❛ so it does. ❜ 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. ❛ not jealous, are you ? ❜ after all, what ties could a DEAD man make that weren’t built upon LIES ? basch’s vow to the young emperor was of guilt ; balthier couldn’t imagine the man willingly stepping into his brother’s skin had he not felt the need to. a soft sigh slanted the corner of his lips —— a veil of casual provocation. ❛ worry not, captain. why, i consider you my CLOSEST friend ———— after fran, of course. ❜
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, he’d expected RESISTANCE or spiritless opposition to whatever daring suggestion he could come up with. && of those, he had plenty. ❛ ——— is that so ? ❜ 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 blond’s 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. ❛ in that case, i might have something for you to savor. ❜ 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 should’ve 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 —— he did it again, foot going up && down, a little harder this time && frowned with disatisfaction when he received no immediate reaction.
❛ —— unless .. you’d rather be elsewhere ? ❜ was it him ? no, no, it couldn’t be. basch had just stated his own inclination for being there && remaining so until he was summoned back to larsa’s hand.
