Pirates and Insults
Characters: Balthier and Fran
Progress: Complete
Summary: Fran wants to know what the fight was about. This is what they did instead of going to fight Kefka
Location: Their unnamed airship, Alexandria
Date: June, 1803
Warnings: Grumpy Balthier? Balthier repeatedly insulting Irvine?
Fran hadn't remained at the ball much longer after the incident with Balthier and Irvine. She hadn't waited around to get the full story, and she really didn't know why it was bothering her so much. Balthier did what Balthier wanted. End of story. It had always been that way. Yet she was torn by a mixture of emotions - anger, disappointment, sadness, confusion - and she couldn't place why.
She made her way back to the unnamed airship, intend on going to bed and hopefully sleeping these feelings away.
He'd left minutes, perhaps moments after Irvine. He didn't care to make up with the man and the mouth he got off Fran and Penelo was honestly more than painful. It wasn't the words in specific but just that neither of them had bothered to even get the whole story. Of course they instantly took it for his fault, assuming he'd been the one to start it, making all the blame lay on him. As usual, they were wrong.
Balthier was currently laid out on the bed, naked but for the blanket that covered to his waist and his jewellery, his eyes tightly shut despite him not being actually asleep.
Fran entered the bedroom, leaning against the doorframe for a moment, simply watching Balthier. She crossed the room and began to strip out of that most elegant ballgown, changing into a simple t-shirt. She then sat on the edge of the bed to brush the curls from her hair.
Shifting slightly, he scooted a bit away from her and nuzzled his pillow more, the muscles in his back tensing a little as he shifted. He really didn't want to discuss this tonight but his arrogant nature was quickly taking over and it wouldn't be long before he snapped.
Fran set the brush aside, her jaw tensing a little. She tied her hair up in a plait. "If you wish me to sleep in the cockpit. Say." The tensing of his muscles proved he was playing at sleep and actually very much awake.
"I never said that," he grumbled, pulling another pillow over his head. He really was a child at heart, as Fran often stated, but it was only at times like this that he really showed it. And only in the privacy of Fran's company.
The Viera pulled back the blanket and slipped into bed. She gave a slight sigh, reaching for that pillow, attempting to pull it away. "What happened tonight? What caused such fisticuffs?"
"There was no such thing. The man simply came at me, spouting nonsense about me using a woman to get at him, which frankly, I found more of an insult than anything that evening. The fool considers himself that much of a threat to me, that I would need to get back at him." Rolling his eyes, he shook his head, yet he kept the pillow in place.
Sighing he gave up with the pillow a moment later, sitting up and setting it behind him. "The very suggestion that I would use a woman that way is... sickening."
"Mayhap it is he who feels threatened? Your charm can melt any female. It is only natural that other males would become defensive. Humes are not so different to other species in that respect." Fran tilted her head, resting her cheek on drawn up knees.
Balthier rolled his eyes. "I know well that other men are threatened by me, Fran." He sighed heavily. "Yet, that he believes I would use Selphie, a woman with whom I am quite taken, in the friendship department at least... it aggravates me to no end."
The Viera gave a slight sigh. "Was it he who threw the first punch? Because of this belief?" She kept her eyes on him, curling her arms around her legs.
"Indeed it was. I... may have provoked him just a tad..." he mumbled, glancing away. "The man suggested that I had no care for you. It angered me and when I explained our situation; how we are partners and swore no fidelity, he suggested bedding you." Clearing his throat, Balthier folded his arms on his knees. "It was at this point I dared him to try to satisfy a woman like you, and offered to keep Selphie company whilst he did. Then he just came at me."
"This Selphie... He loves her?" Fran asked, continuing to watch Balthier. Yet her eyes held a slight sadness at his mention of their... situation. "As for bedding me, should that not be my choice? Not his."
"Whilst he claims they are merely friends, it is painfully obvious there is more. For both of them. No matter how smitten Selphie is with me." He shrugged slightly. "Indeed, it is your decision. He was suggesting he attempt to seduce you. I doubt he has the staying power to satisfy you."
"You speak as though I am insatiable... Is that how you see me? As some sexual hungry beast that cannot be tamed?" Fran rested her chin on her knees, those long ears of hers drooping almost flat.
"Oh, Fran, please. Give me a little more credit than that. I simply mean, he is not man enough for a real woman. Selphie is but a girl." He shook his head and flopped to lie back, crossing his arms under his head.
"He is much like you were at his age. Self-assured and over-cocky. Too sauve for his own good. Mayhaps that is why you dislike him. He is too similar to you."
"He is nothing like me." He gave her a hard glare. "There is very little that is suave about that man. He is low class, hasn't a sophisticated bone in his pathetic excuse for a male body, and, frankly, I'd sooner say Vaan is more like me than that fool."
"He puts the charms on a woman just like you did." Fran leaned across Balthier, resting one arm either side of him, palms pressed into the mattress.
"He may attempt to do it just like me, but he'll never have the class. Besides, I rarely intend on charming a woman. It just happens. He clearly tries hard to make women interested." He frowned at her.
"The man with a crowd of women flocking around him all night claims he does not intend to charm?" A slight smirk curled onto Fran's lips, as she remained leaned over Balthier. "It must've been such a hardship for you."
"I never said it was a hardship, and it is true that I do not intend to charm them. As I said, it just happens." He pushed her back with a palm to her face, scrambling out from the bed and heading to the bathroom.
Fran flopped onto her back, letting out a sigh. She folded an arm beneath her head, watching Balthier leave the room, before flopping her free arm across her eyes.
After a few minutes, Balthier returned to the bedroom, shifting back under the blankets and turning his back to Fran, intent on getting some sleep. Really, the woman never let him sleep!
Fran instantly shifted closer, nuzzling against his back, placing a soft kiss against Balthier's shoulder, wrapping an arm around his waist to rest a clawed hand against his stomach.
"...the next time you wish to insult me, and state anything against my role as Leading Man, get your facts straight." And with that, he had nothing else to say.
"Whether attacking or defending. It does not change the fact you were brawling at a ball. Mayhap it was Irvine that started it, but you shoud have walked away. We are, after all, supposed to be lying low..."
"I attempted to walk away! The man was like a raging chocobo!" He huffed and shoved her hand away, pulling the blankets up more. "Be quiet. I want to sleep and I can't over the sound of your nagging!"
"I am not nagging. I simply do not wish to see you arrested and sent to the gallows. Whether you care to believe it or not, I worry about you."
Balthier didn't say anything. He simply fell silent, the only sound being his breathing as he gradually let himself fall asleep.
Another sigh escaped Fran as she shifted to climb out of the bed, pulling the blankets up around Balthier more, before leaving the bedroom, closing the door behind her to go and sit in the cockpit.
Progress: Complete
Summary: Fran wants to know what the fight was about. This is what they did instead of going to fight Kefka
Location: Their unnamed airship, Alexandria
Date: June, 1803
Warnings: Grumpy Balthier? Balthier repeatedly insulting Irvine?
Fran hadn't remained at the ball much longer after the incident with Balthier and Irvine. She hadn't waited around to get the full story, and she really didn't know why it was bothering her so much. Balthier did what Balthier wanted. End of story. It had always been that way. Yet she was torn by a mixture of emotions - anger, disappointment, sadness, confusion - and she couldn't place why.
She made her way back to the unnamed airship, intend on going to bed and hopefully sleeping these feelings away.
He'd left minutes, perhaps moments after Irvine. He didn't care to make up with the man and the mouth he got off Fran and Penelo was honestly more than painful. It wasn't the words in specific but just that neither of them had bothered to even get the whole story. Of course they instantly took it for his fault, assuming he'd been the one to start it, making all the blame lay on him. As usual, they were wrong.
Balthier was currently laid out on the bed, naked but for the blanket that covered to his waist and his jewellery, his eyes tightly shut despite him not being actually asleep.
Fran entered the bedroom, leaning against the doorframe for a moment, simply watching Balthier. She crossed the room and began to strip out of that most elegant ballgown, changing into a simple t-shirt. She then sat on the edge of the bed to brush the curls from her hair.
Shifting slightly, he scooted a bit away from her and nuzzled his pillow more, the muscles in his back tensing a little as he shifted. He really didn't want to discuss this tonight but his arrogant nature was quickly taking over and it wouldn't be long before he snapped.
Fran set the brush aside, her jaw tensing a little. She tied her hair up in a plait. "If you wish me to sleep in the cockpit. Say." The tensing of his muscles proved he was playing at sleep and actually very much awake.
"I never said that," he grumbled, pulling another pillow over his head. He really was a child at heart, as Fran often stated, but it was only at times like this that he really showed it. And only in the privacy of Fran's company.
The Viera pulled back the blanket and slipped into bed. She gave a slight sigh, reaching for that pillow, attempting to pull it away. "What happened tonight? What caused such fisticuffs?"
"There was no such thing. The man simply came at me, spouting nonsense about me using a woman to get at him, which frankly, I found more of an insult than anything that evening. The fool considers himself that much of a threat to me, that I would need to get back at him." Rolling his eyes, he shook his head, yet he kept the pillow in place.
Sighing he gave up with the pillow a moment later, sitting up and setting it behind him. "The very suggestion that I would use a woman that way is... sickening."
"Mayhap it is he who feels threatened? Your charm can melt any female. It is only natural that other males would become defensive. Humes are not so different to other species in that respect." Fran tilted her head, resting her cheek on drawn up knees.
Balthier rolled his eyes. "I know well that other men are threatened by me, Fran." He sighed heavily. "Yet, that he believes I would use Selphie, a woman with whom I am quite taken, in the friendship department at least... it aggravates me to no end."
The Viera gave a slight sigh. "Was it he who threw the first punch? Because of this belief?" She kept her eyes on him, curling her arms around her legs.
"Indeed it was. I... may have provoked him just a tad..." he mumbled, glancing away. "The man suggested that I had no care for you. It angered me and when I explained our situation; how we are partners and swore no fidelity, he suggested bedding you." Clearing his throat, Balthier folded his arms on his knees. "It was at this point I dared him to try to satisfy a woman like you, and offered to keep Selphie company whilst he did. Then he just came at me."
"This Selphie... He loves her?" Fran asked, continuing to watch Balthier. Yet her eyes held a slight sadness at his mention of their... situation. "As for bedding me, should that not be my choice? Not his."
"Whilst he claims they are merely friends, it is painfully obvious there is more. For both of them. No matter how smitten Selphie is with me." He shrugged slightly. "Indeed, it is your decision. He was suggesting he attempt to seduce you. I doubt he has the staying power to satisfy you."
"You speak as though I am insatiable... Is that how you see me? As some sexual hungry beast that cannot be tamed?" Fran rested her chin on her knees, those long ears of hers drooping almost flat.
"Oh, Fran, please. Give me a little more credit than that. I simply mean, he is not man enough for a real woman. Selphie is but a girl." He shook his head and flopped to lie back, crossing his arms under his head.
"He is much like you were at his age. Self-assured and over-cocky. Too sauve for his own good. Mayhaps that is why you dislike him. He is too similar to you."
"He is nothing like me." He gave her a hard glare. "There is very little that is suave about that man. He is low class, hasn't a sophisticated bone in his pathetic excuse for a male body, and, frankly, I'd sooner say Vaan is more like me than that fool."
"He puts the charms on a woman just like you did." Fran leaned across Balthier, resting one arm either side of him, palms pressed into the mattress.
"He may attempt to do it just like me, but he'll never have the class. Besides, I rarely intend on charming a woman. It just happens. He clearly tries hard to make women interested." He frowned at her.
"The man with a crowd of women flocking around him all night claims he does not intend to charm?" A slight smirk curled onto Fran's lips, as she remained leaned over Balthier. "It must've been such a hardship for you."
"I never said it was a hardship, and it is true that I do not intend to charm them. As I said, it just happens." He pushed her back with a palm to her face, scrambling out from the bed and heading to the bathroom.
Fran flopped onto her back, letting out a sigh. She folded an arm beneath her head, watching Balthier leave the room, before flopping her free arm across her eyes.
After a few minutes, Balthier returned to the bedroom, shifting back under the blankets and turning his back to Fran, intent on getting some sleep. Really, the woman never let him sleep!
Fran instantly shifted closer, nuzzling against his back, placing a soft kiss against Balthier's shoulder, wrapping an arm around his waist to rest a clawed hand against his stomach.
"...the next time you wish to insult me, and state anything against my role as Leading Man, get your facts straight." And with that, he had nothing else to say.
"Whether attacking or defending. It does not change the fact you were brawling at a ball. Mayhap it was Irvine that started it, but you shoud have walked away. We are, after all, supposed to be lying low..."
"I attempted to walk away! The man was like a raging chocobo!" He huffed and shoved her hand away, pulling the blankets up more. "Be quiet. I want to sleep and I can't over the sound of your nagging!"
"I am not nagging. I simply do not wish to see you arrested and sent to the gallows. Whether you care to believe it or not, I worry about you."
Balthier didn't say anything. He simply fell silent, the only sound being his breathing as he gradually let himself fall asleep.
Another sigh escaped Fran as she shifted to climb out of the bed, pulling the blankets up around Balthier more, before leaving the bedroom, closing the door behind her to go and sit in the cockpit.