{ 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]

He seems to lay it on a little thick. I'm not half so interested in skirt-chasing as he appears to be. [Balthier smiles to himself as he slides into his usual seat, making himself comfortable. He gestures to the vacant seat to his right, usually occupied by his navigator, offering it to her.] Have a seat, if you wish. The view is spectacular.

Quite frankly, I don't take rejection well, even for something so seemingly trite as an offer of friendship. I pride myself on being a good judge of character. I don't make such offers to everyone I meet. [He pauses, smirking. Though her dislike of him has been a nagging, incessant irritation, it's had other effects, too.] Besides. I rather like a woman who can take care of herself.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Appearances can be deceiving. [She hesitates for a minute before finally sitting down in the vacant seat. It is a nice view, she has to admit. And in spite of it all, she's starting to relax a bit. Part of her hates how calm he can make her feel at times.]

I never said I'd reject it. I just wanted to know your reasoning.

You mean you like warrior women? Here I was thinking we were a small group. [That might be a small twitch at her lips... or it might just be his imagination.]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[A-ha. He saw that. He glances her way, clearly amused.]

Few and far between, to be sure. I have nothing but admiration and the utmost respect for a strong woman with a good head on her shoulders. They're very attractive qualities, I must admit.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

I don't use the title of "general" much anymore. There was a time I went by nothing else, but here... Gaia is a fresh start. I don't need that following me.

[She glances out of the window to be sure he doesn't see the flash of regret that crosses her face, though he probably can catch it anyway. And then, before she can stop herself:]

How do you do that?

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

Then leave it behind you. The title isn't what makes you who you are, after all. You don't need it to be considered strong.

[He glances her way a second time.]

Do what?

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

No. It's only a tiding of fear, after all.

[She fidgets just a little bit. Terra suggested asking.]

One minute you're infuriatingly calm and polite, enough to make me want to smack some sense into you, and the next I find myself relaxing. How do you do it?

[She is so not used to this.]

Did they talk about it? >.>

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He smiles and makes a flippant gesture with his right hand.]

Talent, I suppose.

Truly, I don't know. You're not the first to have asked me such a question. I am as honest as I can allow myself to be. Is my being polite so offensive? Perhaps you relax only because you've realized I mean you no ill.

Terra and Celes? yes XD

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

You still have control of the airship. There's plenty of time for you to change your mind.

[Not that she's inviting him to do so. But she's perfectly aware of the fact that he could.]

Or maybe it's the fact that you're maddeningly difficult to figure out.

\o/

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

Am I? I confess, I've been told that before, too.

I'll do my best to aid you in deciphering, if you like. You, too, are not so easy to read. Quite a feat.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Maddeningly. Stupidly. I could say I'm easier to read now than I was two years ago. [That's Locke's fault. She pauses before turning straight to look through the front.] And the more you try to help, the more confused I'll get. I think I'll just work this one out on my own, thanks.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

Very well, then. Best of luck. [He smirks again in reply, facing forward.]

For you, the best I can figure is that my being a gentleman is offensive because you perhaps feel I do not respect you.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[How can he read her so well??]

Not true at all!

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

No? Then why, I wonder, do you find my manners so distasteful?

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[She flounders for a minute, trying to come up with something.]

It's not- You just surprise me. That's all. And the last time somebody not Edgar called me "love," they were trying to seduce me. That didn't end well.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

I apologize. Force of habit. You'd hardly be the only one to earn such a nickname; Penelo hears it quite frequently.

[He flashes her a knowing smile.]

However, I still believe my first guess was correct.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

I'll just... get used to it. As long as you aren't acting on it.

[Her silence on the subject says enough.]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He chuckles.]

If you don't mind my asking, what messy end did the last someone who acted on it meet?

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

The flat side of the general's fist. Of course, this was back in the army and beheading was looked down upon.

[Okay, she might be exaggerating about the last part - she wouldn't have killed the guy - but the fist through his nose part was real. ]

Can't remember if Setzer called me that or not when we first met...

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He laughs again.] I suppose he had that coming. As good a reminder as any to continue minding my manners.

[He raises an eyebrow.]

Setzer? There's a story here to be told, I see.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Or I might turn you over my knee. [That's definitely a smirk.]

He didn't tell you?

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[Another laugh, this one sounding rather surprised.] Watch yourself. I might enjoy that.

As a matter of fact, he did not. Though I'm not terribly surprised, we didn't have much time for smalltalk during our first meeting.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[Face, meet palm.] You really are Edgar.

Our first meeting was just like this one right now, only that one was set up. We wanted to lure him out so he would kidnap me so we could have access to an airship. He lost a coin toss and he's been our ally ever since.

[...Leaving out SO MANY details.]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

You have to admit, pet, you did walk right into that one.

[He raises a curious brow.] So you are experienced in this kidnapping business. Tell me, how does this kidnapping measure up so far?

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Goddesses, did you take lessons from him or something? [And now he can see why Edgar delights in doing this to her.]

I wasn't kidding. It's got the bonus of being a surprise this time. Either way, I'm getting airship access, so I'd say it's about medium-level for now.

[Take the airship somewhere special and she might be tempted to kick it up a notch or so.]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

I suppose we're cut from a similar cloth, though I feel I have far better taste.

[He cants his head towards her, the corners of his lips still turned upwards.] You must admit, the view is spectacular. Have you eaten?