004 - well shit

[kokuyoyo]

Who: All these paranoid losers
What: After an alarming post on applenet that speaks of a compromised system, everyone deals with this as best they can: with heaps of paranoia.
Where: All over Eddan, presumably
When: The remaining seven days
Warnings: None planned but warn in your headers if it gets to that territory

For most, summer vacation is a blessed time, at least for those who attend the prestigious Green Valley. So much hard work that's put into the classes they attend must be rewarded with a wonderful break, and various apartments, homes, and the streets of Eddan itself are filled with the excited chatter of students who are enjoying the sweet summer air.

However, for a certain chosen few...

I see you. These are the words which might be weighing down on them heavily even as they attempt to go about their established lives, a gloom that even the brilliant sunshine can't block. For those who know the truth of Eddan, it's frightening to know that something like the dangerous Shadows they've seen might be coming for them while they're unprepared. For those who've had yet to Awaken, who are still new to all of this.... Perhaps they might be dismissing it, perhaps their lack of knowledge makes it all the more scary, but either way...

The question remains: what are they going to do in response?


[OOC: Consider this a mingle log for characters to play out how they're reacting to this latest shitshow. Not mandatory to use, just to help make it easier!]

[For Awakened characters, some things to keep in mind:
1 - It's been suggested for characters to pick up Control Tower to get fit
2 - They're on the lookout for somewhere outside the school apartments to meet up at since that makes it tricky for non-dorm students and also the adults
3 - Genda has let loose some sheep as identifying markers.]

[For non-Awakened characters, feel free to notice people carrying those sheep, if they indicate having them!]

Comments

[truthkills]

"No," Kiriya says, turning to face his customer, "not in stock, but that's the magic word anyway." He gets up from his chair and goes to casually lean on the countertop. "Need a weapon, huh?"

[hachitaro]

"Yeah. I'm the guy who asked about CT weapons." He's actually doing a decent job of looking nonchalant, grinning up at Kiriya. "I've got some stuff that you might like in trade." He can also probably cover the difference in cash, but he knows damn well not to open with that. That'll just get him ripped off - not that he doesn't know roughly what CT equipment should be worth.

[truthkills]

Kiriya gestures to the counter. He's not quite the wheeler and dealer that Kiran was, but it hasn't been too hard to figure out in order to maintain cover and a steady supply of income. "Alright, let's see what you've got, then."

[hachitaro]

"Let's see..." He fishes into his bag, pulling some things out. "An old phone, an old camcorder, an old MP3 player... I've got some video game controllers, too."

They're all super legit. Seriously.

[truthkills]

Such super legit merchandise is nothing Kiriya hasn't seen before even though he hasn't been himself working here for very long. He takes the phone, flips it over, pokes at it a bit, sets it aside, does the same with the camcorder and MP3 player, and then takes the controllers, testing the joystick and the buttons with practiced ease. "1500 Macca cash, 3000 store credit."

[hachitaro]

"Sounds good to me..." He rubs his chin. "And how much for the equipment?" It'd be good to know exactly how much he's going to be ripped off. He knows he's going to be - that's part of the whole song and dance with a pawn shop, after all.

[truthkills]

"Oh," Kiriya says, "You misunderstood. That was for the whole lot." Come on, kid, it's a pawn shop, you've got to bargain, of course he's going to open with a lowball offer.

[hachitaro]

"Uh huh. You could sell the guts of this stuff for 5000 macca, and the controllers together are worth more than that." He smirks, leaning in a bit. There's something a bit more predatory in his smile.

"I know you're trying to make a profit, but come on, man. You can't undercut a seller that much. I'm giving you all this stuff and you want to give me chump change? Now that's not very fair."

[truthkills]

"See, thing is, I've got overhead costs to worry about." Kiriya starts ticking these points off on his fingers. "Paying my staff, paying the lease, labor costs in keeping track of all this inventory, paying other bills..." He shrugs. "Plus, I gotta turn a profit, too. 2000 macca for the lot, cash."

[hachitaro]

Kei sighs, flicking a stick on one of the controllers idly. "Uh huh. We both know how this is going to end. You're going to give me a price for less than it's worth, and I'm going to walk out of here with a CT gun. So let's just cut to the chase. I'm not interested in cash. Store credit is fine, so you can give me a higher value than that. 3500 in store credit, and I'll make up the difference between that and the gun, as long as it fires correctly and has a full clip. Combined total of 8000 is the top limit, since I know you're not going to have any customs or pro level equipment."

He's not looking for a turret gun anyway - six bullets is fine, and he can get more ammo easily.

[truthkills]

Kiriya grins. "Tell you what," he says, pointing at a corner of the store that contains a pile of sporting equipment, "I'll trade you the lot for one of those guns right there."

He's just not saying exactly what those guns are worth, and they seem to be mysteriously without any price tags. They're scuffed up, but they look like they should be functional. (Except for the one with the loose trigger, that one seems like it's going to fall apart after heavy use.)

[hachitaro]

He raises an eyebrow, and then heads over to look at the guns. He picks one up, checking the cartridge to make sure it's not loaded, and then aims it, pulling the trigger. It seems all right, and it's not giving him any clicking noises that shouldn't be there. He turns it over to check the barrel, making sure it's smooth and isn't going to shred his ammo apart, and the butt of the gun to make sure it's not going to slam into his shoulder if he holds it badly.

... It's enough. He's satisfied, and he brings it over to Kiriya. He knows that he's getting less money than the things he's selling are worth, but it's fine. It's not like he needs those things, and the sooner they get out of his possession, the better. "Deal."

[truthkills]

"Pleasure doing business with you." All the stuff Taro brought in has already vanished behind the counter."

[hachitaro]

"Same." He slips the gun into his bag, grinning again now that their transaction is done. "So you're used to this app weirdness, huh?"

[truthkills]

"This weirdness, all sorts of other weirdness." Kiriya waves the thought away. "I have seen some stuff in my time."

[hachitaro]

"Yeah? Any fun stories?" He's grinning even wider. "I like stories."

[truthkills]

"Oh, sure," Kiriya says, "I could tell you about the time I became a motorcycle to cure a disease."

[hachitaro]

He just... stares. Uh huh. Bullshit. "So when's the major motion picture of that coming out?"

[truthkills]

Kiriya's used to not being believed. He just rolls with it. "Oh, you know, filming's been delayed because they haven't been able to find a lead ridiculously good-looking enough to play me."

[hachitaro]

"Of course not. It's so hard to find actors that look good in ripped jeans." Hey, if he's rolling with it, so will Kei.

[truthkills]

"Nah," Kiriya says, "the trick is finding which company's ripped jeans will be featured--highly competitive market, lots of product placement, endorsement deals everywhere."

[hachitaro]

"Oh, of course. There's so many colors to choose from, too."

[truthkills]

"Basic blues are good enough." He waves the thought away. "Save the colors for the shirts." His shirts are very colorful, thank you.