Who: Basch, Balthier When: Current Where: Balthier's house What: Basch comes home from work at the hospital, and they settle in to talk. Rating/Warnings: Status: Complete
Balthier's sprawled out with the fan blowing and a novel that's - well - he's pretty sure that he wouldn't write a novel set in China with a tiny vocabulary, but maybe that's supposed to just keep it from being a sea of tourist information about types of soup?
Basch is heading around after a shift, hoping he’s not interrupting or anything. He’s always a bit unsure of things like that, really. Still, it doesn’t seem like it’ll be too bad if he is. He can always just come back later.
Balthier beams. "Hello there. We've got the house to ourselves. I'm reading a not terribly good book. Have you eaten?"
“Not yet.” Basch says. “Hadn’t really thought about it much. I had a full shift so I had a lunch and everything but I suppose at some point I ought to again. Besides the book, how are you, though?” He makes his way to join him.
"Relaxing. Mostly feeling kind of - you know that sort of thing where you're tired, but resting just makes you feel bored and lonely? I'm glad you're here." Balthier rolls on his back as he thinks. "Kale chips, some yogurt dip, some weird smoked turkey, and some nuts? I could rustle that up quickly, if you don't mind the weird mix. There's pita chips too, but I think they're kind of uninteresting."
“That would be fine.” Basch says. “I’m a bit more interested in you, you know.” he adds, smiling. “You don’t have to worry quite YET about that. I can wait a while.”
"You're welcome to join me? I'm very interested in you." Balthier smiles at him.
Basch returns the smile and heads over to flop down next to him.
“Ah that is much better.” he laughs. “Today was more interesting than usual. There was some sort of a massive gang fight and the police were in and out with everyone involved. It was a lot of checking on the situation. There may have been some gunshot wounds. I wasn’t quite in back so I didn’t know the details. It’ll likely turn up on the news later.”
"Sounds like that was exciting." Balthier rolls to snuggle close. "I should probably check in with the others at some point. Felt like you wanted to get in and kind of decompress?"
“To not think of anything but you, really.” Basch laughs. “I suppose I missed you. Does that sound odd, considering it’s not been THAT long?”
"Nothing wrong with that? I suspect I'm distracting." Balthier leans to kiss the corner of his mouth. "You're always welcome. Might not be so alone, but I want to make time for you."
“I mean, you might well say that.” Basch laughs. “And I don’t mind being around the others too, of course. Anything involving you is good.”
"Hm. Maybe we could plan on a lunch or renting a place for the weekend? Courfeyrac's busy with play practice, but we could slip away for a bit." Balthier rests his chin on his hands on Basch's chest. "I'm selfishly planning for more of us."
“I’d like that.” Basch says. “And I don’t quite think it’s all that selfish, really. People DO get away at times.”
"How are you feeling, over all? Are we looking at a low key time away? Or do you want to have more planned?" Balthier thinks for a while. "I'm doing all right. Just tired lately."
“Hadn’t given it too much thought, to be honest.” Basch says. “Low key would work just as well. Probably would be good for you to get some rest.”
"Hopefully I'll get out of that state soon." Balthier closes his eyes. "I've been sleeping okay. I think some of it is just - tired. Probably pushing myself a bit more than I should or stress? Not sure."
“Sounds like a plausible thing.” Basch nods. “Some days get like that, And well, summer. Things always seem to hit all at once in the summer here.”
"Dog days of summer and all." Balthier leans for a kiss of his own. "Low key sounds good."
Basch smiles into the kiss. “Supposedly. I’d like if that did become the case.”
"That'll be a plan then. We could stay over at the gatehouse, if Noah's busy?" Balthier thinks about it. "I could ask Illya for suggestions of something new to eat."
“That would be nice, really. And I’m sure he’s got that all sorted, definitely.” Basch says, nodding.
"I like it that - I think it makes him happy." Balthier hms. "He's a nice guy. Gets along well with Tony from what I've seen. Have you spent any time with him?"
“Not really.” Basch shrugs. “Our circles haven’t exactly crossed but I wouldn’t mind letting them. It’s one of those scheduling things, I suppose. He does seem nice.”
"Tony said he's decent. Ex-spy, and very - I get the feeling doing usual stuff is new for him? He's doing a fashion related - studies? I think. Kind of shy about it. It sounds like the sort of thing that you could talk to him and perhaps find something in common."
“Nice.” Basch says, nodding. “It’d be worth it sometime, certainly. We’ll have to arrange it.”
"I can check in." Balthier hms. "Maybe we should try to schedule this regularly? I know your hospital schedule's a lot, but I can take time off to be sure I'm worth more than a heated blanket? I feel like I'm scarcely scintillating."
“Things like today?” Basch smiles. “I would like that. And it’s not so bad most days. I enjoy it. Today was just a bit mad. But taking time off to be together is nice.”
"I just get the feeling you're not sure sometimes, if you're welcome? And well - that means I'd need to find ways to make sure we're agreed on it? We could just text each other." Balthier thinks about it. "That might work? I mean, at work I'm free to talk while stuff dries."
“I do prefer it when I know for certain,” Basch says. “Inviting myself feels intrusive but texting is a good idea. We can do that.” And he laughs. “I can imagine that must be quite dull indeed. Literally, watching paint dry is the way they say something is boring here.”
"Well, here there's a bit of drama when you're checking how it looks, but yeah. If it's boring big work, I've got downtime." Balthier thinks about it. "Jewelry's harder, since sometimes I get distracted."
“I’d bet.” Basch nods. “One little slip of the finger and…” He frowns. “Though, I suppose you could at least sell the seconds when that happens. All the same, I see why you would not want to be disturbed. I can handle communication during those times.”
"I usually just set it aside when I'm working on delicate stuff." Balthier tugs over a sheet to cover them. "So just don't worry if it takes a while?"
“Well, hey, that only seems reasonable. I know you will always text back or call me.” Basch smiles. “You’re good for it, as they say. What have you been making lately? Anywhere that is.”
"Not a lot of big sets, but I've been working on some for some local libraries. Displays. That's part of a summer program with students. Jewelry wise, I just got done with a mountain of fibulas." Balthier hms. "There's a lot of requests for amber and garnet jewelry."
“That sounds nice. You’ll have to show them to me when they’re done.” Basch notes. “Well the pieces with the program if you can. I’m sure I will see the jewelry.”
"Sounds like a plan. I'll try to get photos, or take you by them." Balthier grins. "Not used to people really liking my sketches."
“No?” Basch blinks. “They’re good. Is this to do with…” He isn’t sure how to phrase it exactly, but…”To do with the before?”
"Well, I guess in a way? I was military or a pirate, so I didn't exactly do art for money. But I sketched stuff I remembered. I guess it'd be like - if you colored things for occupational therapy, and then discovered people liked it?" Balthier thinks about it. "My father never really hated art as a concept. But it was very - you know - like telling your child to do a hobby that looked good to other people?"
“So, time to be yourself more?” Basch smiles. “I can see where that might be lovely. Well, you have the chance to do it now. I look forward to seeing what you can do with it.”