melodiesoflife | Let's talk about those past few days

Entry tags:

Let's talk about those past few days

Characters: Barkeep and all Heroes
Where: Observatory
When: June 1st
Summary: All Heroes are invited to visit Barkeep, have a drink, and talk about the past few days.
Warning: Alcohol, lots of angsting over the last event.

He was looking forward to opening The Space Saloon in a few days, but with the sudden disappearance of almost all the Heroes, his priorities shifted away from organizing the Grand Opening. He may not like living in Crystallis, but the Heroes were his neighbors. They all lived in the same area, which he might as well consider his new place, and they were part of it. Any trouble concerning them deserved his concern.

He was surprised the previous day, when he had gone outside and seen the housing district filled with people again. They looked as if they'd had an exhausting adventure--and he was glad he swore off them long ago--and weren't too willing to talk about it. There was a solution for both things.

The evening of the 31st, he had Annie post a note on each house's door:

To all Heroes of Light:

We invite you to the Observatory on the 1st of June for a chance to relax and chat. Alcoholic drinks and snacks will be served, while juice and milk will be available on tap. Proof of age may be requested.

Be advised that all weapons must be put away in the designated storage room.

The Meeting Room
Several folding tables were arranged throughout the room, each with eight chairs. The sturdiest one was moved to a corner of the room, where the Barkeep stood. He brought in his entire personal alcohol cabinet and several glasses and mugs he bought for his business, all which would be put to better use today.

On other tables, containers of juice and milk were available to those unable to legally consume alcohol. Small cakes and snack were there as well, as well as a pot of thick potato soup, though it was beginning to get cold, as the Barkeep had no method of heating it himself.

"Afternoon," he greeted each newcomer. "What've you been up to lately?"

[OOC: Feel free to make starters and reply to others. Barkeep is likely to join conversations held by the bar.]

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That's good to know. [With that, his bar is complete, and he returns to the boxes of decorations.]

Y'know, if I get a saloon up 'n' runnin' here, I think you'd be a fine worker there, Miss. [He steadies himself, feet apart, and crouches to pick up one of the heavier boxes. This portly little man is stronger that he's appear.] I'll need some help eventually. Can't run a business on my own!

Really? [she considers it as she goes to work on getting the next few ribbons up with Sika's help. She'll always be an adventurer at heart, but here… It couldn't hurt to have something, could it. His capacity with that box… that's interesting.] I'd be glad to lend a hand, then. What kind of tasks did you have in mind?

[That box drops on the table. What's even in this thing?]

Oh, the usual. Waiters, extra bartenders, janitors, security, anythin' needed to run a saloon. [Oh. Candles. This will be a fancy party.] Normally I'd leave most of those duties to the bots and door AI, but [He waves a hand in the air.] This planet don't got none of it.

[He digs through the box.] You got matches or doilies, miss?

[she nods, eyes on the box as he drops it. She could… handle most of that, she thinks.]

There's sure to be more people you could get involved.

Doilies? [K'pandolu finishes up with her current ribbon, and goes to look through the pile of decorations she brought. She hadn't thought of that, but Sika had been attracted enough by the look of one pattern to bring a few, so she takes those over to him.] I can probably light at least one of those. […assuming she's careful about it.]

Yeah, but I can start askin' you since you're already here and not down in the dumps.

[He walks behind the makeshift bar to fetch matches from a drawer.]

No need to. I got the regular method right here.

[she goes quiet for a moment, tail twitching slowly.]

Perhaps I was simply- lucky. [not that any of the memories were pleasant, but… she tried to help where she could, for what comfort that is. She shakes her head, eyes on Barkeep.]

Oh? [she tilts her head, eyes glittering.] But I'd be very good at it, I'm sure! [K'pandolu no.]

Luck, maybe. Whoever kidnapped them might've forgotten about us. After all, there's a lot of heroes to keep an eye on, can't expect to remember all of 'em. [he shrugs] Nothin' wrong with bein' unnoticed; helps with gettin' the job done under the noses of outlaws.

[well. he pockets the matchbook anyway.] Let's see, then. Is it one of those magic spells you got?

Forgotten…? I wonder. But it's hard to say, without more information… [she nods, slowly.] That's true. Then… was there anything strange here, in our absence?

That's right. [she nods, raising a hand.] A Fire spell ought to be more than enough. […with control.] With your permission?

[he crosses his arms and lowers his head as he thinks] Can't think of anythin'. Just went outside one day, and poof! they were gone.

You have my permission. [This can't go wrong.]

No signs… Passing strange.

[of course not. She nods, igniting a Fire spell in the palm of one hand, and reaches out carefully, frowning in concentration. Thaumathurgy teaches destruction, but she's sure, if she can get it small enough and in the right place. She's managing the latter, in a way- mostly by movement of her hand rather than control of the flame. She gets the first candle lit, at least- though by the way she's shaking her hand afterwards, it's been a little close for comfort.] There.

[The Barkeep notices how shaken K'pandolu is after lighting the candle. Nothing was burnt, but it's clear that this method is potentially dangerous. He takes out one of the matches and touches the flame with one end and uses it to light the rest.]

I'll take it from here. Magic might be a bit too much for this sort of thing. [He may not have an emotional attachment to the observatory, but he'd rather not burn down the Heroes' meeting room.] Thanks for that. Lightin' matches the old-fashioned way still takes gettin' used to.

Perhaps with more discipline. [she's disappointed in herself, but she'll think of something. Perhaps it is unnecessary, but who knows?]

Oh- so you don't use those, either? [she leans forward, curious, some attention going to the matches.]

[With a puff of breath, the match goes out.]

Nope. On Mars, we use electricity most of the time, and when we do need fires, we got automatic fire starters with us. I think Sparks would know more about that, ask him.

..."Either"? [He spins on his heel to face K'pondalu.] What do you use on your planet?

How handy.

[she nods- and startles a little when he spins.]

Flint, oftentimes- occasionally bomb arms, but the voidsent are somewhat… volatile.

Ah, right. They do that more often on Earth.

[K'pandolu gets a judgmental look.]

You use bombs to light campfires?!

Earth? Another planet?

[she tilts her head, one ear twitching back.]

Only if you're desparate. That was… another matter. […she's pretty sure.]

Yup. I'm from Earth, but I moved to Mars when I was a boy. Sparks, too, only he became Marshall when he was a lot older.

[he tilts his head back]

That's still an awful idea. Bombs set everythin' on fire, not just a pile of wood! Don't tell me you did that!

Incredible… [it's quiet, mostly to herself, and her next words are at her usual volume.] Then- did the two of you meet on Mars?

Of course not. It was all under control. [you know, mostly. Relatively.]

You got it. I already got ownership of the Space Saloon from my father by the time Sparks moved in. He visited my place from time to time after work.

...You sure? [He narrows his eyes, mostly out of doubt. K'pandolu seemed like such a reasonable girl...] From my experience, bombs aren't things you can control?

So it's a family business, then? Or- the beginnings of one?

And so you take precautions! And the less they've ingested, the less fuel they have.

Can't call it a family business if it's only been there for two generations! But I'm lookin' for find another young barkeep to take my place when Harriet and I retire. Don't have no kid to pass it on to.

I am a very cautious man. If you ask Sparks for anyone from Mars, they'll tell you that my number one quality is my ability to keep trouble out of my place.

...What? [blink blink] Ingested?

No, I suppose not. But it's good to hear that it'll continue on! [even if she's only recently heard about it.]

Then it must be a very safe place indeed.

They consume the fluids of their prey. I always thought it was that which made them grow larger…

I hope it does, but if I'm stuck here, someone else might try to open up shop in my saloon, or O'Tooles down the street'll take the opportunity to finally drive me out of business. [He squints and pouts.] That man...I never understood why he loves trouble in his place.

So the bombs on you planet are sentient life forms who eat animals? And they explode? ...How did they evolve like that? Must've taken a lot of nudgin' from a powerful bein' to get there.

...I may have some experience in that regard.

Open up shop? No- surely not. […but if they're here long enough…] Do you suppose that could happen? [a shrug.] For the drama, perhaps? But that doesn't seem at all hospitable…

Evolve? I fear I've no idea. Someone who'd studied the creatures would be able to tell you more…

Of nudging from powerful beings, you mean? [she tilts her head, meaning to invite further comment.]

I'd understand if he'd love watchin' trouble outside his place, that's what I do, but that ain't good for business. How does he deal with cleanin' up after his patrons' messes like that, we might never know. [He shakes his head. You'd think the owner of a tavern would try to keep his business safe for customers.]

Well...I did influence the evolution of intelligent life on Mindua -- faraway planet, so you know -- to become excellent gardeners. It's a bit of hard work to get it like that, but in the end, I got me some high quality flowers for my saloon.

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