melodiesoflife | Event || The Festival Of Light

[ She would find him sitting on the floor in the study, where Ace was absentmindedly flipping through the pages of a book sprawled in his lap. Hearing Tear walk in, he closed the tome with a thud (it wasn't anything indecent, honest!) before placing it back on the shelf where it belonged. ]

... Need some help?

[ Regardless of her answer, he was already rising to his feet. ]

[ Had he stolen that particular "book" from the mansion, Tear would like to think she'd have noticed its presence by now. Therefore, she's able to ignore the sound quite easily, taking those last few steps to close the space between them. Shaking her head, the girl folded her hands together in from of her as she spoke. ]

No, I'm just about finished. But I do have something to ask you. [ Ah, suddenly her twined fingers seemed so fascinating... ]

I only just remembered that tonight would be the last night of the fireworks, and... I was wondering... if you would want to go see them with me?

[ What's this? Could it possibly be that Tear was actually still a little nervous about asking her own boyfriend out on a date? What scandal. ]

[ So, maybe she hadn't been able to come to terms with a couple of things and it showed, but all he needed to know was there in the bright blush adorning her cheeks. She was being completely serious about her request. ]

Okay...-

[ His attention was likewise drawn to the delicate pair of hands clasped together in a tense knot. It was pretty much the only thing he saw fit to change, reaching out to separate them with his own. He wanted to meet her eyes, if she would allow him, very loosely wrapping his arms around her waist in the meantime. ]

I'd... like that. A lot. [ On a night like this, he wasn't even sure if he could fall asleep so easily, so if that was how they decided to spend it, he had no objections. ] It might be a bit too late to hop on that airship, though.

[ A corner of his mouth curled in a smile. Since they'd agreed to remain home, Tear's sudden change of heart probably meant she had some kind of plan. ]

[ Even if it was partially obstructed by increasingly-stubborn bangs, Tear gladly raised her head to meet his gaze, tiny smile adorning her lips as she settled her hands against his shoulders instead. ]

It might not be too late, if I were willing to test the extent of my Teleport ability tonight. [ Yet despite that teasing remark, she needed to preserve as much of her strength as she could, and would be switching out the job for another anyway. ]

We could go back to the festival grounds, see them from there... [ But she still wanted to remain closer to home, to have a night of privacy and preparation with him, so the melodist did indeed have another alternative in mind. ]

... Or we can stay here. We should be able to see them well enough outside, from the garden. What do you think...?

Edited (html yo) 2016-08-02 06:29 (UTC)

[ Ace listened to all of them intently, but he gleam in her eye when she spoke of the last option told him everything he needed to know. Sometimes he still managed to forget they now had a place of their own, which left them with quite a number of ways to go about this.

Humming thoughtfully, he casted his eyes towards the window. ]

We should still have some blankets to spare, and we could always get back in if it rains. [ The weather hadn't exactly been spoiling them, but- ] The sky seems peaceful tonight... a calm before the storm.

[ Tightening his protective hold ever so slightly, he leveled his gaze with hers. The realisation saddened him, but he looked confident all the same, and as if to break from that line of thought, he settled for a different approach. ]

Let's do that. It sounds... pretty romantic, is that what you had on mind?

[ Was he not supposed to state the obvious? It seemed better than to mull over what couldn't be changed, at the very least. ]

Well... maybe a little... [ She wasn't going to deny the appeal of her last suggestion, but to have it put so bluntly was enough to make her blush all over again, briefly ducking her head to try and get it better under control. Or perhaps just burying her face in his chest would be more efficient, as she then did exactly that. ]

As long as we spend time together... [ And with his brief allusion to what would soon happen, that sentiment was true now more than ever. After a few moments she pulled back, ready to meet his eyes anew. ]

There's still a little time before they start. [ Whether it was a good thing they'd stayed up this late or not, who even knew. At least their possibly irresponsible choice had given them this opportunity. ]

Let's go set up before it does, to make sure we don't miss the beginning.

[ Tear certainly made it all the more difficult to untangle himself from the warmth of her embrace with that movement, but there was no time to waste if they wanted to go along with the plan. Very slowly, he withdrew his arms and let them fall to his sides. ]

Hm, is there anything else? We could...- [ Pausing, he regarded his partner inquisitively. This... sounded so immature in his mind, and probably very much was, so he was walking on some really thin ice here. However- ]

Let's grab everything we need, and the first- [ A smile tugged at his lips. So childish. But also, oddly entertaining. This seemed to have been a theme for the past few days, so much that it felt weird to stop now.

On this very last night of the festival. ]

The first person in the garden wins.

[ Lightly tapping the girl's shoulder, he then stormed off to the bedroom. ]

[ Well, she certainly hadn't seen that coming, and once Ace runs off Tear is left frozen in surprise, blinking a few times as the challenge properly registered. ]

What? [ C h e a t e r. The whole idea was indeed childish, yet that doesn't stop the smile playing on Tear's lips as she listened to her partner rush off in his efforts to win. And who was she to deny him his fun?

Though she could just go to the garden and declare herself the winner, seeing as blankets were really the only thing they actually needed, that wouldn't be fair of her at all. Thinking for a moment, a thought came upon her soon enough.

Maybe a few refreshments would be appropriate, even if there were some who frowned upon late-night consumption of desserts and could damage her chances of victory as she set to grabbing what they had on hand, working faster than one might think. ]

[ As simple as his task was, Ace actually found himself struggling quite a bit with the execution as the tangle of blankets made it difficult to retrieve just the right ones. Well, it served him right. He hastily grabbed one of the pillows, too, before emerging from the room to embrace his immediate loss.

But what was that, just now? A series of rattling sounds reached his ears when he'd stepped out, causing him to stop in his tracks to consider the alternative.

Was she... upset? It wasn't at all like his partner to start flinging items across the room, but he wasn't sure how to think about that otherwise. Confused, he decided to investigate, dragging his findings along. ]

Are you o-

[ It was his downfall, and the opening she could easily use if she wanted. ]

[ Opening indeed, because it just so happens that Tear had just finished gathering what was left of the apple pie she had made the day before (because what better way to finish a day of water antics?), along with some milk to go with it. The noise from her rummaging made it so she didn't quite catch what Ace was saying, so when she stands to properly face her partner, his expression ignited a sense of confusion in her, too. ]

What is it? [ Though, actually... Shaking her head, she breathed out and walked her way over to him, placing a brief kiss on his cheek. ] Tell me in the garden?

[ Because she just had a grand idea to secure her victory—noticing that the blankets he had grabbed were dragging, she carefully leans down to pick one end up...

... then toss it up to cover his head. However long it takes him to recover, she'll have already arrived at their destination. ]

[ His lips parted in an expression of wonder, Ace gladly accepted her kiss, along with the comforting realisation he hadn't been wrong about her.

And then he caught it. That bright little spark hidden in Tear's eye that betrayed her intentions before her actions did. ]

Hey-

[ It didn't even cross his mind to retaliate, if out of worry he'd knock that apple pie out of her hands while landing his hits in complete darkness. Rather than mourn for this loss of his dignity, he just felt like laughing. ]

... Are you serious?

[ It was hard to tell whether she'd heard him or not, since she was gone by the time he'd freed himself from her trap. Chuckling softly, still, the cadet made a run for the opened door that led to their backyard. She was a real piece of work, and he probably deserved it.

Stepping outside, he felt the evening breeze brush across his face, fortunately seeing no signs of impending storm. Since the grass still appeared to be slightly wet from the afternoon rainfall, they could certainly use the blankets. However, he couldn't join the preparations just yet, feeling there's something else for him to do.

Waiting for Tear to set down the plate in her hands, he felt compelled to give her a taste of her own medicine, dropping the very same blanket onto her shoulders without any prior warning. Maybe this wasn't an exact revenge, seeing how he mostly wished to keep the melodist warm above all else, but it was how he decided to signal his presence, before wrapping his arms around her from behind. ]

Well played.

[ The feeling of warm cloth enclosing around her made the girl gasp, only to be tempered by relief the instant she recognised the strong arms accompanying it, warm and familiar. Shifting just a little, Tear adjusted herself so she could look over her shoulder to catch his eye.]

I'm always quite serious. [ Except she couldn't hold the straight face for much longer, eventually allowing it to become a small smile as her own soft laughter emerged. ]

You had the advantage from the start, I had to find a way to gain the upper hand. [ Whether it was fair or not is debatable, yet she still released content sigh as she leaned back against him. ]

Were you able to grab everything you needed, or should I go back in to get the rest?

... And miss the beginning while you do? Stay.

[ In order to emphasise his request, he rested his chin against her shoulder, and it wasn't a coincidence how close to her face he ended up getting. Everything he needed was already in his arms' reach. ]

There are the blankets to ward off the cold, the flowers to light the way, and enough food to last until morning. [ Leaning slightly forward, he gently nudged her nose with his own in a playful gesture. Somebody was overthinking things. ] We're all set.

[ Following a suspiciously long moment of hesitation, he pulled away to reach for another blanket and spread it on the ground. ]

[ Close they were indeed, with Tear caught by surprise every second of it, just as he surely knew she would be. While she wouldn't be opposed to missing the beginning if necessary, the logic was sound and dashed away any worries that would arise, plus his hold kept her from trying to run even if she had wanted to.

So when their noses touched she couldn't help chuckling again, briefly returning the gesture. ]

Okay then, I'll stay. [ And she would have been content with just staying the way they were, the girl noting his hesitation, but his actions were further reminder of how little time they had left before the show would start, so she got right to work with helping him. ]

I can't believe I didn't think to go see them before tonight.

Doesn't that make this moment more special?

[ Nearly done, he smoothed the edges of the blanket lying underneath and then took hold of one of the pillows, resting it in his lap. He hadn't brought anything else to cover himself with, having figured they could always share, if necessary. For now, he liked the way the cloth wrapped comfortably around Tear's shoulders, since she was always the first to make a point of huddling for warmth. ]

Maybe all this lacks the grandeur of an airship, but I don't mind staying a little bit closer to the ground.

[ One of the unspoken advantages of their situation was being able to help himself to her cooking anytime he wished, which was something Ace would not fail to exploit. ]

Apples... and milk. [ The comment was accompanied by a slightly impish smirk as he reached for a spoon. ] You're no longer being sneaky about it, either.

[ He mostly meant it as a joke, but it was the little things that often made him pause in thought. ]

Maybe it does... But I don't mind it either. [ Tear joined her partner in sitting down barely a moment after he had, humming thoughtfully. They certainly wouldn't have to worry about anyone intruding on their privacy out here (except perhaps any moogles), and there was something oddly pleasant about having Ace's attention as the selenia surrounding them emitted their gentle glow, allowing her to see his face despite the darkness of night. ]

We'll just see what we make of it.

[ But the comment regarding her fondness for the foods—along with the familiar smile toying on his lips—meant that rather than leaning against him as she otherwise might have, the girl is instead reaching out and giving him a small shove instead, huffing to try and hide her embarrassment. ]

Says the one who sneaks around with all the sweets and greens. It'll go to waste if it's not eaten. [ Except she can't keep up the charade, and a bashful smile emerges soon enough. She was the one who sometimes spoiled him in that habit, after all. ]

I see no reason to hide it... from you. [ Yes, the addendum was necessary. ]

[ While he could have easily avoided the punch and shied away, he instead made a point of leaning in to puff out his cheeks. Are you done yet, girlfriend? ]

Sneaks around? As if I'd ever bother. [ Might as well take a take a spoonful of that apple pie while he's at it, right in front of her face. As ostentatious as it was, he didn't mean to come across as completely disrespectful of the time she'd placed in preparing these delicious treats. Such food wasn't meant to be simply eaten, but above all, enjoyed.

Maybe, just maybe, that sugar rush was a legitimate concern, and not just an excuse thrown around whenever Hanafuda made a batch of cookies too many. It would serve as a way to explain the soft tingle in his cheeks and his sudden inability to keep his face straight. Tapping the back of the metal spoon against his lips, he paused to contemplate this mysterious sweetness.

But then she spoke, warming his heart and making his cheeks bloom red with her quiet confession. Dropping his hands, he set aside the utensils to make some more room. ]

I guess… I'd like some things to stay just between us, too.

[ The first explosion roared across the sky without any warning, catching the cadet slightly off guard. Thankfully, it went in line with what he was about to do - he just had to wait for an opportune moment before he could guide her - gently and carefully - to rest against the pillow in his lap. ]

[ That he had opted to lean in and make faces only catches Tear a little off-guard this time, even if she still had to stifle what sounded suspiciously like laughter before briefly turning away to resist shoving her partner again. And it was tempting, when he went and made such grand gestures right before her eyes. ]

I suppose this means I haven't been keeping that close an eye on you either. [ Though, leaning in and making her fondness for his innocent appreciation known was tempting, too.

There were many ways she could respond, and unspoken was the fact that—more than anyone else—Ace was the one she would willingly show each one of them to. But the sound of the first firework stops her before she could press proper words past her own blush, eyes widening in surprise not only for its sudden appearance, but for the gentle way the cadet was guiding her to rest against him.

Yet, a tiny smile danced on her lips as shy shyly made herself more comfortable, torn between enjoying the bright flurries of colour in the sky or glancing up at him. Thus, her solution was to temporarily hide her face behind her hair. ]

Edited 2016-09-13 21:17 (UTC)

[ The plan had a major flaw of not only limiting her own field of vision, but also denying him the sight of her smile, both of which were things Ace couldn't settle for. His movements were deliberately slow so as not to be distracting, fingertips almost lazily caressing her cheeks and moving upwards, to brush aside the strands of hair she was so fond of using as her shield.

He didn't really need to look upwards, for her eyes reflected everything he needed to see. It would just be a little unfair, given he was already granted certain advantages over the girlfriend nestled in his lap. Being able to lift her hand to press a soft kiss against her palm, for one, was something he practised rather happily when she wasn't looking.

It felt so nice, all of it. ]

Mystearica... [ It wasn't often he that addressed her by her given name, but it felt right on his lips. Raising his eyes to the night sky, he continued. ]

I'm glad you're here with me. This is... far more than I could ever ask for. Thank you.

[ Her gaze may have been focused on the illuminations of colour, but every small touch was what truly had her attention. Were she any less disciplined, the melodist might have been tempted to succumb to the slumber such soothing motions could summon. The sensation of his lips against her skin also helped to keep her grounded in the present, and it all twined together perfectly to create an aura of serenity, one that drew a soft, content sigh from the girl.

When the sound of her true name reached her ears, Tear allowed her eyelids to fall closed so she could have a moment to linger on it. Though it was indeed her name, the number of times she has heard it in its entirety were few, and often felt like a far-off memory. Hearing it in his voice, in her dear partner's, seemed so different from when it came in the voice of the only other human to have uttered it.

With Ace, she had no reason to doubt that the feelings in it were genuine.

Opening her eyes again just as he was finishing, Tear's expression briefly clouded with confusion before settling into a small smile. ] You don't have to thank me.

[ Still, her hand sought out his, lacing their fingers together. She understood, because she had uttered the the same words all those months ago beneath the snowy white sky. ]

It's a lot, isn't it? Everything that's happened.

[ Pausing, she followed his gaze to the sky above them, cuddling closer in the process. ]

We're still here, us two.

[ Except he would find a way to thank her, and he had plenty of reasons to show his gratitude on a night that could be their last. The realisation stirred faintly in the back of his mind, but not enough to keep his smile from peeking from under his tousled bangs as their hands linked together. ]

Imagine staying like this for a little while longer.

[ Sliding his free arm around the melodist's shoulders, he reciprocated her affections by cradling her even closer to himself. ]

Another year... another ten years. Would we still be here, hiding away in our garden?

[ There was a special lightness to his words, unfitting the severity of the implication behind them. They seemed almost playful, even. Specks of light danced in his eyes as he fell quiet in the anticipation of her answer to his completely hypothetical question, whatever it would be. ]

Ten years...? [ Tear's voice was soft with disbelief, trying to wrap her mind around the very idea to the point that she closed her eyes to better picture it. ]

It's... hard to imagine. [ Not because she couldn't do it—quite the opposite, actually. The idea of molding her own future, without any guidance was still new enough to her, but that wasn't what kept her from stepping deeper into those fantasies. The girl was all too aware of the nature of their mission in this world.

Being held like this... perhaps she could find the courage to indulge him, eyelids falling closed as she was silent for a few moments. ]

Maybe it wouldn't be this garden specifically... [ Lips curving into a gentle smile, she opened her eyes. ] We could grow another one, in another place if it's not here. I'm sure Hana and Sein would say we're hiding away, wherever it is.

[ That she had no doubt would always stay the same. ]

[ Ten years. So far in the future, the idea almost seemed detached from the reality, and such was the point of his query. Beneath this colorful cloak of stars, the notion of dreams seemed to gain a new meaning, one he hadn't quite understood the first time he had been told of the significance of wishing upon fireworks.

During the New Year's party, he had been too consumed by his own nervousness to notice, too scatterbrained, but now... the serenity of the moment allowed him to look past everything which had stopped him before. ]

Don't overthink it.

[ That was the only advice he could give her, knowing perfectly how it felt. At the same time, the curiosity within him only grew as she kept him waiting, but the smile that eventually blossomed definitely rewarded him for that patience. ]

… Wouldn't they? [ He couldn't decide what was more charming - that she'd actually gone ahead and expanded on his little idea, or that she'd even decided to add a joke on top of it. ]

Have you ever noticed how there aren't that many Chocobos on the Continent of Ruin? If we could bring them over, there would be just enough space for both a farm and a garden. Everything on... our own terms….

[ His voice grew quieter and quieter before it faded into silence. There was a sound akin to a hitched breath towards the end, followed by a subtle change in the boy’s expression as it caught up with him just how much…-

I love you.

Even though it was an entirely soundless confession, he made it so she could easily read the message from just the movement of his lips. ]

[ It was the soft noise closing her partner's speech that made the girl look up and her heart stop, recognising the words he had formed at once. Pressing her lips together and blinking a little too quickly, the melodist couldn't completely hide the melancholy that misted her eyes as she reached out to touch his cheek with trembling fingers, establishing a pattern of brushing her thumb across the skin of the hand she still held on to. ]

Our terms... [ Still overcome by the power of his silent words and by the beauty of the dream he had shared, it took Tear a few more tries to start talking anew, though her gaze never strayed as she took a breath and eased herself into a gentle smile. ]

I'm sure... we'll find a way to bring them over. There's still a lot we don't know about that continent, but I know for a fact those living in it want to learn more. Maybe... close the the ocean...

[ Falling silent, she found herself simply wanting to commit everything about him into memory, the reminder of the battle they would walk into in a few hours threatening to come to the forefront of her mind. The fingers curled against his cheek moved downward to brush over his lips, but instead of acting on that particular impulse she simply nuzzled into his chest.

Which meant he might not have caught on to her mouthing the same words he had, ones she had already whispered to him many times before as he slept. ]

[ Just by looking into her eyes he could tell how deeply this had affected her, perhaps in more ways than he would have wished for. Sadness, for one, didn't suit these beautiful features, so he sought to ease her feelings of worry with another squeeze of her hand. If time was what she needed, he would meet her hesitation with silence, but his expression was anything but uncaring as he willed himself to calm down for her sake.

When she finally spoke, he could feel himself being under the scrutiny of her questing fingertips, a sensation not as unfamiliar as it was powerful. True, he couldn't hear her, with the way she lay curled up against his chest, but she'd already manifested her intent with those few motions alone. To him, it was more than enough. ]

Ah, of course-.... The ocean. [ It definitely deserved an acknowledgment, being something the melodist brought up very often. ] It would be one of the advantages of staying here, where the view isn't obscured by the mountains. I... didn't think of that before.

[ At this point, he was no longer simply pretending that it was anything more than a hypothetical scenario playing out in his mind. Tear's participation made it seem real, allowing him to speak with newfound conviction. A future memory-in-the-making... that would help him face tomorrow without so much dread.

A sigh pushed past his lips, light and almost dreamy. Slightly loosening his hold of her body with the sole purpose of now being able to run his fingers through Tear's hair, he asked quietly. ]

What else can you see? I want to hear it.

Event || The Festival Of Light

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