Well, this part follows immediately (or rather, about two weeks) after the last part. Largely inspired by a greatly amusing comment war with Mariagoner, to whom I think I can say this "chapter" is dedicated.

021. Friends – Why One Should Not Abandon One's Partners

Vaan paced outside the large, impressive, ornate doors, wrestling internally with his decision. He couldn't just march in there, after all, since Penelo would most likely kill him on sight, and he didn't think that Larsa would be all that pleased with him either. What kind of friend leaves his pirating partner dangling from a ledge? It wasn't his fault that a patrol of Judges (just the minor ones, though; Gabranth wouldn't have cared so much) were coming around the far corner of the building and gods be damned, he certainly wasn't going to get tossed in jail!

Shaking his thoughts away from those events of two weeks earlier, Vaan nodded to the footman standing next to the door. The door opened, and the footman announced, "The Dread Pirate Ratsbane" to the largely empty hall. There came no sign of recognition from the large desk and chair at the far end, and Vaan masked his nervousness behind a a casually arrogant and comfortable swagger.

"Hey Larsa!" His overloud voice echoed in the room, and still no sign of acknowledgement. "I was, uh, kinda wondering if you know where Penelo is? We've just gotten a commission from Ashe and..." Vaan trailed off as the Emperor of Archadia slowly raised his head, his expression impassive.

"Sir Ratsbane," he stated calmly, and Vaan winced at the name, "for what purpose could you possibly use my betrothed that you could not use your other assistants?"

Vaan grinned. "Well, Penelo's my navig-wait, what?" The Emperor's lips quirked upwards for the slightest of seconds.

"I would ask that you refrain from attempting to steal the Lady Penelo away from my protection," was the only reply the young sky pirate received as the most powerful young man in Ivalice stood. It was at this point that Vaan realized that Larsa wasn't wearing his usual robes of state, but rather a shirt and trousers that made it quite clear that he was sporting Joyuex and sword-breaker. His hands rested meaningfully on the hilts, and Vaan got the hint (for once).

Before Larsa could take another step, Vaan turned and sprinted towards the open window to his left and, in a move straight out of a bad action flick, dove through it and landed on top of his airship, which Kytes had piloted to be waiting there in case Vaan was stupid in front of the Emperor again. Scrambling inside, he yelled orders to Kytes to, in short, get them the hells away from Archades.

Back in the palace, Penelo giggled as she stepped out from behind a well-concealed door. "You know," she told Larsa, "we really must do this more often."

"Which part of it, my lady?"

"The part where you get all protective of me and make Vaan going flying through the window without even touching him, of course!"

Owari