Market Redux (Day 5 LM Mount Mainaka Open)

[Toritaka Punchiru]

Punchiru is more interested in observing the haggling between the small girl and the shopkeeper.

"in truth I was going to lend you my expertise, but it seems you are in good hands Yoritomo-sama."

[Yoritomo Kaito]

"I do believe I am Toritaka-san." Kaito said turning to observe the exchange better. "Did you intend to make purchases of your own today?"

[elonweis]

The Crab's comment was followed by a small foot stomp from the girl. That nearly banged her nose on the edge of the bar before a small finger pointed at the man. The merchant was trying hard not to laugh at how serious the girl was, but nods, lifting his hands in a gesture of surrender. Chibi looks rather satisfied with herself and fishes a string of coins from around her neck.

[Toritaka Punchiru]

"Yes, I was looking for vegetables and trade goods. Perhaps your assistant could direct me to my goal. Or perhaps together the three of us could pool our capacities. She seems very fluent and a skill negotiator, and I do have a gift for discovering what shopkeepers need..."

[Yoritomo Kaito]

"Oh I think I recall where the vegetables and the like are myself so showing you there shouldn't be a problems. As for pooling our capacities." He shrugged. "I'm not much on trading especially with foreign money I don't know the worth of. If you and Chibi-chan want to have a look around though I suppose I can come along." He replied as he watched the end of the match between the small girl and the older man.

[Toritaka Punchiru]

Punchiru waits for the girl to be done before addressing her.

"A match well-fought, little one. I am Toritaka Punchiru. What is your name?"

[elonweis]

"Yoritomo-sama, where did you want the jugs to be sent?" she asks the Mantis, holding on to the coins with a tight-fisted grip. Chibi blinks up at the Crab and answers cheerfully, "Chibi!"

[Yoritomo Kaito]

"Sending em to the Half Moon should be fine Chibi-chan." Replied the mantis to the girl as he let her and the crab get better acquainted.

[Toritaka Punchiru]

"Do you enjoy haggling, Chibi-chan?"

Punchiru attempts to remain neutral in this question.

[elonweis]

The girl carefully counted out the coins in to the old man's hand. He nods at the Mantis to acknowledge his preference. The strand went back around her neck, hidden beneath her kimono. Chibi blinks up at the Crab, looking a bit confused at the question, "... huh?"

[Toritaka Punchiru]

"Do you enjoy buying and selling things for the nice samurai who come here?"

Punchiru lowers himself to a crouch to speak on her eye level.

[elonweis]

"I like to go shopping with Cook," she says with a bright smile, "The Mantis and the Kasugar samurai are better at this than I am..."

[Toritaka Punchiru]

"Well, Chibi-chan, if I could borrow your speech for an hour I bet we could do just as well as they do. Would you like that?"

Punchiru smiles confidently.

[elonweis]

"Ok!"

[Toritaka Punchiru]

"The first thing we must do is find someone who has something we want and needs something we have."

Punchiru thinks for a moment.

"I was looking for vegetables which keep and go well with fish. Do you know of any local produce which matches that description, Chibi-chan?"

[elonweis]

"Cook says vegetables don't keep well because they're vegetables and its damnably hot and wet here and that's why we need to buy vegetables every day for meals," the girl parrots without a hint of shame or surprise at the language.

[Yoritomo Kaito]

Kaito smiled slightly at the girls words and glanced at the toritaka. "I think she has the right of it there Toritaka-san you'll be lucky to get a week out of any vegetables we bring aboard."

[Toritaka Punchiru]

"Well, the longest-lived then. A week will still turn a profit, providing your fishing finds favor."

[Yoritomo Kaito]

"That's likely though you'd probably be better off buying em the day before we leave as a day fresher is always better. Suppose you may want to pick up some rice too while we are here." Said Kaito thoughtfully as the wound their way towards the vegetable stalls.

[Toritaka Punchiru]

"I suppose, I would like to simply make contract for delivery of fresh produce as we leave, but I would naturally fall prey to the foreigner's eye."

Punchiru begins to size up the value of vegetables in the market.