(Closed, Complete)

[captain-basch.livejournal.com]

Who: Balthier clean_cuffs and Basch captain_basch
Where: Out and about Discedo
When: Before the crazy MS event~
Rating: PG
Summary: A sky pirate and a king slayer go out for a walk.
the log:


Balthier didn't often bundle up. Normally he chose style over practical clothing, but his leather pants were beyond repair and he found that the faded, worn jeans went better with the zip-up sweater than his fancy vest. He had taken a break from his work on various bits of engineering to enjoy the snow. Not that he particularly cared much for snow. But Basch seemed keen on getting out in it, and he certainly enjoyed the knight's company, if not the damned weather. It was very easy to be candid with the older man.

Basch had since got into the routine of bundling up. Keeping up with the Chocobos, he had to venture out at least twice a day to do so. Not that he minded the cold. Sure it was nippy and uncomfortable at times... but the cold brought back memories he was quite fond of. Though he wasn't thinking of those at the moment. Not with his present company beside him as they walked.

"... you know, you did not have to join me if the cold bothers you too much, Balthier." Basch smiles softly, sure the pirate is not use to it being this cold. Sure Archades could get a bit of a draft parts of the year, but hardly this cool. Though he says this, Basch is happy the pirate has joined him.

Balthier twisted his head from side to side, popping the stiff joint and he sighed, giving Basch a long-suffering look. "While I much prefer southern climes Basch, I'm not one so weak that I have to hide indoors from a little snowfall, however unseasonable."

He walked beside him in silence for a moment, giving a wry grin. "Besides, you quite enjoy this weather."

Basch's gaze lingers slightly on Balthier at the last comment, before he looks in front of them. Was it so easy to see that he enjoyed the snowy weather? Sure it was unpleasent to come home soaked from walking in the snow, but in the end he didn't honestly mind at all.

"Still I am so easy to read?" his mouth seems stuck in a slight uptilt, a smile if you will. Pleasant company and the beautiful white snow around them, he couldn't help but do so.

"Honest men often are." Often, Balthier said 'honest' in the same way people would say 'idiot' but there was no hint of  malice in his tone. Quite the opposite actually.

A chuckle. Smiling and chuckling, things Basch had found himself doing much more. The time that had passed since Nalbina... close to a year now... he still had many regrets, and even now he still had nightmares from his stay there... but he could honestly smile and be happy now. Even with everything that happened continually in this city.

At that his smile faded a little. He remembered talking to Ashelia before... she seemed so withdrawn and unhappy here. Not that he could blame her. She was away from her people, her country, Dalmasca. He wished there was something that could bring back the smile he knew she could make, again.

Balthier was used to Basch being quiet. The man wasn't particularly loquacious, and Balthier found that comforting. Fran didn't talk very much either, but she always managed to speak her mind.

"What's on your mind, captain?"

Basch indeed wasn't one to speak much. Though when he did he could be long winded. His eyes lower to the ground, as if watching his feet as he walked.

"... how long do you think we shall be here?" then realizing he might be a bit vague with his words Basch clears his throat, gaze turning up to the pirate a moment.

"Do you think we shall be in this world, this city, forever?"

Balthier didn't answer for a moment, but finally he realized that there was probably more to that question than general inquisitiveness.

"I... Don't know, to be quite honest. I don't think we'll be stuck in this city. But I don't know how long we'll be stuck in this world."

"Hm..." Basch honestly was fine with staying here if he had no other choice, but he was more worried about Ashelia. "I merely wonder why they send so many home... yet Her Majesty is still here." he gives Balthier an apologetic smile, "I of course do not expect you to know the answer. Tis foolish questionings and nothing I can change currently."

Basch is quiet again, feeling foolish for bringing it up in the first place. He keeps walking, even as his thoughts linger on the subject he'd brought up.

"Basch..." He stopped a bit behind the knight, puzzled. "What's this all about?"

Hearing Balthier's footfalls stop, he pauses as well a few feet ahead. Turning a little, one hand rests on the hilt of his sword. A pleasant stroll or not, he had to be ready for danger.

"Surely you have noticed Ashelia... so withdrawn and not herself as of late." his eyes betray his worry, though his voice does as well, "I fear for her if she is here much longer..."

Balthier had noticed. Ashe had been closing in on herself and he worried. She was a queen, but this was not her kingdom. These were not her people. The city had taken it's toll on her, as it had for so many, himself included.

"We can't do much more than be there for her. This place is cruel... I'm sure some part of her has hope that she'll see her young man again."

"I know... I... perhaps feel that I should do more for her if I could... I can live a life here while she can barely find the will to leave the apartment to see the sun." He felt guilty for actually having some happiness in the daily routine he'd made for himself. Caring for Chocobos, helping where needed... or perhaps the routine had made him feel like he was happy? Who knew.

"Though, who do you mean by 'young man'?" Basch was a little confused by that. Had he missed something?

"The dead prince." His gaze wandered up to the sky, watching the snowfall as he gathered his thoughts.

"We've all thought it. This place gives second chances. My father, your brother... I'm sure Ashe is wondering 'When is it my turn? Where's my second chance to say what needed to be said?' It's painful."

His eyes widen just a little. Blinking, Basch mentally berates himself for not thinking of that. Could that be a main part of Ashelia's suffering? It was understandable when Balthier put it that way.

"... you are right, of course." he murmurs. His eyes linger a second on the pirate, watching him as he in turn watched the snow fall. Lingering almost too long, he looks away before speaking again, "Though I hope they would give her time with him, before they decide to take him away once again. If Lord Rasler were to walk here in this city."

"It would be nice if she got some time with him. Or perhaps found some way to keep her thoughts from straying to the more painful memories." He sighs, brushing some snow off a bench that was relatively intact before sitting down, just watching the white flakes drifting down. His breath came in little white puffs, drifting up like ghosts in the gray air.

"When Cid and I finish the ship, Gods only know when that will happen considering the man is from a world where they still put wings on bloody airships, she'll be first to get a ride. I find people do their best thinking when they see the big picture from above."

Watching Balthier a moment, he follows suit not long after. Brushing a space for himself, he takes a seat beside the pirate.

"I think... I think she would like that." Basch smiles a little, though there is still some sadness to it. Part of him hopes that Rasler is brought to Discedo now, but another isn't sure if it would be good for Ashelia or not. Either way it'll be something difficult for her to overcome. But he has faith she can do so.

"Though if you do not mind, would I be able to have a ride at some point?"

A sly grin crossed Balthier's face. It was more difficult not to tease the older man... but Balthier decided on a little self-control. Just a little. He patted the older man's shoulder lightly.

"You're welcome to a ride any time you like, Captain."

At that grin, Basch had a feeling he was missing something... but with Balthier, sometimes it was best not to ask.

"That is kind of you, Balthier." A smile

Balthier laughed a little. "You have no call to thank me, I'm sure." He tilted his head back, letting his face catch the snowflakes and they melted as they hit his skin. The pirate needed a shave and a haircut, but he had at least been bathing frequently.

"Whatever world I'm in makes no difference. I can adapt easily so long as I can fly. But you and Ashe... you have things in Ivalice. Important things. Duty, responsibility... things I threw to the wind." He gestured with a half-hearted wave of his hand before letting it drop to his side. "Loss is something we were all well practiced at. But while stuck here, I stand to lose much. Fran, my work on the Strahl... but Ashe will lose her whole kingdom. Every trial, tribulation and small triumph would be for nothing." He tilted his head a little at Basch, giving the man a thoughtful look. "Even for a man who's lost everything, I know there's something back in Ivalice you miss."

Balthier may be a man of much sarcasm and wit, but if you listened to him, he spoke much wisdom. It was no wonder Basch often forgot the pirate was much younger than he.

"I think, no matter our situations back home and now here... we all have something we stand to lose... to miss." Basch leans forward just a little, hands folded together on his knees. He misses much of course, though they are things of the past. It's all he can do, is miss things that have come and gone for him. The present and future for him is something he cannot yet hold any real feelings for. At least not the situation.

"The snowfall... tis very much reminiscent of Landis." He doesn't say much, but he knows Balthier will understand what he means. The pirate seems to understand him rather well since they've been together in this world for so long now.

He was silent, leaving time for Basch to say any more, but the older man was quiet. He wanted to say something that could offer some comfort, but anything that came to mind seemed trite or rehearsed.

"You amaze me sometimes, Captain." Well, he hadn't meant for that to slip out, but it was the truth. Basch had lost everything and still he pressed on, neither bitter or cruel.

That was the thing with Basch. He spoke little, but if he felt he needed to speak a lot he could easily. Most of the time less was better when it came to him... or he felt that there was no need to really say so much.  Needless to say, when Balthier spoke next, he was a bit speechless.

His cheeks were already a light pink from the cold, but they might have just tinted a little brighter. Though as those words settled in his mind, he had to wonder if Balthier meant that as a compliment or not.

Balthier stood, brushing a bit of snow off his trousers and glanced at Basch. "Are you alright?"

Clearing his throat he nods, before looking away and standing up.

"I am well." though not sure what to think of that last statement, but it doesn't seem as if Balthier meant it as a slander. If he did, he surely doesn't show it.

"You seemed a little troubled." His gaze wandered back to the snow. He knew Landis had been a snowy country. "Let's head back. I could murder a cup of tea right now."

Not bothering to pat the snow from himself, Basch moves to stand beside the pirate. A soft, if sad smile forms on his lips.

"Nay, not troubled... merely remembering something." it was difficult not to let his thoughts wander to memories of Landis whenever he was outside.

"I would advise not murdering anything," Basch says, amused, "Though a cup of tea does sound warm and refreshing at the moment. Do we happen to have any? Or is our only choices of beverage still wine and water?"

A soft laugh left the pirate. "It's a figure of speech, Basch." He rubbed the stubble on his chin thoughtfully. "I have a bit of tea stashed away. Afterwards, mind if I borrow your razer?"

There were times Basch felt he'd missed something when growing up outside of Landis. Aparently a whole thing on figures of speech. He wasn't terrible good at it, or catching them half the time.

"I do not mind at all, I have told you before you can use it as you see fit." Balthier was an attractive young man, no one could deny, but he did look a bit disheveled as of late. Working so much on his airship could be the issue.

"Thank you." He meant it. He didn't want to look any more like his father than he already did. The apple had fallen close enough to the tree as it was.

Basch merely smiled at the pirate, and motioned his head towards the apartment.

"Shall we?"

"Let's." Balthier agreed, heading in the direction of the apartment.