Story Reader / Festival Event Story / The Night Train on Reunion / Story
Earlier at Cerberus' lounge, Babylonia.
Higher. To the left. Left!
Say, can't you just take your hands out of your damn sleeves?
Nope. This is about as tall as I get.
Noctis and No. 21 stand on either side of the room, holding a colorful ribbon, respectively.
They're supposed to pull the ribbon horizontally straight—which, however, is being thwarted by their height difference.
The lopsided ribbon, however, is far from being the worst of mishaps in the room.
For God's sake, can't you just grab a box and stand on it?
I'm already standing on the box you brought back, Noctis.
Wha...
Right when Noctis is about to explode in anger, the plastic boxes stacked up in the corner of the room topple and fall loudly.
With it, the room is plunged into a hellhole of alcoholic smell, broken plastic boxes leaking amber liquid, and a cursing Noctis.
****!
You're swearing.
Damn right, I am! Hurry up and find something to hang it with.
Hopping off the table, No. 21 starts sniffing like a baby wolf.
It smells like alcohol here.
You don't say!
Captain said your nose is just for show.
Uh? Why?
Dumbfounded, Noctis touches his nose. No. 21, however, doesn't seem to care.
And your head is for show, too, since your nose grows out of your head.
...
Upset, Noctis is now on the floor cleaning up the mess.
Dammit. You've no idea how hard I worked to get my hands on this fruity electrolyte.
Fruity? I want some mango.
Here, try this.
Noctis picks up a gooey lump from the floor and shoves it in No. 21's face.
...Yikes.
Go on and get out of my way, then.
I'll take care of the mess here. Just go and put those stickers on the wall.
You're slacking off.
And whose fault is it that these boxes fell, uhh?!
Yee.
One drop. Then another.
The fruity liquid slowly fills the room.
When Vera pushes through the door to the lounge, she sees two figures running in circles, completely oblivious to her presence. As if in greeting, the ribbon comes off the door and lands right on Vera's head.
...
Hey, Captain, didn't see you there...
Vera seems sizzling in anger—this much Noctis can tell.
The two of you have one minute to explain yourselves before I chop your heads off...
Happy Lantern Festival!
Out of nowhere, No. 21 pops a party popper, showering Vera and Noctis with confetti in all sorts of colors.
Lantern Festival...?
That's what they said it is now these days... Right? 21?
That's not what I'm asking.
I'm asking you to explain the smell and all these on the table.
Noctis was hiding a lot of fruity electrolyte and the boxes broke.
The things on the table, as Noctis said, are "hotpot" and "dumplings."
I really don't mind chopping off that useless head of yours, Noctis.
They were fine, though, when I brought them back.
Are you trying to pin it all down on me, 21?!
Noctis is looking for excuses now.
Just shut up and clean up the mess already.
And while you're at it, just do me a favor and dump your head out with the garbage.
C'mon, why am I the only one getting punished?!
See her stupid sleeves? She might as well mop the damn floor with them...
What are you...
Before her words make it out of her mouth, Vera passes out cold.
Ah...
Ugh...
Squatting down, Noctis and No. 21 stare at Vera.
Hey, is she... you know.
Captain's vitals are okay.
I don't know what happened.
Captain might have passed out from being too angry at you.
That's a whole bunch of bullshit.
Vera... Vera?! Dammit. It's not working.
Stop shaking her, Noctis. We don't know why this is happening... We need to get her to Star of Life.
Tsk... Guess we don't have a choice here.
I'll do that. Captain wanted you to clean up the room.
Excuse me?! Why is it my responsibility when you're the one that made all the mess?!
And what exactly can you do there anyway? I'll go, and you'll stay here and clean up the room.
I refuse. I need to keep Captain safe. You're unreliable, Noctis.
Excuse me?
Yee.
No. 21 dodges out of the way before Noctis tackles her with the fruity electrolyte all over him.
Peacefully, Vera lies flat on the floor, with No. 21 running all over the place away from Noctis, holding a "hotpot"...
