Who: Balthier, Ellie, Aedan, Isannah, Sebastian, Noah, Iomhar When: A day or so before Noah and Basch talked Where: Craigcrook Castle, Edinburgh What: Balthier and Isannah brought a pile of clothing (mostly Indian,) that is as close as possible to party clothing for Archades. Aedan and Sebastian have brought out kilts to try on. They try a few steps, and Noah’s still entranced. Rating/Warnings: Status: Complete
Balthier’s a bit chatty and cheerful. “I can’t promise you’ll like everything, but - well - I thought we could try something on, see if things look ridiculous, get me to try your short robes - that sort of thing. And - then - perhaps lunch? Assuming you don’t feel like there’s too much people about.”
He’s sitting crosslegged on a chair. “It was fun hunting things that looked right, but - well - I’ve got some traditional party gear for me too.”
“We did manage to find a surprising amount.” Isannah’s a bit amused, considering she’s mostly adapted to the styles here, but she’s also glad about it. “I grabbed a lot of greens and blues. I’d thought those might look nice.”
“And I can help a bit.” Aedan’s been hanging around not doing much, but perked up with interest when all of this started falling into place. “I think some of my things should fit you. “ It’s probably the safer bet, considering relative sizing and all the rest.
“That seems like a good idea.’ Ellie’s absently touching a aqua sort of silk, considering. “So then you drape...I’ve seen people do some folds before…”
“There’s a bunch of ways.” Balthier stretches his back. “Let me politely step out of sight so you can come around the corner and show off. Isn’t wearing the wrong plaid an issue, or does it not matter since we’re just seeing what works?” He leans to slide the box over of hair pins and clips for later. Ellie might like the full nine yards.
He knows he can hear them, and they could keep bantering. “I did bring some traditional - well - the tops aren’t right, but it’s close enough, so we can do Archades style and Starkhaven style.”
“Technically.” Aedan agrees. “I mean you wouldn’t really do it at home unless you’d talked to a few people, made sure they knew your intentions were honorable, but the version they wear here doesn’t seem to be exactly all that regulated anymore.” He pauses. “Well, depending where you are. You probably couldn’t walk into anything official without getting punched in some cases, but there’re generics, and it’s mostly just us as it IS.”
“Do you have any generics?” Balthier follows him. “You could try on what I brought as well, but I’m not sure you’d be comfortable. Noah, I know, has done the draping before for things, but he cannot wear something cut for me.”
“I could only see that ending badly.” Aedan nods at the last part. “And Hmm, no I’d likely not be. I’ve got a few that are decent enough and have the advantage of not being full wool.” He’s not thinking about the last time that he actually went full out, he decides. Not right here and now anyway. There are other things to think about.
“But so, this is a good idea you had.” he adds, when they’re out of earshot, or seemingly so at least. “Don’t get me wrong, my sister terrifies me but she deserves a shot.”
“You both do,” Balthier says seriously, setting down his stack of coats and the bottom options. “I think Noah had a good idea about - I’m never going to be Scottish, or British, entirely. I don’t think I want to be either. A chance to feel at home and comfortable is incredible. Which I doubt we will be unless your sister is a born natural, but laughing at fumbling and trying things on still has some fun, right?”
Aedan nods, getting that point almost straight off. “It IS funny, the fact we moved here partly so we’d all be less obvious, when there’re some glaring things right off the bat that aren’t about to be changed or fixed. And you’re right, I think, not being either. There’s nothing wrong with that And that’s…” He laughs. “Probably not so much, but aye, those cement a group, I’m told.”
“So - what’s the bits you’d wear to dance in? It’s a blouse, and an underskirt, and the draping, for a lady in Archades. Though people worry about your hair and your shoes as well.” Balthier takes off his coat and waistcoat to add to the pile. “For a guy, there’d be robes, or sort of - a coat and trousers? Possibly with variants. We had to hunt around to find things that were close enough.”
“There’s a few options here.” Aedan’s continuing to lead the way down a little, to where he’s laid a few things out on the back of the library couches. “Really, a lot depends on how formal you’re going, and the local influence. I noticed we tend less to the jackets than they do here, for one.”
“Ah - bits of this look familiar.” Balthier leans to look. “The pleating looks like it’d be a lot of work to sew.” The way the folds seem designed to be according to the patterning of the plaid is fascinating. The shirts have a similar collar to the standard shirt in Archades. “So what’s my options? Are we going to try to coax Noah to join us as well?” He is going to have to shave, isn’t he? Well, it’d not be bad either way to force him to do it.
“That’s a part of why I’ve only got the one high quality.” Aedan indicates the Starkhaven colors with a little bit of a sniff. Right now, he doesn’t exactly have a lot of love for those, but hey, being around them isn’t actively disturbing, so he’s taking that as a good sign he’s over wearing this outfit to what turned out to be his politically motivated abduction, anyway. “They get a bit pricey, what with all the work. But we’ve got some other options, not as heavy, not as full… Let’s see. “ He’s nodding toward a more casual blue version. “That could work for now.”
Balthier looks bemused as he shakes it out. “And - any of the tops to go with it?” The belting system is blessedly laces free. Ever since it was a custom to have laces on your shirt sleeves and trousers, Balthier found that they were miserable if you were someone who found everything knotted at the end of the day.
“Ah, there I’m a bit traditionalist.” Not that Aedan even really took much opportunity to worry about this back when he was supposed to be learning it, but he does know what he likes and that it’s relatively a popular option. “I’m a little partial to ones that tie in the front.” He indicates a few neutral sort of shades like that. “Though they don’t HAVE to have the sleeve or tie to work. I mean, I’ve seen a few demonstrations in my time, and no one doing those had gone all fancy. I think black would suit you, by the way.”
“In Archades, it’d be white, all the way, but I think that was more that you tended to have light colors worn by the Imperial family. Or the heat.” Balthier strips down and pulls on the black one though. “Would Isannah be wearing something similar to this? Or is there a different version for women?”
He does automatically test how much room the short robe’s skirt gives you, and it’s - more than enough. “So much better than trying to dance in armored over robes.”
“If we were downtown, with our neighbors, they’re a bit more proper too.” Aedan pauses. “I’m not too sure of all the rules, actually. It was a one time thing I HAD to worry in relation to us, and it got solved easily enough. “ He does take a second, considering dancing in armor and robes and he frowns. “And it was HOW hot there again? Sorry, that seems a bit excessive. That dangerous?”
“Some of it. Some of it was just that you had one person wearing the full armored robes, and you all got to get the same, like it or not.” Balthier smoothes the kilt and looks at Aedan. “Well - do I have it right? Do you want to see how my sister’s coming along?”
“Just about.” Aedan takes a moment to make sure everything should hang in place, then nods, finishing with a bit of straightening a pleat. “That’ll do. And right, we should.”
Balthier grins. “So, she likes blue and green the best? What about you? Or will you prefer just something comfortable?” He can hear voices in the hall.
“I’m not sure she’d want me there until she’s found something that she likes the fit,” Noah’s saying. He’s wearing some long socks and his own kilt, but he’s carrying some shoes. “Let me grab a bench here and we can see how these fit.” He looks over at Sebastian and ducks his head a bit. “I told you my legs may not be the best for his sort of thing.”
“You look fine.” Sebastian does sound a bit amused, but that’s more at the fact Noah’s so obviously concerned about this. “Better than fine.” He could get used to the sight, he thinks, even though that’s a little ridiculous, considering.
Noah chuckles and has a seat to pull on the shoes. “I do? Do you think I should text Ellie?” He’s got a top with the laces already tied at the neck in white, and a red plaid kilt.
Balthier hesitates, and looks at Aedan before stepping forward. “You tried on one too, Noah? I think you look fine. Aedan said I should try a black top with this.”
“It’s more dramatic.” Aedan explains. “It seemed to suit. “ And then he’s getting a look at Noah and then glancing at Sebastian, with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.. “Did you two have something to say?”
Noah blinks and looks over at Sebastian. “I’m very fond of your father and I think you’re very strong?”
Balthier reaches to pat near Noah’s arm. “I think I should offer congratulations. Is that traditional in Starkhaven?”
“Mmhmm.”” Aedan just shakes his head at Sebastian a little, deciding not to say anything else right then either. It’s going to be much more entertaining to drag this out anyway.
“And it’s not going to fall?” Ellie’s voice is echoing a little , before she’s appearing, in green and gold, her hair pinned back with some of the jeweled pins the siblings had brought along. And in another instant she’s forgetting to be worried about any of the fabric draping as she blinks at Noah. “This is a thing?”
Noah smiles at her and offers her a hand. “It’s not going to fall, or it shouldn’t. The Bunansas went to a few dances in their day. How do you feel? The gold brings shine to your hair.”
Balthier looks bemused. “I did bring some more Archades style coats and trousers, but -” He offers Ellie his hand as well. “Should we startle Iomhar with my sister and you looking lovely?”
“I like it,” Ellie considers, accepting Noah’s hand with a little flourish. “It’s more comfortable than I’d thought.” She’d imagined a lot of pulling things into place and awkward moments but, not really.
“There’s about a million ways to wear it too,” Isannah’s saying, trailing in from behind. “That one seemed like it’d work the best.”
Balthier takes his sister’s hand. “So, when are you guys going to tell Noah what plaid he’s wearing?”
Noah looks bemused. “I know it’s the Starkhaven one? If - that helps. Does it mean something else?”
“It’s…” Sebastian eyedarts the smallest bit. “That’s exactly right. It does mean a few…”
“And WHY didn’t you tell us?” Iomhar’s darting over, getting a look at Noah, and then staring at Sebastian. “You went and got betrothed?”
Noah blinks. “But we haven’t had our meeting yet, so it’s not official. That’s how you said the negotiations worked. We’re only courting.”
“We HAVEN’T.” Sebastian agrees, giving Iomhar a LOOK. “There’s nothing in WRITING says you’ve got to wait. “ And he pauses, considering. “Is there?”
Aedan just smirks and shakes his head. “AND you went straight for the royal colors. I am impressed.”
Noah’s kind of blushing a bit. “Sebastian said it’d look good on me.”
Balthier says, “It does. So - Ser Iomhar, Archadian fashion. I wasn’t sure it’d be to your taste, but - it’s something different.” He waves at his sister on his arm, and Ellie. “Not really Archadian, but we bought the closest we could. I thought it might be nice to have the right clothes for the dancing, depending on what we wanted to do.”
And Ellie does look stunning, in his opinion. She’s got the shawl part draped over her shoulders, and she’s walking like she’s utterly comfortable with the skirts. They may’ve deliberately picked up colors that should look good with her complexion, but the rest is on her. His sister - is the happiest he’s seen her in years. Then again, she didn’t seem to ever like the parties.
He also has a suspicion that his sister showed her how to carry a knife in the dress.
Of course she did. Isannah isn’t an idiot, after all. Self defense is important to keep in mind on most occasions, and right now she’s grinning. The parties themselves were more of a pain than they were worth, but something like this? It’s actually fairly nice.
“I think I approve.” Iomhar muses for a moment, smiling a bit. “They did something similar, in the imperium. Er the Tevinter one. A little more...solid though.”
“Warm climate,” Balthier says. “We could try some other options, but - I wanted Ellie to pick what she was comfortable with.” He tilts his head at her. “Did you try on the other ones we had? Or was this the best? I’ve got some Archadian style things, but - Aedan suggested I try a kilt just so we’re both trying something unfamiliar.”
Noah runs a hand through his hair. “I could - you brought some of the formal coats? I don’t look good in them, but I could show what it’s like. Unless if Sebastian’s still distracted?” He looks back at him. Still entranced?
“I liked the colors.” Ellie smiles, taking in the line of the kilt there and then nodding. “Looks good on you.” And it does seem to suit him in a way. Aedan went with decent colors.
“”I’m only a bit distracted.” Sebastian smirks a bit. “Just a little. I can think of times that’s been much worse. And that would be worth seeing.”
Balthier looks at Aedan. “Then - let’s do that, and - perhaps retire to lunch? We could dance another day, or we could run down a few steps between us.” He doesn’t feel too tired yet, and frankly, he suspects his sister would enjoy getting to do a few turns in her outfit. “I still think we should get the long tunic version at some point, since you found them better for swords, Isannah.” You couldn’t spin as easily in one, or at least you had to be careful, but - options.
“I’d be interested to see the steps.” Aedan nods slowly. “And there’s a version of that with swords? All the better. I’m hardly good with one myself, but I’ve seen what you people do. It’s…” Spellbinding, actually, at times, he’ll admit that to himself anyway, “Interesting.”
Noah chuckles. “Let us change, and we can try. Nothing too complex, please, Isannah. It’s been years.”
At least, thankfully, Balthier stuck to some more casual options for Noah, but he does try on a more tailored jacket to show Sebastian. “It’d need some tailoring,” he offers, “But - I wore something like this when I wasn’t in armor and I had to go to a party.”
Balthier’s picked a shorter one for himself, and he peeks around the corner to see how Ellie and Isannah are. “Is - this going to clash too much with your outfits?” He’s - guessing it’s not going to be that impressive, being a different clothing style, but -
“I don’t think it should clash. “ Iomhar’s leaning with interest, getting a good look at them all. “If anything it’ll look more like things did at home. Well, when the Orlesians weren’t calling. Or there wasn’t a huge group of them at least.” He wrinkles his nose, then walks over to get a closer look at the jacket, nose in the air. “And WHAAAT eees zis?” He asks, putting all the haughtiness he can into the tone. “I zuppose zat when you leave in the middle of NOWHERE…” He shudders theatrically as he can, then pauses. “Actually, this does look comfortable enough. “
“Orlesia sounds as charming as some of the political parties I went to,” Noah offers as he emerges. “Are we going to be circle dancing, Isannah? Or line dancing? And I suppose if we’ll try a Starkhaven step we could do that too.”
Balthier eyes Iomhar. “You could try things on? The long tunics are honestly good as sleep shirts, which is one reason why there’s more of them. The suit jackets are more - well - party wear. Beauty over comfort. The cut of the pants isn’t quite right, and not patterned enough, for what was in style recently, but this wouldn’t shock an auntie.” Noah, when they were planning this, had kind of picked out a few that Basch might like and had to get pushed to admit that he liked a sort of rusty colored linen one.
“Orlais is the worst.” Sebastian rolls his eyes. “Honestly, I can think of about...five of them? Maybe? That aren’t all…” He shrugs. “Well, I can tell the horrifying stories later.”
“I’d like that. The seeing about something to put on not…” Iomhar shudders at Sebastian there. “I don’t really want to know how much WORSE Orlais has gotten, you know?”
“Point strongly agreed with.” Isannah snorts. “I’d thought the line might work best for getting started, So you can all see.”
Noah moves to get in line with Isannah. “At least I will never have to deal with the fallout of the subtly offensive wedding furniture feud. I think it was last escalated with custom dishware.” He takes a stance with his weight on his back foot and offers Aedan a hand. “Want to stand next to me? I assure you I’ll be rusty at best, and you’ll learn faster than me.” He’s guessing that Isannah’s going to pick a simple stride forward, perhaps with a clap, and then turning around again. It’s basically a military sword form turned to dancing.
“Oh really now? Hidden messages?” Iomhar suggests, getting into the idea. “That could be so much FUN.” He thinks he’d like this world, actually. “Or something else entirely? I suppose you could go for the out and out clear insults but then again, the point would be seeing if they notice on their own, not flashing it in front of their face.”
“You know a difference?” Aedan wonders, settling into place and giving Noah a little nod. He’s not sure what they’re doing, really, but he’s up for it. It’s one of those things where you never know how useful it might be in the future, right?
“Presumed language barriers,” Noah says. “And well - I think they were having as much fun being subtly offensive as they were being offended by it. Still - that sort of playing with fire is a poor idea.”
It is - strange to do dancing and have it not be in a studio with the sounds of laughter and people trying on rustling silk beyond the partitions or in the other areas. Balthier always favored trying to get somewhere small and pretty quiet for dancing lessons, since a lot of the time he was dancing with people who’d never done it with him, or with anyone else save for family. A group of people he knows and likes is - nice. And they’re only counting up to four to handle the timing, versus the dread year of the “spinning shows off your skirt layers” where you could get up to twenty four steps before you made a full rotation.
It feels better to start there, anyway, Isannah thinks, considering the relative skill level of everyone actually there, and the fact that some of them are more obviously out of any kind of practice than others. She’s mostly a bit worried about Balthier right now, though the fact that Aedan’s seeming a little out of breath is kind of worrying too. Not TOO much yet, she doesn’t think, since no one else is commenting.
“And then…”She demonstrates. “And that SHOULD get you started. Everyone all right there?”
Ellie does seem to have a bit of a handle on it, she thinks, watching that, and she can’t help shooting Balthier a little grin. They’ve got this, clearly. They’re definitely making the right moves here, with suggesting this as a thing.
Balthier grins at her. “I told you that Ellie would learn faster than I did. We’re doing okay? Since you’re the one calling our numbers?” He rolls his shoulder a little. “I’m all right. If you said call it here, I’d not be crushed, but catch my breath and I’d be up for a little more.” It’s not out of breath as much as just feeling all the muscles in his back getting stretched out. A shower sounds good after this, more for the heat.
Noah’s - touching Sebastian’s hand now that they’ve stopped and leaning on his arm a bit. It’s adorable. He needs to not grin at them.
Sebastian turns his head a bit at Noah’s touch there and he’s fighting to look nuetral and serious here too, though at the moment that’s kind of a lost cause. “I feel like I’ve got to look away from you.” He mutters. “So I don’t somehow look like a completely besotted fool. I mean, they haven’t ALL got to know, have they?”
Noah would have pulled away if this was - heck - a month earlier? But he’s hooking a finger around one of Sebastian’s. “My apologies. Would you like me to discuss if we’re having tea or one of those juices in the fridge with lunch?” He lowers his voice. “I think we should do that meeting soon, with your siblings.”
“I think I agree.” Sebastian adds, his tone very low too. “I think we’ve been terrible about keeping things a little discreet, haven’t we?” Not that he minds at all, clearly. “I”ll mention it to Cal. “ Because he’s NOT bringing that up to Iomhar first. No way. They’d never hear the end of it otherwise. “But this...this is good.”
Balthier grins at Iomhar. “So - do you think we could manage music with this sort of thing? And - was it okay?” He’s - politely ignoring the snuggling. Because - well - that’s what you do in Archades. He never imagined that Noah could blush. Well - it’s not Balthier’s splotchy blush that settles in the tips of his ears, at least.
Iomhar’s making a mental note to address the very interesting conversation the first chance he gets later, but for now, this is all good. Play along and let them think they’re fooling people. Really, it’s more than any of them had dreamed for Sebastian, even if they HAD thought, or all right, CALUM, had thought, that the chantry thing was idiotic to begin with. Still, it’s better this way than it was then.
“I can grab something to play some.”
“Don’t you need to show us footwork?” Balthier asks. “Or shall we get changed and eat and save that for another day?” He has noticed Aedan’s slightly winded look.
Noah’s definitely holding Sebastian’s hand now.
Isannah glances, not at Balthier really, but at the hands and rolls her eyes a little. “Stopping for now MIGHT be a good idea. It seems like some people may have other things to do.”
Which prompts Iomhar to look up, catch her eye, and start a coughing fit that’s definitely believable, Really.
Noah jumps a little and steps slightly less close. Still holding Sebastian’s hand. “Isannah, I remember when you were in pigtails. And still beating people in the practice yard.” He sighs. “Right - I’ll get changed and drop the tunics off for Basch. Does everyone need to shower? Balthier could bring the tunics over and use the gatehouse shower.” And talk to Basch.
“And there’s the downstairs.” Sebastian nods, “Probably a good idea so none of you’re sick from hanging around in those later. Isn’t that a thing?” Or is that more one of those excuses people give you when they need you to change because you smell? Either way, he guesses, it should work. And it gives him and Noah an excuse to slip away, doesn’t it?
“And it gives people a chance to dig out things for lunch. Sounds like a plan.” Balthier bows slightly to the others. “Thank you for the dance.”
“Thank YOU.” Ellie’s beaming in his direction, dipping a bit in return. “This was a good idea.”
Balthier laughs. “Wait till you have me in a kilt and see how poorly I do, or the bells on a bracelet come out, and we’ll at least sound like a party.” He heads over to change back to what he had, and calls over, “Isannah? Do you want to come with me, or do you think Ellie would like help with the clasps on the jewelry? I should be fine, walking over.”
“Bells?” Iomhar’s grinning at that. “Oh THAT sounds fun.” It’s all very new, and colorful, and he’s sold on the idea of doing this properly, now. He can see a few potential outcomes that’ll work based on all of this too, even if he’s not exactly telling anyone about that. It’s more that this is the perfect opportunity to mine details about people, as an EXAMPLE, and he’s going to make a point to point this out. It’s like a mini lesson right here on espionage of a sort.
Not that he’s training agents, but… It’s still good information, isn’t it?
“You’ll not do TOO badly.” Ellie’s grinning. “I can think of a few places to start you slow. There’s not going to be a full on sword dance right away. I mean some occasions would call for that more than others…”
Noah makes a face. “True. But if your dream is a sword dance, it can’t hurt to have a plan at some point. Summer dances were traditional up in Landis. And I know Archades had some seasonal ones beyond just the parties.”
Balthier emerges finishing buttoning up his waistcoat. “Usually you’d do those under fireworks, so the darkness hid a lot of mistakes in footwork. I’ve got some shirts for you in the stack as well, Noah, and I’ll drop them off on that chair near your door.”
Noah salutes and smiles at Sebastian. “To the showers then, I suppose. And then lunch.”
“To the showers.” Sebastian agrees, offering an arm and not caring whether anyone notices or not right now. “And the sword dancing’s a bit...Well, it may actually be worth looking at the local version first. None of us are coordinated enough to show you that. Luckily, I’ve got other skills.”
Balthier looks at Iomhar and then slips for the door. He could swear he could hear Noah saying something light about how he’s well aware of that.
Is this subtle with them?
The soaring kind of - high of the dancing is still there, though he’s feeling the ache a bit as he’s crossing over to the gatehouse arch to knock on the door. The windows might be open enough for Basch to hear him. “Basch? I’ve come bearing gifts.”
Iomhar’s shooting Balthier an eyeroll before he’s disappearing himself, probably to wait around for certain people to come back through, so he can annoy them, but he’s admitting to nothing.
“Oh HAVE you?” Basch calls from where he’s been trying to make sense of popular culture again. He blinks at the computer screen once more as he gets up, shuts it, and comes to the door. “You DO know how to get me moving.” he jokes.
Balthier leans on the door frame and smiles at him. “I probably smell like a day laborer or I’d come to your window. Could I steal your shower as well as some space to drop off some clothes? We tried the dancing.”
He hesitates and reaches to touch near Basch’s arm. “You’re always moving, Basch.” Because - let’s face it. Basch is amazing every time.
“As if I would care what you smell like.” Basch snorts. “Now I want to see you try that, sometime.” But for now, he’s nodding, “Please. Anything you need. And how WAS that? Successful?” He seems like it was.
Balthier steps on in. “Not bad at all. Aedan’s stamina didn’t last forever, but that’s not surprising at all. I think Ellie enjoyed the chance to dress up. Sebastian’s very - it’s obvious they’re fond of each other. He had Noah try on clothes in the family colors. It’s not very subtle.” He leans to kiss Basch on the cheek. “I brought some long shirts to see how they fit. Things that looked good when we were shopping. If you don’t like them, I suspect Noah might wear some of them.” If they’re not Basch’s colors.
“Definitely not, considering.” Basch pauses. “I should actually come, next time.” It’s still felt so strained with Noah, but there would be time to be in the same room without actively confronting or dealing with anything, so there IS that. “They sound very obvious, yes.” He returns the kiss and looks amused. “Do you suppose people will say that about us? And OH, that’s, well.” He smiles. “Shall I trust your judgement then?”
“Or look at them while I run through the shower and I can talk. This stack is for Noah, since I unsubtly looked to see what he lingered over when we were talking about things for you.” Balthier smiles at him. “I’d love to hear about your day too. There’s lunch, being planned. I’m not sure how - comfortable you are with joining in on it, but -”
“I could put in an appearance.” Basch muses, thoughtfully. “Doesn’t sound as if I can make that overly tense.” He frowns. “I hope.” He and Noah really need to have a talk about what just happened at some point, don’t they?
“Has - Noah been an issue?” Balthier asks, peeling his shirt off as he headed toward the shower and to drop off Noah’s stack. “All I heard was that he’s been sort of - evasive of late.”
“Not an issue anymore since everything, exactly.” Basch hesitates. “I mean we’ve been around each other, and that’s been perfectly fine. He does find a lot of excuses to be away, no surprise after how I was, I suppose.” He frowns. “I do need to repair that at some point soon.”
“It’s understandable, that you - that you were angry? And you basically backed off, you said. But - what sort of repair are you looking for? Just getting him to relax?” He’s digging out a towel before stripping off the rest of the way. “Might not hurt to think about it? Since - I get the feeling he’s second guessing a lot of what he’s doing.” Frankly, it couldn’t hurt for him to be thinking about that. What he’d like with Basch beyond being close and skin contact. That’s not really - being a friend as much as being a clinging vine.
”Something so that we’re speaking again,” Basch frowns. “I shouldn’t have...I likely ought to have been speaking up the entire time instead of what I did do.” and he sounds pretty upset about it. “I know it’s hurt him. But do you think so? Maybe it won’t be so difficult as I thought if he’s in a mindset like that, then.”
One can always decide they like the best outcome first.
“I suspect if the choice is talking or not, he’d pick the option that had you talking.” Balthier smiles at Basch, holding the towel to his waist. “Give me a little, and we can head down and lunch.”