opportunitycosts | [ empatheias ] message box

Hey, it's only natural for the co-owner to make sure his fellow employees are doing their jobs, right? Plus all that paperwork and number crunching can be a pain. Just the smell of that good cooking can help soothe this poor, hardworking soul.

[And there he goes, being his usual, somewhat "dramatic" self.]

Sure, if you don't have faith in their abilities. It isn't too bad to do it once in a while, but enough to get into some trouble isn't a very good sign.

[ She's just to just internally roll her eyes at him. ]

Oh poor you, having to do so much work. It must be such a burden for you to do in that case.

I have faith. I just like to have some fun, too. And—[A grin toward her.] When you put it like that, maybe having a cute secretary to help wouldn't be a bad idea.

Mixing pleasure with business, how like you. [ She'll return with a smirk. ] How tempting. Someone needs to be able to make sure you're doing your job right after all and keep you under control.

Hey, I'm not that bad. In fact you'd be surprised how professional I can be.

In that case, I am sure you won't mind if I hover around you when you're doing work to see it for myself.

You know what people say, you have to see it to believe it.

...Hm, maybe I should rethink the situation. You make it sound like I'll actually have to stay in the office instead of being able to dump the boring stuff on you and then ditching.

[Yeah, sounds like him.]

[ Alvin, please. ]

And to think that you're co-owning a place like this.

Hey, I'm joking. [They're nearing the back where the bar is and the doors to the back area like the kitchen, restrooms, and the stairs leading to the upper levels are.] Mostly.

I do take my work seriously, but while we make good business, we're also not the most happening joint. Slow days for me happen a lot. [If there was a mini basketball hoop, he'd totally have one over the trashcan.] Granted I also travel a fair bit around the city and out, so guess it works out.

I see. [ Which tickles her curiosity about something. ] Did you do this type of work back ... home? [ She isn't sure if she should use the term home seeing that, well, it isn't exactly home anymore (or at least it won't be for her.) ]

It sounds as if you know what you're doing.

[...Ah. Yeah. There's only a slight pause before he answers.]

Not exactly. [A light laugh.] Actually, I partnered with a friend and we got into the fruit selling business. Since you probably don't really know, Elympios doesn't have a lot of naturally grown produce or even animals. It's mostly man-made and specially grown in plants. So my partner had an idea of forming business between the Rieze Maxian farmers and the Elympions. I knew how to handle the Elympions, he had better connections with the Rieze Maxians, and it's a product that holds a lot of potential profit.

So the only thing I really "know" is how to run a business generally and making deals. And even my background is still more of a work in progress.

It makes sense due to the fact Elympios didn't have any spirits, if I remember that correctly. That doesn't sound like a half bad job in that case. I'm ... It is good to hear that you're able to partner with people and work together.

[ One could say it's a very big improvement and a small, sincere smile appears for a second. ]

Those are still important skills because one you have the basics down, you can only build yourself up.

Heh, yeah. I was little surprised he came to me as well and we've had some rough patches, but... [And now there's a bit more of an honest smile flickering his lips.] It's something I want to do right. And since I'm stuck here, might as well get some practice.

[However, he won't say aloud that she may have had an influential hand in him actually accepting the offer. After all, to an outsider, him going from lone mercenary to a fruit merchant might seem quite the leap.]

[ She'll do something she doesn't do too often; ]

I'm proud of you for that, Al.

[Well. No matter how much of a smooth operator he is, hearing anyone, especially her say that, and say that directly to his face, is going to make him look up in surprise.

...And damn this place for making his emotions visible. While externally it looks a bit mild, there's a small rattle of the nearby glass and bottles, and there's a strange fizz and pop sound that goes off around him. It's enough to snap him out of his brief surprise, and also enough to form a flash of annoyance that actually makes those little fizzles and pops dissipate.

Man. Not cool.

In any case, he just tries to not do anymore damage or make any other visible tells as he recomposes himself.]

I'm trying, anyway, but...thanks.

[It's really the only response he can make since his stupid emotions threw him off. ...Except he's also kind of happy inside, so they're gonna screw with him a little more as a bit of a nice, fuzzy warmth in the air and the colors lightening a hue or two. Things that are too subtle for him to notice, at least right away.]

[ Maybe she shouldn't have said that, or at least that is what she is thinking by his reaction and the motions around him that caught her by surprise. Which did remind her of why she came her in the first place before she had gotten distracted by his new job.

Presa cleared her throat. ]

It's fine, don't mention it.

[ Now she's just going to be awkwardly silent. ]

[Yep. Awkward. Fortunately he's the guy to break awkward silences.]

So, you wanted to ask me something?

[Don't mind him as he just grabs two different bottles from behind the bar and heads up the stairs. He feels like he needs just one of these for himself alone.]

Yes, there is.

[ Good thing she's talking to him of all people. She'll follow his lead with walking up stairs. ]

I'm curious about how emotions work here. I've noticed that they can be quite 'vocal' at times.

Aah, yeah. That. [Hopefully she won't bring up what just happened.]

Apparently in this world, emotions are like another energy source, kind of like mana back home. Whenever we feel something, it goes out into the world. And these crystals—[He stops partway up the stairs to pull his out from beneath his shirt. It's a light shade of blue.]—collect some of them as emotion drops.

[Resuming the walk. Just a few more steps and they'll be on the second floor landing and then it's just a few more to the office door. It's a small hallway, with a couple of other rooms. Some occupied with storage, some still vacant (and one repurposed as a nap room).] Don't ask me how it all works, though. Jude would probably be better for the technical details. All I do know is there's not much control to it.

[Fishing out keys.] Well, at least used to. [Click goes the lock and he opens the door to his office. It's not large, but spacious enough to be quaint and comfortable. It's also situated above the entrance so he can see both sides of the corner.] This whole dunamis is kind of new, but apparently you can learn to control your emotions better.

[ Lucky for him, she's good at reading people. That, and she knows him well enough that it would be best to ignore and not use it as an example. ]

Interesting. Feeling a wide range of emotions isn't bad if that is the case and it will be beneficial, for the main part. [ It makes sense why she she has one, which she decided to place around her wrist. ] I might have to pay a visit to the good doctor in that case.

[ One step at a time however. Speaking of steps, Presa quite happily enters the office. It's a lot more private to talk than in front of people -- and customers --.]

Can't you learn to do that yourself though?

[He pulls out a chair for her before sitting down at his desk.]

What, controlling emotions? In a sense, but not always. It's like no matter how you try to hide it, your innermost emotions will take some form, and sometimes not for the better. I've seen things break and bend by people who outwardly looked fine, but were inwardly seething.

Dunamis actually teaches you how to redirect and channel that energy to the point where such strong reactions no longer happen and you can even use it like an arte.

[ A true gentlemen. ]

That makes sense. [ She would know, haha... ] Well there is a saying that you've got to look out for the quiet ones. Interesting how when it's negative, a negative effect happens and the same with a positive emotion.

A lesson we can all learn. ... Like an arte? Hm, a decant reward in that case.

That's pretty much how it works. Once it happens to you, you understand pretty quick. Even better, other people can influence and even counteract your emotions. It took a lot of time getting used to it, but it's kind of handy. Even if takes emotional drama to a whole new level.

I think the reward in learning, though, is the benefit of not having your emotions go haywire on the place. Even if things broken by emotions tend to fix themselves, still not exactly convenient.

Well, at least there is someone that can help prevent emotions going haywire.

... It sounds as if it's best to get in touch with your own emotions. I mean, seeing that you can learn to control, you would need to be able to do so.

[ Mustn't be easy for those who try to hide their emotions, like herself. ]

I think that's actually the first step of dunamis. ...Or was it the second. [A wry laugh and a shrug.] Haven't really had much time to try it and my emotions are pretty stable. [For the most part.] You should look it up. I've heard some folks are going to teach it.

[Yep. Not easy.]

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