starshower | 🌠 escordvi inbox.

[ And sure enough, when that time comes, Sumina will go ahead and send Tifa a message to let her that she's just about arrived in Eltrut, and shall be waiting by the docks.

It's hard to miss the colorful sails of the Seventh Heaven, certainly, but still— it's so nice of Tifa to offer to meet with her at the docks. And despite her request to simply bring herself, Sumina naturally must go an extra (nautical) mile, anyway, and she waits at the appointed meeting place with a bundle of neatly-wrapped mixed herbs in one arm. ]

[Tifa comes rushing down the pier to meet her as soon as she gets the message, arriving not long after Sumina does so that she doesn't have to wait, and her eyes move to the herbs in her arms, lighting up, before she offers her a most welcoming and winning smile. She won't admit it aloud, but she is beside herself with joy that she's come to visit...]

What's all this?

[A motion to the herbs as she beckons for Sumina to follow her down the boardwalk to where the Seventh Heaven is docked not far.]

[ Sumina mirrors that same brightness upon meeting up with Tifa; she's been looking forward to this visit, but more so to spending more time getting to know a fellow businesswoman! And Tifa was truly such a delight when they met, that Sumina earnestly hopes they can become friends.

The innkeeper falls into step as she follows, holding the bundle up when Tifa asks about them. ]

Ahaha. I know you said I needn't bring anything, but... I've been experimenting with growing these, and used a tonic I'd received from a quest... which then made my plants grow a bit too much. So, these are for you and the bar! You'd be doing me a favor by taking these off of my hands, really!

Oh. That must've been some tonic.

[Tifa's eyes widen a bit at the herbs as she leads Sumina up to the ship, gesturing for her to board first from the dock, because that is quite the bundle she has.

But as soon as they're both on board, she does a sweeping gesture to welcome her, as if she were walking into Eltrut's fanciest bar... which it is far from being.]

Ah! Welcome aboard, Miss Sumina.

[ Ah! She feels so very welcomed, indeed, and though she's dwelled in this world for a little over a month already, this is still her first time boarding a ship ran by fellow riftfarers, and there's no small measure of awe in her expression as she looks around. ]

Ha— Happy to be on board, Miss Tifa! Wow... So this ship is all your own, isn't it? And your crew's of course. Remarkable!

[ She can't imagine how much work it must be to keep something like this going, but, well... She has a feeling she'll have to learn sooner or later, especially if a certain someone whose name starts with "go" and rhymes with "joe" decides to procure (?) and establish his own crew. ]

[The deck itself is nothing to write home about quite yet. The most interesting thing are the sails that change colours with every shift of the wind. Mood sails, as Nimona called them, though Tifa isn't sure that they work the way that she had explained them to. She's pretty sure they just slowly change colour in some random pattern.]

Sure is!

[Still, she beams with pride anyway because as she leads Sumina closer to the back, she'll see the round island bar in the center of the deck, with tables and chairs set around. There are a few people there enjoying themselves with a few drinks, and a member of their kitchen crew running the place while the others are gone. The island counter wraps all the way around the bar in the middle of it all, and it's stacked with bottles. There's a grill, an oven, and a stovetop, and fairy lights that help illuminate it that dangle all the way around.]

It isn't much yet, but it does the job for now.

[And that's about as much as she can ask for. So, she gestures to a seat at the bar.]

So, grab a seat and I'll whip up whatever you want!

[ Nothing to write home about quite yet, and yet those mood sails are exactly that, at least by Sumina's estimation!! And so is the bar itself. She's had the pleasure of visiting some inns and taverns over her career, but certainly not one quite like this. It's inspiring... ]

Oh, my... I know you don't think it much, yet, but I hope you'll believe me when I say you're off to a terrific start.

[ This definitely feels more... welcoming than any other bar she's seen on Corsair ships, that's for sure! Regardless, Sumina takes her seat, settling in nicely as she looks around at every minute detail her starry eyes can take in. ]

Would you happen to have any mead, by chance? Or a house wine you're particularly fond of?

[ Also, she's sliding that bundle of herbs over the counter... ]

[She wishes that she could take some of the credit for the bar's setup, but that was all her crew. Needless to say, she was surprised when they put it all together right under her nose. Still, it earns a flattered flush in her cheeks anyway as she slides around the counter behind the bar.]

No house wines yet, though I am cooking up something that should hopefully be finished in a few months. I have already made my own whiskey, but we don't carry that one here.

[It had been a gift for someone else, and she's going to keep that particular brand unique to him.]

So... hm. You prefer red or white?

Oh? I can't say I've ever distilled anything like whiskey myself, but how interesting!

[ As for wines, however... ]

I prefer white wine. And on the dryer side...

Good choice.

[Dry white wine coming right up. And since I know nothing about wines, pretend that there are some crisp citrusy notes to it.]

It's actually kinda fun, though... distilling. Learned a lot while making it. You should come with me next time! Maybe get one started for when you get a new inn up and running.

[She winks, teasing.]

[ That sounds about right bc I know nothing also!! ]

I would love to, though— Ah.

[ The teasing!! Sumina chuckles and shakes her head. ]

Oh, I don't know if I would manage such an undertaking here... I feel rather adrift here, if I'm honest. Each day is wilder than the last. That's why I find it so impressive that you and your companions managed to establish this!

It really is.

[With a cold bottle of beer in hand, she comes around the counter to join Sumina, taking a seat on the stool next to hers. She doesn't want to be interrupted if she's standing behind the bar.]

Well, when you've got a crew of really eager doers who all wanna be really hands-on, it becomes a little easier. [A pause, and she takes a small swig of her beer.] I meant to ask, did you manage to find yourself a crew since I last saw you?

[ The question about a crew draws a long, thoughtful hum from Sumina. She honestly hadn't thought about it at all, given how much of this is such an adjustment for her to begin with. Even so, she would be perfectly happy continuing on with the crew of the Stormbringer, even if she's absolutely Just A Little Guy amongst the veteran corsairs and whatnot. Perhaps they've even taken to thinking of her like their strange, sweet niece or some such... ]

I... have yet to find a different crew. Those aboard the Stormbringer strangely remind me of home, if I'm honest, our inn being what it is. The captain is just as fierce as many of my more... adventurous relatives. It's quite lively.

[ However, and it's a big one, added as she offers a resigned sigh against the rim of her wine glass. ]

Satoru would probably want to go his own way with a crew of his own choosing, however...

[ Maybe once he's done picking fights with every shonen protagonist and/or teenager in this game. ]

[Tifa has heard the stories about the Stormbringer's captain, and has met the Royal Fortune's at least once, so she can safely say that she agrees with those sentiments. Adventurous would certainly be the word, if the things she's heard bear any truth to them.

The name that Sumina mentions, though, is an unfamiliar one to her, and she takes another small sip of her beer and tilts her head.]

Satoru? He a friend or family?

[The only reason she asks that is because it sounds like a conditional—something that Sumina is taking into heavy consideration for her own future.]

[ She is taking him into heavy consideration for her own future, and at Tifa's question, she blinks for a moment, like she's never been asked this.

...Has she ever been asked to actually describe their relationship out loud, before...? Usually, the fact just seems to surface itself without need for explanation, especially if Satoru himself is present. He's rather outspoken, after all... ]

He's... no, he's...

[ She's definitely starting to blush. ]

[ No, she's definitely starting to blush a lot. ]

Satoru is, ah... My lover...

[Tifa can already tell what he is before Sumina can even say it. It doesn't take much to read the flush in her cheeks, or the way she stammers with her answer, and she can't help but bite back a smile that she hides in a drink. Funnily enough, Sumina blushing also causes Tifa's cheeks to bloom with colour for asking.]

Ah. Well then, I guess it is pretty important that you stick with him.

[That answers that.

She really can't help herself, and she doesn't mean to tease, but—]

That mean he'll be your captain, too?

[There might be the faintest glimmer of amusement in her eyes.]

[ Absolutely nobody in this game is prepared for Gojo to become a captain and worse, having others call him captain, both Sumina and I are praying for everyone's continued sanity.

...But, yes. Tifa is right about that, on both counts... ]

Y..Yes, I suppose so!

[ Ahh, she's being teased. ]

We met at the hotel I mentioned to you before, and arrived here together. We were... incredibly fortunate, that it turned out this way, ahaha...

Wait.

[Tifa nearly chokes on her sip of beer before she sets the bottle down, staring at Sumina with no shortage of shock.]

You met in another world, and then came here and... remembered each other? That's so...

[Romantic!?]

( ooc: i'm on hiatus this month, but feel free to let this go if it's too old ♥ )

[ There is a momentary display of concern over Tifa as she nearly chokes on her drink, but Sumina slips right back into a deep sheepishness at her following comment. She's redder than her pink hair, all the way to the very tips of her pointed ears... ]

That's... that's right! I-It's quite— [ yeah, romantic ] Unbelievable when put into those terms, isn't it? Ahaha... ha...

H-He's always been quite a handful, and I fear arriving here has only awakened an even more chaotic sense of mischief and misadventure, b-but still— [ help. she's yapping!? ] I know we'll stay true to one another...!

[ Practically wheezing after all that, Sumina lifts her glass to her mouth and drinks, with urgency. ]

[Tifa can't help but giggle—not at Sumina, but just at how cute it is that they have still managed to find each other again in this world after being in another one. She's a bit of a hopeless romantic herself, so her own cheeks flush a bit at the thought. Don't worry Sumina, she won't judge.]

Honestly? I think it's sweet.

[Maybe not so much the chaotic part, but Tifa's never met him before, so who's to say?]

Almost makes me wish I had something like that, too.

[ Tifa does seem to just have one of those dazzling personalities that makes one want to simply befriend her, such a talent for making someone feel so comfortable and safe and familiar even for the short time that they've known each other. They're some of Sumina's favorite kind people to surround herself with...

She's also rather eager to not have this entire conversation revolve around her relationship and wants to get to know Tifa more, so given the opportunity, she quickly pivots. ]

Ah, I'm certain you'll find it for yourself, too, Tifa. You're so very lovely! In fact, I would be shocked if you didn't already have a few admirers... even if you might not know of them just yet.

Really?

[She doesn't mean to sound so surprised or interested in that, and realizing just how much she had, she draws it back, a hand fidgeting with a lock of hair.]

I don't know... With the bar and making sure the whole crew stays out of trouble, I'm not sure I would even have the time for something like that. I'm sure you know what that can be like sometimes, running an inn. When life keeps you busy...

[ Well, that does strike a chord with Sumina, remembering all too well how she'd always written the possibility of something like a relationship off when it felt like she was simply too busy to even think about it, when being an innkeeper was all she could think to be, on top of being a daughter, a sister, a friend. She couldn't fathom being someone's lover, as well, until her stay at the hotel had decisively taken her away from her role. It was only then that she was able to begin learning who she was outside of her work...

So she levels a look most understanding and sympathetic at Tifa, her expression softening. ]

I understand the feeling, truly. There's already so much to do, you can't fathom how someone special might slot into your life. Honestly, if not for the fact that I'd stepped away to stay at the hotel, I... Ahaha, I truly might have ended up an old maid.

Of course, I don't find myself quite as busy as you are, these days, but what I do believe is that... When the right person comes along, it won't so much feel like having to make space or time for them. It feels like... they fit right into your days, into your life, like they were always meant to be there.

[ ... She looks back down to her glass of wine. She's so embarrassed... ]

[There is nothing to be embarrassed about. Tifa thinks the sentiment is sweet, and she listens so very carefully to what Sumina has to say, as if she is telling her one of the world's greatest secrets or solving its mysteries. She always did feel a bit silly, even bothering to think about it, always so tied to her responsibilities that she would scold herself for getting so distracted by mere thoughts and daydreams, but maybe she's right.

Maybe... the right person will just fit...]

... Is that how you felt with Gojo when he came in?

[She's really not trying to embarrass Sumina, but... she might be trying to figure out her own feelings at the moment. Complicated, messy ones.

That, and she's a quiet, secret sucker for romance.]

(no subject)

airdnd - 2024-09-04 20:29 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

starshower - 2024-09-05 04:29 (UTC) - Expand

🌠 escordvi inbox.

→ action!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

sorry for the delay sweet sheila!!

💜💜

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)