FFIV: One Dance (Rydia, Edge, Cast; PG)
One Dance
Fandom: FFIV
Characters/Pairings: Rydia, Edge, Cast
Rating: PG
For: eerian_sadow, Meme of Fives
Prompt: five times rydia managed to dodge edge's advances and one she didn't.
Summary: Edge loses out to other men one too many times.
- - -
She’s standing there in pale rose and gold skirts, with Rosa’s wedding flowers still in her hair and a delightful blush on her face as she jokes with Cid. Edge can’t stop watching her; she’s sun-bright today, glowing with life.
He takes another step and comes into her point-of-view; she frowns, slightly, which only peeves him off. He bows, regally, knowing the deep indigo cape of Eblan will swish impressively behind him.
“My lady,” he begins, watching as the irritation on her face begins to fade into general amusement. “You look radiant today, more radiant than any other woman in-”
Cid snorts. “You’d better not tell Rosa,” he chuckles. “It’s her damn wedding.”
Rydia sighs, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Would you honor me with a dance?” Edge smiles at her, praying the flattery will work this time, hoping that -
Rydia smiles, and it’s not a sweet smile. “Cid already asked me,” she says.
“Get yer own woman,” Cid adds, extending his arm for Rydia. She gracefully tucks her hand into it; Cid’s gigantic paw dwarfs her fingers.
Edge can’t help but watch them go; to his justification, Rydia throws a glance over her shoulder, although it’s not the glance of longing and desire he was hoping for.
- - -
“All I’m saying,” Edge says, “is that in Eblan, we could-”
“Oh, look,” Rydia exclaims. “Edward’s finally here.”
“Great,” Edge grumbles.
She stands and brushes off her skirts: gold, again, this time a pale and shimmering gold, almost silver. Edge recognizes Rosa’s subtle hand, and makes a mental note to congratulate the Queen of Baron on her excellent fashion sense.
“It is his coronation,” she points out, turning and leaving Edge at the table.
Edge watches her curtsey to King Edward and realizes she’s been practicing. All her other friends are worthy of such note, apparently; to him, it’s as if he doesn’t matter.
Edge sulks.
- - -
She is wearing red this time; bright red, heart’s-blood red, and he aches to just look at her.
“Why won’t you dance with me now?”
Rydia looks up at him, almost coy. There is a red flower tucked behind her ear. She smiles. “I can’t ignore Kain,” she says softly. Shyly. As if she likes the Dragoon’s attentions.
“Yes, you can,” Edge points out. “You’ve ignored him before.”
Rydia rolls her eyes. “But I can’t ignore him here,” she replies. It’s Kain’s welcome-home banquet. The Dragoon has looked distinctly unpleased all night long.
“So you’d ignore him somewhere else?” Edge sips his wine, his eyes on the flower in her hair and the flush on her face.
“Perhaps,” Rydia says smartly. “Everyone gets ignored sometimes.”
Edge sighs dramatically. “Why is it always me?”
“Because,” she tosses over her shoulder, “it’s fun to shut you down.”
- - -
Rydia squeals, and bends over the cradle again. Yasmini, firstborn daughter of Lord Yang and Lady Yingyi of Fabul, reaches out her regal fist and yanks on Rydia’s bright-green hair.
Edge snorts. “You shouldn’t let her do that - you’ll spoil her.”
“What do you know about kids?” Rydia retorts, but she does pull her hair back from her face before bending over tiny Roland Odin, Cecil and Rosa’s first son.
“Plenty,” Edge brags. In truth, he’s terrified of the things. They can’t even keep their heads up straight.
Rydia snorts. “Like what?” The young heir of Baron has his chubby fist wrapped around her finger. She tugs at it a little.
“You and I would make really good-looking children,” Edge boasts. “They’d be gorgeous.” He pauses. “But they’d have horrible tempers.” Another pause. “And they’d be really powerful, what with your magic and my…” Edge looks up. She isn’t even listening to him. The kid is smiling at her, and Rydia’s totally absorbed.
“I think it’s so sweet that they decided to have their namedays together,” Rydia says idly, as she pokes at Roland. Roland grabs her green sash and stuffs it into his mouth. Rydia giggles.
Edge opens his mouth to repeat himself, but the proud parents have re-entered the room, so he says nothing.
- - -
“My lady.” Edge has made sure to look as dashing as possible this time - Eblan’s regal indigo with gold trim, all of his family badges proudly displayed on his sleeve. She’s in blue, as well: deep, ocean’s-heart blue, with pearls in her hair. She looks like a sea nymph. He decides to tell her this.
“You look lovely tonight,” he says, “like a sea nymph from the depths of - what’s wrong?” Her face has fallen into a horrible wince, and Edge cringes.
“Not tonight, Edge,” Rydia says. She fiddles with one green curl, looking away from him.
“Not tonight?” But tonight is his night, finally: it’s Eblan’s largest holiday, and its first real celebration after the War, and all he wants is to show her the splendor of his kingdom and bathe her in its beauty. “Come, now. Won’t a dance make you feel better?”
Rydia throws him a glance - not her usual fiery glare; this is sad and almost pleading. She smooths her skirts and heads over to the window, where Cecil is standing, staring out at Eblan’s night - alone.
It isn’t until after Eblan’s celebration that Edge finds out about Rosa’s miscarriage. He winces, too.
- - -
“Close your eyes.”
Rydia looks at him skeptically. “Why?”
“Just do it,” he says. She gives him one last drawn-out look and closes her eyes as requested.
Edge rests his hand on the small of her back and steers her down the long hallway, up some stairs, around a pillar, down more stairs, and through the kitchens.
“Where are we going?” She sounds more curious than angry, which is a good sign.
Edge laughs. “Keep your eyes closed,” he repeats, leading her through another hallway and weaving her in and out of the armory-room before heading to the staircase.
“Edge,” she insists, “I do not need a workout this badly.”
“We’re almost there.” He clasps her arm in his hand, guiding her down the red carpet and into Baron Castle’s ballroom. The guards silently open the doors before them. He leads her into the center of the room and drops his hands. “Open your eyes.”
Rydia takes a breath, and does.
The room is decked out in green and gold: sunflowers are everywhere, woven with bright-green foliage and red ribbons. There’s a table full of delicacies - Rydia spies the tiny chocolate cakes she adores - and behind it stand Cecil and Rosa, beaming. All her friends are there, filling the room with happy smiles. In the corner, there is another table, heaped with gifts.
“Happy birthday,” Edge says, and grins at her.
“I -” Rydia claps a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide. “I almost forgot!”
“I didn’t,” Edge boasts.
The room’s filled with people; there’s a quartet in the corner for music. Along the opposite wall, Rydia recognizes some of her old acquaintances from Mist. Her eyes, inexplicably, prick with tears.
Cecil chuckles. “It’s the least we could do,” he says bowing to her.
“Now come and eat this cake before it melts,” Palom yells; she hadn’t seen the twins behind the massive stack of food, but she should’ve guessed.
Rydia takes a deep breath, smiling. “I can’t get out of this one, can I?” she murmurs, and steps up on tip-toes to plant a kiss on Edge’s cheek.
“Thank you,” she whispers in his ear. “And yes, I’ll dance with you this time.”
Notes: #4 is kind of like cheating, but I didn’t want them all to be too similar. Why must I always pick on Cecil and Rosa?
Fandom: FFIV
Characters/Pairings: Rydia, Edge, Cast
Rating: PG
For: eerian_sadow, Meme of Fives
Prompt: five times rydia managed to dodge edge's advances and one she didn't.
Summary: Edge loses out to other men one too many times.
- - -
She’s standing there in pale rose and gold skirts, with Rosa’s wedding flowers still in her hair and a delightful blush on her face as she jokes with Cid. Edge can’t stop watching her; she’s sun-bright today, glowing with life.
He takes another step and comes into her point-of-view; she frowns, slightly, which only peeves him off. He bows, regally, knowing the deep indigo cape of Eblan will swish impressively behind him.
“My lady,” he begins, watching as the irritation on her face begins to fade into general amusement. “You look radiant today, more radiant than any other woman in-”
Cid snorts. “You’d better not tell Rosa,” he chuckles. “It’s her damn wedding.”
Rydia sighs, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Would you honor me with a dance?” Edge smiles at her, praying the flattery will work this time, hoping that -
Rydia smiles, and it’s not a sweet smile. “Cid already asked me,” she says.
“Get yer own woman,” Cid adds, extending his arm for Rydia. She gracefully tucks her hand into it; Cid’s gigantic paw dwarfs her fingers.
Edge can’t help but watch them go; to his justification, Rydia throws a glance over her shoulder, although it’s not the glance of longing and desire he was hoping for.
- - -
“All I’m saying,” Edge says, “is that in Eblan, we could-”
“Oh, look,” Rydia exclaims. “Edward’s finally here.”
“Great,” Edge grumbles.
She stands and brushes off her skirts: gold, again, this time a pale and shimmering gold, almost silver. Edge recognizes Rosa’s subtle hand, and makes a mental note to congratulate the Queen of Baron on her excellent fashion sense.
“It is his coronation,” she points out, turning and leaving Edge at the table.
Edge watches her curtsey to King Edward and realizes she’s been practicing. All her other friends are worthy of such note, apparently; to him, it’s as if he doesn’t matter.
Edge sulks.
- - -
She is wearing red this time; bright red, heart’s-blood red, and he aches to just look at her.
“Why won’t you dance with me now?”
Rydia looks up at him, almost coy. There is a red flower tucked behind her ear. She smiles. “I can’t ignore Kain,” she says softly. Shyly. As if she likes the Dragoon’s attentions.
“Yes, you can,” Edge points out. “You’ve ignored him before.”
Rydia rolls her eyes. “But I can’t ignore him here,” she replies. It’s Kain’s welcome-home banquet. The Dragoon has looked distinctly unpleased all night long.
“So you’d ignore him somewhere else?” Edge sips his wine, his eyes on the flower in her hair and the flush on her face.
“Perhaps,” Rydia says smartly. “Everyone gets ignored sometimes.”
Edge sighs dramatically. “Why is it always me?”
“Because,” she tosses over her shoulder, “it’s fun to shut you down.”
- - -
Rydia squeals, and bends over the cradle again. Yasmini, firstborn daughter of Lord Yang and Lady Yingyi of Fabul, reaches out her regal fist and yanks on Rydia’s bright-green hair.
Edge snorts. “You shouldn’t let her do that - you’ll spoil her.”
“What do you know about kids?” Rydia retorts, but she does pull her hair back from her face before bending over tiny Roland Odin, Cecil and Rosa’s first son.
“Plenty,” Edge brags. In truth, he’s terrified of the things. They can’t even keep their heads up straight.
Rydia snorts. “Like what?” The young heir of Baron has his chubby fist wrapped around her finger. She tugs at it a little.
“You and I would make really good-looking children,” Edge boasts. “They’d be gorgeous.” He pauses. “But they’d have horrible tempers.” Another pause. “And they’d be really powerful, what with your magic and my…” Edge looks up. She isn’t even listening to him. The kid is smiling at her, and Rydia’s totally absorbed.
“I think it’s so sweet that they decided to have their namedays together,” Rydia says idly, as she pokes at Roland. Roland grabs her green sash and stuffs it into his mouth. Rydia giggles.
Edge opens his mouth to repeat himself, but the proud parents have re-entered the room, so he says nothing.
- - -
“My lady.” Edge has made sure to look as dashing as possible this time - Eblan’s regal indigo with gold trim, all of his family badges proudly displayed on his sleeve. She’s in blue, as well: deep, ocean’s-heart blue, with pearls in her hair. She looks like a sea nymph. He decides to tell her this.
“You look lovely tonight,” he says, “like a sea nymph from the depths of - what’s wrong?” Her face has fallen into a horrible wince, and Edge cringes.
“Not tonight, Edge,” Rydia says. She fiddles with one green curl, looking away from him.
“Not tonight?” But tonight is his night, finally: it’s Eblan’s largest holiday, and its first real celebration after the War, and all he wants is to show her the splendor of his kingdom and bathe her in its beauty. “Come, now. Won’t a dance make you feel better?”
Rydia throws him a glance - not her usual fiery glare; this is sad and almost pleading. She smooths her skirts and heads over to the window, where Cecil is standing, staring out at Eblan’s night - alone.
It isn’t until after Eblan’s celebration that Edge finds out about Rosa’s miscarriage. He winces, too.
- - -
“Close your eyes.”
Rydia looks at him skeptically. “Why?”
“Just do it,” he says. She gives him one last drawn-out look and closes her eyes as requested.
Edge rests his hand on the small of her back and steers her down the long hallway, up some stairs, around a pillar, down more stairs, and through the kitchens.
“Where are we going?” She sounds more curious than angry, which is a good sign.
Edge laughs. “Keep your eyes closed,” he repeats, leading her through another hallway and weaving her in and out of the armory-room before heading to the staircase.
“Edge,” she insists, “I do not need a workout this badly.”
“We’re almost there.” He clasps her arm in his hand, guiding her down the red carpet and into Baron Castle’s ballroom. The guards silently open the doors before them. He leads her into the center of the room and drops his hands. “Open your eyes.”
Rydia takes a breath, and does.
The room is decked out in green and gold: sunflowers are everywhere, woven with bright-green foliage and red ribbons. There’s a table full of delicacies - Rydia spies the tiny chocolate cakes she adores - and behind it stand Cecil and Rosa, beaming. All her friends are there, filling the room with happy smiles. In the corner, there is another table, heaped with gifts.
“Happy birthday,” Edge says, and grins at her.
“I -” Rydia claps a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide. “I almost forgot!”
“I didn’t,” Edge boasts.
The room’s filled with people; there’s a quartet in the corner for music. Along the opposite wall, Rydia recognizes some of her old acquaintances from Mist. Her eyes, inexplicably, prick with tears.
Cecil chuckles. “It’s the least we could do,” he says bowing to her.
“Now come and eat this cake before it melts,” Palom yells; she hadn’t seen the twins behind the massive stack of food, but she should’ve guessed.
Rydia takes a deep breath, smiling. “I can’t get out of this one, can I?” she murmurs, and steps up on tip-toes to plant a kiss on Edge’s cheek.
“Thank you,” she whispers in his ear. “And yes, I’ll dance with you this time.”
Notes: #4 is kind of like cheating, but I didn’t want them all to be too similar. Why must I always pick on Cecil and Rosa?