FFXII Fic: Caliber of Consequences, Chapter 1: Penelo (Larsa/Penelo, Basch; Co-Author: Moontear)
I know I’ve been away for quite a spell, carousing and grousing about town with my special guest and neglecting my very gracious f-list… but I do hope you’ll all forgive me for that soon enough. I’ve spent much of my time either accompanying that special guest to tedious dinner parties or tearing my hair out while trying to do special projects. In
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And that note on Penelo's gradual evolution-- her still developing evolution-- into a proper Lady Sky Pirate of Fran's magnitude really intrigues me. Frankly, I think both Moontear and I really thought of her more as someone who had already evolved into being as suave as Balthier was back when we first met him in the canon game. (She's around his age finally, after all. Or at least the age he's willing to give!)
But this...
She's older and more experienced but there is something still very young about her. She isn't as smooth as she will eventually need to become. I'm thinking of all of her slips of almost saying "Uncle Basch" and there is something that feels helter-skelter about her actions rather than entirely confident. But she's a quick thinker and she knows she can charm her way into or out of situations. It is very believable.
This is an intriguing idea that I think both Moontear and I can build on well... the fact that she's clearly changed from the girl she used to be (at least on account of how gritty/ruthless she's willing to publicly be) but she's still not quite the woman she wants to be. Or maybe, that that mold of 'woman' is something she's contorting herself to fit and that's not really her in the first place?
Interesting interesting interesting...
And the years in Archades, pretending to be his brother (albeit possibly after a massive head-injury in the Bahamut) has really changed Basch... and not necessarily for the better either. Still, even though he's far more attuned to Byzantine politics than he had been before (or ever wanted to be), he's still Basch at his core and he's still everyone's go-to guy for heart-to-heart talks. So there shall definitely be more of him to come (um, if this continues, anyway!) and I'm sure he'll find a way to forgive Penelo eventually.
After all, she just sent him to sleep for a spell. And given what kind of noises might be coming from the Emperor's chambers soon, he'll probably be better off in the long-run. ;)
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I love the idea you just put forth: that Penelo isn't yet the woman she wants to be. Yes, comparing Penelo in this fic to Balthier in game is interesting and very applicable. At age 22ish, both had been on the run as sky pirates; Penelo is clearly notorious as you & moontear have written her, just like notorious Balthier 6ish years prior; both are experienced enough yet young enough to be gritty and cocky. :DDDD
Oh, poor Basch... (Massive head-injury, eh??)
I am (obviously) fascinated with the idea of Basch as a Judge Magister. I also lean toward the "changes him and not necessarily for the better" camp (although a part of me wants Basch to have some happiness). Basch strikes me a little too much of an idealist to fare well in the Byzantine world of Archadian politics, especially as a Judge Magister. I can see that job chipping away at him bit by bit by bit until he becomes a very sad person.
When time allows you to continue this stories and others, I'm looking forward to them!! :D
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