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

[darkcharge]

[ Vanitas appreciates what Tifa's doing here. He's getting a feral grin spreading across his features. Of course he's also enjoying himself. But a little more... Just a little more soaking up some of that negative energy floating around the area. Enough to give Vanitas just another small boost.

Tifa provides him with momentum. The creature is already dazed from the fireball to the face. It's the perfect chance. An opportunity. Vanitas rushes it - allowing for a couple of Unversed to form. Chilis. Mustards. All he needs them to do is float around and launch fireballs and small bolts of lighting. All distractions so that he can imbue his Keyblade with the same Darkness that he's gathered and bring it down on the thing's head.

There's a roar - a pained cry from being assaulted on both sides - and Vanitas decides to go for it. Or, well, he would. But in a fury, the beast comes bearing down on him with it's jaws wide. Vanitas can stop it with his own Keyblade. Then it becomes a struggle, teeth scrapping against the metallic surface. He'd attempt to wrench the weapon back but he has another idea...

Casting a Blizzard spell in it's mouth. ]

[starshower]

[From the other end, it retreats its tail back with what strength it has left, and Tifa tosses fire at it for good measure, although the damage has already been dealt. With its tail now limp and no longer a threat, it's up to Vanitas to take care of the rest, and Tifa turns just in time to see the ice spell burst in its mouth, shattering its teeth back against it, and with that mighty roar, it begins to sink.

And hopefully Vanitas gets out of there in time!?

The boat rocks this way and that as it finally frees it from the coiling bind of its body, and the end of it smashes down against the water so hard that Tifa almost falls. She's holding onto her rope as tight as she's able to keep herself balanced.

Already, the storm begins to clear and she can see the rays of sunlight trying to fight their way through the clouds.]

You did it!

cw: juuuust a little bit of vom sorry

[darkcharge]

[ The blast of ice is enough to shatter teeth and pierce through the top of the beast's mouth. It doesn't take too much effort to rip his Keyblade out of that mouth, taking a few more teeth with it. He fires off a Lightning spell for good measure. ]

Stay down!

[ Which it appears is what's going to happen. Already the boat starts to shift as the waters calm. It seems to be brighter too, but the creature is sinking and that's enough to continue to rock the ship enough so that Vanitas is steadying himself with holding onto that rope.

Too bad he can't respond to Tifa's outburst of celebration. Rather, the boy is all of the sudden dropping to his knees. Hands brace against the wood and his Keyblade disappears. Drawing in all of that negative energy and not releasing it through the Unversed properly has its own problems.

In the next moment he's coughing and hacking. And what comes out of his mouth, as if he's choking on it, is black tar. It hits the wood with a wet plop as Vanitas desperately tries to inhale fresh air. ]

[starshower]

[Tifa's smile fades with her excitement when she sees him topple to his knees, and she rushes up to his side to fall down next to him, her hand immediately going to rub at his back. Her mouth opens to ask him what's going on and if he's going to be alright, but then something falls onto the deck of the ship—something black that makes her stomach drop with dread, even further than it already has.

She gives him a moment to catch his breath before she grips him by the arm.]

Are you okay?

[It seems like such a silly question given what just happened, but...]

[darkcharge]

[ Good, because he's going to need that moment. Thankfully, it's not too bad this time. A momentary lapse in keeping an eye on himself. Vanitas gives Tifa a nod. He won't need to have a full blown spell this time. Though he also ignores the way that his hands still shake a bit. How the tips of his fingers still seem to have a dark stain upon them. ]

It's fine. [ He frowns even as he uses the back of his hand to wipe at his mouth. Probably not good enough for her. ] Could be worse. Just destroy it before it becomes something we both have to deal with.

[ Implies that black mess he just coughed up is not just anything right? And with the way that it starts to move? Vanitas hadn't been joking. ]

[starshower]

Ugh...!

[Tifa doesn't even question it. The moment it becomes to move, she first lights it on fire and then gives it a swift kick when it starts to gain more form, sending it flying into the water as if it were a ball rather than... whatever that is. It lands with a telling plop, and Tifa exhales the air from her lungs in a deep, relieved sigh.

As for Vanitas, 'it's fine' isn't going to cut it, but she won't put up a fight, instead lowering herself back to his side and offering her hand to help him stand.]

Come on. We're safe now, but we shouldn't stay for long.

[darkcharge]

[ Of course Vanitas feels it, but it doesn't really cause him any true pain at the moment. He's far too numb. But with Tifa helping him to his feet, Vanitas is able to pull some of himself together.

The fact that there's no questions about all of this just yet is bonus points in her favor. No doubt that she would see fit to lecture him about his use of negative emotions to give himself a boost. ]

Right. Would hate for the dream boat to fall apart before the ocean one does, right?

[ Lead the way, Tifa. He'll comply. ]

[starshower]

Yeah.

[She'll lead him down to the bottom of the ship again, unraveling them from their ropes before she does now that the waters have evened out. Into the cabins they go, and Tifa is already starting to feel that tug back into the "real" dream world. Now that they're done, the tapirs maybe sense it and are calling them to return? Either way...]

We're about to disappear, but I'll see you on the other side, yeah?

[Her hand rests over his shoulder, and she gives it a light, reassuring squeeze when she helps to lower him onto the cabin's floor.]

At least you shouldn't feel much of the aftermath out there.

[darkcharge]

[ This time he allows it. Doesn't fight the fact that she is the one tugging him along. Doesn't insist that he can manage, that he can do it himself. Now Vanitas probably could, but that's not the point.

Vanitas watches, almost numbly as she works to untie the ropes that have done their job of keeping them on the ship. They're in the cabin and Tifa isn't the only one that feels that little tug. Vanitas does too. So it's not going to be so bad, laying there and 'falling asleep' only to wake up.

Though he should have been able to do THAT much himself. ]

In a few minutes then.

[ Now he doesn't know if he's going to feel as rough outside of the dream, but as Vanitas does close his eyes, he thinks that it would be nice to go back to not feelings so much at all. ]

[starshower]

[Tifa sits next to him, waiting patiently for the dream world to wake her up from this other dream and she joins him in closing her eyes, a sigh of relief taking her into a light lull as the boat rocks gently, back and forth, the sound of dolphins and gulls outside being the only thing she can hear over the steady crashing of waves.]

Mm-hm. In a few minutes.

[And just like that, the tapirs have pulled her out, her dream self shimmering out of existence on this ship, only for her to blink her eyes open on the other side, one of the tapirs flitting around in front of her to check on her. Next to Tifa is Vanitas, sound asleep, and she'll wait right there for him to awaken.]

[darkcharge]

[ To be fair, Vanitas is not too far behind. As Tifa wakes and the tapirs hover, Vanitas has a bit of a different reaction.

Primarily it isn't tapirs checking on him, but two Unversed. Floods, by the looks of it and they are about as twitchy as ever. Yet they don't attack or anything, but they seem like they could if provoked. However, Vanitas does eventually sir. Eyelashes fluttering before his eyes actually open.

It hurts. He hurts. And pushing himself up just makes him grunt and groan. ]

[starshower]

[She doesn't do anything to draw the ire or attention of the Unversed, watching quietly as they hover near him to check up on him. Whatever they are, they're a part of him so it... makes sense that they would? So Tifa waits patiently at his side for him to stir, and for his eyes to finally open.

And when he sits up, Tifa is right there, sliding a hand to his back to help steady him.]

Do you feel anything? Any pain?

[darkcharge]

[ People actually caring about him is always going to throw Vanitas for a loop. It doesn't matter how many times it is expressed to him. Doesn't matter how many times demonstrated. It is what it is. A novelty that doesn't really seem to wear off even with the passage of time and multiple gestures being made.

Yet he waves her off a little. ]

Always, but that's relatively unimportant.

[ Because it's chronic and there's little to be done about that. What he means by unimportant is just that: nothing to be done about it. ]

Did we take care of the problem?

[starshower]

[She gives him a firm nod.]

Yeah. We did. It's done.

[Tifa's relief is palpable in the air, its warmth settling in around them. The tapirs had confirmed it with a single nod as well before flitting off to attend to the others who have come by to help with the others, and she offers him a hand.]

We can relax for a little while now.

[darkcharge]

[ There's a brief pause before he takes that hand. The amount of time that Vanitas sits there, wary of his choice, is going to steadily be decreasing each and every time Tifa extends it. She's not asking after details. Not judging him. Not necessarily telling Vanitas that he is wrong to do this that or the other. Well, she might be thinking it. Of that he has no clue. But right now it is all working to give her points in her favor.

He gets to his feet and stretches a little more. It's as if he is paying more attention to himself than what the tapirs are doing. Even the warmth that is seeping into the area, the gloom and chill from happiness and "light" being sucked out of the area being chased away, doesn't exactly touch Vanitas. But that's fine. It doesn't have to. ]

Yeah, until something else shows up. Something will always be going on, I think. That's just how these things work.

[ He offers a shrug. Then a smirk. ]

If you want to bring me along to that next time, I think I'd be able to handle that.

[ Meaning that Tifa hasn't been an issue to work with. That he is willing to do so again. ]

[starshower]

Don't I know it.

[Tifa's been there, done that. In her world, and in the next, and now this one and she can't help but pause to wonder how many more will need their help before they're made to return. It's not something she likes to think about, but it's always there, an idle thought in the back of her mind that awakens once in a while to remind her of what this is.

Once they save this world, it's onto the next.

Shaking the thought away, Tifa gives him a nod.]

I'll be sure to keep you in mind for the next one. [Because there will always be a next one. For now—] How about right now, you and I go grab a bite to eat?

wrap up! 💖

[darkcharge]

[ Vanitas? He's not interested in all of that. Continuously helping people just because. The ones that prove themselves to him? That make him care? Sure, that. Because they are his. They are his people and he's not about to lose that which he considers his own. That's all that it is for him.

If that means following those people from one world to the next? Whatever... ]

Yeah. Food. I could use that. Hopefully that means no more nightmares for at least a couple of weeks, right?

[ Which means he's going to follow after Tifa. ]

Cake would work, right?

[ Welp. Okay maybe someone need to explain to him that cake does not really a food make. ]