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

[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."

[gomu_ningen]

There was a storm of dust in the distance, a plume of dirt rising as a figure ran with tenacity towards the gathered group. Behind him, a heard of wild Chocobos looking quite enraged as they tried to extend their necks to peck at the boy they were chasing.

Without the ability to stretch, Luffy does his best to summon what speed he has, screaming out as he grows closer to the others now getting their things in order.

"ALES! ALES, ALES! I FOUND A BUNCH OF CHOCOBOS FOR THE TRIP!!"

[umslay]

The sound of a herd of animals in the distance caught Ales' attention, though he did not expect them to be heading in their direction. Nor did he expect Luffy to be running for him life.

"What did you do?!" He yelled back, then jumped onto Spark's chocobo and climbed as fast as he could.

[gomu_ningen]

His arms and legs lift off of the earth in quick succession, carrying him over the yards of distance between them as the herd of birds chase after him. The boy can only laugh at his predicament, waving his hands over his head at his crew..

Until he trips and falls flat on his face. The birds descend upon him like locusts. They're quick and precise, covering him as the sound of the boy's screams is deafened by the plumage of yellow and gold feathers. The hard knocking of beaks into flesh echoes into the air, ceasing only after the birds have had their fill of retribution.

They begin to scurry off, leaving the battered and scarred Luffy lying in a heap of raised flesh and bruises. He wheezes with a chuckle, coughing every few bits of laughter to try and breath through his swollen lips.

"That.. That was fun!"

[umslay]

That boy's a goner, Ales told himself once the angry birds caught up to him. As much as it was mostly likely Luffy's fault the chocobos were after him, he couldn't help but feel terrible that the so-called pirate was going to need a White Mage, if they were able to get to him before it was too late.

Meanwhile, Mimi was running around in circles panicking. "Aleeeeees! He's getting hurt! Oh no, oh no!" She covered her ears and huddled on the ground as Luffy continued to be pecked.

Much to both of their surprise, the boy was alright, if hurt. Mimi rushed over the moment the chocobos were at a safe distance.

"Holy Crystals, are you okay?" She walked past Luffy's head. "Do you have a potion with you, kupo? Does anyone have a potion?!"

Ales sighed, partially out of relief and partially out of frustration, and slid off the chocobo and walked to the scene. "Mimi, go ask the others if they have one. I'll tend to Luffy."

Once she had left, the Teensie turned to the figure on the ground. "You think that was fun? I don't know much about this world, but those birds looked like they could have killed you!"

[gomu_ningen]

Luffy brushes himself off, giving a swollen grin to his Merchant.

"If I'd been killed, it just means I wasn't strong enough to last in this world. But I'm still here. A few birds aren't going to finish me off! I'm much stronger than tha-..?"

Luffy snorts, looking to his side as he feels a warm trickle of liquid running down his ribs. Being a Monk meant he had no upper torso coverings, his usual vest now gone to showcase his physical prowess in muscles and tone. Unfortunately for Luffy, the lack of clothing had given way for injuries, a small puncture of skin now spurting a fountain-like shot of blood. The boy reacts instantly, reaching down to the sash at his waist and quickly binding it around his chest.

"Yikes! That was weird! Never bleed like that before. Oh well! Shishishi~!! A shame I didn't get to capture one to ride."

[umslay]

If he had to be as strong as to survive being attacked by a horde of large birds, Ales wasn't sure if he was cut out for being a hero. He knew how to get away from danger and have others do his fighting, but there was no way he could be like Luffy and-

-that was a lot of blood.

"Do you have a potion on you?" He turned around to see if Mimi was successful in procuring one from the others. Then another question for Luffy: "Don't you know that anything poking you is bound to make you bleed terribly?"

[gomu_ningen]

"Maybe?"

He simply continues to laugh, looking back to his wound for a moment of worry, then turning back with a grin to his fellow adventurer.

"Potion? Huh? What's that? He pads his hands over his person, searching through his lack of pockets and shirt-wear without so much as a crumb turning up.

[umslay]

His didn't say so, but his facial expression couldn't have spoken "Seriously?!" more clearly.

"I thought Moogles told this to all of the heroes," he said and he walked back around Luffy to face him from the front. "They call basic medicine for healing wounds 'potions' here. I'd assumed that since you enjoy adventuring and fighting so much, you'd carry one on you."

He regretted not buying any while shopping for supplies, but he decided to use his sparse savings to buy tools instead of medicine, since he planned on using the former. Besides, since Luffy was here longer, he should have known this by now, right?

[gomu_ningen]

Most of the information told to him by Pakku had gone in one ear and out the other. Such matters had been left to his doctor, a formidable reindeer with an encyclopedic knowledge of medicine and a masterful hand at apothecary.

If potions existed, this was his first time hearing it and paying attention to it. He blinked before he returned to chuckling, patting his Merchant on the back as he brushed a bit more dirt off of himself.

"Yup. Never heard of 'em before. It's all right, though. I don't usually carry that sort of thing. Give me a lunch pack with lots of meat and I'm good!"

[umslay]

It took several moments of wondering how Luffy ever survived in this world without knowing any of this. What kind of Moogle was he given? No matter, it would be up to him to distribute potions and other basic necessities once he had enough funds to start a business.

"Food doesn't treat serious injuries," he said. "That's something you should remember if you ever get into a fight."

Mimi had finally returned to the two, not as frightened as before, but still slightly panicking, carrying a small bottle in her hand. "I got this from someone, kupo! They said it'd be okay if we borrowed it if it's for Luffy!" She flew up to Luffy. "Here, you should drink this."

[gomu_ningen]

Snatching it from the helpful moogle, Luffy uncorks the bottle and downs the liquid with a dissatisfied face. His tongue sticks out, vibrating as he begins to "raspberry" away the foul taste of the potion.

"BLECK! That's awful~! Why can't I just eat meat to get be-?!"

He looks down at his stomach as a strange, unknown aura washes over him. In an instant, Luffy feels his exhaustion and pain subside, leaving him feeling refreshed and new.

"What the-? How did it do that?"

With a beaming grin, Luffy pats Mimi on the head as his other hand sets the empty bottle down.

"Wow! Thanks, Mimi! That's amazing! Who gave it to you, huh?"

[umslay]

"What-" Okay, he didn't expect the potion to act like that and heal him so quickly. "This is definitely more magic than medicine!" He picked up the empty bottle and looked inside it for any obvious signs of someone tempering with it. Of course, there was nothing unusual about this, and the label didn't mention a thing about magic being used in the product.

Mimi beamed at Luffy's compliment. "Well, no one else here had any spares, but the ranch nearby had a general store, so I bought it with your money, Ales. Sorry about that." They were running low on funds, but Luffy was in danger, and she wouldn't consider herself a Moogle if she came back empty-handed.

"Ales?" She turned towards the Teensie still pressing his face against the bottle. "It's part alchemy and medicine with a bit of magic. Anyone who knows the basics can make them. They're kind of hard to make which is why you have to buy for just one."

[gomu_ningen]

Luffy's eyes begin to tear up as he digs into the pouches around his waist. With a sniffle, he draws out a rather large bone of meat, handing it to Mimi as he looks away with regret.

"Y-You.. You can take this. It's really *SNIFFLE* really good meat. It's the least I can do for.. for.. for you being so kind!!"

Sobbing like a fool, he pushes the meat against the moogles chest as he tries to cover his somber looking face.

[umslay]

Mimi stood in her spot and silently accepted her gift. Whether her mouth was hanging open as if to give words of gratitude, confusion, humility, or something else would never be known to anyone apart from the Moogle.

This scene, of the sobbing pirate and stone-still Moogle holding a piece of meat nearly as big as herself, continued for several minutes until Ales, tired of watching the two make fools of themselves, broke the silence.

"Hm," he hummed loudly to get their attention. "It's good to see that you're not on the brink of death anymore."

Startled, Mimi turned to Ales, still clutching her meat. She turned back to Luffy and to Ales again. "Where should I put this now, kupo?"

"Ask Sparks if he can store it in his bags. We'll need to eat for lunch before it spoils." It certainly looked big enough to feed the two of them.

[gomu_ningen]

If only the pair knew that such a hock of meat was just an appetizer to Luffy's unusual appetite. Wiping his eyes on the scarf about his waist, the pirate watches as the moogle embraces the well kept snack.

"Take.. Take good care of it! It belongs to you now!"

Even with his eyes being spotted for tears, his own mouth hangs open with a pout as drool begins to form at either end of his lips. Despite handing over the food, his insatiable hunger for meat cannot be ignored, even in a moment of generosity.

[umslay]

"I will, Mr. Luffy!" And with that, Mimi flew off towards the others, struggling to hold the meat all the way.

Ales did notice that Luffy seemed awfully attached to his gift. "Are you hungry? You seemed kind of desperate to eat the food you offered." If he had planned to eat it for breakfast, then it certainly would have meant a lot to give up his first meal of the day.

[gomu_ningen]

He sniffles, trying desperately to wipe the tears on his bare arm.

"N-No. I'll be fine. I'm always hun.. hun.. hungry."

Through his tears, Luffy digs into his satchel to retrieve a slab of meat identical to the one handed off to Mimi. Teeth bite into it and pull to tear it, chomping down while trying to explain the gesture.

"I'll miss you, meat! Y-You're gonna' make Mimi happy now!!"

[umslay]

Ales watched in silence as Luffy ate the other piece of meat he had on him.

"Always hungry? That's why you eat so much?" He waited for Luffy to finish eating before answering, and in the meantime, he laid down on the grass and closed his eyes. This trip was already frustrating him, and they hadn't even left yet.

[gomu_ningen]

The tears have all but disappeared as the pirate happily chews on the ration of food. Looking down to his Merchant, he speaks with a partially full mouth.

"Yup. Gotta' eat to stay strong! Besides, the meat here is real good!"

Luffy digs once more into his satchel, the seemingly bottomless bag holds even more meat for consumption. Taking out another cooked and cured slab, he holds it up for Ales as he continues to feed on his own piece.

"Here! We're nakama, so we share!"