It hadn't taken Fran long to find her way out of the small field of long summer grass where she'd arrived and make her way down to one of the narrow roads running along the outskirts of a line of houses, all stone and slate and unfamiliar architecture. If the sense of the air hadn't done it already, the shape of the houses would have told her all she needed to know - this was no place in Ivalice that she knew. Even the roads were strange. Fran scuffed the heel of her shoe against the paving and frowned very slightly. She turned to give her surroundings another thorough once over, looking beyond to the hints of taller buildings in the distance. Strange indeed.
Nothing for it but to make her way deeper into the little town, or to the city itself. She could likely find out what she needed to know along the way - namely, where she was and how to get back. How she'd arrived was, at the moment, negligible. Hardly picky, she turned on the first cross street she came across. Her gaze quickly picked out someone at the far corner and--
Gods be good, that at least was something very familiar. Fran hadn't realized how disoriented she'd been until the sight of Balthier chased the tension from her shoulders and the slight scowl away. "Ah, I was beginning to think we'd become separated."
His lips split into an easy grin as he approached; running into Fran was easily the best thing that had come of his walks through Espoir so far. Without hesitation, he slung an arm around her shoulders, brightly colored rings standing out sharply against her dark skin as he squeezed her in a one-armed embrace quite without her permission.
"For what time we were, it was far too long," he conceded, inclining his head towards her before taking a step back to look her over, appraising. He shouldn't have been surprised to see that she had arrived in once piece, but his scars had come to Somni with him, and it seemed that all of their companions came from different points, if only slightly. "You are newly arrived, then?"
The embrace was unexpected and she tottered fiercely for a moment to retain her balance. In that moment she was hardly the picture of Viera dignity, but she certainly hadn't been expecting such a warm welcome from Balthier; they had been separated, but hardly for so long as all that. Perhaps however they had come to this place had been more harrowing for him, had upset or unnerved him somehow - though he hardly looked it.
Steadying herself, Fran returned his scrutiny opening with her head cocked to one side and her faintly eyes narrowed. He looked much the same to her, though perhaps there was some difference to the length of his hair if she looked quite closely. Though something so minute as that would be an easy thing to imagine and even she could hardly be certain. "I have - and suspect I have been a long time coming if that look on your face is any indication."
"Two months at the least," the pirate confirmed, folding his arms over his chest. The time had gone by quickly, really. One would assume he had settled in over that period of time, but he was still having trouble making himself truly comfortable. It was difficult, to be stuck in this place without his beloved Strahl. The presence of his companions was a great help (even on the days when Ashe insisted on continuing to be angry with him for his disappearing act), but there was nothing that could truly fill the void left by his love of the skies.
"We're not alone here, however. Captain fon Ronsenburg and Lady Ashe have both made appearances, as well. I had hoped that you might follow, to be honest. Rather put out that I arrived here on my lonesome, really."
So a long time indeed. Though how she had managed to come through just that afternoon and he had been there for such an extended period was confusing at best - perhaps she had been stranded somehow and had forgotten it, or slept through it. Stranger still, to consider the possibility that Balthier had somehow been both here and there in Ivalice. She hardly thought such a thing likely or even possible, but a fair numbers of impossibilities had been foisted onto her in the last few hours; she was inclined to not doubt anything with much conviction.
"Well that is a glad thing, to know you haven't been completely without companionship," she said, knowing full well the sorts of trouble the man has been known to find when bored and with no one to check his stride. "But better still to find you so lonely without me." Her mouth quirked into something like a smile, eyes playful soft and easy.
He offered a wicked smile in reply, turning both hands up as he shrugged easily. "What's a sky pirate to do without his partner? Though I regret to inform you, we're rather earthbound here," he said with some degree of distaste. He didn't care much for being limited to one location in the first place, and to be firmly rooted to the ground only made it that much worse.
"It would also seem there's little treasure hunting to be done here. I'm quite out of my element, I must admit."
So the Strahl had not come through with either of them. It would have hardly made sense for it to have done, but it was still a point of bitter disappointment. Regardless, the air here was strange and different and she couldn't yet tell if the Mist existed here too. More than likely, they wouldn't have been able to find replacements for the Strahl's sky stones when they needed them and that was probably just as sad; seeing the ship grounded for lack of means or repairs had been known to grate on her. And while this would hardly be the first time they'd been grounded, it stung all the more for how little there must indeed be very left to them if Balthier's dissatisfaction was any indication. "Say at least you have been well doted on by any number of women. It would be a shame to find you so utterly destitute."
There was no question in her mind that Balthier had explored any number of avenues when it came to the potential for the taste of adventure and ill-gotten gains, but perhaps between the two of them they might be able to lift some heavier stones that had been left unturned.
Ah, Fran. She always knew how best to cheer him, and playing to his ego was often the quickest route. Truth be told, he had been so frustrated in his constant butting of heads with their princess that he had not taken it upon himself to pay the other ladies of Somarium much attention, though he supposed there would be plenty of time for that in the future. They didn't seem to be going anywhere in a hurry. Grounded indefinitely. It was not something he relished, but if they were going to be earthbound, he would have to find something else to do to pass the time.
"I assure you, my spirits have not been entirely crushed by this place. I've been the cause of my share of blushing since my arrival; there are some things that never change, Fran. However, now that you're here, I'd say it's time to reapply ourselves to our chosen profession."
She had few doubts as to whether or not there was anything of value in Somarium. It seemed there was trade and black market victuals in any place; dream world or no, where there was commerce there was likely room for piracy. It was all a matter of determining value. Unfortunately, she was hardly fit for that kind of work just yet. Being so out of sorts in this place, with so little knowledge of Somarium beyond the difference in architecture and the distinctly Mist-hollow feel to the air, would do them no favors.
"Tell me all you know, and then we will apply some leverage to the problem."
"Though I quite like the village of Espoir here, thankfully the rest of the city is quite different." Both varied and thriving, with many hidden opportunities for a pair like them tucked away and just waiting to be discovered. He had to admit, he hadn't probed as deeply for treasure to hunt as he might have under different circumstances. Quite out of his element, it had taken some time to adjust to the place, and as the Captain and Princess had followed his own arrival so closely, there had been other things demanding his attention.
All of that was true enough, and to be frank, it just wasn't any fun without Fran involved. It had been so long since he'd committed any act of piracy on his lonesome that it didn't feel quite right to do so now.
"A thriving metropolis, if you will, with a decent enough economy. Somni is split into several districts, each with its own flavor, if you will. I've done my share of exploring, though the place is quite expansive and doing so takes quite a bit of time on foot. A difficult adjustment to make, I can assure you." He was by no means physically unfit, but walking was so dull when one was used to having wings.
Nothing for it but to make her way deeper into the little town, or to the city itself. She could likely find out what she needed to know along the way - namely, where she was and how to get back. How she'd arrived was, at the moment, negligible. Hardly picky, she turned on the first cross street she came across. Her gaze quickly picked out someone at the far corner and--
Gods be good, that at least was something very familiar. Fran hadn't realized how disoriented she'd been until the sight of Balthier chased the tension from her shoulders and the slight scowl away. "Ah, I was beginning to think we'd become separated."
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"For what time we were, it was far too long," he conceded, inclining his head towards her before taking a step back to look her over, appraising. He shouldn't have been surprised to see that she had arrived in once piece, but his scars had come to Somni with him, and it seemed that all of their companions came from different points, if only slightly. "You are newly arrived, then?"
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Steadying herself, Fran returned his scrutiny opening with her head cocked to one side and her faintly eyes narrowed. He looked much the same to her, though perhaps there was some difference to the length of his hair if she looked quite closely. Though something so minute as that would be an easy thing to imagine and even she could hardly be certain. "I have - and suspect I have been a long time coming if that look on your face is any indication."
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"We're not alone here, however. Captain fon Ronsenburg and Lady Ashe have both made appearances, as well. I had hoped that you might follow, to be honest. Rather put out that I arrived here on my lonesome, really."
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"Well that is a glad thing, to know you haven't been completely without companionship," she said, knowing full well the sorts of trouble the man has been known to find when bored and with no one to check his stride. "But better still to find you so lonely without me." Her mouth quirked into something like a smile, eyes playful soft and easy.
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"It would also seem there's little treasure hunting to be done here. I'm quite out of my element, I must admit."
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There was no question in her mind that Balthier had explored any number of avenues when it came to the potential for the taste of adventure and ill-gotten gains, but perhaps between the two of them they might be able to lift some heavier stones that had been left unturned.
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"I assure you, my spirits have not been entirely crushed by this place. I've been the cause of my share of blushing since my arrival; there are some things that never change, Fran. However, now that you're here, I'd say it's time to reapply ourselves to our chosen profession."
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"Tell me all you know, and then we will apply some leverage to the problem."
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All of that was true enough, and to be frank, it just wasn't any fun without Fran involved. It had been so long since he'd committed any act of piracy on his lonesome that it didn't feel quite right to do so now.
"A thriving metropolis, if you will, with a decent enough economy. Somni is split into several districts, each with its own flavor, if you will. I've done my share of exploring, though the place is quite expansive and doing so takes quite a bit of time on foot. A difficult adjustment to make, I can assure you." He was by no means physically unfit, but walking was so dull when one was used to having wings.
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