Enter, the Roccat League

[Skaarf]

The Leaky Bottle was the rowdy sort of inn - the kind you could find all kinds of interesting people and talk largely unobserved. Leo and his agent were taking full advantage to have an animated conversation.

"Look, Leo, the auditions for this year's Shipella are starting soon, you have to find some band mates soon so you can practice before they start calling people in. All the good people will get snapped up soon, if they haven't been already." Leo's agent - a wiry woman with horn rimmed glasses and a persona that was decidedly bigger than her stature - slammed her drink on the table. "Enough lazing about!"

Leo bristled slightly at her words - the hairs on his muscular body raising. That had scared Sheila the first few times, but she had come to learn that his hackles were rarely raised at other people.

Leo frowned. "Nah, its too much effort, you know? There's always next year and there's gigs all over town in these parts. Chill with the commissions."

He regretted the words as they spilled out of his mouth - Sheila's expression darkened. "Leo. We're a team. I find the opportunities and you pounce on them with your passionate music. Of course the money talks. But you've been avoiding the big stage for so long - and now you have another chance. I'd be a bad friend if I didn't want to see you up there on the big stage - commissions or no."

Sheila got up abruptly from their corner booth, stalking over to the bartender to order a drink directly. Leo took the interlude to think things over. It was fortunate that the argument was somewhat lost in the noisy and festive atmosphere of the Leaky Bottle.

Apologies were... difficult for him. But he could get started on their objective. There was no stage present, so he pulled out The Axe and began strumming away quietly, warming up. He closed his eyes and began getting into the groove, playing the guitar harder and harder. Electricity arced from his fingertips into the guitar as he added the wail of an electric guitar to the cacophony within the rustic inn.

It was easy to attract interesting people if you made yourself stand out a little.

[bobcarlos]

After three long days of an exhausting and painful journey, Astro, who once had nothing to eat or drink, delights in a world of refreshing drinks and simple but delicious dishes.
Not knowing exactly where he was, Astro starts wandering the large and busy streets of the island, looking at all the eye-catching signs and posters scattered throughout the streets.
Still somewhat confused and bewildered from the trip, he approached a large man who was intently watching a bar door.

"Excuse me, sir do you know where are we right now?"
Said Astro while tapping the man's shoulder.

The big man turns in Astro's direction, revealing an old figure with a mean expression and a hostile figure.
Astro flinches a little bit when he sees the intimidating face of the man but rapidly gets back on his feet, assuming a more imposing posture.
"Are you talking to me brat?!"

"I'm not a brat, I just ask where we are." Said Astro with an "intimidating" look on his baby face.
This response only made the man look at him way more seriously than before.

"Are you trying to get in trouble kid? You don't know who you joking with!" Said the man while cracking his fingers.

"I just asked where are we, you are the one throwing a tantrum about it-"
The man didn't even let Astro finish before grabbing him by the arms and throwing him inside the bar.

Astro has thrown so hard that he take the doors of the bar with him, the environment was loud and the whole place smelled like alcohol and cigarettes. He flew almost the entire bar until he hit one of the corners of it, slamming his head against one of the walls.

[Skaarf]

Leo was really starting to groove. A wailing electric guitar cut through some of the general din in the tavern and soon he had a small audience as other patrons turned their chairs to watch. This was nice. Strangers at arms length who he probably wouldn't see again. The barkeep caught Leo's eye and winked, pouring out a big glass of milk. Sometimes it was very much worthwhile to not put out your cap for donations.

A scuffle at the entrance briefly disturbed his music and Leo closed his eyes, focusing on the rhythm and flow. A true professional at his craft, he didn't pause when a loud crash followed the scuffle. If he opened his eyes, he would have seen most of his impromptu audience turning briefly to see Astro slam into one of the walls.

---

Sheila knew Leo well enough to not expect words from him. They were nice, but it was easier to get a tacit agreement. The music wafting over from their corner was proof enough that Leo had come around to her way of thinking. He just didn't like approaching people - and preferred to keep most at arms length distance.

She was casually taking a drink herself when something whizzed by her and slammed into the wall near the barkeep. Sheila glanced over and saw a youth crumpled against the wall. Most of the rest of the patrons resumed their drinking and a few watched, curious, as the wiry woman approached Astro.

"Hey, you ok?" She wasn't really used to situations like this. Awkwardly, she held her hand out to help the youth up.

In the distance, the ground shook slightly as footsteps approached...

[bobcarlos]

"OUCH?!" Was the only thing Astro could think after hitting a wall with the head. The slam was so violent, that the sound of it keep echoing in his head for a few seconds.

After he regains consciousness and opens his eyes, he sees a wiry woman wearing a pair of glasses.

"Hey, you ok?" She said with a sweet and shy voice while extending her hand towards Astro.

"It didn't even hurt." Said Astro as he reaches out to her hand.

"YOU THOUGHT I WAS JOKING KID?!" Said the big man as he entered the bar.
The ground shakes with every step of that massive brute, the people stepped out of his way as he approaches Astro, the man had a clear intention to fight in the middle of everyone.

As the man approaches the teen, more and more people started to look at what was happening, but the vast majority of people in the bar didn't even realize what was going on. A good amount of people seem to be more interested in someone who was playing the guitar in one of the corners.

"Look, I didn't wanna fight, but you leave me no choice!"

Astro gently pushed the woman who helped him with one arm, and with the other, he starts to prepare for a swing in the guy who was in his way. As he proceeds to ignite his fists into a bright neon red flame, the flame looked like a firework ready to explode and was bright enough to catch the attention of everyone in the room.

"JACKSON COMET" Screamed Astro as he delivered the flaming punch directly into the guy's belly.

"Boom"

The sound of that punch was loud enough to echo through the entire room. The vision of a small teenager sending a giant flying out of the bar was so amazing that everyone glazed at the schene in shock.

[Skaarf]

"Err..." Sheila put her hands up in a pacifying gesture between the youth and the large man walking in after him who'd clearly had a bad, bad day. There was much skepticism to be had about the youth's health after the painful impact everyone had heard. However, she was soon pushed out of the way - darn her lack of fighting skills. In true in-universe fashion, size didn't matter too much. The beefy looking man was launched in a colorful mini-explosion from the bar.

"That, uh, that was something." She wasn't sure if it was worth reminding the kid they were indoors. There had been a fight going on, after all.

---

In the thoroughfare, a proud horse was snootily prancing. Henry the 19th had a fancy harness and an oh-so-fancy carriage carrying the Grande Whoever of Whatever and all the plebeians were amaze- WHAM!. The horse stopped abruptly on instinct, the carriage almost running it over, as a large man whizzed past its nose and slammed into a wall. Henry the 19th, Archduke of Litl' Meadow, took off in a full speed gallop - the carriage rattling along behind like a forgotten yo-yo.

---

Even Leo's professional facade cracked when a loud explosion reverberated through the building - most assuredly ending the attention of his audience. One kitty-cat eye opened, then the other wide in shock - as a kid in a shonen pose was in the process of launching a large man through the doors with a colorful explosion. Sheila looked freaked out - she wasn't a fighter at all. Well, that would put a hold on his music.

The bartender sighed. "Kid, that's the fifth set of doors I've had to replace this month. I don't know if insurance is even going to believe me this time. There's no way a kid would be able to pay me back..."

The bartender flopped down behind the counter. He looked stressed. At the sound of approaching boots, he looked up at Leo. "Sorry about the disturbance, here's your milk, old chap."

Leo purred, enjoying the glass of warm milk. His eyes glittered briefly with kitty-energy as he wiped away the milk moustache formed on his fur. "Say, how much do those doors cost? Perhaps we could set up some sort of charity performance?"

He glanced at Sheila briefly - tacitly acknowledging her earlier points without admitting such directly. She was somewhat recovered from the initial shock of the situation and smiled slightly.

[bobcarlos]

Red sparks were still in the air when the man flew out of the bar, Astro's heart was pumping hard, everyone in the room was shocked and static. The adrenaline was already leaving Astro's body, so much so that he didn't even notice the bartender jumping out of the bar to whine about the doors that had just fallen off. Astro just stood there in the excitement and energy of a kid, he stood there a good ten seconds before noticing the little commotion that was made around him.
When he realized that he didn't have a single coin to pay the doors, the gilt for the inconsequent action hit like a truck.

"Say, how much do those doors cost? Perhaps we could set up some sort of charity performance?" These angelical words were everything that Astro needed to share tears of joy.
With a heart filled with gratitude, the kid rushed into the man for a happy handshake.

"THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR! AND I APOLOGISE FOR THE TROUBLE!"
As he grabbed the man's hand and starts to shake with enthusiasm, he notices the rather unusual features of the man. His eyes had met a tall muscular man with a body covered in cat fur, and an overall face that looks like a common cat. And very quickly all the happiness in Astro's heart was replaced with awkward questions and confusion.
As soon as Astro started to ask himself, the confusion became visible by his facial expression, he looked like a lost child in the street.

[Skaarf]

Leo purred quietly. He was quite used to reactions like that of the youngster, though usually they were less hyper. "Mrrrrrrr... first time meeting a mink, eh? We're exactly what we look like."

Sheila blinked, taken aback, but not one to turn down an opportunity. "So, uh, that explosion thing. What else can you do, kiddo? I feel like more of whatever that was might help the charity performance. Say - Kevin, how's tomorrow evening for a charity show? Any good venues nearby?"

Leo glanced her way again - a little perturbed by how swiftly she wanted to push this along. Normally he would have tried to delay things a little, but they had just had an argument so... he could spread out the attention received, instead. "Maybe we can put up a notice, try for more musicians. Make it a full party?"

The barkeep nodded back at her, grateful for the assistance in planning. "I'd say the town square a couple of blocks over would do nicely. The mayor is a bit of a party maniac herself, and likes a good barbeque."

"Hey, hey, hey!" A booming voice reverberated through the pub. A massive fishman loomed in front of a set of window panels - blocking out most of the light behind him even while leaning over sideways. "Is this where the guitarist be?"

Leo jumped - his attention had been on the more immediate conversation and not on the giant approaching steps.  He almost had a moment of confusion just like Astro had, before. "I be looking to have me a jam, brotha!."

Leo relaxed. While many might have wondered whether the giant fishman might have wanted to eat some food, he knew that he had found a fellow musician already. Seemed his music had reached farther than intended, already. "Well, my plans are up in the air, but we're looking to put on a performance tomorrow..."

[bobcarlos]

The young one just stood there while the other three discussed a music show...? or something like that. Astro was way more focused on his thoughts to keep in mind the conversation. "A show...? Music? I never touched an instrument before. I hope they don't put me to sing, dad always say that my voice is a too high peach to sing-"

"HEY HEY HEY" Out of nowhere, another person starts screaming by the window.
Inside his on thoughts still, Astro didn't even turn around to see whats the stranger screaming was about. "Geez, the people in this place like to scream for no reason, is it cultural or something like that? I think I should warn them that I don't know how to actually perform anything... I can do boxing... I don't know if I can perform that."
And after all this thinking, Astro finally decides to say something.

"Excuse me, if we really gonna do a show, I think I have to warn you that I never touched a musical instrument before."


The woman who has right by us crossed her arms. "Did you even listen to what I said?"

When Astro turned around to look at the woman, he meets the eye with a very big person covered in scales like a fish, leaning sideways in the window.

That was enough to make Astro enter deep into his confused thoughts again. "That looks like a fish and the other one like a cat... Is this a usual thing here, I'm the only that looks concerned about it. The man said something about Mink. Are they minks then?"
These thoughts were so deep in Astros mind that he's not even keeping track of the conversation. "I think I need to learn how to play an instrument. The furry man has a guitar, maybe I can borrow it..."

The young one proceeds to stare at Leo and small sparks start to pop out of his body due to excitement.

[Skaarf]

"Actually, I was wondering whether you could do more types of your colorful flames thing.  Especially if you are new to music itself?" Sheila looked quizzically at the kid. "What's your name, I can't keep thinking of you as "kiddo" in my mind."

The barkeep looked a little worried that the massive fishman would try to cram himself inside, but the massive man made no such movements. Shakily, Kevin excused himself and made his way to the back of the bar - too tired for the noise.

For his part the fishman looked really used to being outside - almost as if such a massive man had to stay outside many buildings. "Oh-ho-ho! So you're the musician! I wouldn't have expected a mink, but that's some creative tech you got there. Got any other help? I be a drummer!"

Leo blinked, unsure if he should ask the obvious question. "So, uh, do you sing as well? Drumming and singing would be like... Phyl Cohllins?"

The fishman laughed - just as loudly. "Oh, no. I wish. You can't hit more than one octave with these pipes. No subtlety to my singing - you should hear my shouting voice! How about you?"

"Well. I sing better in cat-voices, but that's hard for the local audience to do. I can do some singing." Leo got the impression that his shouting voice would be quieter than this fishman's whisper. He was going to ask some other questions of the massive fishman - like whether he had any contacts - but Sheila helpfully nudged him. Leo realized that he still hadn't introduced himself. "I'm Leo - Leo Mrrowlins. She's my agent - Sheila Baynes. What's your name, large friend? And you as well, young one?"

[bobcarlos]

"My name is Astro Flamma, nice to meet you."
Astro extends his hand and ignites it in a bright blue flame, that slowly turns into a rainbow flow of colors.

"I ate the Hoshi Hoshi no mi, now I can create fireworks with my body. Is easier to make red and blue, but I can make about every color."
The three watched in amazement as the youth made little tricks with the colorful sparkles.

"And you mister Mrrowlins, do you fight or something, or you get all these muscles just playing guitar? Do you make many shows around town?"
Before Leo could even speak, the boy made a 90-degree turn and got in front of the women.

"And you miss Baynes, your hair is very pretty, how did you make it so shiny? Why are you an agent? It looks kind of boring."
Like a lightning bolt, the kid is already in front of the Fishman.

"I never see a person like you before, your scales are really pretty. Where did you learn to play the drums? You are very tall too, did you fight or something?"
Astro's eyes are shining like stars while he spins around the three bombarding them with questions. The other customers of the bar look mildly uncomfortable with the presence of the kid, but Astro didn't even notices.
Then suddenly, he stops.

"By the way, where are we? I have no idea what island is this?"

[Skaarf]

Sheila felt... tired, watching the kiddo, who spun and shot sparks out. Hopefully Leo would be better at working with Astro because she already felt like she needed a nap. It was like watching Leo when he partied too hard on stage. At least she was right to inquire about the kid's potential, after seeing that colorful punch.

"Well, uh, thanks. Managing this lunk puts enough food on the table for me, and believe me, he doesn't make it boring." She clearly wasn't used to compliments, and smiled wanly. "Speaking of which, maybe I'll see about the venue arrangements. Might call you guys in for a meeting later if it goes well."

Sheila seemed to almost slither away in a low energy (but not creepy) fashion. Nap time would come first.

---

"Oho, these muscles?" Leo's eyes twinkled, and he flexed his musculature impressively. He shifted to wild gesticulating as he spoke further. "I enjoy a good brawl but these guns are from good ol' fashioned elbow grease. I'm sorta on tour right now but I used to make ships for a living. The big kind."

He would have continued but Astro had already zipped outside to talk to the fishman.

"I started drumming when I accidentally found that grain silos make excellent music when hit properly. Helped that I'm so big - biggest in my family. Nobody picks fights with me." The fishman burst into a chuckle that sounded closer to a booming laugh. "The name's Chuck Horris. Thanks though, kid, I shine my scales myself!"

Leo spoke up again, having caught up. "Good to meet you, Chuck."

Even he was a bit surprised at the kid's confusion. "This is Amino island, most come here for entertainment and the like. A good place to find people to perform with, even when they come here by accident."

Leo tilted his head over widely, lost in thought briefly. "Say, Astro, how many fireworks can you make? Are there other shapes?"

Kevin poked his head out from behind the staff entrance and stared quietly at Leo, eventually catching his eye. Leo waved towards a clearing safely made of concrete rather than more flammable materials. "What say we continue our chat over yonder?"

[bobcarlos]

"Change the shapes is kinda hard and I can't do very complicated things big names and drawings." He shoots a big quantity of flames in the air that explodes into bright red and blue sparkles that spell A.S.T.R.O as it falls.

"The most that I ever make at the same time was like... seven or eight, something like that. They don't fly very far, but I can make some pretty stuff with it."

The conversation stops for a second, and an awkward silence takes place.
"So... when this show thing gonna happen, because we have nothing prepared."

Astro says as he approaches a small vending cart selling takoyaki. He asks for a big portion, looks at the two, and says.

"Also, can someone pay for the food for me? I'm really hungry and totally out of money."

He locks eyes with Chuck.
"Please eat with me, Mr.Chuck! What's your favorite food? Mine is shark meat, I never ate it, but it sounds cool!"

Chuck laughs loudly as usual and takes a small part of the food.

"Mister Mrrowlins, miss Sheila said the mayor likes a party, didn't she? Tell me about it, are they gonna pay us if the show is good or something?"
The shine in his eyes was unnoticeable.

By the end of the sentence, that big amount of food was already gone.
"Buurrp! Sorry, I need a drink... There is like an open restaurant over here? Where are we gonna perform?"

The kid says as he takes a carefree posture, and starts walking down the crowded street.

[Skaarf]

"Well, that's a good amount. Quite useful for making a show. You can be our lighting and our pyrotechnics!" Leo patted the boy on the back. "Don't worry, Sheila and I are very used to improvising. I bet Chuck is as well."

Leo moved to get food for the group, but the fishman moved faster. "Say, you wouldn't happen to go by a 'Cat Stevens' would you? No, wait, sorry, its been a few years. 'Cat-nap Steves'?"

Leo lit up like one of Astro's pyrotechnics. He was a little confused deep down, but the immediate happiness at being recognized was hard to ignore. "You- you've heard of me?"

"Yah mon, I moved to Water 7 a while ago, and saw a rather electrifying guitar performance one night after work. It's what got me into music, actually. So please, be my guest instead, it would be an honor to jam with you!" Chuck cheerfully bought out the takoyaki cart's entire supply, giving Astro and Leo their food first before swallowing the rest.

Leo took his time looking around outside. "Well, the barkeep suggested the Town Square - if there's a better alternative I'm sure Sheila will let us know. We'd be running the show for charity for fixing up the Leaky Bottle, depending on how things go we'd charge for tickets or get sponsored. What we need first is a place to practice together a little."

[bobcarlos]

Astro was happily enjoying his lunch when he started picking up what both Chuck and Leo were talking about, he wasn't very invested in the conversation, so much so that he only recorded some keywords.

"Cat-nap Steves"

Sounds like a cat food brand, but I guess is a cool name for an artist who looks like a cat.

"I moved to Water 7 a while ago"

When the words "water 7" hit his ears, he stops in the middle of the streets, and with a bright glow in his eyes, he gasps.
"YOU GUYS CROSSED THE RED LINE?!?!"

The kid was visibly exploding with excitement, he was jumping and poking both Chuck and Leo.
"The pirates who passed through my home island always said that water 7 was the best place to get good ships, but wasn't worth the risk since it was in the middle of the grand line."

He takes Leo's arm and starts shaking him as a child would.
"Mister Leo, Mister Chuck, how is to be on the Grand Line? My dad said that is hard to pass the Calm Belt, did you guys see a Sea King!?"