A Sky Pirate's Troubles [Bevelle]

[Griever]

-Balthier-

So this was Bevelle. The home of Yevon, a name that seemed to be spoken by those who were familiar with it in equal portions of reverence and disdain. Its grandeur could easily rival Archades, Balthier couldn't help noticing as he walked through one of its crowded streets, a fact that the capital's citizens would certainly never admit.

A city so famed for its long history and dark secrets no doubt had its fair share of rarities, he mused. But claiming them would have to come later, if at all. He found his appetite for thieving considerably lessened after the mess in Treno.

His priority now was finding a suitable place to have his airship repaired, provided a place like this had the right parts. One never knew in the unfamiliar cities, with so many types of ships filling the skies now, and then there was the matter of getting enough parts to the Strahl to bring her into town - something that was far from an easy task with the state they'd left her in.

On second thought, his current course was best rerouted to the nearest bar. This was precisely why he hadn't wanted to pick up any strays. They always invited the worst sort of trouble.

But with his mind on strays, he couldn't help wondering where a certain blonde had disappeared to. He and Celes had been separated upon their arrival to the busy city, and though he didn't doubt she'd normally have a sharp remark about how she could take care of herself for him if he spoke to her about it, he wasn't fond of the thought of leaving an amnesiac to fend for herself.

Things had become far too tangled far too quickly for his tastes, but it seemed there was no backing out now. He'd have his drink, he'd find the girl, and he'd get them to Balfonheim as quickly as possible.

[Hiko]

As she had suspected, the coming of the new city had brought with it an abrupt change in party. No longer in her company were the child, the animal, the dashing captain, or...
Or the bandit.
Celes shivered despite the warmth of the day and rubbed at her arms as she walked through the streets of Bevelle. The city was endless in its long-walked streets, in its soft prayers, and in its proportion. The blonde felt no small amount of insignificance at the newfound sights, and wondered what she would do with herself if abandoned here.

A young man passed, and after having caught her glance, turned back.
“Praise be to Yevon,” he said in a soft voice, his hands all the while motioning in an unfamiliar gesture. Celes hesitated, unsure of what to do or say. Slowly, she attempted the motions in return.
“Ah, Y-Yevon be praised.”
“Ahaha, you're new here, aren't you?” the man asked, eyes sparkling.
“It's obvious. I'm sorry, I – well, I really don't know what Yevon is.”
“Ah, is that so? Yevon has governed Spira for – ah, but I suppose that matters little to you. Or to anyone anymore. Spira is as much a part of this world as everything else, now. But we are still Yevon's people, and – Oh. Where..?”
Celes, during the man's explanations, had backed away into a small shop. She watched from a small distance as she believer looked around for any trace of her presence.
She was immensely gladdened when he finally gave up the search. There was just something about the talk of gods and men that bothered the blonde. She couldn't put her finger on it, and as she waved off an older merchant, she wondered if it had anything to do with this horrible nightmares.

Please, she thought to herself, don't let them leave me here. I don't think I'm suited for life with God.

[mattsukun]

~Nyna~

The young al-bhed girl had only gotten more nervous since reaching Bevelle. She had never been here before, but she had been told of the people who lived here. Living on her own, she never really had gotten a firm understanding of Yevon or these people's beliefs and now she was only becoming more confused.

The entire city looked unlike anything she had seen before. She wasn't sure if she was safe here or not. If these people liked or hated those of her own homeland. Too nervous and too shy to ask, she had quickly ducked into a nearby store. She could feel herself becoming more nervous as she fought to hold back the oncoming tears.

"wh-where are they? Nice lady and that man...wh-where'd they go?" She mumbled to herself as she looked around frantically, stay in one of the back corners of the item shop. Hopefully they would find her, hopefully those scary men who shot them out of the sky had given up on finding them.

[Griever]

A short while later and a few gil poorer, Balthier emerged from one of Bevelle's taverns and again began to wander the city's grand streets. Occasionally he would pass bald men or hat-wearing women in brightly-colored robes, and where they went, strange, complex bows seemed to follow. He had heard rumors that Bevelle was quite the pious city, and it seemed they hadn't been exaggerated. It was a strange thing, being in a place so entirely unfamiliar. He had seen the entire world before the Merge, but now it seemed everything was different and new. One could never guess what there was to find in the next town, anymore, for good or bad.

Now, where to look for a woman who couldn't recall her own name? The docks, of sea or of sky? No, she didn't know where she was from or where she had been. She had nowhere to go, and in turn no one to go to. Certainly not to the temple; it was a place for Yevon's faithful, not for lost tourists. The shops, then? As good a place as any to start. Perhaps she still carried some of her gil.

Though he didn't know his way around Bevelle, he didn't have trouble finding its center of business. The shops, with their bright signs and calling employees, did their best business with those who passed quickly through their town, and as a result made great efforts to attract their attention. A woman standing at a booth sold charms bearing the symbol of Yevon, claiming them to be tokens of good fortune. It didn't take a keen eye to see how some scoffed at her. Yevon, then, wasn't quite so prevailing in the city as it once had been. Nearby, another merchant presented fine woven garments, for show more than practicality, with prices that reflected it. Turning from it, Balthier caught sight of yet another sign, hung just outside the door of a small establishment. It didn't take the ability to read Spira's script to know what the sword drawn beneath the letters meant.

A fair place to look. He passed through the doorway, finding within well-made blades varying in shape and color, gloves with clawed knuckles, and staffs clearly made for the channeling of magicks lining the walls. There was something of a crowd within, which came as no surprise, with the ever-increasing amount of travelers. But what of Celes? For all the people, not a single blonde to be found--

Ah. A glimpse of bright yellow between a couple standing in front of him caught his attention. He stepped around them, then slipped behind a middle-aged man inspecting a spear before he finally reached her.

"Funny, I thought the blade you're wearing was good enough. Or you were planning to take up the staff?"

[Hiko]

The pilot's voice behind her startled Celes, and she twitched involuntarily in a slight jump. She turned and eyed the man sheepishly.
“I, ah. It's not exactly like I can remember how to use it. It feels familiar, my hands grip the hilt and meet worn grooves, but...” Celes trailed, glancing at a set of daggers, then back to Balthier, “And anyway, I didn't come in here looking for weaponry. I was trying to avoid one of those... Those... Whatever they are. Some man started praising Jevon or Yebon or something like that. Made my skin crawl.”

Celes shifted uncomfortably as she watched passing couples and intrigued consumers. Her fingers glance against the hilt of her blade, rubbing at the leather braiding. When she spoke once more, her eyes were not met with Balthier's, but rather, at the immaculate floor.
“You're going to leave me here, aren't you.” It was a statement more than it was ever a question. Celes was certain of the man's intentions, for who could want such a burden on hand for longer than was required of them?
“It's all right, really. I – well, I understand. You got me this far. Sprawling city, hundreds of helping hands, it makes sense. I, I'd like to wish you and that anim – Fran. I'd like to wish you luck, wherever you end up going.”

[Griever]

A slight frown crossed the sky pirate's face. This woman, jumping at his voice, troubled by a passing conversation, was not the one he had met in Treno. She had a strength to her then that seemed to have all but faded with her memory. Once she had spoken up in outrage over the thought of being left behind in a strange city, despite the sword she carried and the courage she had shown in battle, but now, with the knowledge of her own defenses gone, seemed all too willing to accept it.

He could have easily left behind the stronger woman, and wouldn't have had a second thought for it. But not this one. Not when that damnable sense of duty that liked to pop up at the most inconvenient of times said on no uncertain terms that it was his fault she was like this.

"If you want to stay here, that's your choice." Balthier didn't look at her as he spoke, but glanced around at the weaponry, noting with some disapproval the lack of guns. "But if not, I wouldn't recommend letting Fran hear you speak of her that way. It's considered quite rude, you know."

He turned around then, but didn't yet make a move to leave. "I should warn you, if one of Yevon's faithful makes you this jumpy, I'd suggest taking your leave of this place before you meet the rest. I've heard more than a few unpleasant things about the worst of them. Can't say Balfonheim is much better, but at least you won't have some unfamiliar religion shoved on you the moment you step outside."

[mattsukun]

~Nyna~

The young girl had momentarily forgotten her troubles as her eyes danced over the items in the store. She could feel the urge slowly building in her stomach, her mind teasing her and telling her to do it. At first she managed to fight off the urge, but she couldn't stop herself from looking over the potions and ethers and antidotes.

Looking around her briefly she quickly snatched up a few potions that were lining the shelf. Not watching out she backed up and bumped into someone. Her eyes widened and she gulped as she slowly turned around to see Balthier who had turned to start to leaving.

"I should warn you, if one of Yevon's faithful makes you this jumpy, I'd suggest taking your leave of this place before you meet the rest. I've heard more than a few unpleasant things about the worst of them. Can't say Balfonheim is much better, but at least you won't have some unfamiliar religion shoved on you the moment you step outside."

Nyna smiled lightly, tears showing in her eyes as she quickly pocketed the items she had taken for herself and hugged Celes. "Nyna found you!"

OOC: Hope this is okay. ^^;

[Hiko]

Celes winced. She'd been trying to think of the leporid companion as a person rather than the animal she resembled, but it was just so odd. She nearly spoke up to apologize, but cut herself off when the pilot continued on about their current location. Celes edged closer to the man as a gruff looking patron passed by, scowl set on his face.

Balfonheim?
Bevelle?
Did it really matter where he left her?
“It doesn't,” she answered herself quietly, eyes now planted on the rack of staves, “It doesn't matter where I go. Everything is unfamiliar. We could find my hometown, my family, friends, lovers – it'll all be unfamiliar. For all I know, I could have believed the same faith as the man outside. But I just...”

Celes cleared her throat and blinked away the wetness at her eyes. Why did it all have to be so frustrating? Why couldn't she recall old habits, feelings, anything? No, better to leave memories to her sleep, when everything turned back to that hideous face, that confrontation, and their fall.
She shuddered, despite the happy girl's embrace.

((ARGHBlARGH CARP POST.))

[Griever]

"Well, if it's any consolation, you didn't seem the religious type to me." Of course, he had barely met her before the airship crash, but when the attack had commenced and the ship had begun its descent from the sky, there had been no utterance of Yevon's name or any other from her. When compared to the followers of Yevon or the Kiltias of the Light, who couldn't seem to go a moment without a reference to their faith, he couldn't imagine he was wrong about her.

"It's your choice, though. Stay here, think of what you don't know and can't remember, or come with me and try to find what you do. In the worst case, you'll make new memories. I can't guarantee they'll be pleasant, but I'd wager they'll be better than nothing."

He watched her for a brief moment, then proved that he hadn't been ignoring the other familiar face, catching the young girl by the arm. "As for you..." He lowered his voice, clearly addressing Nyna despite his eyes lingering on Celes, "I'd suggest being more subtle if you're going to partake without paying."

[mattsukun]

~Nyna~

"Wh-wha?" She looked up at him nervously, then quickly looked down at the floor, tracing a circle in the floor of the circle with the tip of her shoe. "I...I didn't do anything."

Just when she had been caught by him she remembered how she had been caught by Celes when they first met. "N-Nyna was...uhm...uhm..." She fumbled over her words, knowing she couldn't cover herself fast enough with this and hoping her female savior would stand up for her like before in Treno.

[Hiko]

New memories? It wasn't the worst option available, in all honesty, and Celes was hard-pressed to think of a reason to stay. She gave a small nod at the man's comments and glanced over to their young companion.
Wait.
She'd stolen?
Celes frowned down at the girl. She couldn't fathom why anyone would want to steal from a weapons shop, but – weren't there bottles on those shelves when she came in? No, they must have been bought. The girl was too kind-eyed to have been a thief.

“Erm,” she said, feeling all-too-eloquent. She looked from Balthier to Nyna and back again.
“Well, I – uhm. If she says she didn't do it, then she didn't do anything. Could we leave, then? I don't think I can handle staying here longer than necessary...”

((Blrg.))

[Griever]

There it was, then. The reassembly of their mismatched team. He wasn't sure which was worse, between Nyna's failed denial and Celes' blind faith in her, but either way it seemed they would both be coming along. And he couldn't fault Nyna, not really - even the famed sky pirate Balthier had once been a boy, naive and inexperienced.

"We'll be traveling by public airship," he informed the pair as he led them out of the shop and back into the sunlight. "It'll be some time before the Strahl's back in working order, and I don't intend to sit around here waiting until she is. Balfonheim Port's not far. We'll decide our next move from there."

Not that Celes or Nyna would have much of a choice about where they went, really. He doubted the blonde would care much, and the little thief was too shy and jumpy to suddenly begin throwing about orders. As for himself, Balthier hadn't put a thought toward what their next destination would be. Balfonheim was a busy place, though, and much more so since the Merge. He would first see about a selling price for his most recent acquisition, and then see what other unusual prizes were the town's subject of the moment.

"I do hope you've still got your gil. I'd rather not pay for three."

(ASHJIFSIFHASIHRE SHORT AND EXTRA-CRAPPY I'M SORRY. But it's something?)