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[xshatterheartx.livejournal.com]

Who: Fran and Vaan
When: At the same time Balthier & Penelo are shopping
Where: Rabanastre
What: Going wedding dress shopping
Rating: PG-13



Fran walked down the steps into Lowtown, carrying Krja on her back as he sought out the young Sky Pirate. Why it had been decided that she would take Vaan and Balthier would take Penelo she was not sure. Either way, she quickly sought the boy out. "Boy. With me." She commanded, but a gentle smile laid on her lips.

Vaan had been stood talking with a few friends but his brow furrowed as they all turned their attentions behind him. At Fran's voice, he turned and smiled up at her. "You never did say please." He joked, waving goodbye to his friends before following her.

Fran smiled softly at him. "I require your company. If you please." She purred, holding her hand out to the teen.

Vaan smiled and took her hand, chuckling lightly. "Sure! So, what're we doing?" It felt weird to be walking along, holding Fran's hand. Almost as if he felt as though Balthier would appear out of nowhere are gut him where he stood.

"I require a man's eye, the opinion of a Hume such as yourself." The Viera replied, giving the boy a slight wink. "A little ame of dress up is in order."

Vaan blushed a little, raising a blonde eyebrow. "What are you talking about?" He shuffled along at her side, unable to hide his smirk as Rabanastrans all looked at him with 'Balthier's Viera'.

Fran led the boy out of Lowtown, towards the shop she sought. "You shall see soon enough." She replied, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

Vaan pouted slightly but just walked along with Fran, waiting for her to reveal this big secret or whatever it was.

Fran continued to walk until they reached a dress shop. She stepped inside. The room was filled with expensive looking fabrics and dresses, not a single battle garment in sight.

The teen blinked at everything, his brow furrowed. "Uh... Fran? What are we doing here?" He looked totally and utterly confused.

Fran gave the boy's nose a gentle poke. "You, my dear, shall aid me in finding the perfect wedding dress."

Vaan gasped and blinked at her. "Wedding dress?! You're finally doing it?! Fran, that's awesome!!"

Fran nodded. "We are. A small celebration. Despite his protests, I do believe Balthier only wishes it since death will soon be his escape from such a commitment..."

Vaan furrowed his brow. "I dunno... he might be kinda fickle and a little like a stray alley cat but... I dunno... I think he really wants this."

"Either way, I find a happiness in knowing I shall be Fran Bunansa evermore." The Viera murmured, before moving deeper into the shop.

Vaan chuckled slightly. "Heh... Fran Bunansa... sounds so weird. Good weird, though." He murmured, following her along.

"Mayhaps Fran Ratsbane is more fitting?" She teased, using Vaan's unofficial name, bestowed on him by Old Dalan. She ran her fingers over various fabrics.

"Hey! Ratsbane is not my name!" He scrunched his nose up, huffing slightly. "I... don't remember my family name..." He mumbled, glancing away.

Fran petted the boy's head. "A family name is not so important. But you are so very much a part of the Bunansa clan."

Vaan grinned at her before nudging her playfully. "C'mon. Get to looking! It's time you were married off!"

Fran gave a soft laugh before looking through the racks of dresses, trying to find that one perfect dress every woman wanted for their big day.

Vaan chuckled and stood at her side, his hands laced behind his head as he watched her with her work on finding said perfect dress.

The manageress appeared. "Can I be of any assistance?" She asked, voice laced with an oh so fake sickly sweetness, and a smile so forced it looked as fake as her layers of make up.

Fran shook her head. "We are just browsing, thank you."

The woman gave Fran a look of disgust. "This is a most refined establishment. It is no place for street rats to paw at our garments."

Fran glared at the woman. "I assure you, we are most capable of paying our way, if we find what it is we seek."

Vaan's eyes narrowed at her. "Hey! You can't talk to her like that. She's twice the woman you'll ever be, Hume or not." He snapped, his brow furrowed.

Fran took Vaan's hand. "Come, Vaan. We take our custom and our millions of gil elsewhere." She spoke, almost purring the most exaggerated amount of gil.

The manageress blinked. "oh... nonono... please, do not leave. I apologise for my outburst... please, take your time! Browse as long as you want!!"

Vaan gave the woman a glare and squeezed Fran's hand. "Yeah... well, back the heck off, lady!" He grumbled at her.

The woman quickly backed off, leaving the Viera and the boy to browse, but kept them in her sight to make sure the boy kept his dirty hands off the merchandise.

Fran smiled at Vaan and picked a dress down, holding it against herself. It was a little bulky, she had a vision of what she wanted... it was just a matter of finding it.

Vaan chuckled a little as she held the dress up. "What is it you're really looking for then, hm?" He tilted his head slightly as he watched her.

Fran hung the dress back up. "I do not know. I have a picture in my head of what I want, but even then... I am not sure if he will like it."

Vaan scrunched his nose. "Isn't the wedding all about the bride? C'mon, just pick what you like, Fran." He smiled at her.

"I wish the day to be perfect for him. A memory to take with him." The Viera said, looking through the racks, trying to find something that matched the picture in her head.

Vaan smiled sadly, crossing his arms over his chest. "Yeah... I guess these days you kinda just think about ways to give him sweet memories to take with him..." He murmured.

Fran gave a nod. "Mm. Nothing else matters right now. Only his happiness." She picked down another dress. It was perfect! Exactly what she was searching for!! Layered but didn't look like a gone wrong Mousse. Shapely on the on the hips, strapless, a slight train. Yes. it was perfect.

Vaan grinned a little. "Wow... go try it on, I'll wait for you!" He beamed at her, a little impishly, a sparkle in his eye.

Fran gave a nod and handed Krja to Vaan before moving to the changing booth, wriggling out of her armour and into the dress, trying to reach the zipper. "Vaan? A hand?"

Vaan snuggled Krja all up but when Fran asked for a hand he blushed brightly, averting his eyes as he fumbled for the zipper tab, pulling it up and swiftly shifting back.

Fran smiled and ran her hands over the dress, smoothing it, before turning around to face Vaan. "Well? What do you think?" She asked, with a rare insecurity in her voice.

Vaan gave a quiet gasp, looking her over with wide eyes. "Fran... you look... stunning. Totally breathtaking..." He muttered, his gaze scanning the Viera repeatedly.

Fran's ears twitched a little, showing her fears. "You are sure? Do you think he shall like it?"

Vaan smiled, hugging Krja close. "If he doesn't, he's an idiot, Fran. You look incredible." He murmured.

Fran smiled and kissed Vaan's head softly, before turning to strip out of the dress, completely unashamed to strip in front of him.

Vaan squeaked, blushing brightly and burying his face in Krja to keep from watching her strip, closing his eyes tightly.

Fran wriggled back into her bodice and armour, hanging the dress back on it's hanger. She kissed Vaan's head and stepped past him to go to the counter, laying the dress on it.

The manageress returned, that sickly sweet smile back on her lips. "Oh! A wonderful choice. Let me ring it up for you!" She rang up the total and boxed the dress up for Fran. "That'll be 9,500 gil."

Fran gave a nod and handed over a whole wad of notes, returning the sickly sweet smile as the lady counted them.

Vaan chuckled and leaned against the counter, smirking at Fran for her total show of wealth, even if she and Balthier lived to their means like everyone else.

Fran gave the woman a smirk and scooped up the box. "Mayhaps you shall treat your customers with a little more respect in future." She replied, heading for the exit, leaving Vaan to carry Krja.

The teen scurried after the Viera, laughing as he did, hugging Krja close as she babbled. "That was awesome, Fran! So cool and calm!!" He laughed.

"The woman would do well to remember that you cannot judge by looks alone." Fran smiled at Vaan, holding onto the box, holding out her free arm to take Krja, knowing the infant became heavy after awhile.

Vaan handed Krja over, smiling softly. "That's right. I mean, look at Ashe. We had no idea who she was at first. I didn't look at her and think 'oh, well she's definitely the princess'."

Fran gave a soft laugh. "We did notice." She smiled at the boy. "Time for a drink?" She asked, turning the sling around to the front, slipping Krja in to it.

Vaan chuckled a little. "Yeah, sure. We can see if Pen's in. Maybe she'll talk to me without looking at me like I have nine arms or something..."

Fran blinked, watching Vaan with a tilted head. "You are having troubles?" She asked. "A tiff?"

"She's just... I dunno... awkward about what we did. Y'know? She thinks it'll change the whole darn world." He shook his head, slipping his hands into his pockets.

Fran gave a soft laugh. "Mayhaps it is a female thing. I worried of the same thing before Balthier and I... It passed though."

"Yeah...? I dunno... maybe. She's always worried about everything, really..." He shrugged slightly, walking along to the Sandsea.

Fran smiled softly. "It will be okay. Just give her a little time, and be there for her when she is ready."

"I guess when it all happened she just wasn't ready..." He mumbled, sighing slightly. "I feel like such a letch." He huffed.

"If she hadn't been ready she would have stopped you. She is a strong willed woman. Not a pushover." Fran petted his hair. "It'll be fine."

Vaan nodded a little, holding the door to the Sandsea open for her, smiling lightly as he did, always the gentleman.