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. ]

[hearthwarming]

[ Ori simply nods understandingly; she doesn’t seem all too eager at the suggestion, and that’s just as well. She’s not here to pressure anyone into drinking, but she wanted Susato to know that she’s safe here if she wanted to try.

She waves a hand dismissively. ]

I see! Well, you don’t have to decide on anything right this very moment. But the drinks are over there if you wanted to try at any point.

[ But more importantly… ]

Drinks aside, are you hungry? There’s plenty of food, too! But please, make yourself at home!

[judicialassistant]

[ Phew. Maybe she's not outright relieved, but that sigh is there and seems to say as much. She does admire that twinkle in the drinks, however, before she glances at the table next to it where all the delicious, very-definitely healthy food is. ]

Oh, food sounds wonderful.

[ That definitely looks more like dessert than dinner, however, and she's here for it. ]

Are those bananas?

[hearthwarming]

[ Ori’s expression brightens immediately when she asks about the bananas. ]

Yes, they are! Tifa and I discovered some banana trees together in the Wildlands sometime ago - I thought it would be nice to include them as part of our festivities tonight since she was the one who taught me about these “banana boats!”

[ To her credit, there is dinner, also, something simpler than the elaborate desserts in front of them, but they’re supposed to do whatever they like tonight so she certainly won’t deny anyone wanting to skip right over to dessert. ]

[judicialassistant]

[ It's fine, Susato will most likely see the dinner and opt to eat that first. She's just proper that way! So with a nod of her head, she encourages Ori to come with her as she closes the distance on the spread.

It's only once she's closer that she can see what they mean when they say "banana boat." ]

They are adorable. I've never thought to try something like this...

I wonder if we could offer something like that at the Harvest.

[ Susato, that's work talk. ]

[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. ]

[starshower]

[Tifa sees that little twitch of her muscles in her cheeks as she spreads the cream over her fingertips, and she hesitates for a moment, waiting for them to relax...

...

.....

Before she gets the very crazy idea (in part thanks to the several cocktails she's had) to gently splat her hands each one of Susato's cheeks, her fingers splayed across them so that she gets a nice big glob of the facial mask over her skin.

And she bursts out into giggles.]

... Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

[judicialassistant]

Ah-! [ Her back straightens automatically in surprise in a sort-of jump. Can't say she was expecting that, though when Tifa starts giggling, it's hard not to follow suit as she brings up her hand to help spread out the glob. (One one side of her face, at least. She leaves the other to Tifa.) ]

It's alright.

[ Her hand eventually lowers once she's satisfied, and she catches a glimpse of their work in the mirror. ]

How long are we meant to leave it on, again?

[starshower]

[There's still some spreading to do on her end, so as Susato applies the mask to Tifa's face, she does the same. This time more gently, making sure that it's evenly spread out before they're both examining and admiring their work in the mirror.

And from beneath it, Tifa purses her lips.]

I'm not sure. Don't they leave it on all night in the books and movies...? Seems kind of messy to sleep in though, yeah?

1/2

[judicialassistant]

Hmmm...

[ What's a movie, though? ...Just kidding. By now, someone who is far ahead of her time (like Beat), has probably already told her. They continues spreading the cooold cream all over each other's faces before she pauses to take a look at the remainder on her hands. ]

It would be terrible for our pillows, but, um... If it's the proper way, let's leave it on for as long as we can anyway!

[ YOLO. Clearly movies never lie, and sheets and pillow cases can always be washed. ]

[judicialassistant]

[ She leans in like she's about to tell Tifa some Big Secret. Unfortunately (?), it's not. ]

...One time, some of Kazuma's snakes bit at my arms and legs, and he had to wrap them in gauze. I pretended I was a mummy.

This feels...a little like that. [ Monster goop face. ]

[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! ]

[roseofmay]

[When she's getting a closer look at it, it really is convoluted. In hindsight, she's thankful that Susato doesn't jump on the opportunity for Beatrix to let it down, because she's not sure that she even could. At least not without completely ruining it.

Instead, she watches Susato handle the one loop and makes it look so incredibly simple. When she offers to let Beatrix handle the other, there's a pause, a flicker of an uncertain smile, and she takes a moment to look over Susato's hair.]

'Simply,' you say. [She looses a quiet laugh that doesn't take long to fade.] If you are certain. [With a great deal of care, she tries to imitate what Susato's just shown her with the one loop and with a degree of unease, she carefully tugs on the ribbon holding the other loop to let it fall.]

...Is it easier to wear it up?

[judicialassistant]

[ Once she feels that the loop is loose, she is quickly helping it along with her hand, smoothing out any resulting tangles. She takes care of it rather well, but it is easy to see with its sheer volume and thickness that it becomes unruly rather quickly.

When Beatrix laughs, it is easier for her to do the same. ]

'Easier'... Certainly not. 'Habit' is the word I'd use.

[ ...... ]

How about yours? Does it ever get in the way...?

[roseofmay]

[For a moment, she considers simply asking why Susato hasn’t considered wearing her hair in a different way, but realises easily enough that habits can be quite difficult to break. And the question could be just turned around on her as well. After all, why hasn’t she bothered to change how she wears her hair?

The one time during the Lindwurm situation doesn’t count, probably.]

Hm…

[Beatrix falls into consideration as she lifts a hand to toy with the rosette curl of chestnut brown.]

I suppose I have not given it more thought than I felt it needed. I am also a creature of habit. I have only really worn my hair the way I would back home. It has gotten substantially longer, however. I do not think I know how else to wear it.

[Perhaps something for them both to consider.]