[Tifa is taking a moment to mourn the third collapse of her sandcastle, and is idly wondering if maybe she shouldn't choose a new location, when a familiar voice hits her ears. It's unmistakable. She's raising to her feet and turning around in one swift movement until she's standing in front of him, a smile spreading across her face.
And then it falters. For just a moment.
A moment when she remembers the blood, her fear, the mako beneath her, surrounding her, drowning her. But she's shoving it all back almost as soon as it starts, her smile returning as if it had never left.]
You might be right about that. After all, I was really hoping to have the full works. Mote and draw-bridge and all. You know any good sand castle architects around?
[ If Cloud catches the moment Tifa falters, it doesn't show on his face. Something to file away for later, if he does. He folds his arms and looks at the sandcastle, frowning as if taking it in for a long, long moment. ]
Can't really say that I do. ...But I've never been one to turn down an unfamiliar job. Hope you don't mind someone lacking experience.
[ The facade drops a bit — as much as it ever does around her. He does see that there needs to be some bulwark for the waves, and sets the Buster Sword down longwise in the sand. There, that ought to at least give them some time to work. His eyes bright, even through the mako-green, as he turns back to her. ]
Not at all. As you can see, you're in good company. But don't think you'll be doing all this labor for free. By which I mean...I'll treat you to lunch after!
[Sometimes she wonders if maybe it's a bad thing, how easily they can both fall into these imaginary roles. Her, the girl in need of help. And him, the tough mercenary who will take any job. It's just a game, she tells herself. Just for fun. A world where they're just two strangers meeting by happenstance instead of two kids from Nibelheim sharing a traumatic history. And secrets.]
[ He's never known how to sugarcoat his words, especially around Tifa, but that doesn't mean he's unwilling to engage with her. He finds a spot in the sand to sit down, looking over the work on her sandcastle. He's not making a big show of examining it, but his eyes look over it while talking. Maybe because it's easier to not look Tifa in the eye while he says it. ]
There are people from all other worlds here, if you can believe it. But as far as ours? It's just been... me and Aerith.
[There's a hint of disbelief as she echoes his words, her brows furrowing in confusion. There's no way that Cloud has been here for months when she had just seen him - no. She's still shying away from those thoughts, but they don't don't distract her from the bigger issue. Like how...apparently time moves differently here.
She reclaims her seat on the sand as she lets this knowledge settle over her. It's really not that hard to grapple with in the grand scheme of things. This is a different world, and it's drawing in people from countless other worlds. Time runs differently. Easy. If her expression screams overwhelmed, it at least seems to ease with a mixture of relief and happiness at the mention of Aerith.]
That's good, that you're both here. It would be awful to be stuck here alone. [No matter how festive it is.] Should I bother asking if you've made any new friends?
[She begins gathering up the remains of one fallen wall, trying to repack the sand into something resembling a castle structure, mostly just to have something to do with her hands.]
[ It doesn't take long for Cloud to fall into the rhythm Tifa sets, his eyes looking at her hands as she packs the sand. The ambience of the waves crashing against the Buster Sword, acting as bulwark, both physically and metaphorically. At the mention of friends, he scoffs. ]
You know me. Not exactly the greatest people person.
...But I guess I've made one or two. You can thank Aerith for that, really. [ His hands work on shoring up a castle wall opposite of Tifa. ] Refuses to let me stay out of trouble. You know. [ There's at least something hinting at a joke there, a bit of levity. ]
[She nods at his words, a fond smile stretching across her face. Of course Aerith is the one encouraging him to interact with the world around him. If left to his own devices, Cloud would probably find a corner to hide in. Or a sturdy wall to lean against. Always keeping his own company.
Not for the first time she notices his beach-going attire, and can't help but wonder if that, too, is due to Aerith's influence. She has a tendency to be pretty...persuasive. Not that Tifa ever needs to put up much a fight when it comes to going along with her friend's whims.]
Refuses to let you hole up in the corner and brood is more like it. She must have had her hands full without the rest of us around to liven you up. I'll just have to lend her a hand.
[Her tone is teasing, masking some of the uncertainty she feels. She's not sure how qualified she is to help Cloud 'liven up'. That usually falls to Aerith, or even Barrett, in his own way. But that shouldn't stop her from trying.]
Hmm. Did you have plans to meet on the beach? Or are you here to see one of these other new friends you mentioned?
[ Tifa, of course, disarms Cloud in her own way, reading him like an open book. He's a little taken aback, the shock reading on his face like he'd just been slapped. But he can't come up with a decent counterargument, so the accusation clearly stands. ]
[ So instead, he fumes, slightly, working on the castle with a sullen expression. The diligence in his work, however, betrays that maybe he didn't take Tifa's remarks entirely personally...
It's a moment before he answers her followup, carefully making a little window in one of the castle walls. ]
Didn't... exactly have any plans, though. Catch some sun, catch some surf. Try to get used to the new... normal, I guess. Town wasn't like this when I got here, I can tell you that.
[She can't help it. His expression of shock is so startling amusing that she can't help but laugh, although she's quick to try and cover it up with her hand. She's not laughing at him.
...Okay. Maybe a little bit.]
Right. Of course you don't.
[She agrees breezily, her tone still tinged with amusement. She's such a good friend.]
Good. Glad to know I'm not messing up any plans of yours.
[Having built up the wall on her side of the castle, she starts decorating it with little shells she's picked out of the sand.]
![[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)
expiationlogs2024-06-10 07:58 am
no subject
And then it falters. For just a moment.
A moment when she remembers the blood, her fear, the mako beneath her, surrounding her, drowning her. But she's shoving it all back almost as soon as it starts, her smile returning as if it had never left.]
You might be right about that. After all, I was really hoping to have the full works. Mote and draw-bridge and all. You know any good sand castle architects around?
no subject
Can't really say that I do. ...But I've never been one to turn down an unfamiliar job. Hope you don't mind someone lacking experience.
[ The facade drops a bit — as much as it ever does around her. He does see that there needs to be some bulwark for the waves, and sets the Buster Sword down longwise in the sand. There, that ought to at least give them some time to work. His eyes bright, even through the mako-green, as he turns back to her. ]
Guessing you just arrived?
no subject
[Sometimes she wonders if maybe it's a bad thing, how easily they can both fall into these imaginary roles. Her, the girl in need of help. And him, the tough mercenary who will take any job. It's just a game, she tells herself. Just for fun. A world where they're just two strangers meeting by happenstance instead of two kids from Nibelheim sharing a traumatic history. And secrets.]
Yeah. A couple of hours ago. What about you?
no subject
[ He's never known how to sugarcoat his words, especially around Tifa, but that doesn't mean he's unwilling to engage with her. He finds a spot in the sand to sit down, looking over the work on her sandcastle. He's not making a big show of examining it, but his eyes look over it while talking. Maybe because it's easier to not look Tifa in the eye while he says it. ]
There are people from all other worlds here, if you can believe it. But as far as ours? It's just been... me and Aerith.
no subject
[There's a hint of disbelief as she echoes his words, her brows furrowing in confusion. There's no way that Cloud has been here for months when she had just seen him - no. She's still shying away from those thoughts, but they don't don't distract her from the bigger issue. Like how...apparently time moves differently here.
She reclaims her seat on the sand as she lets this knowledge settle over her. It's really not that hard to grapple with in the grand scheme of things. This is a different world, and it's drawing in people from countless other worlds. Time runs differently. Easy. If her expression screams overwhelmed, it at least seems to ease with a mixture of relief and happiness at the mention of Aerith.]
That's good, that you're both here. It would be awful to be stuck here alone. [No matter how festive it is.] Should I bother asking if you've made any new friends?
[She begins gathering up the remains of one fallen wall, trying to repack the sand into something resembling a castle structure, mostly just to have something to do with her hands.]
no subject
You know me. Not exactly the greatest people person.
...But I guess I've made one or two. You can thank Aerith for that, really. [ His hands work on shoring up a castle wall opposite of Tifa. ] Refuses to let me stay out of trouble. You know. [ There's at least something hinting at a joke there, a bit of levity. ]
I'm sure she'll be happy to see you, too.
no subject
Not for the first time she notices his beach-going attire, and can't help but wonder if that, too, is due to Aerith's influence. She has a tendency to be pretty...persuasive. Not that Tifa ever needs to put up much a fight when it comes to going along with her friend's whims.]
Refuses to let you hole up in the corner and brood is more like it. She must have had her hands full without the rest of us around to liven you up. I'll just have to lend her a hand.
[Her tone is teasing, masking some of the uncertainty she feels. She's not sure how qualified she is to help Cloud 'liven up'. That usually falls to Aerith, or even Barrett, in his own way. But that shouldn't stop her from trying.]
Hmm. Did you have plans to meet on the beach? Or are you here to see one of these other new friends you mentioned?
no subject
[ Tifa, of course, disarms Cloud in her own way, reading him like an open book. He's a little taken aback, the shock reading on his face like he'd just been slapped. But he can't come up with a decent counterargument, so the accusation clearly stands. ]
[ So instead, he fumes, slightly, working on the castle with a sullen expression. The diligence in his work, however, betrays that maybe he didn't take Tifa's remarks entirely personally...
It's a moment before he answers her followup, carefully making a little window in one of the castle walls. ]
Didn't... exactly have any plans, though. Catch some sun, catch some surf. Try to get used to the new... normal, I guess. Town wasn't like this when I got here, I can tell you that.
no subject
...Okay. Maybe a little bit.]
Right. Of course you don't.
[She agrees breezily, her tone still tinged with amusement. She's such a good friend.]
Good. Glad to know I'm not messing up any plans of yours.
[Having built up the wall on her side of the castle, she starts decorating it with little shells she's picked out of the sand.]
What was it like?