#blthiers

𝙾𝙾𝙲 𝙰𝚂𝙺𝚂

@blthiers​ asked: the fact i wanna dive head first into sonic rpc because of you & seeing the absolute joy you're experiencing on a chill-out blog ;w; love to see it !!

u  want  the  hot  takes ?  u  want  the  tea ?  ok.

Without  a  doubt,  I  think  Lightning  would  find  Balthier’s  ‘ leading  man ‘  act  to  be  the  most  aggravating  thing  she  has  come  across  in  her  entire  life.  No  matter  the  verse  I  think  she’d  initially  see  his  cockiness  and  bravado  at  face  value,  not  realising  that  it’s  as  much  a  front  as  her  cold  reservations,  and  despise  it.  She’d  sit  there  watching  him  soar  the  skies,  flirt  with  people  and  danger  both,  and  detach  himself  so  completely  from  affairs  she  felt  intrinsically  tied  to  that  she’d  want  nothing  to  do  with  it.  Her  view  would  be  that  he  doesn’t  care,  which  is  in  sheer  contrast  to  her  who  generally  tends  to  care  a  too  much,  (  she’s  just  shit  at  showing  it  )  and  know  they  wouldn’t  be  compatible  in  any  instance.

Yet,  the  more  time  that  she  spends  with  him,  the  more  she’d  begin  to  see  the  cracks  in  the  façade.  The  theatrics  are  a  mask  ;  the  self-assurance,  while  valid  in  his  skill,  help  hide  vulnerabilities  he  perceives  himself  to have.  In  some  ways,  Light  would  be  embarrassed  by  how  she  carried  on,  especially  when  he  shows  moments  of  selflessness  in  defiance  of  the  picture  she  painted  of  him.  However,  it’s  not  in  her  nature  to  deny  herself  the  chance  to  grow  -  as  messy  and  painful  as  it  can  be  -  and  I  think  she’d  apologise  to  him  eventually.  She’d  be  honest  in  how  she  assessed  him,  how  she  disliked  him,  and  admit  that  his  actions  have  changed  her  opinion  over  time.

I  think  she’d  still  find  the  leading  man  act...  tedious,  but  endearing.  The  best  example  I can  think  of  that’s  a  similar  vein  is  Snow  calling  her  Sis.  She  ‘hates’  it  until  there  comes  a  moment  where  she  she  has  to  be  honest  and  then  it  comes  pouring  out  in  harshly  delivered  sincerity.  If  being  the  leading  man  is  what  keeps  him  going  in  the  world,  then  be  the  leading  man  !  That’s  who  he  is  now,  not  what  others  say  he  is.

Feelings,  as  we  all  know,  are  a  complicated  beast  for  Light,  and  I  think  with  Balthier  that  would  be  a  whole  other  animal.  I  think  if  she  realised  she  cared  for  him  in  any  way  that  wasn’t  platonic  she’d  swallow  it  down  under  a  belief  they  were  incompatible  (  falling  back  on  the  leading  man  trope  she  knows  isn’t  his  full  personality,  but  it  helps  justify  her  stance  )  but  find  it  increasingly  more  difficult  to  watch  him  flirt  and  peacock  around.  It  would  look  like  she  finally  opened  up,  showing  just  a  little  of  her  true  personality,  and  then closed  back  up  completely.  If  he  called  her  out  on  it,  she’d  lash  out.  If  he  tried  to  get  close,  it  would  be  like  she’d  almost  get  there  and  then  excuse  herself  and  leave.

one word prompts . not accepting . @blthiers

The transformation of Lilian into Melissa had taken more than a change of name – sometimes, the dancer felt like she hardly recognized herself in the mirror. Despite the fact that her love for her craft remained the same, the purposes for which she did it recently was so different that she sometimes feared she was tainting an important family legacy.

But then, the memories of the horrors that the Empire had inflicted on her family and most of Ivalice returned with force, and she strengthened her resolve to see Archadia fall from the inside out. If it all came to her – to a single woman who looked as harmless as a desert flower – she would plunge her dagger deep into the neck of all judge magisters and high-ranking senators in the capital.

But lying convincingly and charming her victims were not all the traits her life as a spy had taught Melissa – sleep had become a luxury. It was difficult resting when she was so deep into the lion’s den, and she frequently woke up to any noise or movement. A dog barking at the moon, carts being unloaded at a nearby shop – anything was enough to rouse her.

So that night, when Balthier stirred next to her in bed, she blinked awake almost instantly. She turned around, looking for him – and his fretful state was soon joined by some pained gasps, the sky pirate very clearly having nightmares. Her face turned into a compassionate expression, her heart hurting for him – she knew too well how real the horrors of the past felt.

“Balthier,” she called to him, gently at first – but it seemed to be of no use, the man twisting and turning on the bed more violently as his voice increased in volume. He seemed to be trapped in an awful reality, his handsome face marked by indescribable anguish. Melissa moved, sitting on the bed and attempting to rouse him with both hands then, her own voice getting only slightly higher – she feared calling him out could wake up a neighbor or draw any unwanted attention to their apartment.

But luckily for Melissa, he responded to ‘Ffamran’ – his familiar eyes snapped open after she tried his true name, but not before a strained gasp of the word ‘father’ dropped from his lips. The dancer understood then – it had been about Cidolfus. Whatever memories had been revived… It hadn’t been easy. To have a living father and to be at war with him… Melissa did not know what fate was worse where their own families were concerned.

“It was only a dream, kanta,” she soothed him, a palm pressing against his face in an attempt to ground him, her native tongue rolling out easily. “I’m here. Try and get some sleep, Ffamran – I’ll watch over you this time,” she smiled, the pale moonlight coming through the open window the only thing that allowed them to see each other at that moment.

“Thank you,” he replied, his voice coarse as if he had been endlessly shouting during his dreams; it was painful, in a way, to see such a lively man so devastated by pain and guilt… And yet, Melissa was forever grateful they had each other when the pressure to keep their masks on grew too heavy.

@blthiers​ whispered: [ date? ]  for  your  muse  to  ask  my  muse  to  go  on  a  date . :) :) :) :)

                                 SOFT   INTERACTIONS  !  || - [ Accepting! ]

❝No!❞ Laughter lined the florist’s face as she dismissed the far too tempting offer of a date with her new companion. It’s a lacklustre rejection and one she isn’t even strictly sure she means, but there’s too many red flags there for her to start getting ahead of herself. He’s too good to be true for a start. That devilish grin, those come to bed eyes, the charm and swagger practically oozing from every pore. If he’s that delicious, why hasn’t he been snapped up? What’s he doing fishing for company in the slums of all places, much less with Aerith and her soil flecked fingertips? 

But oh, what a date that would be! Dinner, maybe dancing, a wander through new and untrodden streets with an arm around her waist and a head upon that broad shoulder. A kiss on the cheek, or maybe the neck, those little butterflies fluttering to life in the pit of her stomach and — No. Get a grip. The brunette reminded herself as her cheeks flushed scarlet, her gaze shifting between the flowers of her trade and the casual lean of the oh-so-tempting purveyor of such a delightful offer. Even doing nothing, he was still a sight to behold, the lines of that posture begging to be explored, even if only in a particularly vivid daydream in a few hours time. 

loud and deafening silence starters . accepting

Leaving her home in the company of a travelling troupe had been one of the hardest decisions in Lilian’s life – and also one of the most rewarding experiences as well. She had a loving family and comfortable living conditions back in Bhujerba, but it was only thanks to her craft that she had visited so many different kingdoms and nations and got introduced to such a varied number of people and lifestyles – from the nomadic gypsies in Rozarria to the Bunansa family home in Archades.

And it was precisely under Doctor Cidolfus’ patronage of the foreign and exotic arts that she had met his sons – and one of them in particular. Ffamran was a few years younger than Lilian, but their connection had been… Unexpected. It had been his father who brought the young man over to her, his comments nothing short of encouraging (and borderlining obvious) in relation to his own progeny – a trait she had not really anticipated from a long, respected family line from the imperial capital.

However, despite the initial parental meddling, there was a mutual interest there – and his interest in the dancer went far and beyond her colorful attire or the enticing jingle of the jewelry – he wished to know more about the world, the places she had seen, the food she had tasted – a sample of freedom.

And from her part, Lilian had hardly been drawn to such an instigating and sharp mind before. He was obviously a well-trained conversationalist, but there was a genuine edge to his curiosity. Unlike other youthful heirs she had been paraded to, Ffamran did not talk down to her as if she was incapable of following intricate discussions topics, or ogled her like a prize they sought to win over for bragging rights – there was respect before there was any sort of yearning and pining, enough to briefly had her wonder about how different would her life be if she had just… Agreed to settle?

To give up her incessant travelling for a home, a life shared with an admirable man – wouldn’t it be wonderful to follow in her own mother’s footsteps, to create a family of her own?

But Lilian knew it would be impossible – not at that time, not when they had only known each other so briefly. Just over a couple of months – their stay at the Archadian capital had been fruitful and rewarding, but eventually it was time to move on, to become fresh news at a different location… And the dancer found herself struggling to part ways with the young judge.

And that was how she found herself boarding the airship that was ready to take the entire troupe to their next destination – the kingdom of Nabradia was their upcoming step, but rather than the familiar excitement before visiting an unknown land, Lilian felt immense sorrow at the idea of departing. The young dancer found herself looking everywhere for Ffamran’s familiar face in the crowds – and once she saw him, in full judge garb but without a helmet and refusing to break away from her gaze, she almost felt rooted to the ground.

Lilian followed him with her eyes – accompanied his intense gaze as she finished boarding and then within the ship, her face pressed to the transparent glass of the observation deck and both hands pushing against the crystalline surface as if she hoped to traverse that barrier to rejoin the judge on the ground. They never said a word – but the way she gazed at him until they no longer could see each other spoke volumes of the feelings they both kept in their hearts.

non-verbal starters . accepting

It had never occurred to Lilian that the young Archadian judge Ffamran had turned into the sky pirate Balthier – but it all fell into place once they exchanged glances across the Sandsea. His clothes had changed, his words were sharper and sweeter than ever, the confidence in his step and every motion amplified tenfold… But it was him. There was no doubt in her mind – she would have recognized his eyes anywhere.

His pull - the quasi-magnetic attraction that she had experienced once in relation to him remained as strong as she remembered. It was the strangest sensation, to feel like an entire lifetime had gone by since their last meeting at the Bunansa estate… And yet to respond to his physical proximity as if they had brushed hands in secret in some shadowed hallway a minute ago.

There was no time for a joyful reunion, however – he was the captain of a famed airship, the viera to his side an equally admirable companion. As for Lilian herself, the role she played was different as well – she couldn’t afford to disclose any familiarity as Melissa. She came highly recommended from the Marquis, after all. Her goal was to be invited into Archades, the heart of the empire itself. She couldn’t be seen in the company of thieves and outlaws by choice.

It didn’t mean that she didn’t long for him – so she hoped that her performance was able to convey that much. He was hardly the only spectator, which suited her just fine – and despite the fact that she approached the guests with her enticing moves and teased the nearest ones with colorful veils and the soft jingle of her jewelry, she never dared stray too far, into the second floor and towards him.

She poured her soul into her dance – and hoped no one realized anything, chalking it up to her exotic, flirty nature, falling for the lie the Marquis had expertly fed the local nobility migrated from Archades and the soldiers patrolling Rabanastre.

So it was with relief that she found herself alone at her quarters – the luxurious lodging had been provided by Migelo, one of the best suites at one of the city’s most respected inns. The double bed was delightful soft with cool silk covers, the bath spacious enough for a more than needed long, cold soak – but it was through the balcony doors that he came, the locks nothing more than mere child’s play for the skilled hands of a sky pirate.

The clear night sky of Dalmasca offered them both respite – from the scorching sun during the mornings and from the ever-watchful gaze of the consul and his staff. And in that moment, finally alone, the dancer had no second thoughts or worries to hold her back – and she ran to him, arms encircling his stronger body and a light-hearted chuckle muffled by the surprise kiss offered in response.

And it was all it took – a mere press of his lips to bring back all the memories, feelings and desires that had been seemingly locked or forgotten inside her. Suddenly nothing else mattered – no Solidor rule, no threat of war, no secret whispers with one of the Rozarrian heirs – nothing but Ffamran, his embrace and the absolute bliss that his presence provided.

It was only because she needed to breathe that she pulled apart – and soon enough she was giggling with pure delight, carried around with ease until they were both in bed, rolling around over the soft mattress as they had done years before. The sky pirate’s first kiss had unleashed something in Lilian – she couldn’t keep her hands to herself, or to stop covering his skin with kisses, almost as if she was afraid he would dissolve into thin air the second she stepped away.

“You’re here,” she found her voice at last, straddling him and cupping his face with both hands. There was an adoring, almost dream-like quality to her words then – it felt too good to be reality, after all. She had only known pain and desperation until recently… This happiness, no matter how temporary, was almost alien to her.

  ↳             @blthiers​​ " funs over, hand her back now. "  commentary made half in jest — his beloved gun had been in the hands of another for a little too long now.  " gently does it. i don't want any scratches on her. "