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songerein2023-02-14 12:58 pm
dreamposts) wrote in songerein2023-02-14 12:58 pm
Entry tags:
- !event,
- -tdm,
- aera mirus fleuret,
- aether,
- alisaie leveilleur,
- alphen,
- anastasia romanova,
- ann takamaki,
- azula,
- barok van zieks,
- beatrix,
- bennett,
- childe/tartaglia,
- cloud strife,
- daisukenojo "beat" bito,
- dante sparda,
- della duck,
- demyx,
- denji,
- dohalim il qaras,
- erichthonios,
- eustace,
- ferran gallagher,
- flowey,
- futaba sakura,
- g'raha tia,
- general nuadha,
- gina lestrade,
- goro akechi,
- hayato gokudera,
- ienzo,
- ira,
- iroh,
- isabela madrigal,
- jason grace,
- kainé,
- kate bishop,
- kazuma asogi,
- ken amada,
- kisara,
- kiyomitsu kashuu,
- kor meteor,
- kratos aurion,
- lady,
- leo valdez,
- link (botw),
- link (oot),
- lyria,
- madhuri qalli,
- magilou mayvin,
- martel yggdrasill,
- meilin "mei" lee,
- mikleo,
- miriam,
- najaran,
- naminé,
- nico di angelo,
- nier (father),
- noctis lucis caelum,
- norimune ichimonji,
- pauline bonheur,
- penny,
- percy jackson,
- phantom,
- portgas d. ace,
- prompto argentum,
- reaper,
- riku,
- rob,
- rokurou rangetsu,
- roxas,
- scaramouche/wanderer,
- senku ishigami,
- seto kaiba,
- shealtiel,
- sheik (zelda),
- shikanoin heizou,
- shinjiro aragaki,
- shionne imeris,
- sleeping beauty,
- solanaceae,
- soldier: 76,
- somnus lucis caelum,
- sora,
- sorey,
- stolas of ars goetia,
- susato mikotoba,
- thancred waters,
- tifa lockhart,
- trahearne,
- unnamed,
- velvet crowe,
- venti,
- xiao,
- yasusada yamatonokami,
- yuri hyuga,
- zack fair,
- zelda (botw),
- zenkichi hasegawa,
- zhongli,
- zuko
{ stroke of midnight }
STROKE OF MIDNIGHT
Although the Masquerade is being held on the night of the Fourteenth, some new problems arise in the days after. This log is split into two sections, the Masquerade and Around Town. Everyone is free to participate in either or both, whichever catches your interest.
More details on everything can be found here and here. As a reminder, events double as our TDMs and information can be found here with arrival details here. Any outside characters participating in the log are canonly logged as appearing in Songerein in February and will remain in Songerein from the IC date of February 14 through 28. TDM only characters can only thread within this log. Anyone who apps in and is accepted will have their character count February as their first time in the game without any disruption, so all content will carry over. Those who do not apply will disappear which should not seem too unusual, however players in game can choose to retcon and pretend a character was never there to begin with if it would be easier; or even think their presence was just a dream.
IMPORTANT! All outside characters MUST have "TDM" in their subject line, even if you might not app. This will help people differentiate those who are already in the game and those who are not.
TDM threads are required for samples. Refer to the Game Info for general information and feel free to toss any questions here. Reserves will open Wednesday, February 22nd and Applications will open on March 1. Our next cycle after won't be until JULY.
TDM Toplevel Link Directory (click to view, updated 02/22)
Avatar: The Legend of Korra - Korra
Avatar: The Last Airbender - Iroh
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night - Miriam
Chainsaw Man - Power
Dr. STONE - Dr. Senku Ishigami
Elsworld - Noah Ebalon (Nyx Pieta)
Final Fantasy VII - Cloud Strife
Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core - Zack Fair
Final Fantasy XIV - Erichthonios
Final Fantasy XV - Noctis Lucis Caelum
Final Fantasy XV - Prompto Argentum
Genshin Impact - Shikanoin Heizou
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist - Solanaceae
Katekyou Hitman Reborn - Hayato Gokudera
Kingdom Hearts - Ienzo
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Link
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Sheik
Marvel Cinematic Universe - Kate Bishop
NieR: Automata - 9S
Percy Jackson & the Olympians - Jason Grace
Percy Jackson & the Olympians - Nico di Angelo
Persona 3: FES - Shinjiro Aragaki
SinoAlice - Sleeping Beauty
Tales of Arise - Shionne Vymer Imeris Daymore
Tales of Symphonia - Kratos Aurion
Tales of Symphonia - Martel Yggdrasil
Tales of Zestiria - Mikleo
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - Sena
Your Wings and Mine - Shealtiel
We will request any thread submissions for certain prompts during AC and TDM threads will count. For more information, refer to the Game Notes.
I. MASQUERADE
It's time for the masquerade and the carriages will start arriving before sunset. Upon arrival, everyone who leaves the carriage (or mercilessly spat out if they try to resist) will be greeted by fairy godmothers with an eye for the most dramatic and extravagant fashion. It's a masquerade, after all! For those who already arrive with their outfits, the fairy godmothers may add a little embellishment here and or just change it completely if they think it could look better. For those who did not, they will create a whole new outfit that would fit the wearer perfectly—with magic of course. They will also create the masks and half of the glass slipper brooch that everyone will wear. The masks are enchanted so that regardless of obvious personality or physical traits, they are somehow unrecognizable at first. While it is possible to figure it out through interaction, or if it's someone they already know well, it's more likely they need to reveal their identity first. These outfits can be kept even after the masquerade is over.
A. Get in the Carriage. As the pegasus drawn carriages begin to arrive to transport those who have decided to attend the masquerade, there is some commotion from others. The pair of coach mice—who are only about four feet tall—can be found smiling and cheerily squeaking about the masquerade as they grab and literally throw protesting individuals into the carriage, whereupon the door will immediately shut behind them. Ho ho ho, it'll be such a grand time! Will anyone try to help the poor soul? Or perhaps help the mice? Maybe you're a struggling victim instead. Should anyone want to try and drive the carriage, they might have a chance…but good luck having the pegasi listen to them. Eventually the carriage will land and take them to the front of the castle where the masquerade is hosted.
B. Half of a Pair. Near the entrance, everyone is encouraged to pull out one or more of the shoe brooches contained in a large bowl. The rules are simple: 1) use the brooch to lead them to the person wearing the other half; 2) spend whatever time or activity with them, be it general socializing, a dance, a walk in the gardens; 3) keep the brooch or return it to a designated "Used" bowl. The brooches will absorb whatever kind of dreamotion energy is formed between the two, and the stronger it is, the brighter (if positive) or darker (if negative) it will glow. The interaction can be romantic, platonic, or hostile. For those who do happen to "click" and wish for some privacy, there are numerous terraces and balconies available. Some are public, but there are quite a few with curtains, so be sure to close them to signal the balcony is occupied!
C. Dancing in the Air. The main draw will be the dance floor, and the ballroom is wide and spacious to accommodate numerous pairs to dance to their hearts' content—the music is played by enchanted instruments so they'll keep going without much of a break! Of course, what makes this dance floor truly special is how it uses dreamotion energy to lift everyone up—literally. Pairs who are having a fun time may find themselves floating up and dancing in the air instead of on the ground. Somehow they can maintain some balance…but it's just as easy to lose it. D. Royal Banquet. There are numerous tables one can use and be served an assortment of foods. In fact, one could make special requests and somehow the dragons serving will be able to make it, or at least as close as possible. One just has to imprint the idea of the dish onto a special card that the chefs will use to recreate it. There are also two bowls filled with special tear drop chocolates, one with only white, pink, and red, and the other filled with the other colors. The "game" is to randomly choose one from each bowl and share a kiss depending on what is picked.
E. Out in the Gardens. Every castle has extravagant gardens, and this one is no different. Filled with numerous pink, red, and white flowers, the gardens have their typical fare…with not so typical effects.
- Extravagant mazes that one could easily get lost in are common, but what's special about these gardens is that the flowers will emit a soft, sweet scent that will feel as if they are walking through a dream. In fact, the section they are going through will begin to change to look like a place from their world and must now find their way out. When this change happens, only those who are in the area will be affected and no one else can enter the area until the main person affected gets out. Those inside can help, and there are no threats—it's all in simple fun…unless the place evokes certain memories and emotions for the person. Might not be as fun for them, then.
- A crystal greenhouse where the temperature is perfectly warm (or cold!) and houses various different flowers. Here some may recognize flowers from their world, the scents also creating nostalgia. There are instructions left that indicate anyone can try to help grow the flowers. The key ingredient will be dreamotion energy, and should they succeed in creating a blossom, a small marble containing a symbol of their home. There are also special daisies that can be used to play the "they love me they love me not" game. If the last petal is "they love me," then become extra flirty and clingy. If it's "love me not," they become angry, jealous, and possessive. The effects only last for a short time…unless they keep plucking flowers.
- The white fountain in the center of the gardens will have a bit of a musical playful side. It will splash colorful water at any who pass by, chime-like notes playing out as it does. But if one were to drop a flower that has absorbed positive dreamotion into its water, it will calm and let people sit to look and relax. There is also a strange frog wearing a crown that claims to be a prince. For those who believe its words that a kiss will free him from the curse, they will be sorely disappointed as nothing happens and the frog just laughs and hops away.
II. AROUND TOWN
A. Mask Up. Attracted by the masquerade, some enchanted masks have found their way to town and are now finding their way onto people, be it by tricking their victims to be put on or just forcibly latching themselves on. Depending on the type of mask, the wearer will behave based on a festive, dramatic emotion. While wearing the mask, the dreamotion that is projected is stronger. Examples are angry emotions will cause tremors and cracks on the ground, happiness could blind people or will cause confetti to fly everywhere, while sad ones will cause clouds and drizzling rain to appear overhead. The only way to remove it is to somehow make the other person feel the opposite of whatever emotion the mask is using. Once the mask’s emotion is countered and stabilized, it could be removed or even fall off if the countering emotion is strong enough. Masks can also be captured and collected before they attach to someone.
B. Special Messages. Throughout the month, valentine's are being delivered to people all over town. Some are even receiving some from the fae and dragons who live outside… Perhaps some caution should be had from those. Regardless, while the messages are brimming with both platonic and romantic (and questionable) love, the messengers are a bit… Well they need help.- Insightful Mockingbirds. Special mockingbirds are flying around and perch on random shoulders. They have the ability to "read" a person's thoughts and repeat them out loud. Without warning. Hope there aren't any secrets because that bird is going to make it public, especially if it's an observation or thought—good or bad—about another person. Good luck shooing it away, too—it'll stick around for a while because it might enjoy sowing this bit of chaos.
- Arrow Delivery. The group from last year have decided to use their prank arrows for good and start a business in delivering special Valentine's messages via arrow. A "shot to the heart" in the less literal sense this time! While some of their archers are skilled, others are…less so. Some are hitting a bit too close to comfort or way off the mark. Some messages are going to the wrong person entirely. Help avoid, retrieve, or even deliver these messages around town.
C. Candy Kisses. A special assortment of flat bottomed, tear shaped chocolates are currently selling like hotcakes and can be found practically everywhere. Their main selling point is they come in different colors and each color has a special effect that will make the eater want to kiss the person near them in a certain way (see chart). Some people are deliberately swapping the wrappers around, so be careful!
D. Bleeding Hearts Return. It's Valentine's, yet Cupid is nowhere to be seen. That is because he's still corrupted from last year and now he's thirsting for love, any love. Using the Bleeding Hearts from last year, Cupid is using them to gather all that jealous, possessive love, but of course that's going to make it worse. We're not tackling Cupid here, but the main goal will be helping those who are afflicted by the Bleeding Hearts and purifying them via dreamotion instead of just destroying them. Purifying the Bleeding Hearts with pure love—romantic, platonic, familial, reminders of how they are loved and cared for by others—will help Cupid. Of course this could backfire and make the person feel worse, so be careful!
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[A gleam in his eyes before he closes the distance between them to pull her back into a kiss.]
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Her voice goes quieter when they part, but she doesn't go far, knowing that that kiss won't be the last one they share during this dance. Not when this world has created something so private and magical for them, here in this little pocket of space where time doesn't exist.]
You know...
...
Words aren't the only way...
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If only I wasn't so limited...
[His lips fall against the side of her jaw then to her ear.]
...Just wait for when we're back home.
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[She can wait. She can be patient, she tells herself, as she purrs to his voice in her ear. Can they just steal a carriage and leave this place right now? Everyone is too busy dancing that surely the fairy godmothers wouldn't notice that they were missing.
Or maybe... maybe they could hide behind the tree, use it to seal away themselves for the evening and never come out until it was time to leave. Spend the night here, out in the gardens, with the moonlight filtering through its canopy...
Of course, she will behave. She really does want this dance, even if it is swaying to the faraway music from the ballroom, and that's exactly what they do as they exchange kisses, and sweet nothings and whispers of love in each other's ears. It's the one thing that she wished for tonight—to have this private dance with him surrounded by moonlight and starflowers, all alone, with no eyes on them but their own.
It's perfect in every way, and the longer they move to the music, the brighter the stars around them become, until the two of them are dancing among the stars. Every twirl, every dip, every laugh, every kiss makes them shimmer bigger and more brilliantly until they blend in with the flowers, and Tifa can no longer tell where one ends and the other begins.
And it isn't just one song, but several. How long they are there dancing together, she doesn't know, but if he thought he would escape after only one, he'd have been wrong. Each time they think about parting, they pull each other in for one more. It always starts with a kiss and ends with one... until finally, they agree that it's time. As much as she wants to stay by his side and to never leave this place, she realizes that the sooner they go out and mingle, the sooner they can return to one another for the rest of the night.
After agreeing that they will meet at the white fountain in the gardens in two hours, they slide their masks back over their eyes and part with a kiss. Several kisses.
...
But long before those two hours are even up, Tifa's already there, seated on one of the benches nearby. Shoulders are squared, her gloves are off, and knuckles are white as she grips the edge of her seat.
It all started with a strange, unfamiliar twinge in the back of her neck. A sharp prick when she saw Eustace dancing with others. She shook it off easily enough, chalking it up to silly jealousy that it wasn't her. She would get over it, right? They would always joke about those sorts of things when days like this were done, and so that's what she reminded herself. That the two of them would make fun of each other when they were home—he would tease her and she him, and it would spiral into the usual ending...
And she did. She shook it off for a while...
Until her night got worse, and just as things were becoming as perfect as they could be, the universe throws her not one curveball, but two. What was the best night she's had in a long time quickly descends into a storm of confusion and guilt, but with a strange mix of happiness and relief in there, too. Too many feelings that she doesn't know what to do with.
And it's all gripping at her heart, twisting it into knots and squeezing it until it nearly brings her to tears...]
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Really, can he ever find something like this again?
He doubts it.
Which makes it all the harder to let go, even though he knows he should. Knows that as much as he really does want to, he can't keep her to himself. She's such a beautiful light, it would be cruel to covet it all. He wants her to enjoy herself, to spread that light to others who might need it...and he knows she'll always return to him.
So it's with a yearning heart that he parts her with that last kiss, watching her go back up to the ballroom. For him, he chooses to linger out in the gardens, knowing if he follows her he will just keep tabs on her instead. So he does, venturing through the maze a little, into the greenhouse, looking at places he could take her through later...
...Until he eventually does return to the ballroom, his eyes briefly scanning the hall. No matter how large it is, he can always find her, and when he does he sees her smiling with—is it Lyria? Warmth fills his chest as he watches the two briefly before he meets with others, some he approaches, others who approach him. Every so often he'll cast another glance (and maybe send a little electric shock or two towards any who get a little too chummy), until...
...He meets someone he never expected to see. Yet he honestly can't be sure if it's even the same. Just the name— "Cloud" —is enough to raise his hairs in disbelief. But before he could even question the flood of people separate them and he's left standing bewildered. The thought of finding Tifa flashes through his mind, but he's pulled away, distracted, and even if it was just a few seconds it's enough to lose both his targets.
...
Although unsettled, without hearing more he can't confirm anything. Not even the voice is enough for him, anymore—it's been too long, and he only heard it once. Even he can't remember everything like that, especially when he didn't pay much significance in the first place. He can only hope that it's all a coincidence...
...But he would later have a sharp sense of unease, and when he looks around the sinking feeling returns when he chances upon Tifa rushing out. Immediately he leaves whatever he's doing to follow after, pushing his way through if needed before his picks up the pace to rush outside. He has to come out a different way, but it's no matter. As if drawn to her by an invisible string, he walks straight towards the fountain where he soon finds Tifa sitting there.
And without a word, without much notice except for the sound of his hurried footsteps, he comes up to her and immediately embraces her.]
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It's all so loud that she doesn't hear him coming, so when Eustace's arms pull her into an embrace, she's startled free, a sharp gasp escaping her as she falls against him, immediately enveloped into his warmth and security. She doesn't even need to look up to know that it's him, and so she buries her face into his chest, arms circling around his waist so that she can squeeze him...
He knows, doesn't he? He knows what's wrong, and why she's like this. Had he seen her rush out of the ballroom? Had he heard her as she pushed past the others to find a way out to the gardens to their meeting place? He had danced with Cloud, too, but... It doesn't matter... They could be world's apart, and he would still always know...
Tifa is trying so, so hard to fight it. Whatever this chaos is that's raging inside her now only grows the longer and tighter he holds her. All this confusion, guilt, happiness, and relief... It all rises until it has nowhere else to go...
Her hands shake as she tries to wrestle it back. This was supposed to be a perfect night—their perfect night, and she doesn't want to ruin it for him, either, so she clutches to him, fingers balling his coat into tight fists, and musters up the strength to say something at last.]
You met him...?
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...And to her question, he can only hesitate before he lets out a small, low hum.]
...Mm... But I wasn't sure since I only caught his name before we were separated.
[A long, haggard sigh.]
I should have found you first.
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[Even if he had, she isn't sure that knowing would have prepared her. It would have still been an onslaught of emotions all at once regardless, especially right after meeting Zack here, too. She could have spent all the time in the world preparing to see Cloud again after all this time, but actually seeing him is a completely different thing than she could have imagined it would be.
It was different than what she imagined it would be...
Tifa moves her face slightly, just enough that she can rest her head against his chest so that he can hear her better, and against the sound of his heartbeat, she closes her eyes.]
I've thought about what it might have been like to see him here, if he ever came...
[Or anyone again, for that matter. Aerith, Barret, Jessie, even Red again. But with Cloud, it's different, and she knows they both know that.]
But I didn't think...
[There's a heavy pause before she continues.]
Do you remember that night we spent in that cave...?
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[He continues to gently stroke her hair and back as he glances down at her, those memories of another time resurfacing easily.]
I do.
[It had been the catalyst back then. What made him realize that he wanted to do more for her...and that he also knew that it wouldn't be an easy road. Still, it was one he took himself on, and one he would repeat again.]
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She takes a deep inhale in and now she leans back a little, only far enough that she can look at him... really look at him, because she doesn't want him to think or fear that she might be having second thoughts about this... about them. Tifa watches his expression carefully, her hands still clutching to his jacket, as she goes on.]
I was upset back then... even a little angry at Cloud. I know I shouldn't have been, and none of it was his fault but... I wish things had gone differently.
[And she's realizing now how much she regrets that she had been too afraid to reach out to him to at least see how he was doing... What it led to, which was their very first kiss, she doesn't have any regrets over, but maybe she could have tried a little harder to be a friend.]
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I know...it hasn't been easy for you.
[Relationship or not, he knows this has been plaguing her for a while. Maybe not so much now, but it's left enough of an impact to change things. And he knows and understands they were close...it's only natural to still hold concern or questions. He would never want to prohibit from that.]
...So what happened?
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What in the world did she do to deserve him...?
She closes her eyes a moment, savouring the brush of his hands across her face, leaning into his comforting touch. It's so warm, so reassuring... So sturdy as he holds her up whenever she feels like she might stumble, and this time is no different.]
The brooches.
[Tifa chokes on her own voice as she says it.]
One of... well, both of my brooches led me to them. Cloud... and someone else from home.
[Which will hopefully explain the other man she may have been seen with. If Eustace was like her at all, then he would have no doubt kept his eyes on her that evening, his gaze always going to her like hers did to him, always drawn to one another even when they aren't near.]
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But he does remember the guy...that he zapped...... And he just clears his throat.]
And...then?
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[That's a given, she knows... and it's not the kind of answer he's looking for, so after another brief pause, she sighs again and continues.]
I didn't know if I was happy or angry when I saw him. I thought I would be more upset after what happened in Camelot, but I don't think I was... I don't know what I was feeling.
[Relieved? Yes, very. Thrilled? She's not sure she would go that far, but seeing him drudged up all sorts of mixed feelings that feel like they all simply drowned each other out.]
Maybe I just need a little more time. It has been a while, hasn't it...?
[Since she's seen him. Really, if she's counting, it's been almost two years.]
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[Her shoulders tense up against him, and Tifa can feel the shame welling up in her chest.]
I was too scared to ask.
[Once again, too scared to know the answer, just like she had been back then. She was afraid of what she might find out—that he had forgotten about her, or that he had moved on from her. Not that there was anything there to move on from, but at the time, she didn't want to know if he had found someone else. She didn't want to think about what that heartbreak might have been like if she'd known.
And to this day, she still has no idea.
It doesn't matter anymore, but that thought still pricked at her like a thousand little needles in the back of her mind when she was with Cloud tonight.]
Should I... want to know?
[Tifa looks up at Eustace with pleading, helpless eyes, as if she's praying that he has the answer to all of her questions. Praying that he can tell her what she should be feeling when she can't find it herself...]
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But even so, he thinks it over carefully. Thinks over all the times she had spent miserable and torn over about all this. And while they are in a good place and he has no doubt that things wouldn't change between them, that doesn't mean everything has been settled. Cloud has always been a big part of her life, and will always have a part of it, no question. It's clear how it affects her even now, even if it's only because he's actually here.
And Eustace is reminded of how he had been when he finally learned the truth of what happened to his family. It had torn him up inside and out and he felt lost for a while, but... He had the support to help him through it. And while it was bitter, in the end he came out better for it. Her situation may not be same, but that process, he thinks, is similar.
So after a few moments of deliberating silence with only his hand gently stroking her shoulder does he finally answer, his words slow as if still measuring them.]
I think... You need this closure.
[His gaze is gentle as he looks down at her.]
And in fairness to Cloud, if he really doesn't recall that time in Camelot, if he is like me who came into this world with no memory of it and all the other worlds I was supposedly in, then it wouldn't be right to judge him for things he has no memory of or perhaps hasn't even done. I know that may be more difficult if that's the case.
But as it is, this has been eating at you for a long time, and it will only worsen if you don't clear up these uncertainties. Maybe it will bring up different problems, but—
[The hand at her shoulder moves to cup her cheek, keeping her face lifted up so that their eyes remain locked on each other. So that she can see her reflection in his eyes along with his unending conviction for her.]
I will always be here for you. Whatever you need, I will be here. You're not alone in this.
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Her moon in the dark, guiding her when she's lost at sea and afraid of drowning in it.
For someone who feels so deeply, Tifa has always been afraid of her emotions—the ones that lurk deep, past the joy and the kindness and the wish to see others happy, past the loneliness, there are far more complicated ones that, rather than face them, she buries them away. Guilt and anger, regret, fear... She may not feel them as often these days, but that never meant that they weren't still there. It's those feelings that she never quite knows how to handle, or what to do...
But having Eustace here, having his reassurance and his love to help lift her up when she stumbles... It helps more than she could ever put into words for him.
And as their eyes remain connected, she feels that deep in her soul, and tears begin to well up.]
I know... [she finally says, her voice small as she presses her cheek into his hand.] You're right.
[Finding that closure would be the best way to approach this, even if what she finds at the end of it isn't what she wants... Though, does she even know what she wants out of this?
A gentle, sad smile ghosts over her lips.]
I guess I just... I was scared of what the answer would be.
[Her eyes had fallen, but they lift back up to look at him again.]
I have no reason to be afraid now, though.
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It's fine to be afraid... This is a very complicated situation with a lot going on...
[He pulls back a little so he can look at her.]
Just know you can talk with me about it, too. Don't keep it all to yourself.
[A knowing look. And he knows he's the same but somehow Tifa has been the worst between them lately.]
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This all goes much, much further back than Camelot, and she doesn't want him to have to bear this burden of her past with her. This is something that she wants to be able to carry on her own, to be able to do on her own, but... she knows, too, that sharing her troubles like this is something she had promised she would do, and something that Tifa made him promise to do as well.
She remembers when he had tried to bear the weight of his nightmares all alone, those responsibilities and all of the blame... And she remembers how upset she had been about it. How she cried and begged and pleaded with him to let her in, to let her shoulder some of it for him, to let her be there for him even when he didn't want her to be.
It was then that they made the vow to never push the other away. They are a unit, a family, and she feels the weight of the rings on her fingers, the depth of their meaning as touches them as she lets her thumb graze over them.
They serve as a reminder of those promises, and to that, Tifa nods slowly. With a third deep breath, she goes on to explain how the rest of the conversation had gone with Cloud... explains to him who Zack is, too. How Zack had been the SOLDIER who had come with Sephiroth to Nibelheim, and how he had been there when her home had burned away to ash. How she had yelled how much she hated him before she never saw him again... She could hardly remember him until now, and she never knew if he had made it out of there, or if he burned with all the others...
And not once does Tifa let him go. Even as she pulls away, she remains close, always touching him, always needing that little bit of strength and reassurance that she isn't alone...
It's only when she looks down at her rings that she falls quiet again. The sound of the fountain next to them, and the music inside helps to fill the void, and while it isn't a tense silence, it's certainly not a comfortable one.
With another bittersweet smile, she finally says it.]
... I told him that we were married, too.
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...How did he take it?
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When Tifa told him, she decided that he had the right to know. It wasn't exactly a secret to anyone, so it shouldn't be a secret to him, though, it took her the better part of their conversation for her to finally muster up the courage to do so. When she did, she didn't know what to expect, but she knew that she hoped he would be happy for her... excited, even.
...]
I'm not sure.
[She sounds dejected, even hurt by it.]
I don't know if he felt... anything.
[Shouldn't she be relieved by it? Looking back, he seemed more upset about it than happy, and it still feels like someone has taken her heart only to squeeze it.]
He sort of... shrugged it off.
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...I doubt he didn't feel anything.
[If anything, he's fairly certain Cloud is just bottling it in. Because if it was himself... It sounds like a response he would give.]
But it could also be a lot for him, too. If he just arrived he might not even be able to fully believe everything right now.
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[Bottling it in. It's possible, but she would have liked to at least known that she had his support. Or maybe Eustace is right. There really is a lot to take in about this world beyond just her, but it doesn't mean that it didn't sting at the time and doesn't still... even just a little bit.
And add to the fact that she remembers how Cloud had been acting before she had been sucked away into a whole new world and into a new life. She had been worried about him then, but that's tenfold now.]
I guess a lot of things just felt... off. Could be that it's just been a while. And, like you said, there's a lot going to take in.
[A long, long time. And in that time, Tifa's changed a lot since she last saw him. But should that connection have felt so... frayed? She must just be overthinking it.
Which is why she tries to shake it all off with a shaky, breathy, forced laugh as she lets her head drop to his shoulder.]
I'm sorry. I don't want this to ruin the night anymore. I don't want you to get caught up in all this, either.
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You're my wife—whatever you get into, I'm right there with you. And even if we weren't married... I still wouldn't let you deal with this alone.
[His hand holding hers, he entwines their fingers to give it a tight squeeze, their rings brushing against each other.]
But we can set it aside for now... There's not much else we can do, anyway.
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