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.
[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?
[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.]
[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...
[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.
[She had forgotten all about those, but she makes a note of that in the back of her mind before following him outside with a knowing grin, and just as he thought, much of the snow that's still left around the doors melts, making way for starflowers that accidentally bloom in a trail behind her.
Tifa glances around.]
It's big enough that people could bring the dogs outside to play, too. Could maybe make a little playground for them down the line if we end up with more.
He shifts his weight to lean on one leg, a hand raised to his chin in thought as he surveys the area.]
Could use a portion as an outdoor dining area, which would make it easier for people to bring their pets and allow them more space without having the other animals bother them.
[Her eyes practically shine as she looks at him, watching and completely enamoured with the way his expression turns so thoughtful. Is it so odd that she feels as though she's never loved him more than she does right now, as he helps walk her through turning her dream here in Reverein into reality?
Maybe to someone else it might be a little, but the more they talk about it, the clearer it becomes. And the more the starflowers bloom, vines now creeping up the walls with them against the side of the building.
There's a pause as Tifa continues to stare at him, her smile pulling wider and growing warmer, and she swears the sun is out to shine directly on him in that moment before she steps out a little further, pausing beside him and mirroring his stance.]
Could clear out some of the grass over here...? Put some brick or cement down for a nice little patio and eating space. Keep the rest out there for the animals.
[He doesn't quite notice, but he does sense and feel Tifa's eyes on him as well as the increased warmth around him. So there's a moment where he's still staring outward before he turns his head slightly to flash her a soft smile as she comes against him.
It's funny how she feels the way she does, because he thinks similarly. Seeing her out here, making her own decisions, trying to work out the dream she's had so long...and being able to be a part of it. Perhaps that bit of sunlight is shining down on both of them right now, whatever snow surely gone or about to be as spring seems to have arrived early.]
Brick or wood? You could either make it wood deck or have it more solid. I feel wood would fit the aesthetic better, but brick would be easier to maintain.
[...Speaking of a deck, he glances upward.]
...What if we had an upper outside deck? Would be more interesting for those who may like birds and more space for cats to perch.
I'm not worried about the maintenance as much. Seventh Heaven had plenty of it and it wasn't too much work.
[She'll do whatever needs to be done to keep things clean and in tip top shape anyway. If Tifa is anything, it's good at multitasking. Plus, if she's going to be getting as much help as she is rather than doing it all on her own, she's already several steps ahead of where she as in Sector Seven.
Her gaze travels upward though, to where the upper patio would be if it existed, and her smile pulls a touch wider... if that's possible.]
There's plenty of room to do it, but would that even be possible to build?
[She does like the idea! Sitting up near the trees with the birds, and cats would never say no to another perch.]
[She bumps his side with hers, her hip nudging against his.]
I don't think it's the dream world that makes things possible.
[There's a shimmer in her eyes as she tries to meet Eustace's. It's him that makes things possible. If it weren't for his encouragement, she isn't sure if she would even be standing in this snowy garden right now.]
We can think about that after we open up, but if you've got ideas on how to do it, make sure you write them down.
[In her arms, Sprinkle stirs a bit, but Tifa goes on, thinking nothing of it at first as she walks further out.]
The patio could stop here, and that'll leave plenty of—
[But her words fall away when Sprinkles suddenly awakens to the sound of a small, high-pitched, tittering voice in the distance..... that Eustace will likely pick up on before Tifa even does.
"My goodness, the humans can really be so stubborn sometimes! I swear, I wonder if they even hear me half the time I ask them to move. Reminder to myself, do not visit the marketplace after lunchtime. How ridiculous! A fairy can't go on a shopping trip in peace!"
On and on she goes until finally, Tifa hears her, and she looks up to find... a small fairy hovering over their heads. Whether or not she's noticed them standing there is a mystery, because she keeps talking.
"And NOW, I have humans moving into the building...! I do hope they're nice and don't cause a mess or put up a fuss. I worked hard keeping this place clean, and—"
... She stops, and glances down. And stares.
....
......
"Who are you? And... Is that my cat? What are you doing with my darling baby!?"]
[Eustace had been smiling down at Tifa, but he does hear a...very high pitched, tinny voice in the distance. It's enough to make his ears twitch and his brows furrow just slightly, but then it seems to get louder... His face turns in its direction just before she appears and he can only sigh when it seems to recognize the kitten.
[That's what's been taking care of this kitten!? She doesn't say it out loud, but the gawking look she gives the fairy certainly is clear enough. Tifa is so bewildered by the new guest that she can't find anything to say just yet, and the fairy sighs, rolls her eyes, and flits down so that she's at eye level with the kitten.
"Hellooooo! I said what are you doing with my darling?" She snaps her fingers at them, and Tifa starts when she realizes that she's been staring. "Are you the two new humans I heard were coming?"]
I... Yeah... We found her making noise upstairs in the storage room. She's yours?
["Well, yes. Obviously. And that's where she lives."
The fairy purses her lips as she regards Tifa first, and then she moves to Eustace... and she scrutinizes.]
[He had let Tifa do the talking because she would have better patience and tact than him, but he feels that gaze... And can already tell this is going to be annoying.
So he'll just stare right back, his gaze a silent response.
Already, an awkward buzz settles in the air between them, but Tifa says nothing at first, waiting to see what else the fairy had to say. She can tell that she's taking Eustace in, but whether she's impressed or not is up in the air. Her eyes linger, but they're narrowed, like she's sizing him up.
"So, who are you?"
And Tifa feels a light burn in her chest that forces her to silently put herself right at Eustace's side until her arm is touching his.]
I'm Tifa. [She immediately blurts out.] And this is Eustace.
[Sprinkles mewls loudly in her arms, but the fairy's attention is still on Eustace before she suddenly flits over to him, right up near his ears to get a closer look.
[As soon as he utters the word, she zips back a bit and looks between the two of them with an overly dramatic gasp.
"So cold, but so cool!"
Though, from where Tifa's standing, it feels like she's conveniently ignoring the new kind of stare she's giving the fairy. The kind that warns her to stay back...
And she'll loudly clear her throat to change the subject, as well as tuck herself even further up against Eustace's side.]
So. Have you and Sprinkles lived here a long time?
[Meanwhile Eustace is oblivious to whatever look Tifa is seeing and is only half wondering why she's tucking herself against him. But he naturally places his arm around her back before pointing to Sprinkles with his other hand.]
The cat. It's what we've been calling her. Unless you've already given her a name.
[If the cat is already used to another name then they may have to consider changing it. Not that they had it named for that long...]
"No no, I would never presume the animal's name, in case she already had one she liked."
She simply narrows her eyes at the two of them but breaks the suspicious stare after a half-hearted, 'fine' sort of shrug when Sprinkles mewls happily.
"If she likes it, then call her whatever you like. It is an apt name for her anyway, considering that funny magic of hers."
"Presume an animal's name", the poor kitten was living stuck inside the dusty old storage room, the name is probably the last thing— is what she would like to rebuttal with, but she holds her tongue and instead, manages a more amicable one, despite her growing frustration.]
Anyway. It's nice to meet you...?
["Mirabelle. I'm the resident fairy around these parts. I mostly tend to the garden out back in the spring and summer, but I suppose if we're going to be living together from now on, you can help, too.
...
But don't touch my tulips."
Why is she looking right at Eustace when she says that?]
[SHOULD HE BE NICER TO THIS FAIRY WHO IS APPARENTLY PART OF THEIR GARDEN NOW maybe, but he's never been one to be polite towards anyone who is giving him attitude or being uppity towards him.]
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flamekthunder) wrote2025-04-07 09:12 pm
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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.]
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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?
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Mm...it is a bit different when things are easier to come by.
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[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.
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...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.
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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?
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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.]
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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...
no subject
[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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[She had forgotten all about those, but she makes a note of that in the back of her mind before following him outside with a knowing grin, and just as he thought, much of the snow that's still left around the doors melts, making way for starflowers that accidentally bloom in a trail behind her.
Tifa glances around.]
It's big enough that people could bring the dogs outside to play, too. Could maybe make a little playground for them down the line if we end up with more.
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He shifts his weight to lean on one leg, a hand raised to his chin in thought as he surveys the area.]
Could use a portion as an outdoor dining area, which would make it easier for people to bring their pets and allow them more space without having the other animals bother them.
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[Her eyes practically shine as she looks at him, watching and completely enamoured with the way his expression turns so thoughtful. Is it so odd that she feels as though she's never loved him more than she does right now, as he helps walk her through turning her dream here in Reverein into reality?
Maybe to someone else it might be a little, but the more they talk about it, the clearer it becomes. And the more the starflowers bloom, vines now creeping up the walls with them against the side of the building.
There's a pause as Tifa continues to stare at him, her smile pulling wider and growing warmer, and she swears the sun is out to shine directly on him in that moment before she steps out a little further, pausing beside him and mirroring his stance.]
Could clear out some of the grass over here...? Put some brick or cement down for a nice little patio and eating space. Keep the rest out there for the animals.
no subject
It's funny how she feels the way she does, because he thinks similarly. Seeing her out here, making her own decisions, trying to work out the dream she's had so long...and being able to be a part of it. Perhaps that bit of sunlight is shining down on both of them right now, whatever snow surely gone or about to be as spring seems to have arrived early.]
Brick or wood? You could either make it wood deck or have it more solid. I feel wood would fit the aesthetic better, but brick would be easier to maintain.
[...Speaking of a deck, he glances upward.]
...What if we had an upper outside deck? Would be more interesting for those who may like birds and more space for cats to perch.
[Or would that be too much?]
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[She'll do whatever needs to be done to keep things clean and in tip top shape anyway. If Tifa is anything, it's good at multitasking. Plus, if she's going to be getting as much help as she is rather than doing it all on her own, she's already several steps ahead of where she as in Sector Seven.
Her gaze travels upward though, to where the upper patio would be if it existed, and her smile pulls a touch wider... if that's possible.]
There's plenty of room to do it, but would that even be possible to build?
[She does like the idea! Sitting up near the trees with the birds, and cats would never say no to another perch.]
no subject
[A wry grin.]
Is there anything that's not possible, here?
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I don't think it's the dream world that makes things possible.
[There's a shimmer in her eyes as she tries to meet Eustace's. It's him that makes things possible. If it weren't for his encouragement, she isn't sure if she would even be standing in this snowy garden right now.]
We can think about that after we open up, but if you've got ideas on how to do it, make sure you write them down.
[In her arms, Sprinkle stirs a bit, but Tifa goes on, thinking nothing of it at first as she walks further out.]
The patio could stop here, and that'll leave plenty of—
[But her words fall away when Sprinkles suddenly awakens to the sound of a small, high-pitched, tittering voice in the distance..... that Eustace will likely pick up on before Tifa even does.
"My goodness, the humans can really be so stubborn sometimes! I swear, I wonder if they even hear me half the time I ask them to move. Reminder to myself, do not visit the marketplace after lunchtime. How ridiculous! A fairy can't go on a shopping trip in peace!"
On and on she goes until finally, Tifa hears her, and she looks up to find... a small fairy hovering over their heads. Whether or not she's noticed them standing there is a mystery, because she keeps talking.
"And NOW, I have humans moving into the building...! I do hope they're nice and don't cause a mess or put up a fuss. I worked hard keeping this place clean, and—"
... She stops, and glances down. And stares.
....
......
"Who are you? And... Is that my cat? What are you doing with my darling baby!?"]
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Well.
Now they know who's been taking care of it...]
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"Hellooooo! I said what are you doing with my darling?" She snaps her fingers at them, and Tifa starts when she realizes that she's been staring. "Are you the two new humans I heard were coming?"]
I... Yeah... We found her making noise upstairs in the storage room. She's yours?
["Well, yes. Obviously. And that's where she lives."
The fairy purses her lips as she regards Tifa first, and then she moves to Eustace... and she scrutinizes.]
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So he'll just stare right back, his gaze a silent response.
What?]
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Already, an awkward buzz settles in the air between them, but Tifa says nothing at first, waiting to see what else the fairy had to say. She can tell that she's taking Eustace in, but whether she's impressed or not is up in the air. Her eyes linger, but they're narrowed, like she's sizing him up.
"So, who are you?"
And Tifa feels a light burn in her chest that forces her to silently put herself right at Eustace's side until her arm is touching his.]
I'm Tifa. [She immediately blurts out.] And this is Eustace.
[Sprinkles mewls loudly in her arms, but the fairy's attention is still on Eustace before she suddenly flits over to him, right up near his ears to get a closer look.
"And you two are... what, exactly?"]
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[Is that even what wants to know—but he'll be ducking his head away from her, ear closest to the one she's buzzing around flicking slightly.]
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"So cold, but so cool!"
Though, from where Tifa's standing, it feels like she's conveniently ignoring the new kind of stare she's giving the fairy. The kind that warns her to stay back...
And she'll loudly clear her throat to change the subject, as well as tuck herself even further up against Eustace's side.]
So. Have you and Sprinkles lived here a long time?
["Hm? Sprinkles? Who's Sprinkles?"]
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The cat. It's what we've been calling her. Unless you've already given her a name.
[If the cat is already used to another name then they may have to consider changing it. Not that they had it named for that long...]
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"No no, I would never presume the animal's name, in case she already had one she liked."
She simply narrows her eyes at the two of them but breaks the suspicious stare after a half-hearted, 'fine' sort of shrug when Sprinkles mewls happily.
"If she likes it, then call her whatever you like. It is an apt name for her anyway, considering that funny magic of hers."
"Presume an animal's name", the poor kitten was living stuck inside the dusty old storage room, the name is probably the last thing— is what she would like to rebuttal with, but she holds her tongue and instead, manages a more amicable one, despite her growing frustration.]
Anyway. It's nice to meet you...?
["Mirabelle. I'm the resident fairy around these parts. I mostly tend to the garden out back in the spring and summer, but I suppose if we're going to be living together from now on, you can help, too.
...
But don't touch my tulips."
Why is she looking right at Eustace when she says that?]
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As long as it's not in the way.
[SHOULD HE BE NICER TO THIS FAIRY WHO IS APPARENTLY PART OF THEIR GARDEN NOW maybe, but he's never been one to be polite towards anyone who is giving him attitude or being uppity towards him.]
Do you know where Sprinkles came from?
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🎀