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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"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.

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

"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!"

Balthier can't tell if David is teasing him or being dead serious, and shakes his head either way. But he grins when David lights up.

"Travel particularly suits people with good palettes, I think." It's good there will be some joy in this alongside the grief.

"Does it? I wonder what it takes to have a good a good palette," he says as he tries a bit more of the food. There will be some delights here, to enjoy the tastes the world has to offer.

"You already have one," Balthier laughs. "People who enjoy food, who can appreciate its different textures and flavors."

Does he? David wasn't certain. But he was humming happily around some fresh baked bread with herbs in it. This was so good to enjoy.

"There are so many flavors here that I didn't know before."

"Different plants, mostly," Balthier says. "The different climates produce such a huge range. The meats are different too, but the plants have a wider range."

"Different meats?" he asks as he dips his bread into the sauce of another dish. Which was wonderful.

"Different animals means different meats. We'll have to get you up north, and maybe down to the southern coasts." A wild thought, traveling that far again. But it feels, pleasant, almost like coming home in his own heart.

He won't question it too much today. It's nice to feel connected to anything after so long adrift.

"That's a lot of travel," he says, his voice thoughtful. Yes, that sounds about right. But he can approve of the plan.

"Show me these places, your world."

"It is," Balthier agrees. "Something I'm good at, that I'm happy the share my expertise on."

His world. Well, that's a good way to put it. He feels like he knows less and less about the world itself, but he can certainly show David what it's like from his eyes.

"We'll make it yours too," he promises. "The joy of meeting people is getting to see their version."

"I am not certain that joy of meeting is the goal," he says, shaking his head. "I am here to help you."

"Well, you've reminded me of the joy," Balthier says, having to look out across the gathering to keep his face straight. He'd lost sight of that, of himself. "You've already helped me more than I can say." And he's going to want to repay that.

Reminded him of joy? His ears twitch a little as he controls his shock.

"The Wood wished it of me."

Years ago, Balthier might have missed that ear twitch, but now it feels significant. It makes sense, that David doesn't understand friendship yet.

"She did," he agrees, "But plenty serve without real joy between people. I'm glad it's you I met. I'm glad the Wood had need of both of us."

He holds back on asking why in the wood would wish to call out for him to join the man. Surely if he was needed he wouldn't be cast out.

"You have healed much since we first met."

It's a fair question, and not one Balthier knows how to soothe.

Why were any of them made in ways that drove them from home?

To the statement, he looks away. It's a strange feeling. Relief. Guilt.

"I have," he says carefully. "Company is good for me. So is purpose." Because as far as he's concerned, the Wood has some greater plan for David, and he's here to enable that.

"Then you believe you've found a new one?"

Good, that is very good. David had thought that his duty to the Wood was to help the man find and serve his purpose.

"I have a heading, anyway," he agrees. "I'm learning to be more patient."

"We will make your world better, yes?"

They will protect the Humes and the Wood and all of the other places.

"That's the hope." And -- maybe they can. The bar is low. He failed the first time but ... it's still worth trying.

"Do not just hope. The Wood believes. So we will believe."

They will find a way to fight to their victory.

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when things break bad...

Bad End AU Meme

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I think wrap this thread but i'm down to do more with them

yay