Help Wanted Notice

[forcegalactic]

[Posted on each house's front door.]

SEEKING EMPLOYEES FOR THE SPACE SALOON IN THE 14TH DISTRICT

Please see the Barkeep at house A-08 or the saloon. Open positions include:

-Waiters
-Cooks
-Assistant bartenders
-Security
-Musicians

Discounts are given to all Heroes of Light who patronize the bar.

Comments

[Action]

[damn_juicebox]

[The next time Rukia passes through Aqures Ixen, she notices the Barkeep's flyer lying on the table of her home. Someone else must have brought it inside, she reasons. That's right, she was planning on visiting his saloon at some point to see what it was like, wasn't she? The lure of a discount provides more than enough incentive. She needed to head out and do some Christmas shopping anyway. So she smiles, puts on her coat, and heads out the door.]

[And so, it's a cold and wintry day that blows Rukia through the front entrance of the saloon, and she's immediately struck by the unusual atmosphere. It's not something she's used to, that's for sure. Peeling off her gloves, she moves to take a seat at the bar. She doesn't plan on ordering any alcohol (and there are no Bangaas to peer pressure her into it), but there are other things on the menu, surely. Besides, she wants to see how the man is doing, as she hasn't seen him since the sewer expedition. So she waits for him to appear, patiently biding her time with her hands clasped together on the countertop.]

[forcegalactic]

[The Saloon is mostly empty at this time of day; a few friends are sitting at a booth by the window talking about their holiday plans over a few beers. When evening arrives, the place will be crowded, and Rukia picked the best time to strike up conversation with the owner.

The Barkeep returns from the storage room, wearing a light indoors jacket over his Seer robes and carrying a small carton of ale. He gives a welcoming nod at Rukia and sets the container behind the bar before leaning on the counter.]

Howdy, Rukia. I was wonderin' who came in just now. What can I get for you?

[damn_juicebox]

Juice, if you have it. Thank you.

[She'll ask about the special, if the menu features such a thing.]</small. I've been meaning to see your establishment for quite some time now. Did you have a hand in its construction, or did you inherit it from another?

[forcegalactic]

[An unusual order from what is essentially a demigod that guides souls to the afterlife, but Barkeep keeps apple cider and milk on tap for situations like this. Ramza is a regular customer of his, and the young hero singlehandedly convinced him to stock nonalcoholic beverages in his saloon.]

When I first got it, the buildin' already existed. Just had to clean it up and turn it into a proper saloon. But a few months ago, the Empire attacked and burn the whole thing down. Had to rebuild it from the ground up, and that is what you're seein' today.

[Thanks to the volunteer efforts of Heroes like Sephiroth.] Now the liquor storage room is fire-resistant, and this establishment follows more space fire safety laws. Don't want no more trouble in this place.

[damn_juicebox]

[A demigod she might be, but at that height and build, alcohol tends to hit her pretty hard. Best if she handles such things very delicately, and on special occasions. ...Please don't serve that juice in a box, those are difficult to manage.]

I see. That worked out well for you.

[She looks down at her hands for a moment. She scarcely understands the depth of the destruction wreaked by the empire. Repairs were so extensive and complete that the city looks nearly pristine. Now she better comprehends why Sephiroth might hold so much hate for this nation. She rests her chin on top of her fist with a sigh.]

What we're trying to do for the Herans...what's your take on the matter?

[forcegalactic]

[It's difficult to find juiceboxes on a backwards planet like this, so Rukia gets hers in a beer glass. Apple juice looks like beer anyway, so it's not like anyone sitting several feet away could judge her from its appearance alone.]

As long as we don't get no more trouble via invasion, I should be good. Gotta be careful 'round these parts.

[He leans with his forearms on the the counter.] That plan to get over there and spread the Christmas spirit, you mean?

[damn_juicebox]

[She smiles, sitting up a little straighter as he fills the glass, and drinks deeply. It's delicious, and hits the spot. At his question, she nods.]

And warning them as well. I don't think we'll have to worry about them invading for a very long time, if what the sage told us is true.

[She frowns a little, swirling the juice in her glass before taking another sip.]

I've informed my superiors at Esdham just the same that we should be prepared for any acts of desperation. If the emperor doesn't heed our warning in time, it's going to be difficult to evacuate that many people at once.

[forcegalactic]

[The barkeep hadn't been the Mysidia just yet, so this news of the sage took his interest.]

Did he say somethin' else is gonna happen? I don't want another invasion of Aqures Ixen, not after we're still workin' on cleanin' up the last one, but I'm gonna make sure this city will be properly defended.

[damn_juicebox]

With the Herans? No. You heard that the Calamity will resume movement next month, I assume.

[She can't imagine he would have missed that, but who knows? Sometimes rumors and gossip don't flow the way one would expect. Better make sure he's aware, then.]

He said that Garland wouldn't listen if we were to warn him. My theory is nothing more than a guess at military tactics. Typically, if one's realm is threatened, it may cause that realm to call for war in desperation, so they may lead their people in a pilgrimage to a place of sanctuary. That would likely be Esdham.

[She drinks again before setting down her glass.]

Unless they have a large enough fleet to carry their people, I doubt we'll see them make a strike against Aqures Ixen, particularly if they were driven back just a few months prior. But that may be the case. I do not know.