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

[garudas]

Who: Benedikta Harman & Cidolfus Telamon.
Status: Closed.
Where: Cid's workshop, Avaleci.
What: Cid is sad about his daughter being gone and Benedikta is horrible at being comforting. Also adventures later!
Warnings: it's cid and benna 🙂 also ffxvi spoilers, if you can find them.

ice skating, hot springs ♨️
volcano, egis 🔥
the price of freedom 🧵

Comments

[ramuhs]

[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.

[garudas]

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

What are those?

[ramuhs]

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.

[garudas]

[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?

[ramuhs]

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.]

[garudas]

[She chuckles quietly.]

What I wouldn't give to see you try.

[And then, a shake of her head.]

But you will not get me on a pair of those things unless you paid me a good sum. I'd rather just use my wings.

[So that's out of the question.]

[ramuhs]

[A louder chuckle.]

Thought as much. Maybe another time, when we're a bit more "rested."

[A suggestive arch of his brows before he continues.]

Then that just leaves ice skating. Think that might be simple and easy enough for to try. Well, as much s gliding on ice on blades can be.

[garudas]

[Rested... She catches that double-meaning.

And now it's her turn to arch a brow.]

... Is that what it is? I'd have to see it for myself.

[ramuhs]

You've never see ice skating, have you? Granted there weren't really many places where one could.

[And going to lead her down the snowy trail that is said to lead them towards the lake being used a natural rink for ice skating.]

[garudas]

[She follows along, confusion still marking her brow.]

No. There was no such thing in Waloed, and I don't recall ever hearing about it.

[Benedikta cants her head again.]

Then again, I've never seen this much snow, either. Not even in my travels.

[ramuhs]

Not really much in Valisthea outside of the mountains and the Northern Territories, but that was lost to the Blight, including Drake's Eye.

Outer Continents, however, particularly where I was from, had some decent snowfall during the winter.

[garudas]

And have you "ice skated" before?

[She would honestly be very surprised if he has, and she really, really wishes she knew what it was so that she could try to imagine him doing it.]

[ramuhs]

[There's something of a nostalgic flicker in his eyes before he gives a rueful laugh.]

Long, long time ago. Barely remember it, really.

[garudas]

[Well. That's news to her, and she can hardly mask her surprise.]

So, you'll be able to show me the ropes then.

[He's totally a pro, right?]

[ramuhs]

[A snort.]

Don't rely on me too much, love. Like I said, that was so long ago, I doubt I'll be able to do much myself.

[garudas]

[Her grin only grows.]

Well, this I ought to see for myself. Where can we do this?

[Read: where can he do this?]

[ramuhs]

[Oh he sees that and there's a slight roll of his eyes. Cheeky bird—]

Up ahead if we keep following this trail, I believe.

But you're trying it, too.

[garudas]

[The brow that she arches at him is as dubious as that little huff she gives, part laugh, part disbelieving scoff.]

Only if I see you do it first. Then I will decide whether I wish to or not.

[Nice try.

And, as he said, up ahead is the frozen over lake with people—quite a few—gliding over it. She can't quite make out what they're wearing on their feet to make it so, but...]

... They look as though they're moving on the wind.

[It's actually kind of... graceful and elegant...]

[ramuhs]

[A snort and just mutters under his breath before sipping his latte:]

Chicken.

[Yeah he did that.

But he just watches the scene with something like a nostalgic gaze. It really had been a very long time, and he just grins at her as he moves over to the small shack where people can rent skates.]

Still can try it with me.

[There were even railings for some part of the makeshift rink where those who are still trying cling to or where others lean against to just chat and idle around.]

[garudas]

[Excuse you, what—?

Benedikta turns to look at him, mildly offended and irritated, as he wanders over to the shack, allowing her arm slip out from his to let him go. But she doesn't take long to follow after him, feathers clearly ruffled by his name-calling and insinuating that she would be too scared to do it.]

I'm no chicken.

[She is a graceful harpy, thank you very much!!! And before he says anything, because he doesn't have to—]

Fine. Get me a pair of those things and I will show you that I'm not.

[ramuhs]

[Hook, line, and sinker—

There will definitely be a smirk that he hides thanks to his back being towards her.]

Understood.

[And holding back his quiet chuckle as he gets them both their pair of skates and carries them over to a nearby bench so they can put them on.]

Now they are a bit heavier to walk in, so don't rush into it.

[garudas]

[How does he know her so well—

Benedikta plops down beside him, simmering in her proud, defiant fury, as she laces them up rather easily. And when she's finished, she does the exact thing that he tried to warn her about, because she's fine.

Except when she tries to walk in them, it's anything but graceful, and she looks like a baby deer learning to walk for the first time. And when one of the blades tips under her—]

Shit!

[She manages to catch her balance by whirling around and setting her hands on his shoulders.]

[ramuhs]

[He's quick to lace his up as well...mostly because he has a feeling he needs to be by her before she tries something.

Which she does.

Fortunately he was already standing, taking a little bit more of his time to adjust to having to balance on thin blades, but when she grabs onto him—]

Whoa—!

[He totters a bit trying to keep his balance as he grabs onto her waist, one leg sticking back as he tries to keep them both balanced.

And then there is just a bit of a look at her.]

I told you not to rush.

[garudas]

I'm not rushing.

[She grumbles it under her breath, fingers fisting around his coat.]

These are just difficult to walk in.

[ramuhs]

And I warned you about that, too.

[Another pointed look before he chuckles and grins.]

Well, not that I will complain about this much.

[And then a grin as he straightens up to look down at her more properly.]