Post by Hiko on Jun 22, 2011 17:26:17 GMT -5
“You sure this is the place, boss?”
Faris made a scoffing sound and gave a flicking glance to her subordinate. “Balthier's still here - I know it. Ask around, see if you can't dig up something on his companions. They're new, and he's missing that rabbit. Game's changed, boys. We could'a ambushed 'em when it was just the two of 'em, but now? No, it's better if we know what we're going up against. I don't want Syldra heading this way, just to find our bones at the edge of port.”
“Aye, sir. How many you want me to take around town?”
Faris frowned, “Just you and Wej. No sense bringing a mob. Meet up at the inn.”
“Off of Canal Lane?”
“Mm, that's the one. And Vix?”
“Sir?”
“Try not to get yourself killed.”
“Sir.”
–
Faris paced back and forth across the floor of her room in Canal Lane's little hovel of an inn. There were so many options to take. Before, when Balthier's party had been a measly two, the go-to plan had been to simply ambush the pair with the crew of the Flying Tycoon and overpower the man and his walking fetish. But now? There were more with him, and they all looked armed. Though they could still ambush the small party, Faris didn't trust what she didn't know, and at least with the rabbit they'd known to expect a little magic. Ideas pinballed through the captain's head, and though she hated it (and what it might mean for her crew), there was one that she thought might work the best.
After all, Balthier did seem to enjoy the company of women, didn't he?
–
The pub was loud, and the scent of drying liquor was harsh against Faris' nose. She stepped awkwardly into the fray, mindful of how her feet just didn't feel right as she walked along in heeled boots.
“Ain't you a pretty little lass?” There was a tug on her skirt, halting further movement.
“I'm sorry?” Faris turned, and was nearly smacked in the face with a curl of her own, newly-pinned hair.
“Pretty. Little. Lass. C'mere, sweet-face. I've been in the air too long not to want a piece of you.” Oh, for the love of little hydras, it was one of her own crew, trying to get her to sit on his godforsaken lap. She swatted at his grabbing hands and attempted to duck away. Larger hands caught her from behind. She glanced to the one holding her left shoulder. Three scars ran down his middle finger – another of her crew, it seemed.
“Now, don't be bothering the pretty lady, Orson. Who's to say she wouldn't want someone less scrawny. Someone like me.”
The voice confirmed it. Davos.
“How about neither of you? I don't care much for pirates.”
“Hear that, Ors? She 'doesn't care much' for us. I think she should get better acquainted-like, and then decide how well she likes.”
Originally, Faris had thought to seduce the sky pirate. Get close while the boys look into his allies, and strike when he's vulnerable.
Wear something girly, she thought, something revealing at the bust, she thought, look more like your sister, she thought...
Well, leave it to her to end up looking more the damsel than the dame.
–
Celes, still feeling the tension between pirate and bandit, averted her eyes. She focused on the entrance, watching the passers-by with interest. At the arrival of one who seemed of fair wealth, with pinned and jeweled violet-blonde hair, what was surely a pair of garnet – no, the color was too light. Ruby? - bangles on one wrist, and a low-cut blouse that alone had to be of pure silk. The skirt was layered, and though Celes disliked the sheer overlay, she couldn't fault the design of it – it was made to be eye-catching, and the way it swam around the woman's legs did nothing less than that. What was what had to be a noble doing in a place like this? In a city like this?
Men soon swarmed around the woman, and Celes gaped. They weren't – they were! But what could Celes do? She was hardly capable of stopping them from forcing their will. She glanced nervously to Balthier, unsure as to whether or not she should ask him to stop the men from their harassment. She barely knew if he'd do such a thing for herself, let alone with a stranger.
When the woman tripped over herself in an attempt to break away, the large man that had been holding her shoulders bent low and tugged at her skirt. Though Celes couldn't see what he'd said to the noblewoman, she could see the look of panic on her face. The blonde gripped at Balthier's arm in sudden apprehension.
“We – You – Someone's got to do something!”
Faris made a scoffing sound and gave a flicking glance to her subordinate. “Balthier's still here - I know it. Ask around, see if you can't dig up something on his companions. They're new, and he's missing that rabbit. Game's changed, boys. We could'a ambushed 'em when it was just the two of 'em, but now? No, it's better if we know what we're going up against. I don't want Syldra heading this way, just to find our bones at the edge of port.”
“Aye, sir. How many you want me to take around town?”
Faris frowned, “Just you and Wej. No sense bringing a mob. Meet up at the inn.”
“Off of Canal Lane?”
“Mm, that's the one. And Vix?”
“Sir?”
“Try not to get yourself killed.”
“Sir.”
–
Faris paced back and forth across the floor of her room in Canal Lane's little hovel of an inn. There were so many options to take. Before, when Balthier's party had been a measly two, the go-to plan had been to simply ambush the pair with the crew of the Flying Tycoon and overpower the man and his walking fetish. But now? There were more with him, and they all looked armed. Though they could still ambush the small party, Faris didn't trust what she didn't know, and at least with the rabbit they'd known to expect a little magic. Ideas pinballed through the captain's head, and though she hated it (and what it might mean for her crew), there was one that she thought might work the best.
After all, Balthier did seem to enjoy the company of women, didn't he?
–
The pub was loud, and the scent of drying liquor was harsh against Faris' nose. She stepped awkwardly into the fray, mindful of how her feet just didn't feel right as she walked along in heeled boots.
“Ain't you a pretty little lass?” There was a tug on her skirt, halting further movement.
“I'm sorry?” Faris turned, and was nearly smacked in the face with a curl of her own, newly-pinned hair.
“Pretty. Little. Lass. C'mere, sweet-face. I've been in the air too long not to want a piece of you.” Oh, for the love of little hydras, it was one of her own crew, trying to get her to sit on his godforsaken lap. She swatted at his grabbing hands and attempted to duck away. Larger hands caught her from behind. She glanced to the one holding her left shoulder. Three scars ran down his middle finger – another of her crew, it seemed.
“Now, don't be bothering the pretty lady, Orson. Who's to say she wouldn't want someone less scrawny. Someone like me.”
The voice confirmed it. Davos.
“How about neither of you? I don't care much for pirates.”
“Hear that, Ors? She 'doesn't care much' for us. I think she should get better acquainted-like, and then decide how well she likes.”
Originally, Faris had thought to seduce the sky pirate. Get close while the boys look into his allies, and strike when he's vulnerable.
Wear something girly, she thought, something revealing at the bust, she thought, look more like your sister, she thought...
Well, leave it to her to end up looking more the damsel than the dame.
–
Celes, still feeling the tension between pirate and bandit, averted her eyes. She focused on the entrance, watching the passers-by with interest. At the arrival of one who seemed of fair wealth, with pinned and jeweled violet-blonde hair, what was surely a pair of garnet – no, the color was too light. Ruby? - bangles on one wrist, and a low-cut blouse that alone had to be of pure silk. The skirt was layered, and though Celes disliked the sheer overlay, she couldn't fault the design of it – it was made to be eye-catching, and the way it swam around the woman's legs did nothing less than that. What was what had to be a noble doing in a place like this? In a city like this?
Men soon swarmed around the woman, and Celes gaped. They weren't – they were! But what could Celes do? She was hardly capable of stopping them from forcing their will. She glanced nervously to Balthier, unsure as to whether or not she should ask him to stop the men from their harassment. She barely knew if he'd do such a thing for herself, let alone with a stranger.
When the woman tripped over herself in an attempt to break away, the large man that had been holding her shoulders bent low and tugged at her skirt. Though Celes couldn't see what he'd said to the noblewoman, she could see the look of panic on her face. The blonde gripped at Balthier's arm in sudden apprehension.
“We – You – Someone's got to do something!”