Seeking Equilibrium

Sitting at a wobbly square table in the corner is the salamander ki master, Michio. Spread before him are a number of pieces of parchment with various drawings. Aside from that, on the table, sits a ceramic teapot, from which a not unpleasant aroma wafts, and a single small, ceramic, handless teacup. He mutters things as he jots notes on a separate piece of paper and shuffles things around, looking at his notes.

It is clear from his operations that organization is NOT his strong suit.

The front door of the Inn creaked open as the diminutive isopod girl made her way in, squishing sideways after a few failed attempts to clear the door with her overzealous backpack. She was probably prepared for anything, well, besides a job interview. Her twitching antenna scoured this way and that as her bug-like eyes took in the splendor of the arena inspired inn. "Oh wow, nice place...looks, um, sturdy." with the entirely necessary complement of the craftsmanship out of the way she scuttled further inward pacing in circles a bit while she looked for Michio. "I hope I'm in the ri-" Ah, there he was, she'd managed to look right past him at least twice before his table caught her eye. "Oh!" her hand waffled about, fluttering its fingertips as she approached. "There you are, I was starting to think I was in the wrong place. I'm not good with directions. I could get lost in a closet." a beaming smile crossed her features as she pulled up a chair and ceased her chatty rambling, giving Michio some time to respond before she began to yak again.

"Ah! Miss Rori, I'm so happy you could join me!" He stands and gestures to a seat across from him, beckoning the girl to join. "Yes, sorry I didn't see you come in, I was rather engrossed." He gestures at the paperwork, offering a wan smile.

"Ah, and tea. Can I offer you a cup? Unfortunately this inn only serves menu crafted food still, but if I have them boil me water and add my own herbs, I can make a palatable beverage." he offers, waiting until the isopod were fang seats herself before doing so himself.

Tea did sound really nice, honestly she couldn't remember the last time she had tea, let alone something fresh, "That sounds great, I'd love some tea!" she replied, energetically bobbling her head as her words left her lips. "What sorts of herbs do you usually put in your tea? Where do you get them from? Do you ever have to go on a really dangerous quest to get herbs from a scary monster lair?" oh no, someone forgot she had to breath, BIG BREATH, that's better "Am I asking too many questions?" the answer to that one was probably already apparent, but it was added to the pile anyways. After the rapid fire volley of rather unneeded inquiries she belatedly plopped down in her seat, settling in and folding her hands into her lap.

Michio smiles softly as he lifts his teacup and makes eye contact with a server, who comes and places another cup on the table, accepting a silver coin from Michio in exchange.

"Well, it's funny you should ask. This tea is rather simple. Some rose hips, some ginseng, lemon balm, and peppermint. All /technically/ have healing properties, so the system lets me create them using my pharmacy ability, rather than needing cooking. And, it doesn't taste terrible." Michio pours some of the blend for Rori, and then tops his own cup off before sitting back down.

"I have gathered some ingredients from quests and duties, and some I have purchased from Lander shops. None of the ingredients I've found so far have been from particularly dangerous places..." Michio continues, "Well, there was that tasty rat meat I got from the rat cellars duty. That had some alchemical properties, but I don't think I would use it in a tea." He gestures and waits for Rori to taste.

The possibility of rat meat tea certainly didn't sound like a very appetising one, "I don't know, I mean, you never really know until you try right?" one could probably jump to some conclusions about the culinary qualities without having to make that concoction but Rori seemed game for whatever, having an 'I'll try anything once' kind of attitude about rodent refreshments. For now there was something much more desirable awaiting her though and as the cup greeted her lips and she took a few sips the hot beverage inched a smile over her cheek, "Oh, that is really good." a single thumbs up finds Michio, it would have been two thumbs up but it's hard to give a thumbs up and hold a teacup when you have arthropod-esque thumbs.

"Thank you. I am learning about the healing properties of herbs in this world. As well as other properties..." Michio says vaguely, "Perhaps amusingly, however, I am not much of an herbalist. I know how to use the herbs, but not where to acquire them. As such, I have decided to open a shop that buys and sells the herbs." He just lets that hang for a moment and waits for Rori's reaction.

Then mention of a possible storefront startup gets an intrigued twinkle from Rori's insectoid eyes, "Oh, that would be really neat. I'm sure lots of people would go to a store like that. Especially for healing herbs and things." a short-lived montage of tea slurping later she continues her train of thought with even more questions, "Are you planning to build it around here? Or, um, rent a place to open it up? I don't really know how that kind of things works." a certain roly poly may have skipped business 101, but that doesn't seem to be a deterrent for the conversation.

With a slight smile, "Actually, ground was broken and construction began just a couple days ago, not far from here." Michio drums his fingers on the table, "Now, I've heard rumor that Cait Sith characters, such as yourself, are gifted by the system with Mercantile abilities. That is to say, you have a knack for running shops."

Placing a hand on his chest, "I am not inclined towards running a shop myself, truth be told. I know very little about it. On top of that, I often find myself wandering far afield, and it doesn't make sense to have a shop that is closed the majority of the time. Thus, I need a partner. Interested?"

A unknowing quirk of Rori's eyebrow came alongside a slight head tilt. Cait Sith have mercantile abilities? That was news to her, but it has to be true if Michio heard that. Honestly she'd been wandering around pretty much aimlessly for as long as she'd been in the game so having something like a shop to focus on could really be just what she needed. "Well, I think I could handle something like that..." her voice trailed off, there wasn't as much confidence in the statement as she initially would have liked, she still had that bit of second guessing bleeding through her voice. Making the attempt again she took another crack with a newly found determination after some mental 'You can do its' "...I mean, I can do that for sure. I can do anything I set my mind to so I'm sure I can run an herb shop and it'll be really successful." there we go, she just needed to pep talk herself with some inner monologue.

Michio is looking... less convinced, but he's still got a wan smile and seems somewhat charmed by the Rori Poly. "Tell me more about yourself. We're in the same guild and alliance, but we only just recently met on that one duty. What have you been occupying yourself with since The Apocalypse?" He sighs, "Time has flown, hasn't it? Almost a year now."

Has it been a YEAR? IT HAS? There's a second where that really sets in, like part of her had just lost track of time doing whatever she's been up to since she'd been stuck, "Well..." calculating, calculating, calculating. "...you know this and that, mostly collecting things. I've always been a bit of a collector." a couple idle pats on the giant backpack beside her showcase that she has in fact been doing something, though it seems like that something has mostly been collecting trash loot. "I also like to study monsters so I do that a lot, I mean, um, I guess more like monster watching than really studying? Maybe that's a better word. Still, there is a lot to be learned just from watching sometimes." from the sounds of it she's a hobbiest at best, everyone has to start somewhere though...even if that start is at a snail's pace and takes a year.

Michio nods and offers a comforting smile, "That is true. I have spent more time observing the Landers, in order to learn about our world, than I have the monsters. Usually, I admit, when it comes to monsters it's more just punching and throwing fire and such." The man lifts one shoulder in a half-apologetic half-shrug.

"Speaking of Landers, there will be a dojo attached to the herb shop. I expect to offer fighting lessons there, and will allow others to do so as well. After lessons, I intend to let vagrants sleep in the dojo. They will be expected to help out with chores in exchange for a place to sleep. Is this agreeable to you?"

Vagrants? That roughly translates to more friends for the little social butterfly, I mean, isopod, "I'm always happy to have more people around, the more the merrier. I really love meeting new people and hearing their stories and talking with them and...well, you get it." at least she's self aware that she had a tendency to flap her jaw forever. As she continues to attentively listen and hold back the tidal wave of small talk regarding her love for bumping into randos the roly poly girl takes to her tea, you can't talk and drink tea at the same time so it seemed like a good option to not oversaturate the conversation. "Like..." oh no, please, just stay calm you little jitterbug, no more rambling, "...I think that's really nice of you to let people stay there when they need a place to stay. It's good to give back like that."

Inclining his head slightly, Michio accepts the compliment gracefully. "Thank you. I also intend to directly offer healing to any who are in need, whether they can afford it or not. Of course, if it is obvious someone can afford my services, I will charge them. Especially Adventurers. But Landers who need my assistance, and cannot afford, will never be turned away." He pauses, "This being the case, it might be difficult to gain a great deal of wealth while working with me. You will be allowed to keep the majority of profits, provided that the shop is always well stocked with supplies. Is this acceptable to you?"

Nodding a few times Rori's eye peeked across the rising steam of her teacup towards her would be employer, "Oh, it's a paid position?" most jobs are paid positions Rori, that's kinda the standard, did you really not expect to be paid at all? "I mean, um, I'm not really trying to stockpile coin for anything. I'm sure whatever the pay is it'll be more than fair." Tea goes SLLLLUUUUURRRRRPPPPPPP "Besides, it sounds like it's as much a charity as it is a business and I really would like to be involved with something like that. Helping people is a lot more important than a few silver pieces."

Michio smiles broadly, "I suppose you could call it a charity, yes." He inclines his head, "The shop portion I do hope will be able to turn a profit, if only to fund our other endeavors, and that is why I need someone with some amount of mercantile acumen. Do you have any other questions for me about the apothecarium, or the dojo?"

Looking pretty satisfied for the time being Rori shook her head "Um, none that I can think of right now, but I'm sure I'll come up with a bunch really soon." you've asked for this, never forget that you've asked for this, you've only been spared for now...soon...soon...the mountain of questions will collapse down upon you and there will be no escape. There shall be no mercy from the chipper Roly Poly girl's curiosity. "I'm really excited to see the place when it's all ready to go! You said it'll be soon right?" yes...soon.

The man nods, "The team doing the construction estimates a little over a month. He says with more workers they could get it done faster, but I don't have the resources to spare, just yet, to hire more workers. I'm working on some other things currently as well." Michio smiles. "However, I should expect about 4 weeks from now, the shop and dojo should be finished, and we can begin operations."

He pauses again, "I want you to understand, you're going to basically have autonomy over the operation of this shop. You will make the business decisions, and I will not gainsay you. That would defeat the purpose. You will not be my employee, but my business partner. Is that an arrangement you are comfortable with?"

Being a business partner sounded like a lot more responsibility, but it also sounded a lot more appetising. Working for someone was one thing, but working with someone was another and Michio reiterating that his offering was to pull her in as a partner was enough to crank her nearly to her ears, "Oh business partners?" she murmured the question as she sat her teacup on the table. Those words felt really good to say, so of course a quickly echoed repetition was in order "Business partners." the giddy glee flowing from her at this point was enough to power a city block, her little feet stamped on the ground as she let loose a lively round of mirthful applause. "Let's do it! Partner!" now that she'd managed to release the overflow of bright-eyed bliss she extended her hand, you're supposed to shake on this sort of thing right? It seemed pretty legit at least.

With a warm but humble smile, Michio took the isopod's stubby little hand in his own clawed one, and gave a firm shake. "Good, partner." and he seems to relax a little, as if this whole 'taking care of the shop' thing was a weight that he'd been carrying that was easily as heavy as Rori's oversized backpack. "If you need to, you can stay in the Apothecary as well. I intend for there to be a cot or two there for especially sick people, but unless they're contagious you should be fine sleeping there. I am happy that we are in agreement about the need for this establishment, and that you will be the one to see to the business operations when I'm away. Since we're friended already, you can always send me a chimlink, and if I'm away from town, and there is urgent need for medical care, I can contact one of my colleagues to help. If you wish, I can maybe teach you some healing artes down the road. If you have the ability to learn them."

With the ceremonial handshake complete it seemed like everything was in order, it would just be a matter of time until Rori really found her place in the world that she'd been looking for for A YEAR, it didn't feel like it had been that long, but time really does fly when you're collecting junk loot and monster watching. "I guess I could use someplace to stay too." where has she been sleeping? That's a question for another day, unless Michio wants to get trapped in chit-chat with his new business partner for who knows how long. "I'll have to take you up on some of those healing lessons too, you know, eventually." she didn't seem like she was in too much of a rush, but that had been officially added to the to do list. Another few sips of tea finished off the cup and freed her to gather her pack, tossing the enormous thing over her shoulders and clipping the belt in the middle. "I should probably let you get back to business thingies for now, but we'll talk really soon! If there's any way I can help with the building just let me know." with that she launched a high-spirited wave across the table, ready to take off unless Michio had something else to add.

"Oh hey..." Michio inclined his head, "You do know this is an inn. If you need a place to stay, they'll rent you a room." He looks thoughtful a moment, then taps on the air as if accessing an inventory screen. Before Rori pops up a messaging saying,

'Michio Asa wishes to trade 100 gold coins. Accept? Yes/No

"Consider it an advance on your first month's salary, to help you get settled into Breg Epona, until the business is done being built. That should be plenty for a month in the inn, food, and a little spending cash." offers the Ki Master. "Please, you have no idea how relieved I am to find a partner."

An advance never hurt and Rori wasn't going to turn it down. This was a pretty nice inn and it was a lot better than camping out in the woods. "Oh wow, thanks Michio!" she gratefully expressed, taking the coins. "I won't let you down, we're going to have the best shop ever!" she'd nearly forgotten what sleeping in a bed was like, but she was eager to remind herself. "I'll see you soon!" with that she took off to get her room rented. Happy to of made a friend, business partner, and mentor in her adventures today.