theleadingman: [ commission, please dnt ] (76)
ʙᴀʟᴛʜɪᴇʀ ([personal profile] theleadingman) wrote in [community profile] isleofavalon2021-09-05 06:55 pm

( closed ) science fiction, double feature

🧙 WHO: Balthier & Tifa Lockhart
⚔️️ WHAT: Cult Classic quest!
🕒 WHEN: 9/05
🗺️ WHERE: Downtown Camelot.
⚠️ WARNINGS: None at present, will edit as necessary.

[Endlessly clever though Balthier believes himself to be, he's been known to admit on more than one occasion that even the greatest sky pirate needs a partner— and without his here to accompany him, he finds himself needing to find a substitute. For this particular job, the right person had come to mind almost immediately— as acquaintances went, she was still rather recent, but she had proven herself to have quite the nose for troublemakers. That was precisely the sort of assistance he was going to need, this time around.

He had asked Tifa to meet him outside a particular café in downtown Camelot. Fortunately, their quarry had given them a good lead through his or her previous actions, and while they apparently never looked the same twice— hence no one being able to identify them as of yet— each incident had been in this general area of town, and about this time of night. It was early enough that most people would be complacent about anyone who happened to approach them, but dark enough to allow the culprit cover as needed. Tricky, but quite clever, in his opinion.

Folding his arms comfortably across his chest, he lightly leans against the wall of the café, just around the corner from the front door. It would keep him out of the obvious line of sight of most casual passersby, but for his would-be partner, he would be easily spotted within a moment.]
starshower: (temp 225)

[personal profile] starshower 2021-09-07 04:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[Easily spotted is correct, in part because she could pick out Balthier in a crowd, but mostly because at this time of night, people have started to stray far from this particular street of downtown Camelot, or they've taken to hiding away inside the café until they could be sure that it was safe. This colourful culprit had made quite the name for himself around town which makes their job much simpler—the costumes and makeup that he's been spotted wearing will make it easy for them to spot him before anything bad happens. Kudos to him for being so bold and thinking he can continue to get away with it?

When Tifa finds Balthier leaning against the outside wall of the café, she's coming out of it, finishing up the last sip of her tea before tossing the paper cup into a nearby trash can. And when she does find him, she puts on a voice that is not so unlike hers that Baltheir won't recognize it, but it's low and booming compared to her usually feminine one.]


What brings you hither on this fine eve, my good friend?
starshower: (temp 092)

[personal profile] starshower 2021-09-12 07:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[The situation they find themselves in is a dark one considering the man they're hunting down, but that doesn't mean they can't have a little fun themselves, right? He draws a laugh out of her, and she flourishes a hand through her hair.]

I was a bit parched. A spot of tea would hit the spot just right before our merry meeting!

[She has no idea what she's saying, but she's keeping up the act, well enough. That is until she lets it drop, her grin widening with a playful wink.]

It's Tifa, by the way. [She lets it all go with a laugh.] Figured I'd get a head start on our guy. How'd I do?
starshower: (temp 170)

[personal profile] starshower 2021-09-16 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
I think bartending is my true calling, but maybe as a side gig...

[Jessie had taught her plenty about what it was like being on stage, and the two of them spent a lot of time in her cramped shipping container of a home practicing walking, talking, and dancing like an actor would. She's never been able to put those lessons to good use, but... she did hold out for an opportunity to come up one day.

And this might just be the day.

With one last smirk, she lets it fall as she peers around the corners.]


So, any sign of our guy yet?
starshower: (temp 076)

[personal profile] starshower 2021-09-18 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[The light from the lamp looks like it could be a warmer spotlight shining down on the street for them, and soon enough, Tifa's being tugged along by the arm into it, and she immediately falls back into a character she's formed for herself, flourishing her free hand this way and that before she shoots it up to the sky. Her voice is higher this time—much more "damsel in distress" sounding.]

Oh, my dear Balthier. All I've ever wanted was to be a starlet.

[She pauses her flourishes to look over her shoulders, and there are some people sidestepping them as they exit the café, knowing all too well what it is they're trying to accomplish. Yeah, best they don't stick around to see them absolutely destroy this man.

There's a prickle along the back of Tifa's neck—it's that feeling of being watched—but she ignores it for now, playing into the scene they've set just a little more.]


What do you think he's got—ahem, he has in store for us?

[Whoops, almost broke character there.]
starshower: (temp 083)

[personal profile] starshower 2021-09-22 11:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[With them now in the spotlight, Tifa takes this over the top, stepping away from Balthier and standing right in the centre of the light being cast onto the street, and she opens her arms in a grand gesture.]

And what of your loveliness and talent, sir Balthier? Surely you must—

[Her proclamation is cut short by someone clearing their throat behind her. On a bench, seated in the next "spotlight" over is a masked man dressed in all black, and with each small movement he makes, the blade of his very real sword shimmers under the light.

Tifa freezes, and her amused smile fades. The man says nothing, but looks as if he's listening intently to something, or to them, with the way his gaze flicks sideways. This is, without a doubt, just the man they were looking for, and... Wait. She recognizes that costume. It was in a movie she watched recently—the DVD was provided at the Inn, so why not, right?]
starshower: (temp 177)

[personal profile] starshower 2021-09-26 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[Tifa's posture goes from relaxed to stiff, and although she knows the scene that's about to play out down to a tee (she's watched it too many times to count, but can you blame a girl for loving it?), she isn't about to let him get the first hit in, nor does she intend to fully play into his games.

The man doesn't seem to think it's worth responding to Balthier with a retort, but only chuckles under his breath at first. He has a small rock that he's tossing up and down, while his other hand comes to rest on the hilt of his sword.]


You know that the scene is only meant for two, yeah?

[He better not leave her out of this!

Really though, Balthier would one hundred percent make a better Dread Pirate than whoever this joker is.

He rises to his feet then, and looks their way, eyes flicking to them beneath his mask while a very-obviously fake smile pulls at his lips.]


"Well, I... certainly hope you find him some day."

[Just getting right to the point, is he?

He pauses in his chuckling to reach down beside the bench, and he gives another sword a toss into the light they're standing in, aimed right for Balthier's feet, where it clangs and screeches before bumping into his shoes in an invitation to join.]
Edited 2021-09-26 18:15 (UTC)
starshower: (temp 242)

[personal profile] starshower 2021-09-29 02:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[At least she can count on Balthier to include her in the scene, but this guy? He has hardly given her more than a passing glance and she almost wants to kick the sword as far away as possible as payback for that. If you're going to go after a pair, then you better have a scene ready for that! Is she getting a little jealous? NO....!

But that's fine. Tifa's going to circle around so that she's standing next to Balthier as he brandishes the sword, her own fists coming up in case she can find an opening while her eyes flit between them both. There's a stretch of silence while the man adjusts his mask, and then he grins with a flourish of his sword.]


"Whether I am or not, you have been more than fair."
starshower: (temp 150)

[personal profile] starshower 2021-10-01 04:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"You seem a decent fellow. I hate to die."

[Tifa butts in then, taking that single line for herself. It seemed fitting if they're going to go back and forth with this.]

Begin.

[The masked man looks offended that she dare speak up when she is not technically part of the scene—she doesn't have a sword, how dare she!—but she ignores the look he shoots her, frowning while he tentatively raises his sword and waits for Balthier to approach, as if he's suddenly unsure about this.

Yeah, you're going to regret this, buddy.]
starshower: (temp 179)

[personal profile] starshower 2021-10-04 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't mind if I do.

[Tifa takes the sword in her hand with confidence, despite not knowing how to properly wield one, let alone hold it. She can figure it out as she goes, and it's not like it's going to be a problem with the man unarmed and scrambling on the ground for his sword.

She'll wait for him to pick it up off the ground before moving the scene forward by lunging at him with the pointy end of hers, which he blocks with skill. She's gotta hand it to him, he's practiced for this. It's fine, because so has she—in the acting department.]


You're using Bonetti's defense against me, ah?

[He looks between them both, frustrated, but concedes with a groan. Fine, he will humour her...]

"I thought it fitting, considering the rocky terrain—"

[And that's when she lands it: a surprise kick to his hands (because screw this!) that knocks his sword right out of them again, sending it clattering to the ground several feet away as she tosses the handle of the blade back to Balthier.]

"You can't do that!"
starshower: (temp 150)

[personal profile] starshower 2021-10-06 02:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[Tifa hovers frighteningly close over the man when his gaze is brought up to them, sword digging into the ground to help prop her up, and she can see he's having troubles swallowing Balthier's words—literally. She's never heard someone swallow out of fear so loudly before. But there's something else that she thinks needs doing before they really show him how to put on a spectacle, especially now that there's an audience gathering again.

She rips the mask from over his eyes, revealing his face—awful casting for the Dread Pirate, if you ask her, but they already knew that—and she flips him over onto his stomach with ease, hands behind his back so she can use the strip of fabric to bind them together.]


You can watch.

[Except Tifa plunges the sword into the ground, just far enough out of his reach, and with one last smile over her shoulder at Balthier, she struts to center stage, adjusting her gloves as she goes.]

Now, where were we?
starshower: (temp 177)

[personal profile] starshower 2021-10-09 03:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"You're doing it WRONG!"

[His shouts go entirely ignored while he remains tied up, but his expression is the most offended she's seen anyone look. He's really taking it seriously, and to make her point clearer, she gives her gloves one last pull, not breaking eye contact with him once before she raises them to guard in front of her.

She'll do a better job at this scene without a sword than he did with one, thank you very much.]


Naturally, you must expect me to attack with Capo Ferro.

[Whatever that means... but Tifa is ready to start, and makes as much obvious with a knowing grin at Balthier, trusting that he won't do anything surprising or dangerous with that very real rapier in his hands. The crowd waits with bated breath, and then gasps when Tifa makes her first move, sweeping her fists at Balthier's sword. It's nothing too fast or forceful, just to get a feel for how he'll move with her.]
Edited 2021-10-09 15:33 (UTC)
starshower: (temp 242)

just gonna fast forward this a bit if that's ok!!

[personal profile] starshower 2021-10-13 03:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[Tifa blocks and strikes, her foot coming forward to barely graze Balthier's, purposely kicking up some dust for dramatic effect. (Someone please get people out here to sweep the streets!?) The scene continues on as it should, with the two of them exchanging the dialogue straight out of the movie, and Balthier's thrusts with the sword being matched equally with Tifa's light punches and kicks, until they reach the bench at the edge of the spotlight.

... ]


I ought to be after five years.

[Only five years because that's about how long she'd been studying martial arts, and it makes their culprit groan in agony from the ground.

And that's when she traps Balthier against the back of the bench, as if it were the rocks lining the cliffside in the film.]
starshower: (temp 174)

[personal profile] starshower 2021-10-16 03:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[Tifa feigns a gasp as well, with flair and drama to accompany it. One two, one two, and there's a larger gasp from the audience when she acts as if one of his slices has knocked the strength right out of her hands. She has to improvise somehow, and the man on the ground is shaking his head some more, trying to escape the binds she put him in...

Rushing across the "stage" in a getaway, Tifa flips over another bench several feet away and lands, breaking her fall and with a little bit of magic, sends up a gust of wind and dust for added effect, and she gets some applause for the show.

But just as she does that, their prisoner does break his hands free and stumbles to his feet, rushing up behind Balthier and scrambling to pick up the spare sword that Tifa had knocked away.]


Balthier—!

[Looks like this is a three-man show again, but the leading man has had a casting change.]
starshower: (temp 231)

[personal profile] starshower 2021-10-20 03:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[Now that he's forced his way back into the scene, the audience begins to disperse once more, minor chaos breaking out around them as they all try to make their escape, while others are getting out their phones to record, if they hadn't been already. Tifa is standing back, waiting for Balthier to find her an opening, but this man isn't swinging his sword anymore—it's unhinged hacking and slashing and not up to par with their performance at all.

But he pauses, out of breath, and... he grins?

"Who are you?"

This crazy son of a—is he really continuing the scene?

She uses the opportunity to slide out stage left, and use the crowd that's still there to find her way to the other side while Balthier holds his attention...]
starshower: (INT521)

[personal profile] starshower 2021-10-24 06:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's fine. Tifa doesn't mind being the side character for now while Balthier takes center stage. The audience is absolutely captivated by his performance, and she won't take that away from him—he is the leading man, after all! But she isn't going to let him hog all of the spotlight!

"You just skipped the best part!"

From the shadows and the cries of the crowd, Tifa comes up from behind the man, and just as the man is about to make another lunge, with more angry vigour than she's seen so far, she knocks him in the back of the head, and then sweeps a foot across his ankles to take him down.

And when he lands unconscious and flat on his back, Tifa kicks the sword free from his hand and slams her foot on his wrist.]


He's no one of consequence.

[She smirks across the "stage" at Balthier.]

Really too bad you aren't awake to see the "best part."
Edited 2021-10-24 18:36 (UTC)
starshower: (temp 161)

[personal profile] starshower 2021-10-26 03:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[There's applause and cheers from those that have stuck around to see the end, and Tifa joins in the chorus as she offers one to Balthier in return as he walks across to her. She couldn't have done this without him, and his showmanship with the sword was nothing short of impressive.]

Thanks. I've been practicing.

[Her smile pulls a little wider when a woman nearby waves at Balthier, trying to grab his attention. Ah, he has some fans!]

Yeah. Good idea, but make sure to at least take a bow before we go. I think some of the audience wants an encore.

[Wouldn't want the leading man to miss out on his much-deserved applause!]
starshower: (temp 033)

[personal profile] starshower 2021-10-28 03:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[The man underneath them grumbles under the weight of their feet on his hands, but Tifa only digs it in further while she happily takes the bow with Balthier, and the cheers meant for her (Balthier, please!) have her cheeks turning a deep shade of pink, highlighted more by the lights shining on them.

Tucking a hair behind her ear, she turns her back to the crowd, her smile sheepish when she casts Balthier an embarrassed, sideways glance.]


Better we save it for next time.

[Not that there will be a next time for this guy. When he stirs again, Tifa hoists him up by the arm, and although he was their culprit for the evening, she's still careful not to wrench him too much—wouldn't want to dislocate his shoulder or something to make their job that much harder.]

I don't think the nearest station is too far from here, is it?