dear_mun | A voice test (after 3094857 years)

[ A leading man, are we? She can't even be sure if that's a joke or not. ]

Open sky? Better yet-- open space. Stars and galaxies and nebulae and black holes.

[Of course. Who else would he be?]

Not exactly my area of expertise, but I suppose anything's better than being locked up here. A fan of it are you?

[ She hums, non-committal but jolly enough to betray a yes indeed. ]

I could be a fan of yours too, Mister Leading Man.

[He chuckles.]

Is that right?

Flattering as it is, I'm afraid I'm not in the market for any more. Hard enough being a sky pirate without worrying about the persistent fans who follow them. [Like bounty hunters.]

[ She's a flatterer indeed, taking the (albeit soft) rejection in stride. ]

What are you in the market for then? An airship or perhaps an upgrade to a spaceship.

[ Fishing, fishing. ]

[He smirks.]

What any good pirate is in the market for: treasure.

Edited 2014-11-04 22:10 (UTC)

One man's trash is another man's treasure. What are your preferences?

Something a little more valuable than trash. Golden artifacts, rare jewels. Anything that can make a decent profit. How else can one survive?

Edited 2014-11-05 05:36 (UTC)

Would you ever keep any of the treasures for yourself? Or is it only profit you seek?

Depends on what's found, I suppose. Unless there's a reason to keep it, I find they're more useful when their value is higher.

What reason would see you keep a treasure and forgo profits?

For a trade, or as some compensation. I'm not one for having mementos lying around. I'll hold on to it until I find something more valuable.

[ That causes her to stop and think a moment, trying her best to see things from his perspective. ]

I would understand if it is the hunt you seek above all and the treasures merely stepping stones.

To be sure, hearing about them is one thing; actually getting to them is where the real fun begins.

[But:]

You seem quite curious about the inner workings of piracy. Looking to join the ranks yourself?

Wait - are you saying there's a game that IS adverse to baths? ... [ EWW. ]

The place I know of has an airship or two, but I don't know what I would do if I wasn't able to at least have a shower or something.

More that they're hard to come by rather than adverse. Still, if the rumors are true, it's not as uncommon as you may think. [Unfortunately.] Personally, I'd prefer not to spend my days running around in the muck if it can be helped.

[But anyway.]

I take it airships aren't a common asset of someone arriving in this place then?

Edited 2014-11-03 06:53 (UTC)

[ She shudders a little. ] Y-yeah, I wouldn't be able to stand it if I couldn't get clean.

Ah - well they are, technically. That is, it isn't surprising for people of that world to see one in the sky, but as far as airships being in play there are only two. Well, one now. Anyone arriving in that place is assigned as a passenger on a ship while we're there. There are meant to be more eventually, but there's only a handful of people there right now.

Not much point in having your own if you can't fly it yourself. Better a bird in the sky than one in a cage with freedom dangling right in front of them. Still, anything's better than being here. What exactly do you do on this massive airship?

So you've flown your own airship before? I never have, but looking at it from that perspective, I think I can see where you're coming from.

Well, for the most part we try to get along with other passengers - but the Captain of the ship we're on says that their mission is to find a way back home, since they want to leave as much as we do.

We're to take on jobs; people needing help with various things, while searching for the Regalia as well. And in between that, sometimes random things happen due to the Rift Storms - like just recently, candy fell from the sky, and gave strange effects if you ate it. [ She learned that from experience. -cough- ]

The mods hint at an underlying plot, but the ones in charge of that are currently on hiatus to sort out their ISP, so I don't know a lot about -that-.

I have, yes. Hard to be a sky pirate if you don't have a ship.

[If he sounds a little smug, it's because he is.]

Sounds a little fishy to me. Then again, all these places seem to have one catch or another. I suppose that's what makes them so intriguing to these Mundanes here.

Oh! I had no idea - I've never met a sky pirate before. Well.. until now anyway. [ Offering a hand because she never forgets her manners...for long. ] I'm Lucy.

[ As to the fishy nature, she smiled slightly. ]

Yeah, and things could be a lot worse there. It could be like one of those torture games, or one of "those" places. [ Flushing pink. ]

Balthier. The pleasure is all mine.

[He takes the offered hand with a wry smile.]

If you're not there now, I doubt you have anything to worry about. Still, these Mundanes can be a bit unpredictable from what I understand. Best to be prepared, even in the most unsuspecting of times.

It's nice to meet you, Balthier!

[ She grins back, always happy to meet people. And it had been a long while since she last was able to chitchat with people on D_M. ]

Oh .. Oh no I definitely won't have anything to worry about with my mun. Well... um... unless someone from our canon somehow manages to convince her to go to a place like that with them. [ Gah. ] She likes having a little more control over 'torture' situations and I think she'd be much too embarrassed to go to one of those... uh.. other games. [ NOPE can't say it. ]

What about yours?

Oh, it's you.

[Recognition shines in those eyes, even though Jack only saw the man in someone else's dream.]

Ah- Captain Jack Harkness, but I'm not the important one. Fran has missed you terribly.

Balthier.

[It's said as a formality in response to the other man introducing himself, but the recognition in Jack's eyes does not go unnoticed. As a result, the tone in Balthier's own voice is a little guarded. There'll be time to get to the specifics of how the Captain knew him, but more importantly:]

You're acquainted with Fran?

Edited 2014-11-03 06:53 (UTC)

[Jack nods, because he knows Balthier's name. He met him, sort of, it was strange. But he would assume that Fran's internal representation of Balthier would at least be close to the real man.]

I am. We're- well, the situation is a bit complicated. We're kind of stuck on a space station in a section of space nobody's ever been to, at the moment.

But, Fran is one of the people on board I trust the most. Something potentially bad is happening, she's the first person I call. She's proven to be highly capable, and a good friend, but she still seem very lonely.

I wouldn't expect anything less. If there's anything I know about Fran, it's that she's not one to just sit around while there's some kind of adventure to be had.

[His tone is a little lighter than when he first spoke. If Fran trusted this man so much that he could claim all of that, then surely he could trust him as well. Still, the way Jack phrased it, it was a little worrying knowing she was there when "something potentially bad" could happen.]

Space does seem to be the popular destination nowadays. Hardly fitting for a sky pirate, but I suppose adjustments could be made. I take it this station of yours isn't exactly the most welcoming, if you constantly need Fran's aid.

Edited 2014-11-04 20:00 (UTC)

"We don't have control over everything that appears here, no. Not everything has been so- benign as just new people appearing. But Fran has been a great help. Not just during dangerous times, either. Although nothing quite forges the bonds of friendship like an attack by the undead."

"Ship tech is ship tech, and maybe the power sources are a little different than what your world is used to, but all the basics are still there. And I never quite saw Fran as happy as when she was flying that hovercraft."

[Jack laughs, it's a good memory.]

"Adventurers and explorers, any other sorts of pilots would be good, anyone who can navigate uncertain areas. We're beginning to learn more about the places outside of just this Station. But flying with no stars in the sky..."

[Jack smirks, this next sentence is definitely a bit of a challenge.]

"Well, that's a job that would need someone very skilled to handle it, wouldn't it?"

["An attack by the undead" what the hell kind of station is that]

Glad to hear it's not all fighting for survival.

[He smirks at Jack's last comment, perhaps a little too smugly.]

Traversing unknown skies is what we we pirates do best. If this station is to be considered my new home, let's hope there's a tomb or some other treasure trove out there to make it all worth while.

[And less undead things.]

I take it you've had some experience as well?

Edited 2014-11-05 07:28 (UTC)

"Abandoned cities, ships that have laid dormant for who knows how long, with things inside just waiting to be picked up. I'm sure there's something out there for the both of you to find."

[His smirk grows to match Balthier's. Maybe he's become a bit too responsible while on the Station, but Fran is one of the people who occasionally gets him to break the rules.]

"Ah- me? Well, experience in space travel, piracy, tomb-robbing, or random phenomena happening every couple of weeks? Yes to all? It's complicated, but yes. I'm better flying in space than I am in the skies, though. Fran told me about your ship, she sounds like a beauty."

If there is something valuable out there, Fran will be sure to sniff it out. The only question is, how would we be compensated?

[His eyebrow raises a little in surprise as Jack goes through his experience. It's not entirely surprising, but it is admittedly impressive.]

Not bad, Captain. Though you may not call yourself a pirate, it sounds like you're well on your way. Flying through space seems to be an important skill to have, at any rate. Good to know.

(But at the mention of his ship, his smirk grows even more, and his eyes shine with admiration.)

Ah, the Strahl. (The name comes out more like a purr--low and gentle, as if to say it any other way would besmirch its name.) We've been through quite the amount of adventures, she and I. Faster than any Archadian warship, and much more pleasant to look at. Won't find a better ship in all of Ivalice.

If you find such a place, do share. My mundane is nagging me about perhaps finding a home for me.

[ A dragon is a fastidious creature, after all. ]

A common trait amongst these Mundanes, it seems. [He gives a small, slightly annoyed sigh.] My condolences.

And mine to you as well. Alas, we seem to be tethered to them and as such, we're subject to some of their more.. questionable whims.

[ At least his gives him coffee. ]

More "master" than "partner", is it?

[Though stated as a small joke, there is still that hint of annoyance in his voice]

I have no intention of becoming somebody's mere puppet to do with as they please for their entertainment. If one of these games [strange word for them] is to be my fate, then I plan on having a great say in the matter.

[Well, hopefully.]

Sometimes, it surely seems as such. A pity that there's a lack of your partner around.

[ Ignore Sephiroth. He's met Fran once upon a time, somewhere else and long ago. ]

I wish you luck, though, as far as declaring your intent towards a game goes. My mundane and I have known each other long enough for I've been active for a long enough time that she tends to indulge me when I say I do or don't want to do a certain game or not.

We agree to disagree and it all tends to work out. Heh. So I wish you luck as far as that's concerned.

Fran is more than capable of taking care of herself. I pity the one who crosses her.

[But yes, he would prefer if she were with him. At least he would know where she was or if she was alright.]

I thank you. We may have our differences, but this isn't the first time our paths have crossed. Perhaps it'll make it easier.

Indeed. She was a formidable, if interesting, woman when I met her. I doubt that would ever change.

[ He understands the lack of that person who has become the other beat of the drum - and how it feels. Perhaps that is why he is more sympathetic than not right now; an odd thing for the dragon. ]

I suppose that's the secret, isn't it? Finding what makes things easier?

I should hope not. It would be a bad omen indeed if such a misfortune befell her.

[His brows furrow just a little in worry, but it doesn't last long. It didn't help thinking about such things. Especially since he was here.]

It's either that, or simply give in to their whims. If we are to be subject to this, best to engage in some sort of compromise. That way everybody wins.

A voice test (after 3094857 years)

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