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

[garudas]

Yes.

[She walks past him to lead them down not the next tunnel, but the one after that.]

You had mentioned "the other thing" to it.

[Never mind that it was staring at her that whole time they seemed to be having that little conversation with one another.]

What did you mean by that?

[ramuhs]

Ah.

[Just a light sound as he follows, staring at the back of her head for a bit before flicking his wrist to send out a ribbon of lightning to help illuminate their way.]

Based off what you said, I thought about what I would need it to do—to help find what I most desired.

[garudas]

[That raises a brow at him, lit up by the purple levin that he sends outward in front of them.]

... So it was the relic?

[ramuhs]

[Hmmmmm.]

Yes and no.

[He could leave it at that, buuut—]

The relic is just a means to get there.

[garudas]

[Ah. Now it finally clicks, and Benedikta is thankful for the dimmer lighting when she feels her cheeks grow a little warmer.]

I see.

[He means her. Staying in this world with her. That promise that he echoed last night.

She takes in a slow, deep breath, keeping her eyes forward, not daring to look at him.]

That's why it had taken a keen interest in me, is it?

[ramuhs]

[Aaah, it finally clicked, did it? Even if he can't see her face, he can easily imagine that flush creeping in, and light smile forms.]

Aye.

[Then in a little more teasing, lighthearted tone—]

And perhaps like yours, might be taking after its creator.

[garudas]

I don't know what's gotten into them.

[She quickly says it to correct him, shoulders squared. She is not the one telling them to do that!!!

But she relaxes soon enough, her voice growing quieter again again.]

Well. Let us hope that it's as inspired as you are to find it. We might just get lucky after all.

[ramuhs]

[Cid watches her for a moment before he lengthens his stride so he can be beside her.]

You're not feeling shy now, are you?

[garudas]

What?

[What is he on about!? She turns to look away from him when he comes up next to her.]

What is there to be shy about?

[ramuhs]

[Uh huh.]

You tell me—

[And he's quickly stepping around to try and catch her.]

You're the one avoiding eye contact.

[garudas]

[She stops... and meets his gaze, and as much as she would prefer to do so pointedly, there is some emotion swimming behind it.]

...Your reason for summoning the egi...

[ramuhs]

[And there is a small quirk of a smile when she finally meets his gaze and answers—as he had already guessed as much.]

Did you think it would be something else?

[garudas]

You mentioned the relic.

[Her answer is simple, though she knows now that it is far from that. It's a means to an end, with her being the "end".]

I thought it was a flimsy reason.

[ramuhs]

[A small laugh.]

You mentioned it. I only said it could work.

[A grin as he steps closer to her, his voice lowering just a touch.]

But I think you understand what I really mean now, hm?

[garudas]

[Okay, well in her defense, he didn't correct her!

And he'll be close enough now that he can see the lingering flush in her cheeks when she looks at him.]

... I do. [Her voice is quiet, hardly an echo through this narrow, empty tunnel.] You are sure about this?

[ramuhs]

[Another step and he'll be right up in front of her, a hand raising to light brush that slightly flushed cheek.]

I am. More than anything.

[garudas]

[It's quite the heavy promise for him to make... especially with Midadol now gone, sent back through the rifts to their world. Why he doesn't wish to follow her, she doesn't know. Sure, it is a world where Benedikta can no longer follow him to, but wouldn't he rather be with his daughter? Why hold out hope that she will come back when he could simply use the relic to go to her? He explained it all to her, made those promises to her, and yet... she can't quite bring herself to fully accept that his choice is her. She's not brave enough...

That pit of loneliness and doubt starts to open itself wide to her again, ready to swallow her whole, when his hand finds her cheek and starts her free of those thoughts, a small gasp leaving her as if he'd just pressed something cold to her face.

They really should keep moving, not sticking in one place for too long. The tunnels could collapse, or lava could find them, or another one of those fire creatures could come along and snatch her bracelet off her wrist again, but she's locked in.

Locked in and unable to do much else but tilt her head and lean in close, seeking what could very well be a kiss from him, but waiting for him to come the rest of the way. Or to pull her and breach that space.]

Then we've a relic to find...

[ramuhs]

[If only she knew.

If only she knew this was really the only choice he could ever make, dead or alive. Even if he could go back... Things have changed too much. Perhaps if they still hated each other, could no longer get along, or there was no sign of saving them, then he would have no reason to stay. But it's not like that. Things may still be complicated and she still has yet to fully accept him, but they are leaps and miles ahead of where they started.

And if this is the only life where he can have her... Then how can he give it up? All those years wasted, lost.]

It can wait.

[A quiet, soft whisper before he pulls her to him, closing that distance with that sought after kiss.

He will always miss Mid.

If he could have both of them, he would. Have that little family he once dreamed of. And if he were still alive and he could only exist in one world, then it really would have been a tough decision. But those aren't his cards and he can only make do with what he's been given—and this is all he has left.

So once more, Benedikta will become his main, founding reason to change this world.]

[garudas]

[And when he does bring her close, forcing her into that little space left between them, her lips yield to his, and her heart twists with those complicated, messy feelings again. There's that voice in her head that reminds her of all the hundreds of reasons she doesn't deserve this, the claws that rake against her insides that remind her that he doesn't deserve this... but the heart wants what it wants, and right now, it's to kiss him.

... And to find that relic.

To survive. To live.

Because she has no other choice.

Her arms go around his shoulders, dragging him deeper into it, her lips pressing a little more firmly to his. It's all fleeting, but it feels like it goes on forever, time slowing for just a moment before she comes spinning out of it when there's a wave of heat that billows through the tunnel. A reminder of where they are, and she sighs.

Benedikta is slow to pull back, and there is the slightest quirk of her lip as she whispers softly against his.]

... It's a shame your egi still ended up so small.

[A light tease as she leans back far enough that he can see the new gleam in her eye, an effort to mask those more complex emotions underneath.]

[ramuhs]

[He holds her tight, not wanting to quite let her go but knowing he should, especially when there is that wave of heat. So he lets her slip away, his eyes following and carrying that hidden weight that he reins in with a light smile of his own.]

Just give it time, I'm sure it'll grow up to a fine steed. Might even give you a ride later.

[Just a quirk of his brow and a wink as he starts walking forward.]

[garudas]

[She almost doesn't want to let go either, and she silently laments him stepping away, her arms slipping off his shoulders as he does before she follows.]

That, or it will be too proud to.

[Her eyes land on the back of his head before she catches up to walk in step with him.]

You should practice more.

[ramuhs]

Only if you're willing to continue to teach me.

[Not that there is much for her to teach, but excuse for them to be together? Maybe.]

Perhaps I'll feel more motivated.

[garudas]

[Her lip twitches subtly.]

If that's what you want, I suppose I could find ways to motivate you.

[She's going to pick up the pace just a little, so that she's one step ahead of him.]

I must warn you, though. I am not an easy teacher. Not like some I know.

[ramuhs]

And I have been told I am not the easiest student to work with.

[Just a mischievous grin.]

But I don't mind the challenge.

[garudas]

[She doesn't need to see his grin to know that it's there, and she gives a roll of her eyes.]

Oh, I'm well aware. On both counts. I expect your egi to be full sized by the end of the week.