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 reaches up to fix a strand of his hair, gently putting it back into place after the tapirs had tousled it all up.]

... Did you hear what those souls were saying? The ones that had offered themselves up to the beast?

[ramuhs]

Was a bit tough for me to hear clearly, but something about a "Great One"?

[garudas]

Mm.

[Her brow furrows in thought.]

Something about resurrecting said "Great One", whoever that may be. Though, I thought I heard the tapirs mention they think they might be referring to their leader? And...

[There's a heavy pause.]

That place called the Locker.

[ramuhs]

[...Ah.]

The deep underbelly of hell. If they were trying to "resurrect" something from in there then it can't be anyone—or thing—good.

[garudas]

[She falls quiet for a moment.]

... Do you suppose that there are others who might be attempting the same thing?

[A beat, and she sighs, feeling her aether trickling into the air on an unsteady breeze.]

They were using all kinds of souls...

[ramuhs]

Given the reports in increased activity by these lunatics, I'd say it's a very safe bet that they are.

[And now he thinks of Rem and releases a low, haggard sigh, somewhat glad that she's not around for this. If she were...]

This world has gotten a lot more complicated compared to ours.

[garudas]

[Her attention turns to him, that sigh drawing her gaze to search his face for answers, eyes flitting about it carefully.]

... I am not sure I like it.

[There are many blessings this world has given them both, the biggest one being right at their sides, but when it rains here, it truly pours.]

A part of me longs for the days when our biggest worry was not a group of cultists looking to tamper with the dead, but... how we might find our next bounty for dinner.

[ramuhs]

[A small smile as he pulls her closer to him, steps slowing.]

Then it's a good thing this world is full of young, able bodied heroes who can deal with it instead.

While it will be good to keep apprised, even I would say this is something that may be better dealt with by those more capable. As you like to remind me so often, we have enough on our hands as it is.

[garudas]

[She lets him with a hum of agreement, her body singing for that closeness and proximity and warmth right now, especially so when everything is dark and dreary and cold.]

I do like to remind you, yes. Because it is true.

[But there is something more thoughtful, and a little more sad, about her expression, barely visible by the dim light that hovers alongside them.]

But this is far too dangerous for us to be meddling in too much. You saw how those souls had grabbed me...

[ramuhs]

...Aye.

[Another exhale, heavier this time before he squeezes her hand to give her some reassurance.]

Perhaps all the more reason to hide away, hm?

[garudas]

... You always seem to know all the right things to say these days.

[It is both soothing and infuriating for different reasons. But it does at least tug a smile out of her, even if her tone remains serious.]

You've no plans to return to this place again?

[ramuhs]

[Hmmm.]

After all this, unlikely. I would only return if a need arose or just to check on the progress of things, but even then I don't see myself returning more than once. Bit too close for comfort.

[garudas]

[She releases a breath she hadn't known she was holding, a sudden wave of relief pushing it out of her as well as some of that tension.]

Foolish of me to think that this would be so simple. Even between the two of us, all of that was... exhausting.

[She squints up ahead to where the path seems to grow a little darker as it winds beneath some rocks.]

[ramuhs]

And right after we had to deal with our own menacing "ghost."

[A small, rough laugh as he looks ahead and instinctively keeps her close, guard raising.]

Of course it would be something like this where using our Eikons would be to our benefit.

[As much as he resents their fates as Dominants, he cannot deny that their powers can be used for greater purposes. Like any power or tool, in the end its how they are used and balancing the consequences. Really, if they and all magic users were treated better with the proper respect and considerations he wouldn't be so jaded.]

[garudas]

[That is true. They've barely had time to breathe after defeating Ultima and now here they are, battling others. She's not even sure which one she prefers, but neither would be great.

At the mention of their Eikons, however, she makes a small sound in the back of her throat.]

I'd considered... When those ghosts grabbed me and I could not shake them off, I thought of calling on Garuda, but...

[Her free hand goes to rub at her shoulder.]

It might have saved us both a lot of trouble.

[ramuhs]

[His hand squeezes hers before he removes it so that he can slip his arm around her shoulders and hug her instead.]

It's all right, I could have tried using Ramuh. However, we still don't know if we can properly. Remember the first time I tried to prime and turned all wee instead?

[A light chuckle at that.]

Imagine if that happened. Then we really would be out of luck.

[garudas]

I do remember. I could fit you into the front of my shirt.

[Between the laugh that escapes her and his arm around her shoulders, it eases some of those more worried, darker thoughts.]

Though, for something so small, I've a feeling we would still be mighty enough to take care of some ghouls. Together.

[ramuhs]

[A quiet laugh as he tries to imagine it.]

I'll just poke their eyes with my tiny staff.

[He makes a dramatic gesture of stabbing motions with his hand.]

[garudas]

And I would gouge them out with my claws.

[She mimics a swiping motion with her hand, and reaches over to drag her nails down his cheek, her smile pulling a touch wider, that heaviness lifting from her chest.

A moment that lasts too short a time, as Benedikta pauses just beneath the rocks that they are meant to pass under, but the light is flickering, as if beckoning for them to follow.]

[ramuhs]

[He smiles more broadly at her as he sees her expression lightening, glad to have been able to lift them some...

But all gone too soon when she pauses at the rocks and he looks beyond into the darkness.]

It's all right. Just have to get through quick.

[garudas]

I would wind-magic us through if I could see out the other side...

[She steps closer to him, tucking herself right under his arm so that she can feel him against her.]

Do not let go of me, whatever you do.

[It's her way of saying that she is just a little bit frightened of what might be lurking in these shadows, as she takes a very stiff step forward.]

[ramuhs]

[...He probably shouldn't think her cute like this, especially when there is very real danger here. But he'll hold her fast to him regardless.]

I won't.

[And with the light ever moving, they continue through the rocks. It's more like a small tunnel that they go through, a chill forming around them as Cid holds her a little tighter as their footsteps echo through the walls. So far the light doesn't reveal much of anything, but as they near the middle there will be a frigid wind and a ghastly wail that suddenly bursts through the tunnel, causing them to turn to each other to brace themselves as it passes through. Even the light momentarily flickers off, enveloping them in complete, freezing darkness, a chill that reaches all the way to the depths of their souls.

When it eventually passes, the light flickers back on and once more illuminates the dark tunnel.]

[garudas]

[It's so silent that if it were not for the sound of their matched breathing or her nervous heartbeat in her ear, or the steady dripping of water echoing through the rocks, she would think that all sound was stifled entirely. It's as if the light had been sucked out of this place, leaving them in complete darkness, with only this little light to guide them. She glances at him several times, gasps quietly when their footsteps are forced to change due to the rocky landscape, but so far, nothing is reaching out to grab them and pull them away...

All is well until that cold wind rushes through the tunnel, carrying with it a shriek that could put Garuda's to shame. She turns towards him, shielding her face in his shoulder against it, her fingers tightening around the collar of his jacket when the light flickers.

She tries to divert the wind herself, but by the time she manages to get a grasp on the magic, it all ends, and the light shimmers back to life again, and she looks around.]

... What was that?

>>> and now things are weird

[ramuhs]

[There's a moment of silence where Cid doesn't seem to respond, but then there's a lift of his lips as he turns towards her with a gaze that doesn't feel warm but not cold, either.]

A passing soul, perhaps?

[And then he leans a little closer, more of that familiar concern in his eyes.]

You all right?

[garudas]

Yes, I—

[When she catches sight of his expression and the way that he is leaning closer, she is taken aback a bit, leaning slightly away, her brow furrowing, eyes narrowing.]

I am fine.

[The words come slowly as she looks at him, her gaze taking a moment to adjust to the light.]

And you?