"Bunansa," former Judge Magister Zecht intoned with a growl as the young man found a seat beside him. "Your kind is not welcome here."
"Balthier," the bespectacled youth corrected. "Like your former station, that title means nothing to me."
There was silence as the self-proclaimed Balthier ordered a scotch and placidly drank beside the burly pirate. The air was tense, but the young man seemed not to mind one bit.
"Reddas," the black man finally allowed, his upper lip twitching.
Balthier flashed a toothy grin. "Well met, Reddas."
"As you, Balthier," the pirate nodded with a hefty chug on his beer. "May I ask your purpose about these parts?"
"I chance heard of an infamous Sky Pirate who abounded here," Balthier explained. "And I thought I should like to meet him."
"Hn."
"I should like him to know he has a steady rival," Balthier continued nonchalantly. "With the fastest ship that has ever graced these lands - my pride, the Strahl."
"Ah?" Reddas could not help the predatory smirk. "But sleek ships bestowed upon by daddy's wealth do not make one the better pirate."
The young man weathered a glare and remarked quite tightly. "Airship cobbled together piece by piece by my own hand, I'll have you know." The lazy grin returned to his face. "Hence why I am assured of its apt velocity, and its vastly superior performance."
"A sky pirate you now assume yourself to be?" the dark-skinned man did not halt the throaty guffaw that burst from within. "Spectacles such as yours befit a scholar, morelike."
"And your pink breeches a whore," Balthier retorted easily, but with enough jest to avoid offense. "We shall see who is the better pirate. Heard you of the wealthy tradeship sailing from Arcadia to Rozzaria three days from tomorrow?"
"Is this a challenge?" Reddas lowered his ale as he met the other's eye. "Sky Pirate Balthier."
"On the matter of proving my skyship's honour, yes." Balthier paid his drink and stood, dusting off his white shirt delicately. "Are you up for it?"
Reddas patted his oft-jeered, oddly-hued pants and grinned a feral smile. "Against you? Always."
The next time Reddas saw the former Judge Ffamran mied Bunansa, he was distinctly lacking any glasses as he cheerfully waved from his cockpit, speeding away with his treasures, damn it all!

~~~

Just a drabble I drew to accompany the pic (: The canon-ity of this piece might be up for debate, since the destruction of Nabudis was set two years before the start of the game (right before Basch was accused kingslayer) and that's when Reddas quit being Judge - and Balthier left six years prior to the start of the game, so he probably has more Sky Pirate experience than Reddas. Alas~! Reddas hates Ffamran's father, btw, because Cid was the one who ordered him to use the stone without him knowing the extent of it's true destructive power.

And now, I really do actually have to do my homework. FUCK!

But lastly...I can't help it, but, REDDAS, WHY PINK PANTS. SRLY. WHY