Tifa had spent the day cleaning the bar, lecturing Marlene and Denzel the second they stepped in the door on their way home from school about making sure they didn't make things too messy before Axel got there, and that they would have to play nice with him because some very bad things had happened. When they asked why Roxas wouldn't be coming too, she elected to tell them that he was busy on another world. How she convinced herself that was a better explanation, she'd never know, but she would berate herself with guilt while she took linens from the closet at the end of the hallway of the new addition.

Cloud's being home made her uneasy as to the condition of the atmosphere of 7th Heaven, he wasn't the type to get on well with Axel and with Axel as on-edge as he already was... She bit her lip, realizing it wouldn't end well if they grated on each other's nerves too badly. One of them would storm off, like they always did. She shook it off after a moment, tucking the corners of a mattress cover and throwing sheets and a blanket on top of that.

Things would go well, she finally decided, there was no reason to worry otherwise. As long as she played mediator, things couldn't possibly deteriorate to be as bad as she was making it out. She should be worrying about Roxas--or, better yet, not worrying at all. She laughed to herself, sitting one of the undressed beds that accompanied the one what would soon be Axel's.

Axel... have you had any luck finding him? Maybe... maybe, you should just come back here for a little while. You're probably exhausted, and if you stop and rest, you might think of an idea that you would have missed otherwise.

Hey, everyone, just letting you know that if you get woken up by construction, just remember to be grateful. ♥ It'll mean more space so that we'll all feel a little less crowded. I know it's a tight fit right now, but the contractor said it shouldn't be more than a couple weeks of work if they go fast.

And, if they get some help. So, let's everyone try and pitch in, alright? That said, there are chips and sandwiches on the kitchen table if anyone gets hungry from working.

If anyone needs me, I'll be out back.

[ooc; Feel free to actionspam this post, 7th Heaven residents.]

Boy, things sure are getting busy around here, aren't they? Maybe I should consider turning this place into an inn if it's going to get this much business.

What do you guys think? There's enough land in the back to expand a few rooms. I think it could work! Marlene and Denzel would probably like all the company . . . and Cloud isn't really around enough to complain.

Friends will still stay free, of course, don't worry you guys.

[ooc; Roll call--who's all still staying in 7th Heaven?]

What . . . what is this place? Definitely not any part of Gaia I remember seeing before.

Has anyone seen two young children? Or a man with spiky blond hair. It's very important that I find them. Marlene . . . Denzel . . . I hope you two are safe.

This journal will now be being used for polychromatic. If you are still friending it from dramadramaduck, please remove it from your f-lists to avoid any confusion.

Marlene had known better than to say anything at Tifa's obviously worsened mood. In fact, she had even convinced Denzel to be compliant and immediately go upstairs to sleep when Tifa asked them to, which left the woman standing at the bar by herself, staring down at a sink full of dirty water and dishes. She slammed her hand down against the counter, trying to find some way to vent her frustration. It wouldn't do to go to sleep angry, she knew it would just put a kink in her neck and she knew better than to go a full day's work like that.

She leaned back against the glass case behind her and sighed. It was a chore to deal with Cloud's childish behavior, sometimes, almost as if she had three children running around rather than an extra adult to help out. But, that only made sense. He hadn't been doing very much helping lately, after all. In fact, he'd barely been home at all, and he didn't even accept that there was a problem in the fact.

She threw her dish towel onto the counter and ran her fingers through her hair. Going back over the problem wasn't helping her to calm down an. In fact, it was proving to make her more angry with Cloud.

I guess this is where I say I was wrong. People don't ever change, it's silly to think that they could.

[Private//Hackable]
I haven't been able to sleep. I think Marlene saw me starting to cry, yesterday. She didn't ask, but, she doesn't need to see that. I should be a better example, be able to move on. It's not the end of the world.

. . . I just. I thought I knew what I was doing. I thought I had everything under control, but he had just tricked me and manipulated me into thinking that. I should have realized.
[/Private]

You know, Rufus . . .

We've been dating for a while now, haven't we? And with the amount of trouble you get into, it's becoming troublesome to come by all the time.

. . . No, that's no good.

Ah . . . hmm . . .

What I'm trying to say is . . . Rufus? I think . . . I think we should maybe move in together.

...Rufus is a kid, again.

Does this have anything to do with the pregnancy virus? I wonder... Maybe he just touched that artwork again.

Dark? Is he doing okay with you and Emiko, or do you want me to take care of him?

It was late, and Tifa had just finished closing up the bar to get ready for sleep. Marlene and Denzel were long-since tucked in, she'd taken a break around nine to take care of it, and she was now changing into a baggy t-shirt and long socks, effective enough to be comfortable and warm during Edge's chilling winters.

Rufus. Baby.

I'm sure there's a good explanation as to why these were in your room when I was cleaning?

Maybe I should save you the trouble of coming up with an excuse and just tell you Lady's spandex were also kicking around under your bed.

With the kids out at a friend's house, Tifa had chosen to leave the door unlocked. She was sitting up in her bedroom, wearing heels and lingerie she'd been embarrassed to buy under a baggy t-shirt (Rufus', if you must know). She was leaning against the wall just beside the doorway, biting her lip.

Christmas gifts! If you aren't included and feel you should be, just let me know~

Zack: Striped sweater and matching scarf.
Cloud: A warm jacket for while he's on his motorcycle all the time.
Rufus: Kinky Tifa ass.
Axel: A scarf with fire patterns on the ends. Chocolate.
Roxas: Checkered belt and tennis bracelet
Dark: A print of some eccentric artist's work. Chocolate.
Scarlet: Condoms and divorce paperwork.
Reno: Gift certificate to her bar.
Rude: Sunglasses.
Cid: Whiskey.
Vincent: Shotgun rounds.
Zidane: Smut novels with a note "because you could use the help"

. . . I... This...

Rufus, you . . . How did you...know?

It's beautiful...

...Zack, please.

We need to talk.

I... You... He...

Don't shut me out.

Tifa was anxious, pacing with anticipation of the knock at the window downstairs. She hadn't seen Rufus--at lea st, not while he was acting himself--for so long. Before the virus, even. She wasn't sure what she would say. The uncertainty of the whole situation weighed heavy on the forefront of her mind.

Was he suffering the same anxiety?

She laughed, realizing that even if he was, he was unlikely to admit or show any signs. Rufus was like that. The familiarity with his character came as a comfort and she stared over at the empty space where Cloud's sword used to be, near the closet. He was still gone.

There was a noise downstairs, however, and the thought dissipated.

Rufus! You... are you...

Are you really back?

The door of the bar clicked shut and Tifa turned to look down the stairs, wondering who could be visiting. No one had called, and it was far too early for someone to be coming in for a drink. She sighed, tugging a hand through her hair and smoothing her overskirt as she headed down the stairs slowly to find out who it could possibly be.

( Cut for length )

Tifa sighed, leaning against the wall of the inn at Nibelheim. She looked up at Dante hopefully, trying to read him. Of course, that was hopeless. He always bore the same expression, cocky and full of himself.

"This is going nowhere. We should check the reactor, then the mansion. He might be going to places that remind him of his father, seeing as he's probably trying to convince himself that he's not the same," she explained, checking her nails and trying to appear as if she wasn't truly worried about the President of ShinRa. "If he's not there, there's another reactor up on Mt. Nibel..."