Final Fantasy VI, Locke Cole x Celes Chere, Theme Set Gamma
Fandom: Final Fantasy VI
Pairing: Locke Cole and Celes Chere
Theme set: Gamma
Rating: PG-13
Warning[s]: Some implied adult themes, but nothing explicit.
#01 - Ring
She'll never ask for one--indeed the idea seems somehow unfitting--but he keeps a ring in his pocket anyway.
#02 - Hero
Sabin tells him of rescues from burning buildings, of defeating monsters, of reuniting people; Locke says "she's really come into her own, hasn't she?"
#03 - Memory
Terra cannot remember anything she was made to do for the Empire; Celes remembers everything and for that she still has a hard time meeting his gaze.
#04 - Box
The box he wrapped for her is as empty as every treasure chest he's ever left behind; while she tugs at the ribbon and paper, he drapes the necklace he found around her neck and waits to see how long it will take her to notice.
#05 - Run
Escape has always been easy for him (funny how some people didn't appreciate it when he re-appropriated wayward treasure), but even after the end of the world he can't escape thoughts of her.
#06 - Hurricane
Everyone else has taken shelter, but Celes stands in the wind and the rain; Locke begs her to go inside, but she insists on keeping watch, saying "I know I can weather the storm."
#07 - Wings
Birds are always welcome in her garden; one morning she sees him tending an injured one and beams, saying "can't stop mending broken wings, can you?"
#08 - Cold
She doesn't flinch or shiver in the snows of Narshe, but Locke can't help but think that she's the one who needs warmth the most.
#09 - Red
One crimson flower is growing in the remains of Cid's broken greenhouse; Locke says it reminds him of her, and they take it home.
#10 - Drink
Setzer and Celes both nurse a drink that night: he for a lover lost, she for one yet to be found.
#11 - Midnight
Locke says that the nights are darker these days; Celes grips his hand and assures him that the dawn is coming.
#12 - Temptation
Figaro's king had never impressed her much before, but something about "Gerad" she found tempting; it must be, she thought, that she had a thing for thieves.
#13 - View
Peering down from the rafters helped Locke truly appreciate the neckline of "Maria's" dress.
#14 - Music
After she hums the melody of Aria di Mezzo Carrattere, she asks if he ever wanted to see how the opera ends, but he says that he likes not knowing.
#15 - Silk
Celes gazes at a wall lined in a rainbow of ribbons but excuses herself to search for more useful things; Locke discreetly pays for a length of silky ribbon in green--it really suits her.
#16 - Cover
It's not funny when Celes insists that she didn't steal the sheets last night, she "treasure hunted" them.
#17 - Promise
"I'll protect you," she says, drawing her sword.
#18 - Dream
Waking from the dream is always disappointing; he's still nowhere to be found.
#19 - Candle
"Edgar won't miss it," Locke insists, giving the silver candlestick a wave: "besides, how else are we supposed to see down here?"
#20 - Talent
Ending Kefka's madness is more important right now--but when this is over he hopes that she will sing again.
#21 - Silence
There was a time where the silence between them was evidence of something broken; now there is nothing that needs to be said, and that is comforting.
#22 - Journey
A window flutters pathetically in the wind on twisted and broken hinges, leading Locke to fear that moving in and settling down may be the most challenging adventure yet.
#23 - Fire
While Sabin cleans up the remains of the meal, they sit around the campfire and listen to Edgar spin tall tales; Locke interjects with wry commentary and plays with her hair.
#24 - Strength
Sabin just laughs good-naturedly when he spies Locke watching his morning exercises: "don't worry about her," he says as he throws a punch into the air, "in a way, she's the strongest of us."
#25 - Mask
Only one man would dare to steal Edgar Roni Figaro's hockey mask and wear it to his own masquerade ball; "I should lock you up, you incorrigible thief," he scolds, "but I wouldn't want to upset your date."
#26 - Ice
Casting Blizzard for the first time feels like walking in on a private conversation--it has always been her element, after all.
#27 - Fall
He asks what happened to her when the world was torn asunder; she spares him the details of rocky pinnacles and the hungry sea below by simply responding "I fell."
#28 - Forgotten
Rachel has died once again, and Celes worries for him as she remembers what she did when all her hope had been dashed away--but he reassures her that it is nothing like the pain of being forgotten.
#29 - Dance
When music breaks out in the pub, Mog is the first to dance; she refuses to participate, but when Locke joins in she can no longer resist.
#30 - Body
They spend their first night counting each other's scars.
#31 - Sacred
She refuses to part with that bandana; it has come to represent so much more than just him.
#32 - Farewells
After the celebrations end, the group dissipates one by one until they are left with each other.
#33 - World
"It's finally green again," he says, pulling her down into the grass to lie there and watch the clouds like he used to as a boy.
#34 - Formal
Despite the occasion he refuses to take off the bandanna; she puts up just enough of a fight to let him think that he's won something, but in truth she likes it, too.
#35 - Fever
News arrives from Mobliz that the children suffer from a creeping sickness--Locke immediately begins to pack his things, vowing that if anyone can find the cure it's him, but Celes lays a hand on his own and says "not without me this time."
#36 - Laugh
Dresses and makeup must make her look as clownish as she felt , she reasons, but when Locke creeps into the room, he doesn't laugh.
#37 - Lies
"It doesn't matter--you know I couldn't feel like that again," Locke mutters after the betrayal; Edgar cocks an eyebrow and says nothing.
#38 - Forever
There are things she wants to hear and things he wants to say, but she doesn't ask and he doesn't tell for fear that it would somehow break the spell.
#39 - Overwhelmed
Taking a second turn as "Maria" is much more successful than the first, and managing Locke proves more difficult than managing her "fans."
#40 - Whisper
Blood rushes to her cheeks when he draws her hair back, presses his lips to her ear, and suggests in hushed tones that they get a room of their own tonight.
#41 - Wait
Celes refuses Setzer and Edgar's offers to buy her drinks at the bar; she insists that she wait outside Rachel's door: it's something she has to do.
#42 - Talk
Words are tumbling out of his mouth, but all she wants to know is if he'll kiss her back.
#43 - Search
"Reason we're all here is because of you," Setzer's lips are drawn taut in a poker face as he shuffles his deck over and over again: "she was looking for you."
#44 - Hope
She twists the bandana around her fingers every time they enter a new town; he's never there, but she won't give up.
#45 - Eclipse
He has grown to love Celes more than he ever did Rachel; the realization of this is both painful and wonderful.
#46 - Gravity
His nightmares are always about her fingers slipping away from his, and being utterly unable to stop the fall.
#47 - Highway
"The great thing about this world," Locke says as he wraps his arms around her from behind to take the chocobo's reins, "is that there are no roads yet."
#48 - Unknown
She had asked, once, if she was a replacement for Rachel; he had not answered at the time because he did not--does not--know.
#49 - Lock
He's opened so many doors for her.
#50 - Breathe
He emerges from the basement with Phoenix's magicite in hand, sees her waiting there for him, and lets out a long-held breath.
Pairing: Locke Cole and Celes Chere
Theme set: Gamma
Rating: PG-13
Warning[s]: Some implied adult themes, but nothing explicit.
#01 - Ring
She'll never ask for one--indeed the idea seems somehow unfitting--but he keeps a ring in his pocket anyway.
#02 - Hero
Sabin tells him of rescues from burning buildings, of defeating monsters, of reuniting people; Locke says "she's really come into her own, hasn't she?"
#03 - Memory
Terra cannot remember anything she was made to do for the Empire; Celes remembers everything and for that she still has a hard time meeting his gaze.
#04 - Box
The box he wrapped for her is as empty as every treasure chest he's ever left behind; while she tugs at the ribbon and paper, he drapes the necklace he found around her neck and waits to see how long it will take her to notice.
#05 - Run
Escape has always been easy for him (funny how some people didn't appreciate it when he re-appropriated wayward treasure), but even after the end of the world he can't escape thoughts of her.
#06 - Hurricane
Everyone else has taken shelter, but Celes stands in the wind and the rain; Locke begs her to go inside, but she insists on keeping watch, saying "I know I can weather the storm."
#07 - Wings
Birds are always welcome in her garden; one morning she sees him tending an injured one and beams, saying "can't stop mending broken wings, can you?"
#08 - Cold
She doesn't flinch or shiver in the snows of Narshe, but Locke can't help but think that she's the one who needs warmth the most.
#09 - Red
One crimson flower is growing in the remains of Cid's broken greenhouse; Locke says it reminds him of her, and they take it home.
#10 - Drink
Setzer and Celes both nurse a drink that night: he for a lover lost, she for one yet to be found.
#11 - Midnight
Locke says that the nights are darker these days; Celes grips his hand and assures him that the dawn is coming.
#12 - Temptation
Figaro's king had never impressed her much before, but something about "Gerad" she found tempting; it must be, she thought, that she had a thing for thieves.
#13 - View
Peering down from the rafters helped Locke truly appreciate the neckline of "Maria's" dress.
#14 - Music
After she hums the melody of Aria di Mezzo Carrattere, she asks if he ever wanted to see how the opera ends, but he says that he likes not knowing.
#15 - Silk
Celes gazes at a wall lined in a rainbow of ribbons but excuses herself to search for more useful things; Locke discreetly pays for a length of silky ribbon in green--it really suits her.
#16 - Cover
It's not funny when Celes insists that she didn't steal the sheets last night, she "treasure hunted" them.
#17 - Promise
"I'll protect you," she says, drawing her sword.
#18 - Dream
Waking from the dream is always disappointing; he's still nowhere to be found.
#19 - Candle
"Edgar won't miss it," Locke insists, giving the silver candlestick a wave: "besides, how else are we supposed to see down here?"
#20 - Talent
Ending Kefka's madness is more important right now--but when this is over he hopes that she will sing again.
#21 - Silence
There was a time where the silence between them was evidence of something broken; now there is nothing that needs to be said, and that is comforting.
#22 - Journey
A window flutters pathetically in the wind on twisted and broken hinges, leading Locke to fear that moving in and settling down may be the most challenging adventure yet.
#23 - Fire
While Sabin cleans up the remains of the meal, they sit around the campfire and listen to Edgar spin tall tales; Locke interjects with wry commentary and plays with her hair.
#24 - Strength
Sabin just laughs good-naturedly when he spies Locke watching his morning exercises: "don't worry about her," he says as he throws a punch into the air, "in a way, she's the strongest of us."
#25 - Mask
Only one man would dare to steal Edgar Roni Figaro's hockey mask and wear it to his own masquerade ball; "I should lock you up, you incorrigible thief," he scolds, "but I wouldn't want to upset your date."
#26 - Ice
Casting Blizzard for the first time feels like walking in on a private conversation--it has always been her element, after all.
#27 - Fall
He asks what happened to her when the world was torn asunder; she spares him the details of rocky pinnacles and the hungry sea below by simply responding "I fell."
#28 - Forgotten
Rachel has died once again, and Celes worries for him as she remembers what she did when all her hope had been dashed away--but he reassures her that it is nothing like the pain of being forgotten.
#29 - Dance
When music breaks out in the pub, Mog is the first to dance; she refuses to participate, but when Locke joins in she can no longer resist.
#30 - Body
They spend their first night counting each other's scars.
#31 - Sacred
She refuses to part with that bandana; it has come to represent so much more than just him.
#32 - Farewells
After the celebrations end, the group dissipates one by one until they are left with each other.
#33 - World
"It's finally green again," he says, pulling her down into the grass to lie there and watch the clouds like he used to as a boy.
#34 - Formal
Despite the occasion he refuses to take off the bandanna; she puts up just enough of a fight to let him think that he's won something, but in truth she likes it, too.
#35 - Fever
News arrives from Mobliz that the children suffer from a creeping sickness--Locke immediately begins to pack his things, vowing that if anyone can find the cure it's him, but Celes lays a hand on his own and says "not without me this time."
#36 - Laugh
Dresses and makeup must make her look as clownish as she felt , she reasons, but when Locke creeps into the room, he doesn't laugh.
#37 - Lies
"It doesn't matter--you know I couldn't feel like that again," Locke mutters after the betrayal; Edgar cocks an eyebrow and says nothing.
#38 - Forever
There are things she wants to hear and things he wants to say, but she doesn't ask and he doesn't tell for fear that it would somehow break the spell.
#39 - Overwhelmed
Taking a second turn as "Maria" is much more successful than the first, and managing Locke proves more difficult than managing her "fans."
#40 - Whisper
Blood rushes to her cheeks when he draws her hair back, presses his lips to her ear, and suggests in hushed tones that they get a room of their own tonight.
#41 - Wait
Celes refuses Setzer and Edgar's offers to buy her drinks at the bar; she insists that she wait outside Rachel's door: it's something she has to do.
#42 - Talk
Words are tumbling out of his mouth, but all she wants to know is if he'll kiss her back.
#43 - Search
"Reason we're all here is because of you," Setzer's lips are drawn taut in a poker face as he shuffles his deck over and over again: "she was looking for you."
#44 - Hope
She twists the bandana around her fingers every time they enter a new town; he's never there, but she won't give up.
#45 - Eclipse
He has grown to love Celes more than he ever did Rachel; the realization of this is both painful and wonderful.
#46 - Gravity
His nightmares are always about her fingers slipping away from his, and being utterly unable to stop the fall.
#47 - Highway
"The great thing about this world," Locke says as he wraps his arms around her from behind to take the chocobo's reins, "is that there are no roads yet."
#48 - Unknown
She had asked, once, if she was a replacement for Rachel; he had not answered at the time because he did not--does not--know.
#49 - Lock
He's opened so many doors for her.
#50 - Breathe
He emerges from the basement with Phoenix's magicite in hand, sees her waiting there for him, and lets out a long-held breath.