Ch 9 Another meeting, oh joy._So, Not an Apocalypse?

Chapter 9 Another meeting, oh joy.

After leaving the hospital, I headed home. Feeling good about how things went, I notice the time. It's nearly noon. I call Lucas. “I'm sorry! Had a meeting go long! I'll be there is 20 min!”

His gruff response. “Good Maggie is here but she will need to leave when you get here. Her kid is sick, again.”

I try not to speed. Running up to my apartment, I swiftly changed and ran back down. I'm grateful my uniform isn't very dirty from yesterday's shift. Regretting not grabbing a couple of pristine I jump back into my car and get to work.

“I'm sorry, I'm late! I didn’t think it would take so long!” I call to room as soon as I walked in. There isn't any customers, just Maggie at the register. A woman with elementary school kids. She decided to go back to work when they started school and chose this place. Shes been here since.

“It's no problem, Arthur, we all have problems sometimes. If you don’t need anything, I'll head off. I'll see you later this week, alright?” she says as she takes off her hat and goes to clock out.

Lucas in the office hears us and comes forth. “Good you made it, next time be more careful, it was luck we didn’t get a rush already. Might be a slow day after all.” he grumbles. Slow days mean little work, and we still get paid.

I start with the lines just like yesterday. Then the cleaning. Then checking on the drinks machine. Seems like they got it back up just fine. Enough bread for a lunch and dinner. Enough cookies for a long shift. Enough produce cut and set up for a long shift. Enough meat prepped and ready for a long shift. All sauces counted for. I stand at the register. Staring out the windows that make most of the front wall. There is little foot traffic today, being just afternoon. Most everyone is back to work, or still in school.

I stare out the window. It's going to be a long shift today.

*****

It was a long shift. Come four o'clock, in walks Kate. I'm so ready to be done. Who else is working today though?

“Lucas, anyone else coming in?” I yelled back to him.

“Mikey is coming in at 5. said he’d be late because his old man had his car.”

Ah, Mikey a 23 year old college dropout that lived at home. He tries. He has two jobs but his parents police his money and spend it for him. He really needs to cut them loose. And just move out. Maybe I'd see about my complex have openings. He’s a good kid.

“Running off fast? Got somewhere to be so soon?” Kate calls me. As I hurry around the store. Finishing up my share of chores.

“Yeah, a couple of projects I'm excited about. Looks like I might make something of it.” I grin at her. Truly happy for a moment. I can't wait to get home and check my status. I can't do it here. I wouldn’t keep a straight face. I dream of how much I've made from the wands. I doubt I've sold more than five. But if I've sold ten? Gods that would be wonderful. Nearly anything I want in store right now I could get. I could probably stock my fridge entirely. Maybe look at computers, or cars. Or a nice pair of clothes to set my enchantments on? My mirth catching me up. I tell myself to calm down. I might not have sold any. Then I'd post it to message board. Telling my experience with the wands. Could I make a thread post? Maybe. Getting to my car I headed home.

Going into my apartment, I swiftly changed into lounge pants. My glee highest now. I call ‘status’

Name

Level

Experience Gain

Credits

Arthur Turner

20.7%

2150

I grin. A little hysterically I laugh. Long and loud. This. Is me. I'm set. Soon as I can pay rent in credits I'm set. Maybe I should just level up inventory and buy a tent! No, my poor computer. Maybe a camper van! I pause a moment. I could. I could totally buy a camper and live in it. With inventory I would never need to worry about storage. With pristine I wouldn’t need a shower. As long as I can find a terminal I'd get a meal. I thought about it a little more. Parking garage. I could live above the dungeon. I hold my breath as I think on this. I wouldn’t need much space to enchant. Just a table. I could always set up at picnic grounds or a superstore. I could go to campgrounds for longer term when I wanted a break. The only thing I really need an apartment for is my bed and my computer. There are public bathrooms, but I was already working on a situation to deal with that. For just myself? I'd be able to experiment as I liked until I found something better.

Releasing my breath slowly. First sell the pristine wand I didn’t use this morning. Then, consider a healing wand. Or maybe a bandage wand. Or maybe something to keep someone in stasis? I'll try for bandage first. Never know when that could be useful for myself or others. With enough enchantments I could turn anyone into a healer. I should probably practice self heal more. Maybe working out?

I breathe deeply for a few minutes. Calming myself down. Take stock. What do I need first? Sell the wand, get something to eat. I don’t work today, so I'm not on any time limit. It’s a little after five now. Bus stop might be busy, but that’s fine. Just keep calm. Thinking for a moment. I call up ‘skills’

Skill

Level

Enchant

Create Incomprehensible Language

Organized Thoughts

Inventory

Optimal Repose

Teleport

Heal-Self

Looks nice, like a proper character. I can practice teleport in the dungeon as much as I like, just take some food with me. I haven't seen the end of inventory, so I guess it just gets bigger. I'll sell the wand, get something to eat. Post about the wands, then take a nap. And it will be a nap because I haven't been up that long. Shouldn’t last more than an hour at this rate.

Getting dressed means throwing a shirt on. And sliding my feet into shoes. I headed downstairs to the bus stop. Few people crowded around. Getting close I start swiping the air, not sure how close I really have to be. About four feet from the furthest person out the screen appears. I had to sell.

Enchantment

Description

Suggested Price

Your Price

Wand- Pristine-One Person

Reusable wand, register a trigger word for ultimate cleaning. Rid of grime and soil of objects and people alike. Point and aim.

100

Simple enough. I scroll to full meals. Selecting entrees, I see what pulls up.

Chicken

Beef

Pork

Fish

Vegetable

Picking chicken, because that is always simple enough.

Fried with gravy

Grilled with lemon

Roasted with glaze

Baked in sauce

BBQ

Seared with fruit

Smoked

Rotisserie

Boiled

Too many choices. It’s a full meal so should it be 2 credits? But I didn’t do portion sizes first this time. Seared sounds good. I selected it.

Portion

Cost

For one

For two

For four

Oh, that’s why. You can buy it in multiples. Should I? Yes, yes, I should I buy the four set. A plate hovers in front of me. With four equal sized breasts cooked to golden brown. It looks delicious. I quickly stuff it away in my inventory before someone says something. Maybe I should get something besides just meat? I go back and select sides.

Carb

Vegetables

Easy enough, need more nutrients so I pick veggies.

Green Beans

Asparagus

Corn

Carrots

Broccoli

Brussel Sprouts

Cabbage

Peas

Beets

I like beets quite a lot actually, so I selected it. The next screen makes me blink.

Portion

Cost

For one

For two

For four

No choosing how they're cooked? Just portions? Again, I selected four. Grabbing the floating plate and shoving it into my inventory. I'm all set for the next few meals. Will just need to remember utensils.

I got back to my apartment. Grabbing utensils and a smaller plate, I pulled the food back out. It looks wonderful. It's still very hot? I thought it would have cooled off more? Is this because my inventory leveled? Not sure yet. I pull a portion of each onto the smaller plate and slide the rest of the platters back into my inventory. I should check through that at some point, but right now I'm hungry.

After stuffing myself, I consider. I'm going to nap anyway, so I should use up my mana and nap longer, right? Do I want to try a new enchant or make a couple more pristine wands? New enchant. Always

Snagging a paper square to me, I start to think. What makes me think of bandages? Holding together flesh? Staples are out, because metal doesn’t belong in skin light like. Stitches are out, because that would mean actually piercing the wounds. Holding together and gluing flesh together once more? Do I want to try and heal with the bandages or just try and prevent damage?

I consider it more. I don’t think I could make any healing enchantment right now, so I'll stick with holding a wound close. Or maybe preventing more damage? Gauze rolls come to mind. Usually on deep wounds, more used in Hollywood than real life, I think. But it is there. I start by drawing a valley, then tying it back together with a mesh. Back and forth, stringing it closer together. Imagining the valley coming to a point it's nearly touching. And end it there. The drawing looks a little off, but that’s fine. I consider making this a wand. I do it. I'll sell both. Grabbing the last two dowels I make them both this new wound cover. Needs a better name? Bandage doesn’t really fit. Looks more like it's trying to seal it. Sealant? That works. New sealant tag and wands done. Food away and mana used. I go lay down for a nap.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

*****

Waking up fully rested is still a luxury I'm indulging in. It's been two hours? 7pm seems like a decent time. I started to prep myself for a dungeon run. Thinking for a moment, should I buy clothes from the store? And maybe stitch pristine on them? Or should that wait til later? I'll do dungeon first and craft later. I pull out my set of dungeon going clothes, still pristine afterwards. My shoes on the other hand. Maybe I'll buy a pair of boots? That seems like a good idea. Putting on sneakers for now I double check I have my wands, kbar and chainmail in my inventory and head to the bust stop.

No one seems to be around right now, so it's not bad. Pulling up to the terminal I swipe to clothes.

Head

Feet

Face

Torso

Arms

Chest

Back

Hands

Legs

Seems the same as armor, alright. I select feet.

Sandals

Shoes

Boots

Boots is right, let's see what they have.

Low

Half

Full

High

Not very descriptive, but that’s fine. Full seems like a good choice. Select it.

Item

Cost

Full Boots

No more selections? That’s fine. I purchased it. And then check my inventory.

Chisel

Chest Chain

Wire Tools

Wand-Force bolt*2

Needles

Cotton Thread

Plastic Hoop

Kbar

Plastic Frame

Sharpie

Wand –Gravity*2

Chainmail Shirt

Copper Wire

Wooden Beads

Elastic Thread

Paring Knife

Wand-pristine*2

Wands- Sealant*2

Pristine-tags*10

Sealant-tag

Seared Chicken 3/4

Beets 3/4

Fork

...

Seems right. I still have space to go, but it won't let me see how much more. I'm glad I remembered to grab a fork. Maybe I should check the store for drink? Going back to food, this time I select grocery.

Freezer Staples

Meat

Bread

Baking

Pantry Staples

Fruit

Vegetables

Canned

Fridge Staples

Condiments

Breakfast

Frozen

Dairy

Non-Alcoholic Drinks

Alcoholic Drinks

Snacks

So many things. Let's go with non-alcohol for now.

Juice

Water

Flavored water

Soda

Add-ins

Milk

Coffee

Tea

Mocktails

I wonder. Juice or water? There doesn’t seem to be power aid or Gatorade, so maybe that’s under flavored water? I selected flavored.

Item

Cost

Fruit flavor water bottle, one time use

Fruit flavor water bottle, no limit use

Nothing more? Fine. I back out. Maybe add-ins? I selected that instead.

Item

Nutrient Water bottle, one time use

Nutrient water bottle, no limit use

Just nutrients? Why can't I have flavored with nutrients? Maybe, I can? Can I pull up a second screen? Using my off hand, I try to, and fail. I go back to drinks menu.

Juice

Water

Flavored water*

Soda

Add-ins*

Milk

Coffee

Tea

Mocktails

What? It changed? I select flavored water.

Item

Cost

Fruit flavor water bottle, one time use

Fruit flavor water bottle, no limit use

Fruit flavor with nutrients, one time use

Fruit flavor with nutrients, no limit use

The System saw what I did. And saw what I wanted. And changed. My spine froze. My heart stopped. Chills flowed down my back. I thought the System was some uncaring god. Not some over watcher following our every move. I go back to add ins.

Item

Nutrient Water bottle, one time use

Nutrient water bottle, no limit use

Nutrients with fruit flavor, one time use

Nutrients with fruit flavor, no limit use

I hold my breath. The System was watching. I don’t know why, but this terrified me. I should have been beneath notice. Unless the System sees anything and everything we do. I can feel my legs start to shake. My breath coming out in gasps. Then, my mind starts to cool. Like a valve with too much steam I let out my fear. There's nothing I can do. Maybe the System just watches the terminal? Maybe it was automatic? Maybe we just have barebones store because it will personalize to humans? Or to the individual? I'll have to ask someone if they have the double up drink. But first. I purchase nutrients with fruit flavor no limit bottle. Because I have an inventory and I'll never be without something to drink.

I stepped back from the terminal for a second. I circle around to the actual bus stop and sit on the bench. I take a few deep breaths and calm my mind. I tell myself to relax, there isn't any way I could change this. The System is already here. My breath stutters a couple of times. Breathing deeply, I start cataloguing what I'm smelling, an old coping trick I used in school. When thoughts became too much. I could smell grass from the little greenery here and there. Someone had flowers near, I think. I could smell the smoke of someone grilling. I could smell the trash from the alley. I open my eyes. Glad there is no one around to see me. I go back to the terminal.

Just before I open the screen. I pull out the plate of beets. It's been hours yet the plate is still warm and pleasantly edible. I suppose my inventory is slowing time or some kind of stasis effect now. That means I can purchase bulk meals or ready to go food and stock up. Is it safe to sleep in the dungeon? I wouldn't have to come out at all. Except to reset it. I don’t really fancy testing that, however. I can just spend hours there til I get tired of practicing magic and then come out to craft.

I go to full meals, because I have utensils and a drink, all I need is something to eat. I can get a variety of dishes and eat them cold if I want to.

This time I select sides.

Carb

Vegetable

I'll likely get both, so I'll start with carb.

Potato

Pasta

Ah, more choices. Let's go with pasta.

Pesto pasta

Marinara Pasta

Alfredo pasta

Vodka pasta

Not many choices, that’s easy enough, alfredo is my favorite.

Portion

Cost

For one

For two

For four

I selected the four portion again. And a large bowl shimmers in the air in front of me, I take it and put it into my inventory. I go back to sides and pick vegetables.

Green Beans

Asparagus

Corn

Carrots

Broccoli

Brussel Sprouts

Cabbage

Peas

Beets

This time I selected carrots. Need a variety in your diet.

Portion

Cost

For one

For two

For four

Selecting four portions again, a platter divided in sections is in front of me. Once more I just inventory it.

Maybe I should get another meat while I'm at it? I think there was fish? I go click entrees and select fish.

Grill

Steam

Poach

Bake

Fry

BBQ

Smoke

Raw

I'm definitely choosing fried. Portions menu comes up, and once again I select four. After throwing the platter into my inventory, I close out the screens. What else did I want to look for in the terminal? I can't remember, which is odd. I thought organized thoughts was supposed to help with that.

The message board! I wanted to announce my wands.

Could we be ruining mana?

User:0958465215

Time:12.56GMT

Why can't I throw fireball yet?

User:0064859452

Time:01.02GMT

Have you seen these epic clothes?

User:0064851256

Time:1.05GMT

...

Seems like the board is popular. It's been updating very few minutes. I start a new thread and a blank text box opens before me. There is a floating stylus in front of it. So, I don’t have to type I can just write, which makes it easier I suppose. I start writing.

Now for sale! Wands as Weapons! Kill monsters in one shot! In Store now!

User:00755348

Time:1.09GMT

That should get people's attention at least. Oh, right I should sell the sealant wand too. But it doesn’t count as a weapon? Where would it go? I pull up the sell page.

Enchantment

Description

Suggested Price

Your Price

Wand- Sealant- One Person

Reusable wand, register a trigger word to cover open wound. Seals wound until healed. Singular target. Recommendation: use in life threatening situations.

Now for the tag

Enchantment

Description

Suggested Price

Your Price

Sealant-tag

One time use tag to be placed on person with open wound. Seals wound until healed. Recommendation: to be used in life threatening situations.

There, little mark up, but anyone should be able to get one. I'll tell the national guard about these so they can spread the word. Or should I make flyers? I could. I get paid tomorrow, just send them to get printed somewhere. Or buy a cheap printer. Maybe. How cheap are they? I'll google it later. I walk to my car. Sitting down on the bumper I switch shoes and throw my sneakers in the backseat. The boots fit me well but are uncomfortable. So, no magic fitting boots. Lucky me I have auto sizing. I run up to my apartment and scribble a couple auto sizes out, I put one on each boot as I wear them with socks, the laces loose but tied.

The boots almost shivered but tighten and relax in different places and suddenly they fit perfectly. I took a few steps. They need a little breaking in, but this will probably be the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned. Maybe I should get a few more clothes too.

*****

Driving to the dungeon didn’t take long. There was a little bit of a crowd surrounding the dungeon once more. Looking to be healers again at practice. Maybe I should tell them about the wands too? Then they can run the dungeons.

Heading to the guard booth I stop short. I pull out a sealant tag and went to speak to the guard.

“Hey, I've been here before, so I don’t need the spiel. Wanted to pass some info along. Made a bandage tag and wand that anyone can use. For sale in store, think you could pass the message along? There're also wands that can kill the goblins too.”

The guard paused before nodding at me. He stepped back and radioed to someone, voice too low for me to hear.

“Please wait here, someone will come to speak with you shortly.”

I smile, and step to the side of the booth. Alright, I suppose that isn't too bad. I guess the guy at the front door can't really make decisions, can he? Has to go higher up. But still, not what I expected for my day.

It wasn’t long before three men in uniform join me at the booth.

“I hear you have something to tell us?” the man with the stripes says. I nod.

“I made a tag and wand that can magically seal any wound to prevent more damage. I'm selling them in the store for relatively cheap. I also made wands that can kill the goblins. Force bolt is single target and gravity is area of effect.”

The man with stripes looks me over. I know I don’t look like much in my thick jeans and my loose tshirt. But I haven't equipped up yet. At least my boots are nice. He huffs.

“Fine, let's see these in action and maybe we'll talk more about it. How about you me and this guy here” pointing at one of the men behind him, “run the dungeon together and you show us how fancy you can get with magic bits.”

I smile, that’s just about perfect. I don’t know how well I could carry someone through the dungeon, but I have a guess they could probably carry me.

“It's a deal, I'm set to go anytime now, when are you ready?” I stand up, preparing to pull everything from my inventory to be equipped.

“Don't look so hasty, we haven't got the free armor spare. We only have a few sets to go around. So, need to file the paperwork to get it to us.” I blink. Well then.

“Or I could loan you the credits to buy a couple things? Maybe just chest pieces for you two and a couple auto sizes? Then you could pay me back after the run?”

He gives me a hard look. “What the hell do you mean auto size?”

I stop and stare at him. “One of the first enchantments tags for sale. Auto size, one time use tag to make any wearable object fit user provided you can get it somewhat on you. I made them the second day. That and pristine. The clean all, get anything grime and soil free.”

He nearly growls. “We have been fitted with the poorest sets of armors and there is a magical chit that can perfect size everything? How many times can they be resized? How many times can something be reused and not have to be fitted to each person? Are you fucking kidding me?!” He does growl this time.

I back up a little. “The tags are for sale for 15 credits each. I did that so anyone can get good armor. After a single dungeon run. They can get a full setup.”

He stares at me. And snorts. “Fine, whatever. There was a solution we didn’t know about because we didn’t think to look. But now we do.” he grouses to the two men behind him that haven't said anything. “Retil you're with me, Malkin, get the info to the brain squad, need to check the store more thoroughly. We can find more about what's for sale there.”

Then he stares at me once more. “You, two chest pieces and two sets of leg armor, to be paid back at the end of the dungeon run, in credits given when we return from dungeon. Agreed?” He holds out his hand to me.

As I reach out to his hand a System window pops into being in front of me. I stare at it.

You are about to agree to a deal made with Rolan Sorko.

Agree

Agreement Two pieces of chest armor and two sets of leg armor. For the return of credits at end of a complete dungeon run

Do Not Agree

I look at him. “Do you see a screen too?”

He nods and clicks something. I click agree as well.

“I suppose that we have to finish the dungeon now then.” he states. “Might as well get it over with.” He pulls a radio from pouch and talks into it. “System watches deals made if credits are on the line, spread the word. Going into the dungeon with equipment on credit. Reporting on possible weapons in comparison to match current arsenal. Will return within an hour.”

He put the radio away. Nodding to who I assume is Malkin, who then turns and walks away from us. He starts towards the bus stop. “Let's get that armor first, then you can tell us all about your equipment.”

Ch 9 Another meeting, oh joy.

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