[Location: The Market] Stalling out

[skinandbone]

This is completely terrifying.

Somewhere at the outskirt of the Market, Metody has rented a stall with the last of her money and some very fast talking. She sits at the front of it, giving the world a tense, edgy smile.

She is not wearing her environmental suit, and that is completely terrifying. Appearances matter and no one looks friendly in a black space suit, and so it is stashed under the tablecloth. In it's place, Metody is wearing her impression of business dress: Electric pink jeans, a green blouse, a blue net scarf and a blazingly purple jacket. She's done something complicated with a pink ribbon to one arm, and there's a band of carved ivory flowers holding back her hair, and okay, it's maybe not the most staid of outfits, but the jacket means it's professional, right? And so does the scarf.

Her wares are displayed as attractively as she could manage: on one side, delicate carvings of bone - little boxes with geometrical or botanical themes, long strands of interlocking beads, flowers with petals so thin that light shines through them, intricate ivory hair ornaments. On the other side is meat of the operation, ha ha: purplish venison steaks and what looks at first glance to be chicken thighs and cutlets, but is actually rabbit. She's even got a(n ivory) plate of samples with frilly toothpicks sticking out of them, and neatly hand printed recipe cards.

There is paper and string to package up the meat, and little boxes for the jewelry and carvings, and if no one buys anything, she is facing a long walk home followed by another meal of yet more freaking venison and rabbit.

She might just try eating grass and rocks instead. Or she'll try staring at the crowd and willing them into purchasing.

C'mon. C'mooooooooon.

Comments

[personaldemon]

There's always things he can use a small box for. Incense, perhaps.

"Well then," he says, "it appears we have a deal. I am pleased to hear it. And how much for the box?"

[skinandbone]

She glances down, then blinks and smiles. She'd included that one to round things out, really.

"I'm pleased with that one. I think it turned out well."

Metody has actually done some research, but there is not exactly a rich supply of hand carved trinket boxes in the city. So the number she names is higher than anything she found, but vastly lower than what she'd charge back home.

Of course, back home, there is a practical use for such things.

[personaldemon]

"It's charming." (Whether Jason actually finds the skull motif charming or is simply letting his mouth auto-pilot through Social Courtesies without thinking them through well is debatable.)

The price earns a glance down at his bracelet, to verify his balance (apparently when you play hooky from your ostensible 'job' for most of a month, it does negatively impact your bank account in this absurd, ridiculous prison city), then nod. Affordable enough.

"I'll take it. When do you anticipate next having fresh hide?"

(Jason's bracelet beeps; Metody's bank balance increases by a modest but triumphal amount!)

[skinandbone]

His unthinking pleasantry nets him a brilliant smile. She actually blinks at the beep - holy cow, she sold really sold something? Oh, gosh, she'd thought that no one would buy at all.

"Thank you! Do you want me to wrap it for you?"

"I will go out hunting tomorrow, weather permitting. Do you need the hide specially processed, or will scraped clean do?"

[personaldemon]

"I suppose I run the risk of chipping it otherwise," Jason admits re: wrapping, and passes the box back over towards the happy Metody.

He again studies the boy-- girl?-- a moment after that question. He's quite tempted to say "unshredded", but after that business inside the mountain it is clear that Metody wishes to pretend he has no association with the bone creatures. Jason finds this tedious-- he would quite like to ask questions about it, honestly-- but at the same time, he respects the privacy of others in the specific way that only someone with their own unpleasant secret does so. There is no need for him to press, or to bring it up at all.

"Simply scraped clean of the flesh, yes. Thank you."

[skinandbone]

Metody would only find that baffling, Jason. Just like she's baffled by all the other accusations. There's nothing to see here, she's perfectly normal, just friendly, that's all.

All she's got is the same brown paper as she wraps the meat in, but such is life. At least she's efficient about it, and clever with the string.

"Alright. Where should I- " Wait, prepositions. " - to where should I bring it?"

[personaldemon]

Ah, but Jason wouldn't be accusing if he said anything. Which he isn't.

He watches Metody's pale slender fingers on the box, then takes the little wrapped parcel with a nod.

"...wherever I am on the map, I suppose," he says with a shrug of mild dismissal for such logistical concerns. "I will mostly likely be either at my home or at Tamper & Trick."

[skinandbone]

"Alright. I will come find you once I have some hide for you."

Or a hide. Showing up with multiples would be a bit over the top. Who'd believe someone as small as Metody killing and butchering multiple deer in one day?

She gives him a rather shy, thrilled smile. "Thank you for buying something."

[personaldemon]

(Jason would, but that's because he saw the bone Cuisinart in action, okay.)

"You're welcome," he says, rather formally, and also rather formally he gives Metody a slight bow from the waist, a century out of fashion.

"Good day to you," he says then, because Jason Blood really doesn't do small talk.

[skinandbone]

Metody smiles and bobs the briefest curtsy ever in response. It might look a little silly, but that's because she's not in a skirt.

"Good day!"