melodiesoflife | When I’m scared I want to hear you shout out

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When I’m scared I want to hear you shout out

Who: Tear Grants & Ace
What: Tear had promised to explain what had happened while Ace was gone, and now it's time to fulfil it.
When: February 7th
Where: House B-14
Warning: Strong Feelings and likely death mention. Also, chocobos.

There was no measuring the immense relief Tear had felt when Ace's letter had arrived to her the night before, reassuring her that he had returned safely from his trip. She had read it over and over since receiving it, perhaps too many times, given the folds of the paper she held were now entirely flat as she sat in the sitting room of her home, waiting for any indication of his arrival just as he had promised.

Yet even with the few extra days to think about it, the girl was still somewhat at a loss for how to deliver all the information he had asked for. As much as she would have wanted to plan it, the nature of such a truth meant that there was no guarantee their conversation would go in the direction she had prepared for. Knowing this, all she could do was hope she was that she would have the strength to continue through with it no matter what happened, in delivering the knowledge he deserved to know.

However, the anxiety still twists her stomach uncomfortable when she hears someone approaching, setting down the letter and rising to her feet to answer the door. Before she does, she takes a few breaths to calm herself enough in order to face him—what would it do to him if she had insisted he go, only to return and find her in such a state? It would be almost cruel to do that.

Only when she has eased her nerves enough and he made his presence known does she open the door, a faint smile of relief ready on her lips.

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Patient as he were throughout the explanation, the feeling of disbelief steadily rose within him until his stare could no longer contain it, and so he hung his head, defeated.

"That isn't a solution, that's desperation."

Maybe he wasn't entitled to speak of circumstances he had never been a part of, slipping into a judgmental tone as if he could claim to understand what sort of thoughts had driven them to achieve that conclusion, and none other. What was that had driven her to accept the unforgivable, since the implication behind the words made her involvement an indisputable fact. What else could it have been, if not repeating the mistakes of the past at the cost of countless lives? It wasn't a choice anyone should have been allowed to make.

It frightened him to know how many others had contributed to making that twisted plan a reality, but as long as the one whose version of the story interested him the most sat beside him, he couldn't let his focus wander off anywhere else. Yes, he found it painful to believe in.

No, he could not bring himself to react with anger, and even disappointment was merely a fleeting emotion that soon gave way to sorrow. She was stronger than that, he knew.

"And through that desperation, you thought you could take it upon yourself to bear that burden."

However much she might have wanted to look away, Tear was successful in being able to at least look at him in the face the entire time. Seeing his expression go through the motions of each feeling was painful, but it was the least she owed him, especially when there was still more to tell.

"It was." There was no point in disputing the observation when it was entirely true. The knowledge they had received enlightened them to how hopeless the situation was, and as time passed it only became more so with the continued growth of the calamity. "Several months after the incident in the laboratory, those who still wanted to find another way took it upon themselves to hide the crystallised bodies at an undisclosed location."

Except the way he had phrased his last statement didn't quite sit well with her. It had certainly been her intention, the responsibility she shouldered so certain others wouldn't have to, but the truth was that she may as well have given up upon accepting it, or so she thought now. Tear knew she had thought somewhat differently in the future.

"I was part of the squad tasked with retrieving the bodies once we discovered the location, through any means necessary. Before that, I worked for others who were more proactive about fulfilling our goals."

And then, despite herself, she smiled. Small and bitter, reflecting her own disappointment and remorse.

"Nearly a year had passed since we spoke with the Sage, when I made that decision. That was as long as I could hold on to the hope of another solution before I became tired with sitting back and finding nothing."

Ace noted the subtle shift in her tone that immediately brought to mind a military report rather than what had been a private exchange, and though it wouldn't have been that odd under normal circumstances, at this time it made him feel slightly uncomfortable. This is how detached Tear seemed to be, laying out the details in a somewhat vague manner as if trying to make them sound like something they weren't.

Retrieving the bodies, through any means necessary.... Having been raised for the sole purpose of becoming a soldier, Ace did not have to be lectured on the importance of taking more extreme measures in order to reach one's goal. Despite their formative nature, the months he had spend in Crystallis so far hadn't managed to make him lose sight of those basic principles; that wasn't the point.

Placed in the correct context, all of these supposedly dry phrases form an image of a world where individuals, tempted by a promise of resolution, become just the force everyone had been fighting against. Once again, he had not been there to make all of those decisions in anyone's stead, but it can't have been merely a coincidence that the new-old memory the stasis had granted him could have been an answer to this particular situation as well.

The future could only be gained through cooperation and strong faith.

And judging by the broken smile that tugged at the melodist's lips, he had no doubts that she'd eventually realized the errors of her path.

"I don't have any reason to be upset with you, Tear. I've asked you to tell me all of these things, and you did."

There is no point in being so hard on yourself. Drawing in a breath, he then leaned his head against her shoulder and continued in a quiet voice.

"I just wish you had been able to hold onto the hope you believed in."

"... I think somewhere, I still held on to it." Even during that final confrontation, there was a a faint echo in the back of her mind that begged she stop, only to be ignored as her voice inflicted harm against their opponents, which was ultimately what she used it anymore as time passed compared to the moral support she had used it for before.

"What I did was of my own volition, are you sure there really is no reason to be upset?" As far as she was concerned, it felt as if she had broken his trust. How often had she visited his grave in that future, wondering what he would say to her with every action she took when she was certain he would have disapproved?

More than that, the vision also brought with it an uncomfortable realisation—the understanding of her brother's resolve and dedication to his goal, in their own world. He had been willing to give up everything to do what he thought was right, including abandoning her. Though she had similarly done the same, Tear hadn't thought herself capable to sealing her heart to the degree she had in that future, of leaving that last important person who had still believed in her.

It was that particular memory that made her start trembling again, biting her lip and finding herself leaning against the cadet in turn before she could stop. Of all the regrets she had about that future, the image of that farewell still haunted her the most.

He hadn't considered any further explanations necessary, but in line with her request, the boy decided to clarify the most important thing.

"Leave that question for those who had been hurt."

Though he didn't mean to inflict pain with those words, it wasn't as if he could completely disregard the weight of the actions she had undertaken on her own. Not everyone moved on at the same pace, some never did. Regardless of her motivations, the girl had made the decision to become associated with that group, and thus, could not just escape the consequences that came with it. For her own sake, it was better that she acknowledged her errors and moved on, free from that weight.

After a while of hesitation, the blond put the crystal back to where it belonged within the confines of his bag, and then gently pressed his fingers against the melodist's trembling arm. Motioning at the small being in her hands that was becoming increasingly befuddled, he finally spoke.

"It's all right, you can give her some space." Ace mustered up a light smile. "She'll never develop real wings if you keep her in such a tight lock."

Even if it was certainly true, as he would have never lied if it put the animal's life at risk, there were of course also other reasons behind his sudden shift in their conversation.

After all, the very moment she would release her hold on the feathered creature, that would give him an opportunity to reach out to take her hand in his and intertwine their fingers, the way they always had, or so it seemed.

"... Would you mind hearing me out for a moment?"

His words did sting, but it was because she knew he was right—while she had since spoken with some of those she had hurt with her alliance, there were others for whom she felt an apology would not be enough. It was why she had since resolved to prove it was a path she wouldn't willingly walk, despite her silence around other Heroes in the aftermath.

Not quite making amends, because there could be no atoning for it when it hadn't even happened yet, but more a desire to do what she could to prevent it from happening at all.

So she accepts the responsibility all over again with a firm nod, closing her eyes until he unexpectedly returned her attention to the small being still held firmly in her grasp. Blushing for a moment, she carefully uncurled her fingers so that the bird would be free to roam as she wished, which was exactly what she did as she waddled into the girl's lap instead, chirping curiously as she ventured further and the warmth of Ace's hand replaced hers.

"What is it...?" He had patiently listened to her explanation, and now it was her turn to do the same with just as much respect as he had still granted her with.

His eyes followed the bird's uneven walk for a few moments longer, as he enjoyed the silence for what it were, tinged with sadness, but also unspeakably peaceful. He had yet to fully process the extent of information she had given him, but that could be done in due time, and wouldn't much influence his decision to look after her. In fact, it had more to do with him and how to ensure that nothing similar could take place ever again. There was little point in looking back.

That said, if it was a motivational talk Tear expected to receive, she would be in for a small surprise, as the cadet didn't intend to follow up with a regular response to begin with. Eyes closed, he began to sing in a soft voice.

"You stare up at the stars in the clear, endless skies,
slowly fading lights shining back in your eyes..."

With that, his hold on the melodist's hand tightened, and he continued with the verse she had no right to be familiar with, except for the melody he had no doubt the girl would have recognized by that point.

Completely consumed with your search for certainty,
you'll lose sight of everything-"

A small sigh followed, as pronouncing the last part of the verse came with a little bit more difficulty.

"-...and get left behind"

It would be as far as he could go, for now, but it could be considered a progress, nevertheless. After all, he hadn't yet dared to go beyond the lines that he remembered, rather than the ones he had learnt from the files.

And it also happened to carry a more personal message.

Edited (icon change ♥) 2016-02-11 20:10 (UTC)

As often happened whenever she heard him sing, Tear went still with the sound of his voice, eyes opening in slow surprise as she recognised the tune as one she knew he held dear, the one she most associated with the cadet. More importantly, it was the words accompanying it that caught her attention, breath coming to a still the further he went.

Without thinking her own hold on his hand tightened in turn, once again struggling against the feelings in her heart as her body acted of its own accord by leaning even closer into him. They were lyrics she hadn't yet heard, but no less precious if only because they were his.

Cradled within those emotions was a strange sense of pride for his progress, small as it was. Yet it was overshadowed by the message that made her breathe out softly—not quite relief, but nevertheless an unspoken gratitude for its deliverance.

"There's always a way, even if you don't see it."

Rather than an extend an invitation to talk, he spoke so quietly as if not to disturb the girl softly pressed against him. It took certain courage, to bring himself to put into words what a rush of nostalgic feelings left scattered in his mind, but one glance at Tear was enough to provide him with that strength.

"The world I come from—..." Ace shifted slightly, the movement allowing her to lean more comfortably while it also gave him the time he needed to collect his thoughts. "... is a mere shadow of what it once was, crushed by the ambition of one being who claimed to be the sole judge of human lives. Wielding a power that extended far beyond our own, he appeared to herald the end of it all."

Letting out a heavy breath, he refused to elaborate on what brought back painful images back to his mind, for it wasn't his purpose to delve into any details. It wasn't the right time.

"If I had fought alone, I would have without a doubt given into the same despair that took lives of so many others, but I—... I wasn't."

Even if she could not see it, the light smile on his lips carried onto his voice.

"We won, because we had one another." Now, it was his turn to lean into the contact, and his eyelids involuntarily began to close until the warmth they shared became the only thing his senses acknowledged. "It's not just me, Tear. You have others wishing well for you, here and back in your world. You cannot throw that away."

Even though the girl knew she couldn't entirely agree with such optimism, lips parting as if about to protest, it wasn't because she didn't want to—how many times had she been encouraged into trying again and again, only to be met with the same heartache? To keep doing it in vain, in the face of that future, seemed tiring already, making her feel heavier than she already did.

But as she released a slow and shuddering breath, she also knew he was right. For all the times she had said it was impossible, that nothing would change, she had continued to try anyway, so often at the encouragement of that particular person. Perhaps that was what ultimately mattered most, in light of everything they had discussed so far. If Ace could still see hope when facing his world in such a state, why shouldn't she put in the same effort?

Gradually, a smile once again pulled at her lips despite the mistiness clouding her eyes. The reminder, and the cadet himself, were entirely too kind. "I know... In that future, we lost sight of that in our desperation. Before journeying with everyone else in Auldrant, I was certain that I was alone in my mission, that it was my sole responsibility."

Blinking several times to clear her vision, Tear's gaze lingered to the chick still wandering and chirping softly around them, her very presence also a reminder of just how important it was to hold on to that truth. "When we woke up, the Sage said we lost something in that future that we still have right now. It can be any number of things, but maybe he meant being together, for each other."

Part of her prayed that it was. What she held on to so dearly now was something she had not yet lost, and the girl would do everything in her power to keep it from falling apart again.

Although the sight of the melodist's tears made his heart jolt, the smile that joined them eased his worries just a little. A part of him wished to reach out and brush them away so they would no longer threaten to fall, except it felt like a selfish move on his part to put an end to these newly awakened feelings.

Not knowing what it could be that he was supposed to do, only wishing that he could somehow figure out how to communicate his intent as he went, Ace responded with a single, but firm nod, while wearing the warmest smile he could muster. Thankfully, the last part wasn't at all difficult.

"Tear, would you mind—..." it belatedly struck him how oddly inappropriate his request seemed, the familiar warmth creeping up his cheeks, "if I stayed a while longer? I know how reckless it might sound, on the evening before a long journey." He gave his bag a single tap with his fingers before continuing. "And, uh, I've also brought some food for her, if you're worried about that."

The Chocobo's energy reserves were not endless, as opposed to what the small animal might have taken for certain, now waddling back and forth as she fruitlessly attempted to scale the armrest. When she would eventually acknowledge her exhaustion, it would probably take a while to recover the lost stamina. He'd still promised to show Tear a few tricks, hadn't he?

Even as his eyes follow the bird's movements, the boy's words are undoubtedly directed at his partner beside him.

"I just don't feel like going back. Not... yet."

Perhaps luckily, Tear was already reaching up to brush away any traces that were still trying to escape her control, finding strength to avert the sadness still dwelling in her heart from the smile he gifted her with. But hearing his request, surprise joins in and effectively dries away the rest, the girl tilting her head to better look at him.

It did seem a little reckless, but Tear knew that if Ace was requesting it then he likely must have thought it through. Still, a part of her worried whether he might not be overexerting himself as she reluctantly pulled away from him to retrieve the small bird, who began to chirp more enthusiastically as if protesting the interruption of her efforts.

"You're welcome to stay as long as you'd like." Then, pausing to think about it, a worried expression crosses her face. "I didn't even ask if you wanted anything to eat or drink."

She almost apologises for it, but then yet another worry comes to mind as she stroked the small Chocobo, once again leaning against his side. "Did you... intend to spend the night? I don't know what your plans for this evening were, but if it doesn't interfere then it might be better..."

Except there was the question of where...

"Better?" Ace reiterated, his fingers curled under his chin in a thoughtful manner. He hadn't even registered her previous concern properly, expecting her to, at the very least, spare him the typical treatment of a guest he was not. Should there be anything he needed, he knew how to make his request known.

"Well," he let out a muffled sound of amusement as his stare wandered around the basement, "this would be new." Somehow along the way, he simply assumed that was what she meant. "There's still plenty of things I left at home that I would require for tomorrow, and for that I would have to be awake appropriately early."

It made him feel somewhat uncertain, and not only for the reason listed, but the... the advantages outweighed possible worries if that would let him be around for a little longer.

"I don't know, maybe." Musing in a small voice, he reached out to reward the chirping bird in Tear's hold with a gentle pat, suddenly reminded of the girl's question from before.

"That is... if you'll have me."

"I know it might seem sudden..." There could be just as many reasons for him not to stay either, given that discussing the vision was all she had planned for. It becomes all the more apparent when she catches him looking around the basement, a tiny apologetic smile crossing her face with his remark.

"I don't know how you would feel about sleeping in another person's bed." Call it a poor joke, but she honestly wouldn't mind giving him hers for the evening if he needed it—though there was also the question of whether he would be able to survive the arrangement with Anise if he did. "It's all right with me if you stay."

And while she wasn't in a hurry to voice it out loud, there was no denying that Ace's presence gave her a sense of peace even after everything they had discussed so far. He had honestly surprised her, in more ways than one and not necessarily in a bad way.

For one, she hadn't expected to suddenly be the caretaker of the small bird beginning to hop up and down in her hands either, eager for more pats.

"Even if you decide not to, I think I will need your help with her." How does one feed a baby Chocobo to begin with...?

The validity of her question would be confirmed by the subtle blush that made its way to his cheeks at the thought, and further accentuated by a nervous shake of his head that followed. Surely, she can't have read his reaction as—....

"No, it's fine! Staying down here, I mean." Ace didn't consider himself to be a difficult sleeper, well-accustomed to the kind of living that often offered little in terms of comfort. Though it felt a bit chilly in the basement, now that he began to pay closer attention, it was nothing a blanket (or two, if it wasn't overly rude to ask) could not fix. "... Thank you," he added, quietly.

Glad for the change of topic, and even more eager to come to the girl's aid, he turned around to retrieve a small pouch from his bag. "Her instincts will tell us whether she's hungry, because she has yet to associate you as her guardian. With time, you too might be able to recognize her distinct cries for food." He smirked. "However, please don't make the mistake of using Suzaku as the reference, most of them aren't that greedy. Here—..."

Motioning for the girl to give him her hand, he would then drop a bit - just a bit of what unmistakably were typical greens, chopped into appropriately minuscule pieces, onto her outstretched palm. "The thing is, you can't allow them to become too dry, or she might have issues swallowing even the smallest pieces, though to avoid this, I could take care of getting the supplies," in case she was worried — an unspoken sentiment that he tried to communicate through his stare.

"Now, with a beak this small, the most she can do is tickle your skin a little. Hold back from making any attempts at helping her, or she won't learn."

Rather than saw anything else or point out that she would have been all right with sleeping in the basement herself, Tear simply nods to acknowledge his decision and move on from the topic. At least, until it came time for him to actually sleep, they could revisit it then.

Though on the topic of Suzaku, rather than be irritated that the bird had tricked her into feeding him more, she felt more impressed as she allowed the cadet to direct her hand as he wished. "I wasn't aware he didn't actually need that much food, he was always energetic. They really are smart, aren't they...?"

Or so it seemed from her limited experiences, now coupled with the tiny creature craning her neck and clicking her beak toward the greens nestled in Tear's hand before she brought them closer within reach. Several moments of quiet passed as she watched the bird peck at the pieces merrily, refraining from trying to feed her herself as Ace had instructed with just a little difficulty.

"... If you'd be willing to do that I'd appreciate it, but—" Right then her breath hitched for a split second, eyes widening fractionally before she willed herself to try and stay very still, hoping it wasn't too noticeable. It seemed that the bird had succeeded in pecking one of the more ticklish spots of her hands.

That interruption aside— "As I was saying, I still have to learn myself. We can't take up all of your time."

Truthfully, Ace could never bring himself to respond negatively to the bird's pleas, either, not seeing much point in being harsh to the animal just for the sake of setting an example. "... I don't think he's necessarily pretending." The corners of his mouth curled into a soft smile. "There just always has to be an odd one among the pack, and this one happens to be a hungry beast."

However, her point remained. They were such wonderful creatures, and Ace was more than glad to see the girl's blooming enthusiasm.

"Oh—" watchful of her every step, the cadet couldn't have reacted any differently as his hand wandered to cradle hers reassuringly. "... Tear, were you hurt?"

She could hope all she wanted, but there he was, leaning in closer to inspect just how serious the damage was, gaze flickering to the little culprit in her hands.

"I wouldn't mind." The response presented itself so clearly in his mind, it slipped through his lips before he considered how unreasonably it sounded.

"Um," he exhaled, "I mean, I wouldn't mind helping you out until you feel more comfortable about handling this... situation."

Tear's attention had already returned to the bird when Ace took her hand in his grasp, closer inspection revealing the small reddening mark where she had nipped for a particular stubborn piece a little too enthusiastically. The sharp pain was already becoming a dull throb, though she had the feeling it would last for a while yet.

"It's nothing." Despite that she smiled comfortingly, almost pulling her hand out of his grasp before he leaned in closer. Cheeks warming, she simply watched as he made the somewhat unnecessary inspection. "It hardly broke skin, she might not know her own strength yet."

Which in itself was adorable, in her mind. But hearing Ace's initial reply made the girl pause, lips parting just barely in her surprise before she shyly turned her gaze downward. It wouldn't do to deny him when she really would need his help, but the desire to say yes was motivated by more than that.

"You know that could be a while, right...?"

Ace made nothing of the comment, not seeming to be particularly frightened by such long-term commitment as he drew the injured hand slightly closer to himself. Taking note of her slender fingers, and skin far softer than his own was, he quickly realized the error of his assumptions.

"It's seems like I've got you a feisty one," which, despite not being entirely untrue, wasn't the only reason why he'd just made a mental note to obtain a solid pair of gloves for their next session. Thankfully, he wouldn't need to remain a helpless observer, remembering the Cure spell he held in his possession as a part of his Chocobo Knight skillset.

It was a weak incantation, even more so should the caster be separated from their stead, but even without Suzaku, the soft healing waves seemed to somehow resonate with the small chick in Tear's grasp. Genuinely surprised by that turn of events, the cadet smiled softly, sealing the spell with a somewhat more personal manner as his lips brushed against the inside of her palm with a feather-like touch.

Just the way Mother used to comfort him when he was little, be it the first, failed attempt at a fire spell that left a nasty mark on his finger, or a misguided card that would bounce back against his sender's forehead instead of hitting the target as it should have. Everyone had their beginnings, and he wanted to ensure that hers would be a good one.

And just maybe, she would need no other answer to her question than the one he'd just silently given her.

Edited 2016-02-14 20:07 (UTC)

Tear would have told him that such a small injury wouldn't need healing, that if there would be more like it in the future then she would have to adjust, but he had proceeded too quickly for her to do anything but look on with a faint amusement.

That is, until a soft gasp escapes the girl when she both sees and feels his lips press against her hand. The warmth in her cheeks bloomed into a full-out blush, and she had to press her lips together to refrain from saying anything or control any other reactions. The single action answered her question and so many more, culminating in the form of a wistful, if still fond, smile.

"Thank you." It was a response to both his healing and acceptance, her voice a hushed whisper from the reemergence of emotions that the gesture had kindled anew, ones she still had to finish sorting out. The bird, meanwhile, began to tilt her head at the two of them curiously, soft chirps emerging each time she opened her beak expectantly.

"Feisty..." The word was punctuated by a particularly sharp chirp, as if the tiny creature were agreeing with the observation. In a way, the attitude reminded the melodist of a certain someone. "You mentioned that she didn't have a name?"

Well, it wasn't as if it hadn't cost him a change in his own heartbeat, now decidedly faster as he gently let go of her hand so that she could return to her tasks.

"You're welcome," he uttered softly, the answer overly simple to describe how he truly felt. The blond tried not to read into it too much, in any case, as he let his attention be promptly stolen by the chocobo's musical number.

"That's correct." The cadet nodded, recalling the circumstances regarding her discovery with a sad smile. "She's not from around here. I found her, abandoned, during our exploration of the southern regions, so perhaps the colour of her feathers serves to reflect the change of climate." After all, it was not a common sight to spot a chocobo of any colour other than regular, sunny yellow braving the Calm Plains forests, and he couldn't recall having ever come across a red one before.

"... Say, do you have any ideas?"

Though she had listened to his story carefully, her eyebrows had still raised in what could only be called disbelief as she pulled the chick closer to her, almost protectively. "Abandoned..."

Which meant she would have to be that much more efficient in her care, not that the little being seemed to mind at all with the way she had begun to butt her feathered head into the melodist's stomach, as if trying to cuddle closer but essentially failing when she nearly falls out of her hold in the process.

In turn the girl lifted her up yet again, nuzzling her gently with a thoughtful hum. "I'll need a few moments, I've never had to name something I knew I would keep."

... Stuffed dolls and monsters aside. "You've had her all this time, don't you have any suggestions?"

"You need to realize I would have never taken her away if that hadn't been the case." A sad sigh left his lips at this sad, but essential declaration. "The young ones must not be separated from their mothers."

The unspoken assumption was that the little chick's parent had been killed, leaving her to fend for her own in the wilderness, a challenge that would have undoubtedly cost the poor chocobo her life.

All this time equaled a period of merely few days, but if it was advice that the girl needed, he could perhaps come up with some pointers. "Well, keep it short and easy to pronounce. Some—" the boy scratched his cheek, thinking of how to put it, "choose the names that follow a certain rhythm, even if they might look a bit silly. Like..." and once again he paused, this time for a longer moment as he brought himself to recall that name. Even if he no longer had anything else to go by but a few lines hid inside his file, he felt like he would have held onto that memory, if only he had been able to.

"... Chichiri." And then, there was the other name that he couldn't locate the source of, but it seemed useful in the way it matched the pattern. "Or Pokopoko." The cadet smiled to himself, unsure as to what the melodist would think about this rather unconventional method.

"Alternatively, you might do what I did with Suzaku, and... simply think of home. The answer might come to you sooner than you realize."

The girl nodded at once, not meaning to imply that Ace went around snatching babies from their parents. With the possibility of leaving the chick to an almost certain death, she agreed with his decision to bring her back. "I know. But..."

She tilts her head just slightly, looking at him curiously. "Putting it that way makes it sound as if I'm to be her new mother."

Which... she wasn't opposed to, already bonding with the bird in such short time, but the idea does leave her feeling just a bit flustered. Thankfully, the suggestions he made helped with turning her away from that before she thought about it too deeply.

Mostly because of how cute they sounded, especially the first as she tries to stifle what seemed like a giggle. Somehow, she could hear others chastising them for bestowing such a name, and if this was a creature she was going to help raise then she would need something appropriate and fitting. Stroking her feathers gently, it was hard to not notice the unusual red colour.

"She doesn't seem like an Efreet, does she?" Naming her after the aggregate sentience of fire in her world seemed like too strong a name for something still so small.

Technically, that would be the correct term regardless of the phrasing applied, but Ace knew better than to pursue the topic she had unwillingly brought up. Besides, Tear was already doing so well, it spared him any comments he might have otherwise had, instead allowing him to watch her idly some more, awe sparking in his eyes as he did.

Being so absorbed in that act made it all the easier for him to completely lower his guard, lips parting in surprise as her suggestion completely took him aback.

And so he asked, unsure. "... Ifrit?" As fascinating it was to consider such a possibility, there was also something oddly... off-putting about the image that had now formed in his mind. It wasn't as if the feathered beings had to compete with the mighty Eidolons; they were both completely different leagues of their own. The birds were probably better off developing neither massive flaming horns nor earth-shattering punches, now that he thought of it.

"I'm... afraid she does not." Without meaning to sound discouraging, he added, with a sheepish smirk, "What about something less—...."

However, his words ultimately trailed off into a thoughtful hum.

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... bless the only other verse that still sort of fits the music when translated

official translation why do you have to be so difficult

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