The group needs supplies, and Balthier has an idea...

"Are you certain this is absolutely necessary?"

"Would I have said it if it were not?"

Ashe and Balthier both had their arms crossed, and the Princess's eyes were narrowed while his were raised with a smirk.

"Yeah, do we have to?" Vaan whined. "It's so much work!"

Balthier broke his stare from the princess and rolled his eyes at the boy. "All you have to do is act, and Penelo's doing most of it."

"I must admit… for the needed supplies, this charade is rather well thought out." Basch interrupted Vaan before he could get a word you.

This statement did surprise the skypirate slightly. You see what they were going to do was…well, it wasn't exactly illegal. After Balthier took note of the meager food and personal care items remaining to the party, and that their weapons and armors were mediocre at best, he had devised a scheme to get them said items at a…discount. After all, it was not stealing if the vendors willingly gave them the objects, was it?

"Well I'll be damned!" Balthier finally spoke. "It's fun to live on the edge, isn't it Captain?"

When Basch gave no reply, he waited a moment and then addressed them all. "So everyone remembers what they are to do, correct? Vaan, you are trying to feed your poor sister, distraught by the loss of your parents and the man she loved in the war. Penelo, it'll help if you weep for your beloved by name. I'm sure you can come up with one. You play their heartstrings, okay?" Penelo and Vaan nodded, and set off towards the food market. "Fran, well, you know your role well. Basch, remember to act as if you are classes above everyone. Admire the armor and weapons, and then Fran shall work her skills." The two set off.

Balthier smirked. "And that leaves us, Princess."

"But I do not understand why playing the role of your fiancée is going to help us get soaps."

Balthier raised an eyebrow. "You will see. Now, remember to be the more realistic one. Let me admire and dream, and you have to be the one who is mournful to bring me back to the truth. Is that easy enough to understand?"

Ashe sighed. "I suppose."

"Good." He wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Wha-"

"Shh! Ashe, stay in role! Now, lean your head slightly against me."

Begrudgingly, she did so. "And why could Fran not play this part?" She whispered as they walked.

"Because Fran's skills are of better use elsewhere, and she does not like it when we are mistaken as a couple, so why would she pretend such a thing?" Balthier said, the tone serious but the look on his face not matching at all, as it was set to fit the charade.

Reaching the first vendor, Balthier kissed the top of her head then gently removed his arm. The look on her face was mistaken by the woman selling the soap as being upset to be out of the arms of the man she loved, whereas her look was really more upset that he kissed her without warning he would do so.

"Ah, my dear Amalia," he chuckled. "While it is a true joy to have you so close, truly our public displays of affection should not continue whilst browsing this sweet woman's merchandise."

"But, my darling…" Ashe tried not to gag, still unsure as to why she had to pretend to be engaged to him, "you know as well as I if my father finds out your brother stole the money for our wedding, he will send me off. Our time may be limited."

"Do not think like that, my dearest!" He seemed genuinely upset by her words. He stopped browsing through the soaps and turned towards her. "You know I have enough saved for us to wed, and I shall not let your father separate us again as he did when we were children. No, we shall have as grand a wedding as I can come up with… though I am sorry the travel plans for our honeymoon must be canceled."

Honeymoon? Where was he going with this? Thinking quickly, she dropped her eyes and looked away. "We would never have been able to travel to Dalmasca anyways…"

"You have been so negative since my brother betrayed the company… " His tone was of soft confusion, as if he couldn't see why his beloved would not still be overjoyed. He locked eyes with her for a few moments then turned back to browsing. "Ah, but my dear, we should not dwell on such things, should we?" He picked up one of the soaps, taking in a deep breath. "Ah! This would be a lovely scent for you! It smells of the blossoms of the trees in the Golomore Jungle! And look, it comes in a bath oil and hairwash too!"

"We cannot afford anything but plain soap right now, my darling." Her voice was like one might use when speaking to a child. Ashe turned to the woman behind the counter and shook her head. "He always dreams like this." Her accompanying sigh sounded as if she was fond of that fact.

"And look! They carry that scent I know drives you crazy when I use it! You remember, the one that you told me reminds you of the days we spent traveling the Estersands! Amalia, we must get these for our honeymoon!" He grinned widely, as if he had not heard her last remarks at all. "We can travel by airship, and make stops all over Ivalice! And you remember that nice resort on the coast? We can go there, and oh! I could get a new dress for you, one that makes your beautiful eyes stand out, to replace your old one, and I'll get us a private table on the beach, with candlelight and the finest of wines and-"

"Stop it! Stop it! There will not be a honeymoon! Everything we worked for is lost! Please… get your head out of the clouds," Her voice was raw and she even managed to get a tear to trickle from her eye. "We won't be traveling, or staying on the coast. I won't be able to afford a nice wedding dress, much less a new frivolous one an…and…-Now, hand me the money so we can the plain soap and get home!"

The woman running the stall had begun to pity them. The poor woman… to lose the possibility of her wedding and spending the days after with such an attractive man. They must have lost quite a bit of money, for they certainly seemed well traveled. She had a soft spot for young couples, and especially ones who were truly in love. And she could say for sure there was true love here.

Balthier wore a stunned expression, one of disbelief. "Now, my dear… I'm sure-"

"You are impossible! Couldn't you try to… No, never mind. I'm leaving! I…" Ashe turned and 'fled', ducking behind the corner so she could watch.

Balthier's eyes followed her, an unreadable expression in them. He then turned back to the woman. "I'm sorry you had to see that little spat. My sweetest… All I want to do is give her the world, but she can no longer dream as she once did. I only wish I could take the sadness of her past and make her realize how much of a future lies ahead… Anyways, how much is the soap? I only have 100 gil and-"

The woman shoved the plain soap into his hands, and smiled softly. "It's on me. You really love that girl, don't you?"

His eyes softened. "She's the best thing to come into my life."

"I could see it in your eyes. How long have you known her?"

Balthier smiled softly. "It seems as if it's been forever. She's one of the brightest spots in my life right now… I wonder if she even realizes how much so?"

"Then take these as well," She handed him the baskets of soaps containing the scents he had earlier chosen, "as a wedding gift. You take care of her, okay?"

Balthier nodded, grinning. "Thank you for this… perhaps it will cheer my darling up!" He too then left the stand, coming around the corner.

"That was some pretty impressive acting, Amalia." He chuckled, handing the things to her and taking her hand. "You're very good at improvisation."

Ashe grinned. "It was… more fun than I had anticipated. And at the end there… you almost had me believing you loved me! I mean…Well, can you imagine that?"

"I…no, I suppose I can't." He missed one beat… but it spoke volumes.

Ashe, however, hadn't heard this silence, that lone beat. "Well, we have a few more things on our list… Shall we, my darling?" She batted her lashes playfully and leant her head against him. "It's rather exciting, isn't it? This acting?"

"Yes… this is exciting." He said softly, wrapping his arm around her waist so they could continue their little charade… or at least, what one believed to be a charade.