For a few solid moments, Balthier stops dead and just stares. Actually, he does it with a hand on his hip and a quirked eyebrow, universal body language for, this is ridiculous. He half-hopes that Ba'Gamnan will look over in time to see that, because he would rather like to express his disapproval.

He could, however, do without being hauled off as ransom to fill Ba'Gamnan's coffers, however. To that end, he does not resist when Fran grabs his arm and pulls him off to a nearby alley.

"Do not make such a scene," she says, voice all too amused for present circumstances. "He searches not for you."

Balthier would like to point out that he would be looking for her, too because she's his accomplice and all, but remains silent for once. She's got a point; if Ba'Gamnan were looking for them, well... they would likely not have seen him first.

Still, he can feel his fists close and his finger twitch, and he would give anything right now for his gun and one clean shot. There's little he hates more than Ba'Gamnan.

"Then who is he looking for?" Penelo asks, bobbing about to keep the bounty hunter in sight.

"I don't know, but the poor bastard's really in for it now." Balthier forces the anger to drain off, to remain cool. "Whatever it is, I want to stay as far from it as possible."

He steers their little group back in the direction they need to go, with the Marquis' residence towering over the streets. Fran seems untroubled, but Penelo hesitates before following. And Balthier knows what she means. Ba'Gamnan is a certain omen of trouble. Even if his errand has nothing to do with Balthier, he won't rest easy with the Bangaa on the same continent as him.

Balthier has to hand it to Penelo - in the last two years, she must have learned a thing or two about people. For instance, when they'd first met her, she'd been something of a wallflower, though Balthier couldn't imagine why.

And just look at her now. As soon as they'd neared the gates before the Marquis' manse, she'd calmly asked Balthier and Fran to wait while she spoke to the guards on her own. And from what Balthier can see from his vantage point, Penelo's method of conversation starts with lots of gesturing and very stern looks, and ends with a lot of swaying hips and smiles. It is almost enough to bring a proud tear to his eye.

Of course, the plan also left him and Fran lounging in the shade on a nearby retaining wall, so that may well be why he is so pleased with the plan.

However, Penelo returns to them in a few moments, clothing intact and looking irritated. "They won't let us in."

"Really? I thought the bit at the end was quite charming. If I were a guard..."

Penelo shakes her head. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just trying to get Vaan back."

He nods sagely; he'd do the same. Well, not for Vaan, of course. Maybe to Vaan, but now he's getting off topic.

"We are still left without an entrance," Fran reminds them.

"Right. Right. It'd be quite simple if... I'm certain we could..." Balthier trails off, choking on the words. It's a peculiar thing, not knowing what to say. Balthier isn't sure he's ever encountered it before, and he knows he doesn't like it. He sputters a minute more, waiting for the plan to materialize, as it always does.

Penelo looks in askance at Fran who replies, "He knows not."

"That is not it, Fran!"

She smirks, and doesn't have to say anything else to continue the argument.

Penelo says their names in the background, only both Pirates are ignoring her.

"And anyways, I came up with the idea to try the Marquis," he pouts, "it's your turn."

"And you? Our leading man?h She smirks.

"You guys..." Penelo tries feebly.

"Penelo, we're trying to have an adult conversation. Just a moment."

Penelo is shaking her head, folding her arms in a gesture of annoyance that he's sure she's copied from him, but he isn't really paying attention to that just now. That is, until the spell hits him full in the chest.

"Penelo!" he tries to scold, but all he manages is opening his mouth and glaring at her. "Penelo, what in the name of all that is holy do you think you are doing?" is the next logical thing to say, only he can't get that out, either.

Silenced. Great. He throws her the most dignified incarnation of a dirty look, and then digs through his pockets for some damned echo herbs.

"Don't bother," Penelo says brightly. "You gave them to me to carry. And don't you help him," she adds, looking at Fran. "Just let me finish what I'm going to say."

Fran nods, ears twitching in amusement. Balthier pulls his hands from his pockets to give his best approximation of get on with it in hand signals.

"So, we've done this before," Penelo begins. "Gotten in to see the Marquis, remember?"

Balthier looks at her, exasperated. He knows this, only it doesn't seem to be helping them just now.

"The Marquis was really involved in the Resistance. And I know they're gone now, so don't give me that look. But he had a whole bunch of people working on it with him. Pirates, Queen Ashe, and all those city guide guys.h She looks around as if for assurance, but she's definitely not getting any from Balthier. "We can't talk to them all, but we can try what we know."

He quirks his head, hopefully to make her complete her speech and move on; he's not trying to express approval.

"The guides. Par... Parijanah, I think? We know where they all hang out off-duty. And that's how we got in last time."

"The Cloudborne," Fran says, and Balthier wonders why the hell Penelo couldn't have silenced her, too. It wouldn't have mattered much, but it would have made it less unfair.

"Exactly," Penelo says happily. "We could start there. I know it's not a guarantee, but it's a start."

Balthier shrugs and nods. It's not the brilliant, elegant plan he'd hoped for, but implying any less will probably leave him cursed all afternoon. Penelo claps her hands in delight and turns on her heel. She starts walking, a slight skip to her step. After all, it's not every day that a street urchin cuts the mighty Balthier down to size (thank the gods).

Fran turns to follow, and then Balthier turns to real panic, because he is not going to walk about Bhujerba muted by Penelo of all people. He stamps his foot, and when that fails to garner him the attention he wants, well...

He does the only logical thing. Balthier draws Fomalhaut, aims in straight up in the air, and fires.

Most everyone in the vicinity freezes, fear written on their expressions. The Marquis' two gate guards exchange glances, wondering if they should arrest the silent lunatic with a deadly weapon. Penelo, however, turns and eyes him calmly (Fran doesn't turn, just puts her hands on her hips).

"Oh, sorry Balthier, I forgot!" The counterspell hits him, and frees him of Silence. He growls once, just to make sure everything's working again.

The gun is re-holstered, and Balthier starts in with a litany of curses and oaths that will not only take him the entire trip to the Cloudborne to complete, but will also make Penelo think twice before she ever tries that on him again.

Or perhaps it will entice her to make the next spell permanent.