The Parimina Rift, Early Morning... Whenever.
I've given up trying to keep track of the days. It's been snowing like crazy ever since we set foot in this place, and I'm beginning to wonder if this mountain even exists, because I haven't come across it. I feel like we've probably only made it about ten feet into the rift, but Larsa swears that we're really not so far, now.
Of course, Balthier and Ashe got the best of the weapons we bought in Bunny Village - Ashe because Basch buys her weapons and he'll only give her the absolute best, and Balthier because he controls the money flow. I got landed with a staff. Balthier tells me that it'll help my magickal ability, which is already about ten times better than his.
(I didn't tell him that I would fry those leather pants right to his legs if he didn't stop implying that I couldn't control a big, scary sword. Mostly because he never once mentioned swords.)
(...And because I said I'd rather hang back and use magick. Beside the point.)
(I really just wanted to get that threat written down for later use. The things I think of in the dead of night.)
Of course, I'm the one stuck tending the fire, because I'm the mage, so therefore, I'm the one who can sit there and re-light it when it inevitably goes out at 1 AM and the ice-sickles forming on Vaan's eyelids wake him up. I really did feel bad for him when that happened. Didn't stop me from laughing, but still.
I mean, come on! I'm the one who had to melt them, so I'm totally justified.
Oh, yeah. Haven't written in here in a while. Things have been kind of... crazy. What with big mine monsters and the long, hard trek back to Bunny Village (I cannotspell the proper name. Crucify me.) Chocobo trails are supposed to only be used by chocobos, you know. Hence the name? Try telling that to Vaan.
"But there aren't any chocobos around! What are we supposed to do, wait for one to wander into our hands?"
Well, Vaan, when the alternative is crawling hand-over-hand through impenetrable brush, clinging to Balthier's leg like I'm going to die if I don't, getting stuck by the hair and having to be rescued by Larsa - who, by the way, is much more gallant than certain other people - three times, being kicked in the shoulder by a Viera, and getting thorns stuck in my teeth, then yes, we do wait for a chocobo to wander into our hands. Sometimes I wonder why Balthier puts up with us. He's like a big brother, really.
(The, um, flirty big brother you sort of have a crush on, which makes him much less a big brother and more... I dunno. I had big brothers once, and they spent all their time teasing me and annoying me. Balthier actually helps me when I really need it.)
(Emphasis on the "when I really need it" bit. I can't tell you how many times he's looked at me and said, "Tough it out, Penelo. You're a big girl, aren't you?" Jerk.)
Acutally I think he puts up with us because Ashe and Basch and Fran put up with us. If it was just me and Vaan stuck with Balthier, he'd leave us to rot. We drive him up the wall, mostly on purpose. I mean, it's his fault, really. He's the one who's so anal about his looks.
So what if I sabatoged his hair gel on the same morning Vaan snitched all of his soaps and shaving accessories? Ashe enjoyed it. Come to think of it, he's the only one that didn't. I think even Fran snickered when Balthier threatened to strip-search Vaan.
He needs to lighten up. It's all in good fun.
--
Still The Parimina Rift, Late Night... Whenever
Blizzard has not let up. Vaan suggested we all huddle together for warmth. Ashe told him to sleep with the wolves if he's so cold.
But then, she's shivering so violently she can hardly speak, and her (white) shirt is soaked through with snow, so she's wrapped in Basch's blanket as well as her own. I am in the same league as Balthier - the "You people are idiots for wearing short skirts and skimpy vests" league - but I'm still cold, and he doesn't look particularly cozy either.
Fran is the worst. Poor girl. Someone should have mentioned the fact that metal gets awfully cold.
(Yeesh.)
Frighteningly enough, I agree with Vaan. Larsa (oh, who is also in the "You people are idiots for wearing short skirts and skimpy vests" league, and actually looks warmer than the rest of us) agrees with Vaan. Fran glares. Basch says that he'll do whatever Ashe does. Which means that things are pretty much even, three say do huddle together like freezing bears, three say keep our dignity.
It's up to Balthier.
--
I'm huddled with Vaan by the dying fire while everyone else is curled up in the tent like freezing bears.
I knew we shouldn't have stolen all his hair products.
--
Mount Bur-Omisiace. Omicase. Amisace. Whatever.
Ashe won't admit it, but everyone is really happy to be here. There are some really nice refugees who've made us a lovely hot stew and they've lent us thick woolen blankets and allowed us to huddle in their huts. I spent all day helping this Nalbinan lady take care of her five-year-old son. His name is Aiden and he's adorable.
He's got these big brown eyes and lots of messy blond hair and we spent all day making snowmen and baking cookies and planning out all these really great pranks on Vaan. He's already calling me "Aunt Penny" and holds my hand whenever we go anywhere. How cool is that?
I've never been an Aunt before. I like this.
Ashe keeps insisting that we must keep moving because the Archadian forces won't wait. Balthier finally grabbed her by the shoulders and told her that there was a blizzard raging on the mountain, and if we hardly survived the trip here, how would a huge Archadian fleet?
He insisted that we stay here at least a couple of days to restock and renew the life in our limbs.
For the record, I am, in fact, secretly in love with him. Just saying.
--
Aww, Aiden! He's even grown on Ashe. You should have seen it (well, ignoring the lack of eyes, but work with me here). Ashe was moping at the fire because, I dunno, some people died a few years ago and we're not doing anything to avenge their deaths right this very instant, and he crawled up in her lap with a storybook and begged her to read him a fairytale. She tried to tell him no, and even pointed him toward Basch (who suddenly vanished, by the way), but he kept insisting.
It was so cute! He was just sitting in her lap, while she told him a fairytale about a lovely princess who gets put under an enchantment, so she sleeps until true love's first kiss. He fell asleep, right there, and she just sat there and smiled at him.
I think Ashe is finally starting to get it, you know? This whole time, it's been about getting back her throne and all this, but I think she's starting to see why Vaan and I came along.
It's for all the kids like Aiden who've grown up in Lowtown, bathing in sewers and roasting rats over spits to eat. Aiden actually has it better, because his mother escaped Nalbina and came here before he could be forced to deal with any of that. He's lucky. He had a mother to save him.
I think for the first time, Ashe isn't fighting for herself.
Vaan's been saying from the start that she'll make a great Queen. For once, I agree.
...Wow, this is a melancholy entry.
--
The Icy Bowels of Hell, Again, Late Morning
I want the desert back.
