escordvi | closed ⚡🪶 and forevermore, i'll be chasing the storm we had.

[A low hum of his own, his body naturally tensing against the blade against his neck. But that's just an instinctive reaction as he otherwise continues to be relaxed, eyes closed. It's almost ticklish how she works the razor, and focuses on it a moment before he answers.]

Hmmm, true. Maybe save it for the hot springs and I just take a quick shower here to freshen up first.

Doesn't mean I wouldn't mind the company, no matter how "quick."

[He still manages to make his lascivious jokes and suggestions, though whether he honestly would feel up to anything is a different matter. With her, wouldn't be too difficult to get into it, but... Were he to be more honest, he'd rather something a little more relaxing.

Which can be done better at the hot springs.

Still, there's truth that he still wants her around, her touch and presence really doing wonders to help distract him at least.]

[Her eyes rest on his, something more dubious and hesitant behind that slight quirk of her lip, one corner lifting with a suggestive smile even though she has a feeling he wants otherwise. Still, he never quits with his jokes, does he?]

You can shower on your own.

[An arch of her brow first before she gets back to it, just a few more careful strokes before she's finished.

As much as she'd rather just ignore these tender feelings swirling in the pit of her stomach, find a distraction elsewhere, she knows that he hasn't bounced back fully. There's still a weight to his shoulders and in his eyes that she doesn't think he'll be shaking off anytime soon. And she isn't about to try.]

I will wait outside.

[A quiet hum of a laugh at her response, as if expected, and he waits for her to finish before he finally leans back. But before doing his usual check, he eyes her for a moment, head canted slightly as his hand remain where they are, his body caging her to the sink still.]

You won't run on me, will you?

[Any other day, it would be just a normal tease. Now, it is that, but...maybe a genuine question of what he should expect once he's out.]

[She stares at him, a silence settling in over them, the only sound the echo of the water dripping slowly from the tap. She can hear it in his question, that heaviness, and she is tempted to turn on the faucet just so that she can break this self-imposed tension that pulls at the air.

But she doesn't.

Instead, she sets the razor down on the sink beside her, picks up the towel, and starts to dab it gently on his cheek, never once breaking eye contact with him. If he stares long and deep enough, he might spot the genuine promise within them.]

As I said, don't keep me waiting for long...

[He holds her gaze, and while he can never be too sure when it comes to her...

...He choose to believe what he believes is a genuine sentiment to stay hidden in her otherwise vague words.

So there's the slightest quirk of his lips before he slowly leans back, hand rising to run over his now neatly shaven chin. He'll put on some aftershave to soften the hairs further, but it feels just like it always has, her technique and skill just as good as it was in the past.

As his fingertips brush over the space above his upper lip, his eyes once more meet hers before he's suddenly leaning in—]

I'll try not to.

[—kissing the corner of her mouth with a quiet—]

...Thanks.

[—and then pulling back, his other hand slowly slipping off the edge of the counter as he steps away so she can leave.

His words were to her helping him shave, but...he also means for just being here at all. For checking on him, for persisting, forcing him to get up. So what he's really saying is he'll try not to keep her waiting for him to bounce back for too long. It'll take some time still, the physical and mental toll he put himself through these past few days too much to recover in just a few hours. But he'll get there.]

[The kiss surprises her, her own lips puckering and her eyes widening in response to it, and when he pulls back, she almost chases after him, wanting a proper kiss to make up for the lack of them before. She hadn't thought she wanted any in the first place... until he went and gave her one.

She slips off the counter as soon as he backs away, but rather than leave immediately, she grabs hold of the hand touching his face and very lazily threads her fingers through his, a silent gesture to know that she understood and accepts his thanks.

Gratitude that she isn't sure she wants.]

Mm. Stop that.

[And she'll take what she thinks is rightfully hers, which is a kiss to the corner of his mouth.]

I'll be outside.

[The quiet smile at her hand turns into a laugh when she takes that kiss. And for a moment, it does look as he might pull her back, the grip on her hand tightening. Pull her back and not let her leave at all.

Instead, he compromises and tugs her back just enough so he can kiss her properly on the lips. It's soft, light...maybe even a little tentative, but a kiss all the same.]

[A kiss is a kiss, and it had been what she wanted, strangely enough. She wouldn't seek it on her own, forcing him instead to offer it when he felt he wanted to, so she just takes that single step back and yields, returning it in kind, however soft and brief it is.

And she would seek more, as they are wont to often do, but he really does need to get cleaned up if he wants to get back to any semblance of normalcy. The beard was just the first step.

So, with just a glance and not a word spoken when she pulls back, she slides her hand free from his and leaves him in the bathroom, pulling the door half shut on her way out.

When he comes to join her, he'll find her seated in his chair at his desk, her feet kicked up upon it, a leather-bound journal of his "doodles", as she likes to call them, open on her lap, and a lit cigar held between her lips.]

Edited 2024-01-07 06:29 (UTC)

[He's also tempted to chase, but he knows if either of them do they will never get out of this bathroom. So he just lets her slip away, watching her even after she leaves and closes the door before he finally heaves a sigh and closes it more fully so that he can undress and shower.

And while he won't take long as promised, in the time he is in there he takes some time to reflect on his past actions, of how he really had been letting all this get the better of him without him fully realizing it. Always telling himself that he'd "pick up" tomorrow, and then several tomorrows passed. Really, if Benedikta hadn't come by, he would still be working and barely living properly. He would have recovered on his own eventually, but it was better that she had.

When he finally steps out of the shower and finished with his own facial and hair care, he'll look at her sitting at his desk and watch her for a moment before speaking up.]

Made yourself at home, have you?

[And speaking of "being at home"—since Cid didn't have a change of clothes, he's just standing there at the entranceway with the towel around his waist.]

I did.

[The words come out on a slow drawl as she holds the cigar between her teeth, her feet kicking gently on the desk. The journal slams shut with a gentle thump, and while she is far too comfortable to move she does tilt her head just far enough that she can glance at him...

...

But upon seeing him standing there in nothing but a towel... Well, she's just going to turn more fully, her eyes shamelessly raking over his body as she bites down on the cigar and takes an inhale. Honestly, did he really need the towel?]

Is that a problem?

[No, he doesn't, but he is being courteous.

And he knows hiding something is more tempting than if it's on full display, the way her gaze falls on him not going by unnoticed.]

Not at all. So long as you don't move things around too much.

[He'll slowly straighten, one end of the towel slipping down his hip just a bit as he turns to head to the bedroom to change.]

[Don't think she doesn't notice the way the towel slips, revealing that peek of the carved muscles underneath, and she arches a brow, letting her eyes linger before they follow him out of the room.]

It was already disorganized.

[He'll hear the leather book thump on the desk as she gives it a toss, her shuffling, and then her footsteps coming into the bedroom after him, and while she won't come all the way in, she will treat herself to a show from the door where she leans, cigar now between her fingers, the scent of his soap mixing with it so very appetizing.]

A simple thank you would suffice.

I'd call it a chaotic order.

[A wry comment in return, though she is right. She knows he usually keeps thing more organized than that, and even if he can sometimes get overwhelming in his work with papers everywhere, there was usually still some kind of order to it. Very rare has it ever gotten so haphazard and messy as it was.

Hearing and not surprised she followed him, she will arrive just in time to see that towel fall, his back to her as he rummages through the small dresser next to the bed to pull out some fresh clothes.]

And I thought I already gave you one.

[Granted, that was mostly for the shaving but he did mean it for everything else as well.]

I thought that was just for the razor work.

[No, she knows what it really meant. She's just being her usual greedy, difficult self, and will continue to be as she wanders into the room now that he's rid himself of the towel, and she'll press up behind him as he picks out his clothes, her hand coming around with the cigar to offer it to his lips.]

[He just glances over his shoulder as he feels her approaching, amused as he takes the cigar.]

Do you want more?

[She lets him have it so that her hands can run along his sides, her head leaning in to brush her lips against the back of his shoulder.]

I wouldn't say no to a little more...

[Did he really expect her to just stand idly by?]

[His eyes close brief, a quiet rumble of laughter rippling up his throat at the touch of her hands and lips.]

I think it's more than thanks that you're looking for.

[While it's true he didn't expect her to stand idly, he didn't think she'd come at him like this either. Granted, he's not assuming much, just thinking she's doing the usual light tease.]

[She is. Just a little bit of light teasing because it's always hard to resist. Especially when he'd been so distant before—something that she isn't used to him being. And while she won't push him any further past this, she just enjoys and savours the smell and feel of him.]

If you've more to offer, then... I won't deny it.

[He takes a long draw of the cigar before he releases it into the air in front of him, leaning back against her as he does with his head tipping back so that he can better see her face.]

Tempting. But I have a suspicion if I did we'd never see those hot springs...

[A hand goes down to the one teasing his side.]

...And it may be better over there than this "dingy, wretched little place."

[Said with an amused quirk of his lips.]

[He'll feel her low chuckle brush against his skin, her fingers moving under his to weave them loosely together.]

I suppose... Despite my best efforts, there's no getting rid of the wretched.

[Though, how many times will she find herself here in the near future, she wonders?]

But you do know that the springs are not all private? Unless you can afford a room.

I don't think you really mind that all that much.

[The "wretched" part. But then there's a low, thoughtful hum before he grins.]

Especially when it's going to be the reason why I can afford a room for a night or two.

[Her lips brush against the back of his neck, breath warm and ticklish and feather-light.]

And there will be room for two, yes? Should I collect my things from my apartment?

Edited 2024-01-08 04:54 (UTC)

If you'd like. I already have my things here so wouldn't take me long.

[That does get her to pause, her lips withdrawing from where they were brushing over the nape of his neck, and while he may not see the look on her face as she leans away from his view, he might hear that tentativeness.]

... You're sure about this.

[He does, and while it stings a little, he can't really blame her given how he was earlier. So the fingers still threaded with hers tighten.]

I am.

[He then looks down, averting his own gaze as lets out an exhale.]

Having something of a little "vacation" might do me some good, and your company would only make it better.

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