isleofavalon | closed 🌠 the night is blind, so hard to find the way back home

[Nom nom nom. Eustace hasn't touched the soup yet, watching the kitten to make sure she doesn't eat too fast, but he glances over at her suggestion.]

Clover?

[At the same time, the kitten lifts her head and gives a cute little, "Mew?" and looks at them. Canting his head slightly as he looks at the kitten, he can hear a sound of interest in that voice.]

...Hm. Do you like that?

[Another "Mew!" before she puts her paws against his leg.]

Don't look at me, she's the one who suggested it, and also the one who made your meal.

[He picks her up and holds the kitten up to Tifa, who immediately curls in at first. But she isn't cowering like she did at first and is looking at Tifa curiously.]

[She has soup dribbling all over her nose and mouth, down her chin and onto the floor, but Tifa doesn't mind. The kitten will likely lap up the mess later and she won't have to worry about cleaning it... Ah, the joys of having a pet. They always clean up after themselves.

She had been hoping for a bit more enthusiasm at the name, but she also knows that this is going to be a work in progress. Getting the kitten to trust her might take more work than she expected, but it's fine. It'll be worth it all once she's feeling better and can do what cats do with confidence.

Still, Tifa can't quite help the sad laugh that escapes her as she tilts her head right back at the kitten.]

We can think of another name if that one doesn't suit you.

[Eustace leans in close to the kitten.]

Come on now... Tell her what you said just now.

[The kitten mews in protest, clearly shy!]

Then do you want another name?

[VIGOROUS HEAD SHAKING which may splatter some of that dribbling soup...but he can help clean it up later. For now he just looks over at Tifa.]

There's your answer...

[...Although maybe some of that dribble got onto Tifa's chin.]

[It does get on her chin, but she only wipes it away politely.]

So, you like Clover then?

[It's a good thing that she has Eustace here with her to go through this. If he weren't, Tifa isn't sure what she would do, or if there would be anything she could do to make the kitten more comfortable. There's a lot going on, and Tifa's own nerves are on edge, which wouldn't help the progress any...

At least Clover is better than Blackie, and it has a special meaning for her.

Speaking of that, Tifa wants to know more about what happened in Celliwig, and what he found, but... is that really something to talk about in front of the kid? ... Probably not.]

We should get a bed set up for her somewhere... In my room, maybe?

[At first the kitten is quiet and shy, but after some gentle prodding from Eustace, it lets out a soft mew and a little purr. Only then does he lower the kitten...and start wiping its face.]

Might be for the best. She'll feel more secure being in close company of someone else. She may even want to sleep with you should she get used to you enough.

[That would be nice, getting there... but Tifa isn't going to push the matter. For now, although this world might seem a lot smaller than what she's used to, Clover is free to roam and explore as much as she wants to. At least it shouldn't be too overwhelming in comparison, and she seems okay with being out and about so long as Eustace is here.

...

Clover does start to wander a little further now, albeit slowly, to the edges of the kitchen, and she sniffs the air around her leading into the living room, and that's when Tifa turns her attention back to Eustace, her voice lowered.]

So, that café's really gone, huh...? I was in Lestari, so I've only heard about what happened in Celliwig.

[With the kitten now exploring a bit, Eustace takes the opportunity to start eating his own share of the soup, noting it's good taste as always. He only looks up when she quietly asks her question, and he remains silent for a moment before he turns back to his bowl, head lowered slightly.]

...Mm. The whole block.

[That's a lot worse than she was expecting, and that last little shred of hope she clung onto slips through her fingers like dust. A whole block would mean a ton of businesses, people losing not losing their homes but their livelihood as well. It's going to take a lot of rebuilding to bring it back to what it was, isn't it...?

Swallowing past the growing lump in her throat, Tifa taps her finger anxiously on the table.]

What about the others? There were other animals that managed to get out...?

[He can only glance at her before he tells her the truth.]

...A few, but not many.

[That's the answer that she was not looking forward to hearing, and she peers over her shoulder to check on the kitten before looking back at him, her eyes staring hard, looking across his expression for a sign of... anything he might be feeling. It's hard enough hearing about it second-hand, but having to be there and see the wreckage for themselves?

What was that like for him?]

What happened to the ones that did?

[They're somewhere safe, right? Someplace that would take them in and take care of them...]

Taken in.

[His answers remain brief as he continues to keep his gaze averted, but she might see the haggard and worn out expression as he recalls it all.

It's not the first time he's dealt with such devastation, of sifting through rubble and destruction. Seeing the remains of countless lives lost. Although not completely emotionless, he has hardened quite a bit over the many long years of doing so, capable of keeping that cold exterior when in front of others and then letting it go when he's alone. So he's currently in that "mode" of only saying what's needed, as if just giving a mission report. Yet even so, he continues to debate on how much he should really tell her since he knows she's a person of interest.

...He just only hopes she doesn't ask certain questions as he's not sure how he'd be able to answer them.]

That's good news...

[The air between them has grown heavy again, and she can sense the tiredness lingering in his expression and the way he holds himself, and while she has more questions to ask, she's not sure that now would be the time to do it... if there ever was. She doesn't want to make him relive anything that he might not want to, and who would want to relive any part of that?

She gets why he's being so cagey about it. Tifa might have been, too.]

Better than being stuck out there. You think she'll be okay for tonight?

[He's actually a little relieved for the change in questions, so he looks back at the kitten. She's still mostly hanging around him, but at least now she seems to take some interest in Tifa, peering up at her every now and then before darting back as if to hide.]

...Honestly...I'm not sure.

[There's a small frown as he reaches down to lightly scratch the top of her head.]

Given how young she is, I believe she was still with her mother and siblings so she wasn't properly weaned. She's slept between me and Eria the past few nights, but it hasn't been easy.

[Another haggard sigh.]

[Ah, she had family there too, did she? That just makes this feel so much worse when she wonders what might have happened to them. Separated, or...

She tries to shake off the thought.]

How'd she take to Eria?

[In some way, it could be she's asking because it will be more telling in how Clover will behave around Tifa, but she doesn't have a giant dog to put down next to her, and her own familiar is too restless and playful for a sleepy, scared kitten.]

Better than I expected, but given Eria's size and rather...pushy demeanor, it wasn't a good match.

[Not to mention Eria kept showing signs of jealousy and pushing against him more, but she did do her best to give the little one some comfort.]

However she was significantly more comfortable when sleeping against another body than when alone.

[Of course she was. It would feel safer that way, she can imagine.]

Well, I'll make up a bed for her at the end of mine if you think she'll sleep there, but...

[Tifa looks back at the kitten that's now just waltzed right back into the kitchen in search of more food, and mewls at them both when she comes across her very empty bowl, like she's forgotten that she just devoured the entire thing.

There's a long pause that follows.

... ]

If she doesn't... what do you think about staying?

[He had just put in a spoonful of that delicious soup in his mouth when she asked him that question—and he almost spat it out in surprise. Eustace barely manages to keep it in and swallow without choking.]

The night?

[Now to be clear, he knows what she's asking. To stay over to help look after the kitten. And he did say he would stay as long as he needed to help. But even so he didn't imagine staying over her place, so it's a reasonable surprise.]

[Did he... almost choke? Is he okay?

Tifa stares at him for a few seconds in silence before she drops her head.]

Yes? But... if you think she'll be all right, then you don't have to.

[Her fingers are fidgeting under the table. It didn't seem like that big a deal to her, but maybe it was for him? She has no idea what's going through his head right now, but it really was for the sake of the kitten. Definitely not at all for her.]

I thought it might make it easier for her.

[HE'S FINE...HE'S FINE. Was just surprised, okay okay.

He looks back at the kitten—Clover—who after several mewls seems to grow impatient and trots back over to them. First she presses her paws up against his leg, clearly asking him to feed her before she timidly looks over at Tifa and then bugs Eustace again.

...]

...I did say I would stay as long as needed. And it's likely she might have nightmares...she had a few before.

[Slowly he reaches down to scratch the top of the kitten's head before slowly pushing her towards Tifa. If she wants food, go ask the foodmaker.]

So I don't mind staying over. I just don't want her to get the wrong idea and think we're always together.

[Tifa isn't even sure if she should give Clover any more food than she already has. She may be hungry, but how much food does she get before it becomes too much? She's still so small... Smaller than Maru ever was when she had him, so she's at a bit of a loss on that front.

As for the rest of it...]

If I pull out the couch, it should be enough. I can leave my bedroom door open, so she can come and go if she wants.

[The couch is at least comfortable... Although now she feels a little bad about asking altogether.]

It's not bad, I promise.

[Listen to those little cries. Just a little more pleeeease? Look, she's even slowly walking over to tentatively put a paw on her leg...!

Whatever, Dad is just going to leave it to Mom over there to decide.]

It's fine, the couch will be plenty even on its own. [Wouldn't be the first time he spent nights crashing on a couch instead of making the effort to go all the way to the bed. Working late does that.] I'll contact Gran and have Eria bring over a change of clothes.

[No, not the paw on her leg... Tifa is strong, but is she strong enough for this?

...

She sighs, but shakes her head. Yes, she is strong enough for this. She doesn't want Clover getting chubby! A chubby kitty is not a happy kitty. She does, however, pick Clover up and places her on the table between her and Eustace, and dares to give her a small scratch between the ears.]

Eria's welcome to stick around too, if she wants.

[Especially if Clover doesn't mind her presence. Wouldn't want any familiars to get jealous...]

No, I'll send her back. She'd be more of a nuisance.

[Just a dry glance as he watches Tifa manage to resist Clover's pleas. The little kitten pouts and mewls, but she does let the new lady scratch her ears. Eustace himself takes the last spoonful before pushing back his chair to take the bowl to the kitchen.]

Probably for the best. I don't even know where mine is.

[And she is going to pray silently to herself that she doesn't show up just as she says so, but thankfully, after a few moments, the room remains still and calm. She must be off playing with another familiar or something...

When Eustace finishes his soup and rises from the table, Tifa follows suit, patting the kitten on the head once more.]

I'll go get the couch set up, and I'll find some blankets that Clover might like. Just make yourself at home for now, okay? There are drinks in the fridge if you'd like.

[Mostly water, but there's some lemonade and some beers (would not recommend) in there as well, if he feels like it. And then Tifa disappears into the living room, with Clover hopping down from the table to follow her, trotting at her heels into the other room. It won't take her long to set up for him, so if he enters after them, he'll find that the couch is already pulled out with an array of blankets and pillows laid out across it for him. Perhaps a few too many, but she wants to make sure that he'll be comfortable!

There's a warm light from her room as well as some shuffling, and Tifa's head will poke through the door.]

Come take a look. Tell me what you think.

[Eustace half watches Clover following Tifa, a small smile unknowingly forming. It seems that although she's still a little shy, the kitten is starting to take to Tifa, so there's some relief. He really wouldn't know what to do if she didn't. With some of that weight off his shoulders, he continues into the kitchen to clean up and get some water for himself.

Doing so, he realizes that aside from his weapons he hadn't really properly removed his gear, the whole entrance a giant whirlwind of events. And with all the dirt, dust, and grime of traveling, he frowns a little before starting to move back towards the entranceway so he can at least take off some of his outer gear. In doing so, he texts Gran and calls for Eria, knowing it will take a bit for his familiar to arrive.

When he returns to the living room, he'll have removed his cloak, gloves, boots, and armor pieces. Seeing the set up, he gives it a quick look before glancing back at Tifa.]

It's more than enough, thanks. [And then a small pause.] ...Once Eria arrives, I'll need to bower your shower. But for now, mind if I use your bathroom to wash up a bit?

[Now that he's realized his current condition, he feels a bit bad not having cleaned up sooner.]

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