"All right - the Restoration Committee meeting is now in session!" Aerith declared.
"Aww, that makes it sound so formal - and like it's going to be a total drag!" Yuffie moaned, sinking in her seat.
"Sorry," Aerith apologized, with an unapologetic giggle.
"Before we start, then," Ansem The Wise spoke from his chair. "Does anyone at this table have anything they'd like to say?"
"Well...I've sort of been thinking about something..." Tifa began, leaning forward.
The others all looked over at her. Including Ansem The Wise.
Having the undivided attention of so many people in the castle's dining hall was...daunting. But Tifa was undeterred. "With just how hard everyone's been working these last two months, and with all these newcomers pouring in to help us out - most of them friends we already know - I thought I might make a proposal!" she went on swiftly.
They all still kept staring at Tifa. Though, a few of them with bigger eyes now. And flushed faces.
"So you're poppin' the question, eh?" Cid remarked. "Congratz, I suppose!"
"W-what? N-no!" Tifa stammered, as Cloud coughed (Aerith, however, just burst into high laughter). "No, no - I didn't mean that! I meant that we should reopen that old bar off the central square - that one you always pass by when you go west, it's just past the little-"
"Say no more!" Cid grinned at her, raising an imaginary glass. "I'm behind ya, all the way!"
"Same here - one more vote for the 'reopen a bar around here' idea!" came the voice of Braig.
"You don't care about anything except the possibility of getting shit-faced," Even said crudely, rolling his eyes.
"You know what, dude? That hurts," Braig replied, placing a hand to his chest in mock offense. "People need a place to unwind - kick their feet up - relax, after all the hard work they've put in here! A place to mingle, swap stories! Play a few games with each other!" he went on passionately. He paused, then flashed a grin, adding, "Though, yeah, alright, the ability to get shit-faced again is also part of the draw for me."
"And there it is..." Even muttered. "How unpredictable."
"But you know what else? I think I've damn well earned it!" Braig went on. "Lost ten years of my life, lost my eye...it's been a hell of an adjustment period. Not to mention, I probably deserve a hell of a lot of backpay for all those years that my body and life were being hijacked by an ancient Keyblade whatever..." He cast a sidelong look at Ansem The Wise. "I mean, shit, who knows how the guy spent all my paychecks?"
Ansem raised his eyebrows, a smile quirking his lips. "Is that so? Well then, we can have that discussion as soon as possible."
"Great! Thanks, boss!" Braig leaned back in his chair, flashing a thumbs-up. "I appreciate the robust worker's comp you have going on. It's real nice."
"Getting ourselves back on topic," said Leon, eyeing Tifa. "I suppose you want to be the one to run this bar, don't you?" He had a small smile on his face.
"Well, I wasn't going to go putting my name forward or anything...but, yes!" Tifa said eagerly, putting her hands together.
"Do you even know anything about running a bar?" Cloud spoke up, amused.
"I'm sure I can learn - I ran that cafe back in Traverse Town for a while, and it can't be too different, right?" Tifa said quickly. "A bar is really just a...cafe for adults! Besides, I've been planning for it to have a restaurant, as well..."
"You're the cutest thing in the entire world, you know that?" Aerith remarked, leaning over to kiss her cheek with a giggle.
"T-thanks...but I'm being serious! The water purification facility has been running steady, even with the main water source still being plugged up in the mountains, and the water canals don't have any major issues, so I think we could afford to divert some resources toward - as Braig said - giving people a place to come together and unwind after a hard day's work!" Tifa said passionately. "I've already swung by the place a couple of times, and it's way more intact than you'd expect - especially on the inside. It would just need some thorough cleaning, a bit of fixing up, maybe a little rearranging...but it shouldn't be that much of a project to get up and running again! I'd say a day or two - three days, tops!"
"Hmm. I suppose I have no objection," Ansem said thoughtfully. "As you've said: it would benefit the people of this city to have a place to relax and to bond with one another in a more...comfortable setting than our still-damaged streets. And supplying the resources necessary to sustain it would not have much of an overt effect on the rest of the city's functionality...or our restoration efforts. Overworked workers will do no one any good."
"YES! Thank you so much! You won't regret this!" Tifa exclaimed, beaming at him.
"I doubt that I will," Ansem agreed, his eyes twinkling at her. "Although..."
"What?" Tifa said.
"Such an establishment will need a name. Perhaps a rebranding, so as to not bring up distressing feelings and memories in the Hearts of those who were once familiar with the place?" Ansem spoke on.
Tifa beamed, drawing herself up and pumping a fist. "I've been waiting my entire life for this moment; I have the perfect name in mind..."
"Of course you do," Cloud laughed, only rolling his eyes a little.