Shaun Hastings Knows Too Much For His Own Good (guyfawkes23) wrote in angellogs, @ 2018-04-11 20:39:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, balthier, basch fon ronsenberg, noah fon ronsenburg, shaun hastings |
Who: Basch, Balthier, Noah, Shaun
When: Current
Where: Gatehouse, Craigcrook Castle, Edinburgh
What: Basch caught Noah's cold, and Balthier brought over some soup. They chat about ethics in sci fi, and Shaun shows up later with soup as well.
Rating/Warnings:
Status: Complete
Balthier's texting once he teleports over to Scotland. Admittedly, he's not doing bad for typing with one hand hefting a bag and a thermos. "Are you still lying down? I can let myself in." Can't hurt to see if Basch is awake, after all, and check and see how he's feeling.
“I’ll head through.” Basch sends back, and he’s not lying down exactly, now. He’d moved to a chair with some kind of tea Hanzo had sworn worked miracles for colds when he’d heard about Noah’s, since it was left over from that now. He’s not sure if it’s working or not, but it’s nice anyway. “I was looking through one of the new books from the library sale cart.”
Balthier's got a little paint on his hands, and he looks cheerful as the door opens up. "Hey. I've got soup, and the other is some little pie things. Savory and sweet." He was aiming for easy things to heat up. Admittedly, there's some chocolate and crackers and nut butter hidden in the bag, along with a box of teabags. "How's the book?"
“Interesting.” Basch says, shrugging a bit. “Not QUITE what I was expecting but in a good way, sort of? A bit more romance in the science fiction than it’d seemed but it’s not something I DISLIKE or anything.” He smiles. “I have a pot of some of the tea Hanzo brought over when Noah was down with this, if you’d like to try some? It’s not medicinal tasting or anything.”
"I'm up for that. Should probably scrub my hands again, but this paint sticks more than the last batch I was working with." Balthire brings over his bags and looks curious. "Romance in science fiction? Are we talking kissing on space ships or more - drama in the cadet school?"
“Drama in the ranks.” Basch explains, with a little nod. “Not quite forbidden, they’re of an equal rank and everything, but...it’s still very potentially scandal inducing if it gets out. One of them is from a noble family you see.” He nods sagely.
“And what HAVE you been painting this time, then?”
"Banners for some Arthurian thing. It's a big political metaphor for something and there's apparently a reference to some Greek story that has the teacher rolling his eyes. Something about a tree that a bed was built around?" Balthier leans to kiss his cheek. "Tea? Are you hungry?"
“That’s… Basch blinks at that. “Well, that must be an INTERESTING staging, really.” He considers where to go with that. “Tree beds and Greek something or other...That Oedipus fellow again? Everyone does seem to LOVE referencing that play. “ He shakes his head a little.
“And I could try to eat, I think. It’s been a bit since I did. I had some toast earlier.”
"I did bring some things to have with crackers or toast." Balthier's unpacking things and setting down the thermos. "I think it's - there was some long bit where Lancelot strings his bow and finds his dad's shield and asks his wife to prove she's faithful and she tells him to prove he's her husband. And he decides to tell her about making a marriage bed that involved a live tree."
Which, as far as he can remember, Lancelot wasn't known for bows, or wives, or trees.
Basch snorts at that part. “Lancelot? But that’s a … isn’t he the one who was carrying on with the queen? Or possibly the king AND queen? Sorry that might only be in the movie I saw on one of the old channels. It was about the women in the story. And they all seemed to be dealing with a lot of stupid men. “ He shakes his head.
“It sounds...amazingly something or other.”
"I know one version of the story suggested that G - Whenifer? Guinevere? That the name was a title, and the king had married several - sort of like the king and the mayor of London, sort of things. Which seems pretty awful to lose her name, but the book thought it was proof that her title was foreign and important, and then decided to talk about the fact that one of them died in a snake pit." Balthier's digging down his mug. "Mug of soup, or bowl?"
“Mug, I think.” Basch moves over to help grab things. “Easier to move around wherever we’d like. I was thinking maybe off the porch if I stay warm enough? And that IS terrible. It does seem like women here used to lose a LOT when they married. Some probably still do, but society doesn’t quite seem like it condones that anymore.”
"There was a book where one of the characters was saying she didn't want to marry because of how much she would lose." Balthier fills up his mug with soup, and snags a second mug of tea. "I was thinking, since I was done for the day, of just sitting with you and the laptops or books and relaxing, unless you felt like you had too much people afoot."
“I have nothing in mind that would be better than that.” Basch says. “And not really too many, no. Shaun may be coming around later. He said he was going to try dropping by to see how Noah was doing after his history class got out. I think he might have contemplated letting them all go EARLY.” He sounds awed.
"As in he feels they had enough, or that he had enough?" Balthier's checking out the porch and absently bringing a quilt and a pillow for his lower back. "I'm guessing Noah's down checking on Aedan and doing lunch? Or is he in work?"
“Aedan just now.” Basch nods. “He wanted to head over and all of that when things panned out to give him the time to do it. And honestly, probably a bit both with Shaun right now. End of the semester and all of THAT that it entails. It sounds like a nightmare to be a formal student.”
"We're really lucky he's offering the lessons. But I think it's - there's probably others like us who wouldn't mind getting the study guides. Or he could sell them." Balthier's settling in on the swinging porch chair and toeing off his shoes so he could tuck his feet under the blanket. "I mean, I bet there's other people who need basic information by someone who's not trying to influence you too much."
He can picture trying to deal with a class. Ignoring that his features would probably make him look like a younger student, he could see - the days when he's not doing so well would make being stuck in a room full of people slightly miserable.
“We are.” Basch nods. “It’s definitely a bit easier for us to do things this way. Though I think there might be something in the current contract that’s keeping him from that. He’s mentioned he’s not renewing it, so...could be anything. That wouldn’t be a bad thing to suggest.”
The idea of sitting there around all the noise is a bit much for Basch. He’s also pretty sure he’d be doodling and not listening really early in, which is unfair to everyone in that scenario.
"Did you get much official schooling? Or was it more - things you read and informal things? I had more - a lot of school was technical information about how magic worked, or etiquette." Balthier laughs under his breath. "Admittedly, early on, a lot of it was glorified daycare with papercrafts. I did enjoy that part of things. In the holidays, you'd cut -" He makes gestures with his hands. "Lines in paper and then fold it to make little three dimensional mobiles."
Basch smiles at the thought of that. “More of a things that we read and that. Well. Noah was going to be a scribe, but I got lucky enough to escape most formal things. Which was just as well. I’ve never been GOOD at anything that requires that degree of patient application. Well, that is not physical.”
He did learn things, later, formally, when he joined the fighting in Dalmasca,strategy and other techniques, but the application had been immediate, with a goal in sight. Basch has no problem with THAT sort of working either.
"When I knew him he was mostly - I think he didn't have a lot of time to read, but it was sort of fascinating as a small kid to talk with him. Since he had a broad knowledge of lots of things and the patience to sit there and listen to small children babble at him." Balthier's not sure how Noah remembers him and his siblings, but - clearly there was some protective impulses, judging by how he acted with them. "I mean, we were all ten or older when we met him, but - compared to the armor -" Basch can get the picture. "How is the soup? Not too rough on the throat?"
Basch nods a bit. “He always was...he seemed to want to know EVERYTHING, when we were small. I never got how that could be exciting for him, until much later. When I learned that you can’t know everything, actually.” He confides.
“Compared to the armor, I can imagine what a relief he WAS. And it seems to be working well, thank you.”
Balthier snuggles in next to him. "This all right? The pillow behind me thing does seem to help keep me from slumping and getting tense." Which was nice to figure out. "So - I'm curious. Nobility dating and slightly forbidden courting stuff? With a science fiction vibe?"
“This is good.” Basch says and he nods. “Oh yes. A lady and a soldier. Not even an officer in the traditional sense. They’re both still working their way up in the ranks since they don’t advance them based on anything but achievements. “ He looks amused.
"I wonder if that'd push more corruption in, but that's me being bitter. And endless internships, since you need to have just the right win to advance. Or bribery." Balthier's warm, and comfortable. The soup wasn't bad at all, and the tea is - soothing. Not sharp and citrusy from odd dried fruit like he expected.
“It could be.” Basch admits. “It would be really useful grounds for a sequel story, wouldn’t it? And oh the internships would be terrible.” Basch shakes his head a bit. “Never ending until you’re at a extremely high rank I would imagine. And then what does one do with themselves?”
"You know full well there'd be someone out there saying he's - you know - the hero of the battle of whatever and it's just his interns doing everything. The politician type who also would crumble in a real pressure situation." Balthier shakes his head. "I'm guessing the story is more going for a lighter tone on things?"
“Definitely.” Basch shakes his head. “But it is, yes. Sort of more of a comedy of errors in the background sort of a thing. Extensively so, but..it’s interesting all the same?”
"How're they doing uniforms? There was a series I was reading with a sort of - fancy dress uniform vibe. Brocade vests and finding cufflinks. Pretty nice, but the women weren't written that well." Balthier's nestled in now. "I totally am not trying to doze off on you. Poke me if you feel cold?"
“Mostly standardized so far, but there’s apparently a fancy event coming up that may have better details for dress uniform. I assume, at least.” Basch says, musing. “It’ll be interesting to see if that pans out.”
"That does sound good. I think I might borrow it, when you're done." Balthier slides his hand over to touch Basch's. "So - would you be willing to sit with me during practice stuff for a play? I think opening night might be rough with Courfeyrac's schedule and crowds, but -"
“I don’t see why not.” Basch says, nodding. “It could be interesting. And that makes sense, where you’d maybe want to avoid complications. We can pick something that works and go from there?”
"Since I'm kind of there as support, we'd have an excuse to dress up as much or as little as you'd want, but - it could be nice. Calum may be around, since I think he's interested in the theater program." Balthier's trying to think of things. "There's a nice section in the back and a new cafe nearby that I haven't tried. If you're curious about it. We could make a day of it. Maybe take Noah out too, if you want to spend time with him as well? How has he been doing?".
“That might be a nice idea. And well, besides the cold, he seems to be all right.” Basch says. “From what I see at least. He does spend an awful lot of time up at the castle, obviously, so there IS that part of things. I don’t THINK he’s been unhappy by any means.”
"And you?" Balthier looks over at him. "Beyond the cold, that is."
“Not too bad. About the same, I suppose?” Basch offers a shrug. “I should do more, I suppose. Start doing it. I DO want to have more of a purpose.”
"What sort of thing would feel like that? I think Noah wanted to have money coming in to support - you and - an excuse to get out and do things." Balthier looks over at him. "He wants to send a lot of the money your way, I think. I don't know if he's comfortable talking to you about it."
“I’d hoped for...well, I’m good at one thing.” Basch explains, with an easy shrug. “I need to get myself in gear finding....I suppose security work that I can manage. It shouldn’t be too much of a problem, should it, at the right times and all of THAT. I may have some odd explaining to do, so I ought to figure that out too. “
"Maybe Fawkes could have suggestions on that? At least - that you'd be working for somewhere reputable, since I bet he's got an eye out on shady outfits." Balthier's thinking. "I don't think Noah's interested in having to do any kind of carrying a gun."
“Well, here it ought not to be a problem.” Basch says. “I’ve looked a bit. “The police don’t so I doubt that security contracting would require it. Thankfully.” he adds, “And true it’s worth looking into.”
And funny enough, that’s the moment Shaun shows up, bearing something that apparently, from the smell at least, is actual soup that someone made. It might or might not be someone from in the actual house, but the thought’s there. He’s heading around and knocking.
“Noah mentioned you’d caught his cold, Basch!” he calls, hoping that Basch is actually here, or someone is, anyway. “I thought, well, bringing something hot by wouldn’t be amiss.” Shaun’s looking a little frazzled, but a bit more under control than he was the last time, and he’s smiling even though he looks like he’s had a late night. Or ten.
"That smells amazing," Balthier calls over. "Want to join us on the porch? I brought snacks, and I can make you tea. We were just talking about you, but it can wait until after you get comfortable. If you'll let us besiege you?"
"Or us besiege you," Noah's saying from the path, carrying a stack of gardening catalogs. "Hello. Are you sure you're warm enough, Basch?"
“I do enjoy some types of beseiging.” Shaun allows, and he eyedarts. “Technically, it’s from a place up the road from us that does nice enough work on their MEALS. We were talking about something I could run over that might help, and the Tra...Shay, sorry, no one’s betrayed ME and it WAS 1756, suggested some of their soup.”
He and Arno had been doing something weird for their not so secret secret agent scheme, and Shaun’s sort of glad he’s just letting it happen and keeping an eye on things. It’s not like anyone’s plotting to murder anyone, so anything else short of coerced or forced anything are pretty much fair game as he sees it now. Let them play secret club. Maybe theirs will be better.
“I’m good actually.” Basch nods to a sweater he dragged out in case he needs to pull it on, a cardigan with insanely ugly giant flamingos draped in what appear to be holiday fairy lights. He couldn’t believe it existed, so he’d had to buy it at the thrift store. Clearly.
“How’re all of...well both of, you?”
"You're wearing the pink stork sweater?" Noah comes over. "And I'm good. Feeling better." He eyes Shaun. "You look dead tired. Shower? Or are you not the sort who does that when you're dead on your feet?" He's heading over to help with the soup. "Mind if I grab a mug of this? I'd be curious to check the place out."
Balthier waves. "I'm doing all right. Been sleeping better, with the warmer weather." He's snuggled in next to Basch. From the slightly more casual clothes and the paint spots, Shuan can probably guess he was painting before he headed over.
“Im wearing the pink FLAMINGO sweater.” Basch nods. “I saw a story about them on Animal Planet. They...eat shrimp and that’s why they’re pink.” Why he feels the need to share this he’s not quite sure, but…
“I’m all right.” Shaun pauses. “I probably SHOULD do that when I get back, actually. I’m not sure if I managed yet today. I know I did yesterday because we were out of soap and no one had refilled it so I had to scurry around under the sink for the bottle.” He shakes his head. “Housemates.”
"How do shrimp turn you pink?" Noah shakes his head. "That sounds like something that would end up with me reading up on fake coins on the Wikiped thing again." He tops off a mug of soup and then eyes Shaun. "Entirely up to you. We'd keep an eye on things, if you'd feel safer with knowing it's just you in there. Us guarding the porch and all."
Balthier tries, since - well - Shaun might be missing out on the context, "It's - back in Archades the ability to spend time in the bath or a shower was sort of - a lot of people had been posted somewhere cold or somewhere dry." Better - not to talk about Dalmasca. "And it was hot and humid in the summers. So I think some of that is just that it was a luxury. You'd have public baths, and sometimes people'd take a friend so you'd have a private one with a lock on the door."
"I did that," Noah says. "Before I was a Magister and only a Judge. It felt safer, and I got less people trying to talk work at me when I was trying to relax."
“So a bit more Roman or Egyptian in concept with baths.” Shaun nods. “Or well, touristy too, but the general idea seems a bit like that. And that makes enough sense, but I’m not exactly worried about it, no. And that does sound like a way to do it. There are times it feels like showering’s the only peace you can GET.”
Noah snorts. "I had a reputation."
"It was better than Bergan's reputation," Balthier points out. "He was as well tempered as you, but tended to wander around wearing leggings late at night." He's - not sure Basch knew how little they hid. "You made me oatmeal once, when I was up late. It was sort of comforting, in a - you know - eighteen hour day scowling at the sun sort of meal."
Basch blinks at that. “That’s...interesting.” He shakes his head, a little amused. “I think I WOULD sooner that reputation over the other, myself.” And that’s sweet, really.
"The oatmeal?" Noah looks thoughtful. "You know, I could make that sometimes. I don't know if it'd taste as good, here, without the bookending of time spent at the desk." Ignoring that he's usually eating breakfast after a long shift at work, but - still. He tilts his head at Shaun. "The library, or out here?"
“Might be nice to try and see what we could do with it too.” Basch nods. “When it’s cooler or rainy, maybe? And then if it’s early morning and one of us has some heating or something...I could at least put a pan on the stove if not make it myself when I know how you do it, if you’re coming directly here.”
“Library would be nice.” Shaun says. “But either is really...I don’t have anything secret to confide and if everyone else is settled in…” He doesn’t see much need to change things up.
Balthier nods. "There's tea inside? Something for Basch's cold. But there's the usual things."
Noah waves a hand. "I need to grab the laptop and do some studying, but I can join you guys out here. Probably bring some more blankets." He does run cold fairly often.
“Sounds like that’ll work out then.” Shaun nods. “I don’t mind the idea then. And I should get this somewhere it’ll stay warm.” He nods to the soup. “After that, I should be free for...anything more or less.”
"I'll help with the soup." Balthier untangles himself from the blankets. "Basch was talking a bit about getting some work, and I said he might want to talk to you. Not sure what'd be the best way for that. Just - advice stuff."