The Palace of St. Bevelle

"Yeah, I got some Gil, so I'm gonna head off to the shop too. Oh. And Hitomi, you should probably stop at the inn, so you can restore your magic."

*She enters after Zephyr. Senthose walks out of the Maester's house.*

<Ugh. Women & getting ready for a trip. Amirite, guys?>
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<Am I busy today, or what? I suppose you're a pilgrimage en route through the Thunder Plains.>

"Yeah. How'd you know?"

<Years of experience, kid. In fact....>

*Luna shifts under his gaze.*

<...No, it's nothing. Forget about it. Anyway, which one of you wants to make a purchase first?>

"I suppose..."

*Hitomi wanders off to the inn.*

"I will... I'd like to buy a warrior's spirit sphere, leather arm guards, a slot, and an electrum sphere."

*Luna makes her own purchases & now she's poor again.*
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<Goodness, I'm popular today. It's 90 Gil a night. Would ya like to stay, little girl?>

"If you want more I can buy it for you Luna?"

"Yes."

*With a slight bitterness in her tone she puts the money on the counter.*

"Naw, I can't think of anything else right now."

*Hitomi wakes up not long afterwards & the group reassembles.*

<So. Is everyone ready NOW?>

"Yes."

[If he's so impatiant why doesn't he just leave?]

"Yes"

*Ark has somehow managed to find a baguette and is nibbling on it.*

Ark: <Mhm.>

<Then let's set off.>

*He turns into the Thunder Plains, Luna following him. They step out into an expanse of parched, blackened earth. Lightning flashes every few seconds from storm clouds overhead. Across the area are a few large lightning rods.*

*Hitomi follows at the back of the group*

[I don't like it here.]

Ark: <This is so creepy.>

*He walks up to Hitomi and pats her on the shoulder*

Ark: <(If you're scared, I can hug you.)>

Zephyr slips on his new arm guards and grins as he hangs at the back with Ark and Hitomi. "Hey Ark, Cu frah yna oui dfu kaddehk synneat?" he chuckles.

Ark: <Ku yfyo pavuna E lycdnyda oui.>

"Pudr uv oui, ku yfyo."

"Pid oui dfu syga y lida luibma" he teases further in a good natured way.

*Zeno walks toward the group while shaking his head. He was in Guadosalam recuperating from injury during the battle with the Crusaders, and took a boat there. He caught word that the group had passed through and decided to meet up with them again.*

Zeno: <I leave for a little while, and you're all talking in Al Bhed. Jeez.>

"Oh...hey, I didn't expect to see you again so soon!"

<Who's this asshole? Wait a second...shit.>

*He looks over the various individual's heads before getting hit by a bolt of lightning & dropping to the ground.*

<Ouch.>

Zeno: <And that's why I never spent a lot of time here when I visited my old man.>

*He steps slowly to the right and dodges an incoming bolt.*

Zeno: <Yeah, I know what you guys are probably thinking. 'The hell is this guy doing here?' or maybe even 'I want to kick his ass.' Either way, you guys are stuck with me.>

"That's reassuring. Welcome back to the team. We are discussing when Ark and Hitomi will tie the knot."

*Hitomi scowls and a red orb leaves Zephyr's body and enters Hitomi.*

"Hey what did you just do? DON'T GO TOUCHING MY ME PARTS WITHOUT MY PERMISSION!"

*Luna hugs Hitomi, squeezing her cheeks with her creepy Guado fingers.*

"Awww, don't be embarrassed, Hitomi, your feelings are perfectly natural!"

*Senthose gets up, brushing himself off.*

<Some would argue against that, actually. You should see the flak Maester Jyscal is getting these days. And unlike Ark, his wife doesn't look like a fish.>

Ark: <Why does this guy think we hate him, anyway?>

*He runs forward, leaping aside to dodge a bolt.*

Ark: <Let's get going already!>