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]

I never said we—

[Her objection is snatched away from her when she feels that pull. She's forced into a twirl, tripping over her feet until she goes tumbling into his arms. His lips crush hers so suddenly that she moans into it, confusion and heat all mixed into a single, soft sound. Brief as it is, she senses the passion deep within it, and it's over before she can fully savour the—

Gaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssppppp!!!

Vivi's loud, echoing gasp interrupts that thought, and with her fingers still clutching his leathers for balance, she turns her gaze to the sprite, who has now floated closer, his wide yes sparkling as they appear over his small form.]

Not in front of him, Cidolfus.

[There's a brief spark that flashes in her gaze when she shoots him a look and shoves him off of her and keeps walking, bristling while she fixes the front of her clothes.]

[ramuhs]

[At that, his laughter echoes through the tunnel as he follows right after her.]

What, it wasn't too scandalous.

[Yes it was—]

[garudas]

[It was way too scandalous for inside a volcano—

"Mister Cid...Miss Benedikta..." The sprite's voice echoes from behind Benedikta as she is the one leading the way and she thinks nothing of the tentativeness in its voice when its laced with such innocence. "What does it mean when you touch your mouths together?"

She nearly chokes, and there's a sudden whipping of wind that comes from nowhere and everywhere all at once.]

[ramuhs]

[Even Cid is startled by it, but he just ends up doubling over in laughter again.

YEAH MISS BENEDIKTA WHAT DOES IT MEAN.]

[garudas]

[Her gaze snaps back when Cid's laughter roars through the tunnel, and Vivi shrinks under the stare she shoots them both. Cid moreso than the sprite.]

It means that you avert your eyes.

["O-oh..." She isn't sure if that's disappointment or embarrassment she sees in those eyes.]

Now, I thought you were leading the way out of here? So lead.

[ramuhs]

[He's still chuckling even under that gaze, and as the sprite passes—]

I'll explain later.

[That seems to cheer up the sprite, and while he gives Benedikta space when he floats past, there is still a look of awe and wonder before he resumes leading the way.

And now it's Cid that will have caught up to her again.]

Since when has Miss Benedikta been so shy?

[garudas]

[He gets an elbow right in his side without so much as another glance.]

I am not shy.

[She is.]

But it—he—is a child! A kindling! Or whatever... that is.

[Whatever they call little fire sprites? She has no clue!!!]

[ramuhs]

[Oof—]

You usually don't care.

[garudas]

Since when do I not care?

[Excuse you, she has behaved!!! For the most part.]

It's you who doesn't seem to ever care.

[ramuhs]

I thought you liked that.

[garudas]

[She arches a brow at him.]

Only when we're—

[But she immediately furrows them when she realizes what's going on, and she picks up the pace a little quicker to catch up with the sprite, who is watching them intently.]

Keep up, old man. We don't have all day.

fin 🎀

[ramuhs]

[He just continues to chuckle alongside, and when her hand swings close enough, he'll catch it with a grin, ignoring what look she may send his way as he just clasps it tight.

Funny how not long ago they were so tense and at each other's throat, yet now... Even while walking through a sweltering volcanic tunnel, they can flirt and be silly like this. They had certainly been put through the wringer last night, but while there are still many weights, he feels lighter. And...dare it be said, a little happier. Certainly at least more compared to the past few days.

So he'll relent and not tease her so much as they finally reach the exit and walk through the plains towards where Nogard has settled. Of course the little sprite will be curious about them, with Cid providing any answers he's allowed to say with Benedikta ready to stop him from saying anything too sensitive or personal. But it is another funny thing that somehow he found something else to follow him. He really does have a strange habit of picking up things wherever he goes...

And once on the ship, they'll deposit their treasures and take the sprite to the kitchen stove where there would always be someone there. Perhaps he can find a lamp or something so Vivi can wander safely through the ship and hang out on deck, but he'll be safer in the kitchens. Plus, the little sprite can start proving his worth by keeping that stove well heated.

After ensuring that Vivi has situated well and is getting along with the cooks stationed there, the two return on deck and disembark... For Benedikta to drag him back to the hot springs so they can "clean up." Whether they stay another night or not, well. That's for them to know.]