Open Post

[bardische]

Comments

[ziedrich_bearer]

Really? Gladio smiles at that. How interesting to see the man being so forward.

"I'm glad that you enjoy that about me.

[bardische]

Hoe could he not? It went both ways; Gladio understood his own commitment to duty, and he respected someone with that kind of conviction and purpose.

"I'm glad you're here."

[ziedrich_bearer]

"And you're hoping to get to enjoy still more about me?"

And he smiles like he really appreciates that potential.

[bardische]

Basch flushes, but his arm is through this man's; what is he so afraid of?

"Yes," he says, glancing at Gladio. He's rewarded with an encouraging smile, and, gods, are those butterflies in his stomach? "I feel a fool for fretting over it for so long and not simply telling you. This was not the reaction I expected."

[ziedrich_bearer]

"Fear of rejection is pretty much a constant in most people," Gladio says with a shrug. "Makes you nervous, makes it harder to decide on things, or commit if someone can say no. I get it too."

[bardische]

"You are being very kind," Basch says, and he means it. It's easing the knot in his stomach. "I suppose I've never been much good at people."

[ziedrich_bearer]

"It's a skill. You can learn it."

Anyone can learn it. Gladio'd had no choice but to learn it.

[bardische]

"You don't believe in the old dog new trick wisdom?" he asks, but he's smiling gently. He's learned a lot this past year or so. Perhaps Gladio is right. He'd never thought he could do something like this, and yet, here they were.

[ziedrich_bearer]

"We're not dogs," Gladio points out. Of course they can learn new things. They're people.

[bardische]

That gets a rumble of a laugh out of him. "You have a point."

It's so easy to talk to Gladio. Basch doesn't feel like he ends up in some strange place without knowing how he got there.

[ziedrich_bearer]

He knows he does. Points are something that are on the tips of swords and he has plenty of those. Okay, that's the joke had, in his head so he doesn't seem silly, and he smiles at Basch.

"I try to. But I have faith in you too. You're not so old that you can't choose to change. And you've got an open mind, which helps."