Like Father, Like Son

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Characters: Dr. Cidolfus Demen Bunansa and Balthier
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: Balthier needs to talk to his father
Location: Wutai
Date: January 1804
Warnings: Bunansas. That's a warning in itself.


Balthier had to make a point of sneaking off, now. While Fran was aware of his relationship with his father, none of his other friends were and Balthier chose especially not to tell Vaan. The boy honestly wouldn't understand. Or... at least Balthier didn't think he would. Cid was insufferable. He was a brutal, aggravating old man that sent Balthier screaming up the proverbial wall at times, but he was the only family he had left and Balthier could see the sanity ebbing its way back in.

Of course, he had some damn harsh words for him, concerning the capture of Red XIII, but Balthier was specifically hoping to just see the man in person without having to deal with weaponry.

Clothed in a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, tight leather pants and his boots and gloves, Balthier made his way towards his father's place of residence, sighing as he texted the old man. He wouldn't just go in. Vayne could be there, after all, and while the older Solidor had little idea that Balthier had played him for his information and passed said knowledge off to Larsa and Ondore, Vayne and Balthier didn't exactly see eye-to-eye.

Perhaps it was because Balthier saw Vayne as the man who'd replaced his position of prodigal son. While he wasn't particularly fond of the title, he was still angered that his so called 'precious son' title had been given away so easily.

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Scoffing at Cid's words, Balthier strode ahead, his arms tightening over his chest. How dare he suggest he was jealous of Vayne?! It was just unthinkable! "I am not envious, Cid, I am merely stating the facts." One of his eyes threatened to twitch, that was how annoyed he was right now.

"Do what you wish. Adopt the manic fool, for all I care. Just do not expect me to call him family, old man." Larsa, on the other hand, would make a pleasant younger brother. Almost as much as Vaan would. Although, he honestly didn't want to see Vaan as a brother...

Hadn't changed? Sure, he was still a brat, but he felt he'd changed too much at times.

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Only his son could gain such a foul look from him, especially since Ffamran always seemed all too eager to provoke such looks from his father. With a huff, Cidfolus wandered past with a scowl streaked across his face. It bothered him that his own son seemed to think so little of work but to hear him bash the House of Solidor and the Empire in unison was a bit much to take. Then again, Ffamran did have a valid point.

Cidolfus truly does view Vayne as another 'son', his new prodigal heir despite the fact they hail from two completely different worlds. Vayne is a nobleman, he is the 'Emperor' now while Cidolfus is nothing more than lesser noble.

“Render me as fool if you wish, Ffamran but I shall not turn my back upon him.” It seems that the rogue isn't the only one known for their childish streak.

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"Of course you wouldn't, and when his plans follow through and he becomes the monster he is destined to be I would rather you not get in my line of aim when I shoot the fool down where he stands," Balthier replied sharply, irritated at the very idea the Cid would choose to be closer with Vayne.

Shaking his head, the youngest Bunansa seated himself on a nearby bench, sighing slowly. "I tire of this bickering. I did not fly all this way to simply argue with you. I can do that over a call."

Crossing his arms again, he stretched his legs out, crossing them at the ankles. "Do as you please concerning Vayne Solidor. You always have."

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The doctor let out an aggravated sigh at Ffamran's parting words since he knows that neither of them will ever come to terms regarding House Solidor or anything on topic of Vayne. "The monster he is destined to be? You act as if you're a Dreamsage now." A minor quip at the fallen Gran Kilitas of Mt. Bur-Omisace who’ve met his end at the Empire’s blade. Cidolfus doesn't believe in things like fate or destiny, especially when such words are used by superstitious fools who fear the so-called supernatural.

Giving his son a look over once he sat upon the bench, Cidolfus walked by with a little smirk as he reached his hand out to ruffle those short blond-brown locks. "Quit frowning, young man." The doctor chuckled as he aggravated those overly stylized locks.

"You'll gain a few wrinkles if you continue to look so crossed."

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He'd been about to make a short remark about the Grand Kiltias' demise when, suddenly, a hand was messing up his hair and Balthier batted at him like an irritated kitten, pulling his head away from his father's grasp, sliding both hands through his hair to get it to settle right.

"Must you always go for the hair, Cid? Honestly, things never change..." He'd styled his hair similarly (if a little less audacious) when he was a young teenager and Cid had ruffled at it often. Too damn often.

Brushing his fingertip against the corner of his eye, Balthier sighed slightly. Cid always remarked about his appearance because the older man knew how vain his son was. Balthier would admit he was a narcisist. "I won't get wrinkles like yours, old man."

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Laughing at Ffamran's misery now that he ruined that all too perfect mane of his, the doctor eased down to sit next to his son upon the bench. You are always so fussy about your looks." He muttered in jest. "You really shouldn't be such a narcissist, Ffamran. It's unbecoming of a young lad." Feeling obviously better, about his son’s presence here in Wutai, Cidolfus decided to let his guard down a bit.

"I sometimes wonder how different our lives would be if neither of us put up such a farce." He seemed a tad thoughtful now as he gazed up into the sky. "I know such a thought has no place here but I do honestly wonder how life would be away from the limelight of politics and science." As much as he truly adores his life as one of Draklor’s most famed researchers and confidant to the newly made emperor, there was a part of Cid that longed for a far similar life away from such grandeur.

“I suppose that’s just my weary bones speaking…” Cidolfus chuckled.

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"I'm aware of how attractive I am; I should indulge myself," he replied lightly, laughing softly as he did. Crossing his arms, Balthier let his own gaze wander to the sky as Cid did, sighing gently at the man's pondering. "Things would be considerably different... I'd like never have become a pirate... or done so much later in life." He hadn't expected to run away from home at sixteen but things had gone so wrong between them that he just couldn't stay to watch his father fall apart like that.

Shaking his head with a small frown, Balthier let his gaze wander back to his father's face for a moment, finding the sky a second later. "We'd probably spend less time bickering, though we always did have our spats. With no one to break us up when we argued, we would go for hours," he laughed lightly, a nostalgic sigh escaping him.

Frowning at the sky, Balthier shifted awkwardly. "Father? ...what was mother like? And my brothers? I remember so little..." He didn't remember her at all, really. Just a vague glimpse of a face lost to him many years ago and a song she used to sing to sooth him to sleep. His brothers were even less of a memory, just tall, strapping men with the same eyes he and Cid had.

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Nodding slightly at Ffamran's words, the doctor looked a tad surprised once his son asked about the brothers and mother he never knew. A sad smile appeared upon Cidolfus' face as he turned to eye his son. This little moment between them reminded him of the days of his youth, his days as a young father raising the little boy who've grown to man he sees before him now. Fond memories began to dance within his mind, easily merging in sadder ones regarding his fallen sons.

"Your mother was an angel, a perfect angel armed with a frying pan and a shrill scream that would set the heavens ablaze." Dr. Cid chuckled softly as he thought about Verna. "She wasn't like most Archadian women for she could actually hold a conversation beyond clothing and makeup. That was one of the reasons I became so fond of her, she was an intellectual like myself." A slight frown settled upon his lips for just a moment. "Although, like you...she had no love for my work as a researcher but she did support me all the way through."

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Balthier chuckled lightly at the first comment about his mother. He was always aware that he got his sass from her. His looks came from Cid, his intelligence from them both, and his feisty attitude from his mother. "She must've had a screw loose somewhere to want to tie down a man of science. Although, I'm rather glad she did." That was, in his own round about way, Balthier admitting he was glad Cid was his father. Despite everything, he did love the old man, which was likely why everything that had happened hit him so hard.

"What about my brothers? All I really remember was when everyone got sick and I was confined to my chambers for fear of me catching that plague..." He sighed, frowning as his gaze lowered. That had been so horrible. Locked away with only a nanny as company. A shrill old woman, too.