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

[starshower]

🧙 WHO: Tifa Lockhart & CR
⚔️️ WHAT: Event aftermath threads, checking up on friends, adopting a kitten
🕒 WHEN: Dated directly after the event
🗺️ WHERE: The Inn, Aerith's house
⚠️ WARNINGS: N/A

Comments

[starshower]

[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.

[flamekthunder]

[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.]

[starshower]

[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.

[flamekthunder]

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??]

[starshower]

[Clover is absolutely loving this. Her tail is tapping gently against Tifa's arm, her eyes wide and black with amusement.]

Eustace.

[Her voice is firmer now. If he doesn't go now, then she's never going to get anything done! And it's only going to make it harder for her to say goodbye. Clover, too.]

We'll be fine. If you stay, is it really going to be better for her in the long run?

[He does have a point, but so does she!]

[flamekthunder]

[...She has a point. And really, what came over him? So he lets out a small sigh.]

...You're right. Then I'll take my leave.

[Sad cries from Clover, "Noooooo!"]

[starshower]

[The sad cries break Tifa's heart, but... this is for the best. She gives Clover a small squeeze, a scratch behind her ears, and that seems to placate her some, her loud cries turning into small, sad mewls as she watches him as Tifa walks him to the door.]

I'll see you later.

[Sometime.]

[flamekthunder]

Later.

[Really, why does it feel so...weird to leave? But he just mentally shakes it off and only gives them both one last glance as he bids his final farewell before walking out the door.

He came over for a reason and he's accomplished it. Now he can just return home and back to his usual life. There's nothing to feel weird about.

And when he does return home, he'll do as promised and send Tifa a simple text saying he's returned home safely so she better keep up her end of the deal in giving Aerith's address. Not that he would...do anything. Given what did happen that morning, maybe a little distance would be better, until he would later ask her to join him for an outing... But that's in the future.]