seventh shot ⊗ open october log

[flamekthunder]

🧙 WHO: Eustace and anyone
⚔️️ WHAT: various quests
🕒 WHEN: throughout October
🗺️ WHERE: various
⚠️ WARNINGS: none except depictions of death for headless horseman task and any potential violence that might happen in the combat oriented prompts

⊗ a: task - pumpkin mayhem

[It's only by chance that Eustace narrowly dodges a pumpkin that just whizzes by his head, frowning as he stares at the flying gourd. At first he thought someone recklessly threw it, but then he sees it actually stop in mid-air and fling itself back towards him. Realizing it's moving on its own, he once again rolls out of the way, unholstering his gun as he does before quickly aiming and firing a bolt of lightning. It's a perfect shot, hitting it squarely in the center to cause it to explode into smaller pieces and fall to the ground below.]

...Was it cursed?

[Somehow he wouldn't be surprised if so, but hearing some shouts as more pumpkins roll and fly about disrupts his thoughts and he heads over to try and help take care of them. He doesn't necessarily want to shoot them given the mess they can make, but he sometimes doesn't have much of a choice. So hopefully no one gets too much pumpkin splatter on them.

BONUS: When not dealing with the pumpkins, if he is managed to get dragged into a patch he may be persuaded to decorate one (though he'll be wary and suspicious if he's learned that the pumpkins might come to life from there). But if he does decorate one, it'll be dog themed.]

⊗ b: task - don't lose your head

[Hearing about the Headless Horseman prompts Eustace to head back, a trip made easier thanks to having received the Celliwig totem earlier. Since it's difficult to track its movements, Eustace takes an area to help cover.

1. Helping...Paw? Although he could just stick to a perch and be ready to snipe, it leaves a bad taste in his mouth when he could also be helping. So when someone else is on guard, he drops down to do what he can, be it just clearing out rubble and debris or transporting the dead. That includes turning into a dog and try to help sniff out or dig out any remains. It's not the most pleasant work and it would be better if there weren't any, but he's fairly immune to the sad, grisly aspect of it.

2. Fighting the Horseman. When the Horseman does arrive, should he be at his perch he'll instantly fire a few shots of lightning down at it in attempts to deal damage as well as stun it, but he can't be too sure if his lightning will have that kind of effect. Regardless, he'll provide cover fire for anyone fighting on the ground.]

⊗ c: tdm - not quite puppy parade

[It's probably not too surprising to find Eustace making a small stop to look at the adoption fair. And as an animal mage, he figures he could help out if needed.

For now, he just looks over the pens with a curious eye when one he spots one of those hamsters toddling about. It doesn't take long for him to catch up to it and pick it up. But then there's another. ...And another one.

...

At some point, Eustace has an armful of hamsters including a few that managed to climb up on top of his head and shoulders.]

...Those wings won't save you if you fall, you know.

[Just a small sigh as he carefully makes his way through the crowd to try and bring them back. Anyone want to help???]

⊗ d: wildcard

[He'll also be hunting the forests to help bring in extra meat and other resources, so could have some run ins there! Considered the Forest of Fachan prompt line but might be better as dedicated with one or two people. Can do the other quests, and it's likely he might end up getting involved in the Suns out, Guns out task in the sense of trying to intervene any unnecessary violence, so that's another option. If interested in anything else not included here, just hit me up on laenavesse or discord and we can work something out!]

Comments

[starshower]

[Impulse and instinct have taken complete hold of the reins, leading her to what feels right while this wave of new sensations washes over her. It drives her closer, guiding her tongue over his, allowing her to explore and take in his taste, smell—him. All of him. That tightly wound coil of heat in the pit of her stomach stirs and unwinds, bursting in a tingling, fiery wave that spreads through her entire body that's almost agonizing, and with it comes a small, soft whine that passes over her lips and onto his, twisting her fingers into his hair and powers her forward into him, their closeness not enough to sate that appetite.

It's one that's been a long time coming, building up since that first flutter of affection. It's something she pushed down over and over again, ignoring it and hoping that it was nothing more than a stirring in the moment, and that it would go away. It would, but then it would return to grip and torment her, greater and fiercer than the last, and that cycle continued until it could finally break, the two of them crushing it with each torrid clash of their mouths.

Her gentle hands find their way down his neck, scooping up his hair for a moment before continuing downward where they slide beneath his cloak, her touch growing more starved when they glide across the plane of lean muscle over his exposed back, and it's only then, as her hands wander lower, lower, that something snaps inside her, wrenching her from her rapture and pulling her back to the world they're in. The cave, the crackling fire, the tide of rain coming down outside...

She pulls away, her lips red and her breaths hot and tattered. Heavy, half-lidded eyes gaze up into his, and there's something else there now. Mixed with all the intensity and passion and craving for more, there's fear and uncertainty, and embarrassment, and she withdraws, only slightly, but far enough that she can no longer feel his heartbeat against her own.

What had gotten into her just now? Moments ago, he held her while she turned into a crying mess, overtaken by her anger and misery, and next thing, she felt his skin burning under her hands.

She'd taken it too far, hadn't she?

If she hadn't stopped herself now, how much further would it have gone...]

God, I'm... sorry...

[Her gaze suddenly drops. She can barely stand to look him in the eye now, even after all that.]

[flamekthunder]

[He had been trying to keep his focus on just their mouths, taking in and savoring her taste; catching the hidden messages shared between their increasingly heated and fervent acts. He never would have imagined himself falling into this kind of indulgence, but he is and unrealized desires and wants continue to grow at a pace he can barely control. But the more she seeks of him, the more those restraints fall away, allowing him to start exploring more of her as well.

They're just natural touches, fingers sliding further through her hair and against the back of her head, descending down to her neck to feel the heat of her pulse. The arm around her waist also shifts and moves, the hold on her once more constraining so that she couldn't pull away now craving to feel more of her body. Yet there is a bit of slowness on his part as well, wanting to rush in yet not scare her as despite it all, there is still awareness that this is all new for the both of them. And really he doesn't mind taking his time. But feeling her hands on his back sends an odd, electric thrill down his spine, making him push more against her as his hands slide up while hers go down...

And then she pulls back.

At first he just thinks she's trying to catch her breath, but when he sees her expression and hears that apology...

...

Rough, heated breaths break the heavy silence as Eustace stares at her, his gaze darkening a fraction. He can understand a little—this is a crazy situation they're in and if he were think of this rationally, they're rushing into something they have no idea how it will turn out. He can see she's uncertain, but of what? Of what they're doing? What they're feeling? Does she think he doesn't like this or that he'll somehow feel offended or insulted later?

Always pulling away whenever he's trying to get closer to her...]

Don't.

[The word comes out a little harsher than intended, but his voice also carries an uncharacteristic roughness. He then wraps his arm firmly around her waist and cradles her head before pushing her down onto the moss covered ground, his face now looming directly above hers. His usually calm, pale blue eyes are now glistening from not only the light of the fire, but also the heat that's been starting to burn with him.]

Try to run from me again... [His mouth lightly brushes against her lips before his teeth graze against them for a sharp nip, his voice low like a growl.] And I really won't let you go.

[He doesn't give her a chance to respond before he takes her mouth into an aggressive, rougher kiss compared to before, his tongue already pushing in to find and entangle with hers. And when they pull apart, his mouth will move to the corner of her jaw, kissing it first before trailing down her neck, teeth lightly grazing and pulling at her skin as he goes. Not strong enough to be painful or leave any lasting marks, but enough to tease that sensitive skin.

However, although he's leaning over her, he's not lying directly on top of her. And while his hands run over her sides and arms, he's not trapping her. If she really didn't want any of this, she could push him off and he would stop. But right now he's making his intentions clear—he wants her. Wants everything from her.

Now, would he really want it all right this second? ...Not necessarily. But at the very least he doesn't want her to think this is something wrong, something to apologize for. They're both consenting adults, in his opinion it's only natural.]

[starshower]

[Protest as she might, the moment Eustace's hands command her to the ground, Tifa follows, hair fanning out like a splash of night in the greenish glow. Swollen lips open to object, but he captures them before she can so much as get a single breath out, and her body falls to his mercy again, back scraping against the mossy floor as it arches up against him. That low, rough timbre of his voice sends vibrations shooting up her spine and she shivers, and her arms wrap around his back to anchor him to her.

The message is received loud and clear and yet, there's still that tiny voice ringing in the back of her mind that tries to scream that it's too much, too fast. That she has to push him away, to run... but with every breath of air he shares with her, the further it gets chased away. She's spiraling, and there's nothing she can do—No. When he frees her lips, Tifa gently turns her head so that she can finally get a word in.]

But this is...

[Her voice fades into a soft gasp when she feels those gentle nips on her neck, and the intense heat that ripples from where he teases, spreading through her. Her head rolling back is automatic, like her brain has shut off to everything else but the press of him on her, and her body is calling all the shots, granting him easier access for him to continue to take as he pleases. She would be lying if she said she didn't want this too—every time she tries to protest, her words turn into sharp breaths and quiet whines.

Somehow, she manages to drag herself out of it again after Gaia knows how long, but this time, she won't go far. She can't. This time, she lets her hands wander up so that they can clasp the sides of his face, forcing him to look at her.]

We shouldn't...

[Not here... in a mossy cave in the middle of nowhere.

But her own voice is edged with an intense ache that makes it crack, but she holds strong against his startingly blue eyes, using up whatever restraint she has that he hasn't already melted away under his touch. Even if she never imagined things would go this way, ever, this still isn't how she wants it to go.

And if this is how things are going to be, then he deserves better than this.]

[flamekthunder]

[He can feel her still struggling, yet hearing her strained voice, those small gasps and whines—feeling the heat from her stimulated skin, her pulse racing. It makes his hands roam, to slide up to feel her bare sides and midriff and slip beneath her top before backing down, tempting as it is. Even if his blood is boiling from want, he has at least some sense to know that rushing even faster than this would be too much. But it's difficult—ever inch his fingertips touch he wants to feel more, just like he wants to feel her hands on him.

His mouth had reached her collarbone by the time she pulls him up, and he doesn't resist. Instead he just stares down at her silently, taking in her flushed face and swollen lips, already wanting to take them again. Slowly he lowers, closing the distance between a little before he smirks a little.]

Shouldn't...do what? What were you expecting?

[Is he teasing her? Granted, he really shouldn't be one to talk since it's certainly crossed his mind, but as if trying to pull her out of that panic he just lightly kisses her.]

It might be part of my ancestral blood, but I'm not that much of a beast.

[starshower]

[That heat and confidence have ebbed, replaced now with her usual demure tendencies. Her eyes dart away from his, and if it's possible for her face to grow any redder, then it does. What had she been expecting? If they'd kept going, if she'd let his hand go any further beneath the band of her shirt, there was only one way this could have ended? Or was she wrong for thinking that?

But then she catches the smirk, and then his lips when he brushes them over hers, and she finally understands...

He's teasing her.

She spiraled again.

Tifa breathes a shy laugh onto his skin.]

Wouldn't have guessed.

[Her thumbs trace small, fond lines over his jaw before they drop, arms moving to cross over her front, a guarded, embarrassed look on her face as she swallows past the lump in her throat.]

I just think... we should get some sleep, yeah? It'll be a long way back to the city.

[Way to kill the mood, she realizes. She doesn't want to... She doesn't want that feeling to go away completely. She doesn't want him to go away... So, she reaches a hand out to wrap her fingers around his wrist in case he thinks he needs to move.

Her voice comes out rough still, not quite having caught her breath.]

Stay.

[flamekthunder]

[It tempers the heat a fair bit, but in fairness it might have been necessary. It's clear his own restraints were quickly loosening and regardless of initial intents, the more Eustace felt and heard from her, the more that instinctual, carnal desire began to take over. He's a little surprised about his own actions and how strongly he felt, but rather than be alarmed he just accepts it as yet another change he's going through as he continues to open himself up and allow himself to grow closer to people. And in Tifa's case, it just proves how deeply he can still feel for someone. To actually want something—someone—to this extent. He's still aware of the larger issues, particularly the temporary nature of this world, but... For now he wants to be selfish.

So he just smiles a little, finding her "guarded" gesture and her little plea cute.]

...When you do and say things like that, it makes it harder for me to hold back.

[He reaches back and pulls off his cloak before he rolls onto his side so he can be beside her, spreading the fabric over them like a blanket before he pulls her close to him in a tight hug. His cloak is quite large so that it will cover them just enough when spread out like this and will help contain the warmth shared between them.]

[starshower]

[His warmth is almost too inviting when she lets herself be pulled, rolling and shuffling so that she's as close as she can possibly be. It's hard to fight that desire to fall back into it again, especially when he brings his cloak over them to capture the heat, so she fends it off with another feather-light brush of her lips on his collarbone before nuzzling her head against it and tucking herself into him.

She can hear his heartbeat from here, thundering along with her own. He'll be able to feel the tension still in her body, even as her legs slowly tangle with his, and the still quickened breaths as she tries to force herself to relax. They have a long day ahead of them in the morning—she said so herself—and yet, she's the one who can't seem to shake it all off, even when he seems to do so with such ease.

Maybe next time, he won't have to hold back, but she's thankful that he could now. With it all settling, it's all starting to hit her that whatever that was, it was... nice, but terrifying at the same time. Those feelings she'd felt—no, the ones she feels still, mean something. She was scared, but safe at the same time. That instinct to bring him closer, to not leave a single part of him untouched, was more than just some carnal appetite that needed to be filled. It was a need to show him just how much he'd grown to mean to her.

And the lengths to which that has gone is too much for her to understand right now, so maybe it's best that she allows herself this closeness for now, while she tries to tune out those words Aerith had said. She can sleep on it and think more about it tomorrow when she isn't wrapped in his arms.

Against his chest, her murmurs are small.]

Stop teasing me.

[flamekthunder]

[...Tifa you're torturing him, here. Feeling her lips against his collarbone makes him stiffen, a pulse of heat that trickles down from the spot to his lower abdomen. Aside from the slight quickening of his heart, she might not notice since the most movement he makes is just tightening his arms around her, but it really is a bit of a battle to not do more than that. He's also self-reprimanding because really, what has gotten into him? From not caring at all to being unable to control himself... He's better than this, dammit.

So after releasing a small, calming breath, he returns his focus on how she's willingly staying with him. He can tell there's still something that's uncertain, maybe scared of, and he can imagine general things—but he doesn't know what she's really thinking and that will be something he might need to try and talk with her. Really, there are a lot of things they'll have to discuss, but he's content to just postpone it for later.

Settling into a new sense of peace and comfort he never imagined he'd ever have, a light smile forms when he hears her words and he chuckles a little.]

You seemed to like it.

[Not that kind of teasing and he knows it. Instead he's, of course, teasing her a little more, his arms readjusting to be a little more comfortable as he lightly nuzzles the top of her head.]

[starshower]

[There's a tiny, weak nudge against his shoulder when Tifa brings up a fist to punch him for that, if one can even call it that. It's more a gentle, teasing bump back before she's burying her face further into his chest to hide it.

He's falling into this much easier than she is, funnily enough, and much to her surprise. When they'd met, he seemed hesitant to sit with her at all, let alone talk, and she'd pegged him as the silent, alone type. She'd been right, but this is a whole other side to Eustace that she never thought she'd see. This soft, careful side that protects her, and keeps her warm.

Knowing that, it makes her feel... special, again.

She likes this side of him. Granted, Tifa likes all sides of him, but this is different. This is for her.

Smiling to herself, she lets her eyes flutter shut.

... ]

Be quiet, and go to sleep.

[flamekthunder]

[There's a low, breathy sound from his throat that could taken as a laugh as he closes his eyes.]

Night, Tifa.

[To think they would be sleeping together again like this... This time without the awkward distancing, the uncertainty of where they stand. Neither of them trying to avoid the other...well, at least to a lesser degree. And this time when he wakes up with her in his arms, he won't be trying to fling himself off to hide what had been his true feelings all along. There are still a few things that linger in the back of his mind, but it's also a bit of a relief to not have to try and wrestle and hide away from it anymore.

Plus this just feels good, almost natural.

So with a small, contented sigh, he settles...and won't sleep right away because he wants to listen to her fall asleep first while also wanting to keep watch for a bit.]

[starshower]

[It will still take Tifa a while to fall asleep, but at least she has his larger frame to hide herself in. There's a lot to think about and a lot on her mind, and all of it keeps her awake for much longer than she hoped.

The things that ran through her head while she walked in silence through the fog, that tiny, tired puppy cradled safe in her arms. It had all been about how he'd risked himself to get them out of trouble, and how she, without realizing it, had placed her implicit, unwavering trust in him not just tonight, but long before. That was harder to pinpoint, but she wonders if it had been that time after the restaurant, when she'd asked him to stay with her, at least until she fell asleep. She hadn't been afraid, but she was shaken up, and she felt safer knowing that he would be there.

Like he always has been. Why, though?

She still wonders that, even now, as she lays between his arms.

There's a small sob that lodges in her throat, and she bites it back when she thinks about everything else that had made her emotions boil over and brought her to tears. Cloud... How much it hurt when she thought about him, and how much she missed him. How badly she just wanted to return back to her own world just so she could be by his side again. Beside the Cloud that she knew, not the one that this world knew. Her Cloud, or as close as it could get. Wherever he was here, she hoped that he was doing okay. He always did need someone to watch over him, and she can only pray that he's found that.

No matter where he is, or where she is, Tifa would always have a place in her heart for him... But there'd been someone else who had made himself at home there, too. Eustace was the one who wiped those tears from Cloud away, and who had surged her tired body and mind to life again with the mere touch of a finger.

It's difficult to place what it is about him that she feels so drawn to, but then again, is she just chasing something that needs or has no explanation? With Cloud, it had always been the same thing. Any time she asked herself why, the only answer she could come up with was "just because", but Eustace isn't Cloud. Maybe that's why she's searching so hard when she really shouldn't be? Is it really as simple as just because again?

Everything. The answer is everything. She should know that.

And then there's that next wave of guilt. The one that has haunted her from the start that this is all just some scheme her emotions are toying with to fill that void. Tifa could always stand on her own, but her life had been a hard and lonely one getting to where she is now that the idea of companionship in any form is a welcome one for her, and that's not what she wants this to be. Besides being filled with doubt that this was really the best thing for either of them, she wanted to be sure that it was more than just that, and the more that she listens to his breathing, the more sure she's becoming.

But it will take some time still.

That guilt may never go away, but she can at least get to the point where she can snatch that little bit of happiness out of the sky for herself. Just this once...?

Just this once, Tifa finally relaxes, the flood of weariness finally settling into her muscles and bones, starting from her shoulders right down to her feet. After a long time, she's fallen asleep, her quick breaths turned steady, and the arm she had draped over him unraveling and curling up at her chest.

And despite the rocky ground and the cold rain outside, it'll be one of the best nights of sleep she'll have had in a long, long time...]

[flamekthunder]

[It's impossible for him to not notice her taking a while to sleep, and he can only imagine the kinds of thoughts running through her mind. A lot has happened...more for her than for him. He hasn't forgotten her breakdown earlier or the cause of it, and when she finally relaxes and begins to sleep her slowly moves his hand to lightly circle around her back. Of course he can't pretend to know everything she's thinking about, and he has his own thoughts to think over as well.

His main concern being not wanting her to experience that sense of loss again but knowing it will happen one day. It would be better if she could return to her world before him...he'd hate it, but he's more or less prepared for it. Not just for her, but anyone here. But at least for now...she seems to find comfort in him, and he's found some kind of peace and comfort with her. Despite how much he had tried to avoid it, he's starting to think that maybe it's not such a bad idea to just take what they can after all.

Especially now that he's had a taste of it...he's not sure if he can let it go so easily. How surprisingly possessive he is...but he's always been quite the loyal one when it came to people he cares about and trusts.

But it will depend on what Tifa wants to do, and all he can do is just continue to be there—and chase after her whenever she tries to run.

Eventually he'll fall asleep, the sound of her breathing and her warmth a soothing lullaby. It's a restful one, similar to the last time he slept with her in his arms, but perhaps because he's still attuned to the fact that they're outdoors, the first sounds of birds chirping outside wakes him. The fire had long gone out, and while there's a brisk chill in the air, it doesn't feel too cold. His cloak and their shared body heat had done its job.

This time Eustace recognizes the smaller body still in his arms, her scent filling his nose before he slowly opens his eyes to stare down at her. She's still asleep and it is rather early, so he doesn't want to wake her. Instead he just lies there in silence, content in just watching her and thinking about how this kind of sight really isn't such a bad thing. Is this how it was for her back at her apartment when she woke first? Or had she been more surprised?

...Come to think of it, she didn't push him back at the time, did she? He had woken up by her voice, but she could have easily screamed and shoved him away instead—and be completely justified in doing so. He had been too distracted by his own conflicted at the time that he didn't notice, but...had she already been feeling this way towards him? Or had she just been considerate? Well, it doesn't matter much now. Should they continue this relationship, they'll have plenty more moments like these.

Unable to resist, he lightly brushes his lips against the top of her head, a hand gently stroking her back and arm in part to help keep her warm as well as sating that bit of craving to touch her. Had he really fallen that easily into this...? Shouldn't he be more wary?

Maybe, but...for now, it just feels right to him, so he'll just accept it as is and help her with her own problems.]

[starshower]

[Tifa isn't a heavy sleeper by any means, so it's the light brush on her forehead, along with the sound of birds outside, that stirs her.

The night before had felt like nothing more than a dream. She had been convinced that it was in the moment she tries to blink her sleepy eyes open, and that she would wake up in her bed confused about it, wondering why in the world her mind would dare go to a place like that, but... then she feels his hand on her back, and her face nuzzling against his neck, and she realizes...

None of it was a dream. It really did happen.

In spite of that sudden early-morning epiphany and surprise, she doesn't shoot up or push him away. Her eyes finally blink open, and she moves herself just enough that she can peer up at him to catch him looking down at her, and it makes her breath catch in her throat. Him, being the first thing that she sees when she wakes up... Why is it twisting her stomach in knots?

She can't bring herself to move much further, and simply lays her head back down on his shoulder, a shy smile appearing before it disappears behind the hairs that fall over her face. Her body curls, hiding herself from him.]

... Morning.

[flamekthunder]

[...Ah.

It had just been a simple glance up at him followed by a shy morning greeting. And yet somehow it made his heart flip flop in a strange way he's never felt before. It makes him stare down at her blankly before he has to quickly look away, feeling a small heat rise up the back of his neck as he resists the urge to do more than just tighten his arms around her.]

...Morning.

[There's his own quiet, somewhat embarrassed mutter of his own as he tries to calm the unusual pounding feeling, the image of her peering up at him fixed in his mind. He can't explain it, it just...it was if he had been struck by a lightning bolt of emotions mixed with exhilaration, joy, and contentment. A warm, bubbly feeling that makes him feel so not himself that it actually frightens him a bit. It's just a simple thing and yet it had such a profound impact he's not sure what to do with himself.

But in the end...he likes this feeling and thinks he could get used to it. A small spark of light in his once monotonous days. Things had become more colorful recently, but only now has it felt strangely vibrant.

To think everything was still calm and quiet before she woke up and now suddenly it's as if one look had thrown it all into disarray. This is something he should hate, and yet he can't. He couldn't have become this smitten with her, could he!? No, it's just because this is a new feeling and it's a good feeling, that's all—]

...Were you able to sleep well?

[He's just going to avoid his weird emotional growth and swing things to her instead.]

[starshower]

[She can hear it in the way he mumbles quietly into the top of her head, and the way his heartbeat quickens in her ears, and the urge to stretch up and kiss his embarrassment away hits her in a single blow, but her own heart skipping beats and her stomach doing flips is what stops her. Instead, she buries her face in his chest for a moment, her arms snaking around him and pulling him in tighter, closer.]

Yeah...

[Best sleep she's had in a long time, since coming to Camelot, if she's being honest, and her voice carries that in its soft pitch. He kept her surprisingly warm for the night, and she can't recall ever stirring once since she dozed off, whenever that had been. Although it took her a while, but she figures he knows that. She noticed he hadn't fallen asleep so quickly, either.

Raising her head finally, there's a smile that spreads across her face, her eyes still heavy with sleep and her cheeks still flushed with colour. There's something astute about the way she looks at him, and her head tilts so that it rests more on his chest.]

Something wrong?

[It's less concerned and a little more with a tease, and her hand slides out from between them to tap him on the chin.

He looks really cute right now, she can't help it. And this may be a small payback for last night...]

[flamekthunder]

[He scowls a bit at her gesture, knowing full well she's noticed his own bit of embarrassment and is teasing him. But he's not really annoyed. He just turns his head away slightly as if to trying to play it off.]

Nothing.

[There's a beat and then—]

Just thinking how cute you look in the morning.

[Returning the favor. It's one thing to think it, but how will she handle having it actually heard from his own voice?




Though he's still a little embarrassed. If his ears were a human's, the tips likely would be a little red.]

[starshower]

[Tifa's eyes go wide, and just when she thought her face couldn't get any hotter, it finds a way. Self-conscious, her fingers snap up to comb them through her hair, setting straight (or trying and failing) any stray hairs that might have been disturbed overnight.

Is he trying to tango with her?

Well, whatever he's trying to do, he succeeded in returning the favour. Shy giggles bubble up in her and she pitches forward in her movements, wanting to bury her face into his chest again... But instead, she uses it as an excuse to readjust herself so that she's almost—almost—on top of him, with her elbows propped up on either side of his face.

...

There's a brief moment when their eyes meet that makes her breath catch in her throat, but she must resist... because...

She grabs the corners of his ears and runs her fingers over them in gentle, feathery pets.]

So are you.

[She's teasing him, yes, but she means it, if the way her gaze flicks from his ears, to his eyes, then to his lips is any indication... Or how her motions slow almost to a crawl as the tension in her stomach starts to rise again...]

[flamekthunder]

[Petting his ears...finding one of his weak points. He briefly closes his eyes at the pleasant touch, always finding it so soothing and wanting more of it before he reopens them to stare up at her.

He catches those signs...and he's doing similar, his eyes unable to just stay on hers and instead wanders. He had been resisting, but...hell, do they really have to? Is there a point?

His own drifts up to lightly touch her cheek, brushing back her hair to tuck it behind her ear before he fully cups her face to pull her closer down to him, his lips brushing against hers.]

Doesn't really suit me...better on you.

[And without letting her pull away, he kisses her, slowly with a hint of tenderness.]

[starshower]

[He captures her mid-breath, the air catching in her throat instead where it transforms into a small noise of surprise, but that surprise melts away quick enough, her body relaxing when she's brought down to him before she can even think of a comeback. Their lips meeting again for what feels like the first time again sends sparks through her, igniting every one of her senses and doing wonders in shaking off the sleep.

Her body moves on its own, shifting so that she's over him where she has more control, her hair draping over their faces, tickling his ears and neck. Her leg slides up his, up, up, up...

Until it stops at his hips, and Tifa only just barely lifts her lips from his, her eyes fluttering open to stare down at him.

...

.......

........... ]

Oh, I'm... sorry.

[It was so unexpected, and so sudden when she... Ah. She's already moving off of him, her face so hot and her heart thundering so fast that it feels like she might burst.]

[flamekthunder]

[His hands are already sliding over her shoulders and down her back, ready to pull her closer down to him. Should they be trying to get up and head home? Maybe. Does he really want to right now? Not really.

His about to push in his tongue between her lips when he feels her leg against him.

...

He can't really be surprised at her reaction, at this point he's coming to half-expect her to shy away from him as they continue to experience new parts of themselves through this. He could be kind and let her go...but as has been proven so far, letting her go is not much of an option anymore.

So he lets her move off just enough before he's rolling over, his hands lightly gripping her shoulders to push her onto her back.]

...It's not something to be sorry for—even if it is your fault.

[Just a light smirk.]

[starshower]

[Her head is just a jumbled mess that she hardly recognizes that he's pushing her back, and next thing, she feels the plushy moss and the coarse rock scraping against her skin. She's tried to avoid eye contact with him up until now, but from here, it's hard to get away from. Now with how he crowds her like this, or how his reddened lips pull into that playful smirk.

The last twelve hours have been a constant push and pull battle between her body and her mind, where her mind wants to be rational, wants to shut this down so that they can focus on saving their energy and finding their way back through the rocky terrain to Camelot, but her body wants something else entirely. It wants to shut that rational part of her off and give in to instinct and allow her hands and lips and everything else to do the talking for her.

It's hard to keep it all straight when he says things like that. Tifa had evaded the eyes of men for many years, becoming practiced in the art of modest dodging when customers would come in, regular or not, just to see her. She could tell, when their eyes would roam or they would pause their drinks as she passed, but she never thought twice about any of them.

But for some reason, she wants Eustace to notice her. She wants his eyes on her, and every last bit of his attention drawn and glued to her, and only her, and the fact that it is? Teasing or embarrassing or whatever this is, it was something she hadn't realized how badly she wanted until now. Knowing that she, Tifa Lockhart, had provoked something carnal in him...

She knows he's teasing her for her embarrassment, and her face is still flushed a red that could put the scarlet hues of her eyes to shame, but she leans up slowly to close that rift between them to press kiss him again, teasing back with a playful nip on his lower lip.

Her heart thunders in her chest again as her arms coil around the back of his head so he can lift her to him if he chooses, and it drowns out the sounds around them.

The birds that chirped so loud were nothing more than a distant, muffled song. The leaves rustling, the leftover dew from the downpour the night before dripping slowly from somewhere outside, all of it turns to dust in her ears. The sound of a dolphin's chirp and the galloping of a horse's feet and the barks of a wolf coming from the cave's entrance—wait...]

What?

[She doesn't realize she's said it out loud, purred against the corner of his lips. Her face twists with pain at having to move away, and confusion about what she'd just heard and why it was so familiar... She rolls her head back to look behind her to the source...

And then.....


CRASH!!!!

The rocks and branches and whatever else he'd set aside there is destroyed in a single blast, and from the other side bursts Tifa's dolphin familiar, spinning and flipping through the air as she calls back to Eria and their horse.]

[flamekthunder]

[Really, he didn't intend to actually go through with anything beyond kissing and teasing her again regardless of how he's truly feeling. There were a few things they needed to consider and probably talk about first. However, even if their thoughts say otherwise, it's clear their bodies are more honest in their wants. That little nip is like a spark igniting those hidden desires again, an invitation for him to come closer that he readily reeives. There's no hesitation when he answers, pulling her up as he resumes the kiss from before, slow and deliberate, savoring. His hands travel down to her back and sides, firmly pressing against her skin before starting to slide up beneath her to...

....

........................................

It's impossible for him to not have heard a few sounds, but he had been too focused on Tifa to really process or care about it. None of it had been threatening anyway. But clearly his assessment had been wrong when there's that crash and he looks up at the same time Tifa does to stare at the three creatures waltzing merrily into the cave. When Eria comes into view, the smug look on her face as if she knew all along they were in here like this....

......

.......................................

Sexual frustration is a foreign thing for Eustace, but he's starting to realize it's occurring a lot more frequently and he's not liking it. Knowing Tifa will try to bolt out of embarrassment, Eustace just clicks his tongue and sits back to allow her up.]

Your familiar I take it.

[Referring to the dolphin.]

[starshower]

[The dolphin just stares at the two of them as the others enter after her, the look on her face as innocent as ever, not realizing what she'd just crashed in on as Tifa slowly sits up, her hands still gripping Eustace's shoulders for stability and her eyes screwing shut to blink out the last of the tiredness that lingered. Her entire body feels like it's melted, and it'll take her a moment to finally sit up properly on her own, her hands not wanting to let go of him just yet...]

Yeah... [She offers at last, sheepish.] Not exactly how I wanted your first meeting to go.

[The dolphin chirps and darts over to them, swimming through the air and stopping to slap Eustace on the back with her tail. It's meant to be playful, but she doesn't realize her own strength at times. Tifa has to shoo her away, and she makes a noise before flitting over to Eria's side. The horse, meanwhile, is staring at Eustace, as if trying to communicate with him, and if he understands, it's trying to say it's sorry for last night, whinnying gently as it taps its hooves against the ground.]

... Looks like the whole gang's here.

[Geeze, how much did they see? She wasn't even expecting to see any of them at all. At least not until they got back to Camelot.

Rising to her feet, the cloak falls from around her hips, and she brushes herself off.]

Guess that'll make it easier to get home.

[flamekthunder]

[The tail smack is indeed a bit of a surprise as a small grunt escapes him from the force. Is that a threat, dolphin??? Okay, no, but it doesn't exactly endear him to it at the moment. The horse, too.... Well, he can't really get too mad at it running off, it only did what its instincts told it. Plus, if it hadn't, he and Tifa wouldn't have had gotten stuck in a cave and had their bit of heart to heart.

...Yeah, he could give the horse an extra carrot later. Good job abandoning them. However it would have been better if it could have waited longer, so only one extra carrot.]

I suppose we should commend them in finding us, though it's a bit cheating using our familiars.

[Not stopping Tifa this time when she stands, he gathers his cloak and looks at their little camp as he stands. He had gathered that extra wood and they ended up not using it... Well, it still led to various circumstances, so worked out in the end. Gathering his things, he kicks away the now completely extinguished campfire and goes to the horse. AS he does Eria will be sauntering over to Tifa with knowing eyes and a wolfish grin. She only gives the woman a light boop with her nose against Tifa's leg before moving to Eustace's side, her mark of approval complete.]

[starshower]

[She sees that look, Eria... and it isn't helping the situation any. Tifa falters a little at the bump of her nose, an arm hugging around herself in a self-conscious move, and she wanders away to her familiar, giving her a small, approving shake of her fin before she does flips in the air, thrilled to be with her again.

Tifa shrugs.]

I didn't call her.

[So, where did they come from, and how did they know to look for them? Was it because neither of them returned home at the end of the night like they were expected to? Or did they sense that something was off, and knew where to, and led the horse here to help? It does feel like cheating a little, but she'll take it if it means getting back to Camelot faster and sooner.

Tifa then moves to the horse, her familiar following close behind.

They're... going to have to get on its back... together, aren't they...? The thought crosses her mind, as well as flickers across her expression.]

Well...?

[Shall they?]