Welcome to Adventu, your final fantasy rp haven. adventu focuses on both canon and original characters from different worlds and timelines that have all been pulled to the world of zephon: a familiar final fantasy-styled land where all adventurers will fight, explore, and make new personal connections.
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year 5, quarter 3
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Post by Caius Dragelion on Mar 1, 2024 16:57:10 GMT -6
The Dragonblade
While he wasn't keen on leaving behind his loved ones within the Dragonblades and returning to Sonora, Caius knew he had to go. Right now, Lumina needed him. And he needed to keep looking for a cure for her condition. Of course, right now his best bet to pull this off was currently nursing Ignis and Gladiolus back to health. It would take some time before he could get Noctis on board and confront this parasite directly. So in the meantime, he just had to do what he could.
He had, while making preparations to leave, been given a strange invitation. Some kind of pleasure cruise testing. Apparently, he had been invited in acknowledgement of all he had done for Torensten and its people. It sounded... Nice, but he had a job to do, and he couldn't see himself leaving his work in general, even just for a few days. Much less keeping Lumina waiting any longer for him than she already had. So he would just find someone to give the thing to, he decided. In passing, he had mentioned the invitation to Claire, hoping she might have a classmate that might be interested.
Of course, this proved to be a mistake. Because Caius had gotten partways to Provo when he was contacted to pick up Lumina and Serah, who had already made their way to Provo, and then the trio went back to Torensten to pick up Claire. Why? Because Claire had informed Lumina of the invitation, and, well... Apparently they decided they could all use a short getaway. And the invitation DID say you could bring your family.
Apparently the Farrons counted as family to bring, so here they were. On a boat.
After Caius had done his best to work his magic on Lumina, of course. Now that he knew what he was doing, he could push back the parasite without wasting so much magic. But it would only stall it, and most likely the stalling would be less effective the further into her it got. But at the least, Lumina could relax for the next two days without worrying about the parasite infecting the other passengers. Something she had likely been counting on when she arrived. While she didn't seem to have entirely regained herself after the parasite had messed with her mind, she did seem to be more like the Lumina he remembered, than when he had left...
But Caius wasn't really sure what to do on this ship. Because then came the kicker: Caius had never even taken a vacation before, much less done anything even remotely like this. Swimming pools, music, buffet foods and cruise liner scavenger hunts? This was all such a foreign thing to Caius, and he didn't know what to do with himself.
Speaking of uncomfortable: Even if he could change back into his armor using the glaive at anytime, Caius still felt very wrong changing into a pair of swim trunks. His legs were exposed, which Celes said was fine when the mobility helped for casting, but he wasn't a traditional spellcaster! He felt exposed, and he knew it was only going to get worse when he went shirtless. Speaking of shirts, Caius had to buy a t-shirt from the ship's souvenir shop about forty minutes ago ago, when the group discovered he lacked anything that fit being on a boat.
As he left the changing room and headed for the pool area, Caius glanced around for Lumina. He hadn't shed the shirt yet, figuring he could just put it somewhere nearby, but he was still dragging his feet on walking around without one. He really wasn't fond of feeling unguarded.
Final Fantasy XIII
521
YEARS
Female
Caius Dragelion
Demisexual
179 POSTS
Destati
"Now that's not right. You're not supposed to throw your life away."
Post by Claire Farron on Mar 9, 2024 22:11:45 GMT -6
Light
Fragments of the Saviour
"Each time you do this, I wonder if I'll emerge or the 'me' that's been here in Zephon will fade... just like before." these somber words were spoken after the parasite was put at bay. Her sense of self was not as eroded this time. In part due to correct magic usage as well as experience. Though it was evident that 'Eve' was eroding her in subtle and not subtle ways. For now she felt a great calm, as if the weight of the world was lifted off her shoulders. Now, she could worry about something much more mundane...what swimsuit to wear, as well as cruise attire, really.
She took much longer in the changeroom as a result. Debating on modesty versus her sense of fashion. In the end, she settled to wear a simple white one piece bathing suit, beneath an off-white tank top and ruffled white skirt. As she stared in a mirror, she wondered if the brown garter belt around her left thigh was too much. Did Serah have to go through moments like this with Snow? Were it not for embarrassment and sisterly pride, she might have asked her. Then there was that unruly bit of hair that was her bangs. Her mother always knew how to handle it, once she was gone, she stopped fighting to style it right. A simple style that was presentable and easy to maintain while working, that was the old ideal. Being free of that, she tried some beach themed hair ornaments. They looked cute, though she felt that it contrasted to the mature appeal of her present physique. Being stuck at pre-teen then teen physique for quite awhile really did a number on her psyche.
"Alright, Light, this is as much prep as you can do. Just go on out there and ask him what he thinks. A bit of mischievous charm for confidence doesn't hurt either." except now she was wondering if she was too old for mirror pep talks too.
Onwards then, she gracefully left the changing room and upon joining Caius, noticed something. "Why are you still wearing your shirt? Look at all this water, we should be getting in." Seemingly, Light latched onto this vulnerability and all self-doubt and worry was circumvented. In its place, she had an inviting smile, whilst her eyes twinkled. Snapping her fingers, a dazzling bit of lights engulfed her form in order to disrobe the tank top and skirt. Turning on her heel, she beckoned he follow as she headed for the water, much more relaxed than before. A distraction always helped to get out of her own head.
"Being at the Pale coast reminds me of life in my hometown. I imagine this is alleviating any home sickness my twin is feeling. Not that she'll show any." giggling faintly, she couldn't help but wonder if there would always be two of her in any lifetime away from home. This passing thought got her contemplative, wondering if she could really enjoyed that laidback lifestyle here in Zephon. There were so many twists and turns in the years she'd been here already. Likely, she'd get dragged back into fighting at some point here. Thankfully, it wouldn't be today, nor for the rest of this trip so long as she had her way. Just easing into the water felt like stress relief. Should there be any goals for this vacation, it'd be restoring herself in mind and body, so that she could resume living the life she fought so hard for. What world she was on, didn't matter, the principal should be the same.
Post by Caius Dragelion on Mar 18, 2024 10:08:32 GMT -6
The Dragonblade
“We’ll handle it in time. For now, I want you to focus on what’s before us” Caius had done his best to reassure Lumina after the fact. He didn’t like what this did to her either, but if they were to do this trip safely… They didn’t really have a choice either.
Still, “in time” would be a lot sooner than originally planned. The intention had been for him to return to Sonora and meet her, waiting with her and keeping tabs on her until Noctis and his retinue had recovered from their escape from Sonora. Once they had, he would find a means to bring her to a secure location for them to meet, and Caius and Noctis would work together to try and drive the parasite out. However, with this trip… Going back to Sonora was likely no longer necessary, at least not right now. Noctis and Prompto had arrived in Provo safely, and would likely be ready to go by the time they returned. Which meant…
The last fight with this parasite was upon them. Caius had little doubt that upon being expunged it would attack, and he and Noctis would both likely be drained, as would Lumina. They had no idea how powerful it would be, and that was if they even succeeded… Alex’s words still tormented him, even if that fool had no idea what was going on. What if it did kill Lumina?
This trip was supposed to be a chance to relieve stress for them all, and for Caius to try and learn to relax, with no responsibilities to be found out here for him to shoulder. But it may also be the last bit of time he would get to spend with Lumina. Either before everything went to hell or…
He didn’t like to think about the alternative. Opening pandora’s box was just if they were lucky.
Either way? Things were about to change. So he needed to make the most of the time they did have together. It might be the last they get of any kind of normalcy… Or at all.
That was for later Caius to stress about, though. Right now, present Caius had another, much more mundane and civilian issue to deal with. And that was the fact that everyone around here, including Lumina as she stepped out, was clad in, well, a certain attire. In depictions within the books he had read, being in a state of… Undress - was typically a more intimate affair. Especially if that person is someone that you are involved with. Caius wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with beachwear, but while he had been to the Pale Coast with Vordun often to fish, they had done so in isolation. Away from the beachgoers with everything out and in the open. Now? He was in the thick of it, and Lumina as part of "it" to boot. Caius didn’t quite know how to process that, or know what he was going to do.
Caius chewed the inside of his cheek and averted his gaze, his cheeks pinkening slightly when she approached and disrobed through magic. This was going to be a lot to get used to. Lumina admonished him for still wearing a shirt, which was the last bit of clothing between him and vulnerability. “Right,” he almost whispered as he reminded himself that he could change immediately into his armor with magic if need be, giving himself just enough peace of mind to slowly remove his shirt and place it on the table nearby.
Of course, this got looks from a fair few bystanders. While his Zephon wounds had always been healed with magic, there had been years of battles on Eos that had not. His body was clearly that of a warrior’s, broad shoulders and a strong physique drawing more attention than he would like towards the less appealing things -- those being scars. His body had a healthy pallet of them, an anomaly even moreso for people used to living in a society where magic could heal wounds long before they’ve scarred. But it was the one just below his neck that kept people’s attention, and not in a good way. Shaped like a claw, a strange crimson and orange in color, and almost seemed to be glowing. The scar had faded in the years since, but that faint glow had kept it visible enough that it would probably always be an issue.
And even Caius knew that wasn’t normal. When people looked at him, and stopped at his neck, he knew why. But he tried not to think about it as he hurried after Lumina. Caius gasped as the cold water hit him and he hesitated. But after a few moments, he took a deep breath and ventured all the way, almost barreling into Lumina as he tried to keep his balance. Swimming wasn’t something he had done all that often either.
“Our farm was near the coast. My mother would occasionally take us out to the sand, we’d watch the ocean and collect shells. We’d compete to see who got the biggest one… Emily always won those,” he spoke softly, in segments, between chattering teeth as he met her story with his own. It was rare Caius spoke of how he grew up, and especially about his family. But if Lumina was going to share, he knew it was proper that he did the same. “Maybe we can take Small Claire with us to the beach, when things calm down?”
‘When they calm down’ was an understatement.
Final Fantasy XIII
521
YEARS
Female
Caius Dragelion
Demisexual
179 POSTS
Destati
"Now that's not right. You're not supposed to throw your life away."
Post by Claire Farron on Mar 26, 2024 16:25:14 GMT -6
Light
Fragments of the Saviour
To focus on what was before her, at last. It filled her with unbridled hope, even as it felt so nostalgic, so fleeting. The latter part, she felt was because of the constant struggles, all the fighting. In contrast to her time on Zephon, where she was sorting herself out and not fighting..., really put her new life here into perspective. On Zephon, as she struggled with her own identity and the mistakes of her past; there was a deeper, innate desire to enjoy this life as a re-do. Connecting with Serah, being vulnerable with her and just living as best she could. She realized that she was more grateful for being here in Zephon now, than Serah was. Initially, when her memory was faulty, it was a very real sense of existentialism. A fear she could fade away with nothing to look forward to, oblivion. With her memories complete, that oblivion wasn't real at all. Just the fear of the unknown, for the reunion with herself, made her whole rather than washing away who she truly was. A return to how she always had been, just beneath the surface.
Steeping more into humility then, whether she was Light, Lumina, or Clarissa; being on Zephon allowed her to have so many normal experiences. Had she not been such a worrywart, she could soak it all in. Now she faced a problem that left her at a crossroads. If she didn't fight with all that she had, to pull forth the strength which made her Serah's keeper, the Knight of Etro then the Saviour. She could die and lose everything! Some days, it had only felt like yesterday that she arrived in Zephon. Taken in by the monks and scholars of Metaia, she journeyed across Zephon, looking to settle somewhere safe, to keep the Tomb of Serah's memories safe. It had been years since then and only now that she realized what she had, a familiar sense of peace in the face of finality reared its head anew.
Claire Farron was no quitter. She wasn't naïve either, how long had she lived without her full strength? Truth was stranger and more frightening than fiction. The fear of loss, was real but so was the fear of slipping back into the old habits, the monikers that made her a mythical legend back in her world. Honestly, both prospects were frightening but if she had to choose what was worse? Reverting to her old ways scared her more by far. So much progress, to be undone just like that... Perhaps, in all her time in Zephon to date, the fear of being Lightning haunted Lumina the most.
When she practiced in secret, it was like slipping on a trusty glove. No sooner did it get her into trouble with a noble in Torensten. If Claire "Lumina" Farron, could not contain herself, forget 'Eve', what would happen to those precious new faces she'd forged a deep bond with in Zephon? The pain of disconnect with Serah, may as well have been as fresh as her birthday when she realized her loss of control as a Guardian. Now, she had much more to lose. Serah was her light, hers to protect and cherish. Selfish as that was, it pushed her through thick and thin, forging her like a blade but at grave expense. Caius then, as she watched him whisper before removing his shirt, was the accumulation of her 'rebirth' in Zephon. The life that the part of her that was discarded once, that which she empathized with most, couldn't imagine losing or being separated from. It was a reality shattering thing, that left her contemplating in silence.
There was so much left to live for, honestly she hadn't lived enough! For each scar she mentally counted, there were stories she was dying to know about. To say nothing of the one that glowed faintly, that was like the motherload of stories, surely! Even as Caius almost barrelled into her, those old, hardened instincts emerged. Adroit footwork positioned herself to support Caius if need be. Disrupting her train of thought, brining her back into the real world, complete with a shy smile.
"Emily's talent reminds me of Serah and her cooking. When I was younger I was always mesmerized by how she did it. I can just imagine this magical intuition, guiding her to find the biggest shell. The same way I'm certain Serah is magically guided to picking out the best foods and how to prepare them."
In response to her 'twin' then, it did claw her back into that inner world of self-reflection. Call her small or young, that Claire was once on the precipice of the very despair inducing event she grappled with today. To discard anything which made her weak, "made her human, more like..." she'd bitterly correct herself. That same Claire came face to face with what she'd become and predictably, ventured off into a different direction, with the same kind of response she had when settling here on Zephon. A destiny altering event, was that what she quietly wished for while she traversed Zephon in those early days?
Then...how long before the machinations of this world, deem their task complete? Which of them would be chosen to bear the mantle of Claire going forward in Zephon? "...Assuming she's not at the beach already, running around as if she was still a kid. Venturing into some adventure for treasure." the thought made Lumina want to go and explore instead, honestly. Though perhaps after enjoying the water, it was doing her nostalgia filled mind some good, in spite of the deep self-reflection.
...No, even now, faced with a reality shattering fact, she was going to hide behind any denial she could get. Someone other than Serah, had become so precious that her mischievous nonchalance could no longer conceal her feelings. It sounded absurd to mask it at all really, not that she wasn't up front about her intentions. This was different from then, before, she could hide behind her antics as a form of bravado. Her pursuit was fun and she was exploring new found feelings and concepts. What she had arrived at, was deeper and the real possibility of losing it...made her want to cling tightly. Lumina couldn't afford to give up even a mere second of time she had alone with Caius.
Post by Caius Dragelion on Mar 26, 2024 16:58:36 GMT -6
The Dragonblade
Caius tried to push his thoughts aside for now, knowing he shouldn't focus so much on what lay ahead. Instead, what was before him. His arms rested in Lumina's shoulders a moment as he righted himself, before letting her go slowly. He was still figuring out... Touch. And with his lacking much in clothing, it was all the more sensitive a topic. On top of what was already a sensitive topic when it came to the family that he had lost. Caius didn't really know right away how to respond as Lumina talked about a sixth sense for their sister to find shells. He had repressed his memories for so long that even now, it could sometimes be difficult to recall details.
"You sound like you want to join her" Caius pointed out, managing a small smile. "After this, we can go. I do need to get used to the water before we go diving into the ocean, after all" he then offered, figuring she probably wanted to spend more time with her family. It was for the best, really, and it was why he had ensured that he would be booked later in that random drawing. While the Farron family had essentially adopted him as their own, at the end of the day, those were her sisters, and he was still just the “prospective boyfriend”, as they called him. And Lumina deserved to have a little quality time with just her sisters on this trip before they returned. Especially considering what awaited them upon their return.
But until then, he wanted to stay here with her for a little bit longer. Even if he was struggling with the whole swimsuit thing, being here with her made it... Acceptable.
"Serah's likely going to mock us endlessly for being here alone if we linger too long. So I'll get you to that beach exploration 'er too long" Caius teased then, bringing his arms around himself to try and warm himself up until the water could take its course. His hand also hid the scar, suddenly a bit self conscious about the fact people had been staring at it. "Haven't spoken to her about the situation. Though I suppose a conversation about the "prospective boyfriend" thing is a touch overdue," he mused aloud, taking a deep breath as he thought back on what he had told Yuna. Because he wasn't talking about Serah.
Final Fantasy XIII
521
YEARS
Female
Caius Dragelion
Demisexual
179 POSTS
Destati
"Now that's not right. You're not supposed to throw your life away."
Post by Claire Farron on Apr 1, 2024 14:19:52 GMT -6
Light
Fragments of the Saviour
With one of them being visibly shy, it really fueled some form of courage deep inside. Even if the manifestation in this instance, was just to be gentle and patient. A wonder she could pull that off at times, given her earnest..."business acumen" approach. That approach called for nuance, in this case a hook, so that she wouldn't have to spend all her efforts in pursuit. In the process, what was a fun discovery of having a crush and taking the initiative to pursue, instead of flailing about like a shy teenage girl. Transformed that crush into something profound and frightening.
"...Join her?" she parroted, tilting her head in surprise. The idea of running to her kid sister given what she just discovered... felt weird! Nor was she ready to endure Serah's teasing on the matter. "...I'd rather be running around in search of seashells." which gave her pause. That might have been fine to say if she appeared younger. Remembering her rediscovered physical age then?
"...Preferably somewhere private." she'd blush faintly, right hand pressed along her forehead in minor embarrassment.
In essence, she wasn't in a rush to join her sisters at all. Especially because she wasn't in a rush to face Serah's teasing. When combined with her younger self in the mix, no...this was definitely better.
"There's no rush on my end. So, who exactly are you wanting to talk about your 'prospective boyfriend' status to, exactly?" Lumina could tell he wasn't talking about Serah. She upgraded him to future brother-in-law after all. For all the time they'd spent together, their social circles hadn't really gotten into the mix. Just family and extended family, all on her end of the spectrum. That left a whole world on Caius' end that she hadn't discovered yet. Just like the scars, curiosity and mischief bubbled.
"One of the benefits of taking your girlfriend to the beach, is showing her off to friends." Noting this casually, made it seem that her confident veneer was completely in tact. Fearless, except...Shortly after speaking up she was internally panicking. Hiding this behind a smile, her Zephon experience really changed her.
Post by Caius Dragelion on Apr 2, 2024 15:30:43 GMT -6
The Dragonblade
So she did want to search for seashells. In private, where people wouldn’t judge her. Caius shrugged at that. “I don’t see anything wrong with looking for shells. It’s been some time since I have done it, but I don’t mind taking you sometime” he did offer, but remembering his objective, did add “Though I do recommend getting some time with your sisters. I’m not going anywhere.”
So there you have it. Stated bluntly he wanted her to get quality time with her family while they still had time. Caius had absolutely no idea what he would do here without Lumina, but that was for Caius to figure out.
Did... Lumina not know what he meant? Was he not direct enough, or was she messing with him? Caius didn't know. She even brought up the girlfriend word, which seemed more like she was messing with him, but who knows? But as nervous as he was, he knew that it was best to just come out and say it. He had already done the setup, after all. He just had to find his confidence, and...
“You, actually,” Caius stated, taking a deep breath as he would swim back to the pool’s entrance so he could sit down while still being submerged. “I…”
By the Astrals, was he really about to do this? Right here and now? He had never done this. With anyone. He’d never even considered doing this when he had his crushes before. He had been too afraid to even try, knowing that he wouldn’t like the answer if he did. But this was the right time… And the right person. And if he waited, he might not have another opportunity. But while he wanted to speak from his heart… All that came to mind didn’t sound right. It didn’t do this, or her, proper justice. That got a sigh out of him,
“We both know I’m not good at this,” he admitted softly, at first casting his eyes downward at his reflection before forcing himself to look at her, scratching and clawing to manage what little scraps of confidence that he could. This was the time. He had to do this. She deserved to know. “I am… Happy, when I’m around you. Happy in a way that I haven’t been in a very, very long time. I wake up in the morning and I look forward to the part of the day when I can see you. My work days feel slower than they ever did, because as much as I enjoy my work, I’ve grown impatient at times because I know at the end of the work day, you're waiting for me, and-"
His tongue caught in his throat. He didn’t know what he was doing, or if he was conveying how he felt very well. He suddenly felt really silly, and his nerves around failing and ruining everything they had built together began to run rampant. But he had to remind himself that Lumina was different from others, she understood his flaws and was patient with them. He needed to trust her, and understand that with her, he was safe. He could be himself, warts and all.
“I cherish you in a way that goes outside of family or friend. I find myself craving to be with you, even if we were only just together, then chastise myself for wanting so much of your time when you’re so busy and have your sisters to care for, and your businesses, and obviously you would want your own personal space that I know I would be disrespectful to impede on and-“
He stopped himself. This time, it hit him he was rambling. He needed to focus, needed to center. Caius took a deep breath and settled himself.
“… Sorry. I guess what I’m trying to say is, over a year ago, a friend and close confidante told me that love is…”
Another deep breath. This time because it just washed over him he wasn’t talking about familial or love for a friend. This time, it was exactly as Yuna meant it, and now Caius was more aware of it than ever before. And that fact? Was terrifying.
“Love is how you feel when you are confident you want to spend the rest of your life with someone. Back then, I took that literally. There were people that I couldn’t see my life without, people I was close to, people I cherished. I… Couldn’t properly comprehend how romantic love worked, when I had never had the opportunity to learn. The feeling was there, but I couldn’t understand it. I tried, sure. But for the longest time, it never panned out. And I had resigned myself to the likelihood I never would understand. But being with you… I think I have finally come to understand.”
Had he rambled a bit? Probably, and even he was aware because he looked away a moment anxiously before trying again. He had almost forgotten how cold he had been feeling, but in all this, the cold had started to fade. Was that just normal, where they were, or was it from the quickening of his heartbeat with every sentence?
“I can’t imagine my life without you at my side. Regardless of what name you take, I feel… Like I’m at my best when I’m with you. When we’re apart for long periods, I don’t feel like myself. And I think that’s what Yuna meant.”
Caius managed a small sheepish smile. “She knew immediately when I told her about you. Even if I only told her you were special to me at first, she knew how I felt, subtlety is not my strong suit. And I didn’t have it in me to correct her. Because I knew how I felt. I have for awhile, I just didn’t know how to bring it to words.”
Here, it hit him. Here he was. Almost entirely exposed, no armor, no dragon, no hardened mercenary exterior. No walls, nothing keeping her at arm's length… As vulnerable as can be. Spilling his heart for her. Perhaps whilst being submerged was amongst the strangest places to say this, for someone who had been guarded his entire life? Symbolically, it was perfect.
“I understand now that there is one person in this world whose very presence brings you joy more than all else. Someone whose smile alone can brighten up your day. Someone you can close your eyes and envision yourself growing old together with as a partner. For me… That person is you. Whether you walk into the future as Lumina, or Claire, or both, I want to walk on that path with you for the rest of the way. Until we find that last carve of cobble at the end of the road.”
Lucis, that sounded cheesy didn’t it? But it was too late to take it back now. He laughed a hitch, nervously, as he thought back on it all. But Caius steeled himself, willing himself to look Lumina—-Claire, in the eyes.
“You decided what you wanted a long time ago. And I apologize for making you wait all this time for me to make up my mind. But I have… If you’ll still have me.”
Final Fantasy XIII
521
YEARS
Female
Caius Dragelion
Demisexual
179 POSTS
Destati
"Now that's not right. You're not supposed to throw your life away."
Post by Claire Farron on Apr 2, 2024 16:51:15 GMT -6
Light
Fragments of the Saviour
"Perhaps that was a bit too subtle..." Lumina concluded, noting that Caius would take her to do such "sometime". When he recommended her getting some time with her sisters, she looked at him quizzically. "Serah's not going anywhere either..." she thought to herself, utterly confused on the insistence. Especially if he wasn't busy, so she just remained quiet, uncertainty ebbing away at her internally.
Perhaps using girlfriend was too strong, it left Caius flustered. This was much better for her though, so she followed him as he swam but didn't opt to sit down. Instead she stood before him within the water, as confident and patient as ever. She did tilt her head at the mention of him not being good at this. She'd nod, both in understanding and encouragingly to show he had her full, undivided attention. So he began to speak, some would say that he mentioned things she already knew, given how astute she was at reading others. She did seem to beam with no small amount of pride at being able to make him so happy.
Caius continued after a moment of pause, likely to get his words right, steel his nerves perhaps? She realized why soon enough, a soft gasp escaping her lips as realization and surprise washed over her all at once. When he apologized, she just appeared more giddy. A knowing glint in her eyes as she began to wait with baited breath. This soon caused her to feel more than just excitement, a kaleidoscope of butterflies swarming about her stomach, rising up to her chest and preventing words beyond gasps of anticipation. She nearly didn't register Yuna, the name but it somehow got saved for later.
Perhaps it was the sun or the reddening in her cheeks but Claire seemed positively radiant now. Her frame unable to contain the internal combustion of...love? Her mind wandered between trying to give a cool reply or just dropping any façade to give an unbridled response. Gracefully, through sheer power of will, she'd stride through the water and ease up to sit beside him. When she resumed eye contact, she batted her eyelashes slowly before replying, "Since you've kept me waiting, does that mean I'll get a reward from you now~? she paused, entirely for dramatic effect.
"Yes, I'll gladly have you, my dearest...boyfriend." Smiling ever so fondly, her eyes shimmered with whimsy. Internally, she pondered what to do, to commemorate this, it had to be an event, surely. Though all she could think to do was blather excitedly to Serah. Perhaps she was meant to hug him? If she did that, she'd squeeze him too tightly right now. That wouldn't be very cool or mature of her. He wasn't exactly some teddy bear...
Whilst Claire internally debated options, her ring was happy to express everything with a high luminosity glow. When she glanced at it, a light bulb went off. "You should wear your ring and we should go find some special seashells to commemorate this occasion. After that, I'll go tell Serah and Claire all about this thrilling confession of love!" Cool didn't seem to be part of any plan at the moment. She probably couldn't contain such a stoic composure right now even if she tried.
Post by Caius Dragelion on Apr 6, 2024 10:22:54 GMT -6
The Dragonblade
Why was he nervous, he had to ask himself? Lumina had already directly told him similar months before, it was him who had been dragging his feet. But on the other hand… A lot can change in a few months of spending time together. And maybe part of him had feared that while those months affirmed his feelings for Lumina, maybe they caused her to change her mind. But that was not the case. She said “yes”, so to speak, and as soon as she called him “boyfriend”, he… Well, he wasn’t sure how he felt. He could feel his face light up. He felt… Happy? Relieved, too, judging by him letting out the breath he didn’t even realize he was holding in. Was it normal for his heart to beat this quickly outside of battle? This was all very new to him — and very terrifying at that.
So that was that? Mutual confession and that made them partners? Romantic partners, he meant. Not business. It was an odd thing to think about considering the path life had taken him on so far. In truth, it had left him woefully underprepared to be anybody’s “boyfriend”. While he had read those books before, and had seen secondhand through those stories these passionate love confessions, he found himself suddenly stuck with the thought of… What do I do now? What am I supposed to do? Hug her? He had done it once. It was an emergency though. His inexperience with physical touch made it more difficult for him to make that first move, leaving him frozen.
A reward of some kind, she had asked about. It took Caius a minute to register she had said that, another to close his eyes. breathe, laugh in the midst of the same breath and push himself to find what confidence he could to answer. “And what did you have in mind?” he asked, figuring if he could glimpse what she was thinking, maybe this would be a bit easier.
The only show of affection he could think of, was to gently lean his head on her shoulder. A show of trust, then. That was what came to mind as the “what to do now”. To just… Enjoy her company. That’s what he wanted to do.
While Lumina had tried to maintain her composure, even Caius could tell it was starting to slip. And eventually she just dropped it entirely. “Those are waterproof?” Caius inquired as he noted the glow from hers after she mentioned them, having safely stored his away to not risk damaging it. He would hold out a hand and after some concentration, his ring materialized from the glaive. As soon as he put it on, its glow betrayed how he was feeling quite quickly.
He tried not to be bashful about her immediately running to Serah the first chance she got. While Serah would never let them hear the end of it… She was already confident that he would be her brother in-law, so he supposed not much would change. Maybe he was overthinking this and shouldn’t be giving this the same stress as a marriage proposal. That came later.
“We’re going to be freezing when we get out, you sure you want to do that so quickly?” Caius brought up with a small laugh. He wasn’t sure how to amend that, they did have to get out eventually. He glanced about, until he noticed the smaller, steaming bed of water nearby. Was that the same thing as that boiling water pool from Sonora? While Alex had turned that into a disaster, he could admit it had nursed his aches a bit. And after all that… He supposed he could afford to spend a little more time, just the two of them, before they possibly ran into Serah and Small Claire while looking for shells.
“Might be a good idea to warm up.”
Final Fantasy XIII
521
YEARS
Female
Caius Dragelion
Demisexual
179 POSTS
Destati
"Now that's not right. You're not supposed to throw your life away."
Post by Claire Farron on Apr 29, 2024 2:18:52 GMT -6
Light
Rebirth of the Saviour
Even when she was unable to contain herself, Caius' own nervousness and perhaps a bit of awkwardness, made this much easier to manage. Sure, she probably shouldn't be thinking of her boyfriend as an awkward teenage boy but she was 521 years old. It'd be fine to guide him through things until he found his stride, surely!So when asked what she had in mind, there was a split second where she wondered if it was alright to reveal what she was thinking about. In the end, she felt honesty was the best policy.
"A kiss." once more, she wondered in a split second if she should pause for dramatic effect or promptly fill in much needed gaps. "There's no rush on that 'reward' by the way." There, in quick succession, decisions were made and while not delivered in a cool fashion, her usual brand of forwardness, at least where Caius was concerned; was scaled back with a modicum of her own hesitation. For whilst she did wait for him to come around to his own feelings, her feelings just grew throughout the waiting period. She also tended to bluff a lot throughout this period of dating, in the form of her teasing. It was super effective!
"Yes, they are, from experience." her tone was gentle and knowing, like one's Mother when giving advice or revealing hands in the cookie jar. Claire didn't need to tell him, for now that she even took baths with said ring. She had an image to maintain! Then again, given her composure dropped, she wasn't doing much for that image. Claire would just chalk that up to boyfriend benefits. Though if they weren't alone, she might deny or subvert certain things. Not that she'd need to, she saw the glow, that was all the proof she needed. In fact, she had a very pleased, slightly smug, smile right now. The kind that she was known for, especially when she was up to no good.
Thinking about the temperature, which she clearly didn't seem bothered by, she decided to contemplate for a moment. The water felt nice right now but true enough, the moment they left, it'd be chilly quick. Taking a glance about, she also noticed the bubbling water. "A hot spring, here, really? This is quite the find." she'd ease herself up in order to head into that part of the water. Dipping a toe in first before slowly descending.
"So we'll warm up a bit first, then hunt for shells. They'll make nice souvenirs, along with accessories." She gestured to her hairpin for added emphasis.
