closed 🌠 off into the world we go, planning futures, shaping years.

[starshower]

Who: Tifa Lockhart & Eustace.
Which: Closed log.
Where: At home, and in their dreams.
What: It's Tifa's birthday, and Eustace surprises her with a special visit home.
Warnings: Fluff. Lots of fluff.


[Compared to last year, as well as everything that has happened in the last month or so—between going back home and coming back and being crowned Flower Royalty again—she had wanted a quieter night celebrating her birthday. A night with just her, Eustace, Lyria, and the dogs in their home. She would see to it that they could celebrate something at the café when the time came, but she spends a majority of her time there, and what she needed to make time for was a break. A much-needed reprieve at long last amidst all of the chaos that is her life. It's never a bad sort of chaos, but everyone needs to breathe once in a while, right?

Of course, no one lets her cook, as much as she tries to make them let her, she is banished from the kitchen for the day... but at least she gets to enjoy her husband's cooking again, and a cake for dessert, all in the peace of their home.

A home, she realizes, that they have lived in for longer than they haven't in this world. One they built and cultivated together... and it's that thought that fills the entire house with warmth, the starflowers both inside and out blooming big and shimmering bright well into the evening.

Today had been exactly what she wished for, and she could not have asked for anything more.

And now that things have settled and most of the dogs have descended downstairs, Tifa stands at the fridge, hidden behind the door, while Eustace sees to them...

...

....

And is stealing another bite of cake from the leftovers when he comes back up.]

Comments

[flamekthunder]

[A nice, quiet time together with the family is always a favorable time, even more so when it's to celebrate Tifa's birthday. Surely others may want to, but after last month and really the whole year, it seems fitting she spends some private time this year. She can always do more with the others later.

After an enjoyable evening and making sure everyone is taken care of downstairs, Eustace makes his way up, closing the door, and...

...

He'll just come up around behind her.]

Still hungry?

[starshower]

[She hadn't heard him coming, or if she had, she doesn't realize that he'd come up behind her. So, when his voice comes, she starts and shoves the cake back into the fridge, whipping around quickly with a tiny dab of icing on her lips and her mouth full of cake.]

... No.

[flamekthunder]

[There's just a quirk of his brow at her reaction before he grins and leans his hand against the fridge above her.]

Really?

[starshower]

[Her cheeks puff out a bit as she relaxes her jaw and bobs her head with a nod, eyes flitting up to his hand bracing above her head and trapping her.]

Mm-hm.

[She refuses to open her mouth right now as she sloooowly starts to chew, but there is an amused glint shimmering in her eyes, like she knows that she's done something she "wasn't supposed to", and she's been caught red-handed.

Even though it's her cake, on her birthday—]

I wash jush getting ready for bed...

[As small crumbs fly out of her mouth, and she bites back a smile.]

[flamekthunder]

[And another little look as he watches those crumbs fly out before laughing as he leans in to kiss and take a little lick of that icing around her mouth...]

Well...if you're that sated, then I guess I don't need to give you anything else.

[...and just lowly murmur against her lips before he pulls back, his tongue running over his lips to wipe away any remaining traces as he steps back.]

[starshower]

Mmf—

[Her mouth is still incredibly full of cake so when he leans in to steal the icing, she clamps her jaw shut lest she spray more crumbs in his face by the surprise. This time, she really wasn't trying to lure him in—though she's definitely not complaining—but instead, she'd just taken a very big bite of cake.

And when he steps back.]

Wait...!

[She grabs him by the hand to stop him.

...

....

And she's just going to need a moment to chew.

...

And chew.

Until she can finally swallow.]

That's not fair!

[flamekthunder]

[He'll wait patiently as he just watches her try to finish chewing down that cake with an amused look.]

It's not?

[starshower]

[She gives his hand a playful tug.]

Who said I was sated? I'm still missing my dessert...

[flamekthunder]

Really?

[Just a pointed look at her crumbly mouth.]

Looked like you took a generous helping of it just now.

[starshower]

[She giggles, closing the distance between them so that her arms can go around him for a hug, her head falling to his chest with a content sigh.]

But you haven't even told me what it was you were gonna give me...

[Her head lifts, and she wears her mightiest puppy eyes.]

On my birthday?

[flamekthunder]

[A low hum as his arms slowly wrap around her waist.]

Hmm, I don't know... Perhaps you've already had enough. Not to mention you just wanted a quiet evening...

[starshower]

[She huffs and pouts dramatically.]

Alright, fine.

[And now she's starting to shuffle them across the kitchen floor, guiding him backwards towards the bedroom.]

Off to bed we go, then.

[flamekthunder]

[Letting her guide him, taking careful steps as he's walked back.]

Don't want to spend some time relaxing in the tub?

[Just a sly smirk as he looks down at her.]

[starshower]

[She tilts her head up at him, curiosity brimming in her gaze, her cheeks flushing just a touch.]

... Oh? Will there be something waiting for me in the tub? Like my husband?

[Of course she's not going to say no either way.]

[flamekthunder]

[Another low hum.]

Maybe.

[And just a mischievous, playful grin before he pivots on his heel to walk forward. He does have some actual special things prepared, but—well it's them. Everyone knows how this goes—]

[starshower]

Ah—?

[She makes a small, confused noise when he shifts away from her like that, but she only pivots around with him so that now she is the one walking backwards.]

You know that you don't need to try being subtle anymore. Everyone's gone to bed.

[flamekthunder]

But that would ruin the surprise.

[A light grin as they near the bedroom door.]

Would you really want me to reveal everything now?

[starshower]

[Her eyes warm as she reaches up to lightly boop him on the nose.]

How many more surprises do you have left? You're going to run out of them sooner or later...

[flamekthunder]

I can be resourceful.

[And with her now against the door—]

Now close your eyes. I'll guide you the rest of the way.

[starshower]

[Ah, there goes her back to the door, and she stops, and stares up at him with a grin for a moment...

...]

Alright, but I trust you won't let me trip.

[And closes her eyes.]

[flamekthunder]

[There will be a low chuckle as he leans in close to her lips...]

I won't.

[And then just a puff of warm air before he leans back, places his hands on her shoulders, turns her around, opens the door, and shuffles her in~]

[starshower]

[She's almost tempted to just chase after him when she feels him lean in, and almost tempted again to peek open an eye when he turns her around and shuffles her in, but she'll be good and stamp out both urges... for now...

And wait to see what it is he wants to surprise her with!? Is there even a surprise!? Not that it matters either way, but the air buzzes with her eagerness anyway—]

[flamekthunder]

[She may be able to catch a whiff of it as he opens the bathroom door and leads her in: the soft, sweet scent of starflowers.]

Keep them closed.

[He knows she'll be tempted so he just smiles as he continues to slowly lead her in further...]

All right, you can open them now.

[And she'll find the bathroom has been decorated with candles, the tub already prepared with starflower petals floating on the water kept warm by the fire cores burning beneath the tub. The towels, soaps, lotions, and some smaller unfamiliar bottles are set up in a neat arrangement along with a bottle of wine and some of her favorite snacks (all of which safe to have while in a bath).

There is a small stool situated next to the tub.]

[starshower]

[She had a feeling she knew what was coming the moment the scent of starflowers hit, but she is no less surprised by it when he tells her she can open her eyes, and she does. Somehow, even after all this time of being together, after the many surprises that they have shared, he still finds a way.

That buzz of anticipation turns into one of both fondness and surprise as Tifa's gasp echoes through the bathroom, and she bounces on the balls of her feet at the sight of the strawberries and wine that's ready for her.

But her eyes do land on the small stool.]

And who's that for?

[flamekthunder]

[He grins pleased in seeing her reaction.]

For me.

[And he can already guess what she's thinking.]