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

[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.]

[Ah, he is making himself comfortable.

Seeing all of his gear removed brings a smile to her lips, unbeknownst to her for the few seconds before she realizes that it's there, and she disappears behind the door to her room for a moment to wipe some of it away. It just makes her glad to see that he's at least comfortable enough to do that much... And it seems Clover is too, because she wanders over and mewls her approval at him.]

Not at all, [she finally says, stepping out.] I gotta warn you though, I don't have any of the fancy soaps for men if you're looking to shower.

[He'll come out smelling like lavender and vanilla! Which isn't such a bad thing.]

[What is that sound of approval for? Is this a sign of her adjusting to her home? Finding her behavior a little cheeky, Eustace grins a little before picking the kitten up.]

It's fine, I don't really care what I use.

[...Okay, maybe he has a favorite brand, but it's not like he needs it or anything.]

She needs a bit of a cleanup as well, so I'll take her with me.

[He can already feel the kitten tense up, but he's already experienced this.]

Good luck with that.

[Tifa knows all too well the kind of experience trying to clean a kitten is. None of them take the matter lightly, and most will just outright refuse. So, it's only with an arch of her brow at the two of them and a smile that she leaves them to their devices, sliding back into her room to start getting herself ready for bed. Thankfully, she's already showered, so the bathroom is all his.

When he comes out, he'll have to find her in her room, fluffing up the makeshift bed that she's made for Clover at the foot of hers. It's several blankets curled up to create a sort of nest for her—a place she'll hopefully feel safe to sleep in.

As for the décor in her room, there won't be much to see, like the rest of the place. She hasn't taken the time to really decorate and fill it with pieces of herself—for the best, probably, considering she'll be leaving it tomorrow. However, there is one thing he might recognize: the white rose she wore in her hair during that "date" of theirs, still alive and thriving in the little bell jar that he'd brought her a while back, sitting on her bedside table.]

[Oh he knows. He knows. Already the kitten is giving her pitiful cries ("Noooo, I don't wanna I don't want a bath!!!") and he just sets her down in the tub first, staring down at bed with hands on his hips. As if on cue, Eria materializes next to him, already giving Eustace a scornful look before spitting out the bag of clothes.

Now he has two animals whining at him, one crying about the bath and the other grumbling about being made into an errand dog and why does she have to go home why can't she stay!?!? It just makes him close his eyes and sigh before telling them to be quiet. It's all Eris needed to huff and nip his hand before disappearing to return home, making Eustace grimace and shake his hand a bit.

Truthfully he feels a little bad... He's never been without Eria so it does feel a bit weird to not have her, but it can't be helped.]

Now for you...

[Clover has yet to cease her pitiful crying, but with a hardened face Eustace just turns on the water...and then transforms into a larger gray cat and hops into the tub with her.]

Come on, we've done this before already. If you're going to stay with Tifa you'll have to get used to it. I won't be around.

[As he grabs the towel with his mouth and plops it on her before starting to groom her like a real cat to get her adjusted, Clover just cries more.

Wwwhhhhyyy, she wants daddy to staaaayyy!!]

Who's your dad... Don't talk nonsense...

[Just a muttering grumble before he transforms back to normal, now sitting in the tub as he holds Clover in one hand and continues to rub and wash her off. He's going to shower after this, anyway, doesn't matter if he gets wet or not. She still continues to squirm in his hands, even biting and digging her claws, but the towel helps take some of the damage and he doesn't mind it.

Eventually he gets her cleaned off and towel dries her before setting her on the floor where she mopes and waits as he showers. He won't take too much time, and once he's out and changed, he'll take the blow dryer to finish drying both of them off and exiting the bathroom.

If Tifa heard any of it, it probably was a very interesting commotion, but he enters her room with a sulking but cleaner and fluffier Clover in his arms. He takes a cursory glance not wanting to be rude, but his eyes do linger on the rose.

...She still has it, huh...

Should he really be feeling this strange warmth in his chest?

His thoughts are broken when Clover mews and wriggles out of his arms to jump down and run to Tifa.]

[She definitely did hear the conversations in the bathroom. The room is smaller than a typical apartment, so their voices traveled easily. It's endearing that he can speak so easily to her, and that she feels comfortable enough to do the same... and Tifa only hopes that it can be that way for her too, even after Eustace leaves.

She'd barely noticed them come in, her mind in too many places at once while she finishes setting up, and she finds herself only staring at the bed she'd made when her strange reverie is broken only by Clover's cries coming from the door. Snapping out of it, she kneels to pick the kitten up and sets her down at the foot of the bed before wrapping her arms around herself.

Her pajamas are nothing more than a simple tank top and shorts, and yet, she can't seem to make eye contact with him, embarrassed that he's even seeing her like this. It's not any different from what she typically wears daily, but for some reason, this feels a little more... intimate? No, not intimate. Why in the world was that the first word that came to mind?

Personal. More personal.

Except all that is about to change.

Shaking it off, Tifa laughs, and peers up at him, her smile crooked.]

So, she only gave you a little bit of trou...ble...?

[Oh.

Her eyes shouldn't linger as long as they do where they do, but where else is she supposed to look, if not for his... stomach? Chest? ANYWHERE ELSE, MAYBE!? She hadn't expected him to waltz in here so casually in nothing but pants, and it shouldn't embarrass her this much. It's not like this is the first time, and it's definitely not all that strange. And yet, she can feel her face and ears growing hot, and her face reddening. When he had Eria bring him a change of clothes, did he not think to ask for a shirt!?

She feels like a stupid teenager. Come on, Tifa. Pull yourself together, what in Shiva's name are you doing!?]

Uh... [Tifa breaks her dumbstruck gaze away from him and goes back to adjusting the blankets on her bed for Clover. Meanwhile, her voice has shot up an octave.] How was she?

Edited 2021-10-27 16:03 (UTC)

[Eustace's gaze has momentarily returned to the rose in the jar after Clover had run off, but his attention goes back to Tifa when she starts talking. Contrary to her worries, he doesn't think much of her being in her sleepwear, though most of that is due to him being preoccupied with other thoughts and more immediate concerns such as Clover, as well as having already accepted that he was sleeping over. The full impact of that notion has yet to really hit him.

And it's going to remain that way for a little while more when he sees her reaction upon looking up at him. Belatedly he realizes he had come out without a shirt, though...okay that's partly his fault. He doesn't normally wear shirts to sleep, so while he has something for the morning, it's not one that would be comfortable sleeping in. Now, he does have casual shirts that would have worked, but either Eria chose his clothing on purpose or just grabbed whatever in a huff. It could go either way, really.

Still...it's not as if she's never see him shirtless before. Okay, the first time is not the best remembered experience, but still, guys go around shirtless all the time. Is it because of the context? In her apartment? ...Him...?

...

He's watching her silently as her face flushes and she turns around, her voice an octave higher. He shouldn't, but he does find her reaction a little amusing. Briefly Eustace wonders if he should just put on the shirt and then take it off later when he goes to sleep on the couch, but instead he ends up slowly walking towards her to sit down near Clover.

Which is of course, also right next to Tifa.]

She complained the entire time, but I've had to give her baths back in Celliwig. Transforming into a cat helps her settle a bit at first.

...She still managed to sink her claws in.

[And just idly raises a hand to show off a few of those marks. They've already been cleaned and will heal on their own, but he may be doing this deliberately.

Maybe.]

[Her eyes dart to his hands, only briefly, to catch a glimpse of the scratches, and seeing the look on her face, Clover mewls and rolls onto her side on the bed, as if trying to look cute to avoid any scolding that might come her way because of it. Tifa only clicks her tongue at the kitten in response, and she meows back before curling herself into a ball and letting her head down.

It's hard to stay upset at her when she looks this cute. All according to plan, isn't it?

Tifa shifts on the bed, an inch or so away from Eustace, still hugging her arms around herself. Is he doing this all deliberately? Finding a seat next to her, and presenting himself in such a bold fashion? Trying to get a rise out of her? No, he wouldn't do that, would he? This isn't a nature documentary about mating rituals. He would never.]

They heal pretty quick, but there should be some bandages in the bathroom if you need.

[She's watching Clover, who's watching back, her big yellow eyes staring up at her through the void of black that's setting in against the dark fleece blanket wrapped around her.

This shouldn't be as awkward as she's making it out to be—it's just Eustace, and this isn't the first time this has happened, but... there really is something about the circumstances that puts her on edge. It could be that it is because it's her apartment—her bedroom—and he's sitting here, and she can smell her soap on him as it soaks into the air in the room, and fills her head...

She clears her throat.]

Um. There are spare blankets in the closet if you need those, too.

[Yes, she's trying to get him out to the couch as soon as possible, but Clover's meow is higher pitched than normal, a loud protest to the idea of Eustace leaving, and she lifts her head to stare at him pleadingly.]

Edited 2021-10-28 18:01 (UTC)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject