Prelude || The Festival Of Light

[melodiesmods]

Characters: All the "Heroes of Light."
Where: Aqures Ixen.
When: The 3rd of August, final day of the Festival of Light. The Heroes of Light will awaken early in the morning.
Summary: The Heroes of Light awaken in Aqures Ixen and are informed by their assigned Moogles of what the situation and what their destinies are. This a log for them to react to the situation, meet each other and optionally participate in activities provided by the Festival of Light.
Warning: N/A

Where you were or what you were doing— It does not really matter. Not any more. Within an instant, the world around you collapses. Reality twists and shatters... Or maybe you are the one who is collapsing and shattering away from reality as you knew it. No matter what the answer is, it will only take a few seconds for you to find yourself sinking into a void, your world vanishing into the distance. There is nothing but darkness as far as the eye can see. Even you feel different: all the powers you might once have had, are now gone. It is silent, cold and it feels as though life itself is slipping out of you.

At this moment, when it looks as though nothing but a never-ending void awaits you, a red Crystal forms before you. In this void, its warmth compels you to grab it. Upon doing so, you can hear a soft, soothing voice speaking:


"Wake up."

Soon, the void itself vanishes and is replaced by distant noises of engines. Had it all been nothing more than a dream? The soothing voice repeats its call one more time, but is soon replaced with a much less graceful "Wake up, Kupo!" Hand clutched on your Crystal, the call of the Moogle may finally wake you up. But you are no longer in your world, nor in the void. You are before the Crystal of Fire, in the third district of a city called Aqures Ixen. At this point, you may realize the engine noise actually originates from an Airship flying low over the city and headed to dock beneath the castle. As if it wasn't strange enough, your clothes have changed as well. They are now a reflection of the Jobs you are wielding. Last but not least, you are surrounded by Moogles, small and fluffy creatures who are more than happy to tell you about everything you want to know, about your 'destiny' as a Hero of Light, about what awaits you.

Or at least, they will tell you everything they do know, which isn't much in the end.

Thankfully, there doesn't seem to be any citizens aside from Moogles in the vicinity. Indeed, the population of Aqures Ixen seems to be busy elsewhere in the city-- The Moogle will tell you there currently an event named the Festival of Light, which most people are attending. But you are not alone! It probably will not be long before you realize there are plenty of people like you all around, and if somehow you do not realize it, the Moogle who woke you up will be more than happy to inform you there are others like you around. Maybe with their help, you will be able to find out what is happening to you.






— Final Day —
The Festival of Light is a yearly event held at Aqures Ixen to celebrate the victory of the "Heroes of Light" over the "Calamity from the Skies" two thousands years ago, or so do the legends say. Whether people believe in the legends or not, this is an occasion for them to have fun and spend time with family and friends. The Festival is held from the 28th of July to the 3rd of August.

Unfortunately, most attractions and events are over by the third of August. Yet, there is enough to do, should the newly arrived Heroes of Light favor spending time looking at the attractions rather than panicking about their situation. The festival ends at midnight.


Theater Play
— Ninth District || 14:00 —

There is a large theater stage installed in the 9th district-- It is probably only temporary by the look of it. There is quite a crowd seated to watch the play about to unfold, as well as numerous people standing beneath the seats or sitting on the ceilings because they couldn't get a seat. After the audience grows quiet, a woman with long silver hair and green-ish skin steps onto the stage to address the audience.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Tonight's performance is a story that takes place long, long ago! At the time when the Ancients reigned over the planet, when the Calamities from the Skies landed on this world and waged war against all forms of life. When our story begins, the Ancients are on the brink of extinction and gathering the last of their forces to fight. And now people of Aqures Ixen and visitors from distant lands, we proudly present 'The 4 Heroes of Light'!"

After this, the play starts and will last for roughly one hour and a half. The main characters appear to be four Heroes of Light, respectively dressed as a Warrior, Monk, Black Mage and White Mage. Other characters include the Calamity from the Skies played by the silver-haired woman, an Ancient scientist and the Princess of Crystallis. The story appears to be a highly romanticized version of the tale the Moogles told the characters earlier. As the play unfolds, there is a love story between one of the Heroes of Light, the Warrior, and the Princess of Crystallis. At the end of the play, the Heroes of Light successfully defeat the Calamity from the Skies, but the Warrior has to sacrifice himself and die in order to protect the Princess of Crystallis.


Culinary Attractions
— Fourteenth District || Anytime —
What would a festival be without free food and banquets? Not really a festival. In the fourteenth district, there is a banquet and many stands held by people from all over the world-- People from Balicea, Aerilon, Esdham, Flence, etc. There is even a stand held by former inhabitants of the Empire. All kind of food from all over the world can be found here-- Refined food, pastries, cakes, cooked meals, etc. It's virtually impossible not to find something to like in all of this, and it's all free until midnight!


Competitions
— Tenth & Eight District || 18:00 —

At 18:00, there will be a Blitzball match opposing the teams of Aqures Ixen and Balicea in the Blitzball Stadium. It is more of an exposition match, with nothing to be won aside from glory. Anyone is free to enter the stadium to watch the match. Following this, people - playable characters included - will be allowed to play some Blitzball Match on their own, if they want to try.

At the same time, a Triple Triad competition will be taking place in the eight district, in the campus of the university. Characters are free to enter the Triple Triad tournament, and if they do so they will be given very basic cards and explained the rules. With low level cards and whatsoever no experience, odds are that they may lose to much more experienced and competitive players, but what matters is trying, right? Whilst no characters may recognize him yet, it is notable that one of the NPCs, Wedge, is taking part in the competition. It's just a shame knowing he will lose in the semi-finals.


Trano Golsaucia's Stands
— Eleventh District || Anytime —
Specially for the occasions, stallholders from Trano Golsaucia traveled to Aqures Ixen and brought a few attractions to display what they can do. Noticeably, they brought Chocobos and will organize numerous races throughout the day, on an improvised tracks running around the houses. The Heroes of Light are more than welcome to try and bet, should they want to lose (or multiply) what few Gils they have. If they feel adventurous, they may even try to enter one of the races and ride a Chocobo-- At their own risks.

Aside from this, there are some more attractions worthy of attention. There is a shooting stand-- Coincidentally, all the targets are vaguely similar to the main antagonists of numbered Final Fantasy games. There is a treasure chest game, where characters are presented with ten chests and can open only one-- Prizes range from one Gils to gigantic plushie. There is also a fortune teller Moogle, it is notable that his predictions will always include either the character suffering hell or dying soon, in one form or another. Hopefully this moogle is just a scam.


Fireworks
— First District || 23:00 —

What better way to conclude a festival than fireworks? Fireworks will be launched from the Castle of Aqures Ixen starting 23:00, and will end at midnight, at the same time than the festival. No matter where you are in the city, anyone should be able to watch them easilly if they so wish. Unfortunately, it means falling asleep before midnight may be a bit hard with all the noise.

Comments

Ryoji Kaji

[iknowtheconsequences]

Wakeup:
The last thing Kaji knew, Shinji was still trapped inside the Eva Unit 01, and the entire building was still on this edgy high alert, as if anything could go wrong at any moment. Maybe another Angel would attack. Maybe Shinji's 400% synchronization rate would backfire horribly. Kaji hadn't taken that idea seriously, but now maybe he should have.

The world shatters, disappears into pure nothingness, except for one shining, warm object. On compulsion, he grabs at the crystal, that looks like something- familiar.

He doesn't get time to think about it before the world rights itself, and Kaji finds himself in a very different place. He staggers back to his feet, trying to gain his bearings. He is dressed in the long coat of a Scholar, as others would recognize it, but it just looks odd to Kaji. He feels the hat on his head, plucks the mortarboard off, and looks at it like it has offended him. Okay, no. That's not happening. He tosses it aside.

"K-kupo!"

One of the little fluff-balls quickly darts after it and brings it back.

"You dropped your hat, kupo!"

Kaji blinks dumbly. "Kupo?"

"Kupo!" the moogle repeats happily. "I'm here to help! My name is Shinji, kupo!"

Kaji's face falls. Shinji? Not a chance. "Kaji. You don't- happen to already know who I am, do you?"

The moogle shakes his head. "Not your name, but that you are a Hero of Light, kupo!"

"Hero of-" Okay, also no. Kaji holds up his hands and takes a step back. "There's been some mistake, you're going to have to explain-"

Kaji just notices again that there is still that object, the crystal, clutched hard in his hand. Kaji holds it up, and squints at it, turning it over and over again until he can figure out why it is so familiar. It takes holding it at the right angle for the picture to become clear, a shape he knows all too well from his NERV ID card.

It's in the shape of a maple leaf.

The world collapsed, remade in a different image, Kaji is still here, and the first things he sees are both references to NERV. There is really only one conclusion to come to:

Gendo Ikari fucked up.

"Instrumentality. What a crock."

Theater Play:

After a hasty explanation that explained just about nothing from Shinji, Kaji is going in search of information. Which, in Kaji's case, means going where the people are. He finds himself leaning against the side of one of the stands to watch the play. Shinji (who is still holding Kaji's hat) seems way more excited than Kaji to see it, so maybe there will be something useful to find out about this place from it.

The moment the announcer says the words 'Heroes of Light,' the play has Kaji's full attention. He watches quietly, contemplatively. Even if it is fiction, there can be a lot to be learned from it.

Once the play is over, he is scanning the crowd for anyone else who seems obviously out of place. Clearly, he isn't the only new person here, so maybe if he finds them, they can piece this together.

Eighth District: Triple Triad Tournament

As the hours pass, Kaji is either getting more relaxed, or just going with the flow more. Shinji pointed out that this is the university district, something that Kaji will have to keep in mind for when the festival is over.

But card games? Finally, something familiar around this place! A card game with a deck and rules he isn't familiar with? There's probably about to be a round of 'put one over on the new guy' coming up here, but Kaji is happy to sign up anyway.

Theatre Play

[desertbloomed]

A possibly familiar, rigidly straight-backed young woman may catch Kaji's eye - she was at the Fire Crystal that morning as well, but was wearing different clothing and had made a hasty departure. She sits in one of the seats near the back, arms and legs crossed and head lowered, deep in thought.

Ashelia isn't sure what to make of the play. In her personal experience, legends and myths seem to have some basis in reality. What parts had been embellished by the players to appease the audience? After two thousand years, would this story of the Heroes of Light be at all recognizable from the actual events? It's also in her personal experience that saving the world is an incredibly melodramatic endeavour, with twists and turns, triumphs and reverses and the like. There is also, of course, the possibility that none of it is true.

She gets to her feet, shaking her head slightly. And yet, here I stand. As she files out of the seating area, following the slow flow of the crowd, she walks right by Kaji, unknowing.

[iknowtheconsequences]

Hel-lo. Someone else who didn't entirely seem to enjoy the play, like the locals do, but she looks like she belongs here more than Kaji does. Also cute, but now isn't the time for that.

Maybe.

"C'mon, Shinji." The moogle wearing Kaji's mortarboard hat flutters up to follow Kaji on the edge of the crowd. He moves along slowly with everyone else, but slowly tries to get closer to the mystery woman.

"The four Heroes of Light," Kaji announces his presence when he gets near the woman. "Not the most uplifting story I've ever seen."

Kaji shoots the woman a smile, but pitches his voice down a little bit as he takes a gamble. "Also, there seem to be a lot more than four of us running around here, aren't there?"

[desertbloomed]

Ashelia's eyes pass over Kaji absently before he addresses her directly. She looks at him, surprised, though it only shows on her face for a moment. She casts a glance at the man's moogle, a clear indication that he is in fact one of the displaced 'heroes.' Without Merlose, how could he have known? Quite the gamble, indeed. Or he is astutely perceptive. Hopefully this surprise turns out to be a pleasant one.

"Not uplifting?" Ashelia deftly moves out of the way of the crowd when they exit the audience proper. "The day was saved by the Warrior. He sacrificed his life for his lady love, and the people of Crystallis lived on in peace." The wryness in Ashelia's voice is readily palpable. "One can only wonder if this time it will take just one of us...or perhaps a full quarter, as before?"

[iknowtheconsequences]

Kaji had been searching for someone out of place, someone who was reacting as if they hadn't seen the story before, and, yes, he got massively lucky.

His eyes light up at what Ashelia is saying, though. "Ah, good, someone else already thinking of the angles. And that's an interesting idea, that more than one would have to make the sacrifice in the end. If, in fact, we did get brought here to play out that mummer's act we just saw."

Kaji extends a hand. "Ryoji Kaji, but just Kaji is fine."

"Kupo!" Kaji smirks and tilts his head down at the moogle. "And this is Shinji."

[desertbloomed]

Ashelia gives Kaji another once-over before clasping his hand with her own. Her grip is strong and confident. "'Tis good to make your acquaintance. I am the Lady Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca. Lady Ashelia will do." She spared the moogle a glance, nodding slightly in its direction. "Shinji."

The queen rested one hand on the pommel of the sword at her waist, placing the other squarely on her hip. "Your trip here was much the same as my own, I wager? The world falling away, the void, the crystal...the voice?"

[iknowtheconsequences]

Kaji's eyebrows raise in interest, and he nods slightly in a bow when she takes his hand. "Lady Ashelia it is, then." Okay, feudal titles are active around here, and Kaji makes a mental note to remember who calls themselves what. Might come in handy later.

Kaji's answer is a little slow and cautious. "Ah, yes, although I assumed that the world destruction was due to the actions of someone from my own world." Hunh. Maybe this isn't all Ikari's fault. "You came from somewhere very different than here, then?"

Whoops, was more tired than I thought last night, totally switched tenses lmao orz

[desertbloomed]

It occurs to Ashelia that the situation back in her home world is nowhere near as dire as Kaji's. Vaguely guilty as it makes her feel, she'll take anything to feel even a little better about this whole Crystallis fiasco. Best not to dwell on it in conversation, though.

Ashelia shakes her head, looking around at the surrounding area, and then up to the castle. "Not as such. From what little I've seen, Crystallis shows more than a passing resemblance to Ivalice. Of course, this is but one city. Though, it does remind me of my Rabanastre..."

Ashelia crosses her arms, looking still at the castle. "I've sent my moogle attendant, Merlose, to arrange an audience with the rulers of Aqures Ixen." She looks back at Kaji, then focuses pointedly on Shinji. "They must be made aware that they have crossed a line. My own abduction will be viewed as an act of war, and Father knows what positions the other 'heroes' hold on their own worlds."

[iknowtheconsequences]

Shinji shrinks back a little from Ashelia's gaze. "War? K-kupo?"

Kaji puts out a hand to pat Shinji on the pom-pom. "Easy there." He looks sideways at Ashelia. "I don't think the moogles are in on it, so I wouldn't go tossing blame at them. They probably only know more about what's going on here because they live here." He follows her gaze back to the castle. "Those people, though. I'd be very interested to talk to them, as well."

"Besides, my world is very very different from this one. I'd be quite surprised if anyone knew what position I held back there." He laughs a little. "I'd be surprised if anyone from my world knew what position I held back there, either."

Theater Play!

[charlottejonathan]

Kaji isn't the only one who's looking for information.

Charlotte has seen the play, too, but rather than searching for other Heroes of Light, she's been asking townspeople and intends to dive into the library soon. But first, she wants to make a record of the play, and happens to be seated at one of the nearby tables with her moogle, Mogsy perched on the back of an adjacent chair.

Charlotte's dressed in a Red Mage outfit, and has a large scroll of parchment spread across the table as she writes on it. On the table is a thick tome, the strange symbols on it nothing like the writing on the signs around town.

"It was just a play, kupo!" Mogsy claims with a sigh. "Why do you want to make a record of it?"

Charlotte keeps writing. "I don't know anything about this world or this legend, Mogsy. Figuring out what's going on starts here."

Mogsy just mimes fainting off his chair and groans. "Can't you just enjoy the festival?"

Can't get much more obvious that she's not from around here.

[iknowtheconsequences]

With people clearing out, it gives Kaji room to approach the woman. He is dressed (mostly) in the outfit of a Scholar, but he has already loosened up the cravat, unbuttoned the top button of the shirt, and his moogle is wearing his mortarboard hat instead.

"The Four Heroes of Light," he comments wryly to announce himself as he leans against the edge of the table. "Only, there seem to be a lot more than four of us running around here." He is looking at the woman, not her notes, even though he is very interested to know what details she thought were important.

[charlottejonathan]

Charlotte looks up at the sound of a new voice cutting in. She frowns a little when she sees the stranger leaning against the edge of the table, but doesn't comment on it; as long as he doesn't accidentally tip her table or mess up her papers like some people she knows back home, she doesn't mind much. Mogsy just sighs.

"I agree," Charlotte says, acknowledging the stranger's input. She idly drums her fingers on the table, her brow pinched in thought. "And it doesn't sound like they took the Four Heroes from other lands either. For supposedly being named after the heroes of legend, our story is already quite different."

Her notes cover the play's plot, but there's particular attention is paid to the Calamity of the Skies and the Warrior's sacrifice. Questions like, What was the source of the Calamity of the Skies? and Why was it necessary for the Warrior to sacrifice himself? and Does this mean the Calamity of the Skies will return like Dracula does? are scrawled alongside her plot notes.

[iknowtheconsequences]

"Usually these types of stories are more allegory than truth, clearly. Except there actually are heroes now. Are there actually monsters now, too, like the people in the costumes? Does that mean they expect us to sacrifice ourselves for some calamity?" He laughs and puts a hand behind his head. "No, thank you, already seen people go down that road once."

Kaji glances down at her notes, but then offers over his hand, instead. "Ryoji Kaji. Just Kaji is fine."

[charlottejonathan]

Charlotte sets aside her quill and grasps his hand firmly. "A pleasure to meet you, Kaji. I'm Charlotte Aulin." She lets go of his hand, glancing over at her moogle. "The grumpy moogle is Mogsy."

Right on cue, Mogsy folds his arms and grumbles under his breath, looking pointedly away.

"Don't mind him." She gestures to an unoccupied chair by the table. "Please, take a seat. If you don't mind my asking, I'd like to hear more about the calamity you experienced in your world."

[iknowtheconsequences]

"Welllll..." Kaji looks up, and is very visibly organizing his thoughts as he plunks down into the chair. Okay, what is the short way that Kaji can explain Second Impact, Tokyo-3, the Angels, and the Evangelions?

"The world I come from is very different than this one. No magic, monsters aren't supposed to be real, and the only people around are humans." A glance back at the moogle. "No offense, Shinji."

"Fifteen years ago, there was an incident called Second Impact. Giant meteor came down to Earth, melted the polar ice caps, lots of flooding, death, and destruction, and that was where the trouble started."

"Giant monsters began appearing, and I don't mean stuff like what we saw on that stage," he points towards the stage. "I mean," he turns in his seat, and gestures towards the skyline, at the castle. "Taller than that. Giant." He is waving his hands for emphasis. "So, one guy had figured out a counter-weapon, uh, giant," she might not understand the term robots, "giant suits of armor. Ones that would make people as big as the monsters."

"Only," Kaji holds up a single finger for emphasis, and his rate of speech slows down. This is clearly the important part. "Certain very specific people were the only ones who could use the Evangelions. People who had to be chosen."

He holds his hands out to the sides. "A select few with the power to save our world, expected to just blindly do whatever it took to get the job done. Sound familiar?" He lets his hands drop, and shakes his head. "I wasn't one of them. But I could never do enough to help them. Or even figure out the truth behind what they were actually fighting for."

[charlottejonathan]

While Kaji was talking, Charlotte's pen flew across the scroll, recording this new information. While she wasn't a fast enough writer to transcribe everything he was saying as he was saying it, she captured the essence of his recount in shorthand, intending to clean up her notes later; she intended this scroll to be something of a scratchpad of information before transferring information. She listened closely without interruption, wanting to hear what he had to say before she made any comments.

She found the name, Evangelion, of note. It sounded remarkably similar to evangelic. Maybe that was of some significance? One of many questions for later; that kind of large scale hugeness that warped nature itself... there would be many who would call that acts of God. Scary.

Once he had finished explaining, Charlotte kept the quill in her hand. "That does have some parallels with what we've been told about our roles." She idly tapped her cheek with her free hand. "Did your chosen manage to save the world in the end? Or is that something you were all in the middle of before being brought here?"

[iknowtheconsequences]

Kaji counts them out on his fingers, but for some reason he starts with zero, "Rei," one, "Shinji," two, "Asuka."

"K-kupo!?" The moogle behind Kaji pipes up in a tone of surprise, but claps his hands over his mouth.

Kaji gestures to the moogle. "Shinji. Also the name of one of the chosen," he likes that word better than hero, it fits the Eva pilots better.

"They had defeated all challenges in their way, but it almost all feels like..." He looks back to the stage, his gaze fades into the distance, thoughtful. "Like a play. Like things had to play out a certain way. And they were just being manipulated. Like no matter how hard they fought, it was all just a setup for the final act."

He turns back to look at Charlotte. "Back in my world, my job was to look for the truth. Of what they were fighting for, if the fate of the world even was at stake at all." He gestures to the notes. "I assume you have the same goal in mind here?"

Eight District: Triple Triad Tournament

[gomu_ningen]

Some how he'd been roped into a game of cards, and by some how, it meant that Luffy loved card games. Whenever they'd had the chance aboard the Sunny to play a game, Usopp and he had spent many hours of back and forth games of which the pirate couldn't rightly remember the names of.

Much like those games, Luffy is left with a line of sweat at his brow, looking intently at his cards before sizing up the situation. He looks over to the pony-tailed gent across from him, making the audible sounds that usually come from thinking. When he feels the moment is right, he plucks a card from his hand and reveals it face up upon the table.

Unfortunately, for Luffy, the card itself seems to be the "How to Play" instructions from the deck.

"Sorry, Uncle, I don't know how to play "Staves". Or "Clubs". Was it "Clubs"? Maybe it was "More Fish"?"

The cards in his hand flutter away as his grip on them loosens, spilling forth a bunch of them over the table.

"Oh-!! Man, cards are tough, all right."

[iknowtheconsequences]

Kaji roars with laughter, but in a good-natured way, when Luffy puts down his card. "I still haven't figured out this grid. Here, maybe that one goes in the center."

Kaji knows there's no winning the tournament, itself, so he's at the point of tossing out the rules and making up his own. He reveals all his own cards and considers the pictures of odd creatures on all of them. "Hmm, this one's kind of a fish." It's an orange fish with an oversized fin on its head.

Kaji leans back in his seat and shoots a grin at his 'opponent.' "It's nothing like the games I've seen back home, at least."

[gomu_ningen]

"I'll say. There's no Kings or Queens and Stabby Guys on these things! What's the fun in that?"

He puts a card or two to his nose, smelling them both flicking them with impressive strength and accuracy.

"I can't even eat any of these. Hrrrnnggh- I'm bored with games. Isn't there anywhere to eat around here?"

[iknowtheconsequences]

One of the judges is looking at them sternly, so Kaji is pretty sure they're both about to be disqualified from this round. He leans back in his chair to look around. "A drink would be great right about now." And strange as this guy looks, he seems to also be from another world, so Kaji should really have a word with him.

"Hey, Shinji, where can we get food before they all close up? And any chance of a drink?" Oh, if you tell Kaji that he got kidnapped to another world where there is no alcohol, there are going to be problems. The moogle flutters up and points in a direction with a "kupo!"

[gomu_ningen]

The moogle fluttering a few feet behind Luffy lets out a small huft of air, sighing in relief at the blessing of finally finding another spot for food.

"It's been forever since we've eaten."
"I know. It's been.. What-? ... ... ... An hour?"
"Just about. Shall we?"
"Sure thing, Lunch!"
"FOR THE LAST TIME, THAT'S NOT MY NAME!"

With is Emergency Food Ration following behind him, Luffy stands and walks around the table to stand before the taller gent. Scratching his stomach without an ounce of concerns for manners, he sniffles and looks back and forth before staring into Kaji's eyes.

"So, where to then, Uncle?"

[iknowtheconsequences]

Kaji isn't usually one for personal space, either, but even Luffy makes him take a half-step back and blink at his overly familiar manner. "Uncle?" Frown. "Just how old do you think I am, anyway?"

"Kupo! Ku po! Come on!" Shinji gestures to try to distract Kaji and prevent a possible argument. (Kaji was bad enough at the fortune-teller's tent.)

Kaji stuffs his hands in his pockets and follows Shinji, but keeps a side eye on the guy who will undoubtedly follow. "A drink, too, Shinji. Dont suppose they have sake here, so maybe a beer?"

He takes a breath, and turns to see how close his 'nephew' is following. "My name is Kaji. I didn't catch yours?" Let's try this again, see if he can

[gomu_ningen]

"How old? Maybe thirty-something? Yeah. It's the stubble. All old guys got stubble."

Keeping a hand atop the hat on his head, the pirate follows close behind the pony-tailed gentleman as Pakku, his moogle, follows suit.

"Me? I'm Luffy. I'm the man who's gonna' be King of the Pirates. This here's Lunch."
"THAT'S NOT MY NAME!"
"He's my emergency food ration."
""Damned idiot-!!"

The moogle lunges at Luffy's noggin, being just large enough to tackle the melon of the absent-minded youth. They scuffle for a moment before they both turn back to the leading pair, their tongues sticking out from thirst, speaking in unison with a long, drawn out "we're hungry!".

[iknowtheconsequences]

What- the- hell? Kaji can only stand and watch the pair in bewilderment as moogle and- (Owner? Follower? What, exactly, do you call the relationship between the people and moogles?) as moogle and hero squabble.

Instead of making any effort to break up the argument or resulting flailing, Kaji looks at Shinji. "Moogles aren't edible, are they?"

Shinji's only response is to irritably frown.

Kaji idly scratches at that stubble that Luffy was making light of. "Are you two quite finished? This is why I didn't want to work with the kids." He shakes his head, and goes back to apparently leading the way, because he realizes at this point there is no getting rid of this guy.

The first food vendor has mixed kabobs, with all kinds of meat and vegetables, if it can go on a skewer, it seems to be on display here. Kaji looks at the stall curiously. "If this is a different world, I would have expected the food to be a lot different, too." But it looks awfully familiar.