songerein | fifteenth shot ⊗ closed log

[How he always knows all the right things to say to make her heart beat a little faster, and to make her face a new tide of emotions that crash over her as his warmth presses up against her cheek.

She hasn't forgotten the black lindworm that took hold over him not that long ago. That dreamscape that she was forced to walk through while crippled with fear, and the red eyes that glowed at her as she tried to wrestle with it. It's crazy to think how far they have both come—him, especially. To go from hating and being so afraid of something to being able to not only control it, but to transform it into something beautiful and sweet.

If there is one thing that was a true representation of the journey they've been on together, it's this. To be able to stand together and rather than be afraid, to be consumed by love instead is truly a remarkable thing, she thinks.

How Tifa got so lucky, she'll never know.]

Just... give me a minute before we go, okay?

[She wants to savour this moment just a little longer. She hasn't had this chance in a long time.

And she will take that time she wants, almost selfishly. Her fingers run along his long body, over the scales again, admiring the way they shimmer. She touches his nose, the sides of his face, her nails very gently brushing over as much as she can reach.

His lindworm really is a beautiful creature... It's a symbol of who Eustace is, inside and out. A manifestation of that courage and bravery and strength that he has, and Tifa wants to admire every bit of it that she can before—]

Are you ready...?

[He remains content as he lets Tifa take all the time she needs. While he remains mostly still, he can't help but occasionally bump and rub his head against hers and her hand. Perhaps he was acting more like an affectionate wolf than a fearsome lindworm, but it doesn't matter. It's only to her, anyway.

When she seems satisfied, he opens his eyes and gives as much of a smile as a lindworm can.]

Yes.

[He then stretches out so that his back is more exposed.]

Hop on.

[Tifa watches as his body moves and stretches with such keen interest and intrigue, the scales shimmering with every small or big movement he makes, like a rippling, silvery ocean under the moon. She's captured by it for a moment before she realizes that he's waiting for her to climb onto his back.

With a little curtsy, Tifa bundles up her dress in her hand so that she can hop up with ease, back to where she had been holding onto him before just behind his head. He'll feel her hold on to the barbed scales on his back to signal that she's ready.]

Ready when you are.

[And there's a little bubble of excitement that envelops them—a warm buzz that hums in the air while she waits eagerly.]

[Feeling her climb on is a bit of a strange sensation, but he also feels some reassurance that he can feel her warmth against him. He always considered her light, but now she truly is like a feather...]

Hold on tight.

[His voice is a soft, deep rumble around her as he slowly raises his body to be on all four legs. Then, after one last glance back at her, he takes a few steps forward before there's something like a bounding run towards the edge and then a leap forward into the air.

Immediately they ascend upward, higher and higher than any airship could possibly reach, breaking through a thin layer of clouds. Perhaps it's because this is a dreamscape completely influenced by their emotions, but lights like sparkling stars shimmer around them as he flies them beneath the moon's light, the giant white sphere seemingly so close they might could reach it. Once more he'll playfully dip and swerve around, the sensation of flight oddly thrilling, only made better when he hears the sound of her laughter behind him.

And yet, regardless of how high they are, the air is warm, the wind gentle, and the scent of starflowers pleasantly thick as the petals trail and dance around them, carried off into the wind.

It's when they are peacefully soaring through these skies when his voice quietly sounds around her.]

Tifa...

I love you.

[She does just that, holding onto him as tight as she can... but she also trusts that no matter what he does, he would never let her fall, so he'll feel her relax a little before he starts to bound forward at a run, and then leap over the edge and through the air.

It's no surprise that laughter immediately erupts from her. As the gentle wind brushes through her hair again when they dip and dive and swerve around, breaking through the thin clouds and flying so close to the moon that she swears she could reach out and grab a piece of it, Tifa feels so overcome with joy again that her body simply can't contain it. So, it all pours out of her in laughter, peals of giggles soft and filled with so much emotion.

She does reach out to try grabbing the lights that sparkle around them, but while she misses those, she does catch a few starflower petals, and she holds onto them tight in her hand, wishing that she could keep them, and bring them out with her to their world where they sleep.

Once they reach a more relaxing glide, the words that rumble out of him somehow catch her by surprise—just like everything else he's done for her tonight. For a moment, her eyes are wide, lit up by the cool, pale lights around them, and while he may not see it, he'll certainly hear the way her entire being softens as she leans forward on his back...]

I love you.

[And presses a kiss to the top of his head as her fingers stroke his sides. She closes her eyes against him and breathes in the sweet scent of starflowers—a scent so comforting and so them that she feels like she might start crying again.]

... Thank you so much, Eustace. [Thank you for showing her all of this. Thank you for sharing this part of his world, this part of him with her in such a special, beautiful way.] This has been the best date ever.

[A soft, low hum as he closes his eyes, happy to have been able to pull this off for her. While it didn't really go as planned... The end result was far better than he could have ever dreamed of.]

I'll bring you here again, whenever you wish.

[It may not have gone all according to plan, but perhaps if it had, they wouldn't have ended up where they are now, so she will count this as a blessing. She may have tumbled off the airship, but the things that single event led to makes it worth it, funnily enough.

She knew he would catch her, and he did.]

Well... [She laughs fondly, kissing his scales again.] We've got so many dates to go on first, don't we?

Mm... We do.

[A light grin.]

But these are easier to schedule.

[Unlike those in the day where they are usually busy with something else.]

Guess I better start practicing myself, huh...?

[If she's going to show him places like the Gold Saucer. Her imagination is going to have to do a lot of the heavy lifting, but it could still be fun.]

But Eustace...? [Her voice grows quiet against his scales.] I'd... like to go on a date outside of the dreams again sometime, too.

I know...I do as well.

[While it's nice that they have everything available to them in the dream...he would also like to have memories outside of them. Real memories.]

If there's something you want to do, just tell me and we'll make it happen.

[She smiles.]

I'll get back to you on that, but... how does a winter camping trip sound? We could cozy up in the tent, and by the fire.

[It could be cold, but she knows that it wouldn't be a problem for them. It never is.]

It has been a while... Should we go to our special place?

Mm. I think we should.

[When was the last time they had even been there, for that matter? Either way—]

It's been a while since we've gone. Maybe we can even go for a little dip in that pool again, too...

Not worried about it being too cold?

Are you?

[It's a good thing he can't see the way her face flushes immediately.]

Don't think that'll be a problem if we're together. Never really has been, has it?

No...

[A low rumbling laugh.]

I'll make sure you stay plenty warm.

I know. You always do...

[Tifa opens her eyes to gaze down at him before her eyes move up, where she can see the airship hovering in the sky above them where they left it.]

For now... you think it's almost time to wake up?

[Maybe they can plan this over breakfast.]

Mm, I was about to ask if you were ready to go home.

[Home. Their home.]

But don't think this "ride" is over just yet.

[...

....

Tifa sputters, her mouth falling open with a laugh, but she doesn't respond at first and instead, she opts to smack him lightly on his back.

Even as a lindworm, he really is still a wolf at heart.]

Uh huh... [She finally says.] Well, it's a good thing I'll be well rested, huh?

[He just laughs a little more loudly this time at her little smack.]

We'll see how long that lasts.

[Earned another smack with that— But he'll close his eyes, the dreamscape starting to fade as he starts to "close" it out, letting Tifa have a chance to prepare herself before he forces them awake.

And when they're out, he wastes no time in keeping true to his words. With the sun slowly peeking in with its early rays, he catches a glimpse of how the soft light washes over her body. It's enough to make him pause just enough to admire her, to gently stroke her cheek and brush back her hair, to look into her soft yet brilliant ruby red eyes as her smile meets his, before he pulls her into the deep, longing kiss they always share.

As if what occurred in the dream never happened, the heat and passion quickly build up between them, the emotions and thoughts from the dream rushing back forward, driving them to yet another round (or more...several more) of blissful ecstasy. The ever present flowers in the room bloom big and bright, covering every spare inch of wall and window as vines snake down to lock over the door, this extra layer providing the much needed soundproofing to muffle all sounds.

And it won't be until much later in the morning before the door opens and Eustace is the only one to leave, lightly dressed for staying home. He ignores Eria's haggard glares, the wolf having been forced to act as "guard" outside in the living room, and instead just quietly hums as he starts preparing breakfast for both them and Lyria, who would soon be coming up. How to explain Tifa's absence... Well, he'll manage.

Today just seems like a good day to dote on and take care of his wife...something like that.]

Edited 2023-02-19 09:43 (UTC)

fifteenth shot ⊗ closed log

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fin~