"Silence!" the first guard sharply ordered, unlocking the door and shoving it open just far enough for him and his partner to manhandle another hapless prisoner into the cell, dumping him face first on the floor. The dark-haired man let out a low groan but didn't otherwise respond, at least not until the two guards grabbed him by the chin and pried his mouth open to dump the contents of a metal flask down his throat. He fought back then, weakly, and coughed up the green-tinted solution in his struggle to breathe and not swallow anything, but the jailers were no strangers to this procedure, and they worked with ruthless efficiency to ensure that the rest of the liquid was drunk and not wasted
( ... )
Eyes filled with concern, Cecil watched as Zack was thrown in with him, near a hay pile. He winced, watching his sluggish movements, gathering that he had been either hurt or exhausted. How horrible... His eyes darted back up to glare at the threatening guard as he retreated. Cecil strained as much as he could, sitting up. "Are you well? Injuries, exhaustion--?" Maybe he couldn't fight back, but he still had his magic. Magic was just fine.
Cecil frowned at his bonds, blowing a hair or two out of his face to take a better look at the man on the stone floor. He was built like a fighter, lean muscle and strong shoulders. The clothes he wore... he reminded him of Cloud, one of his friends he had traveled with in the adjacent world. Strange.
[ooc: it could end up with just consensual sex with the both of them, of course. I don't mind. <3]
Slowly, slowly, Zack rolled himself up into a sitting position, bracing himself with one hand on the floor. He wasn't nearly as helpless as he had let on, but it wasn't as though it had all been completely an act either, seeing as he had been considerably roughed up by those guards prior to being tossed in here. And whatever it was that they had forced him to drink was certainly no potion. It hummed through his veins like mako, but there was a certain warmth to it as well, and it was settling right between his legs. Not good. Not good at all.
The SOLDIER squinted in the direction of Cecil's voice, blinking as his vision finally cleared, but then he was coughing again, bringing his hand up to his mouth to cover it. Once he could breathe once more, however, he managed to smile wryly over at the Knight and hold up the small key he had been hiding in his mouth the entire time. "I've been better, but I'll be okay. I just hope that you're Cecil Harvey, though."
If it had been a potion, Cecil wouldn't have been so concerned; but the way he was still curled over obviously meant that his injuries weren't healed. No potion had been forced down his throat, which meant they had made him drink something else. Whatever it was, Cecil was quite sure that it wasn't good. When eyes finally met, the young man offered Zack a kind, if tired, smile, that melted into shock--
and then, relief. A soft, generous smile stretched over his pallid face. He let out a quiet, choked laugh. "I am, and who are you? You bear a certain resemblance to a friend I hold dear, Cloud."
"So, she was telling the truth," Zack murmured, more to himself than to Cecil, though it wasn't as if his words couldn't carry over to the Knight. Then he chuckled, looking back up at Cecil. "I'm Zack Fair, and Cloud is one of my friends, too. He's never mentioned you before--" The SOLDIER gave an apologetic shrug here, not sure why he had never heard Cloud even mention Cecil's name before. "--but then again, he's not really the biggest talker, as you probably already know."
Muscles protested at the movement, but Zack eventually made his way over to Cecil's side and sat down beside him. "Never knew there was a dungeon in this place, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Anyways, let's get you out of here, okay?"
Though a brow furrowed when he spoke to himself, a smile came over his face. That was very true, Cloud didn't talk very much. "Yes--I'd appreciate that, Zack." He tried the name out on his tongue, it rolled off easily, thankfully.
"If I may ask: where is 'here', and what did you mean, before? Whom told the truth?" It seemed like there was a lot he didn't know about his situation, but as long as he made it back to friendly company, the Captain of the Red Wings didn't much mind.
"You're new here then, aren't you?" Zack sighed softly, running a hand through his dark, spiky hair as he tried to figure out which question to answer first. He was more than just a little distracted, though, by the sudden urge to card his fingers instead through that length of mythril-colored hair that fell down to Cecil's shoulders and find out if those silvery locks felt as soft as they looked. Of course, Zack's mind and imagination wanted to go further than that, much further; but, with effort, he shoved those thoughts aside, trying his hardest to ignore them for as long as possible
( ... )
Ever modest and just a little more shy than he'd even like, Cecil's face tinged red in embarrassment for both himself and Zack as he explained their situation. Pretty looks didn't hide an empty skull, and Cecil could easily find out why he had been forced to stay in a cold place, awaiting for his captor. Just the thought made him want to redirect his gaze away from the kind man beside him, even if he found himself unable to look away. There was no doubt, then; his journey was once again delayed by yet another world he had no real idea about. He had quite a stroke of bad luck, didn't he?
"Thank you, for helping her, and myself." Cecil said quietly, "My apologies that to help me you had to be treated so roughly. Perhaps one day, I could return the favor, if you should ever need it, and I would hope not." The knight gave him a light smile, trying to be reassuring. He didn't want to see a frown on Zack's face--it was puzzling, but to see a frown on the other man's face just felt very, very wrong.
If that sudden blossoming of red across Cecil's face was anything to go by, he had probably correctly, if unfortunately, guessed just what sorts of things went on in a place bearing such a name as the Love Hotel. Ruefully, Zack shook his head and offered the Knight an apologetic smile. "Sorry to have to be the one to break it to you, Cecil. Believe me, I dislike playing tour guide for this place as much as I dislike being stuck here in it
( ... )
And Cecil did. For a moment, his face was full of surprise, simple and honest-to-god surprise. His mind was preoccupied with those words, and though they were not Zack's own, he felt like thanking him for simply uttering those words. The knight tried to stop the smile from spreading over his face like frosting on a cake, sweet and elegant in its own right. His hands fell from the bonds, and relief washed through his body, though he couldn't speak quite until a few moments later.
"I do." Cecil smiled at him thankfully, lacing a hand through his soft hair in a modest, gentle way. "Once again, I thank you for remembering her words. They are... important, to me." And now, he had quite the idea of who was in the lobby, if she was still there.
When he cast his eyes towards the door, he frowned, knowing how unwise it would be to suddenly burst out into a guarded hallway.
Those words ... they meant a great deal to Cecil, and Zack could easily see that even before the Knight actually said as much in acknowledgment. But who was that woman, and what was she to Cecil? A good friend? A lover even?
Behave, Zack sternly ordered himself, fighting to keep his body under control for a little longer until they could both get out of here and reunite Cecil with his lady ... and before Zack could say or do something he shouldn't. He certainly hadn't agreed to help free a stranger named Cecil Harvey because he had expected to be recompensed somehow by either the beautiful, if mysterious, woman who had asked him for assistance, or by Cecil himself. No, under normal circumstances, helping other people out usually fell under the category of the right thing to do; however, the Hotel seemed to have a particular perchance for twisting good intentions all awry and fostering scenarios like the one Zack currently found himself in
( ... )
Cecil, thinking nothing of Zack's words but the usual, started towards the door, trying to look at the lock and see if he could gently cajole it with a spell, or if it would prove too risky. However, as the other man's words set in, Cecil looked back at Zack with a bright red face. "My lady? Cosmos, which is whom I'm guessing you met, she is nothing of the sort. She is the goddess who I have promised to serve in her war against Chaos, is all. And I bring bad news; this lock is magicked. No key is going to open it, it requires some sort of..."
The Knight's eyes went back to squinting at it, placing a hand over it. A shiver worked through his body. "Some sort of intense event. I'm not quite sure what sort of event, however."
[ooc: I'm gonna go with special Hotel door, and maybe she was coming to give Cecil a good luck farewell. XD;]
Oh. So, her name was Cosmos, and she was a goddess? Like Minerva then, perhaps. And if Cecil was the type to spout poetry about his goddess, like a certain redheaded SOLDIER back home ... well, Zack had a feeling that he actually wouldn't mind listening to the Knight recite just about anything. But what was this 'war against Chaos' that Cecil was talking about? Was the battle being waged solely on Cecil's world ... or was Cloud somehow involved in this, too?
So many questions, but Zack didn't get the chance to voice even one of them -- not once Cecil had passed his hand over the door and confirmed exactly what Zack had been hoping would not be the case from the moment he had been first thrown in here. He exhaled lowly and closed his eyes. "You're positive about this?"
"You may have a glance for yourself," Cecil offered, looking unnerved as he pulled back. "I'm truly sure. As for what this event is--do you have an idea of it, Zack?" Thankfully (or maybe not-so-thankfully) for Zack, Cecil really had no clue about poetry, or epic poems. That was more Zidane. The Knight studied the look on Zack's face, not at all liking the dread on his face. What could possibly make this door open that would make Zack so hesitant?
It didn't hit him quite yet why he could hear guards outside gently snickering.
Making his way over to the door, Zack laid a hand on it and pressed hard against it. Unsurprisingly, it didn't budge in the slightest. He really could have done without the faint, but still very much audible, sneers he was hearing from the opposite side of the door, however, and it was rather gratifying to hear those sounds abruptly stop once he aimed a hard kick at the wooden barrier. Still, the door was unyielding and showed no sign of budging.
Frustrated, the SOLDIER rapped the side of his fist sharply against the heavy oak, and though he wanted to just shake his head at it all, he had to nod 'yes' to Cecil's question. "I wish I didn't, Cecil, but I do," Zack admitted, sounding none too pleased, as if his earlier actions weren't proof enough of that already. "Some of these door require something along the lines of a kiss to get them to open. Others ... require more than that."
Cecil glanced from the door to Zack, and honestly thought about the situation. 'More' than kissing, and it was a Love Hotel, he wouldn't be too shocked if what Zack was implying was that they, indeed, might have to have sex to open this very door. It didn't seem very far-fetched at all, in this circumstance; made sense, since the guards were laughing. But what if it just required a kiss?
Once more, he looked from the door to Zack, and ended up simply nodding.
"My resolve isn't wavering. I want to get out of here, and if it means kissing or, 'more than that', I'm willing to do so." He said firmly, and added quickly, almost scandalized at the other thought, "Of course, not without your permission." Cecil was far more open-minded than one would think, for someone who was modest. But to him, this was something that had to be done. He just offered Zack a smile with his words, brushing a hand through his hair, semi-awkwardly. Zack was compassionate and kind, and quite handsome. Cecil didn't have any qualms about this situation.
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Cecil frowned at his bonds, blowing a hair or two out of his face to take a better look at the man on the stone floor. He was built like a fighter, lean muscle and strong shoulders. The clothes he wore... he reminded him of Cloud, one of his friends he had traveled with in the adjacent world. Strange.
[ooc: it could end up with just consensual sex with the both of them, of course. I don't mind. <3]
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The SOLDIER squinted in the direction of Cecil's voice, blinking as his vision finally cleared, but then he was coughing again, bringing his hand up to his mouth to cover it. Once he could breathe once more, however, he managed to smile wryly over at the Knight and hold up the small key he had been hiding in his mouth the entire time. "I've been better, but I'll be okay. I just hope that you're Cecil Harvey, though."
((ooc: Yay!))
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and then, relief. A soft, generous smile stretched over his pallid face. He let out a quiet, choked laugh. "I am, and who are you? You bear a certain resemblance to a friend I hold dear, Cloud."
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Muscles protested at the movement, but Zack eventually made his way over to Cecil's side and sat down beside him. "Never knew there was a dungeon in this place, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Anyways, let's get you out of here, okay?"
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"If I may ask: where is 'here', and what did you mean, before? Whom told the truth?" It seemed like there was a lot he didn't know about his situation, but as long as he made it back to friendly company, the Captain of the Red Wings didn't much mind.
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"Thank you, for helping her, and myself." Cecil said quietly, "My apologies that to help me you had to be treated so roughly. Perhaps one day, I could return the favor, if you should ever need it, and I would hope not." The knight gave him a light smile, trying to be reassuring. He didn't want to see a frown on Zack's face--it was puzzling, but to see a frown on the other man's face just felt very, very wrong.
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"I do." Cecil smiled at him thankfully, lacing a hand through his soft hair in a modest, gentle way. "Once again, I thank you for remembering her words. They are... important, to me." And now, he had quite the idea of who was in the lobby, if she was still there.
When he cast his eyes towards the door, he frowned, knowing how unwise it would be to suddenly burst out into a guarded hallway.
[ooc: Sleep well!]
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Behave, Zack sternly ordered himself, fighting to keep his body under control for a little longer until they could both get out of here and reunite Cecil with his lady ... and before Zack could say or do something he shouldn't. He certainly hadn't agreed to help free a stranger named Cecil Harvey because he had expected to be recompensed somehow by either the beautiful, if mysterious, woman who had asked him for assistance, or by Cecil himself. No, under normal circumstances, helping other people out usually fell under the category of the right thing to do; however, the Hotel seemed to have a particular perchance for twisting good intentions all awry and fostering scenarios like the one Zack currently found himself in ( ... )
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The Knight's eyes went back to squinting at it, placing a hand over it. A shiver worked through his body. "Some sort of intense event. I'm not quite sure what sort of event, however."
[ooc: I'm gonna go with special Hotel door, and maybe she was coming to give Cecil a good luck farewell. XD;]
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So many questions, but Zack didn't get the chance to voice even one of them -- not once Cecil had passed his hand over the door and confirmed exactly what Zack had been hoping would not be the case from the moment he had been first thrown in here. He exhaled lowly and closed his eyes. "You're positive about this?"
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It didn't hit him quite yet why he could hear guards outside gently snickering.
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Frustrated, the SOLDIER rapped the side of his fist sharply against the heavy oak, and though he wanted to just shake his head at it all, he had to nod 'yes' to Cecil's question. "I wish I didn't, Cecil, but I do," Zack admitted, sounding none too pleased, as if his earlier actions weren't proof enough of that already. "Some of these door require something along the lines of a kiss to get them to open. Others ... require more than that."
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Once more, he looked from the door to Zack, and ended up simply nodding.
"My resolve isn't wavering. I want to get out of here, and if it means kissing or, 'more than that', I'm willing to do so." He said firmly, and added quickly, almost scandalized at the other thought, "Of course, not without your permission." Cecil was far more open-minded than one would think, for someone who was modest. But to him, this was something that had to be done. He just offered Zack a smile with his words, brushing a hand through his hair, semi-awkwardly. Zack was compassionate and kind, and quite handsome. Cecil didn't have any qualms about this situation.
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