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

[Her eyebrows arch up this time.]

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

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

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

Lesson learned.

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

Excellent. You're an incredibly apt pupil.

How else would I have become a general at 18?

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

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

[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.

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

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.

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?

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.

[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.

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.

[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.

[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.

[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.]

[He raises a brow in challenge.]

Oh? Do you have a better descriptor in mind?

Infuriating comes to mind.

[And that is a teasing smirk being thrown his way.]

[He laughs.] At least allow me some dignity and use 'insufferable.'

Now why would I do that? Seems too easy for you.

And we cannot have that, can we?

[She shakes her head and her smile fades a little bit. They've been honest all night. He's been nothing but kind to put up with her. The least she can do is offer the same in return.]

His name was Locke. I've... lost count of how long it's been since he left. A month? Maybe more.

[And there it was. She had mentioned him earlier, if only very briefly, and had passed over the nature of their relationship, but this confirmed his suspicions. No wonder the woman had seemed to radiate heartbreak. Uncharacteristically somber, he nodded once, sparing her a brief glance before turning his gaze forwards again as the ship dipped to glide beneath the clouds.]

I'm sorry for your loss. It's a terrible thing, to feel so deeply for someone and then just... have them pulled beyond your grasp. [He frowns.] Gaia is a world of second chances, but also very cruel in that it keeps many from their loved ones.

He's better off at home than here. He can kick Kefka for me.

[She's not looking at Balthier now, staring resolutely out at the sky and whatever landmasses they're passing over.]

It's better now... than it was. It's that funny thing they call healing. [That's right, Celes; brush it off.]

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