Ashe is a princess, and Fran, a pirate.

Both are graceful and elegant and women. And Penelo, well...

She tugs on one of her pigtails, thoughtfully. Penelo, she's in pigtails.

She can't swing a sword like Ashe can and she can't pierce an enemy from a distance like Fran. She's envious, she admits; and even worse: Mediocre.

Penelo wrings her hands together, squeezing her tiny fingers until they turn red and hurt and she's mildly pleased with herself.

She is young, not stupid. She sees the way the men look at them. The way Balthier grins when Ashe shashays by in her tiny red skirt, or how Vaan's eyes lock onto Fran's legs, tanned and toned and balanced perfectly atop those ridiculous shoes she wears which Penelo thinks aren't really a smart choice for battle, but what does she know?

Her thoughts are interrupted by the door sliding open, and she jumps up guiltily, even though she hasn't even done anything.

Balthier eyes her warily. "Why are you in my closet?" He asks, curiosity dripping from his words.

Penelo lifts her chin, half in defiance and half in need, because the sky pirate towers over her. "I was thinking." She explains lamely and she knows she sounds like a child.

Pigtails, pigtails, Penelo's wearing pigtails

"In my closet?"

She pushes past him, uncharacteristically flippant and heads toward the door to the hall. "It's the only quiet place I could find." She explains, not looking at him. She needs to get out of the room now, because she's so close to crying and she can't explain why and she certainly can't let him see. She grabs the doorknob and in a flash, Balthier is there, a foot planted in front of the door, blocking her escape.

"What is wrong with you?" He asks, not unkindly.

And then the tears are there, just barely pooling in her eyes and she realizes, sadly, just how silly she must look.

A long, drawn out moment passes between them, silent, save for the airship humming steadily.

Then he dips a hand into his vest, where his heart lay, and pulls his handkerchief out and hands it to her, wordlessly. She chuckles wryly in spite of herself and takes it.

Balthier reaches up and tugs on a pigtail playfully, breaking the tension. "I do love your hair." He says with a grin.

And just like that, Penelo can smile again.