"I got entered into some weird tournament. Not my fault."

❅ 𝑱𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌 ❅@glxciated.bsky.social · 2y ago

"So that's where you've been, hm?" @valistheanshield.bsky.social

He grimaced at the memory, as if he wasn't the one to bring it up. But he chuckled gently as she nudged against him, making it obvious she had been teasing him. "Another sign that I'm the lucky one between the two of us." He smiled yet again, squeezing her hand before bringing it to his lips.

☆ 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔠𝑘 𝔐𝔞𝔤𝔢 𝔏𝔲𝔩𝔲 ☆@lacedaether.bsky.social · 2y ago

"Yes... I seem to recall a lot of scowling and ready to throw yourself into death's path at every opportunity." Another playful nudge, if only so that the mood didn't sour. She was teasing after all. "It's a wonder you caught my eye at all.~"

"You were far from a nightmare." He laughed ever so gently, resting against her as his eyes closed. "I think I was worse, at the time." That had been a rather low point in his life, if he recalled correctly.

☆ 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔠𝑘 𝔐𝔞𝔤𝔢 𝔏𝔲𝔩𝔲 ☆@lacedaether.bsky.social · 2y ago

"Oh, I don't know... I think I handled it rather well? Or is this when you tell me that I was a complete nightmare?" She's chuckling, eyes closing as she drinks in his presence.

He couldn't help but to smile as she labeled him thus, leaning into her as much as she did him, yet again. Though, saying that she would soon be his family too made him flush, cheeks reddening as his hand squeezed her own yet again. He'd have to get on that, making an honest woman of her. "After (c)

☆ 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔠𝑘 𝔐𝔞𝔤𝔢 𝔏𝔲𝔩𝔲 ☆@lacedaether.bsky.social · 2y ago

yours, too?" If Clive ever saw fit to make an honest woman of her, that is. "We'll let her rest, and then I'll make the introductions."

He nodded as she thanked him, though it wasn't necessary. If someone was in need, he would do his best to assist, regardless of who it was. Her request for him to meet Yuna was met with a nod, happy to meet her family. "If you're willing to do introductions, it would be rude of me not to."

☆ 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔠𝑘 𝔐𝔞𝔤𝔢 𝔏𝔲𝔩𝔲 ☆@lacedaether.bsky.social · 2y ago

Of course he would seek to go above and beyond. He'd do it even if Yuna weren't family to her, it was just the kind of man he was. "I know, and thank you. It means a lot." She looks at his hands cradling hers, smiling all the while. "I think she would like to meet you. If you're open to it?"

The tables manned by children brought a soft smile to his lips, looking upon them fondly and greeting them with a wave as he was lead closer. The humble place was certainly a good spot for a bakesale, amidst all the machinery anyway. "I can't say I can easily choose between either." He laughed. (c)

. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡@arcaneancient.bsky.social · 2y ago

⠀⠀ " Soooo, " cooed the woman, " are you a cookies kinda guy? Or maybe brownies are your thing? Hmm? " ⠀⠀

"He was going to be the first point of contact once we reached Port Isolde." Clive practically wheezed, struggling to not cough again as he took another pull of the cigarette. He was getting used to it, slowly. "Anything we can pick up while we're there? Might as well make ourselves useful."

𓆰 ː 𝐂𝐈𝐃@levinwarden.bsky.social · 2y ago

brewing somewhere. “ Compared to Clive, he takes another puff from his cigarette with practiced ease. Noticing he was at the end of his cigarette, drops the bud, smooshing it under his boot.

His hand tightened on hers further, as if afraid she might be yanked away from him right then and there. But he kept a slight smile on his face as he spoke. "Well, I'm glad she seems alright. If she is in need of anything, the Hideaway will provide." His other hand moved to rest on hers.

☆ 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔠𝑘 𝔐𝔞𝔤𝔢 𝔏𝔲𝔩𝔲 ☆@lacedaether.bsky.social · 2y ago

That's where her own concern came from. It wasn't like she could ask Yuna, she needed time to adjust and maybe time to make sense of it. But that didn't stop Lulu from worrying. Clive had already lost her once. "She's fine. Confused and wondering where our friends are, but she's fine. As for how?"

Confusion quickly replaced concern, brows furrowing as he tried to piece together how. "The only one who could do that was Barnabas. Or Ultima. But how...?" His gaze drifted from hers, only for a moment. "Was she okay?"

☆ 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔠𝑘 𝔐𝔞𝔤𝔢 𝔏𝔲𝔩𝔲 ☆@lacedaether.bsky.social · 2y ago

She shifted in her seat so that she was looking at him, watching as his eyes darted back and forth over her face. Was he scared? "I don't know how. I don't know when... But my sister is here. Yuna is here and she was alone."

His eyes narrowed just slightly as she tried to reassure him it was nothing world ending, though she tied that to her homeland. His hand squeezed her own gently, though that concern in his eyes didn't fade. "What about it, Lu?"

☆ 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔠𝑘 𝔐𝔞𝔤𝔢 𝔏𝔲𝔩𝔲 ☆@lacedaether.bsky.social · 2y ago

"He does, but you also don't know how to say no." Which was true, and she never berated him for it, even if it meant not seeing him. "Nothing world ending." She reassured him, seeing the worry in his eyes. "But it does concern me... And home. Spira."

As soon as her fingers laced with his, he made space for her, gladly squeezing her hand within his own. "There's no need, he means well." His head shifts gently, looking to her curiously. "Oh? What about?"

☆ 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔠𝑘 𝔐𝔞𝔤𝔢 𝔏𝔲𝔩𝔲 ☆@lacedaether.bsky.social · 2y ago

He was good at that, and more importantly she knew he was telling the truth -he was a terrible liar. "I'm glad." At the mention of Otto she slips her hand into his, fingers lacing. "I could have a word? Besides, there is something I need to tell you."

"I don't believe that would be possible." He spoke with a soft chuckle, leaning into her as she leaned to him, resting his head against hers gently. "Ah, well, I hope to be around a little more. If Otto doesn't find something for me to do anyway."

☆ 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔠𝑘 𝔐𝔞𝔤𝔢 𝔏𝔲𝔩𝔲 ☆@lacedaether.bsky.social · 2y ago

"And here I was thinking you had grown tired of my company." There's a smirk playing on her lips even as she rests her head upon his shoulder. "I'm well. I've missed you, though."

@lacedaether.bsky.social Clive grunted as he sat down, rubbing his face in his hands before looking to her. "Things are always so busy as of late...How are you?" The question was gentle, reaching out to rest his hand on her thigh.

For a moment, he feared announcing himself as an outsider was the wrong move, with how she scrutinized him. But soon enough, she was offering to lead him to the church she had mentioned. "Please, lead on." He made a motion with one hand, a smile on his lips.

. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡@arcaneancient.bsky.social · 2y ago

⠀⠀ Planting a fist on her hip, she paused long enough to truly regard him, taking in everything from his wild hair, to the armor, and the heavy blade hanging from his back. " Ah, you’re not from around here, are you? Follow me, I’ll show you! " ⠀⠀

He looked up as the drink was set beside him, giving Jill a warm smile. "Thank you, Jill." Setting down the quill, he used his good hand to grasp the cup, taking a quick sip. And then he paused, before setting it down and using his left arm to gently pull her close. "Perhaps I'm writing too much."

❅ 𝑱𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌 ❅@glxciated.bsky.social · 2y ago

@valistheanshield.bsky.social Sets a hot drink down on the desk beside him. " You look like you need it. "

A moment of peace in between flowers... The reference for this is actually one of my own renders from ages ago, but I decided it's a timeless concept and went for it again. #CliveRosfield #JillWarrick #Clive #Jill #FFXVI #FF16 #FinalFantasyXVI #FinalFantasy16 #Cliji #Warfield

He turned at the sound of someone approaching, only to have that flyer shoved into his hands. "A bake sale?" A brief echo before he smiled, glancing to the neon paper, and then back to her. "Where? I'd be happy to buy something, though I don't know my way around here just yet."

. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡@arcaneancient.bsky.social · 2y ago

⠀⠀ Bounding up to @valistheanshield.bsky.social, she shoves a neon paper flyer into his hands. " You look like someone who could use a sweet pick - me - up! Come support your local orphanage - we’re hosting a bake sale! All proceeds go toward the children’s education! " ⠀⠀

He was still recovering from his fit, shooting a slight glare at Cid as the man laughed. But, Clive brought the cigarette back to his lips and took another drag, this time only coughing slightly as he exhaled. "We are. There's some noise from Port Isolde, and we're going to investigate." (c)

𓆰 ː 𝐂𝐈𝐃@levinwarden.bsky.social · 2y ago

The scene before him had his lips trembling with amusement, shoulders shaking as he failed to to conceal his laughter. It was always a pleasure seeing someone try a cigarette for the first time. “ Some time . . . Ah, so you two are heading out afterwards then. ➥

Brows furrowed just slightly at those words, the quill pausing just before touching paper. "You think they won't consider it just...a fantasy?" His gaze lifted to look to Jill, a bit of worry in his eyes. He didn't want his book to be dismissed as lies, after all.

❅ 𝑱𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌 ❅@glxciated.bsky.social · 2y ago

Jill knew when to push and when to hold back when it came to Clive, yet given how despondent he had been of late, perhaps now it was time she pressed him, if only a little. " I think it will be good for you, and besides... people need to know what happened and why it happened. "

He shook his head as she spoke, offering a soft smile instead. "Please, there's no reason to apologize." The words came with a dip of his head, almost a bow of sorts. "It's flattering you considered me someone of such import, but I'm no more than an Outlaw."

𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐄𝐝𝐞𝐚 ✧˖°@ofsuccession.bsky.social · 2y ago

Odd, she could have sworn... perhaps her time in the darkness had dulled her senses somewhat? Hardly surprising, yet disconcerting all the same. " Forgive me my assumption. " Her head lowers in apology, eyes downcast for the briefest of moments. " You merely have that air about you. "

𝓐𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐇. ✧ 。 ‍ ‍ ° ‍ 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗋𝗒 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝗆𝗎𝖼𝗁. ‍ 𝖨'𝗆 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝑷𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑪𝑬𝑺𝑺 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾 𝒄𝒐𝒅𝒅𝒍𝒆𝒅 ❀ ‍ ‍ ･ﾟ✿ 𝓖𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇. ᴄᴇᴛʀᴀ ‍

// wulf Sorry for the delay with responses, I kinda hit a slump and just disappeared into some games. But I've recovered myself! I hope to be around a little more often now :D

He tensed at the words spoke, brows furrowing in discontent. That sounded all too familiar to him, only to be surprised by the sight of a falling meteor behind the silver-haired man. Creaking leather announced the curling of his fist, taking a threatening step forward. "Just what we need, (c)

𝐒𝐄𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐇@legacyofcalamity.bsky.social · 2y ago

"The Reunion." He spoke the fabled name like a man possessed, honing in on Clive's wariness. "The time where All becomes One." He drew him into an illusion of the senses, as the clouds parted behind him to reveal a meteor hurtling towards the planet. "The lifestream, the spirit energy of (c)

The smoke was...unusual to him, the first drag causing him to cough lightly. It fled his lips once given the chance, holding the cigar with one hand and covering his mouth with the other. It took a moment for him to speak. "Jill needed to speak with Charon about supplies, so I've got some time."

𓆰 ː 𝐂𝐈𝐃@levinwarden.bsky.social · 2y ago

He nods his head while pocketing the pack for later. He raises his own cigar to his lips so he could take a drag, inhaling then exhaling. “ So, to whom do I owe the pleasure for having you around. Usually you’re out and about running whatever errands you can get your hands on. “

She had brought up the book before, but never this insistent. Perhaps she was right? His gaze turned from her to the quill and paper set upon the desk, set there days ago but never engaged. "You're probably right." As she ever was. His good hand reached for the quill, and set the tip to ink.

❅ 𝑱𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌 ❅@glxciated.bsky.social · 2y ago

It was something he'd been putting off for a while now, and besides the fact he had time to give to the quill these days— "I think it would be good for you. Maybe help you sort through how the ordeal made you feel?" A therapy of sorts. It could be cathartic for him. Maybe even help him sleep.

That air of familiarity was something they shared, though unlike her, he could not place it. Brows furrowed just so as she spoke, considering him a knight without his ward. "I'm afraid you are, my lady." He dipped his head in apology. "I have no charge, as of yet."

𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐄𝐝𝐞𝐚 ✧˖°@ofsuccession.bsky.social · 2y ago

@valistheanshield.bsky.social Though she had yet to know him, there was something familiar about him. Golden eyes look him up and down before she ultimately draws her conclusion. " A lone knight? I fear you may have wandered too far from your charge, unless I am mistaken? "

“Come then, show me what you can do.” Clive✖️Prometheus 👻 #FF16 #HadesII

| #FinalFantasyRP | #FFRP | #MVRP |

𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐄𝐝𝐞𝐚 ✧˖°@ofsuccession.bsky.social · 2y ago

ℒ𝑜𝑜𝓀 ꭺꭲ 𝒎𝒆 ꮃꮋꭺꭲ ꮋꭺꮩꭼ ꮖ 𝖇𝖊𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖊?

He paused just slightly, looking back to the table where the Stolas quill sat on display. "...You think so?" Comes a careful question. Should he truly take up the pen, and lay down the sword for good?

❅ 𝑱𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌 ❅@glxciated.bsky.social · 2y ago

@valistheanshield.bsky.social " Perhaps it is time you make good on your promise to Harpocrates, don't you think? "