Nowhere to Turn (OPEN!)

[Yuna]

In my dreams I think of you
While awake my heart aches for you
I close my eyes and you are there
I open them and they long to be closed again

High Summoner of Spira, Lady Yuna, had nowhere left to turn. After Crystal City was lost to the entity known only as "Veran" and "The First Aspect" followed up by Miracle's sudden change of heart that all outsiders must die, the Summoner from Spira found herself at a lost of what to do and being the only person from Spira she had no one to really talk to. For the first time in her life she felt truly alone.

She could return to Hallowton but Yuna assumed tensions were already high with Miracle's men and Amoura's people already being in the same place leaving the Queen of Hallowton with enough to worry about. Isafaro was a definite no with everything she's heard about it and Moon Valley were already an official part of Isafaro's domain. That only really left Jherrazad but Yuna did not yet know if she wanted to risk heading there. Yuna thought about finding a ship to travel to a different place on Genesis. Jherra couldn't be the only continent in this world, could it?

Yuna's blue and green eyes looked up to what once was Crystal City. Nothing but darkness remained in its absence. There was no sign of Veran, Miracle or Amoura. What could have happened to them? Naturally Yuna did not wish to have a run-in with Veran but even with Miracle declaring hate for all outsiders, Yuna still found herself worrying for the child. She reminded Yuna a lot of herself and despite this she could tell that Miracle only wanted to do what was right for Genesis. As she once did for Spira, no matter the cost. They were both rather stubborn also. Yuna would be carried away from the depths of her thoughts as she saw a figure on the horizon heading this way. Instantly, Yuna placed a hand on her Summoner's Staff, expecting it to be one of Miracle's men or someone else who would cause trouble. As she stood in the middle of the expanse her eyes would see clearing up in the distance--

[Ayen]

Yuna would see a male, who looked no older than sixteen years of age, with short blond hair and blue eyes walking towards her. He was dressed in a plain long sleeve blue shirt with black jeans, black shoes and a black jacket over the top of his shirt. Upon spotting Yuna, and her rather strange attire, he came to a full stop to look her over. His eyes lingering at a few places they shouldn't have, but teenager. What are you going to do?

“Hello...”

The male walked closer to Yuna, looking her over some more before coming up to her side and holding up his left hand, a small spark of electricity running up his hand and took the shape of a rose which he then held up to the female while smiling kindly to her.

“What is a lovely woman like yourself doing out alone in a place like this?”

[Yuna]

It was just a boy around her own age, not someone she immediately recognized from any of the places she's been to since being dragged here through the tower. Yuna didn't allow her guard to drop completely just yet however, she watched the young man looked her over and gave him a distasteful look when she realized where exactly his eyes has been lingering. When he got closer to her, Yuna held out her Summoning Staff as her way of telling him to keep his distance. A look of surprise came over her face when she saw what he did with the electricity that came out of his hand. "H-how did you do that?"

[Ayen]

“Just a little trick I picked up.”

The male tapped the edge of Yuna's staff, looking it over before looking back at her.

“I wasn't expecting anyone else to be out here, especially not one so beautiful. You can put the staff away I have no intention on hurting you.”

The male pointed to the staff before continuing,

“Oh! Where are my manners? I'm Ayen Matthews, what's your name?”

[Yuna]

"Trick?" That was some trick, even the Black Mages back home couldn't do that with lighting and this boy was the first person in Genesis she's seen with the ability to do that. It made Yuna wonder what else he could potentially do with that element. For now though he didn't appear to be a threat to her, he appeared to be more interested in hitting on her by the looks of it so Yuna decided to lower her staff. "My name is Yuna, I am not from around here. I came out of the tower." Now was the time to see if he was the type to try to kill her for not being a native to Genesis. The thought had definitely crossed her mind which was why the staff was left out, to defend herself in case of such an event. "I was living in Crystal City but.... as you can plainly see from here, it is not the best place to be at the moment."

[Ayen]

“Yuna. That's a lovely name.”

When Yuna mentioned Crystal City, Ayen looked over to what was left of it. While it wasn't destroyed it was a shadow of its former self, haunted and inadvisable for anyone to explore. So naturally Ayen has explored it several times.

“Right. I had heard about that. Well then...”

Ayen walked over to Yuna's left, gently laying a hand on her bare arm, the skin was smooth and cold from all the time she's spent out here in the cold. Wanting to provide her with some warmth, Ayen removed his jacket and placed it over her to keep her warm.

“There you go... Now, you're more than welcomed to stay at my place for a while. It's not much and there's only one bedroom but I'm sure we can work something out.”

[Yuna]

Ayen knew she wasn't a native to this world and didn't try to kill her, with no other reason to suspect ill-intent of the boy in front of her Yuna decided to put the staff away. She turned her head to face Ayen when he got close and felt the warmth of his hand on her arm, at the touch Tidus flashed through her mind as she stood there confused. Why did I think of him? The two didn't share many physical traits, only hair and eye color so why? Yuna shook it off and decided it didn't matter. The warmth from the boy's jacket finally reached her mind and she snapped back to reality in full. "Thank you." Then Ayen had to open his mouth and say something stupid. The smile that had grown on her face quickly turned into a frown as she could now see all too clearly the ill-intent of the boy being nice to her. Yuna removed the jacket and returned it to Ayen. "No thank you. I will be on my way now."

[Ayen]

Ayen was quick to block Yuna's path, smiling nervously now as he spoke,

“Now I know what you're thinking, “A nice young man taking me back to his place where he lives alone with one bedroom? All he wants to do is sleep with me!” and I can see why you would think that but I assure you that is not my intent at all.”

Ayen still had the jacket on his arm in case Yuna changed her mind and wanted to wear it while they were still out in the cold.

“What I meant was sleeping arrangements. You could take the bed and I could sleep on the floor. It wouldn't be a problem.”

[Yuna]

Yuna looked at Ayen, still not sure what to make of him. He seemed nice enough but was he worth the benefit of the doubt? There were so many strange people here and those that would do almost anything just to get with a girl. She didn't know how the women here put up with it. "I would not want to impose...." she said with her usual calm and polite tone. "But maybe you can help me. I am wondering where I may find a ship that can take me off Jherra."

[Ayen]

“Trust me, a woman as elegant as yourself wouldn't be imposing at all. I would enjoy the company.”

Ayen smiled politely and then scratched the back of his head as he thought about one of the ways of leaving Jherra that didn't involve him just picking her up and flying away. He had a feeling it was too early for her to enjoy the ride.

“There's a dock just north of Hallowton that you can take. I could escort you if you'd like. If you don't mind my asking why do you want to leave Jherra? Don't like it here?”

[Yuna]

Yuna smiled back at Ayen at the compliment before she heard Hallowton from the boy's lips, making her wonder if that was the only means of transportation off this continent. "Hallowton? Is that the only means off this continent?" Ayen had offered to escort her and seeing how he no doubt knew more about this world and culture than she did, Yuna could see no reason to turn down his offer. If he tried anything she would simply have to be firm with him and tell him no. "I'd like that. Thank you."

[Ayen]

“Is there something wrong with Hallowton?”

Ayen scratched his head perplexed by Yuna's reluctance to go to Hallowton while thinking of the other ways off this continent but they were all far more unlikely than the simple route to Hallowton.

“Only other ways are through Isafaro and Moon Valley and I wouldn't recommend either town right now.”

Ayen smiled when Yuna accepted his offer to escort her and walked over to her right hand side offering his arm for the lady to take.

“Milady.”

[Yuna]

"It's complicated...." Yuna wasn't sure how exactly to explain the situation to the boy but if that was the safest route off this continent then perhaps it would be possible to make it through without a conflict if they were careful. After a moment of thinking the words finally came to the High Summoner, "There are some people living there right now who would wish me harm but if we keep a low profile I'm sure we can evade those people." Yuna smiled and then looked at Ayen curiously as he stood next to her unsure of what he was trying to do. "Yes?"

[Ayen]

“The Aircanians?”

Ayen has heard about that. Although they were always religious zealots Miracle has acted as the voice of reason preventing them from going all out old testament on the rest of the continent but it seemed that lately the last line of reasoning in Aircano/Crystal City has faded away and it cost them their land twice.

“Um...”

Yuna didn't understand what he was offering? They didn't hold each other's arm where she came from? Ayen decided to let it go and started leading for Yuna to follow.

“I'll escort you to Hallowton docks now.”

[Yuna]

Yuna nodded in response, although she never heard them addressed as such before she didn't know anywhere else around here called Aircano. Ayen began to lead the way and Yuna gladly followed, not a stranger to walking but it's been a while since her group has been this small. All that time in Spira and here with Aircano has made Yuna used to large crowds and the talking that came with them. Now walking side by side the man, the High Summoner turned her head to look at Ayen and asked, "Do you live around here?"