[Text | voice- locked from baddies]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[And with one simple video, Celes' world has turned upside down again and she's not sure what to think. Gaia is messing with her now. Time was, she'd have rushed straight over to see him, but now... that's just what she needs: time. So she does the natural thing and high-tails it out of Figaro on foot in the middle of the night.

She doesn't leave without shooting off a couple of locked text feeds first, though.

Edgar:
Something's come up. I'm leaving for a few days. Don't try to find me. I won't be gone long.

and Terra:
I'm not in Figaro right now, but can we talk? Text, voice, or in person, I don't care. 

After that, she flicks on her Sky Phone to announce her departure to the rest of Gaia via voice post.]


If anyone needs me, I'm leaving Figaro for a few days. Call it cabin fever. I won't be gone long.


[For the early hours of the morning, she will be getting herself beaten up in the Sunleth Waterscape, as per her usual coping mechanisms. Once the sun starts peeking out, she'll head off somewhere else where she won't be found as easily, tucking herself among shelves of books and actually reading to pass the time.

After a while, she gets up the nerve to text Balthier.
We need to talk. Phone or in person, it doesn't matter.]

Comments

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[ Everything is making her life more difficult. That's the problem for her. She glances back at him as she hears him rise. ]

Only if you want to.

[ Not helpful, Celes. ]

I should... thank you for being so understanding.

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

Truth be told, I don't want to... but I believe that may be precisely why I should, if that makes any sense. [He shakes his head briefly.]

Of course I understand.

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

It does. [She looks back at the books in front of her and sighs. Sob her life these days.] You're probably right.

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He takes a few steps forward, closing the distance between them.]

One thing before I go, if I may?

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[ Curious, she turns back to him. ]

Hm? What is it?

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[Without further preamble, he takes the hand nearest to him and leans forward to seal parted lips over hers. In the event that she chooses to remain with Locke, he would hate to have this regret hanging over his head.]

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[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[Well that wasn't what she'd expected. She tenses up at first, as an automatic reaction to having her space invaded, but then her muscles involuntarily relax into the kiss and she can't help returning it. ]

Cheater. [ It's whispered against his lips, though she makes no move to break away. ]

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[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He smiles against her lips, though it's a bit wearier than the usual.]

Pirates don't play fair.

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[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Pirates, treasure hunters... You all play the same rules. [Well, Balthier? Are you going to do more or are you just going to hold her there? Her hand might be inching up to his hair though.]

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[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

Perhaps, but a sky pirate does it with finesse. [He smirks in reply, though it's more affectionate than usual, lacking some of its trademark haughtiness. He knows full well that he already should have taken his leave, but with her fingers edging their way towards his hair, he's having trouble finding the motivation to do so. He slips his index finger beneath her ear, his thumb laying flat against her jawline as he leans in across the very slight distance to kiss her a second time.]

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[Maybe he did and maybe he didn't; she didn't get a chance to say. The second kiss she instinctively drives just a touch deeper, before common sense knocks and she starts to pull away. There's a part of her that doesn't want to, but she knows it's better if she does. Still, she's having a hard time doing it. ]

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He, too, has difficulty breaking the kiss, but even he knows full well that's precisely why he should. Though reluctant, he does take a step back, allowing his hand to fall away from her face, though the other remains beside the, fingers loosely curled over hers.]

I thought it best to make sure I left with no regrets.

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[As soon as he starts moving away, Celes lets go, though she doesn't really pull back much farther, either, even as she knows she should.]

I daresay you've gotten that one through.

[And then, she reaches up and pulls him back into one last, pretty passionate kiss, because if they're being honest with no regrets, she may as well tell him she shares the sentiment. If he's paying attention, a tear or two escape her eyes, though she makes no move to wipe them away. Honesty: she cares for him, and she wants him to know that he'll always be important to her.]

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[Suffice it to say, her actions speak for themselves, loud and clear. He's reluctant to break this kiss as well, though eventually it must be done. His expression is nothing short of wistful as he reaches to carefully brush the tears away with the pad of his thumb.]

You've come to mean a great deal to me, Celes.

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[This means she feels even more guilty about everything and she sighs, pulling away fully to retreat more towards the books. Words aren't her forte and she has no idea how to handle any of this, so her coping instincts are telling her to just pull away, hole up, get away from everything. So, sorry, Balthier, but that flash of a smile is all she's going to give now as she leans against one of the bookshelves.]

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He frowns as he steps away. Perhaps he shouldn't have said anything... no, of course that isn't the case. If he'd held his tongue, he surely would have come to regret it later on. He bows his head slightly as he moves towards the end of the aisle.]

Do call me if you've need of anything at all. I'll not trouble you while you think things over.

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[Better than he had said something; it'll sting one way or the other. She turns her head to nod at him.]

I will. Thank you.

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He offers a single nod in reply before turning his back and disappearing around the corner.]