[ Open ] This is What I Brought You

[portolan]

Who: Balthier portolan and you
What: Tarot Reading, return from off-world, open post
When: Mid to late November
Where: Excelsior, his shop, around town
Content Warnings: None so far



OOC: As always, will match prose or brackets.

I. Sign of the Times

[ Business has been...odd...since the near world-ending, since everyone started leaving town, since the guilds have cracked down. It's all the more important he keep the shop safe, but he's that much more wary of people wandering in. So far, the normal folk don't seem to suspect the shop is anything more than a beautiful man with beautiful objects.

But he's been getting restless. So he puts a message out on Our Powers; stop by, guild discounts (either side) and also he's reading tarot.

There's an antique table and two comfortable antique chairs. There are a few decks to choose from. ]

You have a question in mind? You don't have to tell me, but you should think about it while you shuffle.

II. No Place Like Home

[ It's not like Balthier to be low or keep to himself. But between the world almost ending, and then his friends slowly moving our of Excelsior, the anti-meta sentiment threatening the safety of he and his loved ones. He honestly hadn't noticed it eroding his energy.

But after two weeks home, both relieved that his loved ones there are safe and buffeted by the pain of being away from them, he's trying to make a better effort.

So he's reached out, invited people over for tea or dinner, trying to keep this house full and warm as the need to just jump on a ship and go steadily increases. ]

You know this is the longest I've spent tied to one location. There's something enchanting about watching the weather change.

[ He sets out a tray of tea and snacks, all in beautiful antiques. Honestly, eleven months ago, he'd never have expected to get this much comfort out of being so domestic, but here he is. ]

III. Wildcard / Catch-All

[ All your Balthier needs ]

Comments

[portolan]

Sunset less like home, then?

[ That would track with what little he saw of it. ]

[unkindled_madness]

Yes. At least, the parts I was familiar with. I grew up in the city.

[portolan]

Ah, so we have that in common.

[unkindled_madness]

Rather different cities though, it seems, if different places remind us of them.

[portolan]

Unsurprising, given what I've seen of your world, and that mine seems more aesthetically aligned with the 18th century here. Though we did have skyscrapers, at least where I grew up.

[unkindled_madness]

And trees, I suppose?

[portolan]

Yes. I was surprised the taller buildings here don't tend to have plants on the exterior walls.

[unkindled_madness]

I don't know how it is here, specifically, but humanity tends to exclude plant life from their vision of technological progress.

[portolan]

Humes and humans seem to be similar in a lot of ways, but I think something about the magical tenacity of our environment has caused that one to diverge.

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth tilts his head, giving Balthier a glance over.]

Do you consider yourself to be a different species?

[portolan]

I haven't decided yet. The grand majority seems to overlap, but there are enough slight variances in worlds, it wouldn't be unheard of. And my world has multiple sentient, human-like species.

[unkindled_madness]

I suppose it would be difficult to know for certain without a DNA analysis.

[portolan]

I suppose I could get that tested, couldn't I?

[unkindled_madness]

...if it were something that interested you.

I know that David has some familiarity with it.

[portolan]

[ Yes, David does, and familiarity with why Balthier might not want it documented. ]

I suppose unless I have some mysterious malady or want to procreate, it does not particularly matter, and given magic exists, the former probably isn't an issue. And I've no plans on the latter.

[ It did raise the question of whether there would be any issue if he tried to bring David to Ivalice with him, but since he hadn't had any real problems here -- and since he had magic there -- he presumed it was alright. He hadn't heard of anyone having issues. ]

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth relaxes.]

Indeed. It would do little more than satisfy a curiosity.

[portolan]

Yes, and while that's one of my more dangerous flaws, I think this is one I can let lie.

[unkindled_madness]

You think that's dangerous?

[portolan]

Snooping after my curiosity? Absolutely. It's also one of my best traits.

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth chuckles softly.]

I suppose it can go both ways.

[portolan]

Most worthwhile things do.

[unkindled_madness]

Value in complexity, and all that.

[portolan]

We have a lot in common, don't we? Good taste at the very least.

[unkindled_madness]

I'll accept that.