when things break bad...

Bad End AU Meme

Sometimes you want a fix-it AU. You want everyone to live, to be happy, to find love, so on and so forth. You want the bad guy to lose early, for victory and triumph. Those are great things. Those are happy things. But sometimes terrible things happen to good people and you want to get catharsis through making some characters suffer. We understand. We really do. Sometimes no one wins. Sometimes the villain wins. Sometimes even if the heroes win everything is for naught. Sometimes, things just don't end happily.
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Balthier settles in beside him, partly expecting this may become a long conversation, partly more tired from pitching the tent than he really feels he ought to be.

"They are in that category, yes. Anything where the actual people and events didn't literally happen, but there's a truth to them, either emotionally or in custom, though with some embellishment to make their points clearer. Myths, legends, children's tales all fit in. Most theater. Novels like these."

With Balthier close, David shifts so that it's easier for the man to relax. He doesn't want Balthier to have to move after all.

"I hadn't seen things like this before. How interesting."

"I quite enjoy them," Balthier agrees. "They always reminded me that while the truth exists, it can be bent and applied -- we can carve our own paths."

Which....maybe he's starting to believe again.

Well, that's interesting. David looks to the book in his hands again.

"And what of those of us who do not wish to carve our own paths?"

Balthier considers that. Once, he would have dismissed anyone who trusted their path wholeheartedly, but lately, it was something he admired. Something he wondered if he'd ever reach.

"I think there's value to understanding the paths of others, and affirming the one you're on. Following a path is as much a choice as deviating."

"I must determine what to do then," he said with a sigh, folding his hands over the book. If only he knew what to do with himself other than following Balthier. "There is a lot I am uncertain of."

Balthier lets out a sigh of his own, and honestly, it's nice to just -- have someone to talk to. "That makes two of us," he assures David. "Gathering information, sorting through options, sorting through what you even want...it takes time. And it always feels like being lost."

"So this feeling lost is not... bad?"

BEcause he feels bad about it. As bad as he can. He feels like he's stumbling through everything.

"It feels bad," Balthier admits. "Every time. But -- it's necessary. It's always when I collect myself, get back in touch with things, reset my compass. So no. I don't think it's bad."

And he hopes that's comforting. Because he can only imagine how hard this is the first time, with so much upheaval.

The Viera goes quiet, because it makes sense. And he has to think about all of this. It is quite a bit that he has to process. And this is best done quietly. Until, that is, he has a question.

"Have you reset your compass?"

Balthier is no stranger to Fran falling into silent thought, so he doesn't think much of it, other than a dull ache at her absence. His own mind is chewing through his words, clearer to him for having said it to someone else.

"Not yet," he admits. "I think it's going to take awhile. But -- I do think, for now, it has something to do with helping you adjust. And I'm grateful for that."

Helping him adjust was recalibrating the compass? How interesting. He had not expected to hear that, at all. But he supposed he wasn't going to argue with it.

"I hope that I have not made myself a burden to you."

Balthier lets out a low laugh at that. "I could say the same to you, though objectively I have certainly been one."

"You have not," David insists, reaching out to touch the other man's knee. But it was not as simple as that he supposed.

"You have guided me in new ways."

The gesture is extremely welcome, even if he doesn't show it past a smile. He's had so little touch these past months.

"Then you understand why you are not a burden to me either."

"I am not as certain of this, but I will accept it," he decides with a nod before putting his book aside. "Should we seek these hosts of yours?"

"We should, but I think I need a few minutes," Balthier admits. He nods at the book David sets aside. "I know this one pretty well. Read it aloud to me, wherever you are? I can answer any questions you have."

Read aloud? David considers then nods and reopens the book. He pulls out the strip of leather he was using as a mark and started to read. And give him credit, he had an amazing reading voice. It was low and soothing and he seemed to have the skill of narrating in a compelling way as well.

He does have a wonderful reading voice, and Balthier finds himself relaxing into a twilight space of meditation and memory, that voice anchoring him even as it guides him through the story.

He's aware he's starting to doze when he stops David. "Thank you for indulging me. I suspect I shall ask you to again. For now -- dinner?"

Ask him to do it again? How intriguing. And exciting. David offered a small smile before rising.

"Yes, that sounds wise."

They stow the books and walk back to the caravan, where a pit has been clearer to roast some animal and most everyone is gathering to eat. It smells wonderful, and they're greeted pleasantly.

"We can go whenever you wish," Balthier says lowly before they are in earshot, aware the Viera's ears can catch his soft voice. "I won't have the stamina to stay late regardless."

The comment is a kind one, not needed to be given and yet in the giving he granted David comfort with his own sense of agency. It earned the tiniest flick of an ear in acknowledgement as they moved toward the strangers.

"I would like to see what Hume cooking is like."

"That's right -- another area for you to discover. Food is one of the best parts of travel." And with David's skill and palette, Balthier expects that will be a joy.

Still, tonight, he's cognizant of his companion's newness and stays by his side, waving in acknowledgement of greetings and leading David to the large table laden with bright fabric and serving dishes of wonderful smelling foods. "Oh, they've brought spices from up north," Balthier says. "Try these two for certain," he says, pointing at dishes he suspects David will never have had but will enjoy based on his cooking.

It was rather busy here, but the scents were something he was quite taken with.

"If you think this is suitable, then I shall try it," he said contentedly.

Balthier is starting to recognize when David agrees not out of resignation, but out of pleasure to be guided, and it makes him glad to be useful and appreciated in that way.

The food is well-spiced, with meats and rices and and sauces and fresh vegetables. It's easy to fill his plate, and he takes a seat on placed cushions near a pole for the awning so that David can have no one but Balthier next to him should he choose.

"I've always liked the caravaners," Balthier says lowly. "They love to host guests."

Bad End AU Meme

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