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 ★ ♫

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[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.

[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.

[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...]

Some people just don't know a good thing when it's right in front of them.

[From what little she saw of them, Aerith's flowers were always well taken care of. She put a lot of love into them, and it shows in how they glow with life. The one she had in Seventh Heaven lasted as long as it could...

But it turns out... there was more to Aerith's life than just tending to flowers at one point.]

You two were together, huh...? [She wonders if it's any of her business to ask this, but she is curious, and there's a flicker of concern in her eyes.] Did something happen?

[He'd said it in past tense, so something did happen.]

[It's an important question to ask and honestly Zack is expecting it from someone eventually. Zack and Aerith obviously treat each other with this fluffy air but underneath it, is this quiet sadness that sits there.]

I'll ... I'll spare you the details but... [Zack sighs.] Work pulled me away from her. For ... about five years.

[... Yeah, he ghosted her pretty hard.]

I wasn't in a position to tell her where I was. Honestly, it was safer for her to not know where I was.

[And if Tifa suddenly wants to hate him for doing that to her? Well, he wouldn't blame her. He deserves it.]

[Her feelings on that are... complicated, and Tifa's gaze drops from him immediately, going to her hands clasped in front of her instead.

It feels like the same thing Cloud had done. Kept his distance, never reached out, never visited during his time training for SOLDIER. It was what she'd been afraid of—that they'd grow apart—and while she's thankful that they haven't and that they could pick up where they left off, it still hurts not knowing what had happened. It hurts that he never, ever talks about it.

But that's okay. She isn't going to push him, and she isn't going to press Zack about it either.]

I get it... [she says quietly after some time.

Maybe it was better that way for her and Cloud too, and even though she can relate, this isn't about them. She and Cloud have reunited, and she's tried to put the past behind them, so maybe...]

You're here now though, right?

[Maybe Tifa is the one person that would understand Aerith's feelings on it the most. Zack knows that Cloud ditched home for Shinra fairly early too, leaving behind the girl in his hometown and everything else. Zack's and Aerith's story might be a little harsh but it's those same feelings where the soldiers had picked to distance themselves for certain reasons.

He's expecting some kind of comment against his actions but when she reacts like that Zack can't help but be reminded that Tifa really is a kind and forgiving soul.

Zack's not quite sure he deserves that. But he's grateful.]

Yeah. I'm here now. [Now it's time to make an awkward noise as he grins like an idiot.] I'm not sure what I should do to make it up to her, you know? Bringing her flowers is kind of redundant. Would a dozen red flower carts be too much?

[Help him, Tifa...]

[Tifa's expression brightens again.]

A flower girl can never have too many flower carts.

[If one breaks, then she'll have eleven others waiting to be used! Always keep at least one extra of everything is another good business practice lesson.

Though she isn't sure that he would have to make up for anything with Aerith—she doesn't strike Tifa as the kind of person who would need that, but... what's the harm, right?]

I don't think you should make them all red. If you can find some different paints, make them each a different colour. The ones she doesn't use can go in the shop, she can fill them with flowers to put on display!

[He gains a grin on his face immediately at that. Leave it to Tifa to make a grounded comment and making Zack feel better about all of this that he's trying to navigate. It's true, Aerith wouldn't need Zack to make up for anything but Zack feels like he should still try. For his own conscious and for her heart.]

Alright, a few carts to start it is. Different colours that she can interchange and the rest can be used for displays.

[Back to the workshop for Zack, it seems.]

It's a good place to start.

If you need any help with the painting, let me know. I've done my fair share of touching up around the bar.

[And what can be so hard about wielding a paintbrush!? Maybe she'll even try decorating them with flowery designs, too.

Tifa crosses over to him, a reassuring smile on her face, but not without a glint in her eyes, too.]

Who knows, maybe things'll work out better for you two this time...

[Zack grins and feels appreciative of all of this. Aerith and Cloud are really lucky to have someone like Tifa in their lives.]

Thanks. Yeah, that's what I'm banking on. But luckily I've got you to back me up.

[He puts one hand on his shoulder and rolls it.]

I know she'll probably tease me if I try too hard. But I feel like I should anyway.

No such thing.

[She knows she would appreciate it if she were in Aerith's shoes.]

I bet if you went out to the beach, you'd find plenty of supplies to use, if there aren't any around here already. I can come with you; help you carry some of it back.

[Tifa really, really wants to help him see this through, okay?!?]

Sounds like a plan. Maybe we can get started in the next few days.

[He gives her one last smile. The tightness in his chest is palpable but he's truly grateful. Things will start looking up for him and Aerith. He has a good feeling.]

Thanks, Tifa.

[And who knows. Maybe next time Zack can nudge her around about her and Cloud...]

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

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gonna start wrapping 💖

🎀