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[ There's a man standing who looks rather disoriented and out of place in the business district of Lindblum. He's leaning heavily on what appears to be a staff, and his gauntlet-ed hand is clutching a couple of gyshal pickles which he is eying oddly. He also seems to be either unaware or distinctly ignoring the smell that allowed for the large ( Read more... )
[The Bunansa boy was never a bad character, even when he did go off and play truant the way Zecht had, and Basch had seemed to trust him as a friend. For an added bonus, the man didn't seem to wish him dead.]
That's probably the nicest welcome anyone has given me all day. Basch, I fear, has lost none of his old mother-hen tendencies. [So what if it's nice to have his older brother there to nag at him about not being careful. Even if he can't look him in the face without cringing in self-hate. No one else has to know that]
Besides, it's not anonymity I worry about, Bunansa, but rather the other wonderful past aqcuantainces I'll have the distinguished pleasure of running into.
[Noah leans forward and gives an exaggerated grimace that morphs into a real one as he accidentally flexes a muscle in his side that is not quite done healing yet.]
Still terrorising the skies, I take it? And please, call me Noah. I'm rather done being the Empire's butcher.
[For some reason, it is easier to talk about it-much less joke about it-with the Sky Pirate. Perhaps that was what Basch first saw in the man.]
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Indeed, or I shall be in short order. Certain events have kept me more or less earthbound since my arrival, but Fran and I will be up to our old tricks again in no time. And what will you do here in Gaia? No need to decide right away, I suppose, but I assume you are rather like your brother in having a desire to feel useful. I can hardly blame him.
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[It was a joke, an old one, that he was 't even sure Baltheir would remember, from his days as a judge before he'd gone off to be a sky pirate.]
As to what I will be doing, first I'll be resting. As dearly as I wish I could wave my hand and feel fine I'm afraid I don't recover quite so easily. And even if I'd tried, Basch would probably hunt me sown and sit on me until I'd rested enough to be well.
Afterwards I don't rightly know. Probably stay with Larsa, as he has returned, until he decides he needs me no longer.
[He pauses a moment, thinking back.]
Basch has ever needed to be useful. I was that way once, and I still would love to serve, but I've recently been less than pleased with what I've been used for.
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[Balthier listens with interest, nodding once to show that he agrees with Noah's decision to rest. Injuries like that are not to be ignored.]
Perhaps... [He pauses, thoughtful.] ... that is the beauty of Gaia. The silver lining, if you will, even if we have been pulled from our rightful places. This world allows a second chance to those of us who wish it, freedom to those who would sever their ties to the past.
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It's good to hear that /someone/ is around to keep you in line. And that you still have the faithful girl [the ship]. I never pegged you for a ferryman, though. You seem ill-suited.
[He tilts his head back, relaxed and thoughtful]
You'd be surprised, Balthier. Beauty, however faint it may be, is found where you seek it, even in the darkest of circumstances. [Basch was sick and injured and emaciated in th oubliette, but he was alive, and some days that had been all that kept him going.]
So, tell me, how rich are these treasures that call you with their siren voices? I've never been on a treasure hunt. You'd been up to some daring deeds when you had first started your... 'high-risk trading' business, or so I've heard.
[Maybe he'd heard stories. And maybe he had still been in contact with Zecht. And maybe Vayne hadn't known about it because he was just that damn good. Maybe.]
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[He smirks.] I cannot be sure until I've seen them with my own eyes, I'm afraid, but it's terribly exciting, have a whole new world available to explore, rich with history and long-forgotten treasure. I regret that there are still corners of Ivalice I had not yet laid my claim on, but perhaps that day will come. Until then, I will make use of the time I have here in Gaia.
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[Noah returns the smirk with a grin]
Happy hunting to you, Balthier. I hope I'll get a chance to join you on one of your crazy treasure-hunting adventures a long time from now. Never tried being a sky pirate.
Sure you won't share just one escapade with an old injured idiot?
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You know my brother near as well as I do. I doubt he'd join in, saying it was unseemly or improper or, oh, I don't know, /illegal/ or suchlike. But perhaps with a little plotting and a dual effort... [Noah raises an eyebrow and winks.]
Well, we'll just have to see. I'll think of something.
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[Noah scrunched his face up in thought. He was in his element now, maybe it wasn't the most 'good' job in the world, but he'd been head of he ninth bureau, and he had been good at it. Scary good at it. Not like Basch had ever stood a chance against his plans, not even when they were children.]
I've got an idea. We could get into some sort of fake argument. A challenge perhaps, that I, being stubborn and
mullish as Basch knows I am, refuse to rest like a good invalid and choose to go gallivanting off with you, which would then obligate Basch to tag along....
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[Balthier smirks again. Playful deceit between brothers might be just the thing to further heal their relationship. It's all in good fun, and with both Basch and Noah already on the right path, perhaps such a game will aid them.]
Simple enough, and plays on his over-protective sensibilities. I'm game.
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Tell me, Balthier, how soon can you make it to Lindbkum. And would you have any potential sites in mind. Basch is on his way over to take care of me, and if you could either transport him or come up with some ridiculous excuse to see him at the time, I'm sure we could come up with something suitably ridiculous to argue over.
[His smile now is clearly devious plotter, and one couldn't help but have sympathy for the poor child who claimed this man as a brother.]
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Basch and I are both in Narshe, I could easily bring him to you.
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I'm sure making an honest living pains you terribly. You must be nearly as bad off as I am. Poor sky pirate. Bringing him here should serve nicely. Still, having a location pre-planned would be prefferable.
Speaking of the viera, how does Fran [Noah knows well enough not to call /her/ miss unless he wants certain parts of his anatomy missing] fare? I was to understand that their connection to The Wood was strong, even if they were far from it. I hope she is doing all right.
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[The pirate smirks.] I'll see you in Lindblum. Simply let me know when you and the Captain have caught up sufficiently and I'll do my best to stage something.
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