Theme 48. Understand- Basch, Penelo
Title: Within A Moment
Theme/Prompt: 48. Understand
Fandom: Final Fantasy XII
Character(s)/ Pairing(s): Basch, Penelo
Rating: G
Summary: “It was nothing really. I was just admiring the sand sea. It’s not every day you get to see something like it.”
Sand raced between her fingers, roughening the edges of skin of which it slid around in an odd caress. Slowly she placed the other hand beneath its counterpart and allowed the eroded earth to fall within its palm. The pile of grain grew and grew until it spilled from the edges once more; a continuing cycle until every last bit of sand had fallen to the ground and not within her grasp.
“Might I ask what has caught you’re attention?”
Broken from her unknowing trance, Penelo turned with slight surprise at the sudden interruption. She easily settled with a smile once realizing it was merely Lady Ashe’s knight. Tipping the remaining specks of sand from whence they came, Penelo dusted her hands with a simple pat against each other before standing. Basch still expressed a knowing stare with old, un-pressing curiosity. The option of choosing to explain or not laid open as usual; he demanded nothing, just a simple question to be answered if one felt the need to.
Penelo decided that that was one thing about the so-called “traitorous” knight she liked. He was much unlike Vaan who asked a question and automatically thought it should be answered. But that was just his curious, boyish nature.
“It was nothing really,” Penelo said off-handedly. “I was just admiring the sand sea. It’s not every day you get to see something like it.”
Basch nodded with a simple, “Hn.” His eyes turned toward the vast sea-heat waves danced across the surface alluringly. For a moment they stood together looking out towards the distance before Penelo grew a bit diffident. Dawdling, she shifted her trained gaze back toward the man. His face was calm and seemingly perceptive, which was something much uncommon to her. In Rabanastre, the face of people where either emotionless with years of misfortune, sweat-laden and tired, or cheerful but never truly satisfied, never calm and perceptive. In all truth, it was strange and almost foreign. Until then she had never really met with someone who took a moment to stop and admire for life was all about living in the moment. To stop would mean to be left behind, and who would want that?
After shifting her numbed legs in silence for a few minutes, Penelo opted to speak to Basch if only to break him of his trance-a simple, kind interruption that had been hers to receive not but long ago. But as she began to form the correct words, Basch spoke. Like gravel, rough but nice to run a finger against, his voice soothed away the silence.
“I remember once wishing to see this great sea when I had first arrived in Dalmasca. The tales of its beauty fascinated me. Even now the stories do not live up to its grandiose allurement. I am most contented that I was able to see it.”
Rotating his head towards her, Basch smiled kindly. Though it was not full or completely convivial, it was relaxed and mutual as if the short thought was shared between friends. Well, being friends didn’t seem threatening at the current time. And so Penelo smiled back.
Still, with a good-natured ambience, Basch turned his body a bit toward the group where the Lady Ashe was speaking with Vossler as Balthier, Fran, and Vaan chatted to each other about the land, possibly. He observed them as he did much of everything else before presenting his attention back to her.
“I believe we should head back to discuss our next move with the others and Lady Ashe.”
Penelo nodded.
Moving in a mild pace, the two headed back toward their respected places-Penelo to Vaan and Basch beside Vossler and the princess. But on their way, a small mutual glance was given to the other. Penelo finally understood why Vaan claimed that the knight who had been shunned by all of Dalmasca was tolerable and trustworthy. As she was greeted by the boy, she slowly grinned at Basch when he caught her eye and nodded cordially.