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

Entry tags:

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

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 ★ ♫

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Wow, no! He don't got this!?

Tifa stomps a foot gently on the floor with a stern "Cloud..." before Raihan can get a word in. An exchange of goods or services isn't why they're doing this, but she knew it would only be a matter of time before it came up. Once a merc, always a merc. At least he's listening to his advice and trying to make connections...? Raihan is free to answer Cloud's question, but not until Tifa's given her own price.

She raises two fingers.]

How about just a smile and a compliment to the chef?

[ oh, dear. it wasn't his intent to make them bicker, but it looks like they're on the way to that... he laughs a bit to himself, savoring the the taste of his first piece. after snacking on mushrooms for the past while, it's nice to have something meatier on his palette. ]

You can get my prize-winning smile anytime! [ which he will gladly flash to her once he's properly wiped the side of his mouth of any mess. ] And you've got every compliment I can muster - and Duraludon's, too!

[ Duraludon does his best to muster a "smile" of his own (read: an open maw and eyes closed in happiness) and Raihan throws him a bigger piece of meat to munch on. as for Cloud... ]

Whatever needs doing, I guess? I'm not going to say no if someone needs a hand, even if it's something I've never tried before. The great Raihan always finds a way!

I'm the chef here!

[ Smile at him if that's going to be the form of payment!! ...Wait, he doesn't want that either though! ]

But sounds like you're struggling to find work, too. Why not open your gym again?

[ It's not that kind of gym, Cloud... ]

[Tifa will happily give up her share of smiles if it meant going to Cloud... but he seems more bothered about getting them (or not getting them?) than she is.

She'll just let the two of them figure it out, then. If Raihan is adamant about wanting to work for his food, and Cloud wants something out of it, then... trying to convince either of them that it isn't needed is not going to get her anywhere. So, she turns her attention to Duraludon instead, clapping for him when he catches the chunk of meat in his mouth with a wider smile of her own.

The mention of a gym has her turning her head back around, though.]

You know, we could really use one around here. I'd definitely visit!

[She's misunderstood, too.]

Oh, so you're looking for my smile, then? [ he teases, but gladly offers one to Cloud as well. ] No worries, mate! There's more than enough Raihan to go around.

[ of course, he's an equal-opportunity attention whore. but Cloud's suggestion makes him raise an eyebrow, especially when Tifa chimes in. there seems to be a misunderstanding... ]

I think you guys have the wrong idea about what kind of gym I run. Not that I'm against the idea of fixing it up, but Hammerlocke Stadium isn't for muscle training - it's for Pokémon training.

I didn't--

[ The smile just flusters Cloud into silent frustration, and then he ends up misunderstanding Raihan even further. ]

Anything a Pokémon can learn, we can learn, too.

[ THAT WASN'T A CHALLENGE CLOUD ]

[Oh—Tifa is a little embarrassed by the misinterpretation as well, but takes it with an awkward, breathy laugh instead. Okay, she gets it!]

Sure, except for flying... but I don't think that's what Raihan meant.

[She can't help but tease Cloud a little for that, except... it would be kind of handy to be able to fly. If they will it hard enough, would it be a possibility?]

Still, no harm in fixing it up for the Pokemon, right? I wonder if we could train those chickens to be stronger, too... Oh, no... wait... Buff chickens... [The realization of what that would result in dawns on her, and the image of a ripped chicken nug is going to haunt her consciousness for hours to come.] Maybe that's not such a good idea.

[If she has to imagine it, then SO DO YOU]

[ Raihan only grins wider at Cloud's frustration - just as planned! and while Tifa has the right idea, Cloud's determination gets a genuine chuckle out of him. ]

Oh? I like your gusto, but I'll believe it when you can start breathing fire and shooting energy beams out of your eyes! [ which are just a couple of things that Dragon-type Pokémon can do, but that's an info dump for another day. ] But you're not actually far off. Some of the best workouts I get are out and about with my team.

[ a Pokémon and their Trainer have to be in sync in both body and mind, after all! it's a delicate balance that he wishes he could show, but poor Duraludon still can't use any of his moves. how are people going to know how cool they really are without that? ]

Hey, we don't know what kind of power is in those flabby bodies! If a Magikarp can become a terrifying dragon, I'm about ready to believe anything. [ but he's still laughing properly at it! the visual is amazing; thank you, Tifa. ] Anyway... if that's what you two are after, you'll have first dibs on the facility once I get it cleaned up. I guess there's nothing stopping me from making it a gym for people and Pokémon, right?

[ Can Cloud breathe fire and shoot beams out of his eyes? No. Instead he turns to face the grill again, muttering to himself, and only to himself. ]

Can a Pokémon do fifty squats in a minute and a half? Didn't think so...

[ He doesn't mind the idea of a training facility of sorts, though. He knows that Tifa would especially appreciate it! If he could get some perks on her behalf, then their cooking adventures have been worth it. ]

You got yourself a deal. [ And to Tifa: ] See? Just making connections.

And that's the first part to running a successful business!

[She holds up a finger in Cloud's direction and waves her hand that she comes close to booping him on the nose but doesn't quite get there. Look, she's proud of him!!!]

You know, I'm sure Duraludon wouldn't mind training with you. Maybe he can be your trainer for that.

[She looks to the Pokemon expectantly, and goes to hand him another piece of food.]

[ with such a hot head and toned muscles, Cloud would make a fine Fighting-type specialist! but Raihan keeps that observation to himself, eyes moving from him to Tifa once he goes back to the grill. ]

Of course he wouldn't! He's shown me more than a thing or two since we became partners - it's not just a one-way street.

[ Duraludon lets out a low hiss in agreement and looks to Raihan, as if confirming that yes, he has plenty to learn, one of which is probably some semblance of patience. but he's quickly beaming at Tifa when he sees that she has another morsel for him, and gladly shuffles a little closer to meet her hand. for a creature that's made of metal, his flat tongue and inside of his mouth are as organic as they come. he downs the piece whole, eyes closing in sated contentment. ]

What kind of equipment do you guys usually train with? I'll keep my eye out for anything that pops up.

[ 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.

[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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject