closed 🪶⚡ all the storms we have faced that tried to break our embrace...

[garudas]

Who: Cidolfus Telamon & Benedikta Harman.
Status: Closed.
Where: Some faraway island. Ocard. Somewhere in Nogard.
What: Benedikta's birthday, event stuff, and going after the slaver for The Price of Freedom.
Warnings: just don't look in here. Also, potentially FFXVI spoilers buried somewhere. Violence and blood in the price of freedom thread.

happy birthday, benna 🎂
ain't no rest for the wicked 🔨
a date with dragons 🐉
boy oh boy, the price of freedom is steep 🗡️

Comments

[ramuhs]

Decisions.

[Another rough laugh as he closes his eyes in thought.]

Five more minutes then. I do need to at least check what all has come in since I've been away.

[garudas]

[She moves, shifting upwards so that she can gaze down at him.]

Why not just grab your phone and bring it back to bed? Otherwise, they can wait...

[ramuhs]

[A slight arch of the brow.]

Bit strange, wouldn't it be? If they knew I were sending messages while with you like this...

[garudas]

[She nudges her hips against his playfully.]

What, you are going to tell them? I don't mind if you do. At least then, people will know not to keep bothering you.

[ramuhs]

[And he just frowns and nudges right back.]

No, course not.

[And something of a disgruntled mutter.]

Just seems strange, that's all.

Imagine if it accidentally switched to the video recorder. Well that's a right "How do you do" there.

[garudas]

[She pretends to pout at him, her finger pressing to his lips.]

You are ashamed to be seen with me?

[ramuhs]

[There's a flicker of something in his eyes as he looks at her.]

Opposite. But—

[His lips brush over her fingertip before he moves in closer.]

I don't want anyone else seeing you like this.

[And there's a sudden push to roll her on her back, the space between them wide enough to expose her bare body beneath him, fair skin peppered by the usual darker marks that will be slow to fade.]

Or did you forget our earlier arrangement, hm?

[His own eyes only.]

[garudas]

[She chuckles, low and playful in her throat, the laugh transforming into a purr as she stretches out lazily to offer him a better view. There's something about that dark, possessive gleam in his eyes as they rake over her that does all sorts of wicked things to her, and she's preening, pleased with herself.]

I haven't. You make it hard to forget it, Cidolfus.

[Her fingers caress his cheek before she lets it drop, and so that she can turn them around, rolling him over onto his back again.]

Then you should just forget the phone... forget the work... It's not as if you need it right now.

[ramuhs]

[He lets her roll them over, his eyes still capturing her full self above him as his hand slides over her stomach, following that trail upwards.]

A tempting offer from an even more enchanting seductress.

[No really, it is hard. And as she likes to claim, it's not as if he works for anyone but himself. But he knows if he gives her an ilm she'll go the whole malm.]

But alas, this is one spell I have to break. [A swipe of his thumb over the dark peak of her breast.] For now.

[garudas]

[He doesn't need to give her an ilm at all. She'll go the whole malm all on her own, and she'll be quick about it too, moving so swiftly that she settles onto his lap, her legs and hips pinning his in place beneath her. Her fingers snap around his wrist to keep his hand where it is.]

And why do you have to?

[ramuhs]

[He half expected this, so he's not so surprised. Instead he'll just tease her further as he languidly grins.]

Call it practice?

[garudas]

[Her head falls back with a sigh at his continued teasing, her hips rocking ever so gently over his, but when she brings her gaze back, it's with a furrowed brow.]

Practice for what? I'd say you're specially practiced in the important things.

[Her words are punctuated with a sharper jolt of her hips, though she's only teasing, too.]

[ramuhs]

[There's a low grunt as he arches up into her, his restraint faltering. Damn this woman—]

And clearly not enough in trying to free myself.

[garudas]

[She smiles, her laughter as sweet and saccharine as that mischief that sparks in her eyes at his reaction.]

You are always the one asking me to stay, and suddenly you've changed your tune?

[She's making zero effort to set him free, so he'll have to work a little harder to convince her. Especially now that her hands have started to roam over the expanse of his stomach and up to his chest, nails raking lightly over his skin to tease him a little more. To lure him in and keep him.]

[ramuhs]

Well you don't have to leave...

[He does need to try harder. The problem is the will to do so is currently quite low AND.......it's not like this time is all that important. He's just getting suggestions and having idle conversations, so it's not like he's working...........]

All right, you have one point. I don't have to go anywhere now.

[His hands now move to her hips to pull her more over him.]

But if this is how it will be when I actually have schematics or research to do...

[garudas]

If this is how it will be...

[Now she looks at him a little more scornfully, and she fights his pull to him by sitting up again.]

... Then what?

[ramuhs]

[Oh here we go.

As she pulls back, he'll stare up at her, wondering how this will go.]

Then I'll have to make it so you're too tired to protest.

[garudas]

[...

....

Well. He's got her there, and who is she to protest that?

Even still.]

You say that as if having me around would be a hindrance.

[ramuhs]

No, course not. If anything this has been a very well welcomed reprieve, one I will happily take. Wouldn't mind having your company, either.

[He then leans up on one elbow, giving her a wry look.]

The question is, are you going to let me leave?

[garudas]

That depends.

[She glances away from him, that look he is giving her all too dangerous and she knows that.]

Do you want to leave?

[ramuhs]

Not really.

[Why would any sane man want to leave his wife love? But as he slowly runs his fingertips over her though, he just tilts his head just a little.]

You're still worried.

[garudas]

[Even seeing it out of the corner of her eye, she still hates what that tip of his head does, and how it reels her gaze right back in.]

Worried about what?

[She tries to force a confident smile, but it falters.]

I've got you right where I want you.

[ramuhs]

[Can't fool him anymore now.]

Ben-na.

[Said with a slow enunciation of each syllable as he leans up higher.]

Tell me what this is really about.

[garudas]

[She tilts her head at him, but she remains steadfast, even as he leans up at her.]

Cid-ol-fus.

[But as soon as he's close, she falters again, the corners of her lips falling away from her grin.

Because that isn't what this is about. It hasn't been all this time. And while she was able to articulate some of her feelings, there were some that she couldn't give a voice to. Some that made her skin crawl just thinking of it. Gave her that horrible feeling that she is no longer wearing her own when she admits shit like that.]

I already have. ... You know how you get, and someone needs to remind you to put it all down.

[ ... ]

[ramuhs]

[He'll gently reach up and brush her hair, fingertips ghosting against her skin.]

I believe that... But you seem quite adamant about it.

[He's also not sure how to voice his current thoughts. He has no doubt that what happened last month is what triggered this, but something about it feels off. There's her being stubborn and adamant about it, and... This. This that seems there is more than just his well-being, proven by her current faltering expressions.]

Are you really that worried about me?