2026-03-14: Song of the Part-Timer
- Log: Song of the Part-Timer
- Cast: Maria Sakurai, Yukari Takeba, Shinobu Shimizu
- Where: Yumezaki Center
- OOC Date: March 14, 2026
- IC Date: October 9, 2012
- Summary: Giga Macho needs part-timers. Are you a bad enough dude (or dudette, or none of the above) to work part-time at a demon-infested music store?
MONAD: A party led by Maria Sakurai has begun the event Part Time at the Giga Macho.
(|================== Monad - Part Time at the Giga Macho ===================|)
-==== Round 1: Fowl Misfortune - Challenge Level 1 ==========================-
| Approach Options: Charm or Guts |
| Conditions: Bothersome - Charm Down L1 and Heartening - Guts Up L1 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-
Everyone's heard the rumor that the best job for Part Time Pay in Sumaru
City is the Giga Macho, which means it must be true. Ten thousand yen for a
single eight hour shift seems too good to be true, but the teller says it's
legit, and a frazzled assistant manager hires you right away.
You're uncertain what's going on, but orientation is whirlwind as you're
told where the sections are and put on the floor with basic retail tasks.
Which is when a horrendous crowing is heard in the ceiling tiles.
"Again!?! Go take care of that damn rooster before it bothers the
customers!" The assistant manager quickly hands you a broom, before heading
back into his office. Far be it from livestock though, as you poke the
ceiling tiles you find that an enormous Red Rooster has set itself up inside
of it, as it chomps the broom in half with its beak as it loudly crows.
"RAGNAROK IS COMING!" That's definitely a Demon, not a Rooster, that drops
out of the tiles in front of you, spreading its wings to look bigger, "Don't
bother me, you lowly part-timer! You have no power here! Even if you were a
Persona User, we spread a rumor that they can't be used here."
Instantly you realize, it's not bluffing, this is a space with Demons, and
you can't even begin to grasp how to summon a Persona. "Now give me some
life stones, or I'll snap you in half!"
You could draw on the knowledge from orientation to remember where staff
stated they kept the emergency life stones (You did wonder about that part?)
and figure out how many it'll take to get you out of this situation.
However, even as a Demon, it's taking the form of a Rooster, and as a retail
worker of five minutes on the job, you have an infinite wellspring of anger
to draw from. Show off your guts by not taking this beak from a Norse
rooster!
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
Ten thousand yen is a lot of money, especially if you're a poor, struggling student (well, struggling to catch up after a week and then some out of school, then struggling to keep up with your peers, then struggling to prepare for midterms...) who lost her old job because, well, you were disappeared for a week and then some and your employer just shrugged and replaced you (to be fair, given how things went after she got back and all the stuff she's been doing just to catch up (see earlier) it wasn't a bad call).
So, ten thousand yen for just eight hours? Good deal. Even if some of the employee documentation was... weird.
"A rooster?"
Maria had tilted her head like a confused puppy. "Okay! Should I get the broom?"
She did.
"Hey you, shhh!" Maria tells the rooster, prodding into its personal space with the other end cautiously. "You're making too much noise! If you need a rag on a rock, you can just go get one, right?"
"Back off, girly!" crows the rooster, advancing on Maria and her broom. "You can't order me around! Your Persona can't help! We spread a rumor that Personas don't work here!"
"Huh...?" utters Maria, who has clocked that this is the honest truth. "Why you-- she's my partner!" She swings that broom's end towards the rooster-demon who retaliates by snapping a kick at it; in one fell swoop, those terrible claws have cut the end right off. The sawed-off part of the handle clatters to the floor.
Maria stares down at her broom. "Uh..."
"You see??" crows the rooster, defiant. "Now give me life stones, or I'll do the same to you!"
Maria continues to stare down at her broken broom. "Hey... you!"
She's glaring at the demon now. "If they make me pay for the broom, I'll-- get really mad! I don't have a lot of money, you know! And, with mid-terms coming, it's not like I can get another job! If I don't get my full wage from this, I'll-- I'll come back, and I'll pluck out all your feathers!" she threatens the demon, punctuating it with another thrust of the broken broom. "I'm not giving you life stones! I'm not giving you anything! You're/ going to pay /me/ for this broom... or else!"
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has acted with Go Loud toward Fowl Misfortune! Bravery and Focus!
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
It's like this. You go to Sumaru City for a sale on skincare and beauty products. You walk into a bar on the way to check out their stock though, like you would with Officer Korosawa.
Your local friendly bartender shows you a bow he just got in. "How... are you selling something better than the Kirijo Group makes?"
The bartender with grenades strapped to his vest says simply, "I've got connections. Do you want it or not?" "Well the price is a little steep. And are you sure I don't have to show ID or anything?"
"If you were buying liquor, sure."
"But not... a weapon?"
He snorts, "Why would I need your ID for that?"
-=-=-
"... This city is scary." Yukari Takeba says, as she walks out of the bar. "Ugh- How am I ever going to afford that price tag though?"
Calling her Mother to send more money is out of the question. No way. But she has in the past done some seasonal jobs...
... and that's when she sees a posting for ten thousand yen.
Meet part timer Yukari, in the red and white Giga Macho uniform post orientation, "I guess? I don't get it though, why would there be a rooster here?"
There's this nagging feeling that something isn't right in this place but...
"WHOA! That's- definitely a demon! Be careful! I doubt a broom is going to be enough."
The Rooster however says they spread a rumor to- "You did WHAT? Geez... ... ... ... no wonder this job pays so well."
She looks sideways, "If you can keep it busy, I think I remember where they said the Life... Stones... ... are."
Yukari Takeba realizes in this moment, she should have figured this out already, "I'll just... go do that."
It's not long after that she's back, with a life stone in hand. "Okay look. Here you go. One premium life stone. Now is that enough for you to keep it down some? At least for the rest of the shift?"
MONAD: Yukari Takeba has acted with Charm toward Fowl Misfortune! Base!
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
It's too good to be true. Shinobu has a good head for these things. As a gig worker, she has to be able to identify when a potential job has a hidden catch that she needs to be careful of.
...But sometimes, one just really needs the money and has to be willing to take some risks. Of course Shinobu has heard about the rumor regarding Giga Macho and it's ten thousand yen pay. But it's only today that she gives in and bites at the offer.
She's hired right away, sure enough - and before long, she's in uniform and out on the store floor. It's not her first retail job. She still has the voice down. And just when she thinks this might not actually be that bad...
...A particularly cantankerous rooster. 'Ragnarok is coming', indeed. Shinobu rolls her neck, and strolls up behind where the rooster is quarreling with an employee. Who, when she gets a better look... Maria? ...She's glad to know she's back on her feet after everything that happened in the Kingdom. Shame she got caught up in a situation like this. Yukari is here, too, trying to get the situation under control. Shinobu rolls her neck and strolls up from behind Maria.
"Is there a problem here?" Shinobu asks, affixing the rooster with a stare. She overhears the comment about Personas... and sure enough, whenever she tries to reach for Lachesis at the back of her mind, she slips away like fog. Outwardly, she doesn't let the concern show on her face. Bluffing is her best weapon here."If you settle down, maybe you'll get your Life Stone. But if you keep harrassing my colleagues, you're gonna wind up in the frozen foods aisle. We don't want that, do we?"
If she can just keep things under control until Yukari gets back with that Life Stone...
MONAD: Shinobu Shimizu has acted with Former Delinquent toward Fowl Misfortune! Efficient and Bravery!
(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|) -==== Fowl Misfortune - Round 1 =============================================- Yukari Takeba Charm Success Charm Base Fatigue: 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shinobu Shimizu Guts Success Former Delinquent Efficient and Bravery Fatigue: 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maria Sakurai Guts Success Go Loud Bravery and Focus Fatigue: 0 -============================ Party Conditions: =============================- Starting Conditions: Bothersome-2 and Heartening-2 Final Conditions: Bothersome-1 and Heartening-1 -====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====- -==== Reach: 1/6 |= | ===================================================- (|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
It's funny. A person like her should have gone back to a normal life after all that had happened, but she sure is holding her own against that demon. It's probably fine, though, this is a job where the employees seem to be used to this sort of thing happening...
The rooster, threatened, backs up a step from Maria. Its comb deflates slightly. "What-- my feathers?" It pauses, if for just a moment. "Can it, girly! Give me that Life Stone, or I'll destroy the back-up broom, too! I know where they keep it!" Maria, horrified, draws back. "You wouldn't! You monster! I'll-- I'll turn you into a," she starts, then stops to glance up and behind herself at Shinobu.
"--Yeah! A frozen dinner!" she chimes in. "So play nice, or else!"
Fortunately, before this can go too far, Yukari arrives with the promised Life Stone.
"Ah, wonderful," says the rooster. "As promised, I won't cut any of you in two!"
"But they were rude," Maria sighs, glancing down at her broom sadly. "Well, I guess it's okay. But, you still owe me for this," she tells the rooster, glancing over at Shinobu. "Or, my big sis here will take you out!"
For its part, the rooster squints at Shinobu and, prize in hand, makes itself scarce.
...
...At least it's no longer making a racket...?
MONAD: Yukari Takeba has drawn a new Challenge!
(|================== Monad - Part Time at the Giga Macho ===================|)
-==== Round 2: Bull in the Cd Shop - Challenge Level 1 ======================-
| Approach Options: Guts or Understanding |
| Conditions: Bothersome - Charm Down L1, Box - Add 1 Item/Money/Gear., |
| Heartening - Guts Up L1, and Scary - Guts Down L1 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-
The assistant manager has sent you to the dock to check if there's any
additional stock of the latest hit album waiting to be unboxed.
Unfortunately the moment you hit the 'Employee Only' Door, in the dark, you
hear some footsteps that sound like heavier horse hooves, and occasional
ominous snorting.
A glimpse of a horned visage past a flickering light bulb tells you... there
sure is a Minotaur back here, tromping around in the dark between the
shelves.
It is definitely not a fellow employee!
Now, you could just mind your own business and go do what your Manager told
you without addressing the proverbial 'Bull in the CD Shop', but it's also
possible to figure out why the Minotaur is back here and do some customer
service.
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
It's honestly such a relief that Shimizu is here, because A. She's a reliable adult in the room. B. Because she knows about the Supernatural too. And she knows Yukari knows. Thus they don't have to keep up the 'Masquerade' in a sense.
"Thank goodness someone I know is working here today... it's nice to see you again Shimizu-san."
Fortunately, the Rooster really does back off.
"Dang... you really told him off." She says to Maria, impressed by her handling of the Rooster to make it back down.
She also put a thought in her head.
"... Huh I wonder if Rooster tastes exactly like Chicken- wait a minute it's a demon. There's no way it tastes good!"
Then she realizes something, which she hadn't before in the middle of the crisis.
"Anyhow. We didn't really get a chance to introduce ourselves during orientation so- I'm Yukari Takeba, a second year at Gekkoukan High, on Tatsumi Port Island. It's nice working with a girl who knows how to really handle herself."
She was briefly worried that she was going to get herself killed but, results are results!
The assistant manager suddenly calls out to them, "Hey, we just had a delivery pull in! Can all of you head out back and help unload?"
-=-=-
Tromp. Tromp. Tromp.
A light bulb flickers in the dark. There's a snort in the dark, horned visage barely visible.
"That... sure is a problem. Uh, ah geez, how to handle this..."
She's had a decent amount of experience dealing with demons but, "Well here goes nothing."
She steps up, keeping the shelves in-between them, "Sir- I assume it's Sir?" Maybe she's wrong but, "This is an Employee only area. So we're going to have to ask you to leave."
The Minotaur turns to look her way, staring at her. She may be sweating just a tiny bit, but right now she's standing her ground.
MONAD: Yukari Takeba has acted with Guts toward Bull in the Cd Shop! Base!
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Yukari greets her, and Shinobu offers her a nod of greeting back.
"You too, Takeba. How've you been?" Shinobu replies. She knows Yukari is reliable, too - though she'd be surprise to hear she thought of her that way.
The rooster backs down from Maria, briefly - but seems to find its courage again. Maria, following her example, is able to push back... and Yukari comes in with the save with the Life Stone. As Maria says she'll take it out, Shinobu rolls her neck, giving the rooster a Look. She doesn't mind playing along.
It retreats, and Shinobu relaxes.
"Yeah, good work. That's the right way to handle guys like that." Shinobu agrees with Yukari, offering Maria an approving nod. Yukari introduces herself, and Shinobu figures that's a good idea, too. "Shinobu Shimizu. I pretty much go wherever there's work."
There's not much time to sit around and chat, though - soon, they're called in to help unload a delivery.
...And as they head to the back, they hear something moving around.
Yukari addresses the source of it - a Minotaur... So far, though, he doesn't seem to have caused much trouble besides being somewhere he shouldn't - so unlike before, she doesn't take the aggressive stance right away.
"Yeah." Shinobu says, backing her up. "If there's something you're looking for, let us know and we can find it for you, yeah?"
MONAD: Shinobu Shimizu has acted with Understanding toward Bull in the Cd Shop! Base!
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
"Well, he broke the broom," Maria tells Yukari, sighing as she looks down at it again. "Do you think they'll make me pay for it? I really could use that ten thousand yen..."
Then, Yukari wonders if demon rooster tastes like chicken. "Why wouldn't it? I guess we could find out," Maria muses in turn, a little too thoughtfully. She blinks, taken aback. "Huh? Why do you say that?" maria no
"Ah! I guess we didn't," Maria tells Yukari. "It's nice to meet you, Takeba-san! I'm Maria, Maria Saurai. And, thank you, Shimizu-san! I've kind of been figuring that out for myself, hehe." She rubs at the back of her neck as if she's a little embarrassed about it. "I used to have a part time job but-- errr, some stuff happened, right? And, it's almost mid-terms. So, I need a little money, but I can't do it somewhere else? But it'll be fine, even with those guys," she says, waving her left hand dismissively. "And I still have half of the broom!"
But there's not much time left to socialize, not when they've asked to head down to the dock to pick up some things. Once there, it becomes clear they're not alone here.
"What's that sound?" Maria says, before they investigate and Yukari finds--
"She's right. You can't be back here," Maria says, gripping the broken broom as if it were something more. "So leave. Or... else."
She narrows her eyes, applying her game face once more.
"I'll do it, you know," she promises the Minotaur.
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has acted with Go Loud toward Bull in the Cd Shop! Bravery and Focus! (|============================ Monad - Results =============================|) -==== Bull in the Cd Shop - Round 2 =========================================- Yukari Takeba Guts Success Guts Base Fatigue: 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shinobu Shimizu Understanding Success Understanding Base Fatigue: 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maria Sakurai Guts Success Go Loud Bravery and Focus Fatigue: 0 -============================ Party Conditions: =============================- Starting Conditions: Bothersome-1, Box-0, Heartening-1, and Scary-2 Final Conditions: Scary-1 -====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====- -==== Reach: 2/6 |== | ===================================================- -==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================- Items: 0, Money: 0, Gear: 2 (|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
"Pretty alright. We've had a few... problems." She relates to Shinobu, "Tell you later." She means how SEES' dorm got attacked, but she's not gonna say that openly.
Maria brings up how the Broom got broken, and Yukari just says back, "I mean he handed it to you, didn't he? If he didn't want it broken, he shouldn't have made you use it against a monster rooster. Besides... we can probably duct tape it back or something maybe...?"
There's a smile as Maria introduces herself because wow, that energy is infectious, "Nice to meet you Sakurai-san. And I hear that, I'm here for a similar reason. I need the money for something for one of my clubs."
-=-=-
The Minotaur regards Shinobu, then Maria as each of them backs her up then. Then snorts, filling the back of the room with a blast of air. Then-
"I... apologize. Very very sorry. Please... don't kick me out. I got lost... trying to find Risette-chan's latest album." The creature rumbles, haltingly.
"Can you help me?"
"Oh sure, we can help with that."
"Are you... fans?"
"Of Risette-chan? Uhhhh... I guess she's pretty cute. Her music is... alright, I suppose."
"PRETTY CUTE? JUST ALRIGHT?" The Minotaur roars, indignantly, "I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT-"
-=-=-
One more defused situation later!
Yukari Takeba sighs deeply while they're unloading the dock, "Me and my big mouth... remind me never to weigh in with my opinions on idols to a fan."
MONAD: Shinobu Shimizu has drawn a new Challenge!
(|================== Monad - Part Time at the Giga Macho ===================|)
-==== Round 3: Well-Deserved Break - Challenge Level 2 ======================-
| Approach Options: Guts or Charm |
| Conditions: Bothersome - Charm Down L1, Checkpoint - Cleanse all negative |
| conditions., Fairy - Subtract 1 Fatigue on success., Lunchbox - Subtract 1 |
| Fatigue., and Scary - Guts Down L1 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-
'Go on break' your senpai said, but don't leave the store today, we're just
too busy. That's fine, that's super fine. You did after all bring lunch.
Except it's missing from the break room!
Searching frantically, you wonder what happened to it, when abruptly, the
storage room closet door opens, and a fairy smiles beyond it with a hint of
a mirrors shining around the reflection of a fey spring.
"Looking for something? Tough break! I hear it happens all the time around
there. Takshaka is a notorious food thief! Luckily, Trish has got you
covered!"
And as she holds up a selection of various flavors of instant ramen, she
grins at you, "Got a special going on for 2500 yen!"
That's definitely overpriced but you're desperate. Do you have the guts to
try to haggle with Trish, or sweet talk her into lowering the price?
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
'Problems', huh. If it's enough that she can't say it here...
"Sorry to hear. Hope everyone's alright." Shinobu offers.
Maria recounts her situation, and Shinobu grimaces sympathetically. She's aware of the 'stuff' that happened - but being suddenly out of a job you needed isn't an unfamiliar experience for her.
"Sucks, doesn't it? I get it." Shinobu replies with a nod. Ah, that pre-mid-term time crunch... She doesn't miss it one bit. Shinobu smirks, as she points out that she still has half of the broom. "That's the spirit. If we stick together, the rest of this oughta go easier."
Maria joins in, and the Minotaur looks between the three of them. And, ultimately, this is about Risette's latest album. One opinion later...
"The idol fandom is hell." Shinobu comments with a grim nod, as Yukari sighs.
Working together, the three of them finish unloading the dock... and, mercifully, they're granted a break for lunch. In-store, though - which sees them heading toward the break room.
Shinobu pulls open the refrigerator door, and a slow frown crosses her face as she peers into it.
It's empty. Shinobu closes the door slowly.
"Someone's gonna pay." Shinobu says flatly. As she peers around the room for answers... the closet door opens. Where one might expect to see cleaning supplies, possibly a replacement broom, there is instead a beautiful spring staffed by a certain fairy.
"...Ah, hell. It's Trish." Shinobu mutters, and not for the first time. It's uncanny how she always seems to appear at the most 'convenient' of times. Shinobu looks toward Maria. Yukari she figures is probably already aware of her, but Maria... "Careful with this one, Sakurai. She'd sell you your own shirt if she thought she'd get away with it."
Shinobu approaches, and listens to Trish's pitch.
Her expression goes flat.
"C'mon, Trish. You think we'd be working at a place like this if we weren't short on cash? Bring it down a bit, and maybe I'd be up for it." Shinobu ventures.
MONAD: Shinobu Shimizu has acted with Guts toward Well-Deserved Break! Base!
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
"It does!" Maria affirms to Shinobu, nodding. "But, it'll work out. If I can have a little money, then..."
Yukari explains why it's not her fault and why no one -- particularly not the manager -- should dock her pay for it. Maria listens.
Intently.
Then: "Oh, I see! So, it's his fault," Maria determines, nodding vigorously as if to confirm this as the truth. "Then I won't worry about it. Still, if I see that rooster again-- oh! Right, duct tape!"
Yukari: accidently preventing a murder, maybe?
But all that's before the Minotaur. Maria glares fiercely at it, perhaps making the broken broom look like a dangerous weapon. For a long, long moment it seems that there may be an altercation.
But the Minotaur is the one who backs down. "Oh! That's okay!" It's a sea-change for Maria, flip-flopping into all smiles and sugar in an instant. "I get lost a lot, and this place is like a maze. But, um... Risette? You're really a fan?" Maria's not going to make fun of him, is she, they've just gotten this under control--
"Are you in the fanclub, too?? What's your nickname? Let's exchange numbers! I heard a rumor that her next album is going to get a secret drop soon--"
well, at least she's come out of this with a new friend, maybe
But after all that, it's time for lunch. "I made my own lunch today," she tells them both. "I made sure that--"
Pause. Pause. "What's with that face, Shimizu-san?" Maria peers into the fridge. Maria stares at the empty fridge. Maria tries not to scream. "Wh-- oh, what about the conbini down the street, uh--"
They say when one door closes, another opens. Usually, it's not as literal as this, though.
"Oh! A real fairy..." Maria gushes, wandering on in to see...
"..."
"..."
"Huh... that's a lot... and it's just instant," Maria says, shaking her head. "You know," she tells Trish, "eating this kind of stuff's really bad for a girl's skin. I bet that's even true of a demon's skin, right? Any demon girl who comes in here's going to think, she'd get a better deal going somewhere else. Ah, what about some instant miso? That's super-healthy for you! And it's really cheap, too..."
Maria... doesn't quite seem to have a proper endpoint for this chatter in sight.
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has acted with Girls' Talk toward Well-Deserved Break! Patra and Efficient!
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
CRISIS AVERTED! (Maybe?)
Yukari Takeba does not yet realize that she has to be quite careful about what she says around Maria Sakurai.
"... Kinda." There's a sigh at that. "How are you holding up yourself?" She asks after a time.
Maria's exchange FORTUNATELY defuses the Minotaur as they chatter excitedly, and Yukari just slowly backs up out of his line of sight.
Later on!
"... Tell me about it. Guys like that really need to calm down, rather than start fights about that kinda thing." A beat, "Wait why am I talking about him like he's a person!? He's a demon..." She groans, at the realization of normalization of chatting up demons like that.
-=-=-
"Whew... those boxes were way heavier than I expected. I'm definitely ready for a-" Shinobu opens the refrigerator door, "-meal?"
Inside the refrigerator, is a tundra like wasteland, bereft of nourishment. Yukari Takeba stares off into the middle distance, as Shinobu closes it back.
"... Yep. When I find out whoever did this I'm gonna-!"
'... Ah, hell. It's Trish.'
"Trish?" Yukari Takeba turns around to face the 'broom closet' as Trish explains, and her brows contract with fury, as this is definitely a setup. But... Maria approaches, and starts chattering, and Yukari watches.
"... Huh." As she walks up towards the door, she looks Trish up and down and laces her hand behind her back, "That's a pretty cute outfit... but it really works for you. Could you tell me where you bought it at? I'm kinda looking for something similar I think."
No she isn't. Not at all. It is pretty cute in a fetishistic sense but she definitely wouldn't wear it. It's just Yukari Takeba has mastered the art of lying about someone's looks when the need arises.
Right now she's being a COMPLIMENT SNIPER in order to back Maria up and Shinobu up by offering that in the middle of each of their approaches.
Eventually though, she takes on a speculative kind of tone, "... You knowwwww, we really do spend a lot of money at your spring. And how much did that instant ramen cost you like... two hundred yen, max? Do you really need to make twelve hundred and fifty percent profit off of something like this to regular customers, when you know we're going to spend wayyyyy more at your spring in the future?"
MONAD: Yukari Takeba has acted with Mall Trawl toward Well-Deserved Break! Empathy and Friendliness! (|============================ Monad - Results =============================|) -==== Well-Deserved Break - Round 3 =========================================- Yukari Takeba Charm Success Mall Trawl Empathy and Friendliness Fatigue: 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shinobu Shimizu Guts Success Guts Base Fatigue: 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maria Sakurai Charm Success Girls' Talk Patra and Efficient Fatigue: 0 -============================ Party Conditions: =============================- Starting Conditions: Bothersome-2, Checkpoint-0, Fairy-0, Lunchbox-0, and Scary-1 Final Conditions: -====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====- -==== Reach: 3/6 |=== | ===================================================- -==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================- Items: 0, Money: 0, Gear: 2 (|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
'Kinda'. Shinobu considers that for a moment, but she doesn't press any further.
"Well enough." She answers, in regards to how she's holding up. She has a lot on her mind... but she doesn't want to burden her with that. "I'll be doing a lot better after this shift's over, lemme tell you."
Shinobu watches with surprise as Maria... makes a friend?? Well, it definitely helps things go much more smoothly with the Minotaur... she hopes Maria doesn't take her comment about the idol fandom personally.
"Seriously." Shinobu agrees with a nod toward Yukari - and a smirk, as she catches herself.
Later...
"See for yourself." Shinobu replies, as Maria asks. They're all appropriately horrified by the revelation...
...And Trish is here to capitalize on it.
Shinobu retaliates with a straightforward haggle. Maria, meanwhile, points out the health concerns of instant ramen, and suggests a healthier alternative.
The instant miso is cheaper... but not by much. Fortunately, Yukari is here for support - as skilled a sniper as she is with the compliments as she is her bow.
The only thing Trish loves almost as much as money is herself. She knows she's being played - but the effort is worth a discount!
...Of about a couple hundred yen or so which, considering who this is, is probably the best possible outcome. Maybe it won't be so bad if they just get one and split it...
MONAD: Yukari Takeba has drawn a new Challenge!
(|================== Monad - Part Time at the Giga Macho ===================|)
-==== Round 4: Faustian Customer Service - Challenge Level 2 ================-
| Approach Options: Charm or Proficiency |
| Conditions: Annoying - Charm Down L2, Box - Add 1 Item/Money/Gear., and |
| Clumsy - Proficiency Down L1 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-
You're covering the teller during your senpai's break, when a hooded
demonic magician floats up to you, levitating multiple CDs.
"Merchant. I'll be returning these. They were already broken when I
purchased them. I have no proof of purchase let us keep this brief, and
civil, for the sake of your health."
A quick look reveals that each of the CDs isn't just broken in half, but
they're the wrong CDs to begin with, none corresponds with the proper case!
The policy is no receipt no return, you could either try to charm him into
understanding that, or you could make a quick demonstration of why it's
impossible for them to be in this condition at the time of purchase given
how these things are packaged.
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
And so our intrepid part-timers reenact this famous moment of JRPG history:
https://tinyurl.com/ThirdofaRamen
Once back on break, their work senpai comes up to them, frazzled, "Oh thank god you're back! Can the three of you handle the Customer Service counter? The line's really building up, I need to get back to the register."
"Oh, sure? How hard can that be?"
-=-=-
The actual demon Faust levitates up to the counter.
A shadowed man in a hooded robe, floating on a runic sigil.
"Merchant. I'll be returning these. They were already broken when I purchased them. I have no proof of purchase with me. Let us keep this brief, and civil, for the sake of your health."
"Uhhhh alright?" Yukari Takeba takes up the CD cases, and opens them. "Whattttt?"
All three of them can see at once, the CDs are shattered into pieces. And from the jigsaw like fragments you can tell they're not even in the right cases to begin with.
"Uh, nope. Absolutely not. Returns have to be intact."
She narrows her eyes at Faust.
"Can you not read the sign?" She taps the sign above the counter.
DAMAGED RETURNS NOT ACCEPTED
"I will not be DENIED! Your SOULS are FORFEIT" The demon shouts, as Yukari Takeba comes around the corner, strolls up to him and then abruptly- punches him in the solar plexus, as the demon wheezes from a Persona User's fist, even if she hasn't summoned it.
"You think you're gonna bully us into taking this back? Fat chance! You are holding up the line with your stupid tough guy act, so take your broken CDs and get out."
The Demon looks at her, then begins to tremble with anger. She mayyyy need some backup here.
MONAD: Yukari Takeba has acted with Mean Girl toward Faustian Customer Service! Specialty!
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
"Me? I'm doing great, thanks!" she tells Yukari. Hey, it's way better than the time she nearly got her can kicked in by the Joker Killer, or the time when she was trapped in her own Kingdom for about a week. "What about you, Takeba-chan?" ...When did she change honorifics!!
But maybe it's all well and good enough that she makes a friend. ... .....
Instant miso is probably more healthy than instant ramen. There's probably not as much salt, or oil, for one. But, is it really worth just about the same price tag? Fortunately, fortunately Yukari convinces Trish to leverage a discount. ...Of a few hundred yen.
"Should I have asked for onigiri instead?" Maria sighs, once all is said and done. Miso is good, and good for you, but she's still hungry.
(don't worry too much about it, maria, trish would have charged double for onigiri. at least.)
And soon, far too soon, they're thrown back into the front lines.
"CDs? Sure, no problem," chirps Maria, before the demon hands over the CDs in question and Yukari opens them to reveal...
"Those are broken, though," Maria observes, helpfully. "And isn't this a Risette case? What's a..." She squints at the name on the disc fragment she picks up. "Beet... hoven?"
But this appears to have been the breaking point for Yukari who, as the demon declares their souls are all forfeit, circles around the counter to punch the demon in the gut. "Ah! Takeba-chan!"
Maria glances at Faust, then back at Yukari, then down at the CD case, then back at Faust.
"It's fine, it's fine," she says, waving her hand. "I can tell you're a good guy!" she tells Faust. "You're a Risette fan, right? Even if you didn't bring back the right CD, I can tell you like her music? Isn't she the greatest? Oh, but, you've got to do this the right way, you know? If we don't, we'll get in trouble with our manager. You've got a manager too, right? Or, someone like that? It's a drag, but we have to do what they say, or we'll get in trouble, or, maybe they'll even get mad at you too, right? And, you shouldn't have to put up with that?"
This... continues. It really is possible to talk about nothing, huh...
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has acted with Girls' Talk toward Faustian Customer Service! Patra and Efficient!
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
"Don't worry. It's not you." Shinobu replies with a shake of her head at what Maria wonders. It's not a particularly filling meal. One could question if it even counts as a meal. But at least their HP's back up... just in time to take over the Customer Service counter.
Shinobu looks at the shadowed, floating man. It's somehow not the strangest get-up she's seen on a customer in all her years of work on a job like this. She watches as Yukari engages him... up until the point she up and punches him. Surprise crosses her face - followed up by an appreciative whistle.
"Didn't know you had such a mean jab." She compliments, before considering the situation. Yukari's taking a hard stand, and Maria's trying to engage him on the basis of his interests, and appeal to him...
But he really did just say that their souls are forfeit, huh?
"Sir, if that's a threat, I'm gonna have to escalate this. Am I going to have to call someone over?" Shinobu warns, leaning on the counter. "You want a lifetime ban on your record? That's gonna be wayyy worse for you than it would be for us. Is a few yen really worth all that? C'mon."
She pauses for a moment.
"...What did you even do to these, anyway? You don't get this kind of damage unless you're trying."
MONAD: Shinobu Shimizu has acted with I Know A Guy toward Faustian Customer Service! Specialty! (|============================ Monad - Results =============================|) -==== Faustian Customer Service - Round 4 ===================================- Yukari Takeba Proficiency Success Mean Girl Specialty Fatigue: 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shinobu Shimizu Charm Success I Know A Guy Specialty Fatigue: 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maria Sakurai Charm Success Girls' Talk Patra and Efficient Fatigue: 0 -============================ Party Conditions: =============================- Starting Conditions: Annoying-2, Box-0, and Clumsy-2 Final Conditions: Clumsy-1 -====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====- -==== Reach: 4/6 |==== | ===================================================- -==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================- Items: 1, Money: 1, Gear: 2 (|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
Well hey, part time work is challenging but, Maria seems to be doing great, but- 'Takeba-chan?' "That was fast-!" She says as if mildly startled, but it's definitely not uncommon for girls to move that fast on honorifics with other girls their age.
"... Well it's not exactly what I expected for a part-time job... Sakurai-chan, but I'm okay I guess."
This is hell in a sense for Yukari, she doesn't LIKE the supernatural as a rule. And now it's a part of the humdrum of normal life here in Sumaru City.
H E L L
Not that she'll say it.
Shinobu compliments her jab. "Had a lot of opportunity. There are just some guys who don't take no for an answer." She means for love confessions at school- pretty much every guy in her year has tried, so much that it's become a challenge on who conquers her.
So sometimes she has to punctuate the point.
Shinobu notes that if it's a threat, she'll have to escalate it. "Foul wench, do you have the slightest idea who I am!?" He says in an outburst. "Some of these most Compact of Discs displeased me. It is only right and proper that they are now destroyed for their insolence!"
Faust looks quite riled, but as Maria starts to talk about Risette-chan, his body language changes, "It is true that she is quite exemplary." He agrees, "I understand. It is a matter of rank and protocol. And none of you are of great enough standing to handle this matter."
He seems to deescalate on the spot, "I shall let this disrespect by the boorish harpy you call a coworker go-" "Who are you calling a boorish harpy!?" He ignores Yukari, "-because I wish to continue to patronize this establishment." As he eyes Shinobu and floats off...
A Lilim floats on up as he leaves, "Wow, glad that guy is gone." She cups a hand to her mouth, "I'll have you know we all hate his guts. Anyway. You think I can get a refund on this Hehoe-?"
What she puts on the counter... is one whole Jack Frost, who waves at them.
"Hee-ho!"
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has drawn a new Challenge!
(|================== Monad - Part Time at the Giga Macho ===================|)
-==== Round 5: Going Turbo - Challenge Level 2 ==============================-
| Approach Options: Academics or Proficiency |
| Conditions: Boss - Add 1 Fatigue on failure., Clumsy - Proficiency Down |
| L1, Clumsy - Proficiency Down L1, and Shuffle - Draw 1 Minor Arcana. |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-
It's nearly clocking out time, when suddenly a shelf topples over, and the
Assistant Manager shrieks, "NOT AGAIN!" A blurring shape of a demonic old
hag is shrieking, "ehEHEHEHEHEHEHE-!" as she wildly whips between the
shelves, knocking whole shelves off, and scattering merchandise all over the
floor.
It's TURBO GRANNY! The 100 km/hr legend is here to ruin everyone's day. "I'm
the fastest runner around! JUST TRY AND STOP ME!" She yells, and zips off on
roller skates to the next aisle, ensuring there is absolutely no way you're
clocking out on time today.
There's no way to fight her without a Persona, but she's so fast that maybe
you can use that against her to set a trap that sends her out of the store.
It's also possible to consider the Turbo Granny urban legend, and recall
facts which might allow you to resolve this more peaceably.
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
Yukari calls her 'Sakurai-chan'. Maria's expression approximates that of an over-enthusiastic Golden Retriever.
"It's kind of neat! I didn't know there were jobs like this," she continues, apparently way more into this than Yukari is. Then again, isn't Maria from Sumaru? Are people from Sumaru just like this?? "And the pay is great. Maybe I should come back after mid-terms?"
Maybe, Maria. Maybe.
Of course, dealing with a customer like Faust would give any part-timer pause. ...Unless they're Maria, apparently.
"Eh? You shouldn't do that. Just bring them back here, first, and we'll give you a refund!" Sparkle, sparkle. "It's easy! And you don't have to break anything. Oh, but make sure they're in the right cases, too! It's hard when they're all mixed up to give you back your money properly!" Don't let the manager hear that.
But Maria makes the case that they have to listen to their manager (among other, nattering topics) and the becalmed demon relents on his promises of destruction and makes his departure.
"Oh, he left his CDs," Maria observes, as another customer comes to return something of hers.
'Hee-ho!'
"Ah! He's cute!" gushes Maria.
Someone else will have to handle this. At least, this is the last incident of note until... until...
Just about closing. Quickly! The sooner they close up shop, the less likely it is that they'll have to deal with any more customers--
And then a shelf topples over. There's a blurred shape, cackling laughter, and the tell-tale sound of...
"Rollerskates? I haven't used those since I was little," mulls Maria. "Wow, she's... really fast, though. Even faster than me..." On that note, Maria starts warming up, stretching her legs and even arms between glances over to see where Turbo Granny is moving.
"Hey..."
"...don't you think she's covering the same ground..."
"...over and over?"
Maria hops the front counter. "Don't we still have that inflatable Slime from the Drake Adventure XI OST launch? What if we put that in her way? ...Wouldn't she bounce right off it?"
Maybe Maria has something here. In any case, she's running off to get the (still inflated) Slime from the staff break room.
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has acted with Warm-Up Stretches toward Going Turbo! Specialty!
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
"Making your boundaries crystal clear. I respect it." Shinobu replies with a nod, as Yukari explains. It's important, especially for a popular girl.
...That was something she never had to worry about, though.
Maria enthuses about the work. Shinobu is kind of surprised this didn't put her off more, but at least she's having fun with it...
"There are all kinds if you go digging. ...But, uh, you gotta keep your eyes open for some of 'em. Sometimes there's a catch." Shinobu comments.
But, there's a customer. Shinobu looks Faust up and down, raising an eyebrow.
"Should I?" She asks. She briefly wonders if he realises he just gave himself away - but she doesn't point that out, since he seems to be relaxing thanks to Maria. Shinobu sends her an approving nod - this might've gone a lot worse without her defusing the situation...
"Have a nice day." Shinobu offers flatly as Faust departs, then looks toward the Lilim that approaches the counter next.
Shinobu blinks, as an Actual Jack Frost is set onto the counter.
...
"...Uhh, do you have the receipt?" She asks.
It goes on like this.
Slowly, impossibly slowly, time crawls on... It's almost time to close - but then, there's a blur!!
"Damn." Shinobu curses under her breath, bracing herself. She looks over toward Maria. "...Yeah, I'm pretty quick, but, uh - no way I can match those speeds, either."
Maria has an idea! An inflatable Slime...?
"Good thinking." Shinobu replies with a nod. She takes a moment to loose up her own legs, too. "I'll be the distraction. Tell me when you've got it all set up."
This isn't quite how she expected their shift to end...
MONAD: Shinobu Shimizu has acted with Esoteric Skillset toward Going Turbo! Patra and Focus!
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
They must be. Yukari Takeba lived here once for a short while but being the victim of a particularly bad rumor is a little more lukewarm on this place.
"I really didn't think retail jobs here had to deal with demons on a day to day basis. But... it's true that it does pay really well."
And the things she wants to buy definitely aren't cheap. Her beauty regimen is expensive.
Yukari steps in for the Jack Frost, "He is really cute but..." She nods to Shinobu, "Yep... No receipt no return."
-=-=-
It's time to clock out when...
CHAOS! MAYHEM! HIGH SPEED VANDALISM!
"Oh you've got to be kidding me... that old urban legend came true!?"
She watches the mayhem with Maria, "Yeah same. I used to really love that old pair but... we moved to Kyoto and they really frowned on kids using them outside there..."
Maria though points something out and- "Huh. I think you're right!" However she has a thought, "She still might spot it though... but... what if?"
-=-=-
Yukari Takeba is strolling down the aisle, and holding up her compact. "Well, here I am tonight. Just a single girl out for a stroll in the... uh... music store."
The 100 km/hr Granny urban legend has drivers see her first in the rear view mirror before she overtakes them.
"Just minding my own business..." As she steps by the inflatable slime, requiring Granny to pass her by running right into it.
MONAD: Yukari Takeba has acted with Mean Girl toward Going Turbo! Specialty!
(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|)
-==== Going Turbo - Round 5 =================================================-
Yukari Takeba Proficiency Success
Mean Girl Specialty Fatigue: 0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shinobu Shimizu Proficiency Success
Esoteric Skillset Patra and Focus Fatigue: 0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maria Sakurai Proficiency Success
Warm-Up Stretches Specialty Fatigue: 0
-============================ Party Conditions: =============================-
Starting Conditions: Boss-0, Clumsy-1, Clumsy-2, and Shuffle: Coin-0
Final Conditions:
-====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====-
-==== Reach: 6/6 |=====| ===================================================-
-==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================-
Items: 2, Money: 1, Gear: 3
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
(|================== Monad - Part Time at the Giga Macho ===================|)
-==== Round 6: You Kids Like Cards Right? - Challenge Level 1 ===============-
| Approach Options: Guts or Understanding |
| Conditions: Chest - Add 2 Item/Money/Gear. and Revelation - The best |
| result. |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-
You impressed the assistant manager!
"Wow amazing work today, come back any time! In fact, here's a bonus." A
5000 yen bonus on your pay is good enough on its own, but
"And here, take these I don't even know what they're from, but they keep
leaving them around the store. Everyone likes cards right? That's a thing
that's in?"
Among them are 22 Hanged Man Tarot Cards, 1 Balzac Skill Card, and 1 Patra
Skill Card.
Final Loot: 2 Items, 3 boxes of Money, and 3 Pieces of Gear!
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
It's cute!
"Oh, but..." she looks to Yukari and her sempai in Shinobu. Alas, there's no receipt. "We can't, can we..." she echoes, her shoulders slouching. It's probably just as well: Maria would soon find that those things are way more trouble than they're worth.
Though, not nearly as much trouble as what awaits them at close.
They just have to solve this, and then. And then they can leave. But Maria has an idea! If they can just put the Slime at the right junction, and open the doors, and bait Turbo Granny into colliding with it--
"She'll be going way too fast," says Maria, who might be as smart as a rock but understands intuitively things like this (she put all her points into dexterity and wisdom, as the kids might say). "And then...! I'll be counting on you both, Takeba-chan, Shimizu-sempai!" She pumps a fist as if to cheer them all on, and then scurries off to the staff room to get things set up.
SOON
"Kyahahaha! You can't keep up with me, kiddies!" cackles Granny as she races Shinobu. Then, she spots Yukari. "Ah?? What's this? Kehehehe! Look alive, girl!" And at the last moment, Yukari steps right past the slime.
BOIIIIING
They really built that Slime tough, huh. With a scream, Turbo Granny is sent hurtling backwards and through the open door, which Maria dutifully closes and then clicks locked. "Store's closed!" she calls out. Yeah! They did it!
AND SOON
"Wow! A bonus??" This is the best day ever! Well, comparatively. Sort of. All spinning flowers and sunshine, Maria soon gathers her things and scoots off into the night, fifteen thousand yen richer. And then there's the matter of those cards...