...She was protesting and wanting to go earlier, I'm not sure what's going on...
[Frowning a little, he reaches back and picks her up, cradling her in his arms and letting her have a closer look at Cloud.]
Did you change your mind?
[And the little corgi furiously shakes her head, flower petals flying around. She looks at Cloud... And then shyly tucks her head down.
...
...Why...is he only hearing flowery thoughts from her—
A bad feeling is sinking in, so—]
Since she doesn't seem up to it, I'll just take her ba—!?
[Before he can finish she squirms in his arms, barking a little and forcing him to set her down. She immediately hops towards Cloud, again looking shy up at him.
[Cloud is as confused as Eustace is as he sees the dog bound towards him, looking up at him with doe-eyes, though her snout is slightly turned away. He'd never really known how to deal with dogs anyway.]
Look, if you want to help just tell me where to find [Who's the first name on the list?] Kazuma.
[All of a sudden there seems to be a spring in Bri's step as she walks to the general direction of the Wild Harvest. She stops to look back to see if Cloud is following her, only moving further away when he does.]
Guess she's still up for it. [And with that, he leaves Eustace behind without so much as a nod of acknowledgment.
Ten or so minutes later, Eustace will receive a message:]
[Wow, not even a thank you?? Eustace just stares after them, brows furrowed a bit as he mostly watches Bri. What is she doing... But she seems okay now, maybe she really was acting shy? Eventually he leaves the plaza to return to the café...
Just made our way out of Wild Harvest. She's acting like she was before we left. And she keeps running off to hand me flowers.
[Just as she comes back with another, looking up to him with large, round, puppy-dog eyes. Cloud reaches down to accept it but before he can ask her where to head next, she runs off again to fetch him what he assumes is another flower.]
[And that's all Eustace gets before Cloud attempt to make this last delivery to Trahearne's. The entire task would've been easier than he expected, what with the others having been familiar with each other... If it weren't for the random pitstops they made afterwards. Eustace might have to wait a little longer than expected.
Eventually the two show up, Briallen happily running up behind Cloud with another flower between her teeth. At this point, Cloud holds what could be called a Wild Harvest bouquet of mismatched flowers in one hand. The look on his face is resigned as Bri catches up to him once more, nudging her snout against his leg. His sigh is audible from where Eustace stands.]
Eustace glances at his watch wondering what's taking them until he finally spots their arrival... And sees his precious princess Bri holding that flower in her mouth. At first glance it doesn't look too suspicious. It's not unusual for her to try and give flowers to those she meets, especially anyone who is similar to himself and she thinks could use some "color" and "cheer" in their lives.
But when be actually sees the flowers in Cloud's hands, he stiffens. In a fact a stark, cold chill suddenly passes through as he looks as if he would freeze those flowers. Normally he isn't so fluent with the flower language, but after receiving help from Bri with his own bouquets and flowers to Tifa, he recognizes several and their meanings.
And this is how Cloud will find Eustace...and Bri doesn't even look at him, her eyes dead focused on Cloud.]
[They finally stop a few paces in front of Eustace and he lets out a sigh, moving to a squat to get yet another flower from Briallen. He's not even sure what he's going to do with all of these.
Bri, on the other hand, continues to look up at him expectantly, panting happily and shifting her weight from foot to foot, tail wagging wildly behind her.]
She's been acting like this the whole time. [Cloud moves his hand as if to show all of the flowers he's collected from her as he gets back on his feet.] But we've delivered all the invitations.
[Only after he finally speaks in a stiff voice does Briallen seem to notice him... And oh, she's happy to see him at least!! She barks once and runs over, tail wagging and immediately whatever frost and chill had started to grow melts as he kneels down to reach out and pick her up. He can already hear her asking if she did good and she was such a good helper and SHE REALLY LIKES MISTER CLOUD CAN SHE HANG AROUND HIM—
Immediately all that fuzzy feeling evaporates as she wriggles out of his hands and runs back to Cloud, circling him.
[Ah, that's surprising. Cloud feels like he's barely interacted with the dog but she still wants to hang around him for some reason, even when her actual owner is around. Is he supposed to do something else?
...Ah.
He gets back on the ground, awkwardly puts his hand on her head and... pets her.]
Uh, good job.
[And if Bri wasn't beaming before, she certainly is now! She glances over at Eustace happy for the compliment, but that only lasts a second before she looks back up at Cloud. He finally noticed her!
Cloud, the other hand, still looks uncomfortable and maybe even a little confused by all this.]
[Bri's so happy to get his acknowledgment that she leans into his pets even more. And just when he was going to stop too. Ah, I guess he does this for a little longer.]
[Not a full lie but not fully true, either. And while he would like to TAKE HER AWAY he just...sighs and lets it be. What can he do? It is kind of cute...
....
Barely.]
She can grow fond of certain people, so don't be too surprised if you see her run to you one day. Just indulge her a little...
...But if she gets too much, just tell her to stop. You can always bring her to the cafe or message me and I'll get her.
[There's going to be more of this? There's a small attempt in keeping the resignation out of the sigh he makes as he stops petting her, standing back to his full height.]
Right. I'll keep that in mind.
[Bri lets out a small whine. Cloud looks to her once more then back to Eustace. He's only doing all this for Tifa, so if they're done here—]
Is that everything you need for the party? [At least from him.]
[Eustace is going to walk over and pick up Bri. That's right, that dumb chocobutthead is abandoning you, return to father who will always love and dote on you.]
Not at this time, no. Your help was appreciated.
[And then a small pause.]
However, if you wish to help with any of the decorating later, you are welcome to.
[Cloud actually has to hide how relieved his is when she's taken away. Not that he really minds, but more not knowing how to deal with animals in general.]
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spikyheaded) wrote2023-03-05 09:18 pm
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[Frowning a little, he reaches back and picks her up, cradling her in his arms and letting her have a closer look at Cloud.]
Did you change your mind?
[And the little corgi furiously shakes her head, flower petals flying around. She looks at Cloud... And then shyly tucks her head down.
...
...Why...is he only hearing flowery thoughts from her—
A bad feeling is sinking in, so—]
Since she doesn't seem up to it, I'll just take her ba—!?
[Before he can finish she squirms in his arms, barking a little and forcing him to set her down. She immediately hops towards Cloud, again looking shy up at him.
...
.......
............?????]
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Look, if you want to help just tell me where to find [Who's the first name on the list?] Kazuma.
[All of a sudden there seems to be a spring in Bri's step as she walks to the general direction of the Wild Harvest. She stops to look back to see if Cloud is following her, only moving further away when he does.]
Guess she's still up for it. [And with that, he leaves Eustace behind without so much as a nod of acknowledgment.
Ten or so minutes later, Eustace will receive a message:]
Your dog is acting strange again.
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...
Only to suddenly receive the oddest message.]
Strange how?
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One second, she seems ready to go, then by the next, she stops and just looks at me weirdly.
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[Just as she comes back with another, looking up to him with large, round, puppy-dog eyes. Cloud reaches down to accept it but before he can ask her where to head next, she runs off again to fetch him what he assumes is another flower.]
She's on her fourth one.
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Just flowers?
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Were you expecting her to give me something else?
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Where are you?
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[And that's all Eustace gets before Cloud attempt to make this last delivery to Trahearne's. The entire task would've been easier than he expected, what with the others having been familiar with each other... If it weren't for the random pitstops they made afterwards. Eustace might have to wait a little longer than expected.
Eventually the two show up, Briallen happily running up behind Cloud with another flower between her teeth. At this point, Cloud holds what could be called a
Wild Harvestbouquet of mismatched flowers in one hand. The look on his face is resigned as Bri catches up to him once more, nudging her snout against his leg. His sigh is audible from where Eustace stands.]Don't you think I have enough at this point?
[Are dogs even supposed to be acting like this?]
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Eustace glances at his watch wondering what's taking them until he finally spots their arrival... And sees
his precious princessBri holding that flower in her mouth. At first glance it doesn't look too suspicious. It's not unusual for her to try and give flowers to those she meets, especially anyone who is similar to himself and she thinks could use some "color" and "cheer" in their lives.But when be actually sees the flowers in Cloud's hands, he stiffens. In a fact a stark, cold chill suddenly passes through as he looks as if he would freeze those flowers. Normally he isn't so fluent with the flower language, but after receiving help from Bri with his own bouquets and flowers to Tifa, he recognizes several and their meanings.
And this is how Cloud will find Eustace...and Bri doesn't even look at him, her eyes dead focused on Cloud.]
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Bri, on the other hand, continues to look up at him expectantly, panting happily and shifting her weight from foot to foot, tail wagging wildly behind her.]
She's been acting like this the whole time. [Cloud moves his hand as if to show all of the flowers he's collected from her as he gets back on his feet.] But we've delivered all the invitations.
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...I see.
[Only after he finally speaks in a stiff voice does Briallen seem to notice him... And oh, she's happy to see him at least!! She barks once and runs over, tail wagging and immediately whatever frost and chill had started to grow melts as he kneels down to reach out and pick her up. He can already hear her asking if she did good and she was such a good helper and SHE REALLY LIKES MISTER CLOUD CAN SHE HANG AROUND HIM—
Immediately all that fuzzy feeling evaporates as she wriggles out of his hands and runs back to Cloud, circling him.
He's speechless. Again.]
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...Ah.
He gets back on the ground, awkwardly puts his hand on her head and... pets her.]
Uh, good job.
[And if Bri wasn't beaming before, she certainly is now! She glances over at Eustace happy for the compliment, but that only lasts a second before she looks back up at Cloud. He finally noticed her!
Cloud, the other hand, still looks uncomfortable and maybe even a little confused by all this.]
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His precious princess... Seeking that chocobo head for praise.............
But okay. Okay Eustace. Get a grip. It's not like she can't like other people...]
...She seems to like you a lot.
[Stiff. So very stiff.]
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Can't imagine why. All we did was the deliveries.
[HE'S ABSOLUTELY OBLIVIOUS.]
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She's...like that.
[Not a full lie but not fully true, either. And while he would like to TAKE HER AWAY he just...sighs and lets it be. What can he do? It is kind of cute...
....
Barely.]
She can grow fond of certain people, so don't be too surprised if you see her run to you one day. Just indulge her a little...
...But if she gets too much, just tell her to stop. You can always bring her to the cafe or message me and I'll get her.
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Right. I'll keep that in mind.
[Bri lets out a small whine. Cloud looks to her once more then back to Eustace. He's only doing all this for Tifa, so if they're done here—]
Is that everything you need for the party? [At least from him.]
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Not at this time, no. Your help was appreciated.
[And then a small pause.]
However, if you wish to help with any of the decorating later, you are welcome to.
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Is it the same day as the party?
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I'll see if I can make it.
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Eustace studies Cloud for a moment before he asks what's been on his mind from the start.]
Does this make you uncomfortable?
["This" being anything at this point, given everything that's related.]
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