escordvi | closed 🪶 i'm in the end, just what you made me.

[Her eyes had shut at some point, relishing in that heat and the silent calm that had washed over her, Benedikta relieved more than anything that she can already feel that power dwindling. Not gone entirely—still enough that she can sense Garuda's presence, but not enough that she should be as terrified of it as she had been in these few days.

But... she would be lying if she said she didn't feel that... whatever that was. Garuda always calmed in the storms, which was part of how Benedikta came to love them so much, but what she felt when that spark had electrified her skin was different. Unusual, though not... terrible.

Almost as if the Eikon herself was drawn to that burst of shared aether.

It still doesn't make it any less strange, or slightly awkward when she realizes that Garuda might have actually enjoyed that feeling as much as she had...

The harpy can't have everything. ESPECIALLY NOT THIS.

But when he says that—]

He?

[—she snaps her eyes open to stare at him, her confusion mirroring his.]

You felt Ramuh, too?

...I did.

[He's again trying to process this...]

Not...a lot, but there was some kind of reaction to... That reaction.

[The burst of aether.

Just going to rub his face for a moment.]

Was that really Garuda?

[Well, when he says it like that... Benedikta's face twists for only a moment into something of... disgust and a little bit of ire that she would take advantage of a moment like that. But to have Ramuh react as well? She thought the old man more mature and controlled than that—]

Yes. That much I know.

[And while some of it was Benedikta, she is absolutely certain on that part. She doesn't know what it means, entirely, but she's not sure she wants to know what that flutter was.]

A swell of aether, and then... [Her heart comes to her chest, her brow furrowing.] She's gone. ... And? What of Ramuh?

Edited 2023-11-23 15:40 (UTC)

Would be better if she stayed gone...

[Low mutter before he furrows his brows.]

But I'm not sure. It was more of a pulse, a small tap of his presence before it was gone.

[He rubs his chin, thinking.]

Only other time I felt something like that was when you almost primed before.

Why, though?

[Benedikta lifts herself up again, propping herself on her elbow to look down at him.]

Ramuh is not often so impulsive, is he? Reacting to Garuda is not something I recall ever happening before.

[And Garuda reacting to Ramuh, or Cidolfus in such a way, either. She knows that she shares aether with the Eikon, but to have it be so much? He has used his levin to calm her before, but it never came with that burst of her energy that it did this time, nor has it ever called forth a wind.]

No... This is definitely, uh, new.

[And a little disturbing, really.]

Is it because we're in a different world...?

[That's the only thing he can think of. Well, and both of them having died once before. But that shouldn't affect their Eikons reacting to each other...]

Or should we try and see if they react to the others?

No.

[Her answer is immediate, her hand reaching for his again to wrap around it, a light tickle of wind spilling from her fingertips as she presses his to her chest once more, her eyes sparking with just a touch of possessiveness.]

Just us, Cidolfus.

[Just her. No one else.]

[There's a slight look of surprise before it changes to one of amusement with a light smirk, his fingertips pressing more against her soft skin as she'll feel a small buzz of levin.]

Just us, then.

[Cute.]

I could still ask Clive and Jill, see if they have a similar reaction with their own Eikons.

[Is she going to protest that, too—maybe he wants her to, with the way his eyes gleam as if he's deliberately trying to provoke her.]

[She is going to protest to it—firmly—as her fingers move to thread together more tighter with his.]

No.

[Whether or not those two know of this reaction of their Eikons didn't matter, she would rather it remain a secret between them... much like the wind and the lightning dancing together between their fingertips. Never mind that she doesn't want them, especially, to know of her and Cidolfus.

Even less so that she wants them—or anyone—to know that Garuda had that sort of reaction to him. It's horrifying and embarrassing, and she moves to bury her face back into his neck, scowling when she feels a flush at the realization.

Garuda had liked it.

Which has her even more ashamed and just a little annoyed...]

...Should it happen again, could I...?

[Her voice trails off, the implication there but not voiced.]

[He knew she would answer that way, so he just chuckles. Honestly he also likes how this is their own little secret... Especially knowing even with her being with others, he's the only one who can give her this spark.

And ignoring Garuda's own reactions.

But his expression softens just a bit as he strokes the back of her head.]

Of course. [And then moving his face closer to continue in a low voice.] And if it doesn't.

[She feels ridiculous, asking him for help, of all people. Even more ridiculous that it actually worked and is the only thing that does. Plunging her sword into something else only made it worse, finding other ways to distract herself only made her seek Benedikta's attention more, and she had been at a loss. Ever since the gallows, she hasn't been able to find a way to quell her... until now.

Until her lips met his, and the storm inside her finally simmered.

What it means, she has no idea, but she thinks she might be better off not asking questions... lest Garuda reawaken long enough to answer them, and she will find she doesn't like what she has to say.

That he would be the only person who could do anything about it, though...

More and more, she realizes how much he had been a crutch to her in the past, and as much as she absolutely despises it, he still is. That resentment still makes it difficult for her to fully reach out to him, to give herself fully to his levin, but...

No.

She screws her eyes shut and tries not to think it.

Peaches, peaches, peaches...]

We should get up.

[They should, but she's going to feel a slow ripple of his levin coasting down her spine.]

Sure you don't want to try again...? See if something else can happens?

[And another pulse to trickle further down the length of her body.]

[When she feels that shock, her body arches all the way up into him, a low moan drifting over his ear where her lips rest, and he'll hear her click her tongue.]

You are not doing this to see if something else happens...

[Cheater.]

[That sound makes his smirk deepen and he only answers with with a teasing brush of his fingertips down at her hips.]

And if I am?

Edited 2023-11-23 18:34 (UTC)

[A light shudder and goosebumps trail in the wake of his fingertips, her nerves slowly reigniting one by one all over again, and it's at times like this when she wonders if he knows exactly what he does to her. With the way she can feel his smile widen, she can hazard a guess...]

I suppose that depends on the sort of reaction you are looking for...

[A trembling sigh against his neck, and she tries to rein it all back in.]

We cannot stay here forever.

[That is her way of saying that they really should get up. That she should get up because she is feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment, not by Garuda, but by the realizations that have come forth because of her.]

[Just a slow swirl of his fingertips over her skin... Before they drum more playfully.]

I think otherwise, but. I'll let you win. This time.

[Just another smirk before he runs his hands over her one last time before he lets her free. Well, she does have to get off of him first given that she's half on him.]

[She almost regrets saying so now that he's agreed, especially when his hands roam over her one last time and she's forced to savour that feeling, brief as it is, before it's gone. She knows, too, that the moment they go their separate ways, the sound of the harpy's screams will only return, and she will return, louder and angrier than they were before.

...

But she cannot keep running to him about it hoping that he will soothe it. No matter how many times he tries to reassure her that she could... Eventually, even his presence will do nothing.

With a low hum of her disapproval and a thoughtful frown hidden away, she pushes herself up from the bed, the sheets sliding over her skin and away, and she leans down to pick up his shirt from the floor...]

And what of next time?

[... so that she can toss it at his face.]

[Annnnd just going to roll over onto his side to watch, head propped up against his hand. She had her show last time, now it's his turn to enjoy the views.]

Next time you might not have a choice.

[Back turned, she can still feel his eyes on her as she stands. He will get a bit of a show, as she smirks, bends forward, and picks up her own clothes that had been messily discarded to the floor. She doesn't put them back on though, and instead goes to the drawers to find fresh, clean things to wear. For a moment, she deliberates, digging through until she pulls out a particularly thin lacy green underwear that she slips on.]

Oh?

[She lets the band snap against her hip.

To the wardrobe with some fine leathers to pick from, but first, she points to his shirt on the bed.]

Get dressed before I change my mind.

If you mean "change your mind and come back to bed" then not really a very convincing threat.

[Should he tempt her? Only works if she's looking at him, though...

A smirk as he just shoots a small snap of levin at her ass.]

[A poor threat indeed.]

I meant changing my mind about—

[She is rudely interrupted when she feels a heat springing from her behind, right through her cheeks and up into her spine, and it sends her reeling forward with a loud cry of surprise so that she crashes into the wardrobe, forcing herself to brace against the doors of it so she doesn't completely fall in. Though, she very nearly does, her head disappearing a moment into the hanging leathers inside.

The whole wardrobe rattles when she whirls around to stare a million daggers at him.]

Cidolfus!

[DON'T ZAP A DIGNIFIED LADY??

And there's a sudden burst of wind in retaliation, strong enough to blow his hair back and the sheets away from him.]

[He's laughing, her reaction far more than what he expected, but then it's cut when she blasts that wind of her...

...

And completely exposes him.

Well.

He's just gonna stretch out a bit here—]

Thanks for that, was starting to feel a bit warm.

[Even through all of her pouting, she stares at him, getting caught up in the way that his muscles move before she remembers herself and tears her eyes away.]

You are certainly much looser with your mouth than you used to be. And your magic.

[Just a lot of loud noises coming from the wardrobe as she searches for something to wear, all of her frustration with him being taken out on the poor clothes hangers.

But it hasn't escaped her notice, either. He has been more... playful here than she remembers him being. Annoyingly so, but it's different. Never mind him flinging his lightning at her ass when she isn't looking, but beyond that, too. And while she hasn't seen him with others, he has become more daring with her.

That stupid smug smile of his.]

Hmm... Suppose living the free life as an outlaw does that.

[Less rules, less formalities. And enough rough life where humor and levity is the only way to keep going.]

And if there is one good use for my magic it's for you.

[Not like it uses much of his aether to begin with. With or without the curse he would have used it for that. A worthy sacrifice—

But he'll start to get up now, grabbing his clothes to start dressing himself.]

You have always had a knack for breaking the rules.

[Those rules being the ones of her bedroom. Unstated rules but rules nonetheless, the very first and most important one being: Do not zap Benedikta with lightning unless she asks for it.

She yanks a lace-up top from the hanger and slides it over her head, and she crosses the room to him as he begins to dress, stopping him only for a moment, a hand resting over his.]

But this is not your little hideaway.

[She frees him, and saunters back a pace to start lacing up her shirt.]

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