[ It's lovely, seeing the projection of a place that means so much to David, and hearing about all these people he so clearly loves. But it's painful too. He knows there's nothing for pain like that, except being allowed to feel it.
Balthier puts an arm around David's back, squeezing gently in a companionable embrace. ]
I don't see how you couldn't. I'm feeling some of the same. Fran and I -- we've been together for nearly six years. I barely spend more than a week at a time without her. She's brilliant -- doesn't miss anything, though not much of a talker. Incredibly archer and magician, best pirate I've ever met. First person who ever saw me for myself. She keeps me honest, doesn't let me hide. I feel...very untethered without her.
And honestly, I'm missing the rest of the crew I was working with the past few months. I don't think I'd realized how dear they'd become. There was Ashe, the queen I told you about. Gods, she was...out of her depth when we started, and yet, she had such a commitment to her people, to her morals. You share that. And incredible with a sword, quite good with magic. Decent liar. Her bodyguard, Basch, was a pain in my ass. Hated pirates. Yelled a lot. Never met anyone so loyal. He'll be a good head of defense. He won't start pointless wars, and he won't turn his men into aggressors.
There was also Vaan and Penelo. Gods, they were just kids. About the age I was when I left. I -- they're so fragile at that age, and so indestructible. Penelo had a head on her shoulders. Vaan decidedly did not. They'll be alright, I think. I left the Strahl to them.
[ Because he thought he was going to die. He's still worried, more than anything, that Fran didn't make it out. ]
I didn't have a huge community at home. Knew a lot of people, of course, but it was the first time in a long while I felt like I was a part of something, that I cared about people who cared for me. I miss that a lot.
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Balthier puts an arm around David's back, squeezing gently in a companionable embrace. ]
I don't see how you couldn't. I'm feeling some of the same. Fran and I -- we've been together for nearly six years. I barely spend more than a week at a time without her. She's brilliant -- doesn't miss anything, though not much of a talker. Incredibly archer and magician, best pirate I've ever met. First person who ever saw me for myself. She keeps me honest, doesn't let me hide. I feel...very untethered without her.
And honestly, I'm missing the rest of the crew I was working with the past few months. I don't think I'd realized how dear they'd become. There was Ashe, the queen I told you about. Gods, she was...out of her depth when we started, and yet, she had such a commitment to her people, to her morals. You share that. And incredible with a sword, quite good with magic. Decent liar. Her bodyguard, Basch, was a pain in my ass. Hated pirates. Yelled a lot. Never met anyone so loyal. He'll be a good head of defense. He won't start pointless wars, and he won't turn his men into aggressors.
There was also Vaan and Penelo. Gods, they were just kids. About the age I was when I left. I -- they're so fragile at that age, and so indestructible. Penelo had a head on her shoulders. Vaan decidedly did not. They'll be alright, I think. I left the Strahl to them.
[ Because he thought he was going to die. He's still worried, more than anything, that Fran didn't make it out. ]
I didn't have a huge community at home. Knew a lot of people, of course, but it was the first time in a long while I felt like I was a part of something, that I cared about people who cared for me. I miss that a lot.