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[flamekthunder]

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[flamekthunder]

[When she leans back, he only tugs her forcefully back towards him. He's not letting her get away.]

Then we have two options. You give up your title, or I change the rules.

[A light smirk as his lips brush against hers.]

Either way...I'll get what I want.

[starshower]

[Tifa lets herself crash into him, and it takes every bit of self control that she has not to let her eyes close against the warmth of his body and to maintain eye contact with him, even as his lips brush over hers.]

I guess... you are the prince.

[She's almost breathless now, and there's a loud crackle from the fire. ... Must he always do this to her?]

And I guess I don't need to be a Knight to protect you, do I? Would that make me a princess then?

[flamekthunder]

Mm... And my future queen.

[He smiles a little against her lips, already tasting a bit of her sweetness along with soft flavors from the skewer. And be can't resist any longer and takes her lips, kissing her firmly.]

[starshower]

[Her giddy laugh dies away into the kiss, and her plate almost slides right out of her lap as she returns it with equal enthusiasm, breathing him in and teasing them both with a little taste and nibble of her own on his lips before she's pulling back an inch.]

Then I'm going to need to find a dress fit for the title.

[Her wedding dress, that is.

She parts with him further though, knowing full well that if they continue down that road, they'll end up having to put out the fire and send the dogs away... and she still has more for him after they're finished eating.

Even the dogs sense this, and a couple of them bark up, wondering where their food is. Not yet!!! They just ate!

Tifa never goes far, however, and she remains tucked in at his side as she reaches for the last of the skewers to place on their plates, and she looks over her shoulder at him with a playful gleam all across her expression.]

You'll have to show me the ropes. Train me to be a proper queen for her king.

[Just like he had shown the princess how to be a pirate.]

[flamekthunder]

[A light chuckle as he lets her go, also knowing the likely ending if they keep this up. Picking up the skewer he had been eating before, he takes a bite as he listens to her.]

I don't think I'd have to teach you much...and you've already proven you pick up quickly on everything else I've taught you so far.

[There may be a mischievous gleam in his eyes that flicker in the firelight, suggesting he's implying other kind of "royal duties."

Shameless.]

[starshower]

[Shameless indeed, but the look she gives him reflects his own. There's even a low groooooaaan from one of the nearby corgis.]

What can I say. I'm a quick learner. You gotta be when you're a knight. But I had a good teacher, too.

[Another grrrooooaaaannn, and Tifa grins.]

I do have... one request.

[flamekthunder]

[Definitely ignoring the dogs. If anything he's silently laughing as he just smiles.]

And what would that be?

[starshower]

... When we're done here...

[Tifa's eyes slowly move around to all of the dogs surrounding them before she slowly leans in, tugs Eustace close and brings his head down so that she can whisper near his ear.]

I'd like a dance with the prince.

[flamekthunder]

[There's just a slight arch of the brow as he can't help but grin.]

Dance or...dance?

[starshower]

Eustace!

[She knows she walked right into that one, and maybe intended to just a little bit, but she still gives him a playful shove on the arm, playing up the offense—one that's hard enough to push her back away from him, but not hard enough that either of them will go tumbling off the log.]

A dance dance!

[Except... the way her finger presses to her lip might spoil that she has other plans for later when the dogs aren't around.]

It's been a while, and we're going to need to practice for the wedding...

[That's just an excuse and they both know it.]

[flamekthunder]

[He can't help but laugh quietly when she pushes back, his upper body swaying back as he does before he rights himself. He knows her—she's not as innocent as she's pretending to be. But as his brief laugh dies down, he smiles more genuinely at her words.]

Practice, huh... All right. But what kind of dance would you have in mind? Or the music?

[starshower]

[His smile charms her as it always does, but his question has her feeling shy all over again because as much as she has thought about their wedding and what it might be like, she hasn't truly sat down to think about the actual details like the music...]

For this dance, or for the wedding?

[Not that there's a difference, at the end of the day.]

[flamekthunder]

[Not much difference, no, but he'll try not to overwhelm themselves.]

Eventually both, but... In this case, the dance.

[starshower]

Well...

[She tips her head back and forth as if in deep thought, her fingers waving the skewer around as she does.]

The last dance we had was a faster one at the faire, so no need for practice there. [He may notice the redness creeping up into the tips of her ears now, though.] How about... something slower tonight? Can't remember the last time we did something like that.

[If ever.]

[flamekthunder]

We can do that. Hm... But what about the music?

[starshower]

You let me worry about that.

[She boops him on the nose.]

For now, just sit back and relax, okay? ... You've been working too hard lately.

[flamekthunder]

[....Hmmm... He eyes her for a moment before relenting.]

You've also been working hard.

[starshower]

I know.

[Idly, Tifa twirls the half-finished skewer between her fingers as she gazes into the fire. It's nice, having things be back to the way they were. She still worries every now and then, and those fears are very, very real still whenever they part ways in the mornings that something terrible might happen, but she's been getting through.

And it makes moments like this at the end of their days that much more special.]

That's why I wanted to do this, too. You've been working so hard on the house. On everything, that I started to worry about you.

[flamekthunder]

[That gets her a small look of surprise.]

Really? I didn't realize...

[Working on the house had been a surprisingly fun project for all the difficulties and trials that came along with it, so he never minded the extra hours and work he had put into it...]

[starshower]

It's okay. I know you've been enjoying it.

[And that's why she chose not to say anything. She knew that, and she loved seeing the progress he was making by the end of each day, but he was moving so fast that she wondered if he was taking any time to stop and breathe once in a while. Someone has to make sure that he is!]

I just want you to make sure that you're taking it easy once in a while. Even just planning the wedding's going to be a big deal, don't want you to get burned out before then, you know?

[flamekthunder]

Hm... I'm often told I work too much but I never really felt it. Still, what you said is fair. And I do enjoy this.

[A light smile as he sets down the finished skewer and gets another.]

Though... This is the first time anyone has ever done something like this for me.

[starshower]

[And now it's her turn to fix him with a look of surprise.]

Really? You've never sat around a fire with your friends?

[Or does he mean surprising him with a firepit and a meal, and perhaps something more later? If that's the case, then she'll gladly wear that crown alone, and a bit of pride flashes over her smile.]

[flamekthunder]

Hm... Not like this, no. I've never been on a camping outing with others—there hadn't been much need though I suppose I could envision it now.

But I also meant I never had anyone throw me anything like this for my sake. In fairness, we were never so close until more recently and I always gave the impression I wouldn't be interested.

[starshower]

But you are...?

[There's a hopeful little gleam in her eyes, but she already knows the answer to that. He was, after all, the one who had organized the last camping trip. Scouted for and picked out the spot and everything. And while this isn't camping, it's about as close as it'll get for what they can manage here.

It's why she doesn't wait for him to answer the question, and instead she bumps her shoulder against his before she's reaching down to grab another plate wrapped in tin foil, this time... for the dogs, and any who are close enough to smell the bacon lift their heads as she lays them out one by one over the fire. A couple do come running over to sit and watch it cook and await their food eagerly.]

I guess that just makes this special, then. And I don't just mean because of me.

[flamekthunder]

[He just smiles wryly at her and her little nudge, knowing what she's implying.]

I've come to make exceptions... With you as a special favorite.

[It's made special because of her regardless and he nudges her a little right back. And as he feels Briallen shyly nudging up against his leg, he smiles warmly, glad to be able to have her by his side again as he gently pets her head.]

But... It does feel a little strange as I never could have imagined something like this not that long ago.

[To have someone he's pledged his life to and be surrounded by those he loves. And he doesn't mean just this moment, but.... Everything. Perhaps he should be used to it by now but every now and then he's reminded how it really wasn't that long ago that things started changing for him.]