melodiesoflife | Love Springs Eternal (??)

[ 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)

He's twenty years older than I am. [ What point she was trying to get across with that statement, even Tear didn't know for sure. It hardly helped in finding a way to disprove whatever Jade had implied logically, but it was the first thing that came to mind as she sighed quietly, willing her blush to lessen as best she could.

Leave it to him to plant such implications and take the joke as far as he could. ]

The colonel is a trusted ally, he just so happens to have a sense of humour that comes at the expense of others.

[ ... Though, a small part of her felt guilty for the relief that did come, hearing that the implication had been misdirected. ]

I... wouldn't be surprised if others saw the fliers and thought the same. It seems that everyone has come to recognise us as a team, and the high compatibility in the results seemed to reaffirm that.

[ It certainly raised a valid point, in light of how misleading ~~Jade's shiny hair~~ appearances were, bringing a playful smirk to the cadet's lips that however contained a hint of relief. Tear's past belonged to her and her only, and yet, he was selfishly thankful that such parts thereof wouldn't come to haunt him in their strange ways.

Or so Ace naively believed. ]

Overall, I was under the impression that he would probably get along well with somebody I... know.

[ So as not to say have repeatedly agreed to become a test subject for in the past. Eccentric scientists with unique senses of humour seemed to be a constant for each world. ]

Of course, the matter of our compatibility did not go undetected, either. [ The blond gently lifts the melodist's hand in his grasp to place his other hand atop of it. Just being able to do that effectively erases the remains of exasperation he felt upon reading the flyers, which now were nothing but senseless pieces of paper one could only make light of.

And that's exactly what he does, looking the girl expectantly in the eyes as he smiles. ] ... Well, that had to be an error. Personally, I would have given us at least fifty.

He has his ways. [ Diabolical ways, though there was no way she was going to voice that out loud ~~he might hear them~~. Though similarly, it could be possible that their group had been victims to his experiments more than they were aware of.

That, plus the idea that there was someone possibly similar that he would get along with, pushed her to quickly set aside the idea and focus solely on the person in front of her, the pink tinge barely noticeable on her expression when she met his eyes with a smile. ] Only fifty? Wouldn't that mean we wouldn't show up on each other's results at all?

[ But knowing he thought so was its own comfort, even though she honestly hadn't thought she would care so much about the matches when Sein handed her the envelope after explaining, figuring that none of the names she may have considered would appear only to have it snatched out of her hands just as quickly.

The moogle's high shriek of "How dare they!" had rung in her ears for quite some time after she had gone to see the publicly posted flyers herself, despite his protests. ]

Maybe the one responsible for printing them read the results wrong, or holds a grudge for whatever reason. [ Because it was much more encouraging to believe that when looking at the two percent number. ]

[ Ace had expected nothing less, welcoming her compliant with a faint blush of his own. Did she even realize there was only one way to grant such request? ]

I did say at least, not meaning that I would stop at such number. [ He does not want to, nor does he genuinely think he could measure the comfort the melodist has given him using numbers. Tilting his head, he feigns a questioning stare. ] Tear, have you perchance insulted any moogles as of late?

[ He then drew both his hands - with the girl's still placed securely in between - closer to himself, sighing softly as he stayed silent for a brief moment, his expression seeming almost wistful if it wasn't for the slight upward curl of his lips accompanying his words. ]

Not that... it actually matters. I don't need a list to tell me who is that I feel most at ease with.

[ If this was how they were going to go about addressing the ridiculous numbers, then Tear was happy to comply for as long as she could, stifling a smirk of her own out of some respect for the moogles. ]

I'd like to think that I haven't, they're all cute creatures. [ But even as she joked about it, a thought did quickly cross her mind—it involved the two different moogles who had accompanied that person, who took it upon themselves to look after him when she couldn't. Surely they wouldn't have...?

Shaking her head to do away with the faint crease in her eyebrows the memory had caused, her face took on the same thoughtful expression once again, carefully considering his words and the possibility of what they could mean.

To be more accurate, what she might be hoping they did, though she didn't dare say anything yet. ]

That's good to hear. [ Affirming her answer with a small nod, the girl looked down from his face to their hands linked together, cherishing the warmth they provided her in more ways than one. ]

Knowing who it is that most makes you feel that way, not everyone is able to figure that out for themselves.

Edited 2016-02-24 09:47 (UTC)

[ It wasn't as though the meddlers didn't have their bright moments, be it whenever the advice given turned out to be surprisingly helpful, or... their antics accidentally drew you close to who you would later consider your best friend and ally. ]

I've had that knowledge for a while now, so I feel rather confident about it.

[ Seeing her gaze stray, he reached out to take hold of her other hand as well, now pressing them together gently against his chest as he spoke. ]

I just wish it could translate into words nearly as well, because I would rather not keep it solely for myself. I—...

[ Everything that had led up until this moment had given him this exact opportunity that he could not waste by being unable to keep his emotions in check. Inhaling sharply, he closed his eyes, before letting himself be carried away any further. ]

Hoping to have your feelings reciprocated is quite a lot to ask for, in this case. How... can you tell it's the right moment?

[ ... Only to open them seconds later, looking for a sign of permission in hers, for it was far too late for exchanging simple pieces of advice. ]

[ Tear let Ace do with her hands as she wished, listening intently to his every word despite still not looking at him properly just yet. Instead, she became all the more aware of the warmth beneath them, of the heartbeat she could feel when she was this close to him.

Even though her expression was becoming more and more wistful, it also showed the faint curve of her lips, waiting until he was finished before responding. ]

I don't know if there is a 'right moment,' for that. [ Lorelei knew she had never figured it out. ] And it is a lot to ask for... It can also be considered brave, to still want to say them.

[ Had the melodist possessed the courage to act, perhaps she wouldn't have been in this position to begin with. But when she at last lifted her gaze to meet that of the boy in front of her... She couldn't believe it had been entirely bad of her to have held back.

Pausing for a moment, she remembered the meeting she had attended the week before—they had tried to cover this very topic, hadn't they? It was just for a brief while, but it was enough to stand out to her. ]

If you don't mind... I want to hear your words, if it's something you would want to share with me.

[ It wasn't just a promise pushing her to want to listen, but perhaps a small hope... ]

... Of course.

[ Ace's hold was gradually becoming lighter, so that any attempts at maintaining their physical contact would now be the result of her own volition rather than his own. It felt... necessary, to ensure her this very minimum of personal space, knowing that what he was about to say would eventually force her to voice her own opinion on the matter. ]

Tear Grants—

[ A soft smile adorned his lips at the sound of that name, the same one she had chosen to introduce herself as, the one he had learnt to call her by. Ultimately, it was a matter of nostalgic preference that wouldn't have made his words any less, nor any more valid if he had gone down the other path. Having expected his face to flare up like it always did under similar circumstances, he was surprised to find the surge of warmth under his skin completely unthreatening, as if it was meant to be there. It allowed him to remain calm in the face of the challenge that this confession undoubtedly was. ]

— ... you make me feel like I belong. Even if the time we have left is only a fraction of what we would like it to be— [ The boy shakes his head lightly, trying to push aside the thoughts that would no longer influence his decision. ] —it won't stop me from looking forward to making these moments count.

Yes, anything could happen, but if the future is what we make it, I... I want to be your strength the same way you've been mine.

[ The wave of relief produced a sound akin to quiet laughter at the back of his throat, brief as it was before it faded—... ]

... I love you.

[ Even in silence, he couldn't draw his eyes away from her. ]

[ Tear's breath stills when it begins to dawn upon her what he was going to say, eyes widening with every phase that passed through his lips. Even when he finishes she stands motionless, the only indication she had heard at all being her gaze lowering to look at their hands, her own grip tightening to make up for his.

Slowly, she realised that pulled close like this, she could feel his heartbeat in addition to the warmth she had come to associate with him, however faint it was. For whatever reason, it was this realisation that broke her silence in the form of a breathy half-laugh. ]

You... you idiot! [ The words may seem completely out of place when coupled with the smile that had spread across her lips, flustered yet bright. ]

Ace... [ Her tone was nothing but gentle, despite the words she had blurted out seconds before. Her gaze still focuses on his hands in hers, she threaded them with hers delicately, her touch almost timid with how lightly she held him. ] You already are

[ Perhaps it was that residual fear that made her hold on to him this way, but by now she knew what it was she wanted. Yet to hear him say it, to confirm that small yet selfish wish she held in her heart. ]

With you, I... [ Her voice fell silent, searching for the right words. All she had to do was say it back... ]

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i have to be vague for reasons...

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