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

[He was ready, but not that ready, so he hastily moves on his own skates to try and keep them balance as he grabs her, sending them in a spin.

BUT THEY DO NOT FALL, somehow. Miracle.]

A bit too much of a push.

[She tries not to look too sheepish or embarrassed as they spin, but she can't even mask it with ire because he's managed to save them from the worst of it when he grabs her. She catches him right back, holding onto him tight until they come to a stop.]

Less next time, then.

[She grumbles it under her breath, averting her eyes to the crowds of people skating along the ice, and that's when she sees them—another couple who are clearly struggling with the same thing, but whatever they are doing, it appears to be working?

Benedikta looks at him, then at their hands... before she takes his other one, too, and waddles on her skates so that they are now facing each other.]

Let us try this.

[Nope. She's not looking right at him.]

[Still cute. But he's a little confused as he didn't see whoever it was she saw.]

Wait, what are we trying now?

[How does she explain without it sounding ridiculous...]

If you are in front and pull me along, then less risk of me falling, or charging forward.

[Nope. Still sounds utterly embarrassing.]

[....

Wait. That means he has to try and skate backwards—

Rather than point that out, he's just going to look at Benedikta, see how she's still very clearly embarrassed yet still making this proposal...

It's hard for him not grin a bit more, his hand tightening around hers.]

All right, let's give it a go. Take it nice and slow like, eh?

I am going slow.

[She'll find just about anything to object about!!!

But she leans in his direction, using both of his hands for support, and gives a gentler push this time. Nope. Too gentle. She barely moved an inch. Trying again, a little stronger. She glides forward towards him, wobbling on her one skate and forgetting to put her other foot down, and almost trips and falls right into him before she remembers. Don't worry, she catches herself in time...]

[He just stifles his laugh through his smile and slight shine in his eyes as he watches her taking those little steps, and even when she wobbles—]

That's it, just feel it out, you got it.

[—he continues to encourage her while slowly skating backwards to help pull her along.]

[The thing about Benedikta is not only has she always been a quick learner, but her stubborness and pride and an annoying need to prove herself is what keeps her persevering. Even when she trips and then grumbles and swears, she rights herself and tries again. Maybe if he hadn't called her bluff earlier, she would have given this up; thrown her skates at him and said enough was enough, but no...

Just like with reading, with a sword, and with her wings, she wants to show him and herself that she can.

So, after several more failures and reattempts, she finally manages to get herself gliding forward properly for the first time. She's still rather stiff about it, but it's better than looking like a duckling, as he so kindly pointed out.]

I think I did it...

[Said with a bit of disbelief, and pride.]

[It was certainly a lot of trial and error, and he was always quick to grab her when she faltered (while also trying to keep his own balance so they don't crash onto the floor) while also giving her words and praises of encouragement. And it all reminds him of those old times, of his own sense of pride when he sees her improve bit by bit, always knowing that she would be able to pull through. She can be stubborn and persistent which can be annoying, but when put to things like this, she can really shine through.

So when she does manage—]

Knew you could.

[He just smiles warmly, his own pride and confidence in her clear in his eyes.]

Now just keep going.

[Just teasing a little bit as he continues to slowly skate back away from her, as if encouraging her to try and catch up to him.]

[Honestly, it reminds her so much of those days long ago, too. Namely, the ones when he would encourage her to use her wings, even when he did not know how to use them himself. Much like he is doing now, he would make her chase him, encouraging her to fly just a little further each time, with him at the end of it. He would be her goal and funny how that worked, the idea of flying into his arms at the time enough to push her forward, and to drag the wind beneath her wings so that she could.

And while this is different—while she has the confidence and far more stubbornness than she had in her teen years, it doesn't feel all that much different.

In the end...

He's still the one at the end of her path.

She shakes the distracting thoughts away and pushes forward, crashing gently into and arms wrapping around him.]

[He can't exactly skate that far or well backwards so it really isn't too difficult to catch him. At the same time, he doesn't want to make it hard, either. But having her chase after him makes him smile all the same, an amused, cheerful smile that comes to a laugh when she crashes into him, the momentum enough to make them spin a little on the ice as his arms wrap around him.]

I think you've got the hang of it now.

[A low, warm voice as looks down at the top of her head fondly, recalling all those far off memories of when she used to fly to him just like this.]

[She gives herself a moment... pretending to use this time to regain her balance when really, she just simply wants to bury herself in his chest just like she used to do. To admire his scent and to memorize it, as if this were the very first time she has done it. And to take in some of that warmth that he has to give.

It's silly, and she hopes that he doesn't catch on... or maybe he does when she feels him looking down at her the way he had done so many times before...

Eventually, she lifts her head to look up at him.]

And what of you?

Think I'm doing all right.

[A light grin before he suddenly leans in steals a quick kiss on her lips.]

And that is your reward for a job well done.

[Cheeky wink.]

[Her eyes go wide when he offers her that peck on the lips, and she almost chases him, the warmth of his nose against her colder, redder one far too tempting. But instead, she just grins, one corner of her lip pulling up.]

Are we ready to do this properly, I wonder?

I think we're ready to give it a go.

[A smirk as he slides his arms from around her waist to now grab her hand.]

Side by side?

Mm. That is the way all the others are doing it.

[With a hum, she takes his hand and holds it tight—maybe a little too tight, but she wants to be sure that she doesn't fall.

She starts to move, but pauses.]

Just don't move too fast.

[A light chuckle as he gives her hand a gentle squeeze before moving alongside her.]

Don't you worry, I'm in no rush, either. Think we could do with something a little more relaxed.

[She's still stiff in her movements, still not moving quite as fluidly, but they inch along slow and steady, gliding gently along the edges near the railings in case she ends up needing to grab them. She doesn't want to if she can help it, so she's careful.

As she grumbles under her breath.]

...That was supposed to be the hot springs.

I'm sure by the time we're through here, they should have resolved their little drake problem.

[Benedikta just gives the littlest of huffs, and it turns into a foggy puff of air when it leaves her.]

Stonhyrr never did get this cold, did it? I'm not used to this.

No, it never did. And can't say I'm that much used to it, either.

[A light grin.]

All the more reason for us to keep close, eh?

[She doesn't have anything cheeky to say in response, mostly because she's still embarrassed about how she's moving, and also... because yes, she is cold, and it is a reason to keep closer than normal, as she tucks herself closer against his side.]

The sea cold is different. I much prefer it to... this.

[She pauses, brow furrowed in concentration as they make a slight turn on the ice.]

And the outer continents... I presume they got colder if you have done this before...

Aye, they did, with the mountains. But only during the winter seasons.

Still, was a bit tough since we had to use our own skills and ingenuity.

[As opposed to the ease and convenience of aether. Does explain how he knows how to create systems without the use of aether and Bearers.]

Ah...

[She gives a playfully dramatic sigh in understanding.]

I see now. That is where you get your knack from, is it?

[A low chuckle.]

Aye, you could say that. Though it's not as if it was that much better.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject