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

[garudas]

Who: Cidolfus Telamon & Benedikta Harman.
Status: Closed.
Where: The Roost, The Farplane.
What: Cid and Benedikta move to a new house in the Roost. Event stuff later.
Warnings: The usual. :)

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[garudas]

Good memories from here on out, I hope...

[She breathes out an exhausted sigh.]

Today being the last of the bad ones.

[ramuhs]

It will be.

[He gently strokes her hair as he pulls her closer to him.]

Let's get some rest, hm? Should be back at the Roost on the morrow.

[garudas]

[Her pout disappears into his shoulder when she's pulled close.]

We could go back now if we wished to...

[Though she knows that's a tall order for the Captain.]

[ramuhs]

[A quiet laugh at that because yes.]

Ah, I wish, but alas I do have my own responsibilities.

[Unfortunately he does have his duties to perform, and he is also worried about the others.]

[garudas]

[She knew already, but that doesn't change her wish to have their warm bed and the fire crackling with him beside her, without all the noise of the ship and the sea surrounding them. Just peaceful silence filled only with the sound of his breathing.

She pulls back so that she can look at him, her finger gliding along his cheek and the curve of his jaw.]

You may perform them for as long as we are on this ship, but after that...

[A tender kiss pressed to his lips.]

After that, you rest.

[ramuhs]

[He can't help but give her a wry grin as he looks up at her.]

As you wish.

[There's then a low exhale like a sigh as he closes his eyes.]

And speaking of rest, think I could use it now.

[It's things like this that remind him of his age.]

[garudas]

[A pleased and equally sleepy smile crosses her face before she leans in to kiss both of his eyelids.

And while she lowers her head so that it rests more on his chest, and a brief silence stretches between them, she does finally whisper...]

... Cidolfus?

[ramuhs]

[He can't help but smile at the touch of her lips, and when he hears his name there's just a low rumbling hum from his throat in question.]

[garudas]

[She glances up at him, brow furrowed. Had he already fallen asleep!?

But when her head falls back down again, she is slow to respond.]

I am... grateful for you.

[She has said it to him a hundred times before, but tonight most of all, it bears repeating.]

Had you not reached me, I am not sure what I would have done.

[That little spark that had weaved its way into her aether and her mind to awaken her from that nightmare had been a beacon for her. Her little spark...]

[ramuhs]

[His arms just shift over her, hand gently caressing her back in response before there's a small sigh as his eyes slowly open just enough for him to stare up at the ceiling.]

I always regretted not being able to reach you before.

[Not just before her death, but all those other times when they could no longer hear and listen to each other. When they rejected each other's hands.]

So I'm glad...that I've been able to now.

[Not just against Ultima, but when she had also transformed into Garuda. And that's one thing he always wondered—if he had faced Garuda instead of Clive, would anything have changed? Or would that have also been the day he fell as he barely had enough left in him to deal with Ifrit? He couldn't even beat Benedikta when she semi-primed, surely it would have been the same even primed, especially since it was within hours.

Which is why while it may be foolish and just sending him straight down the same path, he was willing to give everything to do whatever he could to save her.]

[garudas]

[She knows what he means by that, and in that moment, she too wonders whether or not that would have changed anything. If he had been there, or if he had tried... Or if it ultimately would have ended then and there in the way that Ultima had kept trying to show her. Ramuh and his Dominant dying at the hands of Garuda, with Benedikta following not long after.

It's something that she does not wish to dwell on, but it's not an easy thing to ignore at a time like this. Even as her mind and her body have already started to rebel against her, the warmth of him wrapped around her only making that wave of exhaustion crash harder and faster. But there is still so much on her mind that she isn't sure she'll be able to rest peacefully until they are truly back in their home.]

Should there ever come a day when you need it, I hope that I could do the same.

[ramuhs]

I hope there isn't.

[Sincerely... If there was ever a time that he lost himself like that, then it could only mean something terrible had happened. Worst case, he lost his mind completely somehow.]

But if should such a thing come to pass, I know you will.

[garudas]

It does not even have to be something terrible.

[She is aware of what she had implied and yes, that offer still stands, but it goes beyond that.]

I wish to do better... with helping you.

[A light wind caresses him, warm and gentle and inviting. It brushes his hair back, kisses his cheek, and then disappears.]

[ramuhs]

[His eyes close at her winds, now understanding what she means.]

You've already done enough, love... More than enough.

[His hand runs through her hair.]

I can always see you trying so hard for my sake.

[To the point it makes him feel guilty, but she probably can guess that since it's just a never ending cycle.]

[garudas]

[A never-ending cycle that they will never, ever be free from. But that is the price that they pay, isn't it? Not that she minds, but she wishes that he would not feel so guilty or worried about burdening her.]

Is that not what... couples do?

[A pause, as she chews her bottom lip.]

I wish to try more for you. After today... if we are going to do this... us...

[ramuhs]

[Hearing her say "couples" is actually rather endearing and cute, knowing how difficult it is still for her to verbally make such acknowledgments. So he can't help but smile fondly, a smile she may sense even if she can't see it.]

Does that mean I can look forward to being spoiled in the future?

[garudas]

[Oh, she can sense it. She always can... and it makes her cheeks flush, the colour obvious even in the dimmer light, damn it all.]

Mm? What exactly do you mean by 'spoiled'?

[ramuhs]

Perhaps a favorite meal or...

[And now a more playful grin to help break up the more somber atmosphere.]

A cake?

[garudas]

[She was thinking a favourite meal, or buying him nice things, but when he drops that—]

Cidolfus!

[It certainly works in breaking up the somber mood because she's smacking him weakly on the arm, and then his chest, and then his cheek...]

What did I tell you about that godforsaken cake!

[... before she starts attacking him with kisses.]

[ramuhs]

[He just laughs at that, more of that tense air fading as hugs her close as his lips move to find hers.]

And I'm still waiting for it!

[garudas]

[She kisses him, grinning against his lips before she continues to sprinkle them all across his nose.]

Well, if you keep asking for it, then won't it ruin the surprise?

[ramuhs]

No, because I still wouldn't know the exact day.

[He just continues to chuckle as her kisses are like feathers against his skin.]

And if I did know, that just means I can anticipate it even more.

[garudas]

[She rolls her eyes.]

Well, how many other "special occasions" are left for me to use, hm?

[ramuhs]

We still have our first date anniversary, don't we?

[A low rumble as he catches and nibbles her lower lip.]

And I'd wager we could have our own celebration for this hard earned victory....

[garudas]

Not exactly the sort of celebration I had in mind for this victory...

[She purrs over his lips before pulling back far enough to escape him, pausing as if in serious thought.]

But I suppose we could find a cake once we return to the Roost and have rested well.