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]

[She looks at him, her lips pressing into an uncertain, uneasy line.]

...You mean like the ghosts that just tried to snatch me...

[ramuhs]

The very same.

[His arm around her squeezes her a little in reassurance.]

But also the best way to get revenge, eh?

[garudas]

[Her brow twitches, her expression crumpling into a frown.]

I'd rather not have to do it at all, but...

[The idea seems to work in firing her up again, albeit slowly. She falters a little before she rights herself again and starts to move forward.]

Shall we just follow this path?

[ramuhs]

[If there's one thing he knows that can help get her spirits moving, is getting payback. But he also won't push her too hard, either, still wary about her condition, both physically and mentally.

Looking down the path, it looks to cut deeper into the darkness, but he can see in the far distance some movement. Large, shadowy creatures as well as smaller ones that flit over the blackened landscape.]

Looks about as good as any. Just stay close.

[garudas]

[Just as they are about to move, her first step halts partway and she turns to look at him with every bit of worry that she has, everything else still slowly sinking in from what had happened.]

... You—are you alright? You are not hurt?

[ramuhs]

[He looks at her in some surprise before he gives her a reassuring smile.]

Aye, I'm fine. Had a few tumbles but nothing I can't walk off from.

[garudas]

[She looks him over, her hand caressing his cheek.]

But you were semi-primed. Your aether, that did not do anything to you?

[Her stomach sinks, because how many times has he put himself at risk for her?]

[ramuhs]

[...Ah so she noticed. He just gives her a light smile.]

I only used it to move faster and then for that one attack at the end. So not too much.

[Relatively. He did cough a little and felt some strain, but compared to what he had to use against Ultima, it really wasn't much and within a reasonable amount.]

[garudas]

... Alright. But I would very much like this needing to save each other thing to end.

[It does little to ease the worry, and her eyes continue to search his face even in the dim light, like she will find the answers there that he refuses to give her. There are some black stains on his clothes, similar to the ones that stick to hers, and she carefully tries to brush it away with her sleeve.]

What is this?

[ramuhs]

Can't argue there.

[He also would like this cycle to end. But at her question, he glances down and furrows his brows.]

My guess is that blackwater stuff they were warning us about. Doesn't look like we got too much on us, but best be careful.

[garudas]

[Her brow scrunches with distaste, as she tries to wipe more of it from his clothes to no avail. All it does is spread it further, and she's not sure that it's much better that way.]

A shame there is nowhere to wash it off down here.

[That is not a risk she is willing to take.

She leans in to press a quick but grateful kiss to his lips in thanks for what he did earlier. She will be certain to thank him properly for it later, once they are out of here.]

But if you are sure you are feeling alright, then... we can be on our way.

[ramuhs]

[He smiles a little into the kiss, his own eyes still filled with worry over her before he nods and takes her hand to lead the way.

The path before them is dark and treacherous indeed. As they continue onward toward the blackened ground, they'll be able to feel that malignant energy oozing up and around them, larger pools of that blackwater appearing more prevalent in this area. Somewhere in the far distance they'll hear the occasional clash and see bursts of white light, perhaps either others like them who have ventured this far or the guardians trying to cleans this blighted area. At the very least, it gives some reassurance that should something go awry, there could be help to call on, even if they are a considerable distance away.

But they continue forward, the occasional ghoul or corrupted creature appearing in their way but easily taken down with them now together and more alert, ready to deal with them. And after they reach a small rocky outcrop, Cid pulls Benedikta back down again, hand raised in warning a his lowers his voice.]

Think we're close... If you look just over the ledge, there will be what looks like one of those cracks in the air, with quite the gathering around it.

[garudas]

[It is a vicious cycle that they will never escape—worrying about the other while not wanting to worry the other. Even if that kiss did help a bit, she still feels that concern, her eyes always lingering on him as they start to move again.

She walks at his side through their journey across the Uncharted. So much of it is just black, all of the colour gone, like it's a world completely separate from the one above it. If she did not know any better, she would not have believed they were the same place, held within the same Leviathan. Not to mention that malignant energy that surrounds them, and at some point, her hand goes to her chest, wondering if Garuda can feel it, too. It leaves behind a twinge of worry and perhaps fear that she could, and this would only stir her further.

But with her hand in his, her grip tight, she focuses on that, squeezing his as he tugs her down, ducking them both behind the rocks. She peers out from around it, squinting. A small sound leaves her when she sees that gathering of spirits.]

And do you suppose our magic is enough to get rid of them?

[ramuhs]

It'll have to.

[He does look a little pensive seeing how many they are... But then as he looks closer, he cants his head slightly.]

...Is it just me, or do all those ghosts look similar?

[garudas]

[She looks between him and the ghosts, lifting herself up just a little to try and get a better look.]

Hm?

[Her eyes narrow, but then her brows shoot up at the realization upon seeing all the robes that they wear, exactly the same as one another.]

Oh. I think we may have stumbled upon our little cult friends.

[ramuhs]

[A low swear.]

Even in death they don't give up, and it looks like they're trying to perform a ritual, perhaps using that crack to connect to their living counterparts.

[garudas]

All the more reason to stop them.

[Though there is some uncertainty there, in the unconscious roll of her shoulders and the bite of her lip. Her magic had been iffy against those ghosts that tried to pull her further, and she still feels as if her strength has been drained. She doesn't know if it's her soul missing her body, or the effects of the Farplane, or if her magic is simply not as effective against them...

Her hand squeezes his again, though it's more for herself. An attempt to shove back the doubts that threaten to distract her again, when there is no room for them at all.]

Shall we surprise them?

[ramuhs]

Perhaps a nice little storm to ruin their day?

[He can feel her unease, and he gives her a reassuring squeeze in return, giving her a brush of his levin as he knows that usually helps soothe her.]

A bit of wind to break them apart and some lightning to stop them further should do.

[garudas]

I do quite like the sound of that.

[As that touch of levin brushes over her hand, she smiles knowingly at him. At least she knows and trusts that if her wind is not as effective, he will have her back.

At that, a spark of green lights her fingertips as she slowly rises to her feet.]

Shall we?

[ramuhs]

Ladies first.

[A grin and slight nod of his head as his own aether starts to gather more around his hand.]

[garudas]

Ever the gentleman.

[She flashes him a crooked smile and turns her attention carefully to the gathered souls in front of them. They are still a bit of a distance away, but she should be able to manage something. A wind stirs the air, rustling their hair. It starts out warm but turns into something cooler, sharper. It's not enough to gain their attention yet, but it is enough for her to gather it all into one single point of magic...

...

Only to suddenly let it loose, the wind bursting in all directions from where it was centered beneath them. It throws them all back, scattering them as their surprised cries echo, leaving them all open to Cid's strikes. How very efficient of them.]

I've warmed them up for you.

[ramuhs]

Lovely.

[A grin as by now he's gathered enough aether to release it all with a snap, the bolts of lightning raining down upon the fallen cultist souls. They scream, some disappearing upon struck while some still try to stagger up.]

Better move in while they're down—

[And it's then they'll hear the ghastly wails of some disfigured soul that had been hidden within the circle of cultist souls.]

[garudas]

[The horrible wailing of the soul has Benedikta's hands going to her ear to shield it, her face crumpling with a wince at the sound.]

What in Greagor's name... Shut that thing up!

[ramuhs]

[As soon as it finishes its ghastly cried, Cid is finally able to register what it is as he can see its erratic movements as if trying escape from restraints he can't see.]

...Fuck me, were they trying to send that thing outside?

[He doesn't know if they should try to save it or destroy it, but for now his only option is to try and stop it from going through that crack. Suddenly jumping down, he shouts back at Benedikta—]

Close the rift, I'll focus on that thing!

[—and flings several levin bolts to divert the monstrosity's attention.]

[garudas]

Ugh, it is never simply a walk in the park with you.

[It's something of a complaint, said with a click of her tongue, but if he looks, he won't miss the glint in her eye. A fondness beneath the weariness of it all.

She does groan a bit as she leaps down after him and rushes forward and past Cid, trying to get closer to the crack itself while he has the wailing creature's attention.]

A bit of magic, was it?