sleepytimejunction | ⚘ two giant handsome men

[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?

I had no expectations that I would fed. I ate prior to coming, but do not let that stop you from ordering for yourself.

...Thank you for asking.

[That and, truthfully, he isn't certain how the food down here even is. He has enough of a culture clash up above, after all.]

Does Abyss struggle to get proper food?

Well, all right. But speak up if you change your mind!

[At Balthus's signal, the barkeep brings over a slightly dented metal tankard of ale for Dedue, and then heads back with Balthus's request for a spicy meat pie, which he cheerfully advises will be out in twenty minutes or so.

Meanwhile, at the table, Balthus sobers a little in response to the question.]

...Everybody struggles down here. We do all right, mostly, but when times get hard...well, they get hard here first.

[He laughs, under his breath.]

We're under good management, though. Helps keep the order. So we scrounge and we scrap and we make do — and we make sure to enjoy our nights of bounty when we've got 'em.

[For a moment, Dedue is quiet. The tankard is imperfect, and that is somehow satisfying to see. He thinks of the smell of molten metal, his father working. To him, the imperfections were beautiful, more than the fine dinnerware in the castle of Fhirdiad.]

Then I am not surprised at how impressed His Highness was with Abyss. The people and their resilience were things he mentioned first.

[He wonders how much his fellow Duscan people suffer now, also making use of what meager spoils they come upon.

Dedue is not ungrateful to Dimitri. That's impossible. But there are occasions, like this one, that do put things into perspective. Out of everything he has endured, at least Dedue's never struggled to eat.]

I see. I apologize for asking. I do not mean to make light of the difficult life down here.

What've you got to apologize for? Most people wouldn't bother to ask.

[Some people might consider it folly, to tip their chair back onto its two hind legs when 1) they've been drinking and 2) it's already a little bit rickety to begin with, but Balthus is fearless and does it effortlessly, rocking slightly back and forth with the lackadaisical nature of it all.]

"The world turned its back on us, so we turned our backs on the world." It goes both ways, see? So maybe the world made us outcasts. That doesn't mean we won't still stick together on our own.

No, I suppose they wouldn't.

[Fearless or foolish. Perhaps both. Dedue arches a brow and watches Balthus risk a broken neck, feeling himself prepared in case the other man ends up falling. Not before he tries the beer. It isn't actually terrible, which is the surprising part. He's had enough of Fodlan wines and has never really had a taste for it.]

I've no doubt. It is unsurprising and disappointing to know the struggles... but in a way, perhaps that only strengthens the resolve.

You do a great impression of our resident oracle. She's full of sage wisdom, too.

[It's hard to guess how a guy like Dedue will react to that sort of teasing. He's so stiff, he might not see it for what it is at first, Balthus muses. But hopefully he'll catch on. It'd be nice to see the guy crack a smile before he leaves the hospitality of Abyss.]

Been keeping after the garden? How are things, topside?

Hm. Only if it's about sage.

[It's hard to tell if he's joking in return. Dedue's face is exactly the same, and so is his tone. At least he's regularly drinking from the tankard.]

Of course. Your seeds are sprouting. It is a good sign, but I will have more confidence in them when they grow more.

Aside from that, we are to go on a mission to retrieve a Hero's Relic at the end of the moon from bandits.

[Dedue doesn't have any clear opinions on that matter. The relics mean little to him, beyond what is important to Dimitri.]

...Oh, yeah? A Hero's Relic, huh.

[Dedue may not have any opinions on that, but Balthus's face certainly darkens a little at the mention, his chair clunking as all four legs hit the ground again.]

I'd be careful messing around with all that, Dedue. Relics like those can be bad news in the hands of people who aren't meant to hold 'em.

As I understand it, it is intended that we retrieve it for House Gautier and the Church.

...But I would hear your thoughts on such things. As I have little perspective.

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