pawnstorm | (OPEN) WORK FOR THE WORKING MAN

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(OPEN) WORK FOR THE WORKING MAN

Who: Minato Arisato & others!
When: Throughout March
Where: Around Blanc
What: Job quest post for the month of March
Rating: None

[ Reference for the Job Post is here. Also, if you're interested and haven't already, you can pick your character's arcana for Social Linking! ]

001-A. Meeting & Greeting

[ Minato wouldn't exactly say that he's good with kids, but he does have some experience with them. Of course, even considering the thought that it's appropriate to encourage a kindergartner to run away is probably not the best example to set, yet here he is anyway. Maiko, a former Social Link of his, isn't all children, and the orphanage has plenty that are excited about heroes coming over. He'd built a snowman for them once, he can do something else.

Besides, he'd gotten cookies out of that deal too. Worth it.

He looks like the life of the party, really. He's got a little girl on his back, and another kid trying to hang from his arm, but the whole five-foot-seven of him doesn't lead for a good height to dangle from. Surprisingly, throughout all of this, he's got a pretty straight face on. But.

This is a little much.

Help? ]

001-B. Now it's Story Time

[ So the kids want to know about the heroes' home worlds, do they? Truthfully, there are a lot of similarities when one looks at the very basics. You know, oxygen, land, water, etc. But those don't make for very good stories. He isn't really going to get any points (or colle, for that matter) by explaining the water cycle, is he? At least it would prove he paid attention to the lessons in second grade.

What can he say about Earth, though? Minato spares a glance at the hero beside him before turning his attention back to the children gathered around them. They're expecting a good story. ]

...Well...

[ A man of many words he is not. It's not that he doesn't have things to say, he just generally keeps to himself unless prompted otherwise. A dozen eager eyes looking at him expectantly certainly fit the bill. ]

Sometimes humanity tries to usher in the apocalypse...

We look forward to the same things here as in my world, death and taxes.

It's really not that different...

[ Yeah, don't be an asshole, dude. They're just kids. ]

It's really not that different...I lived in a big city and had to go to school, too.

[ Except for the whole trying to stop the end of the world thing, but you know, details.

Hey Hero, maybe you have a better story? ]

002-A. Herbs with an H

[ Minato has done a lot of silly things to fulfill some equally silly quests posed to him by some otherworldly being that lived in a room only he had access too. If that doesn't sound odd enough to begin with, it really does get a lot stranger than that. But aside from keeping an eye on a persimmon tree at school--and, literally, it's about watching it--Minato has zero experience with plants, nor a green thumb.

So what constitutes an herb, let alone one in good condition? He agreed to the job because of the money, of course. Shirosabe, his carrier, is starting to garner an appetite about the same as him, which is a lot. And no one should be subjected to Monday meals. Ever. He's resigned to eat out on those days. The struggle is real.

Supposedly they're "all over", but how is he supposed to know what distinguishes an herb as an herb or just...a weed? ]

...Isn't an herb technically any type of plant?

[ Could they just grab a handful of grass? He's got a baggy and everything. ]

002-B. Desperate Thymes call for desperate measures

[ Going it straight-laced can only yield mediocre results. Sometimes there's a reason people go dark side. Sometimes, when push comes to shove, or when there are slim pickings in the public areas, heroes have to turn to a life of crime. Much like penguins.

Minato is one such penguin. Er, hero. And with so many others working on the same job, if he's going to get any money for this, he has to bend the rules a little. But who says he's going down by himself? Oh no, team effort is important. Right? Teammates. Not accomplices. Why would you think that.

Which is why they are found in someone's back yard in one of the nicer parts of time. Pretend it's a little bit like Robin Hood, stealing from the rich's gardens and giving them to...some guy who is going to pay them for it. Okay, it's nothing like Robin Hood, but this person has all their plants labeled and there are definitely some recognizable, herbish plants there. ]

..."Wolf's bane" right next to "oregano". That would be a weird sauce.

[ Is someone protecting against werewolves? ]

003. Wild Card

[ Inspired by something else? Please feel free to write your own prompt! You can also hit me up at

doggystyle if you have any questions. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Hey, if anyone is going to have access to a conveniently specific database of knowledge about herbs, it's probably Aigis. That, and having her just kind of follow him around everywhere is comforting in a sense of normalcy. She's respectful, yes, as she has been since she's grown more conscientious of other's thoughts and feelings. But she's still close and it's still nice.

Her answer is a little less comforting, though. There's a slight grimace on his lips. ]

Mm...

[ Should he have checked out the library for a list of what they're even supposed to look like? ]

Can you tell what these are?

[She doesn't have a list of herbs by default, sadly. But unlike Minato, she did stop by the library when she saw the posting and commit the appearance of the herbs in question to her databanks.

She pauses for a moment, comparing it to the picture from the book.] That is not one of the ones that Alix-san requested. I believe it is a... dandelion.

[ Hm.

It's cute, does that count? No...no he's sure it doesn't. There's a sigh as Minato stands back up, shoving his hands into his pockets. ]

So there were specific ones he wanted?

[ Stop agreeing to every quest before you read the rules, Minato. ]

Yes, there were! Minato-san, didn't you read the description of the alchemist's request? [She sounds almost... chiding.] I believe in this area, we can find Kingsblood, Dreamfoil, and... Briarthorn, I think was the last one.

I have a visual reference for each in my memory. But I don't think I will be able to easily pick them with my new hands. Alix-san requested that the herbs be as undamaged and pristine as possible.

[ Nope. No he did not. Thank goodness for you, Aigis, being the diligent one. Hey, Persona 3 didn't even have Diligence has a requirement to max any Social Links, so can you really blame him?

Still, she has an idea. That's good. Minato nods. ]

That's okay. If you can match them, I can pick them up. It'll be a team effort.

[ See, Aigis? Teamwork. Just like old times. ]

[True story, since it didn't name any names, I just chose random herbs from WoW. Oops.

Aigis smiles.] I think that sounds very wise! Hopefully we can get all of the herbs he needs. [She pauses.] Or is it she? 'Alix' sounds like a very gender-neutral name, and it didn't say on the job board...

[Aigis, you're getting off topic.] I believe that Briarthorn may be the easiest to find. It is located... on the sides of hills and near the bases of trees.

[ Neither Minato nor his player would have known the difference. Alchemy in SIMS is about as far as this knowledge goes.

Gender isn't important. (That sounds vaguely familiar...) Although Minato might be a little more motivated if Alix were a girl. Just sayin'. (Maybe it's a little important?) ]

...Hills and trees.

[ He looks around. They're still fairly deep in the throngs of the city. ]

We should probably move out in that case. It's crowded here.

Yes, I agree! It will be easier to gather herbs in an area where more plants grow. [She says as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

Which it kinda is.] And we will have less competition, I imagine. Surely this job request will be very popular!

[ Yeah, it is, but that's okay. Thank you for not letting him feel dumb, Aigis. It's clear he'd be wandering around just de-weeding public property for a while. ]

Yeah...a lot of the good picking spots are probably already taken.

[ Now that he thinks about it, there was a lot of interest, wasn't there? ]

Then time is of the essence. However, with our teamwork, we will be able to operate nearly twice as quickly! [Is that how it works?] Hm... which way is the city exit?

[ City exit...

Good question. Minato has wandered around the city a bit longer than Aigis, so he should have a better idea, right? Haha.

Although, the landscape does seem to slope up hill. He knows going in the opposite direction will lead them to the coastal district, so... ]

That way.

[ Uphill it is. ]

[She follows him without reservation. She's never hesitated to follow his lead before.] All right. I'm sure we'll be able to find plenty of herbs!

[And indeed, it does seem like they're nearing the outer limits of the city before too long. Trees!

She doesn't see any herbs yet, though.]

[ Trees indeed! And where there are trees there are...potentially other living things? The thought of wandering around in a wood looking for herbs isn't his first idea of how he'd spend the afternoon, but, you know, colle. Gotta feed himself and the cat somehow.

Aigis probably has a small benefit of not needing to feed herself. Her carrier, however, will require a different type of maintenance. ]

Is there anything we should keep an eye out for? Colors or...?

[Said carrier, the micropig, is snuffling around at their heels as they walk. Isn't it adorable?] Hmm... briarthorn, if I recall correctly [And she does] is a greenish brown. It has a somewhat arched shape, like a bridge. Scanning the surrounding environment...

...ah! There, underneath that tree! That's a patch of briarthorn! [She points to an old oak tree that seems to be listing to one side.] Do be careful, Minato-san. Its name is very apt.

[ It is very cute, he will concede that. There are a lot of very cute carriers. He wonders what it eats.

When she points out the herb, though, Minato perks up almost immediately. He follows the line of her arm, gaze landing on the oak tree. He nods, assuring her as he approaches the patch, ]

I'll be fine.

[ And, of course, when he goes to pick it up like the big brave protagonist he is--pricks himself. ]

...ow.

[!!

Instantly, Aigis is at his side, kneeling next to him (though careful not to step on the herbs.] Minato-san, are you all right? I did warn you about the thorns!

Ah, you're bleeding! We must bandage the puncture at once!

[ It's not even a big injury, Aigis. Quite literally, the tiniest droplet of blood sits on the pad of his finger. He looks up at Aigis. ]

It's just a prick. I'll be okay.

Oh.

[She feels... a little silly now for reacting the way she did.] Are you sure?

We should probably still bandage it, if you're going to be working in dirt. It'd be bad if it got infected.

[ Well, she has a point, although he's definitely had much worse and continued on. ]

...Do you have a bandaid?

[ Something cute? ]

No, I don't. [She sounds genuinely disappointed in herself.] I'll have to remember to carry first-aid supplies with me in the future.

I can tear a scrap off my uniform, though? If we can hold it with an... elastic band, that should suffice.

[ Aw, Aigis, you don't have to tear up your uniform for him. Minato just shakes his head. ]

They might make you buy a new one.

[ With that, he just sticks his finger into his mouth. Because that is sanitary.

And picks up the plants more carefully this time with his opposite hand. ]

[She wants to protest, but if he genuinely thinks that's the best way to do this... she doesn't want to overrule him.

So she holds out the bag for him to put the briarthorn in.] Please be sure to disinfect it when we're home, okay?

I think we can get more all around here. They seem to be growing everywhere.

[ He plops a few pieces in there, hoping that they will give them at least a few colle. (He's splitting this with Aigis, of course.) ]

They look pretty common...they're probably not worth a lot, in that case.

Probably... [He has a point. She glances down into the bag, then around them at the area.] Quantity over quality... I wonder if we'd make more money bringing him a good amount of this, or fewer, more expensive herbs?

[ Hmm...Minato seems to consider this for a moment. ]

...I guess that depends on how much work we'd have to do for the rarer ones.

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