genessia | ( video )

[ Balthier has never seen architecture like this before, or so many vehicles, or hear any quite so loud. He's figured out the hologram was just that, though; a projection, and pre-recorded it would seem.

When he follows the clever instructions provided him with his communicator, though, he finds it exceptionally simple to operate, which is fortunate.

The face that appears on the screen is young, and his expression is less than pleased. He also looks like a man who could use a cup of coffee as he attempts to straighten the sleeves of his shirt, which is wrinkled from sleeping in that pod. When he speaks, though, his tone only sounds bored with a small edge of annoyance.]

While I'm quite obviously not the only person around, I wonder just how many of you have these communicators. It's strange, though. Our kidnappers don't seem to know how to operate a proper ransom. Take note, if you would: we're supposed to be used as leverage for payout. You shouldn't be offering us money.

[He shakes his head and frowns at a particularly annoying wrinkle in his sleeve.]

They seem to have the mechanics down well enough, but they're still rank amateurs, aren't they? It's hard to find good abductors these days.

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[He tilted his head in curious interest at her tale.]

So, you're saying you were a...spirit before being pulled here, or...something like that?

Something like that.

I wouldn't be able to get more specific about it.

I see. [Though he thinks she might be able to if she really tried.]

What decision was it you made at the right moment that allowed that to happen?

It wasn't me, actually. It was another troll named Meenah. She detonated a bomb that killed all of us, which instigated an event called the 'scratch,' which was responsible for rebooting our session, and by extension, our universe, so that our ancestors slash descendants could finish what we were unable to.

There are actually an infinite number of me and my friends drifting throughout the bubbles; one for every decision that could have been made that didn't lead up to the point where we scratched the session, including versions much older and more experienced than I am, who continued to live in doomed timelines longer than ours existed.

But you could say my group is the 'real' one, since we were the ones that 'finished' the session.

[His eyebrows slowly raise as she continues, and ultimately finishes, her story. At the end of it, it's very clear from his expression he doesn't understand much, if anything, she just said.]

I see. [No. He really doesn't.] Do you feel you're the genuine article, then?

Were I still in a dream bubble, I would probably say that it didn't matter.

Of course, now that I'm in Genessia and there's only one of me, it still doesn't matter, I suppose.

[He smiles.] So, you find your own truth to be self-evident, then?

Is that an important thing for you? Your 'truth'?

Edited 2015-11-10 09:17 (UTC)

I prefer it to lies and deceit, yes. I enjoy freedom and liberty.

A very proper and expected answer. What kind of person would say otherwise? That's not the question I asked though.

You asked about my personal truth. What's your personal truth, Balthier?

Edited 2015-11-10 21:39 (UTC)

Honestly? Too many, I've met as of late.

[He looks thoughtful at her question, though.]

Hmm, such a simple question, and yet so difficult to answer. I hold many things very dear, my freedom chief among them. I a knee to no one, and I live by my own rules.

Sounds like you need to pick better friends.

[ She listens intently. ]

Freedom is something we all need, as long as we don't use it as an excuse to flee responsibility. [ It's a balancing act she was still trying to figure out. ]

[He pauses here for a moment, nodding, his expression a bit more serious this time.]

That's very true. Too true, in fact.

[ Porrim smiles and thinks for a moment. ]

My truth. I thought I knew my truth, before I was brought here. Now I guess I'm figuring it out again.

That, my dear Porrim, is the purpose of life, the pursuit of your truth.

And unlife. And re-life.

[He waves a dismissive hand.]

Call it what you want. It all comes out the same in the end.

It's not the destination, but the journey. I've heard that before. Well-

[ The waitress arrives with the drinks. Porrim drops a bag of tea into the metal kettle of boiling water. ]

Let's wade out of the deep end of the pool. What does a well dressed, dashing and freedom-loving gentleman do with his time?

It seems I'm in the market for an occupation at the moment, but in Ivalice, I happen to be one of the most notorious sky pirates to fly her skies, if my bounty is any indication.

[Why yes, he does look like a proud panda at that.]

Unfortunately, it seems they've forgotten my ship.

How much of the sky have you managed to steal, exactly?

[He smiles, but shakes his head as he reaches for his own drink.]

The sky cannot be tamed, claimed, or stolen. The sky is freedom and truth. [And his smile turns slightly mischievous.] My truth.

So you're a flying pirate then. I don't suppose your the chivalrous Troll Robin Hood type?

A sky pirate, and yes, of course. Are there no airships here? [He says it as though the thought had never occurred to him, and the idea of not flying ships is incredibly strange to him.]

...and I'm afraid I don't know you're referring to.

I'm sure the technology exists, but there's not much call for them when its just the individual cities bound by domes, connected by archway.

Too true. [He shakes his head, and there's an actual note of sadness in his eyes.] A sad state of affairs, really. [He missed the skies already.]

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