{ 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

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[Balthier's glass is refilled as well, having just drained the last of it.]

Well, we cannot have that. Allow myself to become so predictable? I won't stand for it. [He offers her a more genuine smile.] Perhaps just once or twice more, then.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

You're a man prefers to do things on the fly, aren't you? You'd rather keep people guessing as to your intentions.

[Like tonight for example.] Remind me to be prepared at any moment, then.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

I do. I treasure my freedom, you see, and keeping people guessing has always been a part of ensuring that I get to keep it. However, you can always trust an unpredictable man to be predictably unpredictable. [He shrugs easily, smiling behind his glass as he takes a rather long swig of line.] Fran and Captain fon Ronsenburg have been around long enough that I don't sneak much by them anymore. The same can be said for Penelo.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

I can tell you're not one for being predictably boring, either. Next time I have questions about you, I'll be sure to go to them first. [Ohhh yeah, she's smirking as she takes her own sip of wine.]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He laughs again, downing much of the contents of his glass in a single go.] I should be glad, then, that all of them are likely to paint me in a good light, yes? Do check with Penelo -- she would be the most forthcoming. [He winks.]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

I'll be sure to do that.

[She does, however, raise her eyebrows at his glass.] Are you that happy to get inebriated or is the wine just that tasty?

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

More the latter, if anything -- I do have to fly, after all, so I'm afraid I'll be switching to water once this glass is through. It's difficult to get a good burn from wine, you realize. Have to drink it quickly if you wish to feel it go down.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

And here I was thinking you were going to try to get me hammered on the first outing. Guess that will have to wait.

[She ducks her head though and takes a dainty sip of her wine for contrast.]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He laughs again.] Somehow, I doubted you would appreciate such an endeavor. It would be rather uncouth of me, don't you agree?

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

As if kidnapping wasn't uncouth enough.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

You must admit, I did it with some degree of class!

[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.