Just at the edge of Market stood a building made of a striking red brick, a feature which quite effectively set it apart from the apartments around it. It was also large even for a double apartment, and accompanied by a smaller stable from which came the sounds of hungry chocobos demanding feed. Above the building's door was placed the emblem of Cardinal with the words TRAVELERS' INN below it in metal-wrought characters. Quite a commotion was erupting inside, judging by the noise which penetrated the closed doors and dark windows.
Aster stepped inside, and instantly the daytime noise of Cardinal was multiplied a thousand-fold. The air was filled by raucous conversation and loud laughter, and the noise of metal drinking cups landing wherever their inebriated users unthinkingly cast them formed an undercurrent not unlike the sound of gil at Market. The view, however, was even more claustrophobic with the ceiling looming above and the close, sparsely decorated walls clearly establishing the bounds of the environment, even more clearly than the great walls of the city. Still, it was all in one's perception; many, including Aster himself from time to time, saw the place as an easy refuge from the city outside.
The door was on one side of the floor, which was nowhere separated by any wall. Just opposite the door stood a reception desk, beside a stairwell leading up and down, the latter path hidden by a locked door. Off to the right lay the vast expanse of the room, a bar by any definition. A lone girl about Aster's age was shuffling back and forth behind the counter, serving at least a dozen people who were waiting for their drinks, and at least another twenty folk, all clad in merchants' garb, lounged at the tables. A thin fog of smoke pervaded the atmosphere.
Hey, Aster! called the man behind the counter. A bearded fellow in his early thirties, he looked just barely tough enough to handle the raucous crowd on the other side of the room. You come here to work?
You going to let me sleep in one of your beds for the night? Aster called back, crossing the room to the counter.
Only if you plan on cleaning the stables this time.
Aster grimaced. Someday, I'll take you up on that. But you will pay me, right?
Get behind the bar, the man said, mock-exasperatedly.
Smiling, Aster hopped over the counter to join the very overworked-looking girl, who greeted him with an expression of heartfelt relief. Keeping you busy? he asked.
She pushed him, nearly knocking him over. You know I haven't had a singly break during work all week? she demanded. Where have you been?
Finding substitute income, replied Aster. And you know you just missed me.
Raising her eyebrows, she batted at a rogue strand of golden hair. Only when you're not around. A man shouted something unintelligible. Now get me six Mimmett Ales, quick!
You're just jealous because I was smart and didn't sign one of Wedge's contracts! Aster called after her as she rushed away with someone's drink. You'd be gone half the week if you could too, and you know it! Getting no response, he turned to the kegs of alcohol. Mimmett ale, he said as he poured the brownish liquid out. I don't get these people. Pour out some ale, throw in some plant we use for chocobo-feed, and this is fine drinking? He removed six mimmett stems and crushed them, leaves and all, letting the fluid pour into the ales before dropping in the stems themselves. Then he set the tray on the counter, and they were snapped up before the girl, halfway across the bar, could flinch. He only hoped these were the men who had ordered the drinks.
Hey, barkeep! shouted a man from one of the tables. Get us some more ale out here!
Come up here and get it yourself! Aster called back. I get paid to pour drinks; delivery's your problem! He set another drink on the counter as the man, grumbling, rose to retrieve it. Fifteen gil. Pay up.
You know, I don't think Wedge would hire you full-time whether you wanted to or not, said the girl, coming back over to dump a set of empty mugs in the wash.
Oh, that hurts, Audrey, Aster said. You just crushed my lifelong dream of serving crushed weeds to drunk merchants. Whatever will I do now?
Hey, watch your mouth! Audrey hit him again. Some of us do serve crushed weeds for a living!
That's why you should have gone into thievery, replied Aster. Or better yet; I still think you would have made a great con artist.
She rolled her eyes and walked away.
No, seriously! He followed her. You and me! We'll take the country by storm! What do you say?
You've got the west end, she said, pointing to the other side of the counter. Get to work.
The rest of the morning passed more or less uneventfully; the crowd of merchants who occupied the bar in the morning were already out of wares, and soon departed to head back to wherever they got their supplies. They were replaced by a more somber crowd who went to the bar to do business, rather than celebrate a successful sale the day before. Even from working there only part-time, Aster recognized quite a few of the patrons, especially the cityfolk to whom the merchants were attempting to sell some idea or other. One man he was particularly interested to see; a man in his forties with a hard-lined, bearded face which seemed to glare at everyone. He was somewhat of a regular at the bar, but it surprised Aster to see him speaking to one of the merchants, a man in a rather ridiculous green hat. He began straining his ears to see if he could make out the words exchanged between the two.
The merchant seemed to be expressing some sort of apology. Sir, I'm sorry, but I don't deal in buildings. I'm a traveling merchant, and putting all that money in something that I can't take with me —
I'll cover you the money, said the cityman. And I just want you to buy the one apartment, then pass the deed to me. It'll be over in a day, and I promise you'll make a good profit.
Well, sir, I'm a little wary of getting involved in property matters such as this. If you already have the money yourself, why don't you simply go over and—
Look at me, fool. Do you think they'll sell to me? They won't care how much money I have; I'm a commoner, and that'll be that. You, though, you're a a merchant. Merchants they like. Merchants have GP. Buy the apartment. His last three words were spoken in a very commanding manner.
I just don't think this is a good idea — the merchant began, but he was cut off by the townsman's hand grabbing his collar across the table.
Listen, you little weasel, he said. The Mages and their lap-dog Aristocrats have walked all over me for forty-three years without even looking down to see what they stepped on. Now when my son gets born, he's going to live in a house, understand? They won't even look at me, but you, you'll take anyone's money. So I'm telling you, take mine.
croaked the merchant, as the townsman released his grip. I—I think you should find somebody else to deal with. Rising quickly, he hurried out of the bar.
Frustrated, the townsman slammed his fist on the table, before rising and heading to the bar. Gimme something hard, he said to Audrey, the anger in his voice replaced by resignation. Looks like my money isn't going anywhere else worth anything.
Audrey placed a drink in front of him. So what was that all about? she asked.
he replied. I've made enough gil guarding caravans to buy that bastard's whole building, but he tells me that all the rooms that can keep out rain I can only buy with gold pieces. They say they're reserved for higher-class' customers. I offer him twice the going price, but I wager he'd rather see the place leveled than give it to no damn commoner. He spat out the last word with sarcastic contempt.
You on about that again, Biggs? asked another man from the bar. Look, why don't you just buy yourself some of that red blanket getup those ristocrats have going on? Hell, you's already got the talk halfway how you need it.
There was a small chuckle from around the bar. Gentleman Biggs, prancin' around in his fancy red cloak with his fancy apartment. He'd be flashin' around his fancy GP coins if he could get his hands on them.
You're damn right, Biggs said gruffly. My wife's living in an attic right now, and I'll be damned if my son grows up in one.
Yeah, so don't forget all us little folk when you's and the king all talking it up over afternoon tea, yeah?
More laughter.
Hey, what's your problem, anyway? demanded Aster of the joking man.
asked the man. I just thinks it's funny this guy figures he's some kinda big shot!
Why? Because he wants a decent place to live?
I ain't got no decent place to live. I sleeps on t' street. This guy here — He slapped the back of the man next to him. He works in t' stables outside and sleeps in t' empty ones. What makes him deserve a nice house?
Why don't you just shove it, Cutter? Biggs snapped, without taking his eyes from the bar. You'd try the same thing if you had half the chance, and the brains to get out and make something out of your worthless life.
See, there he goes! the other man crowed. He's got a few gil, so he thinks he's all better than us, am I right? There was a chorus of agreement.
Aster shook his head, passing an ale to an increasingly demanding customer and beginning to fill another. So do you like living in the street, or what? I mean, you can...sit there and make jokes about people who don't want their kids to grow up in a dump? What is wrong with you?
Well, fer one thing, I'm near out of ale. More laughter.
Aster slammed the glass on the counter, spilling most of the ale. Forget this. I'm out of here.
Audrey, however, blocked his escape. Oh, no, she said. You are not running off and leaving me in the middle of the noon rush.
Am too, he said. I don't even know why I keep coming back here. I mean, look at them! He gestured out at the crowd. People in here come and blow all their money trying to make all their problems go away, so it's okay if they just go out and pass out on the street for the night.
Yeah, well, when you find a way to overthrow the Mages and make a new ideal society, you let me know. She pushed him back towards the kegs. Until then, pour.
Sighing, Aster obeyed, and she ran off to handle customers at the other end of the bar. I'm only doing this because you've enchanted me with your beauty.
I'm not going out with you.
I'll take over your morning shifts for the rest of the week.
I'll think about it.
