Bartending!
Tifa's spent most of the afternoon working out by the lake. The change in seasons marked without her nearest and dearest makes her a little more melancholy than she hopes to let on, but even though she knows the lake and its surroundings are magic -- an illusion -- today the brightness gleaming off the water seemed... really nice. Or maybe she
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"But I don't mind some things about the snow. I like the way it crunches underfoot, and the way the cold air makes your breath spiral into little patterns. The frost on the windows, and you look out knowing you're warm and safe inside. Snowflakes in my hair -- I never minded that -- and shaking them off shoes and clothing just before you get in the door. And the way it all looks so pristine and pure right after the snow falls, and the way the light -- sunlight, moonlight, street lights -- sparkle off it in so many colors."
That's more of a list than he'd planned on making, but it doesn't matter: pleasant barroom banter is the same no matter what planet someone's from. The drink is every bit as good as he thought it would be; he nods his appreciation for it.
"At least that's what I thought on Callisto. So where are you from? I'm Gren, by the way."
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"Nice to meet you. I'm Tifa." Her smile broadens. "I'm from a planet called Gaia."
She doesn't know Callisto, but that's no surprise. He clearly knows Earth pretty well, and nobody she's met from Earth has been familiar with Gaia.
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"You mix a mean Arctic Kiss, Tifa." He can feel his smile in the corners of his eyes as much as anywhere now. It's been a long time since he sat down here and talked about... well, a lot of nothing with someone new. "Before I leave, I'll hit you up for another to take upstairs for a friend."
Friend. What else is he going to call Faye? For now, that works. She's like... a diamond who was just waiting to be discovered and he's the man who was just lucky enough to be there at the right time. Someone had to catch her before she fell, and he hasn't regretted doing that for a minute.
Fate is so weird.
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That's awfully nice of him, and she's eager to make sure the second Arctic Kiss is just as good as the first. Gren will have to hurry up the stairs with it to make sure his friend gets it at its coldest.
She places the finished product on the bar, too, and she gives him a big grin. "I hope your friend likes it."
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A big tip.
It's not the first time he's been glad he and Faye took that trip to Santo, but never for the specific reason of having pocket cash for the first time in some two and a half years. It's still the currency from Santo, but he knows Bar will make it a fair trade for Tifa; he sets a handful of pretty paper money down. "This is for you: I really appreciate it. Next time I see you, I'll let you know what my friend thought of it."
As far as he's concerned, it's sweet and pungent and tasty. Even if the alcohol in it doesn't have any real physical effect on him, it's still a really good drink. Standing, he picks up both drinks carefully.
"Better get it to her while it's still arctic."
If he's lucky, Faye will seal it for him with a kiss of her own, and wouldn't that be nice? "Take care, Tifa."
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She's still grinning as she picks up the tip he left, and she's never seen money like it before but will happily give it to the bar to add to her tab when the bar's back on duty. How much it's worth doesn't really matter. Her needs are covered for right now, thanks to this job.
But it's really pretty, and she takes a second to admire the bill before tucking it away for later.
Hopefully Gren's friend enjoys the Arctic Kiss as much as he did.
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