… Hold on, what was that? A ‘golden tail?’

Calisto nearly fell out of her chair.

“W-wait… Aren’t you-?” She froze mid sentence. The young Burmecian didn’t realize it at first, but that was him! Zidane Tribal-! THE hero of Gaia!

For a moment she just stares at him, unable to form anything coherent. She can feel a blush creep up on her cheeks as the realization began to fully sink in. ’HolyCrestwhatdoIevensay’

“I… Uh, er…” She stammers, suddenly feeling the blush redden further on her face and ears. To be in the presence of one of her most revered heroes - this wasn’t quite how she imagined it to be!

“……”

“What’s the matter Calisto, Gimme Cat got yer tongue?” The voice of a Burmecian teased her from behind, earning a good amount of hooting and hollering from the rest of the pub.

“… O-oi, shut your gob!” Calisto turns to them and shouts at the group frantically, only increasing the laughter twice-fold.

Realizing how much of an uncivilized dolt she must appear to be, she buries her face in her claws, absolutely embarrassed by her and her friends’ playful antics. ’Helpimgunnadieeee’

This wasn’t exactly how he expected the other would react to his presence; he hadn’t even gotten the chance to introduce himself before noticing the somewhat endearing blush that crept up on her face. Just what was going on in that Burmecian’s mind? He never forgot a pretty face, so he knew that there was no way they were acquainted; that only left one remaining explanation.

He chuckled in amusement due to the the playful teasing going on in the room. Still, he played it off with a handsome smile and a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders. It seemed as though she couldn’t fathom his presence in such a normal setting, though places like this made him feel at home.

“The name’s Zidane!” he introduced himself with a tip of his drink, “Freya’s a dear friend of mine. You must show good promise to earn her favor. She’s always been very disciplined… you’re learning from the best and most honorable of Dragon Knights.”

The thief had no intentions of embarrassing her or pointing out the rather flattering reaction to his presence– after all, he’d always wanted to be famous!

“Calisto, was it?” he asked with a smile, “Couldn’t help but catch your name while your buddies were picking on you.”

"Uh, erm y-yep." She peeked up at Zidane from under her claws. Although expecting the worst after all that, she was instead greeted with a very warm and honest smile from the charismatic thief.

"I..." The blush wouldn't leave her cheeks. "Sorry I've just, um, heardalotaboutyou." Perhaps the most out of the group, in fact. You see, when she was living with Kal and his family in Lindblum, she had heard the story of how Zidane had rescued him and his wife from the tumbling statue in Burmecia.

And from there on, Kal would hear of even more stories from around the town, and then relay it back to Calisto, whom was always eager to hear more. The young girl was enamored by the tales of a scrapping young thief who risked all to help others with no question.

And now to meet him in person, she was absolutely floored.

"'Tis really an honor to meet you." She finally manages to say.