â  so it does.  â   a bond as unbreakable as diamonds  ;  so much the boy had risked to save the girl,  &&  so, repaid through communion of years long since twined. blood for blood, where he fought, she followed. ironclad. much like his own friendship with fran, unyielding  &&  sealed. kindred spirits fated to the skies. it was but a matter of time before vaan  &&  penelo soared with their own wings, followed after him still, making his problems hers. he did not envy her, but there were worse fates than poorly chosen company.   â  not jealous, are you ?  â   after all, what ties could a DEAD man make that werenât built upon LIES ? baschâs vow to the young emperor was of guilt  ;  balthier couldnât imagine the man willingly stepping into his brotherâs skin had he not felt the need to. a soft sigh slanted the corner of his lips  ââ  a veil of casual provocation.    â  worry not, captain. why, i consider you my CLOSEST friend  ââââ  after fran, of course.  â
the insinuation weaved with candor shocked, though it hardly showed on his face. how EASY, much easier than it used to be during their journey  ;  hardly a fair comparison, considering the constant DANGERS during their quest, not to mention the gossiping ears  &&  spying eyes. but even now, heâd expected RESISTANCE or spiritless opposition to whatever daring suggestion he could come up with.  &&  of those, he had plenty.   â  âââ  is that so ?  â   deft fingers grasped the neck of the bottle, pouring out with abandon, body leaving forward, cutting the distance between them. across the table, basch looked more like himself  ;  loose but not yet submitting to his OWN skin. the weight of gabranth coiled still, etched faintly on the blondâs visage. red filled both glasses until the bottle emptied, nary a drop left inside. balthier remained still, relaxed, sight focused on the other, finger brushing against the curve of his own glass. beneath the table, one leather - clad foot stretched forward until it came in contact with the solid weight of muscled limb. his mouth softened into a hint of a smile, eyes turning dark with LUST  &&  slowly, he brought the glass up.   â  in that case, i might have something for you to savor.  â   a pause then, as his foot traveled further up  ;  the angle of it forced him to lean back just a fraction to cover up to what shouldâve been a calf, if not the back of a knee, but the hardness he felt instead made him stop. for a second, his mind clouded, the alcohol a haze murking his thoughts but not his desires  ââ  he did it again, foot going up  &&  down, a little harder this time  &&  frowned with disatisfaction when he received no immediate reaction.
   â  ââ  unless .. youâd rather be elsewhere ?  â   was it him ? no, no, it couldnât be. basch had just stated his own inclination for being there  &&  remaining so until he was summoned back to larsaâs hand.
   he provides a laugh, hoarse and deep towards balthier accusation. jealousy, envy  ...  he knew nothing of the sort. a waste of energy, it was. where he stands, and who he stands with, is not comparable  ...  though many are webbed with falsifications and layered masks.  â  of course fran is first and foremost.  it would be startling to think otherwise. â  ah, fran. the pirates longterm companion , the one he shares his skies with. yes, heâd never dare place himself  (  or anyone  ) above her. who was balthier without fran ?  not the balthier he has come to know. he respects their bond, much like vaan and paneloâs and views it as irreplaceable. though their story is a mystery left in the fog, they truly were admirable.
briefly, he feels a knock against his leg. feather-light, barely detectable. âtis nothing but the accidental collision of balthierâs foot to his. perhaps he should have worn a casual dress, but the lack of his armor makes him quiver. itâs harder to act as another without wearing an indentical attire, his knowledge of gabrathâs           noahâs civilian clothes falls short. heâll eschew suspicion in every possible way  ...  â  what is it that you have in mind, balthier ?  i have little opposition to offer.  â  a warmth encases his front, an effect from good spirits he appreciates. perhaps that is to blame for his more accommodating nature or maybe he truly missed the sky pirate. quick he had been to deem him worthy as respect without a second thought, which he still believes is true to this day. basch could fondly lose himself if he were to reach in the past, an activity he strives to keep himself away from. now he catches the telling glint in his eyes, the subtle hint of a smile  ...  everything settles into place. a corner of his mouth lifts up, fashioning the expression for himself.
   â            are you insinuating elsewhere with you  ?  â   he plays along, ignoring the subtle tenseness apparent in the air. fingers splay against the table, keeping attention centered on his company. he leans closer subtly, brows lifting a hair.  â  i have little faith in larsa summoning me back so suddenly. iâm yours for the time being.  â
