They're well enough into their cups at Ashe's coronation--- Her Most Gracious And Serene Majesty The Queen Of Dalamasca having quite, quite thoroughly snubbed them both--- that tongues are loosened, and Balthier is never sure afterward who started the round of boasting about their prowess--- in all arenae.
He's the one who finishes it, though, and that's what counts--- leans forward in the middle of one of Al-Cid's sneering boasts about the three women who didn't want to walk the next morning after a night with him. "Why don't you put your money where your mouth is," he growls, and fists his hand in the other man's jacket, tugs him across the table.
The other man's mouth is sloppy, slack with surprise at first--- then he does his best to give as good as he gets.
He doesn't, in Balthier's opinion, kiss well enough to be a leading man--- but, as they break for breath, he thinks the other man just might kiss well enough to bed one.
The silence that has descended upon the room tells him they've acquired an audience. Al-Cid, shameless showman that he is, shoots his cuffs. "I think, my dear Balthier," he drawls, "that this contest is best continued without an audience?"
Balthier snorts. "What, afraid you won't live up to your boasts?"
"No," Al-Cid says coolly, "but I fear the two of us together might be enough to leave the ladies in the room regretting their own choice of partners for the evening, no?"
"So let them follow," Balthier growls, and grabs the other man's wrist to drag him from the room.
Ashe watches them go, and thinks that while either of them alone is insufferable, it's just barely possible that the two of them together might keep each other in check. Might.
And, of course, the alliances involved would be good for Dalmasca.
"Competition", FFXII (OGC): Al-Cid/Balthier, PG
He's the one who finishes it, though, and that's what counts--- leans forward in the middle of one of Al-Cid's sneering boasts about the three women who didn't want to walk the next morning after a night with him. "Why don't you put your money where your mouth is," he growls, and fists his hand in the other man's jacket, tugs him across the table.
The other man's mouth is sloppy, slack with surprise at first--- then he does his best to give as good as he gets.
He doesn't, in Balthier's opinion, kiss well enough to be a leading man--- but, as they break for breath, he thinks the other man just might kiss well enough to bed one.
The silence that has descended upon the room tells him they've acquired an audience. Al-Cid, shameless showman that he is, shoots his cuffs. "I think, my dear Balthier," he drawls, "that this contest is best continued without an audience?"
Balthier snorts. "What, afraid you won't live up to your boasts?"
"No," Al-Cid says coolly, "but I fear the two of us together might be enough to leave the ladies in the room regretting their own choice of partners for the evening, no?"
"So let them follow," Balthier growls, and grabs the other man's wrist to drag him from the room.
Ashe watches them go, and thinks that while either of them alone is insufferable, it's just barely possible that the two of them together might keep each other in check. Might.
And, of course, the alliances involved would be good for Dalmasca.