Private RP

[lockhearttifa]

Who: Tifa, Cloud, and Marlene
Where: Seventh Heaven
When: Night
Rating: TBA
Warnings: None, at the moment.

Comments

[marlenes_ribbon]

Marlene was sitting at a table near the window, peering out every once in a while at the pouring rain outside. In front of her on the table were a few sheets of paper, a pencil, and a couple crayons, most of them either broken or well-used. She hummed quietly to herself, swinging her legs slightly and knocking her heels gently against the rung of the chair.

At one point she looked over at Tifa and frowned slightly to herself, knowing full well that Tifa had something on her mind. Marlene had half the mind to ask what Tifa was thinking about, but she decided against it and went back to drawing quietly.

It was a few moment's later when the door's opened, the sound of the rain hitting the streets suddenly rising in volume, and she lifted her head, smiling when she saw it was Cloud. She smiled faintly to herself and set her crayon down, looking towards Tifa. "Tifa, Cloud's back!"

Marlene didn't know the blonde as well as she knew Tifa, having only moved into the bar a few weeks ago, but she knew that he was nice, and kind, and that Tifa liiiiiked him. He also liked her drawings, and he was always warm when she hugged him.

[lockhearttifa]

When Tifa had washed down the last table, she headed back towards the bar where she began to give her attention to the dirty dishes that waited patiently. Before she started, she looked over at Marlene. The girl was coloring by the window. Tifa watched Marlene look out the window. Tifa gave a slight smile. She truly hoped the girl liked it at the bar. Tifa thought the world of Marlene, and she was more than happy to open her home to her. At least, Tifa knew she was safe here.

Looking down at the glasses, Tifa put her hands into the warm water and began washing.

"Tifa, Cloud's back!"

Tifa put the mug she was holding back into the water, even though she had already taken the trouble to wash it. She looked over her shoulder and saw Cloud standing in the doorway. He was soaked from head to toe. Water dripped off his body and onto the floor. That didn't matter. All that mattered was the he was home and she could stop worrying about him.

Tifa walked around the bar, picking up a towel from under the counter. She walked over to Cloud, offering him the towel.

"You're soaking wet," she said. "You're going to catch the flu," Tifa said.

Tifa motioned for Cloud to walk towards the fire.

"Did everything go okay?" she asked, hinting that she was worried about the reason that made him come home so late.

[strife_delivery]

Cloud took the towel, the corner of his mouth turning up just slightly in a barely-there smile before he dried his face and lightly scrubbed his hair with the towel. His blonde locks stuck up in all directions, but it somehow looked...like it always did, only wet.

Draping the towel over his shoulder, Cloud followed Tifa towards the fire, glancing over his shoulder towards Marlene while also making sure that he wasn't leaving a trail of water -- he was. He tilted his head towards the fire while still looking at Marlene, silently asking her to come over, Cloud then looked back at Tifa. "Everything went fine," he said quietly. He shifted his weight, eyes squinting slightly at the quiet squelching sound his shoes made. "I'm going to go change...I'll be back down in a minute..."

[marlenes_ribbon]

Marlene caught Cloud's eyes as he looked over towards her and saw him nod. She smiled faintly, eyes crinkling a little at the corners, and then put her crayons away in the box before she hopped down from her chair.

Heading over towards the fireplace with her drawing in hand, Marlene hopped over the small puddle Cloud had left at the door when he first came in, with a light giggle. She took a seat on the floor by the fire, but not too close, and set her picture beside her before she looked up at the two with curious eyes, just watching contently.

[lockhearttifa]

Tifa looked at Cloud as he dried his face. Smiling inwardly, Tifa was glad he was home. She was always worried when his jobs took longer than expected. At least, things went smoothly, otherwise. Tifa gave Cloud a nod, before he headed upstairs.

She watched him leave. Tifa knew Cloud must have been hungry…and tired. Walked over to the kitchen, she fixed him a bowl of soup, which was warm him from the inside out. Returning to the fire, Tifa dropped down to Marlene’s level and looked at her paper.

“What have you been drawing?” she asked, holding the warm bowl in her hands.

[strife_delivery]

Reaching the top of the stairs, Cloud turned down the hall and into his room, closing the door quietly behind him. He sighed, pushing his fingers through his wet, blonde hair, and then toed off his boots, nudging them towards an empty corner with his toes.

Today had been long, but it hadn't been stressful like most days were. It was just the talking that every customer seemed to want to do. Cloud wasn't much for talking.

Shedding his shirt, the blonde rummaged around for a new one -- a black, zippered tank much like the one he'd been wearing before, and then changed into dry pants and socks before heading back downstairs.

[marlenes_ribbon]

Marlene snickered to herself as she eyed the trail of water Cloud left behind as he went upstairs to change.

Blinking, she looked up at Tifa with a curious expression and then looked down at her picture with a small smile, picking it up and showing it to Tifa. "It's a chocobo!" she exclaimed. "A black one with silver feather-tips," she finished, informing her with a nod.

"Do you think Cloud will like it?"

[lockhearttifa]

Tifa laughed softly at Marlene. With one free hand, she picked up the drawing and examined it thoughtfully. Looking at Marlene, she gave the girl a firm nod.

"I think he'll love it," Tifa said, handing the drawing back to Marlene. "It's very nice," she told the girl, touching the bow at the back of her head.

Then, Tifa heard Cloud's soft footsteps at the stairs. She looked and saw the blonde man standing there. He wasn't wearing his boots, instead he was just in socks. Tifa made a note to retrieve the boots later and set them by the fire to dry. Looking over at Marlene, she laughed.

"Why don't you give it to him?" she suggested.

Walking over to Cloud, Tifa offered him the bowl of soup. "Here," she said. "It's still warm, and I'm sure you're hungry."

[strife_delivery]

Cloud took the bowl carefully with a half smile and a slight nod. "Thank you," he said quietly, and then gave both Tifa and Marlene a questioning look as he moved to sit closer to the fire. He was considerably warmer now that he'd changed out of his wet clothes, but his hair was still rather damp and dripping at the back.

Assuming that he was the 'him' of Tifa's statement, Cloud looked to Marlene with the same questioning look and smiled faintly. "...Give me what?"

[marlenes_ribbon]

Marlene smiled up at Tifa, proud of yet another drawing. "You really think so?" she asked with curious eyes as she smiled. "Thank you!"

Looking up at the sound of approaching footsteps, Marlene eyed Cloud at the bottom of the stairs and smiled warmly at him, picture in hand. She waited for a few moments, letting Tifa talk with him - as it was rude to interrupt - and then got up and wandered over to Cloud at his inquiring look.

With a glance towards Tifa, Marlene smiled and then handed the drawing to Cloud. Across the top of the page in fairly neat capital letters was written, 'FENRIR.' "That's his name..." she said, pointing to the letters.

[ OOC: I had to! XDD ]

[lockhearttifa]

Tifa watched as Cloud took the bowl. At that, she gave him a pleased smile. At least, he didn't try to resist her offer of food. She walked over to the bar and took out a fresh loaf of bread from one of the cabinet. It was wrapped in a thin white cloth. Tifa took the bread and a knife over to the table.

Tifa caught sight of Marlene showing Cloud her drawing. Tifa smiled happily and walked up to them, setting the bread and knife on the nearest table. Looking at the drawing again, Tifa laughed softly at Marlene.

"I think that's a great name, Marlene," Tifa told the little girl. "Don't you think so too, Cloud?" Tifa asked, trying to get Cloud to talk with Marlene.

(OOC: That's cute!! :) I'm so sorry about the delay. I'm out of town, right now. I really feel bad.)