[He sees that hand, and it would be a lie to say that he doesn't feel some kind of fear in taking it. It's not even Tifa that he's afraid of, but it's the idea of stepping outside this tree. The corgis whining and continuing to try and block him doesn't help either.
Whether or not he belongs here or not, they're afraid of him leaving. And they are as well.
...But he doesn't know why and despite something in the back of his mind is telling him he should stay, he's starting to believe that he really doesn't belong in this place. That the memories that's been painful are his true ones, not the vague fog that continues to cloud his mind and tries to direct him to do something else.
And being someone's puppet is something that incenses him. Even if this place might be "heaven" in the sense he's surrounded by these wonderful floofs, they can't be like this forever. Something happened, and he needs to find out. So despite everything tell him not to, it takes several long seconds before he grits his teeth and steps over the dogs towards Tifa.
Immediately they panic, barking and trying to stop him, but Eustace just gently pushes them away before stopping just short of the threshold. Alarms keep blaring in his mind, the dogs now keeping a distance from him as they whine. He looks at Tifa for a moment before he turns and crouches down to the dogs.]
...I don't know what's going to happen, but I know you know that I don't belong here. [His voice is quiet, calm, soothing. And the dogs whimper and one tries to reach out to him before whining and stepping back, their ears drooping.
He can see it in their eyes. They do know that he shouldn't be here. They're just afraid. Afraid of whatever happened to the man before will happen to him again. Whether it's out of his own safety or actual attachment he doesn't know, but...for their sake...]
I'll be fine, and I'll figure out what happened. Just wait here.
[He reaches out to give an affectionate pat to the nearest one, which only seems to make them more upset. Perhaps this is exactly what happened to the one before him and he feels a pang of guilt. But he then straightens and takes a breath, steeling himself as he turns to Tifa. He's still wary, and perhaps he shouldn't be trusting her.
...But despite the warnings, something else deep inside him is telling him he can. So after looking at her dead in the eye, exchanging a look of wary trust, he takes her hand and steps through the door.]
1/2
Whether or not he belongs here or not, they're afraid of him leaving. And they are as well.
...But he doesn't know why and despite something in the back of his mind is telling him he should stay, he's starting to believe that he really doesn't belong in this place. That the memories that's been painful are his true ones, not the vague fog that continues to cloud his mind and tries to direct him to do something else.
And being someone's puppet is something that incenses him. Even if this place might be "heaven" in the sense he's surrounded by these wonderful floofs, they can't be like this forever. Something happened, and he needs to find out. So despite everything tell him not to, it takes several long seconds before he grits his teeth and steps over the dogs towards Tifa.
Immediately they panic, barking and trying to stop him, but Eustace just gently pushes them away before stopping just short of the threshold. Alarms keep blaring in his mind, the dogs now keeping a distance from him as they whine. He looks at Tifa for a moment before he turns and crouches down to the dogs.]
...I don't know what's going to happen, but I know you know that I don't belong here. [His voice is quiet, calm, soothing. And the dogs whimper and one tries to reach out to him before whining and stepping back, their ears drooping.
He can see it in their eyes. They do know that he shouldn't be here. They're just afraid. Afraid of whatever happened to the man before will happen to him again. Whether it's out of his own safety or actual attachment he doesn't know, but...for their sake...]
I'll be fine, and I'll figure out what happened. Just wait here.
[He reaches out to give an affectionate pat to the nearest one, which only seems to make them more upset. Perhaps this is exactly what happened to the one before him and he feels a pang of guilt. But he then straightens and takes a breath, steeling himself as he turns to Tifa. He's still wary, and perhaps he shouldn't be trusting her.
...But despite the warnings, something else deep inside him is telling him he can. So after looking at her dead in the eye, exchanging a look of wary trust, he takes her hand and steps through the door.]