'It's been a long time since we did anything together. Too long.'Penelo said, with a grin.

'I had a really good time. Well, I really should be getting back to the store. Actually, I was kind of supposed to be watching the place for Migelo.'

She turned and walked away, stopping after a few paces.

'And Vaan,' She said, without looking back, 'try to stay out of trouble. For me? I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here. If something happened to you.'

'I'm not going anywhere.' Vaan said and Penelo turned to face him with a smile.

'That's what I wanted to hear. See you later.' She turned and and jogged away, heading back to Migelo's. As she made her way back to the city, she saw a cloaked woman leaning against the wall. Even though she couldn't put her finger on it, there was something about her that attracted her attention. However, she must have seen her staring because she looked up and Penelo caught a glimpse of piercing golden eyes. Unnerved, Penelo picked up her pace and hurried away.

Penelo returned to the store and kept herself busy taking inventory of the items and checking their values. She'd done it only yesterday, but having something to do kept her from thinking too much. She knew that Vaan was up to something and she couldn't shake the feeling that he was going to get himself in over his head this time. Then she heard the rustle of the curtain, looking up as a hooded figure entered the store. Then, she pushed back the hood, revealing pure white hair and rabbit ears, Penelo feeling her eyes widen as she recognised the woman that she had seen in the Undercity.

Viera.

She knew that she was staring, but Viera were rare in Rabanastre and she'd never seen one up close. Then, she remembered herself, shutting her mouth.

'Uh...welcome to Migelo's Sundries.' She said and the Viera turned towards her, watching her for a moment, before heading towards the shelves. She selected a Potion and a pouch of Phoenix Downs, setting them down on the counter and pulling out two coins. Laying them down on the table, she tucked the items under her cloak and looked up to Penelo, her brown eyes meeting with hers.

'You are worried about him.' She said, her tone making it clear that it wasn't a question and Penelo frowned.

'...I'm sorry?'

'The boy that I saw you with.' She said. 'You are worried about him.'

'I'm always worried about him.' Penelo muttered, mostly to herself. 'He's always getting himself into trouble.'

'It is a remarkably male trait.' She said. 'It is something that has long proved vexing to me. I cannot understand why they insist on throwing themselves so recklessly into danger. My...companion seems to revel in.'

'Exactly.' Penelo said, looking up at her. 'It's like he enjoys looking for trouble. I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm always telling him, but he never seems to learn.'

'You cannot change who he is.' The Viera said, heading back towards the door, looking back at her over her shoulder. 'All you can do is keep being there when he needs you to be, even when he doesn't think he does.'

Without another word, she pulled up her hood and headed back out to the street, leaving Penelo sitting there with her chin resting on her hand.

Yeah... She thought, looking up as Migelo entered the store.

'Thank you, Penelo.' He said. 'I'll close up. You can run along.'

'Thanks, Migelo.' Penelo said, standing up and heading towards the door. Once out on the street, she broke into a run, heading towards the Palace as fast as she could.