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

[pinwheels]

[ Her eyebrows raise. With a reaction like that, there's definitely something Tifa isn't telling her, right? She may as well have put it into words, with how obvious her body language is. Still, Rinoa doesn't say anything about that just yet, closing her eyes once more to focus in on the memory. ]

It was nighttime, and he asked to see you to talk. He said he was gonna leave home and become a... a soldier?

[ "The best of the best. Like Sephiroth." Rinoa can't help but wonder if it's the same one. Because somehow, she can't imagine Cloud wanting to be anything like... that guy. Another question she can't ask just yet, though... ]

Then you asked him to promise that if you were in trouble, he'd come and save you. [ She smiles. ] Because that's what heroes do. He promised, but...

[ Her smile broadens, something playful and teasing as she looks over at Tifa. ]

In typical Cloud fashion, it was kinda begrudging, y'know?

[starshower]

[Of course, there had only been one promise between them, but that feels so long ago now. Tifa wondered if she'd seen the first time they'd promised each other, or if it had been much later after they'd reunited. She remembers both just as clearly, as if it had happened only yesterday.

Rinoa's comment draws a laugh from Tifa, though.]

It kind of was, wasn't it? I remember having to be really convincing when I made the argument. But even after all those years, he still remembered it. Kept it, too.

[Even if it hadn't been what she imagined it would be like...]

Anytime I was in a pinch, he came to help.

[pinwheels]

[ As quickly as it broadened into something playful and teasing, Rinoa's smile softens. She understands all too easily the fondness in the other's words. ]

Even here. I'm glad you guys ended up here together. Besides, the way I see it? He needs you to get him out of trouble sometimes too!

[ After all, Cloud's not always exactly people material... Rinoa likes him a lot, but she's sure he annoys and frustrates many people here just by virtue of being how he is. In a lot of ways, he reminds her of Squall.

Speaking of which... She reaches out, her hand clasping over Tifa's, her eyes bright as she peers at the other woman. ]

I know you said he's not your boyfriend, but... you like him, right?

[starshower]

[Rinoa!?!?!?

Tifa's eyes widen when her hands are taken in Rinoa's, and even more so when she poses the question. What is with everyone here lately? First Ren, now her... asking questions and making a big deal out of something as small as them, especially when they have bigger things to worry about!

In spite of her surprise though, the warmth remains underneath all of her embarrassment, and she slides a hand out from under Rinoa's to place on top, patting the other girl's gently.]

Uh, so... you feeling any better about that memory?

[Answer: It's Complicated.]

[pinwheels]

[ It's an answer understood loud and clear, but Rinoa can't quite help the grin that won't leave her face regardless of anything else. Complicated or not, in her eyes, Tifa's feelings are pretty clear. But it's not the time or place to pry that out of her, and so she's willing to let the other shift the topic of conversation. ]

Yeah. I'm okay. [ Sort of. If she doesn't think about it too too hard, anyway. There's too many feelings wrapped up there that she's not sure she's ready to handle just yet. ]

...Thanks.