@gousessive
“Smile harder,” Balthier says as he poses for the cameras, voice sickly sweet, smile twice so, lips never moving from their practiced, perfected placement.
If he stares directly into the white bright flashes long enough, he might manage to trick himself into believing there’s a drop of sincerity in their pretend, paper relationship. At the very least, maybe his eyesight will get so bad Ashe’s smile seems less forced. Not much can be done for the hand on his arm, so cold it burns through his immaculate suit, and no amount of make believe, Hollywood stardust will change that. But Balthier’s a take whatever small victory you can sort of person.
As if there’s any winning with Ashe on the opposite side of him.
“And by that, I mean softer, princess. I’ve seen more natural smiles on carved statues.”