dedon't worry about it (
deduety) wrote in
sleepytimejunction2021-10-06 07:26 pm
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⚘ two giant handsome men

[The greenhouse is one of the few spots that Dedue feels comfortable enough in. He's given plenty of space usually by other students and staff, so he has little to be concerned for as he tends to the plants. That being said, he's also quite used to people hovering, whether being wary of him or being curious. Neither really matters as Dedue minds his business and continues to work.
It's not often that Balthus is out of Abyss, though.
For several minutes, he is quiet, disposing of weeds into a basket before he's watering some of the plants. Some are left alone as they don't need as much attention.
Eventually, he finally addresses Balthus.]
What is it?
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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.
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[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.]
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[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.
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[He shrugs.]
Anyway, thanks, pal. It'd mean a lot to me, seeing one of those trees growing around here.
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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?
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[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.
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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.]
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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!
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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.
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[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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...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?
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[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.
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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.
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[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.
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[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.
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[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?
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[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.]
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[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.
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...But I would hear your thoughts on such things. As I have little perspective.
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[He shrugs a little.]
Pretty nasty stuff can happen when you defy the will of the goddess. Especially when it comes to thinking you've got a right to hold something she didn't make for you.
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He bears no ill will toward her specifically, but he also doesn't have any love for her in particular. There's a thoughtful frown on his face for a moment.]
So one without a Crest should not wield these items. I wonder what these bandits hope to achieve, then.
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[He stares at the contents of his mug.]
I, uh. Assume you don't have one. People'd treat you better if you did. Treated me better when they figured out I did, too.
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There are no Crests in Duscur. But as I understand it, there are both benefits and complications to having one. I envy no one who bears a Crest.
In this world, there is no ideal position to be in. Not yet.
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But that doesn't mean they don't sometimes turn up where they don't belong. Things have a funny way of happening with or without the church's approval.
[He cocks an eyebrow.]
Not "yet"?
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But yes. I'm aware of your situation, with you and your friends.
[There's a pause, and the way Dedue has another drink from his tankard is almost something akin to shy.]
...His Highness made a promise to me, when we were children. That when he became king, he would bring justice for Duscur. I think he is capable, and that he would also fight for people who cannot fight for themselves.
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