The Shopkeeper's Daughter: Act 1

[desertbloomed]

Characters: Ashelia, and other Heroes that answered her call
Where: Her house, B-05
When: 09/10
Summary: Ashelia has an interesting proposal: that the Heroes of Light start acting like them.
Format: Prose or action is fine
Warnings: none!

Everything was set up perfectly. The table was laid out with a bowl of (non-spiked) punch and some sugar biscuits. Chairs were arranged into a circle. Ashelia paced around the living room anxiously. We haven't the time for this. That little girl was dying, and here she was, holding a meeting to propose a plan of action on what to do about it. That's what Queen Ashelia would do - that's all a queen could do. But I am no queen here. She should be out there, finding the seeds herself. The battle with the Chocobo Eater continued to gnaw at her, though. She'd gotten out of it relatively unscathed, but only because there were people more able to take the hits. She needed the other Heroes for this. As much time as she felt she was wasting with this meeting, she couldn't be in two places at once.

Comments

Before the meeting: Introductions and small talk

[desertbloomed]

Ashelia allows some time as everyone arrives for introductions. She stands by the door, welcoming people as they enter, directing them towards where the meeting will be held and letting them know where the refreshments are.

The meeting: Infodump and discussion

[desertbloomed]

Ashelia clears her throat as the assembled Heroes seat themselves. "Good evening. I am very pleased to see you all, and would like to thank you for taking the time to be here. This is a matter in grave need of discussion and, shortly, action.

"Nearby, in the Eighth District, there is a shop. A few of you may have been there already. It is run by a man whose daughter is gravely ill. He tells me he needs Baltoro's Seeds to complete the potion to ease her suffering. Alas, these seeds have not been seen within or without the walls of Aqures Ixen for months. We will find these seeds. We've two leads at the moment.

"The shopkeeper has provided me with a map of the area the flowers, Baltoro's Blooms, are said to grow in. I propose we mount an expedition to see if we cannot discern the cause for their disappearance.

"There is also the matter of Gerad." Ashelia pauses here, making sure she still has the Heroes' attention. When she's sure she does, she continues. "Gerad is a sellsword that was part of a caravan that was attacked not a fortnight ago. The caravan was utterly ransacked; Gerad is, as far as the shopkeeper knows, the only man involved still in the city. Despite my best efforts I have been unable to contact him. He sits in the hospital, refusing absolutely any visitors. This man will be our best lead on how to obtain the seeds, should the expedition prove fruitless.

"And so we come to the crux of the discussion. I propose we split into two groups and attack, so to speak, both of these objectives simultaneously. Our time runs short as that young woman's breath. What say you?"

[her_rose_is_red]

Ib arrives right on time, her moogle in tow.

"Um, hi. I'm here for the meeting?"

[her_rose_is_red]

A small hand goes up in the back. She's embarrassed to have to ask, but....

"What's a 'fortnight?'

She doesn't know that word.

Before the meeting: Introductions and small talk

[wear_tear_rust]

Angeal had arrived as he said he would and thought that now would be a good time as any to figure out his purpose in this world. Sometimes this meant going against the grain to do the right thing and sometimes it meant listening and watching to make sure that others didn't get hurt. He was a tank and he was built like one.

The warrior stepped up to the apron of the house and bowed his head in respect to the lady in charge of the situation. "Thank you for the invitation. I hope I'm not too late. I'm Angeal Hewley."

He remembered her from the battle with the chocobo eater but he felt it was better not to bring up that incident. He wasn't entirely in the mindset to bring up the past that was already done and over with and a hard pressed victory was earned.

The meeting

[wear_tear_rust]

He stood at the back with his arms folded and his head down as he listened. It was his thinking posture and since he was a large man, he didn't want to obstruct the view of anyone that needed to see the speaker. He wasn't sure which path he wanted to take in this but the venture to find the seeds seemed right up his alley as a hobby botanist.

He thought on what other rare plants that didn't grow within Aqures Ixen, but that would take too long to gather that sort of data. Instead, he thought on collecting seeds from as many plants as possible just in case. It was also a good time to explore a few places for a crude map.

He had his own plan, it was getting things together that he had left to do as well as forming the party that would go with him. He waited patiently to make his decision toward the end of Ashelia's speech.

[kobatonotdobato]

Kobato had never really been in meetings before that weren't just her and Ioryogi and the children's park, but this one seemed very different from that one. More serious and less fire attacking her for once. She kept her hand on her legs as she listened to what had to be said first, taking everything in before giving a small look of sadness. That poor girl. Helping in this case seemed like a good idea and something she knew she'd want to try and help in.

So raising her hand slightly. "I'll be happy to help the best I can should I be needed. I wouldn't want to see a poor girl suffer after all."

Before the meeting: Introductions and small talk

[comeoutswinging]

As Allenby enters, she adjusts her Monk's jacket, still feeling abit under-dressed given the class-given clothes. Straightening it, she enters, smiling.

"Hello! I responded to the meeting-thing that's supposed to be here. My name's Allenby." Which does sound like the Allen B. that RSVP'd.

[comeoutswinging]

"I'll be super honest... I'm not the best with words with other people... Especially ones in the hospital." she answers after Kobato's spoken up.

"But I'll be glad to head out and try and find the seeds on foot. You'll help me out, right Kobato?"

[umslay]

During the past week, Ales had been exploring as much of Aqures Ixen each day, memorizing the districts and the locations of various landmarks, including the research facilities and business centers. But without anything else for him to do besides take walks and read up on basic information of Crytallis, he grew bored.

The invitation provided something for him to do, and it would be the best chance to meet with the other Heroes and make connections, if he ever wanted to go back to starting his own business again.

He easily found house B-05, as he was walking through the residential districts the day before, and opened the door. He walked towards where the others were gathering and greeted them with a smile.

"It's a pleasure to be here and finally meet all of you!" he said as he hoisted himself onto the table. "I don't think I might have caught your name, you are...?"

Meeting

[umslay]

A minute after Ashe finished her speech, Ales spoke up.

"Excuse me, but can you tell me more about these seeds?"

[iknowtheconsequences]

Kaji appears a bit rushed to get here, not like his usual cool, calm demeanor. Kaji had planned to come along, to see what Lady Ashelia wanted. (So far, she is someone he actually wants to stay in the good graces of.) But he couldn't help but notice that Ib wasn't back at the house, and realized that she must have wanted to come help out, as well.

He steps in the doorway and scans the room, frowns a touch when he sees that she's here. Okay, here we go again, this is just like the chocobos. He can't stop her, and maybe she's even more capable in a fight than he is, since she can cast magic. He can make sure that she isn't going into this alone, then.

This protective streak, it's annoying, but maybe not entirely unwelcome.

"Ib," he raises a hand when he walks up. Shinji flutters behind him, wearing the hat for Kaji's Archer outfit. "Thought you might be here," trying immediately to put the cool facade back on.

[red_planet_blues]

The marshal sat somewhere near the back of the room, arms folded behind his head as he listened. Not exactly the sort of job he was expecting, but a noble cause nonetheless.

"We got any idea why this guy is refusin' to talk to anyone? Sounds fishy. Ya think if he was robbed, he'd be lookin' for some help. Or maybe he's too afraid to talk."

The latter was probably unlikely from a sword-for-hire, but you never knew.

"As far as lookin' for the flowers, I can probably cover a lotta ground with my rocket steed. So whichever side ya need me for, I'm in."

[iknowtheconsequences]

The overall problem seems easy enough. Putting it into terms that Kaji can understand, there is a specific kind of medicine, unseen in the city for months. That likely means there's a secondary use for them. In Kaji's world this would be some other- chemical properties. But here, they could have some other magical use, or who even knows?

"My particular skill set might not be as useful in the wild. But, a man to get information out of? Now that's my specialty," Kaji pipes up with a self-assured smile. "Do we know anything about this Gerad, other than his occupation?"

[goddessofthesky]

Zelda smiled as she arrived her moogle close behind her as she moved into Ashelia's home. She gave her host a happy smile and then nodded to the others as she walked in.

"It's nice to see you again."

Meeting

[thegreatninja]

Yuffie had managed to sneak in right before the meeting started. She had no idea what it was about or why everyone was gathered but it seemed like a good chance to asses those who called themselves heroes. She snuck to the back of the room and watch everyone as the meeting continued.

She kept her thoughts to herself as she listened closely to Ashile and then the conversations around her.

[goddessofthesky]

Zelda walked over with a smile.

"It means two weeks."

She didn't mind explaining things and it was nice to be able to gather everyone with the goal of helping out.

[desertbloomed]

Ashelia looks from Ib to Kaji and back again. She hadn't expected the child to actually show up at the meeting. "Ah, yes, you've come to the right place, then. I am the Lady Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca. I do not believe we've met, Ib." She looks back to Kaji questioningly. What is she doing here?

"Ah, Ib, if you're so inclined, there is punch and biscuits." Ashelia motions to the table she had set up. "Please do try not to eat too many...the, ah, sugar..."

[desertbloomed]

"Not at all. A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance properly, Angeal." Ashelia nodded courteously, motioning for him to come inside. "I am glad for your presence. This matter gravely needs the attention of a warrior such as yourself." She did mean it, but she also has learned that it never hurts to butter people up a bit.

"There are refreshments inside, simple things, but do partake if it pleases you."

[desertbloomed]

"Allenby...I see..." The mixup seems simple enough to Ashelia, she just doesn't understand how one's moogle could make such a mistake. "Yes, you've come to the right place. I am the Lady Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca. Please come in; there are refreshments inside if you care to partake."

[desertbloomed]

"And you as well, Zelda." Ashelia couldn't help but smile back at the young woman. She just radiated positivity. There were times when the queen may find that nothing short of aggravating, but this was not one of them. They needed all the positivity they could get. "Please make yourself comfortable. The meeting will start momentarily."

[desertbloomed]

Ashelia's eye twitched just once as Ales hoisted himself onto the table. It wasn't proper, it wasn't right - alas, she was no longer in her castle and, while this was her house, having spent some time around moogles and nu mou back in Ivalice, seeing some of the smaller peoples climb onto tables or other surfaces when addressing larger colleagues wasn't a new sight. Still, it was her table.

"I am the Lady Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca. Do try not to knock over the punch."

[desertbloomed]

Ashelia tilted her head to the side, nodding cautiously. "I can certainly try. I am not as learned in Botany as some, and while I was able to perform some superficial research into the flower and its seeds, the knowledge falls somewhat out of the scope of this mission. What would you know?"

[desertbloomed]

"None, unfortunately." Ashelia folded her hands behind her back as she recalled her multiple attempts to visit the man. "I've considered many options, but until we are able to question the man ourselves, they are no more than conjecture. The shopkeeper knew only the man's name and where he is being housed while he coalesces. Gerad was not hired by our friend directly. Presumably he was in the employ of the company shipping the goods."

"As for which party you join, I would prefer you as part of the scouting expedition. Your talents do seem somewhat equally distributed for these tasks; however, this rocket steed of yours should ease the journey considerably, saving us precious time."

[desertbloomed]

"I am glad to hear it." To be honest, Ashelia was more expecting results out of the interrogation than the scouting expedition. The men and women who needed the seeds had no trouble obtaining them from their natural habitat before six months ago - the fact they were gone from the city completely probably meant something happened to the area. It was what happened to the area that she meant to find out with the expedition. Gerad was a more solid connection to the seeds than somewhere they likely no longer grew, in Ashelia's opinion.

"As for Gerad, unfortunately not. Our friend the shopkeeper knows only where Gerad coalesces and his name. Presumably Gerad was in the employ of the company shipping the goods. The shopkeeper did not hire him directly to procure the seeds."