metalogs | (closed) | good old fashioned romance

Entry tags:

(closed) | good old fashioned romance

Who: Balthier

portolan and David

helpdesk_hero
What: a series of dates following the Love Potion #9 event
When: Feb 9, 12
Where: Central City
Content Warnings: N/A

Tabbard Winery

[ The Tabbard Winery sits in an old 19th-century building in Central City. The walls are rich wooden panels imported from Europe and the furniture is heavily tufted leather. Oil paintings and chandeliers decorate the space, punctuated with antiques and exquisite plants. It reminds Balthier of some of the modern luxury spaces at home, and he remembered that David mentioned an affinity for wood panels.

He's seated in a big leather chair in a back corner near a multi-paned window that looks onto a snowy patio. He's dressed more modestly today -- an admittedly pirate-esque white shirt and fitted black pants.

He doesn't quite have the habit of checking his phone obsessively yet, but he's doing the mental equivalent, spinning the ring on his little finger. While he has his gaze fixed on a painting across the room, his head tilts involuntarily every time he hears the door open.

Scions he's giddy and nervous as a schoolboy. He chooses a bottle of wine, though he doesn't recognize the makes or locations. He asks for something full-body, for David's coffee tastes. Given three options, he chooses the one that has a ship on the label. Everyone here seems to think that's what pirate means. He finds that amusing. ]

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[ Balthier may make some inadvertent missteps but he has no desire to rush this. Honestly he’s out of his element enough that he’s going to have to process some of this, especially when he realizes boyfriend is more serious than he initially thought. He will still be pleased for it though. ]

I’ll take your word on clowns.

Thank you, for the encouragement. Truth be told I’ve mostly been doing well with it all but some days, some moments I feel overwhelmed by how much I don’t know and how different it is here.

[ David has felt grounding and right though. It’s helped. He doesn’t want to put that on David — he knows that much about relationships. But it’s true. ]

I would like to think that, in a situation where I crossed into your world, you would be willing to help me adjust. But in the end I have to admit I just favor you with this help because I favor you.

[And he sips his tea again before a thought occurs to him.]

Oh! I promised when we were alone to show you things. The Boneyard and my Gala outfit

[ David in Ivalice is a curious thought. Balthier is curious how his tech abilities would work with their magical tech blend. He’d certainly like to show David the skies, but Ivalice is full of monsters both literal and human. He doesn’t want that for David. ]

I’d like to think that too. I could have taught you magick and flying. Because I certainly still would have favored you.

[ And probably been extremely protective. ]

Oh, yes, excellent idea. I’d like to see both.

[As if human monsters were at all a concern to him. He had seen more than enough.]

In think in a world of wonders like yours, I wouldn't have stood out for you to see. But I would have liked being shown it.

[He set his tea cup aside and held his hands out before him, focusing on his powers. This was a better topic. With a focus and twisting of light a tower formed over his hands, nestled in a forest, and it rotated slowly around.]

This doesn't do it justice. It is a confection of silver and gold and open air spaces and glass, with a green space in the middle. And it's alive and aware. It changes to suit our needs. The room are all very tall because of how many fliers we have living there, so the height is rather variable.

[ Balthier sets his tea down as well, sliding back next to David so their legs are touching again. He watches as the light forms into the tower, eyes absorbing every detail they can. ]

It sounds wonderful. How long were you there?

[It feels nice, being close like this. But David tries not to focus on it, instead shifting the projection so that it zoomed in on a window, the edges of the building fading away, until it was a little projection of David's room.]

Months. It's been a pretty intense time back home for me. But they wanted me, to help them. It was amazing, to be asked to join the team. I work with some really amazing people. Jean-Paul and his sister Jeanne-Marie are fliers and speedsters, and if they pushed themselves they could hit the speed of light. Or nearly it. Lorna Dane, she's here actually, she's capable of manipulating metal and magnetism, she's the one that made the initial tower. If you ever meet a woman with green hair, far too much smarts, and maybe flying, that's her.

Rachel, she's our telepath and telekinetic, and powerful at that. Also has psychometry, getting to know her has made controlling my gift easier from picking up on how she uses hers. Then there's Akihiro. Dude's about eighty, looks our age. He's the son of a famous mutant named Wolverine, has what we call healing factor so he can survive just about anything, and he has claws too, bone claws. And enhanced senses, and pheromone manipulation.

Then there's Trevor, our youngest member. Eyeboy. He can see, well, everything. I can't even explain how amazing Trevor is. He's the one I work with most closely because he sees all that I need to analyze and I put the pieces together, with data the rest of the team give me.

They're... They're my family right now. I miss them.

[ 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.

I know what you mean, about missing people you haven't known long. About being a part of something. About community. I was... estranged from my people for a long time. Until just before these guys took me in.

[He hadn't belonged, and the way he'd come to belong again wasn't exactly the easiest thing to deal with. Which was part of why he cared for the last world so much. He'd belonged.

For now he sighs and leans against Balthier, the projection fading.]

Still wanna see the dress?

[ Balthier is glad he's given David something positive here, at least. It feels tiny, a candle against the sky, but he knows first hand those tiny lights can be the difference between fighting through and giving in. He pulls David close to him, squeezing his shoulder. ]

I'd be lying if I said my thoughts haven't wandered to it multiple times. Please show me the dress.

Hold on.

[This one was harder to do, given the fact that his projections were only of golden light. Sure they were solid, but it wasn't easy to show the golden yellow of the dress against his skin because he could only show everything in yellow. It takes a bit for him to make the little golden form of himself wearing the dress and wings. In the end he wasn't satisfied with it.]

You can't see all the detail work, it's hard to show definition in projections like this. I'm not extremely good with them yet.

[ Balthier is still enchanted with the projection, and watching David work. That's as much of a treat as picturing him in the stunning ensemble. And Balthier is definitely/i> weak for a stunning man in a stunning dress. ]

Nothing is ever as good as the real thing, but I like having an idea of it. You look even more like a god. Your design?

And you know, if you want to make sure I am absolutely useless, wearing a dress will probably do the trick.

I don't remember.

[It's a hole in his memory, one he doesn't want to touch right now.]

I was going for fairy tale. Guess it was for me. But I think I can probably do better than that with dresses. Already looking into it.

[ Balthier hears something raw in David's comment and doesn't push. ]

Fairy tale? I'm starting to connect the dots on why you fell for a romantic pirate. I look forward to whatever you come up with.

[Smart man. Which is part of why David cares for him so easily.]

It wasn't my choice, but I kept with it. And it's not entirely my choice. It was the theme for a party I was going to, and I needed the attention that came with it. But I liked it enough to have it later as well.

It would certainly turn heads. Perfect for crashing aristocratic parties and absconding with your pirate boyfriend. Thank you for showing me.

[ He gives David a kiss on the head. He loves that he's being vulnerable, but he also doesn't want him sitting in the pain it's bringing. ]

You know, you'd mentioned a singer I'd like when we first met...Cher? And you should show me which version of Robin Hood to start with.

[ He wishes he had media from home to share back. He'll have to spend some time writing up what he can remember. Seeing if he can find any music or food like home. He wants to give David back what he's receiving. A give and take. ]

It could be better of course.

[The kiss is a comfort though. It makes him feel better just for having this contact.]

I did mention Cher, let's see if I can't fish her out. Wonder if she's in this world. And typically I prefer the one from Men in Tights but that's a comedy musical so it's nto the best example.

We have thoroughly established that I enjoy comedy musicals and your taste, though. More wine?

[ Balthier does not know what to do with himself, or with making David feel better, and so he defaults to what he always does: playing host.

It will be nice to have an apartment if only to have a space he can control. ]

I suppose we have. Hold on.

[He reaches for the laptop's mouse. it's a bit more difficult to look for Cher with the keyboard a distance away, and them mouse insufficient for inputting data.]

Dont' suppose I could ask for some water. I fear too much alcohol might make me misbehave. And if I have too much tea I might stay up too late. So, while you get that I think I'm going to get the Cher thing brought up.

Of course. Ice?

[ He's happy for a way to be helpful. He rises to get drinking glasses, pouring some for himself as well. ]

Pass.

[He rises instead and starts to do some quick searches with the laptop. SOon he's got some videos of Cher up. Good to know she's here actually. He's ready and waiting when Balthier returns, and is happy to take his glass of water.]

Come on, let's see her.

[ Balthier settles back in beside David. It's amazing how natural and familiar that feels already. ]

Oh she is a delight. And is this a theatrical stagings of the music, or it it from some wider work? I'm not sensing a particularly strong narrative structure to the music.

[ He means music videos. }

These are music videos. It's just musical entertainment. People make videos to music these days.

[He smiles and settles in to enjoy with his boyfriend A word that warms him.]

I am definitely a fan of the extended arts options on this world.

[ He interlaces his fingers in David's again. This, he thinks, might be the most magical and unbelievable. The quiet just being together. ]

[Nothing quite so comforting as having their hands together, fingers tangled. Yes, he likes this, likes this a lot. Once more his head finds its way to Balthier's shoulder.]

There is so much you haven't even seen. LIke cartoons.

[ Balthier inclines his head against David’s, voice low. ]

Well then you’ll just have to show me cartoons too.

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