If she was inclined to talk, I'd listen without hesitation.
[ She wishes she'd been ready to do so then. All of this might have been avoided. ]
I've already mentioned her tendency to withdraw, but my friend also ... she doesn't discuss her problems easily. She'd rather suffer in silence than share that pain with others ... I think she does it because she's afraid that she'll drive people away by doing so.
[This is all hitting too close to home for Tifa, and she sips on her tea in silence, still listening carefully to what Mitsuru has to say. She can think of too many people, herself included, that do the very thing that Mitsuru's friend is doing, and it's true—it's difficult to maneuver how to deal with that kind of person.
Setting her cup down, she smiles across at Mitsuru. Is she looking for advice, or just an ear to bend?
...
She doesn't want to overstep, so she gives it a moment before she gives her two cents again.]
There any way you can think of to show she won't drive you away?
[Clearly, Mitsuru cares deeply about this friendship and wants to make it work. She doesn't seem like the type of person who would be driven away by something like someone else's problems, and that's just the impression she's gotten from this now—wanting to fix things. It's just a matter of finding the how.]
I was hoping some answer would come to me if I gave it enough time, but ...
[ But nothing's come. Just the guilt and self-loathing for causing a friend who's already suffered their fair share a little more pain, and the fear that she's done irreparable harm. ]
I don't have many people that I consider to be true friends, Tifa ... for most of my life, I had none.
[ Her eyes fall towards the table again. ]
I don't want to lose someone I love ... not again.
[ Especially not when she's already been gifted with a second chance that most people never get. ]
The thought of talking this through is terrifying, but if I don't want to lose her, I don't know that I have another choice ...
[She wishes she could say something more reassuring than what she's about to say, but Mitsuru is right.]
If you do want to make it work, I think talking it through's the best thing for both of you.
[There's a sort of heaviness to her voice—guilt, perhaps?—and she swallows past it, sipping on her tea in the hopes of drowning it out. There's a pause before Tifa reaches across the table and wraps her fingers around Mitsuru's arm.]
[ The touch pulls Mitsuru out of her reverie. Her eyes shift from the table to Tifa's hand on her arm, and then to Tifa herself. ]
How can you be sure ...?
[ She'd heard the something underpinning Tifa's words a moment before, but she couldn't tell what it was - whether it was guilt, or concern, or uncertainty, or something else entirely.
[ Mitsuru didn't doubt that Tifa meant what she said, though, she just ...
[ She's searching for any sort of assurance she can find. Something to hold on to so she can steady herself and start to move past this fear that's been paralyzing her. ]
[Tifa can tell that she's searching for something, and she wishes she could give her more than just simple reassurance. She wishes she could prove it somehow, but with how delicate she's being about pulling information from Mitsuru to get a feel for the situation, she can't say she has much to go on besides her own experiences, and her faith in other people. She hopes that it will at least be enough.]
If both people care enough about each other, then they'll find a way to work through it, no matter what. Sounds to me like that's the case for you.
[ And, for a few seconds, all Mitsuru does is look at Tifa. Silently considering her words until, finally, she lets out a long slow exhale. ]
No. No, I won't.
[ That may be a threadbare silver lining on its own, but the first half of Tifa's statement was exactly the sort of reassurance that she needed. It didn't silence her guilt and anxiety entirely, but it gave her something to hold on to ... something she could stand behind in the face of those negative feelings, and she's beyond grateful for that.
[ Mitsuru lifts a hand and gently places it over Tifa's -- the hand that Tifa had left on her arm. ]
[It isn't much in the way of words or encouragement, but seeing Mitsuru let out that breath tells her that she's done something right. It's something that everyone needs to hear sometimes, even her, so she's glad that she could at least help with that.
Tilting her head, she lets her smile warm, and her fingers give a gentle squeeze at Mitsuru's arm.]
Of course. I hope you two can work things out.
[She knows they will.]
And let me know how it all goes, okay? Maybe we can come back for another cup.
[And have it be under better circumstances, when they're both much happier!]
[Tifa beams across the table at her, the soft amusement in her voice betraying her words. If she is, then that'll just mean that she was able to talk to her friend, right? Of course she means it in the kindest way possible.
Granted, she still has almost a full cup of tea left, so she sips it before it gets cold, but as she sets her cup down again, she lets her gaze drop to the ripples inside it.]
If you ever need someone to talk to, you can always call me, alright?
Sorry for how delayed this final tag is, but yeah, I think that's a wrap.
[ It became fairly clear during their first meeting what sort of person Tifa was ...
[ Kind, caring, empathetic, patient ... it's why Mitsuru felt comfortable reaching out to her despite the fact that they've only known each other a brief time. All this conversation did was prove that trust was well-placed. ]
And please, know that you can call on me as well.
[ She can't guarantee that she'll be the most insightful companion, sheltered as she is in some aspects of her life ... but she'll be there to listen, and offer whatever she can. ]
For now, though, let's finish our tea before it gets cold.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ She wishes she'd been ready to do so then. All of this might have been avoided. ]
I've already mentioned her tendency to withdraw, but my friend also ... she doesn't discuss her problems easily. She'd rather suffer in silence than share that pain with others ... I think she does it because she's afraid that she'll drive people away by doing so.
no subject
Setting her cup down, she smiles across at Mitsuru. Is she looking for advice, or just an ear to bend?
...
She doesn't want to overstep, so she gives it a moment before she gives her two cents again.]
There any way you can think of to show she won't drive you away?
[Clearly, Mitsuru cares deeply about this friendship and wants to make it work. She doesn't seem like the type of person who would be driven away by something like someone else's problems, and that's just the impression she's gotten from this now—wanting to fix things. It's just a matter of finding the how.]
no subject
[ But nothing's come. Just the guilt and self-loathing for causing a friend who's already suffered their fair share a little more pain, and the fear that she's done irreparable harm. ]
I don't have many people that I consider to be true friends, Tifa ... for most of my life, I had none.
[ Her eyes fall towards the table again. ]
I don't want to lose someone I love ... not again.
[ Especially not when she's already been gifted with a second chance that most people never get. ]
The thought of talking this through is terrifying, but if I don't want to lose her, I don't know that I have another choice ...
no subject
[She wishes she could say something more reassuring than what she's about to say, but Mitsuru is right.]
If you do want to make it work, I think talking it through's the best thing for both of you.
[There's a sort of heaviness to her voice—guilt, perhaps?—and she swallows past it, sipping on her tea in the hopes of drowning it out. There's a pause before Tifa reaches across the table and wraps her fingers around Mitsuru's arm.]
I promise you won't lose anyone, though.
no subject
How can you be sure ...?
[ She'd heard the something underpinning Tifa's words a moment before, but she couldn't tell what it was - whether it was guilt, or concern, or uncertainty, or something else entirely.
[ Mitsuru didn't doubt that Tifa meant what she said, though, she just ...
[ She's searching for any sort of assurance she can find. Something to hold on to so she can steady herself and start to move past this fear that's been paralyzing her. ]
no subject
If both people care enough about each other, then they'll find a way to work through it, no matter what. Sounds to me like that's the case for you.
[As for her friend...]
Won't know until you try, yeah?
no subject
No. No, I won't.
[ That may be a threadbare silver lining on its own, but the first half of Tifa's statement was exactly the sort of reassurance that she needed. It didn't silence her guilt and anxiety entirely, but it gave her something to hold on to ... something she could stand behind in the face of those negative feelings, and she's beyond grateful for that.
[ Mitsuru lifts a hand and gently places it over Tifa's -- the hand that Tifa had left on her arm. ]
Thank you, Tifa.
no subject
Tilting her head, she lets her smile warm, and her fingers give a gentle squeeze at Mitsuru's arm.]
Of course. I hope you two can work things out.
[She knows they will.]
And let me know how it all goes, okay? Maybe we can come back for another cup.
[And have it be under better circumstances, when they're both much happier!]
no subject
[ Mitsuru nods, a small huff of laughter escaping. ]
I'll try to be better company the next time around.
[ Don't worry, though. Self-effacing as that might sound, it's good-natured -- a joke, rather than an apology for her behavior. ]
i think we can probably wrap this! 💕
[Tifa beams across the table at her, the soft amusement in her voice betraying her words. If she is, then that'll just mean that she was able to talk to her friend, right? Of course she means it in the kindest way possible.
Granted, she still has almost a full cup of tea left, so she sips it before it gets cold, but as she sets her cup down again, she lets her gaze drop to the ripples inside it.]
If you ever need someone to talk to, you can always call me, alright?
Sorry for how delayed this final tag is, but yeah, I think that's a wrap.
[ It became fairly clear during their first meeting what sort of person Tifa was ...
[ Kind, caring, empathetic, patient ... it's why Mitsuru felt comfortable reaching out to her despite the fact that they've only known each other a brief time. All this conversation did was prove that trust was well-placed. ]
And please, know that you can call on me as well.
[ She can't guarantee that she'll be the most insightful companion, sheltered as she is in some aspects of her life ... but she'll be there to listen, and offer whatever she can. ]
For now, though, let's finish our tea before it gets cold.