Sky Pirates and Garden Cowboys

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

Characters:  Irvine Kinneas and Balthier
Progress: It's a being worked on
Summary: Irvine searches the town in order to get accustomed to the new world he is in, and manages to met the ever charming sky pirate. Then Stuff Happens!
Location: Alexandria
Date: Early May
Warnings: Balthier and Irvine in one area, there will be women wanting many things in this post.

It was an interesting place...Alexandria, they called it

Irvine was amazed at the sight of the town, noticing the castle and the garden so clearly. It was almost like a fairy tale world, seeing knights and people in different clothing. However many people got very unusual looks when Irvine walks by, mainly because of the outfit he was wearing. People kept on discussing things about his hat, and his coat, but he paid no mind. In his mind, he just thought, "This place is...I mean...wow...I can't believe a place like this actually exists." Irvine chuckled a bit before finally thinking, "Man...it's like I went back in time..."

He then shook his head and said to himself, "Focus, Irvine, you can't stay here for to long, the Garden's gonna leave soon, and the last thing you wanna do is be stuck here while with barely enough money and no friends. Not to mention." Irvine hadn't forgotten what Rinoa talked to him about, being scarce places for his gun to get ammo. He sighed and added, "Get supplies and get back to the garden." But still, Irvine still was a bit amazed at the town he was in.

Comments

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

Having been sat atop a roof, his eyes scanning the sky for any changes with the atmosphere, the pirate was beginning to tire of this city. It wasn't as lively as Rabanastre and it seemed quite dull. Until he spied a rather intriguing looking man. The hat was what caught his sight first. Standing up, Balthier moved across the rooftops. He wore a white silk shirt and tight leather pants with boots he'd bought with gil stolen from people.

Stalking like a cat across the roofs, he fastened his gun's holster a little tighter to his back, watching the man for a long moment before he just jumped from the roof, landing a few feet behind Irvine and walking swiftly to his side, snatching his hat off his head and giving him a playful smirk as he began to run. It wasn't as if he actually wanted to keep the hat but it was always amusing to wind up people.

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

Irvine had just been minding his own business, seeing what the city had to offer, when he saw the man take his hat and run off. He did like his hat, but what really got to him was that little smirk he did. That, is what made Irvine dash after the man through the many people of Alexandria. He chased after yelling, "Hey! Get back here!"

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

"If you can catch me, you get it back," he called in reply, placing the hat on his own head as he began to climb to the low rooftops again. He'd had near enough a month to get used to these rooftops and knew where each one led, which gave him a slight advantage. Though, he did quite enjoy the thrill of the chase, so he didn't exactly run too far or fast to lose Irvine.

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

Irvine scowled and replied, "You little..." Irvine had no choice as he climbed up on to the roofs to follow the thief. He debated slightly to use his gun, but the last thing he wanted to do was waste his bullets on something as silly as a hat. All he could do is chase him and hope he could catch up and catch him, before he lost sight of him.

But something was odd to Irvine, like the thief wanted Irvine to chase him.

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

That was exactly the point. Life was so dull in Alexandria and with no airship to escape the city, he had to amuse himself somehow. It seemed that bedding every young woman that threw herself at him, or every young man for that matter, was frowned upon in Gaia. Not that it mattered to him but it was becoming a little tedious. Drinking away the boredom would only cause to aggravate Fran and he disliked dealing with her moods. Especially when he was half-cut.

Skidding along a roof, he smirking at Irvine again, wiggling his fingers in a playful wave as he jumped down, running along the streets.

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

Irvine saw he was merely toying with him as he jumped down after him, rolling on the ground. He picked up chase then saw something interesting on the way, a small shop with a bow and some arrows. Irvine quickly grabbed the set and yelled back, "I'll pay you back honest!" Leaving a very irate shop keep behind. He then tried to set up the bow, at the same time running after the thief giving chase still.

He aimed stopped slightly, aiming his bow at the thief and fired, wide of the target. He then loudly stated, "Damn it!" and gave chase again.

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

A bow and arrows?! Did the man care that much about his hat?? Drawing his gun from its holster, he fired a warning shot at Irvine. He had a few more bullets left but he'd taken to crafting them with gunpowder he'd bought and melting down gil or jewellery. They weren't as effective as the usual ones but they made their point.

With a wicked laugh, he skidded down an alleyway, scrambling onto a roof and hiding low. Pretty much out of sight.

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

Irvine saw it, and heard it, but still couldn't believe it. Another person here with a gun? The shot he managed to dodge, but the crowd in the area, were frantic as they all rushed away, blocking Irvine's path. He pushed his way through and headed towards an alleyway.

However, when he looked around, he saw that he was gone, his hat and his pride to a lesser degree. He sighed and replied, "Damn...now I need a new hat." He rubbed his temples and added, "I just hope they're all not pointy hats like Rinoa's."

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

Laughing, Balthier stepped from his hiding place, dropping down and placing the hat on Irvine's head, smirking at him. "Quite a thrilling chase, wouldn't you agree?" He settled his gun against his shoulder, resting his free hand on his hip. His accent was thick and obviously not from Alexandria.

"I would appreciate it if you'd keep the arrows to yourself, mind." He held his smirk for a moment longer, his stormy eyes full of amusement.

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

Irvine felt his hat returned and saw the thief in full light. He adjusted his hat and saw the gun on his shoulder. He put the bow and arrow down and replied, "I have to say, I'm shocked to see someone else with a gun around here. Thought that kind of technology was too far ahead for this world."

He put the quiver and arrows behind his back and asked, "So, mind telling me why you stole my hat? And shot at me with a gun?" Irvine felt the situation had to be serious...but for some reason, he had a smirk on his face, almost cocky in essence.

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

"Well, I feel quite insulted you'd assume I am from this world." Shaking his head a little indignantly, Balthier crossed his arms, watching Irvine with a slight smirk. His own was cocky, though it was slightly more sophisticated than anything else. After all, he was the Leading Man.

Why? Why did he steal the hat and shoot at him? "Why else? For amusement, of course. There is little else of interest in this poor excuse for a town," he drawled. That was quite true. For a Sky Pirate without wings, this world was little else but a cage.

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

So he was from another world. Irvine looked at him and the gun again, seeing it was very different from the style that people around here were using. He then heard his explanation and added, "You could have killed someone, other than me...I mean there were other people around us, and all of them probably were spooked by a gun shot being fired." He then looked up at him almost with a smirk and replied, "But...your aim wasn't that bad...sloppy and unfocused, but not bad."

He then added, "And this town doesn't seem that bad, after all, kinda has a nice peaceful feel to it."

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

"It was unfocused because I wasn't aiming," he retorted, his eyes narrowing slightly. This man was really questioning his gunmanship? Really? Now that was foolish. "As for the other people; I didn't plan on hitting any of them. If I had, they'd be dead."

Balthier quirked an eyebrow. "Perhaps peaceful yet it is dull. Nothing of interest. Bland atmosphere, bland alcohol, bland people."

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

Irvine chuckled at the man's expression and replied, "Funny, then why shoot a gun in a place where ammo for it is rare? And for that matter, how would you know that you wouldn't kill anybody? Seems like a weak defense." He sighed and replied, "Then again, not everyone can be quick with the barrel like me."

He listened to the thief's statement and added, "Trust me, I welcome the peace after all the stuff I've been put through." Being reminded of the sorceresses and the whole time and space warp, peace was something Irvine loved.

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

"For it is quite simple to make ammunition. Perhaps not as potent as the real thing but it gets the job done," he murmured, watching this man. "Perhaps you may be quick, but no doubt I am quicker," he smirked and shifted his weight to one side.

Balthier shook his head slightly. "It seems we've all been through enough, we 'sky people', yet I'd sooner have a life with excitement than spend the rest of my days in a place as such."

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

Make Ammunition? That was something that would be really helpful to the gunslinger. He replied, "Hmm, you can make ammo, huh? A skill like that is a rare trait...and something I could possibly use for myself." Irvine then smirked and added, "And don't flatter yourself, I've yet to see someone beat me in a quick draw."

Irvine shook his head and replied, "Then perhaps you love the thrill of excitement more than the value of your own life, Mister..." Irvine hadn't caught the name of his thief. Though he should be the enemy, for some reason he felt no ill will towards him.

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

"It's Balthier," he drawled. Being called 'mister' felt quite unfit for the Leading Man and he rolled his eyes as Irvine suggested no one had beat him in a quick draw. Perhaps he'd only gone against unskilled men. It was a rare thing to find a gunman outside of the Imperial Army in Ivalice, so he was quite a diamond in the rough, though, he was pretty much a beacon in a world of drabness most anywhere he went.

Valuing excitement over his own life? Now that sounded familiar. "Ah, but what value is there in a life where you are unhappy, my dear?" He waved his hand callously and stepped around Irvine, making to leave.

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

Irvine grinned and replied, "I suppose you have a point there, but stealing things from people who seem like easy prey, can get boring at times, which from listening to you, might be boring and uninteresting anymore."

He then thought and asked, "You're obviously a great fighter, why not become some sort of knight? Pretty sure there's a lot of excitement there, Balthier." He turned to him as he saw him walk away and replied, "And the name is Irvine, in case you were wondering."

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

"I wasn't," he muttered, turning to look at the man. Balthier crossed his arms, giving Irvine the once-over, probably for the third time now. "Becoming a knight would be the last thing on my list of things I enjoy. I'm afraid it is a case of 'been there, done that,' and I'd rather not repeat the mistake," he replied, frowning slightly.

Becoming a Judge was the one thing he truly regretted in life. Aside from killing Cid, but that was not out of choice. Well, becoming a Judge wasn't either. He was pretty much forced into that by Cid and his controlling fatherly ways.

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

Irvine was confused for a second and thought mainly to himself, "A Knight turned thief, huh?" He then shook his head and replied, "Hmm, I would ask to join the Garden with me, you get jobs and get paid doing it, mercenary work." He then shrugged and replied, "But hey who am I to give career choices to someone who stole my hat and shot at me, right?"

Irvine walked past Balthier now, this time making his way to leave, and saying, "I'm just saying you got skills, too much to be used on silly things like this."

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

"It's called being a pirate, darling. Perhaps one day, you'll learn not follow their rules, and follow your own." He moved towards the buildings again, looking up at them for a moment before glancing at Irvine. "Good luck with your bow and arrow."

That said, he took a leap, grabbing onto the roof ledge and pulling himself up with ease, intent on heading back to Fran.

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

Darling? Irvine was confused, and simply thought to himself, "Pirate? Lovely..." He then looked up and saw Balthier heading on top of the roof. He glared at the pirate and replied, "Hey, you make it sound like I don't got half a mind for myself. I follow my own rules some of the time."

Though he wasn't doing that much, seeing how he was the new kid in town.