[ Ah. There it is. Balthus has spent months now dropping hints with absolutely zero subtlety that he isn't going to leave, and yet... It's not even that he has nowhere else to go. With the debt collectors and bounty hunters largely out of the way and every house in desperate search for a fighting force, it would be easy for him to find employment. This war is a mercenary's paradise.
And yet, Balthus hasn't even considered it. He could be making some money back, he could be figuring this out on his own and deal fairly well... but it's never been on his mind. Concern for his mother, yes, but not the idea of walking simply for the sake of walking. Walking because it'd be easier. It's no secret that Balthus likes cheating his way through life as is most convenient, but... ]
You really don't get it, do you? That pretty little head's all cramped up with numbers and calculations and yet you get to your wits' end so easily sometimes.
[ He shakes his head, and for once he's not smiling. ]
I'm stayin'. Abyss gave me a home when I had nowhere to turn to. I'm a dirtbag, sure, but I'm not gonna run and let all these helpless souls take a beating. I owe them.
[ And that's a large part of it, but it's not the full reason either. Balthus breathes in harshly, fist a little too tight around that pen. ]
'Sides, what would happen to you if I bailed? Don't answer that. I know damn well that whatever you'd say isn't gonna be the whole truth. Point is, I'm not letting it happen. We're comrades, remember?
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And yet, Balthus hasn't even considered it. He could be making some money back, he could be figuring this out on his own and deal fairly well... but it's never been on his mind. Concern for his mother, yes, but not the idea of walking simply for the sake of walking. Walking because it'd be easier. It's no secret that Balthus likes cheating his way through life as is most convenient, but... ]
You really don't get it, do you? That pretty little head's all cramped up with numbers and calculations and yet you get to your wits' end so easily sometimes.
[ He shakes his head, and for once he's not smiling. ]
I'm stayin'. Abyss gave me a home when I had nowhere to turn to. I'm a dirtbag, sure, but I'm not gonna run and let all these helpless souls take a beating. I owe them.
[ And that's a large part of it, but it's not the full reason either. Balthus breathes in harshly, fist a little too tight around that pen. ]
'Sides, what would happen to you if I bailed? Don't answer that. I know damn well that whatever you'd say isn't gonna be the whole truth. Point is, I'm not letting it happen. We're comrades, remember?