( closed ) science fiction, double feature

[theleadingman]

🧙 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.]

Comments

[theleadingman]

[That little display of hers almost manages to startle a laugh out of him; instead, Balthier offers Tifa a sharp smile of amusement in response, stepping aside and gesturing to their surroundings with one hand, fingers spread— they have begun to amass quite a crowd.

Well, who are they to disappoint their audience?]

Now that you've put him in his place? Let's see—

[He twirls the sword in one hand before tossing it upwards and catching it again with a flourish— time for Tifa to take her rightful place at center stage, and for him to take on the role he ought.

He clears his throat, inclining his head as he brandishes his sword once more.]

I thought it fitting, considering the rocky terrain!

[starshower]

"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.]

[theleadingman]

[He meets that grin with one of his own, swiftly dodging the incoming blow but twisting just enough to sell it and make it look real, catching his wrist against hers so that from another angle, namely the crowd's point of view, it would look like he'd stopped her with the blade.

They have this in the bag.]

Naturally.

[Balthier has to make an effort not to break character and laugh; their culprit's rage is continuing to mount, and he knows that Tifa's choice to eschew claiming the other sword is only adding further insult to injury. Let it. They can put on a better show than this hack without it, he's absolutely certain.]

But I find that Thibault cancels out Capo Ferro, don't you?

[A quick backstep, followed by a careful swing of his sword— like her, nothing fast or forceful, held steadily, and aimed in such a way that with her quick reflexes, she'll have no trouble dodging as the blade arcs past her forearm.]

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

[starshower]

[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.]

of course!

[theleadingman]

[The show they put on is, he's certain, far better than anything their culprit might have managed to steer them towards— the man himself has nearly worn himself out with protesting at this point, his voice hoarse from his insistence that they're doin things wrong, but every member of the crowd that's gathered is now watching intently, breath caught in their throats as they watch Balthier find himself backed against the bench.

He smiles knowingly, both hands catching against the rise of the bench, and he offers Tifa a wink as she leans over him.]

There's something I ought to tell you— I'm not left-handed.

[He reaches behind himself to swap the sword into his right hand, quickly ducking out of Tifa's hold to turn the theatrical tables on her as he plays at lunging forward to attack— they lack triumphant music to accompany, but there's definitely a gasp from somewhere within the audience.]

[starshower]

[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.]

[theleadingman]

[Tifa's display is quite an impressive one— a thrilling act of showmanship that gets a well-deserved response from the crowd, and Balthier himself can't help but smile in appreciation as he takes a moment to admire her handiwork, a moment that may very well have cost him dearly if not for the shout that follows.

At Tifa's warning, he turns sharply towards the scuffling sounds behind him, just in time to see their mark reclaim his sword and attempt to lunge towards him. Thankfully, his own reflexes are as quick as ever; Balthier is sharp and quickly moves to deflect the incoming blow, his smile vanishing as he scowls at the man in question and forces him back a few steps with a series of swings and parries.]

I think not! We were hardly finished!

[Beneath his mask, their former prisoner gives a scowl of his own, sweeping low with his sword just quickly enough that Balthier almost misses the opportunity to jump over it, his attacks becoming steadily more aggressive now that he's rejoined the fray.

"You're doing it wrong!"]

[starshower]

[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...]

[theleadingman]

[This has become incredibly tiresome— Balthier is displeased about Tifa being forced out of the scene once more, but as their foe continues to press forward and insists upon playing out the scene, the pirate continues to parry and deflect those incoming blows, the constant clash of swords becoming a bit more aggressive than strictly necessary for theatrics. He can certainly see how people would have gotten hurt, particularly if they weren't prepared.

Of course, he knows the next line full well. He knows what the masked man is expecting to hear— and even as the man in question watches him expectantly with that unhinged grin of his, Balthier smiles evenly and gestures with one hand, fingers spread, brightly colored rings catching the light.]

I play the leading man, who else?

[Said with all the confidence of someone who's echoed that same line many times before.

The masked man's grin fades, his expression contorting into one of frustration.

"That's not the line!" He lunges forward, only for Balthier to deflect the incoming blow once more and sidestep before taking another swing of his own, far more restrained and choreographed than their culprit's movements have become.]

Get used to disappointment.

[Hopefully, he can keep the masked man engaged long enough for Tifa to do what she must.]

[starshower]

[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."

[theleadingman]

[Well, how's that for a finale? Balthier is more than happy to let Tifa cut in, quite literally sweeping their foe off of his feet and sending him to the ground, leaving him well and truly incapacitated as she pins him by his wrist with one foot— and none too gently, from where Balthier is standing.

His smirk matches her own even as he casts his sword aside, breaking character in full to offer her a round of applause— which, within moments, is bolstered by a number of people in the crowd who opt to praise their performance. Walking across their makeshift stage with long, purposeful strides, Balthier comes to stand beside his friend and lightly claps an approving hand on her shoulder, while lifting one foot to pin the culprit's other wrist to the ground.]

Well done. That was quite the finish— very dramatic, flawless execution.

[He couldn't be prouder, Tifa.]

What say we get this gentleman to the authorities before he wakes up and attempts an encore, hm?

[starshower]

[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!]

[theleadingman]

Oh, heaven forbid I pass up the opportunity— but I'm not taking my bows all on my own.

[He smiles broadly; it had, after all, been a joint effort, and while the woman in the crowd continues to try and grab his attention, he instead reaches for Tifa's hand and lifts it high before taking a bow and gently tugging her hand to encourage her to do the same.

It wouldn't be much of a curtain call with just one of them, and it would seem that Tifa has her admirers, as well— there are a number of people who begin to clap even more enthusiastically as Balthier releases her hand and steps to one side, gesturing for her to take another bow on her own. It's only appropriate to give a leading lady her dues.]

I think they might even go so far as to demand an encore— a shame we don't have anything prepared.

[Ah, well— always leave them wanting more.]

[starshower]

[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?

wrapping it up! ♥

[theleadingman]

I think you're quite right.

[Time is, after all, of the essence— as the groaning of the man beneath them quickly serves to remind.

Balthier is quick to follow her lead, bending down on one knee to hook an arm beneath the masked man's before looking across to meet Tifa's gaze and nod in confirmation as he hoists upwards on his end. Between the two of them, the man won't pose much of a challenge.]

Just a few blocks down, I believe. We'll be there in no time— and our friend here can take his bows and spend the rest of the evening in his very own private cell.

[Balthier has spent enough time in prisons to know it will be anything but pleasant.

Well, that's what you get for letting yourself be caught.]