A ship's engines could be heard from afar, signaling the coming of either curious and joy-filled tourist from Atlas who wanted to see what Vale looked like, or people coming home from their travels. Of course there were the brave Huntsman and Huntresses who faced off against the Grimm. Heck, even they earned their free time. And although not many Huntsman would like to admit it, even heroes need a few hours off to relieve themselves from their endeavors. And yes, before you ask, even bartenders need a few hours off too... even if they are supposed to be looking for clues on how they arrived in a world that is not their own.
Freddy let out a sigh of relief when the Bullhead touched the ground and the intercom was turned on. "Thank god that is over." He said to himself, standing up and stretching his back. "Now the only thing I have to do is find out where I am supposed to look first."
He hummed in thought, rubbing his chin and scanning the interior of the Bullhead intensely. Perhaps he could ask one of the other passengers. "Hey, you!" Freddy said, pointing a finger at a lonesome woman who was reading newspaper. "Yes I'm talking to you." He said, a tad bit annoyed. "You can stop pretending not to have noticed me, you know." He muttered.
"Yes, can I help you?" The woman asked, her accent reminding Freddy of one of those snobs you used to see in those old movies. "I am in a bit of a hurry and don't really have the time to chit-chat." She huffed, turning her head away from Freddy.
"Well let me get straight to the point." Freddy said, leaning against her seat. "I need to find my way to the docks—specifically docks were there are a lot of people. You wouldn't happen to know of such docks now would you, Ms?"
The woman shook her head. "No, I am not from Vale. And to be quite honest I have no intention to visit docks, shops or anything like that. I am on a business trip, that's all." She replied. "Try asking the locals, and not someone from the high classes of Atlas itself." She looked at Freddy and glared at him. "Now if would you kindly remove your hands from my seat and step off this plane?"
Freddy huffed and turned to walk to the exit. "You know that dress looks good on you." He complimented.
The woman smiled. "I know it does."
"Yes, it reminds me of that time a homeless woman walked up to me and begged me for money. That dress looks exactly like it." He added, flicking her off before exiting the Bullhead and reaching the outside of Vale. Freddy looked around, trying to find someone who could perhaps be of use to him. He had to at least try something. He could not come back empty handed. He walked off the set of stairs that led to a small shed that had a billboard attached to it. 'Tickets' it said. Looks like people actually payed good money for these rides. At least 20 lien seemed like a lot in Freddy's eyes. He walked past the shed and shot the salesman a smile before continuing his journey into Vale. He had to admit that Vale did indeed look very pretty. There were enough shops and restaurants to go to, so there was always some place to go if you were bored. It really reminded him of home.
"Focus." Freddy told himself. "I must find answers. Ramses is counting on me."
Freddy looked around, trying to find someone he could ask for directions. A woman walked past him and he spoke up. "Excuse me, miss." He said. The woman stopped. "Oh thank god you actually stopped." Freddy exhaled a breath of relief and the woman eyes him curiously.
"Can I help you?" She asked, her long black hair fluttering as a small gust of wind blew passed the two of them. "I am in kind of a hurry you see." She said.
"I am in need of directions." Freddy replied, scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment. "I had though my nephew had given me the directions I needed but I guess his sense of direction is even worse than mine. I am looking for the docks since I... lost something there. Something very precious to me." Freddy lied.
The woman raised an eyebrow, it seemed that Freddy had piqued her interest. "Really? How peculiar. I am headed to the same place. How about you follow me and I'll lead you there?" The woman suggested. "I have some people waiting for me there so after we reach the docks we will have to say our goodbyes."
Freddy nodded his head. "Understood. Now lead the way." He said, placing his hand behind his back as he started to follow the woman. "So what brings you to Vale?" He asks.
The woman shot him a glance but kept walking nonetheless. "Just some important business that needs to be taken care of. Subordinates that don't listen and don't follow orders. You know the usual stuff, right?" She replied, shaking her head.
"Subordinates huh? Well I can't say I am very familiar with them, but my nephew has been under my teachings ever since he was little. He's grown into quite the man if I dare say so myself. Alas he still has much to learn." Freddy replied. He smiled at the memories of a eight year old Ramses holding his first tray of drinks and serving guests as a little mascot of their old bar. He was such an innocent boy back then. But now he has turned into a man with quite the mouth. And quite the ass...
"I see. Sounds like your nephew really evolved, huh?" The woman said, earning a nod from Freddy. "I too have subordinates that have to grow and that have grown. The only problem is that they do not know when to listen and when to obey." She but emphasis on the 'obey' in that sentence. This confused Freddy a bit.
"Obey? Don't you mean listen? Someone who obeys is someone who has no free will at all." Freddy retorted. "Do you think my nephew listened to everything I instructed him to do when he was under my teachings? No of course not! I mean he was still a child back then and he's still a child now. But I let him carve his own path. If he didn't want to become a bartender then I wouldn't be angry. I'd be disappointed and a tad bit agitated, sure, but it is still his choice. I never expected him to become a bartender, I just wanted him to become one. There is a difference between expecting something and wanting something."
"Clearly we see things from different perspectives." The woman replied. "If people don't do their job, don't become what they are expected to become then how can you trust in those people? How can you rely on them when they won't become what you thought they'd become."
"Honey I just do bartending. I do not know in what kind of business you are in but I just serve drinks and look good." Freddy replied. "Although I do have to babysit every now and then..." He trailed off.
"Enough talk about people who don't listen and whatnot." The woman said, brushing off the subject. "You said you were a bartender? Where is your bar located?" She asked.
"Oh it's not around here." Freddy replied, chuckling to himself. "And you wouldn't believe me if I told you where it is really located." He smirked.
"Surprise me." The woman grinned.
'Don't draw unnecessary attention.' The words of Ramses echoed through Freddy's head. Freddy nodded, as if answering Ramses' words of advice. I mean students form Beacon visited this lace often, did they not? So, word must have gone out about the new bar installed within the school. Freddy decided that he would be the first to tell this woman. She was nice enough to lead him to hos destination, so this was the least he could do!
"The bar is located at none other than Beacon Academy for Huntsman and Huntresses!" Freddy said proudly. "You see me and my nephew arrived from Atlas and decided to open up a new bar and, well let's just say we know some people and yada, yada, yada we had our bar installed in Beacon." He said.
The woman seemed surprised of his answer at first, but quickly nodded albeit it slowly. "A bar in Beacon? How very interesting. And I presume you and your nephew work there, correct?"
"You are correct, madam." Freddy replied, smiling a bit. "Although it is different from the old bar we used to work at, we made due with what we had and settled in quite nicely if I dare say so myself. The students seem to like the bar so far, even though we've only been around in a couple of days." He thought back at the moment he first entered the bar and how it almost looked like a exact copy from the one on Earth. He really missed that bar... and the people who visited it on a regular occasion. Regular guests were among the greatest people to serve. They would come back almost every day to enjoy a beer, a whiskey, basically anything that had alcohol in it. They were nice people who would always be in for a talk. But above all else they were honest. Honest about what you did for them, how the conversations you have with them every day changes their next day. Taking advice from a bartender does sound strange, but it does help on some occasions.
The woman, who had been staring at Freddy with curious intent spoke up, snapping Freddy out of his thoughts. "A very interesting story. I have to say I never expected Headmaster Ozpin to install a bar in his school considering the Grimm threat lurking around every corner." She shuddered, moving a lock of her hair behind her ear. "You should consider yourself very lucky. Not a lot of outsiders make it into Beacon."
"I've noticed that too." Freddy added, holding his chin in thought. "Ah well, nothing we can do about it though. The students there are very nice. You should visit it sometime." Freddy said. He looked to his right and that's when he saw it. "Hey, we're here!" Freddy exclaimed, turning to the woman who had guided him to his destination. "Thanks, you so much for taking me here! As I said: visit the bar and you'll get the first drink for free!" He held out his hand to her.
The woman seemed to think on his offer for a bit before taking his invitation and shaking his hand. "Thank you. You know I never even got your name." She said.
"Oh, right." Freddy replied, scratching his cheek. "My name is Freddy. A pleasure meeting you Ms.?"
"Fall. A pleasure indeed." The woman replied. "Now if you'll excuse me I have business to attend to. Until next time, Freddy."
Freddy watched the woman who he had come to know a bit better take her leave. Crossing the street, she made her way over to the docks and turned her head to flash a quick smile at Freddy before disappearing out of sight.
"What a nice woman." Freddy mused. He started looking for familiar sceneries, perhaps another entrance to the docks. Ms. Fall had taken another entrance and not the one he took. He was about to run after her but luck seemed to be on his side. "Oh, there is the place I ended up when I woke up! Let's see if I can find something useful!"
And so, the oldest out of the two bartenders started his search, while the other had more... liquid matters to attend to.
A/N: So, yeah, I've been busy. Recently published a new story. It's a Dark Souls III fanfiction about two guys ending up in Lothric. However the "game" has changed for them. It's become a bit more... realistic. Anyways don't forget to leave a review and I will see you guys in the next chapter.
