songerein | closed 🌠 hold on, there will be better days

[Tifa falls silent, except for the small hum and gentle nod of understanding, but her eyes are bright with sympathy as she studies Ori. She understands. Time goes on and people change, and she understands that well. It makes her think back to home, and about a dear friend who she feels the same way about, so she doesn't press any further, but she does scoot a little closer to take a look at Ori's marshmallow.

It seems like a good time to change the subject to something a little lighter anyway. They have marshmallows to roast!]

That looks about done! You don't want it to melt too much, or else you won't be able to eat it.

[Tifa demonstrates with her own as she tries to pull it off over the end of the roasting stick, but it only melts and droops all over her hands, and with a giggle, she shows it off.]

See?

[ It's Tifa's gentle voice that snaps Ori out of the urge to lose herself in bittersweet memories - just as it had in her nightmare. There's no hiding the soft, thankful look that she gives the other woman even if she wanted to, but she startles a little when their attentions are turned back towards the marshmallows. ]

Oops! You're right - wouldn't want that to burn, now, haha...

[ She carefully pulls her roasting stick away from the flames, and then watches as Tifa demonstrates the cruel fate of a too-roasted roasted marshmallow. Ori is likewise swept into a giggle at the sight, and the flowers woven into her hair perk up ever so slightly. ]

Miss Tifa, your hand! Now it's going to be all sticky...

That's just part of the process!

[There's no escaping the white, sugary goop that strings around her fingers, but Tifa is only amused by it, frantically searching with wide eyes for something—anything that might help save her and the marshmallows from this cruel fate.]

Do me a favour? Reach into this bag here and take out the chocolate and box of crackers. This might help...

[Maybe. With the state this marshmallow is in, there may be no saving it, alas! But it's worth a shot.]

[ Ori can't be too upset, at least, given how Tifa seems to be genuinely enjoying this. But she's at the ready to help as soon as Tifa asks about a favor, and Ori likewise searches frantically for the aforementioned chocolate and crackers.

She thinks she should be searching for a towel or cloth or something to perhaps wipe the gooey bits off with, but—! She lifts her roasting stick up to her mouth and bites down on it, freeing her hands up to rummage through the bag to retrieve the requested items. When she pulls them out and holds them up for Tifa, her words are muffled by the obstruction in her mouth as she tries to say, "Here you go," though it comes out more like: ]

Hee you koh!!

[She takes the box of graham crackers first, ripping at the wrapping paper with her teeth before she's carefully dropping one into her lap. As deftly as she can, she tries to squeeze what's left that she can rescue of the marshmallowy goop from the stick between two crackers, and it only partly works, as one half of it sticks and the other falls unceremoniously to the ground.

Ah... A terrible loss.

But Tifa shows her crooked sandwich off with amused laughter.]

So, have you ever had a s'more before? Because this'll be the only way to save these poor little guys.

Ooh...

[ Ori takes the stick out of her mouth and then watches in complete awe as Tifa assembles the s'more, having never seen this combination put together before! She has had this sort of squishy confectionery a few times in the past, but she's never thought to put them together with crackers and chocolate...? She almost misses the way that half of the goop falls off entirely, in fact. ]

No, I've never had one before! It looks really delicious! May I try making one, too...?

[Ori doesn't even have to ask, and she only gets partway through her question before Tifa is enthusiastically sliding over the box of crackers and chocolates. Carefully, so as not to ruin what little structural integrity is left of her own smore!

What you're supposed to do is take two crackers, a piece of chocolate, and sandwich them around your marshmallow to pull it off.]

[Tifa tries not to laugh as she attempts to take a bite of hers, but fails miserably as it crumbles in her hands.]

As you can see... I didn't do such a great job...

[ There's no concealing the delight that makes its way onto Ori's face as she watches Tifa assemble her s'more, and now that she has her own ingredients, the tiefling will try to make her own...!

It... works, more or less, though this does feel like kind of a... sticky situation. It's only a little better than the little sweet sandwich Tifa put together, but she holds it up as though she's waiting for an appraisal. ]

Oh... Mine's like that, too. But I'm sure it still tastes good!

[ And so she will try to bite into hers as well. Ori knows that it's going to be delicious, but she's not prepared for how gooey but crunchy it is! ]

Mmm—!

[Tifa joins her in solidarity, taking another messy bite. The marshmallow oozes over her fingers and she tries to save it from getting all over her lap with... minor success. She'll just have to make sure to clean up later—s'mores are always messy, so she knew what she was getting into!

She watches Ori expectantly, trying not to laugh, as she awaits her verdict.]

Well? What do you think?

[Although she can probably guess. Who doesn't like s'mores!?]

[ Moments like these, Ori can't help but wish she was a wizard. If she was, she could easily take care of that little mess!

It takes Ori a while to get through that first bite, having to work through the gooeyness of it all, but her the flowers in her hair perk up and bloom a little, conveying everything she thinks about the s'mores without her having to say anything.

When she does finally finish with that bite, though, she says, ]

It's— so delicious! And it was so easy to make!

Isn't it!?

[Tifa is absolutely lit up, as if the sun is shining a little brighter on them, and she laughs, pleased with herself as she stuffs the rest of the s'more in her mouth—mostly to save herself from whatever mess it will continue to make for her, and it's a little on the hot side still, so when she talks, it's with a hand over her mouth.]

All it takesh ish shome chocolate and—ow, hot! [She pauses to swallow, her face scrunching.] Graham crackers, and marshmallows. It's a really fun group thing to make too. Everyone just sits around, roasts their marshmallows, and then you enjoy it all together.

[There's something very whimsical about her voice and expression. Nostalgic.

And how convenient that they have a communal firepit big enough to fit plenty of people around it!]

Edited 2022-03-15 18:38 (UTC)

Please be careful!

[ Oh, no, Ori is totally helpless against the urge to giggle as Tifa talks through the smore, her words all muffled and garbled by the sticky treat in her mouth. Ori's own hand goes up to her own mouth to conceal her laugh, but it's really no use - and it's really to Tifa's credit that Ori feels comfortable enough to laugh like this in her presence. ]

...Ah, but you know, I've been thinking about how to bring people out to the fire like this. It's a nice space, and with everything going on it might be nice for people not to feel alone. I was thinking about making a big pot of soup, but... maybe s'mores would be a better idea!

[If Tifa could light up any more than she already has, she would. Any opportunity to bring the dreamwalkers together like that is a good opportunity, and she is a firm believer that in times like these, people can always use another who is going through a similar thing, even if they might not think it.]

That sounds like a great idea! But why not have both?

[Soup and s'mores! It's the best of both worlds.]

S'mores are really sweet and sugary, so they might not be up everyone's alley. So maybe have a little bit of everything. Sweet, savoury, and maybe some things in between.

[ Ori hums thoughtfully. It certainly couldn't hurt to have a wider spread of offerings, since everyone comes from such different places and would undoubtedly have different tastes... But in the spirit of sharing things that she has learned from other dreamwalkers, another idea pops up in her mind. ]

That's a great idea, too! I wonder... what if everyone could bring something from their homes?

[ A beat, then she adds: ]

I mean— from their home realms. Though I guess it would be from their homes here too, if they decide to cook something... Anyway, that's what I meant!

Edited 2022-03-19 18:56 (UTC)

[She's hardly finished chewing on the rest of her s'more before she's preparing another pair of marshmallows on her roasting stick, this time one for herself and one for Ori, and she holds it higher and more carefully over the fire this time around.]

Honestly!? That sounds even better!

[She's kind of jealous that she didn't think to say it first!]

There have been a few places that have popped up recently that do just that. A little bit of cooking from home.

[And she's still thinking about opening up her own as well, but that's not for a while...]

Maybe when the weather starts warming up, we can get the word out. Wanna make sure as many people can make it as possible.

I-Is that so? Maybe I'll have to visit those places, sometime... I usually just cook at home. I'm not really used to going to other places to eat.

[ But, at the promise of a friendly gathering when the warmth of spring arrives... Ori can't help but smile at the thought. It's her favorite season, and now there's even more to it to look forward to. ]

But I'm really looking forward to this! I just know it's going to be a wonderful time, especially because you'll be involved!

[ Even though they've only just met, Ori holds Tifa in the highest regard. With such warmth and kindness, there's no way that this potluck will be anything short of great. ]

How about I take you to one? My treat. [Even though money isn't an object here, she still insists!] We can plan it all over lunch once we get closer.

[Honestly, she's just looking for more excuses to hang out with Ori. Not that she needs any, but she's been enjoying the girl's company, even if they've only just officially met.]

I've already got some ideas. ... Have you ever done karaoke before?

Oh!

[ The flowers in her hair perk up just a bit at the thought of going out for a meal, and with Tifa! She's really not used to going out to eat asides from stopping at taverns along adventures, and she's even less used to somebody asking to take her out for one. ]

That... That sounds like a lot of fun! Although... what's 'karaoke'?

If we go to the Wild Harvest, I'd be happy to show you, but...

[Tifa pauses to stretch, a content hum escaping from the back of her throat. The fire is warm, and she feels even warmer, and the sweet smell of the marshmallows starts to fill the air and she has to wonder if it's meant to do that, or if they're the ones magnifying it.]

It's way more fun with a lot of people, so everyone would get together and take turns with a microphone to sing songs. Usually there's a TV for the words to it, but we can find other ways too. Others can sing along too, or it could be a solo thing. I used to have karaoke nights in Seventh Heaven sometimes, and it would get pretty rowdy.

... In a good way.

[ Hold on. ]

Um... I'm sorry to have to ask, Miss Tifa, but... what's a microphone? And a tee-vee...?

Still, singing along with other people sounds like it would be fun!

[Her brows arch, but only briefly. She shouldn't be surprised—not everyone came from a technological marvel of a city like Midgar, so forgive her for the giggle that breaks the surprise on her face.

Tifa shakes her head at her apology and offers a second marshmallow to Ori.]

A microphone is something that can make your voice louder. Hook it up to some big speakers and everyone on the block'll be able to hear you sing.

[Although is that what they would all want...?]

And a TV is... hmm. It's like moving pictures that you can watch on a screen.

[ Speakers...?

Not wanting to trouble Tifa with more explanations, though, she nods along and pretends to understand all of that. ]

I... I see... Okay. I can imagine something that can make your voice louder. I know a spell that can do that, actually... and moving pictures sounds a bit like an illusion, maybe?

I guess I won't really understand unless I see for myself, but regardless, singing songs along with everyone sounds like fun!

[She can tell that the word had still gone over Ori's head, and all she can do is smile fondly at her, biting back a giggle.

Honestly? Tifa can't blame her at all. Her explanations left a lot to be desired and trying to explain it in a way that someone who's never experienced it would understand isn't easy—it's one of those things someone never thinks about at all until asked. It's definitely better shown than told.]

It's really fun. No matter how bad someone's day at work was, I knew they could count on karaoke nights at the bar to cheer them up. It was something that really brought people together, you know? Even if most of them were halfway through my cases of beers by the time I turned it on.

[Ah, the stories she could tell.]

One time, a customer even tried to serenade me.

[ Tifa's description brings a fond, nostalgic look on Ori's face. What she's saying almost sounds like a lively night at a tavern, maybe one where a bard sings a well-known song that gets everyone singing along... and she can't help but think back on similar memories, ones that feel like they were a lifetime ago especially now. ]

I think I understand what those nights are like now... It's fun when music can bring people together like that...

But- ah! You're so pretty, I don't have a hard time believing that a customer would try to serenade you at all!

[Ori, please!

The fire roars a little higher and Tifa can feel that warmth burning in her cheeks and the tips of her ears, and all she can do is respond with a shy peal of laughter that she drowns out with a purposeful bite of the roasted marshmallow on the stick.]

You never know. Maybe someone'll try and serenade you at karaoke night too.

[And hopefully it'll end a lot better for that guy than it did for the one who tried that trick on Tifa.]

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