He's at least managing to get some gasps of air, but gods this is not how it should be??? He's finally able to grab her sides and make some purchase to just yank his head back with a loud gasp, panting heavily as he coughs and just tries to breathe.
Eria and Melody are just...going to...stare.......]
[The sound that everything makes when he finally frees himself alone is enough to turn Tifa's face the deepest shade of red it's been in a long time, and the fact that he's gasping for air... She can sense the dog's stares, and when she feels like she might die of embarrassment...
...
....
Tifa very nearly pulls Eustace's head back towards her so that he can't see the look on her face, but she manages to resist and instead looks down at him, hands still in his hair.
As for hers, in all of that mess, it seems to have taken on a mind of its own with waves in the front and frizziness in the back, the ponytail falling loose as the hairs try to free themselves as she tries to turn to Melody and Eria.]
[This sly wolf... And here she was trying to save his pride by stifling her own shock (and maybe some giggles) and how much volume his hair had and he's not even trying!? Well, now that the cat's out of the bag and her face is as red as a tomato, Tifa's own eyes gain a new glint, even if she tries to pretend to remain stern about his attitude.]
Yeah? Well...
[And with her hands, she shoves her fingers into his hair and gives it a good ruffle.]
[And there's the Eustace she knows and adores so very much, ad now that she's gotten a little bit of a smile out of him, she can rest a bit easier too, but she keeps her fingers in his hair, nails brushing and scratching gently at the base of his ears while she watches in awe as it all turns into a great big mop.]
You look like Eria does after she has a bath.
[She hears the wolf in question bark quietly in protest at her.]
... Are you sure you don't wanna try a cool bath? Or shower? It's pretty bad.
[As bad as hers? Well, she has no idea but probably not.]
[She catches her lip between her teeth, trying to keep some of her amusement at bay. She doesn't want to wound his pride too much, it seems it has already been battered and bruised plenty today, even before she got back.]
Are you sure you don't need me to carry you there?
[Okay, maybe one last little tease.
Though, it remains to be seen whether she'll be able to get up off the floor.]
[Words that she may or may not eat later. But until then, she's going to comfortably lay on the floor with him in spite of how hot it is or how sweaty they are. They've had "worse" nights.]
[Tifa's eyes close at the weird sensation... Even with the clothes separating them, the skin that does touch... She can't tell if it's more sticky or slippery, but she remains perfectly still as he moves, watching as some of her hair clings to him.]
Okay, but don't push yourself if you can't...
[She's already a little concerned...........
Not because she doesn't trust him, but because she knows how dreamotion can go a little haywire when things are like this.]
["Substance"... As if this isn't just their own sweat reacting to the world around them. Something she didn't know that it could do, and not something she wants to think about ever again after this.]
Do whatever you need to.
[If it means freezing her a little, then so be it. Honestly? She'd welcome it at this point—he is like a walking radiator turned up to maximum in the heat.
Well. She is more "fire" oriented, cough. So he'll just glance at her before clearing his throat.]
I'll try water first. It'll make freezing things easier if it doesn't work out.
[And with some effort, he'll move his hand to lightly touch the sticky floor...ugh. It's like touching honey or molasses... He's starting to wonder if the water would really do much, but maybe if it's cool it'll at least give them some relief and wash some of their sweat off.
So with a bit of concentration, cool water flows out, rushing around them and over the floor.]
[Beneath him, Tifa's whole body shivers from the sudden cold. It's both a relief and a surprise, and while it is easing in the moment that it touches her, it doesn't take long before it, too, grows warmer. It does, however, help to loosen them from the floor...
...
Only not in the way she might have hoped, because as soon as she tries to test by moving her hands—no stick, at least!—they slide right back out from under her and sends her head against the floor.]
[Eustace was about to warn her when he sees her slipping, and he desperate tries to stretch out his hand to catch her head so it doesn't hit, but he only partially makes it.]
[She huffs out with a sheepish laugh, but it turns into a full-on giggle when she looks up at him and sees his hair, and the panicked look on front of his face. She doesn't mean to start laughing, especially given the situation, but the ridiculousness of it all has finally started to sink in as she rests her head back against his hand.
Just give her a moment.]
Sorry... [She catches her breath, her face red not just from the heat and embarrassment, but from the amusement now.] Spoke a little too soon...?
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