Magic without a magic

[sturdycoldsteel]

Steel wakes up. This is not where she went to sleep. She has a peek at the stream -

- And lets out a surprised yelp at the nonsensical cacophony.

"What in the blue hells is this place?" No answer is immediately apparent, so she climbs to the top of the ravine, carefully avoiding the various inexplicable things in the area. The snake-goat hybrid was particularly grotesque.

The top of the ravine has a road. She tries to fly, but can't. Again, very strange. This is a pretty nice road, physically, but magically it's completely undeveloped. She walks towards the city, peeking at the stream once in a while only to see fog, and seeking an explanation.

Comments

[namesthesky]

"Well, I hope you can make it work, then."

[sturdycoldsteel]

"I hope so too. Oh, I should mention, some people react differently to some drugs. A very few people will have bad side-effects from it, but nothing lethal probably. And once they know that they can't take aspirin without it making them sick, they can just avoid it. At any rate, how goes the shopping?"

[namesthesky]

"I got a lot of it done last night and should be able to finish today. I can make us breakfast first."

[sturdycoldsteel]

"That would be great, thank you. You're also on the lookout for someone to test a faster version of tattoo-removing on, right? I think I'll have it worked out by the end of today."

[namesthesky]

"I didn't spot anyone yesterday, but yes, I'm looking for anyone who has papers in their pocket and shoes that cover their heels."

[sturdycoldsteel]

"I think I'll ask about renting a storefront. Where would I find their owners?"

[namesthesky]

"If it's empty, there will usually be a sign on the door saying where you can go to speak to the owners."

[sturdycoldsteel]

"Sounds good. They say you have to spend money to make money, after all. I'll go after breakfast."

[namesthesky]

"All right."

Breakfast is a fruity nutty quickbread.

[sturdycoldsteel]

Nom.

"Good luck. Come back and report on progress around noon if you can swing it."

And out she goes, looking for open storefronts.

[alicornucopia]

The main market area is pretty crowded, but there are a few empty in side streets (and one that says SOON: GLASSWORKS and is probably not really available). The question is, does she want to optimize for passerby foot traffic or probable rent or noncompetitive neighbors in unrelated industries like pie and flutes?

[sturdycoldsteel]

She has plenty of time to investigate all the options. High foot traffic seems the most important. She wants to avoid that one surgeon's place.

[alicornucopia]

There's a place with good visibility from the main avenue next to an herbseller and a moneylender, and a little hole in the wall that probably used to be half of a full storefront but does have frontage next to the busiest area, wedged in beside a chandler and a greengrocer's.

[sturdycoldsteel]

She tries to locate the owner of the little hole-in-the-wall.

[alicornucopia]

The hole in the wall is apparently owned by someone who lives just upstairs from it, if she's reading the address right! Isn't that convenient?

[sturdycoldsteel]

She walks up the stairs and knocks on the door, and politely informs whoever answers it that she'd like to inquire about renting the storefront.

[alicornucopia]

The lady who answers says that her husband isn't home but he wants a hundred seo a month for the place. And a tidy quiet occupant.

[sturdycoldsteel]

"I intend to make and sell new medicines from a distant land, but I can do it quietly. Would that be tidy and quiet enough?"

[alicornucopia]

"Probably," says the landlord's wife. "As long as you aren't doing surgeries and none of the things you mix explode or catch fire."

[sturdycoldsteel]

"I'd need a bigger workspace to do surgeries. Some of the things I'd be making would burn if lit, but then again so would wood. I don't expect it to be a problem. If you'll excuse me, I have a few other storefronts to inquire about. I'll be back in a few hours to tell you my decision."

And she goes and similarly asks about the price of the other storefront on offer, expecting it to be higher.

[alicornucopia]

It's nearly twice the price, although not quite.

[sturdycoldsteel]

And it's also right next to an herbseller. Who probably would not appreciate the competition very much, if her medicine's effects overlapped. She goes back to the first storefront. Is there a rental contract involved, or is it closer to a good-faith agreement?

[alicornucopia]

First and last months' rent up front, she has to sign a thing saying she's liable for damages that remain when she leaves or that affects the neighbors, and if she abandons the place without telling anyone they can take her stuff and re-rent after one month.

[sturdycoldsteel]

She tries to convince them to add clauses that say they can't kick her out early without refunding her money, unless she was being disruptive or affecting the neighbors.

[alicornucopia]

She can't get a complete refund in case there's disagreement about what constitutes disruption, but they won't make her pay for months she didn't use except insofar as they're holding the last month's rent in case they need to make repairs and she scarpers.