The Shopkeeper's Daughter: Act 2

[desertbloomed]

Characters: Lots!
Where: The hospital; the shopkeeper's shop; just outside the Chocobo Farm; in the wilderness; on the plateau.
When: September 12-13
Summary: It's time for The Shopkeeper's Daughter to get properly underway. Here we have act 2!
Warnings: Possibly some violence...

Overture
It’s market day in Aqures Ixen. People stream out of their homes and into the common areas, carrying all kinds of items, for bartering is just as popular on these days as buying things outright. Market days always bring with them a special kind of energy. Anything is possible on these days. One never knows what treasures one might find for sale. Except, of course, for Baltoro’s Blooms.

Comments

Scene 1: The Hospital

[desertbloomed]

Gerad lies in an entirely separate wing of the hospital from our Heroes’ fallen comrades. A rough-looking man, he seems more or less recovered from his ordeal with the caravan, judging by how antsy he seems. His eyes flicker from the window to the door and back again in a constant loop. Is he waiting for something? For someone? A tense scene indeed awaits the Heroes…if they can make it past the nurses.

The Hospital

[goddessofthesky]

Zelda was waiting by the front entrance of the hospital. She made sure to note all the heroes at the meeting to see who would be here but she still wasn't sure who was coming.

Her hands fidgeted nervously with her pink dress. The nurses had insisted that he didn't want any visitors and she wasn't sure if she should try to press the matter alone.

[kobatonotdobato]

Even though Kobato had been to the meeting, she still wasn't a hundred per cent sure of what exactly she could do to help. But never the less she found herself going to the hospital first to see who else is there and how she could manage to help them.

When she came across a person she had spoken to before she gave a small smile and walked on over. "Are you here for the same reason I am?"

Re: The Hospital

[iknowtheconsequences]

Oh, of course, guess who else is planning on going on this mission. Go on, Zelda? Guess. Your favorite information broker, Ryoji Kaji! He saunters up and raises a hand in greeting to Zelda with that cocky smirk already in place.

"So. No luck getting in to talk to the guy yet?"

The Hospital

[shinrasfinest]

Just as he had suggested; someone needed to try and get answers out of Gerad and as Sephiroth approached the hospital and saw the others lingering outside, he wondered if this were the 'rendezvous' or if the other Heroes had already tried -and failed- to get the man to talk with them.

Either way, Sephiroth wasn't about to hang around outside nodding pleasantries when there was a job to be done. He delivered the other Heroes a long sweeping glance as he strode towards the entrance of the building; hopefully they would get the hint that he'd be going in now, and they were welcome to come with him as they pleased.

The Hospital

[her_rose_is_red]

Ib had been outside, mingling and waiting for one of the grown ups to take the lead. And when Sephiroth's glance sweeps over her, she smiles brightly and gives him a small wave. But when he just continues on, she follows him in.

"Sephiroth! Are you going to see the sword seller now? Wait for me, I'll go with you."

Scene 2: The Shopkeeper's Daughter (interlude)

[desertbloomed]

One might think that market day would be one of our friend the shopkeeper’s favourite days, but alas, it does not seem to be. He sits beside his ailing daughter, holding one of her pale, clammy hands tightly in his own. He silently prays for the triumphant return of the Heroes of Light. They will save his daughter, won’t they?

[her_rose_is_red]

There is a quiet knock at his door. When he answers, Ib is standing there with a small plush moogle. She thought it would be nice to bring a gift. The Red Mage gear she's wearing makes it easy to identify her as a 'hero' despite her young age.

"Um hi. I'm Ib. I came to visit your daughter."

[desertbloomed]

The shopkeeper looks startled. The Lady had mentioned some of the people brought to Aqures Ixen were children, but she seemed so angry at the time he thought it was hyperbole. He's not very pleased to be proven wrong.

"Ib? I suppose the Lady B'nargin sent you?" He steps out of Ib's way, closing the door behind her. "You don't...happen to have the seed?"

Scene 3: Setting Out

[desertbloomed]

The Queen of Dalmasca finishes saddling up her yellow chocobo, tightening straps and tying expertly crafted knots. It may be absurdly early in the morning, but she doesn’t believe in wasting time, not when her little friend’s life is on the line. She looks out to the south east, petting her chocobo’s neck gently. All she needs now is her companions.

[red_planet_blues]

Sparks had arrived a bit early in order to get Mercury ready for the trip, and the rocket horse seemed excited to finally be getting out for a real adventure. When Sparks said pack light, he meant it - this was supposed to be a fast trip, and he wasn't sure if anyone needed to ride with him or not. Maybe the newbies hadn't gotten themselves a chocobo yet.

Oh, right. Chocobos. Before he had gotten Mercury here, he went through that process, but not without being dragged through the forest and getting pecked a whole lot. He turned to those nearby who seemed like they were without one.

"Alright. If ya don't got a bird yet, someone light can ride with me. Otherwise, you can borrow my chocobo, if'n he don't peck ya to death first." Sparks nodded towards a yellow chocobo in a corner stable that the man a rueful wark when mentioned. It didn't seem like the friendliest creature in the stables, for sure.

[umslay]

"Hey! Marshall!" Ales jumped as he waved his arms to get Sparks' attention. "Would you mind if I also brought my bag with me?"

He pulled a bulky bag about the size of his body with one arm. "It's not really that heavy, just awfully inconvenient to carry around."

[umslay]

The evening before the trip, Ales packed everything he owned that would be of use: a pocketful of gil, small research tools, a botany book with a few of its pages bookmarked, and a notebook. Mimi made two sandwiches in case he got hungry on the road and Luffy ate all the food.

While the bag wasn't too heavy, he didn't realize how big it would be. He reminded himself to build a better portable storage device the moment he bought some metal as he searched for a position where he could carry his supplies on his back without tipping over.

"Let-let me help you take it over there, if you want, kupo." Mimi flew behind him and lifted half of the bag.

Ales muttered his thanks and headed out the door, towards the meeting area. After a twenty-minute trek through the city, he final reached Lady Ashe, desperately hoping that whoever would let him ride with them would also carry his bag.

"Finally here! Glad to know that we have such a large group coming."

[desertbloomed]

Ashelia nodded at Ales, patting Sydney's wing gently. "Truly. Whatever misgivings I may have about our situation here, your presence here - and the others' - gives me some hope."

Setting Out

[thegreatninja]

Yuffie spent a few minutes in the shadows watching the group assemble. She had a small bag slung across her shoulder filled with her usual traveling supplies and a tan cloak draped over her small frame. She hadn't meant to watch the group for very long but she was interested in what they were up too.

She had obtained a chocobo from the farm easily and enjoyed the company of the spastic golden bird. It wasn't as quiet as she was though and quickly alerted everyone to the young ninja's presence with a happy 'Kweh'. With a heavy sigh Yuffie road her chocobo in view and gave a happy wave.

"Morning." Her bird was already packed and her moogle was sitting behind her with a book in his little marshmallow hands. It was clear he was mostly coming along because he had too. "So where we headed?"

[desertbloomed]

"South east, about a day's journey through field and forest. I plan to make camp on the eastern edge of the forest, and make the plateau we seek by mid-morning tomorrow." Ashelia pointed in the general direction of their destination.

Setting Out

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud brought his chocobo up alongside the Queen, watching as she finished prepping for the trip. It was a bit comforting to see someone else who was at least as familiar with the birds as he was. His own pack was well filled and his mage staff was slung over his shoulder.

"Ready to go whenever you are."

[desertbloomed]

"Corporal." The queen nodded at Cloud before climbing smoothly onto Sydney. "I see you're used to riding chocobos. I suppose you've been practicing since the Chocobo Eater?"

Re: Scene 3: Setting Out

[gomu_ningen]

After his failed attempt of trying to get himself a Chocobo, Luffy stood with a frumpy frown on his puffed out lips, rubbing the many bruises and markings he'd received from foolishly trying to lead a heard.

With the small pack on his back, the necessities of a few days camping out, the lad looked over the small party as a smirk finally returned to him. Though he was growing impatient, the young pirate took in the sight of the small crowd. Adventures were waiting, and he could barely contain his excitement, even while he was still rather fresh from the fight.

"So, we going or what, huh??"

[desertbloomed]

"As soon as we've all arrived," Ashelia answered, looking down at Luffy from her steed. "If you haven't a bird of your own, you're welcome to ride double with me. Sydney is a hardy one; I daresay he'll welcome the opportunity to challenge himself." The yellow bird gave a cheerful 'kweh!'

Scene 4: Camping

[desertbloomed]

The Heroes make good time, settling in for the night at the edge of a small, sparse forest. Just past the uneven line of trees, the ground gets rocky and begins to slope upward. Their destination is within reach…but first, sleep.

Camping

[thegreatninja]

She liked trees and that included sleeping in them. With her chocobo tied to the trees base, Yuffie jumped up into it's branches and began to wrap them together to make a quick but sturdy bed. It was how she preferred to camp because it kept her items close to her and she was out of harms way from most things.

She laid down her cloak over their prickly leaves and to fill in holes of empty space that lead to the ground below. She then set her pack down as a pillow.

"And! A bed!" Yuffie grinned at her work, looking at the others below.

Re: Scene 4: Camping

[gomu_ningen]

Luffy has spent many evenings under the sky, but he hasn't necessarily ever used such equipment before. While the small sleeping back doesn't look complicated, Luffy, try as he might, meets the ties which keep his bag intact and the result is rather perplexing.

Tugging at twine offers no reprieve for his tired legs, instead the lad can only muster groans and frustrated screams as he tries to undo the knot he'd made earlier. Seems as though he's having the most difficult of times in trying to dismantle his sleeping arrangements.

"COME ON! COME UNDONE! IT'S SLEEP TIME!" Slamming the bag against the dirt does nothing, nor does trying to chew on the twine.

Scene 5: The Plateau

[desertbloomed]

As the Heroes finally arrive at the top of the small mountain, they are greeted with a rather unwelcome sight. Dirt. Just a lot of dirt. Some greenery, but clearly not the kind they are looking for. Ah well, better get to scrounging around in all that dirt. Hero-ing, yay.

[red_planet_blues]

Sparks looked over the map, and then at the field. Then back to the map. Then back to the field.

His shoulders slumped. "This is it? This is it? I thought it was supposed to be a field of flowers. This almost puts the Martian desert to shame."