"Have you gotten taller?" Bastian asks in jest, as he's engulfed in an exuberant hug as warm and fond as this country. He's hardly short, but his friend seems to dwarf him now, seeming to have gotten larger in every way since their academy days.
Dara is foreign royalty who nowadays enjoys the comparatively simpler life of a duke, far from the line of succession being one of the younger of the former king's many children. They met when he was an exchange student at the academy. Bastian enjoyed his friendship, and they maintained frequent contact although their similar positions made it difficult to meet in person very often, even less so after Dara's first child was born.
Bastian doesn't believe he's changed much, but Dara certainly has. Not only does he seem taller, his biceps have grown larger, his skin a few shades darker, and he's grown out his dark red hair to keep it in a ponytail down his back.
Dara frees him from his hug with a toothy grin. "Hm, maybe? You're… less pale! I never thought I'd see the day!"
"Mm, I spent some time on a ship recently." It was terrible, but he did enjoy the sun.
Their conversation doesn't continue long. Dara notes how tired he still looks and lets him get settled in his guest room to recover from his long journey. Later, Bastian is led to the dining hall for dinner, where he's able to greet Dara's spouses, the Lady Carmen and Lord Teo, as well as their young children.
It's a noisier and friendlier meal than Bastian has been able to enjoy in a long time. The children are one and three respectively, and Dara and Carmen are both talkative in their own right and Teo's interjections are always meaningful. There is never an awkward silence as conversation flows freely between them, catching up on the things they couldn't properly speak of in their letters and reminiscing on their school days and the last they saw each other in person.
He's not oblivious to the careful skirting of the recent and very public events of his life. He appreciates the discretion. At least for tonight, Bastian does not intend to be haunted.
**
Officially, Bastian is here on business.
Unofficially, after losing friends, confronting them, and saving the world, Bastian needed a break. He couldn't go back to normal, not that 'normal' had been any good in the first place, and it was hard to think when awkward tension and unsettling reminders hovered in every room. It wasn't his idea to leave, but it didn't take much to convince him.
As soon as Bastian concludes his business the day after his arrival, he goes incognito down to the market. The bakery is particularly good, so Bastian returns the day after for brunch, at which point Lady Carmen discovers that he went out alone and scolds him for not bringing at least a servant. The next evening, Bastian accompanies Dara's family to the theater. The week after, he spends a few days in the capital, splitting his time between the library and museum until he's forced to leave; returning to Dara's estate is almost disappointing.
"We have plenty around here too," Dara says with exaggerated petulance.
"It's very nice here," Bastian assures him. "I simply enjoy how much there is to see in the capital."
Dara lets out an exaggerated sigh. "At least that curiosity of yours hasn't changed."
Bastian smiles back. "Never."
Sometimes it is obvious that this world is a romance fantasy—there are coincidences that are a bit too convenient and logic just a little to the left of logical—but it is nevertheless a realized world. There are countless things to learn, ancient records to discover. Proof that in every universe, humans are still humans.
And before Bastian was a duke's son, before he was even a teacher, he had been a history major.
**
Dara decides to join Bastian on the balcony outside of his room. It's another beautiful, cloudless night; stars wink at them overhead, constellations slightly different from the ones Bastian usually sees. At this time of year, the night air is only somewhat chilly but not enough that he needs more than a thin blanket over his shoulders.
In stark contrast to his daytime demeanor, Dara is quiet as he and Bastian share drinks on the little table between their chairs. There is a regality to him like this. With luck he will never have to become king, but when he is quiet and solemn, Bastian can see the potential ruler in him. It's in the gentle tap of his bulky fingers on the surface of the table, his slow and deliberate way of speaking, and in his keen gaze usually hidden behind his booming daylight grins.
"Would it ruin your good mood," says Dara, "if I were to ask why you really came?"
"Not at all," Bastian responds and sends him a gentle smile. "I was wondering how long you would be able to hold out."
Dara waves in his direction. "The floor is yours."
"Hmm, give me a moment."
Bastian sorts through the events which led him here in his mind, then after a minute says, "I have had a bit of a stressful few months. I'm sure you've heard the rumors—most of them false, do not worry. Things have settled down now and I intended to continue my work in the dukedom, but…" He slowly swirls the wine in his hand. "You see, one of the reasons I was so stressed was because I had an, I suppose it was an argument with one of my dearest friends. We've worked it out since, sort of, it's ongoing. Anyway, during one of the many conversations we had, she…" He huffs a laugh. "Well, she told me essentially that I needed to live my life, not as the future Duke Kostas, just as Bastian. And I realized she was right."
"She sounds like a good friend."
His smile widens. "Yes." He doesn't think she would believe it, and he can't claim that it's entirely true, not after everything. But he loves her, they're working on it, and—"She's the first one in this life to tell me to live selfishly."
Dara raises an eyebrow. "And this is selfish?"
"It's been quite some time since I've had a real vacation, you know?"
"You're still doing work."
"Barely. I work a few hours in the morning, then I spend the rest of my time in your library or with you and your lovely family. I'm completely serious when I say it's been a wonderful break."
"Have you become a workaholic, my friend?" Dara asks, lips twitching.
Bastian chuckles. "Have I?" Politics and leadership had never really been something he expected to do, but since he was born into it this life, he learned how and he worked diligently. It hasn't been enjoyable. If he were to put it all down, he doesn't think he would struggle not to return to it. Even now, he's not particularly anxious about the duchy; he trusts Cassidy's abilities, especially with Lysander to assist.
It would be difficult to leave, toss away his status as heir, but he could. The duke would support him. The black mark to his reputation would be negligible with time.
He shelves the idea away for later. Hellena would probably get angry with him again if she knew he was contemplating such ideas on his vacation. But he makes a note to talk to her about it when he gets back. She wanted him to ask for help, didn't she?
"Well, it's not something to think about now," he adds. "I'm on vacation."
Dara dips his head. "True. I do admit you look better now than you did when you first arrived. My kind Teo's efforts in putting meat on your bones has certainly paid off!" He lifts his chin proudly, as though his husband's accomplishments are his own.
"How can I not finish such delicious meals?" Teo's cooking is hearty and largely meat-based—it reminds him of the meals his father used to make. His first father, who once taught him how to cook as well. Teo is better than either of them ever were, though. "Do pass on my thanks once again."
"Of course! Shall we make a toast, then?" Dara lifts his glass, smiling broadly. "To my friend's good health."
Bastian smiles back and clinks his glass to Dara's, then savors the wine on his tongue.
After another few, quiet moments drinking and looking at the garden beyond the balcony, Dara asks, "So this had nothing to do with your kidnapping?"
"Actually, you remember that ship I mentioned?"
**
Iris arrives while Bastian is having breakfast with Dara's family. She wastes no time in expressing her displeasure at having been forced to stay in the duchy during the first half of his trip. Most would be appalled at her audacity to speak so plainly to him, but luckily for her, Dara cares little for formality. Bastian can see him and his spouses trying not to laugh across the table.
"And had I brought you with me, you would have complained about your orientation immediately upon our return," Bastian tells her. "Instead, I gave you time to familiarize yourself with the processes before you were forced to travel again. I'd say that's a much better deal." No one would have accepted her tagging along as his personal knight before her orientation anyway.
"What if something had happened to you though, Captain?"
"Can't be any worse than what already has."
"That's a horrible joke."
Bastian smiles serenely. "Stop calling me Captain."
She rolls her eyes. "Yes, my lord. Here, I brought letters for you. Your man has been like a wet puppy every day since you left, it's kind of gross."
He chooses to ignore the comment, and the fact that he can picture that perfectly. "Thank you."
"And who is this charming young knight, Lord Bastian?" Carmen interjects, smiling warmly.
"Ah, my apologies, Lady Carmen. This is Iris, she used to be my subordinate and has recently joined our Knights of Kostas. Iris, may I present to you my friends…"
To his complete lack of surprise, Iris gets along with Dara and his spouses like a house on fire. Bastian ignores Dara regaling her with tales of their academy days in favor of the letters. The ones which are clearly work-related he sets aside to open in private. There are a surprising number of personal ones not only from the guild but also the duchy.
Cassidy sends a personal letter separate from business, written together with Estella. It's clumsy and Estella is clearly the better with words. He appreciates the effort anyway. They're both so adorable. He wonders what face Cassidy would make if he told him that.
Lysander's letter is the thickest, which has him helplessly shaking his head. He is as verbose as always, writing in excruciating detail the happenings of life back home. Some of his usual affection comes across somewhat uncertain, but Bastian is a bit glad to read them still. 'I kept looking over to ask your opinion only to remember your absence.'
After finishing Lysander's letter, he opens Hellena's. It is, as expected, far thinner than Lysander's, a bit more perfunctory, but he can see the effort she's put in to writing it. He eagerly drinks in the updates, the gossip, and the awkward sincerity of her words. 'Have you remembered how to live your life yet, Bastian?'
Bastian smiles as he lowers the pages. He looks up. "Dara, would you mind terribly if I return to my room early? I have some letters to write."
"Of course not. I'll see you in the training yard after lunch?"
"Yes."
Iris falls into step behind him as he heads back to his room and appropriately stands guard outside the door. Inside, Bastian sits at the desk, grabs some paper and a pen, and begins to write.
My dear friend Hellena,
Thank you for telling me to go…
