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]

[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...]

[starshower]

[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!

[activatingcombatmode]

[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.

[starshower]

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...

[activatingcombatmode]

[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.

gonna start wrapping 💖

[starshower]

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?!?]

🎀

[activatingcombatmode]

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...]