Video/Action for the Business District

[sparrowfeathered]

[Video]

Hey, everybody!

[A red-haired girl in her late teens, perhaps early twenties, is leaning towards the Warp Band -- she'd just made sure it was on -- and flashing a smile down at it. It's bright; it's also practiced, like any true saleswoman's would be. She's done this before.]

My name's Rose. You've probably never heard of us, but we're the Spearowfeathers. We're merchants from Caldera, and we decided that we couldn't let Junes have all the fun.

[She winks.]

...So come check us out! We've set our wagon up in the business district, and we're selling some stuff we brought from Caldera -- and from Glacier, too! If you've got any special requests, you can bring those in, too.

I can also help you with trading Pokemon. I'm really good at that.

[Action, a little while later...]

[...unfortunately, things aren't going quite as well as Rose hoped. The wagon is there, sure, but the Gogoat that was pulling it got away an hour ago -- and all of the running in the world just didn't catch up to it. One of the other Spearowfeathers had been training that particular Pokemon. That leaves their wagon tipped over.]

[And with a cracked wheel, which Rose is holding up, and stuff scattered throughout the street. Spearowfeathers -- wearing their tan trousers and blue vests -- are darting to and fro, picking up goods.]

I... guess this could be going worse.

Comments

[sparrowfeathered]

[Rose is, in fact, unfamiliar with those white robes. (A good thing, too, because the concept would spook her). She isn't paying much attention to Sophia at first; she's rather distracted by the wagon, and the goods. She's stooped down at the moment, scooping up a can with some Calderan peppers in it.]

[She looks up when she hears the voice; she glances at Sophia, then she sighs.]

Tell me about it! What can you do, though? Oh--if you're here to buy you something, we can... probably... find it.

[soulofmagus]

[ The 'concept' is something Sophia is saddled with, whether she likes it or not, but she would certainly understand at least part of Rose's trepidation in that regard.

The sigh brings Sophia's attention to Rose proper. She recognises the girl from the video, certainly, and though she doesn't outright smile, she does relax a bit. The pidove warbles generously at Rose, hopping towards her and bouncing about at her feet as he releases his latest little ditty - the Union national anthem. That he just made up. ~Piiiiiiiiid~ o/' ]

[paying no heed to her bird] Set things right, I suppose, which I can see your group already are. Not too much produced damaged, I hope?

As for buying.. Well, that may depend on what you have on sale.

[sparrowfeathered]

I don't think so. Some of it took a tumble, but... we pack it up pretty tight. [Rose taps her hand against a wooden crate that fell, to demonstrate its sturdiness. Somehow. Then she looks at the Pidove, blinking at it a couple of times.]

[Cute.]

We've got a bunch of stuff! Food from Caldera, for one thing. Jerky and peppers. We've got some gloves and boots, too, if you need new ones. [Her head tilts.] You in the market for a coat or a cloak? We have some from Sanctuary, too.

[soulofmagus]

What's the difference between a coat from Caldera and one from Sanctuary?

[or gloves, or boots, for that matter! A brow lifts in query, though this isn't just for her own benefit that she's asking]

[sparrowfeathered]

Well... the style's different, for one thing. Calderan coats look nice, but they don't really keep you warm. It never gets hot there. A Sanctuary coat will. A coat from Citadel or Glacier's the warmest!

[She nods.]

It's all about combining style and function!

[soulofmagus]

I see. And presumably the same can be said of the boots?

Given the state of things, I do not want to disrupt your party from getting set up, but would tomorrow be a good day to check back for examples?

[sparrowfeathered]

Yep! Boots, gloves, everything has a style, really.

[She pauses, though, at the question. She can't miss a sale! Her eyes widen, before she turns her head.] Hey, Brock! Are the clothes ready?

[The Spearowfeather in question calls back.] Don't worry about it. [She looks back at Sophia.] We can let you look now. It's no problem at all!

[soulofmagus]

Only if you're sure.. I would not wish to be in the way.

You travelled a lot before arriving here, yes?

[sparrowfeathered]

You won't be, don't worry. [She leads the way to some crates -- a bit haphazardly stacked -- but they're open, and the other Spearowfeathers have hung some garments on a couple of assembled racks. And, of course, there's gloves and boots out, too.]

We travel a lot. We're a caravan. We were based out of Caldera... but we went to a lot of different places. Sanctuary and Citadel, recently.

[soulofmagus]

[Follow she does, mindful to stay behind Rose, and there are polite nods to the other Spearowfeathers as they bustle along]

And now you've come to Union. Do you plan on staying permanently, or is this a test to see if Union would be a suitable stop on your journey route?

[she does pause next to the coat rack, mindful not to let the pidove perch on it - that's rude, little one, sit on her shoulder if you must sit somewhere - and rubs the materials between her fingers] With all of your traveling, what do you usually look for in good boots?

[sparrowfeathered]

A little bit of both, really. We can't stay permanently, but Union might make a better base of operations than Caldera, for traveling to other cities. We're testing the waters.

[...Not that this string of bad luck helped. Even if Union seems okay otherwise.]

You want something sturdy. Pretty boots are great, don't get me wrong. But if you plan to travel much, you want something tough. Thick leather and lots of cushioning, so they don't fall apart and you don't get a blister.

[soulofmagus]

That makes sense. [for both topics] I will likely be doing a lot of walking, so boots that are sturdy would be ideal [she certainly doesn't look the type to go gallivanting on trainer adventures, but stranger things have happened - and not just in Union] And a coat suitable for most weather would be preferred. Snow will not last forever here.

[sparrowfeathered]

Yeah, I think Union gets all of the seasons. It's lucky like that. [She nods, picking up a few pairs of boots; she puts them down on a crate for Sophia to look over, while she starts looking through the coats.] I'd go with something light. That's what this jacket's for. [She tugs on her hooded, black-and-pink jacket.] If it gets really cold, I can break out a fur coat.

[soulofmagus]

You think so? [constant change seems like it could be inconvenient, to Sophia's limited experience, but she makes a point not to say so - no doubt a retailer like Rose would disagree!] Hmm, that sort of coat does look good. Does it need to be waterproofed separately?

[Asked as she steps over to examine the boots, mindful to lift and inspect each one - though she's not SO socially awkward that she'll sniff one! Instead, one tan pair and one black pair are set aside, both on the smaller side.]

[sparrowfeathered]

Nope! All of these are waterproofed. We had to bring them through some rainy and snowy areas, so I wanted all of them to be ready for the weather.

[Because selling to people with an immediate need is smart. She looks at the boots, then she nods.] Good choice. Make sure you try them on before you buy them, though!

[soulofmagus]

Good to know.

[immediate need is right. Shoes first, however. The light shoes she's been wearing are good enough for wandering around Union, but they wouldn't last in heavier weather. They seem close enough in size that she tries one black boot first, then one tan - all the better for contrasting and comparing once they're all laced up.]

..The black one feels rather tight around my toes. Too small?

[sparrowfeathered]

Mm-hmm. If you walk around in those things for a few hours, you'll get blisters. Do you expect to do a lot of movement?

[Rose is glancing over the shoes, now, but she's staying put. She doesn't want to be too nosy here.]

[soulofmagus]

A lot of walking, back and forth across the city for now.

[later, the world! or at least the forest outside. She undoes the laces with care, slipping the black boot off and replacing it with the tan's twin. Once settled, she rises onto her feet, rocking back and forth on her heels, before walking slowly between one box and the next. In sight of Rose of course.]

..How much are these?

[sparrowfeathered]

You'll want something pretty sturdy, then. That's a lot of walking. More if you ever go out of the city.

[Rose nods, rubbing her chin, and watches her trying them on. Then she looks down at the pair, before she looks back up at Sophia. She considers, for a moment.]

Let's call it thirty. [But she's okay with haggling, and she says it with a question in the intonation.]

[soulofmagus]

Hmmm. [..too much? It's hard to say what she thinks, her expression is remarkably neutral. Sophia IS comfortable in the boots, however, and with the work she has to start, no doubt she can buy more later.] And what about the coats?

I don't think your particular coat style would fit me- [a small smile is accompanied by a warble of agreement from the pidove] -but you seem to have others here.

[sparrowfeathered]

Yeah, I don't think this is quite you. [Rose grins, but she nods, and looks at the coats.] Forty each, except for that one. [She points to a fancier, full length duster coat.] Fifty for that. It cost me a bit to get it, but it's really popular in some parts. I don't know if it's you, though.

[soulofmagus]

It is lovely, but.. No. I'd like something a little easier to move in.

[..no doubt there are plenty of people who'd manage that just fine in the not-duster, but Sophia certainly isn't the sort to fit that kind of jacket. No, she has something else in mind, and she quietly looks back and forth between the fourty range. There's a nice lilac one that holds her attention for a long minute, before she moves on, and pulls a tan one from the rack - a bit lighter than the boots, but colour coordination wasn't the biggest priority.]

[sparrowfeathered]

Ooh, hey! I like that one. Watcha think of it? It's pretty sturdy and it'll be warm enough for some cold.

[Rose's arms land on her hips, while she looks it over. Really, if she can make a sale today, she'll be happy. It didn't look promising when the wagon overturned.]

[soulofmagus]

[ It is not a bad fit, particularly given her figure (a good bit more generous than the robes imply!), and while the sleeves were a little long, they could be easily tailored as required. There's a thoughtful hum under her breathe as she considers her options, before lilac blue eyes meet Rose's squarely. ]

How about 60 dollars for both the boots and the coat together? [the tilt to her brow indicates Haggling Has Begun - you don't want to lose a potential sale, do you?]

[sparrowfeathered]

Let's see...

[Rose makes a show of thinking about it... but really, she knows the answer. That's reasonable. Especially early on. The Spearowfeathers need to make a reputation in Union as fair.]

I think that's a good price. We've got a deal!