The group ends up standing in line for a good two and a quarter hours. A mostly boring experience. Only mostly.
Halfway through the people talking to the receptionist managed to yell loud enough that the sound bubble couldn’t contain them.
“HOW DARE YOU! I’ve paid my rent for months!”
Then the sound bubble reinstates itself, though Jason manages to hear a snippet from the receptionist. Something about them being months behind. So yeah, maybe he has paid his rent for months, but not any recent month. The fact that he still stayed in the place had more to do with the Guild knowing they could get their money if necessary.
Except it seemed that the guy had reached the end of his own worth. Though Courtney made it clear, that chances were he wasn’t being kicked out. Rather, the guild would push him hard and load him down with scut work. There were always quests that needed to get done, but were passed over for easier or better-paying offers.
Not that this mattered to the group besides a brief period of entertainment. So as it passes, the group lapses into silence until finally they reach the front of the line.
The receptionist shuffled some papers, “Okay, what’s the damage?”
Courtney takes the lead. “We just picked up an apartment yesterday, here’s the paperwork.” And she hands over said papers. “We’re here to pay the rent for a month, maybe a little more? Oh, and set up our account to feed into the rent. "
The receptionist nods as they glance over the paperwork. “Hmm, over in the forest sector. Yes, okay, exactly how far ahead do you plan to pay today? There theoretically isn’t a limit, but for practical reasons there is a decade limit before we reclaim the apartment if you don’t show yourself.”
Rosha laughs, “I hope we aren’t here for a decade!”
Courtney chuckles, “As she says, we aren’t planning to be here quite that long. How about three months for the moment? A quarter of a year seems like a good place to start and well within our housing budget.”
The receptionist nods, “A reasonable amount of time. Are you paying in gold or pulling from your account?”
Courtney sighs, “We’re not quite sure what’s in the account at the moment, so we’ll be paying in cash.”
The receptionist raises an eyebrow, “You’re not sure how much money you have? That isn’t exactly a common thing among adventurers. Shame we can’t actually check from here. My desk can only query if you have enough to pay, not check the balance.”
Courtney frowns, “That seems a bit restrictive. I assume there’s a good reason with a cautionary tale attached?”
The receptionist shrugs, “Eh, this one is more just compartmentalization. I don’t need to know how much you have and it could unfairly bias me to you. After all, I checked and saw you barely had enough for the rent? That could cement a certain image of who you are in my mind when the reality of it might be that you simply don’t keep money there.
“Better to just limit who can see the information. Less chance to mess things up or reveal secrets.”
Courtney nods, “Sensible. Now”, she turns to the others, “Rosha, pull from the group funds. There should be enough there.”
Off to the side Jason half frowns and thinks to himself, ‘We have a group fund?’
As he was distracted, Courtney covers the last bit of paperwork and the apartment is theirs for at least the next three months.
Then, once that was taken care of, Rosha grabs them both and drags them out of the guild.
Courtney follows, but mentions, “We should find out how much money is in our account. Presumably, we got something for the information we passed off and a bit should have piled up from our time in the Deep Wilds.”
Jason, “From the Deep Wilds? Also, group fund?”
Rosha shrugs, “Well, more of a me and Courtney fund? But we use it for group stuff and is where we put the money you’d give us for stuff from town. You honestly never wanted anything too personal, mostly group stuff already.
“As for the Deep Wilds? Did you think the homestead was all the kingdom offers? Me and Courtney reported our escapades, brought proof of kills, and kept an eye out for particular beasts. Now, they weren’t going to make us rich, but a little money for what someone was already going to do goes a long way and the kingdom did it through the guild. So yeah, there’s some money in our group account for all that.”
Courtney nods, “And as long as there is enough in there, rent will be pulled from it now. Though, of course, it is better for us to actively pay the rent so we’re keeping on top of things.”
Jason shrugs, “Fair enough. Now, let’s get back to the apartment and figure out the details of what we’re doing.”
Rosha, “Wasn’t the plan for me and Courtney to be homebodies, while you run around to train your stats?”
Jason, “Yes, but no. We already know you’re not the type to sit still for too long. So we’ll have to figure out how to handle that. Because while I would gladly curl up in a cozy corner and work on my cultivation. You’re the type that needs a more active path forward.”
Rosha, “That sounds fun! What do you mean by that?”
Jason, “Wait till we get home. It isn’t a secret of anything, but not exactly something we can do while walking down the road.”
Courtney, “Is it moving mediation?”
Jason, “Eh, close enough. Cultivation comes in all forms. Though everyone has to put in some time sitting still and letting the world flow past. Not that this will specifically be cultivation? Neither of you are doing that here. But it might help with Mana.”
Courtney, “Well, that sounds interesting. Got something for me as well?”
Jason shrugs, “You have a leg up on Rosha. Her bloodline isn’t elementally attuned like yours is. Plus, you can handle stillness better.”