~Status~
Theme: Gold Saucer - FFVII
Location: Galbadia Flying City
~Status~

Rodney had to say; he rather liked Balamb. He and Tiro had been exploring it for a few days now, and had only just arrived in Galbadia when they'd found this little pub. After picking out a table in the corner, Rodney sat down and shuffled his cards, while Tiro walked over to the notice board. Besides a few missions that weren't quite in his league, there was the pub's menu, posted on an old and sun-worn piece of paper. He perused it for a moment, before returning to Rodney with his waddling gait.

"I think I'm just going to get a plate of taralli and some wine."
Rodney nodded. "Cool. Get me the ossobucco and a beer."
"How did you know they had ossobucco?"
"A lucky guess. It's about the right season for it, anyway."

The Nu Mou shrugged, trundling off in search of a server. In the end, with the addition of a single room, the pair had just spent about 300 gil, and would likely spend more, before the day was out. Rodney kept scanning the room, looking for someone who looked like they'd take the challenge of a card game.

The pub itself was fairly crowded. It catered particularly to tourists, so there weren't actually that many moogles here, except for the bartender. It was a rustic little place, mostly wood, but the sun shone in through age-discolored windows, warming it as the sun started to dip below Galbadia's skyline.

At another nearby table sat a young man somewhere in his late teens, skin tanned dark, with hair that was brownish but would probably be blonde if not for the thin layer of dust that seemed to coat every inch of the kid.

He was staring at the door and sipping from a pewter tankard with a smile that didn't seem quite honest, and he looked relaxed.

When and if Rodney caught the other's eye, he'd hold up the deck slightly, while nodding, before returning to his shuffling.

Offhand, he glanced to Tiro. "Nothing on the boards?"
"Nothing we could do, anyway..." A sigh. "Looks like we might not be in town for long. We've got about 200 left... enough to take the air ferry back down to the mainland."

Rodney made a slightly disappointed face, pausing in his shuffling to pick five of the tetra master cards, leaving them on the table as he put the deck back in his pocket.

The kid took a last glance at the door, then brought his tankard over to Rodney's table, still wearing his smile. "What game?"

"Tetra master, if you've got cards. If not, you can borrow some of mine."

His beer, and Tiro's wine, arrived, and both thanked the server before she bustled off. The Nu Mou raised his glass to the middle of the table. "Happy trails."

Clink.

Clink.

The kid took out a pack nearly as dusty as he was, but the cards looked new, and he shuffled them absurdly quickly. "Might need some explained, haven't played tetra master in ages."

"Alright. Pick five cards and lay them out."

Rodney did so, spreading out his hand; a dragon, an Ironite, two Goblins, and a bomb. "I'm Rodney, by the way."

The other sipped his wine. "Tiro."

"...Tyr."

This was not actually a lie. The pause would probably just make it seem like one.

Tyr laid out five cards and flipped them over. (You decide, Zac.)

Ironite, Mimic, Goblin, Goblin, Saghain. Not too bad. Rodney set his Ironite in the middle of the field.

By now, their food had arrived; Rodney's osso bucco, being, in this universe, chocobo shank that was stewed in white wine, with tomatos and so on. Tiro had a plate of small pretzel-like things, which he proceeded to dip in his wine as he ate.

"So Tyr, you a local, or?"

The smile turned wry, and Tyr pushed his Sahagin in. "Not nearly. Been wandering a while now, town to town, country to country."

"Oh hey, cool, that's the same as us. Where are you headed now?"

He selected one of his goblins, capturing the Saghain. Of course, if that goblin was later captured, things could change. Tiro, less interested in the game, had removed a map from his pocket and was studying it carefully... which had got them someone watching them.

One of the few moogles in the bar who wasn't staff, the juggler sat on the edge of the counter, sipping beer of his own. He wore bright orange and green, and seemed rather interested in the map.

"Alexandria, maybe." He pushed his Mimic forward. "Haven't been there yet, heard about some sights worth seeing."

---

Out on the street, a kid a bit younger than Tyr stopped to catch his breath. He was paler, but still tanned, with hair that was actually brown and seemed to like curling, with green eyes.

"The son of a bitch is noticeable, at least," the new kid said, standing beside the window. He'd followed a few tips to end up here, after Tyr had gotten away from him.

"Hmm... I was thinking of heading that way myself." Tiro mumbled. "... Nearest port with shuttle service is... oh. Galbadia."
"We'd still have to go down to the mainland and pick up Occhielo." Rodney reminded him, playing the dragon in an empty space. "... And find a way to get fare for the trip."
"Well, if we travelled Third Class, and Occhielo flew himself there...."

---

The moogle in orange sighed a bit, gesturing for a second blue.

Tyr's Ironite was placed forward randomly, at the same time as someone behind him asked "Does anyone know where my pocket watch went?"

The dusty kid winked at Rodney, flashed what looked like a fine watch, and dropped it silently on a nearby table.

---

Outside, the other youngster took his time to adjust his swordbelt and light armor. If Tyr put up a fight this time, he'd certainly be ready.

Tiro looked over the edge of the map with a sigh. "... For now, I suppose, that works."
"I'll admit, it's faster than playing the tables." Rodney said with a smirk. "Not that I like resorting to it."

Once he had his drink, the moogle made his way over to the group. "Hey, mind if I sit here, kupo?"
"Not at all." Came Tiro's absent reply.
The moogle hopped up. "Ciao. Name's Zuchetto, kupo."
"Rodney."
"Tiro."

"Tyr-"

"TYR YOU SON OF A BITCH."

The smile didn't change, but Tyr looked amused. He didn't turn to see the intrusion. "Rukh, nice of you to join. Care for a game of tetra master?"

"I want my gil back," the voice said, closer now. People were taking notice of this, and the man who had been looking for his pocket watch grabbed it off the next table and moved away quickly.

"Oh, that's what this is about? Now, Rukh, what's a little sharing between friends?"

"We are not friends, travelling together out of necessity does not necessitate friendship. And I want my money back before you spend it all."

Tyr sighed, overdramatic. "Gentlemen, if I might introduce Rukh, my travel partner."

Suddenly, the air around the table grew a bit chilly, and Tyr might notice that Rodney's cards seemed to have gotten up and walked away. The gambler was laughing a bit to try and break up the tension.

"Now now, kids... what's say we sit down and... arrange this. No need to start an engagement, or anything..."

Rukh pulled a chair from a suddenly vacant table and sat down across from Zuchetto. "Sorry he had to introduce you. I'm Rukh, combat student and wanderer."

Tyr was idly shuffling his cards, still smiling.

"Rodney Derrida. Professional gambler."
"Tiro Paziente. Nomadic Monster Trainer."
"Zucchetto Omerta. Former Circus star."

"So, Rukh, it turns out Rodney and Tiro are also in the process of wandering, and since Alexandria is as good a destination as any..."

Rukh shot Tyr a withering glare, and the other boy fell into smiling silence.

"Alexandria? That's actually not a bad idea, I'd planned on heading over after going the width of Balamb. What about you three?"

"We're actually just wrapping up Balamb, Rodney and I, but we'd be more than happy to show you some of the more esoteric paths."
Zuchetto chuckled, sipping his drink. "Sounds like you lot could use a local guide, kupo. Alright. I'm in."

Rukh flashed a smile. "Nice. I've... Tyr's got enough gil to keep us all alive for a few days, but in the meantime a little extra would be nice. I'll have a look at the mission board?"

Tyr pushed his four remaining cards towards Rodney, evidently forfeiting. "Careful, paper is sharp."

"Quiet."

"Mmm. If there's five of us now, I'm sure we can come up with something." Tiro said, folding away his map. "Zucchetto, does San Sebastian have a chapel here?"
"No, kupo, but the Order of the Acheron does, an' theres an old Chapel that Clan Dynamo set up years back that's non-denominational."
The Nu Mou seemed to nod for a bit.

"San Sebastian? Religion?"

"Of sorts. San Sebastian was a person, who was killed trying to clear his past of sins. his followers say that they worship all the Totema at once, as he did."
"... Sounds a lot like the Acheron to me, kupo, but whatever. Not my field."

The Nu Mou shrugged. "When you live as long as me, and see as much as me... you get a bit of faith driven into you."

Tyr nodded. Part of him understood that, but- oh, well.

Rukh returned. "Looks like some monsters broke out of the stables on the mainland, fifteen hundred reward each, limit eight. You all in?"

"Why, certainly."

"That's my speciality!" The Nu Mou exclaimed, though the difference between that and normal speech for him was hard to detect.
"Alright, if Tiro's going, I'll play ball."
"Why not, kupo!"

"I've already signed us up, Tyr."

"Oh? Hahaha... okay, okay. Should probably get going, huh? Lead the way, O Fearless Leader."

The three wanderers got up, with Rodney stretching. As they were on their way out, the ever-calm Tiro stopped to pay the bill for he and the human.