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.

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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."

[red_planet_blues]

"Yeah, sure. Plenty of room." A large bag to Ales wasn't much to Sparks, so he added it with his own. "So, you all ready for yer first 'hero' adventure?" There was some definite sarcasm there. It wasn't an exciting mission, and while it was to help someone, Sparks didn't think it was particularly "heroic".

[umslay]

"Eh, I guess I am. It'll be nice to see more of the world, anyway," he answered. "Doesn't sound like anything too difficult for us non-heroes, anyway." And to be honest, he was more interested in finding out more about the seeds than heroically saving the life of a young girl. The latter was an inevitable conclusion.

[red_planet_blues]

"Yeah. Y'know, when I got here and they told me about this whole hero story 'a theirs, I really expected... I dunno. Big, world-shaking problems. Not this." Most people would be glad to hear it wasn't the case, but Sparks doesn't sound too glad. He does think it over for a moment tho, and quietly adds, "Reckon there ain't no harm in helpin' out a sick kid, though."

[umslay]

To be honest, Ales was glad that he didn't have to deal with world-threatening events like heroes did back home, but he understood what Sparks meant.

"I doubt they would take us away from our homes just to send us on a fetch quest to help one kid." He walked up to the chocobo, dragging the back behind him. "Here, put this up there and I'll jump to to sit in front."

[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.

[thegreatninja]

Yuffie looked over curiously. "Sounds like you got a plan." It didn't come off as a compliment though the young ninja meant it as one.

"How long will it take?" If it's been mentioned already, she wasn't listening.

[desertbloomed]

"...about a day's journey." Ashelia repeated. She was able to keep her face neutral, but inside she was going really? "Both ways."

[thegreatninja]

"Oh." She wouldn't admit that she hadn't really been listening. Her mind was stuck on the idea of treasure and waiting to leave was boring. "I hope it's interesting."

Yuffie looked over at Ashelia. "Do you think we will find anything like treasure?"

[desertbloomed]

Ashelia tilted her head to the side. She hadn't thought of that. "I suppose it's possible. Chocobos do seem to have something of a nose for the stuff."

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?"

[neverfirstclass]

"A bit," he shrugged a bit. "You have to go out of your way to find a ranch, but we have chocobos in my world too. Most people just use cars or motorcycles around Midgar, and trucks when you get to the backwaters. Some people still use birds but not as many anymore."

[desertbloomed]

"You've chocobos in your homeland?" Ashelia was very intrigued. "They are the main mode of transport in my kingdom; I kept my own chocobo in the palace stables as a girl. Sydney." She smiled at the chocobo beside her. "In truth, Crystallis seems to share many a similarity with Ivalice. Chocobos, moogles - though they look somewhat different - even the nomenclature for magic is the same."

[neverfirstclass]

"Yeah, the magic naming is mostly the same in my world too." Some difference, but there was room for regional differences. "I think our technology level has basically replaced the need for a lot of the things I'm seeing here. I'm not sure how much of a good thing it is though." He heard that there were some ecoterrorist factions within AVALANCHE, but even if they had a point they were still dangerous kooks.

"I think you can raise and breed chocobos for personal use and racing in some country ranches, but I've never been."

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!'

[gomu_ningen]

He lets out a hearty grunt, approaching the bird and tugging on it to lift himself up behind the woman.

"Thanks. Cid-knee, huh? That's a funny name for a bird."

It's a casual thing with Luffy, not thinking much of it aside from the need to remain secure atop the mount. He wraps his arms around Ashe's waist, holding on securely even before there's a sign for them to head out. He smiles brightly, looking about the other members of their troop like a kid at Christmas.

"We're really going on an adventure! Finally~!"

[desertbloomed]

"Sydney was the name of the chocobo I had as a young girl," Ashelia replies. "He was a prize thoroughbred."

Snitty as that remark might sound, Ashelia can't help but smile at Luffy's enthusiasm. It did feel good to get out of the city. They might not know what's out there waiting for them in this strange new world, but it still felt somehow familiar.

[gomu_ningen]

"Huh. So you had these big birds back where you're from? All we had were these speedy ducks that lived in the desert.

Think we'll see any big monsters out there?"

His enthusiasm seems a bit too high in the hopes of encountering a beast like the Chocobo Eater. Let's hope he comes out of this disappointed.