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

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.]

[ Oh. Well, it's Ori's turn to fluster a little, as the flowers in her hair unfurl and bloom just a little bit more. She's never been serenaded before, but the thought of it has put a certain someone in mind. Maybe a few someone's. What is going on in her head, honestly. Regardless... she shakes her head, quick to deny such a scenario from being a possibility. ]

Hah, I don't know about that...! But it will be a good time no matter what because you'll be there, Miss Tifa!

I'm glad we got to meet and spend time together like this.

[Well regardless, Tifa will for sure make it happen, even if she's the one who has to do it herself!

She holds out the roasting stick for Ori if she'd like to take another marshmallow for a second helping of s'mores.]

Me too. And I'm sorry again about the dream, but... at least we got the chance to meet because of it!

[Silver lining? If it's there, she'll find it.]

We'll need to do this again soon.

[Campfire, s'mores, or just hanging out in general. In the small time she's known Ori, she's already grown fond of her and wants to be friends, and she'd like to that sharing marshmallows over a fire is a great start.]

closed 🌠 hold on, there will be better days

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