escordvi | open 🪶 the world owes me a debt, and i've come to collect.

Entry tags:

open 🪶 the world owes me a debt, and i've come to collect.

Who: Benedikta Harman & you.
Status: Open.
Where: All around.
What: Oops, all MANTA stuff. And a not-date with Cid.
Warnings: FFXVI spoilers, foul language, suggestive content. The usual.

🗡️ i. bite-sized blessings

[Apparently, Benedikta's ears are looking quite delectable to one small, pink dragon today. This is why she hates Eltrut—half the time she comes here, no, a majority of the times she comes here, there is always something. A goose, a conning healer who sends her out to do his grocery shopping... Today, it is a small pink dragon that has bitten her ear and tries to do it again. She's attempted to swat it away, walk it off, but no matter how fast she moves, it follows her and nips at her, or finds joy in playing with her hair.

Fool her once, shame on her. Fool her twice—]

You little brat!

[—it's managed to grab at her hair, and it pulls, before swooping away from her grappling hands with a chirp, as if it thinks this is some sort of game!?

Someone please help this woman. Or this dragon. She has yet to hear all about how this thing is meant to be returned to Elah, so if you are looking for said pink dragon, here it is.]

🗡️ ii. a steamy winter heist

[It was the exorbitant prices that drew Benedikta to the job first. The black market was always open, and she was always willing. Call it doing someone else's dirty work, if it put a good sack of coin into her pocket, then who is she to complain? Besides, it's not as if stealing something off a ship in the dead of night was difficult—she's done it dozens of times before.

The fact that it was a special sort of tea was only a bonus, so of course she would pocket some for herself... Maybe a handful. Or maybe a whole crate if she could get away with it.

Now, that is the question, isn't it?]

༄ a. getting to the ship. [Perhaps it is your lucky night and Benedikta is feeling somewhat charitable. Charitable enough that she is willing to use anyone she finds as a decoy while she sneaks in to steal the goods. Of course, she isn't about to say as much, as she stands on the docks and stares out to the merchant ship coming into the shore, its lights blinking against the darkening sky.

She has her pipe between her teeth as she almost always does before a job like this, letting the smoke swirl on her tongue before letting it billow outward.]

So, that there is the ship? [She scoffs.] She is certainly impressive.

[As large as a rich, black-market-selling merchant's ship should be. Which is why she's agreed to a "two-person" job.]

༄ b. caught red-handed. [Or, maybe she wasn't feeling so charitable.

As if being caught matters all that much to her. She's in the middle of making off with a whole crate—and the last one, too; people have been busy—of these tea bags (there must be hundreds of them in here) when she hears footsteps coming. She hardly flinches, if at all, and stands there with it tucked haphazardly under her arm while she stares the other person down with a smile before she tosses her head back.

Yep. You saw right. A whole box.]

Sorry. As they say, the early bird and all. A shame you came all this way only to come out empty-handed, but try again another night.

[There may have been a threat underlining her voice somewhere.]

🗡️ iii. poke 'n prance

[Well, at the very least, being paired up with Benedikta for a challenge like this cannot get any better... or worse than this, depending on who you ask. Having a history of torturing others means that she knows exactly where to put the sword and how much pain it will inflict. After all, when fishing for information, it is best to poke and prod it out of someone, and you can't very well gain much from a dead person, now can you?

Which is why she walks up with her own sword in her hand with all the confidence and arrogance of a pretty peacock, her fingers caressing the sharp edge of her blade, from hilt all the way to its jagged tip.]

Now, pay close attention to where I stick you because we can only do this once. Perhaps twice, if you can withstand it.

[She smiles, so sweet and saccharine and sarcastic.]

So, consider this a valuable lesson.

🗡️ iv. coins of the crescent

[Well. What she thought would be a nice, peaceful ride out to this island to fetch some coins turned out to be... well, everything but. It had been fine for the most part, but as the island came into view through the fog, things had started to tip and tip and tip until everything went fucking tits up.

Not only did the crew start to howl and turn rabid, much like those stupid wolves she can hear in the distance, but so did the captain, and now the ship is wayward on the seas at the behest of the waves. Fortunately, she can use the winds to guide them true, but it will take a little more concentration than what she can afford as she drives her sword into the shoulder of one infected crew that lunges at her with what could only be thought of as a kitten's claws.

Don't worry, that won't kill him, but it will send him reeling to the ground wailing in pain, and she kicks him in the gut to quiet him.

Whoever might be standing near her, she will shout at them with no shortage of rage in her voice as she gives her sword a brandish, the blood spraying from her blade.]

Might anyone spare a moment to take care of them while I attempt to not crash this fucking ship!?

[Must she do everything!?]

🗡️ v. untitled goose bounty 2

[Well, this is certainly not what she was expecting to see when she arrived on Eltrut, or tried to. She'd heard sounds from above across the ship's deck first—the worried shouts of the crew and riftfarers alike. Benedikta had been enjoying the peaceful ride in her cabin aboard the Stormbringer, and had half a mind to ignore the noise and go right back to sleep...

...

Until she hears something else.

The loud, low, rumbling sound of a... honk?

Something visceral shatters through Benedikta's whole body then, forcing her to sit up when the flashbacks of those eight-headed geese attacked her not even a month ago. She rushes to her feet and then out the door, shoving people out of her way as she storms up to the deck where she beholds—]

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

[—an eight-headed(?) goose large enough that it could peck out Eltrut's eye.

Much, much larger than she recalls it being.

And she is pulled out of her reverie only by the sounds of magitech cannons being blasted off.]

I see it's come back for another taste.

🗡️ vi. wildcard

[None of these prompts work for you? Want to do something that isn't from the MANTA board? Feel free to hit up my plotting comment, or via plurk @

crystariums! I'm also around on the game discord, and PM works, too! Also open to texts/bottled messages!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Now is that any way to greet a friend?

[ Actually, he happened to be here by chance. Of course he's also heard about the whole stealing from a ship thing. Naturally, G'raha isn't interested. Now he would be all right with going out and fetching some artifacts or the like, but actual theft?

...Okay that's not quite accurate. It would entirely depend on the circumstances. Would he take a book from a library that he needed? Of course. A spell or an item if it meant that he could use it for the greater good. ]

Now what have we been up to, hmm?

[Benedikta barks with a laugh the moment he steps out of the shadows and into view, the recognition instant. Ah, what a shame it had to be you, G'raha. She actually kind of likes you.]

Taking this tea.

[She's not even going to try hiding the fact. It is exactly what it looks like, and she doesn't care.]

I've heard it's been selling well on the black markets.

I can see that.

[ A pity, indeed. G'raha actually kind of likes Benedikta too. She has been fun to talk to and, despite the teasing, helpful. At least to him. He has a feeling that she might be a terror to her enemies. ]

Are you doings so due to lack of funds or simply for the thrill?

Neither.

[At least she's still being honest with him?

As she reaches into the crate and pulls out a single packet of the tea, with a bit of a swagger, she wanders up to him blocking the door, and holds it out should he want to take it.]

I am at no lack of funds, but I'd be a fool to say no to more gold. [A shrug.] And I was bored.

I can fully understand what the power of boredom might compel someone to do.

[ Since he has walked down that road many times himself. But! ]

Though I find myself truly torn here.

[He doesn't want the packet of tea? Alright, she'll stuff this one into the bulging satchel around her leg with all the others.]

Torn on what? Whether you want to take some tea for yourself, or turn me in? Tough choice.

Something like that, yes.

[ G'raha doesn't really want to steal, is what it is. There's a shake of his head and a small grin. ]

I enjoy your company, after all. Thus the debate on whether or not I wish to gain your ire.

Then you already know the answer.

[She raises her hands innocently first before she's rummaging through her satchel and pulling out a single packet of the tea.]

Since I, too, enjoy your company, I would be willing to share.

[She thrusts it into his hand.]

Do you have a need for a tea like this?

Share?

[ At first he doesn't really know what she means by that. Then some of that tee ends up in his hands. G'raha frowns at it, head tilting.]

What do you mean "like this?"

[ Someone didn't read what it was for. ]

[...?

Oh, someone definitely did not read what sort of tea this is. Benedikta stares at him as she comes to realize it, and her lips curve into a dangerous grin.]

You haven't heard? This tea is meant to enhance one's... [Benedikta leans forward, bringing herself close to his ears.] ... intimate sessions.

[ That grin tells him so, so much. G'raha is pretty sure that Benedikta is about to have some fun at his expense. He braces himself for it...

But not for what she says:

Intimate sessions. What does she -

Oh. Oh!. G'raha's ears lay flat and a blush overcomes his face. ]

W-why would I have a need for th-that!?

[And there it is. Still too easy.]

Why not?

[Her eyes flit down to the tea that she'd passed onto him as she stands upright.]

Is there really no one who's caught your eye in this entire place?

[ Miss Harman why are you like this? Why do you enjoy teasing this cat man so relentlessly. G'raha can barely pull himself together in these instances and it is entirely her fault! ]

I-I wouldn't say that no one has caught my eye...

[ Caught a bit more than that, really. ]

[She'll happily take the blame for it any day.]

Oh? So... someone has...

[He should have known this next question was coming as she casually reaches back and grabs another handful of tea packets, their wrappers crinkling as she rustles them between her fingers—]

Who?

[ He's completely distracted now. So he wouldn't be able to tell her off for theft anyway. Now understand, he's not ashamed. Anything but, really. Yet... yet. It's a little embarrassing for it puts him on the spot. ]

I daresay it is more that I caught their attention and the, ah. Attraction, I suppose, became mutual.

Ah, I see.

[Benedikta seems distracted for a moment as she looks around the crate until, ah, here we go. She grabs the lid of the crate, slaps it on, and hops up to sit on top of it. It's not very comfortable, but she makes do.]

And who is this person whose attention you've garnered?

I-I might ask you the same!

[ Look at her... Sitting there acting all smug. Entertained. Instead of the cat and the canary - it is the canary that has the cat! ]

Don't think I failed to notice that you were searching for someone upon the dance floor.

[Aw, bless G'raha's soul. Does he think this is a gotcha moment? Maybe back then, a couple months ago yes, or maybe if this were anyone else on the Enterprise's crew, but she's willing to be at least a little open with him...]

I asked you first.

[... but not without calling him out on his deflection.]

[ Augh. That’s not a refusal to answer. Rather that is a ‘nice try.’ He wonders if she really will tell him after he does. Again, Raha isn’t ashamed. There’s no reason for that. This whole conversation has him flustered. He has at least 124+ish years on him. Yet he feels like a kitten… ]

A Paladin… We met by chance one eve and then he was undercover during that whole dress affair. After you and I parted, he teased me before asking me out on a date.

[It's not a refusal to answer, no...

Pleased with herself, Benedikta kicks her feet and preens a little, slipping the packet in and out between her fingers. This is quite possibly the worst place that they could be having this conversation—Paladins could come busting through the door at any moment to try and arrest or fight them, but she isn't going to let this one slip away.

Besides.

She is genuinely curious.]

A Paladin? At the dress affair...

[The tea packet comes to tap at her chin thoughtfully.]

What does he look like? Handsome, I presume?

[ Well if any Paladins do find them, G'raha will be certain to get them both out. His spells should be able to work on them both. He's horribly distracted as is, ears twitching. Tail a little puffed up from the nervous, almost shy energy. ]

Quite so, yes. He has a rather playful smile and bright eyes.

[ With the way his face goes a bit redder? Wellllllllll. G'raha seems to really be thinking about something. ]

[Even in the dim lighting, it's not hard to tell how red his face is. Even if it were, his ears and his tail would still be a dead giveaway.]

Well? Does this mysterious man have a name?

Of course he has a name.

[ Grinning. She didn't ask what the name was! ]

However, I think it is time for you to share a few details yourself.

[Oh, you sneaky cat, you... She will get a name out of you yet.

For now, she sits back on a hand, the other still toying with the tea between her fingers, and she kicks one leg over the other, getting just a bit more comfortable.]

What do you want to know?

[She can't promise she will give all the details, though. Things are Complicated, and she is much more secretive than meets the eye.]

[ Keep on trying, dear sweet Bene. Even though things might be complicated, does that really matter to G'raha? Not really, no. Just the fact that she DOES have someone too is interesting. He hadn't thought that she would be honest about it. ]

What sort of person are they? For starters, of course.

ii - bish?

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