How Fickle my Heart
09-27-2022, 09:22 PM
Balthier had been as settled as he could be inside The Hallows, but nothing would ever feel like home for him. Not without Azzurra. The easiest way to divert the memories and emotions that hurt him was to drink, but in the times he couldn't he filled with patrols or hunting for The Hallows. Anything to keep himself out of his head. He tried to be more responsible with his alcohol habit, at least try to make a good impression for his alpha and those that may have noticed around the pack. But that didn't really mean he was any better than when he had left Fenmyre.
Today he found himself more south of the pack. Partly in search of prey while they had been hard to come by in the unusually cold winter for Auster, but also it seemed to be where his paws wandered to get away. Always trying to get the escape even when everything could seem so perfect. He had a roof over his head, he had a job to do for the pack. That didn't fix any of the emotional damage as much as he may have wanted.
He caught the scent of someone nearby before he approached the falls and while he wasn't too interested in meeting anyone new his path still moved forward. He had learned to company of strangers was better than risking bad behavior inside the pack. He was more lonely than willing to admit. He could spot the fae before he came out of the tree lines into the small clearing of the falls. He didn't stop until he was just at the bank, watching her inside the water. In a way he was preying on her, but he wasn't so harsh. He was no bad apple at least.
He stood there silently for sometime as he watched her observe the plant she found despite the cold months brought to Auster. The water had to be cold, he thought it was a bit odd for her to take the swim just for a silly herb, or at least that seemed to be her intention. "Might catch frostbite if you're not careful." He spoke in a quiet tone, maybe expecting her to be flightly. His soft smile may have told her otherwise but he hadn't given up his presence until his voice hit the air.
"Balthier Destruction"
Today he found himself more south of the pack. Partly in search of prey while they had been hard to come by in the unusually cold winter for Auster, but also it seemed to be where his paws wandered to get away. Always trying to get the escape even when everything could seem so perfect. He had a roof over his head, he had a job to do for the pack. That didn't fix any of the emotional damage as much as he may have wanted.
He caught the scent of someone nearby before he approached the falls and while he wasn't too interested in meeting anyone new his path still moved forward. He had learned to company of strangers was better than risking bad behavior inside the pack. He was more lonely than willing to admit. He could spot the fae before he came out of the tree lines into the small clearing of the falls. He didn't stop until he was just at the bank, watching her inside the water. In a way he was preying on her, but he wasn't so harsh. He was no bad apple at least.
He stood there silently for sometime as he watched her observe the plant she found despite the cold months brought to Auster. The water had to be cold, he thought it was a bit odd for her to take the swim just for a silly herb, or at least that seemed to be her intention. "Might catch frostbite if you're not careful." He spoke in a quiet tone, maybe expecting her to be flightly. His soft smile may have told her otherwise but he hadn't given up his presence until his voice hit the air.
09-29-2022, 12:11 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-29-2022, 12:11 AM by Kiliaen. Edited 1 time in total.)
OOC | Full Disclosure. Hi. Newbie here. This is awkward ... I absolutely did not realize Auster seasons were opposite of Boreas seasons … so uhh … you’re going to have to forgive her winter flower, swimming, and her seemingly current interest in gardening ^^; Don’t mind me as I recon her into the appropriate setting lol.
10-01-2022, 09:11 PM
She gasped a little in surprise, he could expect it. He could play it off too. She made it easy in the way she reacted with a followed laughter. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you." He still looked across the lake with a gentle and warm smile, at least most others found him friendly enough. There wasn't a soul that saw the bad parts of him aside from his sister.
His chin tilted just a little as he showed interest when she spoke. He could say he wasn't so worried about bad outcomes in the day or in his future but with the harsh life he had so far it would be hard for him to fully let go of such a silly antic. There were so many things that the stranger couldn't know about him, and of course the other way around. He just assumed he had more things to hide or that he was self conscious about. As she made her way back to the bank where he was, he reached a paw out to help her out but wouldn't take so personal if she didn't.
He was much more the quiet type, but deep down he was in search of something with her. It wasn't just her specifically, and he knew it wasn't only just a friend. No one in their right mind would have spoken that out loud especially to someone they had just met. He wouldn't be so quick to jump either. He supposed he could, he was a relatively confident guy at that. But for now he'd play it off as just an average friendly encounter. Maybe it would go further from just that. "I've never been this far across Auster, do you live here at the falls?" He wasn't aware of the hidden caverns behind the crashing waters though they were probably close enough to the face of the cliffs for him to notice if he just took a closer look. His mind was much more occupied though. "Kiliaen is a beautiful name." He responded with that maybe growing familiar grin she had seen in the few moments they had met, "I'm Balthier." He waited just a moment before asking, "Did you want any help with that herb you were looking at?"
"Balthier Destruction"
His chin tilted just a little as he showed interest when she spoke. He could say he wasn't so worried about bad outcomes in the day or in his future but with the harsh life he had so far it would be hard for him to fully let go of such a silly antic. There were so many things that the stranger couldn't know about him, and of course the other way around. He just assumed he had more things to hide or that he was self conscious about. As she made her way back to the bank where he was, he reached a paw out to help her out but wouldn't take so personal if she didn't.
He was much more the quiet type, but deep down he was in search of something with her. It wasn't just her specifically, and he knew it wasn't only just a friend. No one in their right mind would have spoken that out loud especially to someone they had just met. He wouldn't be so quick to jump either. He supposed he could, he was a relatively confident guy at that. But for now he'd play it off as just an average friendly encounter. Maybe it would go further from just that. "I've never been this far across Auster, do you live here at the falls?" He wasn't aware of the hidden caverns behind the crashing waters though they were probably close enough to the face of the cliffs for him to notice if he just took a closer look. His mind was much more occupied though. "Kiliaen is a beautiful name." He responded with that maybe growing familiar grin she had seen in the few moments they had met, "I'm Balthier." He waited just a moment before asking, "Did you want any help with that herb you were looking at?"
10-06-2022, 06:32 PM
Balthier could look right through her, or at least in some way. The way she played off being a little startled, it was a general reaction of maybe not wanting to be embarrassed. He could see just the subtle look on her face as they met paws and he helped her out of the water. He knew what he was doing. It didn't make her odd in the slightest, and Balthier too just stayed with that friendly, intent grin on his maw. All of his attention seemed to be on her. "It's no problem." His voice ran out quiet, maybe a bit charming too.
His chin tilted a little again as she spoke of the sweetness in the caverns beyond the caves. And now that she mentioned it, he was sure that The Hallows had used some of the crystals in their wines. He had just never been here before. "I am familiar." His head dipped a little with a bigger smile as she called him kind which was a proud compliment to him. Aside from the last few seasons, he was raised to be so. Maybe not in a sense of royalty, but his father was a great man up until the point he left them. And there was a time Allegro was his biggest idol. He liked to think himself the way his father was before everything hit the fan, even if it was hidden behind some kind of faux character. It seemed he may have been following too closely in his pawsteps.
He was relatively responsive, but maybe Kiliaen could see he was much more on the quiet side of the spectrum. Maybe typical for a man, who knew. He gave thoughtful nods and hums to her, but otherwise didn't say much. He did want to keep up conversation with her though, and she seemed to help with that. "Home?" He questioned with the gentlest chuckle, "I grew up far east of the northern continent." Very far from here indeed. "I live just north of here in The Hallows now." He hummed a little again in another chuckle, "I did a bit of traveling for a couple months myself though, by raft rather than land." Now that he was in the mainlands of Auster opposed to the island of Fenmyre the raft was beached more than it was used. But it was also one of his past times to take it out on a night he didn't have a patrol. That way he could keep his drinking habits more to himself rather than inside the walls of the castle.
"Balthier Destruction"
His chin tilted a little again as she spoke of the sweetness in the caverns beyond the caves. And now that she mentioned it, he was sure that The Hallows had used some of the crystals in their wines. He had just never been here before. "I am familiar." His head dipped a little with a bigger smile as she called him kind which was a proud compliment to him. Aside from the last few seasons, he was raised to be so. Maybe not in a sense of royalty, but his father was a great man up until the point he left them. And there was a time Allegro was his biggest idol. He liked to think himself the way his father was before everything hit the fan, even if it was hidden behind some kind of faux character. It seemed he may have been following too closely in his pawsteps.
He was relatively responsive, but maybe Kiliaen could see he was much more on the quiet side of the spectrum. Maybe typical for a man, who knew. He gave thoughtful nods and hums to her, but otherwise didn't say much. He did want to keep up conversation with her though, and she seemed to help with that. "Home?" He questioned with the gentlest chuckle, "I grew up far east of the northern continent." Very far from here indeed. "I live just north of here in The Hallows now." He hummed a little again in another chuckle, "I did a bit of traveling for a couple months myself though, by raft rather than land." Now that he was in the mainlands of Auster opposed to the island of Fenmyre the raft was beached more than it was used. But it was also one of his past times to take it out on a night he didn't have a patrol. That way he could keep his drinking habits more to himself rather than inside the walls of the castle.
10-06-2022, 09:06 PM
Ominous, was just a silly way to describe the pack but now that she mentioned it he could see why. He had known The Hallows his whole life so he would have never really thought of the pack as ominous. She wasn't wrong though for the name that is. "I..." He paused for a moment because he was going back into a time in his life that he wanted to stay in a locked part of his memory. He knew of The Hallows, he had visited before they learned his mother was never coming to live in Abaven with them. And while The Hallows itself wasn't a bad part of his memory, there was a lot of history in just the short amount of time he had been associated. "The Hallows is relatively neutral politically, it serves as a safe space for those to heal and get their bearings. I've known them for quite some time, it's a pretty interesting place in the least." In regards to the castle that was, most wolves lived in dug out dens or mountain caves. The Hallows resided in an ancient structure.
He chuckled again as she suggested the sea wasn't really her forte, "Is that so?" He rose a testing brow, maybe as if he were judging her but not in any serious way. He supposed she was seeming like any usual girl, of course she'd have her own little quirks. Just an opinion for this one meeting. She'd ask about where he'd raft to which was a little bit of both honestly. "Me and my aunt built it when I was younger, I used to go out to the islands until we moved down here to Auster. Traveled a little bit until we settled down in a pack." He wasn't truly aware how much he was giving away about himself, or at least the hints. Something they may have gone deeper into later on. "You should try it at least once." He suggested, suggested with him of course and maybe he'd prod her a little more before they parted ways today. "As for the caverns..." He lifted a paw and pointed out to the falls, hoping she'd take the hint to show him inside.
"Balthier Destruction"
He chuckled again as she suggested the sea wasn't really her forte, "Is that so?" He rose a testing brow, maybe as if he were judging her but not in any serious way. He supposed she was seeming like any usual girl, of course she'd have her own little quirks. Just an opinion for this one meeting. She'd ask about where he'd raft to which was a little bit of both honestly. "Me and my aunt built it when I was younger, I used to go out to the islands until we moved down here to Auster. Traveled a little bit until we settled down in a pack." He wasn't truly aware how much he was giving away about himself, or at least the hints. Something they may have gone deeper into later on. "You should try it at least once." He suggested, suggested with him of course and maybe he'd prod her a little more before they parted ways today. "As for the caverns..." He lifted a paw and pointed out to the falls, hoping she'd take the hint to show him inside.
10-12-2022, 10:12 AM
He had to admire just her sense of fragility, innocence. It was maybe what was drawing him in more to her. But in all honesty, he wasn't quite picky. He didn't have much experience in this sense of others, in ways he was thinking that she may have never caught onto. And he'd hide those darker feelings well. He'd push them down himself a little. He knew he'd have to learn to do so.
"That depends on how far you go out. Though the silence over the water at night is very relaxing. You'd never think of anything underneath." He was trying to pull her in more to the idea, and he was sure over time he'd get her out there. That was, if there was ever a meeting after this. But he thought it was easy to think so. He believed she was being drawn to him the same way he was drawn to her.
The loud sounds of the crashing waters weren't bothersome to him as they moved behind the falls and into the sugar caverns. He had grown up in the rapids and while not quite the same as the falls it had a similar sound. They walked through a narrow path on their way to her hideout and Balthier kept his eyes directly over her rather than the path he walked. A silent compliment, a warm grin as she turned back to make sure he was making it through okay. How generous.
His eyes wandered over the sugar stalactites and the little camp she had set up for herself inside the caves. And once her voice rang through his ears, he looked back at her again with that same charming, hungry expression, "Very beautiful, worth every step down here." More than the sparkling cavern itself. He'd move over to the embers of the firepit, laying down and motioning with his paw, "Did you have more wood for the fire? I'd like to see to it you are warm and dry before heading off. Perhaps we can meet again." It was an offer, a hidden demand. But he hoped she'd like him enough to see him again. Otherwise he may have found himself tripping over her on accident.
"Balthier Destruction"
"That depends on how far you go out. Though the silence over the water at night is very relaxing. You'd never think of anything underneath." He was trying to pull her in more to the idea, and he was sure over time he'd get her out there. That was, if there was ever a meeting after this. But he thought it was easy to think so. He believed she was being drawn to him the same way he was drawn to her.
The loud sounds of the crashing waters weren't bothersome to him as they moved behind the falls and into the sugar caverns. He had grown up in the rapids and while not quite the same as the falls it had a similar sound. They walked through a narrow path on their way to her hideout and Balthier kept his eyes directly over her rather than the path he walked. A silent compliment, a warm grin as she turned back to make sure he was making it through okay. How generous.
His eyes wandered over the sugar stalactites and the little camp she had set up for herself inside the caves. And once her voice rang through his ears, he looked back at her again with that same charming, hungry expression, "Very beautiful, worth every step down here." More than the sparkling cavern itself. He'd move over to the embers of the firepit, laying down and motioning with his paw, "Did you have more wood for the fire? I'd like to see to it you are warm and dry before heading off. Perhaps we can meet again." It was an offer, a hidden demand. But he hoped she'd like him enough to see him again. Otherwise he may have found himself tripping over her on accident.
10-19-2022, 08:11 PM
He stayed still and comfortable as she drew the fire more, watching her as she seemed to be accustomed to this lifestyle on her own. He could almost relate, though he always had someone to share that life with at the end of the day. These days he was surrounded by the pack, but he was going to be alone at night. He was missing the days before everything was complicated and he did have that other to share more physical moments with. He probably would never admit that, but it was deep down in there. He had to tell himself he didn't miss Azzurra, it was his only way of moving on.
He smiled gently as she had mentioned the raft again, so he must of had her attention. It did make him feel admirable in a way. He did think a little more highly of himself than he truly was not that he was very blunt about it. But he did like that kind of attention. "Perfect." He responded to her asking if the fire was the way he wanted. He gestured again with his paw for her to lay down by the fire, and after some time he would get up to leave. But he would enjoy their quiet silence, or if she pressed on him any more small talk. He supposed he didn't want to encroach on her time for too long, as much as he may have wanted to see how far he could pressure her. He was a gentleman after all.
"I think it's safe to say you can take care of yourself for the rest of the evening." His paws were careful as he rose up off the stone floor of the caverns. "We'll see if I can find you out here again." It was a bit of a joke, a bit of an offer. Maybe she'd be waiting for him every day until then, or maybe that's what he liked to think. But he would be coming back for her.
"Balthier Destruction"
He smiled gently as she had mentioned the raft again, so he must of had her attention. It did make him feel admirable in a way. He did think a little more highly of himself than he truly was not that he was very blunt about it. But he did like that kind of attention. "Perfect." He responded to her asking if the fire was the way he wanted. He gestured again with his paw for her to lay down by the fire, and after some time he would get up to leave. But he would enjoy their quiet silence, or if she pressed on him any more small talk. He supposed he didn't want to encroach on her time for too long, as much as he may have wanted to see how far he could pressure her. He was a gentleman after all.
"I think it's safe to say you can take care of yourself for the rest of the evening." His paws were careful as he rose up off the stone floor of the caverns. "We'll see if I can find you out here again." It was a bit of a joke, a bit of an offer. Maybe she'd be waiting for him every day until then, or maybe that's what he liked to think. But he would be coming back for her.