escordvi | [open] september catch-all

Entry tags:

[open] september catch-all

Who: Astarion & Anyone!
Status: Open
Where: Everywhere in the Maiden Voyage Log
What: This is an open log so I can make prompts at my leisure throughout the month instead of one giant top level in one go!
Warnings: Some threads will contain spoilers or nsfw material, as marked.

Maiden Voyage: Capture the Flag, Learning the Ropes, Special Delivery

MANTA Board: unconventional couture
MANTA Board: pickpocketing practice
MANTA Board: bottle voyage

ETC: Housing

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[In much the same vein, Balthier is also here to get a better idea of how these Corsairs operate and what they have to offer— he certainly doesn't need to be taught how to steal anything, though pickpocketing is a bit low-brow by his standards. He's always been the sort to prefer a good heist, but every good pirate must start somewhere, and he's keen to know what sorts he'll be working with in the immediate future— at least until he gets his own ship and can decide the crew for himself. Once a captain, always a captain; he's never been very good at taking orders, and that's not about to change now, though he's willing to forbear for the time being.

At a glance, he's paying more attention to the seminar than Astarion seems to be, though only just. He, too, has taken a seat towards the back, giving himself the opportunity to watch as many people present as possible, but even as he silently tries to take the measure of his potential crewmates, he can't help but notice Astarion's work.

He leans over, raising a brow as he cranes his neck to get a better look.]

Flashy one, isn't he?

[It's floral.]

He is, isn't he?

[ See, look, this is rogue skills on display. He's having a nice and quiet conversation, whispered but clear. They won't bother anyone but they can talk about his craftsmanship! ]

I figured it should be tasteful, if I'm going to display it.

Display it. Did you have somewhere in mind, then?

[That brow arches just a touch higher, though one corner of his mouth twitches upwards with amusement. They are, both of them, the height of subtlety; speaking in hushed tones about a well-embroidered dick.]

Certainly would be a statement piece, I should think.

In my apartment, of course.

[ there is a note of pride to this, to the idea that the apartment is his to decorate however he wants. even with floral dicks. ]

I am a colorful person, my statement pieces ought to reflect that.

[ he looks down at the stitching and hums thoughtfully as he decides what to do with one of the "petals." ]

Of course. In a place of honor, naturally— above the mantle, perhaps?

[He can just see it now.]

It would certainly reflect that— among other things. Outstanding craftsmanship, by the by.

[Is that a genuine compliment? It is, perhaps, hard to tell, but it seems congenial enough. Balthier tips his head towards the corsair leading the current 'lecture,' keeping his own voice low.]

Something tells me this is all 'review' for you, as well.

Thank you! It's always nice to be appreciated in one's creative endeavors.

[ Real compliment or not, he'll accept flattery any day.

He looks up at lecturer, going on about various types of pockets for those apparently unused to the basic idea of clothing. ]

I could write the book on petty theft. I'm simply here to watch everyone else fail.

Come now, when it's well-done, even the most basic brand of theft is hardly petty.

[Which is to say that he considers his own thieving efforts to be anything but, even if he's certainly picked his share of pockets in his day. He wasn't always a dashing sky pirate of great renown, much as he would like to have people believe otherwise.]

I'm hoping at least a few of them will show promise. It would be rather dull if none of our potential crewmates had any real talent, wouldn't it?

Flattery coupled with judgment of our peers? Be still my heart!

[ That's a personal joke because he's a vampire, you see. Those are his favorite kinds of jokes, even when no one else is in on them. ]

What's your name?

[ He's decided to be interested in him. He even sets the cross-stitch down so he can rest his chin on his hand while he looks over at him, more undressing him with his eyes than sizing him up. ]

[Look at that— he ranks higher than the cross-stitch, if only for now. He'll take that as a compliment.]

Balthier.

[A name that he knows carries no weight here, not the way it did back home, but he gives it with the same easy confidence he always has. He raises a brow, the roam of Astarion's gaze difficult to miss— and it's not as though he hasn't seen its like before.]

Might I ask yours?

[He likes to know the names of people who may or may not be picturing him in his unmentionables.]

[ Of course Balthier has seen it before--he's a handsome man. Who wouldn't want to take a look? ]

I'm Astarion. The pleasure is all mine.

[ He's not even a little subtle. I mean, he's literally stitching a dick, so. ]

[He's always found subtlety to be highly overrated, regardless of the situation. Astarion's lack thereof is duly noted, and while Balthier doesn't quite take the same approach, there's a brief uptick of his eyebrow as Astarion registers as someone well-worth taking an interest in.]

Well then— Astarion, expert pickpocket, prolific cross-stitcher. An interesting resume already, even at only two items.

[ He'll take it. Interest is good enough for him. ]

Perhaps we could compare notes later, on our resumes.

[ Somehow he makes that word sound sexual. Incredible, really. ]

[That has to be a marketable skill. It says a lot about what else might be on that 'resume' of his.]

Perhaps— I imagine we both have colorful offerings.

[Those whose professions tend to be lumped in with 'theft' always do, but even more than that, there's the Everything about Astarion. Balthier smirks, tipping his head slightly to one side with something between amusement and knowing. It takes a con to spot one, even if the word isn't one he cares for.

He's willing to bet they both know a little something about carefully crafting the image they present to others.]

For now, we'll just have to say this is far from my first turn at piracy.

Oh, how exciting! I've met a few pirates in my day. They're always fun.

[ He really just can't help himself. ]

Seems to me you're in exactly the right place, then.

[Balthier can't quite help himself either— on instinct, he gives one of his coeurl smiles, confident and self-satisfied.]

Of course, there's pirates, and then there's sky pirates.

Oh? Do go on.

[ There are pirates in the Astral Plane, but Lae'zel would know more about that than him. She might even know about VAMPIRATES, a 100% real life d&d race. ]

Just as the name suggests— rather than sail the seas, we sail the skies. Rather more stylish, if you ask me.

[Of course that's the part he focuses on— but there's a good reason why sky pirates are so romanticized back home. Everyone loves a good tale of dashing heroics, and there are plenty to be told among their ilk.]

The ships here are a touch rustic compared to what I'm used to, but I'll make due well enough.

We don't have anything quite like that. Well, Illithid ships, I suppose, but they mostly stick to the astral plane.

[ Except that one time they DIDNT ]

And I would hardly call them stylish. You do a rather nice job of romanticizing sky piracy, at least. I'm almost excited to see you in action on a ship.

[You know, that one time.]

Seems a terrible waste if they're not going to do it with style.

[The word 'Illithid' means nothing to him, but it matters little; if you're not going to make it flashy, why bother at all? All the same, he gives Astarion a momentary wink before turning his gaze back to the head of the class they've found themselves sitting in on.]

As for seeing me in action, I don't intend to make anyone wait long for that. I'm accustomed to being captain of my own ship. I'll not settle for anything less here.

[Being one of the many doesn't suit him in the least.]

Oh, a captain. Well with this group as your competition, I'm sure you'll have no trouble at all securing that title again.

[ But being friends with a captain sure should come with some benefits. All the more reason to befriend him, really! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[open] september catch-all

a, how could anyone resist

thank you for biting on the cross stitching its some of my best work

it had to be done

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

crawls out of my grave

welcome back to the living!! or i guess vampirism

it's cool that's living-adjacent

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject