middaeg | ( closed ) july catch-all

[ That's an awful lot of confidence there, Siegfried.

But better confidence than anxiety over this situation, which certainly isn't the brightest looking. They've faced worse with the rest of the Grandcypher, to be sure, but they'd had their original powers and skillsets back then. And though she's devoted numerous hours to her studies here, her control is nothing compared to what it should be to take on a gang of snow elementals with ease.

Her smile is wan, her usual easy confidence subdued somewhat. It's been a trying few weeks, between Siegfried's gradual physical changes and her own acclimatization to her much more mortal (and much more annoying) body.

Better if they do get this over with quick, so they can find a place to shelter and rest. ]

Ladies first then, I presume?

[ She doesn't wait for him to answer, stepping around with one hand outstretched to send a small fireball hurtling straight towards the chest of the nearest foe. ]

[ It's good that she doesn't wait for him to answer, because even the slight delay of his reflexes makes him more handicapped. The elemental shrieks and melts upon being subjected to the unforgiving heat, making the creatures next to it even more violently upset. ]

Nice shot. I suppose this is as good a time as any to show off your new skills.

[ But that's the last thing he'll say before charging in, sword drawn and poised to strike at any movement that comes his way. He feels strange, completely and utterly vulnerable, knowing that he can't imbue his blade with fire or any sort of magic. That knowledge makes him falter, and though he cleanly strikes the first two beings and causes them to fall back, the third takes advantage of Siegfried's poor physical state and manages a clean cut with a blade of sharp ice, right where the plates of his armor meet.

Siegfried yells, both in surprise and pain. It's been a long time since something so... elementary had gotten to take advantage of an opening like that. ]

[ Time waits for no (wo)man, and neither do these ice elementals, it seems.

Ice has never been her preferred element but better that than fire, which had always torn through her defenses like paper. She supposes things are different here, with a wholly different skillset available to her, but it's hard to forget a hundred years of practice.

The first fireball does it's job, as do the second and third, but for each oppoent that goes down, body disintegrating into nothing but water and steam, another comes to take its place. If she were still what she had been, this fight would be trivial.

If she were still what she had been, Siegfried wouldn't be stumbling next to her, mouth twisted in a grimace.

Teeth grit firmly, she whirls to send another burst of flame flying. Her aim rings true and it goes down, but she can already feel the adrenaline thick in her blood, the toll this newfound magic is slowly taking on her body. ]

Are you all right?

[ It's all she has time to bite out before her hands are lifting again, poised to strike. ]

I'm fine! Keep going. I'll keep them at bay, so keep taking them down.

[ For someone who usually experiences thrill being on the battlefield and approaches combat with a great deal of confidence, he sounds uncertain.

Rosetta isn't the only one feeling incredibly humbled by this experience. He'd truly underestimated how much he'd been not only depowered, but physically weakened by the circumstances of whatever he was transforming into. He curses himself for every movement that he makes that is a fraction of a second too slow due to his dangerously low body temperature. He struggles to breathe through it all, feeling only the frigid cold within his lungs.

The fight continues on for what seems like an eternity, each creature being brought down only seeming to summon two more in its place. Already, Siegfried feels incredibly guilty for putting the both of them in this position when it has now proven to be an act of hubris. They weren't ready. Rosetta's spells weren't nearly at the strength and potency of her skills back home, and he had none of his own. They fight until it seems hopeless, until the barricade Siegfried makes so that the elementals don't reach Rosetta nearly falls apart.

But he doesn't, somehow. Not quite. Eventually, an army of the creatures becomes a fraction, and then, a dozen.

By the time he is left swinging at the last three, his body has nearly collapsed, no longer able to stand the cold. He is battered and bruised, but hopefully, Rosetta isn't.

This wouldn't have been nearly as bad if he weren't having a dance with hypothermia right now. ]

[ By the time it's all over, she's barely standing. Not from injury, but from sheer exhaustion, a sensation she hasn't felt in far too long. It's an unpleasant, brittle sensation that bears down on her—but it's nothing compared to the sight of Siegfried, bent over his sword, blood streaked across his armor and his lips tinged blue.

They need to get out of the cold. They need to rest.

Those are the thoughts that propel her forward and keep the gnawing guilt at bay as she trudges towards him, face grim. Would he have suffered less if she'd been more studious this past month?

It doesn't matter now. What's done is done, even if the thought only makes her feel worse. ]

Can you stand?

[ She doesn't wait for an answer, carefully ducking under one of his arms to help haul him upright. ]

I remember seeing a house on the way here. We should take shelter there, while we can.

[ The wind is picking up in speed already, sending strands of her hair whipping back and forth. At least the house is visible in the distance, a small square set against a backdrop of trees. She just hopes it's close enough that they both don't collapse before they reach it. ]

[ Just when he's on the verge of falling to the ground out of sheer exhaustion, Siegfried can feel Rosetta leaning down to help him back up. The motion is enough to give him the last bit of energy he needs to not give up. How pathetic would it be to fall like this? Here lay the famous Dragonslayer of Feendranche, bested by a pack of snow elementals.

He'd have to tend to his wounded pride later, after they tend to their actual wounds. He forces himself to stand back upright, although now, there is simply no hiding the extent to which is body trembles involuntarily. ]

Thank you. We do need shelter, so we should hurry. If I become too much of a burden [ because as afflicted as he is, he would be even slower than her to reach the dwelling. ]... continue without me.

[ Which could be taken as him implying that she should leave him to die, but to be frank, he refuses to believe that the circumstances would best him, even now. He'd been through much worse before.

And he hates depending on others, especially if he knows he's hindering them in some way. It's why he always works alone.

He's moving now, however, dragging his feet along the snow and gritting his chattering teeth in an effort to bear through the pain. Siegfried does his best to carry his own weight, and though he can't spare a glance at Rosetta too long (being too focused on getting to the shelter as fast as possible), he does want to ease his worries about her. ]

Are you hurt?

[ Continue without me.

She doesn't bother deigning that with a response, partly because they both dearly need to conserve energy and partly because it's so ridiculous she doesn't see fit to acknowledge it. ]

I'm fine.

[ Tired and more than a little bruised, but she's perfectly healthy and hale in comparison to her wounded patient. Enough so that she manages a ghost of a smile for him. ]

How could I not be, when I had such a gallant knight defending me?

[ A gallant knight that's going to become a popsicle if she doesn't move her legs any faster. Even without her usual impractical heels, the snow's high enough that it hinders their movements, and they're both shivering by the time they finally batter the (thankfully unlocked) cabin door open and stumble inside.

It's barely any warmer inside but there is at least a fireplace and a snug pile of wood next to it. And also One Bed, for Reasons, which she points to almost immediately. ]

Sit. Warm yourself up while I start the fire.

[ While a small part of him can appreciate that she intended to compliment him, he can't help but laugh bitterly. ]

Some gallant knight, asking you to put yourself in danger when we clearly aren't fit for fighting in our state.

[ He's really, really butthurt about what a poor showing that was. It comes as a huge relief when they finally make it to the cabin. He tears himself away from her once inside, now finally able to assess her condition.

Rosetta wasn't lying. She was relatively unharmed, and she simply looked exhausted. He's glad for it.

He's still shivering, but being out of the relentless onslaught of snow means he can focus on recuperating. It also means the shame of what just happened replaces the pummeling snow. He sighs. ]

I've never felt so weak before. That was truly a foolish endeavor. If it weren't for your magic and you guiding us back here, I'm not sure we would have made it.

[ He can't afford to stay in these wet garments, so before he takes a seat, he works to remove his armor. With trembling hands, he discards his helmet, followed by the connecting pieces that make up his arms and legs. It's extremely clumsy and unceremonious, and loud clangs break the quiet of the little cabin. ]

[ Calling out the last dregs of her new magic is harder than she anticipates; barely more than a sad puff of smoke appears out of her outstretched hand, but it's enough to catch into the kindling already in the fireplace and slowly start to crackling away. For the stretch of a minute, only the sounds of wood snapping and armor slowly clanking fill up the cabin. Rosetta's too busy sitting in front of the growing flame, eyes staring deep into dancing red and gold as she lets the warmth of the fire wash away some of her exhaustion. ]

I agreed to this. We're both to blame, if anything.

[ What a pair they make, both wallowing in pity.

Eventually, she gets back up, walks towards where Siegfried sits. Her fingers are steadier than his, but instead of fussing with pieces of armor that she doesn't understand, they trace over the cuts on his shoulders and arms. Wounds gained in defense of her, in place of her. The least she can do is tend to them. ]

We should clean these. Healing magic would be easier but...

[ The rest of the words are left unsaid, but the meaning rings loud and clear. So much to learn, so little time, and more and more she's beginning to curse this place for stripping away all her powers. Being a primal had always brought with it its own set of challenges, but better a killing machine than wholly useless. ]

[ Siegfried is so preoccupied with removing the last of his chestplate while lost in his thoughts that he scarcely notices Rosetta come towards him.

Normally, he might have had some reservations. He's stripped away not only his metal armor, but the damp layers of underarmor, leaving his torso and shoulders completely bare. Bare, but still warmer than they were trapped in wet clothes.

Now, while the gentle tracing of her fingers takes him aback, he can only instinctively lean towards her. Despite the both of them being subjected to the same conditions, she is many degrees warmer, and more than anything, his body needs heat.

He looks up and gives her a small smile, not bothering to do anything about the wet and mangled hair obscuring his face. ]

Don't worry. I will be fine by the morning.

[ It's been so long since he's had to clean or dress any wounds, ever since Fafnir's blood gave him rapid healing abilities. He wonders if Rosetta has ever even had to. ]

Thank you for the fire. I can already feel my spirits lifting.

[ He could be covered in a thick layer of mud and he'd still be the hottest man on the planet. :simp:

His reassurances do little to knock the frown off her face; in fact, the chill of the skin underneath her hands only serves to deepen it. ]

I'd rather we lift your body temperature first. You'll freeze in no time if you keep this up.

[ Even if it is nice to ogle him, as always.

Up goes the blanket from the foot of the bed, unfolded and draped around his shoulders. Goodbye beefy shoulders, she'll tragically have to admire them another day. Another day, when the cold isn't cutting straight to her bones. The fire's rapidly growing, but it can only heat up the cabin so fast.

The wind howling outside, rattling the shutters to and fro, reminds her of the snowstorm falling atop them, and she shivers reflexively. ]

Just by lighting a fire we've guaranteed that I won't die on you, I think.

[ Already, Siegfried is shivering a lot less, and his words aren't stuttered by the chattering of his teeth as much. Still, he shivers, sighing in relief when Rosetta wraps a blanket around his shoulders. His pants managed to evade getting soaked, thankfully. ]

... T-thank you.

[ How many times would he be expressing gratitude? It still wouldn't be enough.

He frowns at the sight of her own shivering. She may have a physical form that still regulates her temperature well, but she isn't impervious to the cruelty of the cold. ]

You're quite cold, too.

[ And as luck would have it, the blanket he has is thick, but it is the only one. Still, he doesn't hesitate. Not when it's something so practical and easily remedied. ]

Come here. We should share this.

[ When you can only get a man to cuddle with you out of necessity.

Not that she's thinking any such thing right now, too busy is she trying to fend off both exhaustion and cold. Siegfried lifts the blanket as an invitation and she takes it right away, scooting over until she'd pressed up against him, head falling to rest easily on one shoulder. ]

We make quite the pathetic pair right now, don't we?

[ Battered and bruised and huddling for warmth under a single blanket while the fire cracks and snaps in front of them. He might not be any warmer than her at the moment, but there's something very comforting about the easy physical contact they share right now. ]

[ Now that he's starting to warm up a bit more, the feeling of this closeness is beginning to make him feel nervous. It isn't unpleasant: his body still craves any and all warmth, of course. He simply isn't used to having anyone see him this level of vulnerable, and he certainly isn't used to sharing such close quarters with them.

Siegfried coughs, which melds into a small laugh. ]

I suppose in the end we still emerged victorious, at least. But we have a long way to go before we can operate as we did before. [ Apparently.

He lets silence hang between them for a long moment. Although he's beginning to warm up, Rosetta may likely feel that his muscles tense rather than relax. ]

You weren't pathetic, Rosetta. I'm impressed with your resilience, even when burdened with weaker magic skills.

[ She laughs again at that, but it's a hollow sound, empty like the forests she once called home. ]

That's kind of you to say, Siegfried.

[ Always kind, always generous with his time and attention. A model citizen and a hero; no wonder he'd always been so sought after aboard the Grandcypher. And yet here he is, doing his best to reassure her though she hardly deserves it. Even as the thought fuels another flare of guilt, it also fills her with a swell of warmth, small and sweet.

From this angle, his face is awfully close. If she tilts her head up at just the right angle, she can catch the slant of his cheekbones and the depth of his dark gaze, even past the stray strands of hair falling past his face. He's always been easy on the eyes, but the shadows cast by the fire, constantly in motion, sets his face in an almost ethereal light.

She's openly staring at him now, but it's fine, being embarrassed about it would require a sense of shame. ]

I hope you don't use that line on every girl you fight with.

[ Yeah, there's definitely not a single drop of shame in that tired smile. ]

I'm not doing you a kindness, I'm speaking the truth.

[ He's never been a flatterer, after all. He had no qualms about telling his companions their flaws or when they weren't living up to expectations. He's also his own worst critic, so he readily accepts that he is pathetic. He doesn't feel like even a shadow of his former self.

Who would have thought that he would have become so dependent on his natural abilities, and even miss the monstrous traits he had secretly wished he could make disappear?

Siegfried isn't lost in his thoughts for long. His gaze flickers to the side, back to her, and he's suddenly extremely aware of how close she is. Perhaps the only upside to his current condition was that there is no color to rise to his cheeks, but if his body had the warmth, it would most certainly be there.

Pallid as he is, there's no denying the way his eyes are slightly widened, and how his words are tinged with much less confidence than before.

Rosetta has always been beautiful. Even he, who didn't notice such things, could see that, even if he had little interest in giving value to appearances. She was otherworldly and enchanting in the way that all primals inherently are, but right now, he doesn't see her as such. Right now, she is just as fallible as she is, just as prone to bruises and exhaustion, but still more lovely than anyone who had just gone through what they had had any right to be.

He realizes, in one mortifying moment, that not only has he not answered her question, but that he's been staring for far too long. Quickly, he diverts his gaze. ]

Sorry.

[ He also was apparently so zoned out that he doesn't catch what she'd said. ]

[ That expression would be cuter tinged with red, but she'll take it as is.

As much fun as it is to tease him, they're both tired. For once, she misattributes interest for exhaustion, and pulls away slightly. They need rest, Siegfried especially, if they're both to recover fully and take stock of their circumstances tomorrow. ]

Sorry for what? It's not the first time I've been stared at.

[ Though it probably is the first time she's been stared at while looking like a half-drowned rat with tangles and snarls running through her hair. Instead of trying to fix her own hairdo, she reaches out one hand to push a few strands of hair out of his face. ]

You should lie down and get some rest. You must be tired after all that.

[ When you only have one bed but your characters are fucking stupid. ]

Ah, no, I wasn't—

[ Yes he was. He 100% was staring.

Even the slightest shift away from him causes his skin to feel a draft again, as if Rosetta herself is more of a blanket than the fabric draped over them.

He can't help but lean back towards the slender fingers pushing hair out of his view, his heart beating faster even if the warmth of blood rising to his skin is a muffled feeling.

Siegfried is quiet again, this time understanding her suggestion, but choosing not to answer it.

Perhaps the cold is messing with his rational thought, or the brush they had with near-death causes him not to dwell on impulses. Whatever the reason, he draws the blanket around them even tighter and lightly clasps her wrist. ]

This is... [ Weird. Unhinged. Inappropriate. ]

Extremely selfish of me.

But please, don't go.

[ Rosetta is not a woman who is easily surprised by most things - after several centuries most occurrences become, if not commonplace, then at least well-prepared for - but this sudden insistence causes her to go momentarily still. It's not an unreasonable request. With the way things are, they'll warm up faster together than separated. There's only the one bed, so unless one of them wants to sleep on the floor, they'll have to share the bed. Even so...

The seconds tick by as she assesses him, trying to decipher the precise meaning of his words.

She's keenly aware of the strength of his hand around her wrist and the proximity of his body next to hers. ]

Is that an invitation?

[ She's no stranger to sex, and hardly adverse to a fun romp in bed with a handsome stranger she's met over drinks. But this is Siegfried, a man whom she deeply respects and whose companionship she values deeply, and if holding onto that friendship means keeping an amicable distance from him, then that's a price she's willing to pay. ]

I'm not sure how much experience you have with women [ are u a virgin, buddy ] but typically you don't say such things and still expect to get a good night's sleep afterwards.

[ Just sayin'. ]

[ In his defense, Siegfried isn't really sure what he's asking for when he asks her to stay. He would have been happy to remain as they were, basking in each other's warmth like this even if he feels inadequate because he can't even offer an equal share of that.

But the way she responds leaves absolutely no room for ambiguity, which makes him stumble back to reality, and impressively, actually makes his cheeks color. Just a little. ]

That isn't quite what I was getting at...

[ Or is it? Does he even know what he wants? :pepehm:

What follows is possibly the most discomfort Siegfried has ever put himself in, and that includes the ordeal they'd just gone through. He lets go of her wrist and sighs, very very much unable to meet her eye. ]

But I wouldn't be opposed. I've found myself quite... drawn to you over these past few weeks.

[ was it a consequence of his transformation to whatever his fate would be? He doesn't think so. His attraction to Rosetta feels real, however unable he'd been to acknowledge it until now. ]

My apologies. You can go, if you'd like. I'm not sure what's come over me.

[ He wants to crawl into a hole now. ]

[ Oh, he can crawl into a hole, alright. Just not the one he's thinking of right now. Anyway I'm tired and we're moving on.

It should be a relief, to know that even Siegfried is not immune to her charms and that he does, on occasion, view her as a woman and not just as another one of his many crewmates. But instead she's more concerned with trying to unravel the confusion on his face. ]

It's not wrong to feel this way, Siegfried.

[ She says the words softly, one hand reaching out to take hold of his. Underneath her fingers, his palm is calloused and rough, a sign of the hard work he puts in each and every day. If she had to pick one thing to admire most about him, it wouldn't be his good looks or his easily drawn out blush, but the dedication he holds in his heart, true and unwavering. ]

It's fine to want things for yourself, to be selfish every now and then. [ Has this man ever been selfish a day in his life? ] I'll go if you truly want me to, but please don't dismiss your own wants and needs for the sake of someone else.

[ She may be an incorrigible flirt, but the freedom of choice has always been something she's valued highly. Of course, that doesn't mean she can't try and tip those scales to one particular side. ]

But I have heard that there are quite a few benefits to spending time in someone else's arms, such as better sleep and a reduction in pain.

[ Sometimes the way to a man's ~~dick~~ heart really is just through a list of mundane but practical facts. ]

[ Somehow, her patience and understanding just makes him feel more mortified. He feels as though he's regressed back to being a teenager, as if he'll need his hand held. It isn't that he doesn't have experience, it's just strange to think of acting on his attraction to her right now, of all times.

Rosetta holds his hand and he marvels at the feeling of her soft, slender fingers against his own, rough and calloused. It's a reminder of how different they are, and perhaps that is why it took until this moment for anything to come to fruition. Siegfried laughs, and though he sounds nervous and uncertain, it's the first joyful sound since they embarked on their mission. ]

I'm aware there's nothing wrong with it, it's just— sorry, I don't have much experience with these sorts of things. It's difficult for me to find the right words to express myself.

[ Did he mean sex? Romance? Surprisingly, he's more okay with the former, but perhaps unbeknownst to Rosetta, he finds himself drawn to her for more than simply physical attraction.

Her lighthearted nature does serve to calm him, at least this time, anyway. Spouting facts at him makes his grin widen, so much so that it looks as though he's trying not to laugh again. Now that she's made is fairly clear that she does want to be with him, and isn't just flirting to flirt, he can't help but relax.

He entwines her hand with his own and pulls her closer, drawing her into his lap with one sweeping motion. It's incredible how much strength an injured man still has when intimacy is on the line. It would seem that even Siegfried isn't immune to such things. ]

I don't need an excuse to want to be with you, Rosetta. Besides, you just told me that I wouldn't be getting much sleep. So, which is it? Better sleep, or no sleep?

[ Does she have to answer that?

His hands are strong against hers, and his lap solid as she sits atop him. Her exhaustion from before is already fading away, replaced by a familiar heat rising in her abdomen. It'd be easy enough to call forth another witty rejoinder, but there's something special about this moment that she doesn't want to cheapen, one where only the two of them exist, blind to the snow and wind that rage outside.

So instead, she kisses him, leaning forward to snugly fit her lips against his without preamble while her free hand tangles in his hair, pulling him closer. All things considered, it's not a particularly greedy kiss, but it is curious, her lips parting slightly as she tastes him. As much as her previous flirtations might have implied otherwise, she's more than happy to start off slow and enjoy their time together. ]

[ That kiss warms him up more than any blanket or fire could. He's sure that Rosetta can feel his heartbeat quickening with how close they've drawn together, the tenseness in his shoulders relaxing as he resolves to let instinct take over.

Perhaps it's better that he express himself this way, anyway. With actions rather than words. With a parting of his lips to deepen the kiss and a gentle squeeze of her hand, a silent I will stop overthinking it, I simply want to be with you.

Though their kiss begins relatively chaste, the weight of her on his lap, pliant and warm, makes his body tense in a different way. However long it may have been since he's had sex with anyone, his body is responsive to each curious flicker of her tongue and fingers entangled in his hair.

The spark of desire is there, evident by the way he never quite ends their kiss, simply shifts so that his mouth lavishes attention to her bottom lip, and then, along her jawline. ]

[ She might have done this a hundred times before, and enjoyed each one of those times, but there's something different about the way Siegfried touches her now, his calloused fingers sending shivers across her skin, even with the warmth of the fire roaring behind them.

As he moves lower, she tilts her head up to give him better access, eyelids fluttering closed at the brush of his lips against her skin. Her fingers, too, move downwards, past the pulse point on his neck and down his sternum, and across the broad expanse of his chest. Admiring the way his shirts fit so snugly around his torso is one thing, but feeling muscle jump and tense underneath her hands is something else entirely. It's exhilarating and desire-inducing, and she can't help but unconsiously grind against him, her hips rolling up as her hand finally comes to a rest at the waistband of his pants. ]

( closed ) july catch-all

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oh right cw: smut

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