~Twelfth Act~

[strahlflyer]

This is me. Balthier. Sky Pirate. Actor in the town's Dramatic Society. Parent of one incredibly obnoxious teenager who makes sure of it that we are aware that he hates us at least three times every day and has an agitating habit of sneaking out of the window at night. And he looks horrified when he sees that Fran and I have stayed up to wait for

Comments

[tantailizer]

Oh ho, so you're the infamous Balthier? I've heard many great things about you from many great people, my good sir! Glad to hear you're back amongst us! I heard you'd had some family issues, and I hope that all went well and was settled accordingly!

On a final note, greetings! I'm the new kid in town, apparently- Zidane Tribal, at your service!

[strahlflyer]

Well, I am aware that I have infamy, but I wasn't quite aware of how far it had spread... very interesting indeed.

Family issues are sorted. I now have an addition to my family: a "delightful" teenage boy. Sometimes, I could kill him. But I can't tell Fran that. She'll try to kill me, and she has pregnancy hormones as her excuse if I "accidentally" bleed to death...

A pleasure to meet you, Zidane. I trust we shall meet in person soon enough.

[tantailizer]

I may have exaggerated a small bit. By "many," I meant more along the lines of two. But the two are great nonetheless! The lovely Kairi and the fantastic Luxord, to be exact, so your name hasn't spread too far! Haha! Try again!

An addition? That's always a good thing! More hands to man the decks! And teenage boys are the best! Full of youthful energy and great for getting lots of things done at once! Or maybe that was just me? And wanting to kill someone is just a sign that you love them! Or so I've been told.

Perhaps we will! I'll be in the park this weekend working, if you were headed that way! And the rest of the weekend is filled up spending time with ladies and getting sign-ups for the new athletic highlight in Twilight Town! I was not exaggerating a bit when I mentioned the great things I've heard. Don't dismiss it when I say I look forward to the day we meet! :)

[strahlflyer]

But the fact that you've heard of me is enough to fluff my ego, even if it isn't in such a large measure. Means I'm conversation-worthy material. Always a good thing for us felons~

Oh, he's got energy alright... plenty to drive his mother and I up the proverbial wall and all across the damn ceiling! He's going through that phase wherein he hates his parents. Hates us even more for having only gotten to him recently. My father is to blame for that. I plan to hurt him in the best possible fashion for it...~

I, too, look forward to the day. I'll take a walk this weekend and come and find you.

[tantailizer]

Not so much, I feel. If everyone knows you and knows where you are, it makes it that much easier for the officials to get their grimy hands on you and throw you to the prosecutor. Luckily, it seems most of the judges now days are of the female persuasion, and even though I WILL work my magic on a man, it disgusts me and I like to not ever have to do it.

So wear the boy out! Put him to work! ... I don't know what kind of work you'd do around a house, but I'm sure you could find some! Kitchen-deck duty always used to wear me out, personally.

I'll be the one with the violin and tap shoes. I shouldn't be that hard to find. Just look for the crowd of women~ ;)

[strahlflyer]

Well, I haven't been caught yet. I got roughed up by a bounty hunter and received serious brain damage, but I'm still here. The bounty on my head has not yet been claimed and the policing forces back in Ivalice have had no luck pinning down myself, my crew or my craft. And the people know of me and the talk of me drives them all the more insane at the incompetence. Works for me~

I'm pretty sure that wouldn't help out much, all things considered. It'd just push him away even further. Somehow, we have to earn his trust and make him realise that we're not here to impose on him, merely to care for him...

A violin and tap shoes... a dancing man with a cocky attitude. Amusing~

[tantailizer]

Yet being the operative word, I'm assuming? They say every dog has his day, and every thief has his downfall. No matter how clever and quick you are, there's always someone out there even more so of both! Of course, it seems you've yet to meet him. Congrats on that! But, brain damage? Oh, dear, that's cleared up well, I hope...

Perhaps he just needs a friend? Someone more his age, it sounds like. Luckily, you're dealing with a teenage boy and not a teenage girl, right? ;) Those are much much more complex. You're an authority figure, and kids will always push back against those. But have you just told him you don't want to rule him? He may not understand. I'm not good with kids, so I'll silence myself now!

Oh, I do much more than that! Dancing and playing are just two of the many great services I offer to the populace seeking a bit of entertainment! Speaking of which, Luxord told me to prod you for advice on which acting troupe to join. Would you care to spare a few words of wisdom, good sir?

[strahlflyer]

Well, I've been in this business for far longer than most, so I've had the time and experience to develop techniques to evade the authorities. I've yet to meet someone who can match mine and Fran's combined brains and brawn. And the brain damage is clearing up, slowly but surely. Took months to get back on my feet, quite literally, and I have about three-quarters of my memories back now.

Women are complex creatures. Understanding them is quite the undertaking; it's taken me long enough to decipher Fran, and she's been my friend since childhood. Then again, she is a unique and beautiful creature, much different from the hume women. And much more violent, to my great chagrin...

He'll understand eventually. He'll see how much we've always wanted him and how much we care... we just have to let him have time to get adjusted...

An acting troupe, you say? Well, I'm currently part of the Twilight Town Dramatic Society. We're putting on a production of Chicago in the new year, but it'll be after that closes up that they'll start auditioning

[tantailizer]

You might have more on me than just my measly thirteen years, but I've learned from the best! No one anywhere can avoid arrest like good ole Baku! Good to hear about the damage. Well, not good that you've had it, but good that you're getting the better of it! Keep at it!

They're only complex until you get to know them. All you really need to win them over is something shiny and a few pleasant words. Most of them are truly really shallow, unfortunately. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a girl that's strong enough to withstand even diamonds and a sonnet? The more complex the better! And some societies see violence as a great turn on~! Maybe you're an incredibly lucky man and don't even realize it? Haha!

Things will work out, you're right on that. He's in a new place and a new life, and it's not molding to him and he doesn't want to mold himself to it, it seems. KID NEEDS HOBBIES! Does he have any skill with a sabre or foil, even? I need a good fencing partner to keep my feet and hands on the speedy side.

Chicago, hmm?