[Open] Creating works of art one dish at a time

[forbothofus]

Who: Emil and open!
When: Week before the festival | Evening of the 7th
Where: Town Plaza - First Bloom Festival
What: Cooking, shopping, and watching the Oubliette
Rating: None


a. Festival Preparations – Backdated to last week

A slender, blond-haired young man shows up at the plaza daily, warmly greeting fellow Heroes, locals, and foreigners alike. He’s eager to help – but not with the heavy lifting! The booth he assists at boasts delightful scents from warm ovens and stovetops. And soon the counters are adorned with vegetables cut into flower patterns and little cakes in animal shapes. Emil wields a knife with an expert hand, trimming dough and neatly peeling oranges into creative shapes. The fun is contagious, and he’ll happily join other cooks in the preparation.

b. First Evening of the Festival

A selection of scarves, silky and light as air or woven in soft materials, lay in neat rows on display in a shop stall. While Emil browses, the shopkeeper shows off his wares. Wouldn’t a red scarf be the perfect accompaniment to his uniform? Or how about a cream muffler made in the finest wool!

“Ah, no... how much for this one?” The shopkeeper looks at Emil’s choice, a dark blue scarf, with immediate approval and quotes an inflated number.

Do I look that much like a tourist? “Would you take 250 for it? 280?”

It would appear he’s new to haggling...

c. Later that night

There’s the gleam of a white uniform high in the branches of an old oak tree on the outskirts of the festival. Seems someone found a good seat for fireworks! Or, perhaps not? Should anyone climb after him, they’ll find Emil ignoring the festivities and staring towards the giant tree in the heart of Caissa. With the abundance of mana in the air, the Oubliette seems lit from within. The glow is mesmerizing even amid the fireworks.

It’s ten thirty and curfew fast approaches. Emil may spend the night here if someone doesn’t call him back.

-
((Will match prose or brackets! Fellow chefs are welcome to tag in with cooking prompts!))

Comments

B!

[kirkhammer]

Vivienne recognises the exchange currently taking place as an attempt at swindling. It's something that she recalls seeing often enough back where she comes from, though it was also something she never cared to step in to sort out, simply because those people were foreigners to her own town - such a hting was quite common practice. Here though, that young man is a potential ally, and so with a quite inhale, Vivienne approaches the stall.

"180."

Her tone is quiet, but firm. Unfortunately the shopkeeper isn't phased. Seems haggling is multi-dimensional.

[forbothofus]

"Huh?" Emil looks over his shoulder. At first he assumes she is purchasing one of the other wares, but catching her gaze and tone, he changes his mind.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did you want to buy this one?" He takes a step back, giving room for her to step forward. "I don't mind. I can get one someplace else." His smile and manner are deferring; seems someone raised him to honor 'ladies first'.

But now the shopkeeper's potential sale is about to walk away, and the offered price is dropping. He insists this is a fine article of weaving and worth 300 colle at least! (But that number is lower than the previously quoted 430, isn’t it?)

[kirkhammer]

"No." Ah... short and to the point, this one. But as the young man steps back, she shakes her head and amends. "Simply, the price has been overinflated, and you're being fooled."

Ah... no ability to sugar coat things, either. I'm sorry Emil. Regarding the shopkeeper once more, Vivienne continues. Still firm, as before, but not harsh.

"For 300, we would be able to purchase two of identical make elsewhere."

[forbothofus]

Emil stays when he realizes she’s assisting him. But he looks genuinely puzzled. "Why would he inflate the price? The Caissa authorities would notice if he was cheating people."

His voice is soft and the delivery so matter-of-fact and innocent it couldn't possibly be a threat… could it? "Do you know of another shop selling scarves?" Emil inquires, looking up to her.

But the shopkeeper has a comeback for that! What quality would those other scarves be? This is expertly dyed and guaranteed to hold its color! Anyone selling one for less than 200 is a fraud! Clearly, both of you are Heroes sent by the gods to save the country, so he’ll take the loss here. 250!

Emil will probably accept that offer unless his fellow Hero wants to bargain a bit more or show him to another shop.

[kirkhammer]

She isn't too sure about the authorities knowing, especially since the man is still tending to his wares, but who's to say? It isn't as though any of them have been here long enough to come to any real conclusion about Caissa.

But back to the matter at hand, half raising a hand, offering a vague nod of her head and only the barest of smiles - even if only to show she's not trying to be rude, even if she did sort of just but in - she tries to subtly silence Emil.

"200."

[forbothofus]

Between his not-a-threat and her insistence, the shopkeeper does not seem persuaded. In fact, he’s more stern and starting to look displeased. There is a fine line between persuaded and offended, and it would seem they’ve crossed it. Truly this haggling skill is difficult to master.

Emil watches and waits, feeling the tension thicken. He could accept the offer, but that would lose the deal she's trying to obtain for him. As grateful as he is for the assistance, he doesn’t want his fellow Hero to get in trouble either. He’s walked around Caissa enough to know that things are still tense. There’s no point in upsetting relations between the Heroes and locals over a piece of cloth.

When no further price reduction is proposed, Emil addresses the shopkeeper with a disarming smile and gentle tone. “Your offer is generous. I’ll think about it.” Emil glances to the woman beside him. “Um, thank you, but it’s okay.”