(open) | Making My Way Downtown

[portolan]

Who: Balthier portolan, David helpdesk_hero, Otto doctopoda, MCU Peter tinglsense, Diana monomachy, Bucky sinistral, and anyone else who wants to play
What: House guests, dates, work, shopping, idk he’s learning to be a person here
When: Late March / Early April
Where: Excelsior, mostly Balthier’s house and place of work
Content Warnings: Will update as needed



[ OOC: I’m happy to match brackets or prose and have no actual preference. Will match your top-level style. ]



I. Purveyor of Fine and Rare Goods | OPEN | The Antique Store

[ The shop is majestic, with antique wooden floors covered in antique Persian and Navajo rugs. You can find anything here from Revolutionary War Era candlestick holders to a 500-year-old desk to legitimate medieval earrings. There are also less…traditional goods, if you know how to ask. Magical items. Strange technology from other universes. Whether you’re just browsing the collection or looking for something specific, Balthier will gladly greet you, probably in something antique or outlandish himself.

Between customers, he can usually be found drinking tea, doing work on his laptop, drawing, or occasionally playing with tarot cards. He might also wander across the shared hallway to the contemporary art gallery next door, which sells Warhols and Lichtensteins on the regular.

This is a long established Society shop, so it’s also not uncommon for guild members to stop by. ]


II. Finally Some Peace and Quiet | Closed to David | Balthier’s House

[ It’s a little strange, having the house empty with none of Eddie or Peter’s things downstairs. He’s maybe a little glad Eddie is staying longer, a little sad Peter’s gone. It’s nice in the evenings to chat with them, to always have some sort of life in the house.

But it’s nice, too, with everything tidied and quiet and something he’s brought into the space. There’s already a fire started in the living room, the heat turned down low in anticipation of tonight’s fire filling the house, as it was designed to do 130 years before.

He gets antsy in the hour leading up to David’s arrival. The house is already clean, so he brings down a sketchbook, but mostly finds himself pacing to check that he has everything: tea, wine, his room in order, music, supplies for the fire.

Scions, this is the most nervous he’s been to see David since this all started. ]


III. Oh No, Not Again | Closed to Bucky | A Park in Excelsior

[ Last time Bucky and Balthier tried to get hot beverages and go to a park, they ran into a man who could command birds to attack people. That had been a nightmare to sort out, and they’d agreed to try hot beverages again. One way or another a month had passed, but here they were.

Coffee and tea in hand, they make their way again to a local park. The weather is a lovely 55, the sun is shining, they’re just getting settled in conversation when a giant, pink, stuffed jackalope the size of an SUV comes hurdling onto the scene. ]

You have to be joking.

[ He’s had, like, a quarter of his tea. Come on. ]


IV. Science Dad | Closed to Otto | Balthier’s House

[ Otto was kind enough to come spend the afternoon looking at Balthier’s bike in the garage downstairs. Sufficiently tired from their efforts, the two retreat upstairs for some tea.

The main level of the house has a galley kitchen next to a formal dining room, which sports a regal antique table and a China cabinet. Balthier puts the kettle on then retrieves two teacups out of the China cabinet from a set that’s white porcelain trimmed in gold. ]

Caffeine or no? And are you hungry?

[ Hosting is as natural to him as speaking. It’s honestly nice to have an excuse to do it with someone new. Peter and Eddie are both out this afternoon. ]


V. Junk Food and Feelings | Closed to MCU Peter | Balthier’s House

[ Balthier had noticed Peter’s absence regarding the haunted house incident and had shown up to try to save the kid. He wasn’t the one who found Peter, but he was glad someone got him out, and that much more relieved he’d taken Balthier up on crashing with him for a few weeks.

But he hadn’t quite been himself since the incident. So when Peter discovered one day that Balthier has literally never tried junk food and was insisting Balthier had to remedy that, he gave Peter a wad of cash and told him to go buy a spread (with every intention of making Peter keep the extra cash).

So now they’re in the living room as Balthier is investigating the brightly colored packaging with an increasingly perplexed expression on his face. It makes terrible noises when touched and all of the snacks smell slightly chemical. ]

This is standard fare here?


VI. Get In, We’re Going Shopping | Closed to Diana | The Mall TM

[ The third or fourth time it comes up that Balthier doesn’t actually own casual clothes, he decides maybe it’s time to fix that. His boyfriend has been busy, and he doesn’t particularly want to go alone, so he texts his only other friend who is not remotely from this time to go shopping.

So now they’re at some huge mall in Excelsior, boba tea in hand, trying to decide where to go next. ]

I have been here three months and I still do not understand why casual clothing is so beloved on this world.

[ Look, yes, it’s comfortable, but Scions above he can’t tell half of it apart from pajamas. He just wants to go to a formal party. A gala. A musical performance. Somewhere that he isn’t aggressively the best dressed person. ]

VII. User Error | Closed to Stephen | Balthier’s House

[ A few minutes after Balthier sends an affirmative text, there’s a knock on the door. He abandons the notes and computer work he was doing upstairs to answer. He was not expecting Strange to be on the other side, though now that he considers what he knows about the man, he should have. ]

I see traffic was terrible.

[ He steps back, inviting Stephen into a restored 19th century townhouse mostly furnished with antiques. There are some pillows on the couch because Peter has been staying here for a few weeks, but it’s otherwise extremely tidy and quiet, like stepping back in time.]

VIII. Wildcard | Open

[ Feel free to top level something unrelated, or hit me up here or on plurk (portolan) to chat. ]

Comments

II - Dibs on this one

[helpdesk_hero]

It was a frantic few days of preparation. David still had to work, was working on keeping his life together, and on top of all of the rest, he had to get ready for a night with the man he loved. A man he had been nervous was losing interest. A man who wanted him to stay the night.

It took some doing. First, making an overnight bag, with clothes and pajamas and additional toiletries in case for some reason something got left behind. Then he'd needed to come up with a dinner that would not only show off some measure of his skill, but not turn Balthier off, and also wasn't going to end up being horrid bad breath. And then of course there was acquiring the ingredients and the tools.

Really, it was a wonder with all his worrying that he managed to dress himself (warmly but in layers that could be removed and he tried not to think too hard about that decision), and made his way to the directed address.

(Which he'd of course been to a handful of times, to either pick Balthier up, or to pick up his own possessions.)

But there he was at last, overnigh bag over one shoulder, grocery bags in his arms, he walks up to the door and knocks on it with his foot. His arms were too full for him to knock properly. Or, of course, fuss with his appearance. Which he'd put effort into of course, but he figured wouldn't get the full appreciated affect when he'd be shedding the coat and scarf for later.

Now, he knew, he just had to wait.

"I'm supposed to be good at that part," he grumbled to himself.

he's had dibs for awhile

[portolan]

In his heart of hearts, Balthier would have been thrilled to have David in an empty room with nothing to do, so long as he got him alone. But being wooed is good for him. He's certainly spent a lot of time this week making sure the house is in order, swapping small decorative items at work, worrying over what music he wants to play and what wine to serve. None of it matters, and it all matters intensely.

When he hears the knock on the door he practically leaps toward it, then forces himself to wait a minute and compose himself. This is absurd. He knows David. He knows they're fine. He knows they can have a perfectly lovely evening -- night, morning -- together. But a month feels like a year ago. Another world. And there's something more personal about this than a hotel room.

He can't wait here too long so goes to the door. As soon as he opens it, as soon as he sees David's face, a smile comes unbidden to his face. He can't quite embrace David with all those bags, but he gives him a kiss, sliding a bag from one of his hands as he steps back to hold the door open.

"It's good to see your face," he says warmly.

Balthier, for his part, is dressed more quietly than usual, though the shoes and earrings are plenty loud. But he recalled David mentioning plaid, and when he was shopping with Diana picked some up. It was too much by itself, but it's nice with the sweater. He's got the sleeves rolled up with a bulky antique bracelet on one wrist.

It is important to reassert dibs from time to time

[helpdesk_hero]

No embrace for the moment, but the light kiss and the radiance of Balthier's gaze is reassurance enough. For now.

With his welcome clearly extended he beamed at his boyfriend, allowing him the bag and the unspoken invitation in. Quite easy to stride forward, putting on a mask of more confidence than he felt in the moment.

"Once again your fashion prowess leaves me awed, dear. Seems you've nailed business casual. You look delicious."

Compliments should always be applied in triplicate though, when first greeting someone.

"The layered sweater is a good look for you, and the boots are a touch that requires your confidence to make work as well as they do."

Re: It is important to reassert dibs from time to time

[portolan]

“Delicious, am I?” He teases. He’s pleased David likes it — he’s done some trial runs at work but hasn’t worn anything like this around David yet. It took some fiddling to preserve the clean lines but make it feel like himself. David, of course, picked up on why. The shoes were a good find. “I’m glad to keep your eye delighted and surprised. This way.”

The opening to the house is a small area with a coat rack and an antique table holding mail and keys and some decorative things. Original wood floors lead to a stair case on the left, a living room on the right, and straight forward down a narrow hallway to a galley kitchen. It’s the only part of the house that’s been significantly renovated.

Balthier sets his bag on the counter then turns to David. “I can take your night things upstairs, but first let me look at you without all those bags.”

V

[tinglesense]

Peter doesn't sleep enough, spending a lot of time off being Spider-Man as soon as he gets back from school. He does still come back to sleep, and he's grateful for the place to be, though he's aware it can't last forever. Tony's words about fending for himself stick in his mind but also? Phew, executive dysfunction or something.

He figures the whole junk food thing is a distraction, but he's kind glad to have it. Also, man, what good is living in the present if you don't try junk food?! Peter's aware that his own metabolism is way too fast and he eats too much, but even regular people should have the junk food experience.

So he buys a bunch of things, from Dorito's and Funyuns to KitKat and Snickers bars to both Coke and Pepsi (in various flavours, like Starlight and Mango).

He watches Balthier look through them with that judgemental look on his face. It's kind of funny, though.

"Well, they're junk food so it's…you know, kind of indulgence more than what you'd eat for a meal? I mean, I do sometimes because it's cheap. There's a whole discussion about food accessibility and stuff. BUT, um, I'll spare you the whole thing." He picks up the Doritos - nacho cheese flavour - and tosses them to Balthier. "You actually have to eat one before you get to judge, y'know."

[portolan]

Honestly, he's certainly noticed -- did back at the Diadem -- that Peter is out a lot and hasn't asked. He put together the school part, and knows it's far away, but he's not really sure about the rest. He hope that means Peter has friends.

"I promise I will only needle you about this once tonight, but you are welcome to anything in this house." Please do not eat Doritos for a meal there is perfectly good salad and couscous and general mediterranean fare in the fridge.

He catches the Doritos and does his best not to make a face. He did ask for this. He hates the way the plastic feels but pulls the bag open. The smell is absurd. The taste is weirder. Salty, somewhat savory. "This has nothing to do with cheese," he says. "Though I could see the appeal with beer. The texture is good." He's trying. This is disgusting.

[tinglesense]

"Uh-huh, I know," Peter answers, dismissive. He doesn't want to get into how this is Balthier's house and not his and he shouldn't have to rely on someone else to help him, but he's not sure how to do the job thing and the weird grey legality of trying to work as someone who is not even from this universe, and he still needs to talk to Frances but should he go alone or take Tony up on his offer or absolutely not. And it's probably pointless to get into how his metabolism is on overdrive literally all the time so it doesn't really matter if he eats Doritos or not.

He doesn't purely live off junk food, really! May would never have tolerated that, and even though she's gone, Peter thinks of how she'd want him to be every day.

He laughs at Balthier's reaction, though, and takes a handful of chips for himself, answering between crunching on them.

"There's real cheese in those, y'know!" he says, but Balthier isn't wrong. They don't really taste like cheese, probably especially if you're a snob. Or from somewhere with good cheese? Peter mostly doesn't eat fancy cheese, what does he know.

"Okay, you like the texture on that, huh? Try the Funyuns then. They have really good texture." Probably?

[portolan]

Sometimes it's best to bend the rules just a little, just to get started; a fabricated credential or a little nepotism, just to get on his feet. It won't hurt anyone, not really, and laws are arbitrary and corrupt besides. But Balthier knows that's not how Peter sees things. He's just worried about the boy; things get harder the more aid one forsakes.

So he's trying to bond and scions he's bad at it and he knows he's bad at but great stars above do people here actually eat this regularly by choice? "I think I liked the first better," he says, and the face he's making is a poor attempt to remain even at the obvious distaste. He might as well have bitten a piece of shoe. Except that would be less salty.

"Is this something you and your friends eat? Here, at school?"

For someone who is usually suave, he is doing a miserable job of trying to transition into poking around Peter's life, and he knows it. This would be so much easier if Peter would more willingly accept help, or if he was less mortified by anything, well, pirate-y.

( antique shop )

[exasperation]

[ so having unlimited credit is great actually, even if it's going to run out. until then, ripley is going to go wild. he's never been a big spender and always been worried that it'll attract too much attention. plus, he always made sure to give back to his parents, to make sure they were safe and comfortable.

thankfully, none of that matters right now. he's free, sunblind is nowhere in this place (his powers checked) and he can relax. an iota. ]

Sorry. Are you open?

[portolan]

[ Balthier is currently trying to confirm the date on a chair that just came in. It looks 17th century but he's concerned it's a knock-off based on some of the joints. He could ask his boyfriend to check for him, but they've been seeing each other so sparsely that he doesn't want to ask. Or think about why they're seeing each other sparsely.

So a customer is a great distraction. ]

Yes, welcome. What brings you in today?

[ A lot of people just browse; that's fine. He sold a twenty-thousand dollar desk last week. He enjoys talking to the wanderers that like looking. ]

[exasperation]

[ ripley's gaze skitters briefly, but he manages to look balthier in the eye with a weak smile. ]

Hi, uh, I'm just here to check the place out. Hopefully, when I get my apartment, I can spruce it up. I like . . . things with history.

[portolan]

[ Balthier gives a steady smile back. He usually enjoys the shy ones who like antiques. ]

Feel free to look around. If you'd like a particular era or have any questions, let me know.

[ Which is code for I'll come up behind you and tell you about a piece if you hover long enough. The shop has a lot of 18th and 19th century objects, but there are some pieces going as far back as Classical, and there are definitely some interesting 20th century pieces. ]

IV

[doctopoda]

[It was a nice afternoon - almost normal. Otto used to spend his days working like this, always with friends or at least lab assistants, certainly never alone as often as he is these days. He misses that.

Something flickers across his face when he sees the tea set. He misses a lot of things.]

...I could eat. [Whatever that was, he snaps himself out of it.] Caffeine, please. I'm still living out of that hotel, you know how hotel beds are.

[The bed is the least of the reasons he doesn't sleep much anymore, honestly, but it's the easiest one to blame.]

Re: IV

[portolan]

[ The Diadem was his first hotel bed ever, though the inns at home are comparable. Still, he does prefer his own bed.

He places black rose tea in the strainer and adds hot water, then moves to pull various things onto a wooden cheese board and bowl: hummus, olives, cheese, nuts, some bread from the day before. ]

Any idea where you're going to settle when you move out?

[ Seems like Excelsior would be a natural fit, but hey, Central would have been a more natural fit for him, truth be told. He liked the change of pace. And the not having people attacking metas.

He returns to the table with the snacks and, tea done, pours two cups.

It really is nice to host. ]

[doctopoda]

[Ah, Otto's latest nemesis: chairs. At least these ones don't have armrests. He pulls one out and turns it so that he can lean sideways against the back and leave the actuators space behind him. He also directs a firm thought at them not to mess with any of the antique furniture.]

We've been looking at places here in Excelsior. Norman and I - I don't know if you've met him, but he's an old friend from home. We've decided to stick together for a while. It's easier settling in with a familiar face around.

[Not to mention everything else they've been through. Otto's not quite sure what he'd have done, if he'd been alone here.]

[portolan]

[ Yes, sorry about that. This space isn't large enough for alternative seating, but Otto seems to be managing fine. ]

No, haven't met him. [ Or heard about him, but his boyfriend has. One of these days Balthier will get the rundown. ] I will say, I'm quite jealous of people who have someone they care for here. Or even familiar. Just me. And I am one of two people I've met not from a similar time period. That's been an adjustment.

[ It helps to have Peter and Eddie and some of the others, but it's not the same. Speaking of, Balthier has no idea that Otto and Peter have reason to know each other. ]

That said, I'm hoping to get a dinner party together in the next month or two. If you're available, you should come. Bring Norman. I miss rooms full of smart people chatting.

vi

[monomachy]

[The idea of a shopping mall fascinates Diana. Instead of walking down a wide street with stalls for vendors on either sides, perhaps covered with awnings, they're inside a huge building. And this drink--boba tea--is absolutely delicious. It is definitely a kind of tea she can see herself drinking more often than its hot counterpart. It's noisy and crowded in the mall, and she finds that she actually enjoys the energy all around them, especially when she isn't left to drift through it alone. Balthier is an excellent companion, and the fact that neither of them are from a world remotely like this one makes her feel a greater kinship with him.

She's looking through glass storefront at some outfits on display, all artificially torn pants and crop-tops. She squints at them, and nods in agreement.]

Where I'm from, "casual clothing" is a chiton. [A beat, and she adds:] A large drape of cloth fastened at the shoulder. [She gestures at the clothing in the display before turning away.] Here, it seems to be all ripped trousers and half-shirts. Why would anyone pay to own clothing that is already ripped?

Re: vi

[portolan]

[ It's new for Balthier, too, who is used to open-air markets or small tailor shops. He quite likes it. Window shopping is wonderful. And yes, it's such a pleasant experience to shop -- and spend time -- with someone else who is out of place as he is. He loves his boyfriend and his roommates, but sometimes it gets lonely being the only one from such a different place.

He gives a chuckle at the clothing Diana has indicated. ]

We have the crop top style at home -- desert and heat and all, and honestly there are some people I would love to see in one [ His boyfriend the people are his boyfriend. ] but I agree on the ripped fabric. Also that there's no reduction in cost for the crop tops. They tend to be a lower price at home.

[ He hasn't worn Rabanastrian streetwear much outside of cons, though it was fun. He tends to be formal. All the time. Which is part of the point of this shopping trip. ]

[monomachy]

[Diana considers briefly, and then nods. Wearing less clothing in a desert environment certainly makes sense, but she's still certain none of it should be ripped on purpose. She huffs out a breath, moving towards another window, this one with short, sparkly dresses on display. This is the second time she's had to learn an entirely new sense of fashion; it's so interesting how it can vary so widely from one place to another.]

I'm just glad I haven't seen a single corset. [There's obvious distaste in her tone. She can't believe Etta had her try one of those on. Never again.]

iii;

[sinistral]

Their first encounter had been pleasant enough, for all that it started with spilled coffee and ended with BirdBrain (no lie, that was the alias the guy chose; it only cemented in Bucky's mind that he wasn't the only brain damaged person in the world). But the conversation was pleasant so why not try again as their schedules allowed? Certainly the weather seemed on their side, and the park a pleasant location.

Well, pleasant before large, pink, and fluffy showed up, anyway. Bucky's shoulders slumped, an audible groan escaping him. What were the odds?

"You think," he started, "that if we close our eyes and ignore it, it'll just go away?" His tone of voice said that he didn't think they were that lucky.

Re: iii;

[portolan]

"I suppose it doesn't hurt to try." There's no conviction to his tone, but he does close his eyes for a moment; if there's an easy solution, it seems a shame not to take it. "Alas, it does not seem luck in on our side."

He sighs at himself, even as he starts to scope how many people are in the park and what the possible damages are. "Sometimes I sincerely wish I didn't have a conscious. I'll start evacuating."

He pulls up two doubles of himself, sending them to start ushering people away from the textile monstrosity.

[sinistral]

"Damn." Not that he'd been under any sort of misconception that wishing would work, but still. At least they could say that they tried.

"You and me both," Bucky agreed. Truly an effective way to ruin a nice day; mild weather brought people out to the park and for all that he just wanted to walk away, Bucky knew he couldn't. Why the universe conspired against him, he'd never know.

(Voiceover Narrator: because it's fun. Duh.)

"I'll see if I can get its attention." Not something Bucky particularly wanted but better it focus on him than on the mother trying to run with her two kids, for example. "Hey ugly!" he called as he stood. "Over here!"

vii

[rehandle]

The worst.

[ Stepping in as wordlessly invited, Stephen takes a none too subtle look around the place, expression reading approval. He used to be a concrete, glass and granite countertops kind of guy, but things change. This, he can appreciate. ]

Nice place. Guild funded?

[ It's a genuine question: as he himself is well aware, there's more than one way to stumble into decent property. ]

[portolan]

Only indirectly. I convinced them to pay out my housing allowance.

[ He's also made a number of very high-grade sales and pocketed the commission. With time he'd like to be in a position that he could keep the house without the Guild's support. ]

Can I offer you tea?

[ They're in the narrow entry of the townhouse, which sports a coat rack, entry table, and set of stairs. Off to their right is a formal living room. The hall in front of them leads back to a narrow kitchen. ]

[rehandle]

Nice. [ Certainly beats being filed neatly away into assigned housing. ] I'll take some tea, yeah. Thanks.

[ Following on wherever he's led, the mention of a housing allowance begs the question: ] Who did you hang your hat on?