closed 🌠 tifa's slumber party

[hearthwarming]

Who: Tifa, Ori, Beatrix, Susato, and Kainé
Which: Closed log
Where: Ori's house
What: Tifa's bachelorette slumber party! it's gonna be way cuter than eustace's stupid party boys are stinky xo
Warnings: Alcohol consumption, hot goss


On the very same evening that Eustace and… quite a group of men have departed on a camping trip, Oriphi has invited Tifa, Beatrix, Susato, and Kainé to her home for Tifa’s respective “bachelorette party.” It has taken quite a bit of research and discussion between Trahearne and Ori as to how exactly these things go; while Trahearne isn’t familiar with these sorts of customs, on Ori’s part it’s more of a lack of exposure to them. She’s only ever been part of one wedding her entire life, and it wasn’t quite like this. There were two bachelors, for one…

In any case, Ori and Diluc’s home is, predictably, very cozy and full of plants. There are various balloons and other such party decorations peppered throughout the house, but most of the activity will be taking place in the large common area. Once everyone has arrived, they begin the festivities with a nice, warm dinner and wine before they get around to the rest of their night!

On the dining table, Ori has set up a floral arrangement station on the large dining table for them to put together both their and Tifa’s bouquets and the other floral decorations needed for the wedding (to be kept fresh with the help of dreamotion) and various crafting supplies for any other little touches and decorations they might want to make for the ceremony or reception.

The coffee table in front of their couch, meanwhile, boasts a wide spread of desserts and cocktails, including macarons and banana boats. Their drinks for the evening are a specialty starry night cocktail which Diluc helped her create; and if they look closely, they would see little dreamotion stars twinkling in the liquid.

There are also created homemade spa treatments like face masks, lotions, and the like should any of them feel like some well-deserved self-care. Their light blue bridesmaid dresses hang nearby, ready for them to try on and have fun with before they’re properly worn for the ceremony, along with Tifa’s wedding dress! And finally, there are lots of pillows and cushions and blankets and bedrolls for each of them for when it's time to fall asleep, and the fireplace is going with a nice, cozy fire.

The evening is, for the most part, loose and entirely up to them, but what matters most is celebrating Tifa and her upcoming nuptials by having quality girl time!

Comments

[judicialassistant]

[ With the arrival of Ryunosuke and with 76 busier than usual this month, Susato has found herself similarly busy at the Harvest, taking over the kitchen. It's unfortunate that Susato wasn't more useful in their research of western-style weddings; perhaps she should have done more, but when the invitation comes, she can hardly find it within her to say no.

She has a bag that she's packed with clothes and a couple of cute plush dolls (the latter of which looks to be holding a book) when she knocks at Ori's door. ]

I hope I'm not too early! May I help set up?

[hearthwarming]

[ Tifa has already arrived as well, having insisted that she also have a hand in setting up for her own bridal shower despite Ori’s protests, and when the tiefling opens the door to find Susato early, too, she isn’t even surprised anymore. She readily steps aside to permit the younger woman in. ]

Ah, Susato, come in!

[ She closes the door as soon as Susato’s stepped in; it’s getting chilly out, after all! ]

You don’t have to help set up, too… I know that you’ve been quite busy lately! Please, if you’d really like to, you can settle in wherever you’d like.

[ It’s a self-care kind of gathering, after all! ]

[judicialassistant]

[ Damn right! Being early is just good manners. She won't protest too much; she knows Ori is just being a polite, good host. Without lingering for too long, Susato wastes no time in making her way inside. First she'll take off her shoes, and then she'll find a spot out of the way to place down her things.

She's clearly getting comfortable! ]

Thank you! I see you two have done most of the hard work already, hehe. [ She'll glance over at everything. ] I think we've all earned a night to ourselves.

[hearthwarming]

You're right, Susato!

[ Ori nods enthusiastically in response, offering her help in getting Susato settled in as needed. Cozy and cluttered with plants this home may be, Ori has made sure there will be space for her visitors’ things! ]

Oh, dear. I would offer you a drink to get settled in, but you might be too young…? Though come to think of it, if you’d like to try some, I wouldn’t disallow it. You would be safe with us here!

[ She is really giving a if you’re going to drink I’d rather you do it in the house spiel… ]

But only if you’d like to, of course.

[judicialassistant]

Oh! [ Susato's posture straightens, though guilt may be causing her to start shrinking slightly. ] I, I have already tried some. Not today, but... before. When we all went to the beach.

I...

[ It's okay, Susato, you can just say you didn't like it. ]

Maybe... [ It's clearly not her priority. ]

[starshower]

[A little later on in the evening after a bit of food, Tifa drags Susato to a pair of cushions on the floor where they can sit across from each other. In between them, there's a small bowl of Ori's homemade face mask cream, and to the side, a few macarons for enjoying. She looks at the solution with a light furrow to her brow, and while she had put some on herself earlier (and is still wearing it), putting it on someone else is a bit different than having someone do it for you.

But she's willing to try!

With a sheepish look, she dabs the tip of her finger into the bowl.]

Umm, I've never done anything like this before...

[judicialassistant]

[ This is probably the first time Tifa has seen Susato with her hair down. It takes forever to brush it to her satisfaction, but she eventually looks pretty comfortable as they both settle onto the cushions. She has to resist grabbing yet another macaron to snack on. If they're going to do this, she probably needs to be still!

...... ]

Don't worry, neither have I... D, Do you think it will tickle? [ Having someone else do it for you? Susato's voice is somewhere between nervous an excited. ]

[starshower]

[Tifa offers her a warm, reassuring, if not a bit crooked, smile.]

Are you ticklish?

[She rolls some of the cream in between her fingers, and arches a brow when she notes how smooth and soft it is. There are little grounds mixed in it that supposedly will help with exfoliating—Tifa always did take care of her skin, but never to the extent of spa treatments like exfoliating face masks, so this is a bit exciting.]

It might feel a bit cold at first. [Slowly, she dabs some more on her fingers and lifts them to either one of Susato's cheeks with a much more serious expression, as if she were asking her for something far more dire than putting on some cream.] Ready?

[judicialassistant]

[ . . . To be honest, physical intimacy is still new to her. She probably hasn't been touched enough to really know, though the answer is probably yes. At least at her feet, which seem to be the usual offenders. As for her face... it'll probably just feel really weird? Sensitive.

Thinking about it, Susato forgets to answer that first question, but she ends up nodding automatically when she hears the second. ]

Yes, of course. [ Not knowing quite what to expect, she closes her eyes. Muscles tense slightly in her face, a slight twitch as she braces for... something cold, and creamy, and just a little bit rough, thanks to the grounds. ]

[roseofmay]

[There is plenty to keep themselves occupied, and whilst Beatrix could busy herself with any number of those said things, she has been poked and prodded by a thought she's had ever since she and Susato initially crossed paths. She simply hasn't had the opportunity to actually make inquiry on it. Or pursue it.

This seems like as appropriate a time as she's likely to get.]

If you do not mind me being particularly curious, I have been wondering how long your hair is when you wear it down.

[Considering Susato... is almost always wearing her hair up in some fashion.]

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato most certainly does almost always have it up in some way. It's just proper, which is heavily ingrained in the way she was raised--not to mention conveniently out of the way. Since settling in Reverein over the past year, however, she's had ample opportunity to branch out and learn to do different things with it.

...For special occasions, mostly. Like a wedding, even if it's not her own. But perhaps this counts, too? ]

Oh, Beatrix! I don't mind... Would you like to see for yourself?

[ She gently tugs at one of the loops in her hair. It definitely comes loose easier than it goes up, so it would only take a few seconds... but perhaps Beatrix would like to be the one to take them loose? ]

[roseofmay]

[...Of course she’d like to see for herself. One has to approach this sort of thing with care, however. Beatrix has never much had in the way of friends, either of the lady or the sir type, and she still can’t say she necessarily knows how to express herself without coming off too stiff or awkward. And though she would not consider herself ‘eager’ in any form of the word, she struggles to find a balance between intrigue and enthusiasm.

This is hair, however. It ought not be so complicated. How perfectly Beatrix of her, regardless.]

If it is all right to do so, yes. [She reassures her with care, understanding that things don’t work the same way in all places.] Do you need assistance?

[She would, without a doubt, love to be the one to take Susato’s hair down.]

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato has always been a good read of people... at least when it comes to their emotions. Perhaps by now, she'd be able to sense Beatrix's intrigue and enthusiasm beneath that icy exterior. Either way, she seems to understand, though in that moment, she also realizes that her hair is... kind of confusing. She shakes her head, because it's her hair and she doesn't really need assistance, but Beatrix might. She lets loose one of her hair loops and will allow Beatrix to do the other. ]

You simply pull at the ribbon, like this. [ A demonstration, and her locks fall over her shoulders. She uses her hand to push some stray strands out of her face.

Beatrix's turn! ]

[starshower]

[Tifa is, of course, the first person to get to Ori's house. No matter how much the tiefling insists, she is there to help clean up and set up whatever needs to be done. With Eustace out of the house and all the lady corgis antsy to go and do something (namely, to go have a sleepover with their aunties!), Tifa is also feeling a bit on the restless side.

So, it's probably a good thing that Ori has a quiet night planned for Tifa and the bridesmaids. While Eustace ended up with half the male population of Reverein at his, she expects a quieter night for herself.

How the turn tables.

This is just a general prompt so have at her! Flower arranging, hair braiding, spa treatments, cocktail sipping, whatever your bridesmaid hearts desire! Rhonwen, Aerona, Briallen, and Eria are all here too! Although Eria is sulking in the corner already about not being allowed to go with Eustace. 💖]

[hearthwarming]

[ Why pick between hair braiding, spa treatments, and cocktail sipping when you can simply have all three!

Ori has handed Tifa both a cocktail and also a bowl full of some kind of homemade face mask, with the intent that the bride-to-be can sit comfortably on a cushion with Ori knelt behind her, brushing her long, brown hair. ]

Do you know how you’d like to wear your hair for the big day, Tifa?

[starshower]

[There's something oddly soothing about having someone else brushing her hair. Eustace does it often and it's always enough to relax her into a light sleep, but there's something different about having a female friend to do it. Mainly because growing up, Tifa was never close enough with the other girls in Nibelheim to do the "sleepover things" that she's heard they would do together. Braiding each other's hair, doing each other's nails, watching movies, pillow fights...

Jessie had been the only person to ever come close to that and even then, this would mark Tifa's very first sleepover. Ever.

And as Ori combs through her hair, brushing through the long, dark strands, she can feel herself relaxing and even dozing off a little... until Ori's voice snaps her back.]

Huh? Oh... I'm not sure yet.

[Embarrassed, she fidgets with the shorter hair in front of her face.]

Was thinking of wearing it down, but... I wonder if it would be nicer to do something else with it instead. Maybe some kind of updo?

[hearthwarming]

[ Ori believes this would be the first girly sort of sleepover for... pretty much any of them in the house - and it's part of why she's pulled out so many stops to make sure that they would have plenty to do to relax and enjoy each other's company tonight. The closest that Ori has gotten are her younger days spent traveling with her sister, before they became mercenaries. Back then, Ori would find herself brushing Valphi's hair much in the same way that she brushes Tifa's, now.

The tiefling chuckles softly upon realizing that Tifa had begun to doze off a little. She's glad if she can provide the bride-to-be with the kind of atmosphere in which she can truly wind down and rest, bachelorette party or no. Tifa is always welcome in this home, for any reason at all. ]

Hmm... It'll be quite cold out, won't it? Perhaps wearing it down will help you stay a little bit warm, but we can always do some braids on the upper half of your hair and weave flowers in to make it look pretty! I saw people do those sorts of hairstyles during the Flower Festival and the Dream Faire, too.

[starshower]

[Her head turns slightly to peek at Ori over her shoulder.]

Really...? Do you think that would look okay on me?

[She's done braids and ponytails, and of course the simple tie around the end to keep it all out of the way, but nothing quite as extravagant as a braided half-updo!

Tifa spins back to face forward again when she feels a flush lightly powdering her cheeks.]

Eustace likes it down, so that could be nice? ... With some waves, maybe?

[roseofmay]

[It doesn't take long for Beatrix to posit herself at Tifa's side in the midst of whatever she may be getting herself up to. A proper cocktail in hand, Beatrix might not look like she's fitting in particularly well, but she's doing her best. She's actually not having a terrible time either. Just a questionable one.

(Mostly because she has no idea how to do anything at an occasion like this. Who developed this sort of thing? Why does Oriphi know how it work? The questions are endless.)

So after a moment's consideration, Beatrix clears her throat as politely as she can muster.]

What do you think of the drinks?

[Smooth.]

[starshower]

[Tifa is just as new to all of this, and she knows that all of the other women here tonight are too, so at least Beatrix isn't entirely alone in feeling a little lost, but she's been enjoying herself nonetheless, enjoying spending time with the four women—minus Aerith, who she knows would have had a blast with this—that she's chosen to be the four most important ones on her wedding day, and figuring out how to go about all of these new, fun, girly things.

She supposes the question is warranted. She is a bartender after all, and as she fixes Beatrix with that look of surprise, it softens as she goes for a testing sip of her already half-finished drink. By now, she's a little flushed in the cheeks, too.]

I think Ori's done a good job with them. [She's not even sure Ori's ever blended a cocktail before, but they are yummy, and that's what matters.] I don't think I've ever seen you with that kind of drink before. How are you liking it?

[There is a little paper umbrella sitting in Tifa's drink that she plucks out and twirls it between her fingers.]

[roseofmay]

[Tifa, from an initial glance, looks like she's enjoying herself. That's the most important thing about the situation. All of this, after all, is for her. Beatrix needs only a moment to really assess Tifa to feel satisfied. Or perhaps it's more that she feels at peace.

Dropping her gaze onto her drink when Tifa reverses the question on her, she pauses for a moment.]

Hm... I think it is a bit... cheerful and vibrant for my tastes.

[Which sounds like a very her thing to say. Beatrix tends to be very connected to wine and she suspects that likely suits someone like her more. 'Fun' drinks don't seem to be her scene.]

It tastes sweet. And it is beautiful to look at, so perhaps a fair embodiment of who Oriphi is.

+1 General Starter (Get it. Because she's a general, too. This means two things.)

[roseofmay]

[How did she exactly get herself into this? It's a silly question as she already knows the answer to that. In a way, it's heartening, that she can be a part of something like this. It's the first time she's ever been to one and she has no idea what the protocol is. It's not as though she's a wealth of people she can ask of it either, and in the end, Beatrix arrives and attends about as clueless over this as she is most other things involving anything beyond the bare minimum of 'I do.'

She's practically glued to the cocktails, though they're a touch sweet for her very bitter tastes, and it still seems like the best way to help her get through things without saying the wrong thing. She's brought her various accoutrements, though travels very simply, it seems and stashes it all neatly away in a corner where [hopefully] it'll remain undisturbed.

She spends a significant amount of time examining the dresses, the floral decor, and the food. It's an oddly comfortable experience, though not the kind she's ever pictured herself being a part of.]

I understood the joke!!

[hearthwarming]

[ Beatrix has research hangouts and, possibly, romance novels to thank for this whole thing; it’s not as if Ori really knows what these things are supposed to be like, either. Blessedly, none of the raunchier parts of this supposed tradition have made it into tonight’s festivities, with Ori’s main takeaway from all of the “research” having been “just have a nice, lovely time with the bride and her closest lady friends.” And that is exactly what she is going to make sure happens.

Having shared wine with Beatrix on quite a few occasions by now, Ori realizes that the cocktails may not be quite her style… But it’s times like these when it’s really quite convenient to be living with a professional wine-maker, so at some point into the evening, the tiefling approaches the General as she’s regarding the dresses with an already-uncorked bottle of wine and a fresh, new glass. ]

Oh… I was going to ask if you’d like to try this wine, but now I’m wondering if you’d like to try on your dress, too!

[roseofmay]

[Did Oriphi just say wine—

Beatrix just about starts when the tiefling addresses her. Wherever her thoughts have wandered to has evidently been somewhere very deep, which is not exactly a surprise when it comes to her. She looks over to Oriphi and for a moment, exchanges her gaze between uncorked bottle of wine and the dress.

It's not hard to figure out which one she's more comfortable with.]

I get the feeling you are the one who would be more interested in seeing me in my dress. I suppose I should try it on. Just to make certain that it fits.

[...Because she understands that some of the members of the bridal party may have some tricky assets to work with.]

[hearthwarming]

[ Oh, Beatrix would absolutely rather have the wine than put the dress on… Which is why Ori will slowly put both bottle and glass alike down onto the nearest surface, somewhere away from the dresses lest they have some kind of mishap. ]

That’s not true, I’m sure everyone here wants to see you in the dress! In fact, I think we should all make sure they fit.

[ A beat, as she blinks with a thoughtful expression. ]

On that note, I should probably try mine on, too…

[ Her tail swishes back and forth, as if to punctuate that particular musing. ]