#{but she's like nope basch is coming with}

[tarnishedxknight]

Princess, Interrupted || closed with tarnishedxjudgement

@tarnishedxjudgement

“Because... if you are going to sell me to the enemy, then you should at least grant me the comfort of a friend whilst I’m there, father,” Ashelia said firmly, staring the old king down.

“Ashelia... Sir Ronsenburg is needed here and at war’s front,” Raminas said wearily. He was already dealing with immense guilt over the arrangement for his daughter to be held in Archadia’s capital to ensure Dalmascan loyalty, and Ashe’s resistance to it was not helping. 

“Why? My being shipped off to Archadia ensures the fighting will stop,” she shot back.

“Because this arrangement is a precarious and delicate thing, my dear. You do not understand,” Raminas replied.

Ashe huffed. “If I do not understand, it is because you forbade me to be in your war room while it was being discussed! Also, I do understand, because unlike you, Basch does not think women so fragile of mind that they cannot learn of such things.”

“Then understand that your duty and your place right now are to do this in Dalmasca’s name and for her people. Please... do not make this more difficult than it must be,” the king sighed.

“I’ll need guidance,” Ashe said.

“You will be alright, my child,” Raminas said.

“I’ll need protection,” she tried again.

“They’ll not harm you,” Raminas insisted.

“You don’t know that!” Ashe exclaimed, feeling a pang of something in her chest. Was it panic? No, she wasn’t going to be a scared child. “I don’t know that.”

Raminas sighed again... because she was right.

“Grant me Basch and I will do my duty, as you put it, without further objection, father,” she challenged. As strong as she knew she was, the idea of going to live in Archadia alone without a single familiar face when she had never even been outside of her own country before had Ashelia beyond terrified. Basch was her dearest friend, her rock, and her voice of reason. She needed him with her. Her gaze turned a bit vulnerable, much as she wished it wouldn’t. “Please, father.”

Sending Sir Ronsenburg to Archadia would make a serious dent in the leadership of the Dalmascan military. However, he knew it would affect the knight captain’s performance to have the princess abroad with the enemy, whether the man admitted to the distraction or not. And perhaps it would ease some of the old king’s worries as well to have someone like Basch looking after Ashelia. “Very well. He will accompany you there,” Raminas said, not speaking as to whether he would stay.

- - - - - - - - - -

It was hours to Archadia by airship, especially the Durga class cargo and passenger ship they had been granted for this particular trip. Something unmistakably civilian was needed to avoid any and all aerial misunderstandings. Even so, the ship bore Dalmasca’s banners on its carapace. As they neard their destination, Ashelia emerged from her room and came to stand with Basch to see the empire on the horizon, its capital coming into sharper focus. 

A quivering sigh, forced out through her nose, caught Basch’s attention. He turned to see Ashelia’s wide eyes welling up with tears, even as they gazed out the large window at Archadia. He watched as her expression otherwise remained unchanged save for a thick swallow, and she blinked repeatedly to rid herself of the tears she never allowed to fall. Basch’s own eyes fell for a moment, and then he turned back to the view past the glass himself, not calling attention to her moment of fearful vulnerability. She hated when someone pointed out that she was crying.

“Steady,” he whispered to her, and out of his peripheral vision he saw her turn to look up at him. “You represent Dalmasca here. Show them her strength through your own, my lady.”

Ashelia smiled softly and nodded. This was precisely why she had needed Basch with her. His words had already replaced the terror and despair in her heart with resolve and pride. As the ship slowly docked, Ashelia tried to prepare herself for anything and everything that might greet her once they were boarded...

[starcchild]

@thenexusofsouls

"She's- she's my weird," Carter retorted with a grin and a playful scrunch of her nose. Her gaze bright with amusement. Even if her father hadn't been smiling, she knew he was only joking, and... really, it felt nice. It felt good being able to joke with him, and it truly meant the world to her to know he was happy for her. That he approved of Ashelia, regardless of how strange her whole situation was. And, really, she was pretty certain it was Ashelia she wanted to spend the rest of her life. Well, her, and...

No. Nope. She wasn't going to acknowledge that next part.

But it was hard when Tony had easily picked up on it and wasn't letting it drop, and Carter did her best not to squirm as she felt her face begin to flush. Basch was... Basch was just a friend. He was. Nothing more, nothing less--

Then why did her heart ache at the thought of choosing one of them?

She ignored that, and couldn't help but quip, "I- I thought we've- we've long since esta-established I- I don't do straight." It was too easy to pass up, in her defense, and she did her best not to grin at her joke. "But- but there's noth-nothing to soul- soul search about. I'm- I'm not inter-interested in Basch that- that way. I've- I've already cho-chosen Ashe, and I'm- I'm happy with her." But, even still... only half of that was true, and she didn't like the way it sat in her chest. Didn't like the way it... almost hurt.

Carter shifted as Tony jumped on the fact she was trying a little too hard to convince him that Basch was just a friend with the amount of times she was repeating herself, and fiddled with her bracelet in response. Her face hot, and she could only hope she wasn't turning red. "You, be-because I- I already know how- how I- I feel about him," she said quickly - still trying to deny how she felt even though she... really knew it was a pointless endeavor at that point. She just... she needed to talk to Ashelia about it. She knew that, but...

"He--" She paused, and scrunched her nose again. "Friend-friendzoned? Really?" She shook her head. "Nev-nevermind. It's... I- I love Ashe, that's- that's why. I- I mean... he's- he's..." God, could she describe what he was like without making it even more obvious how much she cared about him? Her hands fluttered, and Carter glanced around almost nervously. Her face definitely flushed. "Loo-look, Basch is great and- and all, and I- I do like him, but- but not in that- that way. That's... that's it. I'm- I'm not inter-interested, is- is all." Nailed it.

Yet, when Tony asked about how Ashelia was doing with Basch back, Carter seemed to light up again. It... honestly made her happy, with how much her girlfriend seemed to come alive just by having Basch back in her life, despite the nagging feeling in the back of her mind. That wasn't something she particularly wanted to talk about, and... really, seeing how comfortable the two were together gave her butterflies. And made it all the more obvious to her after getting called out on it that she definitely didn't just like Basch as a friend.

But she ignored that, too. "She's- she's delighted to- to have him back. It's- it's honestly really swee-sweet. I- I know they'd been- been close before they- they ended up here-" well, close before Ashelia's father had been killed, but... that was a different story. "-and I- I know it means a- a lot to her to- to have some-someone who's from her- her own time, y'know? But she's- she's not ignoring me." Carter couldn't help but smile as her heart twisted funnily, and she did her best to ignore the warmth in her chest at the continued thought of them both. "Don't- don't worry, dad. Ashe isn't- isn't like that." Besides, if Ashelia wanted to help Basch, she certainly wasn't going to stop her. And... she wanted to help him, too. She just wasn't going to say that and add more fuel to the fire.

Though, maybe it wouldn't hurt to use Ashelia as an excuse to get out of their conversation.

Tony loved the way Carter seemed to light up when talking about her girlfriend. Sure, a five thousand year-old princess from an age no one knew anything about wouldn't have been the first choice of partner for his daughter, but hey, it seemed to be working out well for her. Despite... other complications of a romantic nature, of course. "Good. I'm glad. I mean that. As long as you're happy, honey, then I'm happy for you. Even if your girlfriend is weird." He was teasing, of course, and wore a grin to prove it.

It was almost too perfect, the way the realization of everything seemed to hit her and panic forced her to backtrack and correct and be all over the fact that Basch was just a friend... except that he wasn't. He totally wasn't. Tony could see it from space.

"You do have it bad for him. For them. Both of them. You so do," Tony said. "Which... is fine, you just have to figure out where all of that is gonna go. Sooner or later you're going to have to choose one of them, right? Do a little soul-searching and sort through your thoughts, get all that straight, and then talk to them. That's the best advice I can give."

Tony listened as Carter continued to reaffirm her interest in Ashelia and insist upon Basch being a friend. He nodded, just letting her go on about it, with each words only reinforcing what he'd thought in the first place... that there was definitely something there for Basch, regardless of how she felt for Ashe. "Okay. He's just a friend. Are you telling me or yourself, though, because I usually don't hear that many assertions that someone is a friend when they actually are... just a friend. Because if they were just a friend, there'd be no need to say that. It's like me saying cheeseburgers aren't fast food, because they're not, they're good food made quickly, but just by saying that, you know I'm bullshitting. You see where I'm going with this."

"Okay, do me a favor... humor me for just a second. If Basch is just a friend, tell me why that is. What makes him friendzoned? Talk it out, come on. I'm just tryin' to help, honey. I don't know him that well so... enlighten me." Maaaabye he was just trying to get her to talk about him so she'd realize her true feelings, but he was also genuinely trying to help her sort through things as well. "How does Ashe feel about having him back, by the way? She better not be ignoring you to pamper him. That's why we have therapists, if he's got some issues to work out, they're more than happy to help him."

[antepenultimatefantasy]

FFXII Zodiac Age Playthrough Part 7

Local Viera discovers one weird trick to stop aging! Doctors hate her! 

-On the way to Mt. Bur-Omisace, Ashe and Basch reflect on how they would really rather not ally with the empire for the shame of it all, but saving their people from war and death far outweighs their pride.

-Basch has hope for the future and looks on as Vaan, Penelo, and Larsa playfully bicker.

-Does everyone like adopt these kids in their head when they meet them?

-In the empire, two judges talk of how Vayne would be harder to topple than the senate thinks.

-Another judge joins the conversation reminding them that Vayne took two of his brothers lives, and that maybe he's not the best person to look up to.

-Apparently, Gramis found these two guilty as traitors, so Vayne's killing of them was justified, one maintains.

-The judges are summoned to meet with Vayne, who has just arrived in Archades

-The judge who is wary of Vayne, Drace, talks with her colleague about how Larsa is headed to But-Omisace and how that will give the empire time to shore up their defenses against a Rozarrian invasion.

-Even though the senate thinks so, Larsa is no puppet, she says, and Gabranth (the other judge she's talking to) says that that will make the senate turn against him. They agree to protect him.

-Somehow, Gabranth manages not to mention that he would totally kill Basch in this conversation.

-Back with the 99% (and Larsa), the team arrives in a deep jungle.

-Unforch, there are barriers everywhere. Fran says that the jungle is denying them passage and it's her fault.

-She and Balthier head in a different direction, where she casts a cool spell that creates a path into the distance. It's to a Viera village.

-Fran's not exactly welcome there though.

-Fran tells Vaan to look for Mjrn and bring her to her.

-She also tells him to lend her one of the vowels in his name, because Mjrn really needs one.

-The Eruyt Village is basically like Rivendell.

-Its inhabitants want exactly zero things to do with Vaan.

-This includes their leader, Jote, who is very evasive about Vaan seeing Mjrn.

-Fran appears saying that the voice of the woods has told her that Mjrn's not at the village.

-Jote says that the voice of the woods is also saying where she is, but Fran can't hear it because she left the village.

-Viera who leave are no longer Viera.

-That's...not how biology works.

-Jote tells them that Mjrn headed west and walks among iron-clad men.

-It's like a Tinder bio.

-Fran says that staying in the village isn't the only choice Viera have.

-Jote says that she heard those same words 50 years ago.

-Hmmm....

-As the team leaves the village, Balthier congratulates Vaan on some good negotiating and wonders where Mjrn could be.

-Larsa says that it's probably the Henne Mines.

-Then, the most legendary FFXII moment happens.

-Vaan brings up how Jote said that Fran told her that same thing 50 years ago, then asks how old she is.

-Silence.

-Penelo facepalms.

-Ashe pretends to text.

-Basch is wondering if protecting Dalmasca is really worth this.

-Larsa becomes very interested in his sleeve ruffles.

-Balthier's soul momentarily leaves his body.

-Fran has, in these five seconds, imagined 47 unique ways to make sure Vaan's twinky ass never sees the light of day again, but ever graceful, she turns heel and leaves.

-The rest of the party does as well, very unimpressed.

-This is like, Tidus fake laughing in FFX level of embarrassment.  

-I love it.

-Back in the Ozmone Plain, the group comes across a wounded imperial and gives him a potion.

-He lets us use his chocobo and tells the team to stay away from the Henne Mines.

-Being good listeners, they head directly there.

-Outside the mines, corpses of imperials and Draklor Laboratories researcher lie strewn about.

-The corpse of Vaan's self-esteem is there too, after what he said to Fran.

-Deep within the mines, Larsa comments on how Henne is much like Lhusu, and the imperials will need the magicite if the #resistance blocks them from Bhujerba.

-There's another dead imperial and Mjrn comes wandering out.

-Girl's drunk.

-Then she calls Ashe a "power-needy Hume" and stumbles away.

-Wig. Snatched.

-The team follows after her and runs into a giant dragon that totally ignores her, but does not like anyone else.

-Aw, she just wanted to get tipsy alone with her dragon friend, but stupid power-needy Humes keep on getting in the way.

-It was self care.

-After the team defeats the dragon, Mjrn reappears holding a nethicite stone. She drops it and it breaks, showing a creepy shadow demon thing behind her that evaporates in the air.

-She's all better.

-Later, she explains that she wanted to investigate the Hume soldiers going through the woods, so she came to the mines but was caught. They placed the stone next to her so that the mist would be drawn within her, and the last thing she remembers is the light of the stone.

-Also, she's Fran's sister. Aw.

-Fran says that she experienced the same thing on the Leviathan before it blew up because Viera are particularly sensitive to mist.

-Larsa never realized how dangerous nethicite was and takes the stone he gave Penelo.

-Ashe says that dangerous things have a place too.

-Ashe is basically Daenerys.

-Back in the Eruyt Village, Jote gives Vaan a means to pass through the barrier.

-Mjrn tells Jote that Ivalice is changing and the Viera shouldn't just hide in the trees while it does. She intends to leave the village.

-Fran dissuades her because the freedom comes at the high price of solitude and exile.

-She tells Mjrn to forget she ever existed.

-Geez, this is really heavy.

-Mrjn runs away and Jote apologizes to Fran for making her do that.

-Fran asks Jote to listen to the Wood's voice to see if she hates.

-Jote says that the Wood misses her, but Fran calls that a "pleasant lie."

-Also, they're sisters too.

-Deeper in the jungle, the team comes across a nice lush mound.

-Nope. Mound dragon.

-When the team defeats it, it turns into an actual mound.

-The team finally exits the jungle, to enter...a snowy mountain?

-Geography?

-Ivalice explain!

-Also, this is where refugees go?

-That's pretty metal.

-Balthier says that while the empire parades around, refugees are walking barefoot through the snow.

-Larsa responds saying that's why he's getting his father to choose peace.

-Or...they could move the refuge to, like, the beach.  

-Balthier says that you can never know anyone, not even your father.

-Okay, first of all? Daddy issuesTM.

-Second? That's a myspace tagline, B.

-In Archades, Vayne and Gramis talk about silencing the senate.

-Like, killing them?

-They banter about the difference between vengeance and necessity, but conclude by saying if they don't do anything their house will fall.

-Plus Vayne's already murdered tons of people, so might as well keep to it so Larsa doesn't have to.

-I'm not sure that's sound logic...

-Back at Bur-Omisace, the team comes up to the Gran Kiltias.

-He is not moving and his eyes are closed.

-Is this Weekend at Bernie's?

-Vaan asks if he's sleeping, and without actually talking, he answers that he's dreaming.

-He dreams because reality and illusion are two parts of a whole, and dreaming helps him find the truth.

-Whatever, we get it. You're vegan and do yoga.

-He says that he has seen Ashe's dream of restoring Dalmasca.

-Larsa asks him to give her his blessing then.

-Just then, a cool guy with sunglasses strolls in and asks her to reconsider. He also condescendingly pats Larsa on the head.

-Watch out, Balthier. You have coolest-guy-in-the-room competition.

-He is the frenemy Larsa wanted to introduce to Ashe. His name is Al-Cid Margrace, of the Margrace family that rules the Rozarrian empire.

-Anastasis says that both Larsa and Al-Cid dream of no war.

-Ashe says that she came all this way to make peace and she does not want to reconsider.

-Al-Cid reminds her that she is still reported dead, and her reappearance would complicate things, not because she's powerless because other circumstances have changes.

-Larsa says that he could convince his father for peace if Ashe extends her hand.

-Unfortunately, Gramis is rather recently dead.

-In Archades, two senators are being taken away protesting that there is no reason they could have killed the Emperor.

-Inside the Emperor's chambers, the leader of the senate is dead along with the Emperor. Vayne says that the senate was conspiring against him, and now he has taken autocratic rule.

-Or, as Palpatine says, "I am the senate!"

-Drace is not here for this. It's obvious to her that Vayne is lying and created the whole situation.

-You and me both, Drace.

-She draws her sword to place her under arrest, but another Judge, Bergan, says that it was the law itself which made Vayne Emperor.

-Then he just fucking one handed picks her up by the face and tosses her aside.

-Okay, she's wearing a huge suit of armor. Bergan's got gunz.

-Obviously steroids, says Drace.

-Vayne tells Zargabaath to collect Larsa, but Gabranth says that Larsa was under his charge.

-Vayne says that he shouldn't have been and then asks Gabranth to execute Drace to prove his loyalty, because she has been tried and found guilty.

-She tells him to do it and to protect Larsa. He asks her to forgive him.

-Well, damn. Drace was the best one. Now we're left with Fratricidal Gabranth and Frat Bro Bergan.

-Though Gabranth is getting better, I guess.

-Back at Bur-Omisace, Al-Cid explains that now that Vayne is the Emperor, he's basically just going to blow everything up. His fleet's pretty much ready to go.

-Ashe then returns to the Gran Kiltias and is like, "forget being Queen. How can I too blow everything up?"

-At this, Anastasis opens his eyes and actually talks, saying that seeking such power is something only Humes would do.

-I don't know, have you seen Moogles?

-He tells her to go to the Stilshrine of Miriam to seek a sword that can cut nethicite, which also belonged to the Dynast-King.

-Off the team goes (except a shocked Larsa), and Anastasis cryptically says that his dream is also fading to day.

-That's it for this section!

The only exchange that matters:

Vaan: "I was wondering - what Jote said, you know? About how you said the same thing 50 years ago? Fran: "Your point?" Vaan: "How old were you again?" *longest silence* *Fran leaves* Balthier: "Nice, Vaan." Larsa: "Surprisingly rude." Penelo: "Try to grow up, please."

[starcchild]

thenexusofsouls​:

“Sure it does, why not?” Tony said, ripping open a mini bag of crunchy Cheetos. “Oh, believe me, I have enough dirt on everyone here to fuel jokes ‘til kingdom come. Want some?” He leaned the bag in her direction. “The point is, it’s a give and take relationship, we need to keep the dance going. Jokes all around. Who doesn’t need a laugh? And any joke that simultaneously gets me called Lord Stark actually benefits everyone, so…”

As soon as she said she wasn’t going to have Basch push the Lord Stark thing, Tony groaned. “Oh, come on! It’s not like he’d even really get what you were asking, he’s kindof… got his head up his ass a bit. I thought Steve was stuffy… and then I met Lancelot over there. Wow… he is in a league of his own with the Game of Thrones language and the inability to eat anything but fruit. Do you know… that he didn’t have any idea what a cheeseburger was? Or even a regular burger. What hellscape did he come from that doesn’t have a single burger? No wonder he’s so irritable. I would be too. But my point is… it’s not like he’d be all insulted if you asked him to do it, he probably wouldn’t even get why he was doing it, he’d just do it as a favor to you. Since you two seem to be getting so close.” He smirked playfully at her.

It had been a joke, but then she rattled off Basch’s former title and Tony stopped, his eyes narrowing with comically suspicion. “Wait have you? Been getting close? Because that title rolled very trippingly off your tongue just now.” She changed the subject, and maybe he was content to let her drop the issue for a second. “I’m very disappointed to hear you say that. I may have to disown you for even the mere suggestion that my ego needs a limit,” he said with no small amount of melodrama. “The title, though…” he then quickly reminded her, popping some Cheetos into his mouth. “You guys besties now or something?”

"Hone-honestly, I'd- I'd be worried if you- you didn't." Carter reached over and snagged a few Cheetos when he held the bag to her. “Y’know... Fine. I- I get that, but... no. I’m- I’m not gonna en-encourage Lord Stark. Sor-sorry, dad.” Amusement gleamed in her gaze as she munched on the chips - refusing to cave. Just yet, anyway. She hated to admit it, but... he kind of had a point.

Kind of.

However, she raised an eyebrow as her father said Basch had his head up his ass, and kept eating to keep herself from trying to defend him. Because Basch wasn’t stuffy. He was sweet and kind and... she really didn’t need to say any of that aloud. Especially not to her father. Instead, she swallowed, and shook her head slightly as Tony turned the topic to Basch not... knowing about cheeseburgers. Because that was definitely the problem there. “I- I mean... I- I think you gotta think of it- of it like feeding meat to a- to a vegetarian. It’s... not- not gonna go well for- for them. At all. But, no, I’m- I’m not gonna ask--” She cut herself off as her father gave her a playful smirk after saying she and Basch were close, and her mind went blank. Wait. Did he know...? Was her crush that obvious? “Nope. Sorry."

Oh, she wanted to die. Carter could feel heat rising into her face, and she just hoped it wasn't showing as she popped her last Cheeto into her mouth - letting herself chew instead of answer. However, when he let her change the subject, she foolishly believed for a moment he would leave it alone. And, with a faux, wounded look, she dramatically placed a hand over her chest. "Dis-disown me? How- how dare you? And to- and to think I- I just wanted to- to help my dear ol' dad." She couldn't stop a crooked grin from forming, but as soon as Tony turned the conversation back to Basch, she groaned, and slumped slightly in her seat. Goddammit. "We're- we're friends. Besties... yeah, I- I think Mikey would take- take offense to me call-calling someone else my- my bestie." She was joking again - trying to distract her father. "I've- I've been told I- I remember random shit abou-about my friends. By my- my friends."

[starcchild]

@thenexusofsouls

"Oh, lea-leave her alone," Carter chided, but it was clear she was joking as well by the way amusement gleamed in her eyes, and the amusement in her voice. She knew her father didn't mean any harm, and, sure, Ashelia could be a little odd, but she found that all the more charming about her. Ashelia was... god, Carter could go on about how wonderful she was, and even just thinking about her kept the warm feeling in her chest from leaving. "I- I really am ha-happy with her. She's- she's, um... she real-really is great." I love her, she wanted to say, but that sat funny on her tongue, too.

But she hadn't even realized her father had gone quiet as she stammered through about Basch - too wrapped up in her own denial - but looked startled when Tony suddenly snorted, rather hard, and laughed.

"Am... I- I missing some-something?" She blinked and tilted her head, looking rather startled by his reaction, and immediately felt her cheeks turn a bright red as a new wave of heat rushed into her face. He was asking her about Basch because he thought--?

No, no, no, no.

Carter wanted nothing more than to melt into the floor as she rapidly shook her head. Her heart skipped a beat before pounding in her chest, and she could only hope that her father was just guessing and she blew it, and that she really wasn't that obvious. Because... she didn't feel something else for Basch, and she definitely didn't want Ashelia feeling uncomfortable or uncertain about their relationship. Which--

Oh, god, does she know?

That needed to be figured out as soon as she got away from her father.

"I- I don't have it- it bad for Basch," she insisted - her voice squeakier than intended, and absolutely apparent that, yes, she did have it bad for him, too, no matter how hard she tried to shove it down. Because that blush definitely wasn't going away anytime soon. "I- I love Ashe, not- not Basch. He's- he's--" Her hands fluttered, and her gaze averted as her heart skipped a beat. "He's gre-great, but I- I don't-- I- I don't feel that- that way for- for him. There's- there's nothing to- to tell him a-about."

Maybe there was something to tell Ashelia, which... did worry her, but it was hard to focus on that when her father was thoroughly amused by the whole thing even though he was trying to help. Because... she didn't want to acknowledge it. She didn't want to ruin what she did have, and... even if, somehow, Ashelia was okay with it, she knew nothing would come out of it. Basch wasn't interested in her that way, though... it was pretty clear to her that he held affections for Ashelia, even if Ashelia didn't notice. And... maybe she was overthinking things, but it seemed like Ashelia held affections for him, which...

Nope. Not something she wanted to dive into.

Carter cleared her throat awkwardly and shrugged - struggling to fight off the color from her face, and how much she still wanted to disappear. "I- I don't have it- it bad for both of- of them," she repeated, though her voice was still an octave higher than normal. "Than-thank you, dad, but I- I don't need to fig-figure out any-anything. I- I like Ashe, and- and she knows tha-that. Basch is just- is just a friend."

Tony nodded as Carter said things with Ashelia were going well. "Good, good... I'm glad to hear that. She seems nice. A little odd sometimes, but she is five millennia old, so I get that," he said, obviously joking. "But good. As long as she's treating you well and you're happy, that's great." And it was, but he was still wondering about where Basch fit into all of this...

Carter's replies to his comments - sometimes rambling, sometimes blunt - slowly but surely answered the questions in his mind about Basch. He was quiet, which was unlike him, as she took her time to muddle through and finish with a strong affirmation of her and Ashe's relationship. Tony nodded and sighed a little, trying to be serious, professional, to wear his poker face and-

He snorted so hard his nose almost launched itself from his face.

A high pitched laugh followed, one he was quick to reel in with a clearing of his throat and a shake of his head. "Okay, I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you. But honey... you've got it bad. For both of them. It's cute, it really is, but uh... you should tell him. You should tell her, too, but one thing at a time. And again, if you need to talk this out with someone, I'm here for you. I just wanna help. It's better to be honest with yourself, though. Trust me, I know from experience, you wanna be honest with yourself... and then with them."