[Cloud had been busily failing at making presentable looking gift packages of pastries and tea leaves and other stupid gift things in the back, and he was about to ignore the little bell until he heard a familiar woman's voice calling out to him. He stared at the unfinished product before him for a second before getting up and padding along up to the front.]
Just me. [He sighs, leaning against the counter a little.] D'you want a coffee?
[Tifa gives Cloud a bright smile when he pops up.] Just the man I want to see! How are you doing today? [She goes to sit down, drumming her fingers on the counter.]
A coffee would be nice, thanks. [She stares around.] Did it get...pinker in here since the last time I visited? [She can't really hide the grin.]
I'm okay... [His answer didn't sound very solid, but there wasn't much else to suggest he was lying. With Tifa's answer, he quietly went about getting her a cup of the coffee blend he thought she liked.]
I don't know. [His eyes were quickly glancing around as he spoke.] Maybe. [A shrug.] Probably.
Nill's okay. Rufus is busy, and an ass, as usual. [Soon enough he was placing a cup of hot coffee on the counter in front of Tifa. His eyes couldn't seem to meet hers when she mentioned Aerith.]
Yeah, it does look more like her kind of place than mine. But I don't know, you guys don't get along with Shinra, maybe not.
[She laughs. Some things don't change.] I'm not surprised. But ah...he's not hurt, or anything? He was gone for a while. [It's strange, this uneasy truce she has with Rufus, but it's not terrible. She sips the coffee, winces. It's too hot right now.]
I think... [Her voice goes gentle.] I think so long as you were around, she'd like it. And she'd...get used to Shinra, I think. She was forgiving like that. [She takes another sip of her coffee, and now she can't quite bring herself to meet Cloud's eyes.] I guess I should learn to be forgiving too, if he's going to stick around.
He's fine. [The way Cloud says it, though, he sounds like part of him is still sort of mad at Rufus. He goes quiet for a while after Tifa finishes speaking, seeming to not know what he wants to say at first.]
I know. But, still. It's only because of me... [He sighs. Topic switch!]
Rufus won't do the same thing again, I'll make sure of it.
[Her grin gets a little crooked.] I don't know. I think she'd like the tea too.
[She's quiet for a little while, and then says:] He won't do the same thing again. We've all...made mistakes. And Shinra has changed. [She gives Cloud a comforting smile.]
Just me. [He sighs, leaning against the counter a little.] D'you want a coffee?
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A coffee would be nice, thanks. [She stares around.] Did it get...pinker in here since the last time I visited? [She can't really hide the grin.]
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I don't know. [His eyes were quickly glancing around as he spoke.] Maybe. [A shrug.] Probably.
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Ah...[A wistful smile.] Aerith would've liked this place, don't you think?
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Yeah, it does look more like her kind of place than mine. But I don't know, you guys don't get along with Shinra, maybe not.
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I think... [Her voice goes gentle.] I think so long as you were around, she'd like it. And she'd...get used to Shinra, I think. She was forgiving like that. [She takes another sip of her coffee, and now she can't quite bring herself to meet Cloud's eyes.] I guess I should learn to be forgiving too, if he's going to stick around.
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I know. But, still. It's only because of me...
[He sighs. Topic switch!]
Rufus won't do the same thing again, I'll make sure of it.
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[She's quiet for a little while, and then says:] He won't do the same thing again. We've all...made mistakes. And Shinra has changed. [She gives Cloud a comforting smile.]
I'm glad you're making friends.
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