The Saloon Doors are Open

[needsteaplz]

Characters: Saori Nakagawa, Brigid, & You
Where: Aqures Ixen; The Space Saloon
When: Throughout September
Summary: With Barkeep now in Stasis, the Space Saloon is need of help.
Warning: None for now

A. No Trouble in This Place
When news of the Barkeep went into crystal stasis spread, Saori's heart sank. Then came the matter of the Space Saloon. Since she was no longer in part of the police force, that left her schedule wide open. Besides getting some extra gil definitely helps. The day started after a quick morning work out, a trip to the marketplace to order more for the saloon, and getting breakfast on the table back home.

From there she went to the Saloon for kitchen prep while slipping in some job training in between. When the sun went down and everyone was stopping for a drink or a meal, Saori could found behind the counter, taking orders and prepping drinks. Despite how much she was on the go, she could be easily stopped especially now that she sported a new shorter haircut.

B. Writer's Block

One lone moggle sat at the counter at the Space Saloon with a notebook as big as her . She started scribbling something down but paused. With a frustrated pout, she ripped out the page.

"No, kupo! This doesn't feel right!" Brigid crumpled the page furiously and threw it behind her. There was supposed to be wastebasket nearby but there was a mountain of rejected writing where it was. Instead of flying towards the pile of rejects, it hit someone passing by. "Nothing's working, kupo!"

Comments

[Mid-September; the next time he's around in Aqures]

[shinrasfinest]

Crystal Stasis or not, life in Crystallis goes on regardless. There were only a few days that Sephiroth could spend putting the fractured parts of his personality back together in the wake of losing Terra, but at least his work gave the structure which was pivotal to his getting back into a routine, without her.

He'd been back to Esdham again since then, but the next time he was on rotation within Aqures; helping to reinforce security given swollen population of the City- there was an altogether different commitment to see to when he could catch a few hours off duty. He hadn't expected to see the Saloon open, at all, since Barkeep had also slipped into stasis but-

Sephiroth was stood at the edge of the bar nearest the door, wearing his usual leather pants/boots alongside a light-grey muscle shirt, silver hair loose and shimmering down his back, hopefully not attracting too much attention given the mark to his reputation which had occurred in these premises not-long enough ago.

He'd already sent word to another of the staff to go and fetch the manager to see him. A medium sized gil pouch rested on the surface, but his hand didn't ever really stray too far from it.

[Mid-September; the next time he's around in Aqures]

[needsteaplz]

Saori was rather confused when a worker asked her to come to the front even though she was in the middle prep work. Though probably not as surprised as Sephiroth might be to see the red head working at the Saloon.

"Oh! Sephiroth, it's nice to see you. How can I help you and what's will the gil pouch?"

Clearly, Barkeep didn't keep her up to date on everything at the Space Saloon.

[Mid-September; the next time he's around in Aqures]

[shinrasfinest]

At first he casually looked over the woman as she approached him, clearly coming out from doing some kitchen work in the back, and maybe it was the shorter haircut that threw him a little but sure enough he blinked, shifted on his feet a little and couldn't help but to grant her a small smile. A flash of one, anyway.

His smiles didn't ever reach his eyes anymore, though.

"Oh, Saori. I didn't expect-"

Wait, back up. Sephiroth tilted his head to one side minutely as logic caught up. Of course, after all, it made sense. He squeezed his hand around the gil pouch as she quickly indicated it and didn't hesitate about the answer. She seemed busy and he didn't want to disturb her.

"-this is the remainder of an amount that I owed him...for this place." He quickly glanced around, though was very careful to avoid eye contact with any of the patrons.

"I've been too...busy to settle it as of late."

[Mid-September; the next time he's around in Aqures]

[needsteaplz]

Since leaving her homeworld, she had kept her Assassin's hood up until they made it back here. True she dearly missed her long hair but an emergency forced her to take dramatic measures into her hands. Thankfully she could at least get it fixed up before returning.

Saori opened her mouth to ask what Sephiroth had meant about owing Moredecai money but stopped herself after seeing his body language. Maybe she'll look up the story later. Still that smile of his made her concerned.

"Oh, not to worry. Thank you for the payment. Would you like a receipt?" Saori ignored whatever looks the patrons gave at Sephiroth. He is still a guest and will be treated as one. If anyone objected, they were more than welcome to leave. Saori wouldn't pull any punches if it came down to ejecting guests after all.

"Hey, um, you know can keep in touch with me for anything, right? Are you taking care of yourself?" Saori was all too familiar with dealing with loss.

[Mid-September; the next time he's around in Aqures]

[shinrasfinest]

Given that, he too, still managed to somehow keep and maintain his own back-of-the-knee length locks, Sephiroth might empathize with Saori on more of an equal wavelength than others might. He'd lost a few inches himself once, courtesy of the battles with Hera, but then he'd essentially been reset by crystal stasis not much later.

It had to have been the way he was standing, that the lighting hadn't revealed the tight support bandage bound around half of his torso -firmly encasing one shoulder and half way down one of his arms- as Saori had first looked at him. He didn't seem to be favoring one side or the other though, being left hand-dominant and that side was fine. When prompted he slid the gil pouch across the bar to the new owner of the Saloon.

A light shake of the head dismissed the receipt for it. Better that the whole business be forgotten entirely. But the follow up question Saori posed almost seemed to make him flinch, a slight tensing up almost as if he were to stand to attention, before he caught the gesture and stopped himself over-expressing. He did raise his gaze from where it had been inspecting the grains on the wood of the bar top, though, as he began trying to read between the lines of Saori's expression.

Was it genuine interest or not? It was painful how obvious his emotions were being as of late, and almost punishing to have known that even after nearly a week of that incident he wasn't right still. He was trying to move on.

"It's been...tough." The political answer, for sure. But at least Saori was worth an answer.

"All we can do is move forward."

[rialynn]

When Rialynn came back to the Space Saloon, she was surprised to find it as busy as ever. For a moment there was a surge of hope in her heart that Barkeep had returned, but it became obvious soon enough that it wasn't the case.

She didn't know Saori very well. Or at all. Just a name and a face was all she knew, and the former she had to get from one of the bar patrons.

Unslinging her lute from her shoulder, she pulled herself up onto one of the barstools, patiently waiting before ordering a meal. She stuck around, waiting until closing time and the bar had begun to empty. Saori seemed pretty busy, and she didn't want to pull her attention away from the business until later.

"Need a hand cleaning up?" she offered, as another of the last customers trickled (almost literally) out the door. "I thought maybe we could talk about a couple of things, if you're not too busy."

[needsteaplz]

Saori had just put up a glass she finished drying on the shelf when Rialynn approached her.

That's right. She had seen Rialynn from time to time but there wasn't much chances to really interact. Of course there was that incident before but since Saori turned in her police badge, she honestly would rather keep that behind her and focus on matters at hand.

"Oh, that would be great. Thank you! There's still a few glasses here to dry and store I could use some help with." She motioned her to come behind the bar.

"So what did you want to talk about?"

[rialynn]

That kind of task was simple enough for a bard with no experience of bardtending bartending. She slid off of the barstool she'd occupied and rounded the counter, picking up a dish towel on the way.

"I was actually wondering how long you meant to keep the Space Saloon going." She picked up one of the wet glasses, pushing her towel-wrapped fingers into the wet glass to get the stray droplets inside. "I used to work here as a performer pretty often before everything got so...intense. And Barkeep was always good to me." She reached up to put the glass away before picking up the next. "So if you meant to take this on as a long-term thing until he wakes up again, I'd like to help, if you'll have me." Her shoulders hitched. "I don't know much about cooking or barwenching, but I do a lot of traveling if you need to negotiate for supplies, and I can learn if I'm taught."

[needsteaplz]

The gears in Saori's head ground to a halt. Rialynn had a good point.

She needed the funds to set up a fully operational bureau for the Assassins. Was she going to just abandon the Space Saloon when that time comes? Absolutely not! Everyone in Aqures Ixen, not just the Heroes, needed a second place to call home, find comfort in these times and fill their stomachs with good food and good booze.

The Saloon was Moredecai's pride and joy and she was going to honor her friend. Sure she had been recruited to support Jardin Verdoyant, but surely she could manage it. Though her future schedule was starting to look crazy, Saori would somehow find a way for things to work out.

Saori gave Rialynn a nod of approval.

"Well, if the staff and the patrons will accept me, I think I'll stay on as long as possible as a manager. The Saloon will still be under Mordecai's name in case he does come back." Though honestly given how the month was going so far, everyone under the Space Saloon's roof was happy to have her at the helm. She tapped her chin in thought. "Having a connected supplier will definitely has it benefits so yes, I'd love to have you on the team. Let's throw in some cooking lessons in between and you got yourself a deal."

[rialynn]

"Cooking lessons? Really?" Her hazel eyes brightened at the offer as a slow smile spread across her face. She kind of wanted to learn more recipes that she could make, especially now that she had a house of her own to live in and her own meals to prepare. So far her repertoire didn't extend much further than boiled eggs, toast, grilled fish, and stew. Simple stuff, and the dishes she made didn't exactly boast any complex flavors.

"Yeah! I mean, yes! I'd love to learn to cook something decent," she agreed, extending her hand so they could shake on it officially. "I don't think you'll have to worry too much about the staff and patrons accepting you. I didn't hear any complaints about the food while I was waiting, and I'm sure the staff are glad to have someone willing to call the shots."

Rialynn didn't really classify herself as an employee; she worked as an entertainer and little more. Even then, she'd done more traveling and research into the world's history as of late than singing for coin.

[needsteaplz]

Saori laughed. She loved Rialynn's enthusiasm already. "Yeah, I thinking cooking is one of those things everyone should learn. Not to mention I find good food has universal appeal and gets the good things going."

The only thing it possibly can't do is stop the Calamity. Also if she had heard someone had blasted her own cooking as bad...well they'd be forced to pay their tab and leave swiftly because she don't want no trouble in her place.

"Alright then, I guess I should get the paperwork going tomorrow to help make managing easier here."

[rialynn]

Rialynn nodded, dusting her hands off together before stooping to pick up her pack, slinging the strap over her shoulder and tugging her hair loose from underneath. "That sounds good to me. I can start sending some letters out to various wineries and distilleries to ask for prices and rates. If you have any favorites, let me know and I'll focus on those."

Hefting her pack to settle it in place, she huffed out a contented sigh. "It'll be nice to learn to cook something that isn't solely over a campfire. Thanks so much! Do you want me to come in tomorrow before opening to go over plans or...well, whenever you want to meet, it's fine with me. I don't have a strict schedule."

A - Late September

[neverfirstclass]

On the heels of the adventure to the chocobo forest, Cloud found himself with actually little to do. He had his normal daily work, but with no new threats looming he almost felt...underwhelmed in the passing of all else that had happened. One particular evening, having finished up at the Ranch and not quite in the mood to spend another day training, his stomach stated its outrage at being empty as he was passing the Space Saloon.

Even if he wasn't quite the Aqures Ixen drinking age, or at least the age that Mordecai upheld, they still did serve some good food, and he was a little surprised to see the place still open after they found its owner in Crystal Stasis upon their return to Crystallis. He frowned, briefly thinking of the others they found in that state as well. No wonder Yuffie wasn't there with them.

His stomach rumbled again and he followed its demands, entering the saloon in search of a meal. "Evening."

[needsteaplz]

Saori was working at the counter when Cloud arrived. With a smile, she approached him. She does go to the ranch from time to time to check on her Chocobo, but she never really had much time to talk to Cloud.

"Good evening and welcome. Please, have a seat anywhere you like. Can I get you something to drink?"

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud couldn't help but be put on the spot by the question. He struggled for a brief second, wondering how much he should tempt fate. Instead he decided to come at it sideways.

"Water I guess. Looking for something to eat really. But...what's the drinking age in here?"