When the sun began its descent below the horizon, the fawn-spotted fae knew it was time for her to return to the castle. While the dusky twilight had set in to overtake the world, she was met with the warm glow of firelight as soon as she crossed the threshold of the front door and into the foyer. And while she was vaguely aware of voices coming from the Great Hall to her left, she decided to seek the quiet of the lounge. Turning right, she made her way to the destination in mind.

Immediately on entry, she gravitated to the chaise that was positioned near a window that provided a good view of the gardens. Hauling herself into its seat, she nestled against the armrest, allowing her chin to rest on its crest. It wouldn’t be long before Momma or Daddy came looking- or maybe even sent one of her siblings to find her. But for now, she would enjoy the moment without having to deal with all her brothers and sisters- not that she didn’t love them. It was just nice to be able to hear yourself think once in a while.

Balthier had just run a patrol around the plains and it was about that time for him to head back to his room if that's what he wanted, and it was for obvious reasons. He had bottles of wine waiting for him back in his closed off part of the castle and there wasn't much else he did with his off time or at least at night.

Most of the others were around the courtyard and making their way up for the evening or switching on patrols and everything else that was a part of the pack life. He was familiar. But as he made his way through the courtyard it was easy to spot one of Artorias' children amongst the others. Off by herself a bit, admiring the views she could see from the castle walls. It reminded him of himself if only a little.

It did pull him from his want, or need to go back to his room and drink until he fell asleep. Maybe not so surprising for someone of his nature. He was comfortable around kids even with a more tough exterior he tended to show. "Shouldn't you be heading up soon?" He spoke quietly in a bit of a joke towards her. He wasn't really serious, he wouldn't force her back up to her room with her family. She was fine right here inside the castle. It would definitely be a little different if he stumbled on her while he was out on patrol or something like that. "The castle has some of the best views I've ever seen." He commented and sat to get comfortable while that seemed to be her focus when he found her. Just that show that he wouldn't be strict and shoo her away.

"Balthier"

The young girl hadn’t been seated at the window for very long, before the tones of a masculine voice stole her attention. She quickly glanced over her shoulder to see a man of black and gold complexion. While he was familiar to her, she had never specifically spoken to him and was generally undisturbed by his presence. Or at least, until he started in on her and where she was versus where she was supposed to be. A tiny huff caught in the back of her throat as his joking tone went over her head. She rigidly turned back to the window for a moment to sort herself out. She really wanted to tell him to mind his own business, but that would have been rude. Talyssa came to the conclusion that the proper thing to do was to admit that he was right. Because, well … he was. “Yeah,” She said glumly, slowly turning to meet his sapphire gaze. “but I don’t want to.” She knew that what she wanted to do didn’t really have much to do with what she had to do. But maybe it would buy her some more time trying to talk about it.

But when he came to sit near her, he made a comment about how pretty the castle's views were. Some of the best he’d ever seen. That caught her attention. Yeah, she knew the castle gardens were very pretty. Other places, she knew nothing about. “Have you seen a lot of places?” She asked as if they were something that could just be listed off. However, she suddenly became genuinely interested in what he had to say. But before she gave him an opportunity to answer her first question, she set to unload more information on him. “My name is Talyssa. Or just Lyssa. Or Lys or Lyssie. Sometimes Taly …” The girl said proudly as she recalled what she was called most often. But most importantly, she was after what she could call him. “What’s your name?” She asked definitively, looking up at him expectantly.

Balthier couldn't help but smile and hum to himself as the girl had admitted, but still brushed him off. Just a little spark in her personality. He couldn't hate it. He couldn't really relate to being a little defiant, a little head strong. He had always been a good and devoted kid. He also had to pull huge responsibility early in his life.

He rose a brow as he seemed to grab her attention with the idea of travelling. He figured as much. Most pups were eager and ambitious like that. "Oh yeah, many." He responded back to her, squinting and tilting his head as he looked passed her out of the window. "On a raft, by the ocean." It was short and simple, because he knew her mind could wander enough just with that. Not that he was trying to give her any ideas but you know, when she was old enough like he was there was always that wild ride of imagination to get her there. His paw picked up to point out towards the shores of The Hallows, "I pulled up right here when I joined."

His attention went back to her for a moment as she had introduced herself, a number of different names she went by. By far more than he ever had. Another quiet chuckle as he went on, "Alright, Taly. My name's Balthier."

"Balthier"

When he responded that he had seen many places, his status elevated significantly in her eyes. He described a raft on the ocean, and she wasn't quite sure what that was or how, but it sounded pretty amazing to her. "Wow!" Talyssa exclaimed. "You came by Ocean? That's neat!" It was difficult for her to wrap her mind around what that might entail. But just as she drew her breath to ask for him to explain what a raft was, the soft echo of her mother's voice sounded through the castle corridors. It was a call to retire for the evening for her and her siblings. With her earlier question lost in the silence between them, the Carpathius girl huffed. Looking up at the obsidian gentleman she moved to make her farewell. "I gotta go Balthier." She said glumly, hopping off the chaise. "Goodnight." And with that, she dashed out of the lounge and made her way up the staircase to the room she and her siblings shared with their parents.

-exit Talyssa-

That same smile on his face never seemed to wane as she lit up from the idea. He remembered when his Aunt had showed him just a tiny prototype of the raft, a teeny piece of wood that floated down the rapids. And it was all her idea to make what he had today. Sadly he built it mostly on his own while she cared for her children but all the time he spent with her was filled with an unimaginable joy. Something that distracted him from the other parts of his life. And it got him half way across the world here. He didn't really know if The Hallows was where he belonged, he was struggling every day to find that wholeness he desired. And it's why once she would leave he would head back up to his room and let the wine take space. She was a quick distraction for those few moments, but that was it. "You too Taly." He responded back to her as she made her way back up the steps to her family's room. He'd wait only a moment or so before making the steps up himself.

"Balthier"