[She's obviously irritated when she answers, although her expression softens at the sight of him. He's already making progress! Tifa is trapped in a bedroom with Nathan and Eridan, though, so completely calming her down might not be possible, at least not without some work.]
Don't let there be video evidence of you killing them, attempt to hide the bodies and call him once you're finished so he can attempt to head off the posse.]
[Cloud, these are intense mixed signals, and she's not sure how to take them. There's a pause before she speaks again, her eyes flicking away and then back.]
What was his end game plan? What had he spent all of this time running away from her for? What had any of it actually accomplished? So much time had been wasted on contemplation and worry, on wandering down each path within his mind and picking it apart until it was twisted and unrecognizable. So much time spent denying, spent pushing his own feelings aside in the name of protection, in the name of keeping a promise.
A promise that had been broken over and over and over again.
A promise that had been renewed and changed, molded into something different and better and stronger. A promise held by both of them.
Her life meant more than his own. Her well being, her happiness, her everything meant more to him than everything he was and everything he would ever be. Perhaps it had been the terrifying encounter with the creatures who haunted this prison they had found themselves in, or the memories that had come bubbling to the surface in the moments after that had finally shocked him into stopping, into allowing his mind to clear and those questions to stop chasing after answers he knew he would never find. Perhaps it was waking up alone, without her at his side that had finally provided him with the clarity needed to match those fragmented thoughts together.]
That's a good answer. Guess we'll have to wait until I see her again.
[She wants to ask him what he's going to do, if he's changed his mind about waiting, but she doesn't want to push him, and she's too afraid to be so blunt, anyway. What if he does want to be with her? What would that mean? What would it mean in Norfinbury, of all places?
It had been easy to agree when he'd said that now wasn't the right time. There are so many other things to think about, so many other things to focus on, and really, above all else, she just wants him to be happy. But he'd died once, and there aren't any guarantees that they'll ever actually get home. What if this is it, and they hold off forever, waiting for something that will never happen? If he actually wants this to be... something, what good reason is there for her to turn him down, especially when she's always told everyone else they should do everything they can to make things easier?
It's going to be terrible waiting for his decision. Tifa smiles again, but there's just an edge of uncertainty to it.]
I guess so. She'll be okay with whatever you decide.
[It's a little silly, talking about herself in third person, but oddly enough it makes things easier, too.]
[Truthfully, this wasn't the sort of conversation he intended to have over the tablets with however many miles were currently separating them and however many days still left to slug through until they could see each other again. She deserved far better than that, far better than being asked something so important over a cold, impersonal device. Deserved better than him, in reality, but how much longer could he use that as his only excuse, as his only line of defense?
What happened if she died tomorrow? What happened if she died and she never came back and he had to live with the knowledge that he never allowed them a chance? That he never given her a chance?
His smile is calm and reassuring in return, holding none of the uncertainty her's currently contained.]
[His smile is reassuring, and it soothes the last of her nerves. Still, she's trying not to let herself get her hopes up. She doesn't want to be disappointed.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
@lockhart; video
Sure. What do you want to know?
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Don't let there be video evidence of you killing them, attempt to hide the bodies and call him once you're finished so he can attempt to head off the posse.]
Depends on how accurate you'd say you are.
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His question gets a little smile out of her, and she decides to play along.]
I haven't been wrong yet.
[Technically true.]
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Guess those are pretty good odds.
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I think so, too. What do you want me to tell you?
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Just for a couple of decades. Huge difference.]
Think you could tell me what the future holds?
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I can try.
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You don't sound very confident.
[You make a terrible fortune teller, Tifa. Please don't quit your day job.]
There's this girl, back home. Think you could tell me what's gonna happen?
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She blinks, then shifts, her voice softening as she follows his lead.]
I think you need to be a little more specific.
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What do you need to know?
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[Tifa hesitates, clearly stalling as she tries to work up her courage.]
What do you want to happen?
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Well that.
That definitely back fired.]
I lied it will be three plus suffer
Was not supposed to happen.
At all.]
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Wait a chocobo plucking minute.]
Isn't that cheating?
you are literally the worst person in the world
Um...
[Someone put her out of her misery.]
I guess so.
Why thank you! You know I try.
Want me to ask something simpler?
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Okay.
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[There, is that simple enough for you?]
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Definitely.
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If she were here, would you tell me the same thing?
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Maybe. I... It depends on what you want.
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What was his end game plan? What had he spent all of this time running away from her for? What had any of it actually accomplished? So much time had been wasted on contemplation and worry, on wandering down each path within his mind and picking it apart until it was twisted and unrecognizable. So much time spent denying, spent pushing his own feelings aside in the name of protection, in the name of keeping a promise.
A promise that had been broken over and over and over again.
A promise that had been renewed and changed, molded into something different and better and stronger. A promise held by both of them.
Her life meant more than his own. Her well being, her happiness, her everything meant more to him than everything he was and everything he would ever be. Perhaps it had been the terrifying encounter with the creatures who haunted this prison they had found themselves in, or the memories that had come bubbling to the surface in the moments after that had finally shocked him into stopping, into allowing his mind to clear and those questions to stop chasing after answers he knew he would never find. Perhaps it was waking up alone, without her at his side that had finally provided him with the clarity needed to match those fragmented thoughts together.]
That's a good answer. Guess we'll have to wait until I see her again.
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It had been easy to agree when he'd said that now wasn't the right time. There are so many other things to think about, so many other things to focus on, and really, above all else, she just wants him to be happy. But he'd died once, and there aren't any guarantees that they'll ever actually get home. What if this is it, and they hold off forever, waiting for something that will never happen? If he actually wants this to be... something, what good reason is there for her to turn him down, especially when she's always told everyone else they should do everything they can to make things easier?
It's going to be terrible waiting for his decision. Tifa smiles again, but there's just an edge of uncertainty to it.]
I guess so. She'll be okay with whatever you decide.
[It's a little silly, talking about herself in third person, but oddly enough it makes things easier, too.]
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What happened if she died tomorrow? What happened if she died and she never came back and he had to live with the knowledge that he never allowed them a chance? That he never given her a chance?
His smile is calm and reassuring in return, holding none of the uncertainty her's currently contained.]
You should pretty sure of yourself.
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I'm sure. I just... want you to be happy.
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Spazzing complete
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