songerein | fifteenth shot ⊗ closed log

[Oh is that how she's going to spin this? ...Literally with that little twirl—]

Hmm, then I'd have to tell her she's trespassing on private property.

[Also wow, it's not JUST trees, there's a reason why his place is secret!! Gotta get in deep.]

[Well, right now, it looks like just a bunch of trees!!!

Batting her lashes up at him now, and she's working those puppy dog eyes of hers—]

And? If she refused to leave? You'd really kick a girl out of the woods?

[Come on. Look how cute that girl is.]

If it was me back then?

Yes.

[Stone cold.]

[While her smile doesn't waver, Tifa visibly sighs and drops the act with a shake of her head.]

Well then, guess it's a good thing we didn't.

[Here she was just trying to lighten the mood—]

Might've worked if it were Midgar, but not here? Maybe it'll be easier once I see it for myself.

[...

He frowns a little as he reaches out to brush her hair.]

Considering how I was trying to escape from you when we first met, are you really so surprised?

[And now he's pulling her back to him, the desire to comfort and coax his wife strong.]

Besides, would you have really given up with just that? I see I didn't really catch much of your interest either...

[Is he feigning a pout? Maybe. He'll even droop the tips of his ears just a bit...]

[Her arms instinctively and immediately go around him when he pulls her back again, and the way he pouts and the droop of his ears does make her own expression sink a little. With a confused cant of her head, she reaches up to brush her hand over his cheek in appreciation.]

Huh? What do you mean?

[Didn't catch her interest? Even when he had done so twice, in two different worlds? Tifa remembers it happening that way, so why would she doubt it happening the same in a third? Fourth? Hundredth?]

Do you think that would be the last time we met? That I wouldn't come back?

[Or maybe that was why she was there in the first place, who knows.]

You tell me.

[Still feigning that little pout.

But there might also be a light gleam in his eyes, and if he had a tail it would definitely be wagging in mischief; so good thing he doesn't have one.]

[Is he... subtly egging her on?

There's that adorable little glimmer in his eyes, but Tifa pretends to remain blissfully unaware of it and plays along.]

Well... I'd argue the trees aren't exactly anyone's private property, but I could always just play innocent to see that one guy I was curious about again. Get myself turned around, wind up in the same place.

[Tifa lifts a finger with a light giggle.]

But you know, no matter how much we tried to avoid each other, I think the world would still find a way to bring us together. Was pretty adamant about it the second time around.

Hm...

[A light grin.]

You'd make for a cute recruit. Or maybe you'd have your own bar in town that members would frequent.

Hm? I don't think I'd fit the bill to be a recruit, but...

[The latter part? She lets her smile spread a bit more. Funny how she so often ends up in that role, but... it works, and she's good at it.]

You think it'd be a hit with the people here? Some place to let loose after a long day of work? Or is that not their style?

No, bars and taverns are very popular for this kind of work. After dealing with stressful missions or training, many enjoy a drink and eating to unwind. It's even encouraged as we don't want our soldiers to be so tense they can't even perform on a job. To an extent, of course.

Even I enjoy the quieter bars from time to time.

Funny...

[Her eyes grow thick with fondness, and her voice softer.]

In that case, three out of the four times, it would have been a bar.

[Camelot, Midgar, and now here, with the exception being Reverein... Is this going to be a pattern?

But her hand crawls up his back, and he'll feel it tighten ever so slightly around him to press him further to her.]

Maybe... that bartender you always visit likes some quiet time too, and stumbles into that little place in the woods accidentally.

["Accidentally."]

["Accidentally."]

Hmmmmm... I'll admit I would be impressed that she managed. It's not an easy place to get to.

You said so yourself.

[A gentle nose boop.]

She's been persistent before... She just knows how to get what she wants.

[A little knowing smile before she's gently slipping away from him again, only far enough that she can properly look up at him. Though, as the next words fall out of her, there's something melancholic about them; a sort of heaviness to her tone that hadn't been there before, like there's a hidden, deeper meaning to them.]

Besides, once I know the way, I'll remember.

[He catches it, and he stares down at her for a moment, the strong desire to pull her back in enough to cause the light to darken and the leaves to once against stir around them.]

Sounds like a handful... Guess I'll have to watch her.

[No longer able to resist, he leans in closer to her.]

Closely.

[His closeness draws out another low, shy giggle from her, but she doesn't back away from him this time. If anything, she leans a little closer too, rising just an inch on her tiptoes to close some of that distance between them. Not completely, but enough just to tease...]

You sure that's close enough? Careful, she's pretty quick... You gotta be fast, too.

[Will they ever make it to his spot? Who knows...]

[Who knows...... But maybe they'll make it this time.

As she draws near, his lips brush over hers before a light smirk can be felt. He only drops a chaste kiss before he pulls back, his hand entwined with hers as he starts to walk forward again.]

Which is why I won't let her go now that I've caught her.

[Tifa's eyes flutter closed the moment she feels his warm, soft lips brush over hers, and she returns his smile against it as she breathes out a sigh. She brings herself closer and closer on her tiptoes until he can shower her with a light kiss, but it's so fast and so feathery that it just leaves her wanting and expecting more...

So, when he pulls away from her, she chases him with the tiniest whine of protest, leaning in his direction until she almost topples over when he starts to walk again. And her pout is very clear and very real as she follows behind him, her hand in his... but she does smack him very gently on the arm.

This tease...

And she mutters under her breath, but loud enough for him to hear:]

You're going to regret that later.

[And as much as she wants to mask the more playful tenor of her voice, the starflowers that bloom in her footprints betray her.

But maybe they will make it after all... What a twist.]

[A low chuckle.]

I'll make it up to you.

[In his secret place.

One that will still take a bit to get to ad they start walking up a slope towards a ridge just visible beyond the treeline.]

Uh huh...

[She sounds disbelieving, but she knows that whether it's here or the airship or even back in the waking world, he'll make it up to her ten times over. He has no choice anymore; his wife expects it now—

But Tifa's own pace picks up as they begin to climb the slope, and just past the trees, she can see what looks to be the edge of something. Curiosity and excitement get the better of her, and it's her who ends up tugging on him in the end.]

How did you end up coming across this place anyway?

[Now she's convinced that it's a little harder to find.]

Just wandering.

[He brushes back some low branches as they continue up the slow, no clear trail marked for them to follow. When it gets a little rockier, Eustace takes the lead to help her up so that she doesn't slip.]

I was curious what all there was around the area.

[And eventually they'll reach what appears the faintest traces of a beaten down path like a deer trail that leads towards a small opening into the bottom of the ridge.]

I can see why Ronan might have disapproved back then... A little harder to navigate up here.

[As she lets him help her over the rocky path. It reminds her a little of the deeper parts of the mountains that climb high over Nibelheim minus the monsters that lurked there, or the metallic scent of mako that clung to the air. Up here, it's fresh and clean, and she can smell nature on the breeze, and it sends her back for a moment to their hikes through the Wildlands together.

All they're missing is a dog or two on their tail.

But it's all offered with a smile as the ridge comes into clearer view.]

So, just a happy accident... [A giggle.] Those ones are the best, but even Nibelheim didn't have this many trees around.

It was near the mountains, wasn't it?

[And once they reach the base, he'll lead her through the opening. It's not completely dark as sunlight passes through the numerous cracks and openings, but it's clear they are entering some kind of cave or tunnel system with an exit not too far away judging from the fresh breeze that passes through.]

[Well, this little tunnel is unexpected, and she pauses to look at it with an air of bewilderment before she allows him to lead her through, the brisk breeze brushing over her hair.]

It was. Right in the middle of them. Nibelheim wasn't exactly easy to get to... Usually had to travel around the mountains to get there. There's a saying... "A mako reactor outside Midgar usually means nothing else out there."

But it was nothing like this place.

Mm... I see. Most inhabited islands are abundant with natural resources like this, but there are a few that may be more similar to your hometown.

[Just continuing to lead her through, their voices echoing softly off the walls.]

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