act27side

I'm not signing this thing!

We've already moved once before, and you're still putting us through this rigmarole... And how do you expect us to make a living once you shut our place down, anyway...?

If the Mayor can't give us a clear explanation, we're not even thinking about relocating.

Or are you going to force us?

Costa, you wormed your way into city hall! Those bigwigs don't even live in the same universe as us, and now all you can do is jump when they say jump? You can't figure something out with us?

Even if you're not here to take over your grandpa's coffee shop, we still need this street to make a living.

*sigh*... We've been wracking our brains looking for a way to spark business here again... Help us think of something, okay?

Ooh, if it isn't Mr. City Hall himself? Here to kick us off our street again? Forget the moment you wore that fancy uniform just where you came from?

I'm ashamed for your grandfather.

I hate my job...

Excuse me, is my ice cream ready?

Coming right up!

Sorry for the wait. Here, your quadruple-scoop.

By the way, that man who got his head chewed off—who's he?

Never mind him. Just an ill omen trying to tear our homes down.

Got what I asked for?

Yes, ma'am.

Did anyone notice you coming here?

Officer, I'm sorry to report, Lut and Liv saw me!

What?!

*ahem*... Alright, is that out of our systems? You can hand me the stuff now.

Did you get down with insiders like this as a cop too? It's kind of cool!

This bag has general info on every shop in the commercial district. How many live at each, roughly how their business is doing, the personalities of the owners you asked about, I've noted you down a little of all that.

In this bag is a series of MountainDash's recent maneuvers. Something about some kind of purchase of Siestan specialties, and they say they're selling them off to Victoria and Columbia. In pretty decent quantities, too.

Well, good going! How did you even get your hands on these MountainDash files?

Totally simple. Just had to apply to be a freight trucker with them.

Well, signs say that Bison kid's trying to buy out the people's will this way... Yes, that <i>does</i> seem his style.

Suppose he manages to build a new distribution center here. Would the populace here want to switch jobs?

Enis, gimme a curaçao!

...You got it.

What's got you moody? I can tell, actually. You're sick of it too, no? Hanging the sign back up again and all—you guys doing a little protesting that way?

All this crap is a killer. The lovefowls next door were all over each other at first. Now they're arguing day by day about the rehousing...

Here's your drink, one curaçao!

...There's <i>negative</i> interest in moving on this street.

For the most part, yeah... Moving means planning a whole new life from scratch. We only just moved aboard the nomadic city, even, and a lot of us are still getting used to it.

Even tourists are a rarity now, after all. Business is hard enough as is, and plenty ended up unemployed. Move again, and life gets even harder...

Enis shakes his head, and gives up on the subject.

Enis, if I wanted to run a place like yours, how much would upkeep be on average?

Per month, about... five hundred gold certificates, just under that?

Hm? That little?

I can buy a lot of stuff second-hand elsewhere, or just make it myself. Plus with how we usually conserve on utility bills, it adds up to a lot less than you think.

Sometimes it really makes me wonder... Have rich people like you just gone your whole lives without much worry?

Does a person just need enough money, and everything in life shakes out how they want?

...Money's a hassle-killer, but not an issue-solver.

*sigh*. If we have to move, if there's no other choice, then what are you thinking? Once you get contracted for this plate, what are you going to build here?

I'd rather ask <i>you</i> first. If a rebuild is guaranteed, then what would <i>you</i> want this high street to become?

Strictly in fantasy terms?

Mm-hm.

...A giant waterpark.

We'd build the land's biggest waterpark, second to none. Maybe it might even draw in some tourists. That way, we wouldn't need to let this bar go either. Probably.

And plus, my little brother and sister have been hounding us forever about going to a waterpark.

Ooh, good idea.

Is that all it takes...?

You make me feel like you're not even here to compete for real, versus the MountainDash boy...

Hmph. Plenty who've vied with me thought the same thing.

And?

They all rolled over and lost.

Pfft. That's some kind of power.

Enis! Help me paint the shop sign here. The trade fair's right around the corner, and we need our storefront looking the best it can.

Coming!

Y'know, we still have paint left over from last time, and I bought a couple string lights for cheap a few days ago. Want me to go put those up in a bit?

Sure, and if there's any paint left after that, give the tables and chairs and picture frames a new coat too. Lut and Liv were saying they learned how to draw from someone, right? Can you tag them in too?

Sure, will do now!

Hey, Enis!

Paint the sign in orange. I have eyes you can trust—this'll draw in more customers than before, guaranteed.

Costa forgets how he even got here.

At some point since moving to New Siesta, this atypically architected building cropped up on his route home from work. Buried somewhere in him is the impression he'd handled its paperwork.

The Volcano Museum? Why would people go to all the effort to put a museum for <i>this</i> on this luxurious plate? What's to study about volcanoes?

Stop it!

Nuh-uh! I wanna see the big rock! I wanna see the lava!

*sigh* Why you're desperate to see this stuff is a total mystery.

Volcanoes are really cool!

Hrmph! Cool...

A phrase floats to Costa's mind. 'You can see such beautiful things from the tops of volcanoes,' he vaguely remembers someone telling him.

Can you name all these volcanoes? I can!

Why would I ever need to know...?

Okay, I'll tell you! This one is Mount Tambora, this one is Mount Katla, this one is Mount Merapi, this one is Mount Ya... Yaaaa...

'Yasur'.

Wah! You were behind me and you just came up and said a thing and you scared me!

Ah, sorry for that...

(How did I know that? I don't remember anymore.)

Humph! I knew Mount Yasur, I knew that! It's the prettiest volcano on the land, and on top of it you can see flowing lava everywhere, and they're like gentle little streams...

I got that all from a book! I remember it really really well!

But I can't find any signs that explain stuff here... I need to show you how I got everything right!

You did, you're right! Are we done? There's not even a placard in sight here, we're going—

Apologies for inconveniencing you on your trip. This exhibition area isn't fully arranged yet, but explanatory texts will soon be laid out on these—

No, Mr. Volcano Man, I'm not done yet, you gotta keep listening!

Costa is tugged by the hem of his jacket. Somewhat helplessly stopped in place, he tries to explain that he really needs to go.

He turns his head, and reflected in the glass display shelves, he sees an unexpected face.

You...?

Costa...?

You're... you're back?

...Mm.

And I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd! ♪

You're gonna hear my voice when I shout it out lou-oud! It's my life! ♪

Ah, my bad, I didn't realize there were customers in.

That's weird, though. How come someone's sitting in a cafe reading quietly while the Obsidian Festival's on? You mind if I practice guitar here?

*sigh* No, Grandpa'll rag on me for bothering customers again. Maybe I'll just bide my time so I get a new guitar sooner.

What's that you're reading? A book about volcanoes... This is pretty cool. Can you lend me it?

Will you be here again, tomorrow?