The worst part of it all is... no one seems to have any answers. Though the nostilium had been not so different from what she felt the first time, the way it had come about was. After Violet had given herself up to feed Eustace the dreamotion that she had left, and Tifa had tried to give her own, she thought that they were safe. That he would be safe. That, when all was said and done, they would be able to grieve the loss of Violet properly, and help the town restore itself... but now here they are, stuck on this floating island far from the city that he tried to raze to the ground, and she has gone three days without a single answer, and barely a wink of sleep.
Three days without him.
Three days of tears and tears until she cried her eyes dry, and without the comfort and sturdiness of his touch, and the reassurance that they will be okay. That he will be okay. They can say it all they want, and she will hold out hope, but until he wakes up, there will always be that small seed of doubt that she cannot shake off.
There will be questions that are left unanswered.
On the third day is when he finally awakens, and the relief that Tifa feels so palpable. It manifests in starflowers that bloom throughout their room, the warmth that ripples, and the squeeze of her arms tight around his shoulders. She would give him room to breathe soon enough, she just wants to give herself a moment to relish in the joy that she feels—as well as the fear beneath it all—that he has finally woken up. It's been a whirlwind of a week, and for the first time, Tifa finally feels like she can reach out and almost touch that little bit of peace she longs for again. She isn't quite there yet, but it is there. She can see the light at the end.
A little bit of hope.
In his confusion, she explains to him where they are and why they were brought here, and what had happened in the moments leading up to his unconsciousness. With the town still recovering and the risk still high, this was the safest place to hide away. And with their healing springs, it would be no time at all he would be up and at 'em again, as the dragons put it. She wanted so badly to believe them.
After eating some food and cleaning up, the two of them head to the private pool just outside of their room where the hot spring awaits them. She hadn't used them herself—she decided that she would wait—so climbing into it immediately feels soothing against her tired, aching bones and on her skin, the heat doing wonders already to relax her limbs as she takes him by his hand and leads Eustace to a spot where they can sit and relax near the edge.
It's there that she threads their fingers together and lowers her head to rest on his shoulder... At long last.
post-nocstace 2.0 💞
The worst part of it all is... no one seems to have any answers. Though the nostilium had been not so different from what she felt the first time, the way it had come about was. After Violet had given herself up to feed Eustace the dreamotion that she had left, and Tifa had tried to give her own, she thought that they were safe. That he would be safe. That, when all was said and done, they would be able to grieve the loss of Violet properly, and help the town restore itself... but now here they are, stuck on this floating island far from the city that he tried to raze to the ground, and she has gone three days without a single answer, and barely a wink of sleep.
Three days without him.
Three days of tears and tears until she cried her eyes dry, and without the comfort and sturdiness of his touch, and the reassurance that they will be okay. That he will be okay. They can say it all they want, and she will hold out hope, but until he wakes up, there will always be that small seed of doubt that she cannot shake off.
There will be questions that are left unanswered.
On the third day is when he finally awakens, and the relief that Tifa feels so palpable. It manifests in starflowers that bloom throughout their room, the warmth that ripples, and the squeeze of her arms tight around his shoulders. She would give him room to breathe soon enough, she just wants to give herself a moment to relish in the joy that she feels—as well as the fear beneath it all—that he has finally woken up. It's been a whirlwind of a week, and for the first time, Tifa finally feels like she can reach out and almost touch that little bit of peace she longs for again. She isn't quite there yet, but it is there. She can see the light at the end.
A little bit of hope.
In his confusion, she explains to him where they are and why they were brought here, and what had happened in the moments leading up to his unconsciousness. With the town still recovering and the risk still high, this was the safest place to hide away. And with their healing springs, it would be no time at all he would be up and at 'em again, as the dragons put it. She wanted so badly to believe them.
After eating some food and cleaning up, the two of them head to the private pool just outside of their room where the hot spring awaits them. She hadn't used them herself—she decided that she would wait—so climbing into it immediately feels soothing against her tired, aching bones and on her skin, the heat doing wonders already to relax her limbs as she takes him by his hand and leads Eustace to a spot where they can sit and relax near the edge.
It's there that she threads their fingers together and lowers her head to rest on his shoulder... At long last.
She draws in a long, deep breath.]
... Finally.