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

[It is very much impossible to get out, but she cannot stop grinning or giggling, her cheeks hurting both from the cold snow and her smile. Somehow, falling into the snow with him has lifted her mood. Who would have thought?]

I think we have been in worse messes before. Though this snow is proving to be as formidable an enemy as those behemoths we used to hunt...

[She waves off the people that have come over to check on them at first so that she can stubbornly try to get up on her own, only to fall further in, her skis hitting and getting tangled in each other again. Yes, they might actually need the help—]

The behemoths were easier.

[Another laugh as he feels them more tangled.]

Give it up, love! Just get some people to pull us out!

I was trying—

[Nope. She doesn't even get to finish that before she's almost faceplanting into the snow, and already, people are moving in to offer their hands to pull them up, some taking Benedikta by her arms to help her when she stubbornly tries again.

They set her right and pull Cid up to his feet, and once they have thanked the people that have helped them up and have sent them off, she immediately leans against him and brushes the snow from his hair.]

You are still sure this is a good idea?

[He'll be very grateful once they're out, and now back alone he just chuckles as Benedikita continues to fuss over him.]

What, it was just one mishap. Surely you don't want to give up now, do you?

[A challenging grin.]

[She bristles and blows some snow away from his face.]

Of course not.

[How dare he insinuate that she would give up so soon!?]

I merely wanted to be certain that you were alright to continue, old man.

[Said with utmost fondness of course, as she brushes her fingers through his hair to get the rest of the snowflakes out.]

I've taken worse falls.

[And he'll brush off the snow from her hair and shoulders, tucking a few ruffled strands back in their place.]

But right, let's work on that stopping more before we try again.

[She makes a noise at that, back to pouting again as he brushes his fingers over her hair.]

You mean my stopping.

[A little sigh before she's taking one of his hands in her own so that they can shuffle back towards the hill together. They might as well keep practicing there—as much as she hates the idea of making a fool of herself again, she is not going to learn how to stop by simply sliding along the flatter ground, is she? And it's not like she can simply give up. She can be stubborn about things, and giving in too easily is something that she will be stubborn about today.

So up they go again, slowly but surely. At least they have gotten used to moving around in them, it really is just moving like penguins, waddling along. It feels a little silly to her, but it's the most effective way to do so. She'd rather that than end up in the snow again.

Famous last words, of course.

It takes a few more tries, going down and back up and down again, before she finally gets the hang of stopping and steering properly. Of course Cid is a natural, she had no doubt about that, but when she finally does start moving a little quicker, and knows to stop just a foot in front of him, spraying him with snow just because she figured out she could, she can't help but smile proudly at herself, and at him when she reaches the bottom after her last successful attempt.]

Well? I told you I was a fast learner.

[As she goes, he's also practicing a bit more himself, though it does seem he has a better hang of it. Perhaps because he's used to zipping around and crouching along the ground. As such, once he's gotten a better idea, he tries to give her some tips and advice as he watches her, all of which she repays him with that shower of snow at the end.

Still, he just laughs and looks at her with a bit of pride after wiping off some of that snow (thank goodness for these ski googles he's wearing).]

Should we try together then? And then the larger slope?

[She beams at him, shuffling over to help brush some of that snow off—no thanks to her.]

Together?

[Her brows arch in surprise, and pretty sure she's misreading what he means...]

You mean as in holding hands?

[There's a slight look of confusion before he laughs.]

Might be a bit much for us. I was just thinking side by side.

[But she is very cute for thinking such a thing.]

Oh.

[Embarrassed by that little misunderstanding, she averts her gaze and clears her throat.]

Right, of course. Yes, let us do that.

[A glance up at the little hill, and then back at him.]

First one to reach the bottom is the winner?

[If it wasn't so much trouble he would have stepped up to her and kissed her nose for how cute she's being, but for now he just smiles with that gleam of mirth and fondness in his eyes.]

Just try not to crash.

[And he'll lead their waddling way back up the hill.]

[She does quite miss those little kisses, but she will be sure to make him make up for it later.]

I should be saying the same to you.

[Actually no, he's doing far better than she is, but what is a little teasing as they start to waddle up the hill. And once they reach the top—]

How about to that snowbank over there.

[The same one that they fell into before.]

[He just laughs at her teasing, and once they are back up the hill he looks down to the snowbank where that hole they made is quite clear.]

Aye, just stop before hitting it.

Well, of course.

[Her eyes flare up with that competitive spirit, and although this is the "practice" run, she is ready and raring to go.]

On my go, then. Three, two, one—

[She doesn't even say go before she's pushing herself off and down. Of course she doesn't go flying like some of the other people do, but it's enough that she picks up a bit of speed already!]

[Wow!? There's a scoff before he's pushing off after her, and it doesn't take too long for him to pick up speed to catch up to her.

However.

Because he was so focused on her, he doesn't hear another person coming at him before it's too late.

"Watch out!!"

It's a desperate cry from another beginner skier who had lost control and was careening right towards him. A loud shout escapes Cid as he quickly tries to lean over away, narrowly avoiding collision. However, he ends up going towards Benedikta, his pole catching hers in his reckless haste.]

[They slide down the hill side by side at a relatively leisurely pace, and when he appears beside her, she only grins at him before she starts to pick up her speed a little more—

The voice comes at her as quickly as her reflexes can act. There's a sudden spray of snow, something knocking against one of the poles in her hands, and that alone is enough to send her careening in that direction—into Cid's direction—as she lets it go. The two of them stumble sideways into the snow, and oh how she wishes she'd chosen to wear those unwieldy goggles because she gets smacked with a face full of it.]

Cidolfus!?

[That's all she manages as they slide down the rest of the way together, Benedikta's hands reaching and gripping for purchase on any part of him that she can manage to find, and it just so happens that it's his leg—]

[It's just a mess of a tumble, with her too low for him to grab and all he can do is just brace for the impact as they hit the snow hard. When they finally stop, even with the padding of their coats he can feel where the bruises will likely form later as he lies there on his back for a moment before groaning.]

You all right?

[She is almost completely buried in snow by the time they stop, and when his voice reaches her, she sits up from beneath the pile of white with a matching groan, all of it sloughing off her to create a heap at her waist.]

I am fine... A bit sore... Though nothing quite as sore as my pride.

[She looks around for him only to find him behind her, and she frees his leg from her grip so that she can turn to him.]

Are you?

I'll be feeling it in the morning.

[A wince before he slowly raises himself up on his elbows.]

But nothing broken so that's a start.

[That person who had flown past them is long gone, having disappeared beneath the next hill, or else she would have had several words to say. At least the snow is padded enough now from their fall that it isn't difficult for them to get up. She crawls over to him and slumps onto his lap.]

It would seem that it is just our luck for something to go awry just when we are getting the hang of things.

[Now sitting up, he just laughs wryly at her words and starts brushing off some of the snow off her.]

It would appear so. However, it just means we have to persevere and push through adversity.

[She brought a lot of snow with her.]

I am starting to wonder if it is the hill that we have chosen...

[Brush brush brush.]

Hmmm, true. This is the beginner's slope so it's not surprising we'll have others to contend. I wouldn't say we've advanced so much more, but...

[He looks around towards the next hill marked for skiing.]

Perhaps we can try over there. It has the beginner's flags but doesn't seem as crowded.

Perhaps less people to steer themselves into us as well.

[She follows his gaze with a nod of approval.]

I think we have practiced here enough. Shall we?

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