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]

[He sees that silent warning. He just chooses not to listen to it.]

Might be nice.

[But he'll reach up to the pendant and lift it from his chest, flipping it between his fingers as he looks up at her.]

But fine. [She should be wary at how readily he relents as well as that cheshire grin and gleam in his eyes.] At the very least, we are in a relationship, aye?

[And then suddenly a forceful tug to bring her lower so that their lips just barely touch.]

No flirting or eying anyone else.

[Which he knows she won't do outside of her usual taunts. But never hurts to show a little possessiveness that she seems to like.]

[garudas]

[He'll feel her hot breath skim over his skin, but that stare does linger, her eyes narrowed at him. That was far too easy for it to be one and done, so she'll give his lips a nip in another warning.]

The same goes for you too, Cidolfus.

[Her fingers move to catch the pendant and hold it with him.]

If we are to be... together now, then both eyes on me when I am in the room.

[ramuhs]

That's a given.

[She naturally draws attention everywhere she goes, yet he knows now whose attention she seeks. Shouldn't he at least grant her that much? Or make her hunt for it more, who knows what the future holds as they grow more comfortable around each other. But for now, he'll let her take his attention away, that "five minutes" long since passed.

And as he closes that distance to kiss her slowly and meaningfully, what's another five, ten, thirty, an hour more?]

[garudas]

[Whatever his lips do in that kiss is enough to placate her because she falls over him, kissing him just as slowly and deeply, one meant to remind him again where his priorities should be.

He'll feel her smile against it, and she huffs with a breathless chuckle.]

You are really going to need a better bed in that workshop of yours... Especially if I am going to be visiting more often. Where else am I to nap afterwards?

[ramuhs]

[A dramatic sigh.]

It's already a full sized bed, how big do you want it?

[garudas]

[He better get used to this. She's going to nag and nag and nag about it until she's happy with every single bed he has—]

The biggest that will fit. And it needs more pillows.

[ramuhs]

[He's going to design the damn bed— But as silly as this all is, he can't help but smile, if wryly and with a rueful laugh.]

All right, I'll see what I can do.

[garudas]

[Honestly, maybe that would be for the best. He knows her tastes well enough—

Her own smile, however, is a bit more subdued again, though no less genuine as she presses her lips to his for a short but tingling kiss.]

...You don't mind, do you? If I waited for you there...

[Not that his answer would change much of anything, but... there's still that small unsure part of her that needs to know.]

[ramuhs]

[A slight raise of his brows.]

Of course not. You could even wait out and watch if you wanted...though you'd might be bored. [A quiet chuckle.] Should I make your own little "lounging" corner?

[garudas]

Mm... You mean one separate from your bed?

[Her eyes glint with the implications of that, and they certainly are not difficult to pick up on. That bed is for the more...private affairs.]

Next to your desk?

[ramuhs]

Think I can make some space for it, especially if it's just me there. And if it's too crowded, can hide in the room.

[He knows how she is.]

[garudas]

[She gives him a pleased hum and lets herself fall, her weight relaxing as she stretches out over him.]

Suppose I'll have to hunt for some new books to read in that case. Be sure to leave some room on your shelves for me...

[Honestly, though? Strangely enough, the thought of just lounging around while he worked is... nice. He might have feared that she'd seek his attention at all times of the day, but in the end, she really is just like a cat. Seeks attention on her own terms, and then pulls back once she's satisfied enough. Happy to simply stay in his presence, even if they are doing separate things.

It's almost as if...

She shakes the thought away.]

[ramuhs]

[Another small hum of amusement.]

Might need to make your own shelf. Been getting new books to read and study as I continue to learn about all these new tech and methods.

[Honestly it's fascinating and just like in the past he enjoys reading up on new theories and methods before trying his own hand at it. But he won't bore her with the details, instead adjusting his arms around her more.]

I also thought the same in the ship.

[garudas]

[She gives a little huff, and a roll of her eyes to match it, lifting her head so that he can see that spark of sarcastic amusement, hidden in the shadows of her messy hair that tickles his cheeks.]

You want me to make my own shelf?

[She wouldn't know the first thing about making anything.]

You're the tinkerer, not me. Or have one of your little cult men do it.

[ramuhs]

[That makes him laugh.]

No, of course not—I meant I would...

[Then his voice drifts as something sparks in his eyes as he looks at her.]

But that would be interesting, wouldn't it? Making something of your own. With my help, of course.

[garudas]

[That gets another huff, though it ends up sounding more like a bark of laughter than anything else.]

You think I could make something?

[She is prideful and arrogant in every way, but even she knows not to set high expectations for that. In spite of that, though, there's a small, dim glint of hope behind the greens of her eyes.]

...Though, I suppose if you are helping...

[And doing most of the work.]

[ramuhs]

[He sees that glint and knows what she's thinking.]

Would be good for you to learn some basics.

[A wink.]

Can even help design it if you want. Paints, everything.

[garudas]

[...

She lowers her face at his wink, nuzzling into him.]

Anything I want? Perhaps some little birds painted on it?

[ramuhs]

If that's what you wanted, don't see a problem.

[garudas]

Mm.

[That is, indeed, what she wants, so she just gives a small nod.]

And it won't interfere with all your other new projects?

[ramuhs]

Building a shelf? [He just makes a kind of pfft sound and shake of his head.] Knock that out in an hour or two.

[garudas]

[He'll hear that snort right in his ear.]

Arrogant, are we? You think you can still knock it out in an hour or two with me at the helm? I know you are good, Cidolfus, but...

[ramuhs]

It's just a bookshelf.

[An arch of the brow.]

So long as I get all the materials and design beforehand, shouldn't be too hard.

[Is he going to regret those words—]

[garudas]

[He's going to regret those words, especially if he hands Benedikta the hammer—

Slowly, her head lifts again from his shoulders, and all of that mirth from just moments ago is gone, or it has softened into a look of pure and utter fondness and affection as her gaze flits across his face.]

... I'd like to watch you sketch it.

[If there is one thing that she has always loved, it was watching him draw his designs. How his brow would furrow ever so slightly, how his fingers held his quills so precariously. How he'd run his hand through his hair every so often while he waited for an idea to come to him. She wonders if he ever noticed all the nights she would lie on his bed and just watch him in the candlelight.]

[ramuhs]

[He notices that shift, and his own expression softens as he reaches up to brush her hair away, just so he can see it better.]

Sure. Anytime you'd like.