Thea looked up from her work in the kitchen as she heard the front door slam shut and the furious stomping of her daughter as she made her way through the living room.
"What's got you in such a mood?" she asked, raising a curious look in her baby girl's direction. Watching Tifa blow out a frustrated breath and flopped down on the sofa, she hoped this iwas a kids problem and not something that would require her to kill a villager. She could get away with it but It'd cause problems.
"He keeps ignoring me!" Ah, kids problem. Good good. Very solvable.
The source of Tifa's problem was, of course, the cute neighbor boy Cloud Strife. They had known each other since they were toddlers, ever since that day her friend Claudia had returned to their hometown with a three year old on her hip. Thinking he was an easy mark, that his shyness made him a pushover she had approached him too boldly, too demanding. Thea didn't know the full details but it was now called the 'Incident'. For someone who was so easily charismatic and loved, it was a bit of a shock to her little girl when the blond boy refused to "do her solid." He had avoided her like a plague since.
It had become a source of obsession for Tifa.
"Well how did you approach him? DId you try smiling like I said? Remember a bright, pretty smile is one of a woman's greatest asset", Thea started, "You have to be approachable and unassuming, never too bold or people will act in uncontrollable ways."
Secrectly she was glad for the situation, Tifa had gotten a little too confident in her ability to manipulate people. It had led her to scorn the more subtle aspects of the game, thinking herself invincible. She knew it was partially her fault. She had accidentally let her see how easily her father was pushed around with harsh words when she had been having a bad day, instead of the usual quiet word or a cocked eyebrow. It made her believe that a hammer was more effective than a scalpel. The 'Incident' was just what she needed.
"I know the lessons mama, but he doesn't even let me get close before he's sprinting away like some scared rabbit!", she groused, slouching further into the couch. Her daughter seemed to think that this wasn't a good enough representation of her feelings and kept shifting till she was face down on the cushion.
"Don't be so dramatic," Thea chided, but decided to make this into a teaching moment. "If one approach doesn't work, then you need to come at another angle. Set the stage for somewhere he can't run away. So if somewhere outside won't work, consider the places where he can't just scamper off into the forest. So whats avaible inside then? Maybe at school or his house?"
Tifa turned her face out thoughtfully before rolling onto her back, understanding that this was another lesson just as Thea intended. She could practically see the gears turning in the little brunette's head as she mulled the questions over.
'That's it sweety, work through it and consider the scenarios.'
"Well", she ventured, hestitant at first but gaining steam. "school wouldn't work, becasue there's no way to really keep him in one spot unless I lock him in a classroom. But that's too aggressive like you said, he might act unpredictably if he feels he caged. Plus there's too many witnesses around to see what's going on. 'It's easier for people to see the game when they aren't directly affected.'" she recited, "Someone might tip him off to what I'm doing."
Thea nodded along as her daughter applied her lessons, "Good, always consider the do's and don'ts"
"At home might be easier, a place where he's comfortable and typically doesn't run into danger" she hedged "but he'll never invite me into his house and he won't come here. Plus his mom works from home, so she'll be watching us the whole time. He might even run to her as his nearest trusted authority figure if he gets spooked." she finished glumly.
She was proud of her daughter's assessment, it was very thorough, considering the pros and more importantly the cons. Truthfully it was a difficult situation, even as she turned it over in her own mind. Cloud was an unfortunate mix of shy and stubborn, he wouldn't be pushed into anything he didn't want to do. Social pressure wouldn't do anything, having long become accustomed to the more unsavory treatment from the older villagers, due to the unfortunate circumstances of his birth.
The unkind words and actions of former friends had left Claudia fiercely protective of her only child. Constantly in mama bear mode 24/7. Not even Thea, her biggest supporter, was left alone with the child for too long. Something she'd have to ratify at some point. Not for the first time she cursed her towns people for their small mindedness. It was something that had plagued even her, a child of foreign origins. Nevermind her family having lived here for nearly generations now! Though this time most of that frustration was for the unintended obstacles that Tifa had to contend with, rather than the usual social ostracization that she and her friend had experienced.
"Well, if you are willing to play the long game" Thea considered as she approached her daughter, wipping her hands clean of the lunch prep. The beginning stages of a plan forming in her mind. A very good plan. " I might have a solution for you."
That got Tifa's attention, eyes wide with anticipation. She pushed herself up to give her mother a spot on the couch, but she looked back warily. Understandably since patience had never been one of her virtues.
"What did you have in mind?"
"Be nice" she began, already seeing her daughter roll her eyes. Trully a little princess she thought foundly,"but this time we change the target up. If we can't get to a person that we want, then we go after the people around them. And who's the closest person to Cloud?"
Thea could practically see the understanding burning through Tifa's mind
"His mom", she breathed in excitement. Atta girl.
"Yes", she agreed, thinking how she could work the townspeople's actions in her baby's favor "as her best friend in the village, Claudia already has me on her side so that's your in. She adores you already but that's not enough. You need her to trust you too, an assurance of your character and sincerity. She's been burned too many times to just take my word on it. She's always watching for mischief even among those closest to her. Her to trust in you needs to be greater than even what she has in her own son. Enough that she wouldn't bat an eye at the thought of leaving you alone at home with Cloud unsupervised. Become the daughter she never had. When you see her mind your courtesies and always be polite, ask her about her day and what she's doing. If you happen upon Claudia in her garden or at the market, offer you assistance and spend time with my friend. Tell her I started teaching you how to bake but that secretly you think she's a better cook. She once wanted to be a pastry chef, you know."
Tifa's grin was about ready to split her face, "I can do that! I already like her, what's a little more?" Good girl.
Now for the other shoe to drop.
"Now here comes the hard part," Thea warned, already anticipating the reaction." you have to leave Cloud alone. You can't approach him. Not for anything."
"What?! Why?" she cried. Frustration clearly bleeding through.
"These Strifes are stubborn and you 'favor' has already colored his perception of you," she explained, hoping her words were getting through properly." And everytime you try to 'reconcile' he's reminded of whatever it is you did to him. However, actions speak louder than words! He's a people watcher that one, so let him see you being kind to his mother, the most important person in his life. Let him realize that you respect his space, that you don't want anything more than a shy smile and eye contact if he's willing. Show him nothing but the good parts. Let him initiate.
"Is that going to be enough?" Tifa said slowly, pondering the plan and her part in it. "Don't I need to do something big for him too, so he believes in the lie?"
"Nope," Thea smiled at her, really getting in to it. It had been a while since sh had a chance to flex her skills. Things have been to easy lately. "Cause time is on your side. Quiet children like Cloud tend to be in their own heads a lot, running over every interaction with a fine comb. But time blurs and softens all memories. Months of 'kind and understand' Tifa will make him question if this 'Incident' was as bad as he thought it was, that maybe his reaction and feelings were a little blown out of proportions."
As if she was telling her a story about princesses and dragons, her daughter was listening with wide eyes.
"Eventually he'll decide that he needs to confirm this, if only to reassure himself that he's not going crazy. He'll approach you, maybe even confront you about the 'Incident'. And then," Thea leaned forward, her daughter getting closer as well, "you tell him you don't know what he's talking about. That you don't remember ever asking him to 'do you a solid'. But you're truly sorry for whatever happened and hope you can be friends someday. And I think you know what happens next."
"The guilt!" she squealed, jumping into her mother's arms, "Cloud will feel so bad, he'll come running back to me! He won't see the trap till it's too late."
She could only smile fondly with pride as her child practically vibrated with excitement in her arms. Maybe this was how her own mother felt when she was taught these lessons as a girl and her mother before her
"Thank you, Mama! This is going to be great!"
"Your welcome baby," Thea laughed," for women like use, we deserve to have our cake and eat it too."