escordvi | closed 🪶⚡ all i really, really ever want is under the mistletoe

Why, I won't have to do anything. I'm certain they would know it better to either accept a handshake or run off if they know what's best for them.

However...

[After savoring her sweet little kisses, a hand reaches up to lightly touch her chin to momentarily stop her so their gazes meet.]

Should someone should be so bold and persist—[And she doesn't kill them first.]—then they might be in for a little shock.

[His levin trickles our then, slowly working its way over her lips, down her throat, and to her chest.]

[She makes the softest sound at that, a purr in the back of her throat when he forces her to look at him, and he earns yet another at that trickle of levin dancing over her skin. She so does love it when he stakes his claim, and being reminded of just how much he wishes to keep her to himself, if only because she feels the same.]

I am sure no one will be stupid enough to try, but in case they do, I will be sure to remind them.

[A little wind brushes against his cheek, her lips following after it, heat to chase away the cool.

And she is about to drag him in for another kiss when she hears a familiar hooting and flapping of wings coming down the corridor, and she pulls back enough to look only to find Bidowlfin flapping towards them.]

[There is still a hint of that possessiveness, and he would have gladly let her drag him further into it. With no one else around...no, even if there were other people, he would happily indulge in this warm, enticing bliss.

But just as his lips brush against hers, she pulls back at the sound of those wings. There is only the slightest furrow of his brows at the interruption before he looks up to follow her gaze. His expression softens upon seeing their not-so-little-anymore owl flying towards them before...

Hm?]

What's this? A friend?

[Another smaller owl seems to be flying with him...

Oh.

He can already sense what this could be—]

[Benedikta’s eyes immediately go to the new owl, and Cid will feel her stiffen against him. Bidowlfin flutters in a circle around them, hooting too wildly for Benedikta to decipher what he’s saying. The other owl, on the other hand, lands on the ground several feet away, its wings folding over itself as if shy.]

You know that we are not adopting a new one, yes?

[They already have so much on their plates right now!!!

She watches the owl before she reaches up to pluck him out of the air mid-flight, to which he kicks his legs and hoots indignantly at her, nipping at her fingers as if that will do anything. Hoot hoot hooooot hootle hoot—]

...He wants us to come inside with him. To sit down.

Inside, eh?

[He eyes the little owl with some curiosity before he nods and smiles.]

Shall we head up, then? Get a bit more privacy that way.

[He then crouches down closer to the smaller owl to hold out his hand.]

It's all right, I'll give you a lift.

[Biddy gives a hoot in affirmation, and so with Benedikta carrying him and Cid taking the smaller owl, they head up through the tunnels that take them to their home. From up there, they can see the party in full swing below from the ledge that overlooks the main part of the cave, with the food on the long dining tables and everyone gathered together, talking and laughing and even singing, their voices echoing through the caverns.

But they head inside, and once they are, Bidowlfin wriggles free from Benedikta's grasp and lands on the floor so that he can hop over to Cid.]

So, what is this news that you wish to tell us that we needed this privacy for?

[The whole walk back, Cid had been curiously watching their little guest, and the way her eyes focused on Bidowlfin did not go by unnoticed. Nor the way Bidowlfin was keen on rejoining his little "friend." Grinning a bit, he lets Bidowlfin hop up so that he now had both owls.

Immediately the smaller one hops over to Bidowlfin to cuddle against, and Bidowlfin visibly preens in pride before hooting introductions.]

[As all of this happens, Benedikta looks to Cid, then to Biddy, then to the little owl, and back to Cid, her eyes widening with disbelief as it all slowly starts to dawn on her.]

Wait, you are telling me that she is your... That you two are...?

[Bidowlfin chirps, and Benedikta's gaze whips back to Cid again, as if to ask if he is hearing this correctly. That she is.]

[What, he can't understand owl!! Though he didn't really need to know bird speak to understand.

So he just looks at Benedikta and at the owls a little smugly.]

It seems our little family is growing. And if we're lucky we may be grandparents.

[Oh that makes the little owl hoot and hide her face in Bidowlfin's wing in embarrassment as Bidowlfin squawks. DAD NO]

What—!?

[That certainly shot up Benedikta's voice several octaves in surprise.]

No, he is far too young for that. [She turns around to the owl]. You are far too young—

[Bidowlfin just HOOT HOOTS and flaps his wings in indignation while Cid watches a bit amused.]

It's true he seems young by our standards, but isn't he already an adult by an owl's?

[Hoot hoot!!

Yeeeeahhh Dad is on his side!! ~~this totally won't bite Cid later—~~]

[Something twinges in Benedikta's chest as she looks at the owl, and it makes her expression crumple into a pout.]

... But he is still so small.

[Mumbled under her breath as she turns away from the three of them in a huff.]

[Seeing her pout he can't help but chuckle quietly.]

I don't think he can grow any bigger. And he's bigger than her.

[As Bidowlfin hoot again, Cid pets them both before setting them to the side to go up to Benedikta.]

[The owls both follow him, and Benedikta stiffens as all three come up to her, her shoulders squaring in embarrassment at these conflicting feelings. Her eyes meet Cid's briefly before she turns away from him, too.]

... Where did the two of you meet?

[Bidowlfin starts to explain with a string of hoots, and Benedikta's lips press into a line as she starts to translate.]

Another family of owls lives on this island?

Is that so surprising? I'm sure there may be more scattered around.

[She glances at him again, and then at the owls, both of whom are watching her with eyes that are dangerously wide and pleading and cute, threatening her very put together demeanour.]

Oh, I do not doubt that. I suppose I just did not imagine...

[Bidowlfin hoots gently at them, and bumps the other owl with his wing.]

... But if he likes her.

[She is being so very cute right now, and honestly he can't really blame her for being so shocked. If something like this were to happen to Mid........

Cid will once more pick them up so that they can be held up closer to them.]

How about we learn a little more about her, hm? Does she have a name? How long ago did they meet?

[And then a sudden thought.]

Should we meet her parents?

[No, wait, maybe that doesn't matter with owls??]

[Bidowlfin hoots in protest at the last part.]

He was already nervous bringing her to us, let alone her parents.

[Which is kind of... sweet. The fact that he had come to them first? Was he not afraid of what Benedikta might say? Or was he waiting to see what they thought?

More hooting, as Benedikta reaches up to gently fix some feathers on the other owl as Cid holds them, going through the motions without much thought. The little owl ruffles and chirps, her eyes closing at the feeling just like Bidowlfin used to do when he was younger.]

Her name is Willow. ... After the willow tree?

[Hoot hoooot~]

[Watching Benedikta, he smiles fondly.]

Well then, an honor and pleasure to meet you, Willow. I trust you'll take care of Bidowlfin?

And if he ever crosses you, you can always fly over and tell us.

[A playful wink as Bidowlfin hoot hoots in protest!!!]

[Benedikta can't help but grin at that.]

Do try not to embarrass him in front of his woman, Cidolfus...

What, s'only natural, innit?

[He ruffles Bidowlfin's head feathers with a grin.]

Our little chick all grown up, eh?

[Bidowlfin's feathers puff out at him, and he screeches when the ones on his head are all ruffled out of place.]

Perhaps a little too quickly, I think. It was not even a year ago we found him, was it?

[Willow looks between them all, hooting curiosity in question.]

[He just chuckles as Bidowlfin tries to peck as Cid's fingers, and the owl hoots more when Cid gently brushes Willow's back.]

Aye, day we found the Roost. And such a wee one he was.

[He looks up to Benedikta.]

If it weren't for you he wouldn't be here.

[It's her turn to bristle a bit in embarrassment, especially so when Bidowlfin hoots in his agreement, chirping about how much he loves them both...]

I very much doubt that. You would have found him sooner than later. You've a very frustrating way of sniffing out those who need a place.

[She looks down to the owls.]

But it was a blessing. I am glad that we did.

[If they hadn't... well, she doesn't want to think about that, and sensing her thoughts, Bidowlfin pecks at her now, making her hand retract away from them.]

If only he would stop causing us so much trouble.

[He looks down at Bidowlfin, recalling it all and how frantic Benedikta had been. Truly, if she had not had heard him, it would have been too late...

But he just smiles a bit and means down closer to Willow who hoots curiously as he speaks just loud enough for Benedikta to hear—]

Takes after his mother.

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