01 - Let's do Business

[truthkills]

Who: Kiriya (still going by his AU name of Kiran for the moment) and anyone who needs a new phone at very reasonable prices
When: A couple of days after the app starts appearing on everyone's phones.
Where: Lazer's Pawn
What: Clearly, everyone who's been dealing with this Applenet thing needs a new phone, and Kiran is all too happy to exploit the situation while quietly trying to see if he can identify anyone else on the network in real life. Also serves as a general mingle for other pawn shop shenanigans should you so desire.

Lazer's Pawn, which is currently owned and operated by one Mr. Kiran Sparrow, has never been one of the more respectable establishments in Eddam. Far from it. People rarely end up there on purpose; they mostly wind up there on accident after making a series of questionable decisions. Located in Richmond, it's easily spotted by its bright pink neon marquee sign bearing the store name.

There's currently a sign outside the shop that reads "CELL PHONE BLOWOUT SALE AND TRADE-IN-PALOOZA! DETAILS INSIDE." Kiran even sprung for a few shiny gold mylar balloons just to help draw attention to his no-expense-spared handwritten posterboard that looks like it's been taped over a "Wet Floor" sign.

Stepping inside the pawn shop either presents the impression that the owner really loves the late 80s and early 90s...or is too cheap to pull up that hideously outdated vintage carpet or redo anything else in there. At least the cash register seems modern enough, and there are several signs up warning customers that these premises are monitored by security cameras...though there are no cameras in view, and it is entirely possible the signs are a load of crap. (They are, after all, cheaper than actual cameras.)

The proprietor is currently kicked back behind the counter, leaning back in an office chair with his feet propped up by the cash register. He's wearing round sunglasses indoors, so it's impossible to tell whether or not he might be asleep. Between that and the garish Hawaiian shirt and torn jeans he's also wearing, he truly looks like the pinnacle of responsible business owner.

Comments

[transient_specter]

He winces at how bright that case is. "He's not that young. He doesn't need something from an awful kid's movie. He's fifteen." He's almost offended that the thought crossed his mind for about half a second.

[truthkills]

"Fifteen, huh? Ah, such a difficult age...but I have just the thing." The yellow rubber case is tossed back into the box only for Kiran to pull out one that's got a photograph of a very busty pin-up model lying there in a suggestive pose. It's impossible to tell if he's being serious or if he's moved on to just messing with Gen.

[transient_specter]

He chokes on air, eyes going wide, and shakes his head. Nope, nope. Definitely not Ciro's style, even if he wasn't lying out his ass about this. "He's not that kind of guy, either! Not everyone that age is a sex-crazed maniac."

[truthkills]

"Hormones are mysterious things," Kiran says airily as he tosses the case back into the box. "And some are better at hiding it than others."

[transient_specter]

"... I'm not an idiot. But if he wants a pair of giant boobs on his phone case, he'll pick out his own." He is not going to tell his little bro what to whack off to, that's gross.

[truthkills]

"Well, you know where to send him if he decides he wants in on that." Kiran flips through the box a little more and makes a mental note to throw out whichever ones in there are responsible for the smell. Maybe he can claim losses on his insurance. "You need a charger?"

Look, he's a businessman and accessories are cheap and easy to put exorbitant markups on. Especially when you've got a couple of under the table deals with lost and found at a couple of local hotels.

[transient_specter]

He looks at the chargers and then looks at Kiran, sighing. "There's a reason I went with this model. It works on my current charger." Or should, at which point if it fails he will probably throw it at the wall because stupid waste of macca. "I'm not some twelve year old you can upsell at, after all." He did his retail time. Never again.

[truthkills]

"Oh, sure, if you wanna just go and share one with your brother, sure." Kiran shrugs. "See how long that lasts before something happens to your one and only charger, fine, I see how it is when I'm only trying to help."

[transient_specter]

He snorts and tucks everything in his pockets. "We share a lot of things." And... also he forgot to lie. ... He's also always so bad about ending transactions if he's talking to someone. "I should get going." Just. Just gonna head towards the door and pretend the awkward never happened.

[truthkills]

Kiran smirks as the kid gets going. Oh, he's onto you, kid. "Hey, if you change your mind, I'll be here."