#014, "A Real Charmer"
Title: A Real Charmer
Game: Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu
Word Count: 595
Pairings/Characters: Deu, NPC Pawn Shop Guy
Warnings: None
Game mechanics used: The Bargain skill and the pawn shop.
For some reason, the members of the army didn't believe in swapping weapons.
It was one thing to give someone a weapon as a gift. Gifts were given out of the goodness of the heart, because someone simply felt like extending kindness to someone else...or wanted to gain their romantic favor, in some cases. But trading seemed like an unspoken taboo; if someone needed a new weapon they either bought it from the shop or waited until someone sold their old weapon in exchange for an upgrade.
When the time came for Deu's promotion, he knew he needed a stronger sword, so almost immediately afterwards he made a beeline for the pawn shop. His was just one of several promotions lately, and they'd sold and upgraded their weapons almost immediately, the shop was sure to have exactly what he was looking for.
"Good day, sir," he addressed the shopkeeper. "I'm looking for something in a good, strong blade. Not too heavy, just strong enough to do plenty of damage!"
The shopkeeper grinned, pulling out a large sword from behind the counter. He almost immediately recognized it as the one Lachesis had sold a few days ago, and grinned. It was exactly what he needed.
"How much?"
"Well, normally a blade like this'll cost ya about five-thousand," the man said, and Deu groaned. Of course he'd find the perfect weapon just after he'd decided to be generous and split his loot with the rest of the army. Even after selling his old sword back at Augusty, he was still about fifty coins short of what he needed.
For a moment he considered asking if the man had anything cheaper, and for another moment he cursed the unspoken agreement between the army. If people believed in swapping weapons I wouldn't be in this mess!
Then, he remembered he had another weapon on hand, a weapon that had served him quite well in the past.
"Of course," he said, "I understand. Good weapons don't come cheap, after all. Why, a blade like that? I'm surprised you don't charge another thousand for it, it barely even looks used!" He smirked. "You can't even tell those little nicks and burn marks are there!" The shopkeeper blinked.
"Er...nicks and burn marks?" he stammered, examining the sword closely. "Well, I suppose...it is used, of course it's not going to be spotless!"
"Indeed," Deu said. "But here's what I think. The sword went for five-thousand new, as I recall. If it's obviously been used, some more suspicious folks might consider it...well, unfair of you to sell it at its original price. Selling something used for its price new could come off as sketchy."
The shopkeeper gave him a wary look, but seemed to be seriously considering this.
"You may have a point, there, young man," he said. Three, two, one... "Say, I just had a thought."
"Oh?"
"You seem like a nice kid. Real honest and forthright," the man said. "So I tell ya what. It's yours for half the asking price, how does that sound?"
"Really? Well, if you're sure, sir," Deu said, feigning surprise. "Gosh, I didn't think you'd lower the price that much!"
"Only for you, kid," the shopkeeper said, handing over the sword. Deu paid the twenty-five hundred gold and slipped the blade into its sheath.
"Thanks, sir!"
"Anytime. You're a real charmer, y'know that?"
"Yeah, so I've been told." Deu left the shop, whistling a jaunty tune as he did. The others would see him with the sword and a pocket full of change, and once again they'd whisper among themselves how does that kid do it and other assorted questions.
Maybe someday he'd share his little secret. Maybe.
Game: Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu
Word Count: 595
Pairings/Characters: Deu, NPC Pawn Shop Guy
Warnings: None
Game mechanics used: The Bargain skill and the pawn shop.
For some reason, the members of the army didn't believe in swapping weapons.
It was one thing to give someone a weapon as a gift. Gifts were given out of the goodness of the heart, because someone simply felt like extending kindness to someone else...or wanted to gain their romantic favor, in some cases. But trading seemed like an unspoken taboo; if someone needed a new weapon they either bought it from the shop or waited until someone sold their old weapon in exchange for an upgrade.
When the time came for Deu's promotion, he knew he needed a stronger sword, so almost immediately afterwards he made a beeline for the pawn shop. His was just one of several promotions lately, and they'd sold and upgraded their weapons almost immediately, the shop was sure to have exactly what he was looking for.
"Good day, sir," he addressed the shopkeeper. "I'm looking for something in a good, strong blade. Not too heavy, just strong enough to do plenty of damage!"
The shopkeeper grinned, pulling out a large sword from behind the counter. He almost immediately recognized it as the one Lachesis had sold a few days ago, and grinned. It was exactly what he needed.
"How much?"
"Well, normally a blade like this'll cost ya about five-thousand," the man said, and Deu groaned. Of course he'd find the perfect weapon just after he'd decided to be generous and split his loot with the rest of the army. Even after selling his old sword back at Augusty, he was still about fifty coins short of what he needed.
For a moment he considered asking if the man had anything cheaper, and for another moment he cursed the unspoken agreement between the army. If people believed in swapping weapons I wouldn't be in this mess!
Then, he remembered he had another weapon on hand, a weapon that had served him quite well in the past.
"Of course," he said, "I understand. Good weapons don't come cheap, after all. Why, a blade like that? I'm surprised you don't charge another thousand for it, it barely even looks used!" He smirked. "You can't even tell those little nicks and burn marks are there!" The shopkeeper blinked.
"Er...nicks and burn marks?" he stammered, examining the sword closely. "Well, I suppose...it is used, of course it's not going to be spotless!"
"Indeed," Deu said. "But here's what I think. The sword went for five-thousand new, as I recall. If it's obviously been used, some more suspicious folks might consider it...well, unfair of you to sell it at its original price. Selling something used for its price new could come off as sketchy."
The shopkeeper gave him a wary look, but seemed to be seriously considering this.
"You may have a point, there, young man," he said. Three, two, one... "Say, I just had a thought."
"Oh?"
"You seem like a nice kid. Real honest and forthright," the man said. "So I tell ya what. It's yours for half the asking price, how does that sound?"
"Really? Well, if you're sure, sir," Deu said, feigning surprise. "Gosh, I didn't think you'd lower the price that much!"
"Only for you, kid," the shopkeeper said, handing over the sword. Deu paid the twenty-five hundred gold and slipped the blade into its sheath.
"Thanks, sir!"
"Anytime. You're a real charmer, y'know that?"
"Yeah, so I've been told." Deu left the shop, whistling a jaunty tune as he did. The others would see him with the sword and a pocket full of change, and once again they'd whisper among themselves how does that kid do it and other assorted questions.
Maybe someday he'd share his little secret. Maybe.