As night fell, the local tavern buzzed with life. The rustic wooden building, usually a quiet refuge for weary travelers and tired locals, had transformed into a beacon of light and laughter. People filled every corner, spilling out onto the streets, their faces glowing in the warm, lantern-lit glow. The air was filled with laughter, chattering, and the clinking of glasses. Despite the hardships they had endured, the spirit of camaraderie and hope was alive and well within the people of Banff.
I entered the tavern to a round of applause. "Here comes the hero of Banff!" someone yelled from the crowd, causing laughter to ripple through the room.
Cody was at the bar, a wide grin on his face. He held up a bottle of whiskey. "To Chang, the man who blew up a whole horde of zombies and lived to tell the tale!" he declared, raising his glass high.
"Here, here!" echoed the patrons, lifting their drinks in a toast. The tavern was filled with cheers and the sound of glasses clinking together in salute.
Kaya and Cassidy came up to me, each holding a drink. "You've certainly outdone yourself, Chang," Cassidy said, a mischievous glint in her eye. "But remember, you still owe Cody those scavenger hunts."
"Three, to be exact," Kaya added, her eyes twinkling with humor.
I laughed, clinking my glass against theirs. "A deal is a deal."
Hazuki approached me, a warm smile on her face. "You really are amazing, Chang," she said, her voice soft and sincere. "Thank you for everything."
I blushed, unsure of how to respond. "I...you're welcome, Hazuki. I'm glad I could help."
As the night wore on, the tavern filled with music and dancing. Stories were exchanged, tales of bravery, of sorrow, and of hope. Through it all, a sense of unity prevailed. Everyone was a survivor, a fighter, a beacon of hope in a world gone mad.
***
The next day, with the first rays of sun spreading their warmth across the horizon, I walked down the now quiet streets of Banff towards the real estate office. The previous night's revelries had given way to the sobering reality of the present.
As I entered the office, I was greeted by our real estate agent, a stout, red-haired woman named Nancy. She had a no-nonsense demeanor and a sharp mind for business, qualities that had helped her navigate the apocalyptic economy.
"Morning, Chang," she greeted me, her voice as firm as her handshake. "I suppose you're here to discuss the property?"
"That's right," I nodded, taking the seat across from her. "We've done some calculations and given the current situation...well, we need to revisit the price."
Nancy leaned back in her chair, her eyes assessing me as she tapped a pen against her desk. "You're referring to the recent decrease in population," she said, not a question but a statement.
"Yes. The demand for housing is obviously not what it was before."
There was a moment of silence as Nancy seemed to weigh my words. Then she nodded, "You're not wrong. With the decrease in population, it's a buyer's market right now."
Seeing an opportunity, I decided to press further, "So, we were thinking the price for the house should fall accordingly. Maybe down to a one tenth of it's original value."
Nancy raised an eyebrow at that. "One tenth, huh? That's quite a leap. But given the circumstances... maybe we can negotiate somewhere in the middle."
After some back and forth for about half an hour, Nancy finally conceded.
"Alright," Nancy finally conceded, her expression grudging, but with a hint of amusement. "Considering the circumstances, and the... creative negotiation tactics you've employed, we'll drop the price by 75%."
I let out a sigh of relief, feeling as if a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. "Thank you, Nancy," I said sincerely. "I can't tell you how much this means to me and my girls."
She gave me a wry smile, shrugging her shoulders in a what-can-you-do sort of gesture. "Hey, it's a new world we're living in, Chang," she said. "The old rules don't apply anymore. And if someone's willing to fight for a piece of property the way you just did, then I say it's worth every bit of that discount."
"I appreciate your understanding, Nancy," I told her, unable to keep the smile off my face.
"Just make sure you hold up your end of the bargain," she warned. "That house is going to need some work. And as much as we've agreed on this discount, we still need your resources and labor as promised."
"Of course, Nancy," I assured her. "You'll have everything as we agreed. And we will put in the work to make the house a real home."
Nancy nodded, looking satisfied. She extended her hand across the desk, and I took it, sealing our agreement. As I left the office, I felt lighter than I had in a long time. The task ahead was still enormous, but now, we had a chance to build something lasting. Something our own. And that thought alone filled me with a sense of hope and anticipation. The world was still broken, but maybe, just maybe, we could piece together a small corner of it for ourselves.
Q: Do you like super hero movies?