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

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

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...I believe you. [ only she also suspects that jack can handle a single bartender. in fact, it might be entertaining to watch... ] Just try not to let him serve himself. Anyone else? I don't really care. But not him. It's a point of pride.

One of those people who can't stop serving themselves once they start?

[He's met the type. They tend to be messy, which is fine as long as it happens outside where he doesn't have to clean it up.]

A-actually? He's not that bad -- though he likes people to think he's drunker than he is. [ unfortunately, it seemed the man was practically raised on booze. ] But it's important to maintain...boundaries with pirates. Firm, inviolable boundaries. And this is one of them. Let him reach over the bar and soon he'll think he should be serving everyone else, too. Kinda like that kids' book. If You Give A Mouse a Cookie.

...Noted. I don't like the idea of strangers infringing on my territory, anyway.

[Not that it's really his territory - yet - but as long as he's working at this place, boundaries will definitely be set. Probably between co-workers before long, but that might be their choice rather than his own. Depends on how they deal with prickly tempers.]

[ her head tilts. ]

The sooner you stop thinking about your patrons as strangers? The better. People don't just come here to drink. Some of them come 'cause their lonely. Or because they need a refreshing dose of non-judgemental company. The kind that also comes with a tall glass of something alcoholic. I'm not saying you have to make friends with every Tom, Dick, and Harriet that comes in, Asch. But you can't treat them like strangers. Not when they're gonna be back again and again.

[Asch doesn't respond to that immediately, though he's visibly uncomfortable with the idea. 90% of his life philosophy is treating everyone like a stranger. It's just a defense mechanism- or the sort of mentality he's built up over the years. Strangers do the sort of damage that people who actually know you can.

Just what kind of treatment is he supposed to give them, then? Neutral territory doesn't really exist for him.]

...And if I don't?

[If I can't?]

...Then we'll just have to be very very thankful that this place doesn't actually run on profits, 'cause an unfriendly staff doesn't make for repeat drinkers.

[Huh. That isn't a "you're fired" like he expected.]

...You're too easygoing to be a boss.

You should tell that to my girls back home. Seriously. They'd never believe you.

[ it's tough to be the firing sort when slayers were slayers for life. therefore, buffy has to believe in second chances almost by default. ] Besides, just wait a few more weeks and then you'll see just how easy-going I'm actually not.

[ keeping him on might be punishment enough. ]

I can deal with that.

[Probably. He's handled a lot more hardheaded people back on Auldrant, and most of them either actively dislike or outright hate him. Someone who seems more neutral about him would presumably be easier...]

[ just wait until she starts expecting good things from him. personal growth. character development. deshelling. ]

How are you with sob stories...?

[Oh dear, he really is doomed.]

...Generally, I try to avoid them. My success rate varies from person to person.

[Mostly because he seriously doubts the sob story of most people could beat out his own, and in that case he's more likely to tell them to get the hell over themselves. Not the best thing to hear after you've bared your soul to someone.

Really, it's just mutually beneficial to not bother.]

Where I'm from, tending bar comes with a certain...expectation. Y'know, of being the sympathetic ear when people come in for a therapeutic shot or two. [ guy was so good at it; it's not wonder he'd managed to talk buffy into working here. ]

Avoidance might not be an option any more. Consider that fair warning.

[Hrngh.

Challenge accepted.]

We'll see how it goes, I guess.

[It's said with a shrug, though; he's not making any promises, but it won't really kill him to try, either. If he doesn't like it, he'll quit. It's as simple as that. His life is too valuable to waste it trying to do something that's beyond his capabilities.]

Sure thing, probie. We'll play it by ear. I know you're no stranger to lending a hand here but...if this is for reals, now? Then I expect good service.

A-and staff parties. While not strictly mandatory, they are...suggested. Encouraged, even.

[Probie.... and parties...

...dammit, Guy. Why did you ever think this was a good idea.]

I'm starting to think that the only duties I'm qualified for here are washing dishes and escorting out unruly customers.

...You'll do fine. [ an indulgent sign. ] Like I said, we're not for-profit. It makes for a kinder learning curve.

Probably a good thing. This is drastically different from the only other job I've ever had in my life.

[And he doubts that tracking down, arresting, and/or slaying infidels looks good on a resume.]

...Dare I ask, Asch?

You can ask, but I'm not promising any answers.

[He knows he's just being facetious, though, so after a moment's thought, he responds more seriously, if briefly.]

I was a soldier.

So was Zack, albeit in capitals. And so was I -- in one way or another. [ army of one. ] I don't think that should be enough to hold you back.

[ translation: you yourself -- not your vocation -- will be holding you back. ]

You don't act like most of the soldiers I know.

[In truth he had a hard time envisioning either of them as real soldiers, though he knows there's no shortage of skill in battle. There's something about the attitude that makes it more of a lifestyle than just a career, and that's not something you can shake off easily.]

...Personally, I'm not convinced that all soldiers usually act like each other in the first place.

Not all. But where I come from, the way we're trained can create something of a hivemind when it comes to discipline. A unit has to be able to act as one when given orders or the mission could fail.

I suppose that's the mainest difference, then. Me? I never...had a unit. Not like a unit-unit.

[ she had friends; she misses them. ]

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