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Bella's not sure where she has wandered. She thought she was about to walk into a shop, but this appears to be an unattended bar. With none of the windows associated with the shop she thought she was entering. It could be an elaborate psychic assault of some kind, but it doesn't feel very... assault-y... and she was in the middle of a town and doesn't think any humans want to sic their 'mon on her. It's strange. She approaches the bar, looking around warily, hand hovering near her belt.
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"'Manage' implies a successful effort of some kind. It's just how we are," shrugs Earth. "We don't age, and we can be hurt or injured but not killed."
"No. It's not a 'do', it's a 'be'."
"There's such a thing as magical healing..."
"Earth healing is one of my particular specialties, and I know how healing works with the other relevant elements. I can tell you all about it if you like."
the_very_best
"...but I can't use it, and you're not coming to my world, and I don't really like the idea of haring off and abandoning mine unless - Bar? How easy is it to get home if you leave your world?"
That depends entirely on how often you get doors. This varies considerably person to person and most people don't receive them on demand.
"Rrg."
That depends entirely on how often you get doors. This varies considerably person to person and most people don't receive them on demand.
"Rrg."
"If I succeeded at getting someone to free a lot of elementals here, you might be able to convince some of us to come to your world then," says Earth. "In which case it would be handy to know at least a little about which ones can do which things."
the_very_best
"Okay. Do you think you can in fact convince somebody to do that?"
"I have no idea," he says. "I've only met one person here so far. I don't know how likely it is that someone else might show up who could help, or how likely it is that they'd want to, or if it's even meaningful to ask how likely those things are in a place this strange."
the_very_best
"Well, if you knew somebody at home who might come in - since Bar says you can hold the door - Bar, can they let more people in?"
Yes, if those people can be communicated with while the door is held.
"Then that would affect your confidence, probably. But if you're just waiting here I guess it depends on bar traffic."
Yes, if those people can be communicated with while the door is held.
"Then that would affect your confidence, probably. But if you're just waiting here I guess it depends on bar traffic."
"The list of people at home who I might trust to do anything helpful whatsoever is very short, and I think she's out of town at the moment."
the_very_best
"Dang. Bar, is it usually more crowded than this?"
Often, yes. I don't control the comings and goings of the door so I can't make predictions or take requests.
"Huh."
Often, yes. I don't control the comings and goings of the door so I can't make predictions or take requests.
"Huh."
Earth shrugs.
"We can wait, anyway."
"We can wait, anyway."
the_very_best
"Bar, when drinks aren't free what do they cost?"
Moderate prices in appropriate currencies. Yours would have been ¥75.
"Do elementals need to eat?"
Moderate prices in appropriate currencies. Yours would have been ¥75.
"Do elementals need to eat?"
"No," says Earth. "We can, but it doesn't hurt us not to."
the_very_best
"Oh, then you're probably good to camp out here forever, lucky you."
"Yes. It might be convenient if we could find somewhere to sleep..."
the_very_best
There are rooms available for rent, but they cost money, too. However, sleeping on the couches or in the backyard area is permissible as long as they aren't incompatibly occupied at the time. You might be more likely to find your rest disturbed.
"Thank you," says Earth. "That seems all right, then."
the_very_best
"There's a backyard?"
Yes, the door in front of and to the left of you leads to a lawn with a forest and lake adjoining and mountains surrounding.
"Innnnteresting. But people who don't want to sleep outside or on the couch basically can't stay here?"
They can take work shifts, which entitle them to rooms and in some cases stipends.
"Ooh."
Yes, the door in front of and to the left of you leads to a lawn with a forest and lake adjoining and mountains surrounding.
"Innnnteresting. But people who don't want to sleep outside or on the couch basically can't stay here?"
They can take work shifts, which entitle them to rooms and in some cases stipends.
"Ooh."
"That sounds potentially useful," says Earth. "How would we arrange that sort of thing?"
the_very_best
I'm authorized to hire qualified applicants for janitorial and security shifts.
"Who qualifies for those?"
Most people, including all three of you, qualify for janitorial work, although they will not receive their compensation if they don't actually perform it. Security requires the ability to subdue a significant fraction of possibly irascible patrons if they begin fighting; whoever or whatever arranges the doors ensures that the personnel on-duty and that fraction rather than other populations coexist reliably.
"Can I see, like, a pamphlet on Security? - Do I qualify? With the 'mon?"
You could legitimately accept a Security job. A pamphlet!
"Who qualifies for those?"
Most people, including all three of you, qualify for janitorial work, although they will not receive their compensation if they don't actually perform it. Security requires the ability to subdue a significant fraction of possibly irascible patrons if they begin fighting; whoever or whatever arranges the doors ensures that the personnel on-duty and that fraction rather than other populations coexist reliably.
"Can I see, like, a pamphlet on Security? - Do I qualify? With the 'mon?"
You could legitimately accept a Security job. A pamphlet!