What is this treasure you speak of.. (Locke)

[Yuna]

TAGGED: Locke WORDS 550--STATUS Finished

Yuna had familiarized herself with much of this world. But it was so big. Spira was big, but this traverse had so many places to visit... She needed to get away. Just relax. Her feelings had been running so high lately, she didn't have any time for herself. Tidus was great, she was happy he was there, but he had changed. Maybe their time apart had made him more frantic to lose her again. She wasn't sure. She missed his cocky nature. That lazy smile he always gave her though, made her fondly miss him. Like always. Yuna stripped her clothes down, so she was wearing what they considered here to be a bathing suit. It was... more revealing than she would have liked. Showing off her assetts in ways they had never been shown off before. Slipping into one of the hot pools, she slid down and sighed as the hot water did its work.

Her body felt so relaxed. Then something rustled nearby. The lavish greenery also made for some good hiding spots. She didn't want to startle them. She didn't know if they were friend or foe. Instead of startling them, she started out a small whistling. Just so they didn't attack when they didn't have to. It was a pretty melody, something she had learned from Lulu when she was a child. She used to run up to Braska to show him. He would pat Yuna on the head and she would scamper away giggling. She folded her arms around herself at the memory. She only wished she could see her father again. The farplane.. couldn't have been destroyed, right?

The sounds were getting closer. Perhaps, it was an animal. About to attack. Yuna leaned out of the pools and grabbed her staff, she'd hate to have to change spheres whilst in water. She would have to do what she had to do. She narrowed her eyes. Well if it was human, hopefully it was cordial enough to say something before they attacked. The mountain ranges behind her made it impossible to escape. But escaping wasn't really her thing. "There's a girl here, I'm half naked and armed!" She shrugged. It was truthful at least. "Could you stop making so much racket!" She knew it was human, it would either come and attack, or somehow apologize. If it was a monster though, she'd just given her location to it and she'd have to switch into battle gear, quickly. She sunk in the water more, so her eyes were visible and her nose just barely peeked out of the water. Waiting on the person/monster to do.. or say something.

YOU PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND ME, AND I'M HOME!

thereisalieinperfection @ CAUTION 2.0

[Locke Cole]

Locke had been enjoying the change of scenery immensely. Though he had spent a fair amount of time in the desert, visiting Edgar at his castle, the desert at Oerba was different. Maybe I'm just not used to this desert. Forests felt different in each location, why not deserts? But this was a hot spring. It was wonderous. Everything was so alive here! Only his feet were in the water at the moment, but he longed to just jump in head first and warm himself up (not that he was cold, but there was just something freeing about being warm). Letting out a sigh of relief, he leaned back on his hands and kicked his feet in the water. "This is the life." All he needed was some treasure and he was set.

The treasure hunter had no idea how long he had been sitting there, but eventually he would need to get out. All I need is to get attacked here. Caught with my pants down, so to speak. Pulling his feet out of the water, he turned and allowed them to dry for a short while before putting his shoes back on. A sound caught his attention as he did his shoes up, and he froze while tilting his head, listening closely. There's somebody there! Locke could hear somebody whistling a small tune, and his lips quirked in a small smile as he listened. It was a nice tune, calming in a way.

Eventually though, all good things come to an end. The music stopped, and a little bit of splashing was heard. "There's a girl here, I'm half naked and armed!" Locke's eyes widened in surprise, and he crept a little closer towards the bushes that separated what must have been another hot spring. Could you stop making so much racket!" She can't possibly know I'm here. I haven't made a sound! But then a different noise caught his attention. There was a rustling a little further down, not too far from his current location. The treasure hunter took the opportunity to peek through the bushes at the woman, and felt his face heat up as he took in her scantily clad form. But the rustling further down recaptured his attention once more and he grinned at the thrill of the hunt. This could be interesting.

Crouching lower to avoid being seen, he crept around the side of the bushes. Drawing his blade, he waited patiently for the other being to show itself. Thankfully his career choice had forced him to learn to be very patient, and he simply stayed crouched with his weapon in hand. It didn't take too long before a greasy looking man emerged from the bushes, leering at the young woman. While it was true that she was armed, he noticed that it was a staff. Is she a magic user? He could remember the old man using a staff as a weapon, but Terra and Celes didn't as far as he could remember. Oh well, I'm not going to wait while she gets attacked.

The man (he could have been an older teen for all Locke knew), had started grumbling something about wanting to have fun with the young lady. Locke had had enough, and leapt from his own hiding spot brandished his dagger. "That's enough. I think it's time for you to leave." Waving his blade threateningly towards the other male, he watched as the man's eyes darted down to the weapon in his hand. Locke narrowed his own eyes, mentally willing the man to simply leave. He didn't like to fight if he could help it. Taking a tiny step backwards so he was closer to the pool, he half turned towards the woman while keeping his eyes on the threat. "You alright?" he whispered softly out of the side of his mouth.

[Yuna]

TAGGED: Locke WORDS 620--STATUS Finished

The shaking was getting louder, and Yuna slowly rolled her eyes. She tightened her grip on her staff, she could just summon her Aeon of course. But that might be a bit overkill, depending on the kind of monster that stalked her through the tree's. At the noises, and the disclosure of not just one, but two men. She stared at them both blankly, confused. She had never guessed there would be other humans in this area. Monsters, yes. But not.. men. One of them had mentioned wanting to have a good time with Yuna, what was he drunk or something?! What the heck kind of world was this? She stood up in the water, at this point she didn't care how scantily clad she was, at least she wasn't in the nude, she didn't have to be wearing anything to change her weapon. As just the clothes on the ground would be different.

Narrowing her eyes, she spun her staff and it burst apart magically, transforming into pistols. Her pistols. The grip felt familiar, and she pointed it at both men, one gun trained on each. When she did happen to notice the other man take a step back and cock his head towards her, the blonde, was actually trying to help her. She trained both weapons on the greasier looking man. "Stay where you are." He advanced, and she let loose a round. "I said don't move." She hissed. The man hopped around wildly. "You shot me!" He bellowed. A small line of blood formed on his face as the bullet had just barely grazed his cheek. "It's a flesh wound. You'll live. I suggest you go back and crawl into whatever hole you came out of." The man looked at the sword, then the gun, and then sprinted out of the way. Running the opposite direction. She wiped her brow and sunk back down into the water, shoving her pistols up on higher land, so they wouldn't get wet. "Think I was too harsh?" Yuna asked, biting her lip, and scratching the back of her head with slight confusion.

"Where did you both come from. This is kind of far from civilization. I thought it was at least." She murmured softly, probably figuring the magic elements she used would be somewhat unexplainable. This world was so different from Spira. "Sorry, I'm not much for damseling these days. I much prefer fighting, to that." She gave him a small coy look. Slightly embarassed at her complete forwardness of just attacking someone. It's not like that man wouldn't have tried to do something. "Thanks for coming this way. He could have taken me by surprise if he was sneaking up. Thankfully, you got him out of hiding." She gave him a small smile, her heterochramatic eyes were sparkling. "How did you get out this way... Oh, sorry.. I guess in all the confusion I didn't catch your name. I am Yuna. And you are?" She asked, sinking deeper into the water with a sigh. The heat felt delicious against her skin.

YOU PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND ME, AND I'M HOME!

thereisalieinperfection @ CAUTION 2.0

[Locke Cole]

Locke's lips twitched in a smirk as he watched her stand taller in the water and her weapon change to 2 pistols. Magic still made him a little nervous, despite how helpful it had been in the past, but he had to admit it was pretty cool. Once she turned both weapons towards the other man, and he realized that was all the answer he was going to get, he turned his own attention back to the slimeball. Her tone was confident as she ordered him around, and he jumped when the gun fired close to him, and he couldn't help but flinch and take a step away. That is LOUD!

The treasure hunter kept his eyes on the intruder (or rather, the other intruder), and his smirk widened when he saw the man hop around like a buffoon, screaming. "Well, you kind of asked for it." Locke waved his dagger at the man mockingly as he stared at both sets of weapons aimed against him, and the treasure hunter let out a laugh when the man turned tail and fled the scene. The young woman's question about being too harsh set him off again just as he regained control of himself. "No! No, I think he got the point."

Locke sheathed his dagger and stood straighter as he fully turned to face the barely clothed woman. She didn't seem to care, and he could appreciate her beauty. Thankfully though, he had learned from a certain lecherous king how to go about discreetly checking out a woman. "Where did I come from? Well when I heard the commotion over here I was drying off from a similar activity. There's another spring just over that way." Pointing in the general direction he had come from, he offered her a wide smile. "Though before that, I can honestly say I have no idea where I was. I've been...kind of lost." he admitted as he ran his fingers through his sandy hair with an embarrassed laugh.

The young woman continued to ramble a bit, and Locke allowed her to do so until she introduced herself. She sank into the water, and he crouched at an appropriate distance so he was close enough to speak to her, but not so close that it would make her uncomfortable. "The name's Locke. I'm a treasure hunter. A...lost...treasure hunter at the moment, but there you have it." Maybe now I can answer her previous question.

"I've been wandering around here for a day or so. All I really know is...we're on a planet called 'Pulse'. Everything else is just speculation on my part." Locke hadn't seen too many people around, though that was the one fact he had gleaned from the residents he had seen. "I came across these hot springs, and gave myself a good soak to relax and try to reorganize my thoughts. It worked...on one end. I definitely got a chance to relax." he said with a playful wink, before he stood up and walked over to one of the nearby plants. "My thoughts unfortunately are still a big jumble."

Reaching out a hand, he touched one of the glowing plants curiously before turning back to Yuna. "What about you, Yuna? How did you get all the way out here? You don't see too many young women traveling alone these days. Well, not many people in general traveling alone." What the heck am I saying? Shooting her another quick grin, he moved a little further down the pool and stuck his legs back into the water after removing his shoes and rolling up his pants. May as well keep her company for a bit. Don't need any more creepers coming around. Or monsters. "Anyway, what brought you out here?"

[Yuna]

TAGGED: Locke WORDS 590--STATUS Finished

Yuna sighed with relief, slinking back down into the warmth of the water. Thankfully, the creepy guy had left them alone. But with a sword and two guns trained on him, any normal human would take that as a sign of aggression and run away as well. "We can only hope so. I know quite a few people who don't get the hint that fast." She said with a small roll of her eyes.

Her eyes widened slightly at his revelation. She swam towards the bank, and popped her arms out and lifted herself slightly out of the water. "Your not from here either you say? I am not either. What world do you come from?" Her eyes twinkled slightly. A treasure hunter. "We have those in my world. Mostly the Al-Bhed are treasure hunters. I'm sure if Buddy (Brother) is here, he's having a field day." She said with a small chuckle to her tone. She watched him carefully, she wasn't still alive because of her good looks. She was alive because she was cautious and handy with her pistols. Which now were a few feet away. She really wasn't hoping he was going to do anything foolish. But he seemed nice enough.

Yuna rested her cheek on her hand while she listened to him talk. It was interesting. It seemed people from all over the place were showing up. How many worlds were connected with this one. How many worlds would chaos destroy. She didn't want to leave him with little hope. Her eyes drew down lightly, and she bit her lip. "I know.. some of what's going on." She murmured softly. "But I don't know if your going to want to hear it."

Yuna sighed in response to his question, she floated back on her back releasing the edge. She watched him curiously, roll his pants up one at time, meticulously. She finally broached the subject. "I suppose I just like to wander, I am still trying to figure out everything. Because I definitely do not know everything. I need to get back to Academia shortly. But.. I heard about these springs from one of the villagers in New Bodhum. I had to check it out for myself. Monsters be damned." She said with a quick lift of her lips. She had a look very similar to the cat who ate the canary. She was pleased with herself no doubt. She had made here with little or no trouble. Now she had the prospect of leaving. But not right now. Not when the water felt so fine. "Why don't you just get in all the way. Be damned your clothes." She said with a small chuckle, dunking herself under the water, she swam towards him and grabbed his feet deciding to playfully see if she could tug him into the water. Oh, how she loved these moods of hers.

YOU PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND ME, AND I'M HOME!

thereisalieinperfection @ CAUTION 2.0

[Locke Cole]

Locke smiled at Yuna's interest in his home. Once he found out more about Pulse, he would be all too willing to tell her what she wanted to know. It might make him a bit homesick, but he would manage. But...what's an Al-Bhed? He smiled at her when he saw her studying him, wondering what was going through her mind. Maybe it's that Buddy guy. When Yuna admitted to knowing a little more about what was happening, Locke visibly perked up. Looks like I might get some information after all! But first, it was time to hear Yuna's story. "It sounds like we've both been with with some wanderlust in this strange place." he said with a laugh once she hada finished speaking.

She was a very intriguing creature. She looked completely relaxed in the water, and he quirked his own lips when she asked why he didn't just get in. "I don't have another change of clothing. Otherwise it wouldn't be a problem." He should have clued in to what she was about to do when she disappeared under the water, but he wasn't thinking clearly at the moment. Feeling a gentle tug on his feet surprised him, and he let out a rather unmanly yelp as he pulled his feet out of the water. He successfully managed to completely soak himself with how violent his reaction was.

I hate people touching my feet! Well, there was no point in staying out of the water now, not with how wet his clothing already was. Smirking in Yuna's general direction, he inched closer to the edge of the spring before dipping his leg back into the water and flinging it at her in order to spray water everywhere. "That was mean." he said, but the smile on his lips betrayed him. Slipping fully into the hot spring, he continued to splash water in her direction. He normally didn't give into his playful side but...there was something refreshing about acting like a teenager again.

After a short playtime, Locke kicked back towards the bank and rested on his elbows. Catching his breath after his exertion, he laughed a bit as he looked back over to Yuna. "I haven't done that in ages. That...was fun." Leaning his head back, he took a few more minutes to compose himself. Peeking out from under one eyelid, he continued to simply watch her for a while. "Well, I think I want to hear what you know about Pulse. I'm still pretty much in the dark, and if I'm gonna survive here I need to know a bit about what's going on. You up for it?" Back to being a bit more serious, Locke still had an easy smile on his face as he wondered what exactly he was going to find out.

[Yuna]

TAGGED: Locke WORDS --STATUS Finished

Yuna felt rather fortunate that she was already soaking wet. Because the splashing made her break into hysterical laughter, trying to block the onslaught from her face, she fell back into the water, howling with laughter. They had a small water war, and it was something that felt more relieving. "You'll get dry. Eventually." She said with a teasing grin. She popped up on the edges bank, letting her legs soak into the water, wringing out her hair slowly, twisting it to get it out.

"It's good to have fun every now and then. Keeps ya on your toes." She said with a wink, wringing the sides of her bottoms free of water. She sighed. She knew she'd have to break this news again. It was sad for her. "From what I hear.." She started, shifting in the water uncomfortably. "Something called Chaos is destroying the land, and the other worlds, and we are ending up on this Gran Pulse place. I don't know who all made it from what world, but it seems quite a few from all over the place. I don't get the mechanics of it. But that's the thing I am hearing as of now." She sighed. "I don't know who are the bad guys, and who are the good guys..." She said with a slightly dramatic sigh. She was still quite upset over the prospect of losing all of her people to this Chaos and feeling helpless to stop it. She gave him the only kind of smile she could muster.

"I guess I'll be here until I figure it out. So why not relax every now and then. It does not happen often." She sighed a little, and she glanced back at him to just see how he took the news. It was a lot to take in all at once. But maybe it wouldn't bother him.

YOU PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND ME, AND I'M HOME!

thereisalieinperfection @ CAUTION 2.0

[Locke Cole]

Eventually is right! Locke was alright with being in the water. It was a beautiful day, and it likely wouldn't take too long to get dry. But...it was time to focus on the main issue at hand. Yuna's demeanor changed with the serious topic, and Locke felt slightly guilty at causing the change, but he needed to know what was going on. He allowed her to speak without interrupting, and his eyes widened a bit at what he heard. My world...might be destroyed? The treasure hunter dropped his gaze to the rippling water, still listening to the young woman. Letting out a slightly depressed sigh, he sank a little deeper into the water.

"Chaos, huh?" he mumbled more to himself than anything. Does that mean, everybody's gone? His hand drifted on the water's surface for a bit, before he looked over at Yuna and found her staring back at him curiously. Forcing a smile onto his face, he offered her a one-shouldered shrug. "Sounds like quite the tale. Means it'll probably be mighty confusing for a while..." It really would be chaos to try and sort everything out, figure out where he stood in all this.

Another sigh left his lips as he wondered a little more about the well-being of his friends. All of the playfulness he had exhibited earlier in his water-fight with Yuna was gone, and all that remained was worry. Worry...and a bit of despair. "Have you met many others? From...other worlds?" From my world? Most of the people Locke had seen seemed to know exactly where they were, so he had assumed them to be locals. They hadn't known too much about what was happening, only that strangers had randomly started showing up in their world. It was...wildly unhelpful. "Well, you sound like you're a little more well-informed than I am. Information can be a type of treasure, if used in the right way. I'll count this meeting as a 'win' in that regard."

Locke's smile turned slightly more genuine as he looked over at Yuna. "Thank you for telling me that. Though, now it seems I have another reason to move on. I have to find my friends...make sure they're ok. I'm sure you'd like to know the fate of your own friends as well. Friends like...Buddy?" The blonde man winked at Yuna as he kidded with her, though admittedly he didn't know what their relationship was. It didn't matter. It would always be in someone's best interests to know where their friends, loves, and enemies were, though Buddy didn't sound like an enemy when Yuna spoke of him.

"You've got the right idea though. Take what time you can, and enjoy it." Without her, he would have simply moved on and gotten right back to 'work', but now he had more to go on. "So where are you headed next? Do you know the area?" She had already helped him so much, but it was possible they could travel together for a little while longer. Or at the very least, he could repay her for the information she had given him in some way. Maybe a bodyguard? Though she likely didn't need one. But sometimes it was better to travel with somebody, as opposed to alone.

[Yuna]

TAGGED: Locke WORDS 560--STATUS Finished

"I know it's a lot to think... and hear about.. Trust me, it's been gnawing at me constnatly. That is why I am so desperately looking for answers about this Chaos. Because all those worlds being destroyed, is that even plausible. Our world was strong, I am sure most of ours were." Her voice trembled slightly mentioning the word were instead of was. It was a heart wrenching subject that she was bringing up. Thinking about her people. She just had to stop dwelling about that fact. She was waiting the second question, knowing he would ask something similar to it. "I have met several others from many worlds... What is your world called.. Then I suppose I might know it. Or have heard of it that way." She said with a slight smile, she just wanted to ease the pain and suffering that he was obviously having struggling through this news as well. She didn't know who would have the strength to really deal with something like this.

"I really just wish I had better news for you. Hearing about this was difficult, and it doesn't seem to be getting any easier, because I really want to find the source of this Chaos. But from what I gather, there are only a few people in the Academy who have that sort of information. And I do plan to get that as well." Her eyes looked steely with resolve. "Well, Buddy, he's my Buddy. But we normally call him Brother. But he has a thing for me. I think it freaks him out." She said with a small chuckle. "Though, I don't know if he made it out this way yet." She said with a soft sigh. "I found a few people from my world. I feel very fortunate. Even my cousin is doing well." She said with a soft sigh of relief. She couldn't help but do it each time she talked about Rikku. She was so relieved that her family, at least some of them had survived.

She sighed as she silently stewed for a moment. "You know, I have no exact destination. But I really do need to get to the Academy. There's a man named, Hope Estheim. If you happen to travel that way, he has the answers. So if you can't find them, maybe he can help you as well." She said with a pretty smile unfolding on her face. "So, obviously you want to find out if your friends are alright. But what is next on your game plan. Do you live anywhere yet? If not, I can recommend a few places if that would make things easier for you." She tilted her head, trying to not assault him on the questions, but really not sure how to go about it another way.

YOU PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND ME, AND I'M HOME!

thereisalieinperfection @ CAUTION 2.0

[Locke Cole]

"We don't really...have a name for our world. But I have a feeling all of the newcomers stick out like a sore thumb. I'll just have to keep my eyes open is all." It was fake optimism, but optimism nonetheless. He appreciated her intent, but he just needed to wrap his head around the idea that he could be the last one left. He could continue to be hopeful though. "Don't worry about it, Yuna. It's not your fault this happened. Riiiiight?" he teased with another wink. "I'm glad your family made it over! At least you've got someone to support you if you need it. Maybe together you guys can figure this out!"

Locke listened curiously as Yuna described the Academy. "Hope Estheim, huh? I've heard rumblings of the Academy during my travels, but nothing really concrete. Maybe I should head that way, too..." She is such a nice young lady. Yuna continued to offer to help him, and he returned her smile willingly. He hadn't considered settling down, and now that his world could be gone he may need to consider a permanent residence. But...the treasure hunter didn't relish the idea of being tied to one specific place. Even back home he was a bit of a nomad.

"I don't think I'm ready to settle down quite yet. After all, I haven't explored this world to its fullest! Though you seem to be on the right track. Finding this Hope guy seems like a step in the right direction. If you'd like, we could travel together at least for a while. It's always better to have someone to depend on in case you run into trouble." Locke pulled himself out of the water and sat on the bank of the springs with his legs hanging in the water, mimicking his earlier position. Shooting her another smile, he pulled the bandana from his head and wrung it out to get the excess water free before he replaced it. "What d'ya say, Yuna? Want to be partners?"

[OOC: Ugh...sorry it's so short! I blanked!!]