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]

[Very dangerous because those fingertips edge closer to her center, teasing her first by pulling her leg a little more.]

You know what they say, pain—

[And he happens to twist his side in such a way that he does feel some pain, the wound now more aggravated from before making him flinch.]

...Before pleasure.

[And then a sigh as his hand sadly slides up her leg to her side and back instead.]

[garudas]

[Okay, maybe a little bit... If it's just his hand, then it's probably fine, yes? If he doesn't move anything else, he won't injure himself further, right? It's not as if she has much of a choice when her hips arch towards him in an attempt to nudge his fingers closer, a sigh brushing against his ear...

She doesn't realize how lost she gets in the feel of it until he winces in pain again, and the wave of disappointment is felt as it crashes over both of them now.

When his hand moves to her back, she flops her head on his shoulder, defeated, pouty, and just a little bit breathless.]

... It's for the best.

[Who is she trying to convince here with that bullshit?]

Perhaps you'll feel better in the morning.

[ramuhs]

[He gives her an apologetic kiss and rub of his hand over her spine.]

And if not, I can just stop by a healer and we continue where we left off.

[garudas]

Mm...

[Just because he's injured doesn't mean she can't still kiss him, and she gives him another one in return.]

And I have to wait that long?

[ramuhs]

[A low hum and quiet laugh as his eyes finds hers, lips brushing against hers as he speaks in that low, rough voice.]

Well if you need something to tide you over... I can oblige.

[garudas]

I think I will survive until morning. After that, however...

[She may just need to take him up on that offer, and she takes a shaky, deep breath to steady her heart. She nuzzles her nose into his cheek, a soft laugh to match that rough voice of his.]

But you will be the death of me, you know that?

[ramuhs]

[There's a faint smile, the first since this ordeal began.]

Could say the same of you.

[And then another kiss before he continues.]

But I wouldn't mind it.

[garudas]

I would.

[Another kiss that she smiles into, her tears finally starting to dry away, and she slides her arms around his shoulders so that she can pull herself closer.]

You've quite the debt to repay to me still, and I'd see to it that I have it paid back in full before I am.

[In case he's forgotten about it!]

[ramuhs]

[Another laugh as he presses closer to her in return, savoring the taste of her lips as if it's the first time.]

Hm... Then should I take my time? Let me live longer?

[garudas]

[Her eyes narrow at him playfully.]

And then you'd never pay off your debt? Your interest is still growing, you know...

[She pretends to huff out with a dramatic sigh.]

I suppose I could make some exceptions. Arrangements for you...

[ramuhs]

I could at least make it worth your while.

[A light graze of his teeth over her lower lip.]

Especially in the matter of those payments.

[garudas]

[Gods, he's really not going to make this easy for her, is he?

She tries to stifle the soft moan from his teeth on her lips, but it comes out full-bodied and loud, her hips arching gently towards his. But she has to remember that wound, has to remember that he is hurt and if they try anything strenuous, it will only end up worse in the end.

It's difficult to do when he's still tugging at her like this.]

Then I suggest you save your energy for tomorrow, old man...

[ramuhs]

[He knows he isn't, but he's still a little agitated so he's being mean and having her suffer with him—]

I have plenty, no worries about that. You on the other hand...

[His lips travel, smirking against her skin as his hands tease her warm skin, drifting up towards her chest...]

[garudas]

[Back arching, she pulls back to meet his eyes, her hand searching for his wrist so that she can snatch it in hers. There's something of a scolding look about her, though the fire in her gaze could easily burn it away.]

I've plenty, don't worry about me.

[Whether she still will once he's finished his repayment in the morning is another matter entirely, but that is a problem for tomorrow Benedikta.

Right now, she knows he needs his rest, so she threads her fingers with his to keep them from wandering any further. To keep her from falling any further under his spell... though, perhaps it's already too late for that.]

Besides... there was something I wanted to ask you...

[ramuhs]

[And caught, however he won't try to escape, his eyes instead alight with playful amusement. He is so very tempted to press his lips to her neck, to keep descending and testing to see how much longer she can keep up her defenses. But at her words, his head tilts slightly.]

What is it?

[After everything they had just shared and discussed... He wondered what it could be.]

[garudas]

[That tip of his head could do things to her all on her own, and she is tempted to just throw everything away and be content with just kissing him. And she will be, but first—]

You'd mentioned all of those things before coming to Valisthea...

[As a child, and then as he grew.

Her voice grows soft, that passion fading into pure and unadulterated affection.]

You never told me much about it... those times... Why?

[ramuhs]

[...Ah.

There's something that flickers in his gaze—something unknown, unclear that makes his expression something pensive and contemplative before he answers.]

Not really much to say.

[And there he goes, deflecting and avoiding. But given that she opened up to him, it's only fair if he does the same.]

And not exactly a lot of proud moments to share.

[garudas]

[Deflecting and avoiding, a bad habit that they both have a hard time breaking, it seems.

But she won't push him, and only places a kiss to the corner of his mouth, trying to do her best to comfort him in the only way she can.]

As if either of us have many proud moments to share?

[ramuhs]

[Now isn't she being sweet...

He can't help but smile a little more crookedly at that, finding her gestures too adorable.]

What would you like to know?

[garudas]

[She gives him a coy look.]

... Everything?

[But she knows that's a bit too broad, even if that is the right answer. He knows everything there is to know about Benedikta's past, isn't it fair that she knew all about his?]

What about how you learned the sword?

[ramuhs]

[A wry chuckle because that is very broad, so having a starting point helps.]

Hmm...

[He thinks for a moment, recalling that time.]

Bit of a story to that. There was an old swordmaster in town. Stodgy fellow, kept to himself, and other kids would try and play pranks so he'd chase them off with his old sword in one hand and a half-emptied bottle of ale in another.

Not me, of course.

[Quickly added as if to try and paint himself as the good little boy who wouldn't do such things.]

But one day those kids took it too far. Stole his old pocket watch and hid it somewhere. He was might upset about it, but in a different way. Not just angry, but actually asking for help when he normally didn't. Now I was a wee lad, not knowing much and didn't know what was happening. But I remembered seeing them huddled around the muck pile, sniggering up to no good.

My dad was a stablehand so I was used to handling shovels. Dug it up, cleaned it, and fixed it.

[A small laugh at that.]

At the time I was already tinkering around anything with a broken gear or cog so I was mighty pleased with myself. Granted, I shouldn't have touched it to begin with because I could have made it worse, but my interest got the better of me.

So, next day I returned it.

[garudas]

[She listens intently, her eyes never leaving his face as he explains, watching for every little shift in his expression. She grins at his correction, huffs a laugh along with him, and not once does her fondness fade. After finding out what really happened, that he still loved her even when she thought he no longer did, it's a bit strange seeing him in this new light. There is still much to work through, and she knows that a part of it is simply being lost in the moment, but her heart races with a whole new meaning as he tells her one of his many stories.

Ones that she longed to hear back then, as they clashed their swords on the practice field.]

So, you were a goodie two shoes, even back then...

[She says it quietly with a laugh, her finger grazing over his cheek.]

Why am I not surprised...

[ramuhs]

I just had decent moral compass.

[He definitely wasn't a mischievous, cheeky brat, too, noooo couuurse noooot.]

[garudas]

[Yeah, she's not sure she buys that—]

And let me guess... it was your decent moral compass that earned you the favour of the swordsmaster?

[ramuhs]

Is it really so surprising?

[A huff.]

Though he thought I was the bugger who stole the thing in the first place. Was running screaming when he drew that sword, but the moment he realized I was returning it and fixed it, well. Sang a much different tune then. Practically bowing his head in gratitude.

[Okay, he is definitely exaggerating.]