[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!
[They certainly can, if you know how to use them.]
I suppose you're right about that. [Followed by an arch of the eyebrow.] Planning to hide me away among your inventory, are you?
[Or if she means her home, the way she's made it sound with regards to the amount of plants kept there, the rest of Camelot may as well consider him to be swallowed whole. At this point, he's come to imagine her residence as a scene straight out of the Salikawood.]
[She thinks about that, the contemplation clear in her voice.] I think you're a little too big and noticeable to hide in my inventory...
[Aerith continues, confirming his original thought in mind.] So maybe just keep you at my place? That sounds more doable and I don't normally have people come visit me regularly. Every once in a while someone will come by, but it's not very often. You'd probably be safe there.
Well, I always just want to be helpful. I don't see what the big deal is. [Although Somnus has had a similar reaction, admittedly. He always hesitates whenever Aerith extends such an offer or anything similar to it. She can only assume that it's a polite sort of reaction. She's simply not traditional enough. At least Balthier doesn't outright sound insulted by it.]
I do have a lot of plants, but I'm pretty sure they're harmless. I haven't been eaten yet, after all. You might be a snack, but I'm pretty sure you're safe.
[Oh. Yeah. There it is again. That Somnus kind of deal. Aerith considers for just a moment that maybe even with Balthier she ought to be a little careful about what she says. She loves to push and prod. Offend, maybe not so much.
When he addresses her little description of him, she grins.]
A snack. Means you're tasty! You know, you look tasty!
Well, it's not that. I'll—uhm—I'll keep that in mind. I'll try to, anyway. [No promises there.]
And I didn't say that either. I stand by my original idea. You're cute. Handsome, if you want to get fancy. But if I was putting you next to a cake, one of those things I'd eat and it probably wouldn't be you.
[Because let's be real, Balthier's dry wit would make for a rather poor cake. He'd make a great lemon bar, though.]
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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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I suppose you're right about that. [Followed by an arch of the eyebrow.] Planning to hide me away among your inventory, are you?
[Or if she means her home, the way she's made it sound with regards to the amount of plants kept there, the rest of Camelot may as well consider him to be swallowed whole. At this point, he's come to imagine her residence as a scene straight out of the Salikawood.]
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[She thinks about that, the contemplation clear in her voice.] I think you're a little too big and noticeable to hide in my inventory...
[Aerith continues, confirming his original thought in mind.] So maybe just keep you at my place? That sounds more doable and I don't normally have people come visit me regularly. Every once in a while someone will come by, but it's not very often. You'd probably be safe there.
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You know, that's not the first time you've invited me back to your place of residence.
[He doesn't seem as concerned about how it might appear this time, at least— they're rather beyond that, he thinks.]
As for safety, I suppose that depends. Your plants rather have the run of the place, yes? Any of them man-eating?
[He's all Rafflesia'd out for one lifetime.]
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I do have a lot of plants, but I'm pretty sure they're harmless. I haven't been eaten yet, after all. You might be a snack, but I'm pretty sure you're safe.
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[There's a dismissive little wave to go with that casual tone. Although—]
Excuse me, I'm a what?
[What does that even mean, Aerith?]
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[Oh. Yeah. There it is again. That Somnus kind of deal. Aerith considers for just a moment that maybe even with Balthier she ought to be a little careful about what she says. She loves to push and prod. Offend, maybe not so much.
When he addresses her little description of him, she grins.]
A snack. Means you're tasty! You know, you look tasty!
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[They're not in Ivalice, after all.
He takes half a beat to consider her answer, and his smirk is clearly audible in his response.]
I see. A feast for the eyes, one might say. I'm hardly inclined to disagree.
[He is a legit snack.]
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And I didn't say that either. I stand by my original idea. You're cute. Handsome, if you want to get fancy. But if I was putting you next to a cake, one of those things I'd eat and it probably wouldn't be you.
[Because let's be real, Balthier's dry wit would make for a rather poor cake. He'd make a great lemon bar, though.]
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