(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

[helpdesk_hero]

A man needs more than a comfortable shower and tub. They need one that is comfortable and not a pain to clean. And in a kitchen David's needs are even greater.

"Clothing fashion doesn't always lead to good home sense, my dear. But yes, I think I shall have to do that. I enjoy reading, even if I don't give myself excuses to do it nearly enough."

He steps into the dining room and makes a pleased noise. Now he lets go of Balthier's hand so he can instead move to touch the table. It's interesting to consider, letting his power thrum through it. How interesting.

"I've wanted to do something like this before. To see whether the table considers itself changed every time the leaf is there or not. Gotta say, I'm surprised. It considers the leaf... I don't know. Like I'd consider a cousin. Part of yourself, but distant."

[portolan]

No disagreements there. He’s been immensely happy to have a real tub after two months at the Diadem. And one big enough for a tall man.

“I’d be a poor salesman if I had no eye for furniture,” he teases. He’s out of practice just taking the compliment. “And I do recall you offered to read to me sometime.”

As David pulls away to examine the table Balthier smiles. “I love how you use that power, dear one, and that’s fascinating.”

[helpdesk_hero]

Oh, he would enjoy reading to Balthier. Maybe he even could this evening. Who knew, maybe that would be the direction the table took.

"It's got some history to it," he continued, "but nothing dramatic. It was owned, before it came into your hands, by an older couple. They never had call for the leaf. By the time it was acquired, there was no one to share dinners with. It's lonely..."

HE looks back over his shoulder at his beloved star and smiles.

"The table knows it's beautiful, and can do more. It should get the chance for it. Especially since beyond your possession, it hasn't been used for a while. May we eat here tonight? I shall be happy to make a meal to impress you and it both."

[portolan]

"I must admit, I am so deeply pleased to learn another layer of the history of things through your eyes, and I like the idea of the things I own being pleased at how I use them. I was already planning to use the table for dinner, but I think now we must. And possibly host some fine gatherings at it in the future." He loves a dinner party okay. Even if he only wants David tonight.

[helpdesk_hero]

Wait, really? David grins.

"Are you suggesting a dinner party, mon bijou? Because I've never done one of those. Sounds fun."

If he was invited. He'd adore being invited. And sharing that either as a guest or co-host to it. But for now, they could move on, he could go through other things later.

"So, is the kitchen the natural transition from here, or do we bypass that until it's needed?"

HE returns to Balthier and, just to reinforce that he's not going anywhere, and that he's hoping he can take the texts from earlier in the week seriously, he takes the man's arm.

[portolan]

"You surprise me, love. I should think you a very natural fit for dinner parties. We will have to remedy that. I've been wanting to have one." The only way David not being a part of it even crosses his mind is if they have for some reason gone their separate ways. So he doesn't think to say anything regarding invitation.

"We may as well loop through." Oh, but David's taking his arm, and his heart is happy for it. "You always look lovely, my dear, but I admit I like seeing you in this setting. You have different taste than me, but I like how they go together." He likes how they go together.

He pulls David into the kitchen through a door at the back of both rooms. It's narrow but the space is used well with lots of natural light. There's a built in rack for wine, and the stove is gas; electric was off-putting so he was happy for that.

[helpdesk_hero]

"Id' be happy to assist, if you were to ask," David smiles. But he would love to work on that together. It would make him feel better, to have something they're doing together.

"Seeing me in this setting? You mean comfortable in your home? How could I not, when you are here."

The kitchen is more narrow than David would like, and lacking tools and appliances he'd prefer, but this wasn't his domain, so that's fine. For now he smiles at it.

"And here is the canvas I love most," he said, looking around, happily moving to check over the stove. It works well, which is perfect for him. "Oh yes, I can work with this. But I also love the use of space above the fridge and the like, but with the doors opening up. Someone was thinking hard when they did that, bless them. And with your cabinet in the other room, it's possible to only need to store practical plates in here, in smaller quanta, and still have space for so much more."

He's clearly itching to poke around, to explore this place deeper. Here David almost radiated an eager energy on par with at the museum. In excess of it.

[portolan]

"I would ask," Balthier assures him this time. "And for guests; I'm rather fond of mixing people who don't already know one another." And he hasn't gotten to meet any of David's people; that housewarming party never happened, or at least he assumes it didn't because no follow up ever came.

He's glad David feels comfortable in his home, at least. That feels good. And here he can -- and does -- picture David on the Strahl with him. That's a fantasy he'll never get to make good on, but he still likes considering it. Though they'd never really get privacy there, unless Balthier kicked everyone out. Which he very well might have done.

He's grinning after David as the other man comes alive at the kitchen. "Good layouts are vital in small spaces," he agrees. It was a reason he'd liked this house. No wasted space. No poor angles. "Yes, I'm happy with the cabinet space; the other room has more in the drawers below. Truth be told, though, I use the China more often than my daywear; habit, I supposed." He doesn't entirely trust the dishwasher but Peter and Eddie prefer it. And it's good for the drinking glasses and mugs at least.

"Shall I let you get started? Or do you want to see upstairs first?" There's no rush. They'll end up moving that way eventually, and he feels like he's properly invited David in now. It was strange to have had him come by but never really come inside.

[helpdesk_hero]

"From what I've been given to understand, half the fun of a dinner party is a variety of guests who don't know each other so they can talk amongst themselves and make new friends," he said. But inviting people Balthier doesn't know and David does would be good too.

"Habit that I have no problem with. I'll admit it, I've never eaten off of china, fine or otherwise. This will be interesting."

There's no rush indeed, and while he has plans for appetizers, they can wait. So he instead pushes Balthier toward the counter in the kitchen. Pushes him right up against it so he can pin him there for a kiss. It's still light for now, but it's sure as hell a kiss.

[portolan]

"It is indeed," Balthier agrees. "And getting everyone to show off. If this space were big enough for a piano I'd consider getting one. You never know who will just start playing."

He's going to have such fun surrounding David with nice things. Assuming they keep--

His breath comes sharply as David pushes him against the counter and presses their lips together. His heart forgets to beat for a moment and he'd be hard pressed to say with a straight face that pinning him wasn't a turn on. And damn, it's a kiss. Warm and firm and so, so welcome.

As it breaks, he rubs his nose against David's, arms around the other man's neck to hold him there a minute.

"I'm so glad you came today," today he admits. So glad things are okay. So glad you still want me.

[helpdesk_hero]

He'd comment that music wouldn't be coming from him unless he wanted unemotional, though flawlessly, performed pieces. Balthier deserved better than that. Like this kiss. It was better than that, by a good measure.

"I'm glad too," he answered, his voice soft. "But there you have it, you sound a bit more... engaged. We agreed we still want this, so don't hide your light from me. Please. I might break if we keep spending today scared. So honesty time."

He pulls away and takes out his phone, opening up a picture. Of the living room where he lives. The walls still painted in zebra stripes over electric green walls. And on top of that, vividly colored everything.

"I wasn't the first person to arrive there. My teenage housemate got there a bit before me, decided there being four separate rooms and labs in a guild provided housing unit meant she was going to live alone, and made the common rooms a bit... much. We've talked about it."

And it will get better. But oh god, trying to have romantic moments in a space like that would have broken his mind.

[portolan]

That gets a laugh from Balthier, both out of comprehension of the situation and at the validity of David's plea to be more honest.

"Oh, dear. That's a bit loud even for me. Sweetheart, I'm so sorry." He assumes David is a good deal less tolerant of it than Balthier would be. Though Balthier would have started bringing his own absurdities to it. Or just repainted it. "I do wish you'd told me sooner. I--" Honestly, not distance. "I should have asked, too, when I started feeling worried. I don't care if your apartment looks like, well, a circus disaster. I just want to see you.

"Though I'm guilty too. I didn't expect Eddie and Peter to both take me up on my offer to stay, and I felt strange having you over with someone constantly in the living room; even if they were out, their things were all about, and maybe I shouldn't have cared about that."

He puts his forehead against David's. Something he hasn't done in awhile, now. "Forgive me, too, because sometimes I am just a coward, and I was so afraid I'd spent my window for being interesting to you. I'll stop speaking of sad things after this; you're here, and I'm happy, but there's my honesty. Late, but yours." Needed to be shaken off before he could properly shine.

[helpdesk_hero]

David had managed to put up with it for almost a month before his patience had snapped. Really, it wasn't fair to Mina to let it go on so long, but he'd tried. Frankly he'd owed her better than that. Owed it to himself as well.

"It really does look like a circus disaster. But I guess I got self conscious. All of a sudden I was in a place that didn't reflect me, and it didn't feel like a good place to be with you. To impress someone who has applauded how well I present myself. So I got self-conscious. I fear I'm horrible with doing that."

So yeah, it was awkward for them both. But now, maybe they can figure themselves out.

"So, have we two celestial objects finally shared our truths? Can we glow bright with our truths, and without burning me or freezing you?"

That seemed the best. He hoped.

"Can we move on to the point where we're two men in love, deeply excited to see each other? I've literally spent all week shifting between excited and nervous and I really want to show you all I'm hoping to impress you with. Because this?"

He gestures around them at the kitchen.

"This is an art of mine I can show you at last, and it's one you'd understand with more native experience than, say, my computer stuff."

[portolan]

Balthier wants to say something to qualify himself, to apologize, to explain he clams up, but isn't that the point? To let that go? And hasn't David constantly met his boldness and his honesty with acceptance and love?

"Please, by all means, impress me, and let me impress you back with my home and my hosting," he agrees. There will be dancing too, but he's saving that for later. A small surprise.

"So yes. Let's glow bright again. And if we do burn too hot or falter too cold, I think we can both agree to come back, to lead the other back." Alright? Because they aren't perfect. But they're both good at trying.

[helpdesk_hero]

"Your very presence is impressive to me. That a beautiful man like you keeps welcoming me is a blessing," he admits, his voice soft and full of... Well, longing.

But yes, that they aren't perfect is probably one of the most important things to admit. And he looks relieved.

"Alright then. How about I start with some very light appetizers? Something to hold us lightly while I make dinner. I can't stand people taking food from active cooking so it helps."

[portolan]

"Should I tell you your presence and welcome is just as impressive to me, and try to talk you out of cooking?" he teases. "The first part is true, though. You are already impressive to me. But I like being shown off to, too. I like that you want to." It makes him feel like he matters. Like he's wanted. Not taken for granted.

He chuckles at the latter. "I promise not to take food you do not offer to me. You start that, I will put your things upstairs, put some tea on, and get the fire started."

He wasn't sure how he'd fill all the time David cooks, but he had this part at least, and hoped that conversation would settle the rest.

[helpdesk_hero]

"I mean, you could talk me out of the cooking, if you weren't hungry. Or if you had other ideas," David answered with a smirk.

"Not looking to keep me company, share all the gossip you haven't put into letters and texts, while I work?"

[portolan]

"I do like debating you," Balthier agrees with his own smirk. "And I have plenty of other ideas. But today I want you to cook for me. I have been anticipating it all week."

Ah, he's caught himself being cold again. "Looking to get you started before you get too distracted by me, and then make a grand return. The bag can wait. I do want to start the fire before too long so it burns out before sunrise. But good news. You can still hear me from the living room." And it should only take a few minutes.

"But I could be convinced to linger awhile longer before I got see to that."

[helpdesk_hero]

"I want to cook for you too," David smiled, and he was definitely eager. But he is glad Balthier wants to spend time with him. He loves to share this with others.

"Alright, I'll go fetch the groceries while you start the fire?" David asks. This plan splits them up better. "Then we can gossip and you talk and distract me with your lovely face and voice and I will work very hard to remember my rules about clean kitchens."

[portolan]

There. Something is finally starting to feel natural and easy. Like they've been stretching and they are finally warmed up.

"An excellent plan," Balthier agrees. "And I will ask you far too many questions about what you are doing and see how long you can resist my being beautiful in the corner."

He catches David's face in his hand -- no kiss, just holding him, and if his gaze is intense it's also longing and adoring.

Then he's off to the living room, getting the fire started, and sets a record on. It's Romantic pianists, so its moody and light and a little bit melancholic but not all that distracting. Then he's back in the kitchen, looking with interest at what David is doing and what he's brought.

[helpdesk_hero]

"I imagine the answer to how long I can resist you is not nearly as long as will be needed. I shall have to be paid in kisses."

And that's pretty cool in his books. Plus there's a wonderful hug. A hug that means he doesn't really want to let go, not yet. Oh well. Then it's gone, and he accepts it, heading right for the front hall to gather things. There's a lot that needs to be in the fridge sooner rather than later.

"I'm not as familiar with music like this. But it's nice. I could get used to it."

After that he's back in the kitchen. The fridge is soon loaded with berries and the makings of cheese cake, and of course all his ingredients. By the time Balthier makes it in, things are mostly put away except for a variety of olives capers, and anchovies. These he's already starting to mince up for a tapande. Working with the knife he's clearly competent. His fingers are quick with the knife, but never in a position to hurt himself.

"I really want to know where you found a gramophone. Like, seriously, those are hard to get your hands on these days."

[portolan]

"I am well-stocked in payment, then," Balthier promises.

And oh, that hug, that unspoken admission that he's missed even a room away. That really does help shake the remnants of coldness from him. He is safe here. He remembers.

"Interesting fellow," Balthier comments to the music. "Could see color for music. You can hear it, in how he layers the notes differently." Yeah, he's going to enjoy jazz.

As soon as he's back, his eyes are David's deft hands, the precision and fluidity of those movements. Signs of an active mind and a very practiced hand. Patience. Intention. Creativity. All things Balthier finds extremely attractive. All in his David.

He slides past his love, putting his hands briefly on his sides with a kiss to the shoulder, to start the kettle.

"We went to the estate sale of a particularly fabulous 19th century collector whose surviving child was friends with my direct supervisor. They had it playing and I liked the sound, which of course I might have mentioned with a good deal of flowery language and maybe a fabricated memory of listening to one with my grandmother, and then it came home with me."

There's nothing antique lovers love more than their things going to good homes. That's no different here than back home.

[helpdesk_hero]

Safe here, so long as there is a here, if David had his way. Which, amazingly enough, he DOES have his way. And can continue to have it, like as not.

"Oh, synesthesia," David said, smiling at the thought. And so he closes his eyes to consider it more seriously. Yeah, it's got a unique feel to it, but it's beautifully done. Not discordant at all. This could be something David could enjoy more.

"It's not so bad to cook to either. I mean, I'm a jazz person when I'm making up new recipes, but this? This is good for enhancing what I've already got here."

Once he's got the tapanade mixed up, he takes out a small baguette, which he cuts in precise slices after preheating the oven. Then it's on to the prep of the other items.

"How did you find this composer? I know your lessons are very deeply into art already, and architectural studies is just a great extension of that. Music, though, that's not something I expect the Society is helping with. Unless you've got some people that are real nerds for it there. Not that I'll discount that. Doom tended to be like that back home."

[portolan]

"Well, YouTube has an excellent algorithm." And then he laughs, because that sentence would have meant nothing to him three months ago.

As the kettle heats, he disappears briefly to the other room to fetch a proper tea pot -- floral, like the cup David gave him -- and slide a filter full of rose tea into it. He debates mugs or cups and saucers, but decides on mugs given the limited counter space.

"When I was still in school, music theory and performance was part of the curriculum. Musical movements usually coincide with visual and literary. I've been pulling up period music while I look at the art and making some lists of literature to go back to later, or watch summaries of. This one stuck out for me. I found myself working to it without actively deciding to -- like you said, enhancing, not distracting."

He pours two cups of tea, discarding the leaves as to not let it go bitter.

"You'll have to show me jazz music -- I'm assuming that's 20th century since I haven't found it yet. And confirm for me that you knew a person named Doom. That would be like me going by the Pirate or Rogue." His tone says he's not impressed.

"Also, here." He sets the tea near David, and takes the opportunity to wrap his arms around him. "This looks beautiful already. I am glad I have tea to keep me occupied. You may find ways to make me forget my patience."

[helpdesk_hero]

"Oh no," David says, with mock horror. "He's learned about the algorithm."

Still, he's glad to know it can guide Balthier that helpfully. Though he does appreciate the idea of the mug, it makes life easier.

"Love that you're making a plan of attack on adapting to the time you're in. I think in a reversed position I would feel awkward. And so beyond lost. Though yeah, I'm not good at picking out music that enhances. Normally. I pick out the sorts that distract me. That I lose myself in. This is different and beautiful."

He's soon got the crumble for the topping ready, and when the oven beeps to announce success, he slides his tray of bread slices in. Almost there.

"Jazz is indeed 20th century. It's partially derived from spiritual music, and even that further derived from the musics of Africa, which is the origin of my phenotype, which is to say, how I look as a human. The skin tone, the broad nose, the full lips. I don't know if your father studied biology enough for you to have to have learned that in study. Jazz, though, is heavily characterized by the fact that it's, at its core, about losing form. About just playing what the heart needs to play."

And that's beautiful to him. Though he's looking at Balthier in shock.

"No fucking way Baron Von Doom is here. Are you kidding me?"

The tea gets sipped as he says all of this and works, and he leans back into those arms when he can spare it.

"Once these nibbles are ready, you've got to gossip, or as the lingo goes, 'spill the tea'."