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[After having seen what he thought might be an airship from the Balamb Garden view looking down on Balamb Town, Vaan enters town, intent on finding the airship and examining it.]

[Unfortunately, Vaan only finds himself in front of the train station, with a man selling stupid trinkets to tourists, trying to make him buy fertility beads or a big turquoise fish head hat. A real best-seller.]

Nghh… this is going all wrong…

[Vaan sounds pitiful, his voice tinged with obvious disappointment. Sprawled out on the steps, he watches the daily happenings in front of him. He has maybe a hour or so before he needs to get back to the Garden.]

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[Been there, done that, Vaan. Balthier's out doing whatever a sky pirate without an airship would be doing. Trying to get a hold of one. It's not going too well to be frank. Right now he's stomping through the train station with an annoyed look on his face.]

[Vaan is always behind the times like the slow kid at school. All the same, he's down in the dumps from his lack of success in his little expedition.]

[It isn't until he sees... someone familiar... that he really snaps out of his self-pity. He pauses, having a bit of a 'No way' moment, but yeah, Mjrn is here, Larsa is here, why not--]

Balthier?

[He stops like he just walked into a wall. A second, he wonders if he really heard right, another one, and he has already turned to face Vaan with his usual grin on his face.]

Still my name. No use changing a good one.

No way!

You're stuck here too?

[Vaan didn't really believe it until Balthier turned around and confirmed it. He stands up, dusting himself off, smiling in spite of wanting to seem more cool than he actually is. Vaan can't help it. He's definitely excited.]

[And it shows. Hold your horses, boy. Amused by this.]

Stuck? Only temporarily.

You found a way back?

[It's out of Vaan's mouth before he has a chance to think about it. Yeah, no. Balthier would already be gone, if that was the case.]

I mean-- you're trying to? I guess a lot of people are.

[Vaan kicks at the dirt a bit with his shoe, feeling slightly embarrassed by his mistake.]

Everyone in their right mind is. [Some have actually taken a liking to the place which he can't understand. Or can, but won't admit.]

You as well, I take it? I'm afraid this train doesn't go all the way to Ivalice.

Yeah. [Vaan is really glad Balthier didn't make an issue of his mistake.]

I was looking for an airship. Explore first, then go home.

[Not going to admit he has actually been doing the same as Vaan. Sure, one can figure it out quite easily but he's not pointing it out. No way.]

Those are rare. Might as well look for a portal back home.

[Vaan hasn't even started on the 'getting home' part yet. He just wanted to be in the 'right mind' group.]

Oh. [He's sort of surprised Balthier hasn't been looking for an airship too. What's the other option? School? Vaan decides to go along with what Balthier is saying anyway.]

Yeah, maybe. They're probably rare, but... if we just leave, we'll probably never, ever get back here.

[In spite of wanting to agree with Balthier, the conversation turns to Vaan almost trying to frantically convince him that it's more important to explore first.]

What if we miss something important?

Did I ever tell you to overlook exploring? We'll do that while we figure a way out of here. Two birds, one stone. [And with that, .]

Where have you looked? We're going to start by making sure this town has no hidden airships lying around. Knowing these people I wouldn't wonder if they kept them underground. [

[Tries to switch party leaders. BUTTONMASHES. Fail.]

I looked here. [Vaan points to the ground at his feet.]

And over there. [Vaan points out in the distant, vague westward direction.]

I didn't buy a map yet. How are we going to look underground though? The train is sort of like a tunnel. Maybe we could ask around.

[ Since it was one of the few places Balamb Garden docked in the time she's spent here, Chie was eager to hop off and explore the town. Quite small, she thinks... possibly even smaller than Inaba, and that's saying something. At the thought of her home, she looks down a bit, a twinge of homesickness pulling a string, before she shakes her head and looks around more... and only to spot Vaan a short distance away. She hears his words. ]

Huh? Something wrong?

Huh? Oh! No, not really. Just can't find something.

[Noticing the girl, Vaan answers her vaguely. He straightens up a bit, so he doesn't come off looking so pathetic.]

You're not from around here, are you? [He sounds secretly hopeful as he questions her.]

[He linefaces at Vaan's random pointing around. This lad has no idea what he's doing.]

First we need a map. [He points at the trinket man.] With luck, he's bound to have one. [This translates as: Vaan go buy it.]

[Making a face, Vaan digs into his pocket, producing some spare change.]

Yeah. Okay.

Think this is enough?

[Hey Balthier, why don't you pay for the map?]
[Vaan lightly rests his arms up in back of his head.]

You tell me. [You're a thief, Vaan. Or did you forget?]

[Oh, I get it...]

[Eyeing the souvenir man closely, he spots some papers sticking out of one of the many pockets of his clothing. Got it.]

[Sashaying up close, Vaan asks the man to see some of the crabs he's selling out a bucket. When the poor guy leans over to retrieve a crab, Vaan quickly slips one of the maps out of his pocket and hides it in his own.]

Nevermind! Not what I wanted! [He waves his hand, trying to dismiss the salesman's interest in him, and bolts back to Balthier.]

That guy didn't have it.

[After witnessing the whole thing Balthier has to admit the lad still has it. Once a thief, always a thief? At least Vaan knows how to behave now. He smirks and extends his hand.]

[Vaan hands him the map. People around here are way too trusting. Usually he'd have to run for it.]

So, where do we start?

[ Nods. ]

Aha... Sorry, if what you were looking for was a native, then...

...You're not one of them?

[He didn't mean to make her feel bad about it.]

Me either.

Oh. [ Blinks. ] Oh! Are you a student of Balamb Garden?

[He takes the map and observes it.]

The hotel. We'll find out how people got here and follow the ones that arrived by air.
[He puts the map away and starts walking. Follow the leader, Vaan. ]

Got it.

[Vaan nods and follows. Good idea there Balthier.]

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