isleofavalon | sixth shot ⊗ open september log

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sixth shot ⊗ open september log

🧙 WHO: Eustace and anyone
⚔️️ WHAT: various quests
🕒 WHEN: throughout September
🗺️ WHERE: various
⚠️ WARNINGS: none except for any potential violence that might happen in the combat oriented prompts

⊗ a: task - shear determination

[Shearing sheep...that takes him back and although it's been a while he heads over. Even if he can't, he can at least use his magic to try and help keep them calm. So for shearers, Eustace can assist some of the nervous sheep, quietly speaking to them and stroking their heads to keep them calm. And he'll also give some advice.]

You need to get all the way down to the skin and be quick about it, so don't hesitate. Be firm or it'll just come out jagged and you'll have to do it over. The faster you are the, less time they'll be like this and remain stressed.

And watch its right side—seems like it's more sensitive there. Could be a skin irritation, but we can treat it after it's been sheared.

[He'll call out any other such problematic spots a sheep might have. Sensitive leg, ticklish belly, don't be too rough, don't be too gentle—being able to hear and understand the sheep certainly has its benefits.]

⊗ b: task - cult classic

[If it's not one set of idiots it's another...

Having recovered from his injuries from last month, Eustace will take this as a prime opportunity to "warm up" and get back into it. Although there had been no deaths, it's clear the guy is being too reckless. Except with him sticking to the rooftops in the late evenings and around the places the incidents have occurred, it wouldn't be too unusual for him to be momentarily be mistaken. Especially when he's always wearing his own cloak.]

⊗ c: tdm - the fighting badass

[Zombies and undead... Well he's used to fighting them, but carrying back their remains? Not the most pleasant thing, but a job's a job and it's something he can do. He needs the exercise, anyway.

1. Combat. Although he'll plan on going solo, he won't helping anyone who is also dealing with the zombies. And wouldn't you know, lightning is fairly effective against them. Not wanting to push himself too, he's setting himself on a high point and sniping down the zombies, shooting lightning down immobilize and down them. Should he have someone that's more close combat, he'll be careful with his shots and let them finish it off.

2. Night watch. For the journey back, Eustace will be definitely guarded and alert on the captured remains. If camping out with someone, he'll secure the bags or boxes used to hold them and eye them warily.]

It would be better if there was some kind of sealing magic... Go ahead and sleep, I'll keep watch.

⊗ d: wildcard

[Considered the Take to the Skiesish prompts but he'd need some convincing to drink the vials. Should anyone want to take that up, I'll be game for any of the other prompts (flying, catching stars, giant bats). If interested in anything else not included here, just hit me up on

laenavesse or discord and we can work something out!]

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[She really had completely dozed off somewhere along the ride. All the excitement, adrenaline, and anger mixed up together can really wear a person out, and she hadn't been well-rested going into it either. It's normal, for her, at least—she hasn't been getting much sleep at all since arriving on the Isles, and this might be the first time in as long as she can remember that she's been able to get some decent shuteye, as short as it is. It's no good night's rest, but it's something.

Her shoulders shaking startles her awake, and the first thing that comes into view is a close-up view of Eustace's face, her own only inches from his when she snaps her head up and sleepily blinks open her eyes. His arm is still around her, with her body is flush against his side, soaking up the warmth in the otherwise chilly carriage. It takes her a few moments of staring up at him to realize all of this before she's shuffling away, awkwardly tucking her hair behind her ear.]

S-Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep like that...

[She'd put her head down and next thing she knew, he was waking her up. It felt like only seconds, but if they're here, then how long had that nap been? And how long had she made him sit there like that? What was she even doing, using him as a pillow?

God, this is so embarrassing, and she's already excusing herself from her side of the carriage before the driver can come around to open it for her, almost smacking him square in the face with it instead.]

[He was a little surprised when her head suddenly comes up and he finds himself staring into her face, but it's her actions after that make him quirk a brow, especially when she basically flees the carriage. Was she that embarrassed...? He doesn't realize he has an amused expression until the coachman glances inside and he just waves it off, exiting the carriage from his side.

He soon reaches where she's waiting for him and there's just the slightest quirk of his lips as he looks at her, but he won't tease her. For now, anyway.]

Thought you would have run off ahead.

[Okay, take it back, there's a little teasing.]

[She laughs, awkward and breathy, her hands running over the front of her dress to smooth out the non-existent wrinkles.]

Thought about it...

[But no, she wouldn't leave him to figure out which room is hers on his own. She'd rather not have the people at the front desk asking any questions or raising any eyebrows. Some of them can be a little nosy... even though they're going to have to pass through the lobby to get there.

The driver of the carriage wanders up and assures them that everything would be taken care of by the restaurant—it would be covered for the mix-up, and all of the trouble that they experienced this evening, so that's another weight off Tifa's shoulders.

When he's gone, she starts towards the front doors of the inn.]

Imagine what that might've been if that were a real date.

If that had been a real date with that woman after me, I wouldn't be surprised if you dumped me right from the start.

[Half serious, half joking. He could easily imagine someone being wary of someone else who had that kind of issue as it had proven dangerous in the end, especially if it had been a first date or if the two hadn't known each other for very long. Which kind of fits them, really.]

Without it, however... [The automatic doors open and he steps through.] It wasn't so bad.

[And that part is true. When they could actually be more like themselves and relax to eat, it...hadn't been an unpleasant experience. He doesn't know if he would have ever chosen thar venue on his own, but the restaurant certainly lived up to its reputation.]

Right? [She sounds way too glad that he thought so, as she presses the elevator's button.] I told you it wasn't gonna be that bad.

[Ding! The elevator doors open, and she steps inside. Up to the fourth floor they go!]

I read plenty of good reviews of the restaurant, so I knew it'd be good, but it turned out better than I thought... minus the serenading.

[She didn't appreciate that part much, or the mix-up with the engagement ring—both things that drew attention to them that she never wanted.]

We should do that more often...

[As friends! Because friends can go out to eat at fancy restaurants, right!?]

More dates?

[Just a casual quip as he leans against the wall, arms crossed over his chest as the elevator rises. He actually knows what she means, but she kind of set herself up for it.]

Didn't realize I left such a favorable impression.

[Yes, more "dates", minus the crazy next time.

As the elevator dings again, Tifa grins, steps off in front of him, and pauses right in the middle of the door.]

So, that's a yes? I promise I'll pick somewhere cheaper next time.

[While the porkchops were hella delicious, she isn't made of money, least of all here. She has to save some up for other things, so next one will be at a burger joint or a place more... casual.]

So you're the one who will keep asking? How persistent... Shouldn't I pick the next place?

[He steps towards the door but won't be able to leave until Tifa does, so he just stares at her with his usual indifferent expression.

If someone saw them and thought they were actually flirting it would certainly seem like a weird match-up.]

Well, you aren't.

[Tifa finally steps out of his way with a laugh and turns on her heel to lead the way to her door. It isn't too far down the hall thankfully, but she's looking forward to stepping out of these shoes, and out of "date night" altogether.

What she does appreciate in the moment is that he's humouring her in keeping this light-hearted, given what happened in the carriage. If she keeps her mind off of it, then it doesn't seem so as embarrassing.]

If you wanna pick the next place, you're going to have to be the one who asks.

[And with that said, she arrives at her door and slides the keycard in, and it unlocks with a click. The room itself is exactly the same cookie cutter inn room as the rest of them, and hers is kept clean and tidy at all times, as if she's always expecting guests. That's just how she is. But the room does smell of lavender and vanilla, and there a few too many (never too many) pots of flowers and plants that were brought over by Aerith over the course of her stay—there's probably one on every flat surface that's available.]

Come on in...!

...Sounds troublesome.

[Both her picking out everything and asking her "out" that is. Chances are high it'll be Tifa who will do the asking, but really he's not going to care too much. But he can see the shift in her demeanor, that tension from earlier mostly gone for now.

And once they reach her room, Eustace slowly steps in and...

...

That's a lot of flowers. Though it does remind him of something.]

...I wonder if you'll have any room for this.

[He carefully plucks out the rose he had pocketed and holds it out to her. It's a little crumpled around some of the petals both in part from the earlier fall and being in his pocket, but it's otherwise still intact.]

[Ah, in all of the commotion and stress, she'd completely forgotten, so the look of surprise on her face when he holds it out is obvious, for several different reasons besides remembering. She'd forgotten it had been in her hair to begin with, having been so focused on the "getting to know you" part that it just became "there", but...

This reminds her of something else. A memory that she's pushed to the back of her mind and locked away to keep safe the moment she stepped foot in Camelot, and heard that dreaded news from Aerith.

But she isn't about to let that sour the occasion, so she accepts the rose for a second time tonight.]

I'll find somewhere to put this. Make yourself comfortable, I'm gonna go put this in water. You want anything?

[...Is it really that odd for him to have brought this back? Fortunately for Tifa he's just assuming it's not something she expected of him, and fair, he wouldn't have done it either if it weren't for the manager picking it up and handing it to him. He could have easily forgotten about it, too, had it not been for all the flowers here.]

...No, I'm fine.

[But she accepted it, so he won't think much further about it. Instead he just continues to walk in, glancing about her place with idle curiosity. He doesn't venture into many other rooms, even back home, so he just casually observes before he starts unbuttoning his suit jacket and taking it off to drape on a chair. Even though he's used to wearing his other jackets and cloaks, this one had been a bit more constraining and he hadn't really been able to fully breathe in a while.

But he doesn't sit, instead just continues to wander around and look at everything there is. It's a little interesting to see how she's decorated everything, having no real thought of what to expect prior.]

[First order of business is the flower. All she has left is a tall glass from the cupboards that will have to make do, and she fills it up with water. Then, she scurries past him into the bedroom to set it down on her bedside table. What? It was one of the few places she had left. And whether he wants or needs it, she brings them both a glass of water anyway. She can still feel a bit of the buzz from the wine now that it's had some time to settle, but it's not so much that it'll affect her much, besides the rosy cheeks she still has.

But when she arrives back in the living room, she almost drops them out of surprise because—]

Ah—!?

[For a moment, all she catches is the sight of his back and practically bare shoulders, and in that split moment she wonders to herself: why is he taking his shirt off!? WHY NOW, of all the times? It was one thing in his own home, but hers!?

But the shock is fleeting, quick to wear off when she realizes that she's missed the straps that wrap around his back, and she breathes a sigh of relief, her fingers unraveling the tension around the glasses that could have shattered them in her hands as she sets his down on the table.]

Uhhh... here. Just in case you want some.

[Hopefully he didn't notice!? Meanwhile, she's going to take a giant swig of hers ~~because bitches be thirsty~~.]

[~~business in the front party in the back~~

Eustace honestly thinks nothing of his attire since it's just natural for him, so when he hears her sudden sound he turns around in slight surprise.

...?

Yeah, he noticed. He just looks at her a little puzzled as he slowly takes the water.]

Thanks. ...Something wrong?

[Did he enter or go near something he shouldn't have???]

No, everything's fine. I just remembered that... I need to pick up something tomorrow.

[Nice save. Jeeze, that was close.

It's too bad she can't hide in the dim light of the restaurant or the carriage, or even outside, because her cheeks are even redder now, but she can busy herself with readjusting some plants that need no readjusting or rearranging the cushions on the couch so that they have more space to sit. She slumps on one side with a giant sigh.

Time for a change of subject.

...

.... ]

Thanks for coming up with me. I know you didn't have to, but... you did anyway.

[He still looks at her puzzled, but he won't press and instead joins her and sits on the opposite end before taking a sip of water. He then just glances over at her before he sets it down on a table (on a coaster!! he's polite like that).]

It's fine. [And then a small pause as he remembers his thoughts back in the carriage. At first he thinks about scolding her a little, to remind her that that was exactly why he hadn't been so keen on the date to begin with. But he holds his tongue, knowing that that isn't something she needs to hear. So instead he manages:] ...If you ever need anything like that, just ask.

The lone wolf, telling me that I could get anything I ask for?

[Her teasing manner is short-lived, falling off with a soft, fond laugh. It's a bit surprising though that he would offer up something like that. Maybe there's just something about her that makes these boys lose that "hard edge" of theirs—not that it's a problem. Not in the least.

She's making room on the couch, scooting over just enough that he'll have some space, silently urging him to sit with her.]

We could watch something. I don't have a ton of movies, but there could be something on TV too.

Don't push it, I still have the right to refuse.

[Just gives her a wry look. He will indeed regret this later. And does she really want him to sit closer...]

But whatever you want. I feel like most of my movie and TV watching is with you...

[Even more than with Gran, his own housemate.]

[Yes, she does. Tifa had asked him to stay with her until she'd calmed down, and sitting with her was always part of that deal.

She flicks on the TV and idly switches through the channels, searching for something interesting to watch. It's late, so most of what's on are films, and she stops on some fantasy-like movie called King of the Bracelets, a movie about a merry band of people traveling the world to find the "one bracelet to rule them all." Sure, why not?]

It's because I know all the good things to watch.

[Like this. Is this even good? She has no idea but might as well find out.]

It's no movie theatre, but at least it's better than a phone.

[Fiiine he'll scoot a little closer. But only a little.]

Didn't realize you were a movie expert. You must have a lot time on your hands.

[As if calling her bluff.]

Yup.

[She really does. It's a massive problem that needs to be remedied soon, but that's what the job postings are for, right?

When he scoots closer, Tifa isn't even watching the movie, but instead looks up at him... before scooting even closer and very tentatively inviting herself to lean her head on his shoulder. It shouldn't be so weird now that she's already done it, right? It's not as if it meant anything, and he'd said that if she needed something, all she had to do was ask him... and this is her silently asking him if she can seek out his solace for a little longer.

Should he not protest, there's a soft throw blanket hung over the couch's arm that she pulls over her legs to make herself more comfortable.]

[He won't protest, but there's a small glance at her before he relaxes a little more against the couch so she can be a little more comfortable. And then...

...

He could just stay like that, but after what happened in the carriage he has an inkling of why she's leaning against him. So when she moves to get the throw and resettles, this time he lifts his arm so that it can be behind her. Not necessarily around her shoulders like before, just resting against the back of the couch. It's probably a little more comfortable this way for the both of them, and throughout all of this Eustace doesn't say a word, instead just staring forward at the TV.]

[As thanks, when he settles his arm across the back of the couch, Tifa reaches up and gives his ear a quick, soft scratch. She's forgotten how soft they were, and she smiles to herself when she turns her gaze to the TV once she remembers how he had dozed off in that petting zoo. Perhaps not tonight because this didn't turn into a drunken escapade (and probably for the best that it didn't), but she would do it again if he asked.

As thanks, of course.

The movie rolls onward without them saying much of anything, Tifa content to stay where she is. She's hardly paying attention to what's going on anyway, her mind too preoccupied with other things. Mostly, the echoes of the words that woman had said throughout the night—the comments she'd made about Tifa, a woman she barely knew... and it reminded her of why she took up martial arts in the first place.

At some point, it won't take long for the idle thinking combined with the noise of the movie to lull her to sleep again, her body relaxing completely against Eustace and her breathing slowing into a steadier beat...]

[There's a small flick and a quick look when she reaches up to scratch his ear. But it wasn't...unpleasant so he won't protest or complain about it, instead looking back forward.

And as he's lost in his own thoughts, he eventually notices when she starts to drift, her weight against him becoming heavier and her breathing steadying. Slowly he glances down and... Reaches over to carefully brush back some of her hair. It's only so he could see her expression, that's all! And given how she hadn't moved from his touch it's confirmed she really did fall asleep on him again.

...Really this girl, how can she feel that comfortable and unguarded around him... It's a bit of a weird feeling, but he just lets out a small breath and ends up closing his own eyes. He only intended to just rest for a bit now that they're no longer on the move or having to stay guarded. It's not so much different than back when they were in the carriage, after all.

But it is different, and even Eustace can get worn out from both the physical and mental stress. And maybe because there was a giant lull in the movie along with the music soundtrack (and not because he's comfortable or anything), he ends up drifting until he falls asleep as well.

...

What wakes him is the sound of dogs barking on the TV, and when he slowly opens his eyes it takes him several moments to process everything at once: the TV, the unfamiliar room, the weight against him, the soft scent of flowers, the stronger, sweeter scent near his nose...and how his head is not resting against a pillow but against the owner of everything here. Slowly he lifts his head and realizes his arm had also dropped to now be resting against Tifa's shoulders.

At first he just sits there, wondering when he fell asleep and for how long. He also finds himself staring down at Tifa the entire time and he turns his gaze to his wrist, shaking the sleeve down to read the watch.

...

With an inward sigh he rubs his hand over his face. Damn it's late...

After looking over Tifa again, he hesitates before lightly shaking her shoulders and quietly calling her name.]

...Tifa.

[He had done similarly back in the carriage and it worked, but this time... He can't seem to bring himself to put as much effort. She had looked exhausted and now she seems to be in a deeper sleep, looking relaxed for the first time since the whole ordeal started. Should he just take her to her room...?]

Edited 2021-10-04 20:06 (UTC)

[She barely stirs, and even then, they can hardly call it that. She brings her legs up closer, her readjusting putting more of her weight on him, but besides that, she doesn't respond to her name. The movie was nothing more than an excuse to get him to stay longer, rather than dropping her off and leaving, so it's unknown when she had finally dozed off. It was somewhere around when the characters called themselves the Companionship of the Bracelet, or something...

That was the last thing she remembers just barely hearing before she let herself fall into the slumber.

So yes. Eustace will have to take her to her room, or move her if he would like to get up.]

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