and it ignites a flame that shoots up and engulfs the meat skewer, charring and cooking it in an instant before it immediately dies down again.]

Well. That'll have to do, I guess... [Oops. At least it'll still be tasty!] Cloud, if you'd like to do the honours...!

[And while he does that...]

If I can figure out a way to build one, I could use all the hands I can get...

[starshower]

[Don't worry, Tifa hasn't forgotten and is still going to hold him to that date. Too bad there's no way for them to have matching outfits here. For now, this will have to do.

She accepts the sushi happily, genuinely elated to try something he made all on his own, without any help from her. So happy that she wiggles on her stool before she pats the one next to her, motioning for him to finally join the girls on the other side of the counter for that well-deserved break.

Then, she takes her first bite of a roll, eating half of it in a single go. She's silent while she chews, a smile trying to pull its way onto her lips, and it's not until she swallows that she gives her verdict.]

Delicious! Compliments to the chef!

[Tifa means it, and takes another large bite. She's so proud of you, Cloud. :')]

You should give it a try sometime, Aerith! It's really not that bad once you get the hang of it.

[abeautifulgame]

[he frowns a little, squinting into some middle distance]

There were two men in a helicopter -- a redhead and a bald man. [a beat] That boy I've seen wandering around, here, with the spiky hair and ... [how the hell do you describe Barret, without immediately jumping on the fact that he has a gun for a hand? he supposes it helps that he just knows their names, now] Cloud and Barret.

[something like fear touches Damien's face, then, his stomach bottoming out visible on his face as his eyes flick back to Tifa] The redhead -- Reno -- he started the plate separation sequence.

I'm good handwaving anywhere. It's been a fun thread!

[bridge_princess]

I've got two hands and if you give me a decent hammer I can handle helping out. Just come find me. In the meantime, time to eat!

[She grinned over at the two of them a little impishly, ready to toss a lightly acrid complement their way. Food was food, either way.]

[starshower]

[This is neither denial nor unawareness, but... fear.

Ren has caught her red-handed, and while she's not willing to admit to it fully out loud, she isn't going to refute it either. She thinks it would be better explained from her point of view, rather than from only what Ren saw.]

Cloud and I weren't close as kids... we knew each other and were friends, but I was just the girl who lived next door. The one who wanted to be friends with him, but he'd always turn away. I think it was because I was always surrounded by other boys. Wasn't until we grew up a little that we became closer.

[Tifa's voice and expression exudes warmth. Fondness. Nostalgia for when things weren't so bad.]

He left to join SOLDIER a long time ago. I haven't seen him in... seven years? When he came back to Midgar, that was the first time I'd seen him. Just before the bombing mission. Cloud's...

[Cloud is everything to her. The only thing she has left of home. Of Nibelheim. Of her past and who she used to be. She doesn't want to ruin that. She's afraid of ruining that.]

Cloud's important to me.

[starshower]

The Turks... [she responds, almost immediately after he's finished explaining.] More of Shinra's goons.

[They don't even deserve an explanation at this point, because that's all they are. Doesn't matter that they're the "investigative bureau" or whatever other names they want to call themselves. As far as Tifa's concerned, they're the ones who are paid good money to do their dirty work, and that's all the Turks represent.]

Everything I told you about Shinra and AVALANCHE... It all led up to that. Their plan was to drop the plate on top of the sector seven slums, and blame it on us.

[halloflamer]

[That's right Cloud, respect your senpai, here! Blue chuckles easily, tearing another piece off his skewer and chewing thoughtfully.]

Oh?? Sure thing! Ahaha, but don't go roping me into a whole dinner party, [Blue laughs, holding his hands up to ease Tifa back a little.] 'course, I can always show you guys the ropes, and everyone can roast their own, self-serve style. How about it? A whole roasting party! Would sure be nice if we had sweet potatoes here....

Ah! Actually--

[Blue reaches into his backpack, fiddling around; Eevee perks up at the smell of what Blue tugs out, like a dog who knows the sound of his treat bag. Blue unfolds a cloth package of jerky strips made from the local mushrooms, and holds a couple pieces out to them. Some of them had a glaze; others were covered with sesame seeds.]

Here, give these a try! Might not be roasting, but one free sample deserves another, right?

[activatingcombatmode]

[Zack's shoulders seem to go up like he's about to stand at attention. Not only did Aerith give him a fussy time the entire time but now he's getting it from Tifa too? Ladies, please!]

Tried my best, that's why I made a bunch of them! [He rubs his hair.] We managed to sell a few of them but the business was a little slow...

[Maybe because Zack is a shitty salesperson. Yep. Just leave it to Aerith, next time...]

[pinwheels]

Mm, I was!

[ Rinoa sits down on the sofa next to Tifa, and even though the other seemed okay from when she entered the room in the first place, hearing the confirmation from her lips that everything is fine helps to put the younger woman at ease. If the other does have one of her memories, it's at least not something bad...

...a thought that is confirmed a moment later when Tifa's tone, friendly and curious, asks a question that has Rinoa's eyes widening. She's mentioned Squall to both Cloud and Aerith, but she already knows that's not why the other is asking. Her hands curl in her lap, a pink flush appearing over her cheeks. ]

Squall is... he's my boyfriend.

[sefirot]

What makes me special is my birth and who I am. My abilities are simply a plus.

[Sort of true. His abilities are kind of what give him his ego. And he might be slightly salty that he has tried to use some of his powers and they haven't worked. She does not need to know that however.]

Regardless of what I can or cannot do here, I assure you my skills remain the same ...However, I do feel that engaging in a battle would be pointless. I assume you wish to return as well. Fighting will neither solve nor help either of us.

[abeautifulgame]

[he hums, all but sneering as he names them. he's not sure if that's the memory rubbing off on him, her feelings rubbing off on him, or if his reaction is solely on him, on how easy it is to compare Shinra to Blume, their fixers to the Turks. he's not sure it matters, either way]

[either way, the look fades back into something more thoughtful, after a handful of heartbeats] You were winning. though. [they won] And then -- what was that? [there was -- smoke? and then it all gets a little hazy for a few seconds. and then Rude running away from the controls. and ... ]

[and then it all sort of falls apart in his head, fades. he knows there's more, but that's where the memory stops]

[forethinking]

(He can see the loading screen in Tifa's brain and he smiles, already knowing what can come out of it.

When she finally speaks, he nods decisively.)

I think that's a wonderful idea.

(And besides. Not everyone can stomach Blue's curry, and Ren's own, while great-tasting, it's still curry. People may get sick of the dish repetition.)

[forethinking]

(Ah. The more she says, the more pieces complete the puzzle. It wasn't that she didn't know about it, rather than the fear of losing it now that she has Cloud around.

Little did she know that Ren is more than aware of her losses, and he will keep it that way with respect to Cloud.)

I know. (It's all he says when she finishes, voice calm after he took in all the information. He takes a while to continue, as if putting the right words together as to what he wants to say.)

Doesn't it frustrate you, though? Not knowing. (He knows it did for him, with how Akechi kept him waiting for a reply, even when the fact he had made a decision was painfully obvious.)