sleepytimejunction | ⚘ two giant handsome men

[He still gets letters from Holst pretty often, even despite his self-imposed blackout on letting his best buddy ever find out anything about where he is, what he's doing, or just how up to his eyeballs in debt he might be at any given moment. It's probably only to be expected, given the far reach of the Gonerils; Holst might just be one of the few lords in the Alliance who even could have him tracked down with impunity, and not risk the wrath of Duke Gloucester.

Or, like. Maybe Hilda just told him. That's probably the more likely thought.

Regardless, his most recent letter had turned up with a gift inside — a packet of good old Almyran pine needles for making tea out of, but with a couple of seed pods tucked away inside, too. Maybe that was just an accident. Probably he should've just tossed them and enjoyed his tea.

But something inside him drove him to the greenhouse anyway — maybe some weird ache of nostalgia for fond memories he's left behind, or maybe just the strange desire to keep a piece of Holst close at hand, when his best friend is now and always so damn far away.]

Hey. You're, uh...that guy, right? The Prince of Faerghus's guy. How's it going?

[He says, cheerfully, utterly unmindful of the fact that the greenhouse is typically kept quiet, and that idle passerby typically don't talk to the Duscur man who likes to spend time there.]

Don't mind me. I just came in here to plant something, is all.

[It's a very informal way to address... well, anyone. But Balthus is not exactly wrong and doesn't appear to mean insult, so he doesn't correct anything.]

You do not appear to be someone who does much gardening.

[That, in turn, is not meant to be insulting, but just a blunt observation. Balthus praises himself for fighting, and if he has any other skills then Dedue truthfully does not know about it. He isn't a poor student to the Professor in the least, but it's different than how Sylvain pretends to be an idiot.]

What are you planting?

Hah! You got that right. Tell you the truth, I kind of can't stand it!

[Which is quite a thing to say to a man who spends the vast majority of his leisure hours in the greenhouse, but there's something so painfully earnest about the way Balthus says it that it's not even that he's being unintentionally derogatory; he's just so painfully honest about his own preferences, and completely unabashed about stating them.]

My buddy sent me these seeds, though. And I kinda figured maybe if I stuck 'em in the dirt, they'd start growing. Better than just letting 'em dry out and blow away, I figure.

[It's a strange thing, but at the same time it's almost refreshing how up front Balthus is about his likes, dislikes, and intentions. There are far too many people in Fodlan who definitely do not say what they mean.

Dedue glances over his shoulder at the other plants, as if considering how he himself would make space for the seeds.]

I am able to show you how to plant it, if you wish. However, as you do not enjoy the task, I can do it myself.

Almyran pines take time to become saplings, but once they are to that stage, they are hardy and difficult to kill. ...They are not unlike trees of Duscur.

Huh. Really? Isn't Duscur way up in the north, though? Guess I never really thought that the trees up there would be anything like the ones out east...

[And he's still not interested in gardening, but he can't deny that his interest is a little piqued at this new information.]

I can't just have you doing work on my behalf, though, and not getting anything in return. How about I buy you a drink, huh? I've got a tab going down at the Wilted Rose. A little more added onto it won't be any problem.

They are similar. Like cousins, I suppose. The point is that such trees are able to survive difficult weather. I am told that at night Almyra is just as cold as anywhere in Faerghus. Obviously there are other trees and plants that are extremely different.

[Ah. Maybe it was foolish to share as much. He knows Balthus just said he has no real interest, but this is one of the things Dedue has been able to enjoy after so long.]

That is not necessary.

[Honestly, he didn't expect that kind of invitation. It's a bit more friendly than he'd anticipated from most people. Balthus really is an odd one, isn't he?]

Sure it's necessary! What kind of a man do you think I am? As though I'd go around asking favors without paying them back.

[Okay, so technically he does that when it comes to borrowing money...kind of a lot, but this isn't about money, now is it! This is about Holst, and therefore it is sacred.]

Look, I get it. An upstanding guy like you probably doesn't want to be seen around riffraff like me. But it's not like that down in Abyss, all right? We're all on equal footing downstairs.

I was under the impression you had an impressive amount of debt.

[His tone is just a bit flatter than usual, but he does not press that part further. Balthus' debt doesn't actually matter to him at all.

There's a thoughtful frown on his face, though.]

Is that what you think? It should be the opposite. You are speaking to a man from Duscur. If anything, it is my presence that would detriment to others.

Pretty sure I'm speaking to the only guy the next king of Faerghus takes with him everywhere he goes, pal. Nice guy, that Dimitri. He's real popular down in our neck of the woods.

[Not that that's exactly surprising, really. Of the three monastery lords, Dimitri is far less severe than Edelgard and far more forthright than Claude. The fact that he's the perfect ideal of a blond-haired blue-eyed savior prince on a literal white horse certainly isn't hurting anything, either.]

But just what "others" do you think I'm so worried about, anyway?

[There's a brief pause as Dedue considers. Well, Balthus isn't wrong by all accounts. Though Dedue is aware of also the darkness in Dimitri's heart, he is also aware of how much he cares about others to an almost deadly amount. He is a good man, and Dedue is fortunate to be by his side.

And Balthus is not wrong about the last part as well.]

My being from Duscur is not the same as you are an inhabitant of Abyss.

[Another pause. Then, the faintest hint of a smile.]

...But you do have a point. It would not be your reputation at stake if you were in my company.

Oh, yeah? Maybe you'll have to tell me all about how it's so different, sometime. Plenty of time for storytelling when it's over a drink.

[He grins, all but beaming in comparison to Dedue's much more subdued amusement, but equally approving nevertheless.]

Anyway, here. These are the seeds. Think you can work some magic with 'em?

[And he produces a little bag, offering them to Dedue.]

We will see.

[It is a bit odd, but he cannot perceive Balthus' behavior as anything but genuine.

He takes the bag, glancing inside. Then, he nods.]

I believe I will be able to. I will take care of these, and your trust I will do a proper job of it.

Guess we will! And, uh...sorry. What'd you say your name was?

[To Balthus's credit, he actually has the decency to look sheepish about having to ask.]

Don't get me wrong, I know who you are. It's just slipping my mind, is all.

[There's an arch of Dedue's brow, but he doesn't look offended. Honestly, he'd rather be asked than be called something derogatory as he often has been in the past.]

It is fine. I have the advantage. His Highness explained much of what he experienced with you and the rest of the Ashen Wolves.

I am Dedue. Vassal to His Highness.

Dedue! Hey, now I've got it, and you can be sure I won't forget it.

[And just to make things official, he sticks out his gloved hand, bold and amicable.]

King of Grappling, Balthus von Albrecht. Though I hear you're not bad on the battlefield, yourself!

[A bit of a strange circumstance he's found himself in. There are some like Mercedes, Ashe, and Annette who thoroughly aggress in their friendship, but with some awareness of Dedue's circumstances anyway.

Yet, Balthus unabashedly treats him no doubt like he treats anyone else. It's... interesting.

He takes the hand hesitantly, mostly because he is confused.]

I must use my might to defend His Highness. I refuse to be anything less than what he needs to his defenses.

Oh, yeah, then we should definitely brawl sometime. Tell you a secret, that Dimitri guy's on my list, too. I saw him throwing punches one time at some training dummies on the grounds, and whew! Tore a couple of 'em clean in half. I've never seen anything like it. Damn, I'd love to fight him sometime. I bet he could put me through a wall!

[Balthus von Albrecht talks about Prince and Heir Apparent Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd's fighting prowess the way that children in 1992 talked about wanting a TalkBoy™ tape recorder for Christmas.]

...Or, uh. I mean. There's nothing wrong with gardening, though, if that's what you like to do. You know, all that...watering?

[Nice save.]

He likely could, literally. In any case, I've no doubt His Highness would approve of additional training. As would I. Though I do lack finesse in hand-to-hand combat.

[Dedue shakes his head at Balthus' attempt to meet him halfway.]

You do not need to attempt to be interested in gardening on my behalf. You dislike it, and your reasons are your own. It does not bother me.

Well, that goes both ways, doesn't it? Just 'cause I don't like it doesn't mean I should be getting down on it in front of you, I guess. Especially knowing that you do like it.

[He shrugs.]

Anyway, thanks, pal. It'd mean a lot to me, seeing one of those trees growing around here.

[This is just baffling to Dedue. Not just the amicable nature delivered to him, but also the consideration. It's a rare interaction to have, and Dedue is quiet for a moment.]

You are an odd one, Balthus.

I will take care of your seeds. Should you still see fit, I will join you in Abyss on a day of your choosing. Will that work?

Hah, you think so? Well, at least I'm still good-looking!

[He laughs, raking a hand through his hair as though the topic of his looks was ever actually a serious consideration in this conversation, and then half-turns in the direction of the exit.]

But yeah, I'll look forward to it. See you around, Dedue.

[The farewell earns a nod, ending the interaction.

It stays in his thoughts for awhile, more than he expects. It just strikes him as odd how casual and friendly the whole thing had been. There aren't many who would treat Dedue like that, especially since he does not really excel with conversation. Yet, that doesn't seem to bother Balthus in the least. It's oddly refreshing. Or perhaps Balthus will become bored with him once the novelty has worn off engaging in interactions with someone like Dedue. That is also possible.

Eventually, he does make his way to Abyss per the invitation made. It's... a colorful experience, yet so mundane. While no other people of Duscur are here, he's given a glance over out of mere curiosity by some rather than a suspicious glare. Even the children that are here don't seem to think twice about him, which is different from how often he's caused them to cry on the surface. It's strange, and he's almost at a loss for it.

The tavern in question is not far from the entrance, making it easy enough to find. He doesn't indulge in drink much and he still doesn't really plan to, but perhaps his being here will be enough.]

[Dedue chooses a good day for a visit, and not just because the Wilted Rose has gotten in a fresh cask of ale that, while nowhere near worthy of being described as "the good stuff", is still at least somewhat better than the everyday swill they're all sort of used to down in Abyss. Besides just good fortune with the day's alcohol, he's also chosen a day when Balthus has fortuitously come into a pouchful of coins, which means his tab can ride for another night without much complaint because this time he's paying up-front.

He's only a beer or two in when Dedue turns up in the doorway, looking unusually dapper and clean-cut among the usual Abyssian riffraff — a description he hands out to his fellows in the kindest possible way — and so the fact that he's shameless about waving expansively at Dedue from his spot at the third-best table in the house is more to do with just being pleased to see him than it is anything to do with a lack of inhibitions.]

Well, well, look who it is! Hey, over here, pal! Good to see you, c'mon and take a load off!

[It's quickly occurring to Dedue that the most he stands out in is indeed his posture and uniform. However, he has no intention of dressing down; that could reflect poorly on Dimitri, something he would never do.

Still, Balthus seems happy. The drink probably doesn't hurt.

Dedue approaches, taking a seat next to the other man. Even then, Dedue is rigid.]

You are in good spirits.

You bet! Hey, you picked a great night to swing by. A flock of pheasants turned up in the woods not far from the monastery, and we managed to bag us a fair few of 'em! So it's good eating and good drinking here in the Wilted Rose tonight.

[As Dedue sits, Balthus motions vigorously to the barkeep, beckoning him toward their table.]

Hey, look alive, will you? Let me get a round for my friend over here! Oh, and, uh...

[He glances at Dedue, questioning.]

Something to eat? Did you come hungry?

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