Chapter 2: B is for Barter
(by Jenx, added on 2006-03-22 14:02:26 AEST) [Discussion Topic]
It was either amusing or pathetic, and Fai wasn’t sure which. There was no way around it. Kuro-puu had no social skills. So watching him barter for supplies was a little like watching an elephant don a tutu and attempt ballet. It was a disaster in slow motion, but Fai couldn’t bring himself to interfere.
“Godammit, that’s plenty to trade for a blanket!” Kurogane raged, pounding hid fist on the wagon’s wood frame. The tinker shrugged.
“Not with these clothes it ain’t. Nobody’d buy anything this weird.” He tugged at the slick fabric of their last world’s clothes. “Where’d you get these anyhow?”
“That’s not important!” Kurogane reached for the blanket. “It’s payment, so I want-”
“I said no,” the tinker interrupted. “But if you’ve got a few gold pieces to add, I’ll take it.”
Kurogane turned to Fai with such a frustrated and desperate look that it was all Fai could do not to reply without laughing.
“I don’t have any money.”
Kurogane shot a dirty look at Fai then drew his sword, pointing it at the tinker’s throat.
“We don’t have gold. We have clothes. You have a blanket. Let’s trade.”
Fai chuckled at the sheer terror on the tinker’s face. It shouldn’t be funny, but since Fai knew that Kuro-wanko was too nice to really hurt him, and the tinker didn’t know… well, that amused him.
“O-okay!” the tinker stuttered, holding out the blanket. “A good trade.”
Kurogane took it and shoved the clothes at him, but he shook his head. “No no, just take it and leave me alone!”
Kurogane raised his eyebrows.
“…You sure?”
The tinker nodded furiously, so Kurogane took the blanket and left.
“That was weird,” he muttered, handing the clothes to Fai. “First he’s asking too much and then he just gives it to us.”
“You did threaten to kill him,” Fai pointed out.
“Well, I mean- it’s not my fault he’s gullible.”
“Of course,” Fai agreed, smiling. “Not your fault.” |
|
