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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.]

[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.

[...

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

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

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

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?

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

[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...

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—]

[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.]

[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.

[She leans down to press a kiss to his lips.]

When next you feel the inspiration strike you, tell me and I will fly to meet you.

[And not just to his desk, but to his arms, because at least now, she can believe that he'll catch her this time.

She's about to go in for another kiss to seal the deal fully, not just on this, but on everything...

...

When she stops short, a thought coming to her just like it had him earlier, and she just blurts it out.]

The relic.

[Her words move him, and he is more than willing to continue that kiss, his body leaning up as his arm tightens around her, hand already pulling her closer to him...

...

When she blurts that out.]

The relic?

[Just a lazy question as he still tries to kiss her, his lips pressing against her lips.]

[She won't stop him, even keening softly into it when they touch again. She'd stop them right there, and she nearly does as she kisses him right back, but the thought comes rushing to the forefront again, interrupting the flames that he stokes in her again.]

... We cannot let that fall to the wayside, Cidolfus. Not even for these projects of yours.

[He cannot forget how important that relic is. Finding it, researching it... The thought of it being forgotten at all absolutely terrifies her.]

[Only now does he stop, his eyes opening to flick up towards hers.]

It hasn't.

[His hand runs through her hair as if to placate.]

However, it's not an easy thing to work on. First needing to understand the history of how things started, how this world works, what efforts have been already and what rumors or clues to sift through...

[His words come quiet and low against her lips.]

I know you want the answer now... But there's only so much we can do at any given time.

[She knows that. She already knew that, and yet... there was still that small little kindling of fear that lit itself in her head. As much as she wants the answers now, the whereabouts now, the map now, it's an impossible thing to ask for, even from him.

But that doesn't mean she has no reason to remind him, she thinks. Just as long as he knows not to ever stop thinking about it. Listening for it. Trying to figure it out. That is their project, and no matter how much pride she carries in her shoulders, she's not so certain anymore that she can bear that whole burden alone.

He really has rubbed off on her.]

I know.

[It's whispered back to him against his lips, just as low and quiet.]

I am simply asking you...not to forget.

[There's a soft, if sad smile as his fingertips brush over her cheek and then to the corner of her lips.]

How can I? ...This world is all we have left.

[His voice lowers in a quiet, rough whisper.]

I'm not losing you again.

[If it were possible for her to hold him any tighter than she does just then, she would. She might crush him and break him, but she doesn't care as her lips crash against his when that swell of emotions becomes too great that she needs a proper release for them. With nowhere else to go, she wraps herself up in him with no intentions of freeing him again.

Because this world really is the only one that she has left. She has no choice but to remain here, and she wants so, so badly for him to stay with her. So badly for him to not leave her again like he did before, returning to a place where she cannot follow.

He can have his projects, he can have his tinkering, whatever it is he wants to call this collection he's amassed, but what she will not allow this time is for him to forget about her, and about them. About the things that they have promised one another in this new world...]

I let you go before, Cidolfus...

[Her voice is breathless before she kisses him.]

...Not again.

[Forehead pressing to his, she squeezes her eyes shut.]

We will keep searching, then.

[Because she is scared. Deathly afraid of what those rifts might decide...]

[He embraces her in full, returning everything with as just as much fervor if not more. It's an overwhelming feeling, this constant tug towards her and wanting to hold her fast to him. How he still remembers the pain of losing her not once, but twice. Once when she didn't leave with him, and again when he had to leave her behind for the last time. At least the first time, she was alive, he still had chances. A hope. But the last time? There was none left.

And now it's all rekindled once more, with everything they've been through here, all the fights, the talks, the reconnecting—it's brought them back to not where they should be, but to a new place they can try and explore and define together. There's no way he'd easily give up this last opportunity. This last chance.

So he just brushes her lips gently against hers—]

And we'll find it.

[—before pulling her back to him in a rougher, demanding kiss. Trying to chase away those fears and pull her back to him instead.

They will find it. And if not them, he'll make sure they still get what they want, even if he has to bloody his hands for it. Become a true villain if he must.

He will not fail saving her—saving them again.]

[And he will pull her back to him, physically and emotionally, her reeling thoughts stilling until the only thing that's left is the feel of his lips and his hands on her, the strength of them reassuring in all their might. A strength that she easily melts into effortlessly, easily, willingly.

And just like him, Benedikta is willing to do what she must to see to it that he keeps these promises. She would gladly bloody her own hands to get them on that relic, or even a piece of the map that would lead them there. She will make fate and the gods tremble if she has to because those rifts will not be taking her, or him, if she has anything to say about it.

But more than that...

All of this has made her realize just how badly she wants this. How badly she wants to be with him. The mere thought of not having him at her beck and call was not one that she enjoyed, but if she could simply exist in his presence after not being in it for so long, then she would. That was all she wanted from him, and perhaps that was where the misunderstandings stemmed from.

She wants to spend time with him. Like this. Like anything. Just as long as she is, she wouldn't feel that yearning ache in her heart. It was simply a matter of showing him that. Saying it so that he understood.

Benedikta hopes that now he does.

Hopes that he knows his buzzing phone will have to wait just a couple hours longer as she sets his priorities in order once more.

By the time she is sure that they are, she has fallen fast asleep, her heart and her body both completely spent from this whirlwind of new emotions that had surfaced today. But even as she sleeps more peacefully than she ever has, she remains wrapped up in everything that is him—his soap, his musk, the spice in the scent of his cigars, and the thick, electric ozone that she adores so much.]

[It did take him a bit to truly understand what it is she wanted, what she felt. As he told her before, he only had those guesses, conjectures based on what he knew, what he saw, what made sense. And while he was on the right track, it was only after she voiced it that he could put it all together into something that made sense to him.

Truly, communicating is going to be one of their bigger hurdles...but they're getting better at it, and given the six years and then some of misunderstanding, it only makes sense they would need more time. Still, progress is progress.

And after he's once again reassured her, indulged in both their wants, he dozes off with her, not even thinking about what all he still has to do. Well, what he initially planned to do, anyway. Plans that he only remembers some time after waking and staring down at Benedikta's face. Plans that only return to mind after he hears more buzzing from his phone along with some mewling from outside.

That "five minutes" has certainly turned into more than that, but given everything, he wasn't going to mind it. How could he? Even now he lingers, gently stroking her hair, her cheek, her neck and shoulder. Slowly leans over to drop a gentle kiss on her forehead, lingering to breathe in her scent and warmth before he finally pulls away.

Last thing he needs is Ashtail causing a ruckus and disturbing her, especially when it's so clear that Benedikta was spent both physically and emotionally. So after partially dressing, he glances back before stepping out to deal with his needy cat, giving her her food and water and a bit of play before grabbing their phones from the couch and returning to the room. He leaves the door partially open to let Ashtail come and out as she pleases, but as if sensing the atmosphere, the cat remains outside, dozing on her tree instead.

Sitting at his desk, he once again looks over at Benedikta, their conversation about him staying in bed while texting causing him to smile and breathe a quiet laugh before he remains in his chair and pulls up the messages. There were the responses from his post...as well as updates from various crew members on information they found about the man who was after that girl.

Again he glances at Benedikta before he pulls out a slip of paper and jots it all down, pondering over it all. Only after does he return to the other messages, jotting those down to paper as well. He'll wait until Benedikta awakens to deal with the information she'd be most interested in and for now he'll focus on his own future projects.

Some that may be quite ambitious...

But even as he works, as the sound of soft lead scratching over paper fills the silence of the room, he can feel the difference. A soft, warm sense of comfort brought by her presence behind him, her occasional soft breaths filling in the gap when he stops to think or ponder a bit. Every so often he'll glance back and will be reminded of what they talked about...and how precious this all feels in the moment.

Eventually, it will become normal—or so he hopes. But for now, he can't help but treat it as special. Important.

Yet another significant milestone for them.

And whenever she awakens, she'll find him still there, and he will greet her like it's any other day—with that same, warm smile that he hopes to show her many more times in the future.]

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

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fin 🎀