[Open Mingle] Entry 003

[chippedsoul]

Who: Kazuma Asogi, Soldier: 76, Susato Mikotoba and anyone else.
Which: Open mingle
Where: The Wild Harvest, located on the ground floor of Kazuma's home.
What: Soft opening for a small pub called the Wild Harvest.




A new pub has opened in Reverein, though the news is only being spread through word of mouth, or if people just happen by the place this month. Kazuma isn't exactly new to managing a pub, but he wanted to be sure he does it right this time. So he's keeping things small and simple, while the crew work out any issues that may come up during the month.

The place already has a much more welcoming feel to it compared to the Hydeout, like a quaint little neighborhood pub. Right next to the pub was a garden, part of it growing into the pub itself. There's a herb station setup if people want grab something else to add to their dishes, though at the moment, the selection is limited until they can grow more plants. There are garnish and spice noodle dragons also roaming about, and they will occasionally add a little extra to a customer's food or drink.

The menu itself is moderately simple, listing various eastern and western style street food dishes. There is also a note that reads: Can request something to be cooked off menu, as long as there are ingredients.

A sign has been put up near the entrance, listing the seasonal specials for the month.


Hot Chocolate (Alchoholic and Non)
Eggnog (Alchoholic and Non)
Cinnamon Apple Spice Tea
Meat Stew.
Roast Fowl.

Note: Meat will vary depending on what's available for the day.

Another can be found at the bar, this one being a "help wanted" sign. While Kazuma is satisfied having a crew he can trust, he could probably do with a full time bartender and bouncer. There are only three staffed at this pub right now. Kazuma is handling the front the best he can. He's not as conversive as his Hyde counterpart, but he'll try since he'll be the one most people will see. Occasionally 76 can be seen at the bar handling drinks, otherwise he'll be preparing the food along with Susato in the kitchen. A few times she'll peek out from the back to help clear tables, talking to the others during down time as she adjust to working a restaurant.

[This is basically an open mingle log for people to use the pub setting for whatever they like! Kazuma, Susato and/or 76 may also tag in, unless specified. Pub and garden area are open to the public.]

Comments

[starshower]

[Having heard of this new establishment from 76, Tifa thought it only sensible that she paid it a visit to see it all for herself, especially having tended a bar of her own, she always did like to see how others did things simply to sate her own curiosity, and this was a new world with new things!

Unsurprisingly, Kazuma is the first to greet her at the door, and she pauses to take a look around before turning her smile to him.]

The bar, actually. Although food does sound good right about now.

[She isn't sure if 76 had passed her name onto him after she'd heard they needed a bartender, but it wouldn't be polite to start out with that.]

Cute place!

[chippedsoul]

Ah, Miss Tifa. [An amuse smile at the cute remark.]

I thank you for thinking that. I've heard from the old man you had your eye on the bar actually.

[starshower]

[She'll allow him to lead her to the bar, and follow along to take a seat when they get there, where she takes another quick look around, noting how bright and welcoming the entire place looks—and not just the bar. But her eyes turn to him, wide with surprise.]

Oh, he did, did he?

[Well, at least he was the one who broke the ice! No harm in talking about it now.]

Here I was expecting to have to bring it up myself, but he did all the work for me. I heard you were looking for someone?

[chippedsoul]

Well, it is in the interest of maintaining this place. [He will casually go behind the bar for the time being. Currently it's unattended with 76 working the kitchen.]

And you're right, I am. I didn't know you had experience working the bar. [He does a slight glance in the direction of the garden.] Might be beneficial for you working around a small garden too.

[starshower]

I was even thinking of opening one up myself, but you got to it first.

[And she isn't exactly looking to compete with anyone! Especially not with another dreamwalker like herself. Better to work together than against each other.

She slides onto a seat, and spreads gloved hands out on the countertop. This is so much fancier than hers was!]

But I did run my own place for a few years back home. A little gem called Seventh Heaven. Served food, too... but most people went for the drinks. ... And my eggs breakfast.

[It feels a little strange to "brag" about it (not that she's trying to!), and her cheeks flush with colour.]

It was fun. I really liked it.

[chippedsoul]

There's plenty of room to go around if you ever decided to open your own. I don't intend for this place to get very large after all. [He likes it to be small, manageable, and personal. She also sounds more than qualified to just manage her own place than work with another.]

This is actually the second pub I've managed. I wasn't sure I wanted to start another when I arrived at first, but...it's something to do. Unfortunately, unlike you, I am neither well versed with the kitchen or making drinks. You're probably more qualified to run a restaurant than I am. [A light chuckle. How did a lawyer end up working in the food industry?]

That eggs breakfast must be something special.

[starshower]

I'd like to think so.

[The special ingredient was that she had always made it with care. And perhaps a little sprinkle of some extra spices.]

Everyone's gotta start somewhere though, yeah? And this isn't the first one, so at least you already know some of what'll make it run smooth. Less surprises that way.

[Hell, she wasn't qualified in the least when she started. All she did was serve food and drinks before taking over the place, and even then, there was a massive learning curve. It did help that most people who came and went were regulars, so it shouldn't be too different here.

Her eyes scan the bar behind him, at all the bottles for something familiar, before she gestures to it.]

Do you mind?

[chippedsoul]

Hm. You do have a point. This one is already a drastic change from the first.

[The kind of tavern that allows any seedy customers in and there was an underground fighting arena to boot. He blinks, looking to where she was indicating. The selection is still small, mostly whatever this world has to offer, and a few that they managed to imagined up or 76 created. Careful with the moonshine.

He'll pick up the round green bottle and present it to her.]

This one?

[starshower]

[Tifa eyes the bottle, reading the label, before she rises from her chair and leans over the counter with a grin.]

How about you have a seat, and I'll make you a drink?

[Don't worry, she won't make a mess nor will she touch the moonshine, but what better way to showcase her qualifications than to make something herself? Their selection may still be small, but so was Seventh Heaven's when she first started.]

If that's okay, of course. Wouldn't mind seeing what you guys have.

[chippedsoul]

[He blinks, and then smiles, proceeding to remove himself from the bar area.] By all means.

[Assertive, and perfect to see what she can do with what little they have.] Use whatever is available to you.

[starshower]

[Sometimes you gotta be assertive! But Tifa only gives a timid, appreciative smile as she rounds the counter to the other side of the bar, giving him some time to grab a seat opposite her. Give her a few moments to look over her choices, and... she'll come up with something. There's enough that she can at least make one drink she knows will be a hit, no matter where she is.

With a mixer in hand, she throws together a few different ingredients—some juices with a little bit of gin, and some ice to top it off. There's a flourish of her hand as she pops the lid on and gives it a quick shake, and in a single swift motion, a bright red drink is poured into a glass. She is showing off... just a little bit.]

It's not exactly the same, but close enough. A house special—the Cosmo Canyon.

[The drink itself is hard and a little bitter, but there's a light, sweet tang to it as well.]

[chippedsoul]

[Kazuma will take a seat, observing her get to work. He's not that suave when it comes to how drinks are prepared, being not much of a drinker himself. But he can at least tell she's done this before, getting comfortable being in a different workspace.

He admires the red drink for a moment once it's finished. Lifting the glass to take a sip, a quiet hum escapes him.] ....This is quite nice. I'm not sure if you knew, but you figured out I prefer drinks that aren't too sweet as well. [His glass is raised to her.]

Nice work. Now, do you think you could come up with a specialty drink for this pub? [He's already fine with her taking the job, but why not see what she can do from scratch.]

[starshower]

[Sometimes, she just Knows. That's one skill that every bartender should have.

But when he makes a request for something new, that does give her pause. With what she has to work with, she could probably think of a drink, one that's unique and special to this place in particular, but... Tifa takes a look around, taking in their surroundings—noting the decorations, the people, the general atmosphere...

With a deep, calm breath in...]

I think I got just the thing.

[She gets to work mixing a new drink. It's a little harder to get the exact taste she's going for without all of the ingredients, but she makes it work. And when she's finished, she'll slide the glass of the light orange-pinkish drink to him. It has the bitterness of whiskey, but softening it is the taste of apples and a bit of sweet spice.

Tifa was going for something more light, but rustic, and she leans down, resting her hand on her chin as she awaits his verdict.]

[chippedsoul]

[It's not as if Kazuma really knows what he's looking for in a drink. Though he suppose, if a casual drinker like him is fine with it, that's probably good enough. Visually, it's a pretty looking little drink. Warm colors is what he imagined for a place like this. Now for the taste. He takes a sip, enough to get a good taste before setting the glass down. Another moment before he says something, a content smile on his face.]

That's...rather refreshing. I imagined something light and easy on the taste myself. Admittedly, I'm no expert when it comes to this, but I can at least tell you know your stuff. [A nod.] The job is yours.

[starshower]

Really!?

[She's a little surprised that he decided so quick, based on two drinks—she'd almost expected a full-on interview of sorts, but... then again, she does wonder how many other bartenders there are in Reverein that might even be interested in doing so?

That surprise doesn't dim her excitement, and she claps her hands together, her grin spreading as far as it'll go.]

I promise I won't let you down. This'll be the best bar this side of Reverein.

[With a wink, she eyes the glass.]

We're gonna need to come up with a name for that though.

[chippedsoul]

[A light chuckle.] Please. My only requirement is that you enjoy what you're doing.

[Despite "cleaning up" the place from the last one, Kazuma isn't exactly one of those people in black suits with a clipboard. He prefers more hands on approach with things and it helps he already knows her. He now looks down at the drink she had produce for this place.]

Hm. The color reminds me of a sunset, or a sunrise. The taste of someplace rural. [...] Rise and Shine? [Maybe don't...let him think up names.]

[starshower]

[Well, she's got that covered. It was never something she looked into doing until she finally did it, but there was always something rewarding about it. Being able to give someone comfort after they've had a hard day, or being there when people—and friends—are having a good time always made her feel better at the end of the night. It was fun, and she enjoyed it, so that'll be a cinch for her.

Her eyes light up as they move back up to him.]

You know, that's actually not a bad name at all.

[It's cute!]

For a special, you want it to be a name that people remember. Something that sounds nice enough that they'll want to drink it.

[With a flourish of her hand, she pours a little more into a second glass to give it a try herself.]

Plus, I think it's only right that the owner have the honours of naming his first exclusive drink.

[chippedsoul]

Ah, you think so...? [And here he thought it was too silly. She's right though, he should be the one to name the drink, but...]

I'm admittedly not the best at coming up with interesting names. But...if you think it's a suitable one for the drink, then I have no rebuttal. [A small grin as he glances around the pub.] It does still follow the theme of a new start.

[starshower]

[Tifa's smile warms. People are their own worst critics, and for someone who doesn't think he's very good at picking names, he picked an almost too perfect one for it. Even more so as she mirrors him, gazing around at the pub.]

Is there a story behind all this? I didn't get much from 76, but I did wonder.

[chippedsoul]

Well. . . [He leans back. Where to even start?] The last place I ran was more of an impulsive decision. Not the most welcoming of places to be at, serving all kinds of shady folks. It was...more of a front for base of operations. [She doesn't really need to know how his dark side took control, basically kicked out the previous owner and claimed the tavern as his own. Did we forget to mention there was an underground fighting arena?]

I hadn't thought to open another one here at first, but my friends thought it was a good idea to have a fresh start. Make it something I want. So...that's how it came to this. [Gesturing to the whole place.] Simple, open, a place where people can just relax. I feel it's something people would appreciate when things get bad in this world.

[starshower]

[Tifa does arch a brow at the beginnings of his story... reminded immediately of Seventh Heaven, and how that bar, just like this one, had turned into a front for their own base of operations, housing an eco-terrorist base right under Shinra's noses. She loved that bar, though... It was her home, and her livelihood, despite its shadier dealings on the mission days.

But her expression softens while she listens, taking a sip from her own glass and looking around when he gestures to the pub.

"Make it something I want," he says, and that right there is what makes places like this so special, she thinks. It's a piece of the owner's heart, laid out bare for all to see, whether they intend it to be or not, and that's what draws people to places like this.]

I think there're a lot of people who might be looking for the same thing... In no time, this place'll be packed and you won't know what to do with yourself. Mark my words. I'll bet a hundred gil on it now. Actually, make it two.

[chippedsoul]

Heh. I hope no one expects me to expand. [He likes to keep things small, easier to maintain this time around.]

But I'm glad...if this place will help others. Maybe it'll inspire others to open their own place. [Was that a nudge to Tifa? Or just to keep his place from getting too crowded?] Either way, busy or not, I'll keep this place running.

[starshower]

[She senses that nudge and soaks it like a champ.]

Ahh, maybe it will. A little healthy competition never hurt anyone. Could even get together for big occasions and do events with each other or something.

[If there's one thing that Tifa does really like about this place, it's that sense of community here. The willingness of so many people to work together on something.]

I think it would be fun... but that's a long way's off still, if ever.

[chippedsoul]

I certain it could be something someday. People have already started things on their own. [This pub, the communal garden, a smithy.] I'm confident this place will be thriving with more places eventually.

[He takes another sip of Rise and Shine.] Anything you're hoping someone will start here?

[starshower]

That's a good question.

[And it's something that Tifa hadn't really thought about yet. The garden was doing well at least! But there are so many more things they could do with such a diverse group of people...

Perhaps that's why her first answer would be...]

Restaurants! More places to eat, with food inspired by where everyone comes from. I'd love to taste some food from someone else's home.

[That feels like a bit of a cop-out, but that would be her top answer. As for something else...]

A sanctuary for all the animals, too.

[She thinks back to the dogs who had been stuck inside that tree, or the family of them at the riverside who looked like they could use a good place to live, with warmth and food... Surely, there are other animals out there that are like that as well.]