songerein | open 🌠 you see the shadows

Entry tags:

open 🌠 you see the shadows

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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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...

[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.]

Edited 2022-01-17 19:12 (UTC)

[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?

[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.]

[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...]

[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...]

[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.

[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.]

[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.]

[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—]

[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...]

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.

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.]

[He watches her, noting her expression as the idea of a "list" has now seemed to formed between them.

Even so, he doesn't find it objectionable.]

Are we sure we could trust a camping trip? Given our luck.

[He's saying it in jest, but. ... ...Kind of serious.]

[He has a point. Their history hasn't been kind to them, and it doesn't seem to be letting up soon. Although, on the brighter side, they've been able to move past this one with ease... so far.]

If we've learned anything from our luck, I think it's that we'd be ready for anything.

[And if they haven't, then they'd be the fools.]

If it makes you feel any better, I'd be happy to do all that here. The dogs seem to like it... having people around.

[She would like to think they all like having her around... and that Eustace does too...]

[There's just a long stretch of silence as he stares at her.]

You really want to taste my cooking?

[His expression is unreadable, but there is a teasing hint in his voice before he takes another forkful of his eggs. He's fairly certain he can't cook them this well.]

[Well... when he asks like that...

Tifa arches her brows through a whole apple slice, and there's a loud CRUNCH that breaks the silence that haunts them next.]

I said I did, didn't I? I could offer you some tips if you want.

[Grinning, there's another crunch from her apple.

For real though... ]

Lesson number one: Start with what you know and build from that. I'll help.

[To be fair, cooking for one another doesn't have to mean anything... But this is between them and apparently everything they do means something. So he just watches her for a moment before there's the smallest of grins.]

Assuming I need your help.

[Them be fighting words.]

[Them's fighting words indeed, and Tifa pretends to be taken aback by them.]

Assuming you do. If you're saying you don't, then I'll set the bar a little higher.

[Be careful what you wish for!]

Next time, I'll get you to make breakfast for me—

[Her gaze drops to her plate, and the eggs that she had been poking at are stuffed into her mouth again, as if trying to shut herself up. Next time what, Tifa? Next time what!?]

Or... dinner.

[There's a small pause when he fully registers the implications of "next time" and "breakfast," his fork hovering right over the remaining eggs.

...

Would it be bad if he admitted that he doesn't object to the idea? That it doesn't bring as much discomfort as they might have thought? ...But it's still early to really say anything to that effect.]

Breakfast, lunch, dinner—I'll take whatever challenge.

[He glances up at her, looking at her briefly before his gaze returns to his plate and he resumes eating. Rather than confirm or deny, he just continues with it, trying to keep it light like a joke...while also carrying his own implications with it.]

Then you're on!

[Her voice has grown quieter but no less enthusiastic through all the eggs, and there's even a ghost of a laugh lined in there somewhere, softening the otherwise harder edge in her eyes when she feels him looking across at her.

Despite all the levity, she knows that there's something else on their minds. She could hear it in the brief pauses and see it reflected back at her when she steals a glance at him. She'd be surprised if the dogs couldn't sense it with the way they whine to fill in that silence, but it could just be that they want a share of the food as well.

There's another beat of quiet that follows, and... it's probably best if one of them bites the bullet, isn't it? Before that weight becomes so unbearable that neither of them can speak.]

Eustace... About what happened...

[Slowly broaching the subject, she leaves that hanging and waits, watches for shifts in his expression.]

... We'll be okay, right?

[His movements slow when she addresses him. He can tell what she's broaching, knows that it's probably time they stopped shying away and dealt with the consequences of what happened. And what they need to do from here.

There's a small, silent pause before he quietly sets down his fork and sits back in his chair so that he can face her properly. Although not stern, his expression doesn't carry the lightheartedness from before, now more serious. He's trying to read her, wondering if he what he's guessed is true or a misunderstanding.

But since she's the one who asked first he can only assume that she doesn't want them to be driven apart. They wouldn't be sitting here, eating and lightly joking around if there wasn't something still there, but... Things could still break.]

...If you want us to be.

[His eyes close briefly before he speaks out what's been on his mind.]

But I think we need to get straight to the issue. There's no doubt we both feel something beyond pure physical attraction to each other—last night proved that.

[It wouldn't be uncommon for two healthy adults to sleep together just for the sake of pleasure, but that's not how he works and he's fairly certain she's the same. As she had asked before, there had been meaning to it, one that wasn't superficial. The problem is how deep is it really and is it worth pursuing?]

But as I said before, I don't think either of us are ready to establish anything yet. If we were, we wouldn't feel this kind of uncertainty between us. [He looks at her for a moment.]

What are you afraid of?

Edited 2022-01-18 18:16 (UTC)

[She holds his gaze, steeling herself for whatever it is he has to say—for the truth, and it hits a little harder than she expected it would, and all because he's right about everything. No matter how closed off she can be sometimes, no matter how deep she buries and hides all of those feelings, he'd opened her up like a book and read every word.

And the surprising thing is... for as much as she fears it, she doesn't hate it.

So, what exactly is she afraid of? Why is there this lingering, nagging feeling in the back of her mind that she can't shake off no matter how many times she tries to lighten the mood, or think about something else, like scrambled eggs or cooking tips? It's been there since she woke up this morning, and it's going to continue to eat away at her until she figures out what it is.

That feeling... That's what she's most afraid of, but putting that into words either of them would understand is proving harder than she anticipated.]

Everything... [she answers with a huff of nervous laughter.] I'm afraid of everything.

[Of taking a step forward or back. Of opening herself up or closing herself off. Of being with him and without him.]

I wish I could just... stay still for a while.

[He's silent as he considers her words before nodding slightly.]

I feel the same. Ever since we got here we haven't really been able to process anything we've been thrown into. [He definitely hasn't had the peace and quiet he yearns for.

He then looks at her.]

...Truthfully...it's because of that that I'm hesitant as well.

[He puts it into words so easily. They really haven't had time to process anything since coming here... and Tifa, who still bore some memories of him from a previous world which—without a doubt—have influenced her in some ways here hasn't been given the chance to sit back and look at things from a broader perspective. From one where they aren't stuck in boxes or as dogs or enchanted by magical slugs.

This would mark the second time they've met where something didn't go completely wrong, if she's counting right? And even then, neither time was without its dilemmas, and they're having to face all of it now.]

I guess it has been a pretty crazy few months, hasn't it?

[It's such an understatement that she has to laugh about it.]

Maybe that's what we need. Some time to process everything... Make sure we know what all this is?

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