I am a tropical person...

[chief_mendacity]

Who: Veld and whoever is in the bar/halfway house
When: During the blizzard
Location: The Bar/Halfway House
Rating: PG-13 or R, depending on language
Summary: Veld hates being cold

Comments

[platinum_fist]

Tifa had noted the kids bringing in the firewood and made sure they were dressed warmly enough to play outdoors, she came downstairs with blankets and coffee for him. She settled the tray on a table by his chair before handing him one of the blankets. "You've never really been fond of cold weather have you?" The question was quiet and she moved to settle across from him, glancing at the fireplace.

"...It actually reminds me of home a little." There's a faint hint of sadness in her voice and her eyes go distant for a moment before she shakes her head. "I'm glad the kids are able to enjoy it though."

[chief_mendacity]

Veld smiled at her. Tifa was very young to be so motherly. Part of her reminded him of Laura. "When I was in Nibel, it snowed. I was never a fan of it."

The snow was fine, it was the cold that came with it. Veld had always been a warm person. He liked spice and heat in everything.

"Thank you. I was thinking of chili for dinner. Do you like spice?"

[platinum_fist]

"It reminds me of when I was a child and I'd play outside with my mother." Tifa's voice was distant for a moment before she shook her head. "I can understand not being used to it though and chili sounds good actually. "

She moved to sit across from him, brushing hair behind her ear. "I'm almost glad she died when she did, though. If I'd lost both my parents when Nibelheim burned, I don't know if I'd have ever recovered."

[chief_mendacity]

Veld took a deep sort of breath. It did hurt to lose your whole family in one fell swoop. To lose your home, your mother, father, little sister... everything together was crushing. But survival instincts kicked in. It always did for people like them. He offered a sad sort of knowing smile.

"I think, Tifa, that you would be amazed as to what you are capable of. When everything you love burns to the ground, you just keep moving. Fight it off because it's automatic. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for."

[chief_mendacity]

Veld's eyes followed his eldest daughter's tumble down the stairs and her defeated slink to the closet. "How is your leg?" He asked as he watched her suit up.

Elfe was going to come back in with blue lips and a red nose. She would be in need of hot food.

"Be careful, those kids are brutal."

[chief_mendacity]

"When you come in incapable of feeling your extremities I do not want to hear it." He wondered if they had stuff for chili and hot cocoa. He smirked at his daughter. "Never underestimate the enemy, Elfe."

[chief_mendacity]

Veld had enough materia in his arm to burn the town to the ground five times over. It didn't make him warm, however. "Till the snow stops, we'll just have to deal with it."

The retired Turk director lifted his head from his book and nodded to the kitchen. "There is chili on the stove, but I warn you now, it's extremely spicy. Tifa said she'd make some that was less spicy if enough people asked. You're welcome to it, however."

He recalled being told once that the ghost chilis were overkill. Veld did not agree.

[chief_mendacity]

Veld was surprised, to say the least that someone else enjoyed food as spicy as he liked it. Thus far Elfe was the only person who hadn't turned red in the face with a bite. He laughed, amused. "Just leave some for Elfe or she may have to take you out back."