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

[With his mind and heart now calmed, he can face Tifa with a bit more, if just a little awkward ease. He has the ability to recover and move on fairly easily, but that was still something even he would need a little time to get over. However, the smell of eggs and bacon help distract him...as does seeing Tifa cooking. He's watched her warm up and prepare food for him before the house he and Gran share, but this is a bit different for some reason.

It could be because they had just woken up and she's still in her sleepwear, giving it a strangely...different feel to it. But he once again pushes it aside and moves to the table, only belatedly realizing he had stopped midstep to stare a little.]

Take your time.

[Clover mews and trots over to him, pawing at his leg until he picks up the troublesome kitten. Really, if it weren't for her none of this would have happened...but she at least looks a lot more refreshed and happier than he's ever seen her, so he can't help but softly smile as he lightly pets her head, listening to the kitten as she starts mewing and chattering about the morning and how delicious that soup was.

Glancing at Tifa, he lowers his head to quietly ask Clover what she thinks of Tifa and if she'll be okay being with her. The kitten hesitates, looking at him hesitantly...but she eventually answers that she likes her new "Mommy" and wishes he could stay. To which he quickly refuses, "Not a chance," lightly tapping her nose before sitting.

"But whhhyyyyyyyyyy!! You're my Daddy!!!"

Not this again...

Instead he just stays quiet and ignores her protests. At least this time it's more like whining than tearful cries.

To further avoid things, Eustace stands back up and approaches the kitchen.]

Anything I can do to help?

No. Everything's just about finished.

[Just sit down! Don't come near her! Stay over there, on the other side of the kitchen and as far from her as possible, because the moment he'd asked, she could feel the redness creeping up her cheeks all over again. Is it so strange that something about preparing all of this food for him feels so... nice? That it makes her happy? It really shouldn't be considering she would do it for customers all the time at Seventh Heaven, but this... is completely different.

It's in her home.

Biting back the smile, she slides the finished eggs and bacon from the pan onto a pair of plates, and will bring them to the table first, followed by two fresh cups of coffee, and some orange juice just in case he prefers that. Clover hops up onto the table to sniff at all the food, and Tifa takes a seat on the opposite side, her eyes so fixed on the plate of food that she might as well be drilling a hole right through it.]

It's nothing special, but I... hope you like it.

[Where did that even come from!? Why did she say it like that?

Quickly, she stabs the scrambled eggs with a fork and shoves a mouthful in.]

[But if he sits down he has to listen to Clover's family nonsense?? He could at least help with the drinks and bring the dishes...but he knows better than to invade someone's domain and he can sense that she doesn't want him near, so with a little reluctance he returns to the table and sit.

And once it's on the table, he can't help but stare at it a little. It's a simple breakfast and he's had acquaintances cook for him before back on the Grandcypher, yet somehow... It's the same feeling he got when he entered the kitchen and saw Tifa cooking. He's not sure how, but it feels...different. It shouldn't, it's not like he's never eaten in someone's home before, so... What is it? Is it really because it's Tifa?

Trying to not recall what happened her in bedroom not long ago, Eustace snaps out of his thoughts when she sits down and he glances at her with a small smile. Whether he pays mind to her avoiding her gaze doesn't matter—he can't quite look her in the eye either just yet.]

Thanks, it looks good.

[And he'll first reach over for that coffee to take a long sip before taking that first bite. ...Yep. It's good. And again, for some reason better than he's ever had.

He would have continued to eat quietly, but Clover mews and walks over to Tifa. Mama can I try some?]

She's accepted you, by the way.

[He's not sure if Tifa could tell yet or not, so he might as well get that cleared up.]

[It helps that Tifa makes a mean plate of eggs, her omelettes being a favourite among both regulars and new customers alike back at Seventh Heaven, but she still swells with pride when he compliments her anyway. She feels oddly pleased with herself, and her lips pull upwards into a smile around her cheeks puffing out while she chews her food.

And it widens a little more when he passes the news to Clover, and when the kitten trots over, she gives her a scratch behind the ears before moving her hand between her nose and the edge of the plate. No, she can't have any. Can kittens even eat eggs? She isn't sure, but without knowing, she isn't about to find out.]

Has she? That's good news. I guess all it took was a comfortable night's sleep.

[Even as she tries to gingerly shoo her away?

But as she says it, she hardly realizes that she's casting Eustace a timid but pointed look across the table, Clover's sad mewl turning to a quiet echo in her head.]

I'm glad to hear it...

I had a feeling she would warm up to you.

[And hoped, but for whatever reason, Tifa had been the strongest candidate in his mind. Maybe it was because she had told him she used to have a cat once.]

But... I also appreciate you for accepting this sudden request. I know it's not the most responsible thing to just suddenly foist such a large responsibility on someone. So...

[There's a small tapping of his fork as he seems to hesitate before he continues.]

If you have any trouble, just call me.

[He had already said he would help yesterday, but he feels it needs to be said again.]

[Tifa's expression softens at the offer.]

It's all right. I don't mind.

[All Tifa wants right now is to take care of and protect this poor kitten from the world, and show her what a good, welcoming home should be like. Sadly, it won't be here, but if there's any strong candidate for a place being the most welcoming home in Camelot, it's Aerith's. She puts her full trust and confidence in that.

But her head tilts at him, her eyes moving from the fork tapping on his plate to his face, studying it carefully for a moment before she breaks, grabbing a small bite of egg on her fork.]

You know you can call me too.

[For anything at all.

With that said, she quickly moves on.]

Um, are you gonna be okay getting back?

[Of course he will be. That's a silly question, but there's that persistent flutter again that she's been trying so hard to fend off that pushing him even further away felt like the easiest thing to do right now.]

[...Calling her...

Come to think of it, this is the first time he's approached Tifa first, isn't it? All the other times she's the one who would visit or message him first for something. ...Should he try to? Granted he's not really one to message someone first unless he needs something to begin with, and he's just...never needed to bother her until now. Hm.

But then at her question he arches a brow.]

Are you afraid I'll be attacked on the streets?

[Just a little teasing, though he says it with his usual straight face before shoveling another spoonful of eggs and getting more bacon.]

[Yeah, she feels a little called out right now, so she picks up her cup of coffee, her smile bashful from over the rim of the cup before she carefully sips.]

You never know. This place is full of surprises.

[Although it's still fairly early in the morning and there likely isn't a lot to worry about at this hour, but that isn't exactly what she'd meant by that. In more ways than one, this world continues to surprise her.

Clover mewls and moves over to Eustace's plate now, trying to get a bite of his egg and complaining that mom didn't let her. "Please, dad?"]

I'm allowed to worry.

...True, there have been certain occasions. [Like the animal mage hunt.

But he just looks at her for a moment before he taps Clover on the head. No. We are not playing the "run to the other parent when one says no" game.]

Do you want me to text you when I get home?

[Just a very small, very light smile at the silly thought.]

[He's joking, but she's not.

But there's a colouring rising in her cheeks at the thought of that. It was always her reaching out to him, so...]

Yeah. ... I'd like that.

[There's something fond and gentle in the way she says it, and she catches a glimpse of his smile before she digs into her food some more, picking at the eggs and bacon rather than eating it. She has to bite her lip to stop her own from spreading even wider.]

Gotta make sure no one attacked you on the street at eight in the morning.

[He had indeed been joking, and initially he would think she was following along with it. But he gets a feeling she might be serious, something that isn't really surprising, but... For some reason, it feels different. That it's not just out of concern.

That's of course nonsense, of course it's only out of concern. Yet he still feels strangely odd and there's a small pause before he gathers the last of the food on his plate.]

Just don't go crazy after five minutes. Have to let me actually get there.

[Right, it's just a simple message no need to feel weird about it. There's nothing to feel weird about, anyway.]

I'll try.

[Tifa sets her fork down, the thought of him leaving at all leaving a sad twinge in her chest, and she tries to push it away along with her chair, scraping against the floor in the awkward silence that follows. She grabs her plate, the food still on it, and she takes it to the counter.]

... I'll go gather your things.

[Clover looks at her, then at Eustace, and mewls in protest. "Nooo, don't go!" as Tifa scurries out of the kitchen to where he'd left his gear the night before.]

[The food still on her plate hadn't escaped his noticed, but because he had been looking downward whatever expression she had, did. So he can only watch her back for a moment before he sets his fork down.]

It's fine, I can get it.

[...Clover you're not helping things.]

Your food...

[She's already grabbing his things he'd left near the couch, putting whatever she can fit into a couple small tote bags, and Clover hops down from the table to follow, pausing on the floor to meow loudly at Eustace to walk with her.

And if he does get up, by the time he arrives in the living room, she'll have nicely packed up his gear as if she was packing him lunch instead.]

I've already finished.

[And it's true, he has a clean plate! He's also going to be nice and bring it to the sink first before joining Clover. He looks down at her with a sigh before walking into the living room, feeling a little awkward at how she's packing his things.]

...You really didn't have to do this.

It's fine.

[She holds out the couple of tote bags for him, checking around them for anything she might have forgotten. Even if she has, she'll be sure to return it to him later. Can't be leaving things behind when there's a family staying here.

Speaking of that...

...

.... ]

If you ever wanna visit, or need anything, I can give you the address to Aerith's. I'm sure Clover would be happy to see you.

[Tifa, too.]

[Aerith...right, the place she's going to stay while the refugee thing is going on.

He takes the bags first, looking at everything neatly packed into them before finally answering.]

...Sure, it would be good to have on hand.

[She leans forward playfully, a finger tapping against the center of his chest.]

How about as soon as I hear you got home safe, I'll send it to you? Hm?

[Now he has no choice but to text her when he gets home!]

[...Is she really.

REALLY.

He just looks at her dumbfounded before he lets out a small breath-like laugh.]

All right, I will.

[There's a silence that hangs there after that, because Tifa knows what she should say next. A "take care" or "see you later", but it's strange—on one hand, she wants this to end as soon as possible, but at the same time, she wants to prolong this as long as possible. She knows as soon as he leaves, Clover will be sad, and... the thought of that "see you later" is still leaving that dull twinge in her chest.

So, rather than say either of those right away, she nods, straightening.]

I promise I'll take good care of her. Clover.

[It's an awkward silence, and he's about to just say his goodbyes and part. How strange it is that doing such a simple thing is somehow difficult...he's always able to just turn and leave at the drop of the hat, especially when he wants to get out of something troublesome. But this time...it's like he wants to linger as long as possible.

So he just looks at Tifa for a moment before he nods.]

I know.

[The words to remind her to call him if something happens or...something else to that effect come to mind, but in the end he just shoulders the bags and takes a half turn away to finally leave.]

...I'll text you when I get home.

[That is such an odd thing to say, it feels so weird leaving his mouth. But it's not a bad feeling, either.]

[Really, she had been joking about it earlier, but the fact that he is took it so seriously and still does is... endearing. Sweet. Not something she would have expected out of him, but is it that much of a surprise? Not quite.

Clover, who's been watching this from the couch, calls to him, and Tifa quickly moves to scoop her up to hold her against her chest.]

He has to go home. And we're going to ours.

[There's a sense of soft finality to her voice as she moves aside, giving him space to leave.]

Thank you, Eustace.

[Eustace sees Clover's pleading eyes and can hear her sad mews. He lets out a small breath as he reaches out to pet her...

...

.......]

...Do you need help carrying anything there? I could help.

[What is he doing he's supposed to be going home???? Not sticking around??? Yet the words were out of his mouth before he even realized it.]

Edited 2021-11-07 06:41 (UTC)

[Well, that surprises her.

She had expected him to leave it at that, turn around, and take his leave with all of his things, and Tifa isn't even sure how to answer that. On one hand, she wouldn't mind the help, but on the other..

Looking around at the half-packed suitcases sitting on the floor near the couch, and thinking back to ones that had been on her bedroom floor too...]

I haven't even finished packing... There's still so much I've got to do.

[After another brief moment of reconsidering, she gives a firm shake of her head.]

No, you should get back. Gran's probably worried.

It's fine, I already sent him a message earlier. And if you that much, then it might be more difficult with Clover around.

[Just leave, dammit. Though Clover is loving this. Here she was, trying to beg him to stay. Did it work??]

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

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