[He just looks down at her, lips pursed into a pensive line. Unconsciously his fingers lightly rub against her shoulder in a soothing gesture before he becomes aware of it and stops himself, his hand suddenly lifting and fingers curling in as he glances away with a strange awkward feeling. He's not really one to give physical comfort—rather he just never was close enough to do so unless it was a child. And this is different from the physical touches at the restaurant. There it was just a performance or a game of sorts without any meaning, but right now what he's doing is more genuine. A true, heartfelt intent in trying to give her that comfort rather than just an empty gesture.
And that discomforting feeling also stems from the thought that he does feel partly to blame that she had to go through this to begin with. This is exactly what he didn't want to happen and why he had been so against the idea from the start. Sure it gave them results, but... Was it really worth it if it ended up rattling her this badly? He can't really blame her for it, either, not with how quickly that woman charged at her. And again he wonders if he shouldn't have let her face her. He instinctively knew Tifa wanted to, that this was something like "her fight" given the insults she had received before. He would have of course taken care of it for her, but he's been around enough tough female fighters to know that they would like to take their own stand and he respects that. So that's what he did, but...had he overestimated? Not her skill, but her ability to handle it?
Or maybe he's underestimating her right now, thinking too deeply on her being shaken. She's still a strong, young woman, but right now somehow she seems...not weak or frail, but vulnerable. And for some reason he finds himself not liking how she's come to be this way.
Regardless, the thought that maybe this had been too much will be stuck in his mind for a while. Releasing a small sigh, he leans his head back before pulling out his phone. He should let Gran know he'll be back later than expected, so he sends a quick text before returning it to his pocket. It's then that he remembers he still has the rose from earlier, and he just carefully tucks it away for now. He'll give it to her when they reach her place, though he wonders if she would even want it still or even remember... It had been such a silly little thing, but he can clearly remember her reaction and how it suited her...
Due to the evening traffic and the distance, it'll be some time before they finally reach the hotel, and he'll remain still and quiet and eventually allowing himself to idly stroke her arm every now and then. And then the carriage eventually pulls into a slow stop, the coachman softly alerting of their arrival as if trying to be polite to his passengers. It's only then that Eustace finally moves a little to look down at Tifa.
A part of him doesn't want to wake her, but he has a feeling she would kick him if he tried to carry her up. ...He doesn't even know what room she's in though he supposes he could ask the front desk. For now, unless she starts to rouse herself, he'll just...stare at her for a moment before lightly shaking her shoulders.]
no subject
[He just looks down at her, lips pursed into a pensive line. Unconsciously his fingers lightly rub against her shoulder in a soothing gesture before he becomes aware of it and stops himself, his hand suddenly lifting and fingers curling in as he glances away with a strange awkward feeling. He's not really one to give physical comfort—rather he just never was close enough to do so unless it was a child. And this is different from the physical touches at the restaurant. There it was just a performance or a game of sorts without any meaning, but right now what he's doing is more genuine. A true, heartfelt intent in trying to give her that comfort rather than just an empty gesture.
And that discomforting feeling also stems from the thought that he does feel partly to blame that she had to go through this to begin with. This is exactly what he didn't want to happen and why he had been so against the idea from the start. Sure it gave them results, but... Was it really worth it if it ended up rattling her this badly? He can't really blame her for it, either, not with how quickly that woman charged at her. And again he wonders if he shouldn't have let her face her. He instinctively knew Tifa wanted to, that this was something like "her fight" given the insults she had received before. He would have of course taken care of it for her, but he's been around enough tough female fighters to know that they would like to take their own stand and he respects that. So that's what he did, but...had he overestimated? Not her skill, but her ability to handle it?
Or maybe he's underestimating her right now, thinking too deeply on her being shaken. She's still a strong, young woman, but right now somehow she seems...not weak or frail, but vulnerable. And for some reason he finds himself not liking how she's come to be this way.
Regardless, the thought that maybe this had been too much will be stuck in his mind for a while. Releasing a small sigh, he leans his head back before pulling out his phone. He should let Gran know he'll be back later than expected, so he sends a quick text before returning it to his pocket. It's then that he remembers he still has the rose from earlier, and he just carefully tucks it away for now. He'll give it to her when they reach her place, though he wonders if she would even want it still or even remember... It had been such a silly little thing, but he can clearly remember her reaction and how it suited her...
Due to the evening traffic and the distance, it'll be some time before they finally reach the hotel, and he'll remain still and quiet and eventually allowing himself to idly stroke her arm every now and then. And then the carriage eventually pulls into a slow stop, the coachman softly alerting of their arrival as if trying to be polite to his passengers. It's only then that Eustace finally moves a little to look down at Tifa.
A part of him doesn't want to wake her, but he has a feeling she would kick him if he tried to carry her up. ...He doesn't even know what room she's in though he supposes he could ask the front desk. For now, unless she starts to rouse herself, he'll just...stare at her for a moment before lightly shaking her shoulders.]
...Tifa, we're here.