Fran Audition

If she was freer with her thoughts and expressions, Fran would have snorted over Balthier’s mention of the ‘tact’ that those in Ivalice had. Right. Tact. Was that what he wanted to call it? Another subtle flicker of her eyes in an upward fashion was how she felt about that lie. “If tact is what you call the reactions of the humes in Ivalice to viera, I do not believe I want to meet any without.” Despite what she said, Fran was quite used to the reactions she seemed to stir up among the humes every time she came in contact with them. Most, she had come to realize, couldn’t get past the type or armor she wore. Typical to her species, it didn’t take anyone with unnatural powers to notice that the humes had no such armor that they wore.

How well she knew her partner. Fran didn’t make any comments directly after he told her the age old long saying, but mulled it over in her mind. She supposed they were both old dogs when it came right down to it. They’d been at this profession for long enough to have become the best they could be, and had yet to fall from that esteemed position. “I am aware.” The same flicker of her eyes happened as she picked one hume out of the crowd to study her – a youngling about the same age and build as Penelo. Quickly she dismissed her from her thoughts and picked another hume out of the crowd to study closer while she wound her way through the crowd. “Some new tricks you seem to learn quickly.”, she easily stated, though Balthier seemed to have quieted down on the other side of the line. She didn’t question him about the silence, as she almost never questioned him. If he didn’t want to say anything, he would have his reasons, and she could understand why. He never pushed her beyond what she was willing to give, and she had always returned the favor.

His voice soon assured her that he hadn’t fallen asleep, and so she concentrated all her effort on scanning the crowd for this one young hume they were looking for. As soon as she saw her, Fran was on her trail with a confirmation back to Balthier that she had indeed caught sight of the youth they had spent so long with. It didn’t take her long to approach the vision range of the hume and be seen. As soon as that happened, Fran was headed back to Balthier’s place of waiting with a steady clip, white hair floating back and forth to accent the sway of her hips. “She looks fine. She spotted me at least.” Fran didn’t pause in her stride while she made her way purposely through the crowd. “She would have to be blind not to.” Though blending in was a problem with her appearance, Fran had to admit that it worked to her advantage in keeping ahead of their young friend – what with the humes instantly parting to allow her an easy trip through the otherwise milling crowd.

Despite the noises infiltrating her sensitive ears, Fran could quite easily pick out the one figure that actually mattered. Her name, softly spoken, was nonetheless heard by Fran while she made her smooth getaway. Along with that, were the shuffling of feet that had a purpose in their direction. No matter what had been said about her senses becoming dulled, Fran could pick the footsteps of her pursuer out as simply as a mother could distinguish her own child’s cry. Making her way through the crowd, Fran walked into an alleyway that would take her the back route to where Balthier was waiting. It took only a moment’s hesitation to realize that Penelo was still following her. When she did, Fran turned and strode down the alleyway and toward another street on the opposite side. By the time she had reached the other side, Fran paused in order to allow Penelo time to catch up with her long strides. Though she didn’t want to be caught by the other hume from Ivalice, she did want to keep her curious and following her. Baiting her every step of the way.

“Do you not find humes with narrow minds entertaining?” At that moment Fran was once again being stared at by a shocked hume that couldn’t quite seem to get enough of a grip on the muscles in her mouth. “Alongside being narrow minded, they seem to have a problem controlling the muscles that support their mouths.” Her sensitive years were picking up the footsteps of her pursuer as well, so Fran was once more ready to be on her way and lead Penelo on to the bar that she was headed toward. She could get her cue to move – which was as soon as Penelo saw her from the other opening on the long alleyway – without actually seeing the movement, as her hearing painted as vivid of a picture as she needed.

Leeeegs.

2/2.