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

You'd better.

[Her giggle is high-pitched and shy, the warmth of his lips making her fingertips tingle, and even after, she doesn't pull away, instead wrapping her hand around his and holding it.]

So, how much longer are you going to keep me guessing, huh?

Not too much longer.

[And as if on cue, as they take a few steps down the walkway past one of the building, there is a horse-drawn sleigh waiting at the corner.]

[Her heart leaps and then skips several wild beats in her chest when she sees the sleigh and the horse just around the corner, and she stops and starts with a gasp.]

Eustace...

[She whirls around to him, her eyes absolutely lit up.]

Is that for us!?

[A quiet laugh.]

Yes. Remember the horses we helped?

... Yes?

[She rushes him, almost looking like she's going to shove him or something, but instead, she wraps her arms around his waist.]

You sneaky... you organized it all for today...

[Another small laugh as he wraps his arms around her.]

Come on, they've waited long enough.

[Nope, doesn't answer as he guides her along towards the sleigh waiting for them.]

[She looks over the sleigh as they approach, as well as the horse as it stomps its hooves gently into the snow, a hand reaching out to run along its neck, giving it a gentle greeting with her hand over its mane before smiling in thanks to the man seated at the front of the sleigh to drive it.

And just as she's about to climb aboard the sleigh, she pauses and glances back at Eustace.]

... This means that there's way more to come, doesn't it?

[And up she goes.]

We have at least one more stop.

Yes... But for now, we can just enjoy the ride.

[He helps her up, providing a supporting hand before hopping on right after. And of course, they will be sitting next to each other, a thick, warm blanket provided as well as some hot chocolate and refreshments the coachman has brought.

And once they're settled in, there's just light flick of the reins and a word of command before the horse pulls away, trotting down the snow covered streets of Reverein.]

[Tifa has no idea where they're headed, nor does she really care much. All of her attention is on the man beside her, huddled up for warmth under the blanket with cups of cocoa in their hands. The ride is leisurely and not cold at all in spite of the thick snowflakes that fall around them, some so thick that they stick to his hair and his ears that she has to reach up and pluck free. They spend their time talking, sipping, and sneaking in kisses in between, her head never straying too far from where she rests it comfortably on his shoulder the whole way through town.

But as the ride goes on, Tifa starts to figure it out. They pass through the plaza, past the residences, and down a trail into the trees that she recognizes well. It's been a while since they've come down this way, but it's hard to forget such a special place.]

... The corgi tree.

[She utters finally, as they come down the quiet path, the sounds of the town so far behind them that her voice is barely a hushed whisper, but still so loud in the quiet.]

[A soft hum as they approach, lights suddenly rising up like stars to help guide the sleigh down the cleared off path to allow a safe, unobstructed travel down it. And as they get closer, the usually dark tree is now alight with sparkling lights and shimmering starflowers that bloom from its branches. Even the "yard" around the tree seems to be glowing a bit, everything cleared out with lights circling the ground to help show the path. And soon, the sleigh slows down just outside before it comes to a complete halt, and Eustace hops down first to help Tifa down—or perhaps even catch her if she chooses to jump.]

[Tifa is stricken with awe as they approach, the little lights that have his dreamotion written all over them helping to guide them the way that they always do, and the starflowers that bloom... is that because of them? Or had they been here before? Did he do that, or did she? It's always so hard to tell when it is the one thing that they have always shared...

It only makes it all that much more magical and enchanting as they come to a halt, and yes, she does choose to leap into his arms—gently. It's more of a fall than anything, expecting and trusting that he will catch her and place her down on the ground.]

Why here, though?

[She thinks she knows why, but she wants to hear his reason, too.]

Well... It's private.

[A mischievous grin before he looks over at the coachman and gives him a nod. With a knowing grin and salute in return, he turns the horse and they soon retreat down the same path, the lights guiding their way.]

And it's been a while since we've been here.

[Tifa waves goodbye to the coachman in thanks before Eustace is leading her down the familiar path to the tree, and she wants to reach out and touch one of the little lights, to catch it in her hand and keep it as a memento for tonight.]

It has.

[She can see the outline of the tree up ahead, but she keeps her eyes on him.]

How long ago has it been since we spent much time here?

Too long.

[And he actually feels a little regret as he places his hand on the door, pausing outside it for a moment.]

You know... Before we got together, I was planning to move into and live here with the dogs.

[Tifa had been about ready to go inside, stopping just short of a step before she falls back to look at him with eyes shimmering with curiosity...

... Before something more muted and bittersweet descends over her expression.]

Yeah. I remember.

[She does take that step forward, but it's towards him instead of the door.]

You spent a lot of time here back then.

Mm.

[A quiet hum as he thinks back. Back to when he and Alice first stumbled onto his tree... The tree's magic making him lose his memories... The ordeal he put Tifa and others through to get them back and finally overcoming the magic... The corgis and everything after... And then they eventually married in front of this tree.]

Feels like a long time ago...

Because it was.

[She smiles, and it reaches all the way up her nose and into her eyes.]

You know...

[She reaches for his hand on the door.]

Since we aren't using it for anything anymore, we could always try and do something with it. I don't know what, but... if it's just sitting here...

[A soft smile as he takes her hand.]

Mm... We should.

[His gaze goes up to the tree, whose branches remain evergreen with the flowers and leaves despite the snow settling onto its branches. It seems to move as if in agreement, the branches swaying in what little wind there is.]

We took away everything it was protecting... I'm sure it would like something else.

[Tifa smiles up at the tree, too, her other hand going to run gently over the wooden door.]

What do you think? [Is she asking the tree or Eustace? Maybe a little bit of both.] A vacation house? Or is it too close to be considered that? Maybe a giant playhouse for the dogs?

Edited 2023-12-08 17:42 (UTC)

Hmm, maybe. But it's still a bit of a walk.

[Hm...]

Other animals, maybe?

Isn't that what the sanctuary's for?

[Though, it isn't a bad idea, given how far into the town the Starflower actually is. And they can't feasibly take care of anything that's bigger than a large dog...

But it's cute that it's the first place Eustace's mind had gone to.]

Unless you mean open it up to the wild animals a little more?

That's what I was thinking. We'd need someone to supervise it, but... For instance now that winter is coming, it could serve as another place for shelter for animals that might have difficulty finding any or need it.

[With her hand on his, Tifa gives the door's handle a little nudge. Her nose is getting kind of cold.]

We could always ask Mirabelle if she knows anyone.

[The fairy likes to boast sometimes about how she has a friend who knows how to do this or that...]

Maybe she's got a fairy friend who wouldn't mind living away from town with some animals.

[A pause.]

But let's worry about that later, yeah? For now... [Tifa takes a step towards him, seeking his warmth.] This can be our special little place.

Hm... Yeah, we can do that.

[The idea is starting to form in his mind more, and he smiles at Tifa.

But as he leans in...]

First... Wait right here.

[He just boops his nose with hers before he grins mischievously and goes into the door.

Without her.

Leaving her outside.]

Huh?

[Her eyes go a little wide when he brings his nose in to touch hers, and there's a tingle of warmth that tickles her and spreads through into her cheeks, and she brings a hand up to it as if she's just been blessed with magic. And maybe she has.

She does as she's told though, and she might peek curiously around the door to see what he's up to, but the house is so dark that she can barely make anything out inside. And whenever he comes back, she'll move again, pretending as if she hadn't been looking at all as she bounces on the balls of her feet eagerly, a new warmth settling in all around her and melting the snow.]

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