paixaorpg | This would be where I die laughing, now wouldn't it?

Entry tags:

This would be where I die laughing, now wouldn't it?

Characters: Balthier
Content: Balthier arrives into Paixao, and is only mildly traumatized. The trauma quickly leads to frustration, and the conclusion that someone is laughing at him somewhere.
Setting: Nilfheim Gates
Time: Late Afternoon
Warnings: Balthier wants to make the :< face, but can't because then he'd look ridiculous.

It was a rude awakening, to say the least. The fight before hand had been less emotionally grueling than he’d really expected it to be. Nevertheless, he hadn’t counted it as anything less than difficult. What was truly frustrating was seeing a guest to the party do what they had all set out to do.

Worse was the mist beginning to swallow them. Balthier had no intention of just waiting to be destroyed, or transformed by the powers of the mist, but he wasn’t an all out coward. After one particular harsh blow of the stuff in his face, it was time to leave. He opened his mouth to shout for the others to run, and then it hit him.

He wasn’t at the Pharos anymore. The mist was pleasantly gone, along with all the annoyingly frustrating architectural design. A bit in the distance, Balthier could see a sort of gate made out of standing statues, and a line waiting to get in. This was bloody fantastic, he’d realized. One second too long, and now he was paying for it, far before he was ready.

He sighed and looked at the ground. Dead. Well, this was hilariously ironic. Except for the odd part that he wasn’t laughing. Well, not much else he could do except wonder. Why did he still have his accessories? What the hell would he need his gun for in this place?

Seemed odd that he would still have his guns and shots, his defensive equipment, and still need to even breathe if he was dead. Ah, and one more thing that made this seem almost comedic. He still had the Phesant Netsuke. And Vaan had all the bloody phoenix downs. Priceless.

But it was safe to assume, at that point, he wasn’t dead, but rather the mist had transported him somewhere, and the where was the question, wasn’t it? He was certain he’d never seen this place before, and he was even more certain that it didn’t exist on the continent. He also had a hunch that it wasn’t Rozarrian. The dome idea didn’t seem to suit their tastes, and not even they would have statues that hideous.

He moved towards the line, which he noticed moved with alarming pace—as soon as he stepped into it. It took little to no time at all to reach the gate, and the dialogue there was less than pleasing.

“Hello, welcome to Paixao!” Cheerful, wonderful, he was anything but.

“Can we skip the formalities? Where the devil is Paixao, and where’s the nearest airship dock to get out?” Balthier demanded, rapping his knuckles against the smooth wooden surface that counted as a sort of desk.

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about sir, but please, take a journal and a brochure, and step inside!” the man announced, all but pushing the said objects at Balthier, though he really had no problem taking them. It was just a matter of his questions having been ignored that he didn’t appreciate.

“I doubt you’ll find me stepping inside of anything until my questions are answered,” he responded smoothly, pocketing the journal and opening the brochure with flitting glances.

However, the more that he thought of it, the more he had to wonder if his friends were actually inside of the domes. Likely, they would be, if he were near. Thus, it might be better to step inside then to cause unnecessary attention to be drawn towards himself. At least, not until he got some information.

He ignored the diminutive little man, and stepped inside the city.

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Stitch looked over the edge of the carpet, looking for anyone that he thought might be familiar. Instead, he noticed a person who had just walked through one of the gates and pointed towards him.

"Ooh! Time to play! Can you go down?" He asked the magical Carpet.

Carpet had made good speed through the air, and looked down at the person his furry blue rider had pointed out, noting with some curiousity their appearance. They had the same strange golden hair as everyone else, though not quite as bright, but their eyes were dark as they should be, and their complexion was closer to normal than he'd seen yet. He gave Stitch a thumbs up, and went into a spiraling dive towards Balthier.

The controlled descent soon turned into a wild ride though, as a wave of dizziness swept over Carpet; having no head to clutch, the flying rug just spasmed in sudden pain, shocked by the sensation--he was made of yarn after all, he'd never experienced such a thing as pain before, and might never again. The dive turned into an uncontrolled tumble, and Carpet made only futile efforts to stop it, crash landing hard in a heap, not even a stone's throw from where Balthier stood.

Balthier had been more than a little preoccupied with the journals after he'd stepped inside the gate. Useful, he realized. Useful was the best way to describe them. And he had a ton of reading to do once, if he was to hope to find his friends. That would have to be shelved for later, however.

He glanced around the city, after a passing glance at the map. First, to figure out where to go. If this were completely random as he suspected, his friends could be anywhere. And they wouldn't have the advantage of having grabbed one of these useful journals.

Luckily enough, before he could even begin to be frustrated again, the answer to his problems crashed but a few feet away.

Perfect.

Stitch noticed the carpet's loss of control and attempted to keep it in the air. Failing, he rolled into a ball and held on as the carpet hit the ground. After landing, he rolled away and unballed at the feet of the man he had pointed to. Looking straight up, he managed a slight wave.

Luckily for Stitch, he'd had the good sense to hold onto Carpet as they fell; he wasn't magical for nothing, after all, and even ancient magicians weren't oblivious to the dangers of air travel. Crashing into something, wind speed, extreme temperatures.... He had protective enchantments woven into the very "fabric" of his being to help shield his riders from things like these.

Those and more, all contributed to make him a very magical being, dominated much more fully by these spells dictating his innate knowledge and instincts than any memories he had actually picked up over the many, many millenia he'd existed for--at least ten of which had been utterly dull, puttering around in the Cave of Wonders and waiting for someone to come along and find him.

They even dictated his feelings and desires; the dazed Carpet didn't even realize that he had lost his memories, and if he had, hardly would have cared. All he knew was that he was in a bright, shining place with gleaming silver gates and two other beings. If he was here, then his master must be here, because.... because that was the way it had to be. He was incomplete without a master. He wanted, needed, even existed solely to serve. All else could come later, once he knew what he was needed to do.

Still crumpled on the ground in a heap, Carpet lifted one end of himself to look up, and promptly focused on Balthier, the more obvious and more likely of the two. He was the only other one around, and he looked rather grand.... besides, the look he was directing Carpet's way looked almost.... expectant? Had to be Master. Carpet rose from the ground in a single, fluid motion, shaking the dust off from his landing to better show off his patterns. He glided over to spiral around Balthier, rubbing against him like some silky, affectionate cat as he waited to be acknowledged and put to work. Stitch, for the moment, had been forgotten and disregarded entirely.

If there had been any doubt before-hand, Balthier knew for sure then that he wasn't even in the same world, no matter how impossible that may have seemed. His home was capable of fantastic things, all involving some sort of destruction capabilities. Deifacted nethicite, manufacted nethicite, the espers, the Occuria, Mist, paths that only opened for the right people or species.

But yet something so simple as a flying carpet couldn't be found in the entire world. If it could... well, its owner would be bloody rich, just for the sheer novelty of it. He'd have to keep that in mind when its practical usage had run its course.

"What have we here," he said aloud, amazement only just touching his voice and eyebrows arching at the carpet's affectionate move.

The Strahl, besides very obviously not being in this place, Paixao, would have been far too clunky to have been any use inside the dome. That would have left him to searching the whole city on foot. And having stepped inside of the domes revealed one thing to be certain: it would take days to cover every inch of this place.

Balthier had never been one for patience, really. And thanks to the lovely carpet, he didn't need patience. He could fly over the city while scouring for his friends. Granted, Basche, Vaan, Penelo, and Ashe wouldn't stand out at all, but Fran would stick out like a sore thumb. And he had more loyalty to her, even after everything they'd been through, than to anyone else.

And he'd feel a hell of a lot better if he were at least stranded with her.

"So, flying carpet. How about a little ride, hmm?"

Rikku had decided that, once she'd found Yuna and Paine again, the very first thing they should do is get a new hideout. The journal she'd lifted from the gatekeeper was obviously designed for someone a lot bigger than her, and although she was used to that kind of thing by now, it was still kind of annoying. She'd had to set it down in one of the trees to use it - and what a tree, too! The Gullwings had really hit the motherlode, winding up here.

Which was why they'd need a hideout. They had to have someplace to put all this treasure.

She had just left a note on the network for her friends and was just trying to figure out how the three of them would uproot this thing when she was distracted by the sound of voices not far off. Or, really, one voice, and one something-hitting-the-ground noise. Rikku floated over to a break in the sparkly leaves and looked through, to see an adorable blue thing, a flying carpet (ooh, that was neat!), and a handsome, nicely dressed young man... He looked ri~ch, actually, which was an even better reason to go over and introduce herself.

Her curiosity didn't even have to put up a fight to win over. Leaving her journal for the moment (she'd go back for it in a second), she flew over to them, coming to a stop a few feet from Balthier's shoulder, and waved. "Hi there!"

Stitch looked up at the fairy from his position on the ground. He had never seen anything like it before, besides any flying experiments, but they didn't count. Standing up, he quickly made a decision to try and get closer by climbing up on the shoulder of the man who was in front of him. He waved to the fairy.

(OOC: Sorry it's short...and feel free to smack him off the shoulder. My muse and I are having major issues this weekend)

What had he here? A magic carpet, that was what. An obedient, docile servant buzzing with energies, as fresh and eager to please as the day he had first been made, so very, very long ago. Not that he remembered that, of course--for all Carpet knew, this could have been his first day of existence. Either way, this loyalty to his master, even something like love, all of it had been expressly woven into him from the start, to ensure his usefulness and fidelity. He would obey not because he was forced to, but because he wanted to; as inhuman as he was, there was a desperate, very human need for love and approval, for attention and affirmation. He needed to be needed.

Thus, Balthier had hardly to ask the question before Carpet responded to it, gliding down to the ground and stretching himself out before the man's feet so he could easily step on. He could do rides. He was supposed to do rides, and right now, a ride would make his master happy, so of course he would do it! He hoped Master didn't expect him to know where things were, though; he wasn't familiar with this place, or any other. He would go where he was told, but there was no way he could find anything, even specific landmarks, without being directed or having them described to him.... Well, he would worry about that if and when it came to that.

Even waiting to be boarded as he was, Carpet stretched a corner up to better see the strange blue rodent-like creature and small flying human-like creature. What were they doing up there? Were they Master's pets? They seemed harmless and friendly enough, so they were probably either pets or friends. And that made sense, of course, so he wouldn't trouble himself about them; they were easily small and light enough to carry too, if they were coming. He could carry a great deal of weight, that was another thing he knew instinctively. Whether it was people, or treasure, or anything else, it was doubtful they would be able to burden him too heavily.

Well, this had been more eventful than he'd bargained, and he'd planned on trouble upon entering the Pharos. Better safe than dead, at the very least, and that brought a wry smile to his face. Pharos, then Paixao, where he'd encountered almost immediately a flying carpet, something useful for his current goal in finding his friends.

However, he couldn't think of a rhyme or reason for the other two. The fairy that accosted him almost immediately after the carped (and the thing with the carpet) immediately gave him the sense that he'd not only been thrown off the face of Ivalice, but straight into a children's storybook. The notion had occurred to him before, but this perhaps cemented it.

So, he was playing the part of a hero in a land of fantasy, then? Very well, he could manage that until he found his friends and saw fit to escape from this disturbing place. Of course, the carpet was priceless enough to come with him.

He glanced on his shoulder at the blue, monster-like creature that was perched there, before promptly brushing him off. There would be none of that. He wasn't fond of animals that reminded him of the fiends that had attempted numerous times to kill him in his travels.

"And once again, something I wasn't expecting. Who are you, hm?" he asked to the young fairy, only momentarily deterred from the carpet. He placed a foot on the thing, and he had to admit. He was shocked when it didn't give way.

Rikku waved cheerily back to the blue critter, half-wondering if it was the handsome guy's pet. Well, that wasn't really important right this second, anyway. She struck a pose real quick. "I'm Rikku!" she exclaimed. "Who are you?"

He looked nice enough, and she couldn't help wondering how long he'd been here. That was one thing to be said for other worlds - you met the neatest people.

((ooc: omg, short post. sorry ;_; ))

Stitch hit the ground with a small *thump*. Looking up, he glared at the man who had just brushed him off. He stood up on his back legs, brushed himself off and then pointed at the man.

"Hey, that wasn't very nice!" And proceeded to growl at him, trying to intimidate him, even though Stitch was only the size of about half his leg.

Carpet watched Stitch get brushed off Balthier's shoulder with some satisfaction; Master didn't like whatever it was, obviously, so he wouldn't like it, either. Master seemed to like the strange Rikku fairy better, though, or at least be more open to talking with it.... Maybe because it was more human? He didn't know the answer, and didn't pretend to. It was up to him to act upon Master's wishes and the subtle or not-so-subtle cues he gave off, not divine the rhyme, reason, or intent behind his actions.

Carpet indeed didn't give way from Balthier's weight, even though he was hovering just off the ground; he held himself obediently still, and if he had a face, would have been scowling as the horrid little beast hit the ground and started growling at Master. Was he trying to be intimidating? Please! He couldn't hold a candle to what Master could do...... whatever he did. He wasn't sure yet.

Either way, even trying to be a threat was bad, and Carpet wouldn't stand for someone possibly attacking his master. He rose through the air to get away from the blue vermin, keeping steady so Balthier could remain standing and pausing once he was several feet up--high enough to prevent the creature from jumping at them, but still low enough to let Master keep speaking to the Rikku fairy. He wasn't going to take off just yet; that would wait until Master gave him the signal.

(OOC: ARGH, stupid LJ ate my original post; forgive the crappiness of this one. XP And Carpet has no personal problems with you, Stitch--it's the amnesia/follow-the-leader mentality. <333)

Balthier hadn't been expecting that at all, to be honest. The feeling of riding a carpet was enough to bring a smirk to his face. Once he was sure he was steady, he straightened, but he was ready in case the carpet decided to take off for a surprise joy ride.

To be honest, he wouldn't entirely mind. He doubted the carpet would compare to his Strahl, but he really couldn't afford to be picky right then. And, again he reminded himself, the novelty of this would be worth a fortune. He glanced down at the small fairy.

She could also be worth a fortune, but he'd never found himself attracted to the human and animal trade (more often he was disgusted with it). So the idea was quickly tossed aside.

"My name is Balthier," he replied simply, and then he kneeled onto the carpet, placing a hand on the edges of the fabric. "And I'm going attempt an unplanned rendezvous with my comrades... It'd be a shame were they not here, however."

Another glance at the blue monster. "So you speak as well, hm? And what do you call yourself?"

Balthier, huh? That was a classy-sounding name. Granted, it was entirely possible Rikku thought that because the man behind the name sounded pretty classy even without it.

"Ohh," she replied, understanding completely. "You're looking for your friends, too?" She hadn't had time to look very hard for Yuna and Paine yet, but she was definitely looking for them. Of course, she had no doubt whatsoever that they'd be around somewhere.

When Balthier turned his attention to the blue thing, Rikku did the same, floating down to a spot just outside Stitch's reach to get a closer look. It was pretty cute, except for those big sharp teeth.

Stitch looked up at the man again when he heard him say something, asking his name. His ears popped straight up and he smiled.

"My name is Stitch." He stopped for a second, trying to remember what to say next. "It's nice to meet you." Stitch then looked at the fairy. "It's nice to meet you too." Turning his head to the side, he realized she might be afraid of him, or something.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you! I'm nice!"

A surprise joyride? Perish the thought! He would never do that unless he thought Master wanted one. And right now, it seemed that Master wanted to talk to his companions, so he would let him do that. Balthier.... Master's name was Balthier. Good! He would remember that. Balthier was a very good name, he decided. It had to be a good name, if it was Master's name. If Carpet had a face, he would have smiled as Balthier knelt on him, his front tassels curling loosely, affectionately over the man's wrists.

So they were going to look for friends? He could do that! He could fly and he could look too! ....If he knew what they looked like, that was. He could do a lot of things, if he was told what and how. Maybe he could even find the Rikku fairy's friends, since she seemed to be Master Balthier's friend now. What about the little blue rat though, now that they were talking? Would it become a friend, too? He'd have to wait and see.

And so, that was exactly what Carpet did. He waited patiently, solid and steady beneath Balthier and awaiting the command to fly. Or do something else. Whatever he was asked for, that's what he intended to do.

((OOC: Carpet's pretty much just part of the scenery now, guys; please skip his future turns and treat this as a three-person thread for a while. XD I'll keep checking the thread, so if anything happens he needs to respond to, I'll pop back in..... until then though, he's just a piece of furniture that happens to be several feet up. :P))

"It's endearing to know that you won't attempt to maul me, I'm certain. It puts you a step ahead of most fiends, and even then, the fact that you can talk to some degree brings you to the level of most rabble I encounter on a daily basis. It's a pleasure, Stitch," Balthier responded with the same sardonic tone that he applied to almost everything he said.

However, first and foremost, there was an impending battle to be fought in his homeland, and all the interesting characters he had encountered aside, Balthier needed to find his friends. A battle couldn't be won on one man's skill alone, after all, and Balthier wasn't nearly arrogant enough to assume himself above common sense.

"However, other, more important matters call, and unless you can manage to keep up," it was there that Balthier paused, a rogue-ish smirk sliding across his face, "then I do believe this is farewell, hmm?"

The next task on his list was to figure out a go word. This wasn't exactly the Strahl, but he had several ideas. "Let's go!" he said to the carpet.

Wait, what? That was sudden - they'd just met and here he was trying to leave without them. "Hey, wait! You can't just run off like that!" she exclaimed, whether or not that would actually stop him.

Rikku knew she could keep up with the flying carpet, easily, but Stitch couldn't, and all in all it was awfully inconsiderate to leave him by himself. She sure wasn't going to fly away without hardly saying goodbye.

Carpet listened, floating dutifully as he listened to Master's sarcasm--if he could have, he would have grinned as well; as it was, he only lifted a tassel to wave. They really could just run off like that, and he highly doubted Rikku could keep up with him; Master was right to have mentioned his speed! After all, he'd flown across the world in a matter of hours before! Intelligent as he was, he could easily recognize "let's go" as his signal to take off.

So take off he did, and with a bang, at that; Master wanted fast, so he'd go fast, and maybe even impress him! The start was smooth but sudden--it was of necessity, when the carpet went from zero to roughly breakneck in a matter of seconds. The pair soared up and out, arrowing high over Paixao's buildings to a level where they'd comfortably be able to see a good portion of the city beneath them at once and recognize landmark buildings. There was a bit of a problem, though--Master Balthier had been very vague. He didn't know where to go or what to look for!

Hopefully now that they were up and away and actually moving, he'd say where they needed to go or who or what they needed to find. Carpet lifted one tassel to gently tug at Balthier's wrist, then folded it into what looked all the world like a pointing hand, turning it in a circle questioningly. It was a bit hard to ask where they were going in signals and charades, but Carpet was obviously doing his best.

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This would be where I die laughing, now wouldn't it?

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