[ Admittedly a slightly-awkward greeting, but still somehow much better than what follows: ]
I was wondering if you might be free to stop by the cottage sometime soon? I owe you a drink for your help last time.
[ Not to mention all the other stuff going on with their shared Bond, although somehow that seems indelicate to mention over their devices. Instead, she goes for something playful, friendly: ]
Besides, it'd be nice to get to know you better, given your importance to our mutual friends~
[ The text does feel like it's come seemingly out of nowhere, and Zack wonders if maybe Aerith put Tifa up to this, but it's not like he minds hearing from her. Not in the slightest. It's just that he has a guess for what this is really about.
Cloud's been essentially bedridden due to the lose of his Bond with Sephiroth, and it's something Zack's been able to feel even when he's not home. That dull ache in his chest may be nothing compared to what Cloud's going through, but still...
Tifa no doubt feels it too. ]
A drink, huh? Well, there's no way I could say no to that!
Just let me know what time works for you and I can make my way over.
[ Surprisingly enough, Aerith has not put Tifa up to this... although if she knew the thought passed through Zack's mind, she wouldn't be surprised or offended at all. She's a much different person now to the extroverted, cheerful girl he met back then in Nibelheim, experience having both hardened her and raised her walls. And now, with the constant messes she's found herself in since arriving in this new world... sometimes it all feels like too much.
But Zack has been kind, and Aerith has been ever-so-patient, and she owes them both more than she can put into words. ]
I'm free whenever you are. I didn't pick up any odd jobs or anything this month.
[ The dull ache is distracting enough on its own, not to mention the emotional turmoil that comes of knowing what caused it... and not knowing how she feels about it. ]
[ Zack wonders if Aerith and Tifa might need help with making the rent, in that case, but it's not like he has much to offer. Between him being out of commission for two whole months, and now Cloud following in his footsteps, they've only barely been scraping by. He and Aerith at least went out on a job recently, though it's not as if the people of the Outer City could pay them all that much.
He's sure they'll all make do somehow, and so he tries not to worry too much about it. If worst comes to worst, he's sure there are a few friends he could reach out to for a helping hand, but he'd rather not take that hit to his pride. ]
All right! I'll be by a little later today, then.
[ A man of his word, Zack shows up toward the tail-end of the afternoon. He knows the way to their cottage well by now, and with the way their garden is coming along, it'd be hard to miss. He walks up the path to the front door and announces himself with a rapping knock. ]
[ She's in the kitchen when Zack arrives, making her way to the door and opening it for him with a small smile. She certainly looks stronger than the last time he saw her, feels it too, despite at least the raw aching heat in her chest - although at this stage, she's almost used to that. ]
Hey, Zack. I'm glad you could make it. How are you?
[ She steps aside to let him through the door. If she's honest, it's not quite what she wanted to ask; of course she wants to know how Cloud is, more than anything else, but she's got better manners than that, doesn't she? Besides, with the two of them sharing a connection with him, she's sure the conversation will turn to him sooner rather than later - and that isn't entirely what this invitation was meant to be about. She really does want to get to know him better. And she really does owe him that drink.
An easy, friendly smile, one designed to hide the heavier feelings weight on her spirit, and Tifa gestures at one of the dining chairs. ]
Make yourself at home. I'll whip up a couple quick drinks~
[ Now that Tifa's Bonded, it makes sense that she's handling her magic much better than she'd been back when he'd delivered that potion. Zack's relieved that she took care of things soon after that, not allowing her condition to get any worse. ]
I'm doing pretty well!
[ He steps through the door into the cottage, and at this point he's visited enough times that he doesn't need to give the living area anything more than a cursory glance before he takes a seat, as instructed.
There's no need for him to withhold information about Cloud, but it can at least wait until Tifa's done with whatever drinks she wants to prepare. It's really not necessary, but he also doubts that protesting will get him too far. ]
How about you? Holding up okay?
[ He projects his voice enough that she should be able to hear him, even in the kitchen. ]
[ Is she holding up okay. It's a loaded question, isn't it? The simple answer is that she's probably doing about as well as he is, but... ]
I'm doing okay. Now that my magic is more under control, I've been able to practice with more consistent results. I definitely don't have Aerith's natural talent for it, but I'm getting better!
[ Which actually makes her think... Along with the bottles she's got lined up for making various cocktails and mocktails are some smaller bottles, results of her alchemy practice. When she's finished preparing drinks for both of them, she adds a small blue vial to the tray, bringing it out along with the rest before she sits down across from him.
The drink she hands him is a vibrant pink, soft with the scent of flowers. ] This one's new. I don't have a name for it yet, but you can probably guess where I got the idea~ Maybe you can help me think of something!
And this... [ She slides the vial over the tabletop too, a slightly more hesitant smile on her lips now. ] It'll help with the ache.
[ While Zack doesn't know enough about Tifa to imagine what sort of magic she's specializing in, he figures now is a good time to learn. Just like how he's now learning she can apparently mix a mean drink.
Or... well, a nice drink? With how colorful it is, he wouldn't dare to call it anything else. Nor is it hard to guess at where the inspiration for it came from. ]
Flower Girl? [ It's the first suggestion that leaps to his mind. Soon enough, he takes a sip. The sweet, floral flavors hit his tongue immediately, but then it's followed by the sharpness of the liquor. All in all, a very well-balanced and delicious drink. ] Man, this is tasty!
[ But then the vial follows, something that looks more like it might be a medicine or potion. To help with the ache? For a moment Zack's confused, not sure what ache Tifa's referring to, but then it clicks. ]
Oh, you mean... [ He sets the drink down so that he can lay his hand against his chest, where the throbbing pain is centered. ] You feel it too?
[ The grin that finds Tifa's lips when Zack names the cocktail is the easiest so far, the most natural. Admittedly, "Flower Girl" had been the first name to spring to mind for her, too - but where she's inventive with drinks, inventive with names is something with which she struggles, and she often ends up naming her creations directly after their inspiration - so a second opinion is never harmful in her eyes. ]
I'm glad you like it! I've been experimenting with a few different things. I'm thinking about opening a bar here, actually...
[ She trails off though when he goes for the vial, eyebrows lifting in response to his confusion, and then settling again a moment later. She'd assumed without proper knowledge it was the same for him, but to see him treat it almost like an afterthought...
Tifa can't help but wonder how many times Cloud has felt this kind of pain here.
She nods. ]
Yeah. It's a lot, you know? And it's hard to deal with when he's not really talking to people right now. So I made this to make the day-to-day a little easier...
[ A guilty expression crosses over her face momentarily. ]
I should've thought to offer it to you sooner. I'm sure it's been a hard time for you too.
[ Tifa wants to open a bar? As it turns out, she's way more into this whole drink-making thing than Zack realized, but that probably shouldn't come as such a surprise. Five years have passed since he last saw her, and it's clear she's grown a lot in that time. Taking up bartending must just be a part of that.
As much as he wants to encourage her, though, the subject's already shifted and both of them need to talk about what's going on with Cloud, difficult as it might be. ]
He's pretty out of it. I can't get much of a word in myself. [ He knows that won't actually make Tifa feel better, but it's also the truth. After a moment, Zack picks up the vial and turns it around in his hands a few times. If Tifa seems to think this will help, then he'll give it a shot. ]
And nah, don't worry about it. I've been managing. I do appreciate this, though. Thank you.
[ With that, he turns his attention to the drink again, taking another sip before he makes an offer of his own. ]
If there's any message you want me to pass along to him, anything you want me to tell him or ask him, just say the word.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
text | un: lockhart
[ Admittedly a slightly-awkward greeting, but still somehow much better than what follows: ]
I was wondering if you might be free to stop by the cottage sometime soon? I owe you a drink for your help last time.
[ Not to mention all the other stuff going on with their shared Bond, although somehow that seems indelicate to mention over their devices. Instead, she goes for something playful, friendly: ]
Besides, it'd be nice to get to know you better, given your importance to our mutual friends~
no subject
Cloud's been essentially bedridden due to the lose of his Bond with Sephiroth, and it's something Zack's been able to feel even when he's not home. That dull ache in his chest may be nothing compared to what Cloud's going through, but still...
Tifa no doubt feels it too. ]
A drink, huh? Well, there's no way I could say no to that!
Just let me know what time works for you and I can make my way over.
[ After triple-checking on Cloud, anyway. ]
no subject
But Zack has been kind, and Aerith has been ever-so-patient, and she owes them both more than she can put into words. ]
I'm free whenever you are. I didn't pick up any odd jobs or anything this month.
[ The dull ache is distracting enough on its own, not to mention the emotional turmoil that comes of knowing what caused it... and not knowing how she feels about it. ]
So swing by when you're ready, okay?
no subject
He's sure they'll all make do somehow, and so he tries not to worry too much about it. If worst comes to worst, he's sure there are a few friends he could reach out to for a helping hand, but he'd rather not take that hit to his pride. ]
All right! I'll be by a little later today, then.
[ A man of his word, Zack shows up toward the tail-end of the afternoon. He knows the way to their cottage well by now, and with the way their garden is coming along, it'd be hard to miss. He walks up the path to the front door and announces himself with a rapping knock. ]
Tifa? It's Zack!
no subject
Hey, Zack. I'm glad you could make it. How are you?
[ She steps aside to let him through the door. If she's honest, it's not quite what she wanted to ask; of course she wants to know how Cloud is, more than anything else, but she's got better manners than that, doesn't she? Besides, with the two of them sharing a connection with him, she's sure the conversation will turn to him sooner rather than later - and that isn't entirely what this invitation was meant to be about. She really does want to get to know him better. And she really does owe him that drink.
An easy, friendly smile, one designed to hide the heavier feelings weight on her spirit, and Tifa gestures at one of the dining chairs. ]
Make yourself at home. I'll whip up a couple quick drinks~
no subject
I'm doing pretty well!
[ He steps through the door into the cottage, and at this point he's visited enough times that he doesn't need to give the living area anything more than a cursory glance before he takes a seat, as instructed.
There's no need for him to withhold information about Cloud, but it can at least wait until Tifa's done with whatever drinks she wants to prepare. It's really not necessary, but he also doubts that protesting will get him too far. ]
How about you? Holding up okay?
[ He projects his voice enough that she should be able to hear him, even in the kitchen. ]
no subject
I'm doing okay. Now that my magic is more under control, I've been able to practice with more consistent results. I definitely don't have Aerith's natural talent for it, but I'm getting better!
[ Which actually makes her think... Along with the bottles she's got lined up for making various cocktails and mocktails are some smaller bottles, results of her alchemy practice. When she's finished preparing drinks for both of them, she adds a small blue vial to the tray, bringing it out along with the rest before she sits down across from him.
The drink she hands him is a vibrant pink, soft with the scent of flowers. ] This one's new. I don't have a name for it yet, but you can probably guess where I got the idea~ Maybe you can help me think of something!
And this... [ She slides the vial over the tabletop too, a slightly more hesitant smile on her lips now. ] It'll help with the ache.
no subject
Or... well, a nice drink? With how colorful it is, he wouldn't dare to call it anything else. Nor is it hard to guess at where the inspiration for it came from. ]
Flower Girl? [ It's the first suggestion that leaps to his mind. Soon enough, he takes a sip. The sweet, floral flavors hit his tongue immediately, but then it's followed by the sharpness of the liquor. All in all, a very well-balanced and delicious drink. ] Man, this is tasty!
[ But then the vial follows, something that looks more like it might be a medicine or potion. To help with the ache? For a moment Zack's confused, not sure what ache Tifa's referring to, but then it clicks. ]
Oh, you mean... [ He sets the drink down so that he can lay his hand against his chest, where the throbbing pain is centered. ] You feel it too?
[ Of course she does. It'd be hard to miss. ]
no subject
I'm glad you like it! I've been experimenting with a few different things. I'm thinking about opening a bar here, actually...
[ She trails off though when he goes for the vial, eyebrows lifting in response to his confusion, and then settling again a moment later. She'd assumed without proper knowledge it was the same for him, but to see him treat it almost like an afterthought...
Tifa can't help but wonder how many times Cloud has felt this kind of pain here.
She nods. ]
Yeah. It's a lot, you know? And it's hard to deal with when he's not really talking to people right now. So I made this to make the day-to-day a little easier...
[ A guilty expression crosses over her face momentarily. ]
I should've thought to offer it to you sooner. I'm sure it's been a hard time for you too.
no subject
As much as he wants to encourage her, though, the subject's already shifted and both of them need to talk about what's going on with Cloud, difficult as it might be. ]
He's pretty out of it. I can't get much of a word in myself. [ He knows that won't actually make Tifa feel better, but it's also the truth. After a moment, Zack picks up the vial and turns it around in his hands a few times. If Tifa seems to think this will help, then he'll give it a shot. ]
And nah, don't worry about it. I've been managing. I do appreciate this, though. Thank you.
[ With that, he turns his attention to the drink again, taking another sip before he makes an offer of his own. ]
If there's any message you want me to pass along to him, anything you want me to tell him or ask him, just say the word.