Upon entry, the little bell by the door rang out.
The children wandering inside the shop, door closing behind them. Prompting the bell to ring a second time. The interior of 'Mad Savings' wasn't altogether massive, and there really wasn't a whole lot present. Save for things displayed at the counter, contained within glass.
The shop appeared to have a variety of training dummys present in it, lining one wall. The other reserved for magazines, cd's, and other forms of entertainment, and devices associated. Such as televisions, of an antiquated variety, and radios. Most of them seemed to be decorated with the Mayors logo.
Within the glass display of the counter, a few things were seemingly available there. A cowboy hat, and what seemed to be an antique revolver among them. Alongside a few more mundane things, such as various watches.
Behind the counter, was a training dummy that seemed to be patched up with duct tape, along several tears. A set of eyes appearing on it, as the duo were observed. The vendor of this establishment blinking in surprise.
"Did I not set the sign to closed?" The vendor began. "I-er...huma-er, hello."
"Are you closed?" Aliza asked.
"Yes, yes, yes. However, it's fine. Technically, the shop isn't closed for another ten minutes. So you're good." The dummy replied, a bit taken aback by the children's nature. "What can I do for you today?"
Chara promptly inquired. "Can you...do you buy things?"
This wasn't the first time this question had been asked. Largely by people when they first arrived in Happy Town. Traditionally when they realized leaving it was...nearly impossible. It had gotten to such a point, that the vendor elected to indulge this request.
The dummy raised a floating eyebrow. "Technically, yes. I am capable of doing that here. But if it's random junk, don't expect much." The dummy noted. "Cuz, then it'd be worthless, worthless, worthless. And, I can't exactly do much with that kind of thing."
Aliza asked her friend. "Wait...what are...we selling?"
This was a wonderful question.
"I dunno. Let's see what I have." Chara dug around in her pockets. "Uhm...well, I have a uh...pamphlet?"
It was the advertisement pamphlet for the town. The dummy seemed mildly amused. But clearly disinterested.
"Most of those are printed here, actually." The dummy somehow shrugged. "Sorry, pal, that isn't worth anything. I mean, I could recycle it for you, if you wanted?"
Chara set it on the counter, huffing to herself. "I uh...hmmm." She hadn't really been finding, or picking up random things. "What about uhm..." She dug out her cell phone, thinking for a moment, before setting in on the counter. "What about this?"
Aliza blinked, and asked. "You still have a cell phone?"
She had recalled hearing about it from Undyne. And merely assumed that her companion must have lost it. Given that it hadn't been used, or referenced in some time.
"It's...a little uhm...dead." Chara admitted. "Sorry."
While they were exchanging those words, a miniature version of the dummy floated over, and picked it up. Bringing it near enough, the vendor could levitate it with magic. Examining it for a few moments. It was a rather old model, and wasn't worth too much. Though...
The Dummy replied. "I mean, sure. I'd give you 100G for it." They hummed. "Your parents okay with you sellin it?"
"Well, I have another one." Chara lied, obviously enough that even Aliza could tell. "And, ya know, they think I'm dead. So...I don't think they'd mind. Not like they have the number in it anyways. Since I got it from someone I met when I woke up."
"You uh...really shouldn't just say that so casually." The Dummy commented. "There are folks who are...creepy, creepy, creepy. You definitely don't want them knowing that."
"R-right." Chara laughed nervously. "Hey...is 100 enough for the uh...hotel, er, inn thing?"
She noticed the items in the display case at this point. Briefly examining the revolver there. She had rarely been so close to one. Save when the man from the couple who adopted her attempted to take her hunting once.
They were interesting, and unpleasant things. Though, she had to admit a fascination for them. Then again, she liked most weapons.
"I think that covers the room. I dunno what Oscar and Limbs have the price at, at this point." The Dummy then asked. "You uh...got anything else?"
"Well." Chara considered her options.
Some part of her assumed the crystals may be valuable. And if she'd thought about it, perhaps she'd have gotten a few more to bring along. As it stood though, the only ones she had, belonged to her and Aliza. And she was loath to part with hers, knowing that Aliza would likely feel hurt by the decision.
This, left her with only one other object of value. The idea of selling it was...incredibly unpleasant. Though, if she wanted to keep hear promise...
"I-" She dug the object out of her pocket. "have...this?"
She placed the music box on the counter. Her hand lingering, grasping it for a moment longer than she intended. Attempting to resist the prospect of it being apart from her. Only managing to pry her fingers away, with a great deal of willpower. The vendor lifting it up.
Aliza gasped. "C-chara...that's...you shouldn't sell that." She said, adding. "Leah gave that to you."
The vendor noticed the way the girl with the green sweater, and black jacket twitched. The way the word impacted, the sad expression on the others face. It told a story.
Opening it, the air was filled with the soft melody that lurked within. In truth, it was very durable, and made of a fine metal, with soft fabric, and good wood in its construction. The keys, and the internals of it all functioning perfectly, even for as old as it clearly was.
There was no magic in its construction. Save that someone poured their soul into designing it. Handcrafting it, with a tenderness rarely found in the junk that circulated the shop. It was worth a decent amount of money, to a normal person. A small fortune perhaps, to the right person. And priceless, to its owner.
With these in mind, the vendor replied. "Yeah, I can't take this."
Chara shook her head some. "B-but...it's gotta be worth something?"
"The value of this box, is...inconsistent." The Dummy replied. "There are some who would look at it, and find it worthless. There are some, for whom it might be worth a fortune." The vendor placed it down, gently. "Ultimately, however, it's not worth the discomfort it'd bring you, giving it up."
"B-but I-" Chara felt relieved, and yet displeased at once. "I sort of...need-" The mini-dummy gave it back. "uhm."
Aliza held up a crystal piece. "We...uhm...have these too, right?"
"You wanna sell it?" Chara asked, surprised.
"No...I-I really...don't." Aliza admitted. "But...we can't...afford the necklace thing...a-and I would feel bad if you sold that...so..."
The Vendor sighed, somehow. "You two are pitiful, pitiful, pitiful." The words spoken with empathy. "Tell you what. You need a few extra G. And, I guess wanted to make necklaces with those?" They weighted their options. "How about, you do me a favor. And then I'll make your little necklaces, and drop you 20G more, okay?"
"Really?" Aliza asked, feeling significantly more relieved. "What...do we gotta do?"
"First off-" The Dummy began. "a lesson. Don't just go along with what a stranger asks you to do. Even for cash. Make sure you know what they want, and that's it's nothing sketchy."
Chara nodded. "Okay...and the second thing?"
They then added. "Secondly. My request is to get that duct tape up there." The dummy glanced, revealing some duct tape that was present on a corner shelf. "My mini-dummies can't seem to figure it out, and I've been needing to patch this stupid body of mine up for weeks. So I don't have to get a new one."
Chara inquired. "Are you...not a dummy?"
"I'm a ghost, who lives in a dummy." The ghost living in a dummy replied. "Names Maddy. I was...supposed to have a new body. A nice one. But, my cousin took it. And...so I doubt that's...ever gonna happen."
Aliza frowned. "Why'd he do that?" Chara meanwhile, went to grab the tape. "And...hi Maddy."
"Hey." Maddy, the ghost living in a dummy, replied. "And he did it, cuz he's a jerk. Everyone thinks he's so great, but he's awful. The worst, worst, worst." They sighed. "Took it over to that stupid factory. Probably already destroyed it."
Chara set down the tape. "Why don't you go get it back?"
"I can't leave the shop unattended. And I know his temperament, even if others don't." Maddy hummed. "My present hope, is he gets bored, and throws it out. Maybe I'll be able to pick the pieces. Otherwise, if I get near. He'll break, break, break it worst."
Aliza was appalled. "T-that's not fair. H-he sounds really mean."
"Yeahup, but what can you do?" Maddy shrugged, again, somehow.
Chara considered. "Why not...tell people?"
"Kid, believe me, I've tried." Maddy sighed, again, somehow. "Anywho-" A couple drone dummies placed the G on the counter, and carted the phone off. "mind if I see those crystals you want as necklaces?"
The two obliged, and placed them on the counter. One orange, and one purple. They were examined, and the source determined promptly. Being that they were likely from the Crystal Caverns.
They notably held no intrinsically high value. The crystals were abundant, and were easy enough to get ahold of so long as the roads were safe. And their quality was always fairly consistent anywho.
Though, the idea of two kids making themselves friendship necklaces was something Maddy couldn't help but find a bit adorable. The vendor hopping into a backroom, to work on them. Afterall, just because something didn't have 'value,' didn't always mean it was valueless. Maybe it'd make them smile, and it never hurt to show a little kindness now and then.
Before long, the dummy hopped back into the main room. Two mini-dummies grasping the necklaces, floating them over to the kids. They were each handed the wrong crystal necklaces. Quickly passing them between one another to correct that.
Chara spoke. "Thank you."
Maddy replied. "Eh, don't mention it." They noticed Aliza looking a little watery eyed. "H-hey, no crying in the store. Just...you're welcome, jeez. Act like you two've been abused or somethin." They glanced to the door. "Go on. Go get yourself a good nights sleep. Go, go, go."
Aliza smiled softly. "You're a nice person." She said. "I-I hope you get your...uhm...body back."
With that, the children left. While the ghost in the dummy, smiled, internally. That was, probably a lost opportunity to make some money proper. And likely a bad business strategy in general. But they'd never cared that much. Maddy was a business person. They were never in it for the money.
It was in that moment, stepping through the door, that Chara was reminded of something. The same thing she felt when she encountered Undyne, Papyrus, and her family. That, even if they weren't flawless, monsters really were something special.
They weren't like humanity, at their core. Sure, some could be cruel, some could be evil. But those were the flukes that fell through the cracks. Not the norm.
Aliza held her necklace, simply examining it. She hadn't expected to have it so soon, nor had she honestly expected it at all. It felt like one of those things, that would be forgotten with time. And yet, here it was. She noticed Chara staring at hers, much in the same way.
Chara put the necklace on. It wasn't the locket she once had. But, it felt good to wear, all the same.
Chara used |Brave Necklace| - It was added to her outfit.
|Outfit = Chara's Outfit| A pair of black pants, a dull green sweater, and an orange crystal necklace.
Effect 1 - Highly lowers cost of 'innate' spells.
Effect 2 - Enables 'Lesser Courage'
Seeing this action, Aliza followed suit. Placing on her own. A certain willpower renewed in her mind.
Aliza used |Perseverance Necklace| - It was added to her outfit
|Outfit = Aliza's Outfit| A well-made purple dress, black jeans, and a purple crystal necklace.
Effect 1 - Raises defense as HP lowers
Effect 2 - Enables 'Lesser Memory'
"Hey...why were you...going to sell the music box?" Aliza asked.
Chara fidgeted. "I...didn't want you to...have to sleep outside again."
The response resulted in a brief silence. And Alizas face growing redder, steadily. A faint shine in her eyes, as she looked to the other girl.
"Do...you wanna...hold hands?" She asked, offering her hand.
"Yeah." Chara admitted quietly, taking it. "Dork."
"Edgy." Aliza retorted, as they started towards the inn.
They didn't really know what else to say, and were left processing their thoughts. They also lacking the ability to articulate the sensations they felt. So, they just kept to the silence, as they went.
