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balthier leading man should I stay or should I go now yo mi frio o lo sophio? if I go there will be trouble si me voy - va per peligro and if I stay it will be double si me quedo es doble so you gotta let me know me tienes que decir should I stay or should I go? yo mi frio o lo sophio? LJ » flashlight tag

this is a character journal for flashlight_tag roleplay community

Player Name: Stef
AIM Screen Name: WomenAtArms
Character Name: Balthier
Series: Final Fantasy XII
Age: 22
Affiliation: the highest bidder, as long as his cuffs don’t get dirty…

Physical Description: Average height, stocky and a snappy dresser, Balthier would look more at home in a period drama than on the streets of Tokyo. This is perfect, however, for a man who likes to take centre stage. Typically seen in tight black trousers and a gold-trimmed waistcoat, the only thing more flamboyant than his ruffled shirts is his personality. His sandy hair and twinkling eyes are often accompanied by a dashing smirk and he’s just as likely to turn heads as his Viera partner, albeit not the same ones.

He accessorises with brightly coloured rings, multiple earrings and, usually, an intricately engraved shotgun, which is kept close to hand in a holster across his back.

Personality: Balthier’s personality contains a conflicting mixture of the showman and the wary pirate—a man who will quite happily taunt the enemy, provided he can beat a clean and hasty retreat. Loyal, charming, and cunning as a fox he likes to talk his way into the hearts of his friends and trick his way into the bank vaults of his enemies. He’s also an exceptionally wordy fellow, more likely to send his adversaries running for a dictionary than he is to actually fight them.

He also likes to play the Casanova, though it’s the thrill of the chase he seeks. He’s a one-woman man at heart, most of the time, though many people wouldn’t believe it. Shiny things aren’t quite so satisfying once they’re in the palm of your hand, and Balthier likes to be kept on his toes as far as romance is concerned.

There’s a dark side to his character, for those unfortunate or foolish enough to seek it. A turbulent childhood has left him with skeletons in his closet, and there are certain things he’d rather keep to himself. Though he is often sarcastic, in a good-natured manner, he is rarely ever angry. Those who do provoke him, however, are likely to regret doing so—there are certain things he’ll fight for and he’ll fight dirty, self-preservation taking the backseat until it’s needed.

Abilities/Strengths/Weaponry: He may look like a bit of a dandy, but Balthier can hold his own in a fight. Whilst not the most skilled bare knuckle fighter he knows how to throw a punch or two, and isn’t beneath fighting dirty if he thinks it will gain him the advantage. His real skill lies in his talents as a marksman; he’s a mean shot with his trusty shotgun. The highly polished, intricately engraved Formalhaut is the only weapon he carries, save a pocket knife for use in a bind and an ego twice his size. Other weapons, when available, will be tried just for the fun of it, but nothing (so far) has come close to his gun in a fight.

He’s also a skilled pilot, and self-proclaimed captain of the dubiously acquired Strahl.

Weaknesses: Balthier is not the strongest man, nor is he the bravest, although he makes up for that by being fast on his feet. He’s more inclined to rely on clever words and escape plans—or cons and cheap tricks—than he is to rely on muscle, skill or silence. For one so convinced he is the leading man he finds stepping back from the limelight difficult, and does not find it easy to take orders from anyone.

Problems also lie in his inability to hold his tongue. Whilst he is perfectly happy to run and fight another day, he’ll never leave without a witty or sarcastic comment. Those who don’t manage to catch up with him—and there are a lot of people that fall into this category—are unlikely to forget the silver-tongued pirate, leading to a hefty price upon his head amongst certain circles.

He also has the attention span of a magpie. If it’s expensive, shiny, or in some way important at some point you can guarantee it will be Balthier’s.

History: Balthier didn’t find himself in Tokyo until January 2499, aged sixteen and completely unprepared for what would be thrown at him.

Little is known about Balthier before this point, mainly because he does his best to cover up his past. For one thing it clashes with his image, although occasionally it seems that the scars run a little deeper than his polished exterior. What is known is that he was brought up in Oxford, England—the accent is unmistakable—and that he learnt to disregard authority through his dislike of his father.

Tokyo came as a complete culture shock for the English teenager, so much so that it wasn’t long before he found himself in trouble. After a few months roughing it around the Ameyoko market he made himself an ultimatum: he either establish himself or return to England, tail quite firmly between his legs. Being the stubborn boy that he was he chose the first option, and began to dabble in the black market.

By the age of eighteen he was a little more experienced. Losing too many fights had left him with an array of skills his father would have been ashamed of, and that combined with his early-ingrained shooting skills meant he could look after himself far better. Taking on low level bounty hunts—mainly “acquiring” things for people without getting caught—he was able to fend for himself, and more importantly arm himself. Now, armed but not entirely dangerous, he was able to aim a little higher.

His prize possession, The Strahl, was dubiously acquired soon after that. Brought up to be charming and elegant, a little cleaning up and some good manners allowed Balthier to navigate Yanaka as though he owned the place, and the airship quite literally fell into his un-protesting hands. However, whether or not the owner gave it up without a protest remains to be decided.

With a knack for piloting and an airship it wasn’t long before Balthier was earning money ferrying contraband. General piracy was a little too boring for his tastes, however, and the notice boards still offered rich pickings for a skilled bounty hunter. Whilst skill he may have been lacking, charm he wasn’t, and it didn’t take him long to force himself fall into the company of his partner Fran.

By 2505 Balthier was a fully established bounty hunter and pirate, well known to the black market and the authorities alike.

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