08-01-2016, 01:11 AM
Zack had enjoyed a drink or two. Or, a few more than that. Alcohol didn’t affect him quite as much as it would a normal person, as a result of his Mako enhancements that had clearly carried over to this realm. He didn’t see that as an advantage, though. It was more of an expensive hindrance. Finances aside, he’d managed to get to the low end of a buzz, which was a welcome relief to him. He smiled and watched the crowd, taking in the sights of the people that crossed through the bar. Truly, there were some unique individuals littering Omni’s playground.
A pretty girl never went unnoticed by him, so he couldn’t help but spot the young woman who looked wildly out of place as soon as she entered the bar. One thing he could tell from her body language and demeanor was that she was not here out of choice, but necessity. It was almost worth approaching and asking her about, had something far more interesting not caught his ear.
Gildarts.
Zack had fought the dragon, Volvagia, alongside the courageous man. The two of them had been the only survivors of Alpha Team, and had limped down the mountainside together. Along with Miranda, they’d witnessed the defeat and banishment of the dragon. Afterwards they’d recovered in the remains of the Goron village, before being separated in the aftermath. With all they’d experienced, Zack considered him a friend and an ally. So, it was really hard to hear that the man behind that warm smile was actually a mass murderer.
It was enough that Zack dropped his glass in surprise, which caused another unexpected jolt when his drink shot everywhere, including on himself. He stood up quickly, silently impressed at how quickly the bartendress made it to him to try and pat him down with a dry cloth. He waved her away with a polite smile, still more interested in the conversation between the drunks.
There was no way to wield a massive sword like the Buster Sword in a non-intimidating manner, so he settled for not slicing or stabbing anyone with it as he heaved it over his shoulder. With his sword in its resting place, he hurriedly made his way over to the intoxicated gossipers. He moved through the crowd and took a breath as if he were bracing himself once he identified the men who he was approaching. It was the same group he’d spoken to earlier, when he ordered his first drink.
“What was that about Gildarts?” Zack asked abruptly, as he stopped behind the group.
The man Zack spoke to, the one who’d said the name of his supposed friend, didn’t even turn to face him. A second man glanced to Zack and let out an annoyed grunt.
“You’re crowding us, boy,” only one of them bothered to respond, waving Zack away without actually looking at him.
Zack pursed his lips, very slightly. Ever since he’d been promoted from the ShinRa infantry to the SOLDIER division, his experience with night life had changed. He’d stopped going to seedy bars with rowdy drunks and instead infrequently attended much nicer clubs. He was a little out of his element, these days, but the basics of how to navigate situations in these types of places never left him. Then again, there were probably better schools of thought than his.
“I was talking to him,” Zack said, tapping the one he’d first spoken to on the shoulder, before looking at the man who’d bothered to talk back. “I wouldn’t bother to ask you.”
The sound of bar stools sliding back caught the attention of the bar, and the three men were on their feet in a heartbeat, staring Zack down. It was only after fully facing the ex-SOLDIER that they noticed his appearance, and most importantly the giant sword resting comfortably on his back. Zack visibly watched the fight leave the men at the sight of his armaments, which was a good thing, because he didn’t have much of an exit strategy. He was merely at the level of intoxication that he was cognizant of the bad choices he was making.
“What are you, some kind of bounty hunter?” a third man scoffed.
“Easy, fellas. Who’s Gildarts?” Zack said with a firm voice, but a light hearted grin. Bounty Hunter. He didn’t confirm or deny that, as catchy as it was.
The first man finally responded, and it was with an unhelpful scoff.
“Read the damn paper yourself,” he shrugged, with a big dumb smile on his face. “He’s one of the bigger, badder primes, I hear. You might need a second one of those swords.”
Zack rolled his eyes, but snatched the newspaper just as soon as the man picked it up and held it towards him. He looked it over and shook his head. Sure enough, that was the guy he’d fought alongside.
“We’ve met, actually,” Zack admitted with a frown. “He didn’t mention this detail, though.”
Unfortunately, the three drunks were already distracted and tired of conversation. They slid back into their seats, and the bar as a whole went on with their revelry. Shaking his head, Zack looked around. He’d lost his seat, as the place became more crowded. He figured it wouldn’t be a bad idea to find a new watering hole, anyway, after causing a bit of a scene.
With his newspaper in hand, he started to make his way towards the door, but had to stop at the last second. The black haired, purple eyed girl was still in the bar, and she was moving with purpose, now. Curiosity overwhelmed him, and he stopped to watch.
A pretty girl never went unnoticed by him, so he couldn’t help but spot the young woman who looked wildly out of place as soon as she entered the bar. One thing he could tell from her body language and demeanor was that she was not here out of choice, but necessity. It was almost worth approaching and asking her about, had something far more interesting not caught his ear.
Gildarts.
Zack had fought the dragon, Volvagia, alongside the courageous man. The two of them had been the only survivors of Alpha Team, and had limped down the mountainside together. Along with Miranda, they’d witnessed the defeat and banishment of the dragon. Afterwards they’d recovered in the remains of the Goron village, before being separated in the aftermath. With all they’d experienced, Zack considered him a friend and an ally. So, it was really hard to hear that the man behind that warm smile was actually a mass murderer.
It was enough that Zack dropped his glass in surprise, which caused another unexpected jolt when his drink shot everywhere, including on himself. He stood up quickly, silently impressed at how quickly the bartendress made it to him to try and pat him down with a dry cloth. He waved her away with a polite smile, still more interested in the conversation between the drunks.
There was no way to wield a massive sword like the Buster Sword in a non-intimidating manner, so he settled for not slicing or stabbing anyone with it as he heaved it over his shoulder. With his sword in its resting place, he hurriedly made his way over to the intoxicated gossipers. He moved through the crowd and took a breath as if he were bracing himself once he identified the men who he was approaching. It was the same group he’d spoken to earlier, when he ordered his first drink.
“What was that about Gildarts?” Zack asked abruptly, as he stopped behind the group.
The man Zack spoke to, the one who’d said the name of his supposed friend, didn’t even turn to face him. A second man glanced to Zack and let out an annoyed grunt.
“You’re crowding us, boy,” only one of them bothered to respond, waving Zack away without actually looking at him.
Zack pursed his lips, very slightly. Ever since he’d been promoted from the ShinRa infantry to the SOLDIER division, his experience with night life had changed. He’d stopped going to seedy bars with rowdy drunks and instead infrequently attended much nicer clubs. He was a little out of his element, these days, but the basics of how to navigate situations in these types of places never left him. Then again, there were probably better schools of thought than his.
“I was talking to him,” Zack said, tapping the one he’d first spoken to on the shoulder, before looking at the man who’d bothered to talk back. “I wouldn’t bother to ask you.”
The sound of bar stools sliding back caught the attention of the bar, and the three men were on their feet in a heartbeat, staring Zack down. It was only after fully facing the ex-SOLDIER that they noticed his appearance, and most importantly the giant sword resting comfortably on his back. Zack visibly watched the fight leave the men at the sight of his armaments, which was a good thing, because he didn’t have much of an exit strategy. He was merely at the level of intoxication that he was cognizant of the bad choices he was making.
“What are you, some kind of bounty hunter?” a third man scoffed.
“Easy, fellas. Who’s Gildarts?” Zack said with a firm voice, but a light hearted grin. Bounty Hunter. He didn’t confirm or deny that, as catchy as it was.
The first man finally responded, and it was with an unhelpful scoff.
“Read the damn paper yourself,” he shrugged, with a big dumb smile on his face. “He’s one of the bigger, badder primes, I hear. You might need a second one of those swords.”
Zack rolled his eyes, but snatched the newspaper just as soon as the man picked it up and held it towards him. He looked it over and shook his head. Sure enough, that was the guy he’d fought alongside.
“We’ve met, actually,” Zack admitted with a frown. “He didn’t mention this detail, though.”
Unfortunately, the three drunks were already distracted and tired of conversation. They slid back into their seats, and the bar as a whole went on with their revelry. Shaking his head, Zack looked around. He’d lost his seat, as the place became more crowded. He figured it wouldn’t be a bad idea to find a new watering hole, anyway, after causing a bit of a scene.
With his newspaper in hand, he started to make his way towards the door, but had to stop at the last second. The black haired, purple eyed girl was still in the bar, and she was moving with purpose, now. Curiosity overwhelmed him, and he stopped to watch.