Time to buy (Mercury)

[Osami]

50th Spring 511 AV




Osami was losing track of time that he spent with books in the Enclave to his other fields of work such as making different tonics for his home. This was going to be a long day he knew as he counted out a handful of pinions placing them in a small bag that he kept along his side. Today he had to buy items for his trade so he could make things and sell in the next Market day or trade overall with people on the side.

A quill in one hand and a book which had a red cover and a homemade imprint of an L along it. He slowly started to take notes trying to keep his handwriting neat and clear yet failing on some level. While his hands could be kept steady he almost always could not pull off neat prefect writing like writers did. His mother told him he always had Researchers handwriting for they always wrote so much and so fast it was almost never neat for other eyes.

* Beeswax
* Honey
* Rose Petals
* Flower petals of different types
* Shea oil
* Glass ware for holding balms


The items were wrote down on the page. He kept the tip of the quill along his lips as he thought about the items he needed. He feared this would hurt his pinions however he knew he could make a profit on the items far greater then what he spent but he would need to keep in budget of sorts.

20 pinions
_______
Rose Petals and flower petals - 1 Pinion
Shea oil - 2 Pinions
Beeswax and honey - 3 - 5 Pinions
Glass - 5 pinions

____
10 - 12 pinions

He wrote down the numbers and giving each a reason for a cost that he thought would be more then fair. Quick simple math (along with counting on his fingers to be sure) he just had to nod slowly at the book. He was hoping to get enough so he could make a few batches of blams which he could regain his loses and overall work on his idea of owning his own lab and shop.

However what was fair and what was not were different things. One think Osami really did lack in life was good haggling skills and he knew that downfall would be his doom when it came to accounting for buying the items. However only one way to learn the art of a silver tongue and with pinions along his belt and book in hand he left for the market for today was Market day.


His first stop would be finding somewhere to get the flowers. His first idea would be towards the outer stalls since flowers were not high on peoples list of buying but he still had to pick and sort past the fakes and ones that would ruin his ideas.

His first idea turned out to fail on a large scale. However he felt like an idiot when he did find flowers at a stand he knew all to well which was Mortar and Pestle. He worked with them from time to time yet next season he would try to see if he could work more time with them. A lot of the people who ran the stall and overall Infirmary were nice and fun. That and Addy was always around and that was a plus in his head.

It was just a matter of finding a person that he could talk to about his requests. All in all one would think it would not be hard yet on Market days it always was harder due to the sheer fact everyone was out and about.

Once he got someone that did work there he would greet them and go into what he needed. Maybe things would not be so bad he had hoped.

[Mercury]

Micquel looked Osami up and down, sizing his fellow Infirmary worker up. He recognized him as the guy who worked with the balms and such, but other than that they didn't really interact; the eager Inarta more interested in actual nitty gritty healing than back room work. He nodded in acknowledgement before diving straight into business. He didn't mind working the stall every now and then, for Aidara, but he still definitely preferred to work with his hands, not his mouth. "So let me get this straight, you want Beeswax, Honey, Rose Petals, Miscellaneous Flower petals, Shea oil, and some glassware for your concoctions..." Micquel frowned. It was a large order, larger than what he was use to. “Give me a second to find everything before we start talking about payment.” The young chiet rummaged through the stall’s stocks, pulling out first a glistening, glass jar of honey, then another similar sized jar of beeswax. He paused, using both hands to turn the vials and jars to read their sloppily written labels. The glasses tinkled as he leaned them back to get the scripts in the light. “Ah here it is.” He pulled out a semi dusty jar of pure Shea oil, and set it next to the others. “Now for the flower petals. We just got a fresh shipment of flower petals, even rose ones a few days ago.” Micquel pointed to the row of polished glass jars all in a row, displayed at the forefront of the stall. “You wanted rose right? “ He pulled a jar, with a fully bloomed rose, its soft petals a fiery Inarta red, and set it next to the rest of Osami’s order. “Now the rest are labeled, I’ll give you a chime to pick what you want. I’m not sure what you really mean by miscellaneous but we have lavender, sunflower, jasmine, and a bunch of other exotic stuff, I’m sure you know what you’re doing.” Micquel crossed his arms, watching Osami, waiting for him to finish. When Osami finished picking out what he needed, he was met with the unsettling look of Micquel’s head turning side to side, eyes darting to and fro. Micquel regretted having worked so fast in filling Osami’s order, seeing now that the other man was done, Micquel really didn’t have a set idea on how to price the items. Sure he had memorized all the basics that everyone else bought – bandages, tonics, teas, basics. The base ingredient stuff was still new territory for him… but he definitely had no intention of letting it on to the other man before him. It wouldn’t do to lose face, especially when he was behind the stall. Where was Aidara! Micquel sighed; when his boss had said she would take no more than five chimes, he had naively believed her. It had been thirty chimes now and still no sign, there was no reason to continue falsely hoping she would come back now. He would have to man up and strike a deal himself. Unfortunately for Osami, Micquel had every intention of overshooting the price than accidentally giving the stuff away for basically nothing and getting torn apart by his boss’s wrath. There had to be something… anything. Yes! Micquel’s lips curved up, a gloating gleam in his eye. “I’m guessing you’re going to be making your stuff from this… stuff.” He scratched his head, frowning at his little slip up. “Well… uh we have enough Pinions, but our stock of balms, specifically flowery stuff that you seem to be making. So how about this, instead of paying us straight pinions you owe us half of the batches you make? That sounds pretty fair to me.” Micquel offered Osami a goofy smile, a little punch drunk at his own craftiness. “So Osami? What do you say? Fair deal?”

[Osami]

Osami knew Micquel from his time of healing. However Micquel lacked people skills and the skills to think for himself or at least that is what Osami thought of the person. However he let him get the items needed as Osami looked at the stock of flowers.

Beggers could not fight for golden items or the saying went something like that as he picked along the flowers picking the ones he needed. He could not do anything dryed as he had to use the oils from the petals. "Micquel add in Almond oil in the stock as well." Osami said as he eyed each flower before picking a good amount of different types. Gave more then enough time for the man to get the items he requested as he looked at the stock Micquel gave him.

He had to wonder where Addy was as he was sure she would have been here. However if he could not have her he would then would want Keah but he knew she would never run the stalls due to fact she was so good at healing. Better then even Addy which took a lot of time to get use to. However he knew this was going to be a game of cat and mouse of sorts with haggling but when Micquel talked about the pinions and the fact he wanted half of his batch work?

Osami was smiling until then yet as soon as it came to that amount of his work for this amount of items his smile faded quickly. He might not know everything however he knew he never had to give up his work for this amount of items which really he got often enough more times then he would like to say. Osami did not say anything for a bit at least out loud but inside he was not happy.

"Micquel. Do you think I am an idiot? Really? You know I come here on almost every market day for theses items and I do not give up so much of my stock and hard work. If you want half my batch then I would need half more of the items I am asking for. I give my Rosy Lip Balms and other balms to the infirmary to help during the winters and riders who need to fly longer then normal. My other balms are also common in terms of giving so I am not sure how your stock has been drained."

Really he did plan a colorful speech and something of more idea of being nicer however as he did open his mouth something just broke inside him. Maybe it was the fact he did not eat yet or the fact that he felt like he was being taken as a pushover. Or it could be the fact that he spent more time with Addy then he did and he was just upset. Could have been any number of things really but for some reason he just did not enjoy being pushed about and being treated like a child.

"If you need more of my batches then I can work it out with Addy however I am not going to tell you I am going to give you half of my work for this amount. Five bottles is my offer."

He said more firm yet his carefree smile just was not along his face. Could he just have been in a bad mood or was it also due to how Micquel acted? It could have been due to the fact he could not just easily give up much of his work without a fight.

[Mercury]

“Hah! We both know that the batches you make at the infirmary, with the infirmary’s supply, is for the infirmary. These ingredients you’re asking for is for your own prerogative; don’t mix the two up. I’m not here to make a profit for myself. I’m barely getting anything for this overtime!” He said the last line a little hysterically. “I’m here as a favor to Addy and the betterment of this city. I can’t you’d be so selfish to demand so much of us... 10 bottles?” He grinned a little ferally. His right hand open and closed into a tight fist. To be blunt: Micquel was a horrible salesman. He was kinda a desperate choice for Addy. Since Keah couldn’t come due to a minor case of the sniffles, he really was the only option. Micquel was the epitome of an Inartan - hot headed, overly vocal, and obnoxiously proud. Not to mention he was an Avora who was use to lording over Chiet, Dek and Yasi. And since he had been hired by Addy first to the Infirmary, he had a misplaced sense of superiority over the man before him. And Osami, not willing to be easily gypped by some cocky know it all was definitely not helping the situation settle to a more reasonable negotiation - both of the men lacking in subtlety and guile. Thankfully, before it turn into a real screaming match, Micquel had the decency to at least pause for reason. He sat down on the booth stool, resting his elbow on the counter. “So uh...” Trying to downplay the fact that he had no idea, Micquel muttered. “How many batches can you actually make with these ingredients?”

[Osami]

Osami just had to sigh at the mans words. Haggling was such a pain on a empty stomach. Yet he knew Micquel was just doing his job or at least trying to act like he was doing his job. He had a few good points which Osami could not disagree to yet just something about the man made Osami want to disagree on some level.

"Depends on a lot of different factors. Given enough time and how much I can really use from the items I might be able to make around five batches which will turn to be about 10 or so bottles. Maybe more maybe less. This is off the top of my head so don't set that in stone."

Osami said after he did pause and really put thought into it. Really he was not even all that sure himself but he could try to work on getting around 15 bottles out of the five batches but that would be pushing it plus he was not about to tell Micquel that out right. No he would have to work for that information in the long run.

However Osami did know that people more skilled in his craft could make ten doses or more per session which made him all that more bent on trying to improve his craft. He did do a lot to try to help the city so most of his items were for the city. So when the idiot in front of him made it sound like Osami did nothing for the city that did make him more then just a bit mad.

Maybe Micquel was trying to push Osami into being mad and trying to overpower him into a bad deal? Sad thing was it was semi working more then Osami cared to admit out loud as he waited for the mans reply. Maybe he would get lucky and they could end this so he could get the items, get a bite to eat then make the requested items before he died of old age. Something told him that was hoping for to much.

[Indigo]

Micquel did his best to reason these things out and maybe work a profit, but running a booth was far more irritating than working at the Infirmary. He frowned at Osami and pushed the orange hair off his forehead with a work roughened hand. It was frustrating but he would have to haggle down a little bit. Not too much, but enough to seem nicer. Maybe it was time to make a personal profit instead. His hands were so often in water, in vinegar, and so frequently washed that the cracks and bleeding made him irritable. He looked over the young man and his skinny frame. Kid could use a meal or three, he's so scrawny. He narrowed his light eyes and tried a different tactic that might get him better results. No one likes getting hit in the wallet! "Come now, we're both busy men and lots of work to do. How about a nice deal of say....three bottles and ten pinions then. If you can't spare five bottles, then surely you can spare the pinions with only three of your product. Of course it's a loss for the establishment, but if that's more your deal to make yourself a personal profit like that, who am I to judge.." He crossed his arms over his chest, and tried to look stern, but he appeared rumpled, overheated and sullen instead. The man kept his cracked, chapped hands under his arms defensively. No way he was going to let this upstart know how much he personally needed that balm. Micquel raised an eyebrow at Osami, attempting to look imposing.

[Osami]

Osami lost track of just how long they had been haggling over something so simple. He was not even sure who was winning or losing ground anymore as Osami ran his fingers along his hair. He took note of the math yet more then that he took note of the mans crached hands that he kept under his arms. He did recall them being rather bad overall when they were talking.

"How about this. The three bottles and ten pinions for the items I need however also a bottle of a balm for free for your hands. I took note of how they looked when I first came here and you were getting the items I needed. I can make up for the less for the shop down the road by trying to push the amount of items I have. That way, I win now, you get something for your hands, and the shop gets better at the end."

The item for Micquel would be rather simple. It would be like a Rosy Lip Balm however he could change the recipe around and make it more of a hand balm of sorts with a different smell. Or even scentless so it would not get in Micquels way or the way of anyone he would treat down the road.

Osami was getting tired of going back and forth and he still was no where near good enough to really haggle nonstop or even know what to say to get the anything in his favour really. So maybe this would work and they both would get on there day. Afterall Osami still had to make the items and that would tax him more then this haggle sesson he was sure.

[Indigo]

Micquel looked at the young man in surprise, his eyebrows nearly raised to his hairline. Although he was a little irritated at being so transparent, he knew it was the best deal he could get from the situation. He'd done what he could for Aidara by striking as much profit in the bargain as anyone would be able to. Besides, he'd already wasted too much time on a single interaction. With neat precision, he drew out the ledger and wrote down the transaction. He stacked all of the requested items neatly in the basket and finally nodded at Osami. "Four bottles and ten pinions will do, young man. That was a good haggle." Micquel put out a work roughened hand and shook on the deal, relieved to conclude the long and drawn out process.