(no subject)

[balthier-strahl.livejournal.com]

Who: Fran, The Occuria, Tivon, Balthier and Krja
What: Looking for answers and finding a ghost
Where: Giruvegan, Balamb Garden, the Strahl
When: Over the course of a day and into the next
Rating: PG-13


Fran had left Krja in Squall's capable hands. They had been working on the cure constantly since she had awoken and so far they had made no progress. She had decided to pay a visit to the Occuria in the Ancient City of Giruvegan. If anyone knew about Mist it was them, and if anyone knew how or where to find a cure, they would.

Balthier had borrowed her hover bike, so she had stolen a small airship, flown to the outskirts of Golmore Jungle and made the long, exhausting walk through the Jungle, into the Feywood and down into Giruvegan.

She rubbed at her aching calf muscles, before heading into Giruvegan, shooting down fiends as she wound her way around to the great crystal, pausing to catch her breath on the large platform.

As the Viera stopped, an eerie, omnipresent voice echoed, almost robotically. "We know why you come, Viera. You seek answers to many questions." Suddenly, the platform shimmered and the council of the Occuria appeared before the woman. All beings, staring and unblinking, like statues with no faces, surrounded by the roiling Mists.

Fran twitched her nose a little at the Mist. It was different to everywhere else in Ivalice. It not burn the same way, it felt cool against her skin. "This is so. Will you grant me answers?"

"We know your questions, yet we shall give only the answers to the questions you ask." The Mist swelled and loomed around the Viera and each Occuria's eyes glowed brilliant gold.

"Does a cure exist for the illness known as Geostigma Mark II? If so, where can it be found. if not, can one be created?" Fran asked, resting her hands by her sides.

"A cure can be found far out in the seas on a day when neither boat nor Hume will survive the ocean's wrath unscathed." The Occuria let a rumbling breeze blow through, their eyes fading out again.

"At sea? Where? In Ivalice's waters or further afield? Tell me!" Fran practically begged, turning in a full circle to look at all the creatures.

A horrifying sound that could only be described as manic laughter crashed through the surrounding plains. "What use is it to save a man bound for Ivalice's Hellfire? Would you truly wish salvation upon a man that will disregard it?"

Fran's ears drooped at the sound, it stung at her sensitive ears. "Does not every man deserve a second chance? Or does such a chance only be rewarded to the evil of this world?"

"We've our plans for second chances for certain beings. The returns of Vayne Carrudas Solidor were not our doing. Nobodies and Heartless we control not. Ivalice is our rule." The Occuria broke into a silence for a long moment before continuing. "Our plans do not involve the Hume you are so set upon saving. This Leading Man has his curtain call to perform."

Fran's hands balled into fists. "Does it not concern you that he shall leave his daughter fatherless? This illness was meant for me. Tell me, if you so truly rule Fate... why him?! Why not me?!"

"You are Viera. Your child will live far longer than the average Hume, she shall need you not that worthless Hume." The Occuria suddenly seemed to be discussing something in an ancient tongue. After a few moments, their attentions returned to Fran. "Tell us. Do you know where your Hume is as we speak? You know not what he does, is not it so?"

Fran swallowed hard. "He... he flies. To clear his head..." She murmured, her voice soft, showing uneasiness. "He flies the bike..."

"You know not where this bike is flown to." They silenced again, the Mists shifting and swirling before they spoke again. "A researcher's paradise is where you shall find your cure." It begged the question; why would they prepare a cure and hide it away if they had nothing more planned for the Leading Man...?

Fran swallowed again, closing her eyes for a moment. "You said you would answer the questions I ask... So I ask, where is he? If you know the answer... speak!" She said, finally opening her eyes. "A researcher's paradise... out at sea..." She whispered under her breath.

The spiteful Occuria laugh trembled through the Mists again and the beings seemed to give each other looks of pure satisfied amusement. "Rozzaria." They answered plainly, soon speaking amongst one another again, in that unknown language. "Viera. Have you more questions that you shall ask of us?"

Fran's heart pounded hard against her chest. "What business finds him in Rozzaria?" She asked, dreading the answer.

"As of this moment, he speaks with the Prince. They speak of his selfishness as if he could ever change." They then fell silent, never being the type of people to offer up information without it amusing or benefiting them.

"And upon his last meeting with the Prince?" Fran asked, fists balling and relaxing, her gaze downcast at the floor.

"What is wrong? Do you not trust his words? If this is the case then why would you willingly seek a cure for a man you do not trust?" Their eyes, every single golden pair, stared hard at the Viera.

Fran felt very small and weak under those stares. "Would you trust the words of a pirate?" She questioned. "I seek a cure for him out of love. Is that so wrong?"

The Occuria laughed once again, though it was less spiteful, more filled with pity for her. "You have the location of the cure, against our better judgement. Why do you linger? Have you questions that need answering that you have yet to ask?"

"I have but one more." Fran asked, shifting on the spot. "... Is love really enough?"

"Enough to survive on? Nay. Enough to be at your Hume's side? If you can stand the pain he causes, however unintentional, the yes." The Mists shifted around Fran yet again. "You are partly at fault in your own pain. Mothering the Hume whence he was but a child has let him grow up selfish."

Fran swallowed and gave a nod. "Yet the boy needed a guide. I could not have let him wander the streets with no one there to guide his hand..."

"And no doubt the boy is grateful." They fell silent then, all their eyes staring mercilessly at the Viera stood in their presence.

Fran shifted on the spot. There was so much she wished to ask. "My questions have all been spoken."

"A lie." They all hissed amongst each other before they looked at her again. "If you are done, then be gone, foolish mortal." They then began to fade from view, though they were not done on their plans.

Fran closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Once she opened her eyes again, she was alone, back where she had been before, alone in those Mists, save for the fiends in the distance.

The Occuria watched her, though with their unlimited powers, they formed a man. A Hume. A pirate with pale blonde hair, soft white skin and shimmering eyes.

Fran readied her bow, lining an arrow on the string as she began the long journey back out of the crystal, shooting down fiends as they crossed her path. One was stronger than the rest, violent and strong, claws slashing at her, jaws snapping hard.

The pirate knew instantly what he was to do. Running down the pathways and pulling the double swords from his back, the man slashed through the fiend's throat, killing it instantly. Setting the weapons back in place, he held his hand out to Fran. "Need a hand, Fran?" He drawled in his Archadian accent.

Fran's heart gave a painful thump in her chest at the sound of the voice. It had been so long since she had heard it, yet it sounded so familiar. She turned to gaze at him, a little shocked. She reached out to take that hand, half expecting her own hand to pass through it. After all, how could he be anything but a ghost? She curled her hand around his, swallowing hard. "... Tivon."

A smile was on his lips as he pulled her to her feet, taking back his hand after a long pause and giving a gentle laugh, looking far healthier than Fran had ever seen him. "Heh... you've changed not an inch."

"You... have changed completely." Fran replied after a long moment, once she was sure her voice wouldn't fail her. "How... I mean... you... in my arms... I saw you... so how...?"

"I have changed? How? Surely you jest, Fran." He looked down at himself with a puzzled look before his gaze held hers again. "I do not know, but I am grateful..."

"You look... well. You look full of life. Your eyes, they sparkle with life." Fran smiled softly, flushing a little. "Come, let us escape this place."

He laughed, shaking his head slightly. "You are ever an enigma, Fran." He smiled before turning in the direction she'd been headed, walking along confidently.

"Would you have me any other way?" Fran asked, resting another arrow on her bow string.

"Hmm, no, you are as perfect as you ever were," he murmured, one hand rested on the hilt of a sword, watching where they walked.

Fran shot down fiends as they walked, a gentle smile on her lips. "I... I have missed you."

"Ah, you lie. I bet you've sailed the skies all your years, seeking adventure and taking no prisoners, hm?" He chuckled, drawing one sword to fight a small fiend back. "Tell me, how many years has it been?"

"Pirated, I have. Adventure I have found. Yet I still mised you." She shot another fiend down dead. "It has been fifty-two years..."

"Fifty... two..." He shook his head with a low sigh. "The Gods are toying with me, it seems." He shrugged slightly. "No matter, I shall simply have to play along."

"It has been a long time." Fran admitted, leaning over to kiss Tivon's cheek lightly, before jogging ahead.

Tivon blinked as he was kissed on the cheek before laughing and following after her, heading on out of the Great Crystal of Giruvegan.

"You shall accompany me for a while? There is much we should discuss. So long since I looked upon you..." Fran killed another fiend. "I have an airship docked outside of the Golmore."

"Where else am I supposed to go, Fran? Just walking off through the jungle of a world I left fifty-two years previous?" He chuckled, winking at her. "I shall gladly accompany you anywhere."

Fran flushed a little, smiling at Tivon. She fired a few more arrows. "Let me show you the world."

"Well now, that line sounds oddly familiar," he teased, nudging her as she fired an arrow, chuckling softly and walking down the dark passages, back towards the entrance to the Holy place.

"The world has changed greatly. Let me show it to you, the way you showed me." She replied, grabbing his hand, running along the passages.

Tivon squeezed her hand a little and smiled. As soon as they were free of the Holy place and through the roiling Mists of the Feywood, he blinked at Golomore. "Well... this place has changed so very little..."

"It is here that we first met. When your airship crashed and I took you back to the Woods. Do you remember?" Fran asked, flushing more.

"As though it were yesterday, Fran," he murmured, smiling softly. His hair whipped in the breeze and he chuckled lightly.

Fran returned his smile, keeping hold of his hand, as she all but danced by his side, her spirits feeling lifted.

Tivon laughed and pressed a finger to her nose. "Now, you had an airship, hm? Show it to me?"

"Well... It is not my airship, merely a borrowed vessel for this trip. The airship I usually co-pilot is far more magnificent." Fran replied, guiding Tivon to the small craft.

"You are a co-pilot, hm? Is your partner as good as I was when we flew together?" He asked, smiling at the Viera. At the sight of the airship, he blinked, tilting his head. "Well now, that is considerably more advanced than the last one I saw..."

"This is a rather basic ship. Wait until you see the Strahl." Fran replied, avoiding the question, dipping down as she entered the small craft so she didn't hit her ears.

Tivon followed her onboard, blinking at all the controls. "Gods, airships were a rare sight when I was alive..." he murmured, frowning slightly.

"They fill the skies nowadays." Fran replied, shifitng to sit in the pilot's seat, patting the space beside her. "Come, we make for Balamb Garden on the Utica Continent. There we shall find the Strahl."

Tivon seated himself and rested back against his swords, smiling soft as he did so. "Well, fly away, milady." He chuckled.

Fran smiled and gave a nod, quickly launching the airship into the sky, getting it on course for Balamb Garden.

The pirate remained silent, crossing his arms and watching the sky. It was so strange that he would die in her arms and wake fifty-two years later to save her from a fiend.

"You... are troubled?" Fran asked, watching him from the corner of her eye.

"Not troubled. Amused at the Fates. Contemplative." He smiled and ran a hand through his pale blonde hair.

Fran leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to Tivon's cheek. "The Fates like to toy with us. This I have learnt."

He chuckled, resting his head back against the back of his seat, watching her with a curious gaze, smirking playfully.

Fran blinked, reaching a hand out to pet a claw against that smirk. "What is this smirk for, hm?"

Tivon gave a slight laugh. "You have changed. You are gentler. More inclined to touches and kisses to show friendly affection." He drawled.

"Fifty-two years is a long time. I have had to change and adapt to the ever changing world." Fran replied, a soft smile remaining on her face.

"Do not be so defensive, I meant you have changed in a good way." He teased, brushing back some of his hair from his eyes.

Fran gave a soft laugh and set the airship into auto-pilot mode, leaning back in her own seat.

Tivon smiled and rested his eyes, closing them for a long moment. "Hmm... I wonder. What adventures have passed you in these years?"

"Far more than I could ever describe. I have been most busy." Fran replied.

"I bet." He stretched his arms before groaning slightly. "I doubt this little bug of a craft has a place I may clean up, hm?"

"It has a wash basin and a toilet, as well as a bed. It lacks anything else I am afraid."

"May I make use of this wash basin?" He smiled a little, tilting his head to the side as he looked at the Viera.

Fran gave a nod. "Of course." She smiled at him, pulling him close to kiss his cheek again.

Tivon bowed his head in thanks then chuckled to her kiss, smiling softly before standing and heading to the small room with the basin and the toilet.

Fran settled back in her seat, a soft smile remaining on her lips for much of the journey.

Tivon cleaned himself up and, for the remainder of the journey, he sat quietly in Fran's presence, thankful to even be alive.

Balamb Garden soon came into sight, Fran landed the airship and smiled at Tivon. "We have arrived."

Tivon gave a nod and smiled to her, rising from his seat and heading off the airship, eyes wide at the place they were now in.

Fran followed Tivon off of the airship. "I consider this my home away from home these days. I spend a fair amount of time here." She held out her hand to him. "Come, I shll show you the Strahl."

Tivon took her hand and smiled softly. "It is a grand place. We are far from Ivalice, are we not? No place as such exists in even Archades..."

She gave a nod. "Yes, we are most far away." She tugged his hand lightly, jogging towards the Strahl.

Tivon kept up with her with relative ease until he saw the Strahl, stopping dead in his tracks. "Gods... she is magnificent..." he whispered.

Fran gave a soft laugh. "Beautiful, isn't she?" She smiled and started to move closer, boarding the ship she called 'home'. "Come."

He walked along at her side, stepping up the few steps onto the airship. He could just see the love and dedication put into the airship. Obviously, her captain prided himself on her.

"Feel free to explore." Fran said, giving him a light nudge. "Or would you prefer a tour?"

"A... tour would be wise. I'd prefer not to impede upon another captain's territory." He murmured, clasping his hands behind his back.

Fran smiled and led him along. "The cockpit." She murmured, pointing into the room. "My main job is as navigator and checking the radars." She carried on walking. "Kitchen. Moogles' room. Nursery. Spare room. Master bedroom." She spoke as she passed each door, pushing them open for Tivon to examine if he wished.

Nodding to each room, letting himself look at what he saw on the surface, rather than invading her privacy, Tivon finally rested against the doorway of the master bedroom, tilting his head. "Hmm..." He crossed his arms over his chest as he examined this room.

Fran tilted her head to watch him, curling her arm around his. "Something is wrong?" She asked, resting her chin on his shoulder.

He leaned his head back, against the doorframe. He stood tall for a Hume as six foot three, his long hair only accentuating his power. "No, nothing. I am just contemplating if this is your room or not."

Fran gave a nod. "It is. Does this knowledge trouble you?" She asked, nudging him with her chin.

"Why would it trouble me? Where you sleep matters very little to me, Fran," he muttered, smiling at her.

Fran kissed his cheek softly. "Come, there is still more to see." She smiled, tugging his arm.

He gave a laugh, letting her drag him along wherever she was taking him now. "What more is there, hm?"

"Bathroom." Fran murmured. "And... engine room. This is where the magic happens."

"Oh? Well, show away. I am more than intrigued by this airship's inner workings." He muttered, walking along to that room with her.

The Viera gave a soft laugh and opened up the engine. "This is what makes her so wonderful."

Tivon crouched down, looking up under the engine, giving a low whistle. "She is certainly beautiful inside, as well as out."

"I am most fond of her." Fran murmured, leaning against the wall of the engine room, watching Tivon.

Tivon shifted to stand, flicking back a few lose strands of almost-white blonde hair. "I would be proud of a ship like this, were I you. Now, where is your captain?"

"He... is in Rozzaria..." Fran answered, looking away slightly. She gave a slight shake of her head. "It matters not. Can I get you anything to eat?"

The pirate shook his head, smiling soft. "I have little hunger. Exhaustion, however, I have plenty." He chuckled lightly. "It seems rebirth is tiring work."

Fran closed up the engine and took hold of his hand. "Come. You shall rest." She led him to her and Balthier's bedroom. "Feel free to make yourself at home."

He chuckled softly and bowed his head once. "I thank you. Though, rude as it may seem, I must beg my privacy. I am far too much of a gentleman to disrobe in front of a woman."

Fran cupped Tivon's face, pressing a soft kiss against the corner of his mouth. "Of course. Rest well, my sweet." She whispered, before exiting the room, closing the door behind her.

A pale eyebrow lifted as she kissed the corner of his mouth but he made no attempt to kiss her back. As soon as she had left, he removed each of his swords and the majority of his attire, settling into the bed with an audibly moan of relaxation. It truly was incredible to be alive once again.

Fran made no attempt to disturb Tivon's slumber. She collected Krja from Squall and returned to the Strahl, spending the rest of the day and most of the night going over maps of Gaia and history books in search of this place the Occuria had mentioned, until she finally fell asleep in the rocking chair.

As morning returned, so did the Leading Man, jetting in on the hover-bike and landing in the Strahl's cargo bay. Removing himself from the vehicle and heading to his bedroom, he opened the door and paused. Who the Hell was that?! There was a semi-naked, highly attractive, muscular man in his bed. Without his knowledge. Easing the door closed, he headed to the nursery, clearing his throat to wake the Viera.

Fran stirred from her sleep. She had only managed to get a few hours. She sat up and rubbed at her sleep-filled eyes, yawning. "You return. How was your trip to Rozzaria?"

"Honestly, there was a vulture I could've gladly ripped the throat out of." He crossed the room and took her hand. "Come with me, there is something I wish to ask."

Fran blinked and rubbed her eyes more with her free hand, getting to her feet to follow him. "What is it?" She asked, another yawn escaping her.

Balthier led his fiancée along to their bedroom, pushing the door open and pointing at the naked man in their bed. "What, pray tell, is that?"

Tivon lay asleep and silent; the blankets shielding him from the waist down, his long hair sprawled across the bed.

Fran gave the softest of laughs. "Really now, you must know what that is. It is a male Hume." She teased.

He gave a dry laugh, tugging her down slightly so he could hold her ear. "Yes, but why is it in our bed?" He whispered in her ear.

Fran gave another soft laugh. "It would seem he is sleeping." She gave his nose a gentle flick, trying not to think on the Occuria's cruel laughs. "Sit with me awhile?"

Balthier shut the door and shook his head. "I wish to shower and redress, yet there is a naked man in my bedroom. A man whom I have never met in my life."

"It is Tivon." Fran stated simply, turning on her heel to make her way back to the Nursery.

Balthier snatched hold of her arm, eyes wide. "You are lying, Tivon is dead!" He replied, his voice full of disbelief.

Fran winced a little, Balthier's grip was hard. "Was." She said. "Was dead. He saved me from a fiend in Giruvegan. Work of the Fates or some other magicks... I do not know..."

"And so you instantly bring him home like some stray pup and let said pup sleep in my bed?" He shook his head, letting go of her arm and heading into the bedroom, to the wardrobe, looking for something to wear, trying hard not to get angrier.

Tivon stirred, making a soft sound as he awoke, brushing his hair back from his face and leaning up on one elbow, looking both confused and distressed.

"Better a stray pup than some alley cat." Fran hissed against Balthier's ear, eyes narrowing darkly, giving his injured, yet no longer blackened shoulder a light squeeze.

A groan of pain came and his eyes filled with tears at her grip. Even light grasps hurt so dreadfully. Looking to her with a frightened, vulnerable expression, his lips parted but no words came.

Tivon frowned at the scene, grasping his tight, white and black pants, slipping them on, unsure of what to say.

"Tell me something, Balthier... Had the Prince's sheets cooled from your last fumble or were they still warm when you slipped back in?" She asked, hurt dancing in crimson eyes. She shook her head and turned her attentions to Tivon, forcing a gentle smile. "You are awake. Did you sleep well?"

"Your accusations have no weight, woman. I have not bedded that Prince since becoming a pirate... and frankly, that you would target where it hurts me most is... it is frightening," he murmured, his eyes on her face, filled with unshed tears from the pain washing over his body. At that, he took his clothes and headed for the bathroom.

Tivon swallowed hard, glancing between the two of them. "I did." He took his jacket and fastened it across his bare chest, running fingers through his hair before tying it in a loose knot. "You did not say you'd a lover."

"Only when it suits him it would seem." Fran wiped at her eyes and shifted to sit on the edge of the bed. "I have a daughter too, her name is Krja. Do you care to meet her?" The Viera asked, trying to hide her pain.

Tivon shook his hair a little, being sure the marking around his left eye was covered. "He seemed a sweet boy, though he looked dreadfully hurt and frightened..." He frowned slightly. "You should bring her here; I believe I've yet to get my bearings..."

"Mayhaps I was a little harsh on him... Mayhaps not harsh enough." Fran gave Tivon a sad smile, before moving from the bed, going to the Nursery to fetch a most sleepy Krja, returning with her. "Here she is. She is my greatest joy in this life."

While she was fetching her child, Tivon pulled on black boots, lacing them up at the front before fiddling with his ring. At the sight of the child, he chuckled. "Oh, she looks just like you, Fran!"

From the bathroom, a loud crashing sound came as Balthier stepped from his hot shower, feeling most overcome with illness and passing out, taking the shower curtain with him and hitting his head on the sink on the way down. Lying there, his backside was hidden by the fallen curtain though the blood seeping through his light hair was most obvious.

Fran blinked at the sound. Her nose twitching at the stench of blood. She thrust Krja into Tivon's arms. "Here, hold her a moment." She got up and rushed to the bathroom, gasping a little at the sight of her lover. She swallowed hard and came over to him, kneeling beside him. "Balthier?" She whispered, trailing her fingers through those bloodied locks.

Tivon blinked at Krja, holding her at arm's length at first before cradling her close and standing, moving to see what the commotion was. At the sight of Balthier, he shielded Krja from seeing the man on the floor. "Is he breathing? If so, do not move him. He could have broken something."

A slight breath choked him enough to make a sound and Balthier shivered slightly, a redness, almost like a burn, showing on his shoulder.

"He is breathing..." Fran murmured, trailing her fingertip over the red mark lightly. Tears rolled down her cheeks, dripping onto Balthier. "I believe I have broken him..." She murmured, reaching for a damp washcloth to hold against the wound on his head.

Tivon grasped her shoulder. "Have your child. I shall see to him. I've no emotions to distract me in this situation," he murmured, pressing Krja into Fran's arms and kneeling down. He began to run his hands all down Balthier's body, where he could reach, checking for broken bones. When satisfied there were none aside from one, already healing, on his wrist, he scooped the younger man up and carried him to the bed, tucking him under the blankets and casting both Cure and Regen on Balthier.

Fran set Krja down in her playpen and slipped her hand under Tivon's. "No more. Do not... do not use Magicks on him... it shall wound him more." Tears dampened her cheeks.

"Wound him, perhaps, but if I do not treat this wound, he may die. Head wounds are dangerous." He ran his fingers through Balthier's bloodied hair, satisfied that the wound had closed. "What made him pass out?" He asked, retrieving the washcloth and setting it on the young man's head.

Balthier breathed shakily and after a few more moment, he blinked an eye open, groaning in pain, a cold sweat clinging to his skin, mixed with the fresh shower water.

"I did." Fran replied simply, refusing to meet his gaze. When Balthier blinked an eye open, Fran cupped his cheek, brushing her thumb over his skin so tenderly.

Tivon stood, crossing his arms over his chest, his head tilted as he took in the situation and calculating just where the cracks were.

Balthier raised his damaged hand, swatting idly at hers before just gripping her wrist, looking at her with half lidded eyes.

Tears rolled down Fran's cheeks. She turned her gaze away from Balthier, wiping her tears away. She shifted to stand. "Excuse me. I need some air."

Tivon watched her turn to leave and glanced back at the pirate. He frowned in contemplation before following after Fran.

Balthier panted softly, rolling over and closing his eyes. Tivon's magicks had cured the marks on his face, yet his wrist and other bodily injuries remained.

Fran quickly exited the Strahl, sitting on the floor, hugging her knees tight to her chest as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

Tivon knelt down before shifting to sit beside her, resting an arm on his bent knee. "Well, isn't this silly? What good will these tears do, young lady?" He still felt as though she was younger than him. She'd been seventeen when he knew her, while he was twenty seven.

Fran wiped frantically at those tears, only for them to be replaced with fresh ones. "I... I am sorry... I do not mean for you to see me this way..."

Curling an arm around her shoulders, Tivon rested his head against hers. "It seems to me that this man has no clue what he has."

Fran continued to cry. "He knows exactly what he has. A doormat. He knows no matter what he does I shall stand by him. He knows no matter how many times he cheats and lies, I shall not leave him..." She choked a little on her tears, body shuddering.

"Ah, but it is you who falls for it." He kissed the top of her head, sighing softly. "As much as it pains me to say, I could tell by the look in his eyes, he loves you."

"He loves me, yes. Yet I do not believe he is in love with me. Mayhaps he was. Once. Yet his unwillingness to stay loyal proves his unwillingness to truly love me..."

"Oh, Fran, he is young. No doubt he feels scared. A serious lover, a child - if my assumptions are correct - and a live-in relationship... it must be rather overwhelming."

"I have offered him a chance for escape. Many times. I have tried to accept his free loving ways, yet, my heart grows tired. I fear... I fear it shall snap."

"It seems to me that the terms of this relationship have not been fully discussed." He gave a shake of his head, waving his hand nonchalantly. "You are as childish as he seems," he stated.

"Our discussions simply end in arguments. I grow so tired of the fighting. My heart is heavy, my mind troubled. I do not know what to do. My heart says stay, my head says go..."

"A pirate trusts their heart. A Viera their head. Simply, you are damned if you do, damned if you do not." He ran a hand through her hair, guiding her head to his shoulder.

Fran shifted to bury her face against his neck. "I cannot leave him... He has but one month to live... I must stay ever loyal by his side."

"If he has but a month, I would openly call you selfish, young one. A boy as he is dying and you begrudge him life's sins." He murmured softly.

"It does not ease the pain. I shall look back on our memories and see only pain and heartache." Fran whimpered. "I... I seek a cure, yet even if I find one, I know he shall not change his ways."

Tivon shook his head slightly. "How selfish, little girl..." He ran a hand through his hair, pulling it back from his eyes. "You would withhold a cure to save his life simply because you doubt his ability to change? Tell me, how old is that boy?"

"He is twenty four. And I never said I would withhold the cure. I shall search the world over to find one, I would even die to get my hands on it, to save him."

Tivon scoffed, shaking his head. "Twenty four? No wonder he strays! He is tied to an adult's life when he is barely one." He crossed his arms, sighing slightly. "Well? What is it you want, little one?"