songerein | closed 🌠 safe and sound, alive under the stars

I'm so full... and you're telling me tonight's not even over?

[Not that she ever wants it to end, which is why she flashes him a teasing smile.

She slips her coat on over her dress and buttons it up as they walk out of the restaurant and into the snow, her breath puffing in the air made colder by the river across from them. Chilly as it is, though, there is a palpable warmth that follows them everywhere they go, starting from when they left home and all the way up until now as she buzzes with excitement.

It's been a whole year, and she can hardly believe it. It feels like only yesterday that they were here, the Riverside decked out in lights, firepits, and all sorts of decorations, with music echoing through the streets of Reverein and lanterns filling the skies as they danced the night away. Like only yesterday since she married the man of her dreams...

Whose hand she grabs and holds tight through her mittens, seeking the warmth that she knows is there, the other clutching a small bag of leftover porkchops.

It was a hearkening back to their very first date. Well, "date", wasn't it? That strange side-mission that they went on in Camelot that ended up being the catalyst that launched them into what they became there, and more importantly, what they have become now.

That had been the first surprise, but she knows that it won't be the last.

She glances up at him, eyes sparking with newly blooming excitement, so wide that the street lanterns flicker in them like stars. They might as well be the moment that they land on him, but when has that ever changed?]

Where to now?

Edited 2023-12-04 00:23 (UTC)

[Eustace had planned this evening with great care. To be married... There were times when he doesn't really notice as it had become a part of his everyday life as it should, but then there are times like this when he realizes he is married. Him, who was certain such a thing wouldn't happen even in his wildest dreams. It reminds him again if how wild and crazy life can be, especially like this.

Here, in not one but two worlds.

It's one thing to fall in love with someone once, but again in a different world without even remembering or recognizing her? Truly it must be fate, and he is always grateful when he thinks about it.

So as he watches her with that sparkle in her, he has to resist just grabbing and kissing her right then and there. Instead, the flurry of snow, the brighter twinkling of the nearby lanterns, and the swell of warmth is likely clue enough as he as such a deep, fond look in his eyes, his smiles soft and subtle but there.]

...Mm.

[He reaches out to take the bag from her other hand, totally not in a secret attempt so that she could hold his arm with both hands if she wanted to.]

Just a little down the river...

[And then a pause, his smile deepening a little.]

Should we walk by it?

[Along the banks that also hold many memories for the.]

[He will get his wish, because as soon as he takes the bag from her, she wraps her free arm around his, settling in as close to his side as their bodies will allow while still giving him room to move. Some, anyway. She's holding on pretty tight.]

You're not cold?

[But the way that her eyes only light up more, if such a thing were even possible, says that yes, they should. Of course, anywhere that they go tonight won't be affected by the cold, and she's even melting some of the snow around them, only for more to fall in its place. It's such a hushed moment on this street, with most everyone tucking away in their homes for the winter, but it was never a problem for them. And though there are some people still coming and going, it truly does feel like they are the only two people to exist here right now.

Well, regardless of his answer, she's already tugging him along across to the path right near the riverbank.]

You're really outdoing yourself today.

Of course not.

[A light laugh at her question, because she should know the answer to that. He may be wearing a warm long coat, but inside he has his usual if formal light, backless shirts.]

And it's not too much...

[He might even think it's not enough as they cross the street and make their way to one of the stairways that would lead them safely to the riverbank. Compared to how it was a year ago...two years ago, it's more developed. Well paved roads, lamps to light the way, more small piers to allow the gondolas and boats that normally sail through the river to dock to transport people or goods through town.

And as he sees a wet patch of ice ahead, he stops her and steps ahead.]

Watch your step.

[She grabs his arm a little tighter as soon as his warning comes, and Tifa stops a moment, winds herself up, and... hops over the icy patch in her heels, landing with a soft crunch in the fresh snow.]

Such a gentleman.

[She straightens her coat, as if that had been any exertion at all, and continues on as they were.]

Maybe I should just get you to carry me, what with these shoes and all.

[A small laugh.]

I could if you wanted me to.

With all this ice and snow?

[She tucks a hair behind her ear with a giggle.]

Think you could handle it?

[Don't actually, it's a horrible idea!!!]

Wanna try?

[A little smirk—and yes he could handle it. Easily.

Although if she weren't dressed so nicely, she would have been at risk of him pulling some kind of prank on her. Like dumping her in a snowbank—]

No!

[She gives him a light shove, and tries to slip her arm out from his just in case he does try.]

I was joking. Besides, you'd just throw me in the snow or something like you always do.

[Uh huh, she knows.]

[He just tightens his arm to squeeze hers to his side when she tries to slip out.]

I wouldn't do that with you dressed so nicely.

[Not denying the other times.]

[She had a feeling he would do that, and she doesn't fight him on it—

The comment does make her blush, however. She was quite proud of the things she picked to wear tonight, with everything matching right down to her shoes, mitts, and jewelry. The earring that she chose was the blue stone one—the very first earring he got for her, and she reaches up to touch it, briefly recalling that memory.

She hadn't asked for his opinion yet, so—]

You like it? Well. Enough that you wouldn't dump me in the snow?

Of course.

[There's a warmer, more genuine smile as he leans in to brush his lips over the top of her head.]

It's both lovely and cute.

[And the color theme isn't lost upon him, either.]

[Put "lovely and cute" down as something that is so lovely and cute to hear Eustace say, and she bubbles up with her love for him, giddy with giggles when he brushes a kiss over the top of her head.

For someone who used to wear a lot of blacks and reds, dressing in this icy, periwinkle blue wouldn't escape anyone's notice, but only he would know the reason it became her absolute favourite colour...]

I thought it would fit the occasion, and be practical for the weather.

[She has even mastered these heels in the snow!]

Which is perfect tonight. [Her voice goes soft as she looks out to the half-frozen river.] Just like it was a year ago...

[The sound of her laughter makes a quiet one of his own escape from him, that same warmth rippling through him, making him feel truly fortunate to have someone like Tifa at his side. To have someone like her choose him to be with...

And so again he can only stare down at her with those silent emotions before he nods.]

Mm... Almost hard to believe.

[Tifa eyes him, glancing through her lashes up at him and flushing when she catches him already looking down at her, and she turns her gaze forward, pointing just down the river.]

It was down there, wasn't it? Just a little ways? [And it dawns on her.] ... Is that where we're going?

Well...

[A slight drag of his words.]

We'll see.

[But he's tugging her along that way, so it's a pretty good guess.]

[Well, she'll follow along anyway, and as they go, she'll start to point things out.]

I remember... we had the star-catching jars set up right down this way.

[The jar that they still have sitting in their living room as a decoration, the stars that are in there still as bright as ever, perhaps even brighter now than they were that night.

As if to demonstrate, she gives a little wave of her hand and above them, those same stars burst to life in the air, and rain down over them along with the snow.]

[He continues to watch her with that warm gaze, and that wave of her hand does more than just recreate those star bursts. It conjures the memories of that evening, of all the guests, the laughter, the music. Tifa in her wedding gown. All echoes that vividly come to mind as he stares at the flickering light, again reminiscing and thinking how fortunate he is. How amazing this world is and how much it's now become what he calls home.]

...Hard to believe... It all happened.

[Slowly he voices his thoughts as the lights linger and he looks back down at her.]

Really?

[She pretends in her disbelief, wanting to hear more of what he has to say as she reaches up to grab one of her falling stars in her hand.]

What makes it so hard to believe? Two people... from two different worlds... meeting in two different ones one after another...

[She opens her palm and the little star shimmers.]

I'd think it was meant to be.

[A small laugh as he slips her hand to be beneath hers and a little bit of snow appears to swirl around the little star.]

Two people... Two different worlds... Two different times...

[He echoes her words before he looks at her.]

Maybe it really was meant to be... And I'm glad it was.

[That little star grows bigger and bigger with each word that he echoes of hers until... pop! It bursts into a flurry of sparkles and snow in her palm, shattering into a thousand little stars until it fades into nothing, and as soon as it does...

...

Tifa looks up and accidentally meets his eyes again, and without a beat of hesitation, she leaps up at him, throws her arms around his shoulders, and plants a kiss right on his lips, her smile felt through it as she presses close. It's a spontaneous move, but one born out of that giant swell of emotions that had come from hearing his words, and the same one that had made that little show with the star and the snowflakes. The others that twinkle all around them all look as if they might do the same, and some do, while others glow a little brighter.]

[If she hadn't, he might have done the same, so he just catches her when she leaps up, smiling into the kiss as he returns it with as much fervor and affection. The warmth between continues to spread outward, and for a moment, with all the lights and starflowers that bloom around them, it looks more like spring than the beginnings of winter. And they linger there, Eustace deepening the kiss first before he pulls back with a more wolfish grin and gleam in his eye.]

Careful... Or this date might get cut short.

You wouldn't.

[She knows he would.

She's kissing him again anyway, just as deep and passionate as before, her lips parting ever so slightly to sneak a taste, her own still with the sweetness of the wine lingering. She just wants to indulge, and though they had been close and intimate in the restaurant, nothing like this. She's been waiting since they left the house to kiss him like this, and now that she finally has the chance, she isn't going to just let that opportunity slip on by.

Especially not when they are at the riverside in the falling snow, everything quiet and muted all around where it feels like they are the only two people in this whole town.

The kiss would last longer, however, if it weren't for the sound of something crunching on the snow. Two things crunching on the snow, actually. A steady rolling noise that comes from the path behind them, closer and closer and closer, until finally...]

Hm?

[Tifa blinks her eyes open and looses her lips from his to look.

...

....

To find two snowmen (or rather, a snowman and a snowoman) standing behind them.]

Edited 2023-12-05 04:20 (UTC)

[Eustace will not complain or try to stop her as he helps to continue that kiss, his hand rising to cup her cheek as he wants to hold her ever closer. And just as his thoughts begin to stray...

...?

He noticed the sound about the same time she did, though he was more willing to just ignore it. In fact he almost tries to pull her back, but curiosity gets the best of him and he looks over behind him...

...]

...Those weren't there before.

No...

[She lowers her voice, her eyes never once leaving them.]

... Do you think they can hear us?

[They're certainly staring, but they remain as still as they do, their small, black eyes made of coal watching steadily.]

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