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[theleadingman]

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Voice - Forward Dating to... 16/11

[inemeraldfaith]

[Calling Balthier has not been an easy decision to come to, but given his little exchange over Avalon's network, she can't really think of another way to handle things. But she intends on it being a relatively short-lived adventure. Regardless of whatever may occur between them, she knows her place is very firmly planted between him and Sephiroth.

That is her burden. Not his and she must do whatever she can to keep him out of it.

But it doesn't stop her from being incredibly nervous as she waits for him to pick up. She's not leaving him a message for this and he needs to hear it in voice. Not in a text message.

Text messages have proven to only tick people off.]

[theleadingman]

[Balthier doesn't love just how immediately eager he finds himself feeling when he sees the incoming call, and for a few moments, he stays his hand, silently reminding himself that he's still rather sore about certain things— though if he were being entirely honest with himself, which he very rarely is, it's been difficult to stay as angry as he thinks he should.

He does answer, after a few rings, and is careful to keep his tone of voice even, cool, measured.]

Aerith. To what do I owe the pleasure?

[He could probably allot himself three guesses as to what this call concerns, and the first two don't count.]

[inemeraldfaith]

[It is both wonderful and heart-wrenching to hear his voice. He could be angry. He could be annoyed. He could be overjoyed. It would not matter how he is, only that she hears him at all.

Her heart paves the way for a resounding thump that she's thankful he can't hear. How deeply he still remains beneath her skin. But it's not as if she ever thought he'd simply disappear. He's a part of her, whether she wants him to be or not.]

That man.

[She doesn't need to say his name. He'll know who she means.

Her tone is... different somehow. Likely that trepidation, subtle though it may be. Something she covers with a firm demeanour. It's an uncommon thing to hear from her.]

Don't get involved with him. If you have to say anything to him, say as little as you possibly can. But stay away from him.

[There's a pause. And then:]

That isn't a request.

[theleadingman]

[Similarly, he finds himself having conflicting feelings with regards to hearing her voice once more— he'd heard it during her broadcast, and that had been jarring enough after so long, but it was still different. She hadn't been speaking to him directly.

He's missed it, plain and simple, though he knows this isn't the time to say so.

That shift in her tone is subtle, but unusual. He has always been quite keen when it comes to reading others, a skill that has only become sharper with use during his pirating ventures. He frowns to himself, knowing the answer full well before he even asks.]

It's him, then. He's the one?

[The man in question could hardly be called subtle, either way.]

[inemeraldfaith]

[She hesitates to answer him. Not because she's unsure. No, she's very well aware of Sephiroth's impact on her future. He wasn't shy at all about confessing to it. She has a feeling, however... some kind of suspicion that Balthier may get involved where he shouldn't.]

...Yes.

[She finally does say, but not without some reluctance. It's equally rare for her to give a straight answer, especially regarding something she's tried to avoid discussing.]

Stay away from him, Balthier.

[theleadingman]

[He doesn't think he's ever been so displeased with being right about something. Even though he'd expected that answer, he certainly doesn't care for it.

The reason for Aerith's hesitance to allow herself what she freely encourages in others, the reason she's come to have such a complicated relationship with her own existence, is right here.]

I should be saying the same to you.

[There's an unusually hard edge to his voice now; it's a hardness born of concern, of caring, but he sounds oddly strained.]

What were you thinking, all but inviting him in like any other customer?

[inemeraldfaith]

[She doesn't need him getting on her case. It's not his problem. Aerith also understands that he is only saying it out of concern. Evidently no amount of anger saps his care. Or the painful honesty she hears in him.

Aerith waits several breaths before she actually responds.]

He's been here for months. If he was going to do something, he would have done it already. The last time we spoke, the only thing he did was—

[Was confirm that he was the one responsible. She can't say that. Won't.]

It doesn't matter. He didn't do anything. [Nothing malleable.] I said what I did because I know he isn't going to show up there. If he wanted to track me down, he would have.

[theleadingman]

[Hearing he's been here for months does nothing to calm his ire or inspire confidence. What he has or hasn't physically done in this place are of little consequence; what matters to him far more is the unusual hesitation he'd heard in Aerith's voice when that man had approached her.

He has never known her to be openly afraid, but he thinks in that moment, she might have been close.]

He seems intent on antagonizing you, regardless of how much time he's had. Gods, if he's the one who—

[He can't even bring himself to say it, but his temper flares nonetheless— not at her, but the situation itself is an impossible one.]

It shouldn't matter what he's done in this place. He shouldn't be anywhere near you.

[inemeraldfaith]

[Just stop.

He's not wrong. On any account. Sephiroth has a unique ability to actually leave her feeling uncertain. Powerless. Essentially because she feels as if she is. She puts up a brave front, but someone like Balthier can likely see right through it. And Sephiroth does antagonise her. Because he knows it'll get to her, even if she refuses to show it outwardly. And sometimes when he speaks to her...]

If anything happens, you'll hear about it. But nothing will happen.

[She says it for his benefit. That's not a promise she can make and keep. Because if Sephiroth gets curious about Balthier, she won't have a choice except to step in. In some ways, she wishes Balthier hadn't intervened at all. It makes him a target.

If she couldn't protect herself against Sephiroth, who's to say she can protect Balthier?]

zooms in with some date in mid-november

[starshower]

[It's only been days since Tifa had been here last, to the quaint little apartment over the bookstore. She hadn't been inside, opting to drop the flowers off with Balthier when she knew he was home, exchanging knowing glances with him before she descended back into the cold again, but this time, she's come with a purpose of her own. One that requires a bottle of the finest whiskey she could find on the shelves of the nearest liquor store.

She'd let him know she would be stopping by with a quick text sent hours before to at least give him some time to prepare, and so he shouldn't be surprised when he gets the knock at his door right on time when she said she'd be there.

And when he lets her in, she wastes no time, not wanting to bring the cold in with her, and she's immediately welcomed by the warmth of the apartment.]

Nice place you've got. Reminds me a little of the place I had back home...

[Not her own apartment, but Seventh Heaven, with the rooms upstairs where Marlene and Barret lived. It's quaint, almost like it was made for him.]

[theleadingman]

[He's grateful when he receives Tifa's message about stopping by— they haven't had many chances to talk as of late, and while Balthier isn't generally inclined to sharing his personal business with others, the current state of things is such that he has a feeling there are a few details Tifa might like to know. More than that, given that she knows the other party involved, he knows she's likely to be able to lend a concerned ear— given she hasn't gotten the wrong idea about things.

He imagines not. Aerith wouldn't make it out to sound like he'd done anything untoward, he knows.

He offers Tifa a wry smile as he ushers her inside, closing and locking the door behind her.]

It's shaping up to be home, I think. Fran and I are used to less space than this, but it's been nice to have a place to work.

[Over by the large windows overlooking the street, a long table is covered with what looks like in-progress airship design notes and drawings, as well as a gun that has been taken apart to be tinkered with, its components spread across half the surface.

His gaze falls on the bottle-shaped bag in her hand, and his shoulders drop even as his eyebrows raise, relieved.]

You are truly a godsend.

[starshower]

[She takes a second from looking around to wink at him, shrugging her coat from her shoulders.]

Thought it might come in handy.

[Whether or not he looked like he needed it, a good glass of the finest whiskey always did help take some of the edge off for a lot of people. The ones that would wander in late, looking to bend Tifa's patient ear about their newest work problem, or an issue at home that they needed advice on, that was always her go-to when she didn't already know their favourite.

Call it a skill, but she had a feeling he'd enjoy this one.

She'll hang up her own coat in the closet, and kicking off her shoes, she finally wanders further into the warmth welcoming her into his home. Her gaze softens, that playful glint fading and, for a moment, she considers getting right into it, wondering how he's been since she last saw him, but... maybe it's best that she waits.]

Got some glasses we could use?

[She'll make herself comfortable, but not so comfortable she'll go rummaging through his cupboards!]

[theleadingman]

You thought exactly right.

[He steps behind her just in time to take her coat and hang it on the rack beside the door— she's a guest here, after all— then nods as he begins to cross the living area towards the kitchen, straightening his cuffs in the process.]

Glasses in abundance. Just a moment.

[The kitchen, in fact, is near spotless— largely because it sees very little use beyond tea and takeout. Alcohol, too, is a staple, though that is perhaps to be expected, with both residents being pirates and all.

He returns to her a few short moments later, setting a pair of short glasses meant for hard liquor on the table in front of the settee, gesturing for her to take a seat and make herself comfortable as he does the same, letting out a sigh bordering on bone-weary as he drops into his seat.]

It's good to see you— I know we've both been rather preoccupied, as of late.

[There's only a faint smile that tugs at the corner of his mouth as he says so. They both know things haven't been right since he'd been well enough to be released from Tifa and Aerith's care some weeks past.]

[starshower]

You, too.

[Tifa's smile mirrors his own, although she allows it to spread a little when she takes a seat and lifts her glass to watch the amber liquid swirling around, and a small hum of amusement escapes into it when she takes her first sip.]

House has been pretty quiet without you.

[So quiet that she's almost—almost—started to miss the sound of that godawful bell he had. It's probably still sitting somewhere on the fireplace mantle, waiting for him to return.]

But I hear you've got a friend here. Fran, right?

[She'd heard the name (likely) from Aerith, but all she knew about this mystery woman was that she hailed from the same world Balthier did. His partner in piratey crime!]

[theleadingman]

[That gets a faint chuckle out of him— even without her mentioning the bell itself, it immediately comes to mind.]

You could attach the bell to Nanaki in some fashion— no doubt that would liven things up. I do apologize for any abuse of it during the more restless days.

[He never has done well with staying in one place, and his injuries meant he had been especially limited. Once he'd been feeling better, he'll admit to having been a bit frivolous with it out of boredom. It was, at least, mostly entertaining— mostly.

On the subject of Fran, he does visibly brighten, his smile pulling to one side as he takes up his own glass and helps himself that first sip before he continues on.]

Indeed— she's out at the moment, but you'll have the opportunity to meet soon. Admittedly, my partner isn't any more fond of being grounded than I am, but she does a better job of veiling it. Far more patient than I've ever been known to be.

[He knows who he is.]

Sky pirates are ever prepared to adapt, however.

[starshower]

[Attaching the bell to Nanaki sounds like the worst idea in the world, but it still gets a laugh out of Tifa anyway. He would hold that grudge forever, she thinks...

She does, however, watch and listen very carefully when he speaks of Fran, noting how he does visibly light up when she mentions her. Tifa doesn't think anything of it and thinks it's rather sweet that the two of them have a close relationship with one another as partners, reminding her a little of herself and Cloud, except without the pirating and airships, but part of her does wonder if that struck a nerve somewhere with Aerith.]

So, she liked the flowers then? Sad that I missed her when I dropped them off, so I'll have to come by again when she's around.

[It's probably best that she isn't right now, though, as much as she would like to meet her!]

[theleadingman]

Indeed she did— viera feel a keen connection to nature, as well, so it made an especially apt welcome gift. That they were chosen specifically to suit her made them all the more so.

[His expression shifts, just slightly— the day Aerith had peppered him with questions about what Fran might like had been the last they had actually seen one another. He'd encouraged her then to come with him to meet Fran for herself; if he'd known how things would develop afterwards, he might have insisted even further.]

I know she'd quite like to meet you, as well, and of course the woman who arranged the flowers in the first place. I'm not sure that's entirely likely at this point, however.

[No use beating around the bush on that one.]

Text [for Now] - Dated for 07 March

[inemeraldfaith]

[It's an afternoon with a calamitous sky above the whole of Camelot. Aerith is trying to act like things are normal, though they are decidedly not, which means keeping herself busy. Maybe Balthier needs to be kept a little busy, too.]

Hello, you. 💖
I could use some help at the flower shop with a request I received around my birthday. Think you can lend me a hand?

[Even without work, she just really wants to see him. Balthier makes everything better. And bearable.]

💖

[theleadingman]

[Pretending things are normal when they are most certainly not is one of Balthier's tried-and-true methods of handling unpleasantness, as well. He's been doing the very same, making an effort to keep himself occupied, but Aerith's request is more than welcome when it comes through, and he catches himself smiling at his phone as he reads it.]

Why, hello.
It would be my pleasure. Let me just clean up my worktable and I'll be right along.
I take it a great number of customers took the opportunity to make the most of your generosity?

[inemeraldfaith]

The shop isn't cleaned out, if that's what you're asking me. I made sure not to go completely overboard, but I did have quite a few people contact me. Most of them were telling me that I was supposed to let others do stuff for me, not for me to do stuff for them.

If you're busy with your airship schematics, you can come by when you need a break. I don't want to interrupt your work, after all.

[LOOK, SHE EVEN USED THE RIGHT WORD THIS TIME. SCHEMATICS. SHE'S LEARNING.]

[theleadingman]

Well, I didn't want to ask as much outright, but that's comforting.

[Teasing, he swears.]

Considering it was your birthday, it stands to reason you could do whatever you like to celebrate it. Perhaps giving things away isn't the tradition where most people come from, but it was a very Aerith way to go about things, I think.

[It made her happy to do it— that matters more than what anyone else might have thought.]

Not to worry, I was only doing a bit of tinkering. Schematics are waiting on a response about a potential power source. Nicely done, by the way— you remembered.

[inemeraldfaith]

[He might not be able to see it personally, but Balthier, by this point, can probably feel when Aerith rolls her eyes.]

I think that birthday, a lot of people probably learned a lot about me that they didn't know before.

[She can't help but wonder if that's a good thing. It's hard to grow close to people and then to lose them. She feels that more prominently than ever, in light of things that have happened.]

Yes, I remembered. I knew if I called it a recipe again, you were going to laugh at me and I was going to make you sleep outside the next time you came over.

[theleadingman]

I'm certain they did, and they should consider themselves fortunate to have had the chance to do so.

[Clearly, he's convinced it's a good thing, at least for those on the receiving ends. He understands it's hard for her to let people get close to her, just as it is for him to do the same.]

Outside, truly? I can hardly believe you'd be so cruel. Surely you'd at least grant me use of the sofa.

[inemeraldfaith]

Honestly, I think they just found me weird. Which is fair.

[Little by little, she's smiling all over again. As if she hasn't been idly smiling this entire time. She has, of course. Balthier is so stupidly good at that.]

No way. The sofa is for Clover now.

[That's right. One kitten is getting the whole sofa. And the whole house, honestly, though she spends more of her time in the room Tifa was using. Probably... very confused.]

[theleadingman]

Clover and I could certainly share. We're very good friends, you know.

[And she's too small to need the whole sofa for herself, besides.]

I think you'd miss me, anyways.