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

[garudas]

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!]

Comments

[garudas]

[She exhales softly when that lightning tingles her skin, her nerves lighting up and all the more sensitive to his touch now, but she never breaks her eyes away from his.]

I might be willing to work with those arrangements.

[With a widening grin, she brings her other hand up between them for a handshake.]

So long as the compensation is on my terms.

[ramuhs]

[There's a look of amusement as he looks at her and her hand.]

Sounds reasonable...however I would like to have an idea on what those "terms" might look like.

[Half serious, half teasing.]

[garudas]

[...

Benedikta's eyes move slowly down to their hands, and so very slowly, she finally turns it again so that she can wrap his fingers around his.]

Why not cross that bridge when we get there?

[Though the way her foot brushes all the way up his leg might be indication enough of what she has in mind.]

—but always half the gold from any jobs we might agree on.

[ramuhs]

Half?

[A mock sign of disbelief, as if he would actually protest.]

And what would you be needing all that gold for, hm?

[As he leans in closer, his other hand will be slipping under the table to catch her foot, fingertips brushing over the skin as they slide up.]

[garudas]

[Red lips part with a breathy laugh when she feels his hand on her leg, and she stretches it out for him, her heel digging gently into his thigh where it now rests on his lap.]

We all have to make a living somehow, don't we?

[Does it matter what she does with it? Maybe buys herself a nicer place. Renovates her apartment. Gets herself some nice clothes? She hasn't decided yet. And she'll just casually pluck another bite of lettuce and pop it into her mouth.]

If I'm going to be doing all of your dirty work, then I deserve that much. I go in and finish the job, you stake the claim, and we both walk out with our pockets heavy with gold.

[ramuhs]

[A low laugh as he keeps his touch light, pushing up the hem of her dress a bit.]

I suppose that's fair. Then I see no reason to object. Shall we seal the deal, then?

[And now there's a flick of levin over her skin that will run up her calf to her thigh...and stop short of her hips.]

[garudas]

[And it takes every bit of self-control not to let her eyes or her chest flutter at the feel of that tingling heat on her thigh, but she does press her leg further into his lap, her toes almost curling in her shoes.]

Very well.

[...

She'll set down her fork and offer him her hand again with a smirk.]

[ramuhs]

[His smile deepens a bit as he feels that press, knowing she's trying to keep that facade. And when she offers her hand...

He'll look at her and then smirk a little in return before he takes it. However, he only lightly grabs her fingertips and turns her hand so that he can gently pull it closer to his mouth as he leans in.]

Deal.

[And with his eyes never leaving hers, he brushes his lips over her knuckles for a firm kiss.]

[garudas]

[She should have seen that coming, but there's no hiding the surprise that widens her eyes a touch when, rather than shake her hand like a normal business partner would and should, he brushes his lips over it with a kiss.

... As if they were ever going to be normal business partners.

And Benedikta opens her mouth when there's a light tapping on the doors before one creaks open slightly with the tentative voice of their waiter coming from the other side.

"Your desserts, sir. Madam."]

[ramuhs]

[He'll just stare at her for a moment before there's a light, playful little grin, a firmer press of his fingertips that slide down her calf, and then a wink before he pulls back.]

Bring it in.

[The waiter is still hesitant because at first glance it looked like they were just talking from his angle from the door, but... Seeing the hands held, how much closer they appeared—it's only thanks to the tablecloth being floor length that he doesn't see more.

But the poor boy will quickly walk in to clear out their plates and set down the tiramisu between them, offering a hasty, "Enjoy," before retreating.]

[garudas]

[She doesn't move her leg away even as the waiter wanders in, nor does she cast him a single glance as he quickly sets the desserts down, clearly embarrassed that he's "interrupted" their little "business meeting". She actually laughs when he makes his retreat and hears the small sound from him before the door shuts.

Poor guy... she would think, if she were anyone else.

But she stares down at the dessert, one hand slipping out from Cid's while the other remains perfectly still in place, curled around his.]

So, this is the famous "tisamiru" I have heard people talking about.

[Wrong.]

[ramuhs]

Tiramisu.

[A playful grin as he squeezes her fingertips before he reaches for the spoon in his other hand.]

Haven't tried it myself, either, but I've heard it's a favorite—and a specialty here.

[garudas]

Then it had better be good.

[She pokes at it first, her brows shooting up, impressed at the creamy top, and how fluffy the cake in the middle is.]

And it supposedly tastes like coffee?

[It certainly smells strongly of coffee now that it's been sitting in front of her, and she's grown to like the smell of it after that first morning she'd tried it.]

[ramuhs]

I think so.

[And he'll look at her for a moment before he grins, twirling the spoon in his hand once before taking a small scoop of it and holds it out to her.]

Only fitting if you take the first bite.

[garudas]

Me?

[She eyes that spoon as if it might be the strangest thing she's ever seen, only because she wasn't expecting him to be that bold. Of course, he's been doing all sorts of very daring things tonight, but this would be the first time he's tried that.

...

There's a stretch where it looks like she might not be sure what to do, or like she's upset by this turn of events...

....

Before she wraps a hand around his arm to keep it in place as she leans in and takes the first bite, letting her lips slide over the spoon and the cake while not once breaking eye contact with him. But the moment it hits her tongue, Benedikta snaps back, eyes widening at the strong flavour of coffee that she's suddenly hit with.]

It's—

[She feels a bit silly about it, so after a sharp inhale through her nose, she corrects herself.]

... It's fine.

[No, it's delicious.]

[ramuhs]

[Honestly, he thought she would refuse or just take the spoon herself. So when she actually holds his arm in place and leans into actually eat from it, his eyes widen in some surprise.

...Before it changes to just watching her—specifically, her lips. But whatever thoughts he could be having are tossed away by her sudden reaction.

And then a laugh.]

Just fine? Well, I can't have you eating something that's not to your tastes.

[A playful smirk as he starts to take a larger spoonful, as if to eat it all himself.]

[garudas]

[And she slides the cake away from him.]

I said that it was fine, not that I hated it.

[She drags his hand back over to her, and this time, she'll take the spoon from him and eat that large spoonful for herself.

All while her delight has nowhere else to go but into the reddening of her cheeks.]

[ramuhs]

[He can't help but laugh quietly as he watches her clearly enjoying that dessert so much, his hand, now free of the spoon, falling to the table.]

And do you plan on sharing?

[garudas]

[Well, now she has his spoon and hers, so...]

If you want some, you will have to be quicker on the draw next time.

[She scoops another bite of the cake, and this time, she offers the spoon to him, twisted so that it's handle first and he gets no funny ideas with it!!!]

I am only offering this to you once.

[ramuhs]

[No fun—but he just grins and takes the spoon with a nod.]

I'll be sure to treasure this rare memory.

[Another teasing grin before he tries the dessert—


And have a similar reaction, though he's more open and doesn't try to hide it.]

Wow, you really tried hard to not say how good this was.

[garudas]

[He should already know by now that she wasn't planning on making this easy for him, and that includes the spoon as well as her verdict on the dessert.

But she's already digging in for herself again from the other end of the cake.]

I tried no such thing. ... It's just... nice.

[Not too sweet. Extra fluffy.

Aaaannnd nom.]

Though, I would not be opposed to trying more of their desserts. [She breaks her eyes away from him and stares out to the distant skies.] ... Another time.

[ramuhs]

[Hmmm. He catches that meaning, and for a moment there's a slightly brighter shine and quirk of his lips before he dips his spoon on the other side of the tiramisu.]

I'll keep that in mind—though I may have to come up with another alias.

[garudas]

Oh?

[Benedikta leans in just a little closer, as if he might have a secret to tell her.]

Are we expecting that something will happen to the Donnelley's after the night is over?

[ramuhs]

[An amused grin as he leans in a little closer.]

Let's just say... We may be returning from a vacation. For an anniversary. Assuming nothing happens out at sea.

[So if she's wondering why this particular balcony had some extra flowers and embellishments—yeah he stole their dinner.]

[garudas]

[She wasn't wondering about the flowers and fancy embellishments before, but she had been curious to who these fancy, rich people were. She's pieced it all together now, and she sits all the way back with a laugh, her foot twirling with amusement on his lap where it still rests.]

And I suspect you aren't looking for anything to happen out at sea?