Eric blinked, taking a second to register her words, and he couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement at the unexpected turn to their conversation. “Color me intrigued. What exactly are we talking about? And I got the impression that greenbacks weren’t worth much more than the paper they’re printed on at this point.”

Alice gave a throaty chuckle. “Less, actually. You’re better off trading toilet paper. Do you know how much a role of double-ply goes for, nowadays?” Her gaze turned intense, though her voice was just the softest of whispers. “I’m talking about gold, Eric. A whole fucking fortune in gold.”

Eric pointedly looked at the clapboard splendor of a saloon they were currently seated in. “And how much gold would it take to buy up this town, in all its murky glory? How many coins before anyone here would eagerly cut our throat, just for the pretty shinys?”

Alice blinked, gazing at him for long moments before snuffing out her cigarette and taking a fresh sip of her drink. “You really don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?” he said, wincing at the taste of sour warm beer. His heightened perception meant that he could appreciate all the off-notes in exquisitely fine detail.

She waved her hand toward the front of the saloon-like establishment. “I mean the town entire, Eric. Junk Town might be salvation for countless refugees from the city, men and women I’ve risked my life repeatedly to smuggle the fuck out of there. But compared to the world at large, this is the tiniest speck of civilization.”

Eric’s eyes widened, feeling an odd mixture of excitement and curiosity. “Really.”

She smirked and nodded. "I take it you at least know that Earth is now a patchwork of territories? Many claimed by various races we thought safely relegated to our favorite MMORPGs?"

Eric smirked and nodded. “Now I do.”

“Well, besides the fact that very few territories have been successfully claimed, there are a handful of established ones even in this state that already have thriving communities. Of course, most of them are run by shithead aliens. Not that all aliens are bad, per se. Some of them look like they popped right out of your favorite fairy tale or video game. Hell, the Gnomes, Dwarves, the Sylvan Faction, and The Blue Federation welcome any human with technical or agricultural skills.

"From what my brother and I can tell, they're as close to being the 'good guys' as anyone. Assuming you can ever call an invading race good. But out of the four, only the latter two have any sort of presence in this part of the country."

She chuckled and shook her head. "Besides the goblins, of course, which are the most cutthroat traders you can imagine. They're not interested in anything but your money, and how to get more of it. And trust me, you don't want to take out any loan from any goblin banker or merchant, no matter how good their terms seem. Best not to owe any goblin even a single red copper, if you can help it."

Eric nodded thoughtfully. "So our best bet is to live in Blue Federation or Sylvan Faction territory, and we should avoid goblin merchants if at all possible. Got it."

She smirked. "Pretty much. The Sylvan Faction is made of elves, if that wasn't apparent in the name. And the goblins aren't that bad, if you know what you're doing. Just assume everything is 'buyer beware', never sign any contracts, and just, for god's sake, never get into debt with them." She shrugged. "Their shit's also a lot cheaper than what you'll find elsewhere. But for fuck's sake, pay the full cost up front, and don't sign anything!"

Eric smirked. “You make these goblins sound like demons.”

She took a thoughtful sip of the too sour beer. "Actually, that kind of fits… too good to be true deals, except for the stuff you need the most, which is jacked crazy high in price. Especially that one thing you didn't even realize you need, until you do. So make sure you can live without. And again, never borrow money for them, or sign any papers they'd try to hand for you." She nodded thoughtfully. "Basically, if everyone just assumes they're little devils… that's probably for the best. And would you believe some adventurers actually work for those little shits?"

She raised her arms over her head and stretched like a cat, Eric doing his best not to stare at the striking assets that looked ready to burst free of her tight-fitting attire.

Her eyes twinkled mischievously. Eric was almost certain she had done it on purpose, yet her dry words were free of any flirtation. "Of course, pretty much all the invading races, even the most homicidal motherfuckers who treat classless humans as chattel, will still welcome anyone who successfully survived the pods."

She flashed a bleak smile. "Those who have 'evolved' to worthiness, in their eyes. In other words, adventurers. Of course, most of them, like the orcs, are fucking bloodthirsty savages who plan on claiming this world without any diplomacy beyond enslavement and a butcher's knife, so I wouldn't recommend trying to cozy up to those bastards. But you could still work for them. And the sad thing is, some assholes actually do."

Eric clenched his jaw so hard it hurt at the thought. “Good thing the only thing I want from orcs is their heads on as many fucking pikes as I can manage."

“Damn right, and cheers to that,” she said.

The air rang with the sound of their glasses clinking in accord.

“Anyway, Eric, the point is, there are some very fine communities in the making, less than fifty miles away. The one I’m from goes by the name of Freetown, protected by treaties with all neighboring factions, and I might be headed back there in the very near future.”

“Really.”

She nodded. “Plenty of opportunity for adventurers there. And since there’s actually a semblance of stability with two stable fronts, merchants of all sorts of races and clans are flocking there. If you’re looking for a good place to hang your hat as an adventurer, shopkeeper, entrepreneur, or just someone who doesn’t want to spend the rest of their days trapped in underground tunnels and caverns, however pretty the fungus glowing over our heads is, then Freetown is definitely an option to consider."

She smirked. "Because even if a good portion of the merchants and landlords are goblins, the city also has an entire quarter owned by the Blue Federation, or Blue Corp, as we call them, and they seem to thrive on a reputation for being the most honest and above-board merchants and landlords you could ever want to associate with."

Her voice lowered to an enticing whisper. "They also cater almost exclusively to the well-to-do. But if you'd like to stroll along tree-lined boulevards, dine at high-end restaurants, shop your heart out buying up some of the highest quality goods you'll find anywhere, or get a peek at some of the most luxurious neighborhoods you could hope to live in, all the houses and stores enjoying magitech amenities that almost makes you think our world never suffered absolute fucking disaster, then Freetown's Blue Quarter can be your luxurious oasis in the crazy chaos that our world has become."

Eric swallowed, eyes widening. “Are you serious? This Blue Quarter sounds like a fucking dream come true! And even if the rest of the city isn’t anything like that, if it’s prosperous and thriving with people, employment, sunlight… Well, you certainly have me sold on checking out this city.”

Alice grinned. “And the best part is, you don’t have to start the newest chapter of your life a footsore penniless straggler. Because what says fresh start better than a purse full of gold?”

Eric blinked, then slowly nodded as the pieces came together, and he was forced to wonder just how much she had picked up about him in the short time they were together. “So, we’re talking about stirring up the hornet’s nest above?”

Her smile gave nothing away. “Play your cards right, and you might just be able to buy yourself a luxurious condo along a tree-lined boulevard with magic amenities, your own private garden, and access to high-end luxury shopping and the most delicious food you can imagine. My only question at this point is: Are you in or out?”

Eric grinned. “If the shares are equal, or it’s an all you can personally carry gig… then I’m most definitely in.”

Alice’s eyes positively twinkled, and he couldn’t help but spot the relief in her gaze. “Excellent. That’s just what I wanted to hear, Eric.” They clinked their glasses once more, Alice having traded beer for vodka, which she downed with a shudder before smacking her lips and grinning. "Damn, that hits the spot. Okay, Eric, let's get you whatever you need in town, then it's off to my place and you can rest up, safe and sound. Later on, you'll meet my brother and the others." She flashed a satisfied smile, not hesitating to link her arm with his. "Where'd your jacket go? Never mind, the chain mail shirt look definitely works with your bod. But do you mind if I give you a little fashion tip?"

“And what would that be?” Eric smiled.

“Lose the pink scarf? I mean, it was 2024 and all, sure, but pink's really not your cover." With those words, she promptly unwound his scarf, plucked free his tricorn cap, then undid his half-helm strap. And all the while her face was just inches from his own, peering at him a certain challenging twinkle in her eye, and Eric found himself just standing there when helm and scarf were handed back, and his hat was placed at a jaunty angle. "There. All we need now is a badass frock coat, and you'll look cooler than old Hancock ever did."

Eric felt his cheeks blaze, but he couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “Damn, you actually went there.”

She winked. "Damn right I did, and you do look pretty badass, if I say so myself." Her gaze then hardened. "And don't think I didn't just see you tuck your hands behind your back, and now your hands are free of scarf and steel helm both. And where the hell is your crossbow? And didn't you have a heater shield on you, back when Tim was feeling so fucking ballsy that I wanted to zap his ass to next week?"

Eric grinned, falling back to his now trademark response. “Magic. Besides, didn’t you just say I was pretty badass?”

She chuckled throatily, shaking her head. "Smartass, sure. Come on, little smartass, we got shopping to do." She then led the way to a nearby shop with a certain roll to her hips, and Eric knew she was just fucking with him as a friend, or perhaps an acquaintance she wanted to impress. No doubt because whatever shit she and her co-conspirators were planning on pulling off would probably get them all killed, and she didn’t want him pulling a runner. Yet he couldn't help smiling despite that sobering realization, remembering a time when girls smiled and flirted with him all the time. And it wasn’t like they hadn’t had ulterior motives either.

Didn’t mean he hadn’t make some good friends then, or that he couldn’t enjoy Alice’s company now.