World Walker Park [Magical Amusement Park Base-Building]

"So, why do you think you'll be a good fit for the park?" Luka asked.

He was in a small admin building, sitting behind a desk. On either side of him was God Neb and Goddess Tippy. They were in their mortal bodies, Tippy even wearing prescription glasses! They each had a folder and were taking notes with a floating pen.

Across from the trio was Goddess of Brews, Bylow. She was not in her mortal body and instead sat in a chair and leaked beer everywhere. Her skin was literally foam, and her hair was likely hops stalks. Still—the goddess grinned ear to ear, happy as a clam to be chosen to go first… which was completely due to nepotism.

She was Vlad's patron goddess and already had a hand in creating drinks for the park. It was a no-brainer to take a meeting with her first.

"Because people like to drink!" Goddess Bylow practically sang.

The other gods made a note.

Luka went on to the next question. "What will you provide the park?"

It was a rather standard question, but Annie had made the questionnaire. And there was no way he was not going to go through it. Apparently, back on Earth, Annie made her company's hiring questionnaire in much the same way. And, Luka supposed, in a way, he was hiring gods to "work" in the park… or something. He wasn't fully sure how the gods wanted to be involved with the park.

"Drinks!" Bylow answered.

Luka scratched his head as Neb and Tippy made another note. "Uh, do you have any experience in amusement parks?"

"No! But I have plenty of experience making drinks!"

Neb wrote something down and leaned over to show Luka. The note read, "Simplistic attitude, and one note job experience. Do not hire."

Bylow scoffed, reading the mortal's mind. "That's just unfair!" she snapped.

Neb laughed—and suddenly the others went silent. He calmed down and asked, "What?"

It was Tippy who answered, "We've just never seen you laugh before, is all."

Goddess Bylow suddenly looked uneasy. "Maybe I shouldn't interact with the park… Neb's reaction was… strange."

Neb rolled his eyes and flicked his wrists—his notes burnt away in silver flame. "I resend my opinion."

Now it was Tippy's turn to roll her eyes. "Seriously Neb, the moment the joke turns on you." They locked eyes. "What? Can't take the heat, stay out of the neutron star."

Luka cleared his throat and asked, "I assume you and Vlad already have something thought out?"

Bylow sat up straighter. "We do! Want me to summon him? He can tell you all about it!"

"No, that's okay. I believe—"

Suddenly, Vlad was in the room, his eyes wide. He spun on his heel and asked, "What just happened?"

"Vlaaadddy! Explain our idea to your father-in-law!" Bylow sang.

Vlad's face went through a wave of emotions. "I don't—"

"Bah!" Bylow snapped, returning Vlad to wherever he was a few seconds ago. "Too slow!"

"Uh…" Luka muttered.

"The idea was simple: a restaurant that only sells brews!"

"So, a brewhouse?" Tippy asked.

Bylow gasped. "Is that what they're called!? I had no idea!"

Tippy rolled her eyes. "Anything special about it?"

"Nope! But every detail within will be okayed by me! And I'll send over some priests to run it!"

"Are we talking flights of beer, shots of wine, and cups of root beer? Or are we talking mugs, steins, and tall boys?" Luka asked.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Bylow thought about the question. "All of the above?"

Luka considered that. "What if we do this sales model instead: every guest who enters the building, who is of age, gets a free voucher for a mixed flight of drinks. They can order ten of your brews, but in flight-sized glasses. Then larger quantities are available for purchase as well—that way guests can try before they buy."

Bylow clapped her hands, sending mulled wine splashing. "And the guests not of age can get a voucher for nonalcoholic brews! I like it!"

Luka and the others nodded along. "So, we're in agreement of what your plot in the park will be? Any preference on location?" he asked.

She thought for a moment. "Either in the pirate area or near the main hub. Somewhere easily accessible."

Making an "X" on his personal map of the park, Luka noted a location and showed her. She was quite happy with the choice.

"That leaves one last thing," Luka said. "Materials to build with and what percent of the profits the park will be getting."

Bylow's foamy skin froze. "Your cut?"

"The parks, yeah."

"Why would you get a cut? The profits were going to go to my priests who operated the place."

"And they still will. After, of course, the park gets their cut. Think of it as a percentage lease without the lease part."

Tippy and Neb eyed him. They did, however, not interrupt.

"I was thinking," Luka continued, "three percent of all profits over, say, two thousand gold pieces a month."

Bylow slowly lurched in her seat. "Oh. Is that all? That's fine."

Luka hesitated. "Are you sure? That was pretty quick."

"Yeah, I thought you wanted a lot more." The goddess laughed, sending mead everywhere. "You drive a hard bargain, World Walker Luka! But ultimately you're fair! A deal has been made! I'll tell my people to get everything up and running before the faithful pilgrims are here!"

She then disappeared in a splash of root beer.

Luka sighed weakly. "Are they all going to be like that?"

Neb hummed and said, "No. They're going to be worse."

"Much worse," Tippy echoed.

"What about you two?" Luka asked. "What do you want in your plots?"

"I will be sending a priest with facts about stars, if that is fine with you. No profits, only free lessons on space."

"Want a new lunar module in the Constellation Kingdom?"

"That would be grand."

Tippy then said, "I want to open a proscenium. A great big one where performers of all kinds can come play to the masses."

Luka made a note. "Then people pay a fee to reserve a time slot, and if they actually perform, no matter how bad, they get the fee back? They get all the tips guests give them too—that's only fair."

"Reasonable to me."

"Do you think people would actually want to perform here without guaranteed payment?"

"Of course. Especially on a stage blessed by a goddess!" Tippy smiled lovingly. "People will come from all over for the chance. I guarantee that."

"In that case, how about we add some vouchers for the performers? Say… a few skip the line passes and a discount at the World Tree Inn?"

"Fine by me."

"Then there's staffing the place—"

"My priests."

That made Luka pause. "I don't think I ever asked. What are you the goddess of, Tippy?"

Neb snorted and Tippy looked embarrassed.

"Uh," she whispered, "I haven't chosen yet."

"You haven't chosen? You can become a god without being a god of something?"

"Of course! Do you even know how ascension works?"

"No, he does not. But he will soon since he's that unborn child's godfather," Neb said.

Luka groaned. "I thought it was a ceremonial position!" He turned to Tippy. "How about the Goddess of Entertainment? You chose to build a grand stage and you're essentially the patron goddess of the park already."

Tippy gave that a thought.

After a few moments, she said, "Huh."

***

On the other side of the world, Goddess Tippy's main temple was just waking up. It was dawn, the nearby roosters were calling, and the early morning dew had yet to evaporate. Thirteen priests and priestess filled the main hall, eager to start the day out in morning prayer.

Some yawned, others drank jrum—regardless, they were here, and they were ready for the day's proceedings. Goddess Tippy's high priests rotated around the world bimonthly. They were to spread their Goddess' good graces amongst the realm, spending their lives and experiences serving.

Today, within the grand temple, it was High Priest Delarosa that had the privilege of speaking. He was elderly and had spent his whole life in Goddess Tippy's life—and gladly so! She inspired him as a boy, and he'd been with her every step of the way.

"Before we begin," he said at the head of the grand hall, "I've been asked to make an announcement regarding the latrines. Apparently some of you—"

High Priest Delarosa cut himself off. Around, the grand temple was changing—from a timeless decor to a heavenly homage, Goddess Tippy controlled her domain with divinity. Benches made of oak transferred into emberwood seats with soft red felt padding. Long, flowing drapes covered the walls, and the head of the grand hall transformed into that of a stage.

The priests and priestess gasped, not understanding the changes. But their Goddess spoke in each of their minds, informing them she had finally decided what she was the goddess of.

Entertainment.

The word echoed holy hymn and divine excitement. A party erupted in the grand temple, spelling out into the surrounding streets. Across the world, at every of Goddess Tippy's temples, festivities befell the land.

High Priest Delarosa smiled to himself and muttered, "Finally chosen, eh? I'm glad I got to see it."

A faint figure of the goddess appeared beside him, sitting tall and proud. She leaned over and kissed him on the forehead.

"I'm glad as well."