melodiesoflife | Love Springs Eternal (??)

[ Clearly, it's like the task had been crafted with someone else in mind, though the cadet did not move until Tear had finished speaking, shaking his head at the statement that had no reason to be. A quick glance over at a clock face attached to the library's wall revealed that they had both been overly eager to meet up, or so it seemed. ]

I suppose this is what happens when we both try to be ahead of the other.

[ Softly squeezing her hand with his, he leaned in to clear the rebellious strands from her face with the other, only content when the melodist's eyes were no longer obscured by anything, allowing him in turn to move his attention towards her cheek. He moved even closer to kiss it tenderly, clearly lacking the hesitance from before as he let his lips linger over her skin for this extra second longer.

Having eventually pulled back, he reached out to readjust the hood of her cape, smoothing it with his fingers while trying to hold back the blush. ]

I figured that a flower would not survive such low temperatures, so I brought you something else.

[ While they might have been in agreement as far as following the traditions was concerned, the sight of a small package in her hands made him glad that she wasn't the only one who had decided to think ahead. ]

[ Ace was probably more successful at hiding his blush than Tear was, who had to focus on trying to stifle what might have sounded like a muffled squeak. She hadn't quite anticipated the gesture...

At least, not this soon, if she were being honest (except she wasn't going to say it out loud). With her hair pushed back there was almost nothing she could do to try and hide the faint pink colour that had little to do with the cold, the spot where his lips had touched feeling particularly warm.

But her smile returned quickly enough, if much more shyly this time since she couldn't quite reciprocate just yet. ]

Something else? It would have been fine with me if you hadn't brought anything. [ Just the date and the fact that he thought about it was enough. But then again, who was she to talk with the item she was holding? ]

Did you... want to trade these now?

[ Indeed, they were both just as guilty in this little game their meetings had become, but there was certainly something enjoyable about it if he was capable to bring a smile to her lips with the little things. ]

I could say the same thing, and yet, [ He sends her a knowing glance. ] look where we are.

[ However, this was also where his confidence wavered a bit, as Ace questioned himself whether it hadn't perchance been a hasty decision, it was as though the girl thought it more appropriate to present it later? He could have sworn Hanafuda had mentioned the importance of a proper greeting, but otherwise his knowledge of customs was definitely lacking. He slightly tilted his head to the side. ]

... But, um, would you prefer not to? We could save this for later, or whenever you think is more appropriate.

[ After all, he didn't want to get in the way of her plans. ]

Well... [ There wasn't anything particularly wrong with exchanging them now, or not that Tear knew of. Sadly, her own Moogle hadn't been as thorough in explaining the customs of the holiday after she told him that they would be doing things their own way, which he may have been the slightest bit disappointed about.

Which brought them back to their current plight of two teenagers who had little idea of what they were doing. But that didn't mean she couldn't try to take the initiative. ]

Now might be as good as any other time, so... here. [ Once again, she's extending the gift to him perhaps a little too quickly, ducking her own head to hide her faint blush as she does so. Even if it was just a simple gift of chocolate and cookies, she had put in the extra effort especially for him, right down to the crimson ribbon tying it together. ]

[ While it was with great unwillingness that he let go of her warm hand, only that way could he could accept the gift (with a small bow of his head) and retrieve his own from his pocket, a simple box decorated with what seemed like a tiny flower attached to the cover. Hana's touch. In all honesty, there was no longer stopping this moogle from getting invested at this point. ]

If you keep your eyes down, you're going to end up having to fix your hair all over again. [ But there's softness in his teasing, as he outstretches his hand to place the package in front of her. ] Here.

[ There was a practical part to the present she could find within, in the form of a pair of fingerless gloves made of soft, but durable enough leather to survive Rem's future bites, however affectionate they were. Beside them... was what by all means could be described as a rose, and though it definitely possessed the gentleness of one, it was also made entirely out of yellow and red feathers, delicately twisted together to resemble petals and leaves. Its short stem was of course devoid of thorns, and felt soft to the touch.

He first ran his fingers across the red ribbon, finding the warmth slowly returning to his cheeks as he proceeded to unwrap the package with great care.

Homemade, without a doubt, he commented with a fond sigh and a warm smile sent her way. ]

[ She couldn't argue with his assessment even knowing he was teasing, prompting a soft chuckle from Tear despite the rosy colour of her cheeks. Now it was her turn to accept his gift, looking at the small flower curiously before opening it.

The gloves alone were a thoughtful gift, since she'd had a few more close calls with the tiny chick, and she was about to thank him until she saw the 'flower' beside it, eliciting a soft gasp as she carefully picked it up and held it between her fingers. ] Ace, did you make this yourself?

[ The look in her eyes when she glanced back up at him couldn't be mistaken for anything other than amazement, one finger stroking the petals carefully. ]

[ For a moment, it felt as if the contents of her box would melt if he were to hold the package any closer to himself than he already was. Smirking somewhat shyly, he considered leaving her question unanswered, but it only made sense that he left some credit where it was due. ]

Well, I had some help.

[ It's important that you do this yourself, he could hear Hanafuda's shrill voice still ringing in his ears as he'd struggled with the intricate task, but the cadet's abilities could only go so far. Though it was still mostly the effect of his work, the moogle had managed to preserve the elegance of it by adding some finishing touches with her surprisingly nimble paws.

But if Tear liked it, it was okay if some parts of it looked somewhat clumsy. ]

... Come with me. [ He motioned to the box in his hand, carefully putting it into his bag before the sweets could actually melt. ] I will gladly - we can try them once we find someplace to sit, but first, I would like to take a walk.

[ So that she could once again place her hand in his, his sole wish as he extended said hand towards her once more, whispering. ]

Thank you.

I see... [ It didn't take much guessing for Tear to figure out where the extra 'help' might have come from, silently making note to send her gratitude to the moogle soon. Though she didn't always agree with her methods, somehow she felt she might owe his companion more than she realised as she admired the warm colours again. Like a sunrise... ] I'm sure it'll be able to withstand the cold temperatures until spring comes.

[ And it would last much longer, too, if she had anything to say about it. There was no hesitation on her part when she took his hand either, taking it one step further by threading her fingers with his in their increasingly familiar ritual. ]

You too, thank you... [ Though it seemed like he would continue to tug along her sense of curiosity, tilting her head just a little. ] A walk? Do I get to know where to?

[ Ace shook his head, but it had nothing to do with denying the girl the truth... that did not exist. There had never been a bigger plan behind it than what his instinct would whisper into his ear, which was something that he had grown to appreciate over the course of the past months and meetings that they had brought.

(Left unspoken were the moments where his instincts crashed spectacularly against his bouts of uncertainty resulted from either shyness, or lack of proper knowledge. It worked now.) ]

Please, don't give me that look. [ He chuckled softly as the fingers of his hand subtly brushed against hers in the hold they shared. ] And I hope you're not expecting anything—....

[ Romantic? The word would not pass through his lips, and it wasn't as if he hadn't stopped to consider it from such an angle. No, the boy exhaled. It just seemed somewhat unconventional compared to the preferred spots of others, but he still hoped his idea could be perceived as such. ]

... Let's call it a walk to calm down one's heart.

[ While the direction he appeared to be taking her in as they began to walk left little room for doubt. The Castle. Ace had no intentions of actually entering it unless the temperature forced them to, knowing that its open sections higher up offered breathtaking views of the city. ]

[ If he was hoping to get her to stop, Ace would have to deal with her increasing bewilderment instead as she blinked a few times, clearly not understanding what he meant with those words. ] What look?

[ Was there something about her expression that could be making him nervous? Though, the way his fingers brushed against hers meant it probably wasn't the case, and it could be his teasing again. Accepting this as the possible answer, she closed her eyes and allowed him to keep leading her, placing her trust into their linked hands as they walked. ]

I haven't been on too many of those before with another person. [ She shrugged lightly, whether it would actually calm down her own heart was yet to be seen. ] If that's how you want to call it, that's fine by me.

[ Though she still wasn't sure what to expect, only having half-formed plans and suggestions, what Ace described... was definitely a new way of putting it, especially when she notices the direction they are headed in. Why the castle...? ]

Me neither. It's... it's my first time.

[ Ah... for every bold step forward, there was a tiny one that would send him slightly backwards. It was a learning process, nevertheless, which Ace was willing to pursue despite the nervousness rising in his chest. Soldier on, as they say. If anything, it ought to be this one thing he was good at.

And while that was exactly how he'd meant to call it, the jury was still out on that one, too. ]

You know how the castle is mostly off-limits to the civilians? [ Once again, the Heroes had the benefit of being able to access it freely, and even if that failed.... ] I've never been to its terraces before, and they are said to offer really nice views.

[ He leaned in a bit closer, lowering his voice into a whisper. ]

... In case of any questions, you're a Sergeant and I'm a Captain.

[ None of that would of course be necessary if his predictions were right, but... that was not to say he would not consider ~~sneaking in~~ going the extra mile if it helped. ]

[ Tear was able to put together his back-up plan right away, resulting first in a look of faint des belief, followed by a smirk she tried to hide. Given the responsibilities and expectations of her job, she shouldn't be wanting to laugh at the possible abuse of power, but... ] Honestly...

[ All she can do is shake her head really, seemingly chastising him. ] I'm sure if we just ask nicely enough, it would work just fine.

[ Then thinking of his first response, her tone took on a more thoughtful quality to it, looking up at the sky above and consequently having a few of the snowflakes fall onto her cheeks.

Not that she minded. ] Ace...? How much of this is new for you...?

Yeah, I know.

[ There was something unusually childish about his tone, as though Tear had just denied him a chance to play a little longer, and maybe that was the actual reason. A small penchant for adventures existing alongside his sense of duty, often silenced by his own logic, but otherwise being a part of him the same way everything else was.

Some other time. Ace just smiled at her in return, not planning to take back what had already been said, before it faded with the girl's next question. Replacing it was a soft sigh. ]

Well, it wasn't exactly uncommon to hear about students spending their free time- [ Hm. ] like this, but as far as my personal experience is concerned....

[ Truth be told, it had often been a matter of courage, but not the same kind others usually tended to associate with pursuing relationships of any kind. Not everyone could bring themselves to become overly involved, knowing that by the end of it they would not be left with even a single memory. ]

To be honest, I had never considered myself doing the same before, and even now, I'm not even exactly sure what I'm doing. Or how I'm doing, for that matter.

[ He finally allows himself a soft smile, tipping his head a little to the side. ]

You are the first person I've ever asked out, Tear. All of it is new to me.

Really? [ Even if she didn't have any experience in this particular area to draw upon, a hint of surprise still carried through into Tear's voice. Maybe it was because he had such a persistent tutor to coach him ~~or try to~~, but the more she thought about it, the more it seemed to make sense in an odd way. ]

... You're doing fine. [ Or so she thinks, nodding firmly. Maybe there were others out there who would argue that, but to the abyss with them if they thought they were doing this wrong.

Though he had still flustered her more times than she was willing to admit out loud right now. ] As long as there are no injuries, it could be considered a success.

[ There she goes again, with her less than appropriate jokes... ]

[ For a while, he just stared at her, his expression bordering between that of gratitude and simple shyness. And then, directing his gaze back towards the road ahead, he lifted his free hand to scratch his cheek in an absentminded gesture. ]

That's because I have you. [ The sincerity of his sentiment is reflected in his affectionate tone that has very little to do with intending to charm her. It's simply how he feels about it, for no one else would have made it as effortless as it was. ]

If that's the recipe for a success, does it mean that a couple of Chocobo bites could invalidate your experience?

[ He smirked, as they were slowly approaching the castle gates. To be honest, she kind of asked for it. ]

[ Once again Ace's words were enough to render her into silence for a few seconds, trying to not duck her head lest she keep messing up her hair, as he had pointed out earlier. But she at least glanced away in her efforts to keep herself from blushing all over again, with how touched she was by the sentiment. ]

... And you always will. [ Though she had said it so quietly, she meant every word of it. No matter what happened, that was something she was sure of.

Except on the topic of bodily harm, Tear really does laugh this time, soft and brief as they usually were. She had opened herself to that one, hadn't she? ] I don't know... The Chocobo has a mind of her own, maybe she thought it was a way of expressing love.

[ Not to say she missed it terribly after the first few times... ]

[ Always. There was no need to explain the significance of the promise these words carried, even if they both knew how far it could go. In the end, it wouldn't stop him from being able to say the same, though he now carefully saved these thoughts and emotions for the moment it seemed... most fitting.

That limited his answer to a gentle squeeze of the girl's hand. With certain amusement he found himself knowing perfectly just what kind of expression would have made its way to her face, and it made him rather content. ]

And what a way it is.

[ How convenient it would be to keep things so simple, though with the actual issue of accidental injuries to consider, he discarded that notion just as quickly. Being more conscious of one's feelings had plenty of its own advantages, however intimidating.

Meanwhile, the castle grounds opened to them in their desolate glory, save for a few guards staring at the two somewhat suspiciously before returning to chatting idly with each other. ]

There's hardly anybody out here. It would not seem that they have scheduled to welcome any visitors today. [ He notes, satisfied with his choice until the moment comes to decide which way even to go. There is a couple of sets of stairs running along the walls, each appearing to lead elsewhere. A soft sigh follows. ] ... I would not expect anything less from an Ancient design.

[ The cadet glanced at her knowingly, the chaotic layouts of the Tower floors still present in his mind after he'd taken it upon himself to analyze so many of them. ]

... Which way, you think?

Probably because they're occupying the restaurants and other such places. [ She chanced a glance to the guards eyeing them, likely wondering why a pair would be choosing to visit the castle rather than spend the day elsewhere, if it wasn't for official duties.

But when it came to choosing which stairs to ascend—

Not the one with the least lighting. That was perhaps her only requirement, looking at them more carefully. Humming thoughtfully, Tear went as far as tilting her head just a little as she studied the passages. If it was a view he wanted, then... ]

What if we tried this one? [ It wasn't the brightest passage, but if it went in the direction she thought it would then that wouldn't be a problem for long. ]

[ Something about the straightforwardness of her response caused his chest twist uncontrollably at the thought that maybe, this really wasn't the way to do this. Then again, it hadn't necessarily been out of the desire for originality that he'd chosen this place and no other, because in many ways... it just wouldn't do, to share this moment with anybody else but her.

If she would so wish afterwards, if she would still be interested to keep him company for the rest of the day - there were a lot of ifs here - then it could certainly be something to consider, if they managed to secure a spot that she'd like. For now, however, the idea in his head dictated otherwise, suppressing the apology that pressed itself onto his lips and motivating him to see where his own stubbornness would take him. ]

Okay.

[ Acknowledging her decision with a nod, he walked up to the stone stairs, taking note of how slippery some of them seemed and tightening the grip on her hand in turn as they began to climb.

Honestly, it was a bit of a trek to reach the top, for the path twisted in many incomprehensible ways, forcing them to pass through one of the corridors and nearly spook one of the servants in the process. There was an end to it, though, a spacious balcony that opened to the southern parts of the city. Snow had already managed to cover much of it, rendering the floor almost completely white, save for the parts hidden under the roof where the stone benches were located.

A trace of relief lit the cadet's gaze when he saw the view for the first time, but overall, his thoughts were elsewhere for the time being. ]

Is this place all right with you?

[ Though her hold tightened within his several times, especially when they encountered the servant, Tear still kept her gaze up and managed to keep herself relatively calm, for all that she had come to start associating darker passages with less than friendly encounters. Besides, she had no reason to think Ace would lead her anywhere that would deliberately make her uncomfortable.

But words didn't come once they had reached the balcony, the view from it quickly capturing her attention. While it was true she had seen other locales from similar heights, it only just occurred to her that it was her first time seeing Aqures Ixen from such a way.

That alone made it worth the trek as she turned her head to nod once, the soft upward curve of her lips hopefully communicating her agreement. ] Yes, it is...

[ And they were fortunate enough that there was still someplace to sit, if they wanted to. It was tempting to lead him further toward the edge, but since he had been the one to suggest the idea she thought it better to let him take the lead until he fulfilled what he wanted to. ]

Looking at the city from here is something else, isn't it...?

[ Almost like... when they first met, back aboard the airship. ]

[ What Ace wanted was to offer the girl a moment of respite, but seeing what he had mistaken for indecision, he gently pulled Tear toward the balustrade. It was such an obvious spot to begin from, after all.

The light smile on her lips eased the tension in his shoulders. ]

I know of your fondness of the skies, but I figured that a change of perspective could be interesting.

[ Needless to say, they shared that line of thought. Ace fell silent, casting his gaze toward the city. Though he still struggled with the concept of calling it his home, each day made it slightly easier to... accept such an association, eventually. ]

That, and I needed someplace to... talk.

That's something you hear people mentioning often. [ Though they probably didn't mean it to be taken literally like they were doing, Tear leaning over to get a better look at the view below and being careful to not once go of his hand as she did. And while she doesn't say anything about it, she was touched to know that he had noticed and remembered that fondness.

Glancing back at him, her eyes were questioning and encouraging him to continue. They could talk in any number of places, but as she knew well by now, sometimes that extra comfort and control was necessary. ]

If that's the case, I hope this spot will help you voice what you want to, a little.

[ Besides, she more than owed him the time. Or rather, it wasn't that she owed him—she wanted to listen, just as she had promised. ]

[ Letting out a muffled sigh, he cast his eyes downwards, a half-smile tugging at his lips. ]

I'm no longer so sure about that. [ It was as though the view had made his task all the more daunting due to its great significance, despite of the soothing serenity the winter landscape possessed. ]

This day has already been... rather eventful. I met Jade earlier in the morning.

[ If Tear thought confessions would come as easy as it had seemed, her patience would be now put to a little test. It wasn't, by far, the reason why he'd brought her here, so it was out of sheer curiosity that he left her with an unspoken question, wondering how she felt about a certain incident. ]

[ ... Ace, how are you still standing? He could make out of her stunned expression what he wanted, but it probably wouldn't help to clear up anything as she let out a breath that sounded more like a huff than anything, lips pulling downward in a faint frown. ]

So you did... I can only imagine how he might have treated you. [ And that was really all she could do, having been the subject of his teasing a number of times—

... It's a split second later that it occurs to her what the circumstances of their meeting might have been like, and slowly but surely her cheeks begin to flush crimson. The offending pieces of paper had incited quite a bit of talk in their home that morning, after all.

Even if it had nothing to do with that, there were a great number of other things he could have said instead. ]

W-what did he say...?

[ His moment of embarrassment had gone along with that unfortunate conversation, allowing him to keep his posture completely straight, eyes calmly seeking out hers. ]

Nothing that would have made me choose his statement over yours, and besides, it isn't exactly my place to ask.

[ It really wasn't, and he felt like an intruder, attempting to force the confirmation out of her. Especially considering the discomfort made apparent by the redness that continued to spread all over the girl's face, a sign that earnt a worried frown before she even said anything. ]

... What he did, was imply that there might have been— [ With that, he shakes his head, as if to let her know once more how he didn't consider it to be anything more than a mere joke. There is no reason to think otherwise.

Right? ]

—something going on between you two.

Edited 2016-02-24 03:48 (UTC)

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i have to be vague for reasons...