Somehow I Always Find My Way To You

[portolan]

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Wedding With My Work Wife

[portolan]

The invite makes it to him alongside a job. It is, of necessity, a somewhat private affair, which isn’t to say it’s small. And it’ll be a good chance for Aerith to expand her understanding of frankly normal people and normal customs. Not to mention keep up their ruse of being married. He’s kept an eye on the rumor circuit, and it’s helping eclipse that his strange hire might be the missing princess.

The wedding takes place at a private house and sprawling garden in the desert, all full of twinkling lights and beautiful plants. The ceremony is at sunset, and the weather goes from warm to crisp as the sun sinks below the horizon. The food is wonderful, and the music is vivacious, and it’s good to drink and laugh and see old friends.

“Well what do you think?” He asks Aerith as they get a moment alone. “Little more fun than a court wedding isn’t it?”

[floresco]

Even though when she's put on the spot she still isn't the greatest liar in the world Aerith's getting better at it, and maintaining this ruse Balthier's concocted to keep her identity safe has become easier right along with it. She's still not sure she's what could be considered a good pirate yet, but she's getting there, just like she's getting used to mingling with regular people and doing things away from the weighty protocols of being a member of the royal court.

That is to say, this party is a lot of fun! Once she realized there wasn't anyone to click their tongues disapprovingly when she helped herself to one too many canapes, Aerith let herself relax and enjoy things, even going so far as to let the grandfather of the groom take her out on the dancefloor for a song or two.

It's while she's recovering from the unexpectedly lively jaunt dancing with what she presumed was a creaky old man that Balthier finds her, and Aerith greets him with a smile, lifting a flute of champagne from a passing tray and having a sip while she nods earnestly. "A lot more fun! I'm doing okay, right?"

[portolan]

“How do you think you’re doing?” he asks with a grin, turning her question back on her.

It was good fun watching her lose her breath getting danced by the groom’s grandfather. To aeriths defense, the man loved surprising people that way and didn’t have that many new faces to pull it on. She’d kept up admirably, though he suspected she had dance training. One of the few things from he former life he valued.

[floresco]

"Well, one really fancy-looking older lady said she could see why you married me, so good, I think!" Then, after she tilts her head, she adds a cautious- "right?"

She takes another sip of her drink, raising her eyebrows at him. "Are you going to ask me to dance yet?"

[portolan]

He chuckles at her exuberance. Anyone with half a brain could come up with a reason he’d marry her, even before she’d become any good at being a pirate. She was pretty and charming and a little pushy and about as chattery as he was. But he wasn’t going to take this victory from her.

“I will regret saying this later I’m sure, but I think the only thing lacking lately is your confidence. You’re doing excellently. Even look like you’re comfortable with this crowd.” Which pleases him. Probably just because it’s less work, and she will be a more useful crew member.

But she has him laughing again. He hadn’t realized that was something she wanted. “I’m
Not sure I’ll hold a candle to your precious partner,” he says, setting down his own drink and holding a hand out for her. “But I would be a poor husband if I didn’t dance with my wife.”

[floresco]

"Oh you definitely won't, but don't worry my darling, I promise I won't hold that against you," she grins widely, finishing her drink before leaving the empty glass behind and slipping her hand into his.

"Come on then, try your best. It's not like I'll divorce you for it," she adds, winking.

[portolan]

That gets a hearty laugh. He downs the rest of his drink, and it’s him tugging her to the dance floor in the end.

“I hope I’m not too much of a disappointment. I know married women so often miss their courting days when their husbands are dull.” He’s no awkward boy on his feet, though, finding the music easily and taking up her waist and hand. “A good thing you are so patient, dear.”

[floresco]

"It's true," she agrees playfully, her smile lopsided, privately charmed by the way he leads her towards the dancefloor. "If you aren't giving me your very best, I'll certainly become bored."

The confident way he takes the lead, settling a hand on her waist while the other finds her hand and gracefully lifts it makes the tips of her ears turn pink, unexpectedly flustered by the gesture. "Well, men are very silly, patience is a must."

[portolan]

“You have made that abundantly clear,” he laughs. “I haven’t worked this hard in years.” He’s not entirely joking, but he’s also not complaining in the least. She’s been her own sort of adventure, a pleasant challenge and often a catalyst for lovely things he’d have otherwise skipped.

“No one else dares call me silly though.” He doesn’t miss that her ears turn pink, but assumes it’s just the flush of this sort of informal dancing. He’ll be gentle then, make it easy on her; better she see this sort of commoner culture is enjoyable. “You shall be the more fearsome of us for treating me so lightly.”

[floresco]

"You're welcome," she retorts cheerfully, giving him an impish wink. "Whoever heard of a complacent sky pirate, after all."

He's easy to move with, and Aerith's received enough courtly tutelage that she follows his lead without much effort. Between this sense of ease and comfort and the drinks, she's finding it hard not to enjoy dancing with Balthier. "That's good right? It makes me a good wife, I think."

[portolan]

“Hence why you for right in,” he teases back. There are still pockets of court behavior, but she has a fire in her, deep stubborn obstinance.

She’s easy to dance with; it’s been a long time since he had partner who had been instructed in similar ways, and it’s fun to let himself blend that with the more casual style, guiding her easily and her following his steps. She asks her question and he spins her out, then back in, grinning at her. “One of your best wife qualities,” he agrees. “And it makes me a good husband to keep you so amused.”

[floresco]

Aerith giggles girlishly when he spins her, her cheeks pink by the time she returns to his arms to laugh and shake her head with feigned disapproval.

"Ah, so you want compliments, is that it?"

[portolan]

“Are you going to call on my ego when yours is larger,” he asks, grinning as he pulls her close so he can whisper the last part in her ear. “Princess?” It’s oddly exhilarating, talking like this while they dance. It’s been awhile for him.

“Besides I deserve some praise, I think. I’ve been exceedingly good.”

[floresco]

Aerith wasn't prepared to be whispered at, and her breath catches in her throat, hearing him turn a term she's heard mostly said formally, or respectfully, into something else - something alluring.

Masking her nervousness when she laughs by virtue of years of practice, Aerith plays the sound off by ending it with a thoughtful hum.

"I suppose you are a good dancer." She's leaning into drawing this out, making a show of having to think really hard in order to come up with anything complimentary to say when nothing could be further from the truth. "And you're a very good escort, so far."

[portolan]

Aerith hasn't been hostile toward him in weeks, but she's not particularly forthcoming with praise or thanks either. It would have surprised him if she had offered them freely now.

"It's a good thing you're already married. You sound painfully hard to impress. I'm sure you withered many a suitor with that top shelf taste and sharper tongue."

He spins her again, laughing at her assessment. "So far? Pray tell, what else does my dear one want from her escort this evening? Besides taking you home when you've had too much to drink."

[floresco]

Again she grins, cocking her head to the side. "And if I have, it was all to your benefit my darling. You're welcome." Without thinking the hand resting on his shoulder squeezes playfully as her eyes light up with amusement.

"What if you're the one who has too much to drink? It will be hard to furnish you with compliments if I've got you thrown over one shoulder to get you back to the ship."

[portolan]

"I very much agree it was," he says, unsure if the squeeze on his shoulder is genuine amusement or part of her act. Good for her, getting stronger and stronger at conning. He means it, though. It's been a wild year, kidnapping her and having her join the crew. He's certainly benefited.

To the latter, he laughs. "I think that you would never let me live it down if you carried me home drunk. Though that would mean some magic mastery, I think." A float spell would certainly help.

[floresco]

Tipping her head back, Aerith ponders the hypothetical issue of how she'd get a drunk him back to his ship with a smirk on her face, letting out a long hum that sounds like it might turn to laughter at any moment.

"I'd probably roll you onto something, like a tablecloth, and drag you."

[portolan]

He groans, mostly to cover the laugh that's lurking. "I knew it, you're after my dignity." Her craftiness is commendable though. "I'll awaken sore and bruised and I'm sure on the floor somewhere. What will the neighbors think?"

[floresco]

Unable to stop herself, she does give in to laughter at the question, lifting her shoulders in a theatrically big shrug.

"They'll probably think - when did an airship move next door to our house?"

[portolan]

"Ah you're presuming our neighbors aren't other pirates then? Some neighborhood you want to terrorize now that you're a full time pirate?"

It's so easy to dance with her and tease, like they've done this before.

[floresco]

"Isn't that what we're supposed to do, as pirates? Turn every neighborhood into a pirate one?"

She steps back, keeping hold of one hand and lifting it up to spin herself under his arm.

[portolan]

"Who will we steal from then?" he teases, delighted as she spins herself. He takes over, twirling her back the other way and out from him, then curving her back across his front so he can catch her other arm, her back to his front. "Not just anyone can be a pirate."

[floresco]

Glad he can't see the look of surprise on her face when she feels her back press lightly against his chest, Aerith manages to sound normal as she giggles in response. "Not with the way you work. You've hardly left any piracy for anyone else!"

[portolan]

He has the strange urge to put his nose against her hair, but instead puts his chin on top of her head, reminding her how short she is. "I'm not going to argue with that. I am the best."