Author's note: Sorry for the short chapter (I think this might be the shortest of them all), but I think this might be needed. At first I was thinking of skipping over the odd jobs. After all, they really don't deserve their own chapter. Then I thought I might as well put it in since some people might want to know what sort of jobs there are to do around Radiant Gardens. So enjoy, and PLEASE REVIEW AFTER YOU READ!
Chapter 7: Odd Jobs!
Back in the busy marketplace of Radiant Gardens, we join our heroes staring at the bulletin board hoping to find a part time job to pay for the airship that Cid was building just for them.
"Tifa said we could find jobs on this bulletin board, but this is ridiculous," Thomas complained.
"There is something seriously wrong with this town," Corey commented.
"I think some of the stuff on here might be illegal," Courtney grimaced.
"They do seem sort of fun," Rachel said, looking on the bright side.
"The pay isn't all that appealing," Manikha sighed.
"As I said before, you don't like anything," Thomas told Manikha, who smiled a little at the comment.
"By the way, did we ever get an estimate from Cid on the ship?" Corey questioned the group.
"Nope, but he did have a huge smile when he said a lot," Rachel answered.
"Well I say we just pick a job and hope for the best," Courtney sighed. As they gazed upon the board, none of the job postings appeared to spark their interest, but considering it was for a ship, they had no choice.
Bee Bustin'
50 Munny
Lately there have been bees in the alleyway next to my shop. Normally I wouldn't mind but they're driving away my customers. I need someone to destroy them and their nest so my business would come back.
Safe Cracker
100 Munny
I forgot the combination to my safe, and I need someone with a sharp sense of hearing to help crack it open.
Trash Takeout
78 Munny
Lately I have been forgetting to take out the trash around my neighborhood. I need someone to help me load it up on my truck and drive it to the junkyard.
Paper Delivery
27 Munny
The paper delivery boy is out and I need someone to fill in for him.
This was just a list of the most normal ones that were on there. Manikha asked them how did they know if the jobs were taken or not, but Corey kindly explained to her that you rip off the ad from the board and take it to the person who posted it. They all took a few of them off and agreed to meet back here in the evening to pull there money together and see how much they made. They parted ways, and hoped that by some sheer miracle they could pull enough together to make a deal with Cid.
Later that day, well technically it was late in the evening, they all met at the board again, tired and scarred after the hard day's work. They all just collapsed and lied on the ground, trying to catch their breaths. A few minutes had passed and they were able to sit upright and talk to each other about what they just faced.
"So many bees," Corey said with a little fear in his voice as he slowly rocked back and forth.
"There were so many papers, no wonder the paper boy was out. If I were him, I would be too," Rachel cried a little.
"At least you didn't see what these people throw out in their trash!" Manikha snapped.
"I shouldn't have taken that, then the 'photo shoot'. There were some pictures that are going to scar me for life," Thomas complained as he copied Corey in the rocking motion.
"What kind of pictures were they?" everyone asked at the same time.
"I don't want to talk about it," he informed them.
"Well at least I had fun," Courtney beamed as she knew she picked the right jobs.
"Yeah, you got to crack safes for the snobby rich people who are too stupid to remember a three digit code," Manikha snapped again.
"Well, at least it's all over. Let's just pull our money together before we kill each other," Corey said, as he tried to calm everybody down.
"Too late!" Courtney cried out as she leaped from the spot she was sitting in and started to strangle Manikha.
"Calm down!" Thomas told her as he started to pull Courtney off with the help of Rachel.
"We need her at the moment," Corey reminded her as he tried to break Manikha free. They struggled to pull the two of them apart when Aerith appeared before them.
"You guys seem tired, why don't you come by for some food and rest?" she offered. They all stood up like nothing happened and followed her back to Merlin's house.
"This is good food," Corey complimented as he was shoveling it down with the rest of his friends. They were sitting around a table with an assortments of food; since it was free, there was really no point in complaining.
"I'm glad you guys like it. Eat up, there's plenty for everyone," she told them with a look of shock on her face. Sure she is used to seeing people eating like this, but it's still surprising to see.
"Hey, where is everyone?" Thomas asked as he looked around and saw that no one was around.
"Oh, they already turned in for the night. Working on the ship really took it out of them. I only stayed up to make sure you guys were fed and safe," she told them with a smile on their face.
"We're sorry to be a bother," Courtney apologized.
"Oh no, it's no trouble, really," she smiled on.
"Are you sure?" Rachel questioned as she suspected otherwise.
"Positive. After all, you guys are a break; you're nothing compared to Sora," Aerith chuckled.
"You make him sound like some sort of monster," Manikha commented while barely eating. This is the reason she is like a twig.
"When it came too food it, he is," she confessed but smiled proudly. Everyone continued to eat in silence until there was no more food left. After helping her clear the table, washing and putting away the dishes, she took them to a door Merlin had created and showed them to their rooms. Since Merlin didn't have much magic left in him that day, there was only two rooms available. One for the guys, and the other for the girls. You can tell who got the lucky break.
"Sleep well, you'll be getting your ship in the morning," Aerith told them.
Chapter Eight Preview:
The gang gets their ship and start their adventure at last.
