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

[He's just going to subtly push back when she does her little hip wiggle, knowing full well what she's doing. But at least for now some of that heat has cooled, and he squeezes her fingers as the gondola starts to slow as it makes its approach.]

It wasn't so bad. Could have been hotter.

[She squeezes his fingers in return, subtly, and in silent understanding.]

Well. It certainly was for me.

[There's something of a gleam in her eyes beneath that little furrow of frustration in her brow. While that heat may have cooled, she's still left feeling more frustrated than she was when their heads had bumped each other...

But things are going to get much cooler as the gondola slows to a stop, there are a few clicks, and suddenly—]

What—!?

[The glass that she's been leaning against slides out from behind her—turns out those windows were actually a sliding door that's being opened from the other side.]

[He's starting to smile and chuckle, his expression now much more relaxed and natural compared to when she first found him. But as he begins to wonder if they should turn around to go out the doors they entered, he's surprised when the "window" in front of them starts to slide open.

Quickly he grabs her and pulls her to him before she really does fall over, of course now they're half blocking part of the entrance, so there's going to be a bit of a stumbling around as they are pushed forward and out of the gondola. At least Cid can steer them to the side within a few steps so they aren't completely run over, brows raised as he watches the people pour out.]

Bloody hell... Could at least give a warning next time.

[Nevermind that there probably was but they were too absorbed with each other to notice—]

[There was a warning. The poor girl on the other side who is profusely apologizing after having waved her hands a little at them, but she simply could not wait because the next gondola would be coming right along was their warning. Benedikta, however, is far too busy clinging to Cid when he shuffles them aside to even give her the time of day, grumbling as she hides in his shirt, away from the people who turn to look at them.]

... What does it need two doors for?

[She shifts in his arms before she's pushing back and readjusting herself, straightening her shirt with one hand while the other still holds him by his hand.]

Ridiculous. Let's go.

Edited 2024-01-10 23:37 (UTC)

[At least they managed to get out without being trampled, and now that the initial rush has passed through, it's a bit quieter, if still busy.]

Right, down this way I think.

[That's at least where all the signs were pointing. At least it's straightforward with just a flight of stairs and a crowded lift to the base level, but when the doors are open they will find themselves right in the middle of what looks like a large, indoor shopping center of sorts, with clothing boutiques, sports gear shops, and other stores for visitors to go through.

As they step out, there will be mean clerks and staff (mostly of the bear variety) ushering those who had dressed for the hotter volcanic clime to various different clothing stores, insisting they must dress for the colder temperatures outside. They even offer rentals for those who can't pay full price, and Cid and Benedikta are no exception as they get grouped up with others to go towards a set of shops.

Cid at least has an easy time of it, quickly finding a suitable change of clothes. He's adjusting the thicker gloves and his sleeves as he waits outside a shop for Benedikta to finish.]

[Oh, she hates this. She hates this very, very much. Benedikta never did like bigger clothing, preferring them more form-fitting (unless they were Cid's shirts, but that's neither here nor there), so all of her options she is given at first for these clothes to wear do absolutely nothing for her... except make her recoil in disgust. She makes the shop attendants fetch her this and that, and she hopes that by the end of this, they regret ever making her come here.

Eventually though, they do find something that's more suitable to her tastes. None of this loud nylon or down, but a nice, fitted black wool coat, black leather gloves, and a green scarf. Everything else, she tells them adamantly, will stay.

So, when she comes out, she approaches where she finds him waiting outside.]

They've no sense for fashion at all.

[As if she does... but they have zero sense for her fashion, which was the worst part. Granted, she does think she looks good in this, only because she was the one who picked it out in the end.]

Still managed to pick something nice for you in the end.

[A smile as he greets her as he quickly looks her over. Whereas she's all black with a splash of green, he just kept it simple with a mix of black and dark gray, his jacket made of thicker leather than his usual supple one.]

And better than us freezing, eh?

[She looks him over just the same, and while she doesn't say as much, the way her eyes rake over him and the arch of her brow say plenty for her.]

I suppose it is.

[She adjusts the scarf around her neck, not used to having something tied so close around it.]

I could have handled the cold just fine without all this.

Not so sure about that. With all this snow and how high up we are, likely more than we're used to.

[But he just grin languidly, definitely having noticed her look before he holds out his arm to her.]

But let's see what they have to offer, hm?

[She stares at the offered arm for a moment as she lifts the scarf up to cover her lips... and then maybe her cheeks as she slips her own through it, almost stiffly.]

... What do you have in mind?

Check out the lodge first, I'd say. We've never really been through mountains like this, so might as well see what it's like.

[And since she doesn't want to go to the cabins first, he'll have to figure out some entertainment for them first.]

Maybe get some coffee, help warm our bellies, or get some lunch, perhaps?

[There he goes with the coffee again.

But she rolls her shoulder in a casual shrug.]

Lunch wouldn't hurt.

[There's a pause, and her expression turns a little more serious when she glances at him, knowing full well that they might have to go down this road again soon.]

... Have you eaten?

[He like it okay maybe even more than tea— No that's a lie he still likes a good cup of that, too.

But uh. There might be a pause before he averts his gaze.]

Had some breakfast.

[If one could really call it that—]

[Uh huh. She sees the way he averts his gaze, and her own will dig into him even harder.]

And? What did you have?

[He ate something which is more than nothing!!!

Another stretch of silence before he sighs.]

Half a sandwich and an apple?

[More staring...

...

....

Before she sighs right back. She supposes it is better than nothing, and it is better than what she thought he would say.]

A proper lunch first. I'm sure we could find a suitable cafe to eat at. And you can have your coffee, too.

[What he isn't saying is he only took a few small bites of said sandwich and apple—]

Sounds good to me. You can even pick it out.

[She'd smack him if she knew—

But she is appeased well enough that she gets to pick the place, and after a few passes on some restaurants they walk by, she finally decides on this small, quiet café at the end of this little street of shops. Not a busy place, but not empty either—just enough that she doesn't feel annoyed or overwhelmed by the number of people, and they can sit at a table by the window, unbothered by the buzz of conversation within.

For herself, she gets a croissant sandwich and a "latte", coffee that is supposedly made with frothed milk and a dash of vanilla. It's surprisingly good for something she worried after she made her order that it would be too sweet for her liking, but it's struck a nice balance and "warms her belly", as Cid had put it.

They don't spend too long there, but long enough that the place leaves an impression on her. One that has her thinking she might return here again sometime to try some other items on their menu. Besides that, even sitting across from him proves to be an impossible task when he endlessly does all the things he does that makes her heart skip a beat and then some. An impossible task that leaves her warmer than she has any right to be and thinking of all the unspeakable things she could do to him to make up for that time on the gondola—things she wouldn't dare say aloud in a small, family-friendly café, of all places.

Which is why, after their lunch and their coffees in hand, she is eager now to find that lodge and bring those thoughts of hers to life. Her mind had wandered enough, it was time for other things to wander now, and these giant coats and gloves of theirs are not helping.

She practically drags him to the lodging after that...

...

....

...only to find out that they are full for the time being, and to return later. Just like the hot springs.

And now guess who's back to being the grumpiest bird of all the birds.]

Is there anything at all open around here?

[The better question is... now what?]

[He feels a bit bad deceiving her, but he'd rather not get her bristling over his health again right here. So he follows her, and once they're at the café his true appetite will be show as he finds it returning. Not quite at full force, but he's ordering a bit more than a simple "lunch" would normally be for him. Not to mention how quickly he clears it. So at the very least she will be spared too many glances, and when they do pass, there is sometimes a sheepish look before he cracks his usual jokes or tries to get her to join in some kind of conversation until it inevitably falls into comfortable silence. A silence where they can comfortably enjoy their drinks...and have him silently tease her every so often.

Until they're back out annnnd of course their luck just doesn't seem to be in their favor today. He could tell she was more than ready for a little "break," but alas. Again they are denied.

Which is a bit frustrating admittedly, but seeing her bristled somehow makes him quietly laugh instead as he bring his arm around her shoulders and rub them.]

How about we just walk around? Looks like this place has a lot of recreational sports and activities. Never know, might see something that strikes your fancy.

Not exactly the "activity" that strikes my fancy.

[She's frowning, mumbling under her breath with arms crossed as she falls against his side when he slides his arm around her. While she doesn't hate the cold—she prefers it over the heat—she would rather be inside, in a warm bed, and with him next to her, forgetting all the things that had his expression drooping and the conversations falling away during their lunch.

Just their luck today, it would seem. She would have to find other ways to distract him from them lest he fall back into the same pit he had been in when she found him, in a place where she did not like to see him. It made her uneasy and uncomfortable even just knowing that he could, and so she prefers it this way.

Which is why she will do the very rare thing and ask—]

And what of you? What exactly strikes your fancy?

[He really shouldn't think her cute, but he does. His poor, grumpy bird.]

Honesty that "skiing" thing looked a bit interesting. But I also thought about ice skating.

[She looks at him as if he's just spoken a completely foreign language. He might as well have.]

What are those?

Skiing...

[He glances around and lo, nearby is a slope and when he points with his cup there will be a few people who zoom down with their skis.]

That.

[Benedikta stops, narrowing her eyes as she watches them.]

Sliding on some snow on a pair of rods?

[She glances at him, up and down, a playful quirk pulling at one side of her lips.]

... Do you think you could manage that?

Reckon I could.

[Just a huff of mock indignation.]

Take a few go's, sure, but I think I could manage at least a basic hill.

[Oh he never would imagine himself trying to do anything on a more expert level, but using it as a way to go downhill? That he could see himself doing.

He may be getting older, but he still has some spirit left in him.]

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