A pair of men without a sky [Active]

[withwingstofly.livejournal.com]

Character(s): Setzer and Balthier
Content: A sky pirate and a gambler meet
Setting: The Cafe Ersesat at F6
Time: Late afternoon/early evening
Warnings: None at the moment

From time to time, even a man who was as upbeat as Setzer felt the need to simply sit and think. The fact that he'd chosen to stop at place that just happened to sell an assortment of alcohol was just sort of an added incentive. And in any case he wasn't really paying attention to the half-full glass in front of him, instead idly shuffling his cards.

Between the monsters and assorted other difficulties of the city things had long since stopped because interesting and had become a bother. He hadn't seen Locke for quite some time either, which meant he was the only Returner around and thus the only one he could trust should it end up that someone needed to take Kefka down. And then there was the lack of a sky. He'd always felt most at home in the skies with the wind blowing through his hair and here he was not only grounded but trapped in a city that was far too small to accommodate his wanderlust as well as himself.

And he couldn't do a damned thing about it.

Comments

[freedominthesky.livejournal.com]

He needed a place to wait until Fran returned, and this cafe seemed just as good a place as any. Balthier strolled into the restaurant taking a seat and staring distantly out the window. Fran didn't need Balthier's help in taking down a few foes, but something struck the man odd about these particular ones. Sky pirate's instinct he supposed, and one that he had come to trust over the years. He scowled. No, Balthier didn't like the looks of things one bit.

But after awhile, his expression lightened again. No need to be worried. Fran was armed well enough and was only going to investigate. She would be done quickly, sure as could be, he need only wait. The man crossed his arms over one another as he leaned against the table. "I think I could use a drink," he said to the server who had just come by his table. "I'm not feeling very picky today. I trust you'll surprise me?"

"Yes sir," the young girl stated before walking away.

[freedominthesky.livejournal.com]

Balthier tapped his fingers against the table in slight impatience, gaze trained on what lay beyond the window, scanning the crowd for the even the slightest trace of his partner. He still couldn't help his worries, it seemed, no matter how much he wished to simply rid himself of them.

Luckily, a distraction seemed to find him, and he looked over at the silver-haired man and gestured to the seat nearby. "Be my guest," he offered, taking a moment to examine the stranger's face a little more closely. Perhaps not so much a stranger...

"I believe I've seen you before. Or at least we've spoken with one another once or twice over the journals?"

[freedominthesky.livejournal.com]

Once last glance out the window and he was focused on Setzer again. "Balthier," he replied. "And what brings you to this table? Not that I mind the company, of course."

[freedominthesky.livejournal.com]

Balthier could understand that. There were many a person in this place who had captured Balthier's interest, and he intended to learn more about them at some point (although it would instantly be put aside should any leads off this island come across).

"I can only imagine." The sky pirate couldn't say he cared much for card games, but solitude and idleness were two things he'd rather not face. "Would be better had I more mobility, but sadly it seems my ride has found better things to do," Balthier continued with a short shrug. "I wouldn't suppose you have anything?"

[freedominthesky.livejournal.com]

Wings--? Ah, that was right, Setzer had said before that he'd had an airship. Balthier brightened considerably. Finally, someone who understood the cage that was being without a sky. It seemed an exaggeration, but the sky was freedom to the pirate, and to be without it altogether was almost unbearable.

"A bane to all men," Balthier replied, "I still can't say I see the point of them in the first place."

Protection, he had heard, but they could easily have just used a paling in that case. And, if they hadn't the technology or magick to create one, they could simply have used a fortified wall. While there might still be problems with aerial beasts, outside the domes seemed safe enough. Enough sot to wait out there in the long line to the city proper.

[freedominthesky.livejournal.com]

Balthier frowned, but the twinkle of adventure could be found in his eyes. A trap was precisely what this was, but that second prospect... Now that was something that interested him. Yes, it was true that items and other things hidden away tended to be put there for a reason, but so did treasures, and if these people thought that gold and jewels were so expendable as to make them part of the scenery, Balthier was curious just what their treasure would be.

A goal, then. He'd try and fish for a little more information first (he wasn't fool enough to go chasing after phantoms), but he was ready to get some use out of this skyless bore.

"Who knows?" Balthier settled back into his seat, "There are plenty of mysteries here and little in the way of answers. Unless you know anything else?"

[freedominthesky.livejournal.com]

Balthier smirked slightly; that was a nice way of putting it, but Balthier preferred to call it what it was unless discretion was necessary. "I know about as much as you do, I'm afraid, as well as the general city information that gets thrown about on the journals. Haven't really had much reason to ask." Until now.

"Then again, I'd much prefer to keep out of this place's problems. Not really my place to interfere, now, is it?" Of course, it stood to reason that should some act be perpetrated against himself or Fran, there would be retribution, but as it was, there seemed little to gain from conflict. Not when it was a lose-lose situation.

[freedominthesky.livejournal.com]

He didn't have to worry about tempting fate. It had its own way of finding him. He'd just rather keep it from meddling for as long as he possibly could.

Balthier nodded. "As well as a place to take flight in," he added, gaze sliding toward the window. The painted sun had moved lower in the sky. His mood sank. He wasn't sure just how much time had passed, but he did know that Fran hadn't returned yet, which bothered him. She should have been back back by now.

"I don't think I ever asked you how long you've been here," Balthier continued, attempting to forcibly tear himself from the problem. But he couldn't stop himself from glancing out the window every few seconds to see if she was coming.

[freedominthesky.livejournal.com]

That really didn't help too much, but he supposed it was an answer. It wasn't as though Balthier had any real idea how long he had been here, so it was likely that Setzer didn't either. But he couldn't help but snicker at the answer. He found it quite amusing.

"That sounds about right," he returned with a slight grin.

[freedominthesky.livejournal.com]

"Similarly enough," Balthier replied. Before Setzer had so kindly handed him a goal, the place had been quite boring (as well as a bit annoying), and the natives hadn't been too interesting either. There were puzzles to be put together to be sure, but they didn't lead to anything good.

[freedominthesky.livejournal.com]

"Me? Just waiting for someone," he replied. He frowned briefly.

Where is she? She should be back. This is becoming worrisome. Fran will be fine.

And then it was hidden away once again. "And what about you? Just keeping busy or waiting to speak with someone as well?"

[freedominthesky.livejournal.com]

"Understandable. I think we'd all like to keep the day-to-day doldrums as far away as possible," he replied.

After a moment, he pulled his journal out, typing something up quickly before putting it away again. Best to be cautious.

"Just leaving a note," he explained, figuring the gambler had been watching. And it was the truth, really.

[freedominthesky.livejournal.com]

Balthier nodded. "Yes, to her, or, I suppose, to anyone who's seen her around," he explained. He'd take any answer, really. It would put him at ease, at least.

[freedominthesky.livejournal.com]

Someone to help? Well, he'd take it where he could at the moment, considering the situation. "She'd be quite hard to miss, being the only viera around," Balthier began. "Tall, with long, white hair, and the ears of a rabbit."

He figured description beyond that would likely be unnecessary. He hadn't seen anyone else like that in Paixao, at least. Not unless he was missing something.

[freedominthesky.livejournal.com]

Balthier shrugged a little. "I doubt it'll come to a search" hopefully, "but the effort's appreciated." He did feel a little more at ease now that the message had been posted. She'd respond in due time, he was sure of it, otherwise someone else would find the message, still otherwise, Setzer would contact him. As far as he was concerned, there really wasn't all that much to worry about. Things would take care of themselves in due time.

[freedominthesky.livejournal.com]

Balthier smirked and nodded, opening up his journal to see if Fran had come across his entry yet. Instead, he found something else. He immediately frowned, reading it over and replying quickly before he got to his feet. "I'm afraid we'll have to continue this conversation later," he said quickly before he started to head for the door.

Wherever she was, he needed to get to her fast.

[freedominthesky.livejournal.com]

"Help if you want," Balthier called over his shoulder as he made his way out the door. He had switched to voice posts to try and get Fran to calm down a little, but that didn't seem to be working very well. He was more focused on that really than Setzer at the moment, though it was likely the sky pirate would appreciate the man's efforts in the future.