flamekthunder | { songerein: inbox }

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.

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.

[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.]

Does it?

[The bacon sizzles loudly, and she pauses to look at the dogs, a few of which have started drooling over the fire, and she gently shoos them back.

Then again, Tifa does feel the same way too sometimes. Maybe not quite to the extent that he does given that she spent a few years constantly surrounded by people she cares about, but something like this? She never could have imagined it that catching the way his expression softens in the firelight feels more surreal. It softens her own, and she gazes at him fondly for a few beats before her attention is drawn back to the bacon.]

Just wait until the wedding...! Everyone's all going to be in one place, and they'll all be there because of you.

[She pokes at the food with a bashful smile before plucking it off the grates and back onto the plate on her lap, and all of the dogs come trotting over in a messy line, stumbling over each other to be the first to get their food.]

[Even Briallen is tapping her paws in impatience, and now he has Cadoc and Eria near him who are also staaaaaring at the bacon even if they're a little more well behaved. Eria being very little more. She's starting to grump...until at least the bacon is within reach!!! Or soon will be. They'll be quickly moving to join the group as Eustace watches amused.]

You sure it's not because of you?

[A wry grin.]

[She shakes her head. Sure, many of their friends will be there for Tifa too, but... it's nice to hear Eustace's thoughts on these sorts of things. Knowing that he's feeling this way...? It's refreshing.]

We were talking about you, not me.

[But before he can say anything to counter that, Tifa motions to the bacon and hands him the plate with a knowing grin.]

Bri gets hers first. She was extra eager to help me with the firewood today and collected the most.

[But it's the bride's day??? He's like an afterthought when it comes to a wedding. But he can't say anything once he has the plate, and he can't help but arch a brow and look down at the younger corgi who sits up straighter and puffs out her chest. Yeah that's right she worked hard! And the flowers, she helped with that!! (she barks).]

Is that so... Then you really do deserve a reward. Well done, Bri.

[An affectionate smile and pat on the head before he gives her a piece that she knows she'll love the most.]

[Tifa watches him with affection, him with the dogs having always been her weakness, but more so now than ever. Knowing that they all worked hard for his approval...

Once Bri gets her piece, Tifa moves onto the next and searches around for the younger ones in a field of corgis, as they had all been very eager to help!!! The older ones had, but they wait patiently in the back for their share, tails still flapping happily about.]

Aerona helped dig up some pieces that we thought looked good for the fire so that we could carry them back. [Tifa giggles when she barks up and shoves her way to the front where she rests her chin on Eustace's leg.] So, I think she deserves the next piece.

[Idris is barking now too, reminding mom that he was a huge help.]

Oh! Right, how could I forget. He was a strong boy and carried back a whole stick of firewood. That one right in the center.

[Tifa points to the... somewhat impressive stick (really, it's just a stick) in the fire, but Idris was very proud of his find.

And all of this—spending time together like this and watching as the dogs wander up to Eustace waiting for their food reminds her just how lucky she is. Even after everything they have all been through, they can still all come together like this like a family... loving one another unconditionally. There's a loud crackle as the fire rises, reacting to Tifa, and if Eustace glances over to her, he'll see that her eyes have started to mist over.]

[He chuckles at both her explanation and their eagerness to be rewarded for their hard work.]

Now if only they could be this helpful all the time.

[A light teasing as Idris barks. He helps!!! Sometimes.... But as he feeds them, he watches them for a moment before turning to Tifa, a light smile never leaving him...until he notices her expression. Is...she...?]

...Is something wrong?

[She's not crying, just a little teary-eyed, and she doesn't notice until he turns to look and questions her.]

Huh? N-no!

[Quickly, Tifa stretches and turns away with a diffident breath of laughter, smiling down at Rhonwen who's come to her side to nudge her nose on her knee as if to ask if everything is okay.]

Nothing's wrong. Actually, the opposite. Telling you about our day, all the dogs here... I feel... light right now. Lighter than I can remember feeling in a while.

[Especially after that dream, she woke up feeling like a weight had finally been lifted from her shoulders and it's only as she's watching Eustace that she remembered that.]

Lucky, too.

[His brows rise for a moment before he looks out over at everyone and everything. Glances back at the tree standing proudly behind them, supporting their growing home. Looks at Tifa next to him and reminded of everything she did to prepare this all for him. Perhaps he had started getting used to their "mundane, domestic" life, but he is now starkly reminded that they have that life...and each day they're closer to officially making it so.

So he can only smile and reach out to place his hand over hers, giving it an affectionate squeeze.]

I feel the same. Everyday.

[Lucky to have found someone like her...to be able to have moved forward in his life in such a huge way. He really never could have imagined it. And, true, perhaps things were rushed or went in the wrong order, but... Circumstances or not, he wouldn't change anything. Be it today, tomorrow, next month, next year... This is what he wants. This is where he wants to be.

And she's the one he wants to share it all with.]

It's just not something I get the chance to think about much is all.

[Tifa had gotten used to it. Even after the nightmares, she was quick to fall back into the motions and eager to go back to the way things were. It was never a bad thing—that was just how she worked and how she preferred things to be, but maybe that's why looking at all of this and seeing it all as one bigger picture has made her realize just how much she truly has, all because of the one man sitting next to her.

And the longer she gazes at him, the more antsy the dogs get, and she hears one of them bark up for their bacon and it snaps her straight out of that dreamy stare. Ivor would like his piece, please! And he goes on to tell Eustace about how he and Caerwyn stood guard over Tifa while she worked!]

Ah, right. [She peeks at Eustace from under her lashes with something of a knowing glint, hinting at what she would like when they're finished here.] Can't forget about my loyal guards. The prince's knight also needs her trusted men.

[He had to somehow restrain himself from leaning in closer... Seeing Eria on the other side of Tifa and glaring at him with her disgusted judgmental face helped to some degree. Briallen and Aerona still at his legs and nudging him a little help as well. So he just manages to hold it in and smile ruefully as the other dogs join in.]

A little too good at their jobs.

[But they'll get their fair share.]

And Cadoc and Rhonwhen?

[Cadoc, who has been waiting ever-so-silently in the back, lifts his head and his ears turn in Eustace's direction at the mention of his name, and Rhonwen does the same, a small little whine sounding from her from where her head had found a place resting on Tifa's knee, and the two of them look at her hopefully.]

Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about either of you.

[She gives the latter a scratch behind the ear and nudges her towards Eustace with a little "go on" in encouragement.]

They kept the younger ones in line.

[As the younger ones all boof in protest! Wow, mom! They were totally well-behaved today!!! But Tifa gives Idris, especially, a playfully dry look—one that Eustace will probably be able to easily read, because as they both know, they like to run off on their own when excited.]

I guess you could say that, like I am your stalwart knight, they are theirs.

[And the pair of them puff out their chests proudly.

Really though, if it weren't for them, Tifa doesn't think she could have managed to keep everyone in line and not running off into the trees to find bigger, better sticks. But there's a small noise from Cadoc because she is forgetting something—!]

Oh! He also helped me with the fire pit. Helped carry it home from the market.

[Eustace laughs as he gives Rhonwhen her share before he arches a brow.]

He helped carry it? With the sled?

[Or... Something? He'll start giving Cadoc his piece of bacon as he looks over at both Tifa and him with a curious eye.]

No.

[She flashes Cadoc a look through the corner of her eye, and it's clear she's trying very, very hard to not giggle and wound his pride.]

He just helped me carry it. It wasn't heavy, but—

[He barks. Excuse you? Tifa huffs out with a weary, defeated sigh.]

Okay, it was a little bit, but he insisted. He held one end of it in his mouth. Thankfully, it wasn't too bad to haul it all the way back together.

[Pft.]

I see... As long as you managed.

[Cadoc continues to huff and grumble as he chews on his bacon. It was hard work! And he's a strong corg!

But Eustace just watches him before he looks back up at Tifa, the fondness clear in his eyes.]

You really did have the whole family helping, huh?

Mm-hm.

[With all of the bacon pieces out of the way, Tifa slides the empty plate from Eustace's lap to clear it, and lingers a few extra seconds so that she can brush the tip of her nose against his cheek.]

You've been working so hard for us, so we all wanted to do something nice for you. Isn't that right?

[And everyone—every single one of the corgis—speaks up, all of them barking their loud choir for Eustace that echoes through the trees, chanting things like "we love you, dad!" and "thank you for making us a new house!" with the older ones reminding him to remember to rest, too!

Tifa hops to her feet then, and skips over the dogs that have curled up near their feet so that she can search for the canteen she brought and bring it back, along with a fancy, unopened bottle of rum. She doesn't sit, however, but when she twists open the container, the scent of apples billows into the air.]

[Again he can't help but laugh a little at the ruckus...but it's a kind that he can actually enjoy and smile about. One that makes him feel warm and...really feel like this is home. A noisy one, but he can sacrifice a little bit of his treasured peace and quiet for it.

Rather, it's a sacrifice worth making for.

So he'll ruffle the ears of those closest to him and smile at Tifa before she's up to get the drinks. But he is a little puzzled when she remains standing and so he only stares at her for a moment with an arched brow.]

Is there something else you have planned?

Hm?

[She eyes him playfully from where she stands, with the bottle of rum in one hand and the container in the other...]

Well. All this thinking about the future and all that and I realized something... [A beat, and she's skillfully twirling the rum bottle between her fingers and letting the glass catch the firelight, her eyes never leaving his, and making sure that his never leave her.] I've never made you a proper drink.

[Sure, she's brought home some of the good stuff once in a while, but she's never bartended for him before. Or whatever this is. ~~Shameless flirting with drinks. That's what it is.~~]

If we're gonna run a bar together, you at least have to know what you're in for.

[His brows rise for a moment before a small laugh escapes him.]

I suppose that's true...

[He sits back then, one leg crossed over his knee and arms over his chest. And just as she desires, his eyes never leave hers as he smirks a little.]

Very well. Impress me, Miss Bartender.

[She'll do much more than impress him—

She does a complete flip of the bottle between her fingers before she sets it down for a moment on the edge of the firepit, which frees up her hands to toss the metal bottle between them without spilling a drop and it allows the scent to waft into the air.]

Would the gentleman like his cider hot or cold tonight?

Hmm....

[An amused smile.]

Hot.

[Though with the way his gaze is on her, he may be referring to something else.]

[Uh-huh. She knows that look, and she acknowledges it with a quick bite of her lip and a shy little laugh before she's skirting her gaze away.]

Hot it is.

[Which is good and what she figured, but she came prepared anyway. It just means she doesn't have to go grab the ice. She does, however, motion to Aerona nearby who dutifully hops to her feet—]

Just like we practiced earlier!

[—and fetches a little bag from behind the log that she brings over and sets down next to Tifa, and she'll get a coo and a scratch behind her ears.

With a spin of her hands, she picks up the rum and uncaps it with two fingers and pours it over the cider, making sure to give him a bit of a show with it—not the kind that she would anyone else who walked into her bar but only for him, turning so that she's facing away from him and wiggling her hips as she shakes the cider and the rum together. A toss, a twirl, a toss and a twirl together, and then a few more before she's fetching a pair of new mugs from the bag.

And as she pours it in that way that bartenders do, the cider foams and froths at the top and she garnishes them with sticks of cinnamon. The few dogs that have paused their eating to watch bark, and Tifa saunters over and leans over him so that her hair drapes over their faces, her lips coming dangerously close to his ear...]

One extra steamy... [She hands him the cup.] ... apple cider for the handsome gentleman.

[Despite the teasing, he fully planned to watch her properly, actually curious about her technique. He's seen his fair share of bartenders making drinks, including the crew on the Grandcypher. Of course there wasn't too much theatrics, but each one had their own skill or flair to things.

...But then she has to go and do that, shaking her hips and moving her body with each toss and twirl. The lighting from the fire doesn't help, the shadows further accentuating those body lines and curves that managed to attract him in ways no other woman had. More than once his gaze strays despite his best efforts to remain at her hands...but then again, that's her intent, isn't it? In any case, it's certainly made him start to thirst for something.

So when she finally approaches him, his eyes look at her sharply, hands twitching to grab her wrist and pull her down to him instead, drinks be damned. Even the dogs have started to move away from them, as if sensing the mood...and inwardly groaning. But although his fingers at first start on her forearm and slide down to her wrist, they eventually slip further to take the mug.]

Hm.... Not bad.

[And then he leans back just enough so that she can watch him take a sip from the mug, his eyes never leaving hers.]

Drink's pretty good, too.

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