escordvi | closed 🪶⚡ i'll be the light to lead you home

[She slips her arm away from him so that she can wave his wish around, tapping it against his nose the same way he had done to her earlier.]

Yes, but they can wait until after.

[A slight crinkle of his nose at that even as he studies her for a moment before there's a huff of laughter.]

If you're sure. I'm sure they wouldn't mind to wait if you really wanted.

[She gives a small shake of her head, her gaze lingering on him for a beat, as if to silently tell him the things she does not wish to say yet.]

No, it's fine. We can come back around to this place after.

["There are other small groves around here where you can write your wishes, too. We don't have to come back to this one specifically. We'll take you to another one that's less crowded, and much prettier."]

[He watches her carefully, but he'll catch her meaning and just give a small nod before looking back at the ghostly couple and smiling.]

Sounds like a fine idea. In that case, we'll leave it to you.

Let's retie these wishes and then we can be on our way.

[She takes his wish this time, leaving her own with him, and reaches up to gently tie the paper around the small branch again. She can see the other two smiling at each other, and Marcus pulls Lily in for a sudden kiss, and as she peers through the corner of her eye at them, her heart fills with something else. A lightness among the heavier weights that have started to settle into it since she took that first rigid, hesitant step down from Respite Reef.]

I trust that you know what landmarks might be of interest to us for the job?

[Once she's finished, she turns to them, interrupting their little giggling fits with an arch of her brow.

"Oh, yes. But I also think you'll both really like what we'll have to show you."]

[He catches the sight as well as he ties the wish Benedikta had written, amused. Oh young love—not that he can say anything with the number of times he's done the same to her.]

You've certainly caught our interest. I'd ask, but I assume it's to be a surprise.

[Lily grins and answers simply. "It is."

Benedikta exchanges a curious look with Cid.

"So, should we start with the city?"]

If you think that is suitable. I don't believe we are in much of a rush, are we?

I think we can afford some time to get our bearings. It will help us in the long run.

[Sure they could run off to wherever those fiends or cracks are, but they could easily lose their way and they're a bit on a time limit. Bit of touring—er, "recon" won't hurt them.

And with their wishes back on the tree, Cid won't miss a beat and take Benedikta's hand, tugging her towards the waiting couple.]

Lead the way.

Edited 2024-11-21 03:35 (UTC)

[And that they do, with Benedikta's hand in Cid's, and Lily's hand in Marcus's. They seem a picture perfect mirror of one another, even if Lily's joy far eclipses Benedikta's own, who is far more quiet and thoughtful as they are given a tour.

Up on the bubbles they go towards the city, the jellyfish helping to carry them there. It's not without a bit of shouting on Benedikta's part when her jellyfish can sense her nervousness. It is always this way when she has someone else carry her high up without her own wings, let alone a little sea creature spirit thing...

It's not as if they can do much in the city besides look around. There is no shopping to be done, but there are things to look at. Buildings made of coral and shells, of marble in colours she's never seen before. It's all very grand, everything seemingly stretching all the way up to the top of Cassiopea's bell, even if it might be much higher than she could even imagine. The scale of it all is a little overwhelming.

And while they cannot take them all the way to their home outside of it, they do show the two of them the direction in which to head should they want to visit or need a place to stay, forgetting (and being reminded by Benedikta) that they cannot remain in this place for very long.

With that said, they make a quick journey back around, being carried by the bubbles again... up and up they go to some cliffs that overlook the Breathing Depths, close to the entrance and where they had met up with one another again. However, as they had said, it's quieter up here, with small trees scattered about the ridge and flowers flowing in an invisible, unfelt breeze. In the branches of the trees, there hang some small slips of paper from those who had passed through already.

Benedikta steps off her bubble and looks out over the edge, her eyes going slightly wide as she takes in the sight.

"We had a feeling you'd like it!"]

[It really is a lot to see—and still hard to believe it's all real. When one thinks about an "afterlife," one does not think of an actual life after death. But that's exactly what he sees here. It may not be bustling or "lively" as it's clear the souls who reside here are much more relaxed, but because of that peaceful serenity, he can feel as if he could truly relax and just rest in a place like this. To let go of those worldly burdens and focus on one self.

Truly after this, scholars will be writing about this for ages.

Once they reach the overlook, Cid can already tell that Benedikta will be taken by it, and he just smiles when she clearly is.]

Aye, this is exactly what she likes.

[And what a view. They could see not only Respite Reef down below, but even beyond to the Uncharted wildlands, with forests mostly covering the area they can see.]

[She casts a sheepish, almost embarrassed look over her shoulder at their voices, but her eyes are pulled right back to the world in front and beneath her as a thousand thoughts rush through her head. As if there weren't plenty of them already.

Her toes reach the edge, and she looks down, all the way down, and feels that breeze that passes over her, closing her eyes.]

It seems the souls here are happy... for the most part. And I can see why now.

[As Cid walks up to Benedikta, Lily smiles softly.

"Yes, and we're ever grateful for it. As you know living...can be a trial. But having a place where we can carry on in peace helps make up for it."]

It does seem that if one were to know what awaits after death, it would make the passing easier.

[She glances at him at his words, swallowing thickly around the lump in her throat.

"It does. We are grateful for it."]

As you should be.

[Benedikta's voice is quiet as she continues to keep her gaze out to the world.]

Not everyone is so lucky as you. I am sure there are many who are jealous of this world's ease.

[Cid can only watch her carefully as the ghosts glance at each other.

"...It's true. Not everyone is ready for death when the time comes, or willing to give up what they had in life," Marcus answers quietly. "Those are the ones who are most vulnerable and need the most healing. And...also the ones causing the problems here."]

The corrupted souls and the cracks.

[By then Cid had moved to put his arm around Benedikta's waist, subtly giving her some comfort.]

[His arm around her is appreciated, even if she might not say or show it just yet besides the subtle brush of her fingers over the back of his hand. She feels Marcus and Lily's presence come up beside them, their own gazes casting out below, both of them nodding.]

And so we need to help put them to rest.

[A glance their way, and she manages a smile.]

I do hope that they have not ruined your honeymooning.

[To that, Lily flushes. "Oh no, we made the best of it."

Marcus laughs. "But they are getting more restless. Things are only going to get worse If no one does anything to stop it, and there's only so much we can do in here."

Seeing the distant look on Benedikta's face, Lily gives Marcus a little tug.]

[He also catches her expression and finds her hand, giving it a squeeze.]

Not to worry, we'll do the best we can. After seeing this place, it really helps show how much is at stake.

[Not just some nameless ghosts or vague concept, but a real place, and...]

["Thank you both. We still feel like we owe you so much..."

Benedikta stops them there, returning a squeeze of Cid's hand before she takes a step forward to Lily.]

I already told you. You may repay your debts by going back and living your lives the way you wish. So I will hear no more about owing us anything.

[Her voice is firm, but only as much as it needs to be, and they both smile.

"Alright, alright." She lifts a hand in surrender. "But we will leave you two to it. And if you need anything, you know where to find us."]

We appreciate it. Perhaps if we have time we can meet again.

[They do smile at that before Lily seems to fidget for a moment.

"But...be careful. Your souls...they may target you even more."

He looks at her with some question, his expression hardening.]

Come again?

[That tension snaps right back up into Benedikta's shoulders, and they both give a bit of a sheepish look, seeing this.

"Well... those who have already died or are dead... they can sense that."

"They have been specially targeting those souls. Trying to 'put them in their right place' is what we think. There have been reports of people being taken by the restless ones. We don't know why or how, but just be careful."]

And they can tell...

[When the couple nods, he just sighs, his hand subtly tightening over hers. If a friendly pair like them could tell, then it won't be hard at all for someone actually looking for it.]

Of course it wouldn't be easy. Well, suppose we were somewhat prepared for that. We appreciate the warning.

We will not make it so easy for them.

[She says it like a promise, but there is now an uncertainty edging its way into her expression, and the way her fingers tighten again around Cid's.

They both nod. "Still, be careful. I wish there was more we could do to help, but again, if you need something while you are down here, please come find us."

Benedikta nods.]

[He can feel that tension from her, but he just keeps his calm, steady self as he gives them a smile.]

We will. And take care yourself.

[The couple nod and give them a wave before they turn to leave, walking off a bit before fading away, likely traveling in that special way all true ghosts can.

With it now just the two of them, Cid looks at Benedikta carefully.]

You all right?

[She watches them disappear, caught up in her own thoughts that when Cid's voice finally reaches her, she needs to be tugged out of them.]

Oh. Yes...

[It's an automatic answer, though she would not be so foolish to think he would believe it for a moment.]

I was just... thinking...

[As her eyes rest on him before it goes to the tree branches that hang over their heads, the papers swaying in the breeze.]

[Definitely not, and his brows will furrow slightly.]

About?

A lot of things.

[Too much, if she's honest. It would have been so much easier if they had just gone to find a crack to fix, or a spirit to defeat, but instead, she is left with her thoughts. This is one of those times when she could use the distraction...

And while there is a lot that she could and perhaps wants to say to him, the rustling of leaves reminds her of why she had asked for a tree in the first place. Wordlessly, in answer, she reaches into her pockets and pulls out the several slips of paper that she'd taken before they left.]

... There are a few more I wish to write.

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