{ Ten - Phone Call to Celes - Action in Figaro } (Slightly Forwarddated)

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[After escorting Basch and Noah to Narshe and paying Penelo a visit in Lindblum, Balthier has one more order of business to attend to, this time without company. Ring ring, Celes!]

Comments

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[Troll in the dungeon.]

I think that's still up for debate.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[Troooooll in the du-hu-hungeon!]

I believe I still might sway your opinion, pet.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[Both of them are damn trolls. She shoots him a look.]

Not with that name, you won't.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He raises an eyebrow in challenge.]

Which would you prefer, then?

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[Her lips are twitching in amusement again.]

Friend. Or gods forbid you use my real name.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He sees that. A-HA, you like it!]

Well, that quite defeats the purpose of pet names, my dear!

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[She denies it forever.]

Exactly. Besides, aren't those better used for closer relationships? Not that I'm exactly the relationship expert here. [And why is she even talking about relationships anyway? This is just a possible budding friendship.]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

Nor I, but let us say that I am particularly liberal with them. [Lies. Only close female friends get pet names, like Penelo, though Refia has earned the privilege recently as well.]

Or perhaps you may consider it a symbol of my desire to befriend you rather more permanently.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[Her eyebrows arch up this time.]

You're so set on that today. One would think you actually meant it.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

I very rarely say things I don't mean. If not sincere, I generally prefer to say nothing at all. Lesson the first, Celes.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[Lip twitch still going on. But she does give him a little more grateful look since he did just use her name.]

Lesson learned.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[And didn't it sound just lovely along with his accent? He rather thought so.]

Excellent. You're an incredibly apt pupil.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

How else would I have become a general at 18?

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

An impressive feat, of course. [He smirks yet again.] I knew I had spotted a fellow prodigy when we first met.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Oh? What's your claim to fame, sky pirate at age 12?

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He laughs, a much fuller sound than those previous.]

Top of my class at the akadamy, top of the class in advanced placement, youngest employee of Draklor Laboratories, technological prodigy and employed by Draklor's aeronautics division at the age of fourteen, and, much to my chagrin, made Judge at sixteen.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Impressive. [Even if she doesn't know what Draklor or Judges are.]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

Rather more than you know, I'm sure, though it was a life I didn't much care for, like you and your own empire. Piracy suits me far better.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Like saving the world instead of destroying it suited me better.

[She tips her head back and swallows the rest of her wine at once. It's a fair amount of wine, to be sure.]

So, what's next on the agenda? Planning on kicking me out any time soon?

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

Well, I thought I might tie you up, toss you into the back of the Strahl, do away with all this polite business and issue a letter of ransom to your friends in Figaro, but then I decided that might not be the best idea if I planned to keep my internal organs in fact.

The evening is yours. We stay as long as you wish to stay, depart when you wish to return home.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[She raises her eyebrows at that and manages an incredulous laugh.] You're quite right about that. Your organs and limbs should thank you for that. I wasn't a general just for show, you know.

[But she's honestly smiling now and nods at his words. The evening progresses nicely until they've both decided enough is enough and it's time to head back to the airship.]

Thank you, by the way. This was... nice.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

I assumed not. Empires don't exactly hand out such titles as party favors.

[He smirked; the atmosphere was far lighter than it had been when they had first departed, for which he was glad. That was, after all, the point of this excursion. However, if they wanted to reach Figaro before dawn, they would have to get moving before long. He held the hatch open for her once they had reached the ship, closing it securing behind him once he himself had boarded, and made his way towards the cockpit.]

There's no need to thank me. [He smiles.] I thought you could use the distraction. I'm glad it was enjoyable for you. It was quite pleasant for me, as well.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[She makes her way to the second seat and sits down again, marveling once more at the beauty of this thing.]

How odd. You were right.

[On which count, she's not going to say right away.]

Let's just hope Edgar didn't need me. If he finds out, he'll tease me into the ungodly hours of the morning.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He offers her a knowing smile as the ship lifts off; he supposes he'll get the same brand of teasing from Basch at the very least, if not Fran and Noah as well.]

Well. If he asks, you can tell him you were out for a walk and some much-needed air, rather than being whisked away by an incredibly dashing sky pirate.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[She snorts in amusement.]

Somehow I don't think he'll believe me, but I'll keep that in mind for the future. Minus the dashing part.

[Because seriously? Vocabulary. Her lips are twitching again. She is amused.]