[It's odd, he supposes. After all the deep-seated frustration and vitriol of their prior conversations — some of it completely deserved, he's come to reflect — Tifa sounds completely unlike what he would've expected from her on a visit like this. That little yelp of surprise strikes him curiously, too; it nags at him, like it's a sound he's heard before, though he can't immediately place how or where.

Strange. But any noise of exclamation might sound like any other, he supposes. It's probably nothing.]

That's one of the benefits of this rank; she's got plenty of room to move around. She always comes to see who's at the door, however. I'm sure that's not surprising.

[He scratches fondly under her chin, and at last Darkstar closes her eyes, evidently willing to release her focus long enough to bask in the attention of two sets of hands petting at her.]

I expect when I dismiss her, she'll follow us as far as the bar, then go onto the private beach instead. If you were worried about her looming while we have our drink — speaking of, shall we?