The Skycity of Bhujerba was as lively as ever, and it didn't lack excitement for those who were just sitting around and waiting for their companions, either. Penelo, Basch and Ashe had gone to the Lhusu Mines to kill a couple of random skeletons for the Bone Fragments the party could sell for extra gil, while Fran had gone to find supplies. Vaan didn't consider himself needed, so he was sitting on the railing around the air dock and watching people come and go.

Balthier had originally gone with Fran, but he had gone his way at some point and now wandered over to the blond. "Here," he said, to catch to younger man's attention. "Hold onto this for a minute would you?"

"Eh?" Vaan asked, picking up the bottle Balthier offered to him. "What's this?" He raised the bottle and read the label. "Bhujerban Madhu," he read. "Oh, hey, that's the local booze. I thought I heard someone around complain that's gotten rare now. Where'd you get this from?"

"That's something you ask from a thief," the sky pirate replied. "Just put it into your bag. It'll come in handy later."

Vaan did as told, although he was still curious. He hopped down from where he had been sitting and stretched his arms. "What are you doing hanging around here anyway? I thought you were with Fran."

"That I was, however, something came up," Balthier explained. "Let's just call it sky pirating business opportunities."

"Business?" Vaan shrugged. "Well, we could use the gil for new equipment and such. Hey, if it makes money, I'm interested. Could learn a thing or two from a more experienced sky pirate. So gonna tell me what kind of business did you find? Or wait," he glanced at his bag. "That's got something to do with it, doesn't it?"

Balthier nodded before turning around and looking at the city. "You said it yourself - you had heard it's gotten rare. Goes for about 250 gil in shops usually, but now that they're out of stock..."

"Oh..." The younger man grinned. "So you're got a buyer in mind?"

"Not just a buyer, there are plenty who are after this. I've already sold a couple of bottles of this for good profit," Balthier replied as he started to walk towards the town. Vaan followed after him, impressed by the older man's eye for business opportunities. "The locals are getting, I should say, rather desperate. Anyone as experienced as I am would notice this and... Relieve their distress. Just keep your eyes open, lad. I'll have use for those."

Vaan wasn't too sure what the other man was talking about, but he did keep his eyes open - and while they walked thought one of the town areas, something caught his eye. "Hey, Balthier..." He noted, taking a few steps to the side of the street and picking up a discarded item. He dusted it a little, blinking. "Whoa. There's another bottle of the stuff here."

"Exactly what I was talking about," Balthier said. "Now let's look for the poor soul who would be in the need for some..."

They didn't have to look far; a Seeq on the same street was quite delighted by the sight of the bottle, and paid them 1000 gil for each bottle of Madhu. As they walked away, Vaan turned to the older man. "So wait, we just got 2000 gil. Not bad. Where'd you get that other bottle again?"

"It was lying on the Lhusu Square," Balthier told him. "Thus, we just made 2000 pure profit. Come along now, we need to see if there's more around."

"We...?" Vaan considered things for a second. "Damn it, you're pure genius."

"Just some finer points of seeing demand and realizing the goods are available," the older man replied. "A sky pirate would know that much. You should get yourself familiar with that, you never know when something is needed. And there are goods you'd have available..." Balthier stopped and studied Vaan for a moment, then smirked as the younger man turned around and looked at him questioningly. "Although I wouldn't mind rather just keeping these available for my personal use."

He walked past the younger man, patting Vaan's behind as he went past him. Vaan stared at him for a second, not sure what that had been about.

But if it was about sky pirating, he was sure Balthier could teach him later.