(no subject)

[lionsguard.livejournal.com]

Characters: Agrias, Balthier, and Fran
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: Agrias, Balthier, and Fran arrive at the Port City of Warjilis via the cloaked Strahl and, with a number of likely harmless objectives, set out to explore the city.
Location: Port City of Warjilis – around and about
Date: March 26, 1804 – Morning
Warnings: None at the moment

Of the three locations upon Gaia's map that bore names synonymous with distinct Ivalician locations, it had been decided that the Port City of Warjilis was likely best suited to satisfy the wants, and more importantly the needs, of the Strahl, her crew, and her guest passenger. The matter of compromise had not been breached, for it had not been needed. A successful port city was, by definition, a highly active center of trade and commerce possessed primarily of and by the merchant class, whose overall attitude was tantamount to jurisdiction over the city regardless of whatever authority attempted to claim her. In that regard, it was quite possibly the most neutral ground upon which any man, woman, or child could walk save in instances where great political pressure forced its citizens' hands.

Of course, that didn't mean it was a pristine location. That most any wanted man could walk her streets plainly as a celebrity without fear of arrest meant one less thing for the party to worry about, but more, too, for such information was privy to all rather than a choice few and the thief-pirate really was quite the popular for a crime he maintained he did not commit. And Agrias did believe him, for those who claimed the occupation of pirate thrived upon laying claim to deeds that bolstered their notoriety. Political assassinations, though, were another matter entirely and three days aboard the Strahl in the company of the alleged assassin and his lady partner had been enough to lay the matter to rest in her mind; though, it did help that other matters, such as the verification of the possible Ivalician locations, locating and speaking with any Ivalicians she might find within their limits, and garnering information, demanded her attention first and foremost in the constant present.

When at last the Strahl docked in Warjilis' skyport and the party disembarked, it was not worry that gripped the lady knight, but that certain air of restlessness more often than not intrinsic to one unaccustomed to dwelling in the skies for any length of time upon their first few ventures. (Not that she hadn't enjoyed her time upon the Strahl, she had. She was simply unaccustomed to sky travel and land matters were first and foremost on her mind at that moment.) Hers was an understandably eager step paused to allow her traveling companions to gain their bearings upon stepping from the cloaked ship. She spared no time in thinking they might need to. Already her eyes were turning about the skyport, which was new and unfamiliar to her and already quite lively at that hour.

"It would seem we shall have our work cut out for us," Agrias said, resting one hand atop the hilt of her sheathed blade as she observed their new surroundings. "Lionel's sole port never saw such activity as this within Ivalice."

Comments

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

The flight had been rather constant over three days and while Fran was indeed a skilled pilot, Balthier had more stamina for staying awake through flight. He was just used to sleeping less than he piloted and by the time they touched down in Warjilis Balthier was exhausted. His mind was busy trying to pick out the faint images and put them in some sort of order and he hadn't flown for that length of time in quite a while, thanks to finding himself in Agrias' Ivalice and not his own.

Freeing himself from the confines of the captain's seat, the pirate was quick to load his gun and holster it on his back, tugging on his leather gloves and running a hand through his hair, his eyes holding not a bit of that tiredness but a sparkle instead.

"Ensure the glossair rings have cooled before you lock up, Fran. She was veering left slightly; I'd sooner we didn't have to try to repair her rings." The last time had been when he had used the Strahl's mechanical fault as a cover to get back onto the Sky Fortress Bahamut in order to save Rabanastre from being crushed.

Stepping out and up to Agrias' side, his own gate was steady and confident, a step more common of those who chose the sky for a home. "Indeed, it would seem that way. I'd wager a guess we should find ourselves in unsavoury company sooner than we'd like." His lips broke into a smirk. "Oh, look, you've found yourself with us already," he jest, patting her shoulder before heading off in the general direction of the main part of the city.

[shatterhearted.livejournal.com]

Yes sir. No sir. Right away sir. Fran was beginning to wonder just why she had missed Balthier. He claims she is the nag, but she is sure it's the other way around. But yet, she held her tongue and said nothing, giving a slight nod before going about her business of gathering her bow and arrows and of course, locking up the Strahl.

She joined the other two, looking around at the already busy port. She wondered idly if this place, this Port City of Warjilis would bring back any Gaian memories for Balthier, after all, it was at this very place that they had been reunited with their beloved Strahl.

"Our plan of action?" she asked, to both Balthier and Agrias, but not looking to either one of them.

[lionsguard.livejournal.com]

Ah, but if Agrias had guessed and guessed correctly, Fran likely didn't have to observe the expression upon her face to know she was rolling her eyes after the Viera's thief-pirate of a partner. If she had gathered nothing else during her time aboard the Strahl, she had gathered that patience tolerance was a near-virtue required in most every dealing with the thief-pirate. That included any that involved his sense of humor, for she was certain he really was quite capable of cracking himself up. (If only he would from time to time...)

Unsavoury company indeed.

"At least you are mostly well-mannered."

In retrospect, she probably shouldn't have given him that. It almost sounded like a compliment! Of course, she had said as much because she wasn't all that sure Fran fell into the category of unsavory company to begin with and had questioned the infamous thief-pirate's alignment upon those occasions wherein he chose to mind himself; though, the latter would go forever unstated so long as she had any say about it. Discretion was a rather funny thing with the both of them and, as it was not all that difficult to interpret her prior words as having been directed about both him and his lady partner, the lady knight did not immediately move to correct herself or shoot down any potential ego swell. Speaking of Fran, she was rather relieved to see the Viera join them.

To be spared the arduous task of suffering the insufferable thief-pirate alone was indeed a blessing.

"I suppose we follow the self-fashioned leading man," she said, turning her eyes and feet in the direction the thief-pirate had headed.

One might say it had become something of a game, this taking of harmless shots at one another. (For all his charm and charisma, he really, truly was insufferable.)

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

"Mostly? I'm wounded," he jest, rolling his eyes just enough to prove he'd barely taken her words for a dig or a compliment. He was used to his female companions having sharp tongues that often disguised compliments, thus he'd make little reaction to it. There was no point in making a scene over something that small.

Striding through the city, his hands remained swinging at his sides, along with the sway of his hips thanks to the saunter in his step. This city was desperately familiar-- Warjilis was not only in Ivalice when he had found himself in Agrias' time, but there was now something else lingering. A thought he had yet to latch onto. The place had a link to the Strahl and he couldn't fathom why.

Tilting his head back over his shoulder, hazel eyes caught crimson and he frowned at Fran. "Have we been here? When I was last in Gaia?"

The look that crossed his face as he turned his head forward again would give away how quickly his mind was working to piece together fragments of memories. Pain hit him between the eyes as sharp as a bullet and he closed his eyes, a sound of discomfort the only thing eluding to his ordeal. Flashes of meories darted behind his eyelids. Why did this city have a link to the Strahl?

[shatterhearted.livejournal.com]

Fran was inwardly amused at the interactions between Agrias and Balthier. It was refreshing to see someone who could cut Balthier down to size and put him in his place without souring his mood.

Walking a few steps behind her partner and his companion, Fran paused at Balthier's question, giving a slight nod. "Yes. We travelled here. Twice."

Her ears twitched as she recalled the memories, as though they were only yesterday. "Upon our first visit, we travelled on an airship we named the Decadance. A fine ship in her own right, but no Strahl. We stopped to refuel, and upon investigation, we discovered the Strahl. Out of no where, as though... as though she were waiting our arrival."

[lionsguard.livejournal.com]

Although Agrias' eyes were keenly focused upon taking in the sights of the port city that she might ascertain its verity, she did not miss the change in Balthier's expression, nor the sound of discomfort he made and the words exchanged between him and Fran. That was more distracting than his apparent sauntering, which was difficult to miss whilst walking a single step behind him, even if slightly off to one side. She turned honey-brown eyes between the two curiously, her brow only slightly quirked. She recalled thief-pirate having visited Gaia once before; it would make no sense for one who called Ivalice home to be a wanted man upon Gaia otherwise, but it wasn't her business, this seeming spark in the thief-pirate's memory. Not really.

That was why she returned her attention to their surroundings. That the thief-pirate was experiencing a spark about his memory shouldn't concern her. If he was, that meant no one was paying attention to their surroundings in the first place and somebody had to do. She would simply let her ears absorb the partners' exchange as they were wont, for it was rather difficult to completely shut it out by that stage.

Her objective reaffirmed, she was mindful of the faces and the voices of pedestrians and even more mindful of changes and similarities. This board is out of place. That paint is new. Aye, that title is indeed the same...

It appeared very much to be the same city, seized and forced to change at Gaian whims. The subtle changes in her expression as she identified such things indicated that much.

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

"I see..." He wasn't certain he entirely believed that the Strahl had simply been awaiting them here, alone, without Nono or any other moogle worker dealing with it. Of course, the lack of Nono made him oddly uncomfortable with anyone touching the Strahl's inner core without him present. He trusted Fran, yet a moogle was far more technologically intelligent than even his delightful partner. Old habits died hard, after all, and it was indeed habit to have Nono lead the way on mechanical necessities for the Strahl.

Dismissing it for now, Balthier slowed enough to stand at Agrias' side, his hands swinging at his sides as he walked. "Well? It would seem we are indeed in the very same Port City that Ivalice holds, yet Gaia too has her own? Odds and ends are misplaced, things look newer in places, but it is indeed Warjilis, is it not?"

It seemed strange, in a way, that he was still so easily drawn to the blonde as he had been on Ivalice. Strange that she wasn't able to recall him, simply because she'd yet to meet him in her time, but they were so easily relaxed around each other. It settled him to know that they could speak on at least partially friendly terms despite the lack of a truly built up relationship as they had once had. It'd been tough work to get her to call him anything near to his name last time-- at least now he knew how to go about that.

[shatterhearted.livejournal.com]

Fran couldn't help but feel a little out of the loop. Despite her vast years on Ivalice, there was still so much she hadn't seen, and she would never life long enough to see the times and places Balthier and Agrias spoke of together.

She walked a little ahead of them, allowing them the space to talk without interference. She knew the old saying 'two's company, three's a crowd' all too well.

If she had not already witnessed it with her own eyes, Fran would not believe that a place could exist within two worlds. Whatever caused these places to appear was something far stronger than any force she knew of.