a proposition

[heresyandlace]

Who: Tekhetsio
Broadcast: Network video - sent to all ships
Action: SS Pathstone - he's hanging out in his 'office'
When: Oct 14, late morning

[as the broadcast begins, he knocks on the receiver with a knuckle, causing all speakers transmitting the message to give nice, sharp little pop noises. just to make sure everyone is listening. and then there is the image of a very pretty man with lavender eyes smirking into the camera.]

This meager allowance that they've started us off with really is a shame, isn't it? Only enough to make one significant purchase... and even then, we must choose between vitals such as palatable food, and those luxuries that keep us sane and happy.

It's almost cruel.

[and with that, he hoists up one of the bottles of alcohol that had been offered for sale on various way-stations, making sure that the camera gets a good view of it.]

...Being the generous creature that I am, I'm here to offer everyone listening the chance at a trade. I have alcohol. It is much more potent than anything that you will find on the stations, and I am looking to sell it.

And, since I know we are all still hurting for spending cash, I am taking payments of a few--very specific--different kinds.

Hail the SS Pathstone if you are interested, and we can discuss further arrangements.

[he tilts the bottle toward the camera, in salute]

Cheers.

Comments

video;

[proteusmoon]

[ Cecil answers the message after being disturbed from her thoughts in the armory where she was taking stock of the inventory, looking somewhat curious and somewhat apprehensive. ]

And how did you get that?

video;

[heresyandlace]

[ah, he gives a pleasant smile for the camera]

The same way everyone else has, of course.

video;

[proteusmoon]

[ The answer surprises her with how contradictory it is. ]

Then how is it that you can promise it's more potent than that found on the way-stations?

video;

[heresyandlace]

Ah, now that is a trade secret.

[he wiggles his fingers in the universal pantomime of 'spooooky' though, so maybe it's a clue]

video; private - open to comms officers

[proteusmoon]

[ That is a little bit telling, yes. Cecil sighs and narrows her broadcast down. ]

Magic?

video; private - open to comms officers forever

[heresyandlace]

It sounds so anticlimactic when you say it like that.

[he chuckles a little]

Would you like to try some?

[proteusmoon]

[ She does smirk at his remark. Well, magic is pretty common where she's from. ]

What do I have to trade for it with?

[heresyandlace]

Do you have any jewelry you're willing to part with?

[proteusmoon]

[ She hesitates only for a brief moment, thinking of the studded onyx earrings she's wearing. They were a gift... but for some reason, she can't remember who from...

How strange.

Still, it feels wrong to give them up, so she shakes her head. ]

No, sorry.

[heresyandlace]

Ah, that's a shame. [he'd kind of been hoping for those earrings]

What about coins? I don't really care where from.

[proteusmoon]

[ It really bothers her that she can't remember who gave her the earrings in spite of how attached she is to them, but she inwardly pushes the thoughts aside. ]

Coins? Are you telling me you want to trade for shiny things?

[heresyandlace]

No, of course not.

[don't be silly.]

...I'm primarily looking for metal.

[shininess is just a bonus.

...mostly.]

[proteusmoon]

[ Oh, well. Semantics. ]

I see.

[ Actually, she really wants to laugh, but she doesn't. ]

Well, I don't have coins or jewelry, but I do have weapons-- made of metals.

[ She moves the comm board to show the cage behind her. ]

[heresyandlace]

[he leans forward to peer at the screen, but frowns when he sees what she's indicating]

That's no good.

I need high quality, soft metal. Steel is terrible. And those are mostly synthetic materials anyway.

...Precious stones work too. You don't have any of those hanging around? ...What about small magical items?

permavoice

[broroona]

[wow keep being shady friend]

You sound like you're asking for sex.

[heresyandlace]

I suppose it might sound that way if you're used to buying sex.

But, no. You'd know if I was asking for that.

I'm looking for something else. ...Are you interested?

[broroona]

More interested now that I won't have to sleep with you for it. What's your price?

[heresyandlace]

Ha, that would be an unbalanced rate of exchange, honestly.

What I'm really looking for is jewelry, primarily. Any kind--even if it's very small.

Coins are a close second.

[broroona]

[He lets the first thread of conversation go with a light chuckle.] If you say so.

Coins seem just as unbalanced. [In the opposite direction. Still, there's some clinking to be heard in the background.] You looking for a certain type or a certain amount?

[heresyandlace]

See, one man's trash is another man's treasure. Either that, or I am just terribly generous by nature.

[he motions at the screen a little]

Let me see them. What are they made of?

[broroona]

[He switches the feed to video, hiding himself and closing in on the coins. They're large, thick and heavy antiquated things that weigh in his hand.]

What they usually are. Copper, nickel, silver, gold. [Bouncing his hand a bit reveals the two gold pieces he has. After a long minute or so, he closes his hand around them, switching back to voice.] I'll trade you a silver and gold for the bottle.

[heresyandlace]

I want all of the silver and gold pieces.

[by his tone, he isn't intending on haggling. simply direct and decisive.]

And it's not the whole bottle--though I promise you that it will be as potent as if it were the entire thing.

[broroona]

Then I want all of the bottle. [Mimicking Tek's tone to the point of mocking. Jingling the coins in hand, he makes sure they're heard over the feed.]

If it's not the whole bottle, it's not all the coins. Don't mistake me for being more desperate than I am. Let's keep it simple.

video

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Do you take rubies?

[hi Tek he's decided to talk to you again.]

[heresyandlace]

Let's say that it's for your own safety that I'm not giving you the whole bottle--I don't know if the medics are equipped to treat acute liver failure here. You'll get the same amount as anyone else who wants a share.

And I can use the coins, but only two of them does very little for me. And they are entirely useless to you.

So, I see it as fair. One full share of alcohol for your silver and gold.