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

[garudas]

Who: Cidolfus Telamon & Benedikta Harman.
Status: Closed.
Where: Around places.
What: Cid and Benedikta follow a lead and sneak into a fancy holiday party. Event stuff TBA.
Warnings: it's them, what do you want from me



🥂 🎄 ❄️

Comments

[garudas]

Now what is that supposed to mean?

[Could he be referring to all those nights that she had tried to sneak around the castle to meet him?]

I was well-behaved.

[ramuhs]

[Yes.]

Were you?

[His voice is now low against her ear.]

I recall a little bird always slipping through my window some nights.

[garudas]

[He'll feel her shiver against his voice and his breath tickling her ear.]

And I recall a certain window always being open, as if you were waiting.

[She moves, tipping her head so that she can brush her lips against his, soft and sweet and tasting of apples and peaches.]

... But this was different.

[ramuhs]

How so?

[He keeps the little play going, only letting their lips brush and nothing more.]

[garudas]

[She sighs against his lips, her body relaxing a little further into his.]

... It has only been less than a year since we found him. Does it not feel like it is all moving a little too quickly?

[ramuhs]

For us, perhaps...

[He presses a light kiss against the corner of her lips.]

But for an owl, he's already near a young adult. I think this is about the time he would leave the nest had he still been living with his original family in the wild.

[garudas]

Mm...

[She hums in agreement. She already knew that he would one day leave, but she would be lying if she said she wasn't a little sad about it.]

I suppose I just did not think it would be so soon.

[She gives a shake of her head, and a click of her tongue.]

So silly.

[ramuhs]

What is?

[He has a very good guess what she is actually referring to but he's doing his thing in making her say it.]

[garudas]

[Why must he do this...

It will take her a few more seconds to answer, as she shifts a little uncomfortably in his arms at having to voice it out loud. But she has a feeling he is not going to let her run away from it.]

He is just an owl. I do not know why I am so... [She makes a sound, before mumbling under her breath with a tone of disdain aimed at herself.] ... Sad.

[ramuhs]

[There's just a quiet huff of air against her ear as he lightly brushes his lips against it.]

Because you practically raised. It would be stranger if you were not sad about it.

[garudas]

[She finally turns around in his arms to face him, leaving the door open... just in case.]

This does not mean that I am not happy for him...

[She stares at Cid for a breath, and then lets her gaze drop.]

I am glad that he found a... fellow owl to bond with.

[ramuhs]

[He looks down at her for a moment before he reaches up to brush her hair away from her face.]

As am I.

[garudas]

[Her head tilts into his hand, but she finds it within herself to look up at him.]

You do not seem saddened by him leaving...

[ramuhs]

[A quiet, low hum.]

I wouldn't say I'm not at all. I'll surely miss him perching on my head and handing me my tools.

[A quiet laugh.]

Perhaps I'm more proud than sad.

[garudas]

[She snorts under a breath, her lips pulling into a fonder smile.]

Do you remember how small he was when we had found him...? He fit into your palm.

[ramuhs]

[A quiet chuckle.]

Aye, such a wee little thing, and a squirmer. Had to do all I could to make sure he didn't slip out into the water.

[garudas]

Mmm.

[She plucks at the cords of his shirt.]

How you would fit him in here to keep warm, once he had gotten used to you. It really does feel like it was only yesterday when you were teaching him the ways of the world, passing on your wisdom. Or myself teaching him to fly...

[ramuhs]

It really wasn't that long ago, truly.

[A quiet smile.]

Just a few months... But so much has happened in that time, too. For him, and for us.

[garudas]

Perhaps that is why...

[She gives a little tug on the string, but it is more an idle action than anything else.]

Far too much has happened for us in that time, too.

[Garuda, the Abyss, Ultima, and several injuries later, here they are.]

And now you are talking to him about having his own children?

[ramuhs]

Well...

[He leans in a little closer, hands gently sliding down her sides, but it's more of a soothing action as his voice softens.]

Weren't we talking about our own not that long ago?

[garudas]

Yes, but that is different.

[Everything is different, because Bidowlfin is still a baby!!!]

That would make us... [She lowers her voice, as if breathing the word itself would bring upon them a curse, but there is the slightest hint of mirth in her gaze.] ... Grandparents.

[ramuhs]

[He's an adult!!

But at that he just laughs, hugging her closer.]

And? Something wrong with that?

[garudas]

[He'll catch sight of her stare before she buries her face into his shoulder.]

Yes, I am far too young and beautiful to be Grandma Owl.

[ramuhs]

[Another laugh as he nuzzles the top of her hair.]

And what of me?

[garudas]

[She hums, contemplative, as if she has to pause to think of her answer, and as she chuckles quietly, her arms slide around his shoulders.]

I think you are just right.