[ Every journey to save the planet needs to have some downtime, and in this case, they've found themselves at the renowned Gold Saucer. There's not much they can do other than wait until morning before they can proceed, so they might as well go to their rooms or enjoy the sights.
Aerith in particular wants to explore as much as she can, yet at the same time she seems to insist on taking Barret with her. It's like she's plotting to leave the rest of the group alone. Come to think of it, Red is nowhere to be seen either...
Alone with Tifa now, he looks at her, half-expecting her to excuse herself somewhere else, too. Should they go their seperate ways, too? ]
[With Aerith and Barret off to watch the upcoming round of chocobo races and Red being... well, Red... Tifa finds herself alone with Cloud in the crowded Gold Saucer, leaning over the rails of the second floor's balcony and watching the water fountains shoot up and back down again.
His comment brings a smile to her face, warm and oddly content after everything they've just gone through, but for a perfectly good reason. It's nice to have some downtime, and how long has it been since the two of them have had the chance to do something as fun as this? And why does it have to be about everyone else!?]
Well, I guess we'll be busy too.
[Straightening, she rolls her shoulders and looks in the direction of the loud rings and dings of the minigames on the bottom floor, their lights flashing at them to snag their attention (and their gil.)]
[ In some ways, he shouldn't be so surprised that she just decided that they'll do something together. Tifa never liked being alone, but then again, Cloud never felt like he had a place to belong either... not until he reunited with her and met Avalanche. He doesn't mind them being alone, but... ]
Pass.
[ Games are for children, aren't they? Sure, he played some with the kids in Sector 5, but only because his arm was twisted by a girl.
Which appears to be the case, again. Dammit.
He sighs, seemingly inconvenienced by the idea, but Tifa likely knows it's just Cloud being Cloud. ]
... We'll play one, but we need to keep a low profile.
[ Hojo will want Aerith back, which means the Turks are still probably on their trail. ]
[Tifa says, waving a single finger at him, as if that'll be all. Getting him to play one game is still a win in her books, but stop being such a stick in the mud, Cloud!
She gets that they need to keep a low profile, though. Knowing Shinra, they aren't going to stop looking until they find and have Aerith again, nor are they going to take any of this lying down. Who knows, someone could be skulking around the Gold Saucer watching them, but when did that ever mean they should stop living because of it?
For now, she feels safe, and even safer within Cloud's company.
Her hands find their way behind her back as she leads him down the stairs, and she peers over her shoulder and up at him with a smile.]
So, what exactly is involved in keeping a low profile here? No winning?
[ Let's be real, this will probably be more games than just one. ]
Just... don't do anything that will draw attention.
[ That's so vague??? Not that Tifa's the type to want to be the center of attention, it's more that spending all those days with Aerith has him a bit more on edge than usual. You never know when a few innocent games will lead into dancing on stage and becoming an overnight sensation.
As for their options, there are plenty to choose from! There's a crane game where you can a special prize, a basketball game in which they can 1-v-1, virtual snowboarding/motorcycling, betting on chocobo races...
Further along are even special sighseeing locations, such as a romantic gondola ride that offers a whole view of the Gold Saucer. There's also a bar around... but maybe that one's a little too close to home. ]
I think we could use a win, though. What are you feeling?
[This is a very important decision. She has to think about this and comes to a slow stop as they walk into the center of the room, surrounded by everything the Gold Saucer has to offer. She peers further down, then around, before she gives a small, satisfied nod.
Her choice is nothing special and isn't something that they're likely going to draw attention doing. It seems more up Cloud's alley than basketball or crane games, too.]
How about this. If I beat you in that snowboarding game, you have to take me for a ride on the gondola.
[Seems fair a enough trade! If it were a game of testing their strength, then maybe Cloud would raise some eyebrows, but snowboarding is fairly lowkey, she thinks.]
[ He looks puzzled at her suggestion... and not so much at the prize, but the game choice itself. Surely she would have a better chance at basketball. Maybe. ]
Why do you think you can beat me at it? You've never been snowboarding.
[It's true. Tifa has never been, but that doesn't mean she can't try. She's confident in her ability to pick it up quickly, and even more confident that she can beat him, given the raised stakes. He still owes her, after all, but she can just as well earn it.
This way sounds more fun, anyway.]
You were gone for a long time, remember? A lot can happen.
[Don't underestimate her!!! Taking him by the arm, she drags Cloud to the unoccupied game.]
[ A lot can happen in five years indeed. She's using his own words against him, but he's still not convinced that he'll lose so easily. ]
Ngh... no, but at least I've been on a snowy mountain.
[ Not that it will give him an edge here whatsoever. Once they put their VR headsets on, it'll be a first experience for the both of them. Just before they do that, however, they need to finish settling on the wager. ]
If I win...
[ Before he can complete the sentence though, he's distracted by a seemingly black feather breezing past his face. For a brief moment, his anxiety levels rise sharply before he realizes it's only a regular Chocobo feather. There's a lot of these floating around, given where they are.
Trying to play it off as if nothing happened (and perhaps in a hurry to escape reality for a minute) he puts his headset on first and waits for the environment to load. ]
--if I win, you guys will have to take Barret into your room.
[ Even when he sleeptalks, he's actually yelling about the planet. ]
[There's a flicker of fear across Tifa's expression when she recognizes it – that pause, and that look on his face – that she hardly notices the black chocobo feather fluttering between them. A perk to knowing him for as long as she has is that it's not hard to tell when something isn't right, but the downside is constant concern. He's been through a lot, but Tifa will never stop worrying.
She's about to ask him if he's alright when he goes on, and she wipes it away with a smile as she slips her own VR set over her eyes. The scenery immediately unfolds before her, putting her beside Cloud at the top of a snowy hill. Looking down, it's as if her feet are strapped to a snowboard, so she turns to adjust.
This should be interesting.]
Wasn't there a 'girls only' rule?
[There was no such rule implemented. She's used to Barret, and she honestly doesn't mind having him around, so she'll accept it.]
You're on. I'm ready when you are, so start the countdown!
[ Barret may be loud and annoying, but he can definitely be trusted with the ladies if he had to room with them. Meanwhile, Cloud can barely share a bench with others, let alone a whole room... this arrangement, should he win this contest, is going to work out great for him! It's time to show her just how cool he is! ]
Three... two... one.... go--
[ Hard cut to 5 minutes later, in which some cleverly placed obstacles and traps caused Cloud to roll down the hill for most of the course. This is a game after all, so he should have expected some trickery. Did he even make it first or second?!? Everything in the last minute has been a bit of a blur, he struggles to get to his feet even in VR mode. ]
[Tifa is no better at dodging the snowmen or keeping herself on her feet, having hit several more on her way to catch up to Cloud, and she tries to slow down when she spots him further on the slope struggling to get back on his feet. Next to him, her laughter continues to ring out as it's been for the past five minutes.]
You didn't think it was going to be easy, did you?
[She'd make another jab at him about where his snowy mountain experience went, but she figures his pride is already sore enough, so she stretches a hand to reach for his, as if it'll help him in VR world.]
I'll meet you at the finish line.
[But as soon as he's ready to go, Tifa is off, speeding through the last stretch of the race to the end. She can see it – the line to cross to mark herself the winner... Not that she cares much about who wins because she's been having fun either way, but damn it that gondola ride sounds relaxing, and it would have been a good opportunity for them to catch up!
She dodges one last snowman – the largest one she's seen, intended to really throw people off course before the end, and flies through the finish line with relative ease... up until she loses her balance as she tries to come to a hard halt, but that won't impede her from encouraging Cloud through the remainder of the course.]
[ For what it's worth (which is not much to him in the end) he does manage to adapt fairly quickly to the chaotic course, and dodges the last snowman in a ridiculous slo-mo sequence that one would only expect in a videogame. When he crosses the finish line, the victory fanfare plays, congratulating them both on completing the course! They even earn some Gold Saucer points, which can later be traded in for fun prizes.
Despite his impressive effort and comeback at the end, it's clear that he still lost the race and he finds himself too embarrassed to face her for the time being. ]
Not a word about this to Aerith or Barret.
[ They'll tease him endlessly!!! 😢 ]
You sure you haven't done this before?
[ Meanwhile the VR world around them is beginning to shut down, indicating that it's time to take off their headsets. Don't worry, he intends on honouring the deal. ]
[Tifa is the first to remove hers as the game sings its fanfare, marveling in the point count going up. It isn't much by any stretch, especially in comparison to what the pros are winning around here, but the fact that they got any is an achievement.]
Not a word!
[Unless, of course, they ask... in which case, she may oblige. But only if they ask. She presses a finger to her lips for emphasis before hopping off the platform for a stretch.]
Pretty sure I haven't. Beginner's luck? For what it's worth, I don't think you did half-bad, especially for someone who's been on a snowy mountain before.
[She isn't even teasing, but she totally means that. Genuinely not half-bad... even if he did lose.]
[ Like a petulant teenager, he only feels more patronized by that compliment. This experience was nothing like being in the real snow!! It's time he swallowed his pride though, she did beat him fair and square at the end of the day. ]
You did well for someone who hasn't been to those places.
[ Maybe their journey will take them there now! He'll need to make sure they all pack jackets. Before they enjoy the heights of a mountain, however, there is a place in the sky for them here that they owe a visit... the big ride! That is, if she's still up for it... wait, what does he care??? ]
...Not sick of heights yet, are you?
[ Just... asking...... in case there's a "psyche!" coming his way. The ladies have really done a number on him in the past few months. ]
The game was fun, but she's been looking forward to it long before they slipped into their VR headsets. She may have even tried to convince him to go in the event of a loss. It'll be a nice opportunity for them to spend some time together without all the hustle and bustle of the Saucer.
And with that, Tifa leads the way in the direction of the ride. The line is short, thankfully – only a few couples ahead of them – so it gives her a chance for a small reminder.]
This isn't quite what I had in mind when I said we should hit the town. Your outfit doesn't even match mine.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Cloud Tries to Act Cool like an Adult but Fails
Aerith in particular wants to explore as much as she can, yet at the same time she seems to insist on taking Barret with her. It's like she's plotting to leave the rest of the group alone. Come to think of it, Red is nowhere to be seen either...
Alone with Tifa now, he looks at her, half-expecting her to excuse herself somewhere else, too. Should they go their seperate ways, too? ]
I guess everyone's gonna be busy for a while.
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His comment brings a smile to her face, warm and oddly content after everything they've just gone through, but for a perfectly good reason. It's nice to have some downtime, and how long has it been since the two of them have had the chance to do something as fun as this? And why does it have to be about everyone else!?]
Well, I guess we'll be busy too.
[Straightening, she rolls her shoulders and looks in the direction of the loud rings and dings of the minigames on the bottom floor, their lights flashing at them to snag their attention (and their gil.)]
Those games aren't going to play themselves!
no subject
Pass.
[ Games are for children, aren't they? Sure, he played some with the kids in Sector 5, but only because his arm was twisted by a girl.
Which appears to be the case, again. Dammit.
He sighs, seemingly inconvenienced by the idea, but Tifa likely knows it's just Cloud being Cloud. ]
...
We'll play one, but we need to keep a low profile.
[ Hojo will want Aerith back, which means the Turks are still probably on their trail. ]
no subject
[Tifa says, waving a single finger at him, as if that'll be all. Getting him to play one game is still a win in her books, but stop being such a stick in the mud, Cloud!
She gets that they need to keep a low profile, though. Knowing Shinra, they aren't going to stop looking until they find and have Aerith again, nor are they going to take any of this lying down. Who knows, someone could be skulking around the Gold Saucer watching them, but when did that ever mean they should stop living because of it?
For now, she feels safe, and even safer within Cloud's company.
Her hands find their way behind her back as she leads him down the stairs, and she peers over her shoulder and up at him with a smile.]
So, what exactly is involved in keeping a low profile here? No winning?
no subject
Just... don't do anything that will draw attention.
[ That's so vague??? Not that Tifa's the type to want to be the center of attention, it's more that spending all those days with Aerith has him a bit more on edge than usual. You never know when a few innocent games will lead into dancing on stage and becoming an overnight sensation.
As for their options, there are plenty to choose from! There's a crane game where you can a special prize, a basketball game in which they can 1-v-1, virtual snowboarding/motorcycling, betting on chocobo races...
Further along are even special sighseeing locations, such as a romantic gondola ride that offers a whole view of the Gold Saucer. There's also a bar around... but maybe that one's a little too close to home. ]
I think we could use a win, though. What are you feeling?
no subject
[This is a very important decision. She has to think about this and comes to a slow stop as they walk into the center of the room, surrounded by everything the Gold Saucer has to offer. She peers further down, then around, before she gives a small, satisfied nod.
Her choice is nothing special and isn't something that they're likely going to draw attention doing. It seems more up Cloud's alley than basketball or crane games, too.]
How about this. If I beat you in that snowboarding game, you have to take me for a ride on the gondola.
[Seems fair a enough trade! If it were a game of testing their strength, then maybe Cloud would raise some eyebrows, but snowboarding is fairly lowkey, she thinks.]
no subject
[ He looks puzzled at her suggestion... and not so much at the prize, but the game choice itself. Surely she would have a better chance at basketball. Maybe. ]
Why do you think you can beat me at it? You've never been snowboarding.
[ As far as he knows, anyway... ]
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This way sounds more fun, anyway.]
You were gone for a long time, remember? A lot can happen.
[Don't underestimate her!!! Taking him by the arm, she drags Cloud to the unoccupied game.]
Did they teach you how to snowboard?
no subject
Ngh... no, but at least I've been on a snowy mountain.
[ Not that it will give him an edge here whatsoever. Once they put their VR headsets on, it'll be a first experience for the both of them. Just before they do that, however, they need to finish settling on the wager. ]
If I win...
[ Before he can complete the sentence though, he's distracted by a seemingly black feather breezing past his face. For a brief moment, his anxiety levels rise sharply before he realizes it's only a regular Chocobo feather. There's a lot of these floating around, given where they are.
Trying to play it off as if nothing happened (and perhaps in a hurry to escape reality for a minute) he puts his headset on first and waits for the environment to load. ]
--if I win, you guys will have to take Barret into your room.
[ Even when he sleeptalks, he's actually yelling about the planet. ]
no subject
She's about to ask him if he's alright when he goes on, and she wipes it away with a smile as she slips her own VR set over her eyes. The scenery immediately unfolds before her, putting her beside Cloud at the top of a snowy hill. Looking down, it's as if her feet are strapped to a snowboard, so she turns to adjust.
This should be interesting.]
Wasn't there a 'girls only' rule?
[There was no such rule implemented. She's used to Barret, and she honestly doesn't mind having him around, so she'll accept it.]
You're on. I'm ready when you are, so start the countdown!
no subject
Three... two... one.... go--
[ Hard cut to 5 minutes later, in which some cleverly placed obstacles and traps caused Cloud to roll down the hill for most of the course. This is a game after all, so he should have expected some trickery. Did he even make it first or second?!? Everything in the last minute has been a bit of a blur, he struggles to get to his feet even in VR mode. ]
--ngh, why were there so many snowmen?
no subject
You didn't think it was going to be easy, did you?
[She'd make another jab at him about where his snowy mountain experience went, but she figures his pride is already sore enough, so she stretches a hand to reach for his, as if it'll help him in VR world.]
I'll meet you at the finish line.
[But as soon as he's ready to go, Tifa is off, speeding through the last stretch of the race to the end. She can see it – the line to cross to mark herself the winner... Not that she cares much about who wins because she's been having fun either way, but damn it that gondola ride sounds relaxing, and it would have been a good opportunity for them to catch up!
She dodges one last snowman – the largest one she's seen, intended to really throw people off course before the end, and flies through the finish line with relative ease... up until she loses her balance as she tries to come to a hard halt, but that won't impede her from encouraging Cloud through the remainder of the course.]
C'mon! Just dodge that last one.
no subject
Despite his impressive effort and comeback at the end, it's clear that he still lost the race and he finds himself too embarrassed to face her for the time being. ]
Not a word about this to Aerith or Barret.
[ They'll tease him endlessly!!! 😢 ]
You sure you haven't done this before?
[ Meanwhile the VR world around them is beginning to shut down, indicating that it's time to take off their headsets. Don't worry, he intends on honouring the deal. ]
no subject
Not a word!
[Unless, of course, they ask... in which case, she may oblige. But only if they ask. She presses a finger to her lips for emphasis before hopping off the platform for a stretch.]
Pretty sure I haven't. Beginner's luck? For what it's worth, I don't think you did half-bad, especially for someone who's been on a snowy mountain before.
[She isn't even teasing, but she totally means that. Genuinely not half-bad... even if he did lose.]
no subject
You did well for someone who hasn't been to those places.
[ Maybe their journey will take them there now! He'll need to make sure they all pack jackets. Before they enjoy the heights of a mountain, however, there is a place in the sky for them here that they owe a visit... the big ride! That is, if she's still up for it... wait, what does he care??? ]
...Not sick of heights yet, are you?
[ Just... asking...... in case there's a "psyche!" coming his way. The ladies have really done a number on him in the past few months. ]
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[C'mon, she isn't Barret!
The game was fun, but she's been looking forward to it long before they slipped into their VR headsets. She may have even tried to convince him to go in the event of a loss. It'll be a nice opportunity for them to spend some time together without all the hustle and bustle of the Saucer.
And with that, Tifa leads the way in the direction of the ride. The line is short, thankfully – only a few couples ahead of them – so it gives her a chance for a small reminder.]
This isn't quite what I had in mind when I said we should hit the town. Your outfit doesn't even match mine.
[Except she's all smiles anyway.]
no subject