melodiesoflife | "everyone, we leave at dawn."

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"everyone, we leave at dawn."

Characters (ou) Yuna & OPEN.
Where Aqures Ixen → County of Flence → Temple of Water.
When Starting November 18 until the 28th.
Summary Killing two birds with one stone; in search of the Black Mage moogle in Flence, it seems as good a time as any to visit the Temple of Water.
Warning None... yet.

AIRSHIP. (nov. 18 & 19)
Making preparations for a trip like this was a definitely easier said than done. Yuna had made arrangements with the airship crew already, making sure that there was space enough reserved for the party, and as she left the grocer in the city, provisions was another thing that she could cross off of her list. She didn't quite know what sort of jobs the others would be equipped with, but she took her own precautions as best she could, seeking out one of the smithies in order to have her staves and rings looked at. She still felt most at ease wearing the same sort of armour that she would at home and now, dressed in her usual summoner's robes, she couldn't help but feel nostalgic.

When finally the morning of the 18th rolled around, Yuna was one of the first people on deck that morning. She could bee seen struggling with several trunks and packages, trying to line them up and out of the way, chuckling softly to herself. Were she here, Lulu would surely have scolded her again for trying to bring so much...

FLENCE, FISHING TOURNAMENT & RESTAURANTEERING. (nov 20 - 24)
It was quite the breath of fresh air as they touched down in Flence. It was certainly warmer here than when they had left the city, and for that, Yuna couldn't be more glad. The change of scenery really was... nice, she had to admit.

There was a different kind of hustle and bustle to get used to here, but as crowds started to gather, so too did she, in order to see what was going on. "Ah, it looks like... A fishing tournament?" the thought seemed to bring a smile to her lips, reminding her of the simple lives she and Wakka, Lulu and Chappu had led in Besaid once upon a time.

But fishing wasn't for everyone, and really, there wasn't that much excitement in watching anyway, but the smells from the restaurants nearby were enough to entice you inside as well. It seemed as though there were sales everywhere, people excited by the deals but really... Yuna didn't have that much gil to spare, especially if some of those that had accompanied her expected to be paid. Still, it didn't stop her from pausing at windows every now and again to see what creations the chefs and bakers had come up with.

TEMPLE OF WATER. (pilgrimaging it nov. 25 - 28)
Well... this was it. This was the reason she'd come. It was true that no religion seemed to surround the temples, and while she was quietly grateful for that there was still something inside of her that stirred as she stepped out of the city and on the road to the temple.

With each of her steps, her mind wandered to her guardians... what were they doing now? Were they all right? How long had it been since she'd seen them? How much -- destruction had Sin caused in her absence? Or -- was it true that time that was simply standing still? To anyone walking alongside of her, it was obvious that she was bothered by something as she made her way to the temple in the distance. Once in awhile the party may come across a cockatrice, blue elemental and touch me(s) during the day or seeker bats at night.

When they finally arrived, she made her way to the crystal room standing in awe of the Water Crystal itself for a few moments -- before lowering herself to her knees slowly and offering Yevon's Prayer. Perhaps the gesture didn't mean to her what it once had, but... it was still a show of respect.

It had been a longer trek than she had realized, making her wonder if perhaps they should spend a night or two in order to truly explore the place. With the sun setting, she hoped that the caretakers wouldn't mind...

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That's right. Fishing really, really wasn't for everyone. Fishing was especially not for those who might eschew the typical practice of fishing. You know, the one where you would use a fishing pole. A good example of that being exactly what would happen just before Yuna might begin to drift away to other places.

From out on the docks came an mild uproar, mostly of surprised shouting and people scrambling back to avoid something. All of that was punctuated by a great fish, about the size of a man, being swung up onto the nearby dock, landing with a loud slap of scales against the planks. That would have been the something being avoided. Clambering on up right after it, a fairly burly fellow, absolutely soaked through but grinning nonetheless. Not that the grin would last for long, when a moogle in little glasses and the officials running the tournament flocked over. From there on, it would sound like they were scolding him, not congratulating! To which he could only reply:

"Whaaat? What do you mean disqualified? You don't need a fishing pole to catch a fish!"

The moogle in glasses waved his arms in the air, frantic, all but shouting back, "Yes, you do! It's in the rules! I told you to read them first, but you just had to go and dive in!"

The commotion caught her attention enough to garner a second look at the docks. But what she saw... she definitely didn't expect. Shouldering her way through the crowds again, she had to get closer to make sure she was really seeing this -- and when she was finally in the front row of spectators... she started to laugh.

Trying to hide it behind the back of her hand at first, it was no use -- it was just too funny! She broke out into a loud, hearty, genuine trail of laughter, perhaps the first time she had laughed like this since she'd come to Crystallis.

When others at the scene started to look her way, some shaking their heads, she cleared her throat, a slight blush coming to her cheeks as she calmed. "Um... I think it was a very good effort -- even if it doesn't count. It's certainly the biggest fish I've ever seen, at least." Maybe that was of some comfort to the poor fellow.

Momolumi, curious as ever, waddled over to the fish and started to poke at it lightly with a quiet, "kupo?"

If nothing else, Yuna's commentary at least distracted him from arguing further with the officials. He looked around for the source of it, as well as the laugh, and found it happened to be the same person! To her, he gave a grin and a wink.

"It would have been a whole lot bigger if I still had my usual strength in this place, but I guess this one is pretty big, huh?" He had definitely punched larger fish. Scarier fish. Sometimes an octopus. Not here, though. He was more limited, which he was saddening (for all of one minute) to find out. "Bigger than anything they'll get with some stick and some line!"

He was already disqualified, so he could pick on them just a little bit, right?

Mogtimer, the moogle in the glasses, rubbed his forehead and sighed, "Please don't go too far and get us thrown out of the county-- oh! Don't poke that! It's big and toothy and might still be dangerous!"

The fish seemed to give a sudden jolt, enough to send Momolumi screaming, jumping into flight and diving into the crowd somewhere. He was a bit of an eccentric really, seeing as how that was the only motion the fish seemed to make. Yuna smiled, nodding in Sabin's direction as she stepped forward.

"Well... why don't I give it a try?" It was with a bit of a huff that a pole and tacklebox were pushed towards her, and she opened her arms to accept them, struggling with load a little as she tried to balance it a little better.

"Y-you mean you really wanna catch one of those things?" Momolumi emerged from a sea of legs, holding his head and starting to feign a sob. "Kupo-po-po...."

The final thrash from the fish that startled Momolumi only garnered a laugh from Sabin. Harmless, so he wasn't worried. The fish would settle and still again after that, now for good.

"You?" He turned his attention up from the fish and back to Yuna, eyebrows raised. It wasn't that he doubted her, only that it was such an abrupt decision to make. Not that he, of all people, could ever judge something like that! He had to grin as the officials set her up with gear. "That's the spirit. It's a lot more fun to do the actual fishing than just the watching!"

Said the man who refused to use a fishing pole, not that anyone would ever convince him that what he had done wasn't considered fishing.

He turned to prod Mogtimer.

"Keep an eye on our fish, okay? Put it in a headlock if it tries to escape."

"You can do that?" Momolumi suddenly exclaimed, taking a new interest in Mogtimer, and starting to chatter away about how 'cool-po' it was.

"Well... it's not as if I had much planned for the day anyway. And -- if it's important to the locals here, then why not join in their fun?" there was a chuckle at her own enthusiasm, "You're welcome to join us, if you'd like," she offered. If she wanted to make a good impression on the people of Flence, participating in their traditions seemed like a good place to start.

Once the summoner finally had her things sorted out, she nodded in Sabin's direction again with a smile. "My name is Yuna," she offered with a slight bow of her head, "Is this your first time to Flence?"

"I can most certainly not!" Mogtimer denied, landing on the fish in question with some hesitance. It was slimy, not something he cared to touch, but he would live. "Do you think my arms would even go around that neck? No! Absolutely no-- oh, and now he's leaving!"

Which he was right about! On both counts, as his arms were fairly short, but mostly about the leaving. He was gesturing down the dock towards a good place to cast off from as Yuna settled her gear. With the invitation to tag along, he wasn't about to stay put. Disqualification put an end to his own fishing, but he could just as easily enjoy helping someone else out with it.

"Yep, it is. I came here looking into something, but kind of got sidetracked. Ah, and I'm Sabin. It's nice to meet you. Do you need help with any of that or...?"

"It's all right I think I've got everyth--" no sooner had Yuna started to protest his offer for help, then the tackle box went crashing to the ground. Apparently she hadn't had as good a grip on it as she thought, but thank goodness it was shut tight. "Whoops..." As her cheeks flushed slightly, she chuckled, a little embarrassed. "I guess I could use some help after all..."

Momolumi, having lost interest in the moogle that apparently couldn't headlock the giant fish (and muttering something along the lines of 'why did you say you could then') trailed behind on foot.

"What... was it that you were looking for?" the summoner asked, tilting her head slightly, "I haven't been here long myself, but -- maybe I could help." Since, as it so happened, she was looking for something too.

Poor Mogtimer, left behind with his grand inability to put a giant fish in a headlock, but now that the moogle was out of sight, he was also out of mind for the time being. Sabin moved to grab at the tackle box once it gave way to gravity, but too slow. He would pick it back up, however, and carry it along for Yuna.

"Hmm, what was it?" As if he may have forgotten. He hadn't, but he really had to figure out the best way to phrase it. In the end, he just settled on shrugging and answering with, "Oh, right, I'm looking for a boat. I figured Flence would have tons of them, you know? Only I think they're all planning on staying put for the tournament."

"A boat?" she repeated, then nodded at his own conclusion. "I think you might be right. But... perhaps you'll have better luck once the tournament's over? It should only last a few days, I think..." At least, that was what Yuna had heard. As she moved along the docks, now with much more ease thanks to Sabin's help, she finally stopped at a place that no one else seemed to be manning at the moment.

"Well... what do you think? This seems like as good a spot as any... right?" quiet was one of the most important things when it came to weeding out the good fish, even she knew that.

"Were... you hoping to take the boat out to one of the other islands?" she asked gently, setting down the rods and starting to get herself organized.

"Here?" Sabin dropped into a crouch to stare at the water, as if scrutinizing it, when they reached where Yuna meant to fish. It was water. There wasn't a whole lot to see beyond the reflection of sun, sky, and themselves. Still, he gave a nod and stood back up again after setting the tackle box down on the dock.

"Yep! Here works."

Anywhere would have gotten the same answer, but at least the answer is firmly positive, right?

"And, uh, I don't think I'm really supposed to say where I need a boat to," he added once he was back up, having trouble not sounding a little sheepish. "People seem to get upset when I do."

As he spoke, Yuna let Momolumi take the reigns as far as baiting the hook went. He seemed to know what he was doing, and with at least some skill as he started to set things up. "They do?" she tilted her head to the side, looking over Sabin's way again.

"Well, what if -- I promise not to tell anyone else?" She was half-kidding, but there was an encouraging smile on her lips if he felt inclined to share. "And I promise not to get upset, either," the summoner added quickly, raising a free hand as if she was taking an oath, even though it was obvious she was just trying to keep the mood light.

"A promise, huh? Alright. I'll be holding you to that," Sabin replied, although not in any particularly serious way. Even if Yuna didn't keep it, he couldn't imagine doing anything about it, not when she seemed like such a nice person. He did drop his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, though.

"I was hoping to find a boat to get into Empire territory by."

After saying that, he put a finger to his own lips and added, "But don't repeat it or anything right here. I'm pretty sure the idea would upset the fishermen, too, not just the other heroes..."

"The Empire..." she whispered back, then quickly looked over her shoulder again to make sure that they were indeed out of earshot. He was right, just talking about that regime or anything to do with it seemed to put the citizens on edge. She nodded in agreement, she wouldn't repeat his intentions to anyone, regardless of the half-serious promise she had made just a moment ago.

"But... that might be dangerous, you know," Yuna continued in a low voice, looking back out and over the water, re-adjusting her grip on the rod. The line stayed still just below the surface.

"All right. Then... if you do find a way... why don't I go with you? It's always better to go as a group," it especially made fighting easier, "and I'm a healer as well so I'm sure I could be useful to you." She didn't like all the secrecy surrounding the Empire and whatever they had planned. It reeked of the going-ons of Yevon... Ask no questions, seek no answers... she didn't like it.

"I do dangerous stuff all the time, so it should be fine," Sabin admitted shamelessly. Even training back in the mountains had been dangerous and that had only been training. Maybe it was just that life in general was dangerous, so why worry?

He dropped into a crouch, idly balancing on the edge of the dock and turning his attention to the bobber floating on the water below. It made him somewhat harder to hear, but still audible, at least to Yuna.

"Ah, well, are you sure? I can say I wouldn't mind the extra company, that's for sure. I don't see why my brother would, either, but I might have to ask him first."

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"everyone, we leave at dawn."

COUNTY OF FLENCE.

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this is so late, im so sorry!!

s'all good, yo