A Curious Exchange

[Kilgamayan]

> Look to the maid.
> "Uh, are you really okay with this?"

[Neovereign]

> Look to the maid.
> "Uh, are you really okay with this?"

> The maid continues without objection. And in the corner of your eye, something on the stand changes.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Based on current pull speeds, how much longer does the maid have before she's completely pulled in?

[Philosopher]

>What changed

>"Rumia, please stop.  She may be a previous customer."

//I wish to be immortal.  The soul leaves and the body mans the stand forever.

[Kilgamayan]

// I'm prepared to just grab the maid and try to make a break for it, tbh

[Tom]

// Somehow I really doubt we can outrun Rumia.  She's probably the most Youkai-like of all the Youkai

> Quick glance at the stand to see what is changing
> "Rumia!  What if she's someone from the village that just agreed to work here in exchange for something.  Besides how do you know you'll be able to get more meat without the shopkeeper?"

[Neovereign]

> Based on current pull speeds, how much longer does the maid have before she's completely pulled in?

>What changed

>"Rumia, please stop.  She may be a previous customer."

//I wish to be immortal.  The soul leaves and the body mans the stand forever.

// Somehow I really doubt we can outrun Rumia.  She's probably the most Youkai-like of all the Youkai

> Quick glance at the stand to see what is changing
> "Rumia!  What if she's someone from the village that just agreed to work here in exchange for something.  Besides how do you know you'll be able to get more meat without the shopkeeper?"

> A few seconds.
> A message is now visible on the stand, though you dont think you have time to read it.

> "She'd speak up if she had any objections. In fact, she doesnt even look like she cares." Rumia responds. Though you cant affirm such anymore yourself.
>_

[Philosopher]

>"Stop!  You might be trading yourself!"

//I doubt Rumia paid enough to compensate for the shopkeeper.

[Tom]

>"Stop!  You might be trading yourself!"

//I doubt Rumia paid enough to compensate for the shopkeeper.

> "Rumia can't you see something's wrong here!?  Any person would put up a fight or run away from being eaten!"
> "What if they're possessed and this is some kind of trap!?"

[Neovereign]

>"Stop!  You might be trading yourself!"

//I doubt Rumia paid enough to compensate for the shopkeeper.

> "Rumia can't you see something's wrong here!?  Any person would put up a fight or run away from being eaten!"
> "What if they're possessed and this is some kind of trap!?"

> "I don't think they can match my cost. I'll be fine." Rumia says, as the woman is fully pulled in.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is the woman at least still visible?

[Neovereign]

> Is the woman at least still visible?

> No.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

// Putting it out there that I want to reach in and try to grab the woman and pull her out. I won't actually enter such a command without others stating agreement or indifference, though.

[Philosopher]

//Not sure.  It depends on how likely Rumia will eat us.
//On the other hand the stand having a timeshare on Rumia sounds interesting.  That is the minimum that I expect from this ordeal.

[Tom]

// Caveat emptor!  I'm curious to see what'll happen to Rumia, might give us some sense of how powerful the shop is. At least she wont be able to eat us afterwards since we're a paying customer

[Tom]

// Just realized there haven't been any actions
> Exclaim "You've got to read the fine print Rumia!"

[Neovereign]

// Just realized there haven't been any actions
> Exclaim "You've got to read the fine print Rumia!"

> "Hm... Thats a better sign than i expected." Rumia speaks, reading and ignoring you...
>_

[Philosopher]

>Read the message on the stand

[Neovereign]

>Read the message on the stand

> Exchanges: Make any request and provide any payment you possess. Anything can be exchanged, the result depends on the value of what’s traded.
> Note: Do not destroy our stand, as it is currently our best way to contact others for exchanges.
> Examples: Request for food outputs poor quality food. Sincere / Kind request or extreme threatening for food outputs better quality food.
> There is a small picture of a figure speaking to the empty stand below the text, and food appearing atop the stand in another picture next to it.
> "I would've just wrote: 'If you give something, you get something.'" Rumia speaks.
>_

[Philosopher]

>Is it a nice sign?

>Slowly creep away from Rumia and towards the village

[Tom]

> Aha!  The shopkeeper won't be able to fulfill any requests if she's eaten, so to get her to fight back we need to exchange for something quick!

> Do we have anything the shop might consider valueable on us? (Including knowledge and other intangible goods)

[Neovereign]

>Is it a nice sign?

>Slowly creep away from Rumia and towards the village

> Aha!  The shopkeeper won't be able to fulfill any requests if she's eaten, so to get her to fight back we need to exchange for something quick!

> Do we have anything the shop might consider valueable on us? (Including knowledge and other intangible goods)

> Yes. It's neat and easily legible.

> You know a little about Gensoko. Maybe that's valuable? There's also the phone you have.

> You start to sneak away towards the village...
> "Next... In exchange for telling you about the person you looked like-" Rumia seems to begin another trade, oblivious to your departure.
>_

[Tom]

> Keep an eye out for potential customers to show them the market stall!  (Especially anyone who looks gullible...)

> In our opinion does the shop look/feel more official now that it has the sign

[Philosopher]

>Tom

>Turn off our phone

[Neovereign]

> Keep an eye out for potential customers to show them the market stall!  (Especially anyone who looks gullible...)

> In our opinion does the shop look/feel more official now that it has the sign

>Tom

>Turn off our phone

> You continue and turn off your phone.
> ...
> It doesn't seem like it can turn off?

> It does look better, but there's still the lack of any attendees now...
> Actually arriving, the village does seem to have occupants. Not too many roaming around outside, though.
>_

[Tom]

> Take a good look at the villagers we see, do they look wealthy, poor etc.?

[Kilgamayan]

> Do any of the villagers stand out in appearance?

[Philosopher]

>Look for gaunt and desperate faces in the crowd

>Do we see an area that looks like a slum

[Neovereign]

> Do any of the villagers stand out in appearance?

>Look for gaunt and desperate faces in the crowd

>Do we see an area that looks like a slum

> ...Well. Somehow... The maid from the stand appears to be around here. Though with a friend as well?
> It seems peaceful here. In the sense that no one seems needy of anything, or with much trouble. Perhaps this is just a good night for everyone?

> You do not.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> What does the maid's friend look like?