Snippet #1188638

Balthier raised an eyebrow at the young man's words. "Alas, I know nothing of this place either." His expression lost its typical flippancy for a second as he fell into a contemplative spell, pinching the bridge of his nose absently. "It would appear that we are all refugees, would it not? Are the two of you headed for the castle, perchance? Ah, but perhaps I should not ask. I am a stranger, after all."

The grin appeared once more, and his eyes lit with an idea. "Balthier Bunansa, sky pirate, at your service. This is my partner, Fran." He knew of course, that while they were technically not "strangers" anymore, this would not necessarily mean that they answered his inquiry. Ah, well, such was to be expected. He might have guarded his own name, were it not obvious that there was little meaning to it for them. Nobody here would know of who he was; even Balthier was not so crass as to believe his legend extended quite so far.

Fran, for her part, nodded to the two of them politely, noting with some wry amusement that there were likely not viera wherever they came from. It wasn't as though they made it too obvious, but when one worked with Balthier, one learned how to read even the best of poker faces, so to speak. "Do you think," she spoke to her friend, "that we should arm the cloaking device?"

"Of course, my dear Fran. Wouldn't want our beloved airship disappearing from out here in the middle of nowhere, would we?" That said, he activated the device, causing the Strahl to waver, then disappear entirely.

"Well, as much as I'd care to stay and chat-" his would-be parting words were cut off when he felt Fran stiffen beside him, ears swiveling slightly as she listened for something that the Humes could not, as yet, hear.

"South," she said in a low voice, and his eyes snapped in that direction, hand drifting slowly to his gun.

"I would arm yourselves," he offered to the other two. "A viera's senses are sharper than ours, and if she hears something coming..." Sure enough, it was not another minute before four shapes appeared in the distance. As they drew closer, Balthier was surprised to observe what appeared to be a mirror image of himself. There was one of Fran, too, and the other pair looked to be replicas of their fellow wayward souls.

"Interesting..." he murmured, aiming his gun in that direction, leaving his Kagenui alone for the moment.