isleofavalon | ninth shot ⊗ closed december catchall

[She gives him little room once he's settled in next to her, sliding up until she's right up against him so that she can hold his hand under the table.]

What, and miss out on that meatloaf?

[It's true, she hasn't forgotten what happened that night—how that woman had talked down at her, called out all of the things Tifa hated about herself. Downplayed her into nothing more than a "pretty face"... It only made her want to push herself harder, and prove to Eustace that she wasn't only that, and now that she has, that woman's words are just a distant echo in the back of her mind.]

I figured we should at least get a real dinner here, without anything ruining our night...

[And it seems that things are already heading that way, with how little she can see of the rest of the restaurant, it means that they can see little of them. That, and the menus have arrived! Although she already knows what she'll be ordering, and she looks at Eustace expectantly.]

You going go for the special tonight?

[He readily accepts her hand, thumb lightly stroking the back as he smiles a little. He still would have rather she never experienced such insults to begin with...but in a way, that night probably did lend to them being here now. So as long as she's content, so will he.]

Hm... I considered, but I think I'll be getting the steak. [With some wine, of course.]

You?

[She slumps against the back of the booth.]

Haven't decided yet. [Although it looks like some of the fire has been snuffed out of her with how her shoulders droop.] Was thinking of sharing the meatloaf, but if you want the steak, maybe I'll go for something else.

[Don't get something on account of her! And she's already flipping open the menu with her free hand to sift through it, humming thoughtfully.]

Oh, how does the fish curry and coconut milk sound...? Been a while since I've had some good fish...

[...Eh? What—]

Did you really want it?

[He didn't know she was hoping for it nor did he think she wouldn't order it anyway, and now he's feeling a very strange sense of panic. But she looks disappointed! She's not supposed to be disappointed during their date!!!]

[What—

Tifa, too, mirrors his panic when it settles in for her too, and she feels terrible for even bringing it up at all.]

N-No, it's fine! I just thought...

[Her face turns a shade of red that could put her dress to shame.]

Maybe we could... share it... They said...

[Tifa's laugh is breathy, if not a little shaky. This is so silly that she's not even sure she should say the next part, but it just stumbles its way past her lips anyway.]

"Most couples share it", or something like that, didn't they?

[...Aaaah.

Finally realizing the implication, he can't help but smile a little before he laughs a bit. She really is probably the only who could make him think they looked cute when embarrassed so much.]

Then we can share the meatloaf.

[That heart-shaped meatloaf...

But Tifa only feels worse for making him change his mind, so she slams the menu shut and shakes her head.]

Let's get both, and we can still share that way. [She wants him to have the steak if he wants it!] We can take home what's left. I'm sure Eria would appreciate it.

[Don't argue with her, or else they're going to be here doing this all night, and they'll never eat!]

[There's a slight arch of the brow but the quiet, amused expression remains.]

It doesn't matter either way to me, but I'm fine with it. Makes the wine selection easier. Have a preference?

Both it is, then. I'd say red for the wine.

[If there's one thing she's an expert at, it's pairing any kind of alcohol with food. People would come from all over Sector Seven to get a taste of Tifa's combos. ~~also because idk anything about wines ok.~~

The servers that had been waiting for them to make a choice rush over to the table to take their orders, and of course she picks the finest wine on the menu after learning that their drink would be complementary tonight, to make up for the mishaps that had happened during their last visit... although she will still insist on paying for it later.

Oh, and they can't forget about their famous potatoes, either. Do they get appetizers as well!?

And when that's done and their menus are taken away, she leans against him and as she does, her stomach gives a low growl.]

So far so good... Except I'm starving...

[He was thinking the same, so he lets her use her expertise to choose the best one out of the list since he's only familiar with the well known types. And now that they're back to being by themselves, he lightly leans a little against her in return before chuckling at her stomach.]

Did you not eat anything today?

Not a lot...! [She sounds as if she's prepared to argue with him on the subject for merely pointing it out.] I wanted to make sure I had room for the food.

[Even if Tifa isn't sure she can finish it all regardless of how hungry it is. Plus, they haven't even considered desserts yet, which she is definitely going to want, thank you very much!

One of the servers returns with their choice of wine, pouring some into each of their glasses before stuffing it into a bucket of ice to leave behind for them, and moving right on from her stomach, Tifa picks up her glass, but doesn't take a sip just yet. Instead, she raises it slightly to him. Her lips part, like she wants to say something...

...]

I, um... [Ah, this is embarrassing... Ahem!] Here's to a good date... without any interruptions.

[That isn't what she wanted to say, but it... works. It's the truth.]

[He's just teasing her!! But amused all the same, so he won't press, just giving her that little grin instead of saying anything. Which may be worse.

But the server comes and he's a little surprised when she does to do a little toast. He'll lightly tip his glass against hers for that soft clink! and echoes her words.]

To a good date without any interruptions.

[And after he takes a sip and sets the glass down, he muses a little.]

So would this be our first official date?

[They've been out together on numerous occasions that looking back could have been considered as dates...]

[When he echoes her sentiment, and when he calls it a date, it somehow feels so much more different than when she does, for inexplicable reasons that she can't put her finger on. It has a nice ring to it, but it still feels a little strange to be calling it that, even if it has been a month of secret trysts since then. She feels like a teenager, sneaking out of the house to meet him...

Thinking back, though...]

I guess so...

[She tips her head.]

I don't know, would you count the resort as a date? Or the castle?

[Tifa knows they never put a name to it then, and they hadn't exactly been "official" by the time they went to the resort—not until after—but it could count?]

Nothing as fancy as this, though.

Hmm...

[He hums quietly for a moment in thought.]

I'm not really that well-versed, but they both probably could. We just never really defined them as such. [And then a small laugh.] Then again, it doesn't really matter, does it?

No. [She lets her head fall against his shoulder.] We're here now.

[That's what matters. Some part of Tifa still has troubles processing the idea that they are at all, but it's becoming easier each time she sees him. Even better that it's so easy to fall into a natural beat with him when those thoughts start to resurface. Not doubts, just surprises... not being able to fully believe that any of this is even real, and it's all just a dream.

The atmosphere certainly doesn't help with that. Things just feel... perfect.

Remaining where she is, Tifa reaches across the table and picks one of the red roses from the vase in the center and twirls it between her fingers.]

I still have the one from last time, you know. [A small, shy laugh.] I don't even remember why I kept it.

[A light smile automatically forms when he feels her lean against him, his expression unknowingly softening a bit more. It's strange how this has become natural for them—for him. If anyone from his world saw this their jaws would drop through the floor. He wouldn't have believed it even just a few months ago, but there they are.

But what she says surprises him.]

The white one?

[...Come to think of it...]

...I do remember seeing it the last time I was at your place. When I brought Clover.

[And how it had strangely made him feel...happy? Pleased? Among surprise and other things.]

They're surprisingly resilient.

[Not unlike the two of them.

That, or there's some kind of green magic imbued into them that makes them live longer. Regardless of what it is, she's surprised that it's managed to live as long as it has... especially given her lack of a green thumb.]

I guess Aerith's rubbed off on me a little since I got here. After she sent me home with all those flowers, I've been doing my best to keep them all alive.

[And somehow, she's managed.]

It's in my new room now, on my nightstand. She's probably wondered about it a few times...

[So she still has it... And took it with her even before they even entered a relationship. It would have puzzled him before but now he feels that bit of happiness growing a bit.

But then a thought occurs to him.]

...Have you not told them about us?

[Since she said Aerith might be wondering about it, that meant she hasn't explained what it is. Which means she might not have said anything about him or their relationship yet.]

[Ahh, this was bound to come up eventually, wasn't it? He doesn't seem upset about the fact that she hasn't, and initially, Tifa had worried about how she was going to broach the subject—how was she supposed to tell her... boyfriend... that she hadn't told her best friend about him?]

Not yet...

[Still, she does sound ashamed.]

Haven't found the right time to do it yet, but I'd like to soon. It's just... [She nuzzles her face into his shoulder, muttering into it.] I don't really know how to tell her.

[The way it had happened was... complicated, on her part. There were a lot of underlying emotions that went into it, and putting them into words? She isn't sure she knows where to begin, and dumping all of that on Aerith wouldn't feel right.

Even though no one said she should, and likely won't.]

Guess I just wanted to make sure I knew what this was first.

[Although he is a little surprised, he also isn't that bothered by it. Not everyone goes and broadcasts their change in relationship and even he hadn't directly stated anything to Gran, but he's fairly certain the young captain figured it out given everything and his own involvement. His own personality lends to the privacy as well. So while he imagined Tifa would be more open about it than he would be, he could understand.

However... There is one part that concerns him.]

Have I been that unclear?

[His voice is soft as he thinks back and wonders. Had he really just gone along with everything between them without stating his intentions? Does he even know what they are? Maybe he didn't realize he hadn't put it to words or that he needed to.]

[Tifa's eyes widen, and she presses a reassuring hand to his arm.]

N-no! It's nothing to do with you.

[That's what she had worried about, and although her brows knit together with concern, she still can't help but laugh a little at how silly this all is. Here they are on a date, and they've been on a number of others that might as well count, and she's sitting here saying she needed to be sure she knew "what this was", as if it could be anything else.

It was just her way of running from the feelings that scared her the most—the ones that were so strong and so out of left field for her that she didn't know what else to do with them.

But saying as much might only make it worse.]

I'll tell her. I just know that there's going to be a lot of interest and questions about the how, why, who... you know? [Though she does wonder now:] Does Gran know?

[...So it's her that's unclear. But that's understandable, too, given she had a lot more on her side than he did. And really at this stage, he's not going to be expecting or asking more than either is comfortable with.]

I haven't explicitly said anything, but given he had a hand on that hot springs trip, I'm sure he's figured it out.

...But Tifa.

[He then turns slightly so he can face her properly.]

It doesn't really matter to me if you tell anyone or not, so do whatever makes you feel the most comfortable. Don't force yourself if you don't feel ready.

[He lowers his face a little, eyes gentle as he gazes down at her.]

The same goes for us. We're still figuring things out, so it's fine to take your time. [And then a light smirk.] Just don't think about running away from me.

[Her eyes widen—only slightly—enough to catch the glimmer of the candlelight on the table next to her, when he says those words. There's never been a moment she's spent with him where she didn't fully appreciate his strong, calming presence, but each time she realizes it, she finds out that she only appreciates him more than she thought she was capable of, and this is no exception.

Tifa sets the rose down on the table and brushes the sides of his face.]

Thank you...

[And she leans up to press a kiss to his cheek, light and feathery, with an air of her smile behind it when she hears the waiters coming over, and bringing the smell of food along with them, and just as they come around the corner, Tifa slides away, further this time and putting some space between them... as if urging him to chase her or pull her back... if he dares.

Not that she'll allow him to do much with them there, setting the food on the table—steak and meatloaf, potatoes, steamed vegetables, and they pause to top up their wine too. It's not until she thanks them as they leave that she looks back at him again.]

I won't. Not until I've finished eating.

[He is indeed tempted and there is a glimmer in his eye as he looks at her. However, he will behave and remain in place, letting the waiters set down their food in peace.]

Dine and dash, is that it?

[She shuffles a little closer again. And then a little closer.

With the way their food is placed, she should be sitting right up against him, but she remains where she is for now, resting an elbow on the table, and propping her chin up as her smile spreads.]

I guess you could call it that.

[~~He is a meal, isn't he?~~

A beat, and she picks up a fork and dabs it into the apple sauce, before she slowly spreads it over the sliced meatloaf.]

I still plan on paying, though.

[Are they still talking about the food?]

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