Marcus Marcus is a temporary player character in " Final Fantasy IX " . He is a member of Tantalus and Blank ' s best friend , frequently referring to him as his brother and noting at one point , " There ' s only one man I call ' Bro ' " . He is also the lead actor in the play " I Want to Be Your Canary " and plays a character of the same name . Profile . Appearance . Marcus has a well - built physique and sports a more traditional pirate look . A light reddish bandana covers his entire head as well as the upper half of his face ; however , his large nose , two sharp teeth protruding from his lower jaw , and pointed ears are visible . He wears a blue sleeveless shirt with a large collar and is torn at the bottom . A strip of white lace peeks out beneath a thick brown leather strap across his torso . He wears an equally wide brown leather belt with silver buckle over a pair of blue shorts with lacing on either side of his groin . He wears brown ankle boots with white fur cover , buckled wrist braces and a white band on his upper left arm . He has gray lines tattooed from his shoulders down to his knuckles . He carries a sword on his left hip . Personality . Like his fellow members of Tantalus , Marcus is a skilled thief and actor . He is a kind - hearted , loyal friend who is always ready to help anyone in need . He proves to be a capable leader who is willing to set aside any differences to solve a problem . Story . Marcus is onboard the " Prima Vista " as it arrives in Alexandria . He helps Zidane fight Baku and acts out his part in the play " I Want to be Your Canary " while Zidane and Blank set out to kidnap Princess Garnet from Alexandria Castle . The play is interrupted when Zidane , Garnet , and an Alexandrian knight set on stopping the kidnapping , Steiner , stumble onto the stage . Garnet has studied the play , so she acts out the part of Princess Cornelia , the female lead , with Marcus . Steiner , who was supposed to improvise the part of Prince Schneider , challenges Marcus , Zidane , Garnet , and Vivi , a black mage who also found his way onstage . The " Prima Vista " takes off , but Queen Brahne opens fire on it , forcing it to crashland in the Evil Forest . Marcus helps the survivors as Zidane quits Tantalus and absconds with Vivi and Steiner to save the missing Princess from the monsters of the forest . Marcus regroups with Cinna and Baku and the three escape Evil Forest and set out to find their way above the Mist . The three decide to rescue Blank who was petrified in the Evil Forest while trying to help Zidane . They need the Supersoft , an item that can cure petrification . Only Doctor Tot in Treno has it , and so Marcus and Cinna travel there . They meet Garnet and Steiner on the way in the South Gate , and although Steiner is unhappy to make their acquaintance , Garnet feels guilty Blank was petrified while trying to help their group and decides to help Marcus . Marcus accompanies Garnet and Steiner to Treno where they find Baku already there . Baku sets them up to rob Tot of his Supersoft , much to Steiner ' s frustration . They get caught , but since Doctor Tot was Garnet ' s private tutor , he gives them the Supersoft . Marcus decides to return to Alexandria with it so he can access the Evil Forest . Garnet and Steiner accompany him , as they are returning there as well . Upon arrival they are captured by Zorn and Thorn . Marcus and Steiner are held captive in a suspended cage in the dungeons of Alexandria Castle , but they escape by sending the cage crashing down by rocking it . Marcus leaves Steiner to rescue Garnet , and makes his way to the Evil Forest to cure Blank . The two return to Alexandria just in time to save Zidane , Garnet , and Vivi from Zorn and Thorn and help them escape . Marcus participates in the struggle against Queen Brahne , who has extracted Garnet ' s eidolons and now wants her executed , along with Blank , Steiner , General Beatrix , and the Burmecia n Freya . Later , in Lindblum , Blank jokes that he and Marcus had to carry out the wounded bodies of the other three . Eventually , the rest of Tantalus arrive , including Ruby , Cinna , and Baku . After Brahne ' s death Ruby opens a mini theater in an Alexandrian alleyway , and Marcus , Blank , and Cinna help her . They decide to take Vivi to the first show and use him as a decoy so that Ruby won ' t scold them for being late . Marcus and Blank also help patrol the streets of Alexandria at night . After the Kuja attacks Alexandria with Bahamut , all of Tantalus except Ruby return to Lindblum to rebuild their headquarters that had been damaged in the attack by Atomos . Marcus briefly returns to Alexandria to help Zidane look for the missing Garnet after Hildagarde Fabool is rescued from Mount Gulug and returns to Cid ' s side , but subsequently returns to Lindblum where he remains . It is presumed Marcus ventures to Alexandria a year later to put on another play for Garnet , now Queen . Gameplay . Marcus is a thief and thus has high Speed and physical attack power . Marcus shares the same character slots as Eiko , and any stats he has when he leaves the party are transferred to her , because Marcus ' s level s don ' t carry over . Therefore , the more the player levels up Marcus , the more powerful Eiko will be when she joins , regardless of what level she is . With this Marcus / Eiko stat bug it is possible to exploit the game to get maximum stats to Eiko in the stances where Marcus can be leveled . Equipment . Marcus ' s main and only weapon of choice are swords , while his armor consist of hats , armlets , and light armor . Like Blank and Cinna , he can equip the otherwise female only Lamia ' s Tiara . Marcus ' s equipment option cannot be fully viewed unless the player hack all items into their inventory with a cheating device for the short duration of time that Marcus is in the player ' s party . Abilities . Marcus ' s battle commands consist of Attack , Steal , and Item . Since Marcus is only a temporary party member , he has no Trance bar nor any support abilities . He also cannot learn any new abilities found on equipment . He can steal , and any successful steals from Marcus contribute to the attack power of Zidane ' s Thievery ability , even before this skill is acquired . Etymology . Marcus ' s name may be a reference to Marcus Brutus in Shakespeare ' s " " . A fellow member of Tantalus , Cinna , is also a name of a character from the play .