flamekthunder | { songerein: inbox }

[He just gives her a wry smile that has some warmth in it.]

Of course.

[He then looks at the kitten who watches the curiously.]

For now, let's look around further. Make sure there aren't any loose windows or holes it could have entered from.

[Her hands fall to her hips, and her lips pout out thoughtfully as her eyes move about the room.]

We should move all this stuff out of here anyway, shouldn't we? I don't think I want any of it...

[What she does want is a storage room organized her way which—if anyone knows her—would be impeccable and immaculate. Not dusty and dark like this place is... and covered in sprinkles... And there are way too many boxes and shelves.

But she'll start searching anyway, moving boxes around to make sure there are no small holes big enough for it to come and go through within the room, and as she moves, the kitten seems to grow increasingly more curious of them.

So curious that it wanders up and sniffs at Eustace's shoes and pants before it rubs its side up against him, and Tifa giggles.]

Looks like it's taking a shine to you already.

[Eustace follows suit, going to the other side of the room to lift the heavier boxes from the shelves to take a look inside, see if there was anything salvageable, if not for here then somewhere else. If not, possibly could sell or trade for something more to their use.

Just as he's pulling out an old, antique looking plate tray, he feels something small and warm rub against him and blinks before looking down. It's around the same time Tifa notices, and he can only watch a little helpless as it spreads sprinkles all over his boots.]

I'm surprised, I thought it was scared of me before.

[Shifting the tray to one hand, he reaches down to slowly let it sniff his hand before lightly rubbing the back of his knuckles against the top of its head and giving it a soft scratch behind the ears, the kitten purring and seeming to...shimmer a little before more sprinkles in the form of crystal dust spreads all over.]

...And it seems to have a rather unique ability with these sprinkles...

Cats are funny like that.

[Not that she has a ton of experience with different ones, but Clover and Maru were both the same. They're flighty and sometimes skittish like this one is, but curious. While the kitten is still a bit cautious, Tifa is only a little surprised that she can hear it purring from across the room. On the plus side, it's not territorial and doesn't mind them being in their space...

But she does have to wonder if it's been lonely stuck up in this room with whatever small amount of company it seems to have gotten.

The splash of dusty sprinkles that spreads across Eustace's boots and pants breaks her out of the thought, however, and she sets down the box she's holding and rushes over to see... and help brush some of it away.]

Yeah... this one's gonna be a bit messy, aren't you?

[She's feeling a bit daring and, when the kitten looks up at her curiously, she scoops her up into her arms... not minding the same dust that gets all over her shirt.]

Almost feel like we should name... [A pause, and Tifa lifts it up a little more to check—] ... her Sprinkles.

[It does indeed seem that despite being wary, the kitten seems more trusting than before. Maybe it could sense their intentions through their dreamotion or some other means, but Eustace watches the kitten stiffen before slowly starting to relax in Tifa's arms, looking up at her with big eyes.]

Sprinkles... It seems fitting. [A light grin.] It will probably be able to learn how to control it as it gets older... But we could probably find a decent use for it in the meantime. I'm sure the dogs won't mind helping the clean-up.

[She tips her head as she absently begins to scratch behind the kitten's ears, and its wings flap gently as it slowly begins to relax in her arms.]

A use for it? What do you mean?

[It's getting all over the place...! Not that she cares or minds it at all, but she is curious to know where his mind is going with it.]

[A half shrug.]

Use the sprinkles on desserts.

Like... on cupcakes and cookies...?

[She looks down at the cat and picks away some of the sprinkles that are clinging to her fur.]

That... might be cute, actually. Maybe some cat-shaped sugar cookies? Oh, and maybe some cupcakes with little cat-shaped candies on top...

[A small nod.]

We would of course need to test their flavor, but if we can use the Flowers' petals and turn them into edible candy and other products, as well as the those garnish fae, I don't see why this would be much different.

[Right... the flower dogs' petals...]

Maybe we'll give it some time before we do, yeah?

[The kitten mewls quietly at them, but it's less of a shy sound and more of an enthusiastic one as it taps its tail gently against Tifa's arm.

...

As her eyes widen with a sudden realization.]

Ah—! We should be writing all this down...! That reminds me that I wanted to sell small bags of the candies too, if the dogs are up to the task...

[A small laugh.]

I'll get it down...

[And then a wary look at the cat.]

...When not in sight.

[His precious quill...]

Just don't forget.

[But her eyes are shimmering with amusement as he and the cat look at each other, and she knows what he means.]

We're going to have to get her some proper toys of her own... Since I don't think Clover is too interested in sharing.

[She absolutely would not.]

Anyway... we should get out of this stuffy room. Didn't really find anything that caught my eye.

[Ah.]

That reminds me. This box had a lot of antique plates and trays. Might not be your style, but might be able to trade them in for something else.

Hm?

[She arches a brow, but she lets the kitten down first before wandering over to said box to peer inside. There are a lot of old looking plates, trays, bowls, all the works that she would need to start up a bar, but they are just that—old. How old, she doesn't know, but it's clear by the thick sheet of dust that they've been sitting here for a long time.

Tifa's nose crinkles slightly, and she feels a bit guilty for saying so, especially considering where she had been even just a couple of years ago back in Midgar. She would have taken just about anything that was given to her for free...]

I know beggars can't exactly be choosers, but...

[For one, he's right. They aren't really her style. More importantly—]

They don't exactly fit the look I'm going for. You think someone in town would take these...? Maybe refurbish them?

[He nods.]

They seem to be in good shape and have a basic design. An artist could redesign it to be more fitting to be sold.

Mm.

[She taps her toe on the floorboards, hands slipping behind her back as she looks at him, her cheeks suddenly pink.]

... I'd like to get new ones if that's alright. It'll be my first place of my own and I'd like it to be...

[....

Well, now she's embarrassed at how selfish this sounds, and her voice goes so quiet she's not even sure she finishes the thought out loud.]

Perfect.

[He just laughs.]

Why are you looking at me like that? It's your business. I was only reassuring you that they wouldn't go to waste and would likely be worth something to trade or sell.

[Instead of trashed.]

Edited 2023-01-19 04:53 (UTC)

[She bristles a bit before wandering towards the door to the room, the kitten trotting along awkwardly and curiously behind her.]

I know. I just... I'm not used to this is all.

[Now her face is even redder.]

Never got the chance to do all this back at Seventh Heaven. All the money I made went to missions, or to rent, or to pay off debts. Feels... weird to just be able to have anything I want, you know?

[That only makes her cuter as he pushes the box to the side and follows her.]

Mm...it is a bit different when things are easier to come by.

Or when they aren't so expensive.

[All the nice stuff was topside, and way too fancy for her to afford. Not that she needed the best, most expensive sets of dishes or coasters, but something nicer than what Seventh Heaven came equipped with would have been nice.

But now that she's here and she can pick and choose, she feels strange even asking for special coasters.

She pauses at the door when she notices Sprinkles stopping right at the threshold. Her nose twitches as she sniffs, but she looks incredibly cautious as she peeks around the edges of the door, her tail low and her eyes both curious and a little scared.]

... Huh. Looks like she hasn't come out of there much.

[And he wants to her have everything her heart desires, no matter how simple or extravagant. So there's just a light, fond look before he looks back to see the kitten struggling.]

...Hm, then it must be true that someone has been looking out for her, otherwise she would have needed to explore. The door was also closed...

[He glances at Tifa.]

It may be better if you carried her for the time being.

[She returns that fond look with one of her own, appreciative and so adoring that the room seems a little brighter for just a moment before her attention is on the kitten.]

It's alright...

[Tifa tries to put on her most encouraging voice, waiting to see if she'll be willing to explore on her own before she picks her up. But she's backing up into the room again, and she feels a little bad. The poor thing must have been cooped up in that room forever that it could be all she knows. This bar, small as it is, is like a huge new world for her... It would be overwhelming for anyone.

With a sigh, she kneels down to scoop her up, cradling her in her arms.]

It'll take some getting used to, but she'll be fine.

[Cats are resilient and surprisingly adaptable given their nature. If Clover could do it... twice... then so could Sprinkles.

So, she carries her around for most of the afternoon as the two—no, three—of them walk around the rooms. The second upstairs room would be turned into a spare room for them—something to use should they need a place to lay low and rest after a particularly long day. The bathroom was situated right next to it, and while there are a few things that need replacing, most of it looks to be in good shape, and with a little decorating, it'll look brand spanking new, she thinks.

They manage to list down some other things she'd like for the bar, too. Besides the usuals, like pots and pans and other necessary cookware, she'd like some paintings on the wall, a nice rug by the fireplace, and some cat trees and baskets for toys set up in the corners for the animals, as well as high up perches for the shy cats. If the corgis are going to be spending a lot of their time here as well, then they're going to need something to do in between sucking up to customers, after all.

The rest would come as they went and as time goes on, they'll be able to collect more for the bar, and she knows that she'll be forgetting something by the time they open. It wouldn't be a grand opening if you weren't missing something important, after all... But really, all she needs is standing right next to her as they finally make their way towards the sliding doors at the back that lead to the gardens.

She'll let Eustace get the doors, with Sprinkles now half asleep in her arms, and as soon as she catches a glimpse of them—]

What...?

[She finds her breath being stolen right out of her. There may be snow covering the ground, but from beneath it springs colour. Mostly roses of varying shades, their petals sticking out just far enough that they can be seen under the sheet of white. And even now, as they step outside, starflowers have already begun to bloom among them.]

Were all these flowers here last time?

[He gazes out to the flowers beyond the doors and there's just a small huff of laughter.]

Are you so surprised? I'm sure this place will turn into a flower house before we even open.

[As if to tease her and maybe prove his point, he leans in and kisses her softly against the top of her head, a few more starflowers immediately appearing nearby, before he murmurs quietly into her ear, his breath warm and voice low.]

Don't forget what happened earlier...before our little interruption.

[And playful nip before he pulls away with a smug grin.]

[It's a good thing the cat can't understand them and that she's dozed off, because as soon as he leans in to whisper in and nip at her ear, the air around them buzzes with warmth and the scent of starflowers fills her head as he draws out a flush in her cheeks at the reminder. Her eyes briefly dart back over her shoulder to the bar's counter... and then up at him when she realizes that she looked at all...

But he's already pulling away, and he leaves Tifa there looking flustered.]

I-I mean... [Even now, after a year and some, he still finds a way to melt her into an incoherent puddle. She clears her throat.] I guess it might be nice... Even in the winter.

[Now she's blushing furiously.]

Could maybe even be warm enough for people to sit outside...

It certainly wouldn't be hard to make it so.

[Stillll smirking a bit at her as he steps out, a lot of that snow at the entrance already melting with more likely to disappear the moment she steps out.]

We could also reuse the lanterns and heaters we had at the reception.

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