[Voice/Action] backdated to Day 1 of the event until the end!

[dissonates]

[Asch will be leaving a single message on the journal network on the evening of the first day, his voice flat:]

[Voice]

I know that the village is being its usual mad self this week, but Guy Cecil's gone back to his world. With the recent departures, Good Spirits is shorthanded.

[....oh, right.]

Also, considering the bar is in the area where alcohol is apparently prohibited, thieves have been after the stores. Most of the remaining supply's been hidden, but I could use help guarding it.

As far as I know, the journal network has always been for our eyes only, so if you want any for yourself and the staff doesn't recognize you, try to come up with something only one of us would know.

[After that, he won't be doing much exploration. Asch is having none of this silly experiment business; he woke up wearing this, and since his closet seems to be full of clothes either like it or much worse, he just rolls with it. He's been around the block before. He'll be staying in the bar pretty much 24/7 (besides food runs and emergencies) to make sure the collection doesn't get completely depleted; he may be a recently returned staff member himself, now, but the bar was important to Guy, so he can at least protect it for a while. Alcoholic drinks will be served through the back door to villagers only, so if you want some booze, better figure out a way to act convincing.]

Comments

[Action]

[bubblywishes]

[Things sure have gotten tense in this neck of the woods. Norma's definitely felt the strain in the bar, and is glad the riffraff's been kept out for the most part. It was nice having guys look at her the first day, but now they're getting bolder, more brazen, and annoying as all hell. Of course, she's taken care of a few thugs (she's very skilled at throwing a well-aimed punch and kick) but it's tiring. Coming to work has become less fun and more of a tedious chore.

So imagine Norma's surprise when she sees an unfamiliar face in the bar again, and gives him the evil eye. Sorry Asch, you're being assumed to be a thug until proven otherwise.]

[Action]

[dissonates]

[Asch returns the suspicious look; he'd met the girl before all of once, so he wouldn't be surprised if she didn't recognize him. The look she's giving him is a little infuriating, though.]

What are you glaring at?

[Action]

[bubblywishes]

[Of course she doesn't remember you, Asch, that would require Norma to have a good memory. Give her a few minutes, the nickname she gave you that one glorious time may come bursting back to her thoughts.

UNTIL THEN, THOUGH--]

Your face? [Duh. But anyway.] Who're you? If you're a thug, I may have to...escort you outside.

[With magic. 8D]

[Action]

[dissonates]

[Thug. A thug. What the hell?]

I work here now. You don't remember me?

[mikangirl]

[...Guy. What a fucking shock, Luceti.

She's not going to reply to that. Instead, her reply is tersely abrupt.]

I'll give you a hand.

[She's down with Nojiko at the bakery to help her out; Good Spirits is only just across the way.]

[dissonates]

[Day in the life of Luceti, really.]

I appreciate it. I know that alcohol just shows up automatically, but there are some rare bottles here I'd rather not see disappear.

[mikangirl]

Yeah, I hear you. I'm coming down to the square with my sister anyway-- I'll come by once she's at work.

[dissonates]

[Browlift. Her sister's here now?

Well, whatever, it's none of his business. He nods, shrugging it off; he'll be around whenever she gets here.]

[ action ]

[herotypical]

[ buffy tosses as plain and cream-coloured tarpaulin over a stack of barrels, working away in the back room. but she does eventually turn towards asch. and... ]

I'm...I'm glad you're here to help, y'know.

[ quiet and certainly sad. no matter how thematically dressed the slayer was, she didn't feel as though she belonged in the roaring twenties.

so many missing souls. so many lost friends. still -- she tried for a thin smile. ]

It makes a difference.

[ action ]

[dissonates]

[Asch glances sidelong at her for that comment, pursing his lips as he pulls a few bottles from a cupboard in the back.]

...It's... fine. It's something to do, anyway.

[He knows that he's no replacement for Guy - he lacks the experience, for one, but there's also the fact that bartenders are commonly known to be social, good listeners, distributors of liquid comfort and advice. He's good for basically none of that.

But he learns fast, and really, he has a knack for putting up with plenty of pointless dialogue. He'd grown up in a church, after all. Maybe he'll manage.]

[ action ]

[herotypical]

[ buffy doesn't look at him while she continues working. ]

...That's exactly why Guy asked me to work here in the first place, y'know. So long ago. As something to do. To take my mind off...

Well -- someone else's departure.

[ action ]

[dissonates]

That's not why I'm here.

[It's a little defensive; he doesn't want anyone to assume he's here because he's upset. The job was open and he took it. He has little else with which to occupy himself. That's all.

But.

...still...]

...Who was it?

[Voice]

[broji]

Need another set of hands? I can't say I'm familiar with all the fancy names they have for alcohol around here, but we used to have to find creative ways to keep Grandfather out of it.

[Funny story, that. Since they've got a trap door that lets out in front of the bar. Back home. You can imagine.]

[More quietly:] Also...I'm sorry about Guy.

[Voice]

[dissonates]

[He's quiet for a moment, considering Ginji's second comment and not sure how to respond. Finally he just opts to ignore it entirely.

What's there to be sorry about, anyway? It's... not like they were close.]

We'll take whatever help we can get. Transporting the remaining liquor is a priority right now, so extra hands would be useful.

[Voice]

[broji]

[Come on, Asch. You wouldn't be making the announcement if it wasn't something halfway important to you - one way or another. Otherwise it'd be one of Guy's other friends doing it, right?]

Right, got it. I could whip up something with wheels for you if you're planning on moving a bunch of it at once. Might go a bit quicker. [Like a sack barrow.]

[Voice]

[dissonates]

[YOU KEEP THOSE THEORIES TO YOURSELF YOUNG MAN]

That might be useful, if you can be quick about it.

{ action }

[fallenchosen]

[Act convincing? Zelos is good at that! Well, maybe to some people. So guess who comes waltzing through the back door, Asch? Your favorite new best friend ever! He's not really digging the new outfit but hey, it could have been worse, and it looks good on him too.]

Aschy Booooy! I hope you didn't hide all the whiskey~

{ action }

[dissonates]

[....W...ow... even if he didn't recognize the voice, he'd know that sort of neckname. And ugh, ugh, no.

He pokes his head out to the back area from the supply room, his eyes narrowing.]

Don't call me that!

{ action }

[fallenchosen]

Aw, you don't like Aschy boy? It suites you!

[He'll be calling you that for the rest of your life, you know.]

[action]

[fabrecation]

[... Ugh. First Noel, then Yuri, and now...

The only good thing about this past month, it seems, is the fact that Xion's finally remembered everything. But with so many close friends gone, he's still feeling the effects of it all. He can't even bring himself to want to hunt for anything, even though it'd be beneficial for him.

Now, it's even worse. Guy's gone... Dammit.

With Asch talking about the bar, though... he has to be there, right? A moment of concentration gives him a very faint idea of his location, and... yes, he's right. That's where he is.

So, Luke heads down there in this outfit, hands in his pockets and hat down to try to look inconspicuous. He occasionally glances around, or grimaces slightly when a gunshot goes off. Of all the places to be in, why did his apartment and Good Spirits have to be in this place? It's so noisy, and violent too. Maybe he should go see where he and his girlfriend can go stay for the rest of this, assuming she's not trying to hunt for items.

Once he finds Asch, he gives a weak little smile and hurries his steps... only to stop when he sees what he's wearing, and let his smile turn into a mildly indignant expression instead.]

Asch?

[action]

[dissonates]

[Asch glances up from his spot at the back of the bar, in the middle of sharpening his sword. His eyes narrow. What the hell is he wearing?]

...Replica.

[He considers the attire for all of three seconds before making a decision:]

Go home and change.

[action]

[fabrecation]

[Wow, Asch hasn't called him that often. The order makes him scowl, his hands moving to his hips.]

What? No way. I'm not walking all the way back just to change out of my clothes! You go change!

[Voice]

[knightofratatosk]

I, um... I could try to help guard it if you want...

[Voice]

[dissonates]

Whatever's convenient. I'm not about to force anyone, but I'll take any volunteers as long as this is going on.

[Voice]

[knightofratatosk]

I don't mind. I'm one of the heads of Brave Vesperia now-- this is the kind of thing we're supposed to be doing. I wouldn't be much of a leader if I didn't offer to help out where I can.