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[Tifa nods, immediately recalling those words in the book she'd read when curiosity struck her. Cloud had given her that very same flower that night he returned from the Sector One bombing mission, and she remembers how happy it had made her, and how she went to find out the meaning of that flower the moment she could. For Tifa, it wasn't only Aerith that those stargazer lilies reminded her of...

But of a reunion that she never thought would ever come, and of another man in another world, and another life. He may be far away, and she may have found a new love to cherish here, but that never meant Cloud was gone. He still held that place in her heart—that place born from the wishes of a young girl who fell in love with a young boy under the stars—and always will.

In this world and this life, though... things are a little different and rather than a yellow lily, a blue star flower blooms nearby, the blue glow of its petals drawing Tifa's attention briefly, and she smiles.]

They mean "reunion"... [She offers with a gentle look.] An old friend of mine gave me one when we met again, after seven years. Funnily enough, it was Aerith who sold the flower to him. And that was before he introduced me to her.

[ Susato glances at the starflower, which had always been there, but seems to glow a little more brightly to call their attention. She knows Tifa and Aerith are close friends from before her time, but she had no idea the lilies had any significance to her as well.

In the end, she winds up chuckling at the coincidence. ]

She has a way of changing people's lives. [ That chuckle fades, leaving a grin. ] When she told me that, she gave me one and told me I should follow my heart.

[ She opens her mouth to say something else, but then seems to falter for a moment. ]

[Tifa's brows very, very slowly rise, along with the quirk within the corners of her lips. It's almost a little Aerith, in some ways, this smile. One that's filled with knowing, and a touch of mischief. The girl seems to rub off on her every once in a while.]

She did, did she?

[There's a beat, and that mischief in her expression fades, leaving only warmth behind. She already knows about him and Susato, but she never did ask about the story behind it. But now, she thinks she knows...]

Kazuma?

[ Truly she should be far more embarrassed than she is... but it's Tifa. She still averts her gaze when she hits the proverbial nail on the head. ]

It was... um... the other gift I gave him. On the last day, during the flowerworks.

...along with Mr Meowgi. [ She did tell Tifa about that, at least... ]

[She did. Tifa remembers hearing about the honourable Mister Meowgi, but the flower...]

Was that how it happened?

[It's no secret that there is something special between the two of them, but she never heard the story of how it came to be.]

[ Susato's lips part. She wants to say yes, but in the end, there's just a shy little nod. So, there it is, and now Tifa knows.

It's only fair, she supposes. Tifa told her how she met Eustace, once upon a time. Maybe at the wedding, she or another friend will go a step further and share how they came to be together. ]

He has kept the lily close ever since, upstairs in his room. Months, or even years from now, we will probably still look at it and think of Aerith. But I suppose we will see.

[ It's very much something new they are exploring together, and there is a hopeful tone in her voice when she speaks. But they're not here to speak about them... ]

You're going to be quite busy, aren't you?

Edited (REPETITIVE WORDING) 2022-09-13 00:47 (UTC)

[That's how it tends to go. "We will see". Or at least, that's how it had been for Tifa and Eustace at the start. So many maybes, but they eventually found their stride, and she knows without a doubt that Susato and Kazuma will too.

Those lilies... they have a way of keeping people together.

She wonders if Aerith knows it.

But Tifa's brows shoot up when Susato turns it back around on her.]

Oh... I guess I will be...

[And that reminds her... There was another reason besides just breaking the good news and sharing her happiness with her that Tifa had asked for some of her time.

Her mouth opens like she's about to say something, but it falls shut for a moment as her fingers fiddle with the moon-shaped charm around her neck.]

I mean... I figure you will be too, yeah? What with... [She slowly brings her coy gaze up to meet Susato's.] ...being a bridesmaid and all?

[ That was very smooth. So smooth in fact that Susato nearly misses it, nodding along and agreeing readily. ]

Oh, of course I'll help. Well, I've never been a part of a wedding before... I imagine it's very different from our traditions in Japan, but that's what makes it so fascinating!

We'll have to decide a menu, of course. Invitations...? I wonder if Mr Sholmes would be willing to perform for you, actually. I--

[ Huh...? Well, Susato can be very persuasive, so maybe she's not so worried about that. You can practically hear the record-scratch in her head at this point, however. ]

...!

Ah! W, Wait--

Me...?

[Tifa's just going to grin across the bar as Susato goes on about the menu, invitations, performances... Yes, all things that they will need to take care of in the very near future, and all things that Susato will be brought in to help with, most likely because—ah, there it is!

And all she can do at first is bust out a giggle before she's nodding.]

Of course you! [She brings a finger to her lips.] I even buttered you up with a drink first.

[But more seriously...]

I'd just like you to be there with me.

[ Tifa's giggle is contagious, though Susato's seems to have a nervous quality to it. Her cheeks feel a little warm, and she's not even the one getting married. She still smiles, as if her answer were not obvious. ]

Of course, it would be an honour! No drink required.

[ Whether she deserves that honour, she's not sure; but that's not her decision to make. She plans to earn it, either way. ]

Have you discussed a date...?

[She's already earned that honour a hundred times over, if the fond way Tifa looks at her is enough to convey that.]

We're thinking sometime this winter. Seems the most likely candidate so far is December. Never really imagined I'd be getting married in the snow... [If at all!] But I think it'll be nice.

... The snow reminds us both of home.

[ December. Plenty of time, yet in some ways, not enough at all. Regardless, she makes a mental note to put something on her calendar. ]

Where I'm from, people see it as a hindrance. But it will be absolutely perfect for this.

[ They'll make sure of it. ]

We will just have to make sure to dress warmly for the part.

I don't think you'll need to worry too much about that but prepare to bring something just in case.

[Tifa has a feeling that it won't be cold at all in the area, given how things tend to go between Tifa and Eustace, and on their wedding day? She wonders if the snow will even hold against their dreamotion, or the combined dreamotion of everyone there. She'll have to find some way to ensure that it does...]

But when we pick a date, you'll know.

[ Susato tilts her head. With Tifa, Eustace, and those with affinity to fire like Kazuma and Susato herself, Tifa is probably right, but Susato doesn't appear to think about that right away.

After a moment, she'll just nod with an expression that radiates gratitude. ]

Understood... Thank you.

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can probably wrap this!

🎀 done!