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

[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.

[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.

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.

[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.]

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.]

[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.

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.]

[...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.]

[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?

[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?

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?

Right as rain.

[And just smiling, one that some might deem charming were it not for the situation at hand.]

But we better hurry lest we be caught again.

[And already his hand slides down from her shoulder to her lower back before gently pushing her forward as he starts to walk.]

[It is, indeed, very charming... and for the moment, she just chalks it up to him trying to be reassuring and not let her fret so much. She does smile gratefully at him, even if her gaze does linger on his eyes for a moment too long, but she isn't given much time to think about it as he pushes her forward, guiding her after the light.]

If you are sure...

[Another glance back at him, and something uneasy sets in her stomach. What, she is not sure, but she reaches around in search of his hand again.]

Not much further, I think. I see light up ahead.

[Her hand will brush against his, and usually he's quick to take it. But there's a moment delay before she'll feel that firm hold of his, a hold that...somehow does not feel as warm as it usually is. Perhaps it's still cold from that sudden frigid blast from earlier, and he is wearing leather gloves...

And soon they are out of the tunnel, though the light is still dim with its dark, red "skies." Cid looks up then, a strange expression on his face as if studying it as he also remains strangely silent.]

[Benedikta peers down at their hands. Even through their gloves, it feels a little odd. The fact that he'd delayed at all was what drew her attention to it, her bared fingers feeling cold in those few seconds that she waited.

She's silent for the rest of their walk, but so is he, which is the stranger part. Usually he tries to say or do something to help, to remind her that he is there, his presence sturdy when she is otherwise feeling uneasy. It is probably nothing, but it is unbearably noticeable until they reach the end and come out the other side back into the dim light of the red "sky".]

It feels even more ominous than before...

[A low mutter to herself before she looks to him, caught off guard by the silent way he's staring up at it.]

... Is everything alright?

[Another moment, another strange delay before he looks after as if noticing her for the first time in a while. And then again a smile forms, one that seems familiar yet distant.]

Of course. Perhaps just feeling a little tired from that fight before.

[He then squeezes her hand, and the odd stiffness fading as a more familiar smile of reassurance forms.]

No need to worry so much, my dear.

[A smile that feels familiar in all the wrong ways, yet she can't quite put her finger on it. She stops, that little light flickering and blinking as if trying to get her attention, but something is not quite right here. There is a strange feeling in her chest that she can't quite shake off.

Especially when he calls her that.]

Cidolfus...?

[Confusion creeps into her voice, and she pulls him closer, trying to draw him into the light even as it moves. Trying to get a better look at him and figure out why she feels so on edge.]

You did not get any more of that black stuff on you while we were in there? We can find a place to sit if you need to rest.

[He lets her pull him closer to the light, and he just seems to look at her curiously.]

Not that I'm aware. I'm just ready to return to our home...away from these oppressive skies.

[And another light smile.]

[Something is not right. There are loud alarm bells going off in Benedikta's head, but she does not know where the alarms are sounding from. The way that he smiles, the way he speaks, it lacks that easiness that it always carries when he is trying to reassure her. That boyish charm.

It lacks a feeling of safety as she stares up at him, eyes flitting madly across his face trying to find the answer.]

Home...

[She wriggles in his grasp, almost like she is about to pull away from him. Something sharp pricks at her mind, and it makes the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end, but she shakes it off.]

... What is so oppressive about these skies?

[A hand will reach up to gently brush against her cheek as he just gives a light grin.]

You can feel it, too, can't you? That heavy atmosphere.

[He then steps in a little closer as his eyes soften, gently tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear as he gazes down at her with that familiar warmth.]

Come now, you should be worrying more about yourself—you're as pale and shaken as a leaf in winter. Once we get back to the Depths we can take a small rest before returning to the ship.

[The sudden brush of his hand on her cheek startles her, the gesture too gentle for a place like this. Yet, abrupt as it is, she can't help but lean into it with a soft exhale, the rough leather of his glove familiar and somehow comforting. She stares up at him for a heartbeat more before her eyes flutter closed.]

... Alright.

[There's a wary strain to her voice, and a tilt of her head as she opens her eyes again to search his face.]

But only a short rest. I do not wish to stay in this place much longer. And I am worried for you, too. You are acting a little...

[She shakes her head, cutting it off. He must just be tired.]

[He just shakes his head with that reassuring smile.]

As I told you, I'm just—

[At that moment he grimaces, a hand going to his head as he seems to suffer some sort of pain before he coughs.]

[Her stomach drops when he starts to cough, her hand wrapping around his wrist as if to keep him steady, the other around his shoulder. Mixed in with her worry is a pointed look.]

And you told me that you were fine after all of that. You are clearly not.

[A stern tone that fades with a sigh.]

Do I need to carry you back up there?

[He gives her a wry smile as he takes a few breaths, hand gripping his shoulder.]

And put you through it? Nah, I can make it. Just had a moment tis all.

[After one last squeeze of his shoulder and a clearing of his throat, he straightens up with a wider smile as if to reassure her. His hand even finds hers to take with a warm squeeze.]

Now c'mon. We'll breathe easier once we're out of here.

[Her eyes go to the hand at his shoulder, and then back to him, a brow raising questioningly, but she doesn't say anything.]

... Alright. But we will take it slow.

[He is in a bit of a hurry, isn't he? She is too, but...]

No sense in tiring ourselves out before we even get up there.

Edited 2024-11-30 23:16 (UTC)

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>>> and now things are weird

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