( closed ) catch all

[heritors]

Who: lucina + others!
Where: various.
When: June & July 125.
What: general catch all, tdm overflow, etc.

Warnings: mannequins & all associated trauma.

( interested in catching her out & about? let's chat! cr meme comment here, or feel free to throw me a pm!! )

Comments

fern.

[heritors]

( from here. )

What? [ A beat. ] Oh. No, it's nothing to apologize for.

It seems to be a promising opportunity ... learn, even in the event we are unable to acquire a phone. [ It may not have started on the smoothest foot, sure, but outside of mortification on her part she really doesn't mind. There's still so much about Panorama that's leaving her completely lost. If she didn't know what a phone was, who knows what else she's missing—

One step at a time, though. She shoots Fern a small smile. ] If you're ready, then.

[ And on Fern's go, she walks up to the individual manning the stall. A little bit of back-and-forth with the shopkeep reveals that these phones are the same price as the ones from the first stand!

She turns to her partner-in-bartering with a small hum. ] I believe the stall over there was asking for a lower price, were they not...? [ Round two, let's go! ] It seems wasteful to spend more of our funds at this stage.

[longtooth]

[ An opportunity to learn. That's a rather kind reading of it, given that this could still be a scam as far as Fern is concerned. Then again, there are other people inspecting the booth, which means that there must be some merit to these phones.

Fern has also seen people using them while out and about, either talking into them or manipulating them with their thumbs. If nothing else, they're clearly popular.

So, with a nod in confirmation, off they go to to approach the stall. Fern doesn't mind letting Lucina take point, far more used to hanging back while others do the negotiation, laying on the charm when needed. Though Lucina seems to be more like the straightforward type.

Still, she's going to try and earn them a lower price, even if it means telling a little lie. Fern doesn't miss a beat in the small deception (22). ]

They were, yes. If you can bring your price down to match, we'd be interested in hearing about the different types of phones you have here.

[ The merchant sends a careful glance between them, but seems to decide it's worth of it with the promise of making two sales.

"I might be able to bring it down a little, just for you two. A special deal, if both of you make a purchase. How's that sound?" ]

[heritors]

[ She's straightforward. Honest. But she's also realistic, intimately familiar with dwindling resources and doing whatever it takes. And maybe that's a touch too desperate at this second — considering neither of them are in any kind of danger — but the merchant's counter-offer is proof that bartering works here. That's valuable to know.

So Lucina smiles, nods. ] If we find devices that are to our liking, we'll purchase one at full price, and the second at half. [ He opens his mouth to protest, which she barrels right through with a— ] We'll also make sure to recommend your stall to those who are looking to purchase one.

[ And ... pause. The merchant's eyes narrow as he looks between the two of them. And just as the silence seems to stretch on for a moment too long, the merchant sighs.

"You put in a good word to your friends, and come to me if you ever need a new one. Deal?" ]

[longtooth]

[ Hmm. This Lucina drives a hard bargain, as it turns out, but she does it sweetly enough that it doesn't put off the merchant to the point that he shuts them down. The things he's asking them to promise — that they'll spread the word, that they'll return if they ever need another phone — are not things he can assure they'll even do.

Perhaps that's reason enough to agree to it, and actually be truthful in their promises.

Fern's gaze flicks up to the stall's name — Phones R Us, which means nothing to her — but she makes a show of putting it to memory all the same. ]

Deal. And do you have any in particular you'd recommend?

[ There are so many different types and Fern can hardly tell the difference between them all. The merchant shoots a glance between the two of them, quickly gathering how little they know, and he gestures to a set of phones that are on display together. "These ones have a full keyboard, so they'll make typing a little easier on you. They're pricier, though, so if you want a budget option there are these." At which point he points out some smaller options, with fewer buttons.

Fern's instinct is to pick a smaller phone so that she has an easier time storing it away, but he did say they would be more difficult to use. Hmm.

She glances to Lucina. ] What do you think?

[heritors]

[ Let her teach you about the faith in humanity, Fern. Lucina has every intention of keeping her word — and it's the expression on her face that convinces the merchant of the same. Or maybe the phones are all incredibly overpriced here, and he's still making a huge profit; who's to say?

The point is that the bartering works, and the options they get in return are almost overwhelming. She makes every effort to be thorough in her scanning, noting the differences in each of the little buttons. There's a beat as she ( silently ) marvels at the fact that these light up, and let you talk to people without being right beside them. What a concept. ]

... These do seem a little more robust. [ She points at one of the flip phones — how hard can typing on less buttons be? ] Considering most of the parts are covered by the shell. [ It's also cheaper, and the fact that it has a hinge to fold open and shut is pretty cool. It's time to suffer at the hands of a T9 keyboard for the foreseeable future. ]

[longtooth]

[ The way that the phones emit light when one of the buttons is pushed is certainly interesting, as that's something that shouldn't be possible without a cantrip. A few days ago Fern would have simply assumed these were all enchanted items, but by now she's learned that there's a different type of energy which powers this world — for the most part.

It doesn't matter to her much either way, so long as these phones can carry out their intended purpose.

Lucina makes another good point, which is that the ones with less buttons also appear to be sturdier, with the way that they fold up. There are less buttons, yes, but that also means less to remember — in theory. And, again, they're smaller. That's a plus as far as Fern's concerned.

She plucks one off of the display and practices folding and unfolding it a few times. She pokes at the buttons, blinking down at the small lit-up screen that serves a purpose she doesn't fully understand yet.

(And this is how they're doomed to taking ten minutes to type out each text message. At least they'll suffer together.) ]

Agreed. This one looks good.

[ The merchant lifts an eyebrow, his mouth quirking with what seems to be a private joke, but the fact that he doesn't think they can manage only makes Fern more intent on figuring it out. She's not stupid; she can surely learn how to use the device.

"Alrighty then, just come over here and we'll sort out your payment. I'm gonna guess you'll need some sort of payment plan?"

Ugh. This again. ]

[heritors]

[ Both of them are highly capable fighters, having gone through more dangerous missions than learning how to use something that fits in the palm of their hands. Prevailed against more dire circumstances than learning how to text. They'll be fine.

( They will absolutely take 10 minutes per text message. )

The merchant's smile — smirk? — only grows when both of them frowns at the mention of payment. He gives an easy wave of his hand as if that'll be enough to brush off either of their concerns.

Better get used to it fast, or you're not gonna last here for long. C'mon. He tilts his head over to the pad of paper on the table. All to take down things like their name, the license plate on their vehicle, their respective phone numbers ... the entire process leaves her in a deeper hole ( though she supposes it really could be worse ), but they get a quick tutorial, and paper bag with her phone and peripherals out of the deal(?).

Maybe she'll have to take extra shifts at the construction site. She looks over to Fern as they're walking away from the stall. ] Oh. We should add each other as — [ What was it that the man called it? Right. ] contacts, in the event that we need to reach each other in the future.

[longtooth]

[ It's salt in the wound to have to add more onto her heaping debt, and yet this is simply the way of things here, as the merchant reminds them. Fern is determined to dig herself out of this hole eventually, and all things considered, the phone doesn't cost that much. She's satisfied it was a good deal and that it will be worth the price paid.

By the time it's done, she's simply eager to get away from the stalls so she doesn't have to deal with more people trying to sell her things — even if in this case, it was something actually useful.

Lucina makes a suggestion before they part ways, and Fern blinks as she glances down at her brand new phone in her hand. It would be good practice to add someone as a contact, as that seems to be the backbone behind using this devices.

And since they're both new here (she assumes), it might be good to have someone to reach out to as they try to learn the lay of the land in this strange city. ]

Right. Let me see...

[ She takes on a frown as she tries to navigate through the phone's menu, letting out a frustrated exhale when her fingers keep slipping on the tiny buttons and bringing up the wrong thing on the screen. Eventually, though, she does manage to navigate to the "Add Contact" function.

At which point she finally looks up to regard Lucina — and that strange eye of hers, which Fern is still curious about. ] What's your phone number?

🎀

[heritors]

It's... [ A little pause as she unfolds the piece of paper she's been given with that exact information. A part of her clocks that it'd be a good idea to memorize it, but this will have to do for now. ]

Ah. Seven five zero— [ Then the rest of it. After confirming that it's correct, the same painstaking process is repeated with her phone and Fern's number. Their first contact, though...! How exciting. As childish as it is, it's not entirely unlike when she made her first friend all those years ago.

So — it's difficult to keep the tiniest of smiles playing at her face as she bids Fern farewell and goes about the rest of her day. When the right opportunity comes, she'll have to try this 'texting' thing. ]