when things break bad...

[ldfsh]

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.

• Top level your character. Include any details you might think are relevant. Or don't. As always, we're not the cops.
  
• Reply to other people's top levels!
  
• Have fun!

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[helpdesk_hero]

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."

[portolan]

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

[helpdesk_hero]

"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."

[portolan]

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."

[helpdesk_hero]

"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?"

[portolan]

"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."

[helpdesk_hero]

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.

[portolan]

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?"

[helpdesk_hero]

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

"Yes, that sounds wise."

[portolan]

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."

[helpdesk_hero]

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."

[portolan]

"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.

[helpdesk_hero]

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.

[portolan]

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."

[helpdesk_hero]

David does not fill his plate, instead choosing little bits of this and that. He doesn't wish to be a burden or to ask too much of their hosts. So he takes a bit of everything, joins Balthier, and is content to sit there.

"I would imagine most anyone would like to host you," David points out. He himself had never been hosted in this way though.

[portolan]

Balthier gives a chuckle at that. "I seem to be a polarizing taste. In high demand, or never wanted again."

[helpdesk_hero]

That doesn't sound right. At all. It makes David frown.

"I cannot believe it would be a binary."

[portolan]

Oh dear. He forgets Fran had learned to take him a little less literally.

"Turn of phrase," Balthier shrugs, but he offers it some consideration. "I do think, generally, I cause strong reactions, but maybe you're right that I shouldn't be so flippant."

[helpdesk_hero]

Was there a problem with strong reactions? He didn't even know.

"Is it not better to create strong reactions than to inspire ambivalence?"

[portolan]

"I certainly think it is," Balthier agrees. "Pros and cons to everything. I don't have to be everyone's cup of tea." And the truth was he wasn't a lot of people's.

[helpdesk_hero]

"There are many types of tea, even in the wood," David points out. "People may have those they like, or dislike, or are content with. That is how it works."

It seems logical to them.

[portolan]

"How is it you can make a thing that feels insurmountable feel simple," Balthier chuckles. Fran did it too. Anchored him. "I get stuck in the details sometimes, forget to look at the structure of the thing."

[helpdesk_hero]

"With age comes wisdom," David points out. And he is older than Balthier. Even if he doesn't know much about the world out of the Woods, he was still old enough to be practical on this.

[portolan]

"So there's hope for me yet," he teases.

[helpdesk_hero]

"With age you might well come to see such things," David said with a nod before staring into some of the food. And oh but how his face lights up. It was so good. Impossibly good even.

"This is a wonder!"