[Tonight isn't the night to explain to Balthus the banes of sleeping in make-up, and perhaps no night is, if Yuri hopes to hold onto his sanity. Luckily for the both of them, he's enough to interrupt Balthus's wandering thoughts.
There's an effortless beauty to him, the edges of which are softened by sleep. Maybe softened by this thing that neither of them are willing to acknowledge. The Rite of Rising changed things between them, sure, but Yuri opening up? Treating Balthus like an equal? That's all thanks to Balthus and his headstrong persistence.
Yuri huffs softly, settles his head down on his pillow. Lilac hair pools around his face.]
Yeah, yeah. Don't let it go to your head.
[And as simple as that, Yuri's asleep.
There are few hits and many misses in the following weeks. Yuri keeps burning the candle at both ends, because he's never known how to do anything else, but he's a little more receptive to Balthus's nagging over his health. They scrape together, repair, and sell every weapon and piece of armor they can from the scrap heap. Groups of able-bodied Abyss denizens work deep into the caverns of the underground, gathering up whatever relics that could have some sort of value. They're worth a lot less coin nowadays than they would have been in the past. The steel items that can be melted down into weapons prove the most lucrative. Balthus appears some evenings with gold, and Yuri feels like he's helping him pave the path to his ruin when he accepts it. Still, it's not enough. Yuri can barely line the stomachs of his people with the food they can afford to acquire. They need something more.
Balthus comes through once again.
Bodyguard work for a merchant caravan. They're looking for protection from bandits and otherwise, so they can move their merchandise between nations during the war. It's dangerous, so it pays well. Balthus sniffs the lead out and brings the head of the merchants to Yuri-- the negotiation's all up to him after that, that's not Balthus's strong suit, he's told. Luckily for them, it is Yuri's strong suit-- in fact, he might hold the entire deck. So negotiate he does. The final deal is struck after three hours, and it's only thanks to Yuri's perfect composure that he doesn't tremble with joy when they shake hands on the agreement.
His cape swirls out behind him as he rushes through the hallways, heels clacking loud on the stones beneath him. At least two people jump in shock as Yuri bursts into each room he comes across, ducking out just as quickly.]
Balthus!
[He's not in any of the usual haunting spots, so Yuri keeps moving until he finds a back alley lit warm with fire magic. He shoves the thick wooden doors open to the first chamber in the hall, and beams when he sees Balthus.]
It's done. The deal, it's... it's all settled, friend.
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There's an effortless beauty to him, the edges of which are softened by sleep. Maybe softened by this thing that neither of them are willing to acknowledge. The Rite of Rising changed things between them, sure, but Yuri opening up? Treating Balthus like an equal? That's all thanks to Balthus and his headstrong persistence.
Yuri huffs softly, settles his head down on his pillow. Lilac hair pools around his face.]
Yeah, yeah. Don't let it go to your head.
[And as simple as that, Yuri's asleep.
There are few hits and many misses in the following weeks. Yuri keeps burning the candle at both ends, because he's never known how to do anything else, but he's a little more receptive to Balthus's nagging over his health. They scrape together, repair, and sell every weapon and piece of armor they can from the scrap heap. Groups of able-bodied Abyss denizens work deep into the caverns of the underground, gathering up whatever relics that could have some sort of value. They're worth a lot less coin nowadays than they would have been in the past. The steel items that can be melted down into weapons prove the most lucrative. Balthus appears some evenings with gold, and Yuri feels like he's helping him pave the path to his ruin when he accepts it. Still, it's not enough. Yuri can barely line the stomachs of his people with the food they can afford to acquire. They need something more.
Balthus comes through once again.
Bodyguard work for a merchant caravan. They're looking for protection from bandits and otherwise, so they can move their merchandise between nations during the war. It's dangerous, so it pays well. Balthus sniffs the lead out and brings the head of the merchants to Yuri-- the negotiation's all up to him after that, that's not Balthus's strong suit, he's told. Luckily for them, it is Yuri's strong suit-- in fact, he might hold the entire deck. So negotiate he does. The final deal is struck after three hours, and it's only thanks to Yuri's perfect composure that he doesn't tremble with joy when they shake hands on the agreement.
His cape swirls out behind him as he rushes through the hallways, heels clacking loud on the stones beneath him. At least two people jump in shock as Yuri bursts into each room he comes across, ducking out just as quickly.]
Balthus!
[He's not in any of the usual haunting spots, so Yuri keeps moving until he finds a back alley lit warm with fire magic. He shoves the thick wooden doors open to the first chamber in the hall, and beams when he sees Balthus.]
It's done. The deal, it's... it's all settled, friend.