[ This treatment is not, in truth, new to Aerith. A month prior to this day, she'd been rolled up in white, and pranced out onto this stage willingly, all to perform. It's not quite deja vu that unsettles her as she wanders out, body captured in a flimsy suit made out of faux armor. It moves plasticly as she takes soft, timid steps out before the crowd, her hair of brown, braided hair sticking out. She doesn't mind it much, in truth; it's easier to move in than it seems, after all. ]
Well... [ Mumbling, she looks over the crowd to try and pick out familiar faces, to try and find something grounding as panic starts to coldly seep into her veins. When the lights are too bright to let her find peace, she winces and looks across the washed out stage. She catches the dress before the face, remembers prancing around in something extravagant and hard to move in— is it to this woman's taste, she wonders? Then, her green eyes adjust to find familiarity.
It's like the clouds parting to let her bask in the light of the moon. Tifa, Aerith says so softly it's washed away in the rolling whispers of the crowd. ]
Just follow my lead.
[ Anything for a friend. Aerith reaches out, then, her gloved hand just barely alien to her. It finds the slope of Tifa's arm, the bone where forearm meets elbow, and she looks out into the crowd. Now or never. ]
Your face is a brighter compass than the moon, Princess. [ The extras behind them whisper to each other— maybe she's sprucing up the script? Aerith giggles, rather unknightly. ] Should I repay you for leading me to safety?
[ Tucked into her words is a soft, earnest thank you. ]
[ when she's placed into a fight, tifa can carry confidence like it'd been made to be molded around her, knowing she's had the years of training to actually make her good at it, just as she is with spinning and flipping cups to make the best drink on the house behind the bar. it's everything else where the hesitation starts to take over, as pressure begins to pile on in making sure she doesn't screw something up — even being caught up in the midst of something she doesn't remember stumbling into in the first place.
as always, aerith's presence proves to be something of a magic spell in itself, and when tifa sees that it's her friend dressed up beside her in tacky armor, all the panic begins to cool with an easing reassurance that, however confusing and distressing, she'll probably make it out of this okay.
the questions about all of this can be saved for anything time, a more relaxed, if still slightly awkward, smile catching on her lips as she gives a subtle nod to the offer of playing along.
with aerith's performed words, tifa tries to improvise on how to follow, since she doesn't have a script to begin with, simply crooks her elbow for her friend to take hold, as she sticks out her heeled foot to the opposite direction, arm held out low, to strike her assumption of a dramatic pose. ]
Why, it is always my upmost pleasure, my dear ... charming knight! [ she nearly bites her lips to hold back her own giggle, prompted by aerith's, not having the slightest clue as to what she's doing, but braving it all the same with her friend's company. ] For your safety is the best gift I could ask for. [ she gives a slight turn of her body to better face aerith, still angled enough to partially face the audience as her hand curves over the other girl's at her elbow, giving it a grateful squeeze. ] And there is no greater joy than getting to be by your side.
[ A murmuring begins in the crowd, amusement pulsing through it as obviously as the stage lights. Had the stage been a cage match, Tifa's own addition to the script might have been a mean right hook, knocking her opposition over and out of the ring. "Screwing up" certainly doesn't seem like something she's capable of in the moment; perhaps it's the beauty she wears effortlessly, or maybe the years of chipperly working as a tour guide. Aerith certainly doesn't imagine that what gives her the strength to react and act is her presence.
With the pair of them still fighting back giggling, Aerith encourages Tifa to lead her as she pleases— physically, of course. Though performing on Aldrip's stages is now a false memory to her, she still knows her own talent here. Arm in arm, the performance they put on is nothing short of girlish whimsy, but it might just be what the crowd wants; knightliness aside, they're a pair of women giggling on stage and poorly acting out a scene together. ]
This moment of safety is a blessing! [ Puffing out her chest, Aerith tries to find the extra inch or three necessary for being taller than her friend by standing on the tips of her toes. The venture is quickly abandoned, a louder snort of a giggle captured in her mouth as she tries not to betray her own amusement. It's funny, though, right? She thinks it is. ] In your presence, such miracles are as natural as rain, Princess.
[ Well... now what? She can't keep tossing part of the scene back to Tifa like this, so Aerith's mind pulls a solution out. ]
I'd like to offer my thanks, your Highness. [ She pulls herself forward, fully facing Tifa now. With a firm, sure grip, both her own hands find Tifa's. They're stronger, harder than her's, but they fit in Aerith's palms like they always have. ] Would accept a sonnet? Maybe even... Join me? If it's not too bold.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
expiationmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
expiationlogs2024-04-14 10:44 pm
i
Well... [ Mumbling, she looks over the crowd to try and pick out familiar faces, to try and find something grounding as panic starts to coldly seep into her veins. When the lights are too bright to let her find peace, she winces and looks across the washed out stage. She catches the dress before the face, remembers prancing around in something extravagant and hard to move in— is it to this woman's taste, she wonders? Then, her green eyes adjust to find familiarity.
It's like the clouds parting to let her bask in the light of the moon. Tifa, Aerith says so softly it's washed away in the rolling whispers of the crowd. ]
Just follow my lead.
[ Anything for a friend. Aerith reaches out, then, her gloved hand just barely alien to her. It finds the slope of Tifa's arm, the bone where forearm meets elbow, and she looks out into the crowd. Now or never. ]
Your face is a brighter compass than the moon, Princess. [ The extras behind them whisper to each other— maybe she's sprucing up the script? Aerith giggles, rather unknightly. ] Should I repay you for leading me to safety?
[ Tucked into her words is a soft, earnest thank you. ]
no subject
as always, aerith's presence proves to be something of a magic spell in itself, and when tifa sees that it's her friend dressed up beside her in tacky armor, all the panic begins to cool with an easing reassurance that, however confusing and distressing, she'll probably make it out of this okay.
the questions about all of this can be saved for anything time, a more relaxed, if still slightly awkward, smile catching on her lips as she gives a subtle nod to the offer of playing along.
with aerith's performed words, tifa tries to improvise on how to follow, since she doesn't have a script to begin with, simply crooks her elbow for her friend to take hold, as she sticks out her heeled foot to the opposite direction, arm held out low, to strike her assumption of a dramatic pose. ]
Why, it is always my upmost pleasure, my dear ... charming knight! [ she nearly bites her lips to hold back her own giggle, prompted by aerith's, not having the slightest clue as to what she's doing, but braving it all the same with her friend's company. ] For your safety is the best gift I could ask for. [ she gives a slight turn of her body to better face aerith, still angled enough to partially face the audience as her hand curves over the other girl's at her elbow, giving it a grateful squeeze. ] And there is no greater joy than getting to be by your side.
no subject
With the pair of them still fighting back giggling, Aerith encourages Tifa to lead her as she pleases— physically, of course. Though performing on Aldrip's stages is now a false memory to her, she still knows her own talent here. Arm in arm, the performance they put on is nothing short of girlish whimsy, but it might just be what the crowd wants; knightliness aside, they're a pair of women giggling on stage and poorly acting out a scene together. ]
This moment of safety is a blessing! [ Puffing out her chest, Aerith tries to find the extra inch or three necessary for being taller than her friend by standing on the tips of her toes. The venture is quickly abandoned, a louder snort of a giggle captured in her mouth as she tries not to betray her own amusement. It's funny, though, right? She thinks it is. ] In your presence, such miracles are as natural as rain, Princess.
[ Well... now what? She can't keep tossing part of the scene back to Tifa like this, so Aerith's mind pulls a solution out. ]
I'd like to offer my thanks, your Highness. [ She pulls herself forward, fully facing Tifa now. With a firm, sure grip, both her own hands find Tifa's. They're stronger, harder than her's, but they fit in Aerith's palms like they always have. ] Would accept a sonnet? Maybe even... Join me? If it's not too bold.