Shopping...maybe?

Posted on Mon Aug 28th, 2023 @ 6:43am by Ensign Raven Windancer & Lieutenant Rebecca McMillen

Mission: Trade And Tribulations
Location: Market

Raven was curious to see what she could find of use for her latest invention: a...well...Raven would figure it out when she saw what she needed to get it started...(yeah, it was one of THOSE type of inventions).

Rebecca played tag-along, mostly just literally along for the ride. She was riding along in Raven's hip pouch, a satchel from times of old it seemed. One thing you noticed when you had a perspective like Rebecca's was that pockets were becoming an endangered species. "So, what are we on the hunt for? And the first one of you that says a nice Doll House for the Science Officer on duty is gonna get such a write up." she was teasing, all in good fun. She knew how unique she was in the fleet. All too well.

"No but seriously, what's on the list? I might not look it, but I am a highly respected scientist." a pause, "Just, you know... travel size."

Raven chuckled softly.

"I wasn't thinking about that, but if you see something you think'd be of use to you, give me a holler!

Hm...I'm looking for something a bit unique that I can fix and either resell, or add to my arsenal, or add to my 'this is my stuff' pile. Heck, might even make some more pouches for carrying things! I'm forever dropping something cause I thought it was in a pocket!" Raven chuckled again.

"Well, do note, I'm in a pocket and you are not allowed to drop me." Rebecca offered with a giggle. "Alright so we're off on a STUFF quest then. Just find whatever catches your attention or if I spot something that certainly doesn't belong in a junk pile. I gotcha, I'll keep my eyes peeled."

"Exactly! No worries on that point though. Once something's in my pocket, I don't ever drop it!" Raven giggled, forever marveling at the small but awesome Lieutenant.

"So let's see...hm...WOW! Check that bad boy out!" Raven whistled appreciatively a few minutes later as her eyes landed on a Hyperbralic Stream Fuser!

"What?" the diminutive woman leaned out of the pocket and checked out the view. "Wait is that ... okay go check that out, but play it cool. Check the third fuse assembly, those always popped. If it's intact, then you've got a latinum mine there."

"Right...thank's Rebecca. Greetings, what might that little gimmick be?" Raven casually spoke to the merchant.

The merchant gave a smile, steepling their fingers together in something of a greeting. "Ahhhh, fair traveler from far stars. My humble personage is here to assist." he turned to follow Raven's glance, "Ahhh, a keen eye with such a pleasant visage. This is a Stream Fuser, Hyperbralic model nine. Delegated to antiquity and history, but something is not beautiful because it lasts." he offered a bit of a history lesson. "You may inspect if you wish, but if damaged goods returned, then damaged goods purchased." the age old adage.

Raven swallowed a smirk as she respectfully returned the greeting, then gently checked over the Fuser, while paying special sneaky attention to the third fuse assembly, which was good!

"Well, this is a nice piece of equipment. What would a fair price for this be?" Raven tried to stay casual, but it was HARD!

The merchant allowed the inspection as offered, "A fair price, for a keen eye. Fifteen strips, if Latinum is the currency of choice. If you're dealing in more, exotic currencies..." the merchant pulled out a PaDD seemingly eager to perform calculations of the economic sort. The display was large and clear, there'd be no cheating the client here. At least, no cheating the client mathematically. Overreporting the value of the goods, however, was always on the table.

"I'd say ten strips would be more accurate...only cause of the scratches here, here, and here," Raven gently pointed out. She'd seen this trick before, and was ok with playing the game...to a point.

"A sign of authenticity in the age of replication on demand." he countered. "Thirteen."

"True. How about twelve and a half, on account of the crimson markers?" Nala would have gladly paid the fifteen, but bartering was the name of the game here.

The merchant was silent for a moment, but didn't want the chance of a sale to escape his... whatever those were. "Agreed." he announced, and produced a small device similar to a small personal PaDD. A simple, standard transfer of ownership, and transfer of funds. He scrolled through and selected the proper currency type and the proper denomination. "Verify, and then authenticate and it's all yours." he handed it over to Raven.

"Read. Everything." Rebecca warned from the safety and cover of her pocket. The contacts around these parts weren't known to be misleading, but the diminutive officer had been warned in the past to read everything before signing.

The contact itself was simple and straightforward. Transferal of ownership, and transfer of funds.

Raven nodded, then read every last word...despite her eyes being way sore by the time she was done.

The contract was indeed simple, so after signing it and transferring the proper funds, Raven carefully put the Hyperbralic Stream Fuser into a special travel case, thanked the Merchant, and headed off.

"This is so AWESOME!!!" Raven squealed as soon as they were out of earshot.

"Lemme see! Lemme see! Damnit this pocket might as well be a mile deep lemme see!!" came the scientific squeak.

"Alright, alright! Hang on a second! There, how's that?" Raven stopped at a caffe, set down the Fuser, and gently helped Rebecca out of her pocket and onto the table.

"So cool huh?" Raven asked excitedly.

The diminutive scientist actually was able to walk around the unit and inspect it up close. Running her hand along the scratches, the blemishes, the imperfections. The fact that it was damaged oddly enough made it feel whole. "Okay, this is a find. I used to love going to scrap meets before. Well, you know, before." she paused, "Used to find lots of weird finds, not even equipment but just jewelry and such. See, sure, the replicator can make anything, but you gotta know to have it make it first. Scrap meets were all about inspiration."

She chuckled, "Heck, now I could shop at one to find a home. Or risk being sold as a toy."

Raven chuckled softly as she pictured someone trying to buy Rebecca as a toy for their child.

"This is something I've enjoyed since I was a child...the one thing I could do no matter where they sent me," Raven's shoulders slumped at the sad memories that surfaced along with the happy ones.

"Enough about me, what do you want to do next? We can grab a bite or do some more shopping?" Raven shook her head, blowing the dark cloud away.

"Okay so that's a fun question. I'm kinda hungry, and there's really not much that I want that I can't just, like we said before, replicator. I mean the truth is, there's not much I *want* because..." she just motioned to herself. "It's hard to shop for anything my size. I'm like, what, a Size Negative 20?" she giggled, coming out of her funk. "And, well as awesome as it sounds to live in a dollhouse, those chairs and beds are amazingly uncomfortable." she giggled again.

"I suppose I could program the replicator or the holodeck to just 'Build me a mansion, to scale' and let it do the work. Okay, now I'm having trouble NOT seeing it. Like a big ass mansion, pool, yard, all that and it's just like, on someone's desk." she giggled.

"Okay okay okay.... mansion dreams later, how about some food?"

"Sounds like a winner.

Let's see...no, no, NOT ON YOUR LIFE, nope...BINGO! That looks great!" Raven pointed to a little 'hole in the wall' spot that was brightly decorated and had delicious smells emanating from it.

"Ooooo, sure looks pretty. Go ahead and order whatever, I'll just sneak a little of what you're having. Oh wow, that sure does look nice." Rebecca took a sniff sniff of the air, "Oh geez it smells so good. Remind me to program this into the Chimera dBase for the replicators..." she giggled, almost squirming in place from just the joy of food. "Gonna regret all this food later. Gotta hit the holodeck gym. NO, it's not a mouse wheel." she said before Raven could offer any input, swatting gently at the looming woman.

"Definitely! Hm...I'll have a Muklameta, a Swing Rattler, and...ooooh, and a Swisher Twizzler for desert!" Raven chuckled softly as she picked Rebecca up, slid her into the pocket, walked into the little eatery, ordered, then sat down.

"I'd say get two but, let's be fair, I'm just eating off your plate." she reiterated, and smiled as she was plucked up so effortlessly, mocking a struggle before she was slipped into Raven's pocket. Once settled in, the diminutive figure leaned against the looming Ensign through the pocket fabric. A little stability before the world would start to shake and quake.

Raven smiled softly as she gently stuck her hand into her pocket and set her on the table. A few minutes later, when the food came, she cut pieces off and put them on a napkin for Rebecca, and then found a nutshell cap for a cup.

"Hope this's ok, Rebecca," Raven said sheepishly.

The diminutive officer giggled, "Sheesh, gotta watch my figure here. Trying to plump me up?" she asked in good humor. The only downside really was no utensils, but she'd make due. Waiting for her massive bounty of food to cool off a bit before she literally tore off a small handful and started to nibble on it. "Mmmmmm, fugg dis is goob...mmm."

Raven chuckled softly as she dug in.

"I've been having so much fun! Have you been having fun too?" Raven asked with a smile.

Rebecca just giggled skyward, "Please, anything that gets me out and about is a good time. Hate being cooped up in the labs. And yeah, everyone says 'But Becca there's so much ROOM for you' but let me just say yeah, the ceiling is high but when literally everything is out of reach, how roomy is it?" she shook her head, taking another nibble, "Now, don't get me wrong, it's not ALL bad, but... it's nice to get out."

"I hear that! Actually reminds me of when I was moving Foster homes. Everyone thought I was a problem...no one tried to get through to me...until my Pit Crew. They loved me as a little sister, they were my family, they wanted me to succeed! They showed me I had a life, a purpose, I could be something great!" Raven smiled at the memories of her adventures...and MISSADVENTURES with her Pit Crew Family.