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

[This is a little amusing, and the little fire sprite lowers its head a little shyly, its earlier bravado diminishing a little.

"Y...yes... I first awakened not that long ago..."]

That explains quite a few things. But why us? Surely you've seen other travelers and adventurers.

[The little sprite looks between them and then at the coin in its hands.

"Because... No one's given me anything before...

And and you two are so cool!!"

Why did it look like it's eyes were shining... And what a strange thing to say when he thought the thing had been terrified of Benedikta earlier.]

[It's Benedikta's turn to preen a little. Yes, she is very cool.

Only now does she pick up on what it's trying to say.]

So, you want to leave with us?

[It yelps in surprise, as if it had just been caught red-handed stealing again. "Y-yes, Windy Lady." Can a fire sprite blush? Because if it could, it would be right now. "That is... if you have a place for me..."]

[A wry grin as he glances at her before idly stroking his chin.]

Well... I suppose it would free some resources. Could find a place on the ship, if not my workshop. Depends if you'd like a crowded or quiet place.

[Why is he looking at her???

The sprite fumbles with its coin again. "Well, I... I want to meet more friends..."]

Human friends, or other fire friends?

[Because Cid sure does have plenty of the former. Bargaining with a fire sprite is weird.

"If they are like you two, then h-human..."]

The ship it is then. Presuming you promise not to burn it down?

[It squeaks. "NO!! Never!! I can control how my flames burn...most of the time..."

He's going to guess that's part of being a child, but that's an interesting little trick regardless.]

You also won't be able to stay for free—you'll have to earn your keep.

[It salutes at him. "Yes, sir! I promise I will be the best fire your ship has ever—oops!" And there goes the coin again.

Benedikta, meanwhile, rolls her eyes, though not without a slight quirk of her lip.]

Looks like you've obtained yet another crewmate, Cidolfus. You'll run out of room soon.

Just means I'll have to get a bigger ship—or a base.

[A wry chuckle. He really does have a habit of picking up strange things—]

But we're not heading back to the ship for a while yet... Can you make it there on your own or can you wait for us to pick you up later?

[The sprite deflates a bit. "O-oh, I can't come with you?"

Benedikta laughs. He really does have a knack for picking up lost little children.]

Why not just take it to your workshop in the meantime? It's closer, after all.

But then I'd have to come back here to pick up everything from the room.

[Hot springs room.

Unless they're coming back—]

[She arches a suggestive brow at Cid.]

I'll decide if you need to when we are finally out of this heat.

[The sprite looks between the two of them as it continues to walk with them, its mouth hanging wide open and its eyes so big that she swears they might pop off if that were possible.

But alright, not in front of the child.]

Do you have a name?

[...Aha. He catches that and just grins a little. All right, they can continue this conversation after he drops off the sprite—

"Um... Name?"

Oh.]

Suppose they might not use those. Something to call you.

[Ah.]

I'm Cid, this is Benedikta.

[Even wider the sprite's eyes grow in absolute awe of them both. "Ooohh, Cid. Benedikta. So I don't have to call you Windy Lady?"

Benedikta huffs with something of a laugh as they duck into one of the tunnels.]

You may if you'd prefer.

[She actually doesn't mind. She kind of likes this new title. Lady Benedikta, Elite Commander, Warden of the Wind, Dominant of Garuda, Windy Lady. She'll have to add that.

But the sprite shakes its head to Cid's question. "No, we don't have any names here... um... Cid?"]

Well, you are going to need something to call it.

Do you have a name in mind or should we name you?

[The little sprite thinks for a bit.

"I don't know...you can do it!"]

Had a feeling that would be the answer... Been naming a lot of things today.

[He looks at the little sprite and then to Benedikta.]

Any ideas?

Me?

[She walks on for a while, the only sound from her coming from the rocks crunching under her boots, and the soft hum in thought. She goes over the names that she does know, but nothing comes to mind that would suit the little sprite. Or maybe she's thinking too narrow.

So, she throws herself all the way back to the earlier days.]

What about... a name from a book?

[She glances at Cid, then down at the sprite, who gaaaaaaasps eagerly.]

A book?

[...Hmmm. If it's a book then he's certainly read quite a few, especially for Mid. Something for a little flame sprite...]

I remember a book I read to Mid once—a fairy tale about a little wizard that went on different adventures with his friends and learning how to grow stronger. His name was Vivi if I recall.

[There's a little lurch in her chest, something pulling at certain threads of her heart, because that had been the exact book that Benedikta had been thinking of. Funny, that...

And that he had read it to Mid... She casts a sideways glance at him again, fleeting, but long enough to try to read his expression.]

I know of that book. That was the first I had learned to read. But yes, the wizard's name was Vivi.

["You both know how to reeeeaaaaaaaad!?"]

[...Oh.

There's a slight look of surprise as he looks at Benedikta, the sprite forgotten for a moment.]

It was?

[In fairness for Cid, that was a while back and before he had paid particular attention to her. But now he wonders if he subconsciously remembered it because—]

...It was one of the first books I read to her...

It was.

[She doesn't hold it against him. She didn't think he would remember it, and she's honestly surprised that she did. Well, maybe not so surprised... it was the first book that she had learned, and it was over ten years ago for them. She'd rushed to him to tell him that she'd finished it all on her own, but whether he recalled the actual book or not...

Maybe it was a subconscious thing. Who is to say? But she won't linger on it for long lest his mind wanders too far back to that place she's been fighting to keep it away from.

Benedikta takes a step closer to him, careful not to step on the sprite, and bumps her shoulder with his, fingertips brushing against the back of his hand, but she keeps her eyes forward.]

What do you think of Vivi, then?

[His mind does wander a little... But her bump of the shoulder and her touch pull him back, and when he looks at her he is reminded of the night before and smiles a little, his hand swiveling so that his fingertips can meet hers instead.]

I think it would be fitting for our little sprite adventure. What say you?

[The sprite had been watching them wiiiide-eeeeyyyed before it jumps at being addressed.

"M-Me? Vivi?"

It repeats it a few time before it smiles and hops.

"Yeah, I like it!!!"]

Then that settles it. Welcome to the crew, Vivi.

[There's a little shrug of relief in Benedikta's shoulders when she feels his fingertips touch hers, and she laces them clumsily and lazily together, a silent show of comfort in one of the only ways she knows how.

But she does back up a little when the sprite—Vivi—begins to jump, trying to be careful not to catch her boots or pants on fire.

"Can you read the book about Vivi to me sometime?!?"

That draws a laugh out of her.]

We would have to find the book first.

Edited 2024-01-27 07:51 (UTC)

[A low hum as he idly squeezes and swings their hands a little.]

I might be able to solve that problem, so you may be in luck.

[Vivi leaps some more, and the flames around his body flares up that it panics and stops before it sets them both on fire.]

There are plenty of other books out there that Cidolfus can read to you in the meantime. I'm sure his little band would have plenty of stories to tell, too.

[Vivi looks at her. "But what about you, Windy—er, Benedikta?"

... And she glances away.]

[...Oh ho. Just a bit of a smirk before he answers.]

She will, too.

I've nothing interesting to tell.

[Nothing that she wants to tell anyway. No memories or stories that she wants to revisit from the life that had been so suddenly pulled out from under her.

Still. She sighs. Ugh, why does she even care?]

Though, I suppose if stories about places outside these tunnels will do, Cidolfus and I have a few we could share together...

["Oh, yes, yes!!!" Vivi looks up at her with excitement. "I want to hear about the water world on the outside."]

Edited 2024-01-27 17:28 (UTC)

[Because Cid is rubbing off on her—(and will again later—)]

Then that settles it. Once we're out of the tunnels we'll take you to the ship and get you settled. Have to drop off this "loot," anyway.

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