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

[He just rolls his eyes before he sits in closer to her.]

Something like that. They called it a "dimensional pocket," but don't ask me how it works.

How did you know my next question...

[Slowly, she slides the rings off before she accidentally "pockets" anything else and sets them aside.]

They will certainly come in handy should we ever have another job like that again. Or... handy in general.

[As expected by now, she leans forward and kisses him again in gratitude. Despite its softness, there is a hint of mischief in her eyes, the gears turning in her head on all sorts of things she could use this for.]

They are just what I needed. Thank you.

[Oh he can see those pretty little gears turning, but he knew they would and he just chuckles.]

I hope I don't come home to a new "nest" of treasures or I'll hhave to start calling you my little "crow."

[She hums thoughtfully before she shakes her head.]

Mm, does not have quite the same ring to it. Though, crows are quite clever. Besides...

[There's a brush of her nose against his.]

Would you really say no to a nest full of treasures?

[It's going to happen. Just you wait.]

Well I am looking forward to some kind of nest.

[A playful smirk as he looks into her eyes. He couldn't help himself to make the little "nesting" joke here.]

[She smacks him on the arm.]

Enough of that.

[It's embarrassing, and doubly so when she is three (or was it four???) glasses of wine into the night, and she will shove his next gift—the box—into his arms.]

[He just laughs at that and takes the box.]

Who knows, maybe this time next year I'll need to buy for more—

[She breaks those words off with another firm but playful kiss, her cheeks flushing deeper and her heart fluttering at the thought of that.]

Or you can continue to spoil me.

[But she motions to the box one more time.]

Now open it.

[Another chuckle as he can't help but smirk at her a little before he gives the box a little shake before starting to open it.]

I wonder what it could be...

[As he gives that box a shake (though nothing will wiggle inside) and starts to open it, Benedikta's entire demeanour shifts. She may not have gotten him much this year, but this is the bread and butter of her gifts, and she had not realized how nervous she was feeling about it until he had started to tear away that wrapping paper. Her shoulders are tense, her back straight and stiff, her face reddening still as she watches his fingers.

While he does that, she picks up the velvet satchel that's sitting beside her and holds it between her own hands.

When he pulls off the lid of the little black box, inside of it will be a handcrafted knife made of steel in the shape of a feather, the hilt of it black, with a silver button at the end of it. Embedded inside the blade is a small, green crystal that shimmers lightly.]

[Cid wasn't sure what to expect, but it certainly wasn't this. He marvels at the blade as he carefully picks it up and turns it over.]

Is this a real knife?

[And that button doesn't go unnoticed, but he's looking over everything.]

It is.

[Her voice has suddenly gone quiet, but she watches him anyway through her lashes, her fingers fidgeting with the cords of the satchel on her lap.]

I had it crafted at the Starmetal Forge.

[She knows he knows Darin, so she needn't explain more on that.]

And there is a reason it looks like that. [The feather, she means. It is not exactly his sort of "motif", so to speak. Likely something she would choose for herself, yes?] The crystal inside can be imbued with a certain kind of magic. And I suppose you could guess simply by looking at it what magic that might be...

[His eyes widened at that, surprised that she mentioned Darin's forge for a number of reasons. But at her mention of the magic, he looks it over again and takes a guess.]

...Wind?

[She gives a small nod, one corner of her lip quirking slightly, and while she does not say anything, she demonstrates. She brushes her fingers over the blade, touching the crystal, and allows some of her magic to trickle out from her fingertips. The metal shimmers around its edges, and it all coalesces into the crystal at the blade's center, its glow brightening as it stores more of that magic.]

My wind.

[Of course it could hold the magic of others, but she would very much prefer it if it were only hers that it drew from and that he would use. It is her gift to him.]

So that you always have a little of it in your pocket.

[He's left traces of his own magic with her, primarily with the music box that even now he recharges when it's running low. But for her to give her her wind and in a form of a weapon... Even if it's a knife, it's clear what messages she is trying to send, and he can only look at her with a bit of wonder as his fingertips run over the crystal. He's half-tempted to add his own in there, but there is something to having it just be purely hers.]

I'd say I would treasure it, but that would defeat its purpose. So instead I will be sure to use it well, and come back to you should I ever need more of your wind.

[Ideally he should never have to, but there could be uses that aren't necessarily from dire circumstances.

So he smiles and leans in to kiss her softly on the lips.]

Thank you, Benna.

[She can see the understanding in his eyes, and she feels it in the softness of that kiss he presses to her lips. It is a beautiful blade, and it would look wonderful on a mantle or on the edge of his desk, but he is right. It would defeat the purpose of it. It is meant to protect him when she is not there to do so herself. And should he have it on him, so too will he keep a piece of her with him as well. Something for him to utilize alongside his magic should he even need it is the hope.

Her fingers caress his face as she returns the kiss, but before he can move on to the next gift, she pulls back from him just far enough that she can look down.]

There is one more thing.

[The velvet satchel on her lap that she hands him. And when he opens it, there will be another knife in there, although this one is carefully wrapped in silk. Unlike his, this one is more jagged—in the shape of a lightning bolt, with its hilt more decorative, carved with leaves around it. A more feminine knife.

Only this one has a purple stone in the blade, but it is missing its magic.

Surely he can take a guess as to what this is, and she looks up at him, hopeful.]

[He's surprised once more when she hands him the satchel, and then upon seeing the knife and realizing the weight and length of it would be better for a smaller fighter like a woman, recognition and understanding fills his eyes as he looks at her.

But instead of asking or saying anything, he just grins a bit before the blue and purple light of his levin sparks from his fingertips and then passes over the stone, filling it to light it up. Now he is really glad he didn't try to mix his magic as this is much better.]

A matching set.

[He hands it to her.]

[All of the heat rushes up into her cheeks as she watches the light of his levin dance across the metal. For this, she wishes that she hadn't had so many glasses of wine so that she could better commit that look on his face to memory, but it also serves to give her that bit of confidence that keeps her from hiding away from him when she takes it back.

It feels warm to the touch, just like his lightning always does. Her fingers close around the hilt, and she smiles more fully, a happiness bubbling up.

She is just happy that he likes them.]

As it always should be, yes?

[Like them. A matching set. Opposites, yet also complementary in every way.

Now, with that confidence returning, she shows him the same button on her blade.]

These are a failsafe. Should you ever wish to trigger the magic or stop it, you may use this. I cannot take credit for this idea, although I wish I could.

[He holds up his knife to compare the buttons on the hilt, nodding.]

I wondered and guessed it would have something to do with some kind of magic release. Certainly something Darin would think of.

[He smiles at her.]

But even so, these are perfect. Makes the sword I gave you pale in comparison.

[And he can feel some relief that a part of him will be with her and hopefully protect her.]

That is not true.

[She quickly sets her knife down and kisses him, not wanting him to think that his gift to her is any less. A gift is a gift, and even more so when it is from him.]

I had wanted a new sword anyway. I am looking forward to seeing how I can use it.

[She really is. A funny thing to be excited for, but when they do the work that they do, a new sword is just as exciting as any other gift someone else might be thrilled about.]

Now you're just saying that to make me feel better.

[But his eyes shine as he also sets the knife down to put his arms around her and pull her in for another kiss.]

Do I need to buy you weapons instead of jewelry now?

[She chuckles and shakes her head, her nose nuzzling against his.]

No. What am I going to do with a collection of swords? I quite like the jewelry you get me.

Mmm, what about a jewel that can conjure a sword?

[His lips brush over hers, the taste of that wine still on her breath enticing.]

[Her arms wrap around his shoulders, happy to pull him back in for another sweet kiss.]

Is such a thing even possible? And I suppose that depends on the sword.

Well if they can pull things into some pocket dimension then I don't see how it couldn't.

[But he just laughs quietly as he continues to look at her with that deep fondness and shine in his eyes.]

What kind of sword would you want?

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