Oh, that's true. Knowing the lay of the land and studying the history would definitely let you get closer to finding relics and artefacts. Or real treasure. Like... gold in treasure chests? I just realised I don't even know what kind of treasure you hunt after.
[It's definitely gold in treasure chests. He's a pirate, after all.]
[She wonders what he means by that, though it sounds like a very romantic idea. Does she have any treasures with personality? She didn't go steal it or anything, but she thinks of the white materia she wears hidden under her bow. The hairpiece was Somnus is kind of a treasure, too...
These might not count, though.]
I think I get it. Does that mean you have a lot of treasures with stories?
[She catches on quickly. Once again, he's not terribly surprised. She's proven herself to be sharp since day one.]
Monetary value isn't the only worth treasure can have. I like them to have a bit of flavor— to have meant something at one point or another. Typically, they're not the sorts of things people come to miss, either. Most ruins don't have feelings.
[Treasure can also be sentimentality. Some believe that money is what runs the world. Shinra is like that, too. When he speaks so plainly of it, so impassioned, Aerith can feel herself resonate with the idea.]
Soooo... If I can ask— [Which is a silly thing to start this with because she's going to ask anyway.] —what do you do with these treasures? Just holding onto them?
[She's hoping so, because if he's actually turning a profit with them, that's a little bit different. that belongs in a museum!]
[She's relieved. That's one less thing she needs to scold him for. Not... that she's had to do too much scolding of him just yet. Still, it's nice to hear he has some kind of reverence for the trinkets he obtains.]
It sounds like you do mercenary work in addition to your piracy. I've known... a lot of mercenaries, now that I'm thinking about it, so I'm familiar with how that works. Back home, I did similar things. Running errands for the locals, which did sometimes involve having to fight things off.
Oh, we do our best to avoid calling it that. Mercenaries are terribly dull and have no loyalties to anyone, not even to themselves. Many of them lacking in principles, you know.
[That's the way of things in Ivalice, at least, though he wouldn't doubt it's the same anywhere else. Still, his tone is light, amused; he's enjoying himself thoroughly.]
Pirates have a code, and sky pirates do everything with infinitely more style.
[Cloud. Zack. They are more military maybe, but to some degree, they can fit into a gun for hire category... Sword for hire. Something like that.
But maybe there's something between pirates and mercenaries that she just doesn't get.]
But I guess it's true that the ones I've known haven't been refined like you. Again, though, you're not what I expected when I heard pirate. You seem more like a prince most of the time.
I don't doubt there are all sorts. Not every pirate meets with my standards, either.
[But they are distinctly different peoples, he will maintain. A mercenary may be perfectly nice, but his mental image of them tends to be rather... well. No word he can come up with will be particularly kind.
She does manage to blindside him with that one, however.]
A prince? Ah, as we speak, there is a princess far from here who has suddenly found herself choking on her tea though she knows not why— and if she were here, would likely insist that I'm little more than a common scoundrel. Personally, I think I'm rather uncommon.
I guess that's true. One mercenary is not equivalent to all mercenary. And one pirate is not equivalent to all mercenaries...
[As he continues, makes mention of this princess, she can't help smiling. Balthier the uncommon scoundrel. She could see it, but she probably won't say that. Rather—]
Oh, you know a princess back home? I wonder what you did to make her think you were a scoundrel. You're always so nice to me...
Oh. Well. I guess if I ever need to be kidnapped, I know who to go to? But I'm not a princess. Hope that's okay.
[Aerith, that was not the point at all.]
Seriously, though. Can you really be the one that's a scoundrel if she wanted to be kidnapped? Can you even kidnap the willing? Isn't it just a date at that point?
I'd be willing to branch out beyond royalty, should circumstances demand.
[Is this tasteless to tease about?
It's probably fine.]
And she wasn't meant to leave the premises, so it was still kidnapping of a sort— and with four others along for the ride, 'date' hardly seems appropriate. It did up the bounty on my head a fair amount. I'm almost proud.
[That's a lot of information to take in at one time. But... She gets it. Kind of. Mostly. What he's really saying is that it's a situation that resulted in a reputation and he's... happy about it.
Troublesome.]
I'd call that a group date and I'm still not sure I can call it kidnapping. It sounds more like she just wanted an opportunity to be something more than a princess. I can get that. I'm sure if I was one, I'd feel the same way.
[It's not that she necessarily perks up at the thought of revolution. It's more that she can relate and empathise. Isn't that what AVALANCHE is doing? What a sobering discovery. Somehow pirates and revolution don't seem like impossible ideas to cross over into one another.
In some ways, it makes her respect Balthier all the more.]
Yeah. It really is, isn't it? Never as easy as some might make it out to be. Not as romanticised as books make it seem either.
[Pirates and revolutionaries do seem like they could very well go hand-in-hand, don't they? Rebels all— and one never knows where they might discover new purpose.]
Well, if it were easy, everyone would do it.
[His tone is flippant, as it so often is, but there's a distinct note of sincerity there.]
Sometimes you need someone exceptionally good at breaking the rules to lend a hand.
That's true. Not everyone can be a part of a revolution. A lot of things can prevent that from happening. I guess that makes you a rule breaker. Someone who isn't afraid to get involved, so that others don't have to.
[She kind of does the same, doesn't she?]
That's actually kind of noble when you put it that way.
[His voice is mild, rather than playing up the opportunity for conceit, however insincere it may have been.]
Perhaps. I wouldn't let that get around, though. You assist in one such uprising, and suddenly everyone comes knocking on your door asking you to play a role in theirs.
[He has two yet-unanswered letters from one Al-Cid Margrace with his things back home. The cheek of that man.]
[And it sounds like Balthier is already quite popular back home. Getting involved in anything that could turn into a spectacle would really only make things more difficult for him. She's sure he enjoys a challenge, but everything in moderation, right?
She's lucky, so far anyway, that her own association with AVALANCHE hasn't put more attention on her than she's already had. She also supposes her own position is quite a bit different. She was already well-known, but only by specific people in specific roles.
There's nothing quite like always being watched.]
Don't you worry. I won't be saying a word. Even Mister Popular needs a break, right?
Much appreciated. It's always reassuring to know an acquaintance can be trusted with delicate information.
[They both have secrets aplenty, but that fact in and of itself makes exaggerating the importance of this particular exchange that much more amusing to him.]
You're quite right, it can be exhausting being so popular. Thankfully, this place has offered something of a reprieve— as it has to many of us in different ways, I would imagine.
How very kind of you— especially since I've yet to pay you in full for the last one.
[He hasn't forgotten, naturally, he's just... taking his time. She'd said she wanted to spread her 'payment' out, after all.]
I'm not so sure that's a good thing, though I know my name has been making its way around certain circles. [Largely concerning odd jobs and acquisitions.] I'll admit, for as hard as I worked for my reputation in Ivalice, there's something to be said for this level of near-anonymity.
[Can words strike someone breathless? She's pretty sure his clever little response touches her just so.]
I think having a reputation is both a good and bad thing. Everything in moderation, right? Although I guess with popularity you probably can't control that. That kind of attention isn't usually determined by you, but rather those who know you.
[And then:] If you ever feel like you need a place to lay low, I can hook you up!
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[It's definitely gold in treasure chests. He's a pirate, after all.]
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[Of course, that's gotten him into trouble in the past. Looking at you, Dusk Shard.]
The best sorts of trophies have stories, you know.
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[She wonders what he means by that, though it sounds like a very romantic idea. Does she have any treasures with personality? She didn't go steal it or anything, but she thinks of the white materia she wears hidden under her bow. The hairpiece was Somnus is kind of a treasure, too...
These might not count, though.]
I think I get it. Does that mean you have a lot of treasures with stories?
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[She catches on quickly. Once again, he's not terribly surprised. She's proven herself to be sharp since day one.]
Monetary value isn't the only worth treasure can have. I like them to have a bit of flavor— to have meant something at one point or another. Typically, they're not the sorts of things people come to miss, either. Most ruins don't have feelings.
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[Treasure can also be sentimentality. Some believe that money is what runs the world. Shinra is like that, too. When he speaks so plainly of it, so impassioned, Aerith can feel herself resonate with the idea.]
Soooo... If I can ask— [Which is a silly thing to start this with because she's going to ask anyway.] —what do you do with these treasures? Just holding onto them?
[She's hoping so, because if he's actually turning a profit with them, that's a little bit different.
that belongs in a museum!]no subject
[He and Fran do quite well for themselves, really. It's why his head is worth so much.]
Shoot the right monsters for the right people, and the gil comes pouring in. Not all that different from here, when you think about it.
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It sounds like you do mercenary work in addition to your piracy. I've known... a lot of mercenaries, now that I'm thinking about it, so I'm familiar with how that works. Back home, I did similar things. Running errands for the locals, which did sometimes involve having to fight things off.
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[That's the way of things in Ivalice, at least, though he wouldn't doubt it's the same anywhere else. Still, his tone is light, amused; he's enjoying himself thoroughly.]
Pirates have a code, and sky pirates do everything with infinitely more style.
[It's about finesse.]
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[Cloud. Zack. They are more military maybe, but to some degree, they can fit into a gun for hire category... Sword for hire. Something like that.
But maybe there's something between pirates and mercenaries that she just doesn't get.]
But I guess it's true that the ones I've known haven't been refined like you. Again, though, you're not what I expected when I heard pirate. You seem more like a prince most of the time.
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[But they are distinctly different peoples, he will maintain. A mercenary may be perfectly nice, but his mental image of them tends to be rather... well. No word he can come up with will be particularly kind.
She does manage to blindside him with that one, however.]
A prince? Ah, as we speak, there is a princess far from here who has suddenly found herself choking on her tea though she knows not why— and if she were here, would likely insist that I'm little more than a common scoundrel. Personally, I think I'm rather uncommon.
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[As he continues, makes mention of this princess, she can't help smiling. Balthier the uncommon scoundrel. She could see it, but she probably won't say that. Rather—]
Oh, you know a princess back home? I wonder what you did to make her think you were a scoundrel. You're always so nice to me...
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[Oh-so-casual.]
She did ask me to do the latter, mind you. Kidnapping is such unsavory business.
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[Is he kidding?]
Oh. Well. I guess if I ever need to be kidnapped, I know who to go to? But I'm not a princess. Hope that's okay.
[Aerith, that was not the point at all.]
Seriously, though. Can you really be the one that's a scoundrel if she wanted to be kidnapped? Can you even kidnap the willing? Isn't it just a date at that point?
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[Is this tasteless to tease about?
It's probably fine.]
And she wasn't meant to leave the premises, so it was still kidnapping of a sort— and with four others along for the ride, 'date' hardly seems appropriate. It did up the bounty on my head a fair amount. I'm almost proud.
[Almost!]
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Troublesome.]
I'd call that a group date and I'm still not sure I can call it kidnapping. It sounds more like she just wanted an opportunity to be something more than a princess. I can get that. I'm sure if I was one, I'd feel the same way.
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[There had been no dating involved; he'll deny that until there's not a breath left in him.]
Admittedly, it was a touch more complicated than that. I made it sound frivolous, but there was purpose behind her flight.
[Oh no, he's getting dangerously close to sharing legitimate information.]
Revolution is rather messy, as a rule.
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In some ways, it makes her respect Balthier all the more.]
Yeah. It really is, isn't it? Never as easy as some might make it out to be. Not as romanticised as books make it seem either.
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Well, if it were easy, everyone would do it.
[His tone is flippant, as it so often is, but there's a distinct note of sincerity there.]
Sometimes you need someone exceptionally good at breaking the rules to lend a hand.
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[She kind of does the same, doesn't she?]
That's actually kind of noble when you put it that way.
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[His voice is mild, rather than playing up the opportunity for conceit, however insincere it may have been.]
Perhaps. I wouldn't let that get around, though. You assist in one such uprising, and suddenly everyone comes knocking on your door asking you to play a role in theirs.
[He has two yet-unanswered letters from one Al-Cid Margrace with his things back home. The cheek of that man.]
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[And it sounds like Balthier is already quite popular back home. Getting involved in anything that could turn into a spectacle would really only make things more difficult for him. She's sure he enjoys a challenge, but everything in moderation, right?
She's lucky, so far anyway, that her own association with AVALANCHE hasn't put more attention on her than she's already had. She also supposes her own position is quite a bit different. She was already well-known, but only by specific people in specific roles.
There's nothing quite like always being watched.]
Don't you worry. I won't be saying a word. Even Mister Popular needs a break, right?
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[They both have secrets aplenty, but that fact in and of itself makes exaggerating the importance of this particular exchange that much more amusing to him.]
You're quite right, it can be exhausting being so popular. Thankfully, this place has offered something of a reprieve— as it has to many of us in different ways, I would imagine.
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[See. She's so charitable.]
Actually, I'm a little surprised that you aren't popular here yet. Give it time. Soon, everyone will probably have their eyes on you.
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[He hasn't forgotten, naturally, he's just... taking his time. She'd said she wanted to spread her 'payment' out, after all.]
I'm not so sure that's a good thing, though I know my name has been making its way around certain circles. [Largely concerning odd jobs and acquisitions.] I'll admit, for as hard as I worked for my reputation in Ivalice, there's something to be said for this level of near-anonymity.
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I think having a reputation is both a good and bad thing. Everything in moderation, right? Although I guess with popularity you probably can't control that. That kind of attention isn't usually determined by you, but rather those who know you.
[And then:] If you ever feel like you need a place to lay low, I can hook you up!
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