Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII; Square Enix does. If I did… well, let's just say I think Cloud's prettier than the FF7 girls…

Notes: Based off of Case of Tifa info (damn you, Case of Tifa).


I'm Sixteen in my Head

12. Wine Plans

Oh, my Gods… Barret is cooking.

And things aren't bursting into flame.

… This must be a sign of the apocalypse.

He sautés the vegetables and some unidentifiable piece of meat upon the small camp set. How does he cook with only one hand? Steam rises from the sizzling food, and he finally announces, "It's dun."

Rather than use dishes that we don't have, we each grab some utensils and pick food out of the skillet. Tifa passes a glass to me. It's filled with a blood red liquid. I sniff at it, only to be hit with the strong scent from within… Wine.

I press the glass to my lips and take a small sip… This stuff is… I don't know even how to describe this stuff.

I look up and notice that Barret doesn't have a glass… He has the entire bottle. This cannot be a good sign. "… Marlene, maybe you should go to bed; it's getting late."

The small child jumped up and bounced towards the tent. At least she's obedient.

"I rememba the good ol' days… Livin' wi'd my wife in Corel…"

That didn't take very long. Guess he has less tolerance than me.

"One time I got drunk 'n' fell in a well…"

You have to be pretty drunk to fall down a well, huh?

"I eben pro'posed to Myrna when I was drunk… Cou'dn't get up da courage…"

I look at Tifa. She looks at me. Both of our faces twist up and we burst into laughter at the drunken AVLANCHE member. When was the last time we laughed like this?


I awoke to Barret stirring a fire up. At least his snoring has gotten better… Tifa was carrying a stake of logs, while Marlene played with a ball. All three noted my presence simultaneously, but Barret spoke first, "How 'bout we started a business and sold dis wine?" I can'r help but gape at the man.

"We?" I don't know anything about wine…. Or running a business.

"Of course, ya idiot!" I'm not an idiot… Meanie. "We can't draw customers!" Yes, because saving the entire Planet doesn't count for anything. "Tifa'll have to do it."

Tifa blinks at him. "Me?" Oh, good. I'm not the only one confused.

Barret smiles at her. "You're good at it."

Barret wants us to start another bar? Seventh Heaven was only around to fund my (and others', I guess) services for AVALANCHE. And I don't come cheap either.

"That's my boy."

Shut up, Zack.

"From my point ta view, da people of Midgar can be split into two types," Barret explains. I didn't think he could explain anything. Those dilly dallyin' around, who still can't 'cept what's happened to da city 'n' those who are workin' to live on." What were we talking about? I stopped listening after 'dilly dallyin'.' I understand how both types a people are feelin'. Everyone is facin' deir problems, but they're just copin' with it in diffe'nt ways, right?" I guess that makes sense. "Tha solution to everyone's problem is wine."

Barret, you may be an alcoholic, but that's no reason for everyone else on the Planet to be one. "Why's that?"

"I dunno…. But when we were half drunk yesterday, we laughed." I don't think I was drunk yesterday… I believe that was only a burley, black man… "We forgot all sorts a things, right? Dat's da moment we're after."

Best just to agree with the nut… "Yeah, I guess your right…"

Barret rubbed the stubble along his jaw-line. "Times like dat are important, ain't dey? Hey, Tifa, what-da ya think?"

"Times like dat are important, ain't they?" What times? Did I miss something? "Hey Tifa, what do you think?"

Tifa turns her face towards us. Her eyes look hollow, and she remains silent… Like a corpse…

"Tifa, let's give it a go." I smile weakly at her. "If it gets too tough, we can just stop."

"It won't be tough. If Tifa doesn't work, she'll end up thinkin' 'bout all sorts of things. Then, she'll end up not bein' able to do nothin'." Maybe, in his twisted logic, Barret's right; we need something to get our minds off of what's happened.

Tifa nodded her head slowly. Some of her life seemed to return… I hadn't noticed how pale she's become lately…

Barret drew a vague map of Midgar into the dirt. I guess he forgot I own one; shouldn't bring it up, I suppose.

Pointing at different towns built about the decimated city, he listed off what supplies were available and the number of people.

"Dis is Edge… Lots of people seem to be movin' dere." It was north of Midgar… I haven't been there, but I think Tifa and Marlene would go there for food.

We still have the gil from our reality, but bartering is the norm here.

… It's like we've been thrown into ancient times.

No one realized how much Shinra changed the Planet.


… If you'd like, please take the time to tell me what you think of this.

I was going to double-update this today, but I don't feel like typing anymore... Maybe there will be another one tonight.

Chibi Barret plushies to Seluchen123, SilverKitsune013, Haku, HolyMetalfushi, Jimmy, Defenestrator, and Monica.

Jimmy: Hey, personal lives should always come first… And you can have a Tifa plushie anyway.