“It is not often that we receive visitors,” words spoken were truly so sweetly and pleasantly (additionally, a half-truth and a half-lie. but she didn’t need to know that, now did she?) that, had it been anyone but he, it would have disgusted him. “For the most part, they do not make the journey.”

What, otherwise, should have affected him in some manner or another only has him poorly stifling an amused smile. Both arms were politely tucked behind him, clutching and wrapping hands neatly at opposite’s wrists as he stared down at her from a raised angle. He’s keeping his head raised-- a behavior seen as both polite “enough” yet disrespectful for the Emperor.

“You are very lucky that it was I that found you and not one of my guards.”

But was she truly as lucky as he was claiming? The glint within his eyes made it hard to trust him (but was that not what he desired? that little trickle of uncertainty?) but, for the most part, kept the hostility to a minimum

“They would have used such brutality that it would have been downright criminal,” he goes on, the effort to suppress his smile seemingly fading away without a care as lips easily pulled into a long, thin smile. “I simply would be unable to live with myself if justice was inappropriately given--”

mellifluous humming filled the empty bar, its usual patrons spending time at home with their families for the duration of the winter festivities.  it carried far and was given sort of a haunting quality by it echo, the song being continuously thrown back at the cantor and imbued with a life of its own. the voice was euphonious, like melting gold, and it carried a tune that evoked some ancient memories of days gone by. days that were once spent celebrating with his entire village at the rhapsodos manor or carousing late into the night with his compatriots in their company flat.

rather than allowing the ravenous claws of melancholy devour him, the chevalier thanked the goddess that he was blessed with the opportunity to celebrate the holiday with those he loved, those who decided to look beyond his past sins and who guided him towards a path of reconciliation. he thanked Her for his ability to reminisce and to keep the spirits of his past comrades alive in stories and hymns. as the holiday season approached, he reasoned that one of the best ways to express his gratitude was to put together a meal for his ever hospitable hosts.

preparing an epicurean feast was simply a small token of appreciation for the kindness they had bequeathed to him ever since his arrival. unfortunately, he was not the only one with that idea. despite his polite objections and sincere supplications, he found himself joined in the kitchen by a certain brunette. fitting, perhaps, for she was the one who had introduced him to their chosen family in the first place. heroes in their own right, he owed them everything. so did she, in her own way. 

My Tumblr Crushes:

challengingods

sunshineguardian

freewillacquired

sanguinepeccatorum

somxus

re-no

the-fearless-devil

yeahinmyhead

          idle fingers pick up a glass figurine to examine. he’s here to visit Marlene, and to deliver a package from Tifa. some letters and small gifts, and a few baked treats to remind her of the dinky place they called home. a passing worker removes the object from his hand and returns it to its spot.

with a sigh, he closes his free hand around the care package and waits in silence. until he hears a voice behind him to urge him to turn his head and smile. how Marlene had grown!