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Mm, it already smells great!

[He lets Ashe in, motioning him toward the little kitchen off the main room of his apartment, which is done up in a lot of exposed brick and dull metal, giving the room warmth while also kind of making it feel a little bit like a basement. Not surprising that it's a good pick for Balthus, all things considered.]

C'mon in, make yourself at home. It's good to see you. You, ah, talked to the professor or anybody lately?

Good! They should be piping hot still. They make these great containers that keeps food warm for awhile. It's really handy.

[The apartment actually makes him feel a little nostalgic, much in the way that Byleth's manor does. Whereas the manor makes him feel like he's closer to Garreg Mach, this makes him think of Abyss. Both places he doesn't mind remembering.]

It's good to see you too, Balthus. Oh, I live with the Professor now since he has that farm, that's why I was packing up. Which is convenient since my horse is here.

Otherwise, I talk to almost everyone else regularly. [Almost.]

Right, right. And your cat, yeah? Loog?

[He was paying attention! Also, he heads over to one of the cabinets to retrieve some plates and such, because they are all on a shelf sized to the reach of a 6'6" man, and Ashe really doesn't stand a chance unless he wants to literally climb the furniture.]

Hey, listen. I'm not in any rush or anything, but I figure if there's anything you want to clear the air about before we try this Synchrony business, I'm listening, all right? Like you said, I know it can get kind of personal.

Yeah, and him.

[Ashe is pleased that Balthus remembers! But the mention of clearing the air... hm. He understands that. He hesitates, but eventually he nods reluctantly.]

I had a... I don't know, disagreement? Argument? I don't even know what you'd call it, but Claude and I are at odds right now. So I guess... that's the biggest thing I can think of.

[When your biggest personal problem is Claude and not Edelgard, well, that's kind of concerning. What can you do.]

Hm. I'm sorry about that, but I guess it's not too surprising. He's an interesting guy, that Claude. I dunno how much you know about Alliance politics, but I'll tell you something — he's a slippery one even by those standards.

[But he hands over the plates and utensils to Ashe, then lets his free hand clap down onto his shoulder.]

I met his mom a couple times when I was younger. Whew! What a lady. You could look a hundred years and not find another woman like that, I tell you.

Nothing ever seems to be straightforward with him. It's a little tough.

[The hand on his shoulder does bring him back to attention, and then he can't help but chuckle at the mention of Claude's mom.]

You seem to know a lot of people. I actually didn't know that you knew her along with Holst. Was she at the academy with you too?

Not when I was there, no — which doesn't mean she didn't go, just that it wasn't where I saw her around. She was the only daughter of Duke Riegan, a real high-society lady. I saw her sometimes at balls and such when I was still the heir apparent to House Albrecht.

[He grins.]

Holst and I were both over the moon for her. Oh, he probably stood a better chance, being a future duke and all, but what can I say? There's no match for the Unrivaled King of Grappling's rakish charms, you know!

[The conversation does actually put him at ease. Not that he'd expect Balthus to be any different no matter when he'd meet him, but it's still just charming and nice to be around him like this.]

You should tell me more stories about Holst sometime. You two sound like you got up to a lot.

[He also isn't entirely certain how much of Almyra he should mention. True, he's at odds with Claude right now, but Ashe absolutely respects his personal information. So, for now, he keeps it to himself.]

I guess there's one more thing I should try to air out. I don't know how much Yuri told you, but... I wanted to make sure you at least understood. I, ah-- the whole thing with Aelfric and the Chalice. That happened about five years ago for me. I'm not really good at explaining this circumstance, but I wanted to be honest with you about that too.

You better believe it! We were inseparable even before our Academy days. C'mon, let's unpack some of that food and go sit down, and I'll tell you whatever you want to hear about while we get some Synchrony started.

[A little bit of his enthusiasm does dissipate when Ashe mentions the timeskip, but on the other hand, it's Balthus — it's pretty hard for anything to diminish his boisterousness entirely.]

...Yeah, he filled me in on all that. People remembering different things happening, and living through more or less than other people. I hear I've got a lot to look forward to in the next five years, and none of it's very good.

Sounds good.

[There's brief hesitation on Balthus' reaction. It's not something Ashe is enthusiastic to discuss, but he'd have been unhappier if he kept it from him.]

I'd tell you what happens, but I'm actually not sure how things will turn out. So I guess all I can suggest is just think about what makes you happiest and move forward. Either way, I just wanted you to know and clear the air.

I appreciate that, pal. Look, so long as we fought on the same side in that whole thing, that's enough for me. Don't worry about the rest of it, at least not as far as I'm concerned.

[He thinks a minute.]

As for me...well, the only thing I can think of is you might feel some of the stuff I felt during the Rite. Not really the most pleasant, having your blood drained out of you. If that starts happening, though, let me know and we can break it off. All right?

According to my memories, definitely we were.

Got it. Okay. I think I'll be all right, but I'll keep it in mind.

[Ashe opens up the container holding the potstickers. It'll be a nice reward for when they're done.]

So we can do this in a number of ways. Holding hands, hugging -- stuff like that. What do you prefer?

Hmm. Well, it'd be pretty hard to eat if we're holding hands, and that makes problems for hugging, as well. But how about...

[He glances around, before finally his gaze alights on the couch.]

How about we sit over there, and you lean on me? Will that work?

I think that should be good, so long as we're making contact! All right, let's do that.

[So Ashe finishes unpacking the potstickers with their sauce and he goes to set it down on the coffee table by the couch. Sitting down, he makes sure to give Balthus plenty of room considering how sizable he is.]

Great! Here goes nothing.

[He heads over to the couch as well, sinking down onto it and sort of regarding their positioning for a moment before slinging an arm around Ashe's shoulders and tugging him in against his side, where thanks to their height difference he nestles in perfectly.]

There. Now you can hold the plate and we've both got a hand to reach it, huh? Perfect.

[Being tugged close suddenly makes him squeak a little, but it definitely emphasizes just how large Balthus is. Ashe smiles bashfully to himself and lets himself relax, getting close and leaning on the larger man.]

Perfect.

[Eyes slide close, and he focuses on opening up the Synchrony, just letting his calmness come through, how at ease he feels. It's pretty cozy, actually.

With a fork -- because he has no concept of chopsticks -- Ashe eats one of the potstickers.]

How's that?

...Huh.

[Because it is kind of nice, actually, and not an altogether unfamiliar feeling, either. Beneath the waistband of his pants, his Crest-shaped gemstone glows faintly to life in response to the Synchrony being initiated, and for a few seconds he joins Ashe in lounging with his eyes closed, feeling out the new connection.

Despite all appearances, he's wound tighter than Ashe is right now, probably. It's a vague tension that starts out nebulous but gradually begins to take a clearer shape the longer they rest against each other — a sort of latent frustration, the feeling of trying to fit a square peg through a round hole, of swimming against a tide and making little progress forward, while at the same time avoiding the temptation to surrender to the undertow.

It's the feeling of a person accustomed to fighting, only now the battle isn't against an enemy he can defeat; it's against an environment that's foreign to him, and circumstances that are strange, and a poignant desire to embark on a journey while having little to no idea how to even begin.]

[It must be difficult, he thinks, in order to find one's fitting in a place like this. When it's less clear for them to figure out how to live their lives. Ashe had been in a similar position, shaken from going right from a war to a fairly calm lifestyle. Admittedly, he thinks that he's adapted faster than most, more glad to be without fighting. For Balthus, that must be harder when he prefers a lot of action.

Ashe leans his cheek against his shoulder, finding himself understanding a bit better. He does try to give more warmth, reassurance, even relief that Balthus is here right now. It's hard, but Ashe does appreciate that he's present now, and he certainly has no doubt that Yuri must feel that way too.]

It'll be okay.

Aw, pal. You don't need to worry about cheering me up.

[But he's still tightening his arm a little around Ashe anyway, like his sense of being at ease is a lifeline — or at the very least, a buoy in the midst of the current Balthus is swimming against.]

You guys have been through a five-year war. A couple of rough days on my part are nothing, next to that.

[A sheepish laugh escapes him.]

I know. But I care a lot about my friends. I want to do my best for you.

Is that so.

[That's a satisfied sort of remark he offers, as he finds his fork and reaches over Ashe to spear one of the potstickers before bringing it up to his mouth. Yeah, with a much longer reach than Ashe has, this configuration is pretty ideal, really.]

And has someone got your back, the way that you've got theirs? Someone with that same feeling about you that you have for them.

That's a good question. I like to think so, at least to some degree.

[Mostly, he thinks about Bernadetta and Byleth. The former surprisingly having so many similar interests as him, and wise in her way. The Professor has always been a reliable friend, of course. But they both have their priorities; that's something Ashe has accepted, even if it hurts a little.

He almost does it again. He thinks briefly on Khalid, annoyed at how evidently the other man would prefer to be intimate instead of being friends, making it fairly clear where his preferences would be. Ashe turns his head, trying to clear it, trying to think of better things. His date with Bernadetta, Byleth's warmth. It's nice, and he does like it, but there's just something bittersweet about it too.]

Ah, sorry. Here I am... just getting caught up in my own head. Sorry, let me try to think of something nicer.

C'mon, now, don't be like that. You shouldn't keep stuff like that locked up; it'll just make you crazy, pal.

[Idly, he runs his hand up and down Ashe's arm, keeping him snug against his side. It's not a whole lot, but it brings back memories of sneaking out at night to look at the stars high above the monastery, from the shadows and hidden places topside where the residents of Abyss knew they wouldn't be seen or noticed. He remembers it was always cold, but it bothered the others more than it bothered him, so they'd all end up burrowing against his side just like this sooner or later.

The saddest part is how fast he picks up on what Ashe is feeling, on his vague and inchoate frustrations. How subconsciously he already knows the remedy for such things, distance and patience and giving the other person ample room to be stupid in the most head-scratching possible ways.]

If you need a break, then let me take a crack at it. I told you I'd tell you some great stories about me and Holst from back in the day, right?

I don't really even know what to do with it.

[Except wait. And waiting is hard, but it's all that he can do while everyone just kind of sorts themselves out, Ashe included. But the contact from Balthus is nice and he closes his eyes, distracted for a moment.

Then he lets out a soft chuckle at the offer.]

You know what? Sure. I'd love to hear about you and Holst.

[He reaches over, taking the plate and replacing it on the coffee table before pulling Ashe more securely against him, leaned over enough that it's natural to kick his feet up onto the couch and lounge if he sees fit, rather than just sitting.]

All right, so. This one time when we were younger, Hilda wanted to go for a walk in the woods — the ones near Fódlan's Throat. So out we go, 'cause Holst could never say no to Hilda for anything, and wouldn't you know it, while we're out walking this big horde of monsters comes out of nowhere and approaches us.

Now, Holst, he's carrying his practice sword, right? Just one of those ones made of wood, nothing with a blade. And I've got my fists of course, but even that against a whole mess of monsters — whew! But Holst whips out his sword and he says to me, Balthus, you take Hilda and run, and you don't stop for anything. You run until she's safe, even if it kills you.

[He laughs, softly.]

It about did! I put her on my back and ran all the way back to Duke Goneril's manor. Not a short run, let me tell you! Hilda was crying and crying, and as soon as I got her back, I dropped to my knees and threw up. A waste of a good lunch, that's for sure.

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