If you want. [ He sure won't stop her. Anything she makes is a work of art. He's sure he's good at lots of things, himself. Even if he lacked the same level of 'grace' she did. ] But...maybe I oughta start working on that, myself.
[ Making her something that'd make her think of him. ]
A dish that will remind me of you... hehe, how romantic.
[ A soft sigh, almost swooning. Sorry your girlfriend is so into you, Cloud. And as such, there is a happy smile on her face as she pours the water in the pot. Steam rises in the air before she closes the teapot, then she puts everything on the tray so they can head to the dining.
He'll notice she got three cups. One for Cloud's mom, too! ]
[ He can't help but smirk, sighing through his nose as he watches her happily smile. It's a shame that a day couldn't be stretched any further on. Because once she mentions the day coming to a close, he still hasn't lost his smile as they move to the dining room together. ]
Yeah... [ He doesn't seem sad about it, however. ] You have a good time?
[ Noticing the third cup and clueing in straightaway, he waits for her answer before asking, ]
Mind setting that by Mom?
[ In the same way that Ayaka had him offer tea to her parents' shrine. ]
Yes! [ Of course she has a good time. Noβ she had such a great time! It hasn't fully sunk in yet just how much today means to her, but she's also incredibly overwhelmed from the happiness. ] Today... today feels like a day I've never ever experienced before. And I should like to experience it again.
[ If she could keep reliving today, that would be the most ideal. But it is as she said... her day is coming to an end. Ayaka does not dawdle in mixing the water and the tea, creating a nice and smooth pot of sencha. Much as she would like for the day to be longer, there's no use in dwelling on what she can't have. ]
And yes, of course.
[ That was the plan to begin with! Pouring now a cup for Cloud, his mom, and her, a nice scent fills the room. After offering Cloud his cup, she pushes herself up with the other cup so she may serve her beau's mother.
Once she's seated with Cloud again, she finds herself wondering how else she can share the happiness he's given her with him. She hopes that he's happy, too. ]
Do you think your mother would like the tea I make?
Next birthday, then. [ And he mirrors something she once told him, softer now as he accepts her tea and waits patiently for her to return after she goes to serve Claudia. ] And the next after that.
[ His eyes follow her the whole time, and should she look back, she'll find him gently smiling in admiration. A look that hasn't left his face for long today.
She's done a lot. She's successfully harnessed the power of Materia, and even got to learn about constellations he's shared with her from his world. It was a productive and, if he believes her words? A happy day. ]
Bet she would. I remember seeing a bag of imported tea blend from Wutai in the cupboard once as a kid.
[ He never tried it, but if their flavors and aesthetic was anything like Inazuma's, let alone Nippon, he bets it may have been familiar. ]
Hehe... [ She shakes her head softly when she hears him say that. Cloud's always put a smile on her face, and he hasn't failed today. ] I'm glad to hear you say that.
Then... is Wutai anything like Nippon? Perhaps Inazuma has some things in common with Wutai, too.
It ended before I got recruited. But I remember reading all about it in the news... It's the war that made Sephiroth into a hero.
[ It's less sensitive to him as much as he's just an outsider to it all. Little did he know, that it's practically become nothing but a tourist trap ever since they lost the war. ]
[ While she doesn't turn into an angry chihuahua the moment Sephiroth is mentioned, her expression does falter. She'd grown serious, away from her more jovial expression earlier, when war was mentioned, but hearing of Sephiroth's name now...
It makes her feel conflicted and uneasy. Conflicted, because she does not know the man, so she cannot have her opinion of him be biased. And yet... because she is Cloud's friend and ally above all else, she cannot see him in a good light. And it makes her heart heavy that she's been put in such a position.
She tells herself to calm down, her hold of her teacup growing shaky, but she powers through it by clearing her throat and taking a long sip. ]
[ As he takes a sip of his tea, letting the subtle aroma sooth him upon breathing in, he studies her expression. Any mention of Sephiroth was bound to be a sore spot. ...a sore spot that he's personally created for them both. It was still strange enough that he was getting training from the man who would go on to cause him and then people he cared for so much anguish. But...it's like he said. He wasn't that man. He'd defied destiny after all.
Cloud...was going to come back around to the way Ayaka hesitated. He knew exactly why she hesitated. But she asks him a question, and he sets his cup down momentarily. ]
Shinra would wanna tell you it was because Wutai attacked first when they diplomatically offered to place a Mako Reactor out there.
[ And that's when Cloud's hand slides over, settling against one of hers along her teacup. Steady now, Ayaka. Despite what the blond was talking about, he's cool and collected. He has to be. ]
Knowing Shinra...they just wouldn't take no for an answer.
[ War is so pointless... but it really does happen, unfortunately. Regardless of what the reason may be, or how many people or nations are involved, conflict somehow always arises. She is fortunate that there is peace in Inazuma now, but the Vision Hunt Decree, to Ayaka was the closest to living in time of war for her.
Her world really is so small... but in this case, she's glad that it is. Hearing stories is enough for her.
Her more icy gaze meets Cloud's for a moment before she looks away completely. There's no need to be upset when he doesn't seem like he is. Not on the surface.
These are the kinds of experiences and emotions her brother had been working to protect her from. ]
But the war is over... If someone was deemed a hero.
[ And she assumes Shinra won that war.
She won't ask anymore, preferring to move on to a topic that is less dour. ]
Wutai must be bountiful in its resources. I should like to see what it is like, someday.
[ The way Ayaka mentions someone being deemed a hero... He sighs. He stands with her on the topic. The man that Sephiroth once was may have been a hero. An instrument of war. But from Zack's account? There was more to him than just being Shinra's ace. Another conversation for another time. When Ayaka speaks of wishing to see what it's like someday?
His hand remains upon Ayaka's still, and then, without even taking time to think about it, he says, ]
[ It was only just a day or so ago that they talked about being together, at the end of all this. When Cloud finishes what he has to do, he would come back for her, and she would wait for him. More plans for the future, no matter how long it may take, feeds into her optimism, and it puts a smile on her face. ]
I'd like that.
[ She looks at their hands, smiling even more. Repeating in her head what she just saidβ "I'd like that", she begins to imagine what her future would be like... ]
I hope that one day, I would be able to see other nations. Outside of here too, of course.
If they can figure out how to pull us outta time loops across worlds, we can figure out how to get to each other.
[ With one hand in hers still, he carefully takes his teacup in hand as he raises it for a sip. ]
If you got your duties... [ He'd thought of this before. Even if he doesn't know the logistics behind it. It's fun to dream. Let her dream. It's her birthday. ] Consider it official Shirasagi Himegimi business. Like an...
[ ... shit, what's the weird? He blinks, staring into his cup for a moment before it hits him. ]
[ Her beau continues to be silly. Using her free hand, she covers her mouth when she laughs. ]
The Shirasagi Himegimi is not a political title, Cloud! [ Perhaps this is only funny to her. Though she imagines Ayato would find it amusing, too. ] But the eldest daughter of the Kamisato Clan would make a good ambassador.
[ Political or not! Cloud playfully retorts back. When she hints at needing a bodyguard, a light smirk tugs on the corner of his lip before he softly 'hmph's. ]
[ She catches him by surprise in turn. Cloud's sense of humor was relatively dry, but...she's really come into her own once she understood. Hiding behind his cup for a moment, the look in his eyes is more challenging, particles of mako floating off his body in the same fashion her sakura petals float over her head. ]
Lemme think...
[ He takes a longer drink of his tea before setting it down one more time. ]
[ That's when Ayaka fails, worried that Cloud is even thinking about it when she was just being playful! Does it mean he was serious about the Mora? Not that Ayaka cares how much she has to pay, mind, butβ ]
[ Seeing her expression drop, he blinks at her before he realizes what's happening. And he lets out a soft little chuckle for it as both hands are now free when he faces her at his side. ]
We're still kidding.
[ But he's still smiling all the same. Her reaction just now was really cute, and since they still have some time before the clock strikes midnight and her birthday passes? He's going to give her another present. He'll take part of his 'payment' now when he leans forward to take another kiss from her. ]
[ They were...? Her brows furrow and she frets, tilting her head to the side as she looks at him. She doesn't even know what to say, but... she's honestly a little embarrassed that she didn't know.
Cloud is still smiling, though, so that makes things a little better. Even better when he leans in to kiss her, because it is quite a surprise! It's enough to tell her that it's okay.
They can go back to joking around, right...? ]
Then... was that my payment? [ The kiss he took from her! ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mistsplitter) wrote2022-04-20 09:38 pm
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No rush. [ A huff, feeling a little embarrassed for his reason, but he's honest with her. ] Cherry blossoms remind me of you.
[ Thus why he admires her sakura mochi. But, more specifically to this conversation while the water boils, ]
Same goes for shades of blue, so...
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Mm... perhaps I should make a Cloud-inspired snack, along with it.
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[ Making her something that'd make her think of him. ]
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[ A soft sigh, almost swooning. Sorry your girlfriend is so into you, Cloud. And as such, there is a happy smile on her face as she pours the water in the pot. Steam rises in the air before she closes the teapot, then she puts everything on the tray so they can head to the dining.
He'll notice she got three cups. One for Cloud's mom, too! ]
Our day is almost coming to a close.
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Yeah... [ He doesn't seem sad about it, however. ] You have a good time?
[ Noticing the third cup and clueing in straightaway, he waits for her answer before asking, ]
Mind setting that by Mom?
[ In the same way that Ayaka had him offer tea to her parents' shrine. ]
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[ If she could keep reliving today, that would be the most ideal. But it is as she said... her day is coming to an end. Ayaka does not dawdle in mixing the water and the tea, creating a nice and smooth pot of sencha. Much as she would like for the day to be longer, there's no use in dwelling on what she can't have. ]
And yes, of course.
[ That was the plan to begin with! Pouring now a cup for Cloud, his mom, and her, a nice scent fills the room. After offering Cloud his cup, she pushes herself up with the other cup so she may serve her beau's mother.
Once she's seated with Cloud again, she finds herself wondering how else she can share the happiness he's given her with him. She hopes that he's happy, too. ]
Do you think your mother would like the tea I make?
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[ His eyes follow her the whole time, and should she look back, she'll find him gently smiling in admiration. A look that hasn't left his face for long today.
She's done a lot. She's successfully harnessed the power of Materia, and even got to learn about constellations he's shared with her from his world. It was a productive and, if he believes her words? A happy day. ]
Bet she would. I remember seeing a bag of imported tea blend from Wutai in the cupboard once as a kid.
[ He never tried it, but if their flavors and aesthetic was anything like Inazuma's, let alone Nippon, he bets it may have been familiar. ]
No one makes it like you, though.
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Then... is Wutai anything like Nippon? Perhaps Inazuma has some things in common with Wutai, too.
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[ Although...as the topic of Wutai comes up, he remembers, ]
Not sure how much has changed about it after the war.
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[ Goodness! She wants to ask about it, but she doesn't even know where to begin... ]
Was it a long time ago? Or...
[ Yeah... it feels like a sensitive topic, even if he's not from Wutai. ]
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[ It's less sensitive to him as much as he's just an outsider to it all. Little did he know, that it's practically become nothing but a tourist trap ever since they lost the war. ]
Was only a matter of time before Shinra won.
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[ While she doesn't turn into an angry chihuahua the moment Sephiroth is mentioned, her expression does falter. She'd grown serious, away from her more jovial expression earlier, when war was mentioned, but hearing of Sephiroth's name now...
It makes her feel conflicted and uneasy. Conflicted, because she does not know the man, so she cannot have her opinion of him be biased. And yet... because she is Cloud's friend and ally above all else, she cannot see him in a good light. And it makes her heart heavy that she's been put in such a position.
She tells herself to calm down, her hold of her teacup growing shaky, but she powers through it by clearing her throat and taking a long sip. ]
What was the cause of the war?
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Cloud...was going to come back around to the way Ayaka hesitated. He knew exactly why she hesitated. But she asks him a question, and he sets his cup down momentarily. ]
Shinra would wanna tell you it was because Wutai attacked first when they diplomatically offered to place a Mako Reactor out there.
[ And that's when Cloud's hand slides over, settling against one of hers along her teacup. Steady now, Ayaka. Despite what the blond was talking about, he's cool and collected. He has to be. ]
Knowing Shinra...they just wouldn't take no for an answer.
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Her world really is so small... but in this case, she's glad that it is. Hearing stories is enough for her.
Her more icy gaze meets Cloud's for a moment before she looks away completely. There's no need to be upset when he doesn't seem like he is. Not on the surface.
These are the kinds of experiences and emotions her brother had been working to protect her from. ]
But the war is over... If someone was deemed a hero.
[ And she assumes Shinra won that war.
She won't ask anymore, preferring to move on to a topic that is less dour. ]
Wutai must be bountiful in its resources. I should like to see what it is like, someday.
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His hand remains upon Ayaka's still, and then, without even taking time to think about it, he says, ]
Maybe I can take you there.
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I'd like that.
[ She looks at their hands, smiling even more. Repeating in her head what she just saidβ "I'd like that", she begins to imagine what her future would be like... ]
I hope that one day, I would be able to see other nations. Outside of here too, of course.
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If they can figure out how to pull us outta time loops across worlds, we can figure out how to get to each other.
[ With one hand in hers still, he carefully takes his teacup in hand as he raises it for a sip. ]
If you got your duties... [ He'd thought of this before. Even if he doesn't know the logistics behind it. It's fun to dream. Let her dream. It's her birthday. ] Consider it official Shirasagi Himegimi business. Like an...
[ ... shit, what's the weird? He blinks, staring into his cup for a moment before it hits him. ]
ambassador?
[ Sip. ]
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The Shirasagi Himegimi is not a political title, Cloud! [ Perhaps this is only funny to her. Though she imagines Ayato would find it amusing, too. ] But the eldest daughter of the Kamisato Clan would make a good ambassador.
[ That's still her! ]
Hehe... I would need a bodyguard.
[ Hint hint. ]
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[ Political or not! Cloud playfully retorts back. When she hints at needing a bodyguard, a light smirk tugs on the corner of his lip before he softly 'hmph's. ]
I charge a pretty mora.
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For the first time, she understands!! ]
Oh... Must it be Mora? Won't kisses be a suitable payment?
[ Well, if he can be playful and joke around, then so can she. ]
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Lemme think...
[ He takes a longer drink of his tea before setting it down one more time. ]
I'll do it. If you pay me in advance.
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Ah- I was worried you would deny my offer!
[ Cloud, she's really bad at this... π₯Ί ]
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We're still kidding.
[ But he's still smiling all the same. Her reaction just now was really cute, and since they still have some time before the clock strikes midnight and her birthday passes? He's going to give her another present. He'll take part of his 'payment' now when he leans forward to take another kiss from her. ]
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Cloud is still smiling, though, so that makes things a little better. Even better when he leans in to kiss her, because it is quite a surprise! It's enough to tell her that it's okay.
They can go back to joking around, right...? ]
Then... was that my payment? [ The kiss he took from her! ]
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[ Please get it Ayaka please get it Ayaka please get it Ayaka please get it Ayaka- ]
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