onepassingnight | 002. there's no place like home

Current Location: gaia, seventh heaven

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002. there's no place like home

It's one of those absolutely beautiful days when the sky outside is clear blue for a change instead of grey and the rain from the night before actually cleaned things instead of adding to the layer of grime. Outside, the people passing on the street don't seem quite as in a rush or beat down as usual and there's a feeling of faint relief in the air, almost as if you can inhale deeply and it will be okay. Down one of the quieter streets, there's a building with a sign over its front door that proudly proclaims itself to be Seventh Heaven. The door's locked and the sign on it reads 'closed'... but just to the side of the building, tucked away and private, is a little garage attached to the side of the building. That door is wide open to let the fresh spring air into its cramped interior.

It's a small space and a great deal of it is taken up with stacked boxes and bits and pieces of things that might be useful items or just might be junk. There's a washing machine and dryer tucked into one corner and that area is the only neat one in the entire place. A child's bike and a faded ball lay near the front of the open garage door. What takes up most of the space however is a monster of a motorcycle, glistening black as a beetle's shell after a rain storm and even parked it looks like speed on wheels. The air is full of the smell of oil and wax and a hint of gasoline. And there's a long, lean pair of legs sticking out from under the back of the bike where it's been cranked up, the soft sounds of metal on metal coming dimly from underneath. There's a tool chest nearby and a decent amount of dirty rags to show that this has been an ongoing process. Somewhere back through the closed door on the wall that connects this with the rest of the house the faint sound of a radio can be heard playing. The body attached to the legs under the bike might, or might not, be humming - poorly - snatches of whatever song it is that's playing.

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[despite the dress and the shoes, despite the difference in the way she moves, despite the little time he's known her - there's no doubt in his mind at all that she's Usagi with a reaction like that. It makes the edges of his mouth soften and lift, almost like a little boy's, and he stands up, using the rag that was over his shoulder to clean his hands as best he can. It still leaves them dirty but he offers her one to help her stand anyway. Her teasing might, just might, be answered by his own quiet brand of it.]

She'll make more if you do. She always does when I eat them all.

[ Serenity pretends to think about this offer even though it's obvious that she'll accept the cookies with her empty stomach. She takes his hand without hesitation, squeezing it gently with her own tiny hand. His hand may be dirty from working on Fenrir, but it doesn't matter to her if she gets a little dirty.

She's here. With Cloud. It may be a dream, but she cherishes every moment she gets to spend with those that are close to her. ]

Tifa isn't the type of woman to get jealous, is she?

[ His trying to tease her has given her an opening and she feigns innocence. ] If she sees that you're feeding me her cooking...~

[her question gets a blink and a slight twich downward of his eyebrows, as if it's never occurred to him that Tifa would ever be jealous. As if he can't fathom why she would be or that it would in any way involve him of all things. A slight head shake says he's still clueless]

No.

[a small tug of his hand to indicate she should follow before he lets go and he heads for the door that connects the house to the garage.]

I share with the kids all the time.

[ Serenity just stares.. and then lets a sigh blend with an incredulous chuckle as she's motioned to head into the house. While still endearing, she still finds it quite frustrating that her hints still go over his head.

At first she opens her mouth to say that adults would have no reason to be jealous over children but her brain flicker to her own memories; Chibi-usa stealing away all of Mamoru's time and feeling insecure and becoming jealous with the increasing time that he spent with their future daughter.

Nope. Have to go through another plan of attack with this! ]

Ah, but she doesn't know me, does she?

[Cloud leads the way, stopping to take off his heavy boots just inside the doorway before walking past a flight of stairs going upward. It's obvious he's comfortable here and feels like a part of it in the way he strides into the empty bar, coming in near the counter that he lets himself behind. The room (http://findmyownreason.livejournal.com/3343.html#cutid2) is empty and peaceful at this time of the day with lazy sunlight filtering in the window near the front door and the smell of wax polish and new wood. Cloud rummages contentedly under the counter, letting Usagi take her time taking in the bar and then he pulls out a tin. His smile is a little boy's, pleased both with finding the cookies and proud of the bar itself. Usagi's point however, still soars somewhere above his head.]

She doesn't know you yet. You can meet her when her and the kids get back from grocery shopping.

[ She follows behind him, taking note that he moves so fluidly through the house. Of course he would, this is his home despite what feelings are confused in his mind. When they enter the actual bar, she leaves his side to look at all the pictures on the wall... ]

I would love to meet her when they return. Her and the children.

[ Although, she pauses in her admiration to hear his words and she has to sigh again. Serenity is finally done with glancing at all the photos and then makes her way to the bar and sits herself down. ]

So, what kind of cookies shall we be eating today?

[the concept that anyone would find him worth being jealous over is alien to Cloud. The thought of Tifa being jealous over him... sometimes he wonders why she even still stays by his side now that day to day living has made it obvious he's still the awkward, oblivious, half grown teen trying to stumble his way through figuring out what a relationship is. While he knows - he really does - that she'd never give up on him... sometimes he wonders if she would volunteer to give him away if someone else offered to take him off her hands safely. Being jealous... it doesn't ping him by a long mile that she'd ever feel jealous.

Those thoughts are comfortably far away at the moment though as he watches Usagi from the edges of his eyes. He's the one that took those pictures on the wall and it's his secret embarrassment and pride that Tifa thought they were worth putting up. He feels a bit like the little kid that's mother would adore any messy picture they put together and yet the comments strangers make about the pictures sometimes makes him feel as if maybe they're actually good and that's why they're up there. He doesn't say anything though, just scoots the tin to the middle of the bar between them, already having secured the first cookie for himself]

Peanut butter. It was going to be chocolate chip but I think she and the kids ate all the chips.

[the watching is still in his blue eyes. She's... moving differently than usual. And phrasing things differently. He knows it's still Usagi but... there's a change and he's still waiting for it to click for him. Pulling out a couple of tumbles from under the counter without even having to look to see where they are, he asks:]

Drink?

Peanut butter is a fantastic choice after chocolate chip. [ True, she would have preferred the chocolate, but Serenity will not complain. It's sugar and sugar is delicious. Reaching into the tin, she does not pull out just one. No no. She pulls out three cookies and stacks them one on top of the other onto the counter top of the bar. ]

Yes, please. Milk if you could.

[ Her posture while sitting is the vision of perfect -- lady like. She does not slouch or place her elbows on the counter. Serenity doesn't even devour the first cookie. All she does is pick up the treat and take a small bite, chewing thoughtfully while her eyes sparkle. The cookies are delicious and while she's still polite about eating.. well... she's munching on them a little faster before savoring the taste and moving on to the next cookie.

At first it seems as though she's content with what she's doing: eating cookies with a dear friend. But it's what she says next that proves she's paying much more attention than before: ]

You keep staring at me, Cloud. [ Her blue eyes peer over at him from the second cookie. ] Is there something you wish to say?

[milk is the only real choice when it comes to peanut butter cookies and Cloud reaches into the tiny fridge set under the bar to pull out the carton. The tumblers get filled and he puts it back, shutting the door carefully before resting his own elbows on the counter and slowly working his way through his own cookie and milk. Too much refined sugar gives him a wicked buzz thanks to his metabolism but he can put down a serious amount of Tifa's cookies. At Usagi's question his own blue eyes rise to meet hers. Even the way she phrases it is strange.

He's got a knack for being blunt so since she asked he answers honestly.]

You're different. I'm trying to figure out why.

[ Mmmm milk. When the drink is placed before her, Serenity lifts the tumbler with both hands and takes a reasonable gulp. She doesn't flinch when he so honestly answers her question: she'd have been surprised if he didn't. But it isn't until she's done swallowing the residual taste of the peanut butter cookies that she speaks again. ]

Is that right?

[ Finally at the last cookie, she gazes at it thoughtfully before taking a tiny bite. ] These really are delicious cookies, Cloud. I can tell Tifa put a lot of care into making these for all of you.

[ She washes the cookies down once more before putting the glass down. ]

Should I let you try to figure out this puzzle or would you like me to spoil it for you?

[his lips soften into a small smile at the compliment to Tifa's cooking. Tifa makes the best everything as far as he's concerned and he knows he's not alone in that thought. Hearing her praised has his shoulders relaxing just a little bit and he's more relaxed therefor when the woman across from him asks her question. The puzzled look still slides through his eyes.

He hates puzzles.]

Tell me.

Very well then.

[ Leaving the glass of milk on the counter top, Serenity pulls her hands into her lap and straightens her back. Calmly, she closes her eyes before opening them, gaze set fully on the man behind the counter looking at her questioningly for the answer to his question.

Her eyes reflect that her soul is much older than the Usagi he knew. She's had centuries to acquire that look. ]

You are not wrong when you addressed me as Usagi. I was called that at one point.

[ Bringing her hands up, she pulls off the crown seated at the top of her head and places it onto the counter top for him to actually see. ]

I am known as Serenity in this form. Neo-Queen Serenity is my full title.

[it - throws him. Just a little. Not because he doesn't believe her but because he does. Even without the ancient light in her eyes, he'd still believe her simply because she's Usagi and she doesn't lie to him. But her eyes... her eyes definitely say she's older inside than out.

His chin tucks, just a little, as his eyes carefully study first her face and then sink down to look at the crown sitting on the polished wood in the homy atmosphere of the bar, a little line forming between his brows as his lips turns down a little. He's seen a lot of strange things in his life, things he wouldn't have believed it he'd been told about them and so he's willing to accept that what she says is possible but -

it must be lonely, living forever...

Finally his eyes go back to hers and there's only one question but it covers just about everything:]

How?

Reincarnation.

[ She says it as matter of factly. There was no ifs ands or buts about it. Reincarnation is a part of her life and will always be from now until eternity. ] The past life before Usagi ended in tragedy. I'll spare you the details for I am sure you will hear of it eventually from my younger self.

[ Her younger self would need to vent out her own sadness, much like she did now. ]

But as it stands now, my status from that past life has bled into this life and even if I had wished for it differently, it can not change how it has shaped me to become the woman I am now. [ She pauses for a breath, tiny fingers tightening around the ends of her crown. ]

It has been a long time for me... but it will be even longer for her. [ Her request is unspoken: please take care of my younger self. but if need be she'll have to verbally say it. ]

[she doesn't have to say it. She doesn't even have to wonder about it. Cloud doesn't make friends easily but when he does they're friends for life and beyond and he cherishes them to an almost obsessive level. He likes Usagi... adores her actually, both for the way she makes him feel and for simply who she has let him see her being. Seeing this... version of her just makes him all the more protective of the younger side of her he knows better. He doesn't like the thought of her sad but never sad for so long that it's become a part of her and made her old inside. Ancient and old aren't the same thing and he recognizes that.

With a soft sound in his throat, more grunt than anything else, he puts the lid back on the cookie tin and pushes it to her.]

Stay while you can. The kids'll be back soon. You'll like meeting them. But when you go take the cookies with you. Tifa can make more.

[ Not that she isn't grateful that he's giving up the cookies to her, but sweets can only go so far in a dream. Still, after replacing the crown onto her head, Serenity wraps her hands around the tin of peanut butter cookies and smiles gently. ]

I will stay for as long as you allow me to, dear Cloud.

[ And at that, she pops open the tin and in Usagi fashion, pulls out a few cookies and starts munching on them. Now that she's gotten the serious business out of the way, she's just going to enjoy the deliciousness that is Tifa's cookies. ]

It has been such a long time since I've had such delicious food. [ She lets out an over dramatic sigh. ] I can not cook for the life of me.

[for Cloud this world is too close to his own for him to recognize it as a dream. As far as he knows this is his waking world and it just seems natural that Usagi is a part of it. His subconscious isn't dividing her from his waking friends. So the cookies are so that, even when he's not with her anymore, she'll have something to comfort and be familiar and friendly. He's not good with words. Taking care of the people he cares about in little, forgettable ways is the best he can do. Her sigh has his own lips relaxing at their edges and lifting the smallest bit.]

I set my hair on fire the last time I tried to cook.

The last time I attempted a meal on my own...

[ She taps a finger against her mouth, her bottom lip protruding outward in a thoughtful pout. Serenity has to shuffle through centuries of countless memories for this one, but once she has it, she produces a laugh that lasts for many beats. ]

I had attempted chicken curry for my family. It had been my night to cook and if it was not one thing distracting me from making sure the chicken was burnt, at the end of it all I used up too many spices. [ Serenity tries to cover her mouth to hold back to giggles, but it's too funny seeing the faces of her family as they tried to hold back their unsure expressions. ]

None of us could really taste anything for days.

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002. there's no place like home

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/slooowly gets to all her tags while LJ works.