"Big. And we ain't so hot on construction 'cause of Sin." Wakka finally takes in a good eyeful of the travel agency and—" Wait, that's an Al Bhed place!"

Pause. "Is it?" asks Theo. "I hadn't noticed."

"Yes!"

"So?"

"Well, they—" He eyes Theo, then says, "They use those forbidden machina and they kidnapped Kaede!"

"Where were his guardians?"

He grumbles something.

Theo feels like Wakka might be censoring his language around him.

Good. Maybe it'll become a habit.

"So, is there anything these specific people have done? I mean, this seems pretty far away from anywhere Sin might attack, so they're probably not doing any harm anyway…?"

"Sin could attack anywhere!"

"Well I'm tired of walking and fighting fiends all day and would love to stop at this conveniently located travel agency rather than making tents a few miles down the Highroad."

"You could try going on anyway but I'm pretty sure you're meant to stay and protect Kaede…"

He grumbles some more but doesn't disagree.

"Should we get you a room, too?" he asks Theo.

"Uh, yeah – any idea how much they'll be?" He gets some money out of his pocket, for he has money, woo.

"Yeah." He names a price that's comfortably within his means.

Theo hands over the money. "Unless there's anything else, I'm gonna go up and scout the area a bit…?"

"Sure, see you."

"Enjoy the phone, don't stay up too late."

Then he goes up! Anything interesting or is it all extremely boring and dull?

Well, it's very, very pretty, in a sorta post-apocalyptic way. There's ocean and more ocean to the west (with underwater ruins), a loooooong Highroad to the north and south (peppered with ruins), and plains (filled with ruins) to the east before some more ocean (with more underwater ruins).

Well, how wonderfully… ruined.

Are there any people visible?

Several people along the Highroad, though less and less as it starts getting darker. No one in the ruins, no boats on the ocean.

Are they walking around? Any people stopped who he might visit?

They're walking, yep. Most to Luca, some north towards the travel agency.

Ooh, is that the historian guy? He will go that way!

It is! He stops walking when he sees Theo approaching.

"Greetings again, friend. What marvellous things these wings must be."