![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Vampire weekend - for bothourlives and shotgunsalute
[ It had been about a week prior that Tifa had woken up one morning and nudged Cloud where he was curled up beside her. “We haven’t heard from Vincent in a while, have we?” she said. “Let’s give him a call. Get him over for dinner sometime.” Cloud, still mostly asleep, had made a noncommittal noise before burying his face in her hair, and Tifa took that to mean ‘Yes, my darling, light of my life, let’s definitely do that’ and made a mental note to ring him up once it wasn’t quite so early.
Now, they’re finally all seated together, Tifa beams at her little family over the spread of food she’s prepared for them. There’s a huge platter of smoky barbecue in the center of the table, flanked by dishes full of corn and carrots and green beans. Everyone has a buttery baked potato on their plate (with a spare one for Cloud waiting in the oven in case he’s still hungry later), a variety of toppings for them to choose from in little bowls. ]
We’re so glad that you could make it out to visit with us, Vincent. We really should try to do this more often. Barret is actually coming down from Corel tomorrow to take the kids to Costa Del Sol for a few days. That’s going to be fun, isn’t it?
[ Marlene nods enthusiastically, obviously excited to see her dad, but Denzel seems more focused on their guest where he sits across the table. Even though Vincent had come to help fight the Remnants when they’d been terrorizing Edge, Denzel hadn’t really gotten a chance to know him before he’d blown out of town in the aftermath of their victory. He seems far more wary than his little sister.
“Are you a vampire?” he asks unprompted, and Tifa feels a muscle in her jaw clench. ]
Sweetie, we talked about this. Mister Vincent isn’t a vampire. He’s a very nice man, and he’s been our friend for years now.
Now, they’re finally all seated together, Tifa beams at her little family over the spread of food she’s prepared for them. There’s a huge platter of smoky barbecue in the center of the table, flanked by dishes full of corn and carrots and green beans. Everyone has a buttery baked potato on their plate (with a spare one for Cloud waiting in the oven in case he’s still hungry later), a variety of toppings for them to choose from in little bowls. ]
We’re so glad that you could make it out to visit with us, Vincent. We really should try to do this more often. Barret is actually coming down from Corel tomorrow to take the kids to Costa Del Sol for a few days. That’s going to be fun, isn’t it?
[ Marlene nods enthusiastically, obviously excited to see her dad, but Denzel seems more focused on their guest where he sits across the table. Even though Vincent had come to help fight the Remnants when they’d been terrorizing Edge, Denzel hadn’t really gotten a chance to know him before he’d blown out of town in the aftermath of their victory. He seems far more wary than his little sister.
“Are you a vampire?” he asks unprompted, and Tifa feels a muscle in her jaw clench. ]
Sweetie, we talked about this. Mister Vincent isn’t a vampire. He’s a very nice man, and he’s been our friend for years now.
no subject
Still, she appreciates Cloud diffusing Denzel's line of questioning, and she shoots him a little wink when their eyes next meet. They have a guest so she's not going to flirt too openly, but there's a bright smile on her face as she makes sure the kids have enough veggies on their plates. ]
Vincent, please help yourself. There's plenty for everyone, so take as much as you want. Can't have a guest go hungry, you know?
[ Though she's not entirely sure where his metabolism is these days, she wouldn't even mind cooking more if he needed it. ]
It feels like ages since we've seen you. What have you been up to these days?
[ Keeping it PG in front of the kids goes without saying. ]
no subject
Either way, the small tension breaks and Tifa cuts through any possible silence, moving on from the topic. Vincent nods his assent and thanks in one, appreciative of her thoughtfulness as always. There's a gentle clattering as dinner officially begins, the adults serving themselves and Denzel occasionally helping Marlene reach things. ]
Cleanup, mostly. DEEPGROUND left a mess. [ He says, carefully spooning chives onto his potato. Reeve hasn't been sending him out too often—citing that he'd leaned on him a lot in the last few months and that he deserved a break. But he had enough access to the WRO incident files to keep himself busy. At the very least, it's been straightforward work. ]
Reeve sends his apologies for not visiting lately. [ If there was a busier man in the world than one Reeve Tuesti, he would be shocked. ] I am sure he will make up for it in excess, somehow.
[ Whether that meant he sent Cait along in some new contraption that included a moogle singing telegram...well, it was possible. ]
How have you fared?
[ They both look well, he thinks. Perhaps a little tired, but he supposes that's to be expected with pseudo-parenting. ]