video; action - ota

[amemoryorus]

a; video

[The video feed comes on and the face of a young woman appears. She has red eyes and long black hair that falls over her shoulders. Her brows are knitted in concern and a frown pulls down on her lips. She's currently seated on a bench, grass and trees making a slight appearance behind her when she moves her head. After seeing the welcoming video Tifa had needed a moment to collect herself and her thoughts before attempting to contact anyone.

But the thought that Denzel and Marlene-her children-could be around here somewhere and not know where she is gives her the resolve to try and use her device. With the help of the instruction manual it's easy enough.]

Hello. I'm not quite sure who all is seeing this, but whoever you are I need some help. I'm looking for two children, a ten year old boy and a six year old girl. Their names are Denzel and Marlene. I understand that they may not have been brought here with me, but I'm their guardian so I need to be sure. If anyone sees them can you please tell them that I'm here. My name is Tifa. I'll be staying in Genessia for at least a couple of days.

[She hesitates for a moment, as if she's going to say more, before shaking her head.]

Thank you. [The feed clicks off.]

b; thud's gym

[After a few hours of wandering the city and double and triple checking her phone in case she hears from the kids or from someone who has seen them, Tifa finds herself heading into the first gym she comes across. It might not be wise to be spending any of the money she found upon arrival before first finding a job, but the need to punch out her frustrations has been growing since she woke up here. If she could drain some of her anxious energy by beating the crap out of a bag it would be money well spent.

Wrapping up her hands she immediately sets into punching the bag with fast, vicious strikes. Occasionally she'll toss in some kicks that are as equally powerful as her fists. Anyone watching would be able to instantly tell that she's in her element.]

c; jack's bar and karaoke club

[The early evening will find Tifa settled on a stool at the bar, a shot of bourbon sitting before her. Despite having been a bartender for several years she's not usually much of a drinker. But the events of the day have more than called for a drink or three. The atmosphere of the bar is familiar, nearly homely to her as she discreetly watches the clientele and listens to the karaoke participants.

But no matter how familiar it feels, there's a sense of sadness that lingers over her. This isn't home. This isn't Seventh Heaven. Her family isn't here.]

Comments

b

[fortheloveofdonuts]

[ These days it wasn't uncommon for Asahina to be out and about always doing something sports-related, and today was no different. She'd been out swimming and decided on a trip to the gym had been a great idea, as it was on the way home to her apartment and would be a waste not to.

She'd found the track and did a couple laps, a grin on her face when she headed inside to see what else she could do when the sight of another woman intently punching and kicking at one of the punching bags caught her attention. The woman's form was absolutely impeccable and her movements said she wasn't new to doing this and it was enough to distract her for a good couple moments. ]

Whoah! The force you use behind your hits is incredible!! I could only dream of being able to pull that off!

[ Hopefully she isn't too distracting or anything. She just.. really admires that talent of yours, Tifa. ]

[amemoryorus]

[The exertion of the workout feels good, but it's not enough to draw her thoughts away from where she is or her worry over being separated from her kids. Giving the punching back one last solid kick, Tifa steps away from it, giving herself a much needed break.

Her breathing is still heavy as she wipes some of the sweat on her forehead off with her arm. It's only then that she notices the girl watching her. Her words bring a brief smile to Tifa's face as she shakes her head.]

It takes a lot of discipline and training, that's true. But it's not unachievable. But thank you. Do you do martial arts yourself?

[Video]

[aurabble]

Tifa? Do you know someone named Cloud?

[Video]

[amemoryorus]

[Her face lights up with equal amounts of surprise and hope.]

Yes, Cloud is my friend! Is he here?

c

[sayslittle]

[There's someone else nearby trying to acclimatise to the atmosphere of a bar that isn't one of his usual haunts. It's hard to say how long he's been nursing his own scotch; without ice to leave its telltale melting indicator there's nothing to betray how much the drink is more a mask than anything else.

Besides. He can't afford to drink as heavily as he likes. Not until he secures steady enough employment to get a more permanent place to stay and to cover the essentials. Nursing a single drink for as long as he can, then, is the compromise.

He can't say he doesn't feel out of his element here. The place is a little too bright, with not quite enough dark corners for him to settle into while he soaks up information. But being sat at the bar at least lets him hear more conversation than singing while letting him keep an eye on people around him.

Like the brunette next to him who he slowly comes to realise that he knows. And he's not quite sure how to proceed because while he doesn't think they count as enemies anymore, not exactly, that doesn't mean they're necessarily friends and depending on how long she's been here, his presence might not really help.

On the other hand, not saying anything feels a little like lying about the fact that he's here. And so he clears his throat, just loud enough for her to hear, expression and posture schooled to a sort of relaxed that leaves him looking about as unthreatening as he can manage for the fact that on some level he always looks a little like a bouncer ready to break faces at the first sign of trouble. Whether he's welcome company or not is down to her, but at least she'll be aware of his presence and thus he can't be accused of trying to spy on her. Hopefully.]

[amemoryorus]

[If Tifa didn't spot him instantly when he sat down it's only because her attention is elsewhere, gaze locked onto the rest of the room as she watches people mill about with drinks in their hands.

If she wanted to she could probably guess what everyone in the room is drinking just by what they're wearing and how they're behaving. You don't end up a bartender for several years without picking up on how to read people, learn their tastes, and estimated wealth. Not that Tifa has served many wealthy patrons. But she's served enough poor and down on their luck people to know the difference.

But it's not so much the people there that she's watching as her mind playing tricks on her. A glimpse of blonde hair has her hoping she'll see Cloud. A flash of dark skin in her peripherals makes her think of Barrett. But it's all just wishful thinking.

She's raising her glass to her lips when the person seated near her clears his throat. The impulse to look over is immediate and she doesn't bother trying to stop it. She turns...and freezes.

All day she's been hoping to see a familiar face but he wasn't quite what she had in mind. Still, Turk or not, ex-ShinRA or not, he and Reno had helped them against Kudaj and his brothers. That counts for something.

She attempts a smile and is a little surprised to find how easily it comes.]

Rude. How long have you been sitting there?

[video]

[offwithhishat]

[ Jefferson was rather quiet as he listened to the young woman's message. It was impossible to feel anything but empathetic considering how closely her situation mirrored his own. When he finally decided to answer her his expression probably showed that he wished he could tell her something different. ]

I... haven't heard either of those names before. [ It was habitual for him to try to keep track of the younger citizens of Genessia. There was the possibility that he just didn't know them, but kids that young were hard to miss. ] I wish I could tell you something else, Tifa.

[ He appeared thoughtful for a moment before speaking once more. He couldn't tell her they were there, no, but there was something else that might at least be somewhat reassuring. It was the only detail that had kept him from hysteria when he'd been separated from his daughter again. ]

You don't need to worry about them being alone. Time works differently here. Once you get back home it'll be like not even a second has passed by. So... they're okay. I know it's hard to be separated but they're okay. I know it's a bit difficult to swallow but I wouldn't lie about something so important.

[ There was another small pause. ]

My name is Jefferson, by the way.

[video]

[amemoryorus]

[The look on his face is enough warning for her that what he would say wouldn't be what she wanted to hear. Of course it's possible they had just arrived as she had and simply hadn't made themselves known yet. However, she knows that if they were here they would try to reach out to her somehow and the fact that they hadn't means they're either in trouble or not here at all.]

No. It's alright. I kind of figured it would be a long shot. But...thank you for replying.

[She would rather hear that someone hasn't seen them than get no response at all. At least this way she knows her message got through to someone.]

Time back home just...stops? [That's both a relief to hear as well as super concerning for obvious reasons.]

Hello, Jefferson.

B!

[spyientist]

[Tifa's not the only one that's decided spending some of their starting funds at the gym to be a wise investment. She honestly doesn't do it as much as she should. Especially considering that she's a lot stronger now than she's been before, she needs the practice. But there was working with the New Avengers, the mess that was working as SHIELD's black ops team, being on the run, working with SHIELD again, figuring out what the hell they were doing to her ... point is, she's been a bit busy. Hasn't really had the luxury of relearning what she's capable of.

Bobbi's spent a little money on some exercise clothes, just black shorts and a white tank top, but it means she's not in her SHIELD uniform as she stands on the mats. She'd really just been intending to beat up some of the bags herself -- it's what Steve Rogers does, it can't be wrong, right? -- but Tifa certainly catches her eyes. And well, sparring is always more fun, isn't it?

She stretches as she waits for a pause in her routine before she speaks up:]

Any interest in a partner, or you prefer the bags?

[amemoryorus]

[Honestly, when she had first come in she had just wanted to mindlessly beat a bag until she stopped thinking altogether. But after several minutes of pounding it into submission she's finding that it's not doing a very good job of shutting down her brain.

When she pauses to take a few deep breaths her attention is caught by a blond woman standing nearby. Tifa seems to consider her offer for a moment before smiling.]

Just getting a little warm-up in. But a partner is better for a full work out.

[She adjusts the bindings on her hands before holding one out to Bobbi.]

I'm Tifa.

[Video]

[youfool]

[It's sad that the first thing he says to her has the tone of disappointment, but so be it]

Sorry, in all likelihood, they and you are far, far removed, at present. I haven't heard either of those names. You might check the K&H Home for Children, just in case.

[Video]

[amemoryorus]

[K&H Home for Children...she commits the name to memory. It must be an orphanage of some kind, likely.]

Could you tell me how to get there?

c; jack's bar and karaoke club

[nofortunateone]

[Toby cuts an imposing figure at the bar. He's tall, muscular and looks as if he hasn't smiled in twenty years. A cold beer sits in front of him but otherwise he looks lost in his thoughts. He doesn't usually let his thoughts run wild but today is different, things have been changing.

He exhales suddenly looking very very bored and turns his head towards the woman on his left.]

What's wrong.

[Toby doesn't even need heightened senses to tell that she's upset about something. He can feel that depression radiating from her and it's distracting his compilation.]

[amemoryorus]

[Tifa sits facing out on her stool, glass resting against her lap, as she watches people mill about and perform karaoke. But even she appears to be watching them, sometimes her gaze will glaze over as she gets carried away by thought.

She's in one of these reveries when the man sitting next to her speaks, jerking her out of her thoughts. Confusion crosses her expression at first before his question sinks in.]

Am I that obvious?

B

[enchantressofore]

[ For a while, Adela has been working on a machine for her leg, having already done some upper-body exercises earlier. It's about at this time when she sees Tifa coming in and beginning to work over the punching bag.

The fact that each blow looks like it could be lethal is impressive enough, and soon enough she stops what she's doing to just watch quietly for a while. For now it's all she does, but how long before she gets called out on that? ]

[amemoryorus]

[Tifa attacks the bag for a long while without stopping before she finally needs to break for a few moments. After one last hit she catches the bag to stop its swing and takes a step back.

Her muscles are beginning to feel a little achy in the aftermath of the work-out, but it's a good ache. A refreshing ache that helps her clear her mind for a brief time.

It's only when she turns around in search for a towel that she notices she has an audience.]

Oh. Hello. I hope I wasn't being too distracting.

b

[brokeyourarm]

[Typically she wouldn't bother with looking at the gyms when she had a perfectly good dojo to work out her frustrations at, but they were lacking equipment that would actually keep from breaking underneath her full force and she'd hoped that maybe this place would be able to deal with the force of her punches.

Thus she had wandered in, clad in only shorts, a tank top that showed far more skin than she'd normally like (showing some scars she wasn't a fan of) and tennis shoes. Something of a dress code as they'd look at her weird for wearing her boots, she was sure. But whatever.

The sound of someone punching a nearby bag only caught her attention briefly until she allowed her eyes to wander properly, watching her stance and watching the way she hit it. This woman evidently was familiar with this type of thing and that just furthered her wanting to see what she could get out of her.

Moving closer she pauses, arms crossing over her chest as she stands towards the side. Out of the way of attack but in her vision as to not startle her.]

I take it you're a brawler?

[amemoryorus]

[By this time Tifa has fallen into the familiar patterns of movement she's mastered over the years. Every hit and kick connected against the bag almost intuitively. Aside from Seventh Heaven, she never feels so much at home as when she's losing herself in the fierce exertion of her body.

She notices a woman appear to the side of her but her movements don't so much as falter. She assumes she's just there to watch. Or is maybe waiting to use the bag next. Only when the woman speaks does Tifa slow to a halt, catching the bag to cease its movements.]

I am. What about you?

c

[orangeoutlaw]

[the bar is pretty lively tonight and he's not sure if he's in the mood to do karaoke or not... but he's definitely in the mood to drink and listen to some bad karaoke. And hey, cute girl at four o'clock!]

Yo! Mind if I pull up a barstool?

[amemoryorus]

[Tifa looks up from her glass and motions to the empty stool besides her. She's not feeling up for company but the rest of bar seems pretty crowded. It would be rude to turn him away.]

Please. Be my guest.

video;

[meteorrains]

Figure's you'd show up.

[There's a definite hint of fondness in his voice as he says it. Despite the fact that he'd really rather she not be here, he's still pretty happy to see her.

But that also means they're both stuck here, and Marlene and Denzel are home. Alone. In a bar. Not exactly the ideal spot for two kids.]

video;

[amemoryorus]

[She can't help but feel a rush of relief at seeing his face, hearing his voice. She'd begun to fear that she was the only here from their world. But as quickly as the relief comes its just as quickly drown out by the fact that he's trapped here too, away from the kids and the rest of their friends.]

Cloud! I couldn't just leave you in this place alone, could I?

[The light teasing makes things feel like normal, just for an instant.]

When did you get here?

[Video]

[alwaysimpaled]

Nobody by those names have shown up as far as I know, but I'll keep an eye out for 'em.

[Video]

[amemoryorus]

[It's not the news she would like to hear, but it's better than nothing.]

Thank you! I appreciate the help Mr...?

Audio

[big_cup]

What do these children look like? If there's one thing we're good at, it's searching.

That and waiting. But yeah, unlimited clairvoyance is a pretty handy thing.

Audio

[amemoryorus]

Well, they both have brown hair. Marlene's goes past her shoulders and she wears it pulled back into a braid. Denzel's is long enough to constantly be falling in his eyes.

[Her tone is fond.]

Clairvoyance, huh? I guess I'm willing to give anything a try.

A

[spoilsfun]

[And here is a child, appearing no older than seven at the most. ]

I haven't seen any kids here of that description. But I'll keep a watch for them.

[amemoryorus]

[Seeing someone so young here is difficult. He's probably been pulled away from his family like everyone else.]

Thank you.

I'm sorry...I can't help but ask. Are you here on your own?