FFBE Script - Short Stories: Bazooka of Love

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Bazooka of Love
Heavenly Technician Lid's Story

Is This a Date!? (story)

(Lid and Jake are riding on an airship.)

Lid: Hey! Dilmagia's coming up ahead!

Jake: Whoa, you're right. It must be a really huge city if we can already see it from this distance. That's where I'll get to ride your airship, right? Just as we promised, right before our battle with Chaotic Darkness. A bit funny though, isn't it? We're taking an airship to go ride another airship.

Lid: You're making a huge mistake if you think they're the same! My airship's completely different. It's a lot smoother and more comfortable.

(She hops up and down excitedly.)

Lid, continued: Jake, look over there! You see that airship in the sky right now? I helped build it, too! It's small, but boy was it well-made. And I was quite particular about the construction of the turbine! The turbine's really important, because it converts crystal energy into propulsion! The mark of a great airship engineer is being able to draw out all the propulsion you can and...

Jake: ...

Lid: ...Jake, are you even listening!?

Jake: Yeah, of course I'm listening. How could I miss anything you say with that sweet voice of yours, Lid?

Lid: ...! I-I'm gonna go over there and look at other airships!

(She runs off out of earshot, and sweats.)

Lid: Th-that caught me off guard! "Sweet voice" he says! I mean, Jake's always saying stuff like that, but right now, it's just the two of us...

(She turns back to look at Jake, then turns away once more.)

Lid: ...Just the two of us? D-does that mean... This is a date!?

(She fidgets anxiously.)

Lid: Aaah! No no no, stupid me! That's impossible! Of course this isn't a date! ...This isn't the time to be swept away. Sakura said that Rain's in Paladia. So this is the last bit of time we'll have before our long journey. I'm sure Jake can't wait to see Rain again.... right...?

(She turns to look back at Jake and sees him talking with Aileen.)

Lid: Aaargh!!! I look away for one second, and this is what happens!

(She rushes to the two.)

Lid: Jake! What are you doing!? You just had to chat up another woman, didn't you?

Jake: Oh Lid, let me introduce you. This is Aileen. She's an amazing blacksmith. She used to make weapons for me.

Lid: Huh? Don't tell me... She's an old friend of yours...?

Jake: Aileen, this is Lid. She's young, but she's already a top-class airship engineer. Heck, she could even be the next Cid.

AIleen: Wow, that's impressive. Nice to meet you, Lid. I'm sure we'll get along as fellow engineers.

Lid(grumbling): ...Nice to meet you, too.

Eavesdropper (story)

(Lid walks up the stairs to where Jake and Aileen are reminiscing, then walks down a few steps.)

Lid: What's their deal!? They look waaaay too comfortable with each other... No, wait! Bad Lid! Eavesdropping is a terrible thing to do! Easy to say, but trying not to think about what they're talking about alone is making me ever more curious! No! that's still no excuse to be eavesdropping! (...) Then again... it's not really my fault if I accidentally overhear something from this distance!

(She walks up a few steps.)

Lid: Hmm... Repair...? They must be talking about Hake's weapon. I can't make it all out though...

Aileen: I do know more about... than anybody else.

(Lid jumps back. There is a buzzer sound.)

Lid: Know more about what!?

Jake: You're the only one I... Aileen.

(She jumps back again, another buzzer sounding.)

Lid: His only one!? I-I shouldn't jump to conclusions! O-of course! He's just talking about his weapon!

(She creeps up a few steps.)

Lid: But still... I wonder if she's one of his exes... I mean, Jake is a lot more mature and a bit cooler when he's with Aileen... Wait, what do I do? At this rate they're going to hook back up!

Aileen: The parts used in this weapon are made from old techniques that aren't used anymore.

(Lid reacts with a ! over her head at this.)

Aileen: The parts are tough to find even under normal circumstances, so I wouldn't even know where to start around here...

(Lid rushes up the stairs.)

Lid: Oh, I can help with that! Let me give you a hand!

Jake: Lid!? How long have you been over there!?

Lid: (Crap! I'm a terrible eavesdropper!)(This is my specialty though! So my mouth jumped the gun before I could think!)

(She sweats.)

Lid: Oh, uh... well... I can assure you I definitely wasn't eavesdropping! I just thought you might be finished talking by now, and I just happened to overhear that last part!

Aileen: Heheh. All right then, lead the way, Lid.

Lid: Of course! Right this way! (Alright, I'm in...! L-looks like this'll be alright after all!)

Shaken (Battle)

Jake: Are you okay, Lid? You seem down lately. If you're not feeling well, you should probably go back and...

Lid: What? You have a problem with me being around!? I'm abbbsolutely not taking a break.

Jake: ...? I was just worried about you. If you're fine, then that's great an all.

(Wave 1 of battle commences, and leads to wave 2.)

Aileen: Hey Lid... Are you into guys like Jake?

Lid: L-like!? Why would I like someone like him!? I'm more into cleaner-looking guys with slick hair and clean clothes like the first Cid. Even among the wild ones, the more stylish-lookign first Cid was the best. At any rate, I have zero interest in Jake.

Aileen: ...So older men, then?

(Wave 2 commences and leads to wave 3.)

Lid: You've been using that weapon Aileen made you for quite a long time, haven't you?

Jake Hmm? Yeah, I guess you're right... It's like the lover by my side, always keeping me safe.

Lid: L-lover!?

Jake: Wh-what's with you, Lid? You're screaming like a chicken with its head cut off...

Lid: (That weapon is very important to him after all.)(I wonder if that's because Aileen, the person who made it for him, is special to him as well...)

(Wave 3 commences. There is no further dialogue).

Splendid Cooperation (story)

(The three are walking in the junkyard. Lid reacts with a ! as she spots something ahead.)

Lid: There, that's the one! The machine's bound to have the parts we're looking for!

(The scene pans down to show the machine mowing down other machines.)

Lid(grumbling): ...It's totally out of control, too. Which is bizarre, considering it's old and virtually junk.

Aileen: Well, we didn't see anything else on the way here, so I guess we have to make do with that. Letting it rampage would be bad, but using brute force might damage the parts. What are we gonna do?

Lid: (Aileen's right.... How cool would it be if I came up with a solution right now, off the top of my cap!?)(And... ....nope, nothing! I don't think I can do this alone!)

Jake: Hah... piece of cake. We've got me... and dear Lid here.

Lid: Huh!?

Aileen: Oh? So, are you saying you have a plan?

Jake: With my marksmanship and Lid's mechabo, we'll lead it straight to the scrap heap. Nothing's impossible if we work together. Whaddya say Lid? Are you up for it?

Lid: ...Do you even need to ask?? Of course I am!

(She walks down to the path of the machine.)

Lid: You want my help, so get ready for the greatest help ever!

Uncontrollable Ancient Mech (Battle)

(NB: The dialogue happens before a boss fight; we see no action from the characters.)

Jake: Lid! Over there!

Lid: Okay! Leave it to me!

Jake: Well done, Lid! Perfect job!

Lid: We're got them cornered! Ready to quietly hand over your parts??

Aileen: You two make quite the combo! Now it's time to get to work.

What Can I Do? (Story)

Aileen: Jake, you've changed.

(Lid backs up and walks away.)

Jake: Huh...? How so?

Lid: Jake's changed, huh? I don't know anything about what he was like back then or their history together... When he's around Aileen, he feels like a grown-up. Kinda distant, even.

(She bows her head.)

Lid: ...I'm still a kid, I guess. Even so... isn't there something I can do to help as a friend...?

Group Work (story)

(Aileen is in the workshop, working on Jake's weapon. Lid walks in.)

Aileen: Hey there, Lid. What's up? Were you looking for me?

Lid: U-um... I... I want to help make weapons for Jake, too!

(Lid sweats.)

Lid, continued: Look, I know weapons aren't my field of expertise, but I make the best airships, and I can whip up small machines on my own, too! So I mean, I don't think I'd be slowing you down or anything, so I was wondering if, you know...

(Aileen turns her back on Lid.)

Aileen: ...You and I are both professionals. I'm sure you wouldn't want any novices interfering with your work because of some passing whim.

Lid(!): But I...

(Aileen turns back to lid.)

Aileen(🎵): Lid, I'm just toying with you. Still, I meant everything I said just now, but... I can tell you're not just asking on some whim.

(Aileen walks to Lid.)

Aileen: You're serious about wanting to do something that'll help Jake out, right?

Lid: Umm...

(Lid backs up a step.)

Aileen: Okay then! Now that that's settled, let's start by coming up with a design. Don't worry, I'll guide you through the process.

Lid: Do you think we can use this airship tech... to increase the power output?

Aileen: That's a great idea! That'll really boost it up a few notches!

(The scene fades in and out, showing passage of time. Lid stands at the worktable, Aileen to one side.)

Lid(grumbling): This really is kinda different from working on airships, huh...?

Aileen: It's okay, you've got good instincts. And I'm learning a lot buy approaching my work at a different angle, too. I usually prefer to work alone, but this kind of group effort could be fun once in a while, too.

(Another passage of time. Lid is at the worktable, Aileen by the computer. Aileen gets a lightbulb over her head.)

Aileen: ...Now, for the most important lesson. Do you know what Jake's type is?

(Lid gets startled.)

Lid: Pffffft! Wh-wh-wh-what are you...!?

Aileen: It might seem like Jake will pounce on any woman he meets, but he does seem to have a preference.

(Lid turns back to the worktable.)

Lid: ...Then I'm sure it's probably someone like you.

Aileen: Good guess, but nope!

Lid: No way, really!? B-but... it seemed like you two had good chemistry...

Aileen: Ah, you've misread the whole situation. Jake respects me as a weaponsmith, that's all.

(Aileen walks to stand in front of Lid.)

Aileen, continued: So, what'll it be? Do you want to know what Jake's type is or not?

Lid: ....Y-yeah, of course I do.

(Aileen laughs, and Lid grumbles.)

Closing the Distance (story)

(The scene opens in the workshop. Jake pulls out his new weapon, turns to Lid and gets a ♥ over his head. Lid, agitated, wallops him with her hammer, sending him sprawling to the floor!)

Jake: Th-that one hit pretty dang hard, Lid... You're so heartless....

Lid: S-Sorry...! Are you okay?

Jake: I'll survive... Actually, maybe not...

(He stands.)

Jake, continued; You're getting cuter by the day, so I guess it makes sense that your hammer skills have gotten better, too....

Lid: (W-way too close!)(But more importantly, how is it that even Jake's picked up on me!?)(He knew right away that I made his weapon... Could it be...? Does he...?)

(Jake collapses on his knees.)

Jake: ...My dear, sweet Lid. I think this is it... My time has come. I always wanted to see my first love one last time... And that one maid... and that gal in the town I always go to.... Not to mention that foxy lady I just saw... oh, and of course, there's...

Lid(...): ...

(She wallops him again.)

Jake: The sweet kiss of death!?

Aileen: ...Oh Lid, you're gonna have a hard time with this one...