open 🌠 you see the shadows

[starshower]

Who: Tifa Lockhart & you!
Which: Open log + interactive dream
Where: Around Reverein, Mount Nibel
What: Mount Nibel Incident dream, and a couple of dream board postings.
Warnings: N/A for now



✨ i. "the day mom died..." — interactive dream

[There's a winding, rocky path overlooking the town of Nibelheim below, but where it should be clear, the mountain the path leads up is shrouded in a fog that only grows thicker with each passing moment, with what the eyes can see morphing and twisting in and out of view, almost as if the entire landscape isn't sure what it should be. There's an unshakable sound of static in the air, and a rumbling underfoot that isn't too threatening, but it's noticeable enough that it makes itself known.

On one ledge of the path up the mountain are four children. Three boys, whose faces fade in and out of clarity, and a girl with long, dark-brown hair, all looking up at the mountain as they talk, but their words are cut out by the static.]

"Mt. Nibel is scary. Many people have—there."

"—one crosses that—alive."

[The girl turns to face them all, revealing a much younger Tifa, not a day older than nine-years.]

"How about—died? Did—pass through—?" [Tifa wanders past the boys watching her, up the path.] "I'm—"

[Two boys follow while one runs the other way, threatening to bump into any dreamwalkers as he rushes back in the direction of the town. If Tifa is followed, they'll reach a bridge that she crosses fearlessly and without a word, but like the rest of the mountain, it fades in and out of view as well. There, the two boys who remain rush off, leaving Tifa to venture up the rest of the mountain alone.

...

But they stop upon seeing someone new. Someone who might be able to help?]

"Please, you have to stop her! It's dangerous up there! We're going to go back down and get Mister Lockhart."

[And off they go together without another word.]


** ( ooc: Because Tifa doesn't remember this event in full, I fully encourage anyone to have your character influence the setting as much or as little as you'd like! )

✨ ii. freeloading reindeer

[Having done some work on the communal gardens already, Tifa's grown handy with a hammer and nails. Not that she wasn't already proficient enough, but there's a difference between fixer-uppers around a bar that she knew like the back of her hand and building wooden flowerbeds and fences, and the latter has allowed her to at least learn some proper techniques in woodworking. Hell, she's even started learning how to sand and polish, so something like this should be a piece of cake.]

There. I think that's the last of it.

[She'd been hauling wood around all morning, the large planks thrown over her shoulder before she sets them down out in the middle of the farm where there's plenty of room to build out. It's nothing but a pile of wood and a bag of tools, and whoever else has come all the way out here with her, and around them, the reindeer will be grazing and curiously watching from afar, still not sure if it's safe to approach.]

So, it was a new stable for them and a fence, right? Gotta say, biggest thing I've ever built was a flowerbed so this'll be new to me.

✨ iii. new year's noctaere

[It is a little terrifying going up against the Noctaere, especially when she knows little of what to expect upon entering the dreamscape, but Tifa was never one to sit back or sit still for very long. Not when there were threats that needed to be taken care of. She might not be the most experienced partner in the dreamscapes, with her skills in dreamotion magic leaving plenty to be desired, but she can pack a punch when needed, and it has come in helpful in a lot of cases.

That isn't to say she's completely useless at magic, but she'd prefer to let her fists and feet do the talking if it came down to it. Which it will.

And just before stumbling into the dreamscape, she looks over to whoever has volunteered for the job with her, and gives a firm nod.]

You ready?

** ( ooc: if you have a preference for the dreamscape, then please let me know in the subject line! Otherwise, I'll randomize which one we end up getting! )

✨ iv. wildcard

[None of these prompts work? You know the wildcard drill! Feel free to leave something else below, or contact me via PM or @ crystariums if you'd like to plot out something! Tifa can be frequently found at the communal gardens, at the edges of the forest training, and just in general wandering around Reverein, so she's easy to bump into. Also okay with any of the dream board postings!]

Comments

[starshower]

[His grumbling has her brows arching at him, and it takes an extra moment for it to dawn on her what that implies, before she bursts into a short bout of giggles, covering her mouth with the blanket as if that will do anything to stop them.]

What do you mean, "the other one"? There's one you.

[He's the same person, through and through. Tifa might not have known him for very long back in Camelot, but in the time they did spend together, she's never been more sure of anything. That this Eustace and that Eustace are one in the same, with the only differences being their memories.

Although... she'd have to reconsider that... after tonight...

Still, her amusement remains, helping to lighten some of the heaviness that had lingered.]

You have nothing to worry about, I promise.

[If anything, shouldn't Camelot's Eustace be the jealous one?]

[flamekthunder]

[For all they know maybe the ones in Camelot are happily dating and planning to get married and live together!! IT DOESN'T MATTER TO HIM NO— if only

He still looks at her as if not convinced... But he also knows he's being stupid so he lets it go with a sigh, flopping down on the bed and rubbing his eyes.]

...You're the only one who can drive me this crazy and get hung up over useless things.

[starshower]

[The way he falls back against the bed only makes her smile wider, and when he's finished with his grumpy ramblings, she only lays there and watches him.]

I'm sorry.

[This is what it should be. Even if they are laying in bed next to each other, and a thousand other thoughts are running through their heads right now, this is what Tifa had wanted from the start. It feels just like how it had been back in Camelot, where she could so easily laugh in his presence, even when he was being a grouch over the most unimportant things.

How he'd frowned at her from across the bar when they made the decision to move elsewhere, mumbling all the way to that little animal café just down the road, and somehow, she managed to convince him to join her. And how he looked at her when she invited him to the movies... When she'd suggested the date to draw out that woman and how no amount of grumbling could change her mind.

It's how it should be.

Truly though, she is sorry. She never meant for this to happen... Everything leading up to tonight... Any of it.]

... I missed this.

[She says it so suddenly, after a short stretch of silence, but she doesn't backpedal, nor does she move away embarrassed. Instead, her eyes flicker up to him, watching him in the dim light.]

[flamekthunder]

[He's still ruminating over how childish he's acting and can only slightly roll his eyes at her little apology. She should be glad he thinks she's cute.

But just as he's settling back in, he hears those words and reflexively glances over at her. It's then that he realizes that they've relaxed and had fallen into more of a normal rhythm where they weren't so hyper aware of each other, not dancing around each other and trying to keep distance while at the same time wanting to be close.

So he stares at her for a moment before he rolls onto his side to face her.]

...It's been difficult.

[Being tossed in one direction and then another, hardly having any time to breathe.]

[starshower]

[He stole the words right out of her mouth.]

I never liked it... how things always were.

[Just when they thought they could move past the last incident, they would just find themselves in a new one, and it was starting to become this unbreakable cycle. No matter how much she tried to pretend things were normal, that was always just out of her reach every time. They are both partly to blame for that, but how much of it can they put on them when it's this world that keeps finding new ways to keep them on their toes, so to speak?]

Promise me something?

[She turns on her side so that they're fully facing each other now, so she hopes he can sense the magnitude of her wish.]

That things will be normal tomorrow. We can figure the rest out, but we can't keep doing that.

[flamekthunder]

[He stares at her for a moment before his gaze softens.]

...It's hard to run away and ignore things now.

[A small exhale as he reaches over and pulls her to him.]

There are a lot of things we'll need to discuss, but... I'm tired, and I know this is what I want right now.

[Just. Holding her. Nothing more, nothing less. To feel her warmth against his, to know she'll be right there. Is this something he'll want more of the in future? ...Probably. And maybe they've already figured out that this is what they want. But this isn't the right time to decide, not with everything still raw and confusing.

And even if for some reason things don't work out, at least they had this chance. Chance to give in and be honest with each other. A chance to be selfish in their wants.]

[starshower]

[The way he gathers her against him again and holds her—that feels like a promise to her.

And it feels... nice. To lie there next to him and just... be. She can't remember the last time she's felt like this, or if she ever has. It's different, but it's calming. Whatever comes of this tomorrow, she'll at least take this for what it is. She'll accept his comfort, and return it in kind, because in the end, that was what this was all about, right? Everything else was just a surprise.

She buries her face into his chest and closes her eyes, amazed at how quickly she feels the sleep come over her, even when she had been so afraid of it before. Even if the nightmares do come back, Tifa can sleep soundly knowing that he'll be there should she wake up in fear, or if she needs to be saved again. The same would go for him too, if it ever came to it, but she prays it never will.

No matter what happens, he'll be there in the morning, and nothing will change this time.

Her arms slide around him and squeeze.]

Thanks again, Eustace... for getting me out of there.

[And before she can say goodnight, she dozes off into the deepest, dreamless sleep she's had in a while that it feels like a blink before sunrise.

...




Is that... barking?]

[flamekthunder]

[He smiles softly against her hair, lips lightly pressing against it as he murmurs just loud enough for her to hear.]

Always.

[He's always been loyal, but when it comes to her, he feels it even more strongly. So strong that he can't help but hold her a little tighter as she drifts to sleep, and it's not long after that he follows.



And he would be the first to rustle awake as the barking grows louder before he feels something wet and cold touch the back of his shoulders. It's enough to make him jerk slightly and then click his tongue when he remembers he has Tifa in his arms.]

...Dammit I should have locked the door...

[But it's too late. The bed is surrounded with some hopping up to Tifa's side to bark oh so happily and hungrily while nudging her. One is even going to jump onto the end of the bed, not caring that it's already full enough as it is.

Are they not even going to have a sweet morning cuddle???]

[starshower]

[No morning cuddles, apparently. Only cuddles with dogs.

The barking isn't what wakes her up, nor is it Eustace stirring, but something warm and wet at her ear, and then on her face, and over her nose—

She swats at it, but the dog just comes right back with double the enthusiasm until Tifa finally opens her eyes and lifts her head to see what's going on... Only to find several corgis staring down at her and Eustace. She's so sleepy that it takes her a moment to fully realize what's happening, and by then, most of the dogs have hopped up that they're surrounded and crowded.

So crowded that Tifa has no choice but to shift closer to Eustace, and she wipes the slobber from her face.]

Is this what they do for breakfast every morning?

[Or did they just sleep in so late that they got impatient?]

[flamekthunder]

Usually it's not all of them...

[A low grumble as he holds Tifa closer to him, as if not wanting to share her with the dogs, before he swats at them.]

Enough, already! We get it! Cadoc, get 'em out of here.

[Of the two or three not on the bed, the one that had stayed by the door and just kind of side eyeing everything stands and gives a sharp bark. The dogs on the bed grumble and then hop off after another bark. They just want food! And to share love! Grumble whine as they slowly shuffle out.]

[starshower]

[As much as she'd like to stay here a little longer, wrapped up in the warmth and comfort, she watches after the dogs as, one by one, they leave the room.]

... Shouldn't we get them their food?

[How does it work in this household anyway? This is the first time she's been here before breakfast... for all of them. Should she get up and make some for them too?

Maybe a few more minutes, and her arms squeeze around him a little tighter again, the blush on her face more visible now that the sunrise and clear blue skies are filtering through the window. Part of it feels wrong to want to stay, and to be so close—she knows that after this, it'll be as if this never happened, and she should be fine with that. Neither of them agreed to anything... But that other, more selfish part doesn't want to let it go...]

[flamekthunder]

[After watching the dogs leave, Eustace turns his attention back to Tifa. Now without all the nuisance, he can get a better look...and feel of her. In the darkness of night with only the twinkling lights to illuminate her features, he couldn't see everything.

...]

They can wait.

[He knows they should get up. Knows that their dream is over and need to face reality. Knows he needs to pull away now or it will be harder for them to figure things out.

Yet again he finds himself bucking reason and lingering instead, his hand going to her face to lightly touch it before he leans in closer.]

—One more time.

[This crazy— And he actually seems serious, the heat in the air already rising.]

[starshower]

[For a moment, it might seem as if Tifa might be willing. When he leans in close, and when she feels the temperatures in the room begin to rise, she's almost overcome by that temptation again. Her breath hitches, her hips arch towards him, and her lips inches from his can already taste him...

But it's that realization that drags her out of it and back into their reality. The reality that what happened last night could very well have been not a mistake, but very closely dancing the line to being one. And she doesn't want to do it again... Not before they figure out where that line is drawn, and whether they should be crossing it or not.

Because there are still so, so many things that Tifa hasn't worked out for herself. Including her feelings.

So, she only presses a hand to the side of his face and combs her fingers through his hair with a smile lined with sadness.]

We should get up...

[flamekthunder]

[He knows he's pushing it, but even though he knows this is wrong, why does it feel so right? Her fingers through his hair is certainly not helping, nor is the sadness reflected in that smile.]

Later.

[He's leaning more over her now, his own hand caressing her face as closes the distance between them, a sudden strong desire of want and selfishness flaring up.

As he does, there's a strange darkness that falls over them. It's different from the dark cloud from earlier. It's as if night has fallen, the light from the windows completely swallowed by it. Although not overbearing, the way it envelops everything is almost ominous, as if trying to block everything out and keep them in.]

[starshower]

[He isn't making this easy.

The closer he gets, the more she can feel that coil of anticipation winding up again. She can feel her heart racing, and all of that sleepiness that held her captive in bed is starting to wane, her senses and nerves stirring awake when he caresses her face like that.

But the darkness that crawls over them has her stomach turning over that she feels a pang of anxiety that flickers across her face, her eyes widening as she looks past him to the ceiling, and to the window, where she can no longer see the sun and instead, there's nothing but black. The dogs have started barking from the foot of the stairs, and that's when she presses a hand to his chest.]

Eustace...? What's going on?

[flamekthunder]

[He doesn't notice anything strange at first, his sole focus on her beneath him. He's never felt such a strong pull towards someone, nor such a strong want to keep them all to himself. This whole time he had been trying to convince himself he needed to let go, but after last night, after finally admitting to himself everything he had been trying to deny, he no longer wants to. And if he does have to, then just one more time. Just one more time to lose himself—

It's then that he feels her hand press against his chest, and for a moment he considers ignoring it and to pull it away. But it's the sound of her voice, the tremor of uncertainty that makes him open his eyes to stare down at her... Except he can't. He can barely make out her features and his eyes widen in surprise as he sits up to look around them. The darkness lasts for a second more before it suddenly dissipates like an eerie fog, swirling around them—subtly around Eustace—before it disappears completely.]

...I don't know—what just happened?

[Did one of them do that? Did some strange magic? The tree? Unease fills him as he tries to figure it out but can't.]

[starshower]

[And just like that, in the blink of an eye, that darkness scatters, and the light fills the room once more, as if it had always been, and it illuminates the clear unease in both of their expressions. She blinks the sun out of her eyes and pushes herself up enough to peer out the window, and a bird chirps as if to remind her that all is as it should be.]

I don't know... It went dark all of a sudden, and then...

[It was gone.

But she doesn't like how it made her feel. She doesn't like how whatever that darkness was, it took advantage of their vulnerability to seep in, thinking it had gone unnoticed. It makes her stomach turn, and that anticipation that was once there slowly loosens and disappears, replaced with an odd sense of dread that she tries to shake off.]

... Let's just get up and get some food, yeah?

[She doesn't want to stay there any longer...]

[flamekthunder]

[The mood has definitely broken due to what happened, and he can't help feel strange about it as well. As if something is sticking to his chest and it tightens when he looks at her. But the last thing he wants is to have her be anymore scared or uncomfortable, so he just nods.]

...Yeah. You go ahead and get changed first. I'll check around here to be sure there wasn't anything that snuck in last night.

[They did leave the window open, so it's not completely impossible...]

[starshower]

[It's hard to come back from that, the sense of dread stuck to her even as she rises from the bed and stands in the rays of the sun, the warmth trying to force that feeling away. It does, but only because she realizes that she's dragged all of the sheets along to cover herself up, leaving Eustace behind on the bed...

Not that her embarrassment is any better. She can feel a flush lighting up her cheeks as she rushes to grab her clothes that are thrown across the floor or neatly folded on a chair at the other end of the room. And then he'll feel the weight of the blankets fall over him again as she gives them a toss back over.]

I'll go ahead and start breakfast. For us and the dogs.

[But before she leaves the room, she pauses at the door.]

If you find anything strange, call me.

[flamekthunder]

[He honestly had paid very little mind when she walked away with the sheets, instead wondering what could have caused that strange darkness...and why did it have to ruin the mood. Doubts start to play in his mind, but when he glances over to where Tifa stands, it all fades like shadows in the light and he's briefly stunned, mind completely blank.

Until she looks back at him and her face colors before she's rushing off. It's only when the sheets are thrown unceremoniously over that he realizes what happened, and he only barely manages to hold back the chuckle until after she leaves.]

Take your time.

[But as he pulls off the covers and stares out into the now empty room, he feels...strange. Of course this entire night had been strange, a culmination of so many different emotions and thoughts, of uncertainties. Desires. He's had his resolve frayed and tossed out, new ones struggling to latch on before they're tested and tossed away. Thinking back on everything he felt and did...was he really that weak? Or was it actually fine?

One thing's for certain—her absence is much more noticeable and it only makes him waver, the path he should take once clear now blurred.



It'll be some time before he heads down, washed up and fully dressed. Running a hand through his still tousled hair (he never cared much about it to begin with), he greets the dogs who meet him before looking around. He could already smell the warm, delicious aroma of breakfast so he makes his way to the kitchen, and when he sees her there he's briefly reminded of the night she cooked dinner for them.]

[starshower]

[He isn't the only one who thinks back. As Tifa moves about the kitchen, she does so as if it were her own. Without realizing at first, but as she's splitting the eggs and bacon and fruits evenly on the plates, and hears his footsteps wander in, she finally remembers. It was so second-nature it didn't even occur to her that she has already done this. She knew where things were, and had cooked breakfast like she was at home... but this time, it was for two.

... She shouldn't get used to this, she thinks to herself, as she secretly peels a single flower out of the eggs and tosses it aside.

Tifa is just setting the plates down on the table with some water and coffee, and turns to him with a lopsided, apologetic smile and a gesture to the food.]

Dogs are all fed, so... enjoy.

[She'll wait for him to sit before she moves into a chair on the other side, sipping her water first.]

Hope this is enough...

[No doubt she made plenty with how the eggs and fruit pile on his plate.]

[flamekthunder]

[It had taken him a while, but when Tifa turns to him he finally realizes what kind of feeling he had both times.

It's sweet.

...Maybe too sweet.

A small, white bloom appears hidden in the leaves above him as he turns away to meet her at the table. He doesn't say anything at first as he sits down and looks over the plate. Give last time he wondered if little flowers would be there again and he isn't sure if he's disappointed or not that they aren't.]

...It's more than enough, thanks.

[Regardless, no matter how simple it is, just like before that feeling of a home cooked meal prepared especially for him makes him feel...warm. Content. And once again small little white buds appear hidden at his feet and under his chair, visible only to the dogs who are looking over after having finished their own meals.]

I feel like I owe you for having to cook twice now. Maybe go out to dinner—

[He half chokes on his words when he realizes what he's saying and quickly tries to take it back.]

No, I mean—

[Random bolts of small lightning can be heard popping in and out above him as he even looks frazzled and flustered, a slight color to his cheeks and heat flaring up the back of his neck. Goddammit—]

[starshower]

[Well, at least she isn't the only one getting flustered this morning.

From over the rim of her glass, she watches the static crackling in the air around his head, her eyes the only show of mild amusement before she closes them and sets her water down gently.

...

Propping her elbows up, she leans forward. To tease him a little, or not...]

You don't owe me anything. I like it... cooking for other people. Even better when they like my food.

[Besides the gleam still in her eyes, she decides to spare him this time. Besides, going out to dinner... after what transpired, that sounds more like it would turn into a date instead of just a friend paying another friend back for the cooking, and funnily enough, she isn't even sure if she's ready for that just yet.]

Although I wouldn't say no to trying yours sometime.

[Is that any better? She doesn't know...]

[flamekthunder]

It's not that special.

[He will gladly take the tangent, even if it's at his own expense. He also isn't sure he's really ready for what would very likely turn into a date, even if that very may well be where this progresses to. But they first have to actually talk about things which will come eventually.]

I only know basic simple meals, and anything that's easy to make when camping.

[starshower]

Well then, I guess we'll have to add camping to the list.

[Okay, maybe she's teasing just a little bit, but truly, she wouldn't mind tasting his cooking. If it's homemade, and made from the heart, then it's always special. And at least he'd have a pro only a call away if he ever needed cooking advice.

Not that she thinks he would, but it never hurts!

The thought, however, brings a weight back onto her shoulders. It's the one she shed last night that she knew wouldn't go away completely—it would be back, and it would return with a vengeance, but of all the times for it to, it didn't have to be when she was talking about tasting his cooking.

The idea of it just feels so... personal. Domestic.

And that was something that she knew they'd need to talk about eventually.]

Not now, of course. Later...

[She tacks that on quickly at the end, her own face flushing now as she stuffs her mouth with eggs.]