Time and Tides Archives

Balthier gave the slightest of frowns, glancing around in unison with her, wondering just where her so called cowboy was. Thankful to be able to speak with Selphie without the prospects of that brash man hissing down his ear, he gave the young girl another smile.

"Really, now, a beautiful woman such as yourself should not be unaccompanied." He took her hand and kissed the back of it. "Would you grace me with the honour of a dance?"

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Catching hold of her hand, resting his other on her lower back, he was hardly shy about holding the girl close. She was attractive, sweet and they got along strangely well. Gracefully guiding her in the dance, as any Leading Man should, Balthier smiled down at her. "Quite. I was rather hoping I'd meet you here, as well. After your little performance for me, in that hangar, I was quite taken with you."

Twirling her, he pulled her back in close and kept his smirk in place. It may well have come across as cocky but Balthier knew how to combat his smirk with the rest of his natural charm, and usually got away with a lot more than he should have.

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"Why, both, of course." He gave her a smile, his fingers sprawled over her lower back as they moved gracefully. It was quite certain that her playful nature was something he found positively charming, and she desperately reminded him of Penelo, which also helped greatly.

He wasn't so much of an incurable flirt, or a letch, like Irvine was (in his opinion), but rather a well bred man with manners, grooming and a silver tongue that knew how to address people. Often, his behaviour was mistaken for flirtation, yet his flirting was a knock above average men. His flirting wasn't constant, it was actually a rarity. "I assure you, flattery is not my intention, nor is it to have anyone falling over or for me. I simply believe that any woman is beautiful in her own right and deserves to be shown that."

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Where? Could he say that he learned in the Imperial Army? Was he willing to admit that? No. "I learned from my father." Not entirely a lie, not really. "Small ships at first, and soon larger ships. Fleet ships." He twirled the small girl in his arms, entirely at ease having a conversation while dancing. Thankfully, she wasn't inept and was clearly keeping up with him.

"In my birth country, it was not much of a novelty to be able to fly, but to fly as well as I do is quite a different matter." He was, after all, far more skilled than even those still in the Imperial Army.

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"A truly natural pilot you are then, and a woman after my own heart," he smiled and swept her around the dance floor with ease. She was quite the delight to dance with, and moreso to talk with. Their common ground just so happened to be something he was very glad to talk about.

Balthier gave a smile and was now willing to mention his own wings. "The Strahl was my ship. A prototype with speed and power entirely unmatched in all Ivalice. I indeed miss her dearly, as though she were a part of me." His face almost, almost, looked sullen for a split second but he managed to smile it away.

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Irvine had been a far just looking around the dance floor and had noticed the woman in the yellow dress dancing around. He grinned softly which quickly faded when he recognized someone he had not seen since he returned to this city. Balthier. His eyes widened as he thought to himself, "Crap, crap, crap! Not him!" Irvine knew that if Balthier was anything like him, if not more, then Selphie would melt in his hands. He managed to get closer on the dance floor with a look of determination, but when he looked at Selphie have a good time, he stopped mid-step and just watched.

He didn't want to interfere with Selphie having a good time, but he felt that he would lose her to this silver tongued sky pirate. All he did was watch them, from a distance.

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Nida happened to catch sight of Irvine, and also just happened to be near enough that he could innocuously walk over to see what had him stopped cold. He followed Irvine's line of sight to - Ooh, Selphie dancing with another guy and looking like she was enjoying herself.

"That's rough, man," he said, clapping a hand on Irvine's shoulder. "But hey, it's not like you're dating or anything, right? She can dance with any guy she wants."

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Gracefully swinging Selphie around in the dance, he pulled her a little bit tighter against him as he drew her in near once more. "Indeed, it is quite like that. I assume. I've never exactly had a... break up, per say. Relationships are messy business."

Not that he'd ever had a serious relationship with, well, anyone. No, back home he was the love 'em and leave 'em type. Not that there weren't a million and one people all over Ivalice who'd love to actually get him to settle down with them.

Leaning to her ear to speak a little clearer over the music, (which could clearly upset any jealous almost-boyfriends) he smiled slightly. "Perhaps we may tour a few hangars sometime and discuss this in full. Comparing lesser crafts to our own might prove amusing." And for Balthier, that was almost an offer of a date.

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Irvine looked down just looking at them and stated to Nida, "Yea, she can dance with anyone she wants." He looked at her seeing she had fun, seeing she was enjoying herself, and seeing she was happy. That's all Irvine ever wanted for her. He looked at Nida and stated, "So where's your date? Or are you flying solo?" He was still a bit depressed, something he hated, and you'd have to be blind not to notice it.

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"Nah, I'm going stag." And that was nothing to be ashamed of. It wasn't like there were any girls here he felt comfortable asking to go with him anyway, right, so. So it was an opportunity to meet new ones! ...Who also didn't have dates.

Auuuugh.

Anyway. "Irvine, you're an open book. Seeing her dance with some other guy like that bugs you. It is blatantly obvious to everyone but her that you like the girl."

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As they turned, Balthier caught sight of Irvine and flashed him a cheeky little smirk. The kind of smirk that just said 'Yes, I'm dancing with your woman. Got a problem with that?' He smiled down at Selphie, dancing closely with the girl.

"Perhaps we may be able to find something actually worthwhile about these airships, hm?" Really, he'd love to build one with her, but that'd mean having to rent out space in which to do it and, while they probably didn't have enough gil between them, he wouldn't be able to anyway.

Feral partner, bounty on your head and a need to fly were things that impeded such efforts.

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Irvine saw the smirk and heard the excitement and put two and two together to see what could seem like Selphie being somewhat very friendly with Balthier. He sighed to Nida and replied, "Look at her Nida, she's happy, why am I gonna ruin her good time cause of my own feelings." He shook his head looking down and stated, "You wouldn't understand Nida."

Now he wasn't bothering trying to hide his feelings to anyone. Yes, he was upset she was with Balthier, yes he was upset that he was going to lose Selphie. But he found that as long as she was happy, who the hell was he to butt in and interrupt.

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Oh, now he was going to get melodramatic about it? Jeez.

"It's Selphie, Irvine. She's got a terminal case of romantic obliviousness. They're probably talking about trains or sugar or trains made of sugar." He gave Irvine's shoulder a thump and tried to look as stern as possible. "You like her, she likes you. Quit moping and do something about it!"

Pause. "But, you know, you should wait until they're done. Don't make a scene or anything."

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Smiling lightly, Balthier slowed their dance to a graceful stop, kissing her cheek before dipping to kiss her hand. "Thank you, it was indeed my honour." Without another word to Selphie, and after a bow, Balthier turned, walking right in Irvine's direction.

Slapping a hand to his shoulder, he smirked at him. "Next time you desire to dance with your girl, there is such a thing as having the guts to cut in."

Balthier glanced to Nida before returning his attention to Irvine. "She's all yours, cowboy." And with that, he sauntered off.

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Irvine looked at Nida with a look of disbelief when he said what they might be talking about and replied, "I take it you don't know the man she's dancing with!" But he was right, he had been always timid to try anything too much with Selphie, but if even Nida could see past his cover, then anyone could. He exhaled a deep breath and was about to go, but, Balthier came to him and gave him his little pep talk.

That's it! He grinned and was about to say something witty, but Balthier left his sight before he could. He then walked over to Selphie and tried to find the words. But all he really could muster within Selphie's presence, seeing her look so...beautiful, was just, "Uh...hi Selphie." Great Irvine, just great.

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