Chapter Text
Trost was an interesting place, Erwin decided. It was a growing city, matched by its twin Karanese to the east, and nestled between the rural farm districts in southern city of Maria, and the Metropolitan city of Sheena to the north. Placed between two wildly different cultures, Trost had become a strange epicenter of emerging culture. It was, in truth, what had brought him there to the district in the first place.
Erwin was a man of commanding stature, usually dressed with in an immaculate and crisp combination of dark slacks and long-sleeved dress shirts. He often tall over most people and held a gaze of conviction to match. It all seemed to swirl together to give Erwin the appearance of being almost inapproachable, but he was, without a doubt, extraordinarily desirable.
It was probably that allure, and his own mastered way of speaking that had drawn everyone before him, a small but honest band of people in the city that had more than followed him since he had began to make a name for himself in the capital through his uncanny ability for perception and sharp intellect. Erwin closed his eyes, taking a solemn, deep breath, slowly re-opening them to allow himself to take in this very moment, this reality.
Erwin Smith was truly there, a newly refurbished building behind him, his building that he had come to purchase, and cultivate alongside Mike, a close associate from his days in white collar work in Sina. Mike stood next to him, dressed just as sharply, and only slightly less commanding. Erwin turned his attention forward, noting that there were slightly more people gathering before him, all intrigued by the steadily growing group of people gravitating at his feet; some of them had already taken to recording him, earning a very slight tinge of distaste from Erwin. He had heard Mike make a remark, quiet and amused.
“Well, are you going to say anything?”
“Of course, but I’m curious to see how many will truly show up. This isn’t exactly something people have much faith in these days.”
Mike chuckled under his breath, as Erwin figured he would. “Of course not, but ‘the great Erwin' certainly has better plans than to give up on what’s truly important to him. This is your conviction.”
“And your idea. But, I definitely have faith in your abilities. You may also want to keep your business attire separate from your actual function. No one would expect Zacharias to be like his vinyls and be so clean-cut.”
Erwin hadn’t even turned to look at Mike, but could feel him staring at him in full directness now, and Erwin also felt his silent grin, his approval as well. More people had gathered, and Erwin figured that he had waited long enough, and whoever was here, would suffice. Erwin spoke, his words thundering through to the crowd.
“I'll keep my introduction short, and for those of you who do not know me, I…am Erwin Smith.” Everyone was silent, without a single shuffle of noise; Erwin nodded subtly, curtly; they hung on his every word. “And this behind me, beyond this ribbon seal, lies something that many of you will see as something less than what it truly is.”
“It's a nightclub, right!?” Erwin bit his tongue, almost laughing outright at a random's boldness. Instead, Erwin turned toward the voice in the crowd, staring generally, but not exactly toward them; Erwin chuckled. “That is exactly it. You see a nightclub, because you don’t understand in the slightest.” Erwin hardened his voice and cast his eyes back out into the main body of the crowd and he could see the reverence in their stares. “What you see behind Mike and myself, is not a nightclub, but a space for creativity and expression in itself.”
Silence.
“This is a space for those who seek release from pressures of the relentlessness of Sina, or from the mundane plains in Maria.”
More silence.
“What is behind me is more than just a club. It is more than just a building. It is a space and a pure space at that. This is where you come to be you, and only you.” He held scissors in his hands now, shears spread wide over the ribbon. Erwin turned to Mike, who nodded only once, his expression hadn’t changed from earlier. The shears clipped and Erwin gave the crowd a lipped smile. “This is where you come for a connection. Welcome to your space. Welcome to XL-TT.”