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(open) | Making My Way Downtown
Who: Balthier ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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 (![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
portolan) to chat. ]
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 (
no subject
[ 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. ]
no subject
[ Following on wherever he's led, the mention of a housing allowance begs the question: ] Who did you hang your hat on?
no subject
The Society. [ He's not sure where Strange falls on that so waits to see reaction. ]
Take a seat. I'll be in.
[ The dining room has a big antique table and a china cabinet with unnecessarily nice dishes. ]
no subject
And if you want to live a comfortable and supported life here, using your talents freely and avoiding standing on the wrong side of the law, you have to choose one. So while his personal biases have an inherent problem with Society, he can recognise that this isn't as simple a divide as Good and Evil. Nothing ever is.
He nods acknowledgement, observed or not, expression tipping out of neutral only enough to paint mild surprise but no apparent disapproval - a lift of the brow, a tug of a mouth. Then he goes to take a seat at the fancy table as bidden to pull his phone out of his pocket and wait on tea, wondering idly if he'll be treated to the fine china or if there's a more every day set of cups lurking in the kitchen cabinets for guests, with these ones strictly for show. ]
no subject
Something about the older man turning to his phone makes Balthier's mouth quirk into a smile. That's such a strange habit of this world, and he supposes at some point he will pick it up.
He crosses into the dining room to pull a teapot and two plates and saucers from the cabinet. They are all white with lacy gold trim and he uses them a good deal more often than not, especially now that Peter isn't here telling him how impractical that is and why have a dishwasher if nothing can go in the dishwasher. ]
Shall I ply you with refreshments and niceties first or shall I launch straight into it? I have olives and cheese, or-- [ What was the name here? ] baklava.
no subject
I wouldn't presume to dictate your hosting practices for you.
[ Said playfully enough - tea's already on the way, and he's just as happy to sit and meander through some smalltalk before getting down to business as he is to get straight to work. He's got an empty afternoon, Balthier can take his pick. Though - ]
I'll pass on the food though, thank you.
[ Partly because he's already eaten, but partly out of practicality. You never know what might come up during a meeting of magic... he'd prefer it not be a recently eaten snack. ]
no subject
I presume by your handling of the haunted house endeavor, your associations with some of the others, and your general wisdom with magic that is not your first time in a reality bending situation?
[ Some flattery, but also some curiosity. At home, Balthier was excellent or even exceptional at magick and madickal theory. Here, he feels awkward and out of his element. From what he can gather that's partly because magic is so much freer here. ]
no subject
No. It's the first time I've been physically removed to another universe, but it wasn't a huge departure from the norm. The same can't be said for you?
[ A safe assumption given the line of questioning, but curiosity goes both ways. He has some very small insights into the nature of magic in Balthier's world from their previous conversation, but the door's only cracked when it could be open. ]
no subject
As far as I can tell, my world is one of the most different from this one out of the Confluence arrivals I've spoken to. Our technology is roughly the equivalent of your 18th century, though everything is powered on more or less magic. It's an energy that's ambiently available in the atmosphere and governed by strict rules. The latitude and creativity are not nearly the same as some of your ilk, and anyone can weild it the same way anyone can learn to read.
Whatever I have now is very much not of my world. And other than some general folklore stories of gods and the like, we had no idea of multiverses or world travel.
[ What they did have was millennia of lost civilizations and a good mess of magical ruins, which was why magic was so strictly controlled. Balthier had had a tendency to push at the boundaries of those rules and meddle with things that weren't safe, but he doesn't think Strange will approve of recklessness and does want assistance. ]
no subject
And yet it doesn't sound so dissimilar. Ambient energy, learned and not innate. A slight tilt of his head, interested to pursue the train of thought. ]
My magic works in much the same way: steering universal energy into shape. It's a learned skill, and it seems to interact just fine with this universe. If you ever feel like going back to school...
[ A magic user versed in learned mystic arts, even if they're different from his own, should be able to pick up new magicks easily enough. He can't imagine being without it now, and that's enough to override any hesitation he might have about Balthier's choice of affiliation and place down that vague offer. ]
no subject
If magic here can be learned, perhaps he can get back some of what he lost and not feel so utterly useless. But that isn't what's put a very slight shake in his hand.
His formal education stopped at sixteen. Willpower and a brilliant mind meant he cobbled together mentors and read voraciously, but never truly having the chance to pursue that was a wound that had scarred poorly. ]
I will have to follow up with you on that. I admit you have me intrigued. Cream? Sugar?
[ His voice betrays nothing. When he meets Stephen's gaze again with a polite small, nothing is amiss. ]