JUSTIN: * The first thing Shane does upon disembarking is give a mighty stretch, and let out a monsterous sigh of relief. "Longer every time, just like I said, right?" He turns to look back at Jo as she comes down the ramp, smiling at her with no small amount of glee. "Come on, the sooner we get to the shop, the sooner we can call this mission officially completed."

JENNA: * Jo arches a brow at him, then rolls her eyes, taking the lead as they start through the city. "Blame the wind ... it could have been steadier." She doesn't waste any time sightseeing, however, making straight for Natori's shop. The girl isn't outside, but her voice carries through the open door -- apparently she's with a customer.

JUSTIN: * Shane pops his head in the door of the shop and looks around, biting his lip and muttering impatiently when he sees they'll have to wait their turn to talk to the young merchant girl. "C'mon, Jo." He almost tugs her inside, hoping that seeing both of their faces at once might make Nat more inclined to hurry.

JENNA: * Jo shakes her head, walking past Shane and taking her post a little farther down the counter. Natori glances at her and gives a short nod, then turns a smiling face back to the customer to complete the transaction. She bobs slightly behind the counter, smiling. "Please come again!" The customer waves and makes his way out, and Jo smiles briefly, tugging free the note the Gherig gave her and handing it to the merchant.

JUSTIN: * Shane frowns a bit, disappointed at being generally ignored. He slips, avoiding the exiting customer, and slinks around to wait beside Jo. Natori doesn't get a look from him, as he instead chooses to look around the store with a distinct air of apathy.

JENNA: * Natori takes the note and gives a faint snort, reading it. "Yeah, I'll come visit if they ever let me out of here again ..." She glances over her shoulder irritably, as if expecting her parents to come down the stairs, then she pushes her glasses up on her nose. "Right, a thousand, as promised." She digs in a pouch at her waist, counting out the bills and handing them to Jo, who nods politely, smiling. "Good luck," she says, and the girl snorts. "Yeah, you too." She gives Shane a significant look.

JUSTIN: * Shane avoids the look for as long as possible, but it isn't long before he matches it. He does so, of course, while attempting to make it look as nonchalant as possible. "...yes? Was there something else?"

JENNA: * Natori smiles sweetly at him, giving a slight curtsey. "Thanks for visiting, mind the door doesn't hit you on the way out." Jo shakes her head, taking hold of Shane's sleeve and tugging him away from the counter. "Come on ... let's find that inn." She doesn't let go of him until they're well outside.

JUSTIN: * Shane manages to give Nat a rather incredulous look before he is hauled out of the store, but any words he might have had for her manage to remain unspoken. Once around the corner, he tugs his sleeve from Jo's grasp and brushes the material smooth where she'd held it. "I didn't say anything! I was minding my tongue!"

JENNA: "Mmm, if you say so." She pauses, looking around absently. "Well, how much do you want to pay for a bed and bath?" she asks, looking at him again. "There are some nice places around, and we have money enough to pay for them ... so long as we don't make a habit of it." She arches an eyebrow, grinning.

JUSTIN: * Shane's expression loses its aggitation, and he straightens up, matching her eyes. "Well then... if we're going to make a little vacation out of it, we might as well go top notch, right?" He smiles, hopefully a winning one. "One time won't hurt at all."

JENNA: * Jo grins. "Sure. This way." She sets off up the street, seeming to have a clear destination in mind. It isn't long before they leave the market area and amble into the richer part of town, where the most successful in Alberta have made their homes. They pass several inns along the way, but Jo finally stops in front of a large establishment with several floors and an entryway four doors wide. "Don't worry -- it's not as expensive as it looks."

JUSTIN: * Shane follows after her in silence, watching in awe as they pass building after building, each one fancier than the next. He is just about to ask why they haven't stopped at any of the inns so far when they finally reach Jo's intended destination. He looks up with widened eyes, tilting his hat up in order to see clear to the roof. "If it's even half as expensive as it looks, we may be sharing a peco in the future." He grins brightly, thinking this just might do the trick. "It'll be like a real holiday, Jo. And we don't even have to go anywhere! I promise we won't stay long enough to make you cranky." He leans over to tug her onward, pausing with a somewhat stunned look on his face when he almost thinks to kiss her on the cheek. He ignores it as just a random, silly thought, and immediately starts toward the inn again.

JENNA: * Jo follows, pushing through the doors and making her way to the main counter. The receptionist looks at them with a great deal of skepticism before smiling and asking what kind of suit they're looking for. "Two beds and a bath," Jo replies easily, then glances at Shane. "Unless you wanted separate rooms."

JUSTIN: * Shane gnaws on his lip, pretending he has to think about this for a moment. "No, I think we should at least make the effort to save /some/ money." He smiles stupidly, folding his arms behind himself and rocking on his heels to keep from running about like a kid in a candy shop. "Two beds and a bath will be more than enough."

JENNA: * Jo nods and turns back to the receptionist, confirming her statement. The woman shrugs comfortably, glancing at her again. "Floor preference?" Jo grunts. "Second or lower." Though heights don't bother her as much if she can see the gorund, she chooses not to take any chances. "Right, that'll be 250," the receptionist says, and Jo shrugs, reaching into her pack for the money.

JUSTIN: * Shane is at the counter before Jo can even work her purse out, yanking a wad of bills out and sorting them out. "What sort of room services do you offer? Just in case we feel like burning some more zeny before we leave." He smiles cheerily, pressing the bills into the woman's hand before pocketing the remainder.

JENNA: * Jo looks momentarily startled, then she rolls her eyes and puts the pouch away, and the receptionist stares at Shane blankly for a moment before replying. "Well, there are meal services, should you need them ... and if you want the housecleaning staff to give your room a miss, you'll have to post that outside ..." She taps her fingers on the desk. "Alcoholic beverages are available upon request, as are any extra amenities."

JUSTIN: * Shane taps the side of his jaw in very brief thought, nodding shortly. "Well, I guess if we think of anything we'll let you know." He turns Jo a look, to make sure she isn't giving him the evil eye, then holds out a hand for their keys.

JENNA: * Jo has her arms folded, somewhat disgruntled, though she manages to keep it from her face, for the most part. The receptionist turns to a set of drawers before pulling out their key -- which puts them on the second floor. "Enjoy your stay!" she says with a trill of false cheer, handing it over.

JUSTIN: * Shane clasps his hand around the key in victory, and gives the reception a more genuine bow. "Thank you, miss. We intend to." He turns to walk toward the stairs, pausing to tilt his head and give Jo a puzzled look. This is followed by a shrug, figuring there can't possibly be anything wrong, and he continues on his way.

JENNA: * Jo follows with a very faint sigh, hitching her backpack and glancing around the building with a professional sort of interest. Though there's plenty worth stealing, she isn't particularly interested, tucking her hands under the straps of her pack as she ambles up the stairs.

JUSTIN: * Shane hops up the steps like he simply can't wait to get to the top, glancing only once to make sure Jo is still following. It's not long at all before they clear the stairs onto the second floor, and Shane double-checks the number on their key. "Mmhm!" He heads down the hallway, around a right bend, and spots their door immediately around the corner. "Here we are!" He slips the key into the lock and gives it a twist. Pausing for dramatic effect, he look to Jo with a smile, then turns the knob and pushes into the room.

JENNA: * Jo can't quite see what all the excitement is about, as much as she's looking forward to a little cleanliness and comfort. She steps into the room after him and looks around with interest. It's large, and as promised there are two beds -- though each could comfortably house them both. There's no cooking area (clearly guests are meant to use the room service provided), but the bathing area appears nearly as nice as the one in Jawaii. "Which you want?" she asks, unslinging her pack and dropping it near the door.

JUSTIN: "Oh, either one--" Shane heads immediately to the nearest bed, tossing his pack onto it and watching it bounce once before settling in the center of the large mattress. "Come on, Jo, you're ruining the mood!" He turns toward her and crosses his arms, acknowledging her far more controlled enthusiasm for the first time. "If we're going to take a proper holiday, you need to /act/ like we're taking a holiday. Now come on, show a little excitement!"

JENNA: * Jo scratches her cheek, offering a wan smile. "I'm.. just tired is all." She looks apologetic, not really wanting to dampen his enthusiasm. "What do you want to do?" she asks, making her way over to the other bed and sitting on it gingerly, as if she doesn't want to dirty it.

JUSTIN: * Shane recrosses his arms behind him again, scratching at the back of his calf with the boot of his other foot. "Oh, well if you're tired..." He plops down on his own bed, secretly enjoying the springy bounce. "I suppose you could take a nap..." He looks around the room, eyes resting on the bath when they cross it. "I'm sure I'll find something to keep myself busy in the meantime."

JENNA: * Jo shifts herself slightly, glancing toward the bathroom. "Well.. nap or no, I'd kind of like a bath." She grins faintly. "It's been a while since either of us has had one. It'll be nice." Personally, she can't think of much one can do inside a hotel room that they haven't done on the ship already.

JUSTIN: * Shane nibbles on his lip, giving the bath another long look. "You won't fall asleep in the water, will you? I don't want to have to save you if you start to drown..." All sorts of unpleasant images pop into his head, and he nearly spasms.

JENNA: * Jo gives him a dry stare. "I'll be fine. I'm not /that/ tired." She eases herself off the bed, giving a long stretch. "Guess I'll see you in a bit, then." She kicks off her boots before starting into the bath, shutting the door behind her and giving a faint, contented sigh.

JUSTIN: * Shane drops onto his back, heaving a sigh of his own and letting himself sink into the welcoming bed. He's not tired at all, but he could fall asleep right now in the blink of an eye if he wanted to. He stretches out until he's taking up as much of the surface area as he can, and then begins to hum to himself.

JENNA: * For her part, Jo immediately strips, as if she can't wait to separate her dirty clothes from her skin. Finding the amenities quite suitable, she immediately begins filling the tub, making the water as hot as she thinks she can stand it and fiddling with the bath salts and oils that line the side of the structure. Finding a few to her liking, she adds them to the mix, and once the bathtub's full, she slips into the water, sighing again.

JUSTIN: * Shane passes his time with some very quiet singing, digging through his pack and pulling things out to organize them. He sticks a piece of jerky in the corner of his mouth and sucks at it as he works, his song occassionally becoming hums again, then reverting to words. Eventually he happens upon Jo's weaving again, and he holds it up to admire it in the light. It certainly doesn't look like anything that would win an award, but for some reason he considers it one of the finest things he's ever come into possession of.

JENNA: * Jo takes her sweet time in the bath, soaking until she can feel the grime drifting from her body. Then, with some reluctance, she begins the process of a thorough cleaning, knowing it'll probably be a while before she gets any bath at all, let alone one this nice. She's quiet as she works, apparently too weary to do her usual humming.

JUSTIN: * In the time Jo has taken so far, Shane has managed to find that the weaving she made him is just the right size to and length to wrap around his cap. It conveniently covers the ragged hole in the fabric, and though he can't find anything to attach it securely right this moment, he settles for tying it tightly at the back. To his delight, there is a handy, full-body mirror in the room that he can use to model his new fashion. He tests the hat alone, and then on his head, finding the colors to be a splendid match.

JENNA: * When she's finally washed to her satisfaction, Jo slips out of the water, dripping for a moment before picking up a nearby towel and spreading it on the floor. She pauses, thoughtful, then lies down to let herself air dry, finding the setup surprisingly comfortable. Between the warm room and the soft towel, it isn't long before she's drifted into a doze.

JUSTIN: * After quite a bit of time has passed without so much as a peep from the bathroom, Shane begins to get a little worried. Part of him thinks she might be playing a trick on him, what with his earlier comment, and so he gives her a bit more time. He, however, spends this time rather anxiously, with more than a few glances at the door to the bathroom.

JENNA: * Jo, blissfully unaware of any stress she may be causing, continues to sleep, even though she's mostly dry, and the air in the room is still damp. She curls up slightly, murmuring in her sleep, as if she's found the most comfortable bed ever.

JUSTIN: * Shane stands abruptly to his feet, moving from the bed and pacing quickly back and forth. His hands clench and unclench at his sides, and he gives the door one last look before finally making up his mind. He moves slowly toward the door, pressing his ear up against it to listen. It's dead silent inside. He shudders at the thought, and holds his breath before knocking a few times sharply against the door.

JENNA: * Jo jerks awake at the sound, staring around blearily and for a moment unsure where she is at all. For a horrified second, she thinks she's back on Jawaii, then her brain catches up with recent events and she pulls herself upright. She fumbles around for a moment, then pulls the plug to drain the tub, wishing she had something clean to change into. "Sorry.. I fell asleep," she calls belatedly, wrapping a towel around herself for the moment.

JUSTIN: * Shane lets out a relieved breath, clearing his throat before he makes a reply. "I was afraid you'd drowned -- I thought you said you weren't that tired?" He takes a step back from the door, tucking his arms over his chest and staring at the wooden door. "Just glad you don't need any assistance. I've had more than enough unwanted glimpses of your bare skin."

JENNA: * Jo directs a dirty look at the door, dropping the towel and pulling her tunic on. She pauses, hands on hips, even though he obviously can't see the gesture. "What, the once? I'm sorry if it bothered you," she says waspishly. "Though if you recall, it wasn't /my/ doing." She then tugs her trousers on, snagging everything else and jerking the door open.

JUSTIN: * Shane hops away from the door, startled by its sudden opening. "I didn't /mean/ anything by it! I thought you were bothered by it, too!" He turns his sight to the side, going suddenly very red in the face. "Besides, the other--" He chokes up, moving a hand to his throat and squeezing slightly to keep himself from continuing. His face looks horrified, but he turns away before she can see it. When he speaks again, his voice is hoarse. "Anyway, it doesn't matter."

JENNA: * Jo glares at him for a moment, twitching suddenly at his unfinished statement. She opens her mouth, almost inquiring after the 'other' he's talking about, then she slams it shut, deciding she really doesn't want to know. "Oh, just go take a bath," she mutters, stalking over and flinging herself on her bed.

JUSTIN: * Shane is quick to obey, disappearing into the bathroom like a ninja and locking the door shut behind him. He lets out a miserable sigh, hoping he hasn't just ruined his chance at a pleasant vacation. He undresses sluggishly and gets a bath running, sliding down into the tub and staring up at the ceiling as the water level rises around him.

JENNA: * After a few minutes, Jo straightens, plucking at her clothes and sighing before she goes in search of something cleaner to wear. It seems idiosyncratic to carry more than one extra shirt, but she finds herself glad she packed the extra gear, glancing at the bathroom door sharply before she changes as quickly as she can. That done, she wanders back to the bed with a long stretch and flops on it again, permitting herself a moment to enjoy the springy surface before curling up again.

JUSTIN: * Shane manages to calm himself and relax once he's surrounded by nice, hot water and bubbles. He sinks up to his neck, soaking himself and beginning to get an idea of why Jo took so long. He scrubs lazily at his limbs, picking up his earlier singing and giving the wall a nice concert as he cleans.

JENNA: * Jo glances back at the bathroom, hearing his voice, then she shakes her head and leans down again with a yawn. Even if she was using her weariness as an excuse, she's beginning to feel some real fatigue. She squirms up until she's resting her head against one of the pillows, then closes her eyes drowsily.

JUSTIN: * Despite taking his time, Shane doesn't take nearly as long as Jo to finish up -- and he certainly doesn't curl up on the floor for a nap. His singing quiets down until he finally peeks out of the door to see if Jo is still awake. Spying her on her bed, he half-frown and sneaks quietly out of the bathroom, toward his own bed. He isn't particularly tired yet, but he certainly doesn't want to wake Jo with any noise.

JENNA: "Finished?" She isn't asleep yet, but she's getting quite close to it, rolling over to face him and rubbing at one eye. "Guess I really am tired," she says apologetically, dropping her arm with another yawn. "Maybe we can do something.. tomorrow.."

JUSTIN: * Shane turns toward her, and it takes him a moment to remember to wipe the frown off his face. "No, that's all right. Get all the sleep you can, we don't often have the luxury, aye?" A little smile curls the edges of his lips, and he ambles slowly over to sit on the edge of her bed, hands tucking down between his knees, where he stares. "Just... one thing, though. About me... us, I suppose. Do you..." He turns her a quick look, then it's back to the floor. "Like having me around? You're usually alone, I mean."

JENNA: * Jo blinks, lifting herself on one elbow to peer at him, puzzled as to why he's asking. She reddens slightly and drops down again, letting her gaze drift to the floor as well. "I don't mind," she says finally, folding her arms across her stomach. "If I did I would've left a long time ago."

JUSTIN: * Shane continues to stare down at the carpeted floor, and after a moment of thought he nods his head. "Okay..." He gets to his feet slowly, moving toward his bed. Once there, he starts to unbutton his shirt, leaving his back to Jo. It's not clear what he hoped to get out of the question, or if that was the answer he was hoping for or expecting, but he doesn't say anything more about it.

JENNA: * Jo watches him go, still puzzled and now unsure if she's said the wrong thing. She scowls very slightly, wondering what she should have said besides the truth. She nestles down again, trying to clear her expression, but she's forced to settle for rolling away from him and staring at the far wall.

JUSTIN: * Shane climbs onto his bed quietly, making for the head and settling down into the pillows. He sighs lightly, rolling onto his back and staring at the ceiling in the growing dark. Still not tired, but comfortable, he closes his eyes and listens to sound of the wind against the window panes, and what must be the beginning of a light rainfall.

JENNA: * In spite of her irritation and confusion, it isn't long before Jo dozes off again, the long days of travel taking their toll. Her last thought before she drifts off is that she must be getting weak, if the past few months have been stressing her out.

JUSTIN: * Between his comfort and the sound of the rain, Shane is hard pressed to stay awake. It's pretty amazing, seeing how he usually has more trouble than this falling asleep even when he's worn out. Eventually he gives in and drifts into a very light sleep, not quite dreaming, aside from the image of falling rain.