Zi'da 1, morning
Banking is a very treacherous business because you don't realize it is risky until it is too late. It is like calm waters that deliver huge storms.
Ashira was quite pleased with the amount of coin she'd brought into the household in Vhalar. It still wasn't nearly enough to have them living they way they'd become accustomed to back in the Eastern Settlements, but it was enough to start purchasing a few little luxuries. Her new undergarments were proof enough of that. She doubted Everett would find fault in their purchase either. Perhaps they weren't necessary, but a life stripped down to only what was necessary hardly seemed worth living. Besides, sometimes a woman just wanted to feel silk against her skin rather than the rougher, and much cheaper, fabrics. Not all of her purchases were quite as self-indulgent however. Desks for the children so they could better attend their studies, a dresser for their clothes. A chemistry set so her potions and tonics would be better and more precisely made.
Ashira knew herself though, and knew that if she kept the coins on her person, or even within the house, she would spend them. And she had bigger dreams than just a few pairs of silky panties thank you very much. Which meant the coins had to go somewhere safe. And that meant the bank. If she'd had enough coin of her own to worry about it back home, she'd likely have used Endors bank, but here it was more convenient to bank with the Mer. Besides, having looked into it, the interest rates were insane. Seven only knew how they were making any money, but then they were Mer. Not exactly known for ebing geniuses. Perhaps they weren't. Or perhaps they were because your average citizen was an idiot, far more likely to take out a loan than to deposit coin. It didn't matter, the foolishness on either the Mer or the average bank account holders part meant an opportunity for her. Deposit at least two-hundred and fifty coins per season and don't make any withdrawals. Well, the shorter seasons she might feel that two hundred and fifty more, but as long as she kept working at the rates she had been, it should be no problem.
The initial cost of opening a bank account, ten gold was also negligible. She supposed it kept them from having to do all that swimming for a peasant few thin copper nel. That at least was smart. High enough to deter the people who would cost them more in effort than they'd make in coin, and low enough that the middle class didn't write off their entire operation as a scam.
After turning it over in her mind, Ashira had decided to make a deposit this season of five hundred gold nel. She had to admit to feeling rather exposed as she made her way to the bank, extremely aware of the weight at her side. She was very glad the bank was in Midtown and not Lowtown or she'd likely not have gone alone at all.
The bank itself was honestly not very large, for all that it had the prerequisite columns and carvings in the lintels and such. She supposed this made sense, after all, the money wasn't kept there, or at least not for any significant length of time. She entered the largely silent building, there were a few other people there, one clutching his hat in hand clearly looking for a loan, another handing a small bag to Mer waiting at the edge of a pool of water before standing to leave. It was almost uncanny, and it took her a moment to realise why. Most of those within the bank were Mer, and they of course did not speak. Ashira had honestly had nothing to do with the water-bound race, so for all that she'd heard of them, she had no first hand knowledge. They were a bit intimidating honestly, especially the particularly large, scarred one who gave her a very dark look and a thorough going over before clearly dismissing her and turning his attention to the rest of the goings-on.
Guard, she mentally labelled him.
Don't mind Finn, can I help you?
