The warm cabbage rolls had just been reheated, so they were steaming when they were laid out in front of Ace. Hero or not, the Barkeep though the teenager was too thin and needed more meat on his bones, and it was that thought that gave him pause. He really was starting to sound like his parents, wasn't he? Despite briefly coaching a youth league soccer team on Mars, he didn't monitor the teens' eating habits, but now that he had to regularly interact with people vastly younger than himself, he started to see how most young people acted. It was different than interacting with adults: they needed to be looked after more carefully. All this work had to be stressing Ace out, despite his outer appearance.

"I wouldn't say I'm familiar. More like I know a few folks." He slid his arms into a folded position on the table and relaxed. "I've known Sparks ever since he became Mars' new marshal, and Ramza's my roommate. It just so happens they both happened to go down the same career path. It ain't like we got much choices."

It was either help out with running the city, doing minimum wage work, or having the natural skill with running one's own shop. Mordecai was lucky to be in the last group.

But Ace's curiosity awoke the gossip inside his heart. "What, you got some questions about Sparks Nevada? Then I got all the answers! Don't be shy."