#I had a plan for what I was gonna write for getting Nooj on board

[starvingtongue]

she let out a short, yet soft, laugh. "I don't know, they look pretty scrawny under those things you call shoulder pads." she wasn't sure when she had felt this free. perhaps it had been when they had last been together. despite the dire circumstances the had found themselves in, that hadn't stopped them from being able to laugh and joke around. it was that version of herself, that one that used to be able to laugh so easily, that she wished could come back one day.

"Maybe an upgrade for the next airship you commandeer." she joked about it, but deep down she wondered if such a thing could ever exist. all of Spira's mechancial machina made so much noise when it moved that it was hard to imagine it not making any sound at all. not that anyone had much of a chance to experiment with machina anyway. Yevon had forbade it for so long, it was a wonder the knowledge hadn't gone extinct. the Al Bhed could only remember so much and from what she saw, a large portion of what they knew was how to fix things, not create new machines.

"I'll try not to let you down too hard if my plan fails." yet his words tickled something inside of her. something akin to a confidence boost, even if he meant it as a joke. irregardless, even if what she had in mind failed, they would be getting both men onto the airship. she follows the blonde down the ramp, matching his pace.

it was the right call, leaving the airship behind, Nooj might get an idea of what was coming if he saw the pair of them exit it. she knew it would be a hell of a fight getting Nooj on the airship. he had always been a workaholic, perhaps more so after Shuyin's possession, so getting him to leave the league to Lucil would be a task. and if they could get Nooj on board, Baralai would be a cakewalk.

or at least Paine hoped it would be.

"I'm ready, I always am." she hadn't spent several years travelling Spira and not be ready. she was prepared as she was ever going to be. "Lets go. Our captain awaits." she didn't even wait for Gippal to give the indication that he was ready too, she assumed he was. he was an Al Bhed, wasn't he always ready? she made her way up the path toward the lift. those the guarded it would let them through easily enough and with a few swift words, they were quickly making their way up towards Youth League headquarters.

"I see their security hasn't changed much. They still let anybody in."

"I got big shoulders Paine. Don't worry I'll take the blame."

The engineer had been grinning from ear to ear since they'd taken off. The consequences be damned. Besides everybody still owed him for bringing the Al-Bhed back together and rebuilding Home. (Not that he had done all that on his own) Still, Gippal had done his part for his people. If anything he was owed a little bit of fun. That it was at Brother's expense... well that was just icing on the cake. His mind is already alive with calculations. That singular swirling orb peering across the dials and gauges of instrumentation before him. If they came in too fast or unsteady they would crash, then Brother really would have something to be pissed off about. Lucky for him his airship had been commandeered by professional.

At least that's what he told himself anyways.

There was definitely no silent mode on the airship, but her joke warranted a laugh from him just the same.

"Good one P. I'll have to remember that."

The Youth League was made up mostly of former crusaders. There would be no sneaking up on them. Fortunately enough Spira was at a relative peace. Something almost unheard of in it's long and distinguished history. If it would do any good the Al Bhed would pray that it lasted, but something told Gippal sooner or later things would change. They always did. So might as well live it up in the moment right? That was how he felt about it. Everyone had spent enough of their lives down on their knees praying for a savior.

"If I have any faith at all. It's in you Doc, don't worry."

They land the Celsius down in the largest portion of Mushroom Rock Road. It would be a walk up to the Youth League headquarters, but He figured it would be safer this way. The two of them were much less intimidating without the airship. The walk ramp slowly lowers to the ground and the Al Bhed lazily makes his way down it. His arms stretch up as he arches his back and yawns fiercely. As he finishes it his hands come to rest crossed behind his head. His gaze set off in the direction at which they would be heading. If anything, the Al Bhed was more excited than nervous. Excited to be on the road traveling again. Fighting fiends off on another adventure. There was just something about it that he missed.

Perhaps it was the company of his companions he missed most of all. Not that he would ever tell them that.

They made quite the Squad once.

Part of him hopes they can do it again.

"Make sure you've got everything equipped before we head out."