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

[Another surprise...

She's going to stretch herself up to press a light, tender kiss to his lips, her own a bit cold.]

I can think of about twenty different things you could surprise me with right now, and I wouldn't expect a single one of them.

[A quiet laugh as he saviors the moment, his hands subtly pulling her closer at her hips.]

This one is a little simpler... But you'll never guess the others after.

Hmm?

[Tifa smiles into another kiss that she offers him, humming contently.]

I think when it comes to you, no surprise is all that simple. Still can't figure out what it is.

[And then another, as if his lips might have the answer if she could just kiss it right out of him.]

Are you gonna tell me or what?

Hmmm....

[Just a low hum as he indulges her, kissing her in return...

...

Before pulling away, this time actually taking a step back as he does with a playful smirk.]

You'll just have to follow me.

[Her eyes go wide and her lips fall open in genuine surprise when he steps away, that warmth lingering and tingling on her lips before she's met with the cold again, but she reaches out to grab hold of his hand.]

Lead on, then. ... Do I have to close my eyes?

No, keep them open.

[Still an amused look as he tightens his hand over hers and leads her down a familiar path, past the rest of where the wedding venue was and down a few more steps towards the embankment...

...Towards a familiar little pier.]

[Oh, that little pier is a familiar one, alright, and honestly? She's a little surprised that after all this time, it's been maintained so well. Not that it's a bad thing, considering how important that place is to her, but she recognizes their path instantly as soon as they pass where their wedding had been.]

Ah.

[There's a warm buzz in the air.]

That place. Where I first found you here.

[For one... but while that isn't the only memory, it's still the first.]

That's right.

[He continues to lead them to it until their footfalls echo over the wooden planks and they stand in the center of it, Eustace's gaze outward for a moment before he looks back at her with a slight look of chagrin.]

...Admittedly not the best memory.

[Oh how terrible he acted towards her.]

But it's an important one all the same.

[She comes up beside him, this small pier holding so much significance. It might not have been the best memory, but—]

It was the start of it all.

[She looks out to the half-frozen river, the water shimmering in pieces under the icy chunks as it rushes through under the twin moons. It's a little colder by the water, but she doesn't mind—more excuses to stand closer to him.]

It's not the only one, though.

[She motions to the riverbank just further down from where they stand, and while it wasn't on this exact spot where they stood, it's close enough that it all blends together.]

Edited 2023-12-07 04:31 (UTC)

No...

[A light grin.]

But for me, this is probably the most important.

[He pulls her closer, bringing their hands up a little between them.]

It might have just been the start... But without it, there wouldn't have been anything else. That's why... I want to add to it by asking you that if we were to meet in another world, in another time, if you would marry me again there, too.

[There's a slight amused light in his eyes as he looks down at her, knowing he's proposed to her so many times, and that he already knows her answer. But this is just one of the ways he can think of to express how much she means to him—and how much he'll always want to be with her, regardless of what happens here in this world.]

[Her amusement fades into surprise when she's pulled to him, her lashes fanning wide as she twirls until she crashes against him, hands immediately going into his. With each word, her cheeks grow a little pinker, a little warmer, her eyes a little brighter as if he places the stars in them himself, and they may be glistening with the start of joyful tears held back.

There's a silence that follows, though not because she doesn't have an answer. Simply because she cannot find the right words to convey what it is she wants to say when she feels like not even the most enthusiastic strings of yes could do the trick.

Instead...

She looks to his hand in hers and slips it away, only so that she can remove her mitten and proceed to take his glove off, tugging it away one finger at time. When it's finally free, she runs her fingers over his wedding ring, brushing over the soft metal with a soft smile, watching as it shimmers gently in the light.]

I would.

[A simple answer, but it bears the weight of everything else.]

I'd marry you a hundred times... and then a hundred more after that, if I could.

Edited 2023-12-07 04:50 (UTC)

[He could see the emotions filling in her eyes and threatening to overflow. Can feel the spark of joyful warmth and love that embraces them, the starflowers blooming a veritable garden around them, some even floating in the water beneath them.

And at her answer, he only responds by pulling her up and leaning in to capture her lips for a deeper, passionate kiss compared to the ones they've shared so far.]

Good.

[A quiet whisper against her as his eyes bear into hers, the heat that is only reserved for her simmering behind the more joyful glimmer.]

Because I'd ask you a hundred times and a hundred more.

[She senses that kiss coming, so she is ready to meet him when it does, Tifa tipping her head to allow for a deeper kiss, the warmth bubbling between them as she takes in a breath like she's trying to absorb it. Absorb him. Take it all in like she's scared that it's going to go away. It won't, and she knows that it won't, but she treats every moment with him that way anyway.

Her fingers lace between his, her thumb tracing along the line of his ring once more to seek the comfort of knowing that it's there, that he is hers and she is his.

And as she meets his eyes, they hold that same intense love for him that he bears over her, and she cracks a grin.]

... Are you asking me again right now?

Yes.

[No hesitation as he smiles, gently kissing her as he does, his own fingers brushing over where her ring encircles her finger.]

Tifa Lockhart, will you marry me?

[She can't help the uncontrollable giggle that spills out of her, unrestrained and echoing through the air. She ducks her head, so giddy and happy that she fears she might melt away all the snow with the sudden warmth that surges into the air around them.

The starflowers shimmer bright, and there is a twinkle in the air from the tiny stars that burst to life, and it feels as though spring has suddenly swept in over their pier.]

Yes.

[She doesn't even need to think about it before she is throwing herself at him again, lips crashing into his for another deep, fervent kiss.]

In this life and the next. No matter where we are...

[So overcome is she that she feels her chest hitch slightly, a light sniffle as her tears finally fall from her eyes. Though, they are far from sad, and honestly? She can't remember the last time she's cried anything but happier tears, especially so in recent days.

After all the hardships they had to weather to get here, things have finally looked up in comparison...]

... I'm really happy we're here.

[Why does she feel the need to explain anything anymore, she doesn't know, but here she is.]

[She doesn't need to, but he knows and understands. It's such an overwhelming feeling, one that could easily crush them but they would allow it. Especially after all the hell they went through to get here... It's as if fate has decided to reward them of that peace and quiet that he's sought for for so long. Of course there are the ups and downs of reality, but overall? He's never felt so much peace in his life as he does with Tifa now. Never felt so happy.

For most of his life he never thought he'd ever get any of that joy back, one that had been so cruelly snuffed out and a pain he carried for so long he had forgotten what it was like to be without. But now, with her, he not only remembers but has discovered something completely new.

And he's so, so grateful to her for it. So grateful that he's certain he'll never be able to show or tell her just how much, but he'll do his best all the same.

This time, he doesn't bother with words. He just pulls her back in for another kiss, one that can only carry a fraction of how he truly feels. If he didn't have more planned, he would have just ended things right here and take her somewhere else, but... For now he'll just have to be satisfied with this.]

[As for Tifa, she never needs much. Never expects or wants more than what she has, and if she has him, then what else even is there to wish for? A kiss is plenty, and she accepts and returns it in kind,
hoping that it will tell and show him the things that words would fail to explain. Something that language cannot touch.

She slides her fingers out from between his at last so that she can wrap her arms around his shoulders, deepening that kiss further with a gentle parting of her lips, the heat of her breath dancing across his in a quiet, soft bid of an invitation. A brief one, to be sure, considering where they are, but she can hardly help herself.

And when it's over, she doesn't go far.]

... You're sure this isn't the end of the night?

[An invitation he will gladly accept—though she may regret it a bit as he's proven to not really care too much about where they are. Particularly since they're practically alone right now.

But as much as he wants to savor and take more of her taste, and as much as he would like to whisk her away...]

...Could make it so.

[...There is something more scheduled.

He lightly bites her lower lip, eyes gleaming down at hers.]

But there is one place we need to go... That will help with that little "ending."

[She giggles again, grabbing his lips for one more kiss to soothe that light little nip.]

I have a feeling that "ending" doesn't exactly mean what I think it does, though.

[It never does.

Fortunately for him, she still hasn't figured out what that means.]

Who knows.

[Just another cryptic smile and suggestive glance, lips brushing against hers one last time before he pulls back. If he doesn't, they surely will never leave because there is no question he wouldn't let her go if she tried to be the one to part.]

This way.

[Not that she would have complained—

But she takes one last glance at the snowy pier, wanting to take in the sight before she lets him lead her away, arms once more looping together because she can't stay apart for long.

And as they walk, she gives a whimsical sigh.]

... Wow, can't believe I'm going to be a married woman.

[A quiet laugh as he guides her carefully back up the path towards the main street, making sure the steps aren't too slippery for her and her heels.]

Stranger for me. Thought I would be single all my life.

[He could carry her still if he wants—]

Wonder what it's like...

[She grins, happy that he's decided to play along.]

Think it's everything people say it is?

I've heard different stories... So depends which you'd want.

But...

[A gentle squeeze of her hand.]

I think ours will be better, regardless.

[Her cheeks flush, and her hand squeezes his back as she rests her head on his shoulder.]

Bet we'll put all those other stories to shame.

[They already have, she thinks. Two worlds, two different sets of memories converging all into one, and now here they are... proposed to again for the... how many times is that now?]

I guess we'll see. You'd better make a good husband.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject