((5/30/01 by Dirah))
"Everyone get up and dance, da da da, da da da..." A strange noise comes from the dining area. It sounds a lot like...music. The Kislevi jukebox in the dining hall of the Lawson's area is playing one of Tifa's favorite pop songs as Tifa sits at one of the tables, messing with a deck of cards. Solitaire is a strange way to celebrate your first victory, but at least Tifa's enjoying herself. Besides, isn't everyone else asleep? That's at least what she thinks. So she quietly hums the song to herself as she continues her game.
Music? It'd be a pretty odd celebration without it! Then again, most of the cheer that the crew shared over their sucess was earlier. But Dirah really wouldn't be very Dirah-y if she went to bed early and didn't consider spreading some form of her unique cheer past normal waking hours. And so its only perfectly predictable that Dirah half bursts into the main room of Lawson's area, pushing aside the doors with too much enthusiasm, despite the hour. And yet in costume too--Wait, no! Apparently Dirah's enjoying the fact that she doesn't have to play Sigurd for a little while, and yet.. Oddly wears just about as oddly revealing clothing when in her fashion preferance. Figures. And she blinks at the music, and snickers, walking across the room with such a favor to the rhythm of the song playing that its rather half to a dance. Well, if she had any grace. And she stops to chuckle and note, "Still up, Tif'?" Young Master? What? Formality can save itself for another day.
Tifa turns her head, "You're still up? I thought everyone was in bed," she starts packing up the deck to reshuffle. "Well... I wish I was around earlier for the main celebration," she was too busy resting up herself, and yes...she's actually in some form of normal clothing, as Dirah is. She's wearing a long T-shirt with some shorts, nothing that should give any annoyingly horrid images. She sighs, looking at the deck. Then smiles, "Hey, Dirah...wanna play cards?"
Dirah, unfortunately, is such an, um.. fashionable person that she's more than fit to give anyone nightmarish images fit for everyone. The silver-haired one is trying to show off her female figure! With a sleeveless, somewhat low cut shirt and shorts... Right. Enough of that image. "Sleep? At a time like this? Besides, its not even that late." What, near midnight? Bah! "You didn't miss much, really. Everyone was trying to be professional about their celebrating, so things weren't -quite- as interesting as I could have hoped." And the princess sniffled and looked rose-eyed at everyone for the entire time. Creepy little demon. And Dirah chuckles, glancing down at the cards with a mildly amused glance before sitting down by Tifa and nodding, "Cards? How exciting." Really, Dirah, sarcasm is not -always- necessary, "But sure, I'm up. What do you want to play?"
Tifa rolls her eyes at Dirah's sarcasm, cards aren't meant to be -exciting-. Besides, she gets enough exhilaration anyway. At Dirah's question, she then thinks for a moment, "Well, i'm up for some blackjack. Do you know how to play that?" she looks to Dirah for a moment...wondering if that is her real 'fashion sense' or if it's just the influence of having to act as Sigurd.
That's really one of those Chicken-and-Egg questions, isn't it? Is Dirah dressed like this because acting as Sigurd made her this odd, or was she chosen to act as Sigurd -because- she was this odd? The world may never know. But, as far as Dirah's concerned, Sigurd would be lucky to look so good with a figure-.. All right, all right, STOP those Dirah-thoughts! "Blackjack? Haven't played that in a while. But sure, I think I can remember it well enough to play."
Act like herself? Well, a job's only a job, after all, and this is all, well.. Just acting. And admittedly, even though all of this has managed to warp its way into a sort of seperate, new goal.. Its just just work. No reason to let it get you down over who's being who and what is what. And so, with a chuckle, she sits by Tifa. And a few lines come to mind--Don't shuffle the cards so roughly, you're going to bend them, being one of the first to mind--but, well, Tifa can live without Dirah's Divine Wisdom for a day. Today's a much better day to relax, after all. "I'm glad you seem in better spirits now, Tifa." And odd, from Dirah, but true. "Everything's working out pretty well, don't you think?" Spare kidnapping evil demon children who only go psychotic when Dirah's looking. But you can't win them all.
Tifa looks up from the shuffling, did Dirah really say that? That did sound odd...but.., "You think so? Before, I was so afraid of losing myself...and forgetting who I was. That was kind of silly, don't you think?" she continues her shuffling idly. "I'm glad everything went so well, really. Noone was hurt in the end, either." The princess isn't psychotic, and until she goes psychotic in front of Tifa she wont believe you, so nyah :P.
Eh, well, what can she say? Even Dirah has a heart. And it was unsettling knowing that the person you're taking orders from is having an identity crisis in the extreme. So, despite what anyone on this crew thinks of anyone else, and despite the bickering or oddness of the crew members, its at least a comfort to know that, yes. Dirah does prefer people to be in better spirits. ANd so she grins at the odd glance given to her from Tifa, and shrugs to what she says, "Well, you're the worrying sort. But at least you have that behind you now, right? Because, blonde or blue eyed or whatever.." And she runs a hand through her own silver hair, an emphasis to her words which.. Were meant to be more encouraging than they are, "It doesn't change you. Besides, they're such a bunch of screwups so far, and we're doing so well! Its hard to get confused with those odds." Dirah logic is fun! And that princess is -too- psychotic! Even if no one believes the attack, why hasn't anyone found her week-long crying spree odd? Bah. How odd to think there are too many maternal feelings running rampant on a mock Yggdrasil ship.
Her expression calms, and she smiles, "Thank you...when you say it that way...it makes sense," Tifa's agreeing with Dirah's logic? AAAaah, scary! "It's behind me now, I think i'm finally comfortable with my identity now," she finally finishes shuffling, "...do you want to be the dealer, or may I?" Tifa's been trying to understand that herself. She thinks the princess might be homesick.
Dirah blinks a few times, in honest, but pleasant surprise to that response. Someone agreeing with Dirah? Oh, goodness, may the world not implode upon itself on those words. But Dirah smiles, and seems, after that little surprise, rather happy with that answer. Yes! Dirah's logic is superior, and isn't she nice at pointing out things? Agree with her all you want. "That's wonderful, then." And it is, too. One can not imagine how hard it is to work this fashionably-challenged job when one's commanding officer is busy sniffling over whether she's going to become a dense Fatima prince in more ways than looks. "Why don't you be the dealer?" Oh, really. Its plain as day that the real reason the Princess is sobbing so much is because she's a lunatic. There's no other rational explanation! Homesickness doesn't include homicidal spurts, after all.
Tifa nods slowly, "I will deal, then," she starts dealing several cards. Besides, the dealer always has the bias from the rules of automatically winning when you tie with her! Besides, Tifa's done more than mope and sniffle. You should have been there to see the ghost! Kicking princesses are nothing compared to ghosts...or was it a ghost? Still not sure after Cerencia's reassuring. Nonetheless, if the ghost ever comes back, she's going...directly to Ceren. You should do the same!
Well, yes, so the dealer has the bias of winning on ties. Let's say that... Dirah did that so that Tifa would have the better chance of winning! Ah, yes, isn't she kind to her superior? Let's forget she offered not to deal to spare herself the embaressment of asking how many cards go where. Right! Kindness, all the way. And.. Well, let's be grateful the ghost didn't come up in verbal conversation. Dirah would have to get her revenge on how no one believes her princess story, if that were the case--she's not quite sure this 'ghost' was anything but the figment of an overstressed Tifa's imagination, after all. Princess are a lot more real than ghosts, after all! But Tifa minds the cards--Er, pause, and try to remember if the situation you're dealt is good or bad. It just wouldn't -do- to look unsophisticated at cards.
Tifa finally deals, giving Dirah a card then herself. She then places the rest of the deck squarely in the middle of the table, picking up the card she dealt herself. She does so making sure Dirah wont see her card. Sure princesses are more real than ghosts, but -insane- princesses sure aren't.