Gaiden VII - Part 1 of 2

Aerith leaned over the vanity, adjusting her hair with her fingers, ensuring each butterfly bang was set properly. 

Tifa shivered, tearing her eyes away from the opal pearl secured within the bow of Aerith's headband. The pretty woman's figure stuck out of her comparatively modest dress; Tifa idly tugged at her own garment. 

Pulling the hem of her dress down, acutely focused on not revealing too much, Tifa looked at her own reflection. “Feels weird, a normal night I mean.” She said, wiping some excess foundation away from the lower lid of her left eye.

“Right!? I haven’t had one since long before I met you two.” Aerith replied.

As Aerith turned her head away, Tifa felt melancholic. The girl was so charming, even Tifa was taken in by her easy-going nature. ‘Can’t blame Cloud, she’s so nice…’ she mused to herself.

“So that Materia… it really doesn't do anything?” Tifa asked, reaching out and touching the bow. As she shifted it lightly, the fluorescent lights glinted off the stone. Brilliant greens and pinks gleamed as she peered into its surface.

“Hmm? No, nothing as far as I can tell. Mom said it was special though.” Aerith answered. “I think it’s got a mind of its own.”

Pulling on her own loose braid, Tifa arched an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“I dunno, a feeling. Like I can hear it calling to me. Once or twice I’m pretty sure it played pranks on me.”

Tifa felt her face blanche, she wrung her hands together slowly. “Pranks?” A tingling washed over her body; a cool breeze slipped under the daring dress. ‘Maybe I should have worn something else tonight…’ She thought to herself.

“You know, my other Materia going off, doors locking and unlocking. Benign stuff.” Aerith responded. Once or twice a spell I didn’t have equipped popped off. Do you know how hard it is to convince your Mum you didn’t cast ice in the kitchen?”

Tifa went to respond, pausing when the seam of her dress grazed her nipple. Blushing, she looked down to see her dress had come loose. ‘Damn, I’m going to need tape after all…’

Aerith continued her anecdote as Tifa tried to reset her dress. As she shifted the straps, she felt a breeze wash into the waist, down her bare legs. The back slipped against her skin as it slipped down. ‘What the..?’