Maqui

Maqui is a character in Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2. He is 17 years old in Final Fantasy XIII and 20 in Final Fantasy XIII-2. Maqui is 162 centimeters tall according to the Final Fantasy XIII Scenario Ultimania. In Final Fantasy XIII-2 it is revealed that Maqui operates a shop called Lenora's Garage; this is a shop the player can use in the Retail Network in Final Fantasy XIII.

Maqui is voiced by in the Japanese version and by  in the English version.

Final Fantasy XIII
''Maqui joined the ranks of NORA out of his admiration for Snow. He loves to tinker with machinery and serves as the group's mechanic. His talent for taking junk and using it to upgrade machines has provided NORA with a source of income.''

One day Maqui wants to be a reliable, heroic type like Snow, but he still has a long way to go.

Final Fantasy XIII-2
''NORA is a vigilante group of young do-gooders from the Cocoon town of Bodhum. No strangers to fending for themselves, the group went on to found the settlement of New Bodhum in the harsh environment of Pulse.''

NORA consists of four core members: the intimidating Gadot, Snow's right-hand man; the amiable mood maker, Yuj; the mechanical genius, Maqui; and the NORA House resident chef, Lebreau.

Snow, NORA's founding member, is presently away from New Bodhum.

Appearance and Personality
Maqui has blond hair, blue eyes, and round face. He wears goggles on his head, and a pair of headphones he uses to communicate with his fellow NORA members. His jacket has a black body and pink sleeves, with a red symbol across the side. He also wears khaki pants with large, brown pouches on the hips, and a pair of silver and purple shoes. His designer, Nao Ikeda, said his appearance was based on the type of clothing snowboarders wear.

Maqui has kind of a boyish personality, and a more cheerful and upbeat disposition compared to the others in NORA. It is said that he was an introvert, until he met Snow Villiers, whom he now idolizes, and tries to emulate in the way he dresses; he and Snow act like brothers. Maqui and his best friend, Yuj, are the youngest members of NORA. He is also good friends with Snow's fiancée, Serah Farron. Despite his young age, he is a skilled mechanic.

In a Dengeki PlayStation interview character designed Nao Ikeda described Maqui as such:

Final Fantasy XIII
Maqui lives in the seaside town of Bodhum, and is part of Team NORA alongside Snow, Gadot, Lebreau and Yuj. Though his activities were not revealed at the time, Maqui secretly created Lenora's Garage to make a profit with his inventions. When the Purge was initiated to all Bodhum residents due to the discovery of a Pulse fal'Cie at the Pulse Vestige ruins nearby. Team NORA took up arms and followed the Purge train in hopes of liberating the Purgees, as well as helping Snow rescue Serah, who was trapped inside the Vestige. They manage to derail the train in the Hanging Edge, and rescue some of the Purgees. While aiding Snow and the others via the Retail Network, Maqui appears again with the other NORA members in Eden. Despite Snow being a l'Cie, they remain loyal to their leader, and work on evacuating the Eden citizens whilst the party proceed on to find Orphan.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 Fragments Before
In New Bodhum, Maqui continues to work as a mechanic and spends most of his time tinkering with new inventions in his workshop beyond the village.

Final Fantasy XIII-2
Maqui, along with Gadot, Yuj, and Lebreau, defend New Bodhum when it is attacked by monsters. When Serah, Mog, and Noel travel to the Meteorite Impact Site, he complains about how the plants grew so quickly, but with Serah and Noel comes to a conclusion that different timelines overlap New Bodhum.

The next day, Rhett, a student of Serah's, stole Snow's engagement necklace from Maqui as he was polishing it in his workshop. He, Gadot and Yuj are caught by Lebreau when they eavesdropped on Serah and Noel as they are about to leave using a Time Gate.

Final Fantasy XIII: Reminiscence
NORA members' souls found their way to the new world where they were reincarnated. The team established a restaurant, which they called the "Nora House". One day, a reporter investigating the stories of people having memories of a past life in another world visits the restaurant and orders the Nora Special. The taste triggers a flood of memories, and the reporter recalls her past life: she was Aoede, a reporter caught up in the Purge who helped expose Sanctum's lies by airing Purge footage with the help of broadcast hacks by Maqui. The members of NORA remember Aoede and Lebreau tells her where to find Serah.

Final Fantasy Trading Card Game
Maqui appears in Trading Card Game in his artwork appearance. His card is part of the "Lightning" element.

Etymology
Maqui shares his name with a species of tree found in the rain forests of Chile; the berries and leaves of which are used for medicinal purposes. "Maquis" also refers to places in Corsica, where groups who were part of the French resistance against the German occupation of France, hid during World War II. This may be a reference to Maqui's importance in NORA during the Purge, fighting along Snow against PSICOM.

Trivia

 * According to the Final Fantasy XIII Scenario Ultimania, Maqui secretly has a complex with his short stature.