Chapter Text
Jasper said nothing more. He quietly shelled peanuts, giving Tifa space to process everything in silence.
He had to admit, Tifa’s beauty, with its classical Eastern grace, was truly captivating. The way her eyes lowered and her brows furrowed ever so slightly exuded a kind of fragile elegance that could stir anyone’s heart.
But unlike the typical dainty charm of traditional beauties, Tifa had a body that was the perfect blend of East and West, sculpted arms, a full and shapely bust, a narrow waist, and hips that flared with strength and balance. Not an ounce of her figure was wasted, every curve was in exactly the right place.
No wonder she was considered a legendary figure, the kind of woman people joked would bring 3D gamers to Seventh Heaven. She was simply peak.
No matter what, he had to get her on board his ship, and not just for her looks or gentle, resilient spirit.
Tifa had power too.
She was a formidable martial artist, agile, precise, and fierce. Her fists were sharp, her kicks devastating. She was beauty and strength in one flawless package.
Sure, in the original story, Tifa’s strength didn’t go beyond trading blows with a First-Class Shinra soldier. But in the game? That was a whole different ballgame.
In-game, she was a monster: high damage, explosive bursts, lightning-fast Limit Breaks. Put her in a simulator, and it didn’t matter if you were a god or an apocalyptic final boss, if your HP bar lit up, Tifa could kick you into digital oblivion.
Even if this version of Tifa was closer to the original, it didn’t matter. With her tenacity, her solid martial arts foundation, and maybe a well-chosen Devil Fruit down the line, she could absolutely become a force to be reckoned with in this world.
Of course, best-case scenario? She’s the same Tifa who punted Sephiroth around like a soccer ball.
His gaze fell to the two radiant gems embedded in her gloves.
Let’s hope.
About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea later, Tifa, ever resilient, sat up and said, “I understand now. No matter where you are… you have to keep living, right?”
She was doing a lot better than when she was fifteen, waking up gravely injured, learning her hometown had been destroyed, drowning in debt, stranded in a strange city with no friends, no family. Compared to that, waking up in a strange new world wasn’t all that different.
She’d survived worse. At least now she had a healthy body and no debt. In some ways, she was already in a better place than back then.
“I’m glad you understand,” Jasper said with genuine approval. Tifa wasn’t just beautiful, her inner strength was what made her stand out. She didn’t give up, even in her lowest moments, and that kind of spirit was something anyone could learn from.
“So,” he continued, seizing the moment, “if you’ve got nowhere to go, how about joining my crew as a cook? Fifty thousand Berries a month, room and board included, with bonuses and commission on the side. What do you think?”
“Don’t rush to say no,” he added, seeing Tifa about to speak. “Even if it’s not a long-term fit, it’s a roof over your head for now, right?”
“I’m not refusing,” Tifa said, concerned. “It’s just… cooking isn’t my strong suit. I’m not sure I’d be any good at the job.”
“Not good at cooking?” Jasper raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you say you owned a bar and worked there as the only bartender?”
Tifa tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking a little embarrassed. “Yeah, we served food too… but mostly just stews and simple dishes. Cooking’s not really my specialty. I’m better at mixing drinks, and fighting.”
“Mixing drinks?” 2B, who had been silent until now, tilted her head. “You mean alcohol? Isn’t that something you just drink as-is? What’s there to mix?”
Tifa nodded, happy to explain. “Sure, you can drink alcohol straight. But mixing different liquors and ingredients with specific techniques creates completely new flavors and experiences.”
“I’ve never tried that,” 2B said, intrigued.
“Wanna give it a try?” Tifa asked, tilting her head slightly. Her silk-like hair slipped off her shoulder. “This is a tavern, right? They should have the tools here. We can ask to borrow them. As for the ingredients…”
“I’ll go with you,” Jasper offered. “I’ll pay if we need anything. I’d like to see your skills for myself.”
“Thanks.”
The two left the private room and headed to the bar.
Behind the counter stood a sharply dressed man with slicked-back hair and a tidy mustache.
Jasper knocked on the counter. “Hey there. My friend here wants to borrow some bar tools. Would that be alright?”
The bartender looked up. “This is a bar. If you want a cocktail, order it off the menu. We don’t lend out equipment.”
“Wait,” a loud voice cut in from the side. A burly blond man sitting at the counter gave them a mocking grin. “You mean this little girl’s the one who wants to mix drinks? What is she, twelve? Shouldn’t you be home drinking warm milk with your mom?”
“Hahaha!”
The whole tavern burst into laughter. Even the bartender cracked a smug smile.
Jasper glanced at the man, saw the oversized broadsword leaning against his stool, the skull tattoo on his bicep.
“A pirate, huh?”
“Sharp eye,” the man smirked, tossing his golden hair. “I’m none other than Goldmane, with a five-million-Berry bounty, ”
BANG!
Before he could finish, Jasper slammed his head into the counter with one brutal motion.
The solid wood bar shattered under the impact. The pirate’s face hit the surface with a sickening crunch, blood splattering everywhere. He dropped like a stone, unconscious.
The room went silent. The same people who were laughing seconds ago now stared, slack-jawed. Even the bartender looked stunned. Tifa, wide-eyed, could hardly believe what she’d just seen.
No one expected Jasper to throw a punch without warning, let alone one that instantly knocked out a five-million-Berry pirate.
“If you don’t have the skills, don’t go running your mouth. And stop bragging about your damn bounty.”
Jasper rummaged through the man’s pockets, pulled out a wallet, checked the contents, and tossed it to the shocked bartender.
“For the bar repairs.”
Just then, 2B and Mona came rushing in from the private room, alerted by the noise. 2B stepped in front of Jasper, ready to defend him if necessary.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Just caught myself a five-million-Berry pirate,” he replied casually.
“Ah. I see,” 2B said with a nod, no further questions.
After all, they were pirate hunters. It would be foolish not to collect walking piles of Berries when they showed up.
Over the past few days, 2B had come to understand just how vital money was in this world.
Food, supplies, ship maintenance, crew wages, all of it required Berries.
Without money, life here was impossible.
Five million wasn’t a fortune, and after taxes it wouldn’t go very far. But it was enough to keep them afloat for a while.
With that in mind, 2B scanned the tavern, eyes sweeping over the patrons.
Any other walking bounties in here?
She regretted not bringing her assistant drone, it had compiled a solid database of wanted pirates from the newspapers. With it here, not a single Berry would slip through their fingers.