This is totally not a lazy log

[makeitquick]

Who: Melaka and Haruka
What: That lunch Haruka won
When: ??? probably during or after Soulfasting
Where: A somewhat upscale diner and The Lucky Punch

[ So Melaka had issued an open challenge to people a while back with the offer to buy a meal for anyone who won against her. And theoretically for them to buy one for her if she won. Either way, it's been delayed a fair bit over all, but... Well, either way, time for the lunch with Haruka.

So Melaka contacted her, told her to place, and they would meet up there for a lunch. Simple. Easy. Not a date. Not going to be complicated by something or another. Hopefully it won't be awkward for her. Could even be fun. ]

Comments

2/2

[actsmagnificent]

[ ....no, she doesn't want to ask.

Haruka smiles and falls into line behind Melaka. ] I'm right behind you.

[makeitquick]

[ What, she's sparkly.

...

Melaka will notice that might'e been a little weird in a while.

Either way, let's rock. And she sort of knows this neighborhood in the way one knows where you aspire to be, so as they set off, right off the bat, she does point out some shops, some of which are owned by people she knows. Also which ones are prone to discounts... but realizes that's tacky after only a moment. So she instead opts to zone in on this place she doesn't recognize, which... ]

S'this import goods?

[ Form Caldera? She didn't remember a glass blowing shop here ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ It's news to Haruka that she actually sparkles, is all. She spends tremendously little time thinking about how others might perceive her, for good or ill.

Haruka listens as Melaka begins her tour, liking the way she can tell these are places her guide frequents and is fond of - it gives her a good sense of her companion - then pulls up behind her when they stop in front of the new store. ] The Point makes it easier...

[ It's probably easy for her to peer over Melaka's head into the storefront. Looks interesting. Maybe they should check it out. ]

[makeitquick]

Yeah. I've been seeing some people trying to convince me that meat's not a rich man's game since we met those Valkyries.

[ She's not buying it. Plus she's not seen it drop to a price she can manage, not yet. But yeah, glass blowing? she didn't even know one blows glass. So she glances to Haruka, the door, and then nods to herself. She'll get it for the other woman.

Shall we? ]

[actsmagnificent]

Changing times. [ Honestly? You aren't missing much by keeping it off the menu. Haruka heads for the door, though, since glassblowing is the current focus. Depending on how detailed the wares are in here, she might pick up a piece or two. She happens to know an artist who'd appreciate learning about a new "venue".

As a result, if there's anything in here that's equally or more decorative than practical, she'll gravitate thataways. Particularly if it has a sky or sea motif. They have their schticks. ]

[makeitquick]

[ There seems to be a trend in here for sky, sun, and... flames? Probably fitting, given how many ponyta there were around Caldera. In fact, there's actually a few ponyta statues in here, albeit very stylized. The wares in here range from decorative pieces to more practical ones: cups, bowls, weights, ... a pipe? that's interesting. But Melaka, as she walks in, just looks at everything with no small bit of awe. ]

Wonder how you color it...

[actsmagnificent]

Did humans make these or Pokémon? [ It doesn't really matter, but Pokémon tend to have abilities beyond humans, even Enlightened. Might explain the color.

Plus, she lives with Natto.

Haruka lifts a statuette to better examine it. Whoever made these is good. Better see if she can find the shopkeeper. ] Excuse me...?

[makeitquick]

Should I know?

[ ... Maybe both. Either way, the guy who comes out is an older man with a smile, more than ready to have something to sell ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ It was a mostly hypothetical question. Haruka picks up one of the more stylized Ponyta figures and addresses the shopkeeper. ] Could I get this boxed up?

[ She's not the type to lavish her girlfriend with gifts she thinks, but watching Michiru assess other people's art is really funny. Plus her partner has a Rapidash.

Haruka turns back to Melaka. ] Does anything look good to you?

[makeitquick]

[ The man complies, and from the back of the room, following his whistle comes...! A darumaka. Who is somewhat thin and somewhat large despite that by the standards of the fire monkeys. Either way, a little bit of ooking is made as it holds out it's hand to take hold of the ponyta. The old man asks him if he can box that.

...Which distracted Mel long enough to blink and shake her head before something does catch her eye.

It's something that's not pure glass. It's some sort of -- glass has been blown around some metal plates, which look like they're made of the same material as Caldera's outer, iron walls. Or some distorted cracks out of it, at least.

And the glass itself is blue in hue, and looks like it's trying to symbolize some aura or fighting spirit - and it's formed into a bowel, with the metal encased at the bottom. and that speaks to her ]

Oh wow.

[actsmagnificent]

[ She found something? Haruka had been watching the Darumaka out of the corners of her eyes, but it seems to know what it's doing so she wanders over to peer over Melaka's shoulder. Huh. That's....making a statement. ] Abstract.

[ But unique. And clearly right up Melaka's alley. She grins, watching. You're going to go for it, aren't you. ]

[makeitquick]

Yeah, kinda. But I wonder what blew off that metal.

[ or how you got it inside the glass? It looks cool ]

[actsmagnificent]

It's all Calderan, right? [ She looks over at the shopkeeper for confirmation. ]

[makeitquick]

Looks like their walls.

[ And the guy confirms that yes, it is. The walls need to be reinforced regularly because of either attacks or damage to the metal from heat or erosion, so they end up with scrap. He collected that himself ]

[actsmagnificent]

Recycling the leftovers.... [ Turning refuse into art. There's probably something deep to be said about that, by somebody deep. Haruka doesn't consider that her own forte.

She looks over at Melaka. So this is the kind of thing you like... ] Pretty clever.

[makeitquick]

Yeah. Could be melted down again, prop, but this is cool too.

[ and it presents a certain degree of strength, to her. Melaka nods to herself and puts one hand into her pocket, feeling out what other money she has as she turns to ask about price ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka will give Melaka distance for this, checking up on the Darumaka doing her wrapping job. You're a hard worker yourself, aren't you, buddy?

She'll keep one eye on her companion, however. It'd be good if you could walk out of here with that bowl. ]

[makeitquick]

[ Oh that's... that's a price she could handle, but doesn't want to pay for a bowl. So she tuts before trying to start with a haggle.

Meanwhile, oh yeah, this Darumaka's in the zone. Even a impish look as it presses a little pin in on the wrap up as it gets to the end of it. And then he is going to give a little packing thing and put it into the bag ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ You go, Melaka. Argue that guy to a price you can both live with.

And you go, monkey helper, too. You've got this system down pat. Haruka watches him work. ] I don't suppose you help make them, too.

[makeitquick]

[ Oh she is totes pro.

Which is why this is a careful negotiation which is going to be taking some time, and includes some offers of alternative payment like labors or getting materials from outside the wall for this guy.

As for the Darumaka, with the thing more or less wrapped and held out for Haruka... he confirms that yes, of course he does! He does the most important job of all, actually. ]

[actsmagnificent]

How about that. [ And thanks for the package. Haruka isn't quite following what the Darumaka's saying, since she doesn't speak Pokémon, but she's gotten really good at reading Pokémon body language. Natto has a tendency to speak fast when he's excited so even when she knows what her own Pokémon are saying, she has to guess sometimes. So she figures she can muddle through this conversation.

Also, note to self from Haruka: take Melaka along if she ever goes somewhere that overcharges for things. ]

[makeitquick]

Okay, so that's a deal, right? Y'want the special sand from the flats eat of Caldera? Half price if I get a couple pounds for you?

[ And he holds out her hand. Shake?

And the old man grins a little, perhaps impressed at the gumption of the Ranger. He takes the hand, shaking it hard. It's not like that piece was a hot seller in Union anyway. ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ So you're using your job to your advantage in bargaining. Nice.

Haruka grins. ] Congratulations.

[makeitquick]

--Just how we do.

[ the "we" there being the poor of Union. She says this, a little abashed, as the shop keeper makes to wrap up Mel's bowl himself ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ ...drat, Haruka made it awkward again. It's amazing, how much she's never had to consider before. This is a good lesson for her.

She nods at the Darumaka. ] He was saying he's an artisan. We'd just gotten to the best part.

[ Whatever that might have been. ]