I will do my best to finish with The Uses of Enchantment by the end of the summer, oh yes I will. Consider this a statement of intent as far as that goal is concerned. ;)

In any case, this set of drabbles-- some of which are old and some of which are new-- is for Mad Rex overall. Because he's a sweet-heart and since he pinned the blame for much of a recent set on me, I thought I ought to return the favor. And in any case, comments and corrections are completely welcome and loved! I'm entering into the home-stretch of the series here and nothing but nothing could cheer me up more than knowing that someone out there is still reading…

Title: Movements and Premonitions

Fandom: Final Fantasy XII

Series: The Uses of Enchantment

Characters/Pairings: Larsa/Penelo, Cast

Rating: Ranges from PG - R

Summary: Ten short scenes from a lifetime together. Because even when you get your happy ending, there always hitches and detours along the way.

I. The One Where Larsa Manages to Surprise Penelo Yet Again

At almost 14, the top of Larsa's head doesn't quite hit Penelo's hair, though he's grown at least an inch since the last time she visited him. Still, giggling, she lets him put his arms around her at the Lady Ashe's-- no, make that Queen Ashelia's-- coronation. She lets him put his arms around her and awkwardly maneuver her about the ball room and struggle not to trample on her delicate feet with spindly legs he can't control very well as of yet.

"You're doing good for your age, y'know," she reassures him afterwards, mouth curving into a smile she tries her best to hide beneath her ridiculous fan. "I mean, when Vaan was 14, he used to be so much more of an absolute bumberklut--"

But whatever she's about to say is eclipsed by the swift lunge he makes at her, by her soft cry smothered out underneath his sudden and wholly unexpected kiss. And when she's finally recovered enough to speak, all she can see his back as he rushes away, stammering about improprieties and injustice and how he's so very sorry and until she forgives him, he'll never do it again..

If he had stayed just a little longer, she'd have told him that he was doing better than Vaan with the kissing-at-13 thing as well. But instead, she runs her fingertips across her lips and flushes and wonders what on earth that precisely meant.