( OPEN )

[final7thheaven]

WHO: Tifa and open + two closed sections
WHAT: Tifa explores, meets her roommate, and visits the forge
WHERE: around the city, Dorm room 302, the forge
WHEN: early Sept, before vaccine event things
WARNINGS: will update with any relevant ones

exploration - OPEN

After finding Cloud and Vincent, Tifa takes on a goal of exploration. She'd gotten the idea of the place and a feel of how frustrating trying to get anywhere is. But she hasn't had any real experience outside of her arrival. So she wants to try to find out what she can, learn more about this city and the inhabitants, and hopefully learn her way around the city as much as is possible.

Places of note are the park, where she takes a second time to look around. She'd been so busy trying to find Cloud that she hadn't really looked around all that much. Now, she wants to see it. She also walks into Koenig's Fitness and Recreation, surprised by the gym's looks. Wearing her full gloves and arm guards, she probably looks like someone to be concerned about, but she lifts a hand in greeting and chooses to hang back until she figures out what she can really do here.

If anyone catches her attention, she is willing to talk and get to know people along her way.

room 302 - CLOSED to sharon

Overwhelmed has been the state of Tifa's mind for quite a while now and her introduction to this city hasn't really helped that much. Cloud's presence has been the most stabilizing force since she got here, but finding out that his memories contradict hers yet again keeps tearing at that stability. She hardly knows what to believe as far as Nibelheim; having to hold back so much else is really beginning to take its toll and she hasn't even been here all that long.

She manages to find her dorm room easily enough and after taking a few deep breaths, she presses her hand to the biometric lock system. As the door unlocks to let her in, she pushes it open and takes a step inside. Her eyes take in the layout of the room before the silhouette of someone else inside. Probably her roommate.

"Hi," she says, gently closing the door behind her. "My name's Tifa. I guess I'm your new roommate."

Firecross Metalworks - open to anyone who would be at the forge

The last stop on Tifa's list is the forge Cloud told her about. It takes her a day or so to make her way over there, but eventually, she can be found making her way inside. Glancing through the bowels of the junkyard, she tilts her head, wondering if Cloud really has the right place. It isn't like him to try to play a practical joke on her.

"Cloud?" she calls, making her way further inside.

Eventually, she finds one of the training areas. They look well-maintained, or at least maintained enough, and people seem to be using them. She does her best to stick to the outskirts, but not even that really saves her. She turns at just the wrong moment, just in time to spot someone twirling a weapon in her general direction - whether it's a pole or a sword or a buster sword, she can't tell. She reacts instinctively, shifting her feet to take her weight evenly as she lifts both arms into the shape of 'X' in front of her head, far enough out to keep whatever the weapon is from hitting her. Gritting her teeth, she digs her heels in, not about to let whatever or whoever this is take a chunk out of her.

Comments

[silentnarration]

In Squall's current state, he probably would have missed her even if she made noise. Between her standing down and the mention of Cloud, he eases up and lowers his weapon. Cloud doesn't seem like the type who'd just tell a random friend about this place (or make friends to begin with). He frowns, trying to work it out.

"Are you his girlfriend?"

[final7thheaven]

Of all the questions Tifa was expecting to have leveled at her, the one Squall gives her next was decidedly not on the list. She looks stricken at first, shock and embarrassment coloring her face and flushing her cheeks.

"What?! N-no! We're just friends. We've known each other a long time. That's all."

Maybe one of them might like it to be more, but that's all Tifa is willing to admit to now. At least out loud.

[silentnarration]

Oh. That sounds reasonable.

"Why are you blushing?"

It's an offhand question. Even though the reaction is a little suspicious he's not going to push a denial. He's completely relaxed now, holding the gunblade at his side.

"Is Cloud here?"