Paine's P.O.V.
Well this is nice… not. I hate being a prisoner. Knock me out and truss me like a donkey- where the fuck is Baralai? They're his guards!
"Hey, Jerkface," I said, waving a hand at one of them through the bars. "is the Praetor back in Bevelle yet?"
"We have had no news from the Praetor thus far," said the guard and I rolled my eyes.
"Well, you can't lock me up without telling me, at least, what I'm in for."
"Who're you gonna complain to?" he scoffed.
"'Lai," I said, taking out my SphereChat.
I guess they figured that once they stole my sword I was defenceless.
"Tell 'im," said the Guard, shrugging. "We don' answer to the Praetor anymore."
I stuck my chin out defiantly and, for pride's sake, called him anyway.
-
SphereChat(KickItsAss enters the chat)
(KickItsAss is calling PraetorB)
(PraetorB enters the chat)
PraetorB: Hello? Who's there?
KickItsAss: Wanna explain my express trip to Bevelle? The accommodation is more than just a little shabby, my friend.
PraetorB: Paine! Oh Yevon, I'm sorry! I swear, I have nothing to do with them!
KickItsAss: Relax, I know you don't.
PraetorB: Well, don't worry, I'm coming.
KickItsAss: I'm not worried.
PraetorB: What?
KickItsAss: I think I'll just play with your guards for a while before I bust out.
PraetorB: How?
KickItsAss: Please! The guard is a clumsy fool.
PraetorB: I'll have to do something about that when I'm back in power.
KickItsAss: Not until after you've gotten rid of- possibly murdered- that Rottwood guy.
PraetorB: Will do… hey, Paine?
KickItsAss: Yeah?
PraetorB: Stay safe, okay? I really care about you.
KickItsAss: Safe? As in: don't-even-try-to-break-out safe?
PraetorB: Just don't get yourself killed.
KickItsAss: Oh, yeah, because I was totally planning to (rolls eyes). Whatever, see ya, 'Lai.
PraetorB: I won't be long.
(KickItsAss exits the chat)
-
Okay, now what? There's the ever-popular tunnelling out… or seducing the guard… tripping him up… making some sorta tool… Oh, Yevon. I can't concentrate now. "I really care about you"- what an odd thing to say! What did he mean by it? And if one more person tells me that he's in love with me, I'll scream.
Okay, okay… I'll call Yuna and Rikku, they'll bust me out, no problem. If anyone asks, I've been drugged and am hereby unable to make stable decisions.
-
Baralai's P.O.V.
I know I made it seem like everything was under control… but honestly? Not so much. I mean, I've got Gippal, on the one hand, begging me to give in and marry Yuna, and then Nooj, on the other, trying to get me to elope with Paine.
And what's worse? They both assume that, given the chance, Paine would take me back. And I'm just not sure that she would anymore.
In any case, it seems Bevelle is my only possible short-term destination. I have to get Paine out of that hellhole before something rough-and-tumble happens down there.
-
Rikku's rounding everybody up. Apparently the wedding's going on without Paine. It's a priority, I guess: marry them, and send them away on their honeymoon, pronto.
It was a nice ceremony, I think, but shorter than it would have been in other circumstances. We held it at Gagazet- Elder Kimahri volunteered the Ronso as our personal guard. Thankfully, though, nothing went wrong this time.
It took a great deal of convincing to get Yuna and Tidus to lay low- both of them were adamant that they wanted to help Paine, but even with their added forces there's no way we could outfight the Bevelle guards- at least, not all at once like that. In the end, they agreed to go into hiding again, but only after Rikku agreed to the 24-hour commentary of what's going on.
I doubt she'll last the night.
So… we're now en route to Bevelle. To find Paine… and then… I have no idea what next.
-
Nooj's P.O.V.
Damn, is it me, or do the prisons here get creepier every time I visit? I'm here to speak to Paine… or die trying. I haven't been in contact with this Mr Rottwood yet- not face to face- so I have no idea what the guards' reaction to me will be… still, thus far, I haven't been stopped.
"Meyvn, Sir?" said on guard, on patrol along the corridor.
"I'm looking for Paine," I said.
"I'm not authorised to allow visitors," said the guard and I sighed, drawing my sword slowly. Honestly? I can't fight worth toffee- but it beats raising my hands in some Harry Potter Esq. move before I cast a spell. Besides, I've been told that my hair, alone, is pretty intimidating.
"Y-you won't be long will you?" the guard stuttered nervously, handing me the key.
"Just five minutes," I said. "Five minutes in private."
The guard scarpered obediently and I went to find Paine.
It wasn't that hard…
"Uhm, Nooj?"
Okay, so I'd just passed her. Sue me.
"Paine, there you are!"
"Where do those freaks get off locking me up here," she huffed.
Good old Paine.
"I've been talking to Baralai-"
"So have I," she said, holding up a tiny little machina.
"Huh?"
"There's probably one for you in Baralai's office- one of Shinra's SphereChats."
"Uhm.. okay, I'll get it later- but, enough small talk."
"Are you here to get me out?"
"Uhm, no…" Why was I here, anyway? "Uhm… Baralai says he's coming. He… uhm?"
"You have no idea why you came, do you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Uhm… not exactly," I admitted.
"Well can you get me out or are you just going to leave me here?"
"I can't break you out," I said. "They know I'm in here… I can leave you with a weapon, though."
"It'll do," she said, shrugging and I handed her the dagger I kept in my belt.
"What will you do?" I asked.
"I don't know- wait for backup, I guess."
"I'll tell the others to hurry, okay?"
"See ya, Nooj- don't do anything rash while I'm gone."
It was our joke- hers, mine and the gangs… back in the Crimson Squad, when I was still a Deathseeker. I don't think I've been a Deathseeker for a while now… I hope not, anyway. Sometimes I couldn't tell, but then something bad would happen and it would seem that my only choice was the blade… it made me feel good to hear our joke again though. It was a sign, to me. It symbolised our friendship- that we could be friends again.
"I won't," I said, then paused, "Baralai will come for you, Paine, I swear."
"I know he will," said Paine.
"And he's never going to give in to the council."
Paine nodded, "I know- he wouldn't do that to Yuna."
Nooj gave her an odd look but nodded, "no," he agreed, "he wouldn't, but I think this is just a little more about you."
Paine closed her eyes, seeming hurt.
"What's wrong?"
"Everyone keeps saying that, Nooj- everyone except Baralai! Everyone keeps telling me how much he cares about me but sometimes it doesn't seem like it at all!"
"Do you love him too, Paine?"
Paine shifted uncomfortably and when her voice finally squeaked out, it was so soft he could hardly hear, "I've always loved him."
I nodded, a small smile on my face, "he and I talked about it, you know?"
"About me?"
"Yes, about you."
"Jerk…"
"You know, I told him that you were more important than his job as praetor."
"That's not true," said Paine, giving me a reproachful look.
"It is," I insisted. "Baralai thought so too."
"Eh….huh? What?"
"You mean everything to Baralai- the only reason people are always on your case is because you're both too blind to see what you have together."
"For your information, I did see it- then he rejected the idea and that was the end of it," said Paine, then she sighed. "It used to be easy between us… nowadays it seems one or the other is awkward and scared…"
"Baralai said to me that he was going to save you," I said, "and that he was finally going to tell you he loves you-just be patient."
"Your five minutes must be almost up," said Paine, tucking my dagger away someplace and looking away.
"Hang in there, Paine."
"I will."
-
Paine's P.O.V.
It sounds pretty easy, doesn't it? Sitting here- waiting for rescue. Well it's not. It's boring as Hell, I swear. Two minutes is like two days here. Waiting… damn it all, where is everyone?