nexus_sages | Back to School - Band Candy (LOL Alert!)

A table has been set up in the forum, hung with banners and piled with boxes. A slim, well-dressed man fusses over it, straightening signs and smoothing the tablecloth. The signs and banners are for a high school pep and marching band. When the table and the wrapped bars of chocolate on it are arranged to the man's satisfaction, he steps behind it and raises his voice to call attention.

"Friends! It's the season in many places for the resumption of studies. Children are going back to school, and those schools are woefully unfunded! Tragic, I know, but it's become customary for the funding of activities like sports, art, even music, to be supplied by the sale of treats--such as these!" A sweep of his hand indicates the confections on display.

"The town of Sunnydale always has a particularly difficult time, in that area, I'm sorry to say, and now more than ever. Their school band is hard beset, what with consistently leading the division in fatalities, but now? The majority of their town has been devoured by a sinkhole!" He removes his hat, holding it over his heart as he shakes his head with an expression of sorrow.

It passes. "But! The spirits of those children remain indefatigable, and all they need are instruments, uniforms, and other such trifles, to carry on. So, in the name of lending a hand to those in need, I come to you, good denizens of the Nexus, with the chance to show your support. Reclaim a little taste of youth, and help youths hard beset, all for the flimsiest of payments. I take all forms of currency, and arrangements can be made for deferred billing or other alternatives."

"So: will you think of the children?"

((LOL Alert! This is indeed the candy from an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Eating it reverts a character's emotional maturity to adolescence, when hormones run high, judgment runs low, and leading priorities include having fun and impressing the interesting sex(es). The effects are temporary, but seem to be consistent with the quantity consumed, and come on fairly quickly. Have fun with it!))

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"One American dollar, sir," the silk-voiced man in the fine vest answers, "although I am happy to accept other currencies at their going value. Were you interested in just one, or perhaps thinking of gifts...?"

"I'm afraid I don't know what an American dollar is, but I have something that should work." He fishes out a couple of silver coins from his pocket, offering them to Schön. "The coins are all silver, but I'm afraid I don't know what that means for your exchange rate. And just one for now, thanks. If it's good, I'll come back for more."

Schön accepts one of the coins, rolling it over the backs of his fingers to inspect both sides before tapping it once, lightly, against a horseshoe sitting on the table behind one of the displays. "Amestris silver? One of these will do nicely, sir, thank you, and I hope you enjoy."

"Thanks. Hey, wait a second." How did he just-- "How do you know where this currency is from?" Hughes hasn't spoken with Schön before, so how does he know what kind of money it is?

He's not going to take his candy bar yet. This has the Intelligence officer very much on edge. No one's supposed to know more about what's going on in a place than him. Perhaps that's why Katsuya warned him about Schön?

"I make it a point to acquaint myself with a wide array of currencies," the thin man explains smoothly, "as my own transactional pursuits tend to be wide-ranging."

That gets a raised eyebrow. "So you've come across this before? Or do you simply know things?"

People in the Nexus can do a wide variety of things that Hughes never imagined possible. Acts that fall outside of the realm of alchemy - which was the closest thing to magic that he knew about - didn't seem impossible here.

"I've seen some," he answers. "Mostly novelties or mixed coinage from local traders. It's safe to assume someone from a world like yours was here at some point before now, I should think." He chuckles, adding, "I might like to simply pluck knowledge from the ether, but my researches tend to be of more mundane stripe."

"Pluck the knowledge from the ether?" What an intriguing thought. The possibilities a talent like that could open up for him. "And how does one manage something like that?"

Now he's very curious. He suspects there's something "wrong" with the candy, but the desire to find out just what that might be is getting to him. He'll nonchalantly grab one of the milk chocolate bars, his gaze staying fixated on Schön.

"Generally, one forges pacts and bargains with those beings who dwell in the ether, and are holding the knowledge you want." He pauses for a moment of wearing a semi-innocent expression. "Of course, such pacts can be fraught with peril, to one who attempts it without guidance."

Schön would, if asked, argue that the candy bars are exactly as advertised: a taste of youth, which he's certain he mentioned.

That's going to get a small frown in return. "So there isn't some all knowing... being in the ether that one could ask for information whenever they wanted?" Damn. Hughes should know better than to get his hopes up.

The candy bar gets turned over in one hand slowly. Schön will notice Hughes manages to weave it between his fingers without any real effort. Candy bar in one hand, his chin in the other. It was a common thinking posture for Hughes.

"There might be," the thin man admits, "but what would they want? And what would you need to trade away simply to learn of them?" He pauses, then adds, "of course, you could always try to steal the knowledge, but that tends to be rather more fraught. I wouldn't advise it."

Edited 2015-08-27 14:28 (UTC)

The frown is now accompanied by a furrowed brow. "I guess I should stick to the old fashioned methods, then. No need to go up against something I don't understand." There's enough of the crap going on back home to last him a lifetime. Damn alchemists and their science.

After a pause, he nods to Schön. "Either way, thanks for the candy, Mr... Well, I don't believe I ever caught your name."

"Many say the old ways are best," he agrees, before extending a thin hand. "Freund. Schön W. Freund, and pleased to meet you, Mr...?"

He takes the extended hand and gives it a firm shake. "Lt. Colonel Maes Hughes."

After releasing Schön's hand, Hughes slips the bar of chocolate into one of his pockets. He's tempted, but he's a little too cautious to just eat it right here. No, it's best to wait until he's some place safe. Home, perhaps. He'll figure something out, though.

"Thanks for the candy. Good luck with your fundraising." He doesn't smile, but his honesty is easy enough to pick up on.

"A pleasure to meet you, Colonel, and may I dare hope many happy returns."

"And thank you, for your well-wishes. I shall be here for some time, if you find yourself in the mood for more. A gift, perhaps."

Edited 2015-08-28 04:12 (UTC)

"I'll keep that in mind, thanks." He nods, then slowly backs away from the table.

So many interesting things just happened. Hughes has a lot to process while he contemplates what to do with his chocolate bar.

Back to School - Band Candy (LOL Alert!)

I aim to please, and who doesn't love a classic?

I don't know, but I feel sorry for those that don't!

Theirs is a sorrow of their own making. They will die angry, having missed everything cool.

Those poor, unfortunate souls.

In pain. In need.

I like you :D

Aw, thanks. You make a good first impression, yourself.

I try my best. Also, excuses to use my knowledge of proper alt-codes for umlauts makes me happy. XD

My alt-fu is weak. I copy-pasted it out of Google Translate, and have been copy-pasting ever since.

That's why I'm here! For later use, Alt + 0246 = ö

Thank you!

You're welcome!

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